Friday, January 23, 2009
Confessions of a Dietitian
As a general rule, I am not a fan of "healthified" recipes. Not because I think it's a bad idea to substitute applesauce for oil, or low-fat mayonnaise for regular, or ground flax seed and water for egg, or drained non-fat yogurt for sour cream, etc, but because (deep breath) IT DOESN'T TASTE GOOD.
Some healthified foods taste alright, I admit. But not all, or even most, are as good as the original. Whoever says they are is either lying, doesn't have taste buds, or has lived so long without tasting the full fat/full cholesterol/full sodium/full calorie version that they no longer know what they are talking about.
Case in point:
In high school, I was kind of renowned, I mean known for my chocolate chip cookies. I'm not saying they're spectacular, but they're really, really good: basic, tasty, comforting, and satisfying. I made them a lot, really a lot. A couple times a week? I really can't remember exactly how often, but when I think of high school, some of my clearest memories are of me scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl, spooning dough out onto cookie sheets, and yelling at people not to reuse their spoons between cookie dough tastings (we often went through all the spoons in the silverware drawer due to this rule). And I can still picture the exact location in the kitchen of every ingredient I used. Quite a feat since I haven't made anything in that kitchen for almost 7 years (my parents moved). But, I digress.
So, I was known for my chocolate chip cookies. This week, after hearing through a blog about this really great, healthier cookie recipe that was "just as good as the original", I threw my preconceived notions about substitutions aside and decided that maybe I could healthify my cookie recipe. I mean, I am a dietitian. What kind of message am I sending people when I show up on their doorstep with a bag full of fat-laden goodies? So, optimistically I looked at the suggested substitutions, read some recipe reviews and comments, bought some whole wheat flour, some unsweetened applesauce, and began.
Ewwww.
They were okaaaaay, but NOT "as good as the original". Texture was decent. . . flavor? off. In my opinion, save yourself from having to learn through experience and just take my word for it; make the original version and just eat a few.
Substitutions have their place, definitely, but in general I am more a fan of moderation. I realize that doesn't work for everybody, and if you know you're going to eat the entire batch of cookies then maybe you SHOULD make the healthified version, but for me, I would much, much, MUCH rather eat one or two of the original version.
Hmmm, maybe that's the secret. . . make the healthified version and you won't want to eat ANY! That's healthier for sure, but not happier. . .
There, I said it. I should probably be stripped of my license now, but I just had to get that off my chest.
(fellow dietitians, please be gentle)
Some healthified foods taste alright, I admit. But not all, or even most, are as good as the original. Whoever says they are is either lying, doesn't have taste buds, or has lived so long without tasting the full fat/full cholesterol/full sodium/full calorie version that they no longer know what they are talking about.
Case in point:
In high school, I was kind of renowned, I mean known for my chocolate chip cookies. I'm not saying they're spectacular, but they're really, really good: basic, tasty, comforting, and satisfying. I made them a lot, really a lot. A couple times a week? I really can't remember exactly how often, but when I think of high school, some of my clearest memories are of me scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl, spooning dough out onto cookie sheets, and yelling at people not to reuse their spoons between cookie dough tastings (we often went through all the spoons in the silverware drawer due to this rule). And I can still picture the exact location in the kitchen of every ingredient I used. Quite a feat since I haven't made anything in that kitchen for almost 7 years (my parents moved). But, I digress.
So, I was known for my chocolate chip cookies. This week, after hearing through a blog about this really great, healthier cookie recipe that was "just as good as the original", I threw my preconceived notions about substitutions aside and decided that maybe I could healthify my cookie recipe. I mean, I am a dietitian. What kind of message am I sending people when I show up on their doorstep with a bag full of fat-laden goodies? So, optimistically I looked at the suggested substitutions, read some recipe reviews and comments, bought some whole wheat flour, some unsweetened applesauce, and began.
Ewwww.
They were okaaaaay, but NOT "as good as the original". Texture was decent. . . flavor? off. In my opinion, save yourself from having to learn through experience and just take my word for it; make the original version and just eat a few.
Substitutions have their place, definitely, but in general I am more a fan of moderation. I realize that doesn't work for everybody, and if you know you're going to eat the entire batch of cookies then maybe you SHOULD make the healthified version, but for me, I would much, much, MUCH rather eat one or two of the original version.
