Highway to Hell-th

Food Porn No More: Stuffed Pepper Soup

2012-01-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

I have just discovered Pinterest. I know. I am late to the Pinterest party. Its Food section is a great resource for some healthy recipe ideas, but mostly it's a lot of what I and Anthony Bourdain like to call "food porn." Food porn (or at least my understanding of it) is defined as watching others prepare food (usually very rich, fatty, luxurious) while you drool and never really attempt any actual cooking yourself. I recently saw a recipe on Pinterest for Stuffed Pepper Soup (imagine the flavors of stuffed peppers in soup form). It sounded delicious, but I had to make some big changes to it in order to make it healthy. So, I turned this beefy recipe into a tasty, filling, and even vegan soup. Enjoy!

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1 tsp olive oil
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 15 oz cans diced tomato
1/2 bottle of your favorite Mexican beer
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

Over medium heat, add oil to pot and saute peppers and onions until softened (5 to 8 minutes). Add garlic, stir for 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and stir until paste is combined with vegetables. Pour in beer to deglaze pan, stir for a minute or so. Add broth, canned tomatoes, and spices, and lower heat to simmer soup with lid on for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

Zen Body

2012-01-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

I've been a little slow on the updates because I've caught some bronchial, cold, virus thing. This means I haven't been cooking as much as I had hoped or would like to, but I'm managing pretty well considering. Whole Living magazine came out with a month long cleansing diet for January which I was very excited about, but I found a lot of the recipes too fatty for my gallbladder problems. So, I've picked a few that I can eat, and so far, they are quite good. I was especially excited about some of the juice recipes. I've already tried the Grapefruit, Carrot, and Ginger juice, and I recommend it! It's a great change up from your typical morning orange juice.

I've also started yoga classes at Arkansas Yoga Center, and I love it! Although catching this cold, kind of put the brakes on that temporarily. It seems like every time I try to make healthy changes in my life, something comes along to derail it. It is hard for me to take time out for myself. I feel guilty for laying around, but the truth is, when you are sick, you NEED to lay around. One thing I've learned is that your body doesn't really care what your plans are; it just does what it does when it needs to. The body is very zen when you think about it. It's our minds that are always telling our bodies to do and be different. The body simply "is" regardless of any outside input. Well, maybe it's the cough medicine talking, but that seemed to make sense a while ago. My goal this week is to be okay with taking time out. If I want to achieve health, I surely can't accomplish that by shaming myself into feeling good. It's time for a nap I think.

New Years Dinner

2012-01-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Every year both of my grandmothers would make the traditional Southern New Years dinner of "Greens and Peas." The dish is traditionally eaten to attract wealth and luck in the coming year. Reportedly, the tradition in this country goes back to the Civil War. Black eyed peas were originally planted and grown for livestock feed, but during the Civil War, Union troops ate most food surpluses and destroyed crops, they left the black eyed peas deeming them unworthy to eat. From then on, the black eyed pea was considered a symbol of luck. In ancient Egypt, many believed that eating black-eyed peas showed humility, and that the gods would bless you. Collard greens are also eaten on New Years for prosperity most likely because they are green (like money!), affordable, and most likely available because they are harvested late in the year. As a kid we would also eat hog jowl or some other pork product, but pork isn't on the "gallbladder friendly" list of foods. So this year I just focused on the veggies.

Green and Purple Collard Greens, with Black Eyed Peas, Wild Rice Blend, and Toast
Black Eyed Peas

2 cans black eyed peas (rinsed and drained) *see instructions
1/2 small onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 c to 1 c of veggie or chicken broth
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Over medium heat in medium sauce pan, add oil, onion, and garlic until onion is softened and almost translucent. Add peas (*If peas are no salt added, you can leave the can fluid, but most brands of canned peas you should rinse and drain them. It will improve taste, remove excess sodium, and remove some of the sugars in legumes that cause gas and bloating.) Add broth to prevent peas from sticking to bottom of pan. You can start off with a little, and increase as needed or to your preferences. Add salt, pepper, and paprika. Cover and let simmer (stirring occasionally) at least 20 minutes.

Sauteed Collard Greens

2 bunches collard greens, rinsed, ribs removed, torn into bite sized pieces
1/2 small onion, diced
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Over medium heat in medium skillet, add oil, onion, and garlic until onion is softened and almost translucent. Add collards and stir frequently adding broth or water to prevent sticking. Collards should cook down to less than half their original size. When greens are softened (about 5 to 10 minutes), add salt and pepper, and vinegar (feel free to substitute with any other vinegar available like white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar). Serve.

Wild rice blend was cooked in chicken broth according to package instructions, and toast was store bought french bread toasted in the oven at 350 until lightly browned.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but 2011 was a complete roller coaster for me. It was filled with some very tragic but also a few happy moments. 2011 got off to a really bad start, and with a sudden emergence of health problems, it continually spiraled downward. In September, I decided to take this crazy plunge of actually trying to change my lifestyle in order to obtain better health. Has it been easy? Heck no! There were a lot of people who said it couldn't (or shouldn't) be done...even my doctors. But I am stubborn, and I was determined to turn it around. At this point, I am not totally symptom free, but my symptoms are mostly controlled by eating a whole foods, mostly plant based diet. I am down 15 pounds, and I feel better than I've felt in a long time.

