I finally partook in a CSA!

Sorry for the image quality.

I had heard about Sandy P. from a customer at the health food store I worked at this year.  I wanted to join the CSA but didn't need a full share for myself and never found someone to split a share.  Thus, I never joined.

Sandy included me in her weekly emails and this week she stated that there were some veggies remaining for purchase.  I spent $15.40 and got:

2 bunches beets

2 pounds sweet potatoes

2 bunches turnips

2 pounds winter radish

and a head each of romaine and red leaf lettuce.

 

It didn't seem like a lot when I ordered it, but my oh my was it a nice hull.  I can't wait to roast the beets and the turnips.  I have no clue what to do with the winter radish (daikon).  And I will have some yummy salads the next few days with organic lettuces.

 

And I could get more in the next couple weeks.

 

The greens on the turnips were full of little bug holes.  I wouldn't use them and made a comment that I wouldn't.  Sandy said if I wasn't she would take them for her guinea pig.  I removed them almost immediately for her little "piggy."  The guinea pigs need to feel the love too.

 

I had taken a lot of Sandy's time with emails when I was inquiring about joining.  So today I stayed for a little over an hour helping her sort the delivery for the shareholders.  I should clarify that I was there for a little over an hour, but a lot of that was meeting the shareholders and waiting to do work when Sandy was free.  I alphabetized her invoices and put away the storage bins.  I took a half day at worktoday.  I ran my necessary errands before going to Sandy's.  I was in a very relaxed and giving of myself state when I arrived.  Her big hug greeting me helped too.  I was so grateful for her help to me this year and thus it felt right to help her and I am glad I was able to give her my time.

 

If you would like her contact info, email me at meggysue90@hotmail.com.

Salad turnips, just for salads????????

Tonight I tried cooking the salad turnips I bought at the Farmers Market 9 days ago.  I wasn't sure how long they would last.  But, I figured I'd give it a go.  The greens were pretty wilted, so I didn't saute those.  I was told that they were great sliced in salads, not even peeled. 

I wasn't in the mood for a cold salad, so I decided to slice and saute them.

They got a little soft, but they were yummy.  Raw, they have a mild radish taste.  Cooked, that is much more mild.  I liked the flavor of the raw turnips, but I was also pleased with the mild flavor.

I sliced about 7 salad turnips and sauteed them in 2 t canola oil.  I added crushed black pepper, minced garlic, and a little salt.  I cooked on high heat until it started to brown and then cut the heat.

Yum!

Homemade Veggie Chili - and a huge revelation as a side!

At the local produce stand yesterday, along with the 11 ears of corn for $1, I got all this for $3 more. So, I decided to use the slightly bruised green peppers and 2 onions to make some veggie chili. A few pieces and slivers of green pepper had to be removed and not used, but the majority was still beautiful and ripe. The tangerines are back in the fridge for eating this week.

I sauteed the onion and green peppers in 4 teaspoons canola oil.  The onions went in a few minutes first.  The spices were added in next.  Cumin, cayenne, garlic, freshly ground pepper, and chili powder.  Lots and lots of cumin and chili powder!  I then added in canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, drained & rinsed canned black beans, and corn.  If I had homemade tomato sauce and corn I would have used those.  I am trying to get away from so many canned items. 

It needed a little more liquid to it, so I made up some veggie bouillon and added 2 C of that.

As I was cutting up the green peppers, I thought of how the bruised peppers are a metaphor for me and my continuing weight loss journey.  I have gained it all back.  It happened when I didn't even know it.  Sure I am to blame for most of it.  But the pain in my body and lack of exercise have something to do with it too.  When I bought the peppers on the dollar table, I didn't remove each to see if I should buy them.  I trusted that I would have enough to use for chili.  I don't know how they became bruised, if by nature or man, but do the bruises make them any less valuable?  In a food sales world, yes.  To me, no!  I have picked up some emotional bruises along the way and I have to ask myself, does that make me any less valuable?  No!  So, there are a few pieces of me that I need to discard (weight), but, I am still valuable and worthy like those peppers.

