How to Order Italian without Sounding Sciocco

Here is the average Joe's go-to guide for ordering Italian and not sounding like a snob or a jerk.

Revamp the Snack

In a recent article from the Washington Post, a total overhaul is done to the after school/work snack. Though not everything is 100% perfect (we know how I feel about low fat foods) . The thing I like about the list is the abundance of easy, simple food that is relatively healthy compared to it's more processed cousins in down the grocery aisle. Though can someone tell me how Candy can be "out" and the "In" alternative is cottage cheese? I love the stuff but that just doesn't match up in my head.

Tell me what you think of the list.

PS: I like to put cream cheese and unsweetened cherry or raspberry jam on my rice cakes. That's a nice way to switch it up with a Rice Crispies treat. Yummy!

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There’s some debate over whether kids need to snack as often as they do. But kids don’t care about debates: When they get home from school, they’re ravenous and ready to eat. Here’s a week’s worth of quick and healthful snack ideas, courtesy of Marisa Moore, registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Serve any of these with low-fat milk (or low-fat chocolate milk, once in a while) or sparkling water with a citrus wedge.

1. Popcorn: Full of fiber, low in calories, nice and filling and fun to eat. Cooked on the stove top in olive oil, it’s also a source of healthful fat. Go easy on the butter and salt.

2. Apple slices and warm peanut (or almond) butter: The apple provides fiber and a bit of Vitamin C; the nut butter’s a filling protein and adds healthful fat to the mix. Make the nut butter dippable by warming it in the microwave for a few seconds.

3. Smoothie: Blend low-fat vanilla or plain yogurt (or tofu) with whatever fresh or frozen fruits you have on hand. Serve with a few whole-grain crackers.

4. Vegetables and hummus: Red-pepper strips, sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, celery, baby tomatoes dipped in hummus.

5. Banana and pistachios: Bananas provide heart-healthy potassium. Pistachios offer fiber and healthful fats. Serve them in the shell; they’re more entertaining that way and take longer to eat.

12 o’clock and all’s wellness

Alarm about food allergies and the nation’s climbing obesity rate has prompted some schools to frown on certain foods. Here are some forbidden items, culled from documents issued by school systems across the nation, along with safer or more healthful alternatives.

OUT | IN

Peanuts, peanut butter >> Almond butter

Birthday cakes, cupcakes >> Fresh fruit

Fruity snacks/ roll-ups >> Dried fruit

Snack crackers >> Baked, whole-grain crackers

Doughnuts, store-bought muffins >> Vegetables with low fat dip or salsa

Brownies >> Graham crackers

Toaster pastries >> Low-fat popcorn

Candy >> Low-fat cheese or cottage cheese

Rice Krispies treats >> Rice cakes

Caffeinated beverages >> 100 percent juice boxes

Soda and sports drink >> Low-or non-fat milk

Pick and Chew

Packing a lunch is perhaps the best way to ensure that your child gets a good, nutritious meal in the middle of the school day. To craft a well-balanced repast, suggests Carolyn Land Williams, a registered dietitian, mother of two and co-author of Cooking Light’s new “The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook” (Oxmoor House, 2011), simply mix and match items from these six major food groups.

“Get the kids involved” in putting together their lunches, Land suggests; they’ll be more likely to actually eat what’s packed.

Grains:

·Whole-grain bread, wrap or deli flat

·Whole-grain pita, either stuffed pocket-style or cut into wedges and toasted to make dippers

·Whole-grain crackers or rice cakes

·Cooked brown rice

Proteins:

·Lean deli-sliced lunch meat (turkey, ham, roast beef)

·Leftover rotisserie chicken

·Nut butters

·Hummus

·Black beans (count as vegetable and protein)

Dairy:

·Milk (skim or 1 percent)

·Low-fat chocolate milk (on occasion)

·Yogurt (look for one with less added sugar)

·Cheese slice

·Part-skim mozzarella sticks

·Individual Babybel cheese

Vegetables:

