Shout Out to Jane Plantain

My sincerest apologies readers.  My new job started this week and I am still not used to my new routine.  I have neglected my blog, cooking, exercise and friends. I promise to get back on schedule after this very special celebratory weekend.

This weekend is my best friend's wedding and I wanted to give her a huge shout out.  Congratulations Jane Plantain!!! She's a fellow blogger and I encourage you all to check out her blog for funny anecdotes and ramblings.  I'm so excited to be celebrating her this weekend.  Let the festivities begin!!

http://ramblingjaneplantain.blogspot.com/

My Beef With Chicken

I've got beef with chicken.

Not only do I detest handling raw chicken, I don't enjoy cooking it, cleaning up after I cook it and I actually don't really enjoy eating it all that much.

Chicken is a staple food for us meat eaters and I realize that it is an excellent source of lean protein.  I do eat chicken and I try really hard to enjoy it, but when I cook it on my own I usually stop at two bites. Why you ask? Because I am a crazy person. I am so crazy paranoid of salmonella poisoning that I always overcook my chicken to the point where it is as dry as the Sahara Desert and the only person who will actually eat it is my loving boyfriend.  I'm pretty sure he only eats it out of fear that I will think he hates my cooking and won't cook for him anymore.  But he does eat it, and for that I am thankful.

Seeing as working out and trying to build muscle goes hand and hand with consuming pounds of protein, I have made a real attempt to eat more chicken.  My solution is not to cook it, but rather to purchase pre-made grilled chicken breasts and incorporate them into all my recipes. Salads, fajitas, wraps etc...these pre-made, prepackaged and not at all dry chicken breasts have become a staple in my refrigerator.

I know, all you foodies are gasping at the horror of pre-cooked chicken in air tight packaging that has an expiration date of months from now.  I know how gross that sounds.  But, I have to say that President's Choice brand Blue Menu pre-cooked chicken is actually pretty good.  The only draw back to using this super fast, salmonella free alternative to cooking chicken on your own is that it is a little high in sodium.

So, I am going to try to make amends and put my beef with chicken behind me.  As I finish off at my old job (today!) and have a few days off before I start my new job, I plan to cook a fabulous chicken dinner...with real, fresh chicken.

I will keep you posted...

Sunday Soup: Mmmmushroom

This past week was a busy one.  And...some great news came out of it- I got a new job! It's a great opportunity and I will be working at a digital advertising agency here in Toronto working as an Account Coordinator for a major food company!  It really is the perfect fit.

So, last week was filled with sorting out the details of my new job, quitting my old job and planning the final details of my best friend's stagette which took place this past weekend. It was such a fun weekend and resulted in a major hangover...well worth it though.

When I got home from the stagette weekend yesterday all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball on the couch and go to sleep.  But, I knew that if I didn't go grocery shopping or cook some food I would end up eating out all week.  Since Saturday night I consumed pizza, chocolate, candy, chips, poutine, mac 'n cheese and grilled cheese (no, this is not a joke), I figured I best hit up the grocery store to avoid eating out this week and making unhealthy choices. If I skip the store on Sunday, my whole week is essentially a binge-worthy write off.

It took everything in me to get my act together to cook something last night. But I did it and it turned out delicious.  There is this mushroom soup that I love from a restaurant called Oliver and Bonacini . The soup has no cream and no butter and is absolutely delicious.  On the ride home from Niagara (where the stagette was), my friend told me about a great mushroom soup that she makes.  So, I decided that I would try to make one myself.  It's the first time I have tackled a mushroom soup and I must say, I did a really good job.

I followed no recipe, so please excuse my lack of accuracy when it comes to measuring out the ingredients.  I also didn't take a picture because the soup looks like grey sludge.  But, considering it is Halloween, I probably should have.  It would have been quite appropriate for this holiday.

Mmmmushroom Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of leeks chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 package of white mushroom chopped
• 2 portobello mushrooms chopped
•  1 package of chef's mix mushrooms (it's a package of a variety of mushrooms, so basically you can use any type you like)
• 3 tbs olive oil
• salt and pepper
• about 6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth (I usually use chicken for all my soup recipes)

Directions:
Saute leeks at the bottom of a large pot until soft.  Add onion and continue to saute until the onions are translucent.  Add mushrooms and continue to saute until all the vegetables are soft.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add chicken broth and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Remove from heat and blend in a food processor or use an immersion blender.  Serve hot and enjoy!

Sunday Soup: Red Lentil

I apologize for last week's lack of posting.  Between home renovations, my engagement party and birthday celebrations, I hardly had time to sleep let alone cook! Not that I am complaining- my week was filled with decadent desserts, eating out and more junk food than should be consumed by anyone ever.

That being said, it's time to re-start my attempt at healthy living. Yesterday was the first time in two weeks that I saw the inside of a grocery store and now my fridge is stocked with healthy options (I still have a stockpile of desserts on my kitchen counter. Luckily, I have overdosed on sugar and am completely uninterested in eating the butter tarts, cupcakes and cookies that would normally taunt me).

Last night I dusted off my pots and pans (renovations leave dust EVERYWHERE) and I made a delicious lentil soup.  Earlier last week I went for Middle Eastern food with some friends and had an amazing butter and cream-free lentil soup.  That dinner served as my inspiration for this week's Sunday Soup:

Middle Eastern Inspired Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of red lentils
• 6-7 cups of chicken stock
• 1 large onion
• 1 tbs minced garlic
• 1 tbs ground cumin
• 1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large pot bring lentils and 6 cups of chicken stock to a boil.  Turn down heat, cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until lentils are soft.  While the lentils are simmering, saute onions and garlic in a pan with olive oil until the onions are translucent.  Once the lentils are soft, pour in onion mixture, add cumin and cayenne pepper and salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer for another 10 minutes.  Blend well with an immersion blender (the soup is pretty thick, so I added another cup of stock at this point to thin it out a bit).  Add lemon juice and garnish with cilantro. Serve with warm naan bread and enjoy!

