Blast from the semi-distant past

With all the news about wheat prices going through the roof, and small bakeries feeling the financial pinch, it made me awfully glad that the idea J and I had of opening our own bakery/cafe got delayed for the indeterminate future two years ago when we decided to buy our house in Seattle.

At about this time three years ago, I was getting ready to enter baking and pastry school. Quite by chance, as I was browsing my digital photo files for a pix to use in the previous post, I came across the photos I took of the lovely cakes I made in my advanced cakes class during my third term of school. Let's take a peek, shall we?

The first lovely pink, silver and white concoction was my first teeth-gnashing experience with fondant icing. Painting the stripes on was fun, though.

The next example (right) was my Round 2 with fondant. Went much better as I recall, in spite of the fact that the layers on this "crazy" cake came with sharp angles to smoothly fit the fondant over. FYI, in case you think any of these cakes look tasty, think again. These things were nasty. Nasty, nasty, nasty. These cakes were all about the decorating, so we baked our cake layers, used them, scraped off the icing and used them again, and again. Did I mention nasty? The crazy cake was the THIRD incarnation of those cake layers. Once this sucker was graded, I could not wait to get rid of it.

Fortunately, I got to start fresh for this lovely buttercream number (left). (Did I mention we scraped and reused a lot of buttercream frosting, too. Nope, didn't think I had. Again, not tasty. It's all about appearances, people.)

But wait! Ms. Square Cake Layers got tired of her outfit. She needed a makeover...a Chocolate Ganache makeover! What can I say about ganache? How about, "tastes great, is a bitch to pour." Those truffles on tier 1 and 3 were old, recycled ganache, which didn't stop students from another class from eating half of them in the several days the cake sat unattended between classes. Nice!

Ms. Square had one more grading party to go to, and this time she wanted to wear fondant (left). Sigh. But she really did look pretty, didn't she? Too bad that, like her circular forbearer, she was destined for the Dumpster.

Although I wouldn't stick one bite of any of these cakes in my mouth for a million dollars (well, maybe if that million dollars came with a course of antibiotics), I can assure you that some of my work that term was both beautiful and infinitely edible.

Behold...bread!

Spring has sprung!

It's the first full day of spring, and although the weather has been typically Seattle springlike (cool and wet, but not reliably wet, so you never know if you will really need that raincoat when you head out for work in the morning), many happier signs of spring abound.

One of the things I love about spring is the element of change. Every time I take a walk, whether around my garden or around my 'hood, something is blooming, sprouting or opening that wasn't the day before. Never a dull moment.

Even though the weather was bleh on Sunday, we got lots o' planting done at the homestead.

• 30 bareroot coneflowers
• 17 bareroot Nootka roses
• 12 forget-me-nots
• A 4-foot row of edible peas
• A 3-foot row of sweet peas
• 10 bunchberries (groundcover dogwoods)
• 10 Kinnickinnick
• 12 assorted gallon-size perennials from Costco
• 5 Camas (a NW native bulb)
• 1 maidenhair fern
• 1 hosta
• 24 assorted oriental lily bulbs
• 7 assorted dahlia bulbs

Whew!

The weather on Saturday is supposed to be respectable, so I will hopefully get the rest of my ferns (5) and hostas (11) planted, along with my annual fuchsia starts (20), one hellebore and two clematis that are still in their black plastic pots from last year.

Now that I'm starting to plant spring veggies, I need to yank out the last of the fall-winter holdouts. I feel guilty that I didn't eat more kale over the winter, but since it is still in great shape, I have plans to use up about eight cups of the nutritious greens in a fritatta and a turkey chili verde.

I've been entering everything I eat into the free nutrition calculator on Fitday, and it's been very educational to see the results. Given that many foods I eat appear on my menu repeatedly (eggs, sprouted grain bread, turkey breast, broccoli, salad greens, peppers, skim milk, cottage cheese, bananas, apples, avocados, whey protein powder, energy bars, frozen berries, whole grain cereal, nuts, olive oil, yogurt), it's interesting that some days I nearly hit the mark on all of the various important nutrients, and other days I'm way down on a few. Also, some days I seem to hit the 30-40-30 protein-carb-fat ratio effortlessly (within a percentage point or two) and on others I have to struggle to keep the carbs in check.

