Namasu (Cucumber Salad)

I don't like cucumbers raw, but pickle them and I am in love! Namasu is a super simple cucumber salad, I like to make.

Ingredients:

1 large English cucumber

.25 tsp salt

4 Tbsp rice vinegar

2 Tbsp sugar

Preparation:

Peel and thinly slice cucumber and soak in salt for a few minutes.  Then rinse cucumbers.

Mix together other ingredients and pour over cucumbers.  I also like to add some red pepper flakes for color and kick.

Marinate overnight

Another variation is to add an Asian pear:

2 large English cucumbers
1 Asian pear
.5 tsp salt.5 tsp soy saouce
6 Tsp Rice vinegar
1 Tsp sugar 

This requires less sugar because the asian pear brings a natural sweetness.  Either way, pickling makes cucumbers very enjoyable.

Reading Reviews- May 2013

A lot of good reading this month...

Cooked by Michael Pollan

     I read this and fell in love with cooking (again).   Michael Pollan has a talent for weaving together stories and information and this book kept me interested (and hungry) the whole way through.  Then he brought it to a higher level:  "Cooking is all about connection, I've learned, between us and other species, other time other cutures (human and microbial both), but, most important other people."
Verdict: I have not only read all of Michael Pollan's books on food, I own them. This one is my favorite.

A Taste for Wine by Vincent Gasnier
 
     I've had this book for years and was finally inspired to read it when a Total Wine store opened  in my town. That store is pretty awesome, but I honestly didn't even know where to start, so this book's subtitle "20 key tasting to unlock your personal wine style" sounded promising.  The book is beautifully done and give specific wine suggestions. It is almost too much information- I've got at least 6 types of wine I want to taste now!
Verdict: Wonderful reference book.  Overwhelmed with choices and recommendations. I guess I have to rely on the tasting method :)

The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald

     Somehow I  have managed to never read this classic.  It wasn't the movie that is coming out, but Stephen Colbert announcing he would have a book discussion on his show that finally did it.  It was a good story about reinventing/losing one's self. Seems like a timeless theme- trying to figure out who we are and who we want to be.
Verdict:  It is a good read.

The Sisterhood by Helen Bryan

     This felt like a cross better "The DaVinci Code" and a generic romance novel.  It was a drawn out combination of religious mystery and girl power.  It was an ambitious historical fiction, I just felt it was too long in the telling.  I skimmed through most of it and the ending was cheesy.
Verdict:  This is a perfect book to read if you are traveling. This story is interesting enough if you have some time to kill.

The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley

     I like a good story and this was an excellent story.  This historical fiction details 17th century French society, which includes witchcraft and woman's (lack of ) rights. It even has some romance. The main character is interesting and likable and the setting feel authentic.
Verdict: Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. 

Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn

     I kept hearing people talk about this book, so I gave it a try. I found the first part boring and almost stopped reading it, but the reviews I read said this book had twists. The first twist I guessed, but the rest was a surprise!  This story is crafty.
Verdict: I am now raving about this book like everyone else :)

Crockpot Cherry Pork

I am always on the lookout for good crockpot recipes and this one is a true gem, if you like sweet-tasting pork.

Ingredients: 

3-4 pound pork roast

Salt and pepper

1 lb  frozen cherries

2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp nutmeg

Zest of one orange

1/4 – 1/2 cup of honey (optional, but very good and recommended)

Preparation:

Put your roast in the crock pot and season with either salt and pepper.

Combine the cherries, spices, orange zest, and honey. Mix well. Pour this around the pork roast.

Cook on low for 8-9.5 hours, depending on the size of your roast

Once there’s about half an hour left on the timer, shred up the pork,so the juice can soak into every piece of yummy goodness.

http://www.niashanks.com/2012/06/crock-pot-cherry-pork-tenderloin/

My First (and Last) 10k

     Having done five 5k runs this year and felt ready for a new challenge.  So I signed up for a 10k and was excited it was also a trail run.  Boy was I not thinking this through.  A 10k is 6 miles!  And this was a legitimate trail run with dirt, trees, steep uphills and paths that zig and zagged.  I've hiked 6 miles with a 30 lb pack, but running a trail is not the same.