Tryptophan Coma

Since Fall is my favourite season, it only seems fitting that the season's only(non-religious) holiday is one of my favourites as well.

As a kid, I never celebrated Thanksgiving.  I grew up in a kosher home so gravy was a foreign concept and using butter and cream in mashed potatoes was against the rules.  One year, in an attempt to satisfy my love of turkey day, my mom made a Thanksgiving-style dinner.  The turkey was good ( a little dry because when you are kosher you can't baste your turkey in butter), we had au jus instead of gravy and the mashed potatoes were made with margarine (I cringe).  My mom certainly didn't serve brussel sprouts with crispy bacon either.  All in all, I would deem my one childhood Thanksgiving dinner a complete failure (sorry mom, I know you tried).

In my adult life, much to my parent's dismay, I have abandoned kosher and taken up the annual ritual of  celebrating Thanksgiving- the proper way. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I get two Thanksgiving dinners but I am certainly happy with one.  This year's did not fall short of fantastic; seasonably warm weather, great friends, good wine (lots of it) and delicious food. By the time the tryptophan took effect I had already rolled my way home (with left over mashed potatoes in hand) and fell into a fast food coma.

Hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving!

You Don't Make Friends With Salad

I have never understood the salad appeal.  It seems that everyone who is trying to lose weight or eat healthy believes that salad is the answer. Is it really though?

Currently, I know someone on the "flat belly diet".  While I think all fad diets are bullshit, I was curious about this one.  I looked up foods to avoid, and guess what was on the list: bulky raw veggies, peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.  Seems to me that these are pretty important salad ingredients, yet if you want a flatter stomach, you should steer clear of these belly bloaters. Finally, a diet that isn't all about salads.

Personally, I am not a fan of salad. Yes, I know, it's a great way to get the recommended daily vegetable intake, but I find them boring and bland.  Anyone who has ever made a salad for me knows that I put a few pieces of lettuce on my plate and then load up on the salad fillers: tomatoes, avocados (a salad must), mushrooms, nuts, berries....pretty much all the things that make the salad actually taste good.  Yes, I am a selfish salad eater; I bogart all the good stuff.   Other than adding crunch, what purpose does lettuce serve anyway?

Of course I do eat salads, but it's only due to the fact that they are jam packed with nutrients and vitamins.  I make a salad to accompany most dinners, but I ensure they are bulky and have interesting ingredients.  Among my favourites: chicken, hearts of palm, cooked corn, peas, cashews, sauteed veggies, pomegranate seeds, hard boiled egg and cheese (obviously).

One of my favourite ways to add some excitement to an otherwise boring leafy green salad is to saute mushrooms and pour balsamic vinegar into the pan when the mushrooms are nearly finished.  This serves the purpose of adding warm ingredients to the salad (which makes it way more appealing for me) and it also acts as the salad dressing.

How do you make your salads exciting? Please share some recipes. Who knows, you might inspire me to become a salad lover.

Sunday Soup: Roasted Tomato Arrabiata

In case the drop in temperature and changing leaves didn't tell you...It's Fall.  Fall is my very favourite season for many reasons.  I love the crisp air, the rich colours, sweater weather and most importantly fall foods! (I also LOVE Thanksgiving, but I'm sure I will address that in a later post.)

For me, fall is the begining of comfort food season.  This season typically lasts through till Spring and is usually the time when I pack on a few extra pounds...you know, to keep me warm.  This year, I am going to try to make healthy foods that are just as comforting.  I'm hoping my new cashmere sweater will keep me warm instead of those few extra pounds.

Fall harvest brings with it great fresh local produce that inspires yummy and warm dishes. Last year throughout the fall and winter I would make a soup or stew on Sunday nights to last throughout the week. I will keep this tradition this season as much as possible and share with you my various soup and stew recipes.

Last night I tried something new and didn't really follow a recipe.  I had never made a roasted tomato soup before and I think this one turned out quite well.  It's definitely got a kick to it, which is why I named it after my favourite pasta dish. I hope you like it!

Roasted Tomato Arrabiata Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs (approx) of vine tomatoes.  You could also use roma tomatoes.
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 small white onion diced
• EVOO
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4-1/3 tsp crushed chili peppers
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (or more if needed)  

Directions:

Roast tomatoes and garlic in the oven at 400 degrees for about an hour.  I cut the tomatoes in half put them on a lined baking sheet cut side up and sprinkled them with salt, pepper and olive oil.  You can roast the garlic at the same time by putting the cloves in a foil pocket and placing them on the baking sheet along with the tomatoes. While the tomatoes are roasting, saute onion in one tbsp. of olive oil at the bottom of a large pot.  Once the tomatoes and garlic are ready, add them to the pot along with all the roasting juices.  Add the thyme and chili peppers and 1 cup of broth.  Use an immersion blender to blend everything together.  Add the remaining stock and simmer for about 20 minutes. Feel free to add extra seasoning to taste.  Serve with some fresh basil and enjoy!  

Sleepy Time Foods

*Yawn*

Every sentence I have spoken today has been interrupted by a yawn.  In fact, the word yawn makes me yawn and I am yawning right now as I type this.  I have not had a good night's sleep in weeks and am starting to think I'm becoming an insomniac.

I'm not sure if it's the weather change or the bright street lamp that shines through the tiny crack in my bedroom blinds like a laser beam pointing right at my sleeping face.  Either way, I just can't seem to get a restful sleep.

I have tried everything.  Sleepy Time Tea, forcing myself to get into bed earlier and I've even given up coffee and all other caffeinated beverages. Nothing is working.

Today I decided to consult the internet for solutions to my sleepless nights.  I found this link that highlights 10 foods to help with sleep.

