If you’re seeing this, KERF is back to square one. She’s back at BlueHost. What should have been a 5 hour seamless switch turned into a 5 day nightmare of errors and server crashes. They are still not sure what the problem is. I’m not sure what to do either! So here I am, back at slow BlueHost, but at least I am able to talk to you guys and post. Hopefully my next move will be painless and easy. And please know that if anything happens go over to Twitter for an update.
A huge thank you to Jenn and Dustin for everything. This was totally unexpected and they’ve put in so many hours trying to fix it from the goodness of their hearts.
***
And here’s the rest of the weekend! We saw the second of our triple movie Sunday at 12:15: The Hangover. (The first movie was Rumplestiltskin watched on You Tube!) I packed a bunch of snacks to distribute if people got hungry, but since breakfast was late, we had no stomach rumbling to report.
Once home, though, I was hungry and decided to have a smaller snack and an early dinner before movie #3.
I decided on another of the new Chobani flavors they sent for sampling – Pomegranate!
I mixed it up with some Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Nature’s Path Granola, flax and cinnamon almonds. Perfect snack to tide me a few hours till dinner.
The three of us went for a nice run. It was balmy and breezy and although not hot, we were drenched in humidity when we returned. We did exactly 4 miles in 35:34 = sub 9-minute miles!!! It’s been a while since I’ve seen that. Blame the boys!
Dinner was eaten at 5:30 and was leftovers from the cookout –
Another rice, bean + beet veggie burger with some melted jack cheese, ketchup and mustard, with pickle and tomato and some chips over spinach. Burger, deconstructed.
Then we headed out to meet Caitlin and Jason for the movie!
I had so much fun eating my Fig-a-ma-jig dessert during Harry Potter that I packed another chocolate-y bar to have as a snack: Hazelnut Jocalat from Erica! Loved it!
FOOD, Inc. was really good. I had so many thoughts while watching and wanted to actually take notes, but I didn’t want to miss parts to write things down! Think I’ll have to see it again to fully…digest. I thought it was very well done and was exactly how I thought it would be. Nothing about the meat industry is glamorous – even on PolyFace Farm – but I think the extremes were well portrayed in the movie. I LOVE the PolyFace concept (I did a talk on it in my Cultural Foods class) and love the concept of sunlight –> grass –> animals –> fertilizer + human nutrition. I wish they had showed more small and mid-sized local farms, but I guess there just aren’t enough to show, which is sad. I really loved Stonyfield’s role in the movie as a balance between the industry extremes. Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield’s CEO, really hit the bull’s eye when he spoke about consumers being the ones to start change, and if Wal-Mart is feeling the demand, any store can. One part of the movie I found especially saddening was the family who could not afford vegetables and got the most bang for their buck from the fast food window. I’m taking a Community Nutrition course this fall, and I’m sure we’ll discuss this a lot more. I think this is another reason why the change has to start with the people who can afford lettuce and green peppers and eggplant so hopefully the demand will trickle down and make healthy food affordable for all budgets.
The movie didn’t change my personal goals, but I do need to step it up with my actions. I choose organic meat and dairy when I shop (95% of the time) and try to eat locally and in season, but I don’t always, and the biggest reason is laziness. Driving to the farmer’s market is a pain in the butt, but I need to do it more. Getting Grateful Growers meat and the new local grass-fed beef at the market is worth the trip. (But it doesn’t make it easy when I find out the market is CLOSED on Mondays!) We didn’t re-join our CSA with Poplar Ridge this year because it was soooo expensive, but this movie reminded me WHY it is expensive and why it is important. Charlotte is just starting to develop some great options for local / organic and I need to make more of an effort to support them. While I choose to spend my household money on organics (and you all know that is really not that often), when in restaurants it’s very difficult to know what kind of meat you are eating. This is something I felt I was “doing my best†on – a compromise – but I think I can work harder to chose restaurants and meat entrees that I know more about. I would rather support the local farms by eating their meat than go vegetarian and boycott the industry all together, but in restaurants, perhaps that is a good alternative. We shall see…
I think Michael Pollan still rules all with his famous phrase, but let’s add in a few extras: “Eat [local + sustainable] food. Not too much. Mostly plants [with meat from farmers who are trying to change the world].â€
Matt and I went to bed still talking about the movie and I imagine the conversation will continue on and on (which was the movie’s goal, right?!)
