HAPPINESS IS….

Not the first word that comes to mind when going through a break up. Unfortunately, my sweetie and I have parted ways. The simple and brutal truth is we wanted different lives going forward. I see kids and sporting events, camping trips, and chaos, and he didn’t. It was unfair for both of us to move forward when we wanted different things. And ultimately we were each unhappy and realized that we can’t be each others happiness. It’s been tough, we’re still friends, but I wont lie; my heart breaks every day that we are not together.

So in honor of the love that we shared, and the love that we have for each other that has allowed us to let the other go; my new mission is to find MY happiness. Life is short, and I want mine to be filled with as much pure joy and laughter as possible. I want a job that fulfills me and excites me; that I have a passion for and can contribute with. I want to be happy with my every day, despite who is or is not in it. Eventually yes, I want a man who loves me madly, and wants to seek adventure and excitement round each corner. Who will be my partner , my lover and my best friend. But my focus now is to figure out what my happiness really is… I owe it to my sweetie.

THE ART OF DISGUISE

Next step with Operation Vegan is introducing my friends to some Vegan fare without them necessarily realizing they are getting a healthier (although not always health-y alternative). Sunday I got together with my bestest and greatest friends, my college roommates. We’ve been through it all this group of awesome females and I: dating, marriages, births, divorces, and more than our fair share of adventures, triumphs, and just plain awesomeness. So I know they weren’t surprised to hear that I had taken up yet another new experiment, and simultaneously dropped my previous mission (running my first half marathon- It’s my ankles fault (!) I swear I will pick this one back up shortly).

So I decided to make a 7 layer bean dip for our little get together. Only I added “taco meat” to give it a little more substance. I layered it as follows:

1 can Vegetarian Refried Beans
1 cup Ground Smart meat seasoned with Taco Seasoning
1 cup Tofutti Sour Cream
1 can Fire Roasted Green Chilies
1 can sliced black olives
1.5 cups Guacamole
2 diced tomatoes
Vegan Cheddar Cheese

I even made a few extra individual portions for my Big Guy since he wasn’t able to come along. (pictured above). I promise you nobody would have known it was Vegan if I hadn’t of told them. Well, also if the cheese wasn’t so odd looking. The package said it would melt.. but it just looked like shredded burnt carrots on top- not the most appetizing. .. However, once you got past the look, it was still fantastic. In fact, the dip was the first thing to get eaten, devoured actually.

Next task: fool my father. This one may take a little more work.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT ...MEAT(?)

Surprisingly I’ve really been enjoying trying out the exotic meat alternatives out there in the market. I didn’t think I’d use them much, but kind of enjoy the whole – ‘can you believe that ISN’T meat?’ aspect of them. Even my Big Guy loves my Vegan meals, and has really supported me through my little adventure, bless him. Haven’t tried anything with tofu yet, but think that may be the next substance I conquer…

First attempt was tacos:
I used Field Roasts Mexican Chipotle “Sausage”. I crumbled it up and heated it with a shredded potato and a shredded carrot as the filling. (I’ve found shredding my vegetables is a great way of sneaking them into my foods- clearly I still have the pallet of a 5 year old )

A few minutes in the pan, and we had a nice ground meat like substance with some kick. Topped it with some lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and then I made guac with 1 avocado and two spoonfuls of roasted red pepper hummus. The tacos had an awesome kick to it from the meat- (not quite taco meat) but still had a good flavor. Next time I’ll probably use the Smart Ground with taco seasoning. But the potatos and carrots was a good filler, and the hummus in the quac was awesome. The leftovers were great in an omlett for the Big Guy, and I ate a taco for breakfast- delish.

A few nights later I was in the mood for some Asian fare, and really craving Lettuce Wraps from P.F. Changs. So I made my Mess Free – Meat Free Lettuce Bowl instead.

