I was talking to friend and fellow blogger, EJ, a few months back and she self-deprecatingly joked, “Oh, I blog about my feelings.”
I replied, “Yeah, well I eat to deal with my feelings. So, really, that seems a much healthier way to cope.”
This summer was a whirlwind. There were some pretty thrilling highs, but also some shockingly dark lows. I’ve been working hard to pull myself out of the abyss and the past several weeks, I’ve finally started to feel more like myself. I mean, I have to admit, my life kicks a fair amount of ass. There really is no need for me the be Little Miss Thundercloud.
But the whole eating to kill your feelings thing? And um, all the drinking I have been doing in order forget what an asshole I can be sometimes? Plus, did you know that sometimes when you are drunk things like huge pieces of pizza at 3 am taste really freaking awesome? Yeah, my pants have been feeling a bit snug lately. They fit still, but I need to get it together. Self flagellation via mass consumption of burgers isn’t the prettiest of colors on me.
So, this month, I am righting the path. I’ve heard a from a few of you that late nights on roofdecks, consuming mass quantities of beer and margaritas chased by baskets full of fried goodies, have left you with a need to cleanse as well. During September, everything posted here will taste good, of course, but also be good for you. I am also going to attempt to lighten up a few classics (lighter chicken parm? yes, please…) If you have any requests, make your voice heard below. Also, if you need a jumping off point, scroll through the “healthy” category on the right of the page.
We are starting off with a softball. My new roommate moved in this weekend and our place is a mess. Frankly, it is a miracle I didn’t eat pizza all weekend…so I consider the chicken breast and these carrots I managed to scrape together Saturday night a huge victory. Annie Birdie left behind these baby carrots and I couldn’t let them go to waste. This is super easy, but also way more exciting than a handful of frozen broccoli, so that has to count for something.
To a month of new beginnings and treating ourselves well.
Balsamic Roasted Carrots
1 cup baby carrots, halved lengthwise
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried herbs de provence (or thyme or rosemary)
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 400. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour in pan and cook for 30 minutes.
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never really liked cooked carrots (raw ones are fine), but these, with the balsamic vinegar, might be worth a try.
I think cooked carrots can be bad because they are usually boiled or steamed, hence mushy. These maintain their crispness, plus balsamic makes everything better.
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Yea for healthier stuff, I’m right with you on the end of summer pants snugness. Time to cleanse.
I am convinced it is all the beer. Everyone always says winter is bad for them…it is ALWAYS summer for me. I cannot say no to a wheaty summer ale.
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Yum, balsamic carrots–definitely a great way to start off your September theme.
Thanks….easy, but tasty.
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I already put in my vote for a healthy chicken parm. And please, please take me on your ride back to a good place… it’s dark down here under all the pizza and burgers!
I will lead you to salvation if you promise to pry the onion rings from my hands.
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oh that looks so good – yum
you need a cooking show
Ha, thanks! I hate how my voice sounds on camera though…
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Oh, man, I’ve been living on beernuts and garnishes the last few months. I either need to clean up my act or go buy all new clothes.
So says the woman who brought FUDGE to the bar the other night. You are evil.
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Do you think these would be good with the balsamic tomatoes? Or is that balsamic overload? Is there even such a thing??
It may be a lot of balsamic, but I say why not? I like overkill.
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Fudge spiked with Kahlua, thankyouverymuch. And that’s just because it was my fifth wedding anniversary and nobody bought me any wood.
Remind me of the date next year and I will buy you a gift to save myself from the fudge.
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Hrm. The sixth anniversary is iron or sweets. So I guess it’ll be an anniversary for chicken liver, enriched cereal…or more fudge.
Cereal! Damn you woman!
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easy but tasty
plus requests for gifts of wood
best blog post ever
EVER?! That is a lot of pressure.
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Ah, you’ve inspired me to go to the gym.
You will thank me. I appreciate hand written notes of gratitude.
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Ahhhh… thank you, thank you, and thank you.
I too have been feeling the end of summer snugness and I know I have to get my sh*t together and get back on the healthy train.
I’m looking forward to healthy lemmonex posts!!
I have more where this came from…though the month is starting to look long!
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Cover the pan before putting in oven, yes?
Nope, no need to cover.
