June 3, 2009

One of the many things I love about this time of the year is the amazing fresh produce. One of my most favorite salads to serve either as an appetizer or as a side salad is this Insalata ala Caprese.

We had a few friends over for dinner this past Friday night and I had some great tomatoes and loads of fresh basil, so it was a ‘no brainer’ when deciding what to serve as an appetizer. This is always a real crowd-pleaser! But, seriously, how can you go wrong with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil?

I just can’t get enough of this salad! Unfortunately, this is a little bit of a splurge when you use the full fat fresh mozzarella. (Unless you’re disciplined enough to keep it to a slice or two of cheese, which I am NOT.) I’ve made it using the lower fat mozzarella and it’s fine, but not quite as good, so I always use the fresh mozzarella when we have guests.

We had eight people and these were the quantities that I used, but obviously, you can modify easily enough for more or less servings.

Insalata ala Caprese

5 medium size fresh tomatoes, sliced
1 1/2 lbs. fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced
fresh basil leaves
1-2 T olive oil
1-2 T. balsamic vinegar
Dash of sea salt

Layer the tomatoes, basil leaves, and mozzarella on a serving platter. Drizzle with the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar, to taste. I also julienne a few basil leaves to sprinkle on the top and put a sprig in the center. Top off with a grind or two of sea salt, if desired.

I’ve made several different versions of this recipe. It’s excellent if you have a variety of tomatoes. I’ve made it with a combination of yellow, orange, and red tomatoes and it turns out gorgeous. Also, if you don’t care for the balsamic vinegar, just use a little lemon juice instead.

Buon appetito!

~LilSis

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

June 1, 2009

I would like to thank my long time, great friend, E, again for giving me this wonderful book for my birthday. I probably would not have read it otherwise!

(BigSis and I read this book at the same time and finished about the same time, but we decided to write about our individual opinions separately without discussing it or reading the others post. So, hopefully this isn’t too redundant.)

"The Shack" by William Paul Young

I really loved this book!  I’ve already ordered several copies to give to friends and family. It’s one of those books that you really want to share. I can’t pass on my copy yet, though, because I’ve already started it again. This time, I’ll force myself to read slower. I’ve heard some people say that they get even more out of it the second time around.

When sharing this book with others, the author specifically requests that you not discuss the plot. E didn’t tell me anything about the book. She just told me how much she loved it. She’s also rereading it and is participating in a Study Group.

It would change your experience of reading this book if someone blabbed anything about the plot or the ending.  If interested, you can read more about the author on theshackbook.com and even get a sneak peak at Chapter One if you’d like.  I don’t think that there is anything on the site that takes you further into the story, but you wouldn’t want to go the Forums, as they would definitely be discussing the plot.

In my opinion, this is a “must read” for anyone who has been trying to deal with grief, guilt, pain, or issues with forgiveness.  And, even if you’re not dealing with any of those issues, this is a great read and it just might make you see things in a different light.

~LilSis

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 30, 2009

We talk a lot about potatoes, don’t we? We love our potatoes, no matter whether they’re white, russet, yellow, purple, or pink!

I don’t know about most people, but I’ve never liked keeping potatoes in the pantry. I’ve never bought them in such large bulk that I couldn’t keep them in the vegetable bin in the frig. This is a great example of why I DON’T keep potatoes in the pantry!

Darn sprout busted right through the bag!

I don’t know who put these in my pantry, but I found them today hiding behind some boxes of crackers!  Just nasty!

That's just nasty lookin!

Believe it or not, some people actually think it’s okay to cook a potato that has sprouted! (Yes, I googled it.) Ick! I would have thrown up if I had even touched one of these nasty lookin’ sprouts. (They look like maggots!)  No way would I consider cleaning them off and eating the potatoes.

I don’t know which is worse, the fact that these disgusting ‘things’ were in my pantry, or the fact that I took a picture of them to share with all of you! 🙂

But, please don’t let this keep you from comin’ back!  Within the next couple of days, I’ll be sharing a gorgeous Summertime Fruit Salad made with the absolute freshest of fruit!

~LilSis

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

May 28, 2009

Okay, what was I just talking about a couple of days ago before BigSis had to throw in the Triple Chocolate Birthday Cake recipe? Oh yeah, I was talking about trying to lose 5 pounds before Summer! 🙁

Thanks for the recipe, BigSis, but there ain’t no way I’m going to have something that good in this house when I’m trying to lose weight and trying to get SirHoney to eat more fruits and veggies!