Seeing as bananas, almonds and oatmeal are among the list of sleep aids, I figured I'd share a great recipe for healthy banana oatmeal almond muffins. They are great for breakfast and now I would recommend eating them as a bedtime snack. I have aptly renamed the recipe:

Sleepy Time Muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe mashed bananas
• 1/3 cup of almond butter
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups of oat flour (put 1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats in the food processor)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbs sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all wet ingredients in a bowl (bananas, almond butter, egg, vanilla).  In a separate bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.  Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture.  Pour into muffin tins lined with muffin cups and place in the oven for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool (but only a little because apparently warm foods and beverage help you sleep!) ENJOY!

Boot Camp Street Party!

For me, getting in shape has meant more frequent visits to the gym, more personal training sessions and finding fun ways to get exercise in order to shake up the monotony of my daily gym routine.  I try and find free classes (or sneak into my fiance's gym for free classes) to add variety to my workouts without spending a fortune.

This week, I am attending an awesome boot camp party hosted by my personal trainer.  You will have to excuse the shameless plug to follow but it will be a great time with great people and great food!  

Tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m., NB Fitness, Lululemon Briarhill and the Daily Apple will be hosting a 70 person boot camp on Orchard View Blvd. and Yonge St. just North of Eglinton in Toronto.

There will be a one hour boot camp class led by Nate Bower, a live DJ and healthy food samples.  Oh, and it's totally FREE!

Bring your mats and tension bands and come out for an awesome fitness street party!

Super Grain: Quinoa for Every Meal (3 Awesome Recipes)

It's been a while since I've shared a recipe...or anything healthy for that matter.  I have been feeling invigorated and inspired since my bout with the two-week-plague and have resumed my healthy lifestyle. I feel back in shape and after several weeks of not grocery shopping, I am now stocked up with all the essentials.  Oh, and I got my taste buds back! Phew.

I usually plan a week's worth of dinners before I go grocery shopping, and on this week's menu, a very delicious quinoa dinner.

For those of you who are like "quin-what?"- quinoa is an ancient grain from South America and contains essential amino acids making it a great source of protein (shout out to vegetarians). It's also a great source of fiber (I am a big fan of fiber), iron AND it's gluten-free (shout out to Celiacs). Quinoa has a light and fluffy texture similar to couscous and can be used as a substitute for risotto, in salads and even as a breakfast food.

I found an AMAZING breakfast quinoa recipe on ridiculouslyhealthy.com (a great website for healthy recipes!):

Quick & Easy Chocolate Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of quinoa
• 1/2 cup of water
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• sweetener (or sugar) to taste

Directions:
Combine quinoa, water, cocoa and vanilla in a saucepan with a lid.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or as long as it takes for the quinoa to absorb all the liquid.  Turn off heat, fluff with a fork and place quinoa in a bowl.  Top with sweetener (or cinnamon) and enjoy!

This recipe is a great way to get that "hit" of chocolate in the morning and it's super healthy! (calories: 180, dietary fiber: 4.2g, protein: 6.7g).

Not only is quinoa an awesome substitute for oatmeal in the morning, it also makes a great lunch.  You can pretty much sub out lettuce for quinoa in any of your favourite salad recipes, but here's one I really enjoy:

Village Greek Quinoa Salad

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup diced red pepper
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup diced green onions
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/4 cup diced red onion (optional: I leave this out because I don't really like raw onions.  Your co-workers might not like them either if you are bringing this salad to work for lunch)
• 2 ounces of light feta cheese

 Salad Dressing:

• 1/4 lemon juice
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Directions:
Combine quinoa and broth in a saucepan, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a large salad bowl to let cool. Once quinoa is cool, stir in veggies and cheese.  Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and pour over the quinoa mixture. Enjoy!

And for tonight's dinner:

Mexican Inspired Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 1/2 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 cup cooked diced chicken
• 3 tbs of salsa

Directions:
Combine quinoa and broth in a saucepan, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a for. Add veggies, beans and chicken.  Stir and top with cilantro.  You can also sprinkle goat cheese on top if you'd like (I usually do). Enjoy!

This dinner is packed with protein and is the perfect post-workout meal.

I can't wait for dinner tonight!

Broken Buds

I know I've promised to post about my Boston trip but I've been having technical difficulties in trying to upload my pictures and I am now in the middle of a crisis that will take precedence in this week's blog post.  My taste buds are broken.  Yup, broken. This is my crisis and it's a pretty big problem considering how much I love food.

It all started about a week and a half ago.  I picked up some bug that I just could not shake and ended up with a pretty nasty cold/flu that has lasted up until now. All I have been eating for the past week or so is chicken soup, toast and popsicles- the holy trinity of feel-better-food.  That, in combination with lots of water, lots of tea and heavy doses of Advil cold and sinus, I was sure that I would be able to get back to my life, real food and exercise in no time.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. I have been hermitted in my house all week and have seen no one except my co-workers who won't come within 5 feet of me.  This, I can deal with.  I am feeling better and will finally see the light of day outside of my home and office and see some friends this evening. 

As for exercise, my workouts have been pretty non-existent for the past two weeks.  Last night I decided not to cancel on my trainer and went for my one hour work out session.  Bad idea.  I almost died. We kept the workout pretty light with some weight training and low cardio.  All was good until I had a cough attack, took a gulp of water for some relief, only to spit it out all over my trainer and all over the free weight section of the gym.  I then proceeded to choke and almost passed out.  Why is it that the time I actually choke is the only time I forget how to indicate that this is what is happening to me.  I learned the universal sign for choking when I was 10, yet somehow in the midst of being unable to breathe I couldn't figure out that I should put my hands around my neck and ask for help.  Anyway, I digress.  Obviously, I survived and I will get back on track with my exercise routine.  Again, this I can deal with.

What I cannot deal with is the fact that nothing tastes the same anymore. While I am starting to feel better, my taste buds are not. All I can palette is plainness. Last night I was feeling up to cooking and eating a real meal.  I made some homemade guacamole to go with my fajita dinner and sat down to eat.  I was so excited at the idea of tasting something with flavour.  One bite and I was completely turned off.  The culprit: cilantro. 

