He did it again!

My love for food goes deeper than my fridge. I love the science of food, the art, the history, the culture. So naturally, I love Michael Pollan. I have read and re-read his books again and again whenever I need a reality check on why I stopped eating fast food or why it's important to buy local. His documentaries are on point and his books get down to the nitty gritty so obviouslyI could not wait to get the latest gem. This one's a little different from the others in that Michael is now the cook and is exploring the interaction between the cook, the food and the fed. I will now have to split my time between "Cooked" and the terribly addictive "The Paris Wife" but I'm okay with these types of dilemmas. Also it's "cheat day Thursday" that meyer lemon tart made up for all the time this week I wanted chipotle and fought the urge.

An unlikely pair

So this morning in a rush before work Dan decided he wanted to juice.  I never juice solo because I don't like to clean the damn thing so I jump on board whenever he offers.

I made my juice with:

*carrots*

*apple*

*cucumber*

*wheat grass*

*romaine*

*celery*

And as I'm about to down this green monster I realize I don't have much time for breakfast so I toss in 1/2 a scoop of the veggie protein powder and as I'm mixing them and watching the vibrant green turn to a murky brown and imagining what this juice would taste like with vanilla in it I start getting nauseous.  "this is not a good idea Aysha" I kept saying as it's whirling but this stuff is pricey and I shall not waste.  It smelled like vanilla lawn clippings so I plugged my nose and chugged and too my surprise it was strangely delicious.  Like an apple vanilla milkshake.  Well-played, Universe. 

Turnip-cauliflower Mash

I'm riding this health train hard.  Yes I may have had one too many snap pea crisps today but who's counting?

Today I was craving mashed potatoes and spinach (and for some strange reason celery).

So I dug in my fridge and pulled out 1/2 head of cauliflower and 2 turnips and got to work.

I steamed the cauliflower and skinned, diced and boiled the turnips.  Drained and mashed them together with garlic, black truffle salt, herbs de Provence, pepper and because they weren't as thick as I like my potatoes I added 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed.  Came out perfect.  Meals like this don't make me feel like I have to give anything up to look and feel better. 

The Perks of Marrying a Wallflower

I am not a very social person.  I do not have friends all over the place, I don't organize events, coordinate get-togethers and I am bad at making decisions when it comes to what to do on Friday nights and weekends.  I'm always torn between what I want to do and what I feel like I should be doing.  Enter: Dan.  I married a very passive man, vvvveerrryyyy passive, I'd even go as far to say that he is stoic.  He will do anything or go anywhere and be content.  He will not so much as whisper a complaint.  If he knows the people around him are enjoying themselves then he is too.  That's why I love the little lamb.  This weekend I had plans to go to LA and try a few restaurants checkout the nightlife a little but as the weekend approached all I wanted to do was be as lazy, cheap and self-indulgent as possible.  But feeling like I didn't want to waste Dan's weekend I gave him my "I'm down for whatever, Babe" speech and prayed.  The results gave life to a perfect weekend.  Consider this me being bragadocious but this man is perfect to/for me.

He suggested we head to the beach

Not because he wanted to, but because he remembered me mentioning earlier in the week how I wished I had time to lay out.  And as I sprawled out bikini-clad with my book and a smile beaming he was cuddled close to me on our beach blanket in a hoodie, basketball shorts and a giant sun hat;

Instead of going to Starbucks we stayed home and concocted a new iced tea and sat on our patio and drank it together listening to music and subtly flexing for the camera 

lemon-ginger-mint tea with lime, oh yes

At 8:00 I realized I didn't have a few  (unnecessary) kitchen gadgets that I left at my parents house. He looked up the nearest Sur la Table and ran through the mall with me watching all the doors close around us as we passed like a bad movie, even though the whole time he felt I could find the same tools cheaper at an auto-parts store.  After running halfway through the place I was ready to give up seeing no sign of the store and all of the other shops had already closed but he grabbed me by the hand and kept running and sure enough it was the only store still open.