I know everyone starts "diets" at this time of year, but I am choosing to simply recommit myself to achieving health and wellness. My focus has moved from "I want to be thin" to "I want to be healthy. It's really a transition from deprivation mode to nourishment mode. I am striving this year to discover and celebrate just how inclusive and expansive healthy eating can be instead of focusing on "what not to eat." I truly have more variety in my diet than I ever have. Every time someone gives me that look of pity when they see me eating some kale, I know that I am nothing to feel sorry for. I am happy, I am healthy, and I am nourished. What else could you ask for?

I'm still here!

2011-12-11T20:26:00.001-08:00

So I've been away, but I'm still here! I've recently taken on a second job so I have a lot less free time but a lot more money which is good. Thanksgiving went pretty well for me. I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake (recipe from Happy Herbivore), some dairy free mashed potatoes (recipe to come!), and my Almost Southern Green Beans. I had a small amount of turkey and dressing which was fine that day, but after eating it for 3 days, I got really sick. I was so sick I had to miss work. I honestly haven't been that ill since August. I was really hard on myself because I should have known, but all I can do is learn and move on. For Christmas, I'm bringing my own dressing! (No offense to my grandmother's dressing. It truly was delightful and tasty!) Part of me is a little sad. Food seems so important in my family, and you feel a tiny bit of loss when you have to say goodbye to a certain food.

Christmas is coming up, and this will be the first time I am actually making the meal. So, there's a part of me that doesn't want to subject my family to my meal choices, but I really feel up to the challenge of making and great meal that is healthy AND tasty. I am probably putting way too much pressure on myself, but I think it can be done.

Second Impressions: Brussels Sprouts

2011-11-13T15:44:00.001-08:00

I get really excited when I make something good these days. This recipe was born out of necessity...and part laziness. I had purchased some ingredients to make a recipe in one of my new books only to discover that I forgot a few items, and I had to improvise. I've eaten more brussels sprouts in the past few months than I have eaten in my entire life. When I was a kid, my Dad would take us to Wyatt's Cafeteria. I'm pretty sure these cafeteria places don't exist anymore, but for you kiddos it was like eating at your high school cafeteria, only the food was better and there were table cloths. Anyway, I remember the brussels sprouts there were these overcooked, greenish brown, smelly balls of mush, and since they are also members of the cabbage family, they smelled downright farty. That experience was disgusting enough to make me swear them off for life.

I guess I began to warm back up to them when I discovered that you could roast your brussels sprouts. If you are having trouble eating your veggies, try roasting them. I don't know why, but things just tend to be tastier when they are roasted. Also, I learned that the "farty" smell I had known them for only happens when you overcook them. So, these little guys had been grossly misrepresented to me by Wyatt's Cafeteria, and they actually are pretty dang tasty and good for you to boot. If you are interested in nutrition information, just one cup of brussels sprouts contains 125% of your daily Vitamin C, and is also a great source of iron, Vitamin K, and riboflavin.

Garlicky Sprouts and Seeds

Anyone who knows (or smells) me knows that I love garlic. Maybe I love it too much, but at least I can say that no vampire is going to be biting on me anytime soon. So, if any of you make this stuff at home, I hope you love garlic as much as I do, but always feel free to reduce the amount to suit your tastes. There is no meat in this dish, so I added pumpkin seeds for some added texture and flavor. I know it sounds a little weird, but it's good, and dammit you should give it a chance. (But seriously feel free to substitute your favorite nuts).

12 brussels sprouts (medium size) ends trimmed off, halved, then thinly sliced to make shreds
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup dry whole wheat pasta (I used macaroni)
1/4 cup of reserved pasta water

Cook pasta according to package instructions, and set aside. In a medium skillet over medium heat, add oil, shredded brussels sprouts, and garlic, salt, and pepper and stir frequently to prevent burning. After a few minutes, the sprouts should cook down and wilt, but make sure they don't turn brown or mushy. Think stir-fry here. You want them to still have a bit of crunch. Add pasta water, and pasta, and top with seeds. Serve. Feel free to add more oil or broth if you need more liquid. If you are comfortable with it, adding some Parmigiano-Reggiano is a nice touch too. (Oh cheese, I just can't quit you.)

Little by little, I'm getting it

2011-11-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

So, I've sort of learned the hard way that just because it's "vegan" doesn't mean it's good for you. I tried a vegan recipe for some Cajun Red Beans and Rice (with vegan sausage), and I ended up with some slight gallbladder pain. I didn't look at the nutrition facts before cooking it, but one link of this sausage was 7 grams of fat..which is almost as fattening as real sausage. I'm sure it's still a healthier option than pork sausage and it's great for people who don't want to eat meat for moral reasons, but my gallbladder was not pleased. The texture is also something I am not used to. I do enjoy veggie burger patties, but I was unable to develop a taste for the veggie sausage. The good thing is that it did make the surrounding beans and rice very tasty. Although, from now on I think I will leave out the fake sausage. Whole foods seem to be a better bet than processed foods. You have more control over the ingredients.

The good news is that I'm down a pound this week, and I've lost 2 inches off my thighs! I'm not tracking what I eat or counting calories, but I'm eating pretty clean. The weight loss has been slow, but I'm fine with it. I would rather it be slow and last because I have built life long healthy habits. I'm down 12 lbs since starting my journey, and I've gone from 33% body fat to 26% body fat. (Wooo! I'm getting some muscle!) I'm not that total picture of health yet, but I am so happy with the progress I have made. I want to add running to my fitness routine, but I've always been intimidated by it. I've heard great things about the Couch to 5K training program. I even thought about signing up for a 5K in the spring to give myself a goal to work toward. I'm unsure of myself when it comes to fitness. I was a pretty portly, uncoordinated kid and I think I developed this, "stick to what you are good at" attitude. Since I wasn't good at any sort of activity, I sat on the couch and played video games. I seriously want to spend the time to learn and actually be healthy, and not just yo-yo or extreme diet for the thrill of losing just a few extra pounds. When I've tried to work out before I was extremely hard on myself and I quit when it got too hard. But I think I have more patience with myself now, and I feel more focused. So, who wants to run with me?

