iJuli Cooks (but mostly eats and watches Reality TV)

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2011-04-07T16:25:00.001-05:00

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How to Cook Everything app

2010-04-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

You need this. Really you do. Mark Bittman and his team have outdone themselves and I know apps.
Read this Mark Bittman interview with @MattArmendariz over on his blog Matt Bites
I already used the app for a tapenade recipe and have spent a couple of hours getting familiar with it and reading. It is really really good.

Friday Reality Check-Tuesday Edition

2009-09-22T07:34:00.011-05:00

I am so excitedabout the new season, I am really looking forward to Grey's Anatomy on Thursday and NCIS tonight. How I Met Your Mother was alright but kind of a bleh start to a show that has really dragged out the Mother thing far too long. I forget that is supposed to be the premise of the show until they bring it up. It kinda brings it all down because they have dragged it out for so long, I don't really care anymore who their mother is.

I am still kinda wanting to see Sheldon nail Penny on The Big Bang Theory. There just isn't really any chemistry with Leonard. At least they do seem to have admitted that in this episode so maybe that can end.

The Emmys were fun, Neil Patrick Harris was great and the gowns were beautiful for the most part. I thought Sarah Silverman was funny-ish but that gown was horrid. I was completely shocked that Toni Collette won for a show that most people never heard of, seemed very strange.

I really liked how Kate Walsh commented that she was keeping it low key, I would really like for more stars or people in the spotlight to spend less money and be proud of it. She looked beautiful.

Have I mentioned lately how much I cannot stand Giuliana Rancic? She is such an idiot, asks the stupidest questions, no idea how to handle celebrities and her timing is terrible. She looks like a scarecrow and has no sense of style. She always looks like she gets her clothes from the teen section. More Jay, less G.

One more thing. Lady Gaga is a dude. I am sure of it.

Survivor Samoa

Hahah I actually love Russell right now, I am sure I will get over it but the Dumbass Girl Alliance is just too damn funny. I checked him out a bit and he seems to be one of those stereotypical oil men that you love to hate. A pint sized JR with a little less drama. There are other interesting characters as well. I am excited for the season!

Dancing With The Stars

An odd bunch this time, of course I have to love Donny Osmond but I am pretty excited about The Chairman and that adorable little snowboarder Louie Vito. I would love for Ashley Hamilton to make a good showing but he has a long way to go. I honestly thought he was still in a wheelchair. It was so great to see him! I am more excited about the girls than the boys this season.

I hope Tom Delay is the first to go out of principle but I am not sure how many weeks I can stand to look at Nick Carter or Karina. She really needs to go, she comes off as a fame whore and I am over her.

Trader Joe's Youtube

2009-04-29T06:23:00.000-05:00

If I Made a Commercial for Trader Joe's
Too cute!

The Cook's Illustrated is on Kindle

2009-04-03T15:47:00.007-05:00

*EDIT: This book is no longer free to download but certainly still worth considering as an addition to your iLibrary!

Thank you so much @cpkimball for this gift! The Cook's Illustrated How-to-Cook Library: An illustrated step-by-step guide to Foolproof Cooking by The Editors of Cooks Illustrated is actually free to download to your Kindle or your Kindle app from amazon.com, I just got it for my iPhone and I am so excited! The illustrations are so nice, lots of recipes and tons of good information.
I don't know how easy it will be to actually prepare dishes from the iPhone but I read cookbooks like novels so it is not that important to me, when I am ready to prepare a dish I will sort it.
I love the clickable links that will take you right to the source. In the recipe for Potato and Leek Soup there is a call for 6c Chicken Stock which is linked. Click it, get that recipe and just hit the back arrow to return to the soup recipe. Fabulous!
Be sure you visit the Cook's Illustrated website for lot's of information, recipes and other goodies or to subscribe to the site or magazines offered. You can also follow Chris Kimball on Twitter @cpkimball

Twitter Thwarts Suicide Attempt

2009-04-03T10:11:00.004-05:00

I woke up early this morning, about 5am or so and checked my Twitter like I usually do. First there are usually West Coast Tweets, the Tweets from Europe followed by some early rises on the East Coast. There was a particularly disturbing one to @mrskutcher stating: Hope you are joking RT @sandieguy getting a knife,a big one that is sharp. Going to cut my arm down the whole arm so it doesn't waste time.
I clicked on the person's page and saw she (I thought this was a guy actually) had made several statements about suicide and her last Tweet said: gone. I love you Jennie.
Disturbing indeed. My immediate thought was I wonder if Demi will Tweet @ev and get him to contact the police as he would have her info then I thought well she could be dead by then, a hundred thoughts crossed my mind but I felt like I should do something even though it had been over an hour since it had been Tweeted. I look at my stream again and see to my relief: Please thank @icywings11 and @heykim for jumping in to help bring light to this mystery it seems as if the authorities have addressed this..And are dealing with it appropriately I have no details but thank you all again!

Googled and found this link to ABC News I hope this person is going to be okay. Good job to everyone that made a call.

Lessmeatarian Week Five

2009-03-29T07:27:00.003-05:00

Mark Bittman said I could find a better pyramid so I did. This is from the Mediterranean Diet. A special meal once a month with meat if you even want it, is a good idea. I do not really see me cooking beef again anytime soon so it would be pork. I am not sure why I am off beef but pork doesn't bother me.
I have lost 6 pounds so far but to be fair I wasn't being as careful as I should have been the first 3 with the stress of Mary's baby coming. I am happy with an average of 2 pounds a week, of course 10-20 would be great haha but I have lost weight fast before and it came right back again. I have lost 100 lbs twice before in my life, that has to be incredibly unhealthy. I have a lot to accomplish over the next few months and I need to be in much better health to make it happen. I have never really been much of a one day at a time or living in the now kind of girl. That makes it hard for me to accomplish things as I am always looking ahead instead of focusing on this minute. I am working on that now. I can fine tune this as I go along but for now the crapfood elimination continues along with getting more exercise.
Eventually there are a lot of things I want to change but getting these 10-20 pounds off needs to be a priority, it is seriously holding me back from practically everything I need to accomplish. The struggle for me is determining if I am holding on to this weight for a reason and what that is. I think I know and am working on this. If losing weight were just about putting down the fork, most people would not struggle with it.

Losing the Baby Weight

2009-03-27T09:03:00.001-05:00

So, my daughter had a baby 2 weeks ago. She gained a total of 17 pounds, yes I said SEVENTEEN pounds which she has already lost. I gained a total of 15 pounds, did not actually have a baby at all and have not lost an ounce. How is that fair?
I know I am supposed to be following the Lessmeatarian way and I certainly am but this week is going to be more about taking in very few calories. That will of course mean more veggies but there is not going to be much in the way of grains or carbs.
I actually wrote this post last week and was feeling pretty frustrated. I have been much more on track this week and have dropped 5 of those 15 pounds. Carly who lives in Marseille has been following the Scarsdale diet and lost about 15 pounds as well I believe. I cannot count calories like she does though, I would go crazy and do not think that really works for me. I just have to cut out the crapfood which I pretty much have. I did have some gummy bears last night.
My ultimate goal is to not even be on a diet or to not think about weight or food in a negative way, or to consider if everything I eat is going to make my jeans not zip.

Lessmeatarian Week Four

2009-03-24T07:15:00.001-05:00

This week I will direct you to this article by Mark Bittman. I was struck by the same statement Michelle Obama made, “You can begin in your own cupboard,” she said, “by eliminating processed food, trying to cook a meal a little more often, trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables.”
I also have to say that all this organic stuff bothers me, I have never purchased an organic product deliberately and I won't. To me it just seems like marketing. Many farmers actually are natural or organic or whatever but apparantly you have to pay to get a certification which seems like such bullshit. An apple from an orchard rather than an apple flavored treat has to always be better right?
I am glad the White House chefs Cristeta Comerford and Sam Kass have made the decision to put a garden on the grounds. I do not really see it making any sweeping changes in the economy which is where I would prefer the Obama White House were focused. I am not really concerned about the freshness of their vegetables.

I have made a commitment to myself to stop buying processed foods. Back when my kids were small and I struggled financially I never went into the center aisles of the grocery, only around the outside as all I could afford were meat, dairy and produce. Now it has shifted, those items are practically cost prohibitive and you can get 4 boxes of mac and cheese for $1. A gallon of milk is $4 and yogurt that used to be 4/$1 are now nearly $1 apiece. Some things are cheap like white rice but brown rice is 4x the price, plain white pasta is cheap but the whole wheat or high protein kind is ridiculously high. I am all for eating better but I am surely not going to make my own pasta, I do not have time for that anymore but then again maybe homemade pasta should be a treat, maybe a person really should only have something like that once a week or month instead of 3-4 times from a box.
In Holland we eat a vegetable and a small serving of meat all week long for dinner, lunch is bread with one thin slice of meat or cheese or peanut butter and maybe soup, breakfast is grains of some sort. Only on Sunday do we have something special . I never eat like that in Texas. I try sometimes but I never last long.

I think I might try to stop saying "I don't have time" I really don't have time to recover from a stroke either.

Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hand Scrub

2009-03-23T10:14:00.007-05:00

Try this spring pick me up with ingredients you have in your pantry. Mix a little sea salt with some olive oil and scrub your hands, in between your fingers and up your arms to your elbows. Follow with a thick body creme and your skin will feel like silk! This is great for feet and the rest of your body as well but it makes a real mess in the tub, be careful as the oil will make it slippery.

You can also use it on your face but do not scrub, apply gently with your fingertips and be careful not to get near your eyes. Did I ever mention I am also a licensed aesthetician?

Anthony Bourdain and Me on Food Television

2009-03-20T07:29:00.003-05:00

via Eat Me Daily I respond to Anthony Bourdain's opinions about some of the food tv out there.

On Rocco DiSpirito's The Restaurant:
It was a slow-motion car wreck, wasn't it? It could have been a great show. It was a great concept. But I think Rocco's hunger to be famous did not put him in a good light. It was painful to watch. Since that show, there's been a lot of ill-will toward Rocco. It might be out of proportion to his crimes; a lot of chefs have gone on TV and acted silly. I think Rocco's particular crime was that he was always such a talented cook. This is a guy who made really good food. A lot of us would have cut off a pinky to have that kind of natural talent and ability. We see him now as having wasted that talent. I think he's penalized for being so talented. But Rocco doesn't want to be a chef. He wants to be an entertainer. I was rooting for the guy on "Dancing With the Stars." Compared to Kim Kardashian, he's a fairly impressive guy. When he's not shilling something on "Top Chef," he's actually a thoughtful judge and offers constructive criticism. But I don't see him as a chef anymore, so I don't feel like beating up on him.

Me: I have to say I have never seen this.

On Ace of Cakes:
I like this show. It's kind of cool. I like Duff and the people he works with. That's the real world of cooking.

Me: I think this is an interesting show but not a favorite.

On Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern:
I don't know how he does it. I respect his stamina. Most of the food that he's been eating, I've had. I've got to hand it to the guy for being able to get up in the morning and face nothing but lizard parts and testicles, especially in some tropical climate without the benefit of alcohol. I honestly don't know how he does it. I would have hung myself in the shower stall.

Me: I love this show, everything except the stuff he eats, I cannot really call it food. I have to spend a good part of the time with my hand over my eyes. I appreciate that he makes the sacrifice, he is entertaining and the editing and filming is very good.

On Spain ... On the Road Again:
I love Mario, worship the ground he works on. I think "Molto Mario" is the greatest stand-and-stir cooking show that was ever on the Food Network. It was valuable and informative. Mario is good for the world as few chefs are. He's changed the landscape of restaurants in really great ways. He's used his celebrity constructively to move dining in America forward. That said, I hate that show. I think it's no fault of Mario's. I just think it's badly produced. There's nothing worse than seeing a genius like Mario -- he's the smartest, funniest guy I know -- waste his talent. I hope he had a great time making the show. And Mark Bittman, I don't think he adds value to anyone's TV show. He doesn't come off well on TV. Let's put it that way. I saw him make paella once on a TV show; he's been dead to me ever since.

Me: Wow, okay well let's see. I already blogged about this show and how much I love Mario Batali. I cannot imagine what moron decided to dump him from Food Network. That basically leaves them with Alton, Bobby Flay and Giada. I liked the series for the most part but it was not great.

I hate that Tony said such nasty things about Mark Bittman. I will have to agree that he is not the most engaging person on tv as a personality sometimes, but he has a lot to offer and should be appreciated a bit more. I think Tony should see him speak and read his written work. That is really where he excells although I do feel he did a great job on this series and was much more entertaining than Gwyneth.

On Iron Chef America:
I have a soft spot in my heart for this show. But the judges, man. Have they had Richard Grieco on yet as a judge? I think they had Criss Angel on, for chrissakes. Who are these douchebags they put on there? Jeffrey Steingarten at least knows what he's talking about. The show gets really good chefs to go on there, and to have them judged by the likes of Mo Rocca makes me want to vomit in my mouth. I like Michael Symon, and I'm friends with all the Iron Chefs. I like all of those guys.

Me: Yep, have to agree with everything Tony says. I would like to see the actual cooking and no judge rather than some of the assholes they put on there that probably have no business even eating food prepared by these chefs.

On Paula Deen:
Paula strikes me as a hard-working, likable woman. I'm glad for her success. I like her Southern-based shows, but I don't know if I want to see her in a muumuu cooking a Hawaiian luau. That makes the blood run cold.

Me: I struggle with this one also, I am sure Paula is a delightful person and I would probably love to know her but I cannot bear to watch her show and the food she cooks is basically a heart attack on a plate.

On Kitchen Nightmares:
The British "Kitchen Nightmares" is wonderful. It's much closer to the real Gordon than anything we've seen on American television. The American version is pretty good, though. I enjoy watching it. That's the Gordon I know and have a lot of respect for. The guy worked hard and came up hard. He worked like a maniac for some of the best chefs in Europe and did, in fact, achieve remarkable things in England. I love his restaurants. I like him. I wish him well. If having to be a caricature of his former self is going to get him bazillions of dollars, then why not?

Me: Totally agree, the British version is very very good but the chefs and restaurant owners over there actually have a love for the food or just need some help. The idiots in the States are too stupid to have a restaurant and you don't care about them or even want them to be successful. This show fails because of the contestants or whatever they are called, not because of Gordon.

On Hell's Kitchen:
Gordon doesn't get much love and respect in the States from his peers. No one really gives a damn about his restaurants here. This show is a freak show. It's a circus of cruelty, like shooting fish in a barrel with a cut-down 12-gauge shotgun. There's no cooking. It's just a bunch of dimwits -- the lame, the halt and the delusional -- and him pretending to be angry. There's no suspense. None of these idiots would be qualified to work a Fryolator at a Chuck E. Cheese much less ever work in any Gordon Ramsay restaurant. The whole concept of the show is ridiculous. He would never hire these guys. Executive chef at one of his restaurants? I mean, please.

Me: I have to agree really, this show is absurd and so beneath Ramsay, it was fun the first couple of seasons but you know those people are not really the executive chefs anywhere, it is unrealistic to make it seem that they would be. I have never seen a single contestant that I would trust to run my restaurant. There have been several that I would hire, give a chance based on heart or drive, but certainly not to put in charge of anything. The sad thing is Gordon Ramsey gives great tv, this is just not a good concept. I would love to see him paired up with someone somehow, like Tony or even Rachel Ray, now that would be something to watch.

On Emeril Lagasse:
I like Emeril a lot. We get along. We hang out. I love his work and restaurants. I love hanging out and drinking with the guy. But I've told him to his face many times, "I love you and respect you. I just hate your shows." I guess I'm not a guy who could handle a studio audience. Emeril's just so damned lovable. But compared to who's on Food Network now, he looks like Escoffier. In retrospect, that was pretty distinguished stuff compared to what that network's doing now.

Me: I used to like him, now he bothers me a little for some reason. His recipes are nice and seem easy enough. I can watch his shows but I usually don't.

On Man v. Food:
I find Adam really likable. I just worry for him physically. What he does on the show can't be good for him. I don't know why or how he's doing what he's doing. I'm not sure I want to watch. It's terrifying. I don't know how I feel about it all yet. I asked someone on the network, "Did this guy sign a 30-page liability waiver? You're going to kill this guy!"

Me: No, no. Make this go away.

On Rachael Ray:
Rachael Ray now is a talk-show host. My wife watches her, I hate to admit it. She's America's little sister, because she's a likable person. I think people respond to her because of her personality and not her cooking, which is pretty damned awful. She's very nice, and I base this on no inside information: She's big now, like Oprah big; the sooner she stops cooking, the happier we'll both be.

Me: I have to totally disagree with Tony about Rachel, he just refuses to get her and understand what she has to offer. She is relevant and the dishes she creates are fun, easy, usually afforable and taste really good. Certainly not to be served at Le Bernadin but who wants to eat that every day? Or rather who has the time or can afford to cook like that every day?

On The Next Food Network Star:
It's an interesting window into the cynical and terrifying real criteria of how they grow their own talent on Food Network. I mean, they're pretty straight-forward about what you've got to do and who you've got to please and what the real priorities are to get a show there. You see the shear naked ambition of these often minimally talented cooks with the maximum ambitions of being television. The way they're judged is unattractive but fascinating just the same. You really see the process though: Media training trumps cooking every time. I used to be on the Food Network, but I think I slipped under the wire. The network at that point used to be run by a cabal of people getting bored with their own programming. For whatever reason, they gave me two years of traveling wherever I wanted, doing pretty much what I've been doing on "No Reservations." After two years, they wanted me riding around on a pony in a parking lot doing chili cook-offs instead of going to foreign countries. My feeling was, "Let someone else do that."

Me: This show has no credibility. I will never watch it again. See this post for my reasons why.

On Martha Stewart:
I may not want to crochet or bring out the old glue gun, but Martha cooks correctly. If you watch her cook, she cooks with great proficiency and economy of movement. That's a stone-cold efficiency that, as a professional, I gotta respect. She cooks well. The recipes on her show work. She doesn't dumb down her food. She raises expectations. Meaning, if you watch her cook, you might actually learn something and your fight might actually be better than it was the day before. That can't be said of other people.

