My New Diet Plan (a.k.a I Love Cheese)

What I've Learned: Being A Fast Oxidizer Rules!

Met with the nutritionist yesterday, Reader, for an hour-long metabolic consult to determine what type of metabolism I have and which healthy eating plan would be the most beneficial. This is all part of my RELINQUISH focus for 2011: I'm letting God guide me in healthier lifestyle choices for my body, soul and pocketbook.

Having never seen a nutritionist before, I went in kinda nervous. What if she told me I could only eat stuff I don't like? What if the best way to accomplish what God wants for my life is to give up on tasty food? Do I have the strength to do that? What if it's yucky?

After some informative supplement talk, the nutritionist revealed my diet plan. Turns out, God doesn't want me to endure yucky. He wants me to rejoice in Cheese. Well, at least in protein and fats. I'm what they call a Fast Oxidizer, which means that I do best on a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates but high in protein and good fats. So yes, breads, potatoes, rice, pasta, chocolate and coffee are now off limits.

I should be in tears. I should be heartbroken I can no longer eat raspberry buttercreams from Fannie May. Instead, I could hardly tear my eyes away from the list of foods I do get to eat, which includes: 17 kinds of cheese, salted butter, heavy whipping cream, whole milk, eggs, bacon, beef, lobster, caviar and scallops as well as 18 other kinds of my favorite seafood. Most of my favorite vegetables are on the list too: spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, avocado and olives. The list also includes: bananas, most nuts, corn, peas and 35 herbs & spices.

I started laughing. I asked the nutritionist if she was serious. Do I really get to eat all this? This is good for me? She assured me it is. Suddenly, my new healthy eating plan seemed like the Holy Grail. Who knew that all the stuff I've been craving (but that we're told is WAY too fattening) is exactly what my body needs? I was floored.

I thanked the nutritionist and left with a great big grin. I had trusted in God and was willing to do whatever He asked of me to get healthy. But never in a million years did I expect Him to find me a plan I could love as well as live with. Amazing!

New York Strip w/Baby Portabellas in Russian Marinade

Today's Joy: Culinary Therapy

Do you find as I do, Reader, that getting in the kitchen, rolling up your sleeves and whipping up something delicious is probably the best thing you can do with stress or negative energy? I love the idea of making something tender & mouth-watering out of my own frustration.

Tonight, Aunt came home in need of a little venting. As she told me about her day, I defrosted two of our own delectable, farm-raised steaks (each about 2 1/2 inches thick), sliced & sauteed fresh baby portabella mushrooms & garlic in rich butter, then marinated both in Russian dressing (couldn't find any red wine). Then I sliced up leftover potatoes and threw them on the griddle to soak up some of the marinade and steamed a package of chopped spinach (we must have something healthy, after all). In about 20 minutes, we were in steak lover's heaven. All the cares of the day seemed to vanish in a wave of flavor.

Why is it, Reader, that cooking with butter, bacon or chocolate always makes us feel better? It's one of the great mysteries of the universe. Right up there with black holes and the search for extraterrestrial life. Yup, aliens and bacon. Butter and pulsars. Chocolate and the space/time continuum. But, I digress...

Today's Joy: Everybody Gathered Around for Dinner.
As I was headed out the door to work this morning, Reader, and feeling a bit sorry for myself to be working on a lovely Sunday, Aunt said those magic words,"Everybody's coming over for pot roast tonight!"

Of course, it could have been BBQ chicken, potato soup, polenta, duck with orange sauce or one of a hundred other succulent, spur-of-the-moment dishes. My reaction is always the same: Hurray! After all, Aunt Chef--whose culinary training includes a stint in Austria--makes food that is 14 kinds of delicious. Even the stuff she doesn't think is up to snuff is pretty darn good.

But the conversation at these get-togethers is what I most look forward to. My family is full of characters. I don't mean the garden variety kind of nuttiness you find in every family. My family is a character writer's dream. Each a unique and autonomous soul whose strengths play well off of one another. It's just plain fascinating to watch them interact. They also seem to get into mischief en masse and you never know what they'll be up to next. I can't wait to tune in and hear about their latest & greatest adventures. Like the time my uncle dressed up in a gladiator's outfit with a blond wig and drove a team of four ponies around the indoor arena at a horse show. Or the time Aunt Chef was herding escaped cows with Uncle's truck.

There are many, many more wonderful stories, of course. Some of which might be a tad incriminating. So, apologies, dear Reader, but posting them to my blog would be bad form. However, if you happen to join us for dinner some evening, you can hear them in all their juicy glory for yourself. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Today's Joy: the Gourmet Cook-a-thon. Reader, one of the biggest perks of being back home in Chicago is being able to attend the monthly(ish) cooking sessions held by a group of family & friends. I've been waiting for that phone call with the magic words: dinner at Todd's. Tonight, it happened.