And given that today is my 33rd birthday, I think this is a great revelation and start to a healthy and bountiful year!

Frozen Corn recipe with a kick!

The local produce stand had 11 ears of corn for $1 on the dollar table. I bought it, husked and cleaned it. I brought water to boil, added in a vegetable bouillon cube, cumin, and ground red pepper. I stirred with a whisk to blend in the spices. Once the water boiled, I added the corn. The water didn't come back up to a boil after the corn was immersed.

This simmered for about 5 minutes, upon which I removed with tongs and let cool on a plate. I cooked the corn in 2 batches. I didn't bring the water back to a boil between batches.

After cooled, I sliced off the kernels and placed in a vacuum freezer bag to store.

I ended up cooking 10.5 ears and it yielded 4 C kernels.

It is a tad spicy and aromatic. It will be quite tasty and won't need any other flavorings, like butter.

Is the label on that food you are eating correct?

According to this article, it may not be.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/22/use-food-labels-to-know-what-youre-eating-theres-a-1-in-4-cha/

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is where I was a year ago. I had just visited Mallow Run Winery for the ARPO fundraiser. By the way, it is October 24th.

---------------------------------------

“Have you taken the time for you lately and found something to do that truly is something you love? I can’t say I love going to wineries, but it may be on my list of fun things to do. What I learned, is that others see that I have been giving my time to the animals and not myself. And you know what, they are right. I am still going to be giving my time to the animals, one 5 week old rescued kitten at my house and getting a foster dog tomorrow evening, plus the Indy Feral cat outside and the other neighborhood cats I am trying to get into Indy Feral, and my kitties. But what I realized is that I HAVE to make time for myself. I can’t afford to go out and do a whole lot of stuff, as is the case with many of us these days. But, I can go out and do things. Some ideas include, free times at museums, going to parks for a walk with a friend or by myself, $5 Buck Club movies at Kerasotes theaters, sitting in Border’s reading, playing outside with the neighborhood kiddos, picnic with friends, apple picking at an orchard (I highly recommend Tuttle’s). With Autumn here, I believe I may be going to a park, at least once. I have visions of taking pen and paper and working on a novel I started a year or so ago! The key is to get out and enjoy life. What I discovered is that I have to make myself a priority and that is not selfish. My health and my happiness, and dare I say, my commitment to Weight Watchers depends on it.”

--------------------------------------------

Wow, what a difference a year makes. Unfortunately, I have gained all my weight back. I don’t want to admit that as I know I inspired people to lose weight in my days of Weight Watchers employment. This has been a hard emotional battle for me and I am sure that only fed the scale. I have had a hard year but I am very much approaching the other side. I have had major feet problems and had surgery on the first one in August. 6 weeks of non weight-bearing and one month in a boot. I am graduating to the boot in one week exactly. But I’m not counting the days. When your feet hurt, you don’t want to walk. When you don’t walk (or run), your metabolism slows down. When you have pain, you want to feed it. When you feed a body with slow metabolism and no exercise to burn any of it off, you gain weight. And you get to the point where you just don’t care. Hence, I have gained my weight back.

I am now following Core (Simply Filling) and I am weighing at home right now. I hope to return to meetings. I admit, I may always do Core and refer to SF as Core. I am finding that I am wheat intolerant, maybe gluten intolerant. And the best part, I’m not nearly as hungry nor need to munch like I thought I would! And a veggie Core life isn’t too expensive.

I know I have lost weight the last couple weeks, although I just figured out how to get on the scale this weekend while on crutches. It will be much easier when I can step on the scale from a standing position. I am sure I could have figured this out sooner, I just wasn't ready.

I finally got so fed up with where I was and was headed that I am taking the much needed actions for myself. I will even be walking the canal soon after work. Might as well, it’s right by my office.

I miss you all and hope you are well.

100 Cal packs not as popular!

http://health.msn.com/blogs/daily-dose-post.aspx?post=1127656&Gt1=31036