Me: I have always liked Martha and thought she really was smart and knew her stuff but recently I have begun to doubt that. She seems to have a real misunderstanding of her fan base and chooses to be friendly with people that I don't like. Her handlers need to bake her a clue.

On Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee:
She makes her audience feel good about themselves. You watch her on that show and you think, "I can do that. That's not intimidating." All you have to do is waddle into the kitchen, open a can of crap and spread it on some other crap that you bought at the supermarket. And then you've done something really special. The most terrifying thing I've seen is her making a Kwanzaa cake. Watch that clip and tell me your eyeballs don't burst into flames. It's a war crime on television. You'll scream.

Me: Gah. Seriously.

On Good Eats With Alton Brown:
It's an anomaly that his show is so informative. That's a pretty brainy show. I'm shocked that it's been on that long. Usually, anything remotely intelligent on the Food Network gets canceled. I don't know what happened, but he's on every other show on that network now. He legitimizes even their most atrocious product. He's kind of the front man for some of the various dubious enterprises. I think "Good Eats" is a good and smart show. His commentary on "Iron Chef" doesn't suck. You actually learn something! Of the Food Network personalities, he's a welcome anomaly.

Me: J'adore Alton Brown. He is so cute and smart and funny, a perfect geek. I have actually learned a lot from him and his shows, he keeps it all very interesting, lots of information without making your eyes glaze over.

On Top Chef:
I'm a fan. I like watching the show, even at its worst. I like being on the show as a judge. I watch that show because Tom Colicchio makes that show for me. First of all, they ask the chefs to do very difficult things; it is a genuine challenge that requires people to dig really deep. From a professional point of view, it's exciting for me. It's a good quality competition. It's the best cooking competition on television by far. It's due entirely to Tom. He keeps the show straight; no producer is ever going to go up to Tom and say, "We can't send her home this week because she's cute or she's got a good backstory." By virtue of his personality and his impeccable credentials, Tom makes the show riveting viewing. Toby Young, what's up with that? He's an egregious add-on. They were looking for a snarky British guy, and Toby wrote a successful book that made a good case for his uselessness. He's lived up to that promise.

Me: I do love this show because of the cast, guests and the contestants. The challenges are usually good and difficult enough to keep me interested but I detest the poor poor editing, there does not need to be so much made up or constructed drama. Tom Colicchio may be a stand up guy and all that but it is hard to feel the show is completely credible when you have nearly a dozen people blogging afterward to tell you what was real and what was shiteous editing.

I don't know what all the flack is about Toby, I don't see him as all that mean. I am just going to assume he has an abrasive personality in person that some people don't like. I think he is quite amusing myself. However, that said, losing Ted Allen was a huge mistake. Whoever is responsible.

On The Chopping Block:
There's something very Michael Corleone about Marco; he doesn't have to yell or scream like Gordon. This is a guy with enormous moral authority. It's interesting to note the relationship between the two of them. Marco is a natural-born genius. He's the original rock 'n' roll chef; he brought glamour and a sense of self-worth to all non-French-speaking chefs the world over. He's a revolutionary figure. He doesn't have to yell. But he can be deeply terrifying by just raising an eyebrow. Marco can walk into a room full of strangers and bark out a command, and everyone would do it, no matter what he asked. He's got a real commanding presence. He's physically imposing; he looks like a Venetian prince. He's just somebody born to authority. He is a legend to young culinary students and chefs of my generation. He's doing the show because, having never traveled seriously before, he likes it here. And he may enjoy sticking it to Gordon. I'm really looking forward to watching this because Marco just kicks ass.

Me: I loved this first episode, I already had a small crush on Marco, he is very sexy. I made the comment that I was not sure I could even watch it, because it was so realistic as far as how things happen. I was not real sure about using USFoods, I would personally close my doors before I used that company but I guess non restaurant people watching do not care about stuff like that. There were a lot of issues that didn't work, like what happened with the couple that left, I would like more info on that and wonder if they really just wanted 15 minutes. If they show Marco's Vans one more time I may have to rethink my commitment.

*photo from Austin Chronicle

Lessmeatarian Week Three

2009-03-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

Poor food choices abounded this week due to the baby coming early, I did the best I could but I am sure the gyro from the hospital deli, the Snickers and many diet sodas were not part of the plan but I am not really good enough at this yet to think clearly in such high stress situations. I will get better and by the time the next baby comes I should be more in control hahah.

I have been to the market and am ready to make a fresh start for the week. Lots of grains and veggies, very little meat and no beef at all. I will not say beef is gone for good but I sure do not want it yet. Funny that the Bittman way of eating seems to be pretty much spot on with the current food pyramid!

The Bachelor, Melissa Rycroft and Dancing With the Stars

2009-03-08T16:37:00.000-05:00

I have not said anything about the finale as I was too pissed about it. Not about the result or the drama, that is why you watch a reality show, the part I don't like is the lying. Maybe Chris Harrison wasn't in on it but there is no doubt Jason and Molly were lying about being in contact. Neither of them are good enough actors to pull that off.
They can yammer on all they want to over at ABC about how the finale was organic but I call bullshit. I do not for one second believe that Molly was surprised to find that Jason wanted her back. I felt so bad for Melissa but she is so much better off. I never liked Jason, he always seemed slimy to me, like he couldn't wait to nail every girl on the show. The only one he was respectful to at all was Stephanie and why is she not the bachelorette instead of Jillian who was so fake and obviously no where near ready to be in a relationship.
I cannot stand Molly and I completely believe the stories coming out of her hometown about her married lover and how she came on the Bachelor to make him jealous. She totally seems like that type of skank.
Here is what I think happened. I think Jason changed his mind when he rejected Molly in NZ, she worked on him and he decided he wanted to be with her but it was too late to change or else ABC saw potential for high drama and made him go ahead with Melissa. I think Melissa truly believed he wanted her and he was faking. Of course being the slimeball he is he would not tell her the truth. I cannot imagine why Molly would want a liar but soon she will see some other unavailable man and go after him.
Now I see that Melissa is going to be on DWTS. So happy about that. Good for her. One of them chickens Richard Blais was talking about.

Lessmeatarian Week Two

2009-03-08T15:07:00.004-05:00

Since discovering Food Matters and Bittman's philosophy I have cooked pretty much every meal we have eaten. I have cooked more meals in the last month than I have in the last year. I am also off beef. I am one of those people that never really considered food sources all that much, I grew up around cattle and I certainly understand the concept but never thought about it much and now I can't stop thinking about it. I tried to cook a small roast last week, the entire flat smelled like ass and when it was done I sliced it, nearly hurled, gave Mary her portion and put the rest in the freezer, I couldn't bear to eat it. I am not sure if it is temporary or not but the thought of eating dead cow is too much. I don't feel that way about pork or chicken, although it has always seemed weird to me to make chickens into food. Hogs do seem like they are meant to be eaten for some reason, they just look like a food source to me. Same with fish.
My report on this week is much more grains and veggies. I don't think I have had any beef at all. Mary does better right now with casserole -type dishes so there has been pasta or rice or some sort of grain every evening. Lunch is usually salad type stuff or fruit or melon and breakfast is cereal. I am feeling pretty good about it all but far from having it well in hand. The baby is supposed to come early next week so after that we can get down to it. Mary has always been a healthy eater and wants to teach Molly good eating habits. I have totally bought into this iCook-centric philosophy and I hope to be completely on track by my birthday in May.
I cannot get over my fingernails.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.com

2009-03-07T08:13:00.005-06:00

I really don't like Coldplay. I think they are a blatant ripoff of U2 and should not be rewarded for that. Since I do not like them I decided I do not like Chris Martin or Gwyneth Paltrow, now granted I don't know either of them at all and I always did like her before, if not for the whole copying Bono thing I got no beef with them. Gah, beef. @Bittman has totally put me off it and I may never be able to eat it again. But anyway, then Mario Batali took Gwynnie to Spain. Seriously? Seems like he would have taken, oh you know, ME maybe? I watched the series, loved it, tried to hate her, almost did a couple of times but well Mario seems like the sort of guy that really doesn't like anyone and if he likes her and my man Bittman likes her I may need to take another look.

So the other day @johncmayer Tweeted about her comment about what People said she said about her Lifestyle site Goop.com. I am pretty sure I Tweeted something hateful but I had not seen it and actually didn't even know wtf he was on about. So anyway, I read a bunch of crap talking about what a crapsite it was so I had a peek, expecting it to be crap and found that I liked it. I don't think she is doing anything new or special but it is fun and I appreciate it. It is what is is. I was also kind of thinking that she may have felt a bit left out since the other folks had a webpage and she did not.

Dr. Oetker Comes to America via Fabio Viviani

2009-03-06T07:07:00.005-06:00

Serious Eats has an article about this. I was first excited and then thought no, it won't be the same, won't taste as good so why even try? I have said here before that the mushroom pizza may be my favorite food in the Netherlands along with the cheese. Well and maybe the chili spice. Look, it is even on sale this week at my Plus!

