Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"Women’s historical willingness to endure horrible dangers, to submit to extreme and prolonged pain, to risk grave injury and death rather than remain pregnant, tells us something important about female desperation and determination, and the price women were — and still are — willing to pay to control their own bodies. What it tells us is that women will always find ways to end an unwanted pregnancy, no matter what the law says, no matter the risks to themselves."  Leeches, Lye and Spanish Fly

A Day in India that makes me want to visit there. (via 101 Cookbooks)

“ '[Alcohol] decreases your ADH and you are producing more fluid. So when you produce more fluid and you fill your bladder more, you suppress more ADH,' Moore says. And within 20 minutes of drinking, alcohol irritates the bladder, leading to that uncomfortable feeling of a full bladder, even if it isn’t." A happy hour urban myth: Is 'breaking the seal' a real thing?

Yes, Target, I would like to get to know stylist Kate Young. I specifically want to see the star dress with the peter pan collar brought to life, so I can consider buying it. 

"There’s no ideal stratagem for figuring out whom any one of us should be with and how to chart a course to that person, no fail-safe process for determining whether a twosome will endure. The act of getting together, whether brokered by yenta or Yahoo, is one of willed credulousness and wishful thinking as much as anything else, the triumph of optimism over morning breath. And it’s a wager, because people have hidden layers, hidden intentions. Your beloved could switch political parties. Your hookup could insist on a soundtrack of Celine Dion. Not knowing what’s in store is the very soul of romance: what makes it so scary, and what makes it so thrilling." Manti and the Mating Game

Recipes Bookmarked
Almond Croissant Oatmeal (Frangipane Oatmeal) at Always Order Dessert
Coconut Snowballs at Everybody Loves Sandwiches
Magic Mineral Broth at NPR

Brooklyn Promenade, New York, December 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"...the lessons of Lincoln seem as fresh as ever. They demonstrate the importance of resilience, forbearance, emotional intelligence, thoughtful listening and the consideration of all sides of an argument. They also show the value of staying true to a larger mission." [Abraham] Lincoln’s School of Management or yet another reason I should read Team of Rivals already. 

I also need to reread The Great Gatsby prior to its return to the theaters this May. Leslie sent me the First Look at Miuccia Prada's Great Gatsby costumes last week. The Miu Miu one is my favorite and I can't wait to see the rest. 

"Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." Rainer Maria Rilke (quote found here)

13 Ways to Spend Less Time Online and Reclaim Your Real Life

New York Times' The Red Carpet Project covers Oscar looks from 1997 to 2012. So much pretty.

Recipes Bookmarked
Latin Spice Roast Chicken with Chimichurri at Always Order Dessert
Orange Salad with Fresh Orange-Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette, Iced Onions and Cilantro - Recipe adapted from "Modern Sauces" by Martha Holmberg (Chronicle Books) via PureWow
Low-Sodium Lo Mein at Sodium Girl

Blueberry Cake Doughnut, Doughnut Plant in Chelsea, NYC, December 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"Well, what does eat correctly mean, you know? That's really what we're talking about here, is what does eat correctly mean? What I say in the book is that the two things that every successful diet share in common: low sugar, high fiber. So what's a low-sugar, high-fiber diet called? It's called real food." Robert Lustig, endocrinologist and obesity doc and author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease. (via The Fallacies Of Fat an NPR interview with him)

My Mother Gives Me Her Recipe by Marge Piercy

Sarah Hallacher's Beef Stakes project, "a [visual] data representation of the amount of beef produced in 2011." Her styrofoam packaged "steaks" represent steak production scaled by state size for the 4 top producers in the US:  Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas; their labels provide information about steak processing. (via NPR)

Neil deGrasse Tyson's life philosophies highlighted at Jay Parkinson + MD + MPH

Recipes Bookmarked
Eggs Boiled in a Pressure Cooker at Hip Pressure Cooking
Ginger-Lamb Coconut Curry at NPR's Open Window
Moroccan Kale Salad adapted from Robyn Youkilis, Your Healthiest You, NYC



New Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs in April?! Can't wait.