·Baby carrots

·Red-pepper strips

·Cherry tomatoes

·Cucumber slices

·Broccoli florets (can be lightly steamed)

·Black beans

·Lettuce and tomato slices

Fruit:

·Apple or orange, cut into wedges or sectioned

·Clementine

·Grapes

·Strawberries

·Blueberries

·Individually packaged unsweetened applesauce, including flavored varieties

·Rasins

Fats and Oils:

·Nuts or nut butters

·Oil-based vinaigrette dressing

·Oil-based mayonnaise (olive or canola)

Thursday: Gross Flyer Day

Every week has a new, meaty, cover girl.

Today is Gross Flyer Day; a big day in the Lunchroom at work. No one else really calls it Gross Flyer Day, they just call it Flyer Day. The Calgary Herald comes to our front reception desk busting at the seams with all the best flyers of the week. We pour over them at lunch, reading aloud the different descriptions and deals available. I however take the grocery store flyers and rave like a lunatic about all the raw meat on the cover of each one (there are three main ones, all which are offenders).

The worst is the ground whatever (beef, turkey, pork), it just always looks like a pile of worms and if (God forbid) the colors are off in from the printing process that sparks a whole new rant about how nasty yellowish or greenish meat looks. There is always raw meat on the cover (thank goodness, I already checked out the cover of Co-op's flyer today. They have a nice, esthetically clean picture of raw ribs being sliced by some fancy looking knives.) and there is always a center fold spread of more raw meat from chicken thighs to rump roast. All raw, all bloody and all seeming disgusting to me. Plus, as part of the fun. Reading out all the descriptions of the meat in a hill-billy accent does cause for some laugh till you cry fun. At least it does for me.

The boys in the lunchroom are so patient with me. They truly are.

Not all pictures of the meat look disgusting, some are actually rather attractive (for raw meat) with bright cool red tones and stark contrasting white in the marbling of a Tenderloin Steak or the playfully rosy pink hue of raw chicken breast. There is something to be said about a well thought out spread of raw meat.

So, on that awlward note, as a suggestion to the graphic artists creating these flyers, maybe try a little harder to get the colors right, at least. I mean, the girls in the beauty magazines get photoshopped and they look appealing before hand so why not use a little of that Photoshop magic on the raw stuff.

I'm just saying...

and that ladies and gentlemen is my rant about Gross Flyer Day.

Adventures in Eating

Today, I had Jellyfish at lunch. Seriously. They were not made of sugar or jelly, it was indeed real, honest to goodness Jelly Fish.

It wasn't bad but I doubt I'd go out of my way to eat it again. It was cut in to thin strips and seasoned with light soy sauce, white rice vinegar and a hint of heat. It had a similar texture to cabbage, a little crunchy, a little soft and a little rubbery.

I can now check off "do something that scares you" for today. Hmmmm... what shall I do tomorrow?

I'm Stuck

My foot is stuck in my keyboard cord and my head is stuck for inspiration. blah. I don't like it when I want to write but have nothing with any theme to write so I just end up complaining about not having anything to say.. hohummm....

Lunch just finished 46 minutes ago and I am hungry again. I made a grilled cheese and warmed up some tomato soup- it was good. I also had some mini carrots, 2 yogurts and a piece of fruit but I am still hungry. I want a hamburger- I blame that Brazilian BBQ place for revamping my taste for meat. I haven't had a hamburger in years... turkey burgers don't count.

I'm currently reading a fluff book right now (this is a bonus because I've been put off reading for the last little while) called Bright Shiny Morning. I'm enjoying the balance between outlandish fictional characters and the threads of non-fiction woven through the book. I'm three quarters of the way through and when done I will start my next fluff book called Pillars of the Earth. Over the weekend I was lucky to have had a day out in the woods spent reading in front of the fireplace. I am reminded of a family vacation that we took years ago to a place called Cannon Beach in Oregon. We had a place right on the beach and every morning I would read- when chilly by the fireplace and when warm on the beach. I went through a book a day. I also remember eating Ukrainian food for the first time.