Leek Soup for a Mini Detox

2009-03-05T18:43:00.001-06:00

Mary has been retaining water and this is not good two weeks from delivery. I remember Carly telling me her French friends eat a lot of leek soup during pregnancy and supposedly that is one reason why French Women Don't Get Fat as well. I do understand the leeks work as a natural diuretic, I am not sure I can get Mary to eat this, maybe with a bit of butter or sausage. It is near 90F here in Dallas so it does seem to be time to do a spring cleaning.

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green parts washed and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
2 cups chopped yellow onion-I omitted this
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
about 1 pound of potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups vegetable stock
a bit of fresh dill
1. Heat a 4-quart soup pot over medium heat and add the oil. If you are using sausage or bacon saute this now and use less oil.
2. Add the leeks, onion, and sea salt and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion begins to turn translucent.
3. Add the garlic and stir well. Cook for 1 minute more.
4. Add the potatoes and vegetable stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook 20 minutes.
5. Puree in whatever way works best for you and reheat if needed.
Sprinkle in some chopped dill. This would also be a good time to add in some cream or half and half, butter or shaved parmigiano-reggiano if you like.
Serves 4 - 6
*Recipe adapted from The Great American Detox Diet, by Alex Jamieson

*photo from How Stuff Works

Lessmeatarian Week One

2009-03-01T07:08:00.003-06:00

My general observation so far about this eating/lifestyle plan is that it is pretty easy to eat less meat, I am having a harder time with dairy but that will come. I have been basically making the same sort of dishes I would normally but adding in more vegetables instead of meat. Yesterday we spent $48 on groceries for the week.

I am surprised at a couple of things, my nails are quite amazing. I have been distraught over the last couple of years that they were weird looking, all ridgedy and brittle and were just not cute. It was not a huge deal of course but disconcerting as I knew they should not look that way. A week into this and they have grown about 1/8 inch and are much smoother. On the same note, my hair is feeling very healthy. This may seem trivial but I am quite vain actually and happy about this, I also seem to be sleeping better and have more energy.

I have lost two pounds but to be fair I lose and gain this same 8 or so pounds every month so I am not really ready to declare an actual lost until the bouncing 8 is gone. I do really need to lose 30ish pounds but this is more about being healthy than losing weight, one should lead to the other.

In the interest of full disclosure I need to make a few comments. First of all I eat crapfood day in and day out, I believe the day I discovered the book I had a cupcake with pink frosting and 1/4 bag of dark chocolate M&Ms left over from Christmas for lunch, breakfast was probably just coffee. I usually ate at least one meal a day from McDs or Sonic or maybe Chicken Express, if I had time in the morning I would get takeaway breakfast as well. Home cooking for me usually meant a frozen pizza or a Lean Cuisine.

I have been on every diet known to man, had some success and then went right back to eating crapfood. I have done diet pills and Medifast under the supervision of my doctor who has basically told me I am never going to get rid of this weight until I make a decision to make changes as apparantly he does not have access to the magic pill. I have been on blood pressure meds and Metformin for Type 2 diabetes for about two years now.

The other disclosure or comment is that I started using Spirulina when I started this eating plan, I do not know how much effect this has on results but to me it does seem to fit right in with the direction I am headed.

Lessmeatarian

2009-02-21T16:41:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I see something and think wtf, how did I miss that? I know I am a little well you know, but I honestly completely missed this book . Here is the interview that gave me the first clue after following a link from @bittman So I just signed up, purchased the ebook to read on my iPhone and when I can get out to Barnes & Noble I will buy the 3d version. I hope it has recipes, surely it does.
I am really at the end of my rope here, I am so tired, SO tired of being unhealthy. I am overweight sure but it isn't really about that although it would be nice to wear more fashionable clothes but mostly I just don't want to die. And I am just so tired. There isn't anything wrong with me, well nothing that being fat hasn't brought on, I am just out of shape, I don't exercise because I am too tired and I am too tired because I don't exercise. I know I should eat better, I want to eat better but I have no motivation because I am too tired.

It isn't like I can't workout, I am living in a lovely building that has an amazing gym on the third floor, there is even an elevator to take me to it. I have trainers and socks an iPod and a fancy sports bra, nothing stopping me. I am just too tired. I did have a cupcake, ham sandwich and M&Ms for lunch...

i Chef?

2009-02-15T06:34:00.014-06:00

I was starting a new post and it began "When I was cooking professionally... I will make that post another time as I have now been distracted by something else, no, not a shiny object this time. Yesterday I read this post on Tigers & Strawberries explaining to us all that you are only allowed to call yourself a chef if you are an actual chef de cusine, If you do not know what that is, have no fear as the author will tell you.

Cambridge shows this entry chef -noun [C] a skilled and trained cook who works in a hotel or restaurant, especially the most important cook. I actually think the position the author is describing would be the executive chef to whom the chef de cuisine will report but to be completely fair, these titles are all just assigned by whoever makes the rules in that particular kitchen, it means whatever the person bestowing the title says it means. The man that owned my last restaurant called me the prep cook. Seriously. I in turn compared him to the manger in Waiting even though he was nothing like that.
This morning I read another What is a chef-type entry, one which was written so poorly I am not really sure what we are being told, I think in the end it is some sort of a tribute to Nigella. I guess my point here is so what? I mean I sure as hell ain't no Alain Ducasse or Gordon Ramsay or even a Bittman or a Nigella but I went from waitress to General Manager in the corporate world where I had to do everything from cleaning shit in the toilets (gah! that merits a separate blog post, people are nasty) to assembling last minute parties of 50 church goers, the Kryptonite of every restaurant employee.

I then built several restaurant kitchens from the ground up, from the floor tile to every recipe, spoon and spatula, I purchased the goods, hired and trained the staff, tweaked and slaved, sweated and swore, cooked my ass off from 4-5am til it was done every day for over a decade to create a restaurant. The last one still puts 14-18% on the bottom line week after week and trust me if you don't know what that means it is good. Damn good. In fact I consistenly delivered an 11 to 14% in the corporate world. Yes, I really was that good. ::blink blink::
So am I a chef? I have never been to formal cooking school other than here and there, I have never studied under a master and have never even been to New York City but I do meet all the criteria laid out in that blog post as to what makes a chef. I no longer toil away in my restaurant, when we split he dropped some cash on me and I hopped on a jet and stayed away until I stopped twitching. I am not sure I could ever bring myself to cook professionally again as it just takes so much of your soul and he took what was left of it.

Now I have a little food blog. I adore cooking and eating, I love to read blogs written by other people who cook and eat, I love to watch cooking shows on tv, if I ever met Eric Ripert, Tom Colicchio or Tony Bourdain I would probably pee my pants. I cannot cook as well as they do, or even come anywhere close but I bet I could run a kitchen as well as any of them. So am I a chef?
So what if I am or not and so what if all of these other food loving people are not, so what if they call themselves a chef or a cook or a mom or dad, who cares? They aren't hurting anyone. I actually AM a chef and it doesn't nbother me so why does it bother all of these supposed non-chefs? So the bottom line here is could you please refer to me as Chef Juli from now on, apparantly I have earned it.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Answer

2009-02-03T06:47:00.001-06:00

So regular Reese Cups were not bad enough, they had to go and make The Big Cup. There are no words really to describe how good these are. Just are no words.

Grapefruit Diet

2009-01-26T15:10:00.001-06:00

I want to comment on this eating plan since I get a lot of hits on it from Google and say that it really can work, or at least it works for me. It does seem to be more healthful for an obese person to cut calories rather than fat. You do not want to eat unhealthy fats like are found in deep fried foods but this plan also seems pretty workable with the Lessmeatarian method. The goal there would be to replace some of the meat with other forms of protein which is what is driving the weight loss and the grapefruit still holds it's place as the carb and no carbonated drinks of course.
BREAKFAST:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
2 Eggs any style
2 Slices of bacon
Black coffee or tea, no sugar
LUNCH:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
Salad and or raw veggies (any dressing, {not low fat or fat free})
Meat (Cooked any way)
DINNER:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
Meat (cooked any way)
Vegetables (any green or red, may be cooked in butter or Seasoning or a salad as above)
Black coffee or tea, no sugar
BEDTIME:(opt)
8oz Tomato juice or skim milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. At any meal you may eat until you are full, and you can not eat anymore. You must eat the minimum listed listed at each meal.
2. Do not eliminate anything from the diet, especially don't skip the bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of foods that burn the fat.
3. The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process.
4. Cut down on coffee, it affects the insulin balance that hinders the burning process. Try to limit to one cup each meal.
5. Don't eat between meals, if you eat the combination of food suggested, you will not get hungry.
6. The diet may eliminate sugars and starches. Fat does not form fat, it helps burn it, so you can fry food in butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
7. Do not eat desserts, breads and white vegetables of sweet potatoes. You may double or triple helpings of meat, salads or vegetables. Eat till you are stuffed. The more you eat the more weight you will lose.
8. There may be no weight loss in the first 4 days, but you may lose 5 pounds on the 5th day. You may lose 1 and 1/2 pounds every two days until you reach your goal.
9. DRINK EIGHT 8oz GLASSES OF WATER EVERY DAY.
ALL SOFT DRINKS NEED TO BE DIET AND CAFFEINE FREE.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE: White onions, potatoes, celery, peas, cereal, carrots, corn, starchy vegetables, bread, noodles, rice, potato chips, pretzels or fruit or diet dressing.

