Life-Changing Salads Are Real!

I’ve alluded to “Salads That Have Changed My Life” multiple times in my few short posts so I thought it was probably necessary to write a little bit more about these superior salads, since I’m a self-proclaimed salad sommelier (who really likes alliteration).

The first salad that I fell in love with was from the Public House in Chicago.  It was the Quinoa Chopped Salad and it had 14 ingredients that worked together to create magic in my mouth. They were: corn, red pepper, snow peas, red onion, cannellini beans, quinoa, cucumber, celery, tomato, black beans, avocado, mixed greens, basil vinaigrette and last but not least a HUGE chunk of perfect grilled salmon.

This picture is a very poor, sad representation of how amazing this salad really was. You want to know what else was sad? I forgot the leftovers on the table.  I will never forgive myself. 

The second salad might be surprising since it’s from a chain- but I recently had the Mediterranean Shrimp Couscous Salad from Panera, and it’s incredible (and only 360 calories)! Baby spinach, romaine lettuce, lemon balsamic vinaigrette, couscous, shrimp, feta, kalamata olives and tomatoes. Yes please.

(I clearly need to work on my salad photography)

And last, but certainly not least, the Wilted Spinach Salad that I just experienced at V-Note Organic Wine Bar and Vegan Bistro.  You can read my review about it HERE.  They’ve found sweet, savory, salty perfection with this salad that includes spinach, shiitake mushrooms, corn, tempeh, cashews, soy bacon crumble and warm balsamic vinaigrette. 

I can only hope this list will grow in time!

Edit: Hear ye, hear ye- an important announcement! A new salad has come into my life and reached the ranks of “Life Changing.” 

While on a work trip to Las Vegas, I ate this salad twice in two days.  It’s from the Society Café in the Wynn Resort.  

(#wynning)

Check out the ingredients of this Chopped Salad (I opted to swap roasted turkey for grilled shrimp!) 
-Perfectly grilled/blackened shrimp
-Avocado
-Jicama
-Carrots
-Havarti Cheese
-Radish
-Edamame
-Pumpkin Seeds
-Dried Corn 

Honestly, what more could you ask for in a salad? Mayyyybe some sort of fruit would have added a refreshing, sugary pop to the salad, but I have a newfound obsession with jicama, which definitely has a sweetness to it, so really, the salad was perfect. 

Welcome to the club, Society Chopped!

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You're Welcome NYC Healthy Eaters, Vegans and Vegetarians!

Public Service Announcement: I hit the jackpot in Groupons the other day and I decided to share them with you, since I’m so nice!

1) V-Note Organic Wine Bar and Bistro (read my review HERE!)

2) Café Blossom
3) Vegetarian’s Paradise 2 
4) Sacred Chow 

I saw these too, which might float your boat! (It took some self-control not to just buy them all!)

1) Pick & Eat
2) Ready to Eat
3) D’Vida Health Bar

What are you waiting for? Eat all the delicious, nutritious food!

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V-Note: Restaurant Review

On Wednesday night I got to check off another restaurant from my bucket list).  This time, we went the healthy route and decided on V-Note Organic Wine Bar and Vegan Bistro (1522 1^st Avenue Between 79^th and 80^th Streets).  Exciting news?  There’s a Groupon for V-Note right now! The $30 for $60 sold out, but we were able to snag $30 off our bill for $15! Hooray!

We walked in and were seated near the door- which meant a nice view of the street out the windows (and of a man running in a thong) and being away from the more cramped main dining area- but it also meant I was a little chilly. 

V-Note was cute- the booths for groups were especially cozy looking.  We contemplated the appetizers but nothing was jumping out at me, mainly because most of the items were fried or in phyllo dough…and I was at a vegan restaurant and wanted to eat healthy, damnit! The salads on the other hand were calling my name.  After some debate, we accepted the fact that decision making is not our specialty and that we were going to order 2 small salads and pass on the apps. 

I went with the Curry “Unchicken” Salad which came with grilled soy chicken (I couldn’t believe how chicken-y it really was!), romaine lettuce, celery, apple (I love fruit in my salads), roasted potatoes, grilled onions (they were SO SWEET and delicious!) and toasted macadamia nuts (I definitely think these are one of my all-time favorite nuts and they’re also a huge reason I ordered this salad, if we’re being honest!).  It was all tossed in a curry veganaise.

