A Foodies Life

Temptation

You would think that a temptation would come in the form of an apple pie, fried chicken, steak, or even a lobster but tonight my temptation came in the form of a beautiful piece of brown sugar glazed salmon.  My favorite salmon recipe in the entire world.  Today seemed to be one of those crazy Monday's.  I went to work at seven planning on leaving early so that I could go on a run but things actually slipped away from me very quickly.  The time ended up flying and next thing I knew it was five o'clock and I needed to try to be back at work by six.  I desperately wanted to get a run in before, what the always accurate weather men say might be two days of rain.  So I rushed home, suited up, put a load of laundry in the washing machine and went on a quick 40 minute jog.  While I was craving getting on the road and running today when it actually came time I was lethargic and wanted to walk the whole way.  I survived and did what my nike plus system said was three miles, although I don't believe it.  I came home, changed laundry, took a quick shower and was back to work at 6:15.  

I knew Dad was making his salmon and thought about having it but then decided I would stick with the veggie burger and a salad.  When I got home from work the salmon was cooked and it looked wonderful.  I took a bite out of the extra piece in the pan. It was wonderful.  The veggie burger was warming in the microwave, bread all ready in the toaster.  I thought about just eating the salmon but decided against it.  I've done so good why quit now?  Granted I know it wouldn't be quitting just a slight misstep.  I ate my salad with beans, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and a dairy free honey vinaigrette.  I was starving still.  I thought well I could do it but the salmon wasn't going to beat me.  I warmed up half of the acorn squash that was left over from last night.  I was still hungry.  I ate two pieces of bread with earth balance butter and a mango chutney.  

I'm half a pound from being under the 200 hundred mark and I'm sure I'll hit it this week.  I'm still a little hungry but the salmon didn't win!

 

The Kind Diet

There's a new book on the market as of a few weeks ago called The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone.  Ms. Silverstone has been a Vegan for the past ten years and outlines her journey and reasons in her new book.  What is different about this book is how well it outlines changing your life to be healthier for the planet and yourself.  

I've often thought about eating less meat but thought it would be impossible to change because of being a chef.  Part of my job is to taste everything that I cook, it is what makes you a good chef.  In the book Alicia gives her readers a challenge to not eat meat or dairy for a month and see how it goes.  So last Saturday I decided I would give it a try.  

I have been meat free for over a week now and it has changed my life for the better I believe.  If anything it's made me more creative in the kitchen.  There have been some challenges as well.  On Wednesday evening I came into the house tired to two steaks sitting on the kitchen counter.  Instead of succumbing to the pressure I got on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes and then had a veggie burger for dinner.  There also has been a little scrutiny from other people.  The hardest thing to deal with is making my own meals and not eating what everyone else eats at the table.  

The good part of the whole thing is that it has launched my weight loss again.  Just in the past week I've lost about six lbs.  I feel lighter, it's easier to run etc.  

So welcome to the new me.  Expect to see more veggie things on the website for a little while.  I suggest you pick up the book and get it a shot!

Roasted Acorn Squash with Baby Bok Choy

Lots of fun and exciting changes have been going on in my life the past couple of days. I'll write more about them when I'm closer to a computer but wanted to pass this on.

On Monday night I made a roasted acorn squash with some roasted baby bok choy.

For the squash I cut it in strips and then rubbed it in olive oil and seasoned both sides with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I roasted them in the oven until they were tender and it was amazing!

For the bok choy I sauteed in the pan with salt and pepper and finished them in the oven with a dairy free honey Dijon vinaigrette by Cindy's Kitchen that I bought at Fresh Market.

I was suprised at how good it was and how full I felt after eating! Have a great day!

New Jersey running!!!!

In the past three days I've run 11 miles! Friday was a rough day, only able to go 2.6 miles and walked most of the time. Yesterday I went on a run at a lake house I was staying at in New Jersey. It was the perfect weather and I used a method I heard about from friends called the 'galloway method'. You run for a little bit and then walk, continually rotating that way. Moat people say to run 5 or 7 minutes and walk a minute. I ran ten minutes and walked one. I ended up doing a little over 4 miles and it was fine. I think I will use that method from now on.