Todd Evanson, co-owner of Beef Villa (a delish chain of eateries in the northwest suburbs) and a good family friend, has a fabulously-appointed kitchen and usually hosts these over-the-top foodie nights. The gist is, we make dinner. But it's oh so much more than that. This group includes a restaurateur, a chef, a baker and several of us to eat the food and ooh & ahh. My job is to photograph the results.

What I enjoy most about it, is the fearless way these people I love try new dishes. They collaborate and read recipes to each other and put together a game plan. Then they dive in, sharing ideas & techniques, teaching as they go. It's like watching a culinary think-tank at work. When a dish works, they pull it off brilliantly and a delicious array of culinary creations parades across the table. On the rare occasion a dish isn't up to snuff, they sit down and taste it, inspect it and conduct a relaxed post-mortem round-table on how to improve the recipe. There is always laughter, stories to share and a signature cocktail.

I relish every moment of these decadent evenings and feel very blessed to be a part of this unique fellowship. May the love shared always be as good as the food!

Photos: Lemon & Herb Sauce Hand-Written Recipe; Part of the Table Spread.

Today's Joy: Cooking Together. Himself and I squeezed into our tiny kitchen to combine our culinary skills and whip up this fabulous fried chicken. Normally, we both work solo in the kitchen--preferring to wow with grand splashes of culinary sophistication--but lately, we've been splitting the labor and enjoying the easy conversation that flows over the frying pan. (He's also teaching me a thing or two about flavoring.)

I have to admit, I really enjoy watching him get into the throes of culinary passion. Love the way he concentrates when he tastes things. It's also fun to watch him pause before he pronounces a dish edible or not. He delivers judgment in the stern manner of a seasoned critic. And he's usually right.

Feel very blessed that we can share so many things we enjoy...

Maxwell Street Polish
Originally uploaded by talekinker

Today's Joy: Unexpected Opportunities. Took this shot of a Maxwell Street Polish at the fabulous Weinberger's Deli in downtown Grapevine, TX in early December. While having lunch there again recently, Himself and I had the opportunity to meet the owner, Dan Weinberger--a kind & delightful man. Was very pleased to share with him some of the shots I've taken of his magnificent sandwiches. I do love supporting a great, local business!

Hash Brown Casserole & The Rose Bowl Parade

Happy New Year's Eve, dear Reader! Hope this post finds you looking forward to ringing in 2010. If your plans include a New Year's Day shindig and you're looking to serve something delish but easy (in case of slight headache due to over-indulgence the night before), Hash Brown Casserole is great in a pinch.

Throw it together today and pop it in the fridge, then into the oven tomorrow and you're free to stagger back to bed for an hour. Or, observe that most hallowed of New Year's Day traditions--watching the Rose Bowl Parade. And the game too, if you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I find a bazillion, fabulous animatronic floats covered entirely in flowers, seeds and zany organic material to be creative nirvana. Football, shmootball. But I digress.

Hash Brown Casserole

2 lbs. OreIda Hash Browns with diced onions & peppers
1 16 oz. container Daisy Sour Cream
2 cans of Campbell's condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
2-3 tbl. Capers, slightly mashed
3 cups thick shredded Colby/Monterrey Jack cheese blend
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup bread crumbs

In large mixing bowl, combine sour cream, cheddar cheese soup & capers.
Season with salt & pepper.
Add hash browns (frozen or slightly thawed) and 2 cups of shredded cheese.
Mix until hash browns are thoroughly coated with cheese mixture.
Season with more salt & pepper, if needed.
Pour hash browns into greased 9"x13" glass casserole dish.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until casserole begins to bubble.
Remove casserole from oven & sprinkle with remaining cup of shredded cheese and top with bread crumbs.
Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and top is golden brown.
Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8.

I love, love, love this dish! Great for brunches, Christmas morning breakfast, Superbowl parties, etc. Yum-O!

Best Of 2009

Dearest Forlorn Reader:

You are not forgotten! December kicked my butt and I do apologize for disappearing just when you needed some holiday reinforcement. Never fear! I am back. Have reviewed all of my photos from the last year and compiled this batch of my favorite memories of 2009. A year of gigantic personal growth! Also my first year with my darling new Olympus E-420.

Oh, how I "heart" photography!

Enjoy, dear Reader. When next we visit, it will be to kick off 2010! A new year of incredible possibilities....what do you want from life this year? I have a challenge in mind--something daily, something joyful. Will explain on January One. XOXO

*Background info on all photos available on my flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/talekinker