It snowed a lot this morning, I had to wear my unfashionable but totally functional coat to work- lame. They said the snow would stop by the afternoon but I don't really see much of a change yet. I bet Vancouver is jealous of all the snow because I hear that they haven't had much luck with it so far for the Winter Olympics.

Speaking about the Winter Olympics, I watched a medal ceremony yesterday at work. Are they giving the winners bouquets of skunk cabbage? I'm serious! Actually I just did a Google search and found THIS article which explains things. And THIS article goes into even further detail. My oh My! (after reading through everything I have learnt that the Olympic Bouquets are actually Green Mums and Hypericum Berries)



That reminds me, I need a Bad TV Intervention. No, I don't need Intervention the TV show to come and get me... I just need someone to come and intervene in my bad TV watching situation. The sickness has gone from Big Brother (I've watched ALL 11 seasons in a row... ) to Jersey Shore (yes, it gets worse) to now Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew- oooh my! I feel my IQ getting lower and lower but I can't stop, I need help! The reason that reminds me is there is a tree that is often seen at the front of Pasadena Rehabilitation Center that is kind of strange. It has these giant pods on them and I don't know if it's fruit or what it is. Oh California, with your crazy exotic foliage and crazier messed up celebrities.

That is my babble for today, I'm going to go make some toast because MAN am I hungry!

Coffee Buzz

I remember it like it was yesterday, actually it was yesterday... or Sunday but who's counting. Walking through the front doors into a steamy, hot room with high ceilings and panoramic windows. To the left of me are modern contemp couches and tables, to the right a spread of delicate pastries and the hot smell of coffee. I had found myself in a little place called Deville; Luxury Coffee and Pasties. I'm not a coffee drinker- I never drink it because it tends to give me panic attacks. The last coffee I had was about 2 years ago...

I went up to the counter and saw a small, un-intimidating menu and picked the one called "Mocha" (rich, dark roast coffee with Bernard Callebout Chocolate melted into it) and order a vegetarian quiche. I took a seat in the swanky "living room" and waited, watching the interesting characters walk down busy 1st SW. When my steamy mug arrived (with a heart drawn in the foam) I was excited (not a good feeling to have before drinking coffee). I took a sip and my mouth was filled with a flood of bitter and sweet- delcious. It was defiantly coffee and it was defiantly good. Not too sweet and not to bitter- just right for a girl like me. I took a bit of my quiche and I melted with delight- delicious! I was beyond surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience- everything was amazing.

I went back the next day, after work. This time I took Laura with me, in stead of coffee I had a buttery white wine (yes, they serve wine, coffee, beer and tea... only the best!) with an equally buttery coconut shortbread cookie- I was in heaven.

I don't think I'll take up drinking coffee anytime soon but if I do I will drink it from Deville. I may however start taking up wine and cookies to go along with my people watching!

#20 is completed

Dear Lunch

Dear Lunch,

I have to admit you are making me very excited today! I'm very hungry and can't wait to eat a Tuna Sandwich and Cookie with you. Mmmmm


Lots of Love,

PS: Lunch, I have a lot to share with you as I have had a very eventful weekend. I'll see you in less then a half hour! XOXO

So Far This Week

So Far this week I've accomplished a lot but hardly anything from my 30 Things To Do Before I'm 30 list other then laughter. Monday was immunity day in which after I made a delicious batch of hot, cream broccoli soup with fresh, crusty whole wheat bread. Mmmm... I also purchased some Cherry Jam which I am pretty excited to eat (haven't had the time yet). I never use to like Cherry anything but somewhere a long the way that all changed about a year or two ago. I think it all changed when I discovered Black Cherry Yogurt again. Mmmm...

All this "Mmmm-ing" can you tell I haven't had a stitch of breakfast yet?

