3 Day Staycation Deconstructed - Part 1 - Lunch!

If you wondered why I didn't blog in September it was because i had nothing to say :) Let's face it, it was still HOT, work was totally absorbing me and between the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 and the Bastrop fires I was at a loss for words that I thought were meaniful.

I took a day off from work on Friday and rediscovered that knowing what you want and need is the only way to get it. What started off as a plan with my dear friend, Irene, to go to lunch and take a little break from my job turned into an all out 3 day Staycation.

It didn't hurt that the weather was insanely beautiful. After going with Rob to take Emily to school, something that I almost never do, I went for a long brisk walk. At noon Irene came to pick me up for lunch at a wonderful wine bar and restaurant called Cru, which has newly opened in the luxurious upper Kirby district "WestAve Complex". As it turned out Cru wasn't open for lunch so we tried another restaurant right next to it called Pondicheri. As soon as we stuck our heads in the door we were both completely captivated! The first order of business was to determine if they had wine. Check! We were in business. A hot magenta wall on our right set the stage for the intense flavor and visual experience that I promise will bring me back time and time again. The menu looked fresh, homey, full of spice and healthy. I quickly decided on the "Earth Thali" and after some deliberation, Irene chose the Yogi Thali. We both order a glass of Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The Thali is described as a traditional chef sampler platter. Mine had spiced okra, seasonal vegetable curry, saga paneer, barley salad, dal and naan. In case you haven't figured it out, Pondicheri is an Indian restaurant. I can speak to Irene's experience because she, like myself, was oohing and aching throughout the entire meal. Wine first, it was crisp, not too citrusy and light. A perfect accompaniment to the meal. Okay, dish by dish, this was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Each item was displayed in it's own stainless steel bowl (each contained about 1/2 cup of pure yum!) on a large stainless steel platter. The spiced okra was the best okra and my favorite item, well maybe a tie with the naan or the scrumptious little bite of dessert that came in it's own little small shiny bowl. I've had fried okra and I've had boiled okra alone and in gumbo. Fried or slimy, that has been my experience with okra prior to this meal. Now, I love okra. Perhaps it was grilled, or pan sautéed, but it was a perfect texture and had just the right amount of spice. I detected cumin. It was scrumptious!! The seasonal curry was cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Also yummy. The saag paneer, a traditional Indian standby of creamed spinach with a tofu-like cheese, was unique in that it was made from both spinach and mustard greens. Heavenly is a good way to describe it. The barley salad was nothing short of stunningly beautiful. It must have had beet juice because it was brilliantly colored - beet red, orange and pink with bits of jicama that gave it a nice crunch interspersed with the chewy texture of the barley. It was a work of art in a bowl. At first I thought the dal was a corn soup. About midway through the meal I realized it was yellow lentils. It was my least favorite, but was still pretty tasty. Then there was the naan. OMG. It was obvious they make it in-house. Warm, soft, super delicious. I did try some of Irene's Paratha (another Indian bread)- equally magnificent! And then there was the little bite of dessert, a soupy, almondy rice pudding, I think. It was a sweet little taste of heaven.

And that was lunch. More of the 3 Day Staycation the next post.....

Counting My Blessings

A couple of years ago, Rob, Emily and I started a dinner ritual of telling each other what 3 things we were grateful for each day. I started it as a way to infuse some optimism into everyone's outlook, especially Emily's. You know how kids seem to complain a lot? Well, I know that it's impossible to frown when you're smiling. Likewise, it's hard to complain when you are expressing gratitude! At first food seemed to be the constant subject of gratitude. So, we said good meals could only count as one thing to be thankful for. We like a challenge at our house! :) Then being grateful for our family became a common theme. So, we started saying we were grateful for the usual things, the usual things being good meals, our loving family, our comfortable home, the kitties. So, now we say we're grateful for the usual things and then go from there. We don't say what we're grateful for every day anymore, but it's often enough that we remember on a regular basis that we have a lot to be thankful for. Lately I've noticed that on days when I come home exhausted from a hard day at work Emily asks what I'm grateful for. Something tells me that's not a coincidence. The kid is pretty smart. For that I am always grateful. Sometimes the student becomes the teacher and I am happy to be reminded, especially on day's that have sucked the life out of me, that I always have so many things to be grateful for...good friends (make that EXCELLENT!), a job that is challenging, engaging and rewarding, good health, a sense of humor...and, of course, the usual things!