     The first half of the race went well. I love trail runs and this one had amazing a beautiful view of Folsom Lake. I used my 5k strategies: 1) run, no walking and 2) pick someone and chase them.  This worked, until it didn't.  The first mile was all down hill. I've been on enough hikes to know that down hill means uphill is next and the uphill was steep. But I soldiered on running, no walking.  I finished the first 3 miles in 35 minutes, which is on par with my 5k times.

     The uphills just kept on coming and eventually I had to walk.  A couple of times I had to actually pause.  I half hoped the race was a 5k loop that you ran twice, so I could stop after the first loop.  Sometime after mile 4 it stopped being fun and even ego deserted me.  I walked as fast as I could, but my body and mind were kinda done.  I mustered up my remaining determination to run the last mile.  I really tried to run it but the terrain was ankle-breaking and I no longer trusted my physical or mental state.  I zombied through it as best as I could.  The second 3 miles took me an hour to complete.

     The last 200m of the race were on pavement and I had to summon everything I had left to run across the finish line. I have never been so happy to see a "Finish" banner in my life. Trail runs are fun, but hard. I wish I had done this run as a 5k. I think I would have enjoyed it more.  So I ran my first and maybe last 10k.  It is back to 5ks for me. They offer the perfect balance of challenge and fun. 10k trail runs are no joke!

Enjoying Your Own Herb Garden

     "Growing your own food is like printing your own money."  I like that quote from a recent TED talk given by Ron Finley.  Since I live in an apartment, an herb garden is the best I can do.

     Basil, mint, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, chives and parsley!  The Italian mix (rosemary, oregano, chives and parsley) made a lovely fragrance combination reminiscent of pizza. My dog must have thought so too because she started munching on the chives.

     I've been using the basil and oregano to add a little more zest to salads.  I've also decided to mix up some chive-garlic herb butter for my artichokes.  And of course, fresh mint mean mojitos!



Link to TED talk by Ron Finley
http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html

Almond Butter Bites

Looking for a tasty snack? These almond butter bites are addictive with their cookie-dough texture and good for you ingredients:

1/2 cup Almond Butter

1Tsp Honey

1/2 cup almond flour

1/2 cup dried cherries

Mix ingredients together and roll into bite size balls.  I start with a 1/2 almond flour but add more as needed- they help firm up the bites.  Refrigerate for an hour and they are ready and portable.

This recipe is adapted from Dr. Oz's No Bake Energy Ball recipe:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/oz-energy-ball-recipe

The Happiness Podcast

     Recently I discovered this gem, Happiness Cheat Codes- the podcast that gives you the cheat codes for the game of life.   Founder Larry Pitts says, “I thought it would be really cool to try to create specific tasks based on the findings from researchers that might actually make people happier.”   I have been following along on the happiness missions.

     Each week I tune in to a brief podcast where Larry describes the mission and difficulty levels.  For example, Mission 11 was to write about your best possible future self:

           Easy- write for 20 minutes 2 times in the week
           Normal- write for 20 minutes 3 times in the week
           Hard- write for 20 minutes 4 times in the week

     I chose to do the Normal level and wrote about my future self in 5 years, 15 years and 30 years. I started with 30 years first, following the adage “begin with the end in mind.”  Coincidentally, I had been thinking about writing out a life plan and so this was the perfect assignment. This mission helped me to describe my ideal future. It was actually stressful at first, but once I got done I did feel happier. I wrote in one block of about an hour, rather than the 3 sessions of 20 minutes.

     I am enjoying these weekly mini challenges.  There is also a FaceBook page set up for people to share and converse about their experiences.  The Podcast can be found at http://happinesscheatcodes.com or you can subscribe through iTunes.  If you are looking for a way to incorporate some change into your busy life, give this podcast a try- it’s fun!

Chili

Chili is another perfect meal for preparing in batches and defrosting as needed. I used to buy the prepacked seasoning, but I found it was quicker and cheaper to mix up my own.

Chili Seasoning

1/8 cup Chili Powder
.5 tsp Garlic Powder
.5 tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
.5 tsp basil
.5 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
.5 tsp Cayenne Pepper

* This is for 2lbs of ground beef

Chili Prep:

Chop onions and red pepper

Cook ground beef and drain and add seasoning

Add red pepper, onion, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce
You can also add some kidney beans if you like
Cook for 15 minutes, stir and cook for 10 minutes more

This is another one of my lunchtime staples.  It makes for a filling and satisfying meal. I used grass-fed ground beef, so I feel like I am getting in some quality protein.