I figure that once I have a few more weeks of consistent food reportage logged, I can really start tweaking my menus. I'm aiming to have my weight lifting days a bit higher in calories and carbs, and my non-lifting days less on both. Once I start logging one high-mileage walking day on the weekend (for half-marathon training), I can have a higher-carb meal afterwards, too.

Tuesday's workouts:
Morning: Suhaila Salimpour's Bellydance Fitness Fusion Pilates DVD (40 minutes); Darshan's Bellydance Tribal Fusion NYC DVD (drills section, 30 minutes)
Lunch: 4-mile walk

Tuesday's food overview:
1786 calories (33% protein, 32% carbs, 31% fat, 5% alcohol)

Wednesday's workouts:
Morning: Rachel Brice's Yoga, Isolations and Drills DVD (30-minute workout)
After work: NROWLFW "A" workout with kickboxing warmup
Evening: Bellydance choreography class

Wednesday's food overview:
1842 calories (26% protein, 45% carbs, 29% fat)

Hitting my stride

Yesterday began Week 2 of my new workout agenda, and while I still feel a bit of next-day soreness, I am spared the mind-numbing ab pain of Week 1.

This is a "BAB" week, with the "B" workouts on Monday and Wednesday. Here's an overview:

• Deadlift (2 sets of 15 reps)
• Superset: Shoulder press (2 sets of 15) and assisted pull-ups (2 sets of 15)
• Superset: Lunges (2 sets of 15 on each leg) and stability ball crunches (2 sets of 8...although I do more)

What was supposed to be one cheat meal last week turned into a smattering of cheat meals and snacks from Thursday evening through the weekend. I kind of rolled with it, since I was grieving, but I'm firmly back on track now.

Monday's workouts:
Lunchtime: 2-mile walk
After work: NROWLFW Stage 1, Workout B, with a nice little punching bag warmup

Monday's food overview:
2062 calories (21% protein, 42% carbs, 31% fat, 6% alcohol)

Kickin' my own butt

I started a new weight lifting routine yesterday, courtesy of my new bible, The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess.

You wouldn't think that a workout with only five exercises could leave a person whimpering the next day, yet begging for more. But I'm telling you it can.

The premise of the workout plan is that you work all the muscles in your body three days a week (alternating days). You won't find a bicep curl, calf raise or tricep extension in the bunch. Instead, you do big moves that work multiple muscles.

Here's an overview of the "A" workout from Stage 1:

• Squat (2 sets of 15 reps)
• Superset: Pushups (2 sets of 15 reps) and bent barbell row (2 sets of 15)
• Superset: Lunges (2 sets of 15) and a wicked stability ball ab exercise (2 sets of 8)

Oh, how my abs and chest are complaining this morning. In a good way, of course.

The book offers 6 months of workouts, changing things every several weeks to keep the muscles guessing. I'm also following the nutrition guidance in the book, since building a better body has perhaps more to do with good nutrition than it does with exercise.

Although I'm at a weight I am OK with, I want to build muscle and reduce body fat. I took a big leap of faith yesterday and had J photograph me in a bikini, front, side and back views. Much better than it would have been 48 pounds ago, but there is still work to be done. And having a series of photographs as a visual tracker will be valuable.

Monday's workouts:
Morning: Rachel Brice's Tribal Fusion - Yoga Isolations & Drills for Bellydance (30 minute practice)
After work: NROWLFW Stage 1, Workout A

Monday's food overview (aiming for 30% protein, 40% carbs, 30% fat):
2126 calories (26% protein, 38% carbs, 32% fat, 4% alcohol)

Tuesday's workouts:
Morning: Disc 1 of Sacred Bellydance (90 minutes)
Noon: 4-mile brisk walk

Tuesday's food overview:
1888 calories (31% protein, 26% carbs. 32% fat, 11% alcohol)
Should not have had that pre-dinner cocktail...

Back to the books

Even though I've reached a number on the scale that I can totally live with, I've decided it's time to buckle down and really clean up my eating. I don't care if I lose another pound, but I can tell where I have muscle and where I still have excess body fat. I do care about gaining the former and losing the latter.

One important tool that helped me kick almost 50 pounds to the curb last year was The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person. It's not a diet; rather, it works with any eating plan you choose (healthy, please).

Some of the daily assignments made me think "duh, I already know this," but let me tell you, there were many that made me open my eyes and see the light bulb going off over my head. Finally I got it: hunger is NOT an emergency and mindless eating is bad, bad, BAD!