Where Have You Been?

2011-11-09T00:48:00.000-08:00

Things have been going much better here lately. I've been eating some great stuff! However, I was eating from recipes in books, and I think there is a whole copyright issue thing if I repost them...as there should be! Last week I was in a food rut. Fortunately, I had a friend suggest to me that I should buy some vegetarian cookbooks, and it was probably one of the best things I could have done. Up to this point, I was trying to make what I usually ate, but I would "make it over" in order for it to be suitable to eat according to my dietary restrictions. However, it kind of turned into a slippery slope, and before I knew it I was eating beef stew and laying in the floor in the fetal position in pain. I needed to cover new ground, broaden my horizons, boldly go where...well, I haven't been before. After some research and reading many reviews, I decided on Color Me Vegan and The Happy Herbivore.

I chose Color Me Vegan because I was familiar with author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau via her "Compassionate Cooks" podcast. (I listened to a lot of podcasts when I used to work in a cubicle.) She is probably the only person that could get me to even consider veganism. (I don't think I can let go of cheese.) And I have tried her Garlic and Greens Soup (recipe is last video on the page) so I can attest to how tasty her recipes are. I plan on making another recipe tomorrow from her book, and I will let you know how that goes. The Happy Herbivore honestly looked enticing because I saw there was a recipe for a pumpkin cheesecake in it. I think I have Thanksgiving on the brain. Upon closer examination, there seems to be a lot of great stuff to cook. I can't even explain how excited I am to try out some Textured Vegetable Protein tacos. I am being serious!

Am I vegan? No. But I haven't had meat in about a week. I don't really miss it. I do love cheese though. How could you give up cheese?! With my gallbladder though, I really can't have that much cheese so even that has been cut back considerably. I really am proud of myself for the changes I have made. I hate that it took a health crisis to motivate me enough to do it, but I feel like I'm inching toward better health everyday. I have even started exercising again. I am doing a weight training program. I feel like I am getting pretty good results already, but I will be interested to see how my diet affects my exercise results. With weight programs, they usually push eggs, cheese, and lots of meat, but I really can't eat a lot of what fitness trainers consider "health food." We shall see. Everything is going great, and I hope to be back with some more recipes in case you guys want to eat what I'm eating. You should want to eat what I'm eating, because I'm eatin' pretty good! Just saying. :)

It ain't easy being green...

2011-11-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been having a rough time here lately. I've been sick which is due to me trying to convince myself that I could eat some things that I just can't eat anymore. I do pretty well for a while, but then I try to fit in foods I used to eat. I try to make them healthier, and if I was just looking at this from a fat/calorie intake perspective, I would be doing great. But I really need to face the fact that I may not be able to eat some foods anymore. I don't think I've ever really come to terms with that in my mind. I've always loved to cook, and now I'm having to throw away all the stuff I used to make, and try to learn this whole new way of cooking and eating. I feel disappointed that I can't make my boyfriend a steak anymore. I really have to learn how to not "love with food" not only with my family and loved ones, but with myself. I bought some new cookbooks today (the vegan kind!) in order to possibly broaden my horizons beyond vegetable soups, salads, and smoothies. I am so accustomed to the plate of meat with a tiny cup of vegetables and a big ass potato. I just have to learn to not miss the meat anymore.

Tricks and Treats

2011-10-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

So, I've been doing a lot of soups lately. I love soup, but it's time for some solid food that you actually have to chew. I got inspired this week when my boyfriend and I were carving our jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. I remember when I was in day care as a kid the ladies there had roasted pumpkin seeds for us after carving pumpkins. I remember being skeptical that they were even edible, but I was delightfully surprised at how dang tasty they were. I really didn't eat that many pumpkin seeds after that until I became and adult and realized you could buy them already roasted. Pumpkin seeds can be kind of pricey (along with most nuts), but if you buy a 4 dollar pumpkin, carve it for Halloween, and use the seeds in the pumpkin for eating, you can get a large amount of seeds for a relatively small amount of money. Also, pumpkin seeds are pretty good for you. They are relatively low in fat, and are a great source of zinc, magnesium, and Vitamin A. The task of roasting your own seeds may be daunting, but I found the pay off is well worth all the work.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1 pumpkin
non-stick cooking spray, or olive oil
salt, to taste
two large bowls
a large slotted spoon

First, cut open pumpkin at the top, and scoop out pulp and seeds and reserve them in a large bowl, set aside. (Carve your jack-o-lantern!) In a separate large bowl, fill about halfway with water, and put about two large handfuls of pulp and seeds and stir with your hands. The seeds should float to the top, and you can scoop them out. You may have to separate some seeds by hand. Repeat until all seeds are separated from pulp. Discard pulp, and give seeds another good rinse in a strainer. Then spread out seeds on a dishtowel to dry overnight. Don't use paper towels or an extremely fuzzy towel, because these seeds will stick. (I have seen where some people use a hair dryer or even a low temperature in the oven to dry the seeds. You can do this if you are short on time or don't want to wait) After drying seeds, Preheat oven for 325 degrees. Spread seeds on a cookie sheet and coat with non-stick spray and salt. (You can even flavor yours with different spices, or sweeten them with sugar) Cook seeds in oven (about 10 minutes) while periodically checking them to stir and make sure they are evenly toasted. You can't leave your oven unattended because depending on the size of the seeds, the level of dryness of the seeds, and your oven temperature, they can burn before you know it.