The Joy of Baking Bread

Making and baking bread is one of my favorite weekend activities. I starting making bread when Rob and I were planning our restaurant, Emily's Pantry & Cafe. When we were restauranteurs I was chef, kitchen manager and lead baker in charge of bread. We made all the bread that we used for sandwiches, pizzas and bread pudding. The idea of making bread for a restaurant was one of the many things that kept me up nights right before we opened. But it was, all in all, one of the easiest things we did at the cafe. The restaurant venture failed after only 8 months, but I developed a passion for homemade bread and have been making it for my family ever since.
Making the family bread sounds like something right out of Little House on the Prairie, but I assure you, it's not old fashioned or all that difficult. All you really need are some kitchen essensials: a couple of baking dishes to bake the bread in (I love my glass Pyrex 1.5 qt, 8.5x4.5x2.5 inch baking containers) a good sized mixing bowl, measuring spoons, measuring cups and ingredients. I use my KitchenAid mixer, with dough hook for kneading, but that part is optional. Some cooks prefer to hand kneed their dough, but I opt for efficiency and less mess to clean up.
I have some tried and true "old standby" bread recipes that I've collected over the close to a decade that I've been making bread, but I'm always looking for new ones to try. Don't be afraid to substitute ingredients. Most of the time I substitute soy milk for whole cow's milk. Sometimes I replace some of the white flour with whole wheat. The great thing about making bread for your own consumption is the "right" to make the recipe your own.
If you're just getting started and want to really learn about bread, an excellent purchase would be The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart. It gives you a knowledge base that takes the mystery out of bread baking. Again, reading an entire book devoted to bread making isn't a requirement. Bread baking is like everything else in life...practice makes perfect.
In case you were wondering, baking bread does not automatically translate into weight gain. Fresh baked bread can be cooled (this is a must before slicing!), sliced and frozen. When you're ready to enjoy, you can take out what you want to eat and defrost it in the microwave. 2 loaves last about 2 weeks at our house. I don't eat that much bread, but it's the best for sandwiches made at home! The other misconception about bread is that you have to slather it with butter. It's so good that, in my humble opinion, butter is totally unnecessary.
While I'm doling out my personal opinions, the other aspect of baking bread that appeals to me is how much less it costs than store bought, how it contains no preservatives and how wonderful the house smells during baking and cooling! Don't try to rush the process. Read your recipe before you make plans to bake. If you plan it right you don't have to be housebound during the entire process. The loaves I made today had 3 rise times of 45 minutes each. I took a brisk 35 minute walk in the neighborhood during the first rise. I am a multitasker after all.
So if you're never made bread, give it a try. You might be surprised by how much you love it! Bon Appetit!

Hydration Packs - Not just for Cyclists

This morning I debated whether to ride my bike or take a walk. I had given up on walking in July because of the heat and turned to cycling. While I love to ride my bike, like it or not I have to think about my safety. When I ride by myself (that's every time I'm riding for exercise) I have to be looking out for traffic, other cyclists that aren't good at sharing the pathway, walkers that need to be passed, my being a klutz and last, but certainly not least, the boogie man! I jest, but I've lived in Houston long enough to have heard about women, exercising alone, that were attacked. I bought mace and strapped it on my bike, but it kills the endorphins of exercise when, in the back of your mind, you're on high alert so as not to be a victim.

While on the other hand, I live close enough to Memorial Park that I can walk or drive there, have plenty of company and get in a 3 mile "pre-measured" walk. I love it. For me, walking (especially at the park) is the perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy the benefits of exercising in a social environment that is motivating, while having introspective "me time." I get the best ideas when I walk! No headphones for me - it's all about letting my mind wander and get the creative juices flowing.