***
Monday
(Gosh, I don’t even know what day it is!!)
Still lovin’ my smoothies-in-a-bowl!!! The crunchy cereal and smooth nut butter in the fun liquid is just so delicious!
Ingredients:
- Handful ea. of spinach + kale
- 1 banana (half frozen, half fresh)
- 1 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1 tbsp flax
- Nature’s Path Granola (freebie from Organic Heroes)
- Quaker Oatmeal Squares
- Hazelnut butter – I swear it’s in there but the spoon sunk!
When Matt got up he made us both some coffee –
After a bunch more frustrating blog stuff, we finally went for an 11:30 AM workout. It was a nice one – biking there, where we ran into a turtle!! Luckily I had my iPhone on my to stay in touch with blog emails, so I got a photo. Brave boy –
At the gym I did 30 minutes on the ET and we ended with pull-ups and push-ups, which left me shaking.
I was starving and biked straight home while Matt went to the grocery store for some goodies for his week alone (I leave tomorrow for my parents’ and Baltimore on Wed.)
He found plums and potatoes super cheap in the reject card!
We had kale in the fridge, so I made kale chips for lunch!
Dipped in ketchup
Plus a Dakota bun sandwich with Cilantro hummus and cilantro pesto
Some carrots with PB
And two of the cheap-o plums
I had a sip of wine with lunch just for fun. This is why we don’t keep open bottles in the house! 😉
This afternoon we worked away at our computers, trying to fix KERF and start a bakery.
And this arrived from Shannon at The Daily Balance!!!!! Thanks Shannon!! Can’t WAIT to start it!
For dinner we made some of my mom’s Homemade Tomato Sauce (see sidebar). This is the BEST sauce ever. I have a few very strong food smell associations from my childhood. I get one puff and the whole room changes ambiance. One is bacon at my grandmother’s house and the other is this tomato sauce, which my mom would have simmering on the stove when I’d come home from a long summer day of playing. The secret ingredient is sherry – and lots of it!
It has to simmer for over an hour, so we got it started at 5.
Around 6PM this girl needed a drink. Would it totally gross you out if I said there were a few dead knats trapped in the wine bottle from Saturday’s party and we fished them out and still drank this? Wine is gold 🙂
Looks like some shrooms are growing on my table!!
Thanks to Matt for putting together dinner while I stressed over the blog crashes.
We ate mom’s sauce over whole wheat spaghetti with some cooked ground beef, mushrooms and green peppers. It was A.mazing.
Splash more to sip with the sauce –
Matt always asks me if I want bread will dinner. I usually say “nah, I don’t need any.†And he has learned to make two pieces anyways because I usually take a bite of his!! Here are his two pieces of Blue Cheese Walnut bread, and I had two bites 😉
Most of the way through Matt proclaimed he was full and was going to save the rest of his for another meal this week. I sat back and asked myself if I’d had enough too. It tasted SO good, but yes, I was pretty full. So I left the rest mine too! Somebody has a delicious dinner for Wednesday night!
Write Away
Latest on Gather: You’re The Boss!
Latest Mushroom Channel recipe: Summer Mushroom Soup!
Breakfast
Gah, it took everything this blog has to upload and place in this photo!!! I got up early at 6 this morning to fit in a workout before my trip. Biked to the gym and back and spent 30 minutes on the Stairmaster.
After some packing and scurrying aruond, I made a no-cook breakfast.
- Pineapple Chobani (THE BEST FLAVORED YOGURT EVER!) (
- Nature’s Path Granola
- Oatmeal Squares
- Almond Haze nut butter
- A few slivered almonds
- A Peach (I cut into a papaya Karen brought over and did not like it! It was bitter?!)
- And Tazo Chai tea
Traveling Pants Trip #26
Here we go again!!! I’m off to Hillsborough to meet two of my girlfriends for lunch, then have dinner with my Aunt Pat, who is visiting with her cute seeing-eye dog!, and then I’m off to Towson, MD on Wednesday. (Baltimore readers, I’m not sure if I’ll have time for a meet-up, but send me an email anyways so I’ll have a way to contact you guys if you’re interested in meeting. I’m only there Wed-Sat though and have dinner plans all 3 nights.)