It’s so nice to be able to make something like that and take it to work to share with everyone. I know they all love it when you bring one of your homemade treats to work to share!

I bet this chick doesn’t eat cake!

On second thought, she probably doesn't eat anything!

We’re always looking up the science behind weight loss and coming up with diets or interesting theories (such as this “alternative to not eating” for men, science is apparently still undecided if the same would work for women.) I want to share an interesting article that I just read in the June edition of whole living body+soul magazine. The title of the article is “Secrets to Healthy Weight Loss.” After speaking with several weight-loss experts, the writer of the article identifies the eight most common reasons people struggle with their weight. Additionally, losing weight might be one way to last longer in the bedroom too!

Here are the 8 Biggest Obstacles:

• Not enough exercise
• The wrong foods
• Mindless eating
• Getting older
• Poor portion control
• Stress and fatigue
• Goal plateau
• Yo-yo dieting

So, you’re supposed to find the one that best describes your biggest obstacle and follow their strategies. If you fit into more than one category, you just combine the strategies to best address your needs.

I think that I fit into three of these categories. Those would be Getting Older, Stress, and Goal Plateau. Within each category, there are three or four solutions on how to overcome these obstacles. They actually have some pretty good suggestions.

You can read the entire “Secrets to Healthy Weight Loss” article here on whole living. As always, we appreciate any comments or suggestions that you may have for us! If you’d rather see more awesome chocolate cake recipes instead of reading about weight loss problems, you just let me know and I’ll put BigSis right on it! 🙂

~LilSis

May 27, 2009

I have to admit it, I have a confession to make.  My name is BigSis, and I’m a baking-from-scratch snob.  If I’m going to go to the trouble to bake something, I think it’s better if it’s made from scratch.  It’s always felt like it’s cheating to use a mix.  It’s not that I think I’m Miss Pastry Chef 2009, and that everything that emerges from my kitchen has a halo above it’s head.  I don’t think that at all.  So I don’t know why I have this snobbery about baking mixes, I just always have.

However, I recently entered a baking contest that required the use of a cookie mix, and I also used a brownie mix in another contest.  And guess what?  They were pretty darn good!  I was pleasantly surprised!  Now I’ve had to reevaluate my prejudice toward scratch baking, and admit that some mixes are worth using, and that there is no shame in using them!  Truth is, (gasp) you sometimes can’t even tell when a mix has been used.  For example, the Kahlua Bundt Cake I made recently used a mix, and so does this Triple Chocolate Cake I made for a co-worker’s birthday last week.

In my opinion, “doing things” to these mixes is the trick.  Add some vanilla, some coffee, some puddin, some licker…you get the idea.  For this cake, I took a tweak from the Chocolate Cake Mix Doctor, and jumped off from there with some changes of my own.  One important note is that the original recipe called for baking the cake 58 to 62 minutes.  When I checked mine at 50 minutes, however, it was already done and I think it might have been done a minute or two before that, so keep an eye on this bugger.

Triple Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing
(adapted from Chocolate Cake Mix Doctor)

For the cake:

1 pkg Devil’s Food or Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 3.9 oz pkg Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup canola oil
4 extra-large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus extra for garnish if desired (I used the swirled chocolate/white chocolate chips)

For the chocolate icing:

1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup brewed coffee
1 tsp vanilla extract
Dash salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli Bittersweet)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with flour-added non-stick spray, or grease and flour the pan.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for about a minute.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then beat on medium speed for 2 or 3 minutes.  The batter will be very thick.  Fold in the chocolate chips, mixing well to evenly distribute them.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth out.  Bake in the preheated oven until the cake begins to pull back from the sides of the pan, and a tester comes out clean, about 48 to 52 minutes.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes.  Carefully run a long thin-bladed knife around the perimeter of the cake to loosen it, and invert it onto the rack to continue cooling.  Meanwhile, make the icing.

In a medium-size saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, and coffee.  Stirring constantly, bring it to a boil over medium heat, 3 or 4 minutes.  Continue stirring for an additional minute to ensure the sugar is dissolved completely.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla and salt, and then the chocolate chips.  Stir to melt the chips.  Icing should be smooth and shiny.

Pour the warm icing over the cake, allowing it to drizzle down the sides.  Sprinkle additional chocolate chips over the top of the cake if desired.

