friday foodie: zucchini herb casserole

One of my favorite things is to try new, healthy recipes and have my always willing, but sometimes skeptical husband taste-test them. He’s open to trying something at least once, which I’m very thankful for. So I am going to start featuring a weekly recipe that has been tried and approved by Brad and myself. First up, Zucchini Herb Casserole. With zucchinis and tomatoes in abundance at the farmer’s market and in our backyards, this is a great recipe to use up those extra veggies before winter falls. It’s quick and easy, and makes great left-overs for lunch. Enjoy!

Zucchini Herb Casserole

1 cup cooked rice

2 T oil

3 medium zucchini, cubed

1 cup sliced green onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

1 1/2 cups chopped tomato

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a casserole dish. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat, and cook zucchini, onions, and garlic for minutes or until tender. Season with garlic salt, basil and oregano. Mix in cooked rice, tomatoes, and 1 cup cheese. Continue to cook and stir until heated through. Transfer to casserole dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

fast food nation: the movie

I finally got around to watching Fast Food Nation. What a disappointment. I had high expectations because the book was intriguing, informative, and moving. I had received Fast Food Nation from my brother before I became a vegetarian, and it only reinforced my desire to live a healthier lifestyle. The book provides a rich history of the industry, and is filled with vivid descriptions of the working conditions and environment of a meatpacking plant. It is truly disturbing, but in a good way… if that’s possible.

I was hoping the movie would mirror the imagery portrayed in the book. The main characters include a fictional fast food chain executive, a teenage girl who works at one of the fast food restaurants, and a group of illegal immigrants from Mexico who get jobs at the corporation’s meatpacking plant. Throughout the film, you barely get a glimpse at the inside workings of the plant, which should have been much more prominent. The film is filled with irrelevant story lines, including the girl’s uncle coming for a visit and taking her out to a bar (what the heck?), the executive having dinner with a random employee played by Bruce Willis, and a plant manager harassing the Mexican women that work at the plant. They even show the cows grazing happily outside, when I’m pretty certain most cows destined for a big mac never see the light of day, get pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, and live on a concrete floor covered in their own excrement.

My main hope was that the film would move people to change, take action, and give up their drive-thru habits. But the only truly disturbing part they saved for the very end of the movie - an actual cow getting slaughtered, gutted, and going through the machinery to turn into a frozen patty.

In my opinion, the book’s purpose was to raise awareness of the backwards workings of the fast food industry, and to motivate and move people to choose a healthier and more socially responsible meal. I certainly don’t think the movie accomplished the same goal.

After this disappointment, I am really looking forward to seeing Food, Inc. Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to see it in the theater, but it is currently sitting in my NetFlix queue, waiting to make it to my mailbox.

tackle dummy.

If there's one thing I cannot even fathom, let alone bring myself to think about, it's animal cruelty. I just don't get it and never will. Michael Vick, the famed NFL player who was jailed for 18 months for his ties to a dogfighting ring was recently welcomed back to the NFL and will now play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately that's a fact we're all going to have to live with. I did, however, come across this story. A Philadelphia animal rescue group is going to donate 5 pounds of dog food to local animal shelters for each time Vick is tackled during Sunday's game against Washington. Let's hope for TONS of tackles against the sorry excuse for a human. Take him out Washington!

On another Michael Vick note (as if we needed another one), the Ohio State quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, wore his support of Vick at last Saturday's football game against Navy. Pryor was seen sporting the word "Vick" on one of the black stickers underneath his eyes. According to an article on ESPN, Pryor "loves" Michael Vick and feels he "needs more support". Wow. Now as you may or may not know, my husband and I are enormously huge Michigan football fans, so it is only natural we would have a severe dislike for all things OSU. Just another reason to despise Pryor and his football team. Check out the picture at my husband's blog, Maize & Blue Nation.

I have to end on a much happier note, and in support of all things doggie, I've included a picture of my best bud, Bo, and his cousin Mandy. Bo will be spending the weekend at my parents' with Mandy while my husband and I are out of town for a wedding. How cute are they! :)

to be, or not to be.

I have recently found myself at a serious turning point. To be a runner, or not to be a runner. I started running my senior year of college, with the goal of completing a 5k race. In April of 2005, I completed that goal with my best friend, and it felt amazing. But when it was over, running slowly slipped away from my to-do list.

Fast forward 3 years. With the encouragement of my friends and a new gym membership, I decided to give running another shot with a different 5k to look forward to: the Smoke the Turkey Thanksgiving 5k in Toledo, Ohio that several of my friends were participating in. Again, I was able to accomplish my goal of finishing the 5k. And again, I took a serious break from running when it was over.

