June 16, 2009

Have you heard about these new mixes for fat-free brownies called No Pudge?  All you add is non-fat vanilla yogurt. Since I fessed up to being a bake-from-scratch snob, but then had a raving disaster with my homemade cherry pie, I figure I’m obligated to humble myself and try some mixes.  I’ve heard that these brownies are good, but I’m so skeptical!  A brownie with no butter?  And it’s supposed to be worth eating?  I say prove it!

I bought a box of the original flavor of No Pudge at Central Market for $4.59.  They also have mint, raspberry and cappuccino varieties but I wanted to start off with the basic chocolate.  The nutritional label says each brownie has 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 22 grams of sugar (!).

The No Pudge brownies couldn’t be easier to make.  You add 2/3 cup of non-fat vanilla yogurt to the mix, which includes sugar, flour, cocoa, egg whites, cornstarch, wheat gluten, salt and baking soda.  You mix the yogurt in thoroughly and smooth it into an 8″ square pan.  The instructions say to bake for 30 to 35 minutes, but I only had a 9″ pan, so I baked for closer to 25 minutes.

After chilling overnight, I took these to work for an informal taste test and these are the results:

• Everyone agreed that the flavor was very chocolaty, and two people thought you couldn’t tell the difference between these and a full-fat brownie. I could tell!

• The consistency was very fudgy and pretty gooey.  I wonder if I underbaked these, and if they would be less gooey with more baking time, although they tested done and I hate to overbake brownies.  I’d rather slightly underbake than overbake.

• My opinion was that the texture was a tad spongy and gooey at the same time.  I also thought the first note on my tongue was sugar, which makes sense since non-fat baked goods usually compensate with extra sugar.  I could totally tell that something was amiss with these little guys, although the chocolate fix was there.

Would I bake these again?  Nah.  I’d rather have half of a Barefoot Contessa Outrageous Brownie than several of these.  It was a fun experiment, but that’s just how I roll.  I have to say that I like that there aren’t a bunch of artificial ingredients and sweeteners in these brownies, but I’m not really into non-fat versions of real food.  Perfect examples are the grossness of non-fat mayo and non-fat cheese.  Blecch.

I can see these “brownies” being served at a baby shower or spa party hosted by one of the “ladies who lunch” in Dallas.  I imagine they’d be cut into 1/2″ squares.  Give me a regular brownie, even if it means more time on the treadmill!

Oh, and P.S.  My camera is on the critical list, so these craptastic photos may be the last you see from it!  I took well over 100 photos to even get a couple that were usable.  If you love your camera, please send me your recommendation of any models I should look at!

~BigSis

June 14, 2009

Humpback whale and baby (photo credit: Animal Planet)

I don’t usually sit around on my fan-fan-fanny watching TV.  But this week started crazy and ended that way, and by the time Friday rolled around, I was brain-fried.  Don’t ask!  The details are gory.  But the most strenuous thing I could manage by Friday night was to catch up on my Google Reader a little, and to press the TV remote control channel button until I landed on Animal Planet.

I happened upon the premier episode of season two of a show called “Whale Wars”.  Have you heard of this show?  I hadn’t, but 5 minutes into one episode and I’m hooked.  I found myself watching with my breath held, and my hand covering my mouth.  It’s emotional, dramatic, suspenseful, action-packed, and real.  There is wicked weather, life-threatening storms, treacherous icebergs and ice fields, in addition to the threat against the whales.  And since I’ve been a vegetarian for 15 years solely because of my love for animals, the fact that the show’s focus is on saving whales makes it mesmerizing to me.  After seeing humpback whales in Hawaii, I can’t imagine that anyone could harpoon them for their “meat”.  They seem to be the most joyous, innocent, peaceful animals that you could imagine.

I didn’t know it, but in 1986, commercial whaling was outlawed internationally.  The co-founder of Greenpeace, Paul Watson, knew it.  In 1977 he founded a group called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  In “Whale Wars”, he is the captain of an aging ship called the Steve Irwin, and Paul’s passion is enforcing the whaling ban, regardless of the cost.  In “Whale Wars”, he hits the international seas with 36 volunteers and a mission.