What did a potato ever do to you?

2011-10-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Guys, potatoes are getting a bad rap. You may or may not have heard about how the USDA wanted to limit potatoes in school lunches to two servings a week. The Senate (mostly representatives from potato growing states) defeated the resolution, but it does raise the question of "Are potatoes that bad for me?" The USDA is trying to combat childhood obesity through giving our school lunches a makeover. I wholeheartedly support that effort, but their effort to cut down on french fry consumption is overreaching. Everyone (especially young kiddos) should be eating less french fries, but limiting a whole food is going too far. Potatoes actually have a lot of essential vitamins and minerals (fiber, vitamin C, and potassium). Not only that, they are cheap and versatile.

Potatoes are good for so much more than french fries. Although, if you are looking for an occasional french fry-like treat, I recommend Ellie Krieger's Oven Fries. But one of my favorite potato dishes is potato soup. I used to make it with butter, bacon, and cream, and it was delicious. However, my current health issues call for turning this favorite comfort food into a healthier food. Reduced fat milk and sour cream help give it that creamy texture and flavor without adding too many calories or fat. I also love that this pot makes about six generous helpings of soup for about six dollars (assuming you already have the olive oil and spices on hand).

Sour Cream and Chives Potato Soup

4 to 5 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 32 oz box of reduced sodium chicken (or veggie) broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves of garlic minced
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/3 cup 1% (or skim) milk
1 tablespoon chives, plus more for garnish
1/2 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

In large soup pot over medium heat, add oil and garlic, stirring until fragrant (2 min). Add potatoes to pot and stir briefly to coat potatoes with garlic. Add chicken broth and increase heat until broth is at a low steady boil. Let boil until potatoes are falling apart (fork tender about 15 minutes), and reduce heat to medium low. Using potato masher, mash potatoes until most big lumps are gone, and add in milk to thin out soup (if soup gets too thick, add water or more milk. if too thin, let simmer to thicken). Stir in sour cream, chives, paprika, and pepper until combined. You probably won't need more salt due to broth, but taste and add if you think it needs it. Enjoy on a cold day. :)

Hide Your Greens...

2011-10-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of baby spinach. I had one of those moments at the grocery store where you think you are out of something only to find that you actually have too much when you get home. Salads are a great way to get rid of some excess spinach, but it can get a little boring after a while. So, the past few days I've been experimenting with some different ways to sneak in spinach into some of my favorite foods, and I'm even making some new dishes. Even if you don't like spinach, I think the recipes below could be a great way to warm you up to eating your greens.

Italian White Bean Soup

I made this soup simply out of the need to get rid of some tomatoes on their last legs. It is fairly economical and fast to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand. (pictured above)

1/2 of a medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium tomatoes
2 tsp olive oil
1 can Cannellini (or Great Northern) Beans (drained and rinsed)
4 handfuls of baby spinach (tear big leaves into smaller pieces)
2 cups low sodium chicken broth (add water if more needed)
Spices: dried basil (1/2 tsp), oregano (1/2 tsp), red pepper flakes (a pinch), paprika (1/2 tsp), black pepper (to taste), salt (to taste)

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil, and saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, and cook until they release their liquid (5 minutes or so). Add in beans, broth, and spices. Let soup simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. I gave a rough estimate of seasoning, but feel free to add more as you see fit. Stir in spinach and cook until leaves are wilted. I served mine with a toasted whole wheat english muffin with some skim mozzarella.

Southern Black Eyed Peas

For many years as a kid, black eyed peas were the only "vegetable" I would eat. Little did I know, they were legumes! I still love black eyed peas, and this is a homage to me as a child. I think if I was able to make this for her, she would eat it up!

1/2 of a medium onion, diced
1 garlic clove
1 can black-eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
2 tsp olive oil
3 handfuls baby spinach
1/4 cup of broth or water
a pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil, and saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add a few shakes of salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes to onions. Add broth to pan, and stir to scrape up any brown bits in pan. Add black eyed peas and spinach to pot, stirring until peas are heated and spinach is wilted.

Fruit and Greens Smoothie

You can even add greens to your fruit smoothies! The great thing about spinach is that the flavor is bland enough to blend in with your favorite fruit. Even if you totally hate spinach, you will be surprised at how much you will like this. Just combine the ingredients below in your blender and blend until smooth.

1/2 a banana
1/2 cup of frozen berries
4 handfuls of baby spinach
1/2 cup pomegranate juice (or substitute any "no sugar added" juice preferably not from concentrate)
1/2 cup skim or soy milk

Back to Square One.