(Curry "Unchicken" Salad)

The salad was good, and I definitely enjoyed it for the reasons I mentioned before- soy chicken was impressive, macadamia nuts didn’t disappoint, apples and onions added the perfect hint of sweetness.  That being said- the romaine did nothing for this salad and I could have done without the potatoes.  I think raisins or cranberries could have added to it and I thought the curry veganaise was tasty but nothing to write home about.  Maybe I was a little disappointed because I was expecting it to look more chicken salad-y- with the ingredients more chopped/mixed together.  Either way- good, don’t get me wrong, just not life-changing.

The other salad we ordered, however, has been added to the “Life-ChangingSalads” List. 

(Salads can change your life, I swear!)

Everyone do yourself a favor and go order the Wilted Spinach Salad from V-Note.  Served with spinach, shiitake mushrooms, roasted corn, tempeh, cashews, soy bacon crumble and tossed in a warm balsamic vinaigrette, this salad blew my mind with its deliciousness. I really can’t pinpoint what made it so great, but the flavors all worked together to make my taste buds really happy.  The savory balsamic and shiitake with the sweet corn and salty soy bacon- I wish I could eat it every day!  Plus, I had mention that I was cold sitting near the door, and this was a warm salad which made it even more enjoyable.

We ate every last bite.

(Bye bye salads!)

Before I move on to our entrees let me note that they don’t serve Diet Coke at a vegan bistro and organic wine bar, go figure.  But they do serve China Cola?  Clearly I’m not up on my organic and vegan product lingo so I stuck with good old H2O.  At this point in the meal we also switched tables to be away from the door because I’m a baby.  But it meant a booth and a pillow and warmth so it was hard for me to feel bad about being a pain in the waiter’s ass.  (And for once I didn’t make special requests on anything I ordered!  Progress?)

OK, moving on to the main event.  Shockingly, I struggled when it came time to choose my meal (more sarcastic words have never been typed).  For a long n time it looked like I was going with the Raw Zucchini Papparadelle (zucchini pasta, almond butter sauce, diced avocado, olives, cherry tomatoes, marinated onion, oyster mushrooms and red pepper tossed in a cashew cream) but at the last minute I changed it up and ordered the Poblano En Nogada- and I’m so glad I did!

When it came to the table, I’m pretty sure I squealed…it was the meal they used in their Groupon picture! And it was beautiful.

(<3)

Yes, I just called a stuffed pepper beautiful.  If there’s one thing I love more than delicious food, it’s delicious food that has wonderful presentation! And I also LOVE stuffed peppers.  My dad’s are pretty epic, so this one had a lot to live up to!  (Fun fact: a picture fo my dad’s stuffed pepper is still one of my most liked Instagram posts! Another fun fact: I’ve made quinoa black bean stuffed peppers which were pretty great if I do say so myself).  Anyway, back to the V-Note Poblano En Nogada.  The poblano pepper was sweet and subtly spicy (perfect, since I can’t handle a ton of spice).  It was stuffed with a seitan, peach, raisin and apple picadillo that I’m drooling thinking about right now.  I really can’t describe it except that it was a delicious blend of flavors.  It was a little on the watery side, but that’s probably my only slight complaint!  The pepper was topped with an almond-walnut sauce that was so creamy I cannot believe it contained no dairy products!  And the best part?  The pomegranate seeds on top that added the PERFECT textural diversity to the dish. 

On the side was a perfectly shaped patty of cilantro-lime rice (again, the attention to presentation was obvious) topped with beet marinated shiitake mushrooms.  You could really taste both the cilantro AND lime in the rice.  I devoured this meal.

(Okay, mine didn't look AS pretty as the Groupon pepper, but still, beautiful presentation!)

I can’t really comment on the other entrée because I was so enamored with my pepper that I only tried one bite.  I remember it being tasty and lemon-y.  It was the Pistachio and Pepper Dusted Tofu- served over roasted root vegetable filled crepe, lemon truffle emulsion and topped with frisee salad in a red beet vinaigrette.  I asked my friend if he had anything I should include in my review about the dish and he said: “It was phenomenal, and I’m a carnivore by trade and would put it up there with the best meals I’ve had.”

(Pistachio and Pepper Crusted Tofu)

This was a great 1^st vegan dining experience and it definitely won’t be the last, although I do feel like I should point out that V-Note, and restaurants like it, aren’t cheap!  Had we not gotten the Groupon, V-Note would have set us back about $75.  But you pay for quality, taste and presentation- all things V-Note did very well! 