Happy Birthday, Chocolate Lovers!

This cake was rich, and very very chocolaty!  I’d make it again, and start checking it for doneness around 45 minutes.  The icing is really unusual, and good but pretty sweet.  I think the bittersweet chips were a good choice in it; I absolutely wouldn’t use milk chocolate chips in it.  They’d be way too sweet.  Oh, and don’t worry about a strong coffee flavor in this cake.  I didn’t taste coffee at all actually; the coffee just brought out the rich flavor of the chocolate.  I might also add some cinnamon to the batter next time since I love that coffee-cinnamon-vanilla-chocolate combo.

So would I use another cake mix?  Sure, I would.  But would I rather make a cake from scratch if I had the time?  Oh, yeah!  There’s something so satisfying and fun in that experience.  But if time is short, I think a doctored-up cake mix still shows someone that you cared enough to fire up your oven, heat up your kitchen and get chocolate batter all over your favorite shorts, rather than drive to a bakery!

~BigSis

May 26, 2009

We keep talking about how fast time flies, but it’s true, isn’t it? It seems like the school year just started yesterday and it’s going to be June in just a few days! Seriously?

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, there is no doubt that Summer is right around the corner. The first day of Summer actually begins at 1:45 a.m. on June 21st and technically, Summer begins on June 20th at 10:45 p.m. in California. Yikes!

Depending on where you live, it may already feel like Summer. It does here in Southern California. Summer is my favorite season, but I’m just not ready for it yet! There’s so much to do within the house and I’m already dreading the search to find professionals for various maintenance issues, especially with regards to the AC systems. One of my friends suggested that No Problem Heating and Cooling / AC Repair in Dardenne Prairie or other places might be a good choice as you can find all the details online. I’m still thinking if I should consult someone online or go in search of one.

I’ve been putting off the dreaded trip to the mall to look for a new swimsuit. I’ve been wearing suits that are old, faded, and stretched out just because I am NOT in the right frame of mind to go swimsuit shopping. I had hoped to have five pounds fall off of me first. It just hasn’t quite worked out that way.

I told SirHoney that Memorial Day was our “last hoorah” and after that, it’s time to get serious about trimming down a little for Summer. A friend of ours just told me over the weekend that she lost ten pounds in a week on the Cabbage Soup diet! Do I dare go down that path? Nope. Don’t think so. First of all, it doesn’t even seem possible to me to lose that much in a week, but even if you do, I’m sure you put it back on right when you start eating normal again.

Starting today, there are going to be some changes in our meal planning. Nothing too drastic and definitely ‘doable’. SirHoney had a doctor’s appointment last week and due to slightly high blood pressure, his Dr. has advised him to go on the Dash Diet Eating Plan to see if he can lose five pounds in a month. I’m going to buy the Dash Diet Action Plan book from Amazon to make sure that I’m planning our meals accordingly. The Eating Plan has been proven to lower blood pressure in 14 days.

From the little I’ve read so far, the Eating Plan seems to be a lot like the Mediterranean Diet. Basically, it’s whole grains, at least four servings of fruits and vegetables a day, nuts, low fat dairy and lean meat. This is how I try to plan most of my meals anyway, but the fact that his doctor has advised him to follow the plan, maybe he won’t be inclined to cheat with a big fat Reuben sandwich or gigantic Porterhouse steak. He’ll definitely have to try harder to get in the fruits and the veggies each day, but it’s certainly worth the effort to avoid having to take medication.

Of course, at least 30 minutes of exercise a day would help him shed the pounds even quicker, but I’ve not been too successful in convincing him of that. I’m hoping to be back to my walking regime very soon so, hopefully, we’ll both lose a few pounds and I can feel better about that swimsuit shopping trip.

~LilSis

May 25, 2009

We’ve talked about food and drinks for Memorial Day, but we know those are just minor things in the big scheme of things.  They’re fun things, but they are trivial.  Memorial Day is all about gratitude.

• To all of the men and women who have given their lives in the service of our country, we say thank you.

• To the families and friends of service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we say thank you.

• To all of the men and women who are defending our country this very day and this very minute all around the world, we say thank you.

• To the loved ones who are living their lives thousands of miles away from their family members who are serving now, we say thank you.

• To all of the veterans who have returned home after serving in the military, we say thank you.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.  And thank you.  We appreciate you.

~BigSis