Then, last spring I agreed to a third 5k with a large group of co-workers. The Race for the Cure was held last May, and I had my best time ever. I was super proud of myself, and it felt amazing to finish the race beating my goal time. But it is currently 5 months later, and I haven’t been running. I’ve replaced pounding the pavement with yoga and elliptical work-outs, and every time I enter the gym I stay away from the treadmill like it’s the plague.

I look at other runners with envy. How did they find the motivation to go for a run? How do people run almost every single day? Is something wrong with me that I have no motivation? Is it normal to not be a consistent runner? I started thinking maybe it’s just not for me. Maybe I’m just not a runner. Maybe I just need to give up, so I can move on and do other activities.

My husband and I were at breakfast Saturday morning, and I started to share my dilemma with him. To my surprise, he announced that he’d like to start running and complete this year’s Smoke the Turkey 5k with me. What a renewed sense of spirit that gave me! Just knowing that he has the desire to run with me makes me want to lace up my sneakers and hit the pavement pronto!

So after all of this, I think I’ve realized it’s okay to have hills and valleys with your desire and motivation to do a certain activity. If you really and truly enjoy it, you’ll find new ways to be motivated and get through those times when you’d rather do the laundry, dishes, and vacuum before stepping on a treadmill. Maybe I’ll go through life not being a consistent I-have-to-run-at-least-3-times-a-week-or-I’ll-die runner. Maybe I’ll go through life running when I want to, and when I don’t, replacing it with other activities I find enjoyable—yoga, bike riding, tennis, or just playing with my dog. So I have my husband to thank for this revelation. Thanksgiving Day 5k—here we come!

challenge.

My mother and I have decided to embark on an interesting challenge – going one full year without purchasing any clothing item for ourselves. That means no clothes, purses, shoes, jewelry, etc. Using inspiration from my Aunt Ellen who just finished her year of frugality, and the idea that less is more, we’ve decided to give it a go.

Because of the current economic condition, we hear a lot about learning to love the stuff we already have, living with less, and realizing that owning expensive stuff doesn’t make us any happier. All around us people are cutting back, from swapping their morning latte for a cup of joe, to having a “staycation” rather than a vacation, to canceling their gym memberships. Frugality runs in my nature, so it hasn’t been difficult for me to always go straight to the sale rack, and to TRY and buy only what I need – a lot easier said than done (for example, I just spend $50 on a pair of Gap jeans I definitely don’t need).

This will be a challenge (and I love a good challenge) because I am one that loves to shop. Whether it’s for a new dress or a new blender, I love going out and looking at all the shiny, new, pretty things. So now I’ll have more time to do other enjoyable things.

One of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits, has an article called “Love Life, Not Stuff.” The author has a great point in saying that at the end of our lives, we’ll remember the people we loved and spent time with and the great experiences we had. We won’t remember what color our couch was, how big our TV was, or how many pair of jeans we had.

So, starting September 1st, we will no longer be purchasing anything for ourselves. I think my willpower will be pretty strong, but we’ll see what happens on Black Friday when I’m usually standing outside the department store with my Mom at 4:00 a.m. in 20 degree weather waiting to raid the sales. Wish us luck!

I'd also like to give a quick shout-out to my grandmother, known to all as Mee Mee. Today is her 90th birthday, and she is an amazing woman who I admire in every way. Happy Birthday and I Love You Mee Mee!

book review: you are what you eat

It's a phrase we've heard often, and often thought absurd. Dr. Gillian McKeith, however, gives a good argument as to why this common saying may ring true. You Are What You Eat is geared towards those who want to lose weight and feel better, but the tips and tricks can be useful for anyone. And while the beginning dieter who is used to 3 fastfood meals a day will most likely feel the advise quite daunting, Dr. McKeith provides good reasons to follow her plan. The main idea is not to eat less, but to eat an abundance of good foods, and these healthy food choices can make you look and feel great. She encourages readers to take a look into their own bodies and how they feel each and every day, providing checklists of symptoms and feelings. She then shares lists of foods and supplements that may help with various ailments.

The list of foods to eat in abundance is plentiful (thank goodness!), and is mostly made up of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, beans and herbs. Of course there are many favorites featured on Dr. McKeith's no-no list: coffee, cocktails, refined foods such as potato chips, baked goods... the list goes on. But my favorite part is that she suggests following the 80/20 rule. Follow her advise 80% of the time, allowing 20% for "food naughtiness". I also love her idea that if you eat dead, lifeless food, it's only fitting that your body will feel the same way. But if you eat vibrant, fresh foods, you will feel vibrant and full of life as well.

