Leg Day

One of the things I've paid particular attention to since starting a plant-based diet is my protein intake. This is probably due in part to the number one question absolutely everyone asks when you tell them you have gone plant-based (one which I myself asked): how do you get your protein?

When I was eating meat (and choking down yogurt every day, ugh I hate yogurt) I just never really thought about it.  The truth is I should have paid more careful attention because I wasn't a very good meat eater, I didn't really care for it and I would easily go a week at a time without consuming any at all.

This all changed once we went plant-based.  Every day I do a calculation of protein, calcium and minerals.  I don't try to balance each meal with the perfect protein and amino acid mix (though that often happens just by combining a grain and protein, like beans and rice) but I try to reach a goal throughout the day of a proper amount of protein.

It's working, and the evidence has been unexpected.  After years of doing millions of essentrics strengthening workouts I can see the change in the muscles of my legs: they are much stronger and more defined.  I can run much easier and I seek out hills when I go for walks.

The whole positive change makes me feel much healthier and more optimistic about getting older.  Leg strength is really an indicator of overall strength in the body, our largest muscles are in our legs (and therefore our largest calorie-burners) and strong legs indicate energy and power.

As I begin the process of healing my neck and shoulder I'm really feeling excited, because this means that I should be able to start doing some simple exercises holding weights, which should further increase my leg strength.
In the meantime, I'll continue to do my eccentrics plies and whatnot, because every day is Leg Day!

Do you have a favourite leg exercise? How about with weights?  Any tips for me?

We have a fun day planned today, we're going to visit Poppa and Sofie!  We'll be going out for lunch with Poppa and then having a little visit with Sofie the darling puppy.  I wonder how big she is now... we haven't seen her for two weeks.  I'll bring my camera and attempt a picture of the whirling ball of fur.
Have an excellent day today,
xoxDani

Tea and Cognac

 I like this nice little evening drink that is very warm and soothing, and good for calming the mind before bed: some sleepy-time tea (with chamomile and valerian) with a splash of cognac.
I'm a little frightened of cognac because I like it a bit too much, but I made this drink for my hubs the other evening and he loved it.
I am not opposed to a little self-medicating with soothing drinks, don't get me wrong.  Last night I had two giant glasses of wine, one before dinner and one after... it was anaesthetic really and it did the trick.  I had absolutely ruined my shoulders doing a crazy yoga class on Tuesday that was basically an hour of planks, downward dogs and side planks.  Yesterday I couldn't move my arms above my shoulders, so I lost a day of doing housework and prepping for my block party on Saturday.  So frustrating!  Must remember I'm not 30 anymore, I have to treat my poor bones, joints and muscles with respect.

I did figure something out in my kitchen yesterday that's been nagging at me.

 I make almond milk in my Vitamix  and it is so delicious (here's the recipe).  It is the perfect thing to have in your morning coffee if you're on a plant-based diet.  It's a completely different product from the stuff you can buy in the cartons, it's full of fat and creamy.

 The process requires a bit of patience: the soaking of the almonds, the whirring up, then the mixture goes into a muslin bag to be slowly squeezed out.

The problem is there is so much almond pulp leftover and it seems a real waste to throw it away!  I end up making almond milk about every third day so there is a lot of almond pulp remaining.
Yesterday I baked some muffins using the pulp (along with flax, whole wheat flour, a little baking powder, water, apples, dates and cinnamon).  They were delicious, not fancy but good for a snack or elevenses.
I found an article detailing many uses for almond pulp (including baking muffins) here.

I have a list as long as one of my sore arms to get through so I'd better get cracking.  Lots of errands and housework today, there's nothing better than getting ready for a party.
Have a super day,
xoxDani

Month End

 How good is this olive oil bottle decorated for Christmas?  I definitely still cherish this Nigella cookbook year after year, if for nothing else than the relentlessly cheery cover.

It's month end today, that went by fast! I have to work today at my administrative job in my home office.  One of the problems with working at home is that it is so easy to procrastinate on tasks, there are always a million other things I could be doing, and want to be doing more than filing, paying taxes, doing reports and deciphering spreadsheets.
Month end tasks, however, cannot be avoided.  The little matter of deadlines and whatnot.

I found this really cute picnic basket at that big Michael's craft store place and it is just the thing for transporting a dinner to a friend:

 I added a big lasagna, ready to pop in the oven.  There are some little baguettes tucked at the bottom of the basket, a jar of lemon-shallot vinaigrette, some greens and a jar of chocolate raisin treats.  And wine of course!

The sauce I made for the lasagna ended up being the base for our dinner last night too.

Saute shallots, dried basil, thyme and marjoram with zucchini.

Chop up a good fistful of spinach.

Add the spinach to wilt slightly.

Add two big cans of chopped diced tomatoes.
I buy the organic ones at Costco.

Add an entire can of tomato paste.
Well, they are small cans.

 The secret ingredient is to add a big glass of red wine to the sauce before simmering away.  Then season with salt and pepper according to taste.

My friend M was drinking this wine the other evening.
She pointed out that it spells Pissed R U?

 For our own dinner I added a can of cannellini beans, rinsed well.