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Elle Woods Said It Best

Exercise leads to the production of endorphins, which relieve stress and lead to feelings of euphoria, often referred to as a “Runner’s High.”
Neurotransmitters are what endorphins technically are- a brain chemical that transmits electrical signals in your nervous system.  At least 20 different types of endorphins have been found in humans.

Decreased pain is one of the benefits of endorphins.  Ladies- can’t imagine working out while you’re on your period? Give it a try! Exercising can help relieve cramps, I swear!

Opiate drugs like morphineand codeine interact with the brain the same way as endorphins to reduce pain.  But endorphins aren’t dangerously addictive! (Although exercise “addiction” is a hot topic!)

Researchers in 2009 found that college crews who rowed together reported a higher endorphin level than those rowing alone, suggesting that group fitness classes and exercise may add to even more of an endorphin boost!

Peppers and other spicy foods can lead to endorphins being released! The spicier the pepper, the more endorphins you’ll enjoy (if you aren’t busy crying about your burning mouth).

Hypothalamus- the part of the brain that produces endorphins.

Intensity affects endorphin production and the longer and harder you workout, the more you’ll reap the benefits of endorphins.

Nom on some chocolate for an endorphin boost! Studies have found that the delicious treat contains chemicals that lead to the release of endorphins.  Hooray!

Sex is another way to increase the amount of endorphins you release, so feel free to get busy in the bedroom (not to mention it’s a great way to burn calories LINK)! 

(I agree, Elle Woods)

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Les Mills BODYPUMP Review

I've been writing a lot about food because I a) eat a lot of food and b) think a lot about food.  But another thing I love a lot is exercise! Yay endorphins! Last night, I took my first Les Mills BODYPUMP class, which is a barbell-based weight class that focuses on high reps.  I walked in not really knowing what to expect- it’s a fairly new offering at New York Sports Clubs. 

There were 2 reasons I really liked the class:

1) It focuses on each major muscle group individually- going through legs (squats), chest, back, biceps, triceps, shoulders, legs again (lunges), and abs.  For each muscle, you go through 3 “tracks” with 304 different exercises and a high number of reps.

2) The instructor was great at her quest, counting and explaining what weight you should have on your barbell based on your warm-up weight and how new you were to class.  So for instance, she wouldn’t say- “Do shoulders with 5 pound plates on your bar.”  Instead, she would say, “Go up 2.5 to 5 pounds from your warm up weight for shoulders.”

There were also some things I didn’t love:

1) I didn’t really sweat.  I wish there was some type of cardio element worked into the tracks to get my heart rate up. 

2)It’s hard for me to choose a weight for the barbell and stick with it for the full 3 tracks per muscle.  I like that with dumbbells I can easily switch between 5s and 10s based on how I’m feeling.  That being said- I can see how the barbell method can add to the challenge if you choose a challenging weight because then you’re stuck with it.  Unfortunately, I think I was a little wimpy last night!  I could have pushed myself more.

3) I’m not sure I’m sold on the fact that high reps/light weight > heavy weight/lower reps.  I think I need to do some research.  Any reading suggestions?

4) The ab section was super lame.

Afterwards, I felt like I needed some cardio so I did this routine:

(Love me some burpees...not)

I got my sweat on and naturally snapped a selfie when I spotted some arm definition in the mirror! (No shame). 

(Hey arms!)

I'm glad I pushed myself to do the extra cardio at the end, because after the gym I headed to V-Note Vegan Bistro for dinner! Check back for a review soon! 

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Recipe: Baked Chickpeas

When I’m trying to eat really healthy, I find that I’m constantly craving something crunchy to snack on.  Instead of reaching for a bag of potato chips- try out this quick, easy, cheap (it’s literally only 3 ingredients) and nutritious snack!  Baked chickpeas that you can season however your heart desires!

Ingredients

-Can of chickpeas

-Extra Virgin Olive Oil

-Seasoning of your choice- go crazy! (And share your creations in the comments!)

1.       Pop open the can, drain the chickpeas

2.       Dry the chickpeas and remove whatever skin comes off as you dry them

3.       Toss them in some olive oil until they've all got some EVOO lovin’

4.       Season with whatever you choose- you can go as simple as sea salt, as sweet as cinnamon and sugar, as spicy as chili powder, or as sassy as cumin and curry powder!

