Tag Archives: food

BLOG – GIFT DAY 165 getting my hands dirty

14 Jun

If my mother could see me now. She might roll over in her grave. Or do a flip with her angel wings.
Because I was in a garden today — getting my hands dirty. I hate getting dirty. Mostly because I really hate getting my clothes dirty. But now we have a garden in the backyard of our cute little house.

And the garden has (gasp!) FOOD in it.

Food we didn’t plant but are happy to harvest.

To be fair, Justin did most (all) of the dirty work. He pulled up a bunch of beans, radishes and squash plants that have unfortunately dried up since this house went on the market and waited for its new people to move in.

But now that we’re here….
This little patch of land will receive some tender loving care.

And we will receive the gift of….. rosemary, mint, thyme, squash, beans and berries!

Today we brought in the first harvest of raspberries.

It didn’t quite fill a bowl, but they are already sweet and there are more to come!

The first sign of abundance? 

Now we have the dirty work to do — some digging, and planting and watering and waiting. But I have to admit, it’s kind of fun, waiting for this food to grow.

It almost makes getting dirty worth it.

More tomorrow.
Lovemore {fearless}
Jamie
{what food would you plant in your garden?}

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GIFT DAY 096: 30-day gratitude challenge: day 20

6 Apr

Day 20 over here  (and the weekend, whooo hoooo!). . . of the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge.

What are you grateful for today?

I’ve been studying giving and gratitude and abundance this year. It’s part of my promise.

Already I’ve seen much change in my life — like cosmic or karmic change, your choice. The biggest aha reminder has been the importance of good health.

Health is wealth, as my friend Andrea Beaman wrote about in her book by the same name.

Here’s the funny, ironic, might-as-well-be-plastered-on-my-back-like-a-”kick-me”-sign for the world to see:  I already knew that. Health is wealth.

My recent medical journey is sending me straight back to the drawing board of abundance, or should I say, the kitchen table. Maybe it’s even more accurate to say the stove top.

You know what they say… the more you avoid something the more it keeps showing up in your life. And always bigger and more in your face each time it has to return.

Thus, my love affair with food and my reliance on others to cook it for me has reared its ugly head. Again.

(Does anyone else find this hysterically ironic?)

If you’ve been with me for a while now, you know that I have tried everything on the raw, vegan, whole, clean, sugar-free, coffee-free, green wagon. Then I got off that ride.

Now I am back on. 

Is someone or something trying to teach me a lesson?  Maybe. Regardless, I just want to scream: OKAY, I GET IT ALREADY!!!

The fact is, Andrea’s right: Health Is Wealth.

I’ll be over here pondering the irony of the universe while I wait for my test results to turn up. I will also be relying on what I know is one of the greatest powers of the universe: GRATITUDE.

So today I am grateful for:
1) The weekend and time to read on the couch
2) Plans with friends to play Canasta (and I never remember how to play Canasta)
3) Health is wealth
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What are you grateful for?
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Now, could somebody pass the almonds? No… how about a green smoothie?
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More tomorrow.
Lovemore (fearless),
Jamie

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BONUS!
I just finished reading the NY TImes article Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead?

The article states: “The greatest untapped source of motivation.. is a sense of service to others; focusing on the contribution of our work to other peoples’ lives has the potential to make us more productive than thinking about helping ourselves.
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Skeptical? You might prefer the humorous video instead.
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{Turn the gratitude up! Share what you’re grateful for in the comments section below.}
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Want to make a promise of your own?
Head on over to The Promise Daily and sign right up!

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Day 212: buoyed in stormy weather

31 Jul

It’s a rainy day here, but all sunny inside.
My day started out doing yoga with a friend and ended up with us having dinner with family.

Doesn’t get better than that.

Even though it is pouring outside, and we are drenched from a ferry ride in the rain, I am all toasty on the inside.

It’s a recipe for goodness, isn’t it?

  • good exercise
  • good friends
  • good family
  • good food

As we left the ferry, dripping and drenched with raindrops the size of snowballs falling all around, every taxi driver standing under an umbrella in a line of cars tried to coax us into his cab.

“No thanks,” I said with a smile. “We’re walking!”

The old me would never have turn down a cab ride in the rain.
The new me seems pretty fearless these days, at the very least, I have learned it takes more than water to make me melt.

And, I think that’s what being buoyed by good exercise, friends, family and food can do for the head, heart, body and soul.

It’s like building strength from the inside out.
Even in stormy weather. 

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Day 163: a mother’s curse, a pup’s spell

12 Jun

Here’s my little angel:

Brady Vizsla puppies

Here’s my little devil:

Same dog.
Same sweet little heart.

Difference is in the second photo Brady is chewing up a postcard reminder from the Vet to have his next round of shots.

I swear, it’s as if he knew it was for HIM!

I love this precious thing more than anything, it’s like he cast a spell on me. But, some days, I must admit, he tests my little lovemore heart.

Even without children of my own, I find myself reflecting back on my dear Mama Sling and the times she was at the point of exhaustion  and exasperation with my sister and I.

During the best of times our antics were just given a warning.