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

As my muscle has grown, the consideration of strength versus femininity is something I struggle with often. This essay covers it well. (via Gabby)

A fascinating, eco-friendly method to heat buildings. "Heat generated by people at home at night would be piped to office buildings first thing in the morning, and then heat shed in the offices during the day would flow to the residences in the late afternoon. Nature is full of life-giving cycles; why not add this human one?" from The Power of a Hot Body

Great, old Nike ads - read 'em ladies! The Significance of You, Falling in Love in Six Acts, & One More.

"This morning, I will begin living on a food budget of $30 a week / $4.32 per day.  This is the financial equivalent of the budget provided to people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, in the State of New Jersey.  I will live only on a SNAP equivalent food budget for the next seven days." A bold experiment by Corey Booker, Newark New Jersey's Mayer; he is an innovator.

VCU's Men's Basketball is killing it this year:
- Briante Weber and Troy Daniels are both national leaders as of Wednesday's win against Dayton (our first in the A10!!). Want to know what for? See here.
-"VCU ranks first in the country in total steals (202), steals per game (13.5) and turnover margin (+8.8)." (via this press release which also notes that we have broken into the USA Today Coaches Poll's top 25 for the first time in a regular season.)

Recipes Bookmarked

Coconut Milk at Always Order Dessert

Coconut Milk via NY Times

Green Juice adapted from Seamus Mullen, Tertulia, New York City

New York Botanical Garden, April 2007

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"It's called healthcare -- a system where doctors can prescribe solutions to improve health, not just manage disease." Rebecca Onie: What if our healthcare system kept us healthy?

The power of words illustrated in a sub-2-minute video that is worth watching.

Philadelphia has a Prohibition exhibit I'd like to see through April 28 (and it is free on Sundays). NYC's American Museum of Natural History also has an exhibit I'd like to see: Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture.

"As it happens, taste buds do diminish as people get older, usually starting at 40 to 50 in women and 50 to 60 in men (why later for them is unknown). And those that remain do not, so to speak, step up to the plate to make up for their departed colleagues. No, they begin to atrophy, and sometime around age 60, people may notice that they have lost some taste sensation, usually beginning with salty and sweet tastes and then bitter and sour ones. But it is the changes in the nose that really matter." Why Does My Food Have Less Flavor?

"But drawing brighter lines between work and time off — family, friends, outside activities, and old-fashioned daydreaming — has clear benefits for productivity, creativity, and wellness." The Upside of Downtime.

Recipes Bookmarked
Hummus from Jerusalem: A Cookbook at NPR
Roasted Butternut Squash Hummus with Pomegranate Seeds and Wasa Crispbread at Snacking in the Kitchen
Spaghetti with Broccoli Cream Pesto at Smitten Kitchen
Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower with Mint Chutney at My New Roots (Thanks, Chessa!)

The Jefferson, November 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

Sugar Plums: They're Not What You Think They Are. Etymology fascinates me as does anything related, however distantly, to The Nutcracker at this time of year. (via The Cupcake Project)

"She said you have to jettison the people and things out of your life that don’t matter, and focus on what’s meaningful for you. ... I don’t love the statement: Women can’t have it all. Nobody can have it all! Men or women. But you can have what you want if you focus on it and figure it out." Ann Taylor CEO Reveals Her Most Important Career Lesson (via Lexie)

A men's shirt worn 50 ways by Bea Johnson... I need to look at this every time I think my wardrobe is lacking and be inspired. Her inspiration is here and, FYI, it is NSFW. (via The Improvised Life)

"And when I was finished, I experienced the most unfamiliar thing: calm. And I realized that taking action and doing something I didn’t know how to do but had to figure out on the fly had been enough to occupy my brain and prevent it from skipping ahead in search of the next cliff, hurricane or Very Bad News waiting for me around the next corner with a chloroform-soaked rag and a burlap potato sack." Augusten Burroughs' On towel bars, “Living in the moment” and why I admire people who are late. While I like his vignette on living in the moment, I can tell you being late doesn't make me any less worried! (Nice find here too, Jaime.)