As I am sure I have mentioned before, I LOVE cilantro.  I cook with it at least twice a week and to me, any dish with cilantro in it is a good dish.  Unfortunately, I think it is fair to say that I loved cilantro.  Last night it tasted like metal and I ended up eating a bowl of cereal for dinner and tossing the long anticipated fajita dinner into the trash.  What if I never like cilantro again?!? I know, life has bigger problems, but my distaste for cilantro is not the only thing wrong with my taste buds.  Nothing with flavour taste good to me.  The thought of eating anything apart from bread and butter and plain spaghetti noodles is completely unappetizing at the moment. Unfortunately, this includes cheese.

My co-worker just asked me if I wanted to order a pizza for lunch.  I said no because I’m just not feeling cheese right now.  You know something isn’t right when the Fat Girl in a Little Coat says no to cheese.

Missing Girl in a Little Coat

It seems that in my last few blog entries I have made excuses for my lack of regular and timely postings.  Once again, my sincere apologies to my avid followers (at least I'm consistent!). I got back from a 10 day vacation just in time to pack up my condo in preparation to officially move into my fiancé's (yes, I just used that word) townhouse. And so, it appears that in the process of packing, unpacking, lifting, unloading, redecorating etc. I have neglected my valued blog followers.  For that I am truly sorry.

I have been too tired to cook, have done very little in terms of working out and have spent my evenings sorting through boxes and purging any items that have been collecting dust. As a result, there has been little inspiration for this blog.

I am back in action and ready to fill your RSS feeds with weekly anecdotes, recipes and more.  No more excuses- hopefully!

Stay tuned for a food play-by-play from my trip to Montreal, Boston and Cape Cod.  All I can say is YUM!

Say Cheese

I know, I know, I said I was going to lay off the cheese but how could I when I found the best hidden gem in all of Toronto.  The Grilled Cheese in Kensignton Market.  Can you say genius?

After venue shopping with both sets of parents in order to find the perfect place to have our wedding,  I decided I needed an indulgence. I had heard from various sources of a grilled cheese hut in Toronto's downtown Kensington Market.  Up until Saturday afternoon, I only dreamed of such a place. To think, a restaurant dedicated solely to the delicious ooey gooey sandwich that has been a staple in my life since birth??? Was this too good to be true???

We parked my car along one of Kensignton's narrow side streets.   Generally when I visit this area of the city I like to take my time to walk around, enjoy the oddities and smells of the market and stop in at all the little kiosks that align the streets.  This time was different.  Grilled cheese sandwiches were all I could think about.  I was on a mission.

There it was as if illuminated by a ray of glowing cheese.  I was standing in front of the allusive 'Grilled Cheese'.  As I approached the menu board I was elated and overwhelmed by my choices.  The Beast, Mushroom Madness, The Classic...too many choices...all very appealing.

My boyfriend ordered first: The Grilled Motzy- fresh mozzerlla, pesto, sun dried tomatoes and arugla.  Since I often get what I like to call "food envy" I decided it was best to order the same.  We took a seat at a picnic table outside and awaited the melted goodness that was to come.

The thick cut bread was toasted to perfection- nice and crispy! The cheese was perfectly melted and the arugula added a nice freshness to this otherwise fatty, greasy, glorious mess of a sandwich.  I usually prefer tomato soup with my grilled cheese sandwich, but seeing as it was 1000 degrees outside, the waffle chips and crunchy pickle placed beside the sandwich was the perfect accompaniment.

I'm pretty sure I finished the contents of my basket in less than 2 minutes.  It was everything I could have hoped for and more.  The perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

That indulgence should tie me over for the next week or so...

... or not.

Barbequing Is Not Just For Boys

This past weekend (yes, I know it's Thursday but this Fat Girl in a Little Coat has had a pretty hectic week!) my friends and I found ourselves sans significant others and decided to have a fabulous and long overdue girls weekend.

There is nothing better than spending quality time with the ladies in your life.  In fact, it's necessary. Our girls weekend was spent eating (of course), laughing, sunning, reading gossip magazines and consuming plenty of sangria.  

We had talked about going out for a dinner to one of those really popular, overly expensive and raved about tapas places.  Instead, we decided to barbeque.  Barbequing is not a foreign concept to me, however, if left on my own to use one, I would likely blow up the neighbourhood.  Thus, I have always left grilling to the man in my life.

Side note: Last summer my friend and I tried to use a Hibachi to grill some vegetables.  It took us over an hour to get the damn thing lit and when we finally did we were covered in soot and ash. 

This weekend I concluded that girls can barbeque too. In fact, I think we do it better. We seasoned some veggies, seafood (which I obviously didn't consume) and meat and headed down to the cabana area of my friend's condo building for our grill fest (we also made an amazing summer salad- the recipe is at the end of the post). She barbequed everything perfectly and the meal was absolutely delicious. For the first time all weekend we were quiet- too busy enjoying our meals to say anything.

Later this week, I ventured into barbeque territory myself.  I didn't let my boyfriend (fiancé...still not used to it) man the grill (pun intended).  I flipped the turkey burgers and grilled the veggies and made an amazing barbeque dinner, mostly on my own.    I still left turning on and off the barbeque to my boyfriend but I watched as he did it. Next time, I may even light the grill myself without worrying about being arrested for arson.

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad:

Ingredients:

• sliced watermelon
• crumbled feta cheese
• arugula
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (reduced vinegar)
• fresh basil or fresh mint leaves 

Directions:

Cut Watermelon into big enough slices so that they won't fall through the barbeque grill.  Grill slices for 2 minutes on each side and place on top of arugula.  Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and top with crumbled feta and basil or mint.  Yum!

Fat Girl in a Little White Dress

Hi followers!

I know I have been A.W.O.L. but it has been for good reason.  My amazing boyfriend proposed to me last week- I'm engaged!!!

I couldn't be happier and am so excited to share my life with someone so wonderful.

On a food related note (because that's what I talk about), I thought I would share this with you: While my boyfriend, now fiancé (I hate that word and will likely never get used to it), was down on one knee proposing, I had my hand on a brick of Amsterdam Gouda.

