Back to the ‘Burgh

Hello wonderful blogworld! I hope everyone had fabulous, tasty Thanksgivings! I was super lucky on Wednesday and got to leave work a few hours early so I got baking started ahead of schedule. First, I made an apple spice bread from Trader Joe’s for our wedding photographers. I also made a batch of sugared and chocolate-dipped orangettes (pictures will have to wait for these until after Christmas when everyone has received their gifts). The orangettes turned out much better this time because I used organic oranges and sugar – much more flavor!

After the bread and orangettes were done, I got to work on fresh cranberry sauce. I first made this recipe from Real Simple when I hosted Thanksgiving last year for my parents and in-laws. Honestly, it’s one of the simplest, and tastiest recipes I’ve found!

Cranberry-Orange Sauce (serves

1lb fresh or frozen cranberries
1 c. fresh orange juice
1/2 c. granulated sugar

(I added a pinch of ground cinnamon and ground cloves)

Simmer everything over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until cranberries are bursting and sauce thickens. YUM!

I also got started on the glazed carrots I was charged to make and spent most of the Jay Leno Show peeling and slicing 6 pounds of organic carrots. Whew! Again though, the recipe was super easy from Real Simple.

Maple-Glazed Carrots (serves

3 lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced on diagonal
1/4 c. Grade B maple syrup
2 T. butter
1/3 c. water

Add all ingredients to pot over medium-high heat. When sauce boils, reduce heat to medium and steam semi-covered for 15-20 minutes. Remove carrots when fork tender. If needed, increase heat to reduce liquid to glaze. Pour over carrots and serve.

To start Thanksgiving off on the right foot, I decided to go for a nice long run in Central Park when I woke up. 10 miles absolutely flew by and I loved seeing so many happy families walking around the park together. I was just disappointed that I’d slept in and missed the parade! Good things there’s always next year

I didn’t take pictures at dinner, but the spread was beautiful. I filled my plate with roasted herbed sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts with chestnuts, glazed carrots, stuffing and a butternut squash scone (served with butternut squash soup). I didn’t even miss the turkey, though everyone raved about it so I’m sure it was delicious for everyone who wanted it.

For dessert, we had the choice of apple, pecan or pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream. Again, I reminded myself that it’s just a meal like any other (the company is what makes the day special!) and I had a small slice of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream.

On Friday, we woke up super early to hit the road back to Pittsburgh, my hometown. I had three fabulous reasons for coming home, but I’ll save those until my post on Saturday or Sunday. I hope you’ll check back and stick with me through the spotty posting!

Emotional Eating 101 – A Spark Wellness Teleclass Recap

I had the pleasure of participating in a free teleclass last night presented by the lovely Hadley Seward of Spark! Wellness. Hadley just did a guest post on my good friend, Melissa’s, blog and I appreciated the in-depth discussion of an issue that is often avoided – emotional eating. Of course, I know there has been much discussion about pre-holiday preparatory tactics in the blog world, but Hadley’s approach delved much deeper than the next 6 weeks. I’ll start by saying that there’s no way I’ve captured all of her wonderful points in this post, so you should check out Spark! Wellness and the services these talented practitioners provide. As someone who has worked with nutritionists, psychologists and massage therapists, I can say with confidence that Spark! Wellness is a very important resource.

Emotional Eating Psychology

Most women, unfortunately, are dissatisfied with their bodies, as well as with their relationship with food. Often, women (and men) feel they must have strong willpower to battle sugar and indulgence demons and that, if they act on a craving, their willpower has failed. And consequently, they, too, are failures. In fact, willpower can trigger emotional eating. Our bodies respond positively to ‘yes’ and negatively to ‘no’ – hence why you crave the one thing you can’t have if you’re on a diet.