Sherpaa has a helpful guide to terms and acronyms in health insurance materials.

Recipes Bookmarked
Beef (or Turkey or Fish) Jerky at The Kitchn
Candied Salted Bacon at The Kitchn
Turkey Meatloaf in a Pumpkin at The Kitchn

Spotsylvania Battlefield, VA, November 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

I loved this conversation between Valentino and Sarah Jessica Parker about their involvement with New York City Ballet. The black tutu in the sidebar is amazing!

Elderly deaths due to bed rails meant to protect them? Unreal and heartbreaking...

Kevin Kelly's The Universe Is Conspiring to Help Us (via Heidi at 101 Cookbooks)

I admire "Humane End of Life" practices like those described here, but the perspective voiced by Ben Mattlin in "Suicide by Choice? Not So Fast" is one I hadn't considered. That said I think I'm still for it.

Fairytales for 20 Somethings are also amusing for this 30-something.

Recipes Bookmarked
Apple Cider Caramels at Smitten Kitchen
Caramel Apple Pie at The Best Remedy
Inside-Out Apple Pie à la Mode from The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook at Epicurious

Sunset View from a Suite at The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, VA November 2012

Thanks to Amanda for the shot opportunity!

No song this week... A girl has to sleep when she's actually going to Crossfit on back to back days for once on top of an exciting workday at the deli counter. 

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"Increasingly, milk isn't something you just drink anymore — we're drinking less plain old milk these days. Instead, milk's become a raw material, sort of like crude oil, that's broken down into separate, more valuable products. ... 'Depending on the markets, in any given year, the whey may be more valuable than the cheese,' Bastian says." You Can Thank A Whey Refinery For That Protein Smoothie

We've come a long way since Jeanette Rankin. In the recent election, we elected a historic number of women US Senators. Read the details here.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Visits Sesame Street, Explains that ‘Princess’ Is Not a Career. (Nice find, Jaime.) And on a semi-related note... Check out this toy that aims to encourage girls to pursue engineering and to learn problem solving, spatial orientation, etc. It looks fun! (Thank to Alex H.)

"For people to adopt a healthful lifestyle, I have become convinced, they need to live in an ecosystem, so to speak, that makes it possible. As soon as you take culture, belonging, purpose or religion out of the picture, the foundation for long healthy lives collapses. The power of such an environment lies in the mutually reinforcing relationships among lots of small nudges and default choices." The Island Where People Forget to Die

83 years old young and doing Crossfit? You're amazing, Jean Stewart. (via Gabby of Gabby's Gluten-Free)

Recipes Bookmarked
Braised Chicken with Capers and Parsley at Bon Appetit
Chicken Pad Thai at Paleo Perfectly

Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Almonds at Epicurious

Mustard-Baked Chicken with a Pretzel Crust at Food & Wine
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken at Epicurious

Is it wrong to already miss this time of year? Central Park, New York, NY, May 2010

OMG. It is a song about thrift shopping. Their lip syncing could use some work, but I love how unique it is...and let's face it...I can relate.

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"On October 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving people in Europe." I was surprised to see a US President advocated eating less meat, ever. (via the NY Times Headlines e-mail of that day)

Runner's World's Detailed Shopping List of Best Buys and Must-Avoids at the Grocery Store (and a much shorter cheat sheet with the items sans explanations.)

Why Foods Go Together Like 'Rama Lama Lama, Ke Ding A De Dinga Dong' provides an explanation for why dinner parties always seem to get out of hand. ;) "Even though the drinks are only weakly astringent, such beverages (wine, tea, beer, etc.) build in astringency with every sip, creating a strong feeling of dryness in your mouth. Conversely, fatty foods lubricate your mouth and make it feel slimy. 'Our mouth really wants to be in a position of balance,' says Breslin. And the more you sip and chew, the better your mouth feels."

Well, shoot, I thought evaporated cane juice might be better/less refined than plain Jane sugar. When will I learn sugar is sugar and I need to learn to let it go...