2011-10-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

So, I've been doing pretty well at eating well. Until Saturday. Actually, I think I was slipping up here and there, but I've had no major gallbladder attacks so I was considering myself a success. Some friends were having a get together on Saturday, and I even made preparations by making my own healthy snacks (homemade salsa, bean dip, and vegetable trays). But when I got there, all bets were off. "I'll have just one" isn't having just one when you say that seven different times. I had some sort of weird candy corn binge. It's the spirit of the season you know! I ate a lot of sugary stuff. In my mind I was thinking the cookies and candy wouldn't be so bad because they weren't "greasy," which now that I think about it, sweet stuff is pretty fatty. I don't know if it was because I was in a social situation or maybe I felt deprived for too long, but I ate too much. I ate too much of crap I shouldn't have eaten. So I ended up having to leave a bit early because of nausea and some other digestive issues I felt were incoming. The next day I was still pretty nauseous, and up until yesterday afternoon I was experiencing some pretty bad abdominal pain.

I feel better now, and I threw away all the stuff that I brought home with me. I don't think I'm at the place where I can look at the stuff I can't eat and not feel a twinge of desire. I don't know what that means. I definitely don't want to isolate myself (anymore than I already do!). But it's quite possible that I have underestimated the importance of food in my brain. When I was a very overweight kid and I decided I wanted to lose weight, I joined a diet program. I was able to educate myself on how one actually gains or loses weight, but I don't think I ever tried to deal with or conquer how I use food....to cope. I really don't want to get too New Age-y or airy fairy about it, but it seems that this food thing is more and more about my mental state and not just a battle of wills. Although it is easier to make better choices when you have an unpleasant health consequence that occurs immediately afterward, this gallbladder thing (no matter how unpleasant it makes me feel) still doesn't make it easy for me. There's so many people who have been encouraging, but many times I focus on the very few that say, "Why don't you just have the surgery?" "But you won't be able to eat the foods you love!" I hear those same comments in my head at times when I feel at my weakest, when all I can do is lay on the couch because my body hurts too much to sleep. I just have to remember that I did love those foods, but they hurt me. So why in the hell do I keep wanting to go back to and claim to enjoy...something that just causes me pain? I don't know if I can even call that "love." It seems more like pleasure seeking...at any cost.

The good news is: I'm back on track now. I'm eating better and trying to find new ways (other than eating cheese dip) of rewarding myself. Last night I was reading a magazine on my break at work, and came across this quote:

"To succeed at any challenge in life, you've got to tune out the noise around you--the footsteps of others (ahead and behind), distracting "advice," doubters who tell you it can't be done. Instead, focus on your inner voice. Setting your own goals, charting your course and trusting your instincts take courage, but they are the surest route to crossing your personal finish line a winner."

Courage needed...indeed.

Veggie Coconut Soup

2011-10-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

I love coconut soup, but it is fattening as hell. My version is a bit slimmed down, and I added some vegetables to make it a bit more filling. I don't know how authentic this might be, but it tastes pretty good.

1 15 oz can Light Coconut Milk
1 cup of skim milk
1/2 of veggie broth
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 inch piece of ginger (minced)
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red curry paste
1 lime (juice)
5 ounces mushrooms (whatever is available)
4 scallions
2 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
Sriracha chili sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)

In large pot over medium heat, add mushrooms and oil, and cover for a few minutes to release liquid. Remove lid, add garlic, ginger, bell pepper, jalapeno, stirring to combine. After mushroom liquid has evaporated and peppers are softened, add chopped tomatoes. Stir to combine, but do not cook down tomatoes too much. You want them to still be solid in the soup. Add curry paste, and stir until paste is melted and evenly incorporated into vegetables. Add coconut milk, skim milk, and broth, stir to combine. Add chopped scallions, lime juice, and cilantro. Add salt, pepper, and chili sauce to taste. Enjoy!

Failures and Successes

2011-09-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

So, I am always trying new recipes, and making up some of my own. I do this all with the hope of producing something tasty and then sharing it here. However, here lately I've made some serious duds. I was so excited this week when I made this sweet potato and squash soup. It smelled great, it looked beautiful....it tasted like crap. I don't really know where I went wrong, and I don't want to take the time to find out. I think I have only liked sweet potatoes in their "fried" form, and I think I will just stick to some oven fries next time I want to have sweet potatoes. I also bought a watermelon at the farmer's market which was delicious, but now I know that watermelon is group fruit. No one should try to endeavor to eat a watermelon alone. It's great for picnics and parties, but I don't know how in the hell anyone can buy a watermelon just to eat for themselves. I've ate it, juiced it, and tried to give some away, and I still have half a damn watermelon in my fridge. I am kind of sick of watermelon now, and I don't think I will want to eat any until next summer.

So I was a bit disappointed. I started the week off with so many ideas and recipes. I was going to take pictures, write articles, and become some sort of healthy eating internet blogging produce domestic goddess. That plan sort of went to shit, but I've had a few successes culinary-wise this week. I made a tasty pasta dish, but it kind of looked ugly in photos. Maybe I need to invest in some fresh parsley twigs to garnish my plates to make them look better. I successfully made a new juice that was great and a welcome change from all the beet juice I was drinking. If I could take anything out of this whole week it would be to never give up. Keep plugging away at it, and you'll eventually end up with something great.

