STUFF

 Do we all have our garden planted?  Partially planted?  If you do, what is planted? 

So far I have:

20 tomatoes plants in the ground and in pots. (We usually aim for 35 plants)

Sweet potatoes

Potatoes

Corn

Habanero, Jalapeno, Cubanelles and Green Peppers

Broccoli

Red leaf, green leaf and some bitter lettuce

Spinach

Celery

Butternut squash

Italian zucchini

Basil

Parsley

Sage

Mint

Oregano.

I think that is everything so far.  Oh and we have seeds in...kale and broccoli rabe.

And what have I used so far...

Parsley

Sage..fresh sage is a must in this recipe.

All the different kinds of lettuce and the spinach.  I used the parsley trying to re-create my mother's chicken nardizzi.  I was moderately successful.  I planted plenty of parsley to keep trying.  I used the sage for an awesome pork recipe by Elizabeth Minchilli.  More information and pictures about those two recipes will follow.  If you can't wait for the pork and sage and tomato recipe, check it out at the link below.  Fresh sage from your garden people is the key to this recipe...oh and good pork.

http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/2016/05/pork-chops-sage-tomatoes/

She is also a great food tour guide of Rome but that is a story for another day.

What do you do with mint that grows like crazy?  Well, Mint Julips of course.  I don't make Mint Julips but the boy does.  I make chocolate chip mint ice cream.  So delicious. 

You all know I believe gardening, farmer's market and locally sourced food is the healthiest way to live but what about those time when you need something decadent?  My go to is usually ice cream.  However, I keep thinking about the most delicious hot dog in the world.  I had it this past weekend and it was heaven.  I was so focused on the dog I didn't even think about pictures.  

A local equivalent?  Fred's Franks in Wakefield, MA, right on Lake Quinapowett near Route 128.  I spent just about a whole summer eating hot dogs from Fred at lunch..meeting and listening to a friend in distress.    They needed  a friend and someone to listen.  I was more than willing.  The side benefit was the hot dogs. 

http://fredsfranks.com/

Check their hours before you go to make sure they are open. 

Not everyone can get to Wakefield...so what is your favorite hotdog?  No, disgusting is not an answer. 

Elizabeth Gilbert

This isn't the posting I had planned today but the following resonated with me especially in light of this political season...if you take the time to get to know people, to really know people, you open your heart to kindness, compassion, love, gratitude, understanding, knowledge and enrichment.  Last year I spent 2 weeks in Rome, just Rome and I find Elizabeth's words to be so true. 

Open your hearts and your minds. 

"Travel Q & A with Elizabeth Gilbert:

Travel:  You wrote an essay in Condé Nast Traveler in March encouraging people to travel, especially in light of world events, saying, “I am not afraid of the world, but I am afraid of people who are afraid of the world.”

Elizabeth Gilbert:  Generally speaking I feel like I want to encourage people to have the most expanded version of their life they can possibly have in every way — spiritually, creatively and geographically. That’s the bell I keep ringing: to live a bigger and broader life. The smaller your world gets, the smaller your mind gets, and the more your fear grows and the worse your decisions get."

LIVING LOCAL

 I know, I know.  Two blog posts in one day.  Here's the thing...I am not sure how I will be feeling about the Pats game.  I am always nervous about these games.

 

Market in the Testaccio, Rome!!
 

The market above is common place in Rome and in Italy.  Italians eat local food and they choose to eat produce that is in season and local.  They go to the butcher for their meat and the fish market for their fish.  Fresh vegetables are beautiful and abundant.  It is a healthy way to love.

I want to talk about cooking with locally made products in New England.  It is more difficult in winter in New England to eat locally but it can be done.  For the Patriots game I am making short ribs and carrots...

The short ribs are from Lilac Hedge Farm. 

The butter, which I picked up at the Wayland Winter Farmer's Market, is from Contoocook Creamery.


The chicken stock I used homemade from a local sourced chicken.  I added onion, not local, and garlic, which I don't remember whether it was local or not.