Afterwards we went for a stroll under these beauties

Holding hands wandering through Costco he saw me lingering over one book longer than usual and saw the word "Paris" on it which he knows is a trigger word of mine.  "did you want to read that book?' "yes.."  "mkay,  I buy for you." and snatches it out of my hands and stows it under his arm and proceeds to the checkout line.

A few pictures from our San Diego adventure

We were trying to go to this highly reviewed over-priced bistro but we just so happened to get there an hour before they were open and by then I was too hungry to wait so he found this little deli and we went to the park across the street and had a little picnic

And played on the statues

And fed lettuce to a squirrel 

And this was after we watched a couple take engagement pictures next to a couple taking wedding pictures next to a couple taking quinceañera pictures, which we obviously mocked and re-enacted like the mature adults that we are and he looked down at me and said, "I'm so glad I married you, it's so much fun just you and me."  I had to document it. 

Good Sunday

Yesterday I think I worked out, but I'm not even sure anymore.  This morning however I woke up at 7, looked at my running shoes, got up, walked to the window, shut the blinds and went back to bed.  Clearly I'm not a motivator.  BUT when I got up again at 10 I suited up, grabbed my headphones and my husband and hustled down to the apartment complex gym which is the only place we get to workout together since we have memberships to different gyms, soon to be remedied when he graduates.  I digress.

Today's workout had to be a quickie because it is the Baha'i holy day of Riḍván so we had to get going to the festivities.

4/21/13 Speedy Workout
Cardio 
20 mins. elliptical at level 10 and Random

Arms/chest/back
3x15 dumbbell overhead press (15 lbs.)
3x15 single bicep curls (15 lbs.)
3x 15 dumbbell row (15 lbs.)
50 push-ups

Legs/butt
3x15 dumbbell squats (15 lbs. weights)
3x15 donkey kicks (3 lb. ankle weights)
3x15 kneeling single leg lifts (3 lb. ankle weights)
3x15 fire hydrant kicks (3 lb. ankle weights)

Abs
150 crunches
50 right oblique crunches
50 left oblique crunches
50 bicycle crunches
100 vertical leg crunches

Finished it off with a protein shake with vanilla almond milk, 1 handful of fresh strawberries and 1 handful of frozen strawberries (if you ever see strawberries on sale for cheap buy 'em, hull 'em and freeze 'em!)

Today's workout gear, so hot (-_-)

Vegan, paleo, gluten-free, non-judgmental, midnight tacos

I don't know about most people but I like to eat alllllllll niiiigghhhtt looonnnggg.  Especially on weekends and I have been trying my hardest all week to not eat past 8 to try to keep my glucose levels in check.  Last night   around 9:00 all I wanted was to fall into my college life habits and go to Denny's or Applebee's and eat less than appetizing appetizers just out of habit.  Instead I ran across the street to Sprouts and grabbed ingredients to make tacos, these ain't ya mama's tacos.

I grabbed a head of my most favorite butter lettuce, Happy Living.  It's locally grown and has it's little roots still attached.

I also got:
2 portabello mushrooms
1 chayote
 And went to the fridge for:
1 red bell pepper
1 fresh jalapeno
1 small onion
1 avocado

I sliced the mushrooms into 1/4 inch pieces and marinated them in a little apple cider vinegar, ground fennel seed, garlic, chimayo powder and lime juice.

Cut the chayote in half, seeded it then thinly sliced and salted it

Sliced the red pepper and jalapeno and kept half of each for later.

In a pan with a little oil I cooked the chayote, peppers and onions, seasoned with ghost pepper powder. Deglazed the pan with a little pure mango juice to balance out all the heat.  Added the mushrooms and cooked until soft.

Double stacked the lettuce leaves and scooped a little into each one.  Topped it with some mashed avocado, and the remaining raw jalapenos and red peppers for crunch.  

