Thanksgiving was invented by prisoners in the tower of London in 1666.
It is most famously celebrated by pilgrims who breed turkeys and release them on the last Thursday in November. Amongest the Masai people thanksgiving is observed by selecting a long branch or switch and whipping your female grateful relatives.
In America the holiday began as the giving of "Fanques" a french breed of dog. Unfortunately the native americans couldnt pronounce "fanques" the word became "thanks"....
The holiday is observed in all the the fifty american states and also the other two that aren't represented by stars on the flag and all other countries where Americans are living, except for at Beth's place coz she forgot (that's what happens to people when they successfully break free of patriotism and their country and become kiwi!).
Today I am thankful for all the people I love and my Oprah Ticket!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Oprah
Oprah was created 457 million years ago from ancient star dust and discarded unicorn horn. She was transported to the earth on a small quilted cushion through a multidimensional wormhole from somewhere in the Horsehead Nebula.
Her alien origins have been hidden from public view, with the exception of a few occasions. One of these was when she tried to "unwrap" her 1985 Best Supporting Actress Oscar, thinking it was chocolate wrapped in gold foil. Her film career has included playing a slave, a goose, a bee and a frog. Of her 18,000 books her favorite is "Look Under Your Chair: a guide to gift giving". Oprah isn't just a tv/film star and author, she also rules the radio waves with her epic radio show Oprah And Friends.
Oprah will never technically die as her blood cells are actually bioengineered with nano particles and her brain is riddled with secret apple computer technology. It is said that one drop of her blood will dissolve flesh eating bacteria. Her skin is elvish mesh and tattooed with positive affirmations which become embedded in the subconscious of all who hear her voice. Oprah weighs the same as two shedded snake skins.
Extraordinarily flexible, Oprah is trained in 37 martial arts. In her 5th grading in Go Ju Kai Karate she accidentally opened the portal to nirvana and to avoid being pulled into the next life of bliss she performed the oft thought impossible Finger of Radiant Contemplation closing the portal and inadvertently ending a drought in Southern Ireland.
Oprah holds honours degrees in Cognitive Metastatistics, Molecular Stereooceanoacoustics and Polyeconomics. Her name, which resulted from a mispelling of Orpah, has been attributed with healing rabies in wolves and cleft palate in humans. Seven species of South American butterfly, three species of Papua New Guinea marsupial and two species of extinct New Zealand bat include her name in their scientific designation.
Favoured by morris dancers, Oprah is reverred as Queen of the Maypole and celebrated three times a year by a mass parading of morris dancing in small Welsh villages.
In the winter months Oprah travels the world on the back of a giant white swan granting wishes and performing random acts of compassion. On the birthday of a very special man Oprah will magically appear in front of thousands of Southern Hemispherians AND I WILL BE THERE!!!!
Her alien origins have been hidden from public view, with the exception of a few occasions. One of these was when she tried to "unwrap" her 1985 Best Supporting Actress Oscar, thinking it was chocolate wrapped in gold foil. Her film career has included playing a slave, a goose, a bee and a frog. Of her 18,000 books her favorite is "Look Under Your Chair: a guide to gift giving". Oprah isn't just a tv/film star and author, she also rules the radio waves with her epic radio show Oprah And Friends.
Oprah will never technically die as her blood cells are actually bioengineered with nano particles and her brain is riddled with secret apple computer technology. It is said that one drop of her blood will dissolve flesh eating bacteria. Her skin is elvish mesh and tattooed with positive affirmations which become embedded in the subconscious of all who hear her voice. Oprah weighs the same as two shedded snake skins.
Extraordinarily flexible, Oprah is trained in 37 martial arts. In her 5th grading in Go Ju Kai Karate she accidentally opened the portal to nirvana and to avoid being pulled into the next life of bliss she performed the oft thought impossible Finger of Radiant Contemplation closing the portal and inadvertently ending a drought in Southern Ireland.
Oprah holds honours degrees in Cognitive Metastatistics, Molecular Stereooceanoacoustics and Polyeconomics. Her name, which resulted from a mispelling of Orpah, has been attributed with healing rabies in wolves and cleft palate in humans. Seven species of South American butterfly, three species of Papua New Guinea marsupial and two species of extinct New Zealand bat include her name in their scientific designation.
Favoured by morris dancers, Oprah is reverred as Queen of the Maypole and celebrated three times a year by a mass parading of morris dancing in small Welsh villages.