Bunny Food Juice

3 carrots
1 Bosc pear
1 Granny Smith apple
1 large orange
a one inch hunk of ginger root

Mushroom and Artichoke Orzo

1 package of porcini mushrooms (I used dried mushrooms, but you can substitute fresh baby bella mushrooms)
3 garlic cloves
1 can artichoke hearts (in brine, not marinated
1 cup of orzo (you can substitute penne pasta if orzo is not available)
olive oil
grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Bring medium pan of water to boil for pasta, and cook according to package instructions reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add tablespoon of olive oil to another skillet and add minced garlic over medium heat and cook until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Add mushrooms to garlic and cover for 7 minutes or so (until mushrooms release their liquid.) Drain and rinse artichoke hearts, and chop into smaller pieces if they are too big. Add artichokes to mushrooms in pan, add salt and pepper to taste, and stir to combine flavors and heat all ingredients. Add 1/4 cup of pasta water and drained cooked pasta to mushroom mixture. Remove from heat, add parmesan cheese and another tablespoon of olive oil, toss to combine, and add any additional salt and pepper if it needs it.

Is it fall yet?!

2011-09-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about fall. It was so dry and hot this summer, the cool temperatures and rainy days are a very welcome change. I didn't hit up the Farmer's Market this week, because I was in a lot of pain on Saturday. I spent most the day in pajamas and laying around. It wasn't gallbladder pain though. I have had really horrible headaches, body soreness, and fatigue, and I don't really have an explanation for any of it. I don't feel like the acupuncture is really helping me. The acupuncturist said that some people get worse before they get better, but I don't want to get any worse. I actually felt better just doing the dietary changes. So, I think I'm just going to keep up with my current dietary habits.

Since it's fall now, I've been craving a lot of soups, comfort food, and other cold weather staples. One of my biggest challenges has always been making a great pot of beans without using animal fat. My grandmother makes a great pot of beans, but I'm pretty sure she uses bacon, ham, or some other source of fat. Every recipe I've tried, ended up too bland, and just missing that "little something extra." It's always hard to make vegetarian beans that actually taste good to people who aren't used to eating vegetarian. However, I think I finally figured it out! I listed the spices I used, and I'm not sure of the amount of each. I just kind of sprinkled some in...stirred it around, tasted, etc. This gives you more control of the level of spice depending on your taste.

Pig-Free Tasty Beans

1 lb of light red kidney beans (substitute with your favorite beans)
2 celery stalks (ends trimmed)
1 onion
1 bell pepper
2 jalapeno peppers
3 cloves of garlic
Spices: Salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, oregano (add as needed)

Soak beans overnight. After beans have soaked for at least 8 hours, rinse beans and put back in big pot. Fill pot with water until water is about two knuckle lengths over the beans. Bring beans to boil. Meanwhile, finely mince all vegetables and garlic (or pulse them in the food processor to save time). Toss all minced veggies in the pot with beans. After pot reaches boil, lower heat, but keep hot enough to maintain a good simmer with the lid off. Let beans simmer for at least an hour, and add spices to taste at the end. These taste great served over some rice, on a salad, or even by themselves.

Dusting my boots off

2011-09-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Making changes isn't easy. If it was, I'm sure more people would do it. When you first decide to make a change, the initial rush can get you through most obstacles. But the maintenance of that enthusiasm has always been difficult for me. This past week was tough. I didn't go on some meat and cheese binge or anything. I wasn't eating as healthy as I should. I ate a lot of frozen yogurt, had a few sodas, and ate some chips. This isn't anything extreme or worth shaming myself about so I won't. However, I feel better physically when I eat healthy, and the whole point of this is to get better. And getting better, means eating better...for longer. I need to give myself some credit for the changes I have made and that I didn't give in to eating what I really wanted. However, I spent about 3 days pissed off at my body or angry at myself for being mad about feeling deprived. It wasn't constructive. It just made me feel worse.

Sadness and stress seems to send me running towards junk food. I'm starting to see my medical bills roll in, and they aren't pretty. My chest clenches every time I open an envelope, but I have to look at them. I have to look, not just because I have to pay them, but so I can remind myself why I am doing this. Being unhealthy is so easy for me, but it sure isn't cheap.

With all that said, I am very proud of what strides I have been making. I am drinking my juice regularly, and I'm down 10 lbs. I am eating more produce and plant-based foods than ever. I am learning new recipes, tasting new foods, and even converting a few people. So, I haven't fallen off the wagon kiddos. Right now, that isn't even an option for me. Eating some Taco Bueno would send me into a puke and pain fest that I am sure would involve hugging a toilet and/or laying in a floor in a fetal position crying in pain. My gallbladder is like having an electric shock caller on. When I eat something I shouldn't, it will let me know pretty soon, and it is usually unpleasant enough to not ever want to eat that particular food item again. In that way, I am fortunate. My taste buds are adjusting too which helps. There are so many foods that I have thought, "I HAVE TO EAT THAT." But after one bite it just didn't seem as good as I remembered. I'm slowly taking those tacos off their pedestals, and replacing them with beets..or something like that.

With Expiration Comes Desperation

2011-09-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

I made a new juice today. I had a ton of spinach on the verge of expiring, and the best way to use a ton of spinach is to juice it! I like to stick to similar colored veggies and fruits just so I won't end up drinking something the shade of fecal material, but I bent my rules a bit and added some carrots which made this green juice a lovely shade of pine. This juice is called Sour Puss because it's sour and for my cat Milly who is whiny and totally terrified of the sound of the juicer.

Sour Puss Juice

2 Granny Smith Apples
1 Bartlett Pear
2 Carrots
2 Kiwi
5 handfuls of Spinach
juice of one lime

I like drinking mine in a glass meant for alcoholic beverages!

Now you're cooking...without Crisco.