During the worst of times my mother placed a curse on us, exclaiming: “I hope you have children of your own who act exactly like you do!”

At times I wonder, what kind of child was I?
What was I doing in those moments of driving her bonkers and straight up the wall.

It’s hard to know. I can’t call my Mama Sling and ask this question that only she would remember the answer to.

Like I said, I don’t have children.  So today, as I looked down at Brady I found myself wondering — did I ever chew up my doctor appointment reminders?

I’m sure I was much like Brady is now, his pure curiosity and wonder keeps him on the go and into everything — with unbridled enthusiasm.

Look! A plastic water bottle!
Is that a stick?
Oh, wow! A postcard!

And, his most consistent reaction by far:
Is that FOOD!!!???

Yes, Brady. That is food. Drop the stick. Give me back my postcard.

And, Mama Sling, wherever you are right now …
I can hear you laughing.

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Day 119: to market, to market

28 Apr

To market, to market…

Day Three in Paris with Women on Fire and it may have been the best food day of my life.

We went to cooking school — but before that — we went to market.

And our chefs, Bryan and Alex of Cook’N With Class, walked us all around the market and in and out of everything from cheese stores to the fishmongers to vegetable markets and fruit stands.

There’s nothing else to say than this — oh, my goodness.
As in mouth-watering-culinary-goodness.

Here I am (below) with a fruit I have never seen before.
Scroll down for a photo stream of our market to class to table experience.

And, the finale?
Voila!

(And, that doesn’t begin to touch the exceptional culinary delights we “monge-d” at Restaurant Helene Darroze tonight!)

So did I learn anything to help conquer my own kitchen nightmares?

Yes!
For instance:
How to…

  • hold a knife the proper way and how to cut in the correct direction
  • use eggs to thicken a sauce
  • choose a soft cheese
  • cook celery root
  • melt chocolate and whip up a chocolate soufflé

I’m not sure I could recreate any of this on my own.  But, on a day like this, full of amazing culinary adventures, I am reminded of something I believe:

“Food is the gateway to love.”

And, maybe that’s why food tastes so much better when it is prepared by someone else.

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Day 89: just when i thought i had it all f*igured out

29 Mar

Food.
Glorious F*ing Food.

It’s not F*ing Friday yet, but I feel very full of it— “IT” being FOOD.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I am on to the new, NEW thing!

Over the last year and three months I believe I have tried every diet imaginable.  I have vacillated between all that is vegetables to all that relates to veal.

I have given up sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, meat, eggs, and gluten.

I have blended and smoothie-ed. I have gone raw. I have gone to the grocery store and avoided all the processed food ailes. I have gone to the health food store. I have gone to the farmers market. I have even gone into the garden.

And, I’m pretty sure that at one time or another, everyone around me has thought I have gone crazy!

Justin has been a very understanding soul through it all.
And, every time I change up the rules on him he takes it all in stride, usually with a funny snicker on his face and a raised eyebrow that says “I love you but you are driving me nuts” while, what really comes out of his mouth is… ”So, we ARE eating meat today?”

Well… “YES,” I say. “Of course we are. I have a new DIET.”

And, so it is, I have changed up our diet one more time.
This week begins a new way of eating, with a new grocery list of foods.

This time it has been prescribed my my acupuncturist, all in the attempt to help build up my blood system again.

So, it seems, we are back to eating cooked foods, some meat and some grains. Cold smoothies are out. Raw fruits and vegetables are gone.  And, at least for now, just easy to digest, energy building foods are in order.

I don’t think I have ever been on a diet that was meant to “build” before.
It’s totally counter to our society’s way of thinking.  The word diet might as well be defined as THIN or reductionism in our culture’s skinny obsessed collective dictionary.

Diet = Thinner

Diet = Leaner

Diet = Reducing my thighs in time for an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, yellow, polkadot bikini, so I can sip margaritas by the pool

But, I have to admit, there is something wonderful about this new diet with a main purpose to build, grow, heal and sustain.

And, that makes me hungry for more.

Here’s to your good health and good F*ing Food — no matter what you are eating these days, I hope you lovemore it!

xo~Jamie

P.S. If you are in the mood for Spring and want a free Spring Cleanse guide from IIN, just click here. It is available until April 30th.  (I, however, will be cooking organic, grass-fed, beef stew!)

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Day 64: kitchen nightmares, take 2

4 Mar _D7K0725

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
Japanese Proverb

Tonight, I took my kitchen nightmares to the next level and put my cooking skills to the test.

I made dinner for a living, breathing, human being — Justin.
(And, he’s still alive!)

Of course, I made some beginner’s mistakes — like cutting the oranges the wrong way, oops!  And, the chicken had a little more pep, as in pepper, than desired.  But, I must admit, the asparagus was just divine.

Overall, dinner was not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, but I did it.
More than anything else, I squeezed a little more fear out of my head.

And, to that, I say:
Bon Appétit!

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Day 62: f*ing friday: fear of fire

2 Mar kale_market copy

TGIF.
F*ing Fridays are back!
And, they will continue to occur on Friday. I mentioned some of my favorite F words back on Day 5 in Year 1, including: Fearless, Fabulous, Fine, Fun, Faith, Freedom, Forgiveness, to name a Few.