I saw 2 episodes, both featuring the Sea Shepherds’ hunt in Antarctica for Japanese fishermen who were illegally killing whales.  The Japanese claimed to be killing the whales legally for research.  You know where I stand in that debate; on the side of the whales.  Watch this show.  Make up your own mind.

~BigSis

June 12, 2009

When I say “40-Something Butt”, I’m talking about a butt that’s 40+ years old, but I could also be talking about a butt that’s 40+ inches around.  Either way, shopping for jeans can be as stressful as shopping for a swimsuit, and you know why?  For me, it’s because I’m too stingy!  And cheap jeans usually means poor fit + crummy fabric = yukky looking bum.

I’ve realized that spending a little bit more for jeans is SO worth it.  Scrimp and save money on other things, but don’t be cheap like the old me when it comes to jeans.  A well-made and perfectly-fitting pair of jeans will do MIRACLES for your rear view.  Trust me.  Go to a store that has a wide selection of quality jeans, and just try them on, even if you think you will absolutely not ever buy one single pair.  I promise that you will see an enormous difference, and will be sold as I was when I spent a couple of hours at Nordstrom’s last year.  Did I think I would ever ever ever spend over $100 on a pair of ding dang blue jeans?  Oh, HELL no!  I’m way too cheap for that.  But I only had to look in the 360 degree mirror to see what that price tag brought to my bod.

An excellent pair of jeans will enhance your heinie, lengthen your legs, smooth out the line of your thighs, and flatter your hips.  No, I’m not smoking crack…these things can be achieved via a wise choice in jeans worn with a great pair of heels.  I think that when you’re 20 years old and have never experienced pregnancy, decades of gravity, hormones and/or metabolism issues, you can get away with cheaper clothes.   Am I right?  Am I right? But when you’re 40-something, you owe it to your wonderful body to clothe it strategically.  That means good jeans!  Wearing crappy old I-don’t-care-what-my-butt-looks-like-cuz-I’ve-given-up jeans will age you as fast as the sun on your face!!  Don’t do it!

I have a butt and a small waist, so most jeans will gape at the waist if they fit in the hips.  These are the jeans that I’m thrilled about wearing now.  Note that I had them hemmed a bit, even though I’m 5’7″ with pretty long legs (good jeans give you a very generous length), but no other alterations whatsoever were necessary.  They even fit in the waist!

• Joe’s Jeans:  Rocker lean flare fit…my absolute favorites!  They’re dark dark dark wash, and fit like they were made for me.  These are my dressiest jeans.  And mine don’t have the bleachy light spots on them that you see in the photo below.  Oh, and that’s not me in the photo, just in case you thought it was.  😉

Joe's Rocker Jeans

• Citizens of Humanity:  Ingrid #2 low waist flare style.  These are slightly more casual than my Joe’s and are a tad lower in the rise.

Citizens of Humanity Ingrid Jeans

Keep in mind that the key is that you try on a BUNCH of brands and styles and colors til you find the perfect fit for you!  I promise it’s out there.  And once you find it, your butt will do a little happy dance!

LilSis, you were my motivation to get my butt into a fabulous pair of jeans, so I have to ask you. What are your favorite jeans right now?  Do you have any tips for choosing the right pair, other than trying on everything and then examining the rear view?

~BigSis

June 10, 2009

Do you remember that episode of Seinfeld when George and Jerry were sitting at the diner, talking about how salsa had replaced ketchup as the #1 condiment, and they mentioned how fun it is to say “salsaaahhh”?  So funny.  I think about that every time I say salsa.  And here in Texas, I say salsa a lot!  My favorite salsa has always been Joe T Garcia’s, from the cult-favorite restaurant in Fort Worth.  I was at Central Market today, and it occurred to me that maybe…just maybe…there is a better salsa out there?  I’m so fickle!  I decided to conduct a little informal research to see if my favorite is indeed the best of the best, or if I’m just stuck in a closed-minded salsa rut.

First up is our challenger, Central Market’s All Natural Hatch Green Chile Salsa Roja.