I love cheese, so I find it completely appropriate that I was holding its hand during one of the most memorable moments in my life.  Don't you?

That all being said, it's time to keep the fat girl inside me under control and kick my healthy lifestyle into high gear.  I put on a white dress in just over a year and I want to look my best.  I pledge to put down the cheese (which I eventually did after I realized that I was being proposed to) and pick up some healthier alternatives.

Stay tuned for health inspired recipes and a tad fewer indulgences.

Bye bye poutine....for now...

Celebrating Canada Day with Poutine!

Yay for long weekends!

I could not be more excited about this upcoming long weekend.  I will be in Montreal for a stagette with some of my closest girlfriends from university.  We went to McGill together and will be reuniting in the city where we spent our glory years.

Those 4 years were some of the best years of my life and many post-bar late nights were spent consuming the deliciousness Quebec is famous for: poutine! The Quebecois may not be so enthusiastic about Canada Day, but they do know how to make a mean poutine.

I have scoured Toronto in search of the best poutine.  Smoke's Poutinery may come close, and the pulled pork poutine I ate at a small French bistro a couple months back was pretty good, but nothing beats Mama's in Montreal (La Belle Provence is pretty damn good too).

We arrive late tonight and I plan on ordering to the hotel a delicious pound of fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds...Mmmmm....my mouth is watering as I type.

Close friends, sunny weather, nostalgia and poutine...there is no better way to spend a weekend!

Funny enough, I just got a text message from my personal trainer and it said "Have fun in Mtl! Stay away from poutine." Sorry Nate, no can do. The Fat Girl in a Little Coat will be indulging in potato, gravy and cheese goodness this Canada Day.

Fatherly Advice

I have come to realize that my father is likely the only person who reads my blog on a consistent basis (other than my boyfriend who has no choice but to read it when I send him the link to my latest post two seconds after I publish). I am totally cool with the fact that my dad is my biggest blog fan and loyal follower. So long as someone reads what I write (and hopefully tries my recipes), I am happy. 

My dad calls me or sends me an email after every blog posting with his comments, grammatical corrections, "constructive criticisms" and links to urbandictionary.com to highlight the definition of words I use in my postings- Most recently it was the definition of "guido". He is quite the character. I follow shitmydadsays.com on twitter and can't help but relate.

Today's phone call went something like this: "Great blog posting, but maybe you should try cooking stuff that won't burn a hole through my stomach. Curry and cayenne pepper?!?!?"  The next statement was "No wonder you complain about heartburn all the time." He is a doctor, so I do have to take some things he says seriously.  And, in this situation, he is not completely wrong (although, that burger recipe really isn't that spicy).  I do have heartburn complaints quite often but it is now under control thanks to a prescription antacid.

While spicy food is not for everyone, I absolutely love it.  I love the burn and the flavour and I will be honest in saying that most of my cooking, prior to my daily dose of Losec, did give me heartburn. Dr. Dad-I have it under control.

Maybe I should start using a disclaimer before my recipes. "Warning: this meal may cause acid reflux and heartburn.  Cook at your own risk". Or, according to my dad, I just shouldn't use so much spice.

Either way, at the request of my father (my only dedicated reader), I will make an attempt to post more recipes that are more stomach friendly. Okay Dad???

Battle of the Burger

It's the first official full day of summer and I have decided that this will be the summer of the burger.  Whether I barbecue them myself, or eat them at burger joints like Five Guys (my friend is a burger connoisseur and swears that Five Guys has the best burger in the city), I am pledging to delve into the world of burgers and become an expert of sorts myself.

My boyfriend and I are going to be in Boston next month and we already have plans to go to Bartley's- which is famous for its burgers and was featured on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, one of my favourite Food Network shows. I can't wait!

But I will not wait for Boston to begin The Battle of The Burger. In fact, I think it's already begun with a clear winner. I have been experimenting with curry burgers and I believe that I have finally perfected the recipe. I will be making other burgers this summer, but I'm not sure anything can beat these Indian-inspired patties.

Fat Girl's Curry Burgers

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of ground veal and chicken (you can use any ground meat)
• 1 egg
• a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tbs curry powder (I use a medium yellow curry)
• 2 tsp of cayenne pepper (or more or less to taste)
• a handful of chopped fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and form into patties.  Barbecue patties for approx. 7 minutes on each side. Place patties on buns (I use whole wheat or multigrain) and top with grilled eggplant and sauteed onions.  I spread some Masala mayonnaise on the buns as well. 

Masala Mayonnaise:
Mix together about 1/2 cup of light mayonnaise with Masala seasoning and cayenne pepper.  I didn't really measure it but a few shakes of Masala and a small dash of cayenne pepper should do the trick.

Weekend Mojitos

My sincere apologies to my loyal readers (Mom & Dad) for being MIA this week.  I've been suffering from a serious lack of creativity and have been unable to blog or write anything for the various communications projects I have on the go. I'm hoping that my weekend out of the city will help get my creative mojo flowing again.

It's going to be a beautiful and sunny weekend, which means it's time to bust out the sunscreen and relax with a refreshing cocktail in hand. My favourite: Mojitos!  I sampled mojito flavoured gelato the other day (I've been "sampling" gelato almost everyday these days) and it has got me craving this delicious summer cocktail.

All you need to make the perfect mojito is:

• Rum (I prefer white rum)
• Fresh mint leaves
• Fresh squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Soda
• Sugar

Place about 10 mint leaves at the bottom of a glass and add two lime wedges and about 1/2 tbs. of sugar ( or more if you like it a bit sweeter). Muddle everything together and add 2 ounces of rum.  Stir to dissolve sugar.  Fill the glass with ice and top off with soda.  Stir again and garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend...hopefully with a mojito in hand!