But, back to the heat...Well, I bought the hydration pack so I could ride my bike in this God awful heat wave. Why not use it for walking? So I filled it up with ice water and off I went. I might have been the only walker at the park with one on, but who knows? I may start a trend.

Singing Pandora's Praises

I would describe myself as a positive, optimistic, industrius, glass half full kind of "gal." That doesn't mean that I don't have bad days. Today was a perfect example. It started out with the bluetooth to my Blackberry refusing to stay connected. Details of work, really not worth mentioning, got me down as well. Roots are showing...I feel bloated and it's so hot and humid in Houston right now that getting on a bike, even with a hydration pack, at 6:30 at night seems unbearable. So I resorted to Plan B after dinner tonight. Instead of going out in the heat and sweating like a pig I chose to stay in. I gave myself permission not to be super driven today. One day without exercise won't kill me after all and stressing about perfection just might. So I drank a glass of red wine, sat on my massage chair (best purchase EVER!) and put Pandora on. I have about 50 stations set so I have music for every mood and occasion. Right now Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Ambrosia and Earth Wind & Fire are doing their job and mellowing me out. Tomorrow is another day and I don't mean that in a Scarlett O'Hara kind of way. So, in the vein of Having it All, I thank Pandora for helping me create an oasis at home tonight after a rough day in the trenches.

Great Find in Breckenridge

While window shopping on Main Street in Breckenridge a couple of weeks ago, I was drawn (and Rob followed!) to a small, bright yellow cottage that housed a real cook's paradise. The shop is known as Spice Merchants. With shelf after shelf of spices, spice blends, sea salts, various sugars and tea blends to choose from, it was tempting to try them all. Merchandise is displayed in glass containers with lids that you can take off to get a good whiff. The experience of this place is very interactive. Everything is vibrant and super fragrant. As I enhaled I could practically taste all the goodies that I'd making once I got these spices home. On the wall next to all these containers are premeasured sample packets of I'm guessing the most popular choices. You could also buy more in bulk if you wanted. Rob and I had a quick powwow and decided to pick out 1 sea salt, a rub, a sugar and a tea. Here's what we left with on this visit - because I'm sure there will be many more (at least by internet at www.spicemerchants.biz).

Chardonnay Oak Smoked Fleur de Sel was our first pick. The label of the packet we bought read "Fine French Fleur de Sel is poured into aged oak wine barrels to absorb the chardonnay nuances. The salt is emptied and then barrels are then fired to create the smoke-dried salt. A handmade process from start to finish, this is truly an artisan salt. Use as a fine hors-de-oeuvres salt." I tried a pinch rubbed into some salmon with a little freshly ground pepper and olive oil that Rob grilled on the Weber and it was exquisite. I will absolutely reorder this once the packet is empty.

Our sugar pick was Dark Cocoa Sugar. The idea behind this choice was to be able to create mochas at home. This one will not be a rebuy since I think you'd need the whole packet (about 2 Tbls. at $2.29 each) to make a real taste difference in coffee. I'm sure I'll think of something that will be a better use of this one.

OMG!! Just tried our tea choice this afternoon - Mayan Chocolate Truffle! It's caffeine free and made of chocolate chips, red pepper flecks, apple and strawberry. The smell of this tea in the packet and while it' brewing is intoxicatingly chocolaty! The store proprietor told us that some of her regulars add a spoonful of strawberry jam to sweeten it, instead of honey. I made it into iced tea and Rob and I shared with our friend Christy. That's how much we like her! :) It was amazing. First of all, no sweetener required. It was plenty sweet on its own. Chocolate is the first flavor that you noticed. I noticed the red pepper, but is was subtle and fit right in. The apple and strawberry came through too. We tried a pinch of the dark cocoa sugar about half way through drinking to see if it would enhance the flavor, but all agreed that it made no impact. Again, I think you need a bunch of it to make a difference. I'll keep looking for a better use for the cocoa sugar. But back to the tea. It is a definite hit and I will be purchasing more supplies in the near future.