In the winter months Oprah travels the world on the back of a giant white swan granting wishes and performing random acts of compassion. On the birthday of a very special man Oprah will magically appear in front of thousands of Southern Hemispherians AND I WILL BE THERE!!!!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Shine's Unbelievable Birthday
Shine's birthday was invented on Pluto and is tattooed on the hand of all geniuses (genii?). The two days leading up to her birthday are celebrated by agricultural events and the gathering of large workhorses which parade in sparkly harness gear pulling sleds and logs back and forth in front of her. Many people compete in vegetable growing and decorative bakery to gain her favour.
In America Shine's birthday is celebrated with a meal of gratefulness on the closest Thursday.
The beginning of her birthday month is heralded by a famous horse race in the town of her birth which draws horses from all over the world.
The men of Shine's country grow moustaches all month in honour of her birthday, raising money which they donate to charity.
November in Taiwanese means "Month Of Shine"... and the natives of Easter Island perform a dance celebrating the birth of Shine, whilst wearing small gourds upon their heads...
In Scandanavia men sing a song titled "Shiney Hiney Me-o Miney" to their cats, and paint ancient egyptian runes upon their shoes.
The legend of Shine dates back to Viking times, attributed to the first queen of the vikings, Shine the reflective.
This name was given to the queen, not because she was introspective about herself, but rather that she reflected 80% of ambient light from her smile and her orange hat.
Viking Queen Shine was known to be generous and kind, whilst her nephew Rain was known to be silly. This led to the phrase "Rain or Shine" to which the asked would answer, "Dawn."
This made no sense.
The Babylonians worshipped a Godess named Shyne, who loved horses above all other animals. She loved them so much she married 71 of of them. This led to the coining of the phrase "taking a shine to you"... meaning the speaker would gladly shovel out the listener's stall.
On Jupiter Shine's birthday is only 9 hours long, but on Mars is it nearly 25 hours long. Martians celebrate this day by carving enormous faces in stone, looking towards earth. On Neptune Shine's birthday is celebrated with the traditional giving of purple nurples and candy. On leap years Shine leaps without looking, but doesnt come to harm because November 22nd is a long way away from February 29th.
In America Shine's birthday is celebrated with a meal of gratefulness on the closest Thursday.
The beginning of her birthday month is heralded by a famous horse race in the town of her birth which draws horses from all over the world.
The men of Shine's country grow moustaches all month in honour of her birthday, raising money which they donate to charity.
November in Taiwanese means "Month Of Shine"... and the natives of Easter Island perform a dance celebrating the birth of Shine, whilst wearing small gourds upon their heads...
In Scandanavia men sing a song titled "Shiney Hiney Me-o Miney" to their cats, and paint ancient egyptian runes upon their shoes.
The legend of Shine dates back to Viking times, attributed to the first queen of the vikings, Shine the reflective.
This name was given to the queen, not because she was introspective about herself, but rather that she reflected 80% of ambient light from her smile and her orange hat.
Viking Queen Shine was known to be generous and kind, whilst her nephew Rain was known to be silly. This led to the phrase "Rain or Shine" to which the asked would answer, "Dawn."
This made no sense.
The Babylonians worshipped a Godess named Shyne, who loved horses above all other animals. She loved them so much she married 71 of of them. This led to the coining of the phrase "taking a shine to you"... meaning the speaker would gladly shovel out the listener's stall.
On Jupiter Shine's birthday is only 9 hours long, but on Mars is it nearly 25 hours long. Martians celebrate this day by carving enormous faces in stone, looking towards earth. On Neptune Shine's birthday is celebrated with the traditional giving of purple nurples and candy. On leap years Shine leaps without looking, but doesnt come to harm because November 22nd is a long way away from February 29th.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The New Bullying aka When is a Joke Not a Joke
So... an airport that may or may not have needed to close due to snow, so frustrated a guy (who perhaps didn't have his RL friends around to vent to, or perhaps he has no friends... I'm just sayin'...) that he had a verbal tantrum akin to roadrage. Expressed in a 140 character tweet in which he mentioned blowing up said airport.
Seems an airport person, probably also frustrated about something (having no friends perhaps?), saw it (were they doing a search about their workplace?? see previous brackets) and reported it to the police. Original frustrated person was arrested, sent to court and fined for being menacing.
This brings to mind at least two different uses of the concept of "joke".
1. The tweeter says it was "only a joke" (and don't get me started on the way people flippantly deny responsibility by cracking out this line coz that is a subject for an, as yet, undrafted blog post).
2. The public money and time spent on this - it's got to be a joke! #twitterjoketrail
Anyway... so, of course lots of people are venting about it in their different ways.
Lots of tweeters (including a number of celebs) are showing support by tweeting their own version of the offending tweet with the hash tag #iamspartacus and changing their avatars to include a "may be a joke" disclaimer.
Stephen Fry (we love him!) has declared he will pay whatever this fellow is fined. I assume on the principal of free speech - and not the principal of badly managing one's feelings ...