"Some of you called me out: the recipes I frequently post here don’t necessarily reflect the way I eat, every day, when I arrive home just needing to get some good, filling food on the table. Food blogs, photography, and writing tend to highlight the unusual, the unique, the quaint, and the momentous. I love and celebrate all these things too, but perhaps it is time to document the everyday." excerpted from a smart essay On dinner, work, & lifestyle (via 101 Cookbooks)

Recipes Bookmarked
Pumpkin Pie Spice Chips at Cupcake Project
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (Grain Free, Gluten Free) at Deliciously Organic
Pumpkin Walnut Granola at Everybody Loves Sandwiches and/or Skinny Pumpkin Granola at Skinnytaste
Sugar Detox Cinnamon Sweet Potato Ice Cream with Toasted Walnuts at PaleOMG

Cottage-style homes are some of my favorites. Arlington, VA, January, 2007

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"The ball itself isn't what was important. All of the memories I relayed in this article I conjured up without it. The ball is now in the trash bin; the memories and emotions of that day are in me. When I realize the ball is chewed, or my life is short, I’m reminded every moment with it was precious." A lesson on impermanence from a ruined baseball

Rodney the Ram has been revamped for the A10. I hope he is better than the Air Rodney they tried out back in my undergrad days. Go VCU!

I'm usually all about scientific advances of this nature, but for some reason this creeps me out. Perhaps because it makes me think of Never Let Me Go? "In what could be the ultimate in personalized medicine, animals bearing your disease, or part of your anatomy, can serve as your personal guinea pig, so to speak. Some researchers call them avatars, like the virtual characters in movies and online games." Seeking Cures, Patients Enlist Mice Stand-Ins. I much preferred the other fascinating articles in this series: One Day, Growing Spare Parts Inside the Body and Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding.

Ever wonder what pattern an upholstery featured? Here's a resource that identifies them all. (via 101 Cookbooks)

"Taking a pill to feel normal, even a pill sanctioned by the medical profession, led to a strange situation: it made people wonder what 'normal' really was. What does it mean when people feel more like themselves with the drug than without it? Does the notion of 'feeling like themselves' lose its meaning if they need a drug to get them there?" Valium’s Contribution to Our New Normal

Recipes Bookmarked
Mangalore Salmon Braised with Coconut Milk at Epicurious
Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger, Scallions, and Soy at Epicurious
Tarragon Oil at 101 Cookbooks (want to do it with basil!)
Quick Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Mango Salsa at Always Order Dessert

Briante Weber's got the look. VCU's win over VUU in the exhibition game was a great start to the season. November 2012, Richmond, VA

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week* online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

"My secret for long life is simplicity, work and enjoyment." Smart words spoken by the graceful Maia Helles - watch the video this quote is from and be inspired. (via 101 Cookbooks)

I must get to NYC's Transit Museum to see the Miss Subways exhibit. (via Courtney)

I hope Malala Yousafzai survives and thrives. Laura Bush's opinion article on her October 9 shooting was great; I especially liked the last paragraph. Note: As for her recovery? So far, so good......

"I still strongly believe that women can 'have it all' (and that men can too). I believe that we can 'have it all at the same time.' But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured." Anne-Marie Slaughter's Why Women Still Can’t Have It All

Regardless of where you stand politically "You Don't Own Me" is a really well done PSA.

Recipes Bookmarked
Apple Cake (Grain Free, Gluten Free) at Deliciously Organic
Blueberry Muffins at Paleo Perfectly
French Apple Cake at Baking Bites
Pork and Apple Pie with Cheddar-Sage Crust at Epicurious

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, North Garden, VA, October 2012

*Most of these links are from sometime in October rather than this week; I got behind on my Friday posts. This will be the case for a while! 

Graduate School Open House

I visited an awesome graduate program today! To feel most confident, I channeled Blair Waldorf with this super preppy and girlie outfit. I promise my collar was not actually popped on-site.

Also, I'm not sure why Target was selling this top but I know why it is on clearance.