5.       Spread out on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until the perfect crispy/crunch level is attained for ultimate munching happiness.

I made cinnamon ones last night :)

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Brown Rice vs. Quinoa

I was going to write a post on the benefits of brown rice vs. quinoa, but then I started researching and found this amazing infographic that tells you all you need to know! Ch-ch-check it out!

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Good Weekend with Good Friends

So we know I wasn’t healthy on Friday- but what about the rest of my weekend? It was a great one in lots of ways! I woke up Saturday morning with a slight food hangover, but that didn’t stop me from walking out of my apartment at 8:30 a.m. with an orange in hand and heading to JackRabbit Sports for a morning group run (more to come on JackRabbit at a later date!) While I tried to mentally prepare myself for a 10 mile run along the east river, we sampled some protein bars and energy chews from PowerBar.  Then it was time to hit the streets.

It wasn’t a good run for me.  I was tired physically and fighting myself every step of the way mentally.  But luckily a few nice conversations mid-way broke up the torture and by the end of the run I was pushing myself harder and going faster.  Map My Run hated me and didn’t restart after a pause halfway through the run, so my pace will remain a mystery, which is probably for the best considering how sluggish I was feeling.

When we got back to the store PowerBar was kind enough to raffle off 3 gift bags fullllll of treats (gels, chews, bars and water bottles, oh my!) but sadly I didn’t win.  I still snagged some samples though :) Their cookie dough bar was DELICIOUS but I liked the consistency of their new flavor, Peanut Butter and Jelly, much better since it was softer and easier to chew.  The rep said that they’re looking to switch most of their flavors over to that consistency.  I also tried the strawberry banana chew which was just like a tasty fruit snack (although a lot of people’s complaint was that it was way too hard to chew while they were running). 

(Thanks JackRabbit and PowerBar!)

I walked home, showered, and immediately needed fooooood! I made some egg whites with mushrooms, tomato, brussel sprouts and feta cheese (also known as, these were the things I needed to clear out of my fridge before I left for the rest of the weekend).

(So colorful!)

Then I headed out with my duffel bag to meet a friend for coffee (thank you Two Little Red Hens, for having almond milk!) Next stop, Grand Central Station to catch a train to my old college stomping grounds, Hamden CT!

It was so wonderful seeing my old roommate and it was like no time had passed.  In fact, one of the first things I did upon entering her apartment was say, “Don’t mind me- I need to get out of these jeans…” and immediately threw sweats on.  Typical. We snacked on some cantaloupe while catching up and deciding what to do for dinner.  This was quite the dilemma because usually, it wouldn’t even be a discussion.  I would head to Ray & Mike’s Deli for a greasy, fattening sub and a bag of munchies mix with a can of Arnold Palmer.  Unfortunately, the fact that I gave up meat for Lent prevented me from eating chipotle pulled chicken with bacon and cheddar or pulled pork with bacon mac and cheese (you’re drooling now, aren’t you?) We finally settled on Panera, where the woman taking our order’s had some interesting things to say (“You know you’re really pretty? Did you hear what I said, how is your day? Did you go to the Olympics?). I ordered the black bean soup and the Mediterranean shrimp couscous salad. 

The salad was one of those salads that changed my life. I was obsessed and I really wish I had just ordered that and skipped the soup.  The soup was fine (although it looked like toxic sludge) but the salad was just oh so amazing and I wanted more more more. 

Next on the agenda was a March Madness party.  My friend is so domesticated- look what she made! (We have both come so far from the days of not knowing the first thing about anything kitchen related). 

(So impressive, Nicole!)

At the party I was able to stick to (mostly) black bean and corn salsa with tortilla chips (and maybe a few bites of chocolate chip cheesecake).  I may or may not have won 9 games of beer pong in a row while drinking only water with Pink Lemonade Dasani Drops.  Because I’m that good.

Since I had run 10 miles that morning, I’m really not surprised that by the end of the night, it was time for a 1 a.m. snack of an apple and good old PB <3

My friends couch was absurdly comfortable and I slept like a baby until my alarm went off at 9:30 and it was time for a run.  Again, awful. Painfully slow and not at all enjoyable.  It was cold, I was alone, and the path was straight, flat and b-o-r-i-n-g.  But I made it 4 miles. And then I stopped at a local deli for SNICKERDOODLE COFFEE! Yum.