Some things in the book were totally new and revolutionary to me. Others were nothing new, but something about the way they were explained finally broke through my mental barriers. I formed some great, healthy new habits and didn't feel much pain doing it.

However, I've noticed in the last month or so that I'm slipping into that sense of complacency that comes once the weight is lost. That feeling that I don't have to watch what I eat so carefully. Fortunately, this time I was prepared for it. That feeling came around every time I've lost weight in the past, why would this time be any different. What is different, is I've got Dr. Beck's book on my side. I probably won't work through every daily exercise (six weeks worth), but I will review the ones that I know are sticking points.

The only women's fitness magazine I regularly enjoy is Oxygen. While I don't like all the ads for fat-burning supplements and whatnot, Oxygen is heavy on the fitness and nutrition content, light on beauty and fashion (which I get from Vogue, thank you very much). Well, Oxygen wouldn't be Oxygen without regular contributing editor Tosca Reno, who has a small list of books to her name, including two recent books on clean eating. I just added one title, The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook: Great-Tasting Recipes That Keep you Lean, to my personal cookbook library (which I really need to inventory one of these days...).

I started cooking from it last night, preparing the Crock-Pot Porridge. It was nice to have a hot breakfast ready and waiting for me after my morning workout. Adding unsweetened applesauce instead of brown sugar will take a little getting used to, but it was tasty. And totally healthy. Tonight's dinner will be Country Style Beef Soup, which I picked mainly because I can use one of the packages of soup bones from the 100 pounds of grass-fed steer we have in our freezer. Oddly, I've had a hard time finding recipes that call for beef soup bones. I can also use up the rest of the cubed butternut squash in the freezer, as well as one pack of the frozen edamame from Costco and a few of the turnips still braving the cold in my garden.

Really, this is one of the few cookbooks from which I will probably make every single recipe. I'll just have to be a bit sneaky with the tofu recipes (sorry, J!).

Top 10 tasty bites

J's and my joint devotion to, nay obsession with, "Kitchen Nightmares" naturally leads to conversations about various facets of restaurantdom, including gross hygiene violations, decor and menu. That got me thinking about my favorite places to eat in Seattle.

It was HARD to limit it to 10, people. I decided I had to exclude bakeries from this list, or I would still be whittling. I've been to all but two of the 10 multiple times. Each of the "winners" causes me to develop either acute cravings or a dreamy look on my face when I think of them. Here they are, in alphabetical order:

Baguette Box: I know that the crispy drunken chicken baguette is their big hit, but I luvvvv the roasted pork loin with apricot aioli. And their beet salad with garlic olive oil inspired me to make my own version at home regularly.

Cafe Campagne: I've been here for brunch, lunch and dinner, and it's all good. Croque-monsieur, yum. Lamb burger with pommes frites, yum. Cassoulet, double yum. I already told my coworkers that this is where they are taking me for my birthday lunch next month so that I can order the oeufs en meurette.

Casuelitas: Everything I've sampled here is delish, but I can't bring myself to actually order anything other than the goat curry. With a mojito and some plantains on the side, please.

Dahlia Lounge/Lola (tie): These are both Tom Douglas restaurants, of course, so I don't feel I'm cheating. I am as devoted to the bread salad at Dahlia (with a lavender Dry Soda) as I am to Lola's kabob plate at lunch (with a pot of Moroccan mint tea).

India Express (510 Broadway E. on Capitol Hill): I've been there for dinner more than once, but J and I drool over the lunch buffet (but not in the buffet...that would be gross). Always delicious, always friendly efficient service.

The Kingfish Cafe: Finally (!) went here with coworkers last summer, for lunch. Was instantly smitten by their buttermilk fried chicken breast over mixed salad greens and HUGE desserts. Did I say HUGE? I'm not kidding.

Le Pichet: J and I first went here on the Fourth of July a few years ago. I think I could eat here three meals a day and be perfectly pleased.

Matt's In The Market: Finally (!) went here a few months ago (again with coworkers). I was torn between the lamb burger and the "honkin' hot" ahi tuna sandwich. Lamb won the first round, but I must go back for that tuna...

Tutta Bella: Their Columbia City location is dangerously close to my neighborhood. I love every single thing about this place. Their salads. Their pizzas. Their desserts. The cute little glasses (smaller versions of their water glasses) they serve (most) wine in.