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

There Might Be a Real Reason We Like Pineapple and Ham Together. Salted caramel and a few other odd pairs are addressed too.

I loved binder clips, even before I saw all of these neat things to do with them . 

Oh. I had no idea... "Real buttermilk is what’s left of heavy cream once it has been churned (here, knocked around 1,000 pounds at a time, dropping from top to bottom of a 13-foot-high butter churn with great thwacks and thumps) to break its natural emulsification." This isn't what I've been buying at the store. Buttermilk, Often Maligned, Begins To Get Its Due.

This gif combines a beautiful landscape with a video game like effect. It made me smile.

Donate your extra produce before it goes to waste via Ample Harvest's partnership with food pantries.

Recipes Bookmarked
Baked Orzo with Eggplant and Mozzarella at Smitten Kitchen
Eggplant, Mozzarella, and Saffron Rice Bake at Bon Appetit
Fig Swirls at Epicurious

 Ocean City, MD, September 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

For those of you curious about Paleo, here are two great links I would've enjoyed at the start of my completed challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Paleo and Debunking Diets: Paleo Pros and Cons. One day I'll write my thoughts about it, from the standpoint of someone who adhered more like 90-95% of the time than 100%, and I'll work on posting related recipes too.

A clever French advertisement involving physical activity. 

The Blue Moon may not have been truly special, but it resulted in some amazing photos. P.S. Farewell Neil Armstrong.

"The 2012-2013 VCU Basketball schedule is AWESOME." I can't wait!

How do people come up with ideas like this? Egg separation sans hands or fancy equipment. (via Epicurious)

Recipes Bookmarked
Paleo Apple Blueberry Pie at The Sweet Spot
Jam Cake with Chocolate Caramel Ganache at Epicurious
Lamb Stew with Lemon and Figs at Epicurious

 Backyard Butterfly Bush (SO many butterflies hang out there!), August 2012, Mechanicsville, VA

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

This wind map hypnotized me for a bit. (via 101 Cookbooks)

" 'Like almost all of us, I started out in a hospital, but I switched because I wanted to talk to people about what they were eating before they got sick,' said Shari Steinbach, the lead dietitian at Meijer." Employing Dietitians Pays Off for Supermarkets

Epicurious has great ideas for upgrading your sandwiches. Give lunch a makeover.

"Instead, I’m saying that it’s your duty to create and be and present yourself simply as you are, no better, no worse. I’m not advocating pride, but rather, I’m suggesting you can the put-downs and verbal deflation of your own work." This Post Isn’t Worth Your Time – Brave Now 

" 'We realize that Lean Cuisine is not a home-cooked, organic meal,” [Ben] Gardner says. “We are a pragmatic solution that is not letting perfection get in the way of progress.' " He's a clever guy to have thought of this program! 50 cents off chips, in the name of healthful eating 

Recipes Bookmarked
Banana Bread Pancakes at Paleo Comfort Foods
Chicken Cacciatore over Cabbage Noodles at Mothering
Hazelnut Frangipane Tart (Grain Free, Paleo) at Deliciously Organic

Everyone Likes Figs, Red Dog Farm, Mechanicsville, VA, August 2012

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

Finding “Real” in writing and elsewhere. (via Zuburbia)

Let your kids be inspired by the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge's recipes. Download all 54 peer-produced recipes here.

"When we hold on to stuff we no longer want or use, it does indeed cost us something more, if only in the time spent organizing and contemplating them." from You Probably Have Too Much Stuff by Carl Richards

What is in your beef? Results of Congresswoman Slaughter's request for some major companies to disclose their policies on antibiotic use in meat and poultry production.

The 9 Nanas have one mission and one mission only: to create happiness and it all begins with baked goods. *heartwarming*

Recipes Bookmarked
Coconut Cake at Saveur
Pineapple Sponge Cake (Gluten-Free) at Saveur
Zucchini-Crust Vegetarian Pizza Margherita at Kalyn's Kitchen

Glen Echo Park, Maryland, August 2012

I'm not crazy about the weird pause-reset in the video, but the song is good. (via Frontier Psychiatrist)

Paleo Challenge: Days 13-15

I was more successful with documenting almost everything I ate the past few days. I think the first breakfast is missing, but just go ahead and assume it was eggs with some veggies mixed it. That is always a safe bet.