Extreme Juicehead

For the past two years I have been lucky enough to have access to a very private and very exclusive gym.  By private and exclusive, I mean that I live in a condo building that is essentially a retirement home and it has a fitness centre in it.  Since most people over the age of 90 do not lift weights nor do they run on treadmills, and since the majority of the tenants in my building are in fact over the age of 90, the condo gym is always empty. This gym situation is a dream for a fitness novice like myself.  I have enjoyed working out in the privacy of my very own, very unpopulated gym.

My stint of feeling like a celebrity with my very own private gym is coming to an end.  My lease is up as of August 31st and I am moving in with my boyfriend who does not have a fitness centre in his townhouse. Thus, my search for the right gym membership begins.

Across the street from my soon-to-be home is an Extreme Fitness.  My boyfriend belongs there, so I figured with the abundance of free guest passes he has I should give it a test run...or two.

Extreme Fitness Test Run #1:

On Tuesday, my goal was to try a Smart Start Cycle class at Extreme Fitness.  I have no clue what the class is like but I figured it would be something that my boyfriend may be into so he would come with me and I would not have to face the intimidation on my own.  Unfortunately, the class started at a later time than I originally thought.  Since we had plans later in the evening, we decided to just do a "regular" workout instead.

What a stupid decision. My workout started off great. I got on a cardio machine that is sort of like an elliptical and StairMaster in one.  It's actually a really good workout and burns something like 12 calories per minute and is a lot more fun that running on a treadmill.  Once I was all warmed up and ready to do some weights and floor exercises, I followed my boyfriend to a different area of the gym.  This area was my worst nightmare.  It was like MTV's The Jersey Shore gone wrong.  I know, I know, you are probably thinking is anything worse that the The Jersey Shore? The answer is yes.

I was in a room filled with juicehead Guidos wearing cut off jean shorts and their younger sister's baby doll t-shirts.  Was I expected to lift weights with these roid freaks??? I attempted to do some reps with 10 pound weights but the meat head freaks kept getting in my way. So, I found a secluded corner, put a mat down and pretended to so some ab exercises until my boyfriend was done his workout.  On our way out he pointed out another weight room.  Apparently, the one we were in is not extreme enough for some members.  I peaked into weight room #2 only to find even more roided out freaks with veins protruding from their necks while they benched 1000 pounds. We left and I vowed never to go back.

Extreme Fitness Test Run #2:

I know I said I vowed never to go back but it bothered me that I let the juiceheads from the day before intimidate me.  So, I found a half hour Hard Core Abs class to go to and headed back to Extreme Fitness for a second attempt.  I got on the elliptical-like machine again to get in some cardio before I headed up the stairs to the abs class.  To my delight, the abs class was great! Maybe it wasn't "Hard Core" enough for the juiceheads, but the fact that there were none in attendance was fine by me. 

My Conclusions:

I will not be joining Extreme Fitness.  While my second attempt was more successful and less intimidating than my first, I cannot see myself going regularly to a gym where juiceheads roam free.  Sure, there are iron freaks at any gym, but the abundance of them at this particular Extreme Fitness is enough to make me want to look elsewhere. This point aside, the gym has a reputation of being a meat market and many of the girls who workout there show up like they are ready for a night out on the town- flawless hair and makeup and perfectly pressed lululemon outfits.

My search for a gym that fits me continues... In the meantime, I will be enjoying my retirement villa's facilities while I still can.

Moroccan Munchies

Last night I was a guest at a traditional Henna ceremony in honour of my friend's recent nuptials to her Moroccan husband. Over the next five months, I have six weddings to go to and this one started off the wedding blitz with a bang.  

This was my first time attending a Henna marriage ceremony.  The girls were dressed in very ornate Moroccan robes and their hands were adorned with henna designs.  Moroccan music played throughout the night as people celebrated the happy couple.  And the Moroccan food was aplenty. 

I discovered Moroccan flavour fairly recently and the flavours from last night's North African fare reminded me of a great recipe I have for a Moroccan inspired snack. The below recipe is the perfect healthy alternative to chips or any other salty crunchy snack.  You can make the spice blend for this recipe and save the rest in an air tight container to use when making roasted vegetables or rice (it's especially great when roasting butternut squash and carrots)

Crispy Moroccan Chickpeas

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 tsp. Moroccan Spice Mix
• sea salt to taste

Moroccan Spice Mix:

• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you want it)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Drain and rinse chickpeas and pat dry with paper towel.  Toss chickpeas with olive oil, spice mix and salt. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for approx. 45 minutes or until they are slightly brown and rattle when you shake the baking sheet.  Let cool and serve.

Stephanie Salad

I got an email yesterday from my friend Steph with a great salad recipe.  The recipe uses canned tuna, so my immediate thought was that my last blog posting inspired her to send it my way. I was wrong.

While sipping on some pinot grigio and chatting with my girlfriends last night, Steph admitted that she has not been following my blog.  It was simply a coincidence that she sent me the recipe for a salad that uses the only fish I will eat. This admission bruised my blogger ego, but I told her that if she started following I would dedicate a posting to her. 

Steph, I am sharing your recipe on my blog for all of the interweb community to see. Now will you follow me regularly??

Stephanie Salad

Take one can of tuna and put it in a bowl with chopped up pickles, artichoke hearts, chopped up red pepper and cucumber.  Toss with arugula (Steph LOVES arugula) and baby romaine lettuce.

Dressing: Lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, fresh thyme and freshly ground black pepper.

In the words of my dear friend Steph, "YUMMMMMMMMMMM!".

Foodie Faux Pas

As I am sure I have mentioned before, I consider myself to be a foodie.  Some may say that I am not a real "foodie" because there are certain things I do not eat.  The foodie gods and goddesses frown upon me because my palate has a disdain for one pretty major source of protein and omega 3: seafood.  I hate it.  If it's from the sea, it's not for me. 

Does my hatred for all things underwater deny my right to call myself a foodie??? I think not.

While my taste buds dislike anything that swims in, or inhabits our world's beautiful bodies of water, I always make an attempt to try such creatures. I have tried salmon*, cod, trout, halibut, tilapia and I am sure MANY other forms of fish, some of which were somewhat palatable. I have tried lobster and crab and actually didn't find them to be all that offensive.  I mean, anything that is a vessel for butter is fine in my books.