(I'm actually kind of embarassed to post this...I'm kinda sorta "a runner," I swear I can do better!) 

Again, my roommate outdid herself by cooking us all brunch, the most sacred of all meals! Oatmeal (I may or may not have brought my own bag of oatmeal mixed with pecans, raisins, PB2 and cinnamon), cantaloupe, scrambled eggs, chocolate chip pancakes, and turkey sausage (which I sadly couldn’t enjoy). 

(I LOVE BREAKFAST FOODS)

The rest of the day was spent at the Women’s NCAA Frozen Four final game between Minnesota and Clarkson held at the beautiful TD Bank Arena at Quinnipiac!

It was an AWESOME game, with Clarkson clinching the upset and the championship 5-4.  We were seated right near the Clarkson pep band and I would just like to thank them for playing Aladdin and “If I Only Had a Brain” from the Wizard of Oz after a bad call by the refs.  Thumbs up!
 

(Congratulations, Clarkson!)

Also thumbs up? Meghan Duggan the captain of the Women’s USA Olympic hockey team sitting 2 rows behind me! I recognized her before anyone else did, and wanted to ask for a picture, but not while she was watching the game.  Then came intermission and she was SWARMED.  It was awesome to see little girls who play hockey so excited to see her and have their jersey’s signed.  At the end of the game I was able to get a picture.  It makes me really upset that these female hockey players don’t get more recognition.  They are incredibly talented and amazing athletes and some of the most exciting hockey games I’ve seen were women’s games (like the 2010 ECAC Quarterfinal game between Quinnipiac and Rensselaer that is the second longest game in college hockey history and went into 5 overtimes!)

(Me with Meghan Duggan, so cool!)

I passed out pretty much immediately on my train ride home. When I got back, I made myself dinner (black bean soup and more egg whites with mushrooms, feta and tomato) and dessert (a cookies and cream quest bar) and crawled into bed.  Such a happy weekend!

Monday was tricep and chest day at the gym, which I struggled through before going on a 3.5 mile run around Central Park. Got my food shopping done for the week (although I’m sure I’ll stop at least 20 times between now and Friday to buy even more food) made dinner and even took out the trash.  Take that, Monday! 

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L'Asso: Restaurant Review

I love food and I love eating and I like to think I know a little bit about good restaurants thanks to trips with my food-fanatic father to places like China Grill and TAO. When I moved to the city in the fall of 2013 and created a bucket list, it quickly became a list of places to eat. And so, now that I'm back living in the city I have created a food-only bucket list.  I was told L'Asso had to be put on the list so Friday night, that's where we ventured. I'll give you a sneak peak of the evening if you promise to keep reading! 

(You know you want to keep reading about all this delicious-ness!)

As a general rule of thumb, I like eating healthy.  People may think I'm weird but I look forward to my bowl of oatmeal, even though I eat the same thing almost every morning. Greek yogurt, sweet potatoes, kale chips- all things that excite my tummy while other people give me weird looks.  Give me quinoa over pasta any day (or at least give me brown rice pasta!)

But just because I am fortunate enough to enjoy eating healthy foods doesn't mean I have deluded my taste buds into thinking cauliflower crust pizza is an equal swap for a slice of cheesy, greasy New York pizza (although I do think cauliflower crust pizza deserves another try after my failed attempt last year). And Arctic Zero, though fun to eat an entire pint for 150 calories, is just simply not a substitute for a pint of Ben and Jerry's.  I know I am more physically active than a majority of people and a lot of the time, though certainly not all of the time, I eat healthier too.  So a night out for pizza and dessert? Sign me up.

L'Asso is located in Nolita on Mott St. between Spring and Kenmare streets.  It's got a solid 4 star rating on Yelp- if you're into that sorta thing! The inside is small and a little cramped- but that's par for the course in New York City and tends to add to the charm.

Instant bonus? The Diet Cokes we ordered came in little glass bottles! When the waiter tried to clear them from the table I nearly bit his head off- asking if I could take them home with me! Instead of giving me a strange look, he offered to rinse them for me, which was greatly appreciated.  (I proceeded to spend the rest of the evening fending off over-eager table clearers to protect my adorable little Coke bottles!)

(My orchid and baby Coke bottles look cute together, don't you think?)

We placed our order- which was instantly recognized by the waiter as a vegetarian one (high fives for meatless camaraderie and for supportive friends willing to forego drool-worthy meatballs).

