Playtime in the Kitchen

Of course some of the yummiest things spring from those I-have-nothing-what-the-heck-do-I-throw-together-for-dinner days.

Saturday was no exception. I was out and about in the world from 9:45am-7:30pm, running errands, attending my hippy women's seminar, and running more errands. I was tired, I was hungry, I was unmotivated to move and still had to prepare for the next's day film shoot. I wearily made it to the fridge and decided to experiment with some black bean/corn salad I had made the day before. You all know this easy side dish. If not-it couldn't easier and more delicious. It's also so simple to alter depending on your mood, or favorite beans and herbs.

source and Rachael Ray's version 

(which is very similar to what mine was like)

Anywho, I scooped out 2/3 cup of the salad and added approximately a cup of  weak vegetable broth (because my salad was already seasoned and salty). I let it come to a nice boil, gave it about a minute of immersion blender time to thicken the broth but leave nice chunks of veggies and beans, and voila! A simple but fabulous soup was born. I paired it with a TLT (Tofu//Lettuce/Tomato sandwich-with onion of course) and I was a happy camper.

A culinary genius I am not, but oh how I love happy accidents. I made this again on Sunday night too!

A Garden Tale

Once upon a Mid May Mr. BB30 and I took over the plot in our building's backyard. Mr. BB30 cleared out the weeds and left some perennial flowers (the ones with purple flowers on the right are actually chives).

Mr.BB30 is rockin' some seriously awesome sideburns for his current role. I LOVE THEM.

Earlier that day we went to Home Depot and picked up some tomatoes, squash, zuchinni, basil, and sage which we planted and fed some healthy mushroom compost.

Some people have a garden gnome. We have a garden ninja.

Last week we had out first "harvest" (aka our first tomato with color fell off the vine, and I saved it before the bunny family that lives under a nearby bush stole it!)

This guy was small, but quite delicious. I can't wait for more, and thanks to lots of nourishing rain in June and warm humid weather this month, there are many on their way! (I think we've counted over twenty!)

Aw.....a tomato family.

The squash and zucchini are growing so tall and blossoming away, but no veggies yet. The biggest issue has been the lack of bees to pollinate the flowers. So, in the mornings when the blossoms are open I rub my finger in all of their bellies and do a little pollination. Sounds a little weird, but I have to help them along until they get a little insect action. I am very impatient, because I hear that when squash and zucchini hit, they hit big. Bring on our veggie goodness!!! Now! Now! Now!

Holy Squashola!

C'mon little buds, make me some dinner!!

The basil is flourishing, and Mr. BB30 and I have been enjoying fresh basil in our dinners for a couple of weeks now. Ain't nothin' like fresh herbs to liven up stir fries, sautees, and pastas! I pick it all the time, take it upstairs, give it a rinse, a chiffonade, and into the pot it goes!

Woah! Basil Jungle!

Speaking of fresh herbs, our sage has also been growing well along with its neighbor-mint. Fresh sage has brought my tempeh to new levels and the mint is such a delight with peas and limey cocktails!

Herbtastic!

A couple of weeks after out initial plant, Mr. BB30 went and bought us a bell pepper plant. It's doing its best to catch up!

The little plant that could.

(Behind it is a nasturtium, an edible flower. We got the seeds for free at Chicago's Bitannical Gardens. It's working hard to grow too!)

I've really enjoyed caring for this garden, finding new little buds daily, and watching everything go from bare to WOW!

That's my little doggie's hiney on the far right. Tee hee!

Have you had a summer harvest yet?

Ramblings and Sweat

Here is what goes on inside my head:

"Get it together man, you need to update your blog, everyone is probably so annoyed by you. I know I need to update but I can't get the time to finish up some fact checks and write everything out and I want my posts to be meaningful and helpful and not just a post for the sake of posting. You are insane, you know how much you love reading other people blogs even if they aren't saying anything particularly meaningful. But I am so ashamed of my candy eating instances from last week and my lack of exercise, I am not being a good role model or practicing what I preach lately. You ate some Skittles on a few days when you were on your period, move on, THAT is practicing what you preach-you ate some candy last week and felt gross everytime and re-learned a lesson about how crack-like and addictive nasty sugar is. I guess so, but what's more furstrating is that I have some posts in my head but can't flesh them out because I don't make time/am lazy/am putting a lot of presure on myself. Just write something, that's what this place is for."

See, it's LOUD in there folks......and although I seemingly disappear I think about this blog everyday.

So, I have not been a good exerciser. I have been monitoring my weight for the past two months, and I am definitely holding steady (hooray for sure) but it's time to build up steam again and move forward.  I still have work to do (remember I am an actor and am trying to pick up the pace and book some more on-camera gigs), so I need to get on the work out horse again.

Enter Groupon. Sometimes I am weary of Groupon because I think it will make me buy things I wouldn't have bought anyway, but occasionally such a great deal comes along that I can't pass it up. Earlier this week Groupon featured a nearby Bikram Yoga Studio's package of 20 classes for $40. If you know the Bikram world, many places offer deals to people coming to their studio for the first time-usually something like $30 for 30 consecutive days or $20 for a week. This offer is good for three months beginning on the day of your first class. $2/class for three months, this is as good as it gets (because it's tough and making it six times a month is pretty darn good...so I bought it. I had been looking for a good deal on a traditional yoga class with no luck (yoga classes ain't cheap if they aren't part of a gym membership-which I don't have-I never joined the gym in my office building-too pricey) and this deal came at the right time.

If you don't know about Bikram Yoga, you may hear people reference it as "hot yoga." The room is heated to about 104 degrees to help you do the postures (aka make your muscles warm and happy) and it feels amazing!