YOU MAY HAVE: Red onions, bell peppers, radishes, broccoli, cucumbers, green onions, leaf spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, chili (no beans) mayonnaise, any cheese, hot dogs, cole slaw, regular salad dressing, green vegetables, 1tsp nuts, dill or bread and butter pickles.
IMPORTANT:
STAY ON DIET 12 DAYS AND STOP FOR 2 DAYS
Works out great to start on a Monday because you will have every other weekend off of the diet.

*image from Food Network

Chinese New Year

2009-01-25T11:05:00.003-06:00

This is actually tomorrow but I have to work. If you are interested in cooking visit the Steamy Kitchen for some great recipes and inspiration. Me, I am headed to Dallas to a restaurant.

National Pie Day Part Two

2009-01-23T14:37:00.008-06:00

So I was not really feeling Pie Day after all. It is still pie, right? Goat cheese, a little of all the other cheese that was in the fridge, tomatoes, oregano and some peppers. Looks like pie to me!

National Pie Day Part One

2009-01-23T09:52:00.009-06:00

So apparantly this is the day for pie. I am off to the market in a minute to see what there is to inspire me to make pie in the dead of January. I know Central Market has those delightful tiny Neapolitan Mandarins but I am not feeling that for pie. They have some lovely Pears but that was my ex's favorite pie and I am still a little shaky on that front so don't think I will be going there today. I have a lot of cantaloupe but that just doesn't sound like a pie ingredient either.

I bet I end up with Buttermilk. Oooh maybe Chocolate Buttermilk, why not gild the lily. The difficult thing here is that I am planning a rustic pasta for dinner and some cheese and fruit would really be better. But what the hell, pie day only comes once a year. Apparantly.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

2009-01-19T07:35:00.007-06:00

Day 8 of the Grapefruit Diet, ok I have basically abandoned the diet plan, eating bacon and eggs every day just cannot really be good for you. Switched to cereal of some sort and the grapefruit for breakfast.
I did add a 15 minute walk to my routine this morning, dang it does not take very long to get completely out of shape. I would have gone further but Emma managed to get out of her harness and it was impossible to get her wriggling body back in it on the street so I came in.
The cornbread I had with the pot roast for dinner probably was not a good idea. I do think I am finished with the crock pot, it seems like every time I make something in it I feel queasy the next day.
Here is my problem, how is it possible for a foodie such as myself to not be overweight? I just don't know how to do it, I mean I see all of these people who are way more into their food than me like David and Pim and smitten and Richard and so many others and they aren't a hundred pounds overweight, in fact they are slim and fabulous! How does this happen, do you not eat what you cook? I mean holy crap David makes ice cream and not the lowfat kind either. I love to cook and I love to eat, I guess I have to figure out how to either not eat it or develop a love for cooked things that will not slowly or maybe not so slowly-kill me.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

2009-01-15T07:34:00.001-06:00

Day Four of the Grapefruit Diet, I will tell you when it is time to eat I am STARVING! I am still not doing this properly, not getting near enough food but I am not eating hardly any carbs comparatively speaking. I am having the grapefruit 3 times a day though and it seems to be doing some sort of a flush-like action...
Still have not found time to work out but next week I am cutting back hours per day and giving up a day off so I will have a little time in the morning.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

2009-01-13T07:30:00.002-06:00

Day two of the Grapefruit Diet, all is well and feeling so energetic. I did not get nearly enough veggies yesterday unless olives count hahah. Planning spinach for dinner. I did skip the bacon and eggs this morning as I had to work at 6am. Still need to add some exercise in here somewhere. I spend 11-12 hours a day working on the computer so it really has affected my health and stamina. The other day I had to carry a box that weighed maybe 20 pounds quite a ways and I seriously was scared that I may be having a heart attack or a stroke. It really scared me. I have got to get my circulation going and get fit even more than I need to lose pounds.

New Theme

2009-01-12T17:01:00.005-06:00

I really just needed to upload this image but I do like the theme so far, it needs some tweaking definitely but I am getting ready to put up a crapload of recipes so I wanted to get it sorted. No Reservations is going to be in Venice tonight, I am really stoked to see it!
So annoyed that I do not get Bravo out here in the boonies so I have not been able to watch Top Chef at all this season. I am sure there are other shows I have missed, working so much to get back over to Europe that I basically fall into bed at 8pm. Soon I will have everything in order, the baby will be born and I can get things moving forward again.

What to Ditch in the Kitchen -Mark Bittman says

2009-01-11T16:58:00.008-06:00

David Lebovitz posted this link over on Facebook . The author seemed to be outraged, I am not outraged but then I have no emotional investment in Mark Bittman .

Here are the items he says are out.

Packaged bread crumbs or croutons.
I do only use the Japanese kind but how would you even make that from scratch?

Bouillon cubes or powder, or canned stock.
They do have a lot of salt but I cannot see how powdered bouillon could possibly be out.

Aerosol oil.
Okay, what? Does he mean Pam? I could live without it but I do use it occassionally.

Bottled salad dressing and marinades.
Alright, I will give him that one.

Bottled lemon juice.
I always use fresh lemons so yeah okay.

Spices older than a year.
Definitely agree on this one, who has spices around a year? Ohh yes, my boyfriend. Garlic powder that is now a garlic brick.

Dried parsley and basil.
Yeah, just uncalled for except I do like dried parsley for tea.

Canned beans.
I cannot really see me cooking chickpeas but maybe those are not beans. I do like canned beans, they give over a different product than fresh that sometimes works better.

Imitation vanilla.
ew, seriously? People use that?

Grated imitation “Parmesan” (any other pre-grated cheese).
See above

Canned peas (and most other canned vegetables).
Ahh here we go well canned green peas are disgusting but again, some veggies are ok canned I think.

Tomato paste in a can.
Can you make your own tomato paste? I get it in a squirty tube though that I keep in the freezer, is that ok?

Premade pie crusts.
Wow, no. Just don't make pie.

Cheap balsamic or flavored vinegars.
Well, no I don't think I use cheap ones and never flavoured, that is odd.

Minute Rice or boil-in-a-bag grains.
uhh guilty but only to go with chili because when I make chili I really don't want to cook. Even rice and I am a pro at making rice.

“Pancake” syrup.
What else do you put on your pancakes?

He also added in his blog Pop Tarts and bottled water. I have to agree on both but kids sort of need Pop Tarts. I would feel sorry for a child that never had one. I used to put butter on mine and once as a grown up when I was well, emotionally challenged canned cream cheese frosting.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

2009-01-11T07:28:00.002-06:00

Sort of started the Grapefruit Diet tonight but officially start in the morning. Twelve days. Basically all this really means is that grapefruit is your carb and sugar for 12 days plus it is has other "magic properties" apparantly. With grapefruit at .25 cents each it seems like a good time! Full plan here.

How did I get so fat again?

2009-01-09T20:37:00.005-06:00

Oh right, the holidays. Peanut butter fudge, Puppy Chow, mince pie, ham - mass quanities of ham and did I mention the pie? I have been eating far too much and not very good stuff either. Between a crapload of personal drama and a nasty stomach flu I had lost 25 pounds right before Thanksgiving, I have now put half of it back on.
I have a lot of plans for 2009, I did eat two bowls of black-eyed peas which I seriously hate (but an excuse to eat more ham) so I need to be able to put that forthcoming good luck into action. Knocking off about 35 pounds would really help sooooo this is the beginning of my New Year diet. I have never done this before, I have dieted my whole life but never made a resolution or whatever so maybe this can be my year.I am just not sure what to try, I thought maybe I would do some fad diet-ish thing to get a kick start, and then just focus on eating properly.
I always lose and feel more fit when I am in the Netherlands, I don't know if it is because I am happy or it would just be too damn expensive to overeat. Plus I have zero access to fast food as Björn would drop dead before he brought home a sack of burgers. We have a snackbar downstairs but when he does get something from there it is satay which is yummy but hardly Chipotle.So I will be getting started on that, hopefully posting some updates here and maybe some Twitter stuff, I have some new ideas forming. I have been keeping it pretty low profile the last couple of years, may be time to jump back in again!

**image: Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices - Gluttony

Snow in Marseille

2009-01-08T10:29:00.002-06:00

These are some photos from Marseille that I swiped from my friend Carly. She never posts on her own blog, I guess she is too busy with a husband, baby and full time job. I still think she has time to squeeze in one more baby, it seems to be a good year for it. I think her son Gabriel may be the inspiration for this one!

This is from her balcony, they do live down close to the port. I knew it had snowed because she told me about this yesterday but I had no idea it was this much or that it even would snow in Marseille like this. She did also say that the city pretty much ground to a halt yesterday as they are not really able to handle this on a normal basis. I cannot even imagine this city being under a blanket of snow!

Apparantly the metro stopped short of it's destination and her husband had to trek part of the way home from the office on foot.

This photo is so beautiful, it looks like a Christmas card! I am so grateful to Carly for allowing me to share these with you and to make me jealous that she has snow and it is unlikely we will get any here. If we do it will just be ice and not pretty or fun.

Dallas also shuts down if it snows or gets icy as people here just are not used to it at all.