People are writing blogs (err, not just me!) and columns about it. Including this one which refers to someone inferring they would like another person stoned to death (another joke, of course?!?) They got in trouble too and their defense? "I did not 'call' for the stoning of anybody. I made an ill-conceived attempt at humour." <-- read: "Just joking"!
The whole airport bombing tweet arrest and fine thing just reeks to me of old fuddyduddies grasping at straws trying to work out how to deal with this new problem of abuse. And, even though they are fuddyduddies, and out of touch with the youth and their new fangled communication technologies, their intentions are good.
But to me it's not a new problem. It's the same problem. I don't know when it started but it's been around for a long time.
Maybe millenia, maybe the cave people abused each other by being mean, angry and spiteful - or maybe it has evolved more recently since tribal warfare largely became out dated and more people began sitting around inside at their desks and doing less physical exercise.
I don't know.
I do know that it makes me think of a larger context of text bullying and facebook bullying and the destruction of a teenager's last refuge. Of vulnerable people lying on their beds, in their only sanctuary, with abuse spewing out of their phones.
I don't know if the broadening of the potential percieved audience or the escalation of the spread of a teenagers humilation exponentially increases their crushing feeling of despair and hopelessness, or their likelyhood of suicide. But I know about lying on your bed in the dark and stewing about the awfulness of being, and I can only begin to imagine how much this is compounded by a string of texts reinforcing it.
A bullying victim with a cell phone or a computer has no safe refuge.
I have to applaud people who want to do something about that.
Or do I?
Just as there are better things to have a tantrum about than an airport closing due to weather that no one can control, there are better things to spend our money and time on than the process of fining someone for saying something stupid on the internet.
If only we could take that time and money and put it into some sort of personal development programme that helps people deal with their anger better, build self esteem and be more compassionate.
So... where does freedom of speech come into it? Sounds like a good thing to be in support of, don't you think?
I am tempted to be wary of Stephen Fry throwing down his money in a way that can be percieved as supporting an idiot (that's a joke... I have no idea if this guy is an idiot, unless you go by his texty actions of course). I imagine he is actually throwing down his money in the wider principal of freedom of speech and such.
The freedom to make a joke?
I don't know if there is a definition of joke that everyone could agree with. Just as there is no universal joke that everyone laughs at. It's one of those "in the eye of the beholder" things.
The whole thing just brings up lots of "I don't know"s and "I do know"s for me.
How should it work?
People have the right to say what they want? People have the right to say what they want as long as it is not offensive to someone else? People have the right to say whatever they want as long as they don't do it directly to an individual?
Did people take a break from saying horrible things for a few decades and now that they can do it from behind a screen where no one can see them they feel free to express the anger they hold inside? And now that they aren't seen they say it.
I don't know.
I do know it all boils down to self hatred anyway.
I do know it's not new, it's just that there is a faster and broader audience for people's wretchedness.
I do know I understand the frustration of lawmakers with good intentions, law enforcers and people that can only cope with an impending airport closure by having an abusive tantrum.
So what do we do about it?
I don't know... but I'm thinking about it.
Now I shall go and research the concept of freedom of speech... and perhaps common sense.
Seems an airport person, probably also frustrated about something (having no friends perhaps?), saw it (were they doing a search about their workplace?? see previous brackets) and reported it to the police. Original frustrated person was arrested, sent to court and fined for being menacing.
This brings to mind at least two different uses of the concept of "joke".
1. The tweeter says it was "only a joke" (and don't get me started on the way people flippantly deny responsibility by cracking out this line coz that is a subject for an, as yet, undrafted blog post).
2. The public money and time spent on this - it's got to be a joke! #twitterjoketrail
Anyway... so, of course lots of people are venting about it in their different ways.
Lots of tweeters (including a number of celebs) are showing support by tweeting their own version of the offending tweet with the hash tag #iamspartacus and changing their avatars to include a "may be a joke" disclaimer.
Stephen Fry (we love him!) has declared he will pay whatever this fellow is fined. I assume on the principal of free speech - and not the principal of badly managing one's feelings ...
People are writing blogs (err, not just me!) and columns about it. Including this one which refers to someone inferring they would like another person stoned to death (another joke, of course?!?) They got in trouble too and their defense? "I did not 'call' for the stoning of anybody. I made an ill-conceived attempt at humour." <-- read: "Just joking"!
The whole airport bombing tweet arrest and fine thing just reeks to me of old fuddyduddies grasping at straws trying to work out how to deal with this new problem of abuse. And, even though they are fuddyduddies, and out of touch with the youth and their new fangled communication technologies, their intentions are good.