1/3 c Soy sauce
1 large clove garlic
2 tsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp honey
¼ cup water
2 green onions
Some black pepper

Mixed it all up in a bowl, added some ground “meat” and let it soak for an hour.
Then I shredded a carrot, chopped up some leek and diced up some water chestnuts and cooked them in a little vegetable stock. Throw in the “meat” and cook over medium heat until hot and tender. I covered it while it cooked, but then had to cook it a little longer to burn off some of the liquid.

Then I cooked up some Garlic and Olive Oil wheat couscous and diced up some lettuce. Throw the lettuce in a bowl; add a heaping spoonful of couscous, top with the “meat”, and finish off with some peanut crumbs. Tasty and Filling. It received a true Gold Star Rating from the Man with a “make again please” half way through the meal. Success!

Super Foods, Superhero!

Day 3 and going strong!

For those who know me, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve been doing my best to incorporate greens into my diet –The one thing I’ve never been very good at. Not surprising though since I was raised by a man who says “ I eat greens. Cows eat greens. And I eat cows.” So simple daddy… Some day I’m going to have to have the conversation with my father that the cows he’s been eating hardly eat greens, or any other thing that resembles a healthy diet.

My father also banned spinach in our household. No joke. We NEVER ate spinach. Something I always loved bragging about as a kid. It wasn’t that I hated spinach; it was more that in my little kid brain it made him a superhero of sorts. He had the power to ban vegetables. And at the same time, it made him one of “us”. A vegetable hater. And isn’t that what most kids were who grew up in the era of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and sugar laden juice boxes? I only knew a couple “strange” kids who loved their spinach.

But now, I realize I get to be my own superhero. Which I guess is fitting- since that is what Alicia Silverstone calls the third diet in her book- The Superhero’s Diet. I’m not following it 100% but I am trying to work it in as much as possible. I’m eating leafy greens, including huge SPINACH salads! I’ve even bought some Kambucha Tea (store bought) but am excited to learn more about these interesting, foreign superfoods. And I’m also learning, they’re really not that foreign. In fact, my co-worker who sits right next to me said he drinks Kambucha every morning. And he makes his own from the same Kambucha organisms he’s had for over 10 years. Crazy! But I like it. I’m excited to learn new things, try new things, and to be a little daring. I mean what kind of a superhero would I be if I didn’t just go for it?

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto uh, chemicals(?), you shall return

I'm back!

I know, I know, quite the hiatus. Blame love or respect, but I just don’t feel that it’s appropriate to chronicle the inner details of my relationship with you- it'd be rude to my sweetie, and quite frankly boring for you all. But in real honesty, I realize that besides my job, that’s about all that really occupies my time these days. But now... I have a new adventure!

After months of packing on some LB’S and wondering why I’ve not only gained so much weight, but just feel like crap all the time, I’ve decided to do a little experiment and follow Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet so I can really see and feel how the food I eat affects me.
As today is Ash Wednesday, why not start today? (Before you make any judgments on my commitment, or lack thereof to my Roman Catholic Faith, I admit, Pope Benedict will not be celebrating my devotion, but I have been a faithful Ash Wednesday- Mass Attending- Lent Following -Catholic devoutly for at least the last 10 years).

So the journey begins. No meat. No Dairy. No sugary goodness. I’m going to go as close to macrobiotic as my vegetable hating, processed food loving, carnivorous palate will take me. Should be interesting. Entertaining to say the least. I'm prepared with a few simple cookbooks, the internet of course, and a kind co-worker who has already offered tips. Should be plenty of trials and tribulations, and if I know me ( which I sure damn hope I do)... plenty of funny stories. ( Please note: I say 'funny' as in haha- not oh look at me I'm so clever and witty. Just apt to be the girl you laugh at. I would too. I recently walked out of a bar bathroom with toilet paper hanging out of my pants... I can't make this stuff up, it just happens).

Anywho, I am excited at the challenge and ready to embrace a new way of looking at food. And in the end, hopefully perhaps I’ll tap into my body’s natural and organic strength and help it get back to the wonder God intended it to be :) … full of life, free from pain, and a little more pure.

And sans 20LB's wouldn't be so bad either.