I also want to thank Leesa, I didn't realize how much it had snowed until I saw the pics on her blog, pointed Carly in that direction and then she showed me these!

Sexy Sorapot

2008-08-10T12:24:00.007-05:00

This may be the sexiest teapot I have ever seen. Designed by Joey Roth and available for $200-$250 at Sorapot . It does look like a lot of effort for a cuppa but it sure is pleasing to the eye.

Eet Smakelijk

2008-07-30T07:53:00.009-05:00

I saw this tablecloth over on elit alice and had to post here. So cute! A little pricey at over 100 euros so I won't be adding it to my textile cabinet (oh wait, I don't have one of those anymore) but if you are flush, head over to ont werpduo and pick one up. One other thing I need to look for before I leave are barbeque accessories. There is some great stuff at World Market that I really need to have.

Shower Puffs, Kool-Aid and Sun Tea Oh MY!

2008-07-29T19:33:00.002-05:00

I used to just throw some crap in a bag, run out the door, hop on my jet, watch a few movies that I wanted to see anyway, eat some fab BA food and boo-ya, 12 or so hours later I was ringing the bell on B's flat. If I forgot anything I would just pick it up at HEMA or Kruidvat. Not this time, with the dollar as weak as it is I will be stocking up on that crap here. Paying the equivalent of $15 for shampoo, conditioner and what would have been a 50 cent shower puff nearly killed me in April.

I am sure I will not be as fabulously organized as I want to be but there are a few things I really want to remember. I drink a lot and I try not to drink sodas or anything carbonated too often and water gets sooo old. I can make iced tea but mine is never as good as Sonic's so I drink a lot of KoolAid or other powdered drink mixes that are sweetened with Splenda or something. You know, I never even noticed if we have Splenda in the Nl, I am sure there is something like that. I would love to take a Sun Tea jar but that seems a little crazy even though I found one for $7. Maybe I will, I really love tea and B drinks waaay too much Pepsi.

The other thing I don't like to buy in the Nl is shoes. I have a hard time finding shoes that are comfortable and cute so I will be taking several pairs. I usually take three but this time I am taking a lot more. B jokes that he will need to buy the flat next door to hold my clothes. That would be true if I brought them all. I am so used to having tons of clothes, shoes and bags, it is going to be really hard to change.

Lisa Garza - Robbed - The Next Food Network Star

2008-07-28T08:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am sure Aaron McCargo, Jr. is a nice man and his family needed the win and blah blah blah but holy crap. Who is going to watch him? Not me, that is for sure, first of all he is impossible to understand, he has little if anything about him that is appealing or interesting other than that he is poor. Well, guess what. People watch reality tv either for pure entertainment or to escape and he is not able to provide either. How they could have possibly chosen him is beyond me, obviously they already had a type in mind and he fit it because as far as the editing of the season went-he has NOTHING to offer me as a rabid viewer.

Lisa is someone that I would watch over and over, I love her style, her look and her talent. She

has a lot to offer and I can only hope that someone else will pick her up, maybe the Travel Channel. In the meantime she has a Facebook page, I hope there is much much more of Lisa out there very soon as I am completely crazy about her and her style.

I also think Adam had a lot more to offer as someone who is extremely watchable. He has a great personality and a vulnerability that is endearing. I think he would be great on the Travel Channel as well.

We need another Food Channel, that is all there is to it and I should be in charge of programming. I guess I should have expected this to suck, after all they did choose Guy Fieri as a star when he is just a gasbag that can cram a lot of food in his mouth and mumble around it, "Oh yeah, that's money." Seriously? What an ass he was to the contestants on the next to the last episode.

Blidget

2008-07-24T14:18:00.004-05:00

Such a fun new thing I found! Turning your blog into a Widget.

Big Brother 10

2008-07-22T08:09:00.002-05:00

omg can this be the first one where the HOH is the one voted off? I cannot stand this preening moron and he is so unattractive. I mean obviously his body is nicely structured but his face is weird and his personality (or lack of) is really annoying. His reasons for nominating Steven are so lame, because he didn't shake his hand? Seriously? I think it is because he is afraid he will get drunk and slip between the sheets with Steven. I hope Dan gets to stay, I really like him. If you are like me and want to read the feed recaps head over to Survivor Sucks .

McD's vs the Dutch Snackbar

2008-07-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

I was reading a post at Sam's about McD's and thought about the fact that the Dutchman refuses to eat there. Supposedly this is because it is unhealthy but he will eat this mess from the snackbar on the corner and thinks it is a fabulous treat. Those are patatje oorlong which are actually not quite as disgusting as one would think, fries with peanutsaus and mayo. Dutch mayo is different from American mayo but still not quite what you expect on your fries. I sort of like it but not enough to justify the calories. That long skinny thing is sort of a Dutch hot dog, mystery meat that no one really wants to know about, but I would bet as tight as the Dutch are that it uses every leftover part of the pig including the squeal.

There are foods offered at McD's that are not so bad, the grilled chicken sandwiches or even a Big Mac are surely better for you than a Fricandel Speciaal.

The Next Food Network Star

2008-07-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

18 July 08
Okay, so I was wrong about this one, I do still think Lisa will win but Adam seems to be stepping it up. I could watch a show by any of the top three really, maybe someone will replace Paula Deen. I am sure she is a delightful person but I cannot bear to watch her.

6 July 08
I think it is going to be Lisa, Shane and Kelsey in the final three. I feel that Lisa is the most ready to have her own show and has the most to offer right now but I also think a show with Kelsey and Shane together would be adorable. I was sorry to see Nipa leave, I love Indian food but she really had no business there as she didn't seem to be that good of a cook and to squirm over a fish was just weird.

I am not sure how they chose most of the contestants, makes me wonder if maybe I should apply! I have not been to culinary school, well not formally just here and there but I am sure I could do better than half the contestants this season.

Moved Again

2008-07-05T08:36:00.002-05:00

Since I posted at Sam's with this ID I thought I should put something up here. I never have time to post and see no reason to be paying for that Typepad account so I need some place to call home on the Blogosphere and my old blogger blog has some issues. I may never do more than visit my links or maybe occasionally bitch about my hair, being fat, the GOP, Oprah and Obama, men, my family or Reality Television. Big Brother starts soon you know.

Friday Reality Check (on Tuesday)

2008-03-25T09:26:00.002-05:00

I am a reality show junkie. This is how I feel about the shows from last week, and the week before since I skipped one.
Make Me a Supermodel
I really enjoyed this show, I don't care much for Nikki Taylor as a judge, she has no personality. I mean I like her and all but she is boring. I don't think they need to go as far as Janice Dickinson but maybe there is an in between? I like all of the finalists so it doesn't matter to me who wins.
Survivor: Fans vs Favorites
Gah, so frustrating. I would love to see Ozzie and James as the final two
American Idol 9
So glad Amanda was booted, America got it right. I liked her but she made it pretty clear she was only there for self promotion and had no intention of trying to win. Archuleta was a little better this week. I guess David Cook is my favorite right now.
Big Brother 9: til Death
James is an ass, I can't wait for Chelsea to get off the show and find out he is a gay porn star. Haaahahaha. Okay so what really chaps my ass about these two is that they are playing out of spite. That is no way to win the game. I surely hope James goes next, I can't stand to look at that completely stupid bow tie tattoo another day.
Natalie is my hero, I know she is crazy but I like her spirit. Her and Baller as the final two LOL! I am looking forward to seeing Evel Dick, I just hope he doesn't bring skeletor with him.
Biggest Loser: Couples
Yawn.
America's Next Top Model
Still not crazy about this season
The Bachelor
He is too cute for any of those girls. He should be with me. Wait, I already have a man, never mind.
I know Lost is not a reality show but I am seriously crazy about it as well. Can you tell I have no life? I am leaving soon for the Netherlands, and I think it is absurd that you cannot watch online unless you live in the US. I mean yeah, there are places I can go to see the shows and the Dutchman can certainly...well never mind lol... but it seems unfair. I guess it is because of advertising.

Friday Reality Check

2008-03-07T09:23:00.002-06:00

I am a reality show junkie. This is how I feel about the shows from last week.
Project Runway: Finale
I thought Jillian's collection was way better than Rami's. His reminded me of the stuff you get in the cheap stores in Holland, stuff that you look at and think huh, that is interesting but I would never wear it. I thought Jillian's was ready to go into Neimans or Nordstroms. I would have worn pretty much every piece she had, so yeah it was very commercial and wearable. Then there was Christian, oh my. His collection was fierce. I could see that Victoria really loved it, it was very much her style but I have to agree that only a size minus 0 could pull it off. I think that he did deserve to win but honestly I liked Chris' collection more, minus the hair. It was the hair that killed him, it is almost like he sabotaged himself on purpose.
Survivor: Fans vs Favorites
Wow, what a stupid, stupid mistake. I think Ozzy is certainly going to come to regret that choice. Cirie will vote him off next. What a dumbass. He had all the time in the world to get rid of Joel, she said Joel didn't help them in the challenges, well neither did she so why not just vote her off?
Big Brother 9: til Death
Seriously, I am not in love with anyone on this show. I was sorta liking red mohawk guy until I was told he does gay porn. ew. Who does porn? I mean come on, it doesn't pay enough to make it worth it. No, I am not going to tell you how I know that.
Biggest Loser: Couples
I am so over this group of people, maybe it came too fast after the last one, but all this man-crying is just too much. Suck it up already or at least edit that shit out, I don't care about all of that drama, that is not why I watch the show. I want to turn it off feeling insipred and positive, not like I want to go kill myself. It is depressing to see all that hate and backstabbing like there has been the last two times.
At this point I only watch to get tips from Jillian and Bob.
American Idol 9
Thank God Danny Noriega is gone. You know, the contestants need to be a little bit grateful, I mean to be so disrespectful of Simon is uncalled for. Yes he is an ass but so what, he knows what he is talking about and he earned his spot. If he says you suck then you do. I am also over David Archuleta, he is a little too cocky for his level also. I love all the boys and I love Amanda Overmyer and Carly Smithson, can't stand the rest of the girls.
America's Next Top Model
I don't have a favorite yet.