To start, we had the ricotta bruschetta- amazing bread topped with amazing ricotta, pieces of orange, slivered almonds and honey.  Did I use the word amazing yet?  Seriously.  This reminded me of how amazing (oops) ricotta is.  And paired with the sweetness from the oranges, it was...yeah, amazing.  And it was just the start of my carb and cheese overload.

Of course, we had to order a salad because I LOVE VEGGIES! I was allowed to choose- and after trying to mentally weight my love for pears and walnuts against my love of pistachios and goat cheese- I settled on the L'Asso.  Plus, salad named after the restaurant has gotta be pretty good, right? 

The L'Asso came with mixed greens, asparagus, fennel, hearts of palm, goat cheese and pistachios.  "What's fennel?" we asked ourselves.  One bite and I remembered what fennel was.  Evil.  It's a vegetable that tastes like black licorice- one of the few flavors I absolutely cannot stand.  Yuck! Luckily, it was not big thang to just eat around the fennel and it's evilness didn't contaminate the rest of our salad.  The salad was good, but not life changing (yes, salads can be so delicious that they change your life- don't give me that look of bewilderment and doubt!)  Second cheese of the night, goat cheese, was delicious in the salad. Love pistachios. And the hearts of palm were a nice touch.  The asparagus didn't add much though and now that I think about it the dressing was pretty unremarkable although I appreciated the fact that my salad ingredients weren't in a swimming pool of dressing! 

Moving on to the main event- the thin-crust pizza.  23 options.  If you've never met me, which, for most people reading this I'm assuming we have never met, me and decisions do. not. mix.  The 8 salads I had to choose between were one thing but 23 pizzas with toppings like portobello pesto, apple, walnuts and zucchini? Forget it.  

Luckily, I had had some time to prepare.  And by prepare, I mean read each pizza description multiple times throughout the day as I sat at my desk at work.  Oops. 

I noticed a lot of the pizzas came with truffle oil- another flavor I'm not too keen on (I'm the world's least picky eater though, I swear!) and while I'm usually the annoying girl at the restaurant making a million and one substitutions to every dish, I decided there were 23 freakin' pizza options and I should just order one that didn't have truffle oil (but mozzarella, gorgonzola, asparagus, apple & truffle oil, you sound so yum!) That left me with a few stand outs and some big decisions.  Thank God we had decided to go for the 21" pie which meant we could pick two varieties! Honorable mention: I'm sorry you weren't chosen Friday night, but maybe you'll meet my belly one day.  The Prophet Pistachio- homemade basil pesto, smoked mozzarella, pistachios, arugula, olive oil and parmesan.  Our salad already had pistachios though, which is why you were cut.  Next time.  

So what DID we order? The Megane, sans bacon (Ok, ok so I still ended up altering the order- I'm a pain in the ass what can I say?) and the Alla Roba. 

I'll start with the Megane- roasted brussel sprouts, smoked and regular mozzarella (cheese #3 and #4 of the night), rosemary and extra virgin olive oil.  Yum.  I don't really have a detailed analysis except to say that it was delicious and I love brussel sprouts.  A lot.

 (The Megane- yummy yummy brussel sprouts)

The Megane was definitely my favorite of the two because while the All Roba (mozzarella, gorgonzola (cheese #5), pear and walnut) was enjoyable, it had a definite truffle oil-y taste that I wasn't digging!

(Alla Roba- Pizza and pears? I dig it.)

I'm not a pizza connoisseur- I like most pizza that I eat- so I won't get too deep about the crust quality and the dough to cheese ratio and all that jazz.  I liked that while it was thin-crust pizza, it was still doughy and not super crispy/crunch, just a personal preference. 

I am incredibly proud and entirely ashamed to report that we finished every last bite. 

But why stop there, with stomachs full of more bread and cheese than I typically consumer in a month?  It was time for dessert, obviously. 

My sweet tooth has a lot in common with Miley Cyrus- it cannot be tamed.  And it was with this sweet tooth that I gleefully walked into the Hitch-famous Rice to Riches to get my rice pudding on! 

(What do you mean I have to make MORE decisions?!)

