Anybody out there watch the Food Network’s CHOPPED with Ted Allen as the host? Rick and I watch religiously. Mostly because we just like cooking competition shows, but also because this one is different. When we first started watching we weren’t sure we were going to like it. I mean, really, they take bizarre ingredients and have to make something out of them. They start with four chefs. If you don’t make it through the appetizer course you get chopped. The next three chefs move on to the entree and another one gets chopped. The last two battle out the dessert course, and finally one chef reigns supreme. I honestly don’t think I could figure out how to incorporate the things they get in their baskets into something edible!
Did you know it’s filmed right here in New York City? It’s actually filmed in a studio of an industry related friend of Rick’s. I’ve been to the studio before for a gallery event (the reason the little gold dress was purchased!). They mostly do food commercials and Rick has loaned him cameras for various shoots. You’ve probably seen some of his commercials.
Anyway, why am I telling you all this? Because, dear readers, Rick and I have been invited to watch a segment of CHOPPED being filmed in a few weeks! Yes indeed! I am so excited!!! It will be so much fun to see what goes on behind the scenes, and of course to meet Ted Allen in person. I hope that Alex Guarnaschelli is on the judging panel that day. She’s such a ... well, you know ... let’s just say she doesn’t exactly hand out compliments.
Can’t wait!!!!
It’s both of those things out there this morning. Not only is it pouring rain, but the wind is howling and the trees are doing a frenetic dance to its tune. The rain is being lashed against the windows. By looking at it out there you’d expect it to be really cold. But it’s 51 freakin’ degrees! Yesterday it never got above 33 degrees during the daylight hours. Cold and damp, too. If it had stayed cold we’d be having a blizzard.
It’s not really cold enough to have a fire going, but I started one anyway. It makes me feel better. I liked this rather creepy reflection of the fire and the rattan chairs in the sun room. Do you see Mrs. Cardinal on the bird feeder? Poor thing!
I am going to hunker down inside today. No way am I going out in that gale. I’ve already got the ingredients for dinner, (either Chicken Fingers with Chipotle-Honey sauce or Cornflake Crusted Chicken Fingers with coleslaw) so no need to do any grocery shopping. I am almost finished with my slippers and I hope to finish them up. Just one more sole to go (and I am halfway through that already), and then all the sewing up and weaving all the ends in. I have a good book to read too. And ... the Food Network is back!! Thank goodness! The dogs have some tasty filled bones that I bought the other day for such a rainy day occasion to keep their boredom away. Bella just went to the door asking to be let out. I opened it. She just stood there sniffing the air, watching the rain pour down and decided she really didn’t want to go out after all.
Wherever you are today, no matter what your weather is, I hope you stay warm and dry! I’m just glad to be staying home.
Lynne Lynne with that big grin
How does your garden grow?
(sorry it had to rhyme!)
with basil, oregano, epazote, savory, thyme, sage & red rubin basil,
thank you very much!
With our Christmas present: the Aero Garden which grows plants hydroponically.
Right now we have the herb version “planted.” The seeds were started a few days after Christmas. It was fun watching them germinate—which they did rather quickly—and get large enough to take their plastic caps off. You can see how nicely they’ve grown since, especially the regular basil. Before too long we’ll be snipping away at our fresh herbs!
You can also grow different lettuces, cherry tomatoes, beans, and flowers. I would have to see the cherry tomatoes and beans to believe it!
I had originally planned this post for a week or so back so I had taken all the photos at that time. Here are what the herbs look like today just a little over a week later.
They are really taking off!
This weekend we had arranged a walk for us and a play date for the dogs with a friend and his Golden Retriever. When we got to Jungle Habitat we were greeted with a barrage of cars, people, and a lot of activity. What the heck? we thought, is going on here? The vehicles with “State Forest Police” emblazoned on their sides were particularly worrisome. We decided to park and see what all the fuss was about before getting the dogs out of the truck. As it turned out they were only there to set markers on the paths regarding certain hazardous spots. They said “an accident” had occurred back in December. When I asked about taking the dogs for a walk he said “sure, the trails are open but remember it’s hunting season.” I mumbled something about probably not safe to let the dogs off lead and he was quick to point out to me that dogs were supposed to be on lead in the park, never off. oops. I never knew that. Every time we’ve been there people have their dogs loose all over the place. We opted not to be drug around the Jungle by our dogs on lead, so we headed off to Green Turtle Pond instead and we parked at the top of the road and walked down.