Hillary Takes Texas

2008-03-05T18:44:00.002-06:00

WooHoo! I am grateful for the surge of support Hillary has received in the last few weeks but I sure do wish these endorsements had come a little sooner, I mean where were Ellen and Jack Nicholson when we were fighting for California? It would be great if the party would man up like the GOP did and tell Obama to stand down. He has no business being president of the United States, he doesn't have the experience or the power that this country needs right now.
Obama is not qualified to run this country, he has no stance on anything other than to twist what Hillary says and try to make it seem like that is what he wants also. I am offended by the people who are comparing him to MLK, he is not a tenth the man MLK was and it is an insult to all he stood for. MLK spent his life fighting for what he believed, someone pulled Obama's name out of a hat 2 years ago and decided to turn him into a presidential candidate on some bullshit Hope platform, 3 years ago most people had never heard of him.
Wtf is with the Hope anyway? We don't need someone running on a promise of Hope, we already have hope, what we need is action, someone who knows what they are doing and has the ability to make things happen fast, not a puppet for people with an agenda. We already had eight years of that and personally I do not want another eight years of paying back favors.
To be honest, it really is not fair to Obama, to expect that he can carry this burden when he is clearly not up to the task. When I look at his face I see a man who is burdened, he looks tired and haggard and clearly out of his league. You look at Hillary and you see a woman full of fire, ready to do the job she was born to do. Obama has difficulty even stringing sentences together. He is not ready for what the people ask of him and I am not ready to take that risk. I do believe Obama would make an excellent running mate for Clinton and in eight years he will have the experience to take over. It is the logical way to do it and what is best for this country. It disappoints me that he does not see this.
We are in the shitter people, we need someone who is ready. Hillary Clinton is ready.

Starbucks Shutdown

2008-03-01T18:40:00.000-06:00

I know this is old news now but I just saw this clip and had to share it. Funny stuff. I am actually addicted to McDonalds Vanilla Iced coffee and have one or two pretty much every day.

Anthony Bourdain in Romania

2008-02-28T08:44:00.000-06:00

Ok so the experience sucked. So what? I mean come on people, we dont watch No Reservations to get the gilded version, if we wanted that we would watch Samantha Brown. Will it keep me from visiting Romania? Of course not, the people who watch his show are intelligent enough to understand that shit happens. I don't know why the people of Romania need to be upset, I mean we have George Bush representing our country, how much more embarassing can it get?
By the way, I applaud the poor person who is stuck moderating that post, truly I do but two comments I made did not get published and the one that was got redlined into a mess of unrecognizable bad grammar and spelling. I am sure I can spell appalled. Really I am. I don't see why Tony can say fuck but I cannot say ass. I call foul.

Jamon Iberico Bellota

2008-02-26T08:58:00.000-06:00

I get email updates from la Tienda regularly. I love this virtual shop and have found many items and foodstuffs there that make me think of the pleasures Spain has to offer without leaving my flat. There is no question that the jamon in Spain is the best in the world, but $1400 for a ham? Seriously? I could fly over there and get my own for that price. This jamon comes from the Cerdo Ibérico which eats fallen acorns. I did a little reasearch and it seems that not only are the males castrated but the females are spayed to prevent them being bred by feral or other domestic hogs.
This made me think about the ranch down in the Hill Country. T constantly curses the feral hogs that can destroy a property in no time if they are allowed to run free. This is a real problem for farmers and ranchers in Texas and probably other areas as well. These hogs can weigh over a thousand pounds. They are very smart also which is a little scary when you see some of the stuff they do. I imagine them having a beer in front of the flatscreen during the week when there are no humans around. I thought maybe I would encourage T to consider fencing off some areas under the live oaks. What if we snagged a few and fattened them up on acorns. I could use the Benjamins. Do acorns fall off Live Oaks?

VW W3

2008-02-25T09:22:00.000-06:00

I have new car! I am so excited, it is a perfect fit for me. I have been researching on the web for a couple of months trying to decide what to buy. I wanted something classic enough that I could keep it for several years if I wanted, I am gone so much so I do not drive great distances, my 2003 I traded in had 34,000 miles on it.
I had originally planned on a Mini Cooper, that seemed to be the cutest car on the planet. I did not see that many over in Cowtown but once I moved over here to Dallas they are everywhere. One day at Target there were 6 of them in the same parking row. I was on my way to the Scion dealership to drive the Xb. I was a little concerned about this choice because it is only offered in pretty boring colors but I thought I would drive that and then go drive the Mini. I could not find the Scion dealership and was looking for a place to pull over and check my iPhone for the location when I noticed my temperature gauge was quickly creeping toward the H. I turned around and headed for the VW lot which was actually third on my list but closest to where my Hyundai was apparantly having a meltdown.
I had planned on a red convertible with a black top, but one look at this one and I knew it was for me. It is called the W3 which means it is a triple white. I love the white leather interior, it looks great with all the black and chrome trim. I have a silk daisy in the bud vase!

Gourmet Guts

2008-02-24T07:17:00.002-06:00

ew. Seriously. Offal and entrails are being touted as the "it" foodie experience but I will not be jumping on that bandwagon. Liver is as adventurous as I will get and that has to come from a fattened goose, served near the shore at Carly's flat in Marseille. I just don't see it.

I mean sure, cooking can get boring like any other profession/art but I cannot see myself ever getting that bored. Now granted I am no Rocco but I still do not see it in the future of Chef Juli. Nope.

*photo from Wikipedia

Anthony Bourdain

2008-02-09T05:34:00.001-06:00

I read a post over on Chez Pim about Tony and thought I would add my own Love Letter. I adore this man, not just because he is completely hot I mean Seriously Hot but also the way he gets right to it. You know if he has something to say it is how he genuinely feels.
Tony struck me first on Top Chef when he called Howie a son of a bitch after Howie quoted one of his books. That was when my crush began. I had seen an episode where he was eating some disgusting crap on a houseboat in Viet Nam maybe and thought gah, this dude is nasty. I thought he was probably someone that I would not enjoy but I did not get to see his personality.
My favorite episode has to be the one where he and his crew were trapped in Beirut. I have since downloaded all episodes of No Reservations to my iPhone. Even though he still hates my girl Rachel Ray, I think he is great.

Petite Anglaise, In Paris. In Love. In Trouble.

2008-02-08T08:49:00.002-06:00

If you need something to read on the plane, at the beach, in bed or just for fun try this! I have to admit I have not read the book yet but I am a huge fan of petite and I am sure her book is just as delightful as her blog. In case you are one of the five people who have not seen it, take a look!

iPhabulous

2007-11-01T19:17:00.001-05:00

Last week iPurchased this. Yowza. iAm a happy biyatch, this thing is so iPhabulous I cannot even begin to tell you. iPhigure it will be completely useless in Europe but oh well (iAm done with the iCrap, iPromise).
I went to the ATT store - because I am their prisoner - to see about getting a new phone. I had pretty much decided I wanted a Blackberry Pearl. I looked at all the phones in the store, even though I was qualified for an upgrade it was still going to cost about $300. Boo. Plus the media package was nearly $40 a month. Then the salesgeek told me that was extremely limited web browsing. What? Well no point in that then. I went back to look at the generic regular old phones and he said well there is the iPhone...wait, what? Nooo I cannot have an iPhone, I am not cool enough, I seriously cannot be that person. No, really I don't want to hold it..oohhh myyy Goood. Yeah, put that in a bag, it lives at my house now.

iPhan

2007-11-01T09:04:00.000-05:00

My Dutch Kitchen

2007-06-06T19:24:00.003-05:00

Jenn and Marloes posted photos of their Dutch kitchens. Our kitchen is pretty small by American standards but quite roomy enough to get the job done. I would like to add some more shelves on one wall, there is a lot of wasted space there and I do not have a proper oven. The Dutchman has baked some fabulous things in the convection/microwave thingy but I have not been brave enough to figure it out yet. I would probably not consider baking cakes or pastries because the fresh items for purchase are much nicer. I have never tried to make a Thanksgiving dinner anyway, I am always in the US for that. Aside from not having an oven the only thing I don't really like is the small sink. I would love to remove the wall between the kitchen and the living room as well but the Dutchman assures me that is not going to happen lol, however he does agree that some small changes should be made.
I am very lucky to have a beautiful large stainless steel dishwasher, a combo washer and a wonderful balcony. We have two actually, one off the kitchen that we use more for utility reasons and the one off the dining room that is our small suspended garden. The kitchen is on the sunny side of the flat which works out perfectly as the other balcony is shaded by one of the largest trees I have ever seen. It is magnificent.