We had sort of a late dinner last evening, 7:30, but now that I think of it that seems typical for us these days.  What time do you have dinner?
I boiled up some fusilli pasta and we had that with this sauce, delicious.  So easy too.
Have a lovely day and if you're doing administrative month end I am with you in spirit!
xoxDani

One Man's Folly

 Have you read this design book about the homes of Furlow Gatewood?  It's the one I go back to constantly.  You can see it's top-of-pile in the dining room.  If you'd like to see some pictures of his crazily beautiful interiors you can check out this Pinterest board.  Which is making me think I need my own Furlow Gatewood Pinterest board! Must get started on that.

Today I'm going to be whipping up a lasagna for a friend in the neighbourhood who just lost his brother.  Then I need to find a plant of some sort suitable for a friend who just lost her father.  Hard time of year for people to deal with loss, isn't it?

I have a comfort food recipe that does not involve copious quantities of cheese like a lasagna does, and this dish is one of my favourites for lunch: Black Beans with Grits!

 I do a light saute of tomatoes (cut in half) with jalapeños and cumin, a little bit of Herbamare sea salt and a bit of lime juice.  Open up a can of black beans, rinse well and add.
On to the grits: I use these corn grits by Bob's Red Mill, they are so easy to cook and they are delicious, they have the perfect grits texture.

 I simply follow the package directions, adding in olive oil, some nutritional yeast (a great product for plant-based people as it is highly fortified with B vitamins) and some Herbamare sea salt.

Voila! A delicious and filling lunch.  This would be a lovely and easy weeknight dinner too with a big salad on the side, maybe a mixed green salad with a lemon and shallot vinaigrette topped with pumpkin seeds?  Oh and add an avocado to that, yummy.

It looks like another beautiful day here (so warm!) and I'll be going for a long walk up to the University with Scout.  My arms are killing me from yoga yesterday, must have been those downward dogs.  I think some stretching is in order!
Hope your day is a good one,
xoxDani

A Good Monday

 I have to start in on my Christmas decorating in a very subtle way so that no one notices I am a raving lunatic.  The truth is I really love Christmas, the hype, the lights, the shopping, the wrapping, the eating and the drinking.  I mean, what's not to love?
So I've taken out some ribbon, and of course my Christmas dishes, and I've switched over to red and green in the kitchen:

 This year I ordered a box of greenery from Costco and that thing was a bargain! My gosh, it arrived stuffed to the brim with fresh holly, magnolia and cedar branches.

The holly is getting a little dry-looking already though:

 We've had a really busy weekend which I'm so appreciating this Monday morning.  The last few months have been a bit difficult with one of our best friends struggling through a serious illness.  She's so much better now and she even hosted a dinner last night.  We were so happy just to sit around at a table with her.

 I've started to organize the Christmas bar:

 This year I'm hosting a Christmas party for the entire block.  I know, that's crazy.  But I've realized that if I want to know my neighbours these types of events are key.  There are some really nice people on our street and three new couples... I have two weeks to get my house ready!

On Friday evening we went to L and T's house for a plant-based dinner that was SO delicious.  We had this Ceasar salad recipe that was seriously good.  L sent me the recipe this morning and here it is.

Today I have to work for a couple of hours, do about seven loads of laundry, sort the fridge, tidy the main floor and organize snacks and wine for my Serious Book Club tonight, which I'm hosting.
A Good Monday!
Hope yours is organized and fruitful,
xoxDani

Kierkegaardian

 After going back and forth on the existence of the blog in a very Kierkegaardian fashion (either/or) here we are. I seem to have corrected my spam commenting problem, although I'm not sure how.  A computer programmer I am not.  If the ugly head of constant inappropriate comments from rude robots rears its head once more I'm going to put Ole Rascal on the problem, because he actually is a programmer.

In important news around the BP house I have a new favourite fabric:

Moody lighting shot.

I've used it as a curtain in the ensuite bathroom (which functions as a bit of a dressing room as well).  I've also used it as the new wallpaper for the blog.
As you can see I did some slapdash sewing and tarted up the chair with a leopard print cushion.  Leopard being a neutral of course.

In other news I found myself some LeCreuset spatulas in a turquoise blue:

Brussel Sprouts and Chestnuts

 I've been very busy the last few months trying to figure out how to do a plant-based diet correctly.  We started in August and it's been a real eye-opener.  I love cooking more than ever now and it's been fun to discover little heroes of the plant-based kitchen, such as cashew cream:

Cashew cream ready for the freezer.
Here's a really good recipe.

All of this time in the kitchen has made me really miss my Mop Philosophy Kitchen posts!  So much good information to share and discuss.

 I've also been busy hanging out with this character:

 This is my favourite time of year for long walks, especially on days when the temperature hovers around freezing.  All that bracing fresh air, so good!

Veg to serve with black beans and grits.

Roasted carrots are delicious served with lentils and potatoes.
It's the new roast chicken dinner.

 How is your kitchen these days? What's going on at home? Doing any decorating? Having any existential Kierkegaardian moments?

I'll be back with Christmas decorating...it's all go around here.
xoxDani