2011-09-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

I really love the Farmer's Market here in Fayetteville. I've always enjoyed it, but, before a month ago, I wasn't really consuming produce. So I mostly bought fresh flowers there on occasion. I never thought I would get to the point where I would get excited about vegetables. Now, I definitely look forward to my Saturday mornings at the Farmer's Market. It's nice to get to meet your farmer and put cold hard cash in his (or her!) hand. This week I purchased some crisp green beans along with some Italian sweet peppers. Preparing and eating all these new foods have been very educational and fun for me. Snapping beans reminded me of being a kid. I had helped my grandmother snap the ends off of some green beans several times when I was younger. I hadn't even recalled the memory until I picked up each bean and flicked at the wrist to remove the end. It's as if my body remembered it before I did.

One problem with my new diet is that I had to throw out all of my favorite recipes and past knowledge about cooking in order to learn a new way of doing things. I've cooked green beans many times in the past, but they usually involved frozen or canned beans coated in bacon and/or butter. So, figuring out how to prepare them took a bit of research (God Bless the Internet) and a tiny bit of creativity. I found some tasty looking recipes involving bacon grease, and a lot of the healthy recipes seemed to lack flavor. So, my recipe is an attempt to eliminate all the fat, but still making some dang tasty beans. The picture above is the beans in their raw form. I would show you them in their finished form, but my boyfriend and I ate them all up. We liked em!

Almost Southern Green Beans

cooking spray or 1 tsp of olive oil
1/2 medium onion (diced)
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 red Italian sweet peppers diced (can substitute red bell pepper)
1 lb green beans
3/4 cup vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste

Doctor, Doctor, Make Me Well

2011-09-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty desperate, and looking for any resolution other than surgery. I will say that the diet changes have pretty much resolved all of my symptoms and even has improved my energy levels quite a bit. But yesterday I ventured into new territory. I visited an acupuncturist. It actually was very interesting and surprisingly relaxing. The needles don't hurt, and you really forget they are there. Afterwards I felt really good! I wouldn't call it excited or even relaxed. I just had this feeling of calm, secure...centered-ness. It is an unusual feeling to have for me. I am pretty constantly anxious.

He gave me some homework to do before my appointment next week:

diet changes (which I am pretty much already doing. He recommended a plant-based diet, and eventually wants me to quit dairy which I have been having trouble letting go)
nasty-tasting herbs (The acupuncturist's words, not mine!) to help with my gallbladder pain,
and some exercises that involve squatting and stretching. (I was skeptical of these, but I feel a bit energized after doing them, and it kind of gives you the urge to go to the bathroom. Which it seems that in the natural health world, the solution to every health problem involves taking a crap.)

We will see if this helps. I think at the very least all of these things are setting some sort of "affirmation" in my mind that my health is important. The diet, exercises, herbs, are all daily reminders to myself that my health is important to me. It sounds silly because everyone says being healthy is important, but if you look at our day to day actions, few of us act as if health is an important part of happiness. We eat crap, we are lazy, and whine about how crappy we feel. Okay, maybe that was just me! But I do think it's a pretty common occurrence. And honestly, actually wanting to take care of myself is a strange and unusual feeling to me. Even when I have dieted in the past, I did it to be smaller, to feel more beautiful. This feels different. It definitely feels more caring towards myself. I feel a lot more accepting of my body, more willing to listen to it, more willing to care for it. It feels great.

"My eyes dilate, my lips go green"

2011-09-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

This was me three weeks ago. I had my last severe gallbladder attack that day (on my vacation). I was tired, bloated, felt like crap. Today, I am 9 lbs lighter, and mostly symptom free for the past 3 days. I even was able to sleep on my stomach last night. I haven't been able to sleep on my stomach or my right side due to abdominal pain the past 6 weeks.

I had my first juice this morning. Previous attempts were very lackluster and almost vomit inducing. I learned a trick on the internet that adding lemon or lime juice can make the drink more palatable, and it seemed to work pretty well. I also started substituting kale with spinach. I may have to work up to kale. It just tastes so....farty to me.

Here's the recipe in case you want to try this one for yourself:

2 Granny Smith apples (cored)
1 cucumber
1 kiwi
5 handfuls of baby spinach
1/2 a lime

Serve it in a pint glass!

Live, Baby, Live. Now that the day is over.

2011-09-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

So nutritional healing isn't something I just came up with. Many doctors throughout history have written many books about it. One Amazon search of "Nutritional Healing" will give you about 600 results. One author in particular I ran across a few years ago has made quite an impact on me. I was working a cubicle job at the time, and I listened to a lot of Oprah radio online while doing my data entry work. Although I was pretty unhealthy, I have always loved Dr. Oz. What is not to love?! He's adorable. But he isn't the guy who changed my life. It was one of his guests, Dr. Joel Fuhrman. This guy was spouting some crazy statistics about how eating vegetables could actually reverse disease: allergies, headaches, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, even diabetes. All of these, he claimed could be reversed through proper nutrition. I thought this was pretty radical because really no medical professional of mine has ever mentioned this. I was suffering at the time with some nasty allergies and headaches and the only thing anyone gave me was pills. So I thought it couldn't hurt to try his program. It is pretty radical if you are used to eating the Standard American Diet. (1 lb of veggies a day, 5 servings of fruit, all the beans you want, one serving on nuts and seeds a day...no animal products, no salt, no caffeine, no oil). Most people (except for vegans actually) think this is crazy. After the initial six weeks, meat and dairy is ok, but very sparingly (lean meat like fish once or twice a week, red meat even less).