Behold my eating!

1/2 can of Sardines (water packed, drained) mashed with Avocado and a generous squeeze of Lime Juice, 10 Carrots and a ridiculously juicy Plum

 Mediterranean Summer Squash "Pasta"

Eggs, Cumin and Chili Powder Spiced Ground Beef, Green Pepper, Onion and Salt

 1/2 can of Sardines (water packed, drained) mashed with Avocado and a generous squeeze of Lime Juice, 10 Carrots and a crisp, sweet Apple

 That core is a pear. I think. This Jocalat bar didn't do much for me. 

A luxurious soup made of Chicken, Ginger, Shitake Mushrooms and Coconut Milk (adapted from this recipe at Simply Recipes). I wanted to keep this all to myself. 

 

Do these eggs look familiar? They should. I already told you about them above. The bosc pear was a delicious addition to this breakfast - so crisp and clean.

 

"Mexican" Pulled Pork from the freezer over raw shredded cabbage, which melted when I heated the whole container.

 A much, much better Larabar than that Jocalat one.

 Buffalo Turkey Meatloaf wrapped in Collard Greens (adapted from this recipe at PaleOMG) and Pureed Cauliflower flavored with Garlic Confit

Items not pictured: sampled peach hunk and an ounce of Naked Very Berry Smoothie from a trip to Costco, an almost daily pond sludge drink smoothie involving baby spinach, fruit, chia and a tiny bit of flax milk and quite possibly some raisins, another piece of fruit, a bit of homemade Larabar and/or coconut water.

Paleo Challenge: Days 3-12

I'm a terrible lazy blogger and food intake logger. While I didn't take pictures and/or write down everything I've eaten since that last post where I thought I would post daily, I havea good idea of what I ate. The main thing is until this past weekend (travel + wedding + bridal shower) I hadn't actually cheated other than inhaling a Larabar with cashews one day when starving.

Shockingly, I hadn't had any headaches or significant discomfort. Outside of having to explain what I am doing and/or alter my meals out in a direction I'd rather not go. In fact, my stomach has been calmer on a day to day basis than it has been in a long time. You might wonder if I can attribute this to the diet specifically... I would too except that on Saturday, the first time I cheated, I ate illegal foods and immediately had a reaction. Now I just need to figure out what caused the kickiness to return.

Here are the sketchy details of what I have eaten that was Paleo friendly. I'll try to do a better job logging, blogging and adhering to the rules for the remainder of the challenge.

Roasted Sweet Potato, Broccoli Salad and Bone-in Pork Chop with a Blueberry Baslamic Reduction

 

Gazpacho and Shredded Pork topped with super garlicky Pesto

Sesame-Encrusted Ahi-Tuna Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette (On the side... It was the most paleo-friendly dressing option at 3 Monkeys. I can't say it was the best with the tuna, but I was trying to be good.)

Prosciutto-Wrapped Cod with Thyme

Peaches, Plums, Nectarines and a Coconut Milk Reduction flavored with a touch of Vanilla Extract 

Sauteed Shredded Cabbage with Apples, Bacon and White Wine Vinegar

Fresh-Picked Figs and Kale Chips (Olive Oil, Dill, Garlic Powder and Salt)

"LaraBars"

Lime Chicken with Steamed Broccoli (No, I couldn't actually finish all that chicken in one sitting.)

Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie

Mediterranean Summer Squash (Squash "Pasta," Capers, Zucchini, Black Olives and Artichoke Hearts) with Okra "Fries"

Friday Distractions -- Random Links & Recipes Bookmarked

Ready for the weekend? To help you pass your Friday here are the highlights of what distracted me this week online, what I bookmarked that I hope to one day eat, and a picture.   

17-year-old girl builds artificial ‘brain’ to detect breast cancer. Her cloud-based neural network is tied to the least invasive testing methodology and has promising results.

