Life, in 225 Nutshells

I found this over at More Than Burnt Toast the other day, where Valli had detailed a list of 225 things that were viewed as natural highs. I read it with great interest - going back to school (and especially being in Psychology) has given me a brand-new appreciation for the wonderful things there are in life! There are so many things I'd love to do, but so many things I've done and I haven't even realized - sometimes it takes somebody else to clue you in to how fortunate you've really been in life!


The one thing I really wish I could do more than anything else today is have the power to obliterate all the nasty fruit flies living in our kitchen. I drew the line when I had to clean out our tomato basket and discovered - cringe - maggots at the bottom! G-R-O-S-S. I've set up a jar/funnel trap as per instructions found at Re-Nest, so with luck we can stop getting our protein through accidentally ingested bugs!

As with my recap of the "100 Things" lists, I'm bolding things I've done, crossing out things I'm never going to do, and italicizing things I would really love to do!

1. Touched an iceberg (if glaciers count - Columbia icefields!)
2. Slept under the stars (we're a camping family)
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain (never on foot)
9. Held a tarantula (and never again)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it (every day!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (been on one boat when our neighbour's was struck!)
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise (didn't make it that long!)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game (hockey, baseball)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (big surprise, right?)
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse (won $10)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster (Rockin' Rollercoaster at WDW is the best!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun (not for very long though!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (once, would love it again!)
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland (ever since watching Laws of Attraction)
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch (did today!)
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason (thanks Andrew, and Mom, and Dad!)
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy (Rubik's cube!)
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did (one of my mom's ancestral relatives tried to burn down British parliament!)
71. Called or written your Congress person (for Civics)
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi (now I'm hungry!)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school (yay!)
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad (only part)
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish counts, Valli, I think!)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people (hopefully!)
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring (child of the '90s, people!)
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Prepared a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band (school band!)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage (used to be in dance, plus school plays!)
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter (J.K. Rowling!)
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away (down the street, as a kid)
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz and polka.
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books (read and own all the original Nancy Drews)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a Powerpoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter
201. Dove from a height of more than 60 feet
202. Ridden a donkey
203. Danced to the strains of bouzouki music, while drinking raki on a small island in Greece
204. Taken a cooking class
205. Seen your child graduate
206. Been very proud of someone else's accomplishments
207. Caught a fish
208. Smelled a rose
209. Eaten an heirloom tomato
210. Cooked for more than 50
211. Gone waterskiing, wakeboarding or tubing
212. Owned a dog or a cat
213. Celebrated a milestone birthday
214. Had hemorrhoids...wink...wink...
215. Hitchiked
216. Walked out of a store without paying for something
217. Helped a stranger
218. Come in contact with a wild animal (bear, moose, deer, elk, cougar....)
219. Seen the Pope, Prime Minister, President
220. Piloted a plane
221. Taken a ferry to Alaska
222. Swam in the Dead Sea
223. Visited the elderly in a care home
224. Given birth

103... out of 124, because apparently I'm missing one... but I can't find it!

Soooo Freeeeeee!

I am writing to you all today a very very happy girl... I just got the "official" word from my math prof that I don't have to shop up to class for another 5 weeks! I specify official, since I already knew that I'd get out of this class when I wrote my exemption exam last week (but I scored 88%... thank you very much!). This gives me all Friday afternoon off, yay!

With my time off (little as it is, but still!) I've got some definite plans for a bar cookie I've had in the works since, oh, June, so keep your eyes peeled! Free time = baking time!

Of course, that also means I'm going to have to devote more time to doing schoolwork, and making sure that I don't, you know, flunk anything, but I'm pretty sure I'll be okay. I'm feeling pretty under-utilized as it is these days, even with finishing my first Nutrition assignment today! I still have a research summary thing to do for my management course, but I can't actually start it until next week because we need an "orientation" of the library first. Hm! Well, at least nobody can say I didn't try!

But enough about that... you guys didn't come here for the whining (or the wine!), you're here for all the yummy foodables, right?? Well, I've got kind of a cop-out pair of snacks for you today - not a whole lot of "recipe" business going on, but I figured I'd celebrate my non-schooliness with two of my all-time favourite "healthy" treats (well, I am in Nutrition!), both of which I thoroughly enjoyed the last time I was in school. These may not be gourmet fare worthy of birthday parties or magazine covers, but they sure do keep you full and your sweet tooth satisfied!

