Dinner Tonight

Hmmm dinner tonight was a veggie sandwich, where I toasted the cheese (raw milk cheddar from Village Cheese) onto the bread, layered on the onions, tomatoes, avocados, and fresh Deli Sprouts from Sprouters Northwest, Inc.  These sprouts, along with the cheese were the star of this show.  They're a mix of clover, fenugreek, lentil, and radish sprouts.  They really have a great flavour to them!

The Next Mission

Last month, I ran in the Vancouver Sun Run which is the second largest 10K run in the world.  I never in my life thought I would ever do anything like that.  My family does not have any athletic people. Physical activity? Mmm maybe not. So when I completed the Sun Run (with a terrible time, might I add), without training or taking it super seriously, I felt like I had achieved such an accomplishment.

So after doing that, I felt like I could do anything.  I checked out some guided intermediate level hikes, since to this day, I've only done easy hikes really.  But apparently the Squamish Chief is quite the hike and is suitable for "anyone that can walk 10 km." So I'm going to do it. July 4th.

Why is it a big deal (to me)? Apparently the beginning is all steep uphill.  There are portions of the trail that you have to use a ladder or rope to climb up.  That in itself will be a challenge.  Plus, the hike in total is around 15 km or something... Bring it on.

Photo above from Expore Magazine. 

Balloon

I feel like all of the positive self image and confidence in myself I had last month is fading.  I feel like a balloon.  Maybe I'm just bloated, but I really don't think so. It started on Monday when I had a major presentation and the button up shirt I had set out for myself fit a bit tighter around the arms.   I so badly want to feel confident when I go to Chicago next month.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of some unhealthy way to lose weight fast. That's when I know I'm in a lower place than I was before.

Maybe once I start running regularly this week after work I'll feel okay again. But I'm tired, and I've spent a whole week being sad (about my grandma, not life!)... Must get out of this rut before it consumes me.

1 year of Veggie eating

A vegan/vegetarian friend of mine decided to photograph everything he ate for 1 year and then he turned it into a timelapse photography video. It's pretty cool, and somewhat inspiring.  Check it out.

http://garry.cc/blog/2010/06/19/whatiate/

Momma's Home Cooking

My favorite food in the world is my mother's.  I think everyone would say that. But, really, my mother's cooking is the best.  She makes the best Gujarati-style daal in the world. And when it has extra peanuts in it, my world is rocked. However, my favourite dish is okra panfried with spices, otherwise known as Bhinda Fry.

I went to visit my parents this week because my grandmother in India passed away and I wanted to go console my father since he wasn't able to go there.  Of course my mom made my favorite dish!  I will share the recipe here. But be aware that the amounts of ingredients may not be quantitative. That's our way of doing things.

Bhinda (Okra) Fry

1 16 oz bag of frozen cut okra (or 1.5 lbs fresh, washed and chopped discarding tops and bottom tips)
Few tbsp canola oil
1/4 tsp fenugreek (methi) seeds
1.5 tsp fresh garlic (ground or paste)
1 tsp fresh ginger (ground or paste)
fresh green chilies to taste (chopped fine)
1/2 tsp ground coriander/cumin seeds
1/2 tsp whole cumin seeds
1/4 tsp ground red chili powder
salt to taste

1) Heat fenugreek seeds in oil until they turn dark brown
2) Put garlic, ginger, chilies, salt and dried spices in a spoon, and add to hot oil and cook for 10 seconds.
3) Add okra and mix with spices.

4) Cook for a while until okra has no more slimy stuff (sounds gross, but it's not!) and is dry and darker in colour.

Eat with fresh roti.

***You can also add small diced potatoes with the okra if you want.

To make roti, measure out some quantity of flour (1 or 2 cups; and preferable roti flour or roti atta, as it is called in Indian markets).  Add a bit of oil, like 2 tsps and mix with hand until flour and oil mixture are a bit crumbly.  Then add luke warm water until dough mixes into a ball.  If too much water is added and dough is sticky, add more flour.  Once dough is pliable, add some oil so it won't stick to surfaces.

Then take a  small amount of dough and roll with a rolling pin into a circle. Meanwhile, preheat a flat frying pan or skillet on the stove on high.  When it's hot, take a paper towel with some butter on it and grease the pan slightly.  Roll the roti to about 1/16 of an inch and put onto the pan. Let the first side bubble just slightly and then turn it over.  When the bubbles formed become dark, transfer the roti on the other side again and allow it to fluff up.

Sound strange? Watch this or this.

Running

I found running to be a good way to clear my head today.  My grandmother passed away 2 days ago and it's been a huge emotional ordeal and has definitely thrown my focus a bit.  I went to my parents' house yesterday, 7 hours away from me, to be with my dad.  I went running on the nature trails and track by the high school following week 3 of the Couch to 5K podcast. I felt a bit better after that.

When I go back to work next week, I'm thinking to bring my exercise clothes and running shoes with me and go for jogs after work on the university campus. Perhaps someone will join me and motivate me to push myself harder?

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

My own pics shall be posted soon.

But let it be noted, the day turned out beautiful and the hike was great.  The company was awesome.