Friday, October 10, 2008

Giving Thanks

Wow, that's got to be probably the least original title for a Thanksgiving post ever. Whatever... it's too late tonight to worry about that now! I took some time today to ponder what it is I'm thankful for right now, and the list is so long! Apart from the usual (but important) family, friends, health and assorted similar items, I guess I'd have to say I'm thankful for the chance to go back to college this fall, thankful for the confidence I had to make new friends and stay in touch (as much as I could) with the old, and thankful for the strength and stamina to keep up with my schoolwork, this blog and life in general!

I'm also grateful for the teachers I've had this year, both school and socially related, in person and online. Without them I'd never have been able to move forward and "grow up"!

This (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend is being split a couple different ways, unlike last year when I only had my dad's shindig to go to (seeing as the other half of my gene pool was off in Italy). I'm taking tomorrow morning and jetting to my hometown to bring my best friend from highschool her birthday gift and say "hi" before she disappears back to school, and hopefully I'll be able to hit the local flea market with Andrew too (if I can get my ankle to hold up... it's not being too happy with me these days). Then I'm coming home and making myself a take-along meal for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday which will be spent at my grandparents' place, since I can't eat the usual fare. I've also got a couple cakes to frost and store for the family dinners, and of course you'll get the recipes (actually, one of them is posted here already)! Sunday and Monday are basically eat-talk-sleep days - tell me a Thanksgiving weekend that isn't? Holidays are meant for that purpose!

I don't get out of schoolwork completely though - an oh-so-wonderful couple of assignments are keeping me busy these days (hence the lack of daily posting... I try!). Between writing out HACCP recipe charts, biographical interview reports and training sheets for deep-fryers, the last thing I want to do is think logically!! Yes, I am a whiner. Hear me roar.

For everyone out there celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, and everyone else out there too, I hope it's a good one! If you'd like to join in my low-fat veggie celebration meal, try this recipe on for size... you may never think of a holiday meal the same way.

Tangy Red Grain Salad
Serves 1 as a lunch entree
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup dry bulgur
100g raw beets, coarsely grated (peeled if necessary)
1 tbsp dried cranberries
1 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
1/2 tbsp vegetable broth
Black pepper to taste

  1. Combine water and salt in a small pot, bring to a boil.
  2. Add bulgur and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 15 minutes.
  3. Stir in beets, cranberries, vinegar, broth and pepper.
  4. Serve immediately or chill.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 207.2
Total Fat: 0.7 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 383.4 mg
Total Carbs: 47.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 9.6 g
Protein: 5.9 g

Photo from Archana's blog

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