Not going to lie- while extremely clever and entertaining, the decor at Rice to Riches can be a little unsettling for a person who puts a lot of time and effort into being healthy and in shape.  My pants felt noticeably tighter as I read the "We put the XXX in XXXL" sign and I was already planning my next gym session when I spotted the "No Skinny Bitches!" magnets being sold.  "How bad for you is this stuff?" I thought to myself.  And OK, maybe I tried to quickly Google "Rice to Riches nutrition facts" as we waited to be helped. But as soon as we got our first sample spoon of Fluent in French Toast- I was in dessert mode and there were no fat jokes or calorie counts that were going to stop me!  

(Meh to your signs Rice to Riches!)

About 10 samples later (Almond Schmalmond, Be My Banana Coconut and Coffee Almond Afterthought- we like nuts) we settled on ordering a larger size so we could get two flavors- because again, decisions and I do not get along and my taste buds are often very demanding in their desires.  We got Fluent in French Toast and Cofee Almond Afterthought.  But the best part?  The "Mischief" topping- buttery graham crumble.  Uhm, yes.  Although rice pudding is never a dessert I crave or order out- there's no doubt this stuff is addictive-ly awesome.  And a great end to an entirely unhealthy and satisfying night. 

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Sushi's Healthy, Right?

While I'm in the process of completing #100HappyDays, I need to be a Debby Downer for a hot sec and talk about something that makes me sad.  Sushi. 

Actually, sushi makes me, and my taste buds, very happy.  In fact, after recently getting a friend hooked, I ate it 2 times in 4 days.  It's up there on the list of my all time favorite foods and I have no problem downing 3 rolls all by my lonesome.
  

(I may or may not have ordered all of this for myself. Hint: I ordered all of this for myself.) 

Unfortunately, I fear my days of contentedly popping pieces of shrimp tempura and spicy tuna rolls in my mouth while patting myself on the back for eating a healthy meal are over. (Notice I did NOT say my days of pigging out on sushi are over!) 

Ignorance really is bliss, but these days I like to be informed about the choices that I'm making when it comes to food. I'm totally that person reading every nutrition label and asking every waiter how dishes are prepared.  Through a variety of different articles, I've come to the sad conclusion that sushi is likely nowhere near as healthy as you think.  It can be a huge calorie trap if you aren't educated.  The good news is, it's not all bad news.  Nothing can replace doing your own research- but here's what I have discovered and some tips on how to make sushi the well-balanced meal that it has the potential to be.  

1. I was shocked to read that each sushi roll is made with approximately one cup of rice! That's around 200 calories per roll in rice alone.  Most articles I read estimated that around 75% of a sushi roll is actually just rice. And to boot, sushi rice isn't just rice- it's made with vinegar and added sugar! News to me! 
   
   (Would you like some fish with that white rice?)
   
   If possible, when you're out for sushi, try to order it with brown rice.  While it doesn't make a dent in the calories, and it's often $1-$2 extra, brown rice will add fiber to the meal, which can make you feel full faster and helps aid digestion.  Plus, white rice is processed and stripped of most of it's nutritional value while brown rice is considered a whole grain! 
   Obviously, avoiding the rice altogether and ordering sashimi (just slices of the raw fish), is another option, although usually far more expensive than my budget can handle. One article I read suggested ordering "naruto" which from what I gather, is when the rice is replaced by wrapping the ingredients in cucumber- yum! Definitely something to ask about next time I'm out for sushi! 
   
   
2. I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that my go-to order of spicy salmon and spicy tuna rolls, "With the crunchies, please!" is probably one of the worst things on the menu.  For one, those delicious "crunchies" are fried (go figure, Lauren).  And the reason they're "spicy?" Hot sauce mixed with mayo.  One article says that each tablespoon of spicy mayo clocks in at 100 calories and 11 grams of fat! Say it ain't so! Plus, the amount of actual fish used in spicy rolls is typically less than other rolls since it's chopped up and mixed with the sauce- and the quality of the fish can be worse! Sorry spicy rolls- I think we may need to see other people!
3. Something I definitely steer clear of on any sushi menu is tempura.  Why batter and deep fry your fish when it's already so delicious on it's own?!
4. Soy sauce is loaded with sodium, so try to ask for low sodium soy sauce when you're out.  Even then, be aware that the sodium content is hiiiigh and try to use it sparingly (I should take my own advice).  Also good to note is that anything "miso" is also high in sodium.
5. If you're ordering an eel roll- it's likely going to have eel sauce. AKA sugar, sodium, and more sugar. 

(What's that? "Miso" = "Holy Sodium Batman"? But, Miso Eggplant, you were so delicious Tuesday night!)