I’m going by Great Harvest to say goodbye to Matt!
Farewell for now…
Spotty Prep says
So glad you’re getting everything figured out 🙂 The table mushrooms are too funny!
Danielle says
I am right there with you on Food Inc. it definitely emotionally-affected me but not because it was new information, rather the fact that I knew that the people who really needed to see this kind of film probably won’t. I did have a lot to say about it via video post though, take a look if you’re interested… http://www.danielleabroad.com/2009/07/hungry-for-change.html
caitlin says
glad you are back! i missed you!
food inc was a great movie and i think all americans should be forced to watch it.
Lara (Thinspired) says
So glad you are up and running again! Your KERFlings missed you 🙂
I really appreciate your take on Food, Inc. I probably won’t get to see it for a while so it’s nice to hear what bloggers think.
Enjoy TTW!
Lauren says
New Chobani flavors?! Awesome! I just wish they made organic yogurt…
I cannot wait to see Food Inc. what with all of the reviews circulating throughout the blogosphere. I should really see it before the Summit, as I’m sure it will be a hot topic of discussion.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a wonderful book. Enjoy it!
leslie says
glad you’re back, even if it’s been so stressful. i’m so sorry you had to deal with all this!
thanks for your food inc. thoughts. i have similar feelings about restaurant eating, and that is something i want to continue to work on. i like your modified pollan quote. 🙂
MarathonVal says
1) So glad you are finally back! 🙂 We missed you!
2.) I owe ya that choc coconut bars recipe, but since I didn’t follow a recipe the first time I’m waiting until I make it again, and right now THAT is waiting on my next trip to the store to get the rest of the ingredients!
3) You will love The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s honestly my favorite book of all time, and its the only book I think I’ve read more than once… I reread it every summer. Definitely try to finish the book first if you can before you see the movie!
MarathonVal says
1) So glad you are finally back! 🙂 We missed you!
2.) I owe ya that choc coconut bars recipe, but since I didn’t follow a recipe the first time I’m waiting until I make it again, and right now THAT is waiting on my next trip to the store to get the rest of the ingredients!
3) You will love The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s honestly my favorite book of all time, and its the only book I think I’ve read more than once.. I reread it every summer. Definitely try to finish the book first if you can before you see the movie!
MarathonVal says
1) So glad you are finally back! 🙂 We missed you!
2.) I owe ya that choc coconut bars recipe, but since I didn’t follow a recipe the first time I’m waiting until I make it again, and right now THAT is waiting on my next trip to the store to get the rest of the ingredients!
3) You will love The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s honestly my favorite book of all time, and its the only book I think I’ve read more than once…. I reread it every summer. Definitely try to finish the book first if you can before you see the movie!
nic says
YAAAY!!! For you being online again!!!
I really missed your posts!! Wouldn’t have thought that one blog alone would stirr up my day so much! 😉
Anyways!! Hurrah for being here again!!
I got my copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife too a few days ago! And can’t wait to start!! I’m sure we will love it!!
Have a nice day (once it started) and keep up with your awesome posts!! xo
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
Sorry for all the technical troubles, but glad to see KERF is back! I love the ‘shrooms growing out of your table – cool!
Erica says
So glad KERF is back up! Fun recap- lots of yummy foods in here. I’m especially loving the tomato sauce! Glad the bar hit the spot. Have a great Tuesday
Susan says
Loved your thoughts on Food Inc! Ever since I started eating meat again, I’ve been eating it mostly at restaurants since I don’t really know how to cook it at home. But I always feel nervous at restaurants because I also don’t know where it’s coming from! Something I need to work on too…
Nice to see you’re back!! 😀
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
Glad you’re back and things are working ok (knock on wood!) You’ll love that book! I’ve read it TONS of times now!
Sarah says
Thanks for the review of Food, Inc. I cannot wait to see it! I struggle with watching people eat so much fast food claiming they can’t afford to eat healthy, but I know from my own experience of being married young and on a strict budget, that buying mostly fruits and vegetables in season (and less meat and processed goods) actually saves us money. No, they are not all organic but you have to start somewhere. It’s better than a McDonald’s cheeseburger!
Sorry to hear about all your blog troubles, hope you have a better day today!