• Ingredients:  Tomatoes, green chiles, diced onions, tomato paste, lime juice, fresh garlic, fresh serrano peppers, vinegar, cumin, salt, black pepper, cilantro.
• Appearance:  Brownish brick red.  I see some dark flecks that indicate some of the ingredients were fire-roasted.  Nice!  The consistency is pretty thick, but not quite a puree.  You can still see some bits of onion throughout.
• Flavor:  Delicious and slightly complex.  The top note I get is cumin.  The salsa is smoky and spicy, but I was expecting it to be hotter with the two chiles.  I could have used a little more heat.
• Overall impression:  I love that there are no preservatives, chemicals or ingredients other than those I could find in my own kitchen.  It tastes fresh, and I do like it.  But would I buy it again?  Mmmm, probably not.  I think I’d like to try the green verde version of this salsa to see if  it has less cumin flavor since I’m not a huge cumin fan.  To me cumin is like cilantro or goat cheese.  Either you love it or you hate it; not many people are ambivalent about it.

And now the defender: Joe T Garcia’s Salsa Picante in Mild (there are Medium and Hot varieties, but I know they’re too hot for me).

• Ingredients:  Tomatoes, onions, green sweet peppers, green chile peppers, salt, vinegar, jalapeno peppers, garlic, cilantro and spices.
• Appearance:  Bright red, and very chunky with visible pieces of tomato, onion and peppers.  When you open the jar, the salsa needs to be stirred to get the juice married back with the chunks.
• Flavor:  Wow!  A burst of fresh tomato, garlic and peppers with a tangy background from the vinegar.  Even the mild has a fair amount of pepper heat.  I love it.
• Overall Impression:  Somebody get this jar away from me!  I can’t stop eating it!

The Verdict:

Get in your car right now and drive to a store that carries this salsa!  If you can’t do that, direct your fingers over to Joe T’s web site and order yourself a case of his Salsa Picante.  You can get 12 jars for $30 plus $15 shipping, which is a bargain in my book, folks!  That’ s less than $4 per jar, shipped!  You WILL thank me!  This stuff is awesome in queso instead of Rotel, or poured over a soft brick of cream cheese, or just gobbled up with chips.

Hey, LilSis, you’re a fan of Joe T’s Salsa, right?  Can you get any good salsa out there in Califor-knee-yah?  I know SirHoney doesn’t like too much heat, so I’m wondering if you’re still buying Pace brand? Now you can order from Joe T himself!  Viva la Salsa!

~BigSis

June 8, 2009

From time to time, MAC will weed out it’s inventory and a bunch of products will disappear forever.  I got an email from MAC the other day, and the weeding out is happening right now!

I noticed some of my eyeshadows on the list: French Cuff, Bold and Brazen, and Flip. Flip is a color (bronze gold frost) that would look really good on you, LilSis, so if you don’t have it, make sure you grab yourself one before it’s too late.  Besides lots of eyeshadows, MAC is also retiring lipsticks, lipglasses, lipliners, blush, eyelashes, eye liners, you name it!  These way cool tri-color lipglasses are going too.  I have one in Just Dessert and I love it.

MAC Just Dessert Lipglass

If you’re a MAC girl like LilSis and me, be sure to check the list at MAC’s Going, Going, Gone page for your favorites before they’re history!

~BigSis

June 6, 2009

When I was about 10 years old, a peach almost killed me.  Yep, a sweet, juicy, fuzzy little peach was nearly the end of me!  I was spending part of the summer in West Texas with my grandparents as usual, and had been eating juicy fresh peaches as usual.  My grandmother made awesome peach fried pies and incredible spiced pickled peaches with cloves.  She had peach trees in the backyard and made great use of them.

So, one nice summer day, I went to my cousins’ house for a visit.  I can remember sitting on a swing in their backyard, eating a fresh peach.  I can remember getting itchy, then starting to wheeze, and then getting swollen all over.  By the time I got into the house, I passed out, and then drifted in and out of consciousness for what seemed like hours before they took me to the emergency room to be pumped full of benadryl and adrenalin.

