Skimming

How informed do you feel about current events? Although I try to check the headlines on a daily basis and register for AP Mobile alerts on my cellphone, I constantly feel out of the loop on what is going on in the world. I'm sure many of you feel the same. At times, it can be overwhelming to try to read the news - there are so many sections, where do I even begin? That's why I was thrilled to learn about The Skimm.

After signing up, you are delivered a daily e-mail first thing each morning, highlighting what is going on in the news. It breaks down the most relevant and important stories, and puts them in to simple terms. They make it easy to read, and even add humor. Now, I can feel caught-up on my world news and feel ready for any conversation - all before leaving bed in the morning!

Sign up here!

Once A Cheater, Always A Cheater?

This week has been chaotic, to say the least. Monday was an incredibly saddening day, and things just continued to pile on. First, the horrible news of what happened in Boston, where all of my best friends from College reside, threw me for a spin. My heart goes out to all of those in the area, and the victims are in my thoughts and prayers. From there, I was dealing with other shocking news in my personal life. To put it short - it was a bad day.

So, how does one recover from a no good, very bad day? Let me clarify - without having at least a cocktail or dessert? Well...they don't. For 3 months, I have been incredibly strict in sticking to this eating regime. I haven't let so much as honey cross my lips. However, with my Aunt's temptation and overwhelming feeling that life is just too short, we headed to the Hotel Bel Air - probably one of my top favorite places in the whole world - and splurged.

{www.dorchestercollection.com}

Sitting in the gorgeous bar area, watching the fireplace roar and listening to an incredible piano player, I ordered a dirty martini with stuffed blue cheese olives - my favorite. That was my splurge, I thought. Things went downhill from there. Okay, so I ordered a pizza. It was small - miniature even. With fresh mozzarella and an incredible sauce. Well, heck, I was already on a downward spiral. I ordered a hazelnut crunch bar dessert - a delicious chocolate hazelnut homemade-version of a candy bar, complete with fresh whipped cream and homemade double-chocolate ice cream. Really, can you ever go wrong with Wolfgang Puck?

I'm here to admit it. I take full responsibility. I cheated...and it felt incredible. Now back to my normal routine. I have come to the realization that people should just do what makes them happy. Whether that is following my recipes, eating healthy or  eliminating certain items, do it because it makes you feel good. But don't forget - everyone deserves a splurge now and then too.

Book Review: Cook Book Edition

IT'S ALL GOOD

I always love cook books, cooking blogs, and all things cooking. However, it has been tricky to find something that is really pertinent to my diet. Gluten-free recipes usually use a lot of corn, vegetarian may use a lot of fruits and vegetables I can't have, and vegan doesn't avoid the gluten. Throughout my frustrations of recipe-hunting, I stumbled across Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook: It's All Good. I had no idea what to expect, and though I was aware it had come out, I had no intentions of buying it. One fateful day in Target, I picked it up and started thumbing through it. The recipes were amazing. Everything is so natural, adaptable, and delicious. Although some of the things I still can't have (she uses raw honey and maple syrup as sugar substitues, but I still can't have those), I have earmarked multiple recipes I am anxious to try both now and once I am bringing more foods back into my diet.

I loved the book so much, I sent one to my sister. I highly recommend it to everyone - only $17.39 on Amazon, while marked at $32 on the book. 

What are you waiting for?? Go pick up your copy!! 

My recipes I am most excited to try:

Chinese Chicken Salad

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Chipotle Coriander

Chicken Burgers, Thai Style

Bummer Bars 

Once you've purchased the book, let me know which ones are your favorites!

Snack Time

A delicious snack I have quite a bit is an apple. Sometimes, an apple just doesn't cut it. To make the snack a little bit heartier, as well as tastier, I did the following:

-Chop up 1 organic Fuji apple (or apple of your choice)

-Add to bowl

-Sprinkle a generous amount of Organic Cinnamon* into the bowl 

-Drizzle Cultured Coconut Milk over the mixture 

I really enjoy this because it is crunchy, sweet, and the coconut milk makes it feel a bit more like I'm having yogurt, which I really miss. Eating the apple chopped up makes it feel like I am eating more, and therefore feels more filling to me. 