Caitie says
I loooved The Time Travelers Wife! Weird, but such a good love story! Cant wait to see the movie, either!!:)
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Laura says
wow, i have to make that tomato sauce asap. it looks absolutely delicious!
any updates on the recipe for those bean veggie burgers?
Kristen says
I’m sooo sorry for all you blog difficulties! I’m glad to see this mega-post!
One thought re Food Inc…Those families who can’t afford anything but fast food also probably live in an area with a HUGE number of fast food joints. Maybe they don’t have a car. It’s easy to see why it’s a perfect storm!
I’ve heard of some cities placing limits on the number of fast food places in a certain radius due to obesity concerns. I think this might be a step in the right direction. It would at least create space for a decent grocery store for people to choose to support.
Glad this movie has sparked so much discussion!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
Welcome back! You are so so welcome for the book! Make sure you read it before you see the movie 😉 FANTASTIC looking pasta dish! yumyumyum 😉
Amanda says
Glad you’re back!! Love that book … just got a liiiittle confused by how the whole time traveling thing worked!
Pam (Highway to Health) says
Glad you are back! Your pasta look delicious!
Katey says
yay! its workingg 🙂 looks like you had an awesome few days!
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
Aw, sorry you’re still having problems with KERF! But glad you’re able to post. And that is the cutest turtle! 🙂
Christie @ Quit Your Diet says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Food, Inc. I missed my chance to see it in Richmond but hope the put it out on DVD sometime in the near future.
Heather (Sugar & Spice Blog) says
Hi Kath –
I hope you like The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s one of my favorite modern novels! Perfect timing – you can have it finished by the time the movie comes out later in the month!
Becci says
I’m glad things are working better with KERF!!!! I loved all of your food pics in this post…especially the pasta and the salad with the leftover burger (I can’t wait for the recipe on that one!!).
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says
Smells are such strong memory reminders… Smelling toast and strong black coffee always reminds me of my parents!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Sorry to hear the blog is causing you so much stress! Thanks for working so hard on it for us. 🙂
Everything looks so delicious! Loving that smoothie in a bowl, and the pasta from last night sounds fabulous.
Have a great trip Kath!
Andee (Runtolive) says
Glad the blog is working again! That tomato sauce looks delicious! I’ve always wanted to make my own sauce, but I am just too lazy and always buy pre-packaged marinara sauce
Lainie says
Pineapple and pomegranate chobani? Those sound so good! Glad your blog is up-and-running again. I’m jealous you got to see Food, Inc.; I’m dying to see it!
elizabeth says
1. that smoothie in a bowl looks sooo delicious!!
2. diggin the homemade tomato sauce and the most adorable turtle ever!
3. how do you make your kale chips? do you use a dehydrator or an oven?
Deva says
I’m happy you have things up and running, even if it is a little slow – I missed my daily KERF.
I have yet to see Food, Inc. I want to – I try to buy organic when I can, and try to buy local when I can, too.
Erin says
Kath, thanks for spreading the message about the movie. I’ve been practicing Ethical Eating (http://walkinthisworld.com/?page_id=3772) for years now, and I can help you or anyone that is looking for small ways to make small changes in your approach to choosing meat.
Anne K. says
Sorry about all the server drama! That must be so frustrating. Your dinner salad looks amazing! I love that you used the cookout leftovers.
I thought Food Inc. was a really good movie. It’s definitely made me attempt to eat more local foods!
Krissy (Single Serving) says
So happy to see you are back!
I need to see Food Inc. I feel the same way you do – with the same excuses – but I really should make a better effort. It’s really important.
Cynthia (It all changes) says
Even with the slowness I’m here to read 🙂
I love The Time Traveler’s Wife…I’m waiting anxiously for the movie to come out soon. Hunni wants to see it with me.
Monique says
Kath, Im having withdrawal symptoms ever since you tried to change servers. Dont do it to me! *taking deep breaths*
1. i LOVED food inc. and it totally made me go home and look up my local farmers market and look into comunity gardening (cant have a garden on my fire escape in nyc!) So glad you liked it – it definitely put things into perspective!
2. I LOVE time travelers wife. It was given to me while sentenced to bed rest after a sinus surgery. Out of every book i have ever read it is my all tiem favorite book. I even met and fell in love with man named Henry and gave him a copy of the book! Enjoy it! And I cant wait to see the movie!