Emotional eating is defined as the use of food or the act of eating to fill a void, and often involves eating in secret. It is also commonly followed by intense feelings of regret, or the sense of being controlled by a food. However, emotional eating is not the result of weak willpower. Rather, emotional eating is a very complex expression of the body’s needs, whether they are physical or emotional. Hadley’s example was, if you crave sweet foods, is it because you are lacking sweetness in your life? Are you craving a companion, or affection from a significant other or family member? Often, when we eat emotionally, we are looking for tangible nourishment. If we can’t satisfy the emotional craving we have, we turned to food as it is more accessible. It’s also much easier to eat than it is to face a challenge in your life or something about yourself that you hope to change.

One of the comments that hit hardest for me was the concept that a person may be inclined to overeat sometimes because it is easier to be mad at herself for overeating than to admit that she’s done something else wrong. Maybe she was selfish and didn’t hold a door for someone, or could have been nicer on a phone call. Or she ate the last cookie, rather than saving it for a friend, boyfriend or roommate. Whatever the trigger, she would rather regret overeating the regret her other poor decisions. Hadley also explained that emotional eating happens sometimes when a person feels she doesn’t deserve happiness or something good that has come her way. Perhaps she received a compliment from someone or attention for an accomplishment at work and she doesn’t feel she really deserves the praise or that she can’t measure up to the expectation. Rather than dealing with those feelings, she punishes herself, or buries those feelings, by emotionally eating.

Hadley’s suggestions for reassessing emotional eating involve:

1. Be aware of emotional eating instances. Be a detective. Note time, place, frequency, and circumstance of emotional eating. Keep a journal and look for trends.

2. SUSPEND JUDGEMENT. Investigate the notes in your journal a bit further but do not judge. Judgement causes stress on the body which, in addition to being unproductive, can also cause weight gain due to poor digestion. You didn’t have a lapse in willpower and eat an entire sheet cake. There was another reason behind it and that is the real key to the issue. Have you been holding back your emotions? Have you wanted to speak up to your boss? Or are you frustrated with a friend? Or are you excited about something wonderful in your life but afraid to share that with someone else? Your body needs outlets for expression. It’s very possible that eating has become your outlet of choice.

3. Name the emotion you feel as soon as the emotional eating episode begins. Express it. Say it out loud! If you’re sad or lonely or excited, say so! Often, by giving a name to that anxious feeling in your body, the compulsion to eat will lessen. Even if the emotion doesn’t dissipate, sit with it but DO NOT JUDGE. You are allowed to have feelings!

Ways to Decrease Emotional Eating

After discussing the reasons behind emotional eating, Hadley provided some wonderful tips to decrease these actions.

1. Do you have an imbalance in your diet? If you eat salty meals all day, you might crave sweets at night. Did you eat hot oatmeal for breakfast, soup for lunch and a casserole for dinner? That’s probably why you’re craving frozen yogurt or a smoothie at night! Keeping a journal of your meals (not amounts or calorie counts) can help you notice trends in your cravings. Hadley also encouraged the incorporation of adequate protein and healthy fat into your diet. A vegetarian herself, she did not tell her listeners to eat steak every night. As you already know from many wonderful blog resources, red meat is not our only source of protein and, in fact, many sources are much better for you!

2. If your diet is in balance, is it possible your life is a little out of sorts? Do you take enough time for self care? Often, emotional eating becomes one of the only times we can be alone and the solitude is what we crave, rather than the food we are eating. If you want to make a change in your life, tell people whom you trust and hold yourself accountable. Make a plan to strengthen those places where you see a weak link.

3. If you know you will emotionally eat, create a ritual around it. Rather than fighting it, make it an event. If you know you want pizza, or cookies, make the best version of that food you can. If you crave a burger, don’t buy a Big Mac. Go all out! Eat your “indulgent” meal on your best plates with your finest flatware. Light some candles, play some music. Not only do these actions put you in the moment, but they also remove the “forbidden” aspect of the food, thus making it less exciting. If you say you can eat all the pizza you want, you’re less likely to eat the whole pie!

Holiday-Specific Tips

After covering all of this wonderful information, Hadley continued by offering several suggestions specifically targeted to the challenges we face during the holiday season. However, since she did such a wonderful job in her article on Melissa’s blog, I’ll direct you there to read more

Thank you so much to Hadley for a wonderful teleclass and please be sure to check out Spark! Wellness’ monthly newsletter and teleclass series!

