Monday, January 26, 2015

Food Lately

So last week was the first week where I cooked all week and it felt awesome! I seem to latch on to certain foods that I enjoy and eat them several days in a row, which I could never do before. Its such an intense relief to be able to be at a stove, sit and plan a menu, and do some grocery shopping (still a bit hard, I get very tired after we do a run but I can actually do it, so really not complaining). I cant say Im cooking/baking the same way as before, simply because I don't have the energy to get as involved as before. I make muffins and I need to go chill for awhile. I am constantly fascinated by the changes my body and my brain are going through, its absolutely amazing to me all the changes that have happened. How food tasted different, smelled really horrid, and looked even worst. How I would feel like I was starving and then when I had the plate in front of me, lost all appetite. HORMONES ARE AMAZING AND TERRIFYING AND POWERFUL! The human body is magic.

As far as pregnancy foods, I'm wanting straight up simple fruits/veggies, and super sugary stuff is a huge turn off, as well as processed foods. I had one really intense craving at the very beginning, and it was a McDonald's milkshake. Really weird, since I've never had one before I became pregnant. Took one sip and chucked it, it was so disgusting LOL. So took a few shots of what I've been making/eating lately, picture quality, not so good, plate composition, even worst lol.

The most complicated thing Ive made so far (yes, I hear you laughing LOL). I made a miche of bread (which was sooo therapeutic and lovely), grilled a spicy italian sausage/peppers/onions, topped with spicy coleslaw and avocado. Cheddar broccoli and side salad. CETAIT BON EN TITI

These were my first attempt at making flour free muffins and I loved them. Ground oatmeal into a flour, added a couple of eggs and roasted bananas, vanilla essence, spices, and greek yogurt and mixed all that in a processor. Added some chocolate chips and some strawberry pieces. Tasty, surprisingly sweet even without sugar, and they looked beautiful. Super happy with these. 

I am soooooooo grateful to have a career that allows me to remain home throughout the pregnancy, because otherwise I would have lost my job. After getting through that nausea, I now take care of making J's lunch (makes me feel like a 50's housewife and I love it haha) which also gives me control over what he eats. J enjoys eating a variety of foods but left to his means hell take a pizza pocket over prep time for lunch. So I'm happy that I can help him eat better with foods he likes. This is an example of what I give him: a salad with varied veggies and an oil/vinegar based dressing, a main that I made rather than something that came in a box (pictured, chicken vegetable pie), a side of peppers and fruits for snacks. It might make me sound like the wife who controls everything, but its an arrangement that makes us both happy, I feel useful and purposeful (an issue I'm having a hard time with) and he doesn't have to think about packing his lunch. 

My friend pointed out it looks like a tiki grinning monster face and I cannot unsee it, and now, neither can you ha. Obviously a prafait, greek yoghurt, strawberries, protein granola, and pears with cinnamon and honey.

Salmon, sauteed beans/onions/mushrooms, olives, cheese, and cucumber/tomato/avocado greek salad

This is a salad my mom made when she came over to eat one time. I dont vene remember everything she put in there, baby spinach and couscous, veggies and fruits, sunflower seeds, something something. It was amazing.

UNAPPEALING PICTURE OF STEW IN EARLY STAGE But oh so tasty.


Oh and just cause:

Monday, January 19, 2015

Winter Feasts and Good Eats, 2014 and 2015

Whoa! Look at the cobwebs around here.

I'm clearing them out with these photos. ENJOY les filles!



The only thing this picture is "suggestive" of is THE END of the semester!
I now have time to peel pomegranates!

Marché Adonis. Matt took this picture in awe of the sweets he CAN eat. 

I came home to my Montreal kitchen painted piss yellow. 

Minced pork for Matt from the Italian butcher in lieu of the elusive bulk sausage ppl in the midwest shape into patties and eat for breakfast. It just wasn't the same. I tried. 

Italian fluted, fried dough bows. My aunt Amira has connectionz. 

Orange and rosemary cornish hens for Christmas dinner--saved my Christmas

I was browning sausage for Christmas lunch (pizza)--the best sausage I've ever had. "THE BEST!" Amira exclaimed. It was from one of the boutique shops in St. Jovite. I attempted to buy some the next day--$19.99 for 4 links! uh no thanks.

Stuffed vine leaves--also saved Christmas 
More things/people that saved Christmas: Amy made my Grandma biscotti! Look at how incredible she is. Grandma was utterly impressed with the professional cookie packaging AND AMY'S ARABIC WRITING! "She does things. This girl. Amazing. I have no idea how she does them."--Grandma

My paternal uncle's wife, Jocelyn, is one of the most loving, generous, energetic, upbeat individuals I have ever known. I complimented her BBQ sauce. She lined up the ingredients to take a pic in lieu of writing the recipe (which I told her I'd lose). "Une cuillère à thé de tout!" she said.


Amira making a New Year feast for Matt

He'd been up since 4 am. Let's cut this sourpuss some slack.

Amira, wonderful and gorgeous as always

Matt's welcome feast at Grandma's house--he was charged with carving the roast (veal, of course.)

Grandma approving of the skillz

Posing with his dairy- and egg-free bounty

He wanted live Scottish music. The best we could do was Hurley's. Look at that cute face. :)

Amy made the BEST BURGERS I HAVE EVER TASTED EVER. IN MY LIFE.
PLEASE POST RECIPE. 

Fondu was also the best I've ever had and LOOK HOW FANCY!

My friend Nara's birthday at Le Pois Penché

Nara 

Matt ordered mussels. They were acceptable. 

Nara and I split pancakes and eggs benedict. The pancakes had flambé pineapples. I discover I am picky about pineapples. And pancakes.

The oyster monger at JTM. Next time, guys, next time. 

My classmates live off of PB&J and animal cookies. They ask me if animal cookies exist in Canada. I send them pictures demonstrating that our animal cookie culture is alive and well. 

VINE LEAVES DAY! 

Grandma mixy

THEY SEE ME ROLLIN. THEY HATIN.

proportions are key.

Grandma plants the leaves in her gardens, boils them, freezes them. I was speeding up the thawing process by laying them out on the edges of the tupperware. We made about 200. 

Amy made me surprise biscotti. LEMON AND CHOCOLATE. How does she know? 

just pure perfection.

I only had 2 glasses of wine. The flu had me on the floor. They joined me. 

The infamous wine. I must get more. 

I slept over that night, with NO hangover because Amy plied about a gallon of water in me before bed. SAINT.
Here are her incredible crepes. Here is a Dr. Who cup. 

There was no jam in the house. What's a girl to do? 

Dad and I made veal. of course.

And most delicious of all...this kid.