3. I read your blog faithfully every day but have never submitted a comment until today to tell you i have missed my daily dose of kath.
that is all.
Go and drink gnat wine and be merry… btw – gnats = protein. you drank a protein infused wine. (and I might have done something similar because who has money to waste on drunk gnats!)
Ruth says
Awh, I’m sorry about the website issue. I hope things workout for you soon!
Ashley says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Food Inc. As a leader in food blogging and someone who will be affecting the nutritional options of many people given the profession you’re choosing, I strongly urge you to look at reasons for eating meat vs. not. If, for a class assignment, you had to investigate both sides of the argument, there would be overwhelming evidence to choose veganism and virtually none for eating meat. I urge you, challenge you, to consider it, and then talk about it. I can only think of about 3 reasons to eat meat, and they’re all pretty weak arguments.
“A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral.”
Leo Tolstoy
“The fact is that there is enough food in the world for everyone. But tragically, much of the world’s food and land resources are tied up in producing beef and other livestock–food for the well off–while millions of children and adults suffer from malnutrition and starvation.”
-Dr.Walden Bello
“If you don’t like my opinions, leave. But just remember, the animals can’t leave the cages that hold them. They are captive and suffering. As you’re cozy into your bed tonight, try to imagine the pain and the suffering that they endure day after day and night after night. Next time you get some soap in your eyes, try to imagine that pain for 3 or 4 days at a time. Next time you have a stomach ache, try to imagine liquid plumber being poured down your throat till you puke so much blood that you bleed to death. Next time you bump your head, try to imagine being a monkey and getting a steel plate smashed into your skull at 50 miles per hour. Then, only then should you feel compelled to tell me that I’m wrong about my opinions. For all these things have happened in the name of science. They continue in abundance till this day.”
-Ricki Rockett
Check out this website:
http://www.veganwolf.com/reasons_to_be_vegan.htm
Or this book:
http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/winter09/006595.htm
Please don’t delete my comment. I’m not being hostile, just urging you to consider something.
valerie says
Does Food Inc. discuss how going veggie reduces our carbon footprint more than almost anything else and how it would lead to less hunger and more food for all? I really want to see the film. I think it’s great to support local farms and eat organic but I think cattle farming is quite damaging to the environment.
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) says
Whoa, new Chobani flavor??! Looks good….
You’re going to LOVE that book- I just finished it and it is so amazing!
Jessica says
aw im sorry youre having so much trouble with the blog 🙁
your foods look lovely tho! the turtle picture is soo cute!
-muffy
Beth @ CrossBorderCravings says
sorry to see you’re having such trouble!! hopefully things get fixed soon. what would we all do without KERF!?
Bev says
Is anyone else page for KERF taking along time?
Bev says
Is anyone else page for KERF taking along time to load?
Natalie M. says
I saw Food Inc. last week and absolutely loved it! Glad you enjoyed it as well.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
wow that’s so annoying about all of this website stuff! i swear something is going on technologically in the world…my mac and my cable and my phone all died and i just had a photo shoot where the camera kept overheating.
Penny says
KERF is back!!!! I have been having withdrawls.
Penny says
Also, that is a fantastic book. One of my faves.
Diana says
Glad to see the blog is back up! 🙂
Pomegranate chobani sounds delish…are they selling that in stores yet?
Have a safe trip!
Sami Rivard says
You’ll adore TTTW, I have no doubt. I read it last year. It was given to me as a gift and has become one of my all time favorite books.
Jaime says
Hey,
You receive so many comments! I tried to read through them to make sure I wasn’t asking a question you’ve already answered, so I’m sorry if I repeat something or cause you to repeat yourself.
1. Do you have a recipe for the rice, beans, and beet burgers? Or can you refer me to a good one?
2. Do you need anything other than a blender to put spinach or kale in a smoothie? I would really like to try it, but all I’ve got is an old blender.
I think you’re blog is excellent. Thanks so much for your time!
Katee says
You are going to love The Time Travelers Wife! I just read it for the first time a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so much i immediately read it again. Reading it for the second time was a million times better than the first! If you have time, you really should read it twice in a row!
Love love love your site!