Since I grew up to be BigSis, clearly I survived that attack of anaphylactic shock.  My body just had enough of peaches, and said it wished to have no more of them, please.  When I heard that this month’s You Want Pies with That event would have a Childhood Memories theme, those peachy memories came back to me.  My whole family has mouth-watering and sentimental memories of Grandmama’s fried pies, although I obviously can’t make her peach ones.  In her honor, I decided to make cherry fried pies, for my first time ever.

I don’t have my own recipe for these little jewels, so I found recipes online for pie pastry and cherry pie filling that both sounded delicious and got 5 star reviews.  And being a bake-from-scratch snob, I was definitely not interested in using flattened biscuits with canned pie filling.  I did have one little complication right off the bat, which was that the filling was surprisingly too juicy for little fried pies, so I revised my plan a bit and made a whole pie.  No biggie, just a little adjustment.

Looks pretty good, right?  I was kind of happy with the golden brownness, and was feeling a little proud of myself since I love to bake, but I’m not a pie maker.  It intimidates me and intrigues me at the same time.  But so far, so good.  I cut into the pie, and still found more juice than I really wanted, but no worries!  It’s yummy cherry juice, so it’s all good!  And I thought the slice on the plate looked pretty tasty!  What do you think?  Not so bad for a novice pie girl.

The next test…take a bite!  I took a bite, and took another bite, and took another bite.  Guess what?  It was HORRIBLE!!  Not just bad.  Not just “oh, you’re so overly critical of your own baking”.  No.  It was DISGUSTING!  It’s actually in my sink at this moment, crumpled in bits and pieces, awaiting it’s little trip down the garbage disposal.  THAT bad.

What could be so bad, you say?  Well, the pastry was not flaky and light.  It was the polar opposite: heavy and soggy on the top and bottom.  The juice soaked into it and just made yukky mush.  Even though I baked it the recommended amount of time, I don’t think the bottom crust was even done.  Bleh.  On top of that, the pastry’s flavor was just off and weird.  The tiny bit of almond extract in the filling was grossly overwhelming and the filling was WAY too liquidy.  Altogether, it was so nasty that not even HayHay-the-15-Year-Old-Eating-Machine would touch it.  I would be ashamed to offer it to him or anyone else.

So, why do I bother posting on this disaster?  Cause it’s pretty damn funny to me!  It’s hilarious, in fact.  I make such a big ding dang deal out of baking from scratch, and then I have a catastrophe of Titanic proportions like this, and it just cracks me up.  One thing I don’t do is take myself too seriously, and it’s a good thing!  Plus, you can’t try anything new if you’re too afraid to fail.  Chances are I’ll have lots more beautiful disasters on my way to successful pastry baking!

Next time, I’ll try to do you proud, Grandmama!  I’m not giving up!  Meanwhile, please visit You Want Pies With That on June 8th to see the work of successful pie bakers!  I’m off to the grocery store for biscuits and canned pie filling.

~BigSis

June 4, 2009

If you’re from Texas, you’ve no doubt heard of Canton First Monday Trade Days.  It’s a once-a-month ginormous flea market that pretty much dominates the whole town.  I’ve been a bunch of times, but SisMama had never been so BDot and I took SisMama and her sister C to the spectacle last weekend.  We were really pushing it weather-wise though.  The temp got up into the low 90s so we were literally sweating our butts off since we were there for 6 hours!  PS, the butts grew back.  Rats!

We did find some cool things, as is always the case with Canton!  C and I each bought a really pretty hummingbird feeder from Sweet B & B Hummingbird Feeders.  They’re a super-nice couple who make these feeders out of copper, and sell them through their web site and at markets.  I love being able to support what folks like B & B (Beau and Becky) are doing, rather than running to the WallyMart to buy every little thing.  I bought this cute feeder that I have sucked onto my patio window, so that hopefully the kitties can see some birds up close!

So far, no diners have come to eat, but it’s only been a few days. I have a long red ribbon dangling from the feeder, and I’m going to get a pot of brightly colored flowers for the patio this weekend.  If any of you have suggestions on how to attract hummingbirds, please let me know!