From the Bikram Website:

Bikram Yoga is the 26 postures Sequence selected and developed by Bikram Choudhury from Hatha Yoga.
It has been proved and experienced by millions that these 26 postures systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function. Each component takes care of something different in the body, and yet they all work together synergistically, contributing to the success of every other one, and extending its benefits.

My history with Bikram:
A few years ago I got very into the Bikram. You get so strong and lean and sweat out all kinds of gross impurities (cause man oh man do you sweat! It's so awesome!). As I mentioned though, it is expensive!!!! After getting the first-timer deal at a studio, it can cost you $120 or more per month for an unlimited pass, which I've done some, but I'm protective of my monies and that's a big expense-even if it's awesome. My biggest issue though is that 2.5 years ago I had a heat stroke (NOT from doing Bikram). Since then heat and I are not as great of friends. I tried going back once a new place, but unlike other places I'd practiced, the teacher was more harsh and into embarrassing those of us not doing as well. Thus, I have been on hiatus, but secretly longing to try again (at a new place sans jerk face teacher) since it can be so great. I feel like I am stronger and MUCH healthier now and would like to give it a go again in my new body. So, I want to give myself some prep days of super hydration and stretching and I will start up again. Hopefully it will be just the kick in arse I need to jump start my fitness journey again.

THIS NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR KITCHEN TOO!

source

Not to be redundant redundant, but while you are picking up your jar of Goya Recaito, please pick up it's sibling, Sofrito!!!!!!!! Holy flavor mind warp, Batman!!

Seriously, if you are in a cooking rut, just add one of these cooking bases to any number of your go-to staple dishes (or heck, even a sandwich) and your boring dish will be given the kiss of life!

Bored of your super nutritious lentils or black beans? BAM! Now they are super nutritious Flavor Fiesta Lentils and Black Beans. Add some freshly chopped cilantro and some sauteed onion and watch out-The Side Dish Flavor Party Police will come knocking at your door! Get wild like I did this weekend and create a little black bean and chopped sweet potato with Sofrito side that will rock your world.

Yawning at the thought of another protein packed yet plain piece of seared tofu (or chicken or pork). BAM! A little coat of Sofrito and/or Racaito on each side and it's now a Sassy Seniorita Seared Tofu Steak (or chicken breast or pork chop-although please try the tofu first!)

Pleased with the slimming results of your low cal veggie soups, but longing for more in the taste department? BAM! Add a tablespoon of Sofrito or Recaito and its now VaVaVaVoom Vixen Veggie Soup.

I could go and on.

Enjoy!

YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR KITCHEN TODAY

Please do yourself the favor of the century and secure yourself a jar of Goya's Recaito. It is a cilantro/green pepper/magic/crack filled cooking base that amplifies the delciousness of any Mexican or Cuban dish times 100!!!!!!!!!!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

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It's great in your grain of choice with black beans and grilled veggies. I've used it as a base for sort of a Mexican pasta sauce. Endless possibilities. Divine!

This is your invitation to a low cal flavor party. You're welcome.

Old Habits Die Hard or Llama Face

In the midst of being super stressed from being spread so thin with no end in sight, today I am strugling with turning to food for comfort. So I've put my lunch aside to pause and let it out in a healthy way instead of plugging up the frustration with food and not enjoying my meal. I have to laugh at myself and lighten up and give myself a break in times like this. The first thing that comes to my mind when I want to emotionally eat is the infamous Chris Farley Gap Girls sketch. Totally offensive. Totally hilarious.

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Yesterday I went to free lunch time guided meditation and of course had a great experience. Seriously throw out your preconceived notions about meditation if you haven't tried it. It's wonderful and healing and really helps recenter me in the middle of the day. I love the second Wednesday of the month for that. Anywho, the message that came through to me was a reminder to be good to myself. I had been doing so well with this, but just like with turning to food for comfort, beating yourself up is an easy habit to fall back into. Lately I have been putting way too much energy and concern into my face, my eyes in particular. We've just come out of a crazy winter and as the temperature is still warming up and officially becoming summer in my area, my "winter face" is steal healing. I am also a busy busy girl so I don't get an abundance of rest and I am looking pretty tired. My hereditary/allergy related dark under eye circles seem to be getting out of hand and I am noticing those first signs of wrinkles and bags I've never had before. We did our first weekend of shooting for the indie film I am doing, and I have been so worried about my skin and eyes and how they will look. Mind you, I know it is 1000 times worse in my head, but....back to the message. Long story short, we were told to envision a specific animal during the meditation, okay fine, a llama, and all I could focus on was its beautiful eyes and long eye lashes. I didn't care about dirt in it's fur or how it might have smelled, I didn't notice any of that. All I could see was its eyes. I have long eye lashes too. That is a nice feature about me and the tired eyes I have been ridiculing and being mean to myself about. FOCUS ON THE GOOD STUFF BB30. STOP LOOKING ONLY AT THE BAD. I wish I could put that story more eloquently, but you get my drift.

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Maintenance

Time to check in to see how I've done with maintenance this month. Success!

May 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29 inches
June 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29 inches

May 3rd Hips: 35.5 inches
June 3rd Hips: 35.5 inches

May 3rd Arm: 10.5 inches around
June3rd Arm: 10.5 inches around

May3rd Thigh: 21.5 inches around
June 3rd Thigh: 21.5 inches around


I am glad that my relaxed month hasn't been detrimental. I think it's been very healthy for me to step back and give myself a little break. Don't want to get too obsessive! That's definitely not healthy.


Saturday I start shooting the indie on the weekends, but my weeknights are my own, so I should soon get on a more regular schedule of coming home from work whether it be going to the gym (if I join) or working out at home.