But to me it's not a new problem. It's the same problem. I don't know when it started but it's been around for a long time.
Maybe millenia, maybe the cave people abused each other by being mean, angry and spiteful - or maybe it has evolved more recently since tribal warfare largely became out dated and more people began sitting around inside at their desks and doing less physical exercise.
I don't know.
I do know that it makes me think of a larger context of text bullying and facebook bullying and the destruction of a teenager's last refuge. Of vulnerable people lying on their beds, in their only sanctuary, with abuse spewing out of their phones.
I don't know if the broadening of the potential percieved audience or the escalation of the spread of a teenagers humilation exponentially increases their crushing feeling of despair and hopelessness, or their likelyhood of suicide. But I know about lying on your bed in the dark and stewing about the awfulness of being, and I can only begin to imagine how much this is compounded by a string of texts reinforcing it.
A bullying victim with a cell phone or a computer has no safe refuge.
I have to applaud people who want to do something about that.
Or do I?
Just as there are better things to have a tantrum about than an airport closing due to weather that no one can control, there are better things to spend our money and time on than the process of fining someone for saying something stupid on the internet.
If only we could take that time and money and put it into some sort of personal development programme that helps people deal with their anger better, build self esteem and be more compassionate.
So... where does freedom of speech come into it? Sounds like a good thing to be in support of, don't you think?
I am tempted to be wary of Stephen Fry throwing down his money in a way that can be percieved as supporting an idiot (that's a joke... I have no idea if this guy is an idiot, unless you go by his texty actions of course). I imagine he is actually throwing down his money in the wider principal of freedom of speech and such.
The freedom to make a joke?
I don't know if there is a definition of joke that everyone could agree with. Just as there is no universal joke that everyone laughs at. It's one of those "in the eye of the beholder" things.
The whole thing just brings up lots of "I don't know"s and "I do know"s for me.
How should it work?
People have the right to say what they want? People have the right to say what they want as long as it is not offensive to someone else? People have the right to say whatever they want as long as they don't do it directly to an individual?
Did people take a break from saying horrible things for a few decades and now that they can do it from behind a screen where no one can see them they feel free to express the anger they hold inside? And now that they aren't seen they say it.
I don't know.
I do know it all boils down to self hatred anyway.
I do know it's not new, it's just that there is a faster and broader audience for people's wretchedness.
I do know I understand the frustration of lawmakers with good intentions, law enforcers and people that can only cope with an impending airport closure by having an abusive tantrum.
So what do we do about it?
I don't know... but I'm thinking about it.
Now I shall go and research the concept of freedom of speech... and perhaps common sense.
Unbelievable Oranges
"Oranges are made of titanium. They were discovered on the Galapagos Islands by Buzz Aldrin in 1761, during the Franco-Russo-Anglo-Gnome War.
When you peel them they are segmented inside. If you remove one segment, the orange will explode 6 years later.
The french word for Orange is Pink and it is said Marie Antoinnette ate 72 oranges a day, until she was beheaded at the end of the French Revolution. It was said her blood had 25% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C." - Todd
"*buzz* I think it is true that oranges are segmented inside. And i think it is true that she was beheaded in the French Revolution" - Shine
Anyone else listen to David Mitchell's Unbelieveable Truth?
When you peel them they are segmented inside. If you remove one segment, the orange will explode 6 years later.
The french word for Orange is Pink and it is said Marie Antoinnette ate 72 oranges a day, until she was beheaded at the end of the French Revolution. It was said her blood had 25% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C." - Todd
"*buzz* I think it is true that oranges are segmented inside. And i think it is true that she was beheaded in the French Revolution" - Shine
Anyone else listen to David Mitchell's Unbelieveable Truth?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
When did this happen?!?
One can no longer buy blank videos.
Somewhere, between last year when I bought my brand new video machine and a few tapes and now when my blank tapes are wearing thin, a collective decision was made to stop producing blank video cassettes.
Why wasn't there a public announcement!?!
Consultation?!
I am sure the french would riot!
grrrrrrrrrr
Somewhere, between last year when I bought my brand new video machine and a few tapes and now when my blank tapes are wearing thin, a collective decision was made to stop producing blank video cassettes.
Why wasn't there a public announcement!?!
Consultation?!
I am sure the french would riot!
grrrrrrrrrr
Friday, January 15, 2010
Third week!
Well over halfway!
Last night I cooked brownies to take to work today for Sarah's goodbye morning tea - they look stunning and I didn't get a photo! Cut into teeny squares, sprinkled with icing sugar arranged on a white plate with blueberries and purple/white pansies... I am pretty gutted i didn't get a photo.