 

How do you manage emotional eating?

Recipe Madness!

My apologies for the delayed posting re: this weekend’s festivities, but, as I’m sure you read, something rather important came up

However, the weekend held many other important and wonderful things as well! When I posted on Saturday, I’d gone for my run with Megan and her friend and was about to embark on some serious quality time with my kitchen. As I’ve mentioned before, I am very fortunate to be testing many of Lindsay’s fabulous recipes for her upcoming cookbook. Knowing that I’d be a bit crunched for time (aka probably ordering take-out) this week, I set Saturday as my “Tester” day. First up, Spiced Carrot Muffins.

While I can’t reveal the recipe (just buy the cookbook next Fall!), I can tell you that these muffins were vegan, low fat, full of vegetables and, most importantly, DELICIOUS! Lindsay is some kind of spice mixing scientist who, I’m pretty sure, has uncovered the holy grail of spice combinations. These muffins were nutritious, satisfying, and totally perfect for Autumn. I was more than happy to test and re-test these bad boys.

As the muffins cooled, I set about making recipe #2: Vegan Gingerbread. You might remember that I tried Lindsay and VeggieGirl’s banana bread recipes this summer and I was totally impressed by both. Gingerbread, however, is in an entirely different league for me. Again, I savored the scent of the spices as they mixed and melded in the oven. Savory, spicy, sweet. Perfection.

The bread was moist, perfectly baked and had a terrific kick to it. In fact, I had two slices to test and two more on Sunday morning!

Recipe #3 was Vegan Cornbread. Growing up, my mom often made cornbread and taught us several very enjoyable ways of eating it – as a savory starch with soup or chili, and as a tasty breakfast with a drizzle of real maple syrup. However you like cornbread, this recipe is a great way to make it quickly and simply! The ingredient list was brief, the mix-ins were nutrient-packed, and the bread was done in just 20 minutes.

I told The Huz that we’d need to plan this week’s meals around these test recipes so I’d have a good excuse to eat them every day. Otherwise, I knew I’d eat my meal and then dig in anyway!

After my official tester duties had been satisfied, I moved on to preparation for a guest post I’m doing for Diana while she’s away in Japan for 10 days (that lucky little minx). I’m not going to reveal the dish I made, but believe me when I say you’ll be impressed that I stepped outside my normal recipe trend and went all out! Last, but certainly not least, I began testing my own recipe. Each year, I like to make tasty treats to give as gifts during the holidays. In the past, I’ve made spiced pecans

chocolate dipped pistachio and dried cherry biscotti

walnut brittle

candied cranberries

dark fudge and (my personal favorite) orangettes.

In addition to being a bit more budget-friendly, I find homemade gifts to mean more when received. Since I have not yet won the lottery and can’t afford to buy my loved ones the gifts they’re probably really hoping for, I try to make my gifts personal. And if they’re tasty too, all the better! Over the next few weeks, I’ll post recipes for each of the past gifts and hopefully you’ll give them a try!

After all the kitchen excitement on Saturday, I was ready to get out of the apartment for a bit and I couldn’t wait to meet our dinner guests! The Huz and I were so fortunate to spend the evening with none other than Diana and the Boyf! The Huz had been craving red meat and, since he’s been such a patient vegan taste tester, I wanted to show him a little love. We all met up at Jackson Hole, where Diana and I were thrilled to see they offer their burgers with beef, turkey or veggie patties! Perfect! Diana opted for a classic cheese veggie burger while I indulged in a veggie burger topped with goat cheeses, sauteed mushrooms and onions.

Though our bellies were full, we saved just enough room for the tasty treats Diana had spent the day making in her own kitchen! She shared the Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies Lindsay had posted to her blog last week and debuted a recipe that will be showing up on Soap & Chocolate while she’s overseas. All I’ll say is it involved chocolate and it left my breath minty fresh

We rounded out the night with a truly epic game of Steelers Monopoly, in which the Boyf triumphed (congrats Boyf! see you for the rematch!) and I can’t wait to see both Diana and her beau again soon!

