Sweet Sunday Afternoons

My laundry is done, the apartment is clean(er), and my lunch and breakfast are cooked for the week.  Sunday nights would be the best nights, if only it didn't mean that Monday morning inevitably starts the next day.

I just read this article about having a day of rest; the Sabbath literally means "rest" or "cease".  The article argued that doctors should not only ask patients if they smoke, exercise, or eat cheesesteaks for dinner every night, but also ask people how much they are working and how much they rest.  In today's society, it's important to ask these questions because stress can lead to all kinds of bad things.  When we have cell phones and social networks and jobs that never rest, we never get a break from everything.  Makes sense.

There's just so much to do and try!

Today I did three brand new things, which is quite a lot for a usually restful day.  This morning, I swallowed my fears surrounding touching people, and went to JuJitsu class.  I wasn't very good and there was a lot of touching and being close to people.  Pondering whether or not to return on my bus ride home, I realized I would probably go back for the sheer learning of a new thing.  I also realized I would probably be mad at myself for the first few classes for choosing to do such an uncomfortable thing.

Second brand new thing:  juicing.  My wonderful boyfriend got my a Breville juicer for Christmas and I hadn't taken it out of the box until today.  It seemed like a lot of work to clean and figure it out.  And I was scared of messing it up.  Seems silly, right?  One apple, carrot, kale and broccoli juice later, I'm so happy I tried it!  I just wish juice stayed fresher for longer.

Have you ever tried baked hard "boiled" eggs?  Well I will tomorrow, because for the first time, I made them tonight.  It's the minor things, people.

My whole being active and healthy thing has been going really well for these past two weeks, but next Sunday, I am taking a break and resting.  I cannot face another Monday being this tired.

Thanksgiving and Weight Issues

I had a great trip home.  I took time to be thankful for my family, my job, and my life.  I have a wonderful boyfriend who really makes my life better everyday and great friends!  Nothing is perfect, it is what it is.  And all-in-all, life's good.  I'm not homeless, unemployed or utterly alone.  Winning!

The only thing that was wrong with going home:  not enough vegetables!!!

I, as many people in America, struggle with those extra pounds.  Lately, I've been making efforts to work out more regularly.  With two gym memberships, I am exercising at least 5 hours a week, usually 7-10.  However, I constantly overeat.  Food is just SO GOOD GUYS.

In an effort to be better this week - me and the bf just made a grocery list and I'm going to cook breakfast for all week today.  My menu this week:

Breakfast:  oatmeal casserole, greek yogurt and a banana
Lunch:  turkey sandwich, vegetable soup, carrots, and an apple
Dinner:  vegetable (kale, broccoli, cauliflower or salad) and a pre-portioned frozen meal

We've decided to try pre-packaged meals for dinner for portion control to see if that works for a few weeks.  I'm not super excited about the idea, but I'm willing to see what happens.  After Christmas, I want to buy a juicer and start a modified Paleo diet.  I really want to see what it's like not to eat processed foods for awhile.


For now, I want to share this great oatmeal casserole recipe I got from my parents.  It's super delicious and great for cutting up into bars for all week.  It's awesome cold or warm!

Baked Oatmeal:

3 cups oatmeal
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk (or almond milk)
3-4 cups of applesauce (depending on how moist you like your oatmeal)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
nuts and seasonal fruit, optional

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients, put in a rectangular baking dish (11x7 ish).  Bake for 35 minutes.

Today, I'm going to make this with apples - I think next week I'm going to do bananas and strawberries!  I'm also going to get chia seeds at the grocery store today and add those for extra nutritional value.

What will you put in your baked oatmeal?

Julie & Julia

No, this is not another movie review.  Liz, who is awesome, said "food blogs are big" and since she would know here it goes.  This is the deal with my cooking skills.

I can cook.  Follow a recipe step by step, make sauces, cut vegetables, boil water, melt butter, etc.  It always turns out great and tasty, but quite frankly, going to the grocery store, picking up all the supplies, making sure I have the right number of pans and then cleaning all of those pans goes way over my normal time quota for a meal.

And I get really frustrated when there's more than 12 steps.  (That's why rehab programs don't have 13.)

Instead of following a cookbook, I just throw things together.  Cheap, easy, no more than 2 pans, and no more than $10.  Otherwise I'd just go to the pizza shop and get them to cook for me.  Or Wawa.  Or Cosi....

This is what I made Liz for lunch...we'll call it....uhhhh....

Pasta with Garlic Parmesan Stuff


What you need:
1 frying pan
1 pot that holds as much pasta as you want
Minced garlic (from a jar, don't do mince that stuff yourself)
Misc. spices
Pasta
Extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan

Here's how to make one serving.  Just increase ingredients for more servings.

1. In the pot, boil water.
2. Once boiling, put however much pasta you want in pot, set timer.
3. In the pan, pour some extra virgin olive oil.  How much?  Well, like 5 tablespoons-ish.  Maybe a little more? The great thing about this recipe is you can't mess it up!
4. Turn the pan on med-high heat, let the oil get hot, throw in some diced garlic.  As much or as little as your heart desires.  Use something to move the garlic & oil around so it doesn't burn to the bottom of the pan.
5. Don't forget to stir the pasta.
6. Add a little basil, oregano, pepper, and parsley to the oil & garlic.  Yes, or just use italian seasoning.
7. The water is reboiling and you've got like 3 minutes til the pasta's done right?  Oil is nice and hot and garlic is sizzling?  Turn the heat down to med-low.
8. Add some parmesan.  Stop asking how much, add as much as you think looks good.  Move it all around.  Keep it on med-low.
9. Drain pasta, dump the frying pan contents onto the pasta.
10. Clean your dishes.

If you have the means, add chicken or beef to the oil mixture and let it brown.  Sooo good.

As for Julia & Julie (or whatever) the movie was cute, but Julie is kind of a bitch.  And who has that much time to cook or find rare ingredients?  But Julia, bless her heart.