You Are What You Eat is a colorful and quick read, providing great information on the healthiest foods one can eat. So if you think your diet is pretty healthy, think again, and read this book! There is always room for improvement in each and every one of us. Just remember to take one step at a time.

south africa.

I was just about to delve into my afternoon snack - a juicy, bright navel orange. One look at the sticker it was sporting and I stopped dead in my tracks. It read "South Africa Navel #3107". South freakin' Africa?! Are you kidding me? Is there any possible way that this sweet treat I was holding really came all the way from South Africa? And if it did... that is preposterous! Talk about the opposite of eating local - that's halfway around the world!

It's not just the distance the fruit traveled that has my environmental conscious going berserk. According to this report from the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, the amount of produce being imported from overseas has skyrocketed in recent years. One out of every five pieces of fresh fruit is grown abroad... doubling from 15 years ago. What's also scary is that the FDA's inspection of imported food is not up to par, meaning imported fruit is four times more likely to have illegal levels of pesticides than domestically grown fruit. Eek!

The lesson I quickly learned was to make it a priority to check the location of produce before I make a purchase. Of course I prefer to buy as locally as possible, but that's not always easy when you live in Michigan. Just today I went to buy apples from my grocery store of choice and noticed they were from New Zealand! I immediately put them down and found some apples from the good ol' US of A. Definitely an eye-opening experience.

restaurant review: mind body & spirits

I had the opportunity to visit Mind Body & Spirits in downtown Rochester, Michigan for a work event last week. I knew very little about the establishment prior to dining there, and I can honestly say I was blown away. The atmosphere feels more like a spa than a restaurant, with serene colors, fabrics and music. The menu features an abundance of organic and local items, as well as a plenty of vegetarian items. The non-vegetarian dishes include free-range and grass-fed organic beef, free-range chicken, and wild-caught Alaskan fish. Organic beer, wine and spirits top the drink menu, and dinner prices range from $10 to $25.

The most progressive part of the restaurant, in my opinion, is their use of green technology and construction choices for renovating the 1890's building. From solar power to geo-thermal heating and cooling, they didn't hold back when it comes to thinking about the environment. The restaurant features sustainable materials such as bamboo and cork flooring, VOC-free paints, and green roofing. They also have an on site greenhouse, and compost as much as possible. My co-workers and I were given a tour of the restaurant following our meal, where we got to see the greenhouse and learn about the concept behind Mind Body & Spirits. I guarantee I will be returning for another fantastic meal and dining experience!

save the rainforest.

I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about deforestation of the Amazon rainforests... other than it being a very serious issue and one of it's main causes is to create land for grazing cattle and other animals. Ugh. Anywho, I came across these photos on thedailygreen.com, and holy cow! (no pun intended). The difference in deforestation in 8 years is alarming, and apparently a few shoe companies are doing away with cattle products coming from the region - Nike and Timberland will now require its suppliers to certify that leather is not coming from the Amazon. Below is a list of companies that are still using leather and beef coming from the Amazon... maybe think twice about where you purchase beef or items containing leather (if you intend to buy them at all!)

Deforestation of Amazon - 2000

Deforestation of Amazon - 2008

U.S. brands that continue to source leather and beef from ranches in the Amazon (put down those designer handbags, ladies!):

• Adidas
• Boss
• Clarks
• Geox
• Gucci
• Hilfiger
• IKEA
• Kraft
• Louis Vuitton
• Prada
• Wal-Mart
• Reebok

update.

Good gracious it's been so long since I've posted. Didn't mean to neglect... just tied up with holidays, vacations, and other fun summer stuff. We got home Sunday from a week-long road trip to Lake Travis, Texas to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. Yup, I said 90... and she's frickin' amazing. We had 100+ temps all week, but were blessed with a fabulous air conditioned lakehouse, and lots of games and good food, so we managed to get through just fine.

I got a quick taste of what a bikram yoga class would be like (a class purposfully held in 95-100 degrees). One afternoon I went onto the sun-filled west-facing deck to do yoga. I only lasted 20 minutes, and can only imagine what a 90-minute class would be like! Makes me sweat just thinking about it.

It was such a great get-away, and Lake Travis is beautiful. Definitely a perfect way to celebrate such a monumental event, and to spend quality time with my amazing family. I miss them already!