What’s your favorite board game?

PS Check out The Huz’s blog reincarnation! Even though I write for a living, he is most certainly the writer in this relationship. Enjoy!

Baby Announcement!!!

I had a whole post ready about my fabulous weekend, but I got the most incredible news last night: My sister had her baby!! When I talked to her last night, she said she was so happy to see everyone’s kind wishes on the blog since she was already starting to have contractions Just as I’d hoped, she had a smooth birth and little Luna Elizabeth is perfect in every way. The little blondie weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, has 10 fingers and 10 toes and her mama’s pouty lips. And I’m officially an aunt! Honestly, I can’t imagine what my sister’s emotions are like because I feel like my own heart is about to explode and I haven’t even met the little miracle yet. Thankfully, I will see her in just 5 weeks and can repeat my wishes directly to her. In addition to a few secrets I will whisper into her ear, I will tell her:

Beautiful, radiant Luna. You are the little girl your mama has dreamt about since she was a little girl. Her whole life has been a dedication to you and your arrival. I wish that you will learn from your parents all the wonderful gifts they have to offer you and may they make you as joyful as you have made them. I wish that you will grow up in a world that is not perfect, so that you may always be inspired to do good and make it better. I wish that you will seek knowledge with the thirst your mama has, and have the quiet grace of your daddy. I wish that you will grow strong and healthy as you are nourished by all the offerings of this Earth and I wish that your ears will be filled with beautiful melodies. I loved you from the moment your mama told me your name and I will love you always. Happy Birthday, Luna.

A Blogger-Filled Day

Hello world! I hope everyone had a wonderful Friday night! THe Huz and I offered to puppy sit for my in-laws miniature dachshund so the four of us stayed in, ordered Japanese food and watched a movie. For once, I wasn’t craving sushi, so I ordered a veggie udon soup bowl. It was fabulous! (and I might have ordered/devoured an order of sweet potato tempura as well) We watched Swing Vote, which was a moderately cute but very predictable movie. Eh, they can’t all be blockbusters right? No matter, we still had a fun night and the puppies had a lovely time lounging around together.

This morning, I slept in until 7:30. Truth be told, I was ready to get up and go earlier, but I had a date! After taking Bodhi for a short walk, I dressed in tights and Under Armour and enjoyed a Larabar Cherry Pie mini bar. Even though the mini bars are a bit more expensive, I really liked having the quick 100 calorie chunk and I would consider trying these as mid-run fuel! By 8:30, I’d kissed my slumbering husband, patted Bodhi on the head and dashed out the door to meet Megan in Central Park. I know I’ve been waxing poetic about Autumnal splendor, but I just can’t say it enough. There is something truly spectacular about New York City during Fall. As I stretched my legs with some long strides along the east side of the park, I luxuriated in the brilliant hues of the foliage. Bright yellow, burnt orange and blood red in the air, on the ground crunching under my new shoes. It was almost too much to handle.

And when I didn’t think life could get any better, I found Megan and her friend, Mayumi (I’m so sorry if I’ve spelled that incorrectly!!). Conversation was almost as easy as running felt and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the patience of my running buddies. Megan and Mayumi are pretty much running super heros. Between Megan’s super speedy races and Mayumi’s THIRTEEN marathons (four in the past year!!!), I was in esteemed company. Thankfully, they both belong to the Central Park Track Club and had a tough tempo workout on Thursday so they were willing to lope along at a more leisurely pace with me today Thank you so much, ladies!

All told, I ran 9.5 miles (about 6 with M&M) and I’m ready to take on the world. On today’s agenda:

- farmer’s market
- recipe testing
- coloring my hair
- dinner with another blogger! I know, how lucky am I?!

Hope you’re all enjoying your weekends! If you get a chance, say a little prayer and think so good thoughts for my sister. Her due date was yesterday so we’re all waiting (mostly) patiently to hear the wonderful news of her very first baby’s birth. I love you Rachel! Rutabaga is going to be the most beautiful baby and I hope your labor and birth are easy, special and truly unforgettable.