BDot and I got something else unusual, that I totally DID NOT need. It’s all BDot’s fault since he tempted me with this product that he’s gotten before at Canton.  It’s called Pecan Honey Butter, and it’s so wicked delicious!  It came from East Texas Gourmet Foods, and I’m happy to see that they have online ordering too.  Just for gift ordering, you know.  😀

I never said this stuff was healthy…it’s totally a naughty treat, but we all need a touch of that from time to time!  Besides the Pecan Honey Butter, they also have Cinnamon, Praline, Apple Spice, Amaretto Pecan, Apricot Orange, Raspberry Pecan, and Cranberry Orange Pecan flavors.  I tried the Praline and Cinnamon varieties and loved them both too.  I SO want to spread a blob of this on a hot biscuit.  Do you think that would be bad for my cellulite?  Surely not!

If you get the chance, check out this Texas extravaganza.  But take my advice, and don’t go in the heat of the summer.  You’ll be miserable!  Go in the spring or the fall, and enjoy the mad fun!  Meanwhile, check out the hummingbird feeders and the honey butters online.

~BigSis

June 2, 2009

I’m so excited about my new discovery!  I’m pretty much a condiment queen…I have every condiment in my fridge from Sriracha to spicy brown mustard to real mayo to jalapeno ketchup to tamari to chili garlic sauce to horseradish sauce.  I love condiments, and if they add flavor without adding any fat, I’m even more in love with them.  Enter Vivi’s Carnival Mustard!

Vivi's Carnival Mustard

I heard about this condiment a long time ago, but wasn’t sure about ordering something online and paying shipping on it when I didn’t even know if I’d like it.  So I never ordered it.  A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a Vivi’s display at Central Market and remembered all of the rave reviews I’d read.  Being an impulse shopper, I grabbed a jar of the roasted garlic variety.  OMG!  This stuff is over the moon delicious!  I thought it was yummy on cheese and crackers, but when I put it on a whole wheat hot dog bun with a Tofu Pup, I thought I’d died and gone to vegetarian heaven!

What’s so special about Vivi’s?  Picture mustard meeting up with pickle relish, garlic, tomato paste, pepper sauce and spices!  Is your mouth watering yet?  I don’t think you can quite imagine how good this is, especially if you’re a spicy girl like me!  It’s vegan and all natural with no fat, no MSG, no preservatives and about the same amount of sodium as regular mustard.  You can choose the garlic variety as I did, or the original or the chipotle flavors.  Besides slathering it all over my Tofu Pup, I used it in my favorite Mock Tuna Chickpea Salad over the weekend, and I can’t wait to try it in deviled eggs.   Move over, my darling mayo.  There’s a new condiment in town who is tastier than you and who won’t add fat to my arse!

~BigSis

May 31, 2009

I’m so glad that LilSis mentioned that she was reading “The Shack” in her last “What the L”.  Where have I been?  I hadn’t heard one peep about this book, but now I know that everybody is reading it.  Some churches are reading it as a congregation and are doing studies along with it, much like they did when “The Purpose Driven Life” came out.

Back to “The Shack” though.  After LilSis mentioned it, I saw it at Sam’s Club that night and read the comments on the back cover.  They sold me on the book:

• Wynnona Judd said “Reading The Shack during a very difficult transition in my life, this story has blown the door wide open to my soul.”

• Michael W. Smith said “The Shack is the most absorbing work of fiction I’ve read in many years.  My wife and I laughed, cried, and repented of our own lack of faith along the way.  The Shack will leave you craving for the presence of God.”

• Mike Morrell said “This story reads like a prayer – like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. If you read one work of fiction this year, let this be it.”

There isn’t much else I can add to that; those endorsements are not overstatements.  The comments got the book into my hands, but from then on the book worked its way into my head and my heart.

I won’t give away one smidgen of this story.  I was fortunate to know nothing about this book when I read it, and I want you to have that same advantage.  If you know what to expect or what’s coming next, your experience will be lessened, and this is truly a glorious experience that you should have without expectation.

