Saturday, November 15, 2008

:: susan and i! ::

If you're an early reader of my blog, you'll remember Susan (&Adam) who frequently commented on the blog. Well anyhoos Susan and Adam were out to visit the bay area this weekend for a wedding and we managed to get together for a 7am walk! You know how you meet people, and they are just genuinely nice? That's susan and adam! It was such a delight meeting them and I feel so blessed! Off to the farmer's market with marcela!
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Friday, November 14, 2008

:: MJ Meal Plan 11/15-11/21 ::

I am still continuing on the peter barley journey...

Saturday: Clean up leftovers
Tomato soup (My own recipe)
Laura's housewarming for dinner

Sunday:
Butternut squash soup

Monday:
Barley Mushroom Soup
Pan-seared lamb steak with thyme, lemon and mustard

Tuesday:
Gratin of winter vegetables
Persimmon Salad

Wednesday:
Eating out at small group

Thursday:
Chawan mushi with steamed rice (Allrecipe.com)
Spring white wheat and black soybean risotto with spinach

Friday:
Creamy root vegetables soup
Baby lima bean and spinach gratin
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:: Day 152 - Summary ::

Activities: Today will be a good day.

8am: Apple, persimmon, spinach, beet, carrot blend. delish.

12pm: Homemade tomato soup blended with leftover baked beans. This actually turned out really well! Friday is always a surprise for me as my goal is to finish everything in the fridge!


Main meal @ home with Elliot as guest
Garlicky spinach soba with sesame oil, Pan-seared rosemary chicken, golden crusted brussels sprouts with carrots and mushrooms

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:: Day 151 - Summary ::

Activities: Long day ahead... but last day of conference! I'm also covering photography for the conference and pictured here are my tired feet.

9am: 1 glass of berry smoothie from hotel, one whole wheat roll

10am: 1/2 glass of berry smoothie

Lunch: Tilapia, tuna sashimi, broccoli and beef salad, green tea ice cream, chocolate souffle. Yeah you heard me.

Tea-time: vanilla chocolate cheesecake

Main meal homecooked food. I cooked for 5 guys yesterday, they were satisfied with a totally vegetarian meal. :) I really liked how the phyllo pie turned out and it looked so cute, definitely a crowd pleaser! I tried a few mouthfuls but that was it - kinda felt sick from stuffing my face all day at the hotel.
Phyllo Pie with Lemon Tofu, winter greens and mushroom (Peter Barley)

Boston Style Baked Beans (Peter Barley)

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

:: Day 150 - Summary ::

Activities: Power 30 KB. I.e. non-stop KB. never done this before so we'll see what happens!I did it!!! 30 min endurance set!!! Left ankle was tender but well enough to withstand the swings.
30 mins, 332 cal, HRa 157 HRm 176

40 2 hand swings, 2 min
40 transfers, 1 min
40 reps, 1 swing, 1 transfer, 1 min
40 reps, 5/5 x 4 1 hand swings, 1 min
40 reps, 10/10 x 2 1 hand swings, 1 min
40 reps, 20/20, 1 hand swings, 1 min.
40 2 hand swings, 1 min (12kg)
40 2 hand swings, 1 min
windmills for a minute
10 min work w/0 min rest x 3 = 30 mins (1,080 swings)

8am: ABC Juice

=conference food all day. yeah i ate all crap all day. Felt like I totally lost control. On the upside, the food at the sofitel hotel is amazing.=

Main meal @ home
Brown rice, chicken tenders, salad, (cooked by Mikee)
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

:: Day 149 - Summary ::

Sigh, while trying to sit on a chair yesterday, my foot slipped off the rolly thing and now my left ankle is sprained. When will the afflictions end? But Mikee stayed true to his promise and worked hard at KBs while I trained him. He did such an A-star job and I really look forward to training together more! :)

I spent some time reading the "whole foods encyclopedia" this morning and I am floored at how many whole foods I have not even begun to explore. ANd wow, the creator made all this for us, every single grain, herb, seed, fruit, vegetable - for us to enjoy and to nourish us. I must take full advantage of this. One of my goals is to try every single ingredient in the encyclopedia by end of next year. I can do it!

