Clinic Week 1 and 2 in Food

It's 3:30 am and I can't sleep--clinic has been taking over MY LIFE BUT NOW I can finally catch up on posting!

Because of Matt's allergies, we rarely go out to eat. If he gets so much a drop of dairy, egg, nitrates, etc., in his food, he has severe headaches and brain fog. The night I flew back to Columbia, he was feeling gregarious enough to try Kobe again, a Japanese resto, that he hadn't been to since his allergy testing. We had a great time. We took pictures together, enjoyed the chef's shenanigans, and skipped back to the car when we were done. I'd always taken eating out for granted before I'd met Amy and before Matt and I dated, but his pretty extreme intolerances truly demonstrate what a privilege it is to eat and enjoy without the fear of getting sick--all the time.

This has nothing to do with food, but srsly look at this cat. He wanted to sit near me while I studied.

The garlic was on sale. I bought 7 heads of garlic to mince and freeze. Samson had never been so fascinated in food.

There is a Walmart and local butcher chain in the area where Matt's home church is. The prices are low. The shrimp was on sale. I grabbed a bag and sautéed some in minced garlic, olive oil, salt and peper for Matt. He was like "WHAT DID YOU PUT ON THIS?" 

One thing I miss the most about Montreal is its abundance of independent, locally-owned grocers. You know--the Espositos, the Marchés Green Punjab, the Greek bakeries. While we DO have some locally owned grocers in Columbia (a Vietnamese lady who has an epic garden/urban homestead, a Fillipino grocer, and an Eastern European grocer all pretty much on the same strip), but I never get around to visiting them much due to their lack of fresh produce. Here is a photo of one of the grocery chains, Gerbes, where I get my flowers. 

First roses of 2015

Guys. GUYS. INSTANT, "fat-free" PB & J. I had to pick some up, I was struck by the novelty. And it's actually delicious. 

Attempting Amy's burger recipe

My man can cook. The most tender pork chops ever tasted smothered in caramelized apples and onions. Side salad of "African Spinach Salad" (FACEPALM WITH ME EVERYBODY) he sampled at a faculty get together.

I think I got home late that day from clinic? I don't know. I was just happy to see him..  

Amy's burgers marinated and ready to bake!

I can't really tolerate nut milks, but I had a weakness. Maybe Quinoa would be better?? It was on sale. 

Weakness #2: Grandma used to buy this cereal, and it reminds me of her. I hadn't had cereal in years. Of course, I paired it with the quinoa milk as soon as I got home!

Matt decided we should celebrate my first week of surviving clinic and suggested Red Lobster (uncharted allergy territory for him). His plate came with salmon, which he can't eat, so I had it. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE BEST SALMON I've had in maybe 10-15 years, before I think factory farming was as big a thing as it is now. But the mussels were terrible. The manager came by to chat us up and revealed that all of the fish was wild-caught, mostly from Alaska, save for the tilapia. My BS radar went off, but I was so impressed with that salmon. I asked how they kept prices so low if all the fish was wild-caught, and he replied, "We work well with our suppliers". I felt a pang of regret--how much do those fishermen make for getting all that fish? Man.

The crab legs were on sale. Matt loves these and is always pining for them.

Making cashew milk

I'm making a HUGELY conscious effort to use food as fast as possible so as not to waste it. Hence the absurd amount of mushrooms in my egg scramble.

Food solution for every grad student ever: STUFFED PEPPERS. 

I came home yesterday at almost 9 pm from clinic to find dinner (almost) prepared. Matt has been waiting for me after work several days a week recently and damn, it's an amazing feeling to find someone you love waiting for you at home after an exhausting, soul-crushing day. Especially when what's also waiting is a grilled flat-iron steak topped with sweet onion! 

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:

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. 

Happy (and sick) times

I'm pregnant, and it is the most amazing time of my life.

But its also the sickest. Like, every day sick. Food completely revolts me, I haven't cooked or baked for over a week, and just the idea of prepping any sort of meal except plain salad and a few vegetables/fruits drives me straight to the bathroom.

So ladies Im here asking for tips. What did you eat during your time/what turned you off, or what food tips did your family pass on to you?