Last week I dove into the word Film. 

Today’s F*ing Friday is dedicated to the word:
Fear of Fire.

As in, cooking.

Tonight I officially took a little leap of faith and jumped over fire. Well, at least I bent over the stove for a good hour.

So, maybe I didn’t actually run, jump or leap over a fire pit, but I did turn a lot of kale from the organic market into a resemblance of dinner without burning the kitchen down.

What, are you surprised?  Yes, me too!

The Chinese have a saying: “Eighty percent is perfection.”  And, I am officially commandeering this concept for my kitchen confidential adventures.

It’s time I get over my fear of fire and all things Julia Child.
So, in this month of facing fear I am officially MARCHing into the kitchen.

Tonight was fun and easy because I was cooking just for me and Pup since Justin’s working tonight — so no pressure, no judgement, no vomiting at the table. The stakes will get higher of course when I cook for other walking, breathing humans who have taste buds.

So, that’s why I am adopting this mantra: 80% is perfection.

Because I realize my fear of the kitchen has nothing to do with the culinary arts — rather, it’s my fear of making a mistake or messing up, or to put differently — not being perfect.

So, I’m working on embracing perfect in the f*ing imperfect.
And, I suppose that’s the best recipe I can learn.

Now, who wants to come over for dinner?
xo~Jamie

P.S. Here’s a little photo trip from the farmers market to my kitchen table — fire not included.

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Day 300: it’s hot! hot! hot!

27 Oct

I love sweet treats.
And for the past few months (actually, most of this year!) I haven’t been downing my daily mochas in order to give up my addiction to sugar and caffeine — make that my 3-a-day mocha treats.

But, today, in celebration of Day 300 (whoooo hoooo!) I found a new treat.  It’s sugar free, caffeine free and full of that chocolate taste I adore.

This afternoon while working over here at Women on Fire, I looked up at Debbie and said in my most stuffy headed, cough-y and sinus-y, sniff-ly voice: All I really want is a hot chocolate.

Immediately she jumped up from her computer with a devilish grin and told me to stay put. She would be right back.

I wondered just what she could be making…

Upon her return she handed me a warm and yummy smelling hot chocolate.

“What did you put in this?” I questioned her beaming face.

The ingredient list was perfect — cocao powder, almond milk and just a splash of decaf coffee, enough to give it a little body without the zing.  It’s the closest I’ve come to comfort food in taking care of my body and it’s food cravings.

And, maybe, that was just what I needed to kick this cold.
My breathing has already improved and this sinus infection seems to be better already.

Maybe that is the power of comfort food?
If chicken soup can be for the soul, why can’t hot chocolate be for the body?

Either way, it was a hot! hot! hot! way to ring in Day 300.
And, me likey.

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Day 161: f*ing friday :: fastidious

10 Jun

TGIF.
Today continues the weekly series, F*ing Fridays, which will coincidentally occur on Friday. I mentioned some of my favorite F words back on Day 5, including: Fearless, Fabulous, Fine, Fun, Faith, Freedom, Forgiveness, to name a Few.

Last week I dove into the word Fix.

Today’s F*ing Friday is dedicated to the word:
Fastidious

As in, having complicated nutritional requirements.

I’m becoming one of those people. 
The kind you dread inviting over for dinner or hosting for brunch.

The kind who talks about food all the time, what she can eat, can’t eat, wants to eat, didn’t eat, would KILL to eat, will never eat again.

Part of me hates being one of those people.
Part of me revels in it.

Complicated it certainly is.

Ever since the cleanse (see Days 100 – 137) I have monitored my mouth.
Not my words, more like my food and specifically my cravings.

I have been everything from gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, meat-free, pizza-free, chocolate-free, ice cream-free to happily cooking-free.

Not eating items from the list above has been a process but mostly easy enough to stomach.

Well, except for the current chocolate-free state of my nation.  But, even through that I have been able to do it (mostly) with grace and at times grinning and bearing it.

I have a learned a few things in the process:
1)  It is very difficult to find non-processed, sugar free food in airports
2)  I am capable of turning down sugar and tuning out my cravings

Take this past week ~ at our events and gatherings galore with Women on Fire where this tray of sugary sweetness kept finding me and staring me straight in the eye:

I successfully turned it down.
Which is a big feat if you are standing in my shoes.

The fascinating side effect of all this has been one tiny change:
Whole, natural food tastes sweeter.

By removing the corn syrup, added sugar and processed foods I am starting to feel my taste buds again.  This, coming from the girl who thought “breakfast” was the part of the day invented to eat cake and drink chocolate.

I’m not saying I will never eat sugary desserts again.
I’m sure that day will come, hopefully in moderation.

In the meantime, I can live with having a fastidious appetite, being called a picky eater, being gingerly addressed with the “what can you eat these days?” question before dinner parties and rummaging around in your refrigerator for my own food when the menu veers in a different direction.

Because the truth is, so far, I feel fabulous.
And, that is F*ing priceless.

Now …who wants to have me over for dinner?


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