Fibre Brownie Cups
Makes 24
3 cups 100% bran cereal
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 box Betty Crocker low fat brownie mix
1/2 tbsp baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 350F, and spray cupcake tins with nonstick spray (don't use liners).
2. Mix water and cereal together, let sit for 5 minutes.
3. Add the brownie mix and baking soda, stir together well.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes and then let cool completely.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 106.2
Total Fat: 2.0 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 94.8 mg
Total Carbs: 23.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.9 g
Protein: 2.3 g



Inapinch Cheesecake Snack
Serves 1
2 tbsp fat free cream cheese, soft
1/2 tbsp honey
1 Kellogg's All Bran Bar (Honey Nut flavour reccommended)
1 tbsp sugar-free strawberry or raspberry jam

1. Stir together cream cheese and honey until loosened and slightly fluffy.
2. Spread cheese mixture onto cracker, top evenly with jam

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 214.0
Total Fat: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 2.8 mg
Sodium: 361.2 mg
Total Carbs: 45.2 g
Dietary Fiber: 5.4 g
Protein: 7.1 g

Customs from Class

Going to school in the area of "Toronto" (really more Scarborough) that I do means that I share a lot of classes with people recently immigrated from China. It's such a great opportunity for me: I'm a culture junkie (especially with all things Asian) and befriending those around me in my program is a great way for me to learn about what it's like both as a new Canadian and as an Asian in general. Many of them are here on their own, either as students fresh out of highschool or here after leaving their families (and sometimes children) back home in order to upgrade their education. Most of them have very high-level degrees and years of work experience in other fields behind them, and I'm learning a lot about life in general when we talk! Today I noticed one of the girls eating a custard-like dumpling and I asked her what it was, it looked like a sweet version of the steamed buns I had made but the covering was a little different. She told me it was a mooncake that her mom had sent her, and I knew I had to find out something about them!

Turns out that for many Asians around the world, the fifteenth day of the eighth moon (or September 14 this year) is a night of celebration. Marking the abundance of the harvest, the moon festival is full of parades, dancing and eating in many communities. Moon cakes are traditionally given out as gifts to family and friends, and are stuffed with adzuki bean paste. The symbolism is that of luck and good fortune. Apparently, rum-raisin, Oreo, cream cheese, tiramisu, cappuccino, fruit, and Cognac-flavoured fillings are available too.

The stories behind the moon festival are widely varied, from what I can find out, but this website seems to have a good reference point. I also found a mooncake recipe in one of the old garage-sale cookbooks I own, so I figured I'd share it here too! I've added links to some of the "weirder" ingredients, for reference.

Hidden Gold Mooncakes
Serves 30

4 cups cooked glutinous rice flour (kao fun)
2 cups cold water
1 1/3 cups shortening
6 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups sweetened shredded coconut

10 tbsp sugar
2 cups water
½ cup custard powder
½ dried milk powder
2 eggs
½ cup unsalted butter

Skin:

1. Mix icing sugar, water, cocoa powder and shortening well.
2. Fold in rice flour and mix to a dough.
3. Divide the dough into 30 portions. Set aside.

Filling:

1. Heat water and melt the sugar.
2. Add desiccated coconut and stir to coat.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Mix well and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes.
4. Mould the filling into small, equal balls.

Assembly:

1. Wrap a ball of filling with a portion of pastry.
2. Roll into a ball and press into a mooncake mould (or a small container).
3. Knock it out gently and keep in the refrigerator 2 hours or until ready to be served.
4. They keep well for up to one week.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 359.8
Total Fat: 15.8 g
Cholesterol: 27.8 mg
Sodium: 60.9 mg
Total Carbs: 52.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 1.1 g
Protein: 2.6 g

School Food

Well, I'm finally back into the swing of things with school (I think... sorry for the lag time!). Apart from a few God-awfully long days, and the rather hard plastic chairs, I'm really having a blast! My professors for Psychology and my Kitchen lab class in particular are great: absolutely hilarious and entertaining while still being able to teach me something! I've even made some friends who are as passionate about food and (healthy) cooking as me, and I've swapped some recipes with them. In particular one of my friends (Johanna) shares my love of eggplant, and when I found this recipe in my mom's black box I knew I had to share it with her, and everyone else out there who loves veggies as much as me! (Psst - I bought a can of green jackfruit on a whim at the Asian grocer yesterday, so I can try out this yummy looking recipe! Stay tuned!).

