Salad Tips..

Mark Bittman has written an article in the New York Times July 21, 2009   titled

101 Simple Salads for the Season

it is a great resource for anyone wanting to eat well cook simply and watch their weight.

Here is the link to the article 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?scp=1&sq=101%20salads&st=cse

If the link does not work just go to www.nyt.com and search the archive for the article. 

Easy Fennel Salad from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Restaurant in Rome

Here is a lovely easy salad recently served to me in Rome.
Thinly slice a juice orange. Cut each slice in half and decorate the edge of a plate with these slices curved side out. Then with a Benriner..a japanese type mandolin..a hand slicer that makes paper thin slices easily, slice up a bunch of fennel. Drizzle good olive oil on the plate. Pile the fennel in the middle over the oil. Place a few pieces of grapefruit and orange over the mound. Drizzle thick aged balsamic vinegar..not too much..over the fruit and fennel.
and Voila! a wonderful salad with barely a calorie.

Leftover Salad

So at Passover I cooked up some lamb shanks..in red wine forever..a little to forever as I slightly burned them. I also made some chick peas thinking to make a chick pea and lamb recipe..but I never did so now I had both and they were aging in the frig..

I am of the opinion we should eat what we want..if the item is fattening then eat tiny portions but have some.

Here is what I did.
Using a bit of good aged balsamic I took tiny bits of the meat..heated up..and chick peas..also heated up. Then I let them sit while I put the last of the salad greens from Passover with some sliced fennel and slices of red pepper and half an apple. I sliced the fennel and apple with my Benriner.. more on this wonderful tool later..I tossed a tablespoon of good olive oil and a bit more balsamic and then added the peas and lamb. It made for a delicious and a little rich salad..I used only a tablespoon or two of chick peas and of lamb so it wasn't a diet breaker..it just tasted like one.

more water..must keep hydrating..

Quick Good Oatmeal

This oatmeal is a prepared a little differently..I saw this done one morning in Portland Oregon and realized it was a vast improvement from the glue one thinks of as rolled oats.

I like Bob's Red Mill extra thick rolled oats. I cook it in boiling slightly salted water..bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil. Add half a cup of oats..(traditional directions call for way too much water!).. and stir..cook quickly at first then lower heat..should be all done in 5 minutes. the oats are cooked through the when the water is absorbed but it does not become gluey..I like to add a few currents and a few sliced almonds a teaspoon of agave syrup and some hot skim milk.

Help!! I've fallen

So I've fallen off the wagon of good diet and excercise. Passover and a number of stressors have all contributed. I imagine, I am now only a couple of pounds lighter than when I started. UGH!

Well two steps forward one step back. I am re-commiting..I walked two laps around the park yesterday and then failed on the diet..blondies! wine! definitely not on the program.

today I will try once more..Off to a slow start I went to the park and played with the dog..scant excercise and plan on walking 20 blocks to the store.

Meanwhile I am drinking my water and had a small slice of whole wheat toast with a small serving of ricotta. I have chicken soup that I made for Passover and think I might bring it to the shop for lunch..sans the matza balls but with some salad and chicken in the soup..

Not easy dieting but definitely a must!

I am still training so that is good.

More later on the progress. Maybe some recipes..stay tuned!