The wine that I reduced and added to the cooking broth is from Mill River Winery.  Excellent wine especially for a local wine. 

And then the carrots, from Tendercrop in Wenham.  They also have their own eggs.  Just as a side bar, this isn't my usual egg place.  I have a new local source which I will share at a later time. 

In my opinion, for the most part, eating locally prepared and grown food is healthier and it supports the communities in which we live. 

GO PATS!

I BELIEVE I DRANK ALL THE WINE IN ROME and other lifestyle statements

The line is not original.  I borrowed it from Neghar Fanooni.  However, it is a true statement.  Italian red wine is superior to many other wines.  I did my best to make sure there was none left before I returned home.  

Several weeks ago I traveled to Rome for an extended vacation.  Prior to boarding the Alitalia flight, I made the decision to drink bountiful amounts of incredibly delicious wine and to enjoy Roman specialties such as Cacio e Pepe, Carbonari and Gelato to the fullest.  Copious amounts of wine was consumed especially on the rooftop terrace of the hotel.  A glass of wine with lunch...yes, please and thank you very much.



After sampling Gelato!  No wine was involved.

I also knew that exercise would be a challenge because I was staying in a small hotel without a gym.  I brought some bands and valslides but that type of exercise was not a priority.  What I did do was walk especially early in the morning, alone, as the city was waking up.  Early morning walks in a new city are a favorite.  During a walk I did find this guy...and who could resist a picture with these buns.  He has obviously been working out.  He reminded me why I love deadlifts, squats, hip thrusts, glute bridges and swings.  I also biked the via Appian Way among other roads. 
 



Who could resist a picture of these buns.

 Roman food, wine, culture and people were spectacular.  I enjoyed all the best that Rome had to offer without much damage to my nutrition or strength.  You can vacation, enjoy yourself and still be true to your goals.  

Big, bad, delicious ravioli for sharing

                                                                                 


Caccio e Pepe

Thank you for the best Caccio e Pepe in all of Rome!

  Once home, I started back with my regular routine.  My strength was the same but my endurance had slipped a little.  I attended Simple Nutrition and Conditioning Workshop at Iron Body Studios the Saturday following my return and felt the conditioning for sure.  This was not unexpected. 

 



Photo courtesy of Iron Body Studios - I am in the small group photo.

 

What I did not plan on when I returned from Rome was two and half work related weeks in New York City and I don't mean normal work week.  It was two and a half weeks of long, stressful hours. 

 

After seeing a facepage posting by Dafna Hayman, personal trainer extraordinaire, I ordered a frig for the room and did some food prep.  I went to Whole Foods and filled the refrigerator with fruit, vegetables, eggs (dur) and a roasted chicken.  (Sidenote:  Road rage in the aisles of Whole Foods?  I kid you not.)  The hotel had an excellent gym.  Strategy was to hit the gym early in the morning.

 

However, not everything went as expected.  Food worked out great.  No need to hit up a restaurant except for some coffee.  Note:  I did try to find some coldbrew coffee for ice coffee in the morning but it was no where to be found.  The part of the plan where I would hit up the gym didn't go as expected.  I was working long, late hours and I was exhausted.  The thought of lifting anything heavy felt impossible.  So again, I had to let you go.  I was already physically and emotional exhausted.  No guilt.

 

Fast forward to the end of the second week and I was able to hit up the gym a couple times.  Guilt was starting to set in...

 

Now I am home.  It took a few days to get back to it but I feel I am mostly back strength wise with the exception of my deadlift.  But I love deadlifts!  Endurance is at an all time low.  Working it back slowly.

 

That being said, point is, you can plan and still keep nutrition and strength.  Life can throw you a curve ball and you can still maintain your strength and nutrition.  Just takes a little planning.    It was nice that a couple people at the gym this morning told me I looked great...I tell you this because what it did was confirm that you can take a vacation and have an unplanned trip away from home and still keep it together.

 

Fast forward two weeks...I signed up for a 5K...something I haven't done in a very long time.  I have not run one mile since I signed up.  So, we shall see.