"Physical activity by itself is not going to make and keep you thin." Dieting vs. Exercise for Weight Loss

Riddhi Shah has a great point here: Sikh Temple Shooting: Why Do the Media Care Less About This Attack?

I'm interested to see where Sherpaa, a health care start-up, goes.

Escape to the empty streets of nighttime Paris in/for 2 minutes. (via The Improvised Life)

Recipes Bookmarked
Basil and Lime Sorbet at The Best Remedy
Butterscotch Sauce at David Lebovitz
Coconut Lime Chewy Cookie at Poppy Talk

Pom Pom Flowers, Richmond, VA, August 2012

LCD Soundsystem "Home" from FUNWUNCE on Vimeo.

Crazy Eyebrows. Robot. Party Lifestyle. Neat Story.

Paleo Challenge: Days 1-2

After months of debate (nothing new when it comes to big decisions) I'm dipping my toe into the Paleo Diet with a strict trial run of approximately 30 days. I've needed to do an elimination diet for a while to see if I could resolve some, uh, GI flare-ups and haven't had the discipline. The opportunity to do a challenge with a group from Crossfit Full Circle was the perfect motivation to get with it!

Plus it gave me a group to commiserate with and that always helps. I've been pinched for body fat, measured and weighed and am a few days into the challenge. Technically I started Sunday, but I didn't start logging until Wednesday post-measurements. Posted below is what I've eaten thus far with brief descriptions and some photos. If I ever nail a recipe, I'll post it in full. But something tells me recipes, like the whole challenge will be a work in progress with plenty of repetition.

It hasn't been too bad so far other than my stomach feeling heavy often; I assume it is from all the protein as I wasn't eating much meat. That said I know I'll miss my sweets, with a vengeance, eventually!

Breakfast has been a medium apple plus two egg muffins (eggs, egg whites, Trader Joe's uncured turkey bacon, arugula, spinach and garlic).

Lunch Wednesday was this stir-fry of beef stew tips, onions, green and red peppers and jicama generously doused with lime juice and chili powder. Think of fajitas without the tortilla. Jicama tastes like a cross between an apple and potato.
 

Post-work smoothies have been my favorite part of the day... Wednesday's was 1/2 cup coconut water, 1 cup of spinach, 1 frozen peach, 1 teaspoon chia seed and 2 tablespoons of reduced fat (via dehydration) unsweetened shredded coconut.

Dinner Wednesday was a whole cucumber topped with avocado-lime-basil chicken salad. The chicken salad needs refining, but was pretty tasty and definitely filling. I followed it with 10 raisins for "dessert."

Thursday's lunch was 1/2 an avocado, a cup or so of spring mix and a hamburger patty with a bit of lime juice. 

 

This is not pond sludge. It is Thursday's smoothie made from 1/2 cup flax milk (don't get it...it has trace amounts of tapioca starch...my bad), 1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup dinosaur kale, 1.5 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of chia seeds and a frozen banana. It probably needed a tad less cocoa powder as it was a tiny bit bitter.

Dinner was super sketchy leftover pulled pork from last Friday's Crossfit grand opening party/Jess's going away party sauced up with a puree of coconut oil, whole cilantro, salt and ground red pepper with the equally sketchy broccoli salad from the same place. I heated this for a good while in the microwave to be safe. ;)

For filler and to maximize veggies, I improvised Gazpacho in the Vitamix from tomatoes, tomato juice (home canned), zucchini, cucumber, olive oil, sesame oil, red wine vinegar, onion and garlic. I'm working on having a cup per day.

Unpictured from Wednesday: 1 date, 1/3 cup blueberries, Cherry Pie Lara bar, 1 ounce barbeque and 3 pieces of broccoli salad.

Unpictured from Thursday: 5 or 6 small pieces of grilled zucchini, a slice of Tavern Ham and some blueberries. We'll see how many I'm still getting there!

I've consumed about 50 ounces of water each day, which for me is good. I'm sure sure my body can handle more liquid.

We'll miss you Jess! Have a safe move.