Was no problem to make them, I did get a twinge when i grated the mars bar and was stirring it into the rich, dark sweet smelling mix - goes to show just what an addiction the sugary justtakeasmidge thing is - although not a real big problem surprisingly. Commitment. DONE.
Got to work and had to ask Beth to taste one to make sure they were ok LOL - that was funny.
They were well loved.
I am still gutted about no photo of them! I will have to recreate them at some point soon while those pansies are still flowering!
Last night I cooked brownies to take to work today for Sarah's goodbye morning tea - they look stunning and I didn't get a photo! Cut into teeny squares, sprinkled with icing sugar arranged on a white plate with blueberries and purple/white pansies... I am pretty gutted i didn't get a photo.
Was no problem to make them, I did get a twinge when i grated the mars bar and was stirring it into the rich, dark sweet smelling mix - goes to show just what an addiction the sugary justtakeasmidge thing is - although not a real big problem surprisingly. Commitment. DONE.
Got to work and had to ask Beth to taste one to make sure they were ok LOL - that was funny.
They were well loved.
I am still gutted about no photo of them! I will have to recreate them at some point soon while those pansies are still flowering!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Protein
Many people believe that vegetarian diets do not give you the protein you need.
Just not true btw.
A plant based diet supplies all the protein you need (as long as you do it properly!), furthermore plant based protein contains fibre and complex carbohydrates which animal proteins don't, and they don't contain chlesterol or high amounts of saturated fat which meat, eggs and dairy do.
In fact, eating plant based proteins eliminates those other problems that eating too much animal protein can give you - heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Bean, nuts, seeds, lentils and whole grains contain lots of protein - vegetables also contain protein. Beans have not always been (no pun intended!) my friend but I am open to enjoying them more now. Still not comfortable creating and contructing recipes with them now but I do find bean things palatable now where once I did not. Prediet cleanse nuts, seeds, lentils and whole grains were a common part of my diet so no big adjustment there.
Dinner is left over spinach and mushroom pilaf with some eggplant, zucchini and orange bell pepper, YUM!
Just not true btw.
A plant based diet supplies all the protein you need (as long as you do it properly!), furthermore plant based protein contains fibre and complex carbohydrates which animal proteins don't, and they don't contain chlesterol or high amounts of saturated fat which meat, eggs and dairy do.
In fact, eating plant based proteins eliminates those other problems that eating too much animal protein can give you - heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Bean, nuts, seeds, lentils and whole grains contain lots of protein - vegetables also contain protein. Beans have not always been (no pun intended!) my friend but I am open to enjoying them more now. Still not comfortable creating and contructing recipes with them now but I do find bean things palatable now where once I did not. Prediet cleanse nuts, seeds, lentils and whole grains were a common part of my diet so no big adjustment there.
Dinner is left over spinach and mushroom pilaf with some eggplant, zucchini and orange bell pepper, YUM!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Spinach and Mushroom Pilaf
Something new tonight!
I have been trying to remember a thing I used to make in Timaru that I loved - have not been successful in remembering what it is but I know it had flat leaf parsley in it.
Today while talking food with Beth in the office I found a pilaf recipe and maybe the thing was pilaf... anyway... pilaf for tonight! (recipe link and photo below). It was MEGA YUM. I am really enjoying cooking with spices.
Most of the food I was eating (and I think that a majority of people eat) relies on sugar salt and fat for flavour. Spices are so much more flavourful, healthy, ancient and fun!
it didn't take long to make and I used some things from my garden!
Lunch was corn thins, avocado (one dud) and tomato.. and no humus because for some reason I didn't see it when I opened the fridge at work and thougth I must have taken it home the day before, then when I put the one good avocado half back in, there was the humus, right at the front, where I left it and thought I looked for it (?!) so I just was not meant to have humus today.
I did add a little of my special smoked garlic salt from the Saturday market man and I only used half a cinnamon stick, (which I almost ate!) he smells so good!! And I have lots of left overs... might take some to work tomorrow. YUM!
Spinach and Mushroom pilaf <--- that is the link to the recipe I used
I have been trying to remember a thing I used to make in Timaru that I loved - have not been successful in remembering what it is but I know it had flat leaf parsley in it.
Today while talking food with Beth in the office I found a pilaf recipe and maybe the thing was pilaf... anyway... pilaf for tonight! (recipe link and photo below). It was MEGA YUM. I am really enjoying cooking with spices.
Most of the food I was eating (and I think that a majority of people eat) relies on sugar salt and fat for flavour. Spices are so much more flavourful, healthy, ancient and fun!
it didn't take long to make and I used some things from my garden!
Lunch was corn thins, avocado (one dud) and tomato.. and no humus because for some reason I didn't see it when I opened the fridge at work and thougth I must have taken it home the day before, then when I put the one good avocado half back in, there was the humus, right at the front, where I left it and thought I looked for it (?!) so I just was not meant to have humus today.