I did this for a month, lost about 15 lbs. Headaches went away. Bowel movements were like clockwork. Allergies were better. I felt great. I quit.

It all starts when you make deals with yourself. "Oh, I can have a bite of cake." "Oh, one chicken nugget won't hurt." "After this Nacho Supreme, I am back on the diet." I fell off the wagon. Dr. Fuhrman's book sat on my shelves for about two years collecting dust until a month ago. When I started getting sick a few weeks ago and I had at least figured out that greasy food seemed to make it worse, I picked that book up again. I even joined his community website. I wanted desperately to find someone with my exact problem that could say, "This fixed me." I haven't found anyone there with an overactive gallbladder, so maybe I can be the first one.

Through Dr. Fuhrman's website, I found that he was featured in a documentary called, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead", which is now streaming on Netflix. I missed a lot of work during this time, and I was watching a lot of Netflix. (American Pickers...I love to watch you and nap to you.) I checked it out. The story is very inspirational, and without giving too much away in case anyone wants to watch it, it is about two overweight men with autoimmune and other health problems that try to heal themselves through nutrition via juicing. It's a pretty good movie, and it's very motivating if you are hoping to get rid of a health problem.

I mentioned juicing to my doctor, and he had never heard of it. I think he thought I meant "juicing" as in taking steroids. But he is a gallbladder surgeon...so of course, he doesn't know about fruit and veggie juicing. He wants to SURGE. So my plan is to eat the Dr. Fuhrman way (tons of plant food, little to no animal products) and supplement it with juicing. I don't know if I can do the juice fast completely like they did in the movie. I kind of like chewing.

You may ask yourself, "How did I get here?"

2011-09-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have never been a healthy person. I was overweight as a child. I joined Weight Watchers when I was twelve years old, and began a 16 year cycle of yo-yo diets, diet pills, fad diets, and any other "get thin" scheme you could think of. I never got really thin. I would lose 15 lbs, binge eat it all back, and then start all over again. Every time I started a diet, I would say, "It's a lifestyle change." But the truth is, my lifestyle stayed the same. All of this continued until this year. Something rocked my world so hard, I got knocked on my ass.

Dad died.

It happened six months ago, but it is still hard to even type the "d" word. Dad was living with cirrhosis of the liver for about two and a half years. He was managing it well with his medicine at first. He had quit drinking completely, cold turkey, no problem. He was a changed man. I tell everyone, "I finally got to meet my father. He was a great guy." If you know anything about the liver, it has about 400 functions in the body. One thing that is tough for your liver (other than alcohol) is fatty, sweet, and processed foods. You can actually get cirrhosis just from a Standard American Diet. Dad loved meat. He often would eat his meat with two sides of meat, and finish it off with a Snickers Ice Cream bar. He was very resistant to making dietary changes. I think he maybe thought he deserved some credit for quitting drinking, which he does. Not many people can even do that. We all would scold him for the junk he would eat, and encourage him to eat more vegetables, less meat and candy. He would always pitifully reply, "That's no way to live."

After his death in February of this year, I found it impossible to function, much less eat healthy. I couldn't get out of bed some days. I really didn't care what I ate, and I would frequently, mindlessly shovel tacos in my mouth at an alarming rate. I ended up gaining 15 lbs. In my mind, I figured I was young, I've lost weight before, when I felt better I would do it again. However, I was constantly fatigued, my muscles ached, I would get headaches everyday. I never really felt good enough to make concrete changes, and I had assumed that all of these were physical symptoms of grief. In time, I thought, I would get over this.

About six weeks ago, I was feeling queasy and weak. I assumed it was some sort of stomach virus, but it only got worse. I was so fatigued I felt like I was going to faint. I would even feel confused. My boyfriend immediately took me to the doctor. The doctor kind of looked at me like I was crazy, but after noticing some tenderness in my abdomen said, "Well, I don't know about some of these other symptoms but with the nausea and abdominal pain, it sounds like you are having gallbladder problems." He gave me instructions on eating a bland diet, and sent me on my way. Like Dad, I totally ignored my doctor's advice.

After much pain and nausea later, I went on my doctor recommended Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast, and Yogurt diet, and the symptoms went away. I started eating healthier and I felt better. I went along pretty much symptom free until I decided to eat a steak while on vacation. I spent the last two days of my vacation sleeping and trying not to vomit. I invested in getting some actual tests done. Ultrasound..normal. X-rays...normal. Liver....normal. Pancreas....normal. Gallbladder...hyperkinetic.

Yes, that is hyper...meaning it is functioning too much. My gallbladder is dumping too much bile, causing me to be sick. This is actually a very rare, and quite new problem in the world of gallbladders. Unfortunately, there is only one known treatment - cutting it out. I know, everyone says the same thing: It is a simple surgery, you will feel better afterward, get it over with. But I (like dad in some ways) am very resistant to this recommendation.

I want to keep as many of my organs as I can.

I don't have insurance, so this would be a "cash-pay" situation.

Most importantly, current data shows that 79% of patients with a high-ejection fraction (like me) see a resolution of their symptoms. So to me, this means spending thousands of dollars on something that has a 21% chance of not helping.

So, I am very much dead set against surgery. I know eating better helps. When I ate less meat, fat, and high fat dairy, my symptoms went away. But I just want to find out if eating healthfully on a long term basis will resolve my symptoms completely. Can I actually heal my organs? I have been so sick, I am willing to try anything. I don't mind giving up all the junk food. I've seen what that stuff can do...and frankly, that's no way to live.