*Salmon is the worst of them all.  It smells and it's fishy and gross.  Anyone who has ever told me that it's a mild fish and shouldn't smell if it's fresh, is a liar. Even at it's
 freshest, it smells.

My most recent attempt to like seafood (I really want to like it) involved my brave foodie self trying mussels at a lovely French bistro. Mussels!  You know, those slimy things inside a clam-like shell...I ate them.  I actually ate three of them. And, to my delight, I kind of liked them! It was likely the creamy white wine sauce that smothered the little critters, but nonetheless, I ate one and went back in for more.

As weird as my dislike of seafood may seem, it gets even weirder. I really like tuna salad.  You know, that flaked tuna that comes in a can...I love the stuff. I will make a clarification here: I like it when combined with heaping spoonfuls of mayonnaise and crunchy pieces of celery.  It's the best.

While I will try anything once and sometimes twice, I will never order fish or seafood off a menu at a restaurant, nor would I eat it if it was served to me at a dinner party. I know, I know, it's rude to not eat what I am served when I am invited over for dinner.  However, the alternative of me gagging on every bite is even more rude. Thus, I reserve my right to refuse fish- unless it's tuna salad.

My point is, do not criticize my foodie ways.  I may not like seafood, but I am always willing to try it. This makes me a very adventurous nemotarian*.

*Unfortunately I can't take credit for the word nemotarian.  I found the term on internet forums used to describe people who don't eat fish or seafood.

Super Fruit

As the weather starts to warm up, I start to crave refreshing treats. Ice cream, gelato and Popsicles are usually a must.   Since I have adopted a new healthier way of being, I have traded in my after dinner ice cream treat for a much healthier alternative: grapefruit.

It's tart, tangy, sour and sweet and has certainly been satisfying my after meal need for a sugary treat.  Grapefruit is jam-packed with health benefits and actually helps to curve hunger.  It's the perfect end to any meal or a great accompaniment to a balanced breakfast.

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I watch a lot of Dr. Oz.  He is an alarmist and scares the crap out of me by making claims that pretty much everything causes cancer. But, his show is like a train wreck- I just can't seem to look away or change the channel.  Like myself, Dr. Oz is a big fan of grapefruit.  Last week, he named grapefruit a superfood.  This prompted me to do some reading and here is what I found out:

Grapefruit is high in dietary fibre, vitamin C and potassium. It contains lucopene which is said to have anti-tumor activity and helps to fight oxygen free radicals, making this super fruit a great source of antioxidants. Grapefruit helps in lowering cholesterol, lowering the risk of kidney stones and helps protect against colon cancer.  And...it 's low in calories. 

I'm no expert, but the benefits of eating grapefruit seem to outweigh my alternative dessert choices.

I also read that grapefruit can interact negatively with certain medications, so ask your doctor if you are taking any prescription meds.

Not only is grapefruit a perfect dessert alternative, it is also a great addition to any summer salad. Try this refreshing salad recipe on a warm summer's day:

Grapefruit, Orange & Avocado Salad
serves 4

Ingredients:

• romaine lettuce
• 1 large grapefruit peeled & sliced
• 1 large orange peeled & sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• feta cheese

Directions:
Place lettuce on four salad plates.  Arrange slices of fruit in alternating layers on top of the lettuce. Squeeze grapefruit and orange juice over top.  Top with some crumbled feta cheese and zest from both citrus fruits.

Not Your Average Jerk

A few months back, I attempted a jerk chicken recipe.  It turned out mildly disastrous.  I marinated the chicken in a very aromatic jerk spice blend for 24 hours...probably about 23 hours too long.  The chicken turned out so over-seasoned that I was breathing the spicy fire of jerk for days.

In an attempt to rectify my jerk experiment and actually do justice to this delicious Caribbean inspired spice blend, I decided to revisit jerk.  This time, no marinating.

I love Mexican food, and I especially love fajitas.  We have a fajita night at my place almost once a week and I usually come up with some variation of a Mexican fajita. This time, I decided to make jerk chicken fajitas. I really like Caribbean food and I really like fajitas, so why not combine the two???

Thankfully they turned out much better than my last attempt at a jerk chicken dish, which is why I am happy to share this recipe.

You can buy a jerk spice blend at any grocery store, but I prefer to make my own.  The ones you find in the store usually contain sugar and are very high in sodium.  You can make this blend by combining the below spices. You can store the mixture in an old school film container (pre digital camera era), or small Tupperware.

Jerk Seasoning Blend:

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbs onion powder
• 2 tsp ground thyme
• 2 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp garlic power
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Jerk Chicken Fajitas: 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground chicken (you can use turkey)
• 2 tbs of Jerk Seasoning Blend (half for the chicken and half for the veggies)
• 1 Roma tomato chopped
• 2 bell peppers (I used green and red) cut into strips
• sliced mushrooms
• 1 yellow onion
• the juice of one lime
• fresh pineapple
• tortilla shells (I like to buy whole wheat or flax shells- they usually have more fibre than the traditional corn shells)

Directions:
Saute veggies until they start to soften.  Add half of the Jerk Seasoning Blend.  Once the veggies are almost done, squeeze half of the lime juice into the pan and saute for a minute longer. add pineapple pieces and set aside.  Meanwhile, in a separate pan saute the chicken until it starts to brown.  Add the other half of the Jerk Seasoning Blend and the chopped tomato and continue to cook until chicken is done (juices will run clear), then add the other half of the lime juice.  Place some of each mixture on a tortilla and top with shredded lettuce or whatever fresh veggies you like (If you want to cut the heat a bit, you can top with a dollop of low-fat sour cream). Fold and enjoy!

Apocalypse Now: My Last Supper

Okay, we've all seen the signs and read the ramblings of fatalist nut cases who are claiming that tomorrow is the end of the world- REALLY?!? Are we buying into this Armageddon bullshit???