All I want to say is READ THIS BOOK.  Read it slowly, read it thoughtfully, and then read it again.  What’s it about?  It’s about rage and unforgiveness and grief, and getting unstuck from those dark places that consume your life.  It’s about forgiveness and love.  It’s about joy, and food, and special fondness.  Just read it.  If you don’t feel forever changed, let me know.  I’ll eat a bug.  A big juicy crunchy bug.

Oh, and one note in case you wondered.  LilSis and I are NOT being paid to review this book – or any other item on this blog for that matter – but I want to make it absolutely clear because this book is so important.  Please read it.

~BigSis

May 29, 2009

Yikes!  Swimsuit season has snuck up on us again?  Wasn’t it just Christmas??  I know I keep saying that, but seriously, didn’t 2009 just begin, like 5 minutes ago?

Flickr photo by Glorius

Whether I’m ready for it or not, swimsuit season is here.  And when it comes to my health and fitness level, I’m having some of the same challenges as you, LilSis.   I’ve got stress in my world and we know that triggers the nasty little hormone called cortisol, which does it’s darndest to make you fat.  I also have the “getting older” factor which means hormonal stuff and slowing metabolism, on top of my thyroid issues.  Plus I love spicy and salty foods, so I’m always trying to dodge a mexican food or pizza or chip ‘n’ dip disaster!

In spite of all that, I’m determined to be as healthy as possible, and to not use any of these real challenges as excuses for slacking off.  I’m up to 8 or 10 hard workouts a week, and I’m trying to be extra-careful about my eating.  I still feel as though I’m barely maintaining though, and that my body is really wanting to pack on some extra pounds.  It’s frustrating that I used to get by with 3 or 4 workouts a week and ate much more, but was in better physical condition.  I guess that’s the reality that we women all have to face, right?  We may as well accept it and try to find some solutions that work for us.  Here are some things that help me.  None of them are magic bullets (wish they were) but after decades of trying to be healthy, I know these are the tips that work for me.

• Eat intentionally, thinking of food as fuel for the things I have to do physically and mentally.  I have enough calories to spend on fuel, and none to waste on junk.

• Drink lots of water.  So important!

• Fruit only til noon on some days to give my system a rest.  Never skip breakfast!

• No sugar or other white stuff…white pasta, white rice, crackers, white bread, potatoes.

• Small meals keep the metabolism going and the fuel burning.

• Since I’ve been vegetarian for almost 15 years, I make sure to include protein at lunch and dinner, if not at breakfast. I also have a boiled egg, low fat string cheese or a small protein bar as a snack in the afternoon.

• Make dinner the smallest meal of the day, and ideally with no starches at all.

• No soft drinks and no caffeine.

• Limit alcohol.  Talk about empty calories!

• Watch the salt, especially at night.

• Take the supplements that your body and lifestyle demand.

• Cardio, cardio, cardio!

• Strength training.  Great for your bones, your posture, and your physique.

• Don’t forget facial sunscreen every day, whether you’re planning to be in the sun or not.  I like Neutrogena Dry Touch and Skinceuticals.  Neither breaks me out, which is saying a lot.  If you like color on your body but avoid the sun, Loreal Sublime Bronze self-tanner is awesome!

So those are the rules I set for myself, and try to follow (sometimes more successfully than others!).  Having said all that, I do allow myself a treat from time to time!

Oh, and before I go, how about an update on Jillian Michaels’ attempt to kill me via her “30 Day Shred” DVD?  I did Level 1 eight times and then moved up to Level 2, which I’ve done three times so far.  Can I tell you this is hard stuff?  So hard but so great!  I love it.  So far my heart rate on the treadmill is already down.  I’m feeling stronger, with better posture and a tighter core.  As long as I skip a day in-between Shredding, my knees can tolerate it.  I also bought two other of Jillian’s videos: “Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism” and “No More Trouble Zones”.  I haven’t done them yet, but can’t wait to give them a try!

Now let’s get out there, ladies, and enjoy our summer whether we’re in the shape we want to be in yet or not!  Today is all we have, so let’s celebrate it!

~BigSis