I hope I didn't just completely ruin your day with this post.  Because remember, you can still go out, equipped with this information, and enjoy a delicious, nutritious and healthy sushi meal!  OR you can go out and order a spicy salmon roll and lobster tempura salad and that's OK too! Moderation :) 

Now that I know all of this, and have been reading articles on sushi for over an hour (is it time for lunch yet?), I really want to try to make my own! Consider it added to The Bucket List! Have any of you made sushi at home?  Any tips? 

I leave you with this hilarious video that I hope you enjoy!

(The building blocks of sushi: Sushi meat, peaches, and guacamole)

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Chef Status

I used to be incredibly worthless when it came to cooking.  Growing up, my father was a) an extremely talented cook and b) extremely OCD.  This meant that a) I never felt the need to cook for myself when I was served gourmet meals on a daily basis and b) I was usually forbidden from attempting to cook in the kitchen since it would create "a mess." 

That may be the reason that I once needed directions on how to boil water. Yup. And another time I asked my sister how to make tuna fish (can of tuna, mayo, fork, mash, voila). 

But, when I moved to the city for graduate school last year, I found that being poor makes cooking your own food necessary. Luckily, I also found that I enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. And, I'm not completely awful! 

Last night I cooked dinner for myself and a friend and it turned out to be pretty freaking tasty. The goal of the meal was to use the incredible feta cheese from a Greek specialty store in Astoria. 

(Look at all that cheese!)

After doing some browsing of various recipes, I got the idea for this healthy dinner from Cookin' Canuck and added some of my own stuff to it as well.  

What I ended up with was a sweet potato stuffed with feta, hummus, garlic, spinach, broccoli and mushrooms! I served it with some balsamic roasted brussels sprouts (cut in half, dip in balsamic, bake in the oven), and tofu!

Does anyone else have any ideas for healthy dishes I could make with the rest of the feta cheese?

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Brave? Me?

I barely ice skate. I can't stop, I can't switch directions, I can't go backwards.  In fact, I can't usually last an entire public ice-skating session without landing on my butt at least once. Yet somehow, last night I found myself in full ice hockey gear at the rinks at Chelsea Piers.  I sat on the bench waiting for the game to start. Behind me, a beautiful view of the sun setting over the Hudson River. Next to me, people who have been playing hockey for years. Crap.

I shakily took my first shift (see, I even know the lingo!) wearing my very own skates and a whole lot of borrowed equipment that a colleague had so graciously helped me figure out how the hell to put on in the locker room minutes before. 

And BOOM! Miracle on ice, I was amazing! An instant success story. A true hockey prodigy. I blew everyone away with how quickly I picked up the game. 

Just kidding! 

Let's be real. I was in slow motion, worthlessly doing my best to get up and down the ice. But I was out there! And shockingly, instead of feeling embarrassed and frustrated and petrified (okay, maybe I felt all of those a little bit) I was actually enjoying the challenge. 

For the past year I've slowly but surely been getting comfortable with the idea of calling myself "a runner." I've been spending hours alone pushing myself at the gym.  But I've always been more of a team athlete at heart, since the day I started playing field hockey in the 3rd grade. So to be out on the ice with other people, thinking about finding the open space, having the defense and offense mentality again- it felt pretty incredible. 

I wish I could say that I scored a goal or made a beautiful pass...but I certainly did not. The people I played with were great- every time I got to the puck they moved out of the way, let me try out some stick handling, and let me attempt a few pitiful shots at the goalie.  But I'm happy to say that instead of saying "Screw this, I suck!" I'm just super excited to keep playing in the hopes that I can improve. Maybe one day I WILL be out there deflecting shots in like a pro!

I think the craziest part of last night's experience was the number of people who said they were impressed that I got out there in the first place. I've had like 3 people call me brave.  Which is NOT a word I ever would have thought to use to describe myself. 

One of my New Year's resolutions was to get to know myself better. It sounds weird. After all, who knows me better than me? But I really do feel at times that I don't know myself at all. Why I do things, what I really want, how I come across to other people.  After last night, I'm starting to think that one of the qualities I like best about myself is that I'm willing to try new things. Whether it's some crazy disgusting sounding food, or lacing up skates and playing in a hockey game. 

It must be said though: I did not do this on my own.  I'm soo thankful for the great friend that pushed me to try something new and calmed me down as I shit myself about getting out on the ice. I had so much fun and can't wait to get better! 

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