Assuming for the purpose of this posting that today is my very last day of existence, I might as well tell you what the fat girl inside of me is asking for as her last meal:

The starter would be fettuccine alfredo followed by a 12 oz cut of juicy prime rib with a side of garlic mashed potatoes loaded with sour cream (yes, that's right, I like sour cream, and sometimes ketchup, on my mashed potatoes).  For dessert, I would have a big slice of chocolate fudge cake, cookies AND ice cream.  Then I would cleanse my palette with a small bowl of grapefruit gelato.  Once I snap out of my food coma and have taken at least a two hour nap, I would probably order a thin-crust pizza from Pizza Nova.  Sounds like a glutinous last night on earth, doesn't it?

Well, it's likely not my last night on earth and I will be spending my long weekend away at a friend's cottage.  I'm sure there will be some indulgences while I'm there, but I'm thinking I will not be eating a heart-attack-on-a-plate: fettuccine alfredo (although I have been craving it for months!).

Instead, I will indulge on the delicious peanut butter cookies that I will be bringing to share with my friends. 

Here is an easy recipe for Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 egg

Yes, those are the only ingredients.  I have tried making these with natural peanut butter and Splenda brown sugar blend.  If you decide to go this route, add a package of plain instant oatmeal- otherwise, the batter is way too runny and the cookies will turn out like flat blobs of melted mush.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix all the ingredients together and form into two-inch balls.  Place cookies on cookie sheet (not greased) and stick in the oven for approximately 20 minutes.  Cooking times may vary.  Allow to cool and enjoy!

Personal Torture...oops, I meant Training.

A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to kick my workout sessions into high gear.  I am afraid of the gym, mostly because I don't know what I am doing, so I decided to get myself a personal trainer (torturer) to show me the ropes.

I have known my trainer, Nate Bower, for over a year now.  He teaches boxing classes on Saturday mornings, which I go to with a couple of my girlfriends.  I have also attended a few of his boot camp classes- 4 weeks, 8 sessions, sheer torture...in a good way if you are into that sort of thing.

I love/hate Nate Bower.  I love that he encourages me to reach my potential but hate him while he is telling me to do just "four more push ups!" (I can barely do one). We have developed a rapport in which he encourages me to push myself to my limits and I call him names and tell him to eff off at least 15 times during my training sessions.  I make claims that he is trying to kill me and scream bloody murder so loudly that the entire gym can hear.  I don't think he minds though.  I'm pretty sure he finds this more amusing and less abusive than it seems.

As a fitness novice, I truly recommend personal training.  My one-on-one sessions with Nate give me the confidence I need to work out on my own in order to achieve my personal fitness goals.

While Nate has not hired me as his PR rep (yet), I figure after all the abuse and name calling, the least I can do is plug his website: http://www.natebowerfitness.com/.

Stinky Spice

No, I am not talking about one of the Spice Girls.  I am referring to cumin- oh how I love/loathe thee.

For the past six months or so, I have been cooking a lot of Mexican and Indian food.  This means that cumin has become a staple in my pantry.  This also means that four days a week, my condo smells of this stinky spice.

After making a delicious pot of chili last night, my place, and everything in it, reeked of cumin (and chili powder, of course).  Today I can still smell the stank of cumin.  It has embedded itself in my car, my clothes and even my purse.

I have a super-human sense of smell, so the rankness of cumin probably bothers me more than most.  But, I do love this stinky spice. So much so, that I will continue to walk around smelling like a bowl of chili for the next day or two.

Here is one of my favourite recipes using cumin.  I also love cilantro so this recipe has become a bi-weekly favourite. It's quick, easy and delicious!

Spicy Chickpeas with Beef and Cilantro:
Serves 3-4
Recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes from The New York Times

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef (I usually buy organic or beef that is free-from antibiotics)
• 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed, saving the liquid
• chicken broth (combine with the chickpea liquid to make 2 cups)
• 2 tbs EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder (or any other kind of chili powder you like)
• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• S&P to taste
• Splash of Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro (or more if you love it as much as I do)

Directions:
Drain chickpeas, saving liquid. Add chicken broth to the liquid to make 2 cups and set aside. Heat 1 tbs (or less) EVOO in a large fry pan, add beef and a splash of Worcestershire and saute until beef is browned.  Add the chickpeas and saute together with the beef until the chickpeas are well browned and starting to pop (about 10 minutes or so). Add cumin, chili powder and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chickpea liquid/broth, season with S&P.  Reduce heat and let simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated (approx. 10 minutes). Turn off heat, add cilantro and 1 tbs of EVOO. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.  I like to add a splash of habenero hot sauce to give it even more of a kick.  Serve hot and enjoy!

Prologue

I am a fat girl in a little coat.

At times, I feel like I was born in the wrong body- not that I am complaining or anything.  My appetite for food (and life) is far bigger than my body mass index.  I am a little girl who loves to eat.

Okay, well, I am not exactly a little girl.  As I slowly approach the age of 30 (1.5 birthdays away), my love of cheese, cake and all things chocolate is beginning to catch up to me.  This is not to say I was not warned that after the age of 25 my metabolism would slow down to a geriatric runner's pace.  I knew this would happen.  I could not go on forever eating baked mac 'n cheese and pizza every other day. (Also, my boyfriend with higher than average cholesterol has taught me all about saturated fats.  Cheese is not so good for the heart.  This fact has almost ruined cheese for me...almost).

My jeans, which I have been wearing since the age of 19, have become too tight and I have been forced to admit to myself that I am no longer a size 2. I am also no longer 19, but that's just a side note.  This is okay.  In an attempt to preserve my twenty something body well into my thirties (and hopefully my forties), I have made a decision- eat healthy, get fit and indulge modestly.

Thus, my blog is born.  I will share recipes, fitness stories and my many indulgences with you as I attempt to live a healthier lifestyle while still enjoying one of life's greatest pleasures- good food.