Late night apps without the uncomfortable bloating and sudden need to crawl into a corner and sleep.  These powered us through the Hatfield's and McCoy's on Netflix until 3AM.  These and a little "ice cream" made from frozen banana, durian preserves and mango juice.  What a night.

Vitameatavegamin

Started my new protein shakes today. Did alot of research and this was the best one I found in my price range (retails for $34.99) and it's vegan. 1 scoop was less than 200 calories and it provides me with all the proteins I might be missing with a vegan diet. I made one this morning with vanilla almond milk and it was so good. Not as chalky as most shakes, no bloating or any funky digestion issues and I had tons of energy, enough to do some uphill sprints and stair runs on my hour break between cases. I'm thinking I may have to buy the chocolate powder now...

Pot of Green Gold

I start every rebirth the same way, with the first day of fasting (drinking water only) and my "Green Soup" for dinner.  I started making this soup during my engagement because it was an easy way for me to get water and veggies into my body.  The soup is pretty much whatever vegetables you can think of thrown into a pot with no salt, meat or stock and lots of spicy seasonings and lemon.

I made it tonight with:
tomatoes
turnips
kale
cilantro
broccoli
cabbage
zucchini
spinach
celery
carrots
red quinoa
jalapenos

toss it all in a pot of boiling water and season it with whatever you like, avoiding the salt.

This was my go-to during wedding planning because I could just make a big pot and have it always ready with a nice salad to go with it.

Tonight's Workout
I actually started my workout routine a few days ago but because the workout without the change in diet is pointless we'll start from here, already a little sore.

Because I hadn't eaten today I didn't do anything too strenuous.
30 minute walk
10 minutes of Gillian Michaels 30 day shred routine
5 minute ab workout on Ab app
5 minute Butt workout on Butt app

Apps I use for quick workouts before bed

Live, Laugh, Love-handles

Today marks the 1st day of Project 26, my mission to finally get myself in the best shape of my life.
When I got engaged I was 150 lbs.  At the time this didn't bother me, I was teaching body image workshops and was really into this new theory called Health at Every Size by Dr. Linda Bacon whom I had arranged to come give a lecture at the hospital and she preached against scales so in reality I was okay with it because I really had no idea I was 150.  I was so caught up in the movement of not being weight conscious that I had allowed myself to put on pounds and not even try a little bit to workout.  Once I got engaged and wedding dresses came into play I got serious, especially when I found the perfect vintage dress on Etsy that was made to my ideal measurements, how motivating.  I didn't crash diet, I worked hard.  I ate clean and vegan, ran 3-5 miles 5 times a week, did yoga 3 times a week and was constantly drinking water.  in the 10 months up to my wedding I lost 20 pounds and got down to a nice lean 130. I've gained 8 pounds since the wedding and am on my path to drop most of them by my anniversary and this time by incorporating weight-lifting I can get some definition.  Here's to 26.
 

2 weeks before the wedding

2 weeks before we got engaged

My engagement day

Bachelorette Party

  

The weekend before the wedding

Sotd: The Way You Are

SONG OF THE DAY

Our first dance song at our wedding.  Dan e-mailed Kina and she sent us a clean digital file, so very lovely.

Vegan Stuffed Peppers in Spicy Tomato Soup

Growing up my dad stuffed everything with rice.  Lamb stomach, zucchini, grape leaves, bell peppers, eggplant, you name it.  I always knew when my mom was making stuffed peppers it would be different from how my dad makes it.  Mom's was more tradition with the melted cheese on top and eat it with a fork and knife while my dad's was served with soup and eaten with a spoon.  I've taken on more of my dad in my cooking style because I love all of the spices present in middle eastern food so this is a tweak of my dad's method.