I did add a little of my special smoked garlic salt from the Saturday market man and I only used half a cinnamon stick, (which I almost ate!) he smells so good!! And I have lots of left overs... might take some to work tomorrow. YUM!
Spinach and Mushroom pilaf <--- that is the link to the recipe I used
Day 12
Sick of the disappointment of bad avocadoes!
Makes lunch a bad surprise.
Forgot to have morning snacks today and when I went for "brisk walk" at lunch I had hunger rumbles. (Forgot morning snacks due to problems with work computer which has again put me behind schedule!).
Evening was interesting - I think I had less trouble with after dinner snack pangs.
Dinner was chickpea curry left overs with some courgettes and orange pepper and salad and some berries and cherries.
Makes lunch a bad surprise.
Forgot to have morning snacks today and when I went for "brisk walk" at lunch I had hunger rumbles. (Forgot morning snacks due to problems with work computer which has again put me behind schedule!).
Evening was interesting - I think I had less trouble with after dinner snack pangs.
Dinner was chickpea curry left overs with some courgettes and orange pepper and salad and some berries and cherries.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Chickpea curry
Was wretched cross about somethign when I got home and coudln't relax and was worried I would snack on all sorts of rubbish so I made a chick pea curry from scratch and it turned out GREAT! It didn't take very long to make and smells so good...
Chickpea curry
2 tins of chickpeas (I used one tin)
3 tablespoons of oil (ghee would be better but it's dairy)
2 medium onions chopped
1 teaspoon grated ginger (I keep ginger root in freezer then grate as needed)
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1-2 chillies (seeded and finely chopped - depends how hot you like it!)
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 large well ripe tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon ground corriander (I ground my own from seeds)
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons fresh chopped corriander
1. Drain chickpeas and reserve liquid (I didn't)
2. heat old in large pan; add onion, ginger, garlic and turmeric and cook over low/medium heat until onion is SOFT and GOLDEN (not thin and dry and brown lol)
3.Add the tomato and cook until soft. Add corriander and chickpeas and cook for five mins. Add a cup of liquid (whatever you decide to use, I used water with a bit of stock) and cook for another ten mins.
4. Add garam masala, lemon juice and corriander and cook GENTLY for only another 2-3 mins (add more liquid if you want more sauciness).
Yum!!
Chickpea curry
2 tins of chickpeas (I used one tin)
3 tablespoons of oil (ghee would be better but it's dairy)
2 medium onions chopped
1 teaspoon grated ginger (I keep ginger root in freezer then grate as needed)
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1-2 chillies (seeded and finely chopped - depends how hot you like it!)
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 large well ripe tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon ground corriander (I ground my own from seeds)
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons fresh chopped corriander
1. Drain chickpeas and reserve liquid (I didn't)
2. heat old in large pan; add onion, ginger, garlic and turmeric and cook over low/medium heat until onion is SOFT and GOLDEN (not thin and dry and brown lol)
3.Add the tomato and cook until soft. Add corriander and chickpeas and cook for five mins. Add a cup of liquid (whatever you decide to use, I used water with a bit of stock) and cook for another ten mins.
4. Add garam masala, lemon juice and corriander and cook GENTLY for only another 2-3 mins (add more liquid if you want more sauciness).
Yum!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Weekend food
I made sure I went to the market on Saturday morning - got some amazing raspberries, cherries and blueberries - also some special yumy crackers free from everything and some asorted vegetables and the smoked garlic salt YUM!
Made pumpkin soup for dinner tonight but for some reason it was YUK and more like a soup-in-a-cup, not like my usual yummy pumpkin soup at all.. but wiht the same ingredients so, weird.
Also experiemented with two ways to make potato rosti - one with raw potato and one with boiled. Raw is more to my liking.
I made some hummus - need to work on that mixture and also try to make my own falafel.
Hoping to do some lentils this week too.
Have had another run of dud avocadoes. Blech.
Made pumpkin soup for dinner tonight but for some reason it was YUK and more like a soup-in-a-cup, not like my usual yummy pumpkin soup at all.. but wiht the same ingredients so, weird.
Also experiemented with two ways to make potato rosti - one with raw potato and one with boiled. Raw is more to my liking.
I made some hummus - need to work on that mixture and also try to make my own falafel.
Hoping to do some lentils this week too.
Have had another run of dud avocadoes. Blech.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Worry eating
The trickest times for me are those snacking times after dinner where I will find myself wandering out to the kitchen cruising around for something... so I have been working on becoming conscious of what I was thinking just before this happens.