Turkey Bacon

2007-05-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

This morning I discovered turkey bacon is neither turkey nor bacon. It is more like some sort of gross bologna product. Of course there is no grease so it sticks and makes my egg stick. However, as my friend helpfully pointed out, while scrubbing the pan clean I did burn off the 20 calories I had consumed. I find that my day goes a lot better if I have protein rather than carbs for breakfast so I am trying out some ideas. I think I will be going back to grilling boiled ham with my egg.
Then I go over to Sam's and see her breakfast. Sigh.
Sam's post did remind me that I thought if I had a bread machine I could make my own whole grain sugar free bread and wouldn't need to spend 20 minutes reading labels. I don't mind whole grain sugar free bread too much but the texture is pretty dense and it is much better toasted. It holds the sandwich together and that is all I really need I suppose. I still cannot get completely away from a sandwich, and can sometimes trick myself with lettuce wraps or putting the fat-free cheese on the outside and sort of rolling it up.
I am trying to get away from fake stuff like fat free and sugar free and focus on things that came that way naturally. But for a girl who has become accustomed to a #3 from Taco Bell or a #1 from Sonic to a grilled breast and salad, it is going to take some time.

PCOS and Pre-Diabetes

2007-05-01T08:55:00.002-05:00

I was diagnosed on Monday with PCOS and pre-diabetes. Yikes. Well this is sort of good news bad news as it is something that can be treated and explains this massive amount of weight I have gained in the last year and a half for seemingly no reason. I have seriously tried everything and not had much luck. I have just had all of this fat just settle around my midsection and thanks to books like You on a Diet I have been terrified I was going to die. I even went into therapy to see if this was some sort of an emotional issue.
How encouraging to find out I actually have a medical reason! But still, diabetes sucks. I am on Metformin to treat both and let me tell you that is not fun. I have spent the week feeling really unwell. I will spare you the gory details but finally on day 4 I am feeling quite a bit better. I have still dragged myself onto the treadmill every day but Wednesday, that was my worst day.
Anyway, I have some new stuff to think about now and am really working at this. With my slight OCD I am sure I will have it down to a science soon!

Sunday Scribblings-Inspiration

2007-03-16T09:38:00.001-05:00

This week's Sunday Scribblings is Inspiration. I find it in the weirdest places, usually a sound or a smell will trigger something that inspires me to write. I have dozens of unfinished posts tucked away that are based on a small inspiration and when they bloom into a real thought I will finish them. My life is changing now and I am finding great inspiration from dreams that I pushed aside and people who love me. Real love, you know that trade my life for yours, I would shrivel up and die if you don't love me back kind of love. Not the I need somebody and oh well, you are here so you will do sort of love.

Reading Sam's post about Grey's this morning reminded me how much that show has changed my life. I can't talk about that particular episode because a lot of you aren't as far along as I am and I would never dream of spoiling a single second for anyone. The show is a gift. Truly a gift to girls like me who want and need and forget sometimes what is important. There is a healing that comes from curling up all alone in my dark living room with my big soft afghan knitted by my dead stepdad's mother and crying my heart out; my tiny Yorkie curled up on my shoulder occassionally giving me a little reassuring lick on the ear then tumbling confused and annoyed to the sofa when I jump up and cheer when one of the characters does what I have been telling them to do for the entire hour(still crying of course).

Disappointment

2007-03-12T08:51:00.001-05:00

Ever have a day where you got up thinking your life was going in one direction and then an event or a conversation happens and suddenly you realize you were hurtling yourself headlong down the wrong path? Now what.
* image from Cavepainter

Seagulls

2007-03-10T09:19:00.001-06:00

I just read about petite's encounter with a seagull in Essaouira and felt the need to write about my own seagull story. Back in the 80's I was dodging classes and spending the afternoon on the Clearwater Beach with a friend (okay some guy I was nailing) and we were pretty wasted on small rolled cigarrettes and Jack Daniel's and I needed a burger. I made my way to the snackbar and waited in line with all the other fried losers who had nothing better to do on a Wednesday afternoon but lay around in the sand. I squinted up at this hand painted sign hanging over the order window that said "Not responsible for food eaten by seagulls!" I remember thinking what sort of a moron would expect the snackbar to be responsible if you gave your food to a seagull? Aside from that, only snowbirds freshly landed on the sandy shores are stupid enough to feed seagulls and they only do it once.
I got my burger (this whole process had taken nearly an hour, from walking to the snackbar, waiting my turn and waiting for the burger to be grilled), unwrapped it and walked out from under the tiki hut covering the tables where most people were eating. I was just about to take a bite and this winged rat flew off the roof where he had obviously been waiting for me, swooped down and snatched the meat right out of my bun and flapped away. I looked up and maybe it was the weed or maybe it was the Jack but I swear the 50 other seagulls up there were laughing at me. I took my bread and mayonnaise and went on back to my chair. My friends says Dude, where is the meat? He was pretty sorry he asked.

Is it a Secret?

2007-03-05T09:06:00.002-06:00

There is a somewhat heated situation going on over at another blog. It all started with the author's interpretation of her life. She feels that living the "Secret" has brought her to the place where she is now. Okay, good for her, but the problem lies in some of the statements she has made, declaring there are no victims in this world, everyone attracts the misfortune and horrible things that happen to them. I personally find this all to be a bunch of hooey. I probably would never have commented on her blog had she not made such ignorant and sweeping statements. I am not going to get into all of that now, I read the book, saw the film and really cannot imagine that those people have become so rich off the desperation of others and am SHOCKED that Oprah supports this.
However the problem now seems to be that this person believes that she can say whatever she likes on her blog and no one has the right to comment in a negative way or to judge her. This is where I heartily disagree. If you lay your life out on the open internet you are at the very least inviting your readers to pass judgement on what you say and the life you live. After all, the only information we have is what we read there.
From the posts I have made so far I would assume that people think I am a fat quitter who watches too much tv, was probably a drug abuser and slut in the 80's and has not been able to make her dream of spending a year in Paris come true. Horrors! I am actually more fluffy than fat, I do watch far too much tv and the 80s? well let's not go there okay ::snicker::, I am still going to Paris, maybe not for a year but I am going! I am fun, loyal and helpful. I have a wonderful relationship with my man and my children (who are successful and gorgeous) and I lavish far too much attention on a tiny Yorkie named Emma.
The thing I am wondering here is, do you realize how your readers see you? Are you surprised to think that they are judging you by the words you write?

Post Game

2007-01-07T09:37:00.001-06:00

It was a good game, lagged a bit in the fourth quarter when it became obvious it would be a massacre. Chicago just gave up. The Colts earned the win no doubt. It was a poignant social moment for the first black coach to win a Superbowl. Dungy did blow it by claiming to be the first Christian coach to win a Superbowl. I thought that was quite arrogant. I think Tom Landry would be fairly offended by that remark as would many others. Jackass.

The real highlight of the game was of course Prince. Once again reminding the world that he is not a fluffy piece of pop, he is a badass rock star.

Ugly Betty

2007-01-07T09:31:00.001-06:00

I am so in love with this show and the way it is going. I can hardly wait for Thursday nights to get my UB and Grey's fix. I really like Rebecca Romijn even though her people still owe one of my friends for editing her reel but hey, at least she got work from it. My friend also loves UB so she is less annoyed than she might be if it were someone else lol. I think Mark and Amanda are so hilarious together.

Sunday Scribblings-Morning

2006-11-07T09:37:00.001-06:00

The Theme is Morning
My morning started at 5am. I was sleeping soundly when Emma barked shrilly in my ear. "Gah! Shut up!" I said. She continued to bark which is really weird for her as she never barks. I thought omg something is wrong so I switched on the lamp and went into the living room. I heard noises from outside, it did not sound good. Gutteral yelling and a high pitched pleading. My heart thumped as a million memories flashed through my mind.
I peeked through the blinds and saw the skinny kid from the next building smacking his young wife in the courtyard. She pleaded with him to stop while screaming "I love you!" He called her horrid nasty names as he kept hitting and kicking her. Suddenly a plastic patio chair came sailing over the third floor balcony. A male voice called out "Leave her alone asshole!"
I went to the kitchen and picked up the phone and dialed 911. I told the calm voice on the other end what was going on. I was surprised to realize I was crying. She made sure I was not involved and then assured me the police were on the way already. I looked out again, the third floor man was in the courtyard now. The hitting had stopped but the yelling continued. The young wife was now screaming at third floor man to mind his own business. The police arrived and all was quiet again.
Twenty years ago I was that scared young wife out in the courtyard. God help her.

Big Brother

2006-05-07T09:29:00.002-05:00

This is my first season to watch Big Brother here. I have tried to watch it in Holland but since I don't speak Dutch or understand the rules of the game it was basically pointless. I have a pretty big crush on Chilltown.
The previews make it look like the girls turn on the boys but I really don't see that happening. Who needs money when you have a cute boyfriend? Doctor Delicious indeed.