Today my two favorite people are away from work- Jeremy and Edith. Jeremy is my lunch time BFF. He took Rheann's place when she left- not that anyone can replace Rheann but I need someone to waste endless minutes with a few times a day. I am far too lazy to make the trek up stairs to the 26th floor to visit with J. C. (Jenn C. NOT Jesus Christ. That would be weird) and Chandara. Edith works in my department and we go for a walk every morning to get coffee... I usually get steamed milk ( I don't drink coffee) and some kind of baked goodness. We've become pretty close in the last few months.

Yesterday Morning I had some breakfast meeting at the Petroleum Club with my department at work. It was surprisingly fun, I got to spy on people while eating really good bacon. Plus I got a free pen, note pad and sunglasses clip- WOOP-WOOP! Fun times, some what made up for the fact they didn't have any fresh fruit and they had that scary scrambled egg stuff that comes out of a milk carton... Egg Beaters maybe? That stuff is gross and I would go on strike if I had to eat it on a regular bases. Sick. Yuck...

Yesterday after work Laura came and picked me up and I had to go driving, you see... I don't have a car and just don't drive. I lack total confidence in my skills and well, would like to change that. I have a deal with Laura that she has to make me drive (just like I had to call the Dentist and make an appointment for her)- no excuses, no nothing. I have to do it and I have to be confident come spring time. I saw 10 bunnies while I was driving- I was pretty excited. We stopped by my parents place, played with the dogs and had dinner. Then we took my mum out who has been couped up in the house for the last 2 weeks due to surgery. She's feeling better but still isn't able to drive just yet.

Tonight, I have a date with my Dad. It's opera season again and tonight is the season opener (Hmmm.. that sounds more like "sports" talk then "Opera" talk) with the production of Manon.
I hope that this isn't one of those long opera with only one intermission... I prefer it when there are two intermissions.

As for the rest of the week I have an appointment with a periodontist (oh joy) and then my company Christmas party which is in Banff this year (Yippee!). That's a change from the last few years so this will be nice. I'll take pictures, hopefully it's snowing in the mountains. we haven't had ANY snow in the city... It's been dry and some what warm for November.


Now that I have spilled most of my thoughts out of my head and into my post I can start my work and hopefully get it done. I have a fair bit to do and haven't been in the office much this week- sort of. So mush-mush, time to get some stuff done!

The Lunch Case

I've been looking for a fancy-dancy lunch case for what feels like years now. It needs to be two things- attractive and big. Currently I use either my Lulu Lemon GYM BAG- yes... a gym bag or a reusable cloth bag. It all depends on how big my lunch is that day (it can get pretty big). You might be saying to yourself right at this very moment that "It's back to school time! The perfect time to buy a lunch case!"- it's not. As much as I love Barbie, Transformers and the always so gummy Hannah Montana... I'm a professional (for real, I am.) and don't need to be walking to work winking at all the cute suits with Dora the Explorer slung across my shoulder beside my oh-so-posh Coach purse (Nothing personal Dora). Plus, aside from all that, those damn things are just to small. All of them- even the nondescript black and grey ones over in the "adult" section are just to small. Though I may look it, I'm not a yogurt and diet coke girl kind of girl. I'm a left over "chicken apple oven thing" with homemade biscuits, an apple, carrots, yogurt, banana and cookies for desert. That's just lunch, I also bring breakfast but we won't go there right now.

I was inspired to complain post this when I was taking a mini break from my work and found myself on a fun little site called Think Geek (I *heart* geeks- just so you know) originally I thought maybe they might have something fun for my desk (I want a pet crab at work but they are hard to find. Not the eatable kind of crab that you get from the grocery store but one of those tiny little guys about the size of a paperclip.) but I ended up finding THIS-> the "Nom-nom-nom Lunchbag"

Too cute with it's sassy little write up and half eaten happy sandwich picture. Sadly though, its not what I'm looking for. So the quest for the perfect lunch case continues...

PS: This is my 100th post! Happy 100th My Dog Dinner!