For the peppers:
4 bell peppers (I made 2 red and 2 green)
1c. black rice
1/2c. quinoa
1 zucchini grated
1 carrot diced
1/4 onion diced

For the soup:
5c. water
1tsp minced garlic
1/4 onion diced
1tsp. salt
1tsp. chile powder
1tsp. black pepper
2tbs. tomato paste
1c. chopped cilantro

\\I don't want to get into too much detail as it's a very simple recipe.
-Preheat the oven to 450
-Cook the rice and quinoa until almost done, saute the onions and carrots until tender or toss them into the pot with the rice when the water begins boiling.
-Mix shredded zucchini in with the rice mixture and fill the 4 peppers.  place them in an oven safe pot, dutch oven or pyrex dish with a lid or be able to cover with foil.
-Ladle some of the soup into the bottom of the pot, about 1/4" high then place the peppers in.  Ladle some soup into each pepper but be careful not to overload them.  Cover and allow them to steam in the oven for 20-30 mins until peppers are tender and rice is fully cooked.

Soup: boil water, add all ingredients, boil 5 mins then cover and simmer for 10.

Ladle soup into your bowl and place pepper inside.  My favorite way to eat this is to slice the pepper down the middle and spoon some soup in with each bite.  Ohhh so good!

**you can add ground beef or turkey to this recipe as well, just pre-cook it and mix it in with the rice. 

I like red

He likes green

Tahini sriracha salad dressing

Made a salad with broiled eggplant and zucchini last night and wanted a salad dressing with some extra kick so I through this bad boy together. Tahini is one of my favorite bases for all types of salad dressings and sauces.

What you need:
2tbs tahini
2tbs apple cider vinegar
2tbs olive oil
2tbs water
1tbs sriracha
1tsp honey

Mix until creamy, adjust liquids to get desired consistency.

Salmon Biryani

I've been craving a dish that my aunt made a few years ago as an experiment with rice, alot of spices,  tomatoes and salmon.  In attempt to figure out what it was I turned to my best friend Google and he presented me with Biryani.  Now this was not what my aunt made but it was close and my husband loves Indian food so I went for it.  I pulled up about 7 different recipes all a little different as far as spices and vegetables used.  "Biryani" are heavily spiced rice dishes accompanied with vegetables and sometimes meat.  Different regions make it different ways so I picked and pulled what I liked from each recipe to make one that fit my own tastes and it came out so good.

I use my mortar and pestle for everything

Salmon Marinade
2 6oz. salmon fillets cut in half (so far small pieces)
1tsp garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp red chile powder, any kind you like (I used 1/2 harissa mix 1/2 hot chimayo mix)
1/2 tsp tumeric

Chew on a cardamom pod, it's an old school breath freshener!

Biryani
1 med. onion thinly sliced
1/2 tsp cumin
2 cracked green cardamom pods
1 tsp crushed coriander seeds
1.5 tsp red chili powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp tumeric
1/2 cauliflower head
2 diced roma tomatoes
1 small red bell pepper
1tbs tomato paste
Bay leaves

Infused Rice
2 c. brown basmati rice
Tea/spice Ball
2 cracked  green cardamom pods
Bay leaves
Peppercorns
1in. cinnamon stick

1. Marinade salmon with all spices, place in a ziploc bag or container and put it in the fridge for 1 hour
2. While salmon is marinating pre-chop onion, cilantro, tomatoes, cauliflower and whatever additional vegetables you will be using
3. Wash rice and place in a bowl of water to soak until you're ready for it
4. In a pan with some oil cook your onion until soft and brown then set aside for later
5. In a large pan put a few spoonfuls of oil, cracked coriander seeds and cracked green cardamom pods, fry for 2-3 minutes then add garlic, tumeric, bay leaves, salt, chile powder, garam masala and cumin along with your vegetables (except cilantro).
5. Sauté vegetables on high for 5 minutes, add tomato paste and 3 cups of water. Contunue cooking on high for 5 more minutes then turn down to medium low and cover for 10 minutes.
6. While your vegetables are cooking, shallow fry your salmon in a pan with some oil, when it's done set it aside
7. Boil 4 cups of water and place the cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom and peppercorns inside the spice ball and place the ball inside the pot.  Once water is boiling add salt and oil and your soaked rice (do not add the water your rice was soaking in)