Typhoon: I go here a lot with coworkers, and I never get tired of the green chicken curry and the lengthy tea menu.

S.L.U.T.s and slices

Nothing says "holiday" like a tasty Christmas lunch of arguably the best pizza in town...especially when your boss is footing the bill.

Yesterday my department of four hoofed it from downtown to the latest outpost of the lovely Tutta Bella. We had intended to ride the S.L.U.T. (South Lake Union Trolley*, for those non-Seattleites scratching their heads and saying "What the huh?"), but after waiting for 15 minutes at its first stop in front of the Westin, we gave up and walked the several blocks (fine with me, because walking is my preferred mode of transportation). Two blocks from our destination, we passed the S.L.U.T., temporarily inoperable, and only three days into official operation. Nice.

But not as nice as lunch. I'd already enjoyed dinner at Tutta Bella's other locations in Columbia City and Wallingford, and although I prefer Columbia City for its atmosphere, the new location is also worthy.

If I could, I would eat the Insalata di Mista (fresh field greens, sweet red onions, white beans, matchstick carrots, kalamata olives, house roasted red peppers, white balsamic viniagrette and optional crumbled gorgonzola) every single day. I love that salad more than words can say. But I have to always share it, because otherwise I would be too full to savor the exquisite Neapolitan-style pizza.

On this occasion, we shared the Pizza Bianca (extra virgin olive oil, roasted garlic, oregano, roasted onions, formaggi della case, goat cheese, Grana Padano and the optional rosemary ham) and the Mediterranea (Pomodoro San Marzano, formaggi della casa, goat cheese, herb mushrooms, eggplant, fresh basil, kalamata olives and Grana Padano). I preferred the Mediterranea, but my heart still belongs to the first pizza I ever had at Tutta Bella, a September special featuring figs and a balsamic reduction. Divine, truly.

Their tiramisu (serves 2!) is out of this world, but I went for the affogato (scoop of gelato served with a double shot of Attibassi espresso). On my last trip, I followed our server's recommendation and poured the espresso over a scoop of cinnamon gelato. That flavor wasn't on the menu at this time (or this location), so I went with chocolate. Good...but the cinnamon was so much better. Mmmmm...Tutta Bella.

*For the record, in case anyone is wondering, although in our hearts the S.L.U.T. will always be, well, you know...that is no longer its official name. As soon as the horror of it's unfortunate acronym (giggle) set in, the name was promptly changed to "South Lake Union Streetcar." The name has since morphed to "Seattle Streetcar." Yawn.

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Well, it's hump day of the week following my one glorious week of vacation, and I am surviving.

I am well aware that I did not blog once during that week. Even if I did not possess that inner awareness, He Who Puts Up With Me gave me more than enough reminders. If I had a nickel for every time he said, "You haven't blogged in forever. I'm giving up on you," I would have a truckload of nickels.

Since HWPUWM is in the process of starting his own blog (only the harder way, with a blank slate and html programming from scratch...not that he knows html yet, mind you), I hearby lay down the blog challenge: I double-dog-dare him to blog every single day beginning with the day he posts his first official entry.

To be fair, I will issue to the same challege to myself (again, starting the day of his first official post). May the best blogger win.

I had a lovely vacation (oh, how I miss thee already). We stayed in city, with the exception of a day trip to West Seattle, which has the amazing quality of not feeling like Seattle at all (I'm talking about the tip of Alki Beach, here, especially once you make it far enough around where you can't see downtown Seattle anymore.

I had a small list of restaurants I wanted to hit, but only made it to two: Baguette Box and Le Pichet, both of which I heartily recommend. The roasted pork loin with apricot aioli baguette was divine, and HWPUWM was quite pleased with his roasted Oregon leg of lamb baguette. A shared cup of truffle fries and plate of beet salad with garlic olive oil rounded out the meal nicely.

I felt there was no more appropriate way to kick off the Fourth of July than with a late breakfast at a French cafe. So off we went, to Le Pichet, to satisfy ourselves with two servings (total, not each...please!) of oeufs plats, jambon et fromage. That would be two eggs broiled with ham and gruyere for you non-French speakers. I admit that I ordered in English, because I couldn't remember how to properly pronounce "oeufs" (it's been a long time since high school French class, OK?). Our lovely, cheesy, breakfast came with a tasty baguette and sweet butter. Oui! Oui! Please monsieur, may I have another!

And another vacation, while you're at it. S'il vous plait.