Bella likes her Golden friend, Kayla. At first Bella is a bit overwhelming for Kayla, being too pushy and a tad dominant. She just wants to play and Bella has always played hard. Before long they settle into a happy companionship that consists of running. A lot.
The call this shot “the three amigos.” (Alex, Kayla & Bella)
The snow has mostly melted but the road was still icy in spots and we really had to watch our footing. Bella did pause now and then to offer me a good shot of her by herself. Can you believe how big she is?
We thought they would wear down after a while, but they were still at it on the return trip. Of course, they had to find a puddle of mud to play in! Kids!
We hope to have more play dates/walks in the future. Next time we’ll try our normal Jungle walk, hopefully without all the state brass!
Lately I’ve been hooked on these yummy smoothies for breakfast:
Packed full of good-for-me things and loaded with antioxidants: pomegranate juice, frozen blueberries, greek nonfat yogurt, a dash of honey. Yum. Take a closer look if you like.
Anyone who knows us or reads this blog knows that Rick and I both love to cook and eat. I don’t think we eat badly either. We don’t eat much in the way of processed foods and you won’t find our freezer filled with frozen ready-made dinners. We’re all about cooking fresh. We don’t eat out very much because we enjoy our own food more. Plus, when you eat out you cannot control what you are eating. You have no idea how the food was prepared (what fats, sugars, etc. that they might have used) and are probably taking in way too many extra calories loaded with things your body doesn’t need. As far as portions go, restaurants today give you so much more than you could or should possibly eat that’s it’s ridiculous! Many times Rick and I will share an appetizer and an entree (if we can agree on the same one!) and that works out very well.
For several years (before we moved to New Jersey) Rick and I followed the South Beach Diet and we both got downright skinny. It got kind of old and boring. (The diet part; not the skinny part!) Then we started eating a more modified South Beach by letting in some pasta, potatoes and bread. Then we pretty much threw out the South Beach plan and just ate everything in moderation which pretty much worked but neither of us were as skinny as we were. But like I mentioned before, we got lazy over the past few months and noticed a slight gain. Funnily enough, we both started complaining at the same time. It was time to put a new eating plan into action, so since the start of the year we’ve been South Beaching it again. It’s working, slowly but surely. There is a difference.
I’m always looking for new recipes that are both good for you and good tasting at the same time. And let’s face it, at the beginning of a new year doesn’t everyone think about eating more healthily? Losing one or two stubborn pounds that may have crept up when you weren’t looking? I bought these two great books recently (smoothie recipe came from Cook Yourself Thin Faster) and have been pouring over the recipes and tips.
They are not really “diet” books, just guidelines for eating things that are good for you and avoiding the things that are not. They are all about not depriving yourself of the foods you crave, just making small adjustments to them to make them more calorie friendly. You might not notice the weight loss for several weeks it’s so gradual, but it’s there.
Cook This Not That is a wonderful little book! Packed full of all kinds of helpful things, it begs to be read from cover to cover to glean all the little hints and tips on every (colorful) page. “Score card” pages show nutritional and dietary comparisons of dairy products, bread, rices, grains and pastas, meats and fats so you can see at a glance the differences. Other pages include “Matrix” pages where you mix and match different ingredients for skewers, homemade salad dressings, pasta and toppings, crock pots, smoothies and more. Full color photos of each delicious looking recipe adds to the allure of this great little book.
The other book, Cook Yourself Thin Faster is the follow-up to her first book Cook Yourself Thin. I have both books, but I think the second one has better recipes. We made one the other night “Cod Saltimbocca” which was absolutely delicious! We both loved the cannellini bean/radicchio side. Here’s the photo from the book.
I can’t wait to try more of them out! And no, I don’t own stock in the companies, nor do I know the people personally. I just think they are great little tools to help you eat right. If you happen to buy one or the other I don’t think you’ll be sorry!