I had to change a couple things in this recipe out of necessity for me, but if you can tolerate the oils in your diet feel free to swap in half the vegetable broth for a good-quality walnut oil (or extra-virgin olive if you have no walnut oil on hand). It's a strongly-flvoured salad, pretty pungent from the raw garlic and onion, so really letting the veggies marinate (add some cubed up tofu too for yummy protein "sponges"!) as long as possible is key to avoiding a mouthful of fire! I am wondering what this would be like re-warmed, though - I'm looking for good warm lunch ideas for the winter!!

Macedonian Summer Salad
Serves 4 generously
---Marinade---
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 tbsp red wine
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning

---Salad---
1 eggplant, peeled and chopped
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 English cucumber, halved and sliced
2 red peppers, chopped
1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
2 tbsp fresh basil

1. Prepare marinade and set aside.
2. Place eggplant and chopped tomatoes in a baking dish.
3. Broil 4 inches from heat for 8 minutes, flipping eggplant chunks after 4 minutes.
4. Pour broiled vegetables and any juices immediately into a bowl, pour marinade overtop.
5. Chill 2 hours.
6. Toss remaining ingredients with the basil and marinated vegetables and serve.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 83.3
Total Fat: 0.6 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 70.4 mg
Total Carbs: 18.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 5.4 g
Protein: 2.9 g

As if there was any doubt as to my psychology prof's sense of humour, check out this video that he showed our class last lecture. I call it "Two Brains", and it's definitely for anyone who loves (or just lives with) someone of the opposite sex!

Wickedly Wonderful Eggplant

Remember how I mentioned that I recently discovered my love of eggplant? Well I couldn't be happier that it's my new veggie of choice - especially with Winter coming around the corner (oh yes, I said it!). I actually fell in love with the idea of this eggplant dish when I saw it on We [Heart] Food a couple months ago. Chris and Lisa had adapted a Cooking Light recipe for a cheesy, crispy-baked eggplant lasagne type dish, reducing the cheese factor some more an adding extra veggies without losing the delicious, gooey-baked texture of the original. All I did was make a few more minor changes to make it vegan and suitable for my dietary needs (and tastes!). Instead of green pepper, I used some minced red bells from my garden, and instead of plain white mushrooms I added sliced creminis. I threw in an extra clove of garlic and my own Italian seasoning blend too, and instead of canned tomato sauce I used some of my home made passata. For the cheeses I subbed in Galaxy brand vegan mozzarella and rice parmesan - it was my first time using either of those products and I tell you, I'm in love! I also cut down on the breadcrumb content a wee bit, and used whole wheat crumbs.

I would call this a resounding success... I can't wait to chow down on it for tomorrow's lunch, and I'm definitely going to make it again for school meals throughout the winter! A big thanks to Andrew for his infinite patience and help today with the cooking, I couldn't have done it without you!

Veganized Veggie Bake
Serves 4
1 1/4 lbs eggplant, half-peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup water
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced thinly
1 medium red pepper, diced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, chopped
8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced thinly
1/4 tsp black pepper, divided
1 cup crushed tomatoes, divided
1 oz shredded vegan mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp grated rice "parmesan"
2 tbsp dry, whole-wheat breadcrumbs

1. Heat a non-stick grill pan (or broiler).
2. Salt and pepper eggplant slices lightly.
3. Grill or broil the eggplant 3 minutes on each side, until browned.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F.
5. Heat water in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat.
6. Add onion through mushrooms.
7. Cover and cook 7 minutes or until tender, stirring mixture occasionally.
8. Increase heat to medium-high. Uncover pan, and cook for 2 - 3 minutes or until almost all of the liquid evaporates.
9. Spread half of pan mixture in bottom of a deep baking dish coated with cooking spray.
10. Arrange half of eggplant slices over mushroom mixture.
11. Top with half the pepper, half the tomatoes and all the vegan mozzarella.
12. Spread remaining mushroom mixture over cheese.
13. Top with remaining eggplant, pepper and tomatoes.
14. Sprinkle with rice parmesan and breadcrumbs.
15. Cover dish, and bake 1 hour.
16. Remove cover, and return to oven for 10 - 15 minutes.
17. Let stand 10 minutes, then serve.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 132.7
Total Fat: 2.4 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 491.1 mg
Total Carbs: 22.5 g
Dietary Fiber: 5.9 g
Protein: 10.1 g

Also, a shout out to David at Wish I Were Baking... for his interest in my garden! Good luck on your dissertation, and I can't wait to see what that goldfish scarf turns into!