On Monday night I managed to conenct to some worry about going back to work the next day. Partly because the work I had hoped to have done before I finsihed at xmas was not quite done and partly (maybe mostly) because I need to secure a new job for when my contract with NMIT finishes at the end of may (I think.. I need to check the actual date).
So.. worry eating. Plan for next time - replace the wander to the kitchen with a bit of journaling or blogging (!).
Dinner day 7 - guacamole and corn chips.
Today at work was first day I struggling abit with quantity - I wanted to eat and eat some more. Lucky I only had a small amount of pistachios and cashews left so I wasn't able to eat to many. Also enforcing rule of drinking at least half a glass of water before eating anything (even a snack) and then waiting a few mins.
On Monday night I managed to conenct to some worry about going back to work the next day. Partly because the work I had hoped to have done before I finsihed at xmas was not quite done and partly (maybe mostly) because I need to secure a new job for when my contract with NMIT finishes at the end of may (I think.. I need to check the actual date).
So.. worry eating. Plan for next time - replace the wander to the kitchen with a bit of journaling or blogging (!).
Dinner day 7 - guacamole and corn chips.
Today at work was first day I struggling abit with quantity - I wanted to eat and eat some more. Lucky I only had a small amount of pistachios and cashews left so I wasn't able to eat to many. Also enforcing rule of drinking at least half a glass of water before eating anything (even a snack) and then waiting a few mins.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Books
I had opporuntity today to have a better read over the books as I wanted to lend the main Quantum Wellness one (not the cleanse one) to my chiropractor (who is awesome!) who is starting to expand into conscious eating concepts.
I had fun highlighting parts and writing my own comments in the margins (as the cleanse progresses I will dredge some up for blogging - well, when i get it back from John!).
I enjoyed it because some of the things she says in the books I agree with and some I don't which is perfect as it gives me a chance to clarify what I think to myself: to actually think about it and put into a physical form (writing and then action) what I think.
The cleanse, remember, is part of Kathy Freston's Quantum Wellness idea which includes 8 "pillars" of wellness - the cleanse is one of these (not sure I mentioned that before).
It is Kathy that I picked up the term "leaning in" from.
I like this leaning in thing - you take bits of her ideas, or parts and do what you can, move forward with some of it - no need to do it all strictly at once or even ever do it all. For instance I certainly don't believe there is a need for me to be a strict vegan or even vegetarian. But, like her, I am open to the fact my beliefs on this may shift more towards the strict side at some point (we will delve into these ideas in later entries I am sure).
The leaning in thing is a sustainable approach of creating change.
No picture of dinner tonight - it was falafel, hummus, kumara and a pompadum.
I had fun highlighting parts and writing my own comments in the margins (as the cleanse progresses I will dredge some up for blogging - well, when i get it back from John!).
I enjoyed it because some of the things she says in the books I agree with and some I don't which is perfect as it gives me a chance to clarify what I think to myself: to actually think about it and put into a physical form (writing and then action) what I think.
The cleanse, remember, is part of Kathy Freston's Quantum Wellness idea which includes 8 "pillars" of wellness - the cleanse is one of these (not sure I mentioned that before).
It is Kathy that I picked up the term "leaning in" from.
I like this leaning in thing - you take bits of her ideas, or parts and do what you can, move forward with some of it - no need to do it all strictly at once or even ever do it all. For instance I certainly don't believe there is a need for me to be a strict vegan or even vegetarian. But, like her, I am open to the fact my beliefs on this may shift more towards the strict side at some point (we will delve into these ideas in later entries I am sure).
The leaning in thing is a sustainable approach of creating change.
No picture of dinner tonight - it was falafel, hummus, kumara and a pompadum.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Cleansing @ Work
Dinner tonight is left over and added to lastnightfood.
Lunch was at work - which I over prepared for as I was wanting to make sure it worked and was nto a bad experience. I had corn thins, hummmus, tomato and avocado.
Two comments:
1. I didn't need anything but the corn thins and the hummus YUM!
2. It totally sucks when your avocado is bad and you don't notice until it is already in your mouth.
Had an interesting food memory today. When I was younger, about 11, I would do the 40 hour famine. I remember one time when mum brought me a plate of lettuce and telling me no one would know if I ate it.
I didn't eat it, on the grounds that 'I would know'.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Drink more water
I am not doing a great job drinking enough water.
Tomorrow I go back to work and it will be easier as water bottle sits on my desk and I drink often.
Dinner tonight is Thai green curry which, i have to say, feels liek a cheat - but no, it's all cleanse legal! Although fish sauce is omitted due to it containing 1% sugar!
Am probably eating to much fruit, speaking of sugar...