I'm now in the car on the way back to Boston. I'll be seeing friends from high school tonight and then flying home early tomorrow morning. Hope you all are having a great weekend. It's cold but beautiful in the northeast. I'm attaching a picture from the run yesterday.

L'Andana Grill- Burlington, Ma

In less than an hour from when I arrived in the Boston area yesterday I had running shoes on and was starting a 4.5 mile challenge with my twin brother.  An hour after that I was panting but made it back to the house and not too far behind.  While my brother is a big guy, he has run his entire life.  Three weeks ago I couldn't run a mile.  Now I'm not going to lie, I didn't run the whole thing but I didn't walk too much either. 

 

Our reward was dinner at a great restaurant called L'Andana Grill in Burlington, Ma.  The restaurant is chic and stylish with very comfortable seating.  I was worried that we were seated too close to the table next to us but once conversation flowed and food arrived you forgot you were so close.  The menu has an Italian flair but is highlighted by the wood fired grill.  As an appetizer we ordered Carpaccio and a four cheese Fonduta.  The Carpaccio consisted of shaved parmesan, sirloin, buttery croutons and a black truffle aioli.  When all the ingredients were put on the fork it consisted of the perfect bite.  In my opinion it was topped by the gooey, yummy four cheese Fonduta.  My brother had been before and knew to ask for more of the tasty garlic bread that you get prior to your meal as dipping bread.  The bread that came with the Fonduta was wonderful but the garlic bread just added to it.  The best part of the Fonduta was the big chunks of roasted garlic and the salty sopressata. 

 

For entree's my brother decided on the swordfish and I decided on the Scottish salmon.  I just had some of the swordfish for lunch and while it was wonderful nothing could have beaten the perfectly cooked salmon.  Underneath the salmon was a sweet, delicious pile of lentils.  I haven't eaten lentils that good in a long time.  In the lentils were cranberries that popped in your mouth and the tartness was a wonderful surprise.

 

The dessert menu looked delightful but we were so full on the appetizers that we ended up bringing most of our meal home.  I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Burlington, Ma area. 

 

While I was successful at the run last night I was woken up by a knock on the door at 5:45am and told it was time for another run.  I felt like one of those whiny teenagers on a episode of MTV's Made.  I only made it 2.7 miles and at the end I could barely feel my legs.  So while I'm reminded that I have a lot of work left to do I'm happy with what I've done so far. 

 

Stuffed Butternut Squash

I looked in the cabinet this morning for something good for breakfast and realized we were out of cereal. So I opened up the fridge and found a stuffed butternut squash from the other night. Delicious. So I choose that instead of steak. The recipe I use is based on a recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook.

I get a butternut squash, cut in half and lightly oil. The bake with flesh side down in oven until done.

Meanwhile I sauté some onions, mushrooms and apples until just cooked. I add it to a bowl with cottage cheese and cinnamon. I then added some breadcrumbs until it firmed up. And seasoned to taste.

When the squash are done I take them out abd stuff them. Then bake in oven at 350 for about 20 minutes.

It's very filling and great as a meal on it's own.

Run Fat Man Run

I was coming around the corner, chest pounding, feeling the swoosh of each step on the hard pavement.  I thought I would be safe from embarrassment in the pre dawn hours then I saw a truck of landscape artists.  As they move past I looked at each of their faces and saw them smirking.  I presume they were laughing at the fat man running.  I'm having flashbacks to a certain mardi gras parade where I was wearing a jester costume running beside the golf cart where my colleague was yelling 'run fat man run.'  While I have to admit that it was hysterical it was also extremely embarrassing.  

I started running a couple of weeks ago and slowly I am getting better.  I can run a mile and a quarter comfortably now, which I don't think I could ever do before.  I have visions of macho gym teachers making us run around that stupid track four times and me never completing it.  Now I know I can.  Yesterday I ran/walked 4 miles in 58 minutes (according to my nike+).  That's pretty amazing for me.  And you know what it felt great!  

My goal, train for a marathon.  The family has challenged me to a half marathon on Christmas, don't know if that will happen but I'm going to try.  I'm going to keep you all updated on my progress as much as possible.  I'm also changing my eating and trying to get more into veggies and less into meat.  I will post my exercise for the day on here everyday.  

Hopefully at next years mardi gras parade my co worker will be able to yell 'run skinny man run'.