Last choice will be tried tonight on Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon Filet. It's Cranberry Maple Rub. The label says "This is one of our newest products and works great for the holidays. Use this colorful (it's pink) and tasty blend to brighten up ham, chicken and pork. It can be used as a rub or created into a glaze. Made from cranberry powder, cranberry extract, maple powder, orange peel, garlic, onion, celery, cane juice, sea salt and spices." I can definitely spell the celery. Can hardly wait till dinner.

Yoga: In studio or at home?

In a former career life I had a stint as a certified personal trainer. I used to often hear people complain that they didn't have time to exercise. Until Rob and I became parents I secretly thought they were full of it. Now I know different.

Exercise is however one of the keys to my personal happiness and good health. Still, one of the challenges I face, living in Houston, is how to stay on a workout schedule in mid summer to late fall. The weather can be so oppressive! 90 Degrees at 7 o'clock at night? No thank you! The other 2 challenges are time and money. Not that I can't afford to join a gym, or go to exercise classes... but in my opinion, it's more fun to not spend money when you don't have to.

Among my favorite forms of exercise, that's year round and totally heat independent (except "hot" yoga - not for me) is, you guessed it: yoga. I think it is the fountain of youth. Great for stress relief.

About 2 1/2 years ago I was super stressed by my job. As if by some miracle a yoga studio opened up right across the street. I had only done yoga at a gym prior to trying classes at Joy Yoga and I don't recommend that approach. In the gym environment, when classes are free you don't always get the same level of instructor and classes tend to be very crowded. Just my personal opinion, I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions. I do love Joy Yoga, on Washington, just 4 blocks east of Shepherd, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great yoga studio... but I have a story about my experience there with the crow pose....I am athletic, but I have major klutz tendencies. If there's a way to hurt yourself, chances are I will either do it, or almost do it. Anyway, near the end of a Sunday morning Gentle Yoga class the instructor had us do the crow pose. I had never done that pose and don't remember the instructor doing a particularly good job of talking us into it. Did I mention I am competitive???? Well, I saw someone in the back of the room doing the pose and thought, "If she can do it, them so can I." I don't know why I thought that, but the next thing that happened was I heard my face hit the floor. Long story short, it was not a good situation. I looked like I was in an abusive relationship for several weeks. But, I was back after a week to continue classes. I'm just that tough and I don't like to quit. :)-
So, I contintued going to yoga, 3 times a week, for another year, at $90/month.

Then I had another accident. This time it had nothing to do with yoga. I happened to be walking out the door of my townhouse and got my shoe heel caught in the door stripping. My foot came out of my shoe and in an effort not to fall or drop anything (purse, blackberry, lunch, briefcase) I twisted my right foot and ended up putting all of my body weight on it, breaking 3 bones. So, yoga was completely out for several months. When I was ready to go back it wasn't the same for me. Classes seemed too crowded. I was behind all the regulars in fitness level. I minded rushing to make the 6 PM class on Tuesdays. The economy had taken a downturn and I thought, I'd rather have that $90 each month for something else.

I didn't think of it right away, but eventually I came up with a solution that I love. I got a couple of yoga DVD's: Rodney Yee's "Yoga for Strengh & Energy" and Denise Austin's "Yoga Body Burn." I have a room downstairs that doubles as gym, yoga studio and guest room. I can do my yoga whenever I feel like it, with excellent instruction (one-on-one). I had already invested in yoga clothes and mat. For about $30 more I have all the variety I currently desire. I also found out that if you subscribe to Netflix you can download exercise videos to try as part of the subscription. Bonus!

Here's my disclaimer: If you've never tried yoga I would recommend starting at a good yoga studio for the personal attention you will need as you learn the poses. Once you get those down you can decide whether or not to continue in studio or at home. Namaste