in progress: crockpot yogurt

Sometimes I appreciate that I live alone, so that I can get away with random experiments like this:

That would be crockpot yogurt draining in a towel hung from my sewing supplies shelf.  Yup.  I did that.

Details to follow.

pork tenderloin with homemade apricot -red pepper jelly

Several months ago, my coworker and friend, Mary, and I whipped up a double batch of apricot red pepper jelly.  It was around the holidays, so we ate it indulgently - over cream cheese with crackers.  I don't trust myself around such a treat on a daily basis, so the leftover jars have been sitting idly under a shelf since.

I subscribe to the daily Chow recipe email, and this one for pork tenderloin with spicy apricot glaze caught my eye. A quick trip to Costco for the tenderloins and a sleepless morning rendered this:

My homemade jelly was a no-brainer substitute for the apricot preserves, and in fact, I think without all the heat from the peppers, this pork roast would be too sweet.  I sliced the tenderloins thinly on an angle and doused them with the glaze.  Absolutely awesome and such a low-hassle protein to cook.  I sneaked a few slices in at breakfast, but I plan on eating this later with some simple sauteed spinach with garlic. Big flavors but so easy and healthy!

first attempt

Good morning! Kale, lettuce, carrot, ginger and blueberry- YUM!

I finally did it....

I have realized that I am old. I have noticed that all of my shoes are scratched, worn and in need of replacement. My clothes haven't had any new additions in quite some time. My kitchen, however, well....in just the past 2 months I have purchased a slow cooker, a mandoline and as of yesterday a JUICER! I am finally on board with the 90's health craze! I came across a juicer at Tuesday Morning and thought about it for a week straight. I finally pulled the trigger and then beelined to HEB for a veggie and fruit shopping spree: cabbage, lettuce, spinach, kale, blueberries, grapes, apples and ginger.

So I have given in- I now can pass right through the clothing section of TJ Maxx and head directly to the kitchen accessories. I don't give the shoes a second thought. My priorities have shifted and although my outfits may have seen better days, maybe I will look better in them!

What is your favorite juicing combo? I am new, please school me.

probiotic drinks worthless? and a solution.

I went to a naturopath for the first time yesterday and had braced myself to be told to take probiotics in the form of the popular drinks that crowd the shelves of stores like Whole Foods. When the topic of probiotics came up, I cringed and asked, "You mean drinks like Kombucha?"  I squirmed with my head down, inching towards the edge of the chair.  Nightmares of chugging what's to me, a completely unpalatable flavor with an even more distasteful pricetag raced through my mind.

To my surprise and utter delight, she scoffed and said not to ever bother with those, and not because I don't need to take probiotics, but because the amount in drinks such as kombucha is so incredibly minimal, that they are essentially useless.  As for the cost?  You can get - maybe 8 million?  or something insane - times the amount of probiotics, which also happens to be the amount actually necessary to make a difference in your body, for a fraction of the cost of bottled "vinegar water."

I went home with  Pharmax HLC High Potency capsules. The suggested use is 1-2 per day, but she instructed I only take one, so the bottle will last me about 4 months -- a steal in price and quality. Kombuch-what?

a texsea to-do list

• learn to make yogurt in the crockpot. im tired of spending so much on fage, though i love it so!
• try making water kefir. i feel like i need to focus on getting probiotic foods in my diet.
• eat eggs over a a meaty potato skin. inspired by this restaurant brunch dish.
• make marinated chicken with cucumber mint salad. i love any recipe loaded with cumin.
• start eating savory green oats for breakfast. would trade that for the cranberry oats i just had!
• try sproated quinoa. i have a huge bag of quinoa i need to use.

also, sorry for the lapse in posting.  i've been on vacation and dealing with a family ummm...situation...but i'm back in seattle now and am finally feeling gross enough from a month-long alcohol and restaurant food BENDER to get back on track. 

working lunch

Working lunch- BAD!

Siggi's Skyr- GOOD!

I have been a busy, busy girl, but not too chaotic to discover my new snack (and sometimes lunch). The Orange and Ginger has brought me on board as a certified skyr lover!

At $2.69 for a teensy 6 ounces, it MAY lighten up your wallet a bit, but for only 120 calories and 10 grams of sugar, your tastebuds and pants will thank you for it!