Hmmm, maybe that's the secret. . . make the healthified version and you won't want to eat ANY! That's healthier for sure, but not happier. . .
There, I said it. I should probably be stripped of my license now, but I just had to get that off my chest.
(fellow dietitians, please be gentle)
Vote For JESSICA!
If you haven't yet voted on seriously so blessed's makeover finalists, go vote for Jessica!
Her husband, Andy, is deployed with Ben to Afghanistan. She totally deserves to win!
Her husband, Andy, is deployed with Ben to Afghanistan. She totally deserves to win!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Faces
We got a new camera after Christmas (thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Miller's Christmas gift and Costco prices). I haven't had many opportunities to play with it due to potty-training, going to Seattle, and having the flu but I got it out on our way out the door one day last week and asked Paige to make these faces:
Happy:
Sad:
Surprised:
Angry:
The camera's a Nikon D60. It's my first SLR and so far I really like it. I thought about springing for the D90 but a) Ben would've killed me (not literally!), b) I'm just beginning to learn about photography, and c) with my sister's camera history, I'm afraid I might drop it in the River, or smash it's $700 lens when the stroller tips over :)
Any thoughts on the Nikon D60? Good OR bad? Other cameras you like? I've still got like 70 days left on my return policy so feel free to be honest!
p.s. Thanks for your well-wishes! The flu has passed and we are feeling much better. Oh, and we're still looking for a place to live.
Happy:
Sad:
Surprised:
Angry:
The camera's a Nikon D60. It's my first SLR and so far I really like it. I thought about springing for the D90 but a) Ben would've killed me (not literally!), b) I'm just beginning to learn about photography, and c) with my sister's camera history, I'm afraid I might drop it in the River, or smash it's $700 lens when the stroller tips over :)
Any thoughts on the Nikon D60? Good OR bad? Other cameras you like? I've still got like 70 days left on my return policy so feel free to be honest!
p.s. Thanks for your well-wishes! The flu has passed and we are feeling much better. Oh, and we're still looking for a place to live.
Is it just me, . . .
or is 22 months a little young for my daughter to start trying to manipulate me by telling me she doesn't love me?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Icky
I've spent the last 3 hours laying in bed trying to keep down Sprite and Saltines.
The 8 hours before that were spent in close proximity to the toilet.
Paige is lying next to me watching her 5th straight half-hour of Thomas/Little Einsteins/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
I've managed to make it to the kitchen to get Paige's milk and juice and to get her to the potty once, but every time I stand up I get light-headed, nauseous, and quickly climb back into bed.
She's eating Saltines for breakfast too. Sigh . . . I am such a good mother. . .
My parents are out of town for the weekend.
I can't call Ben because he is in a 'secured' area where no cell phones are allowed.
Soooooooo BORED.
I HATE the flu.
(and yes, whining about it is already making me feel a little teensy bit better)
The 8 hours before that were spent in close proximity to the toilet.
Paige is lying next to me watching her 5th straight half-hour of Thomas/Little Einsteins/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
I've managed to make it to the kitchen to get Paige's milk and juice and to get her to the potty once, but every time I stand up I get light-headed, nauseous, and quickly climb back into bed.
She's eating Saltines for breakfast too. Sigh . . . I am such a good mother. . .
My parents are out of town for the weekend.
I can't call Ben because he is in a 'secured' area where no cell phones are allowed.
Soooooooo BORED.
I HATE the flu.
(and yes, whining about it is already making me feel a little teensy bit better)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
NEED HELP
Actually, we need a place to live.
We are quite flexible really. Maybe even too flexible. You see we'd like to find a small house or apartment or condo in St. George or Utah County or Wasatch County or Salt Lake County that Ben and Paige and I could live in for about 4 to 8 months while Ben re-does some of the application process for his favorite bureau.
Our price range is $0 to about $700.00 a month.
Partially to fully furnished would be nice.
And we'd like to rent month to month.
Anyone know anyone looking for new (flexible) tenants?
We are quite flexible really. Maybe even too flexible. You see we'd like to find a small house or apartment or condo in St. George or Utah County or Wasatch County or Salt Lake County that Ben and Paige and I could live in for about 4 to 8 months while Ben re-does some of the application process for his favorite bureau.
Our price range is $0 to about $700.00 a month.
Partially to fully furnished would be nice.
And we'd like to rent month to month.
Anyone know anyone looking for new (flexible) tenants?
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