*Organic Cinnamon (not just plain regular store-bought cinnamon) is incredibly good for your pancreas. Since that has been a source of my problems, I try to incorporate it into my diet as much as possible.

Restaurant Review

BLOSSOM

Neighborhood: Silver Lake 

Cuisine: Vietnamese 

Price: $$

Website

When meeting friends for dinner, I'm usually asked to pick the restaurant (or at least type of food), since I am the one that can't eat most things. When meeting my Aunt and Uncle for dinner, I suggested what has become one of my major food groups and a staple in my diet: pho. 

You may not know the incredible deliciousness that is pho (pronounced FUH). I didn't before I moved to LA, so let me describe it for you. It is a large bowl of delicious broth, rice noodles, chicken (or your choice of meat/tofu), and onions. On the side, they serve you a plate of fresh basil, bean sprouts, jalepenos, and a lime wedge, for you to add in as you please. Obviously, I add in everything - and request extra jalepenos. As I'm not supposed to be eating peppers, I merely float them in the broth to add a litte kick. 

{photo courtesy of Google Images}

I would consider myself almost a pho expert, as I have tried various places all over LA, from trendy to total authentic hole in the walls. My aunt suggested this place called Blossom in Silver Lake. She said it was hip and trendy, and the food was good. She was right! 

I ordered the Vegetarian Spring Rolls (rice paper rolls with tofu, rice vermicelli, and fresh herbs), and of course, a large bowl of chicken pho. It was delicious. The spring rolls weren't my favorite that I have had, but the pho was incredible. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was a very cool vibe, wooden booths (which were a tad uncomfortable, but cool looking). 

{photo courtesy of Google Images]

Overall out of 10, I would rate it:

Food: 8.5

Ambiance: 7

Smooth Moves

One thing I have been missing greatly is a smoothie. With so many fruit and dairy limitations, it makes it incredibly difficult to ever order one at a smoothie bar. So I did one better - I created a delicious smoothie of my own!

-1 cup cultured Coconut Milk
-1/2 sliced Mango
-1/2 cup frozen Sweet Dark Cherries
-2 Tbsp Organic Cinnamon

Add to blender, blend, and enjoy! The great part about using frozen cherries is there is no need to add ice; the mixture is already nice and cold. The smoothie is delicious and creamy, completely fulfilling any sweet, icy cravings.

Blind Taste Test

Today at work, we happened to have something very few people have. It is rare, and almost unheard of. We had both Pellegrino and Perrier in our fridge. So, I could not just sit back and watch people drink these rival sparkling waters (and only watching, as I can't have carbonation, remember?). Instead, I decided to host a blind taste test!

Personally, Pellegrino is my favorite sparkling water. Of course, that comes with many rolled eyes from people, and lots of, "can you even tell the difference?" Today - I put this to rest once and for all.

I took out a bottle of each water. 

I wrote on the bottom of white cups, marking which is Pellegrino and which is Perrier. I filled each cup equally.

Four coworkers participated in the tasting. Might I add, none of them even like sparkling water. 

Jordan, who cannot get over how bland sparkling water is, and wishes it were sweeter.

Christina, smelling the odorless bubble water.

Kimi, sampling the waters.

Adam, the pro, quickly distinguishing which water is which.

The one quote that kept being repeated: "I keep waiting for it to taste like Sprite...and then it doesn't." 

I'll admit, I was envious. I love Pellegrino, and wish I could have added a squeeze of lemon and lime, a splash of fresh lemonade, and downed the whole bottle. 

In the end, the winner of the blind taste testing was:

My favorite, Pellegrino! Now I can say, I told you so. There is a difference, and I was right. After my in-depth scientific blind taste testing, it is proven.