Activities: er... hopefully the ankle will heal soon. That being said, I'm at 162! Broke the 163 barrier! :)

8am: apple, carrot, persimmon, 1/2 banana juice blend.

12pm:
1/2 bowl White bean soup, yogurt and granola

from 3-6pm: Random crap at the conference i was in. Bad, bad bad. you know conference food in general...
Main meal @ home
Leftover lentils, gyro wrap



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Monday, November 10, 2008

:: Day 148 - Summary ::

You know how I know I ate way too much this weekend? I woke up Monday morning, still full, and feeling like i'm going to throw up. I know I was supposed to work out yesterday evening the cooking time 2 hours that I never got out of the kitchen. So to be held accountable, I am catching up with yesterday's appointment in the AM and then still doing the PM workout after workout. This is what I call accountability.

Activities:
7am makeup KB, endurance sets
33 mins, 372 cal burnt, HRa 160, HRm 175
40 2 hand swings, 1 min (24lb)
40 transfers, 1 min
40 reps, 1 swing, 1 transfer, 1 min
40 reps, 5/5 x 4 1 hand swings, 1 min
40 reps, 10/10 x 2 1 hand swings, 1 min
40 reps, 20/20, 1 hand swings, 1 min.
40 reps, 1 swing, 1 transfer, 1 min
40 transfers, 1 min
40 2 hand swings, 1 min
40 2 hand swings, 1 min (24lb)
10 min work w/1 min rest x 3 = 33 mins (1200 swings)

5pm KB with Mikee.It's Mikee's first official KB workout and he let me train him! He did awesome and his form is right on! So proud of him!
40 2 hand swings
1 min work w/1 min rest x 15 = 30 mins (600 swings)

8am: New juice blend: 1 persimmon, 1 apple, 1 frozen banana. Holy crap, this tasted way too good, kinda like something I would get at Jamba. I.e. Sugar high!!!


12pm: Bowl of homemade garlic rosemary white bean soup

Main meal @ home
Slow-cooked lamb shanks with spinach (holy guacs, this was GOOD! mikee says its restaurant quality!!! So worth the 2.5 hrs)
Leftover autumn gratin
Leftover lentil risotto

For the step-by-step:
1. The night before, salt the lamb shanks and refridgerate.
2. Prepare the ingredients: 1 small onion, 1 med carrot, 1 celery stalk, 2 thyme springs, 1 rosemary sprigs, 1 garlic head with cloves seperated but not peeled, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 3 2-inch lemon zest

3. 1 tbsp veg oil over medium heat. Sear the shanks on all side until golden brown. 12-15 mins.

4. Saute miretoix over 1 tbsp evoo with tomato paste, 1/2 tsp caraway seeds, 1/2 tsp black peppercorn

5. Place lamb shanks atop the veges. Stuff herbs and lemon zest around and in lamb shanks. Top with 1 cup dry white wine and cold water until shanks were 1/2 submerged.

6. Braise covered at 300F for 1.5-2.5 hours. Until meat falls off the bone. Top up with more wine if needed.
7. Blanch spinach in boiling water for 1-2 mins. Drain well.
8. Remove shanks from pot and pour the juices through a sieve. Mash the garlic well so that it is squeezed through the sieve.
9. Return the juices to a clean skillet and reduce over high heat until half original volume.

10. Put spinach into the skillet and continue heating for 1-2 mins.
11. Place lamb shanks (you can debone it if you like) atop of the spinach and heat lamb up for another 1 mins.

12. Serve immediately atop the spinach bed and garnish with parsley.


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Sunday, November 9, 2008

:: Day 147 - Summary ::

8am: Breakfast at McD's with church peeps. Since I've been "off" the sausage mc muffin for soooo long, I decided to continue to stay off it. Had an egg mcmuffin instead + a fruit/yogurt parfait. I was close to bailing out on breakfast for health reasons but decided that fellowship with my dear friends was more important than that.


12pm: Peanut butter on a whole wheat toast, and peanut butter persimmon sandwiches. Delish!

2pm: a small piece of toast with havarti cheese

Main meal @ home
Persimmon salad
Creamy White Bean Garlic Soup with Rosemary
Gratin of winter veges (Peter Barley Recipe) - this will definitely be a repeat in the Chen household!! So delicious!

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