My awesome mulling spice ball

For the next steps you need to act quickly
8. Once your rice is soft on the outside but not quite cooked all the way through, pour the water off and place the rice in a separate bowl.
9. In the same pot you boiled the rice in you begin layering your dish like lasagna.  First sauce, then 1/2 the rice, sprinkle some 1/2 of the onions and some cilantro then more sauce, more rice, more onions and more cilantro.  After your final layer place the salmon on top, cover and cook on medium for 10 minutes, you want to see the pot steaming up.  After that 10 minutes turn off the heat but leave the pot covered on the burner for another 10 minutes.

Rice layer

Sauce layer with salmon on top

Remove the salmon to a separate plate and stir all of the layers together.  Serve with arab salad and enjoy!

***Be sure if you have leftovers that you store the salmon separate from the rice***

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I've never been a big breakfast eater so juices and smoothies are right up my alley. This one is a personal favorite of mine because it gives me a use for my aging bananas other than banana nut bread and its creamy like ice cream. When we see our bananas turning and we know we won't be able to eat them in time we peel them and toss them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Just so happens I also had a few packs of strawberries that I had gotten on sale which I washed and hulled and also froze. Typically this recipe is with fresh strawberries so if you use frozen you may need a little more milk. Also try it without the strawberries and toss in a little dried coconut, so good.



What you'll need for a smoothie for 2 prople:
2 frozen bananas
2 cups of vanilla almond milk
8 strawberries
2 teaspoons of honey

Toss it in a blender and enjoy

Retail Therapy

I like to shop alot but I don't like to spend money so I fill my cart on different websites and I don't know how but it makes me feel like I've really purchased these things,  all the fun and none of the cost!

Here are tonight's imaginary purchases 

(some i may have to actually purchase)

California Rug $19

You Are Here Rug $13

Voyages over New York Print $24

Whale Print $24

Black and White Stripe Duvet $89

My Ideal Bookshelf $15

Whole Larder Love $20

Monogram Mug $6

From the Deep Mug $18

Sotd: Lack of Color

SONG OF THE DAY

"And when I see you, I really see you upside down."

Almond Fruit

Growing up my family had a yard full of fruit trees, two of them were almond trees.  Every spring we'd go out and pick tons of almond fruit and have bowls and bags of them all around the house.  When my grandpa would come from the middle east he'd have my dad drive us to these back road almond orchards he'd found and we'd hop the fence and pick as much fruit as we could fit in our bags.  To me this was normal, I assumed all families ate this amazingly perfect snack.  It wasn't until I was in high school when my parents landscaped the yard and took out the trees that I realized my favorite snack was not common at all.  For years I searched Mediterranean markets and trees along roads to find these gems but to no avail.  The closest I came was when I was in college and I was explaining to Dan one day about almond fruit and how much I wish I had some and I described it in such detail that he remembered a tree near a bus stop he had been at that had something like what I was talking about and lo and behold there they were!  But sadly it was late in the season and the fruit was tough and bitter.

If you ever manage to get these babies just wash them, dip them in a little salt and enjoy.

 Fast forward to yesterday when my wonderful husband  dragged me around Orange County until we found the Fresh Choice Market in Anaheim with was like Whole Foods had a baby with a middle eastern market.  As soon as we walk I see this display of almonds and I stood there in disbelief and then....I cried.  To have been searching for this little piece of my childhood attached to so many wonderful memories and finding it when I had completely given up hope was the most overwhelming feeling (I really love food).  I stood there picking out the best one's and a Vietnamese family came by and asked me questions on how to eat it and what it tasted like and we laughed and joked and I convinced them to get a few to try and I just felt so happy to be where I was in that very moment.