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Oh, and your voice sounds nice “on camera,” judging by the haircut post.
Thanks…I still think I sound 10, but I appreciate it.
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George and I volunteer to take long walks in the woods with you, for a bit of fun exercise.
That sounds…scary. Nature and I are not the best of friends.
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Never take long walks in the woods with anyone. You never know when you might run into someone … with a banjo … who ain’t seen no purty ladies in a spell…
I can hear the banjo in my brain and it scares me.
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Sqeeeee!
There are relatively smooth trails, and the occasional shirtless man will jog by now and again. It’s quite lovely, in all aspects.
You had me at shirtless.
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Did you know there are finely diced carrots in the SOUP?!
Muahahahahaha…
Thanks for the healthy eating suggestions and I’m getting on finding that less greasy, healtier falafel suggestion from my dad.
Healthy falafel would make me a happy little clam. Thanks, darling.
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Carrots add such nice color to just about everything, while being SOOO good for you. I sauteed them with zucchini in a little lemon olive oil the other day and the result was pretty and delicious. I do love the taste of Balsamic vinegar. It’s a grown-up taste, yes?
It is a very grown up taste. I love it when it is reduced in to a thick syrup…yum.
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summer always seems to do that to us. you would think being in bathing suits all the time would stop us, but we don’t think about that till we’re getting ready to go to the pool or beach.
And seriously, cookouts? I sat in front of a bag of chips and salsa and wrecked it this weekend…but ya know, they were baked chips, so its ok.
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Healthy “fried” anything is easy- dip in egg whites/egg beaters, then crushed up fiber one cereal, mixed with seasoning. bake until crispy.
summer is bad for me b/c i dont run outside as much. which means i don’t run at all. (long walks count though, right?)
I don’t love the cereal route, but it works for sure. And walks definitely count. Easier on the joints…
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Don’t be so hard on yourself. Based soley on what I read you sound pretty awesome. What’s done is done. You can’t undo it in one sense, but in terms of loosening up those trousers (and not through unbuttoning) you can and I have confidence you will. After all, the eternal question is what is more important to me, that [insert food in front of me at the moment] or feeling good about myself. Nothing like the righteous feeling of making the right choice! Rock on lemmonex.
Thanks, jman. I would say I am somewhat to moderately awesome.
Truthfully, though…I know I can right the course. I have done it before and will again in the future, I am sure. But with food stuff, at least for me, I must always remain vigilant as it is one slippery ass slope.
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This is your anal reader from above. That should be “solely” – it would kill me to think that someone thought I didn’t know the difference.
We allow typos here…I know you know the difference. Fear not.
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mmmm….those look tasty.
However, does this mean that if I were to dangle the invitation to meet me for Peanut Butter Pie (you know, all in the name of being fair and giving Kramer’s a second chance) that you’d turn me down??!?
OK, that’s just not fair. I’d possibly meet you, just eat the pie, and have salad for dinner. Does that cancel it out?
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It absolutely does cancel it out!! Especially if you exercise that day…sweat cancels out just about everything in my book. lol.
OK, well then I say it is a date.
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Walks count for sure. I walk about 2 miles every day to and from work, and I definitely notice the lack when I stay home for a long weekend. Combining walking with weight lifting and resistance exercises like lunges, squats, touching your toes, etc. seem just as good as jogging.
I’m somewhat the opposite of eating to drown feelings. When I’m upset or angry I shun food altogether, and I just sit and fume. There have been times when I’ve been out with my husband, and I’d stubbornly not touch my plate, nursing my grudge. I don’t start eating until I’m happy again.
I like to eat A LOT when I’m happy though. I gained a ton of weight in the year leading up to my wedding. When I was trying out wedding dresses, I was a little porker! My relatives commented on how I looked chubby in my wedding photos. I actually started working out a few months before that, because I didn’t realize how I couldn’t fit into a lot of clothes anymore.
It’s annoying that this weight thing is always going to be a daily, constant struggle. Such a drag trying to be healthy!
I know? Why do we have to work?! No fair.
Oh, and I eat when I am happy, too. I mean, there is never a time when I am NOT going to want to eat.
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Excellent cooks! Especially for a carnivore like myself and my herbivore wife.
Wow, cats and dogs, living together…
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