Have noticed I often can smell a cigarette type smell and am wondering if it is cleanse related. Although i did recently get a fabric gift from a friend who smokes and although it doesn't smell like smoke when I smell it, maybe that is where the smell comes from.
Tomorrow I go back to work and it will be easier as water bottle sits on my desk and I drink often.
Dinner tonight is Thai green curry which, i have to say, feels liek a cheat - but no, it's all cleanse legal! Although fish sauce is omitted due to it containing 1% sugar!
Am probably eating to much fruit, speaking of sugar...
Have noticed I often can smell a cigarette type smell and am wondering if it is cleanse related. Although i did recently get a fabric gift from a friend who smokes and although it doesn't smell like smoke when I smell it, maybe that is where the smell comes from.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Day three
So.. the eating thing.. so not a problem - although perhaps it will be when I have to go back to work...organization is something I continue to work on!
What I have had some isues with are my bad snacking nibbling habits. A little bit of something here, a handful of something there, back for more... snacking. With the cleanse requirements is has really shone a light on what an issue that is.
Today Rain, Dawn and Perry came over for lunch, this was good.. they finished off the last of the ham and took the eggs away (to go to the bach with them tomorrow). I feel good those things didn't go to waste.
Lunch was same as last few days.
For dinner I actually made a proper dinner - fried rice with tamari soy sauce. Was yum!
What I have had some isues with are my bad snacking nibbling habits. A little bit of something here, a handful of something there, back for more... snacking. With the cleanse requirements is has really shone a light on what an issue that is.
Today Rain, Dawn and Perry came over for lunch, this was good.. they finished off the last of the ham and took the eggs away (to go to the bach with them tomorrow). I feel good those things didn't go to waste.
Lunch was same as last few days.
For dinner I actually made a proper dinner - fried rice with tamari soy sauce. Was yum!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Mayo
One of the things I was planning to do which was gonna be a saving grace was to use potatoes from my garden to make potato salad. YUM... (potatoes are not something I eat outside of cleanse because they are white starchy nightshade family things.. and plus I am addicted to potato chips *giggles*)
I already thought I was a good label reader because I was already looking at labels and being discerning and making choices that were better for me and the environment...I already had a number of products I avoided and ones I looked for for this reason.
So, I went to a few stores and spent a bunch of time scouring labels of different mayos that I could use but tremendous trouble because they all have sugar. So I start lookign at the ones I woudl normally not look at and low and behold... the word sugar not there YAH!
The word corn syrup instead... corn syrup that I avoided precleanse. That being said, yes, corn syrup is a sugar... so a dilemma ensued.
For a whole day, until I realised I had been totally ignoring the part on the label that said EGGS *sigh*.
i think it was because it said "free range egg" which is awesome and I woudl usually be very happy about and write to the company and tell them so..
No potato salad.
I already thought I was a good label reader because I was already looking at labels and being discerning and making choices that were better for me and the environment...I already had a number of products I avoided and ones I looked for for this reason.
So, I went to a few stores and spent a bunch of time scouring labels of different mayos that I could use but tremendous trouble because they all have sugar. So I start lookign at the ones I woudl normally not look at and low and behold... the word sugar not there YAH!
The word corn syrup instead... corn syrup that I avoided precleanse. That being said, yes, corn syrup is a sugar... so a dilemma ensued.
For a whole day, until I realised I had been totally ignoring the part on the label that said EGGS *sigh*.
i think it was because it said "free range egg" which is awesome and I woudl usually be very happy about and write to the company and tell them so..
No potato salad.
Friday, January 1, 2010
And so it begins....
21 days of
gluten free
caffeine free
sugar free
dairy free
animal product free
living...
So far I have found out that the trickiest one is sugar because it is hidden in almost everything...
Also have discovered that the 6pm to 930 pm part of the day is the hardest part.
Need to drink more water.
Am feeling stuffed up in the nose like when I wake up in the morning after having dairy (which I don't do often)... except its ten to 11 pm and of course have had no dairy today.
Also feel this way when I have a cold...hmmmmm
Lunch was yum and at dinner I was not so hungry so had some rice and the last of the broad beans... (and last broad beans are not so good btw).
gluten free
caffeine free
sugar free
dairy free
animal product free
living...
So far I have found out that the trickiest one is sugar because it is hidden in almost everything...
Also have discovered that the 6pm to 930 pm part of the day is the hardest part.
Need to drink more water.
Am feeling stuffed up in the nose like when I wake up in the morning after having dairy (which I don't do often)... except its ten to 11 pm and of course have had no dairy today.
Also feel this way when I have a cold...hmmmmm
Lunch was yum and at dinner I was not so hungry so had some rice and the last of the broad beans... (and last broad beans are not so good btw).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
