Make No Bones About It We're Vegan


Showing posts with label popcorn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label popcorn. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Training Tuesdays is Coming and PB Popcorn is Here

Starting Tuesday, September 12th, 2012, Veganville will be doing it up just for you, yep you reader extraordinaire. Yesiree, Veganville has a new Tuesday feature. Before I launch into to that announcement, I've um got a question for ya. I just want to know why, I mean really, why are you sitting there vegging out, reading a food blog when you know you should be working out? How' bout some lunges while reading? Wait...on second thought before you start plieing or planking, my lawyer tells me that I need to write a disclaimer or something. Okay.


DISCLAIMER
We here at Veganville are not doctors of anything, and take no responsibility for gout, kidney stones, or sloth. Please see your doctor before starting any regimen, or joining a regime.


So starting next Tuesday we will be launching Training Tuesdays. Oh we'll still be an irreverent vegan food blog alright, but let's say you want to go raw, get off sugar, run a 10k, drop a few pounds, commit to a new exercise program or even just eat meatless two nights a week, Training Tuesdays will be the place to commit and follow up. We'll share exercises and healthy foods, coaching affirmations, and guest bloggers. You can check in with your progress or gripes in the comment section every Tuesday. We're with you. So say sianara to the naysayers, and hello to the yaysayers. After all, we could all  use a little support.


So why here, why now, and who gave you the right, GiGi? 

Back in June, my friend Noreen climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although I was thrilled for her feat, not so much her feet, I was a little ticked off at myself. After I read about Noreen's climb I took off on my leisurely 6 mile walk. My inner dialogue went something like this, "lalala, it's so nice out, then you are a deadbeat, why can't you climb mountains GiGi? or cross Alaska on a dog sled, GiGi? You are a has been athlete, GiGi! Boy it's nice out. Lalala" .When I got to the track portion of my walk I noticed all these old people running, and running and running. When I say old I mean old, because I am old.

So you know what I did? By God I ran with the other old people. I ran and I ran and I ran, um a half mile. On the walk home my inner dialogue changed, and I was filled with questions.Why aren't I doing more strenuous exercise, why did I stop running? I realized  I was afraid of further injury and I had let old injuries define me. Then, miraculously instead of calling myself an ex-athlete, I affirmed that I was still in pretty good shape, and have always done some form of exercise, I affirmed that I knew how to train, and racked up more things I had going for me.

My asset list:
1. Strict Vegan (9 years). Veg before that for several decades
2. Know how to train, and rest
3. In decent shape
4. Ex-competitive athlete (three sports) and pro (one sport)
5. Ex-athletic coach 12 years
6. I eat clean- no processed sugar- in a year, I consume mostly whole grains or gluten free flour
vegetables and fruits.
7. System detoxed. Have had no mind altering substances or fire water for close to 30 years

Then I listedPossible Obstacles:
1. Two herniated discs L-4 L-5
2. Two bum knees
3. Many ten hour days in the kitchen
4. Sore feet
5. Exhaustion
6. Lots of old injuries- including lost total use of both arms and and had PT for two years and operation.

Listing the obstacles, gave me awareness, alleviated fear, and helped me to stay in solution.

The thing is, I garnered esteem from completing a half mile. I knew I would continue running and make goals for myself, because if nothing else, I am not a quitter. By the end of June I was running 2.5 miles and tagging on 3 mile walk, in July 4 miles + 3 mile walk and by mid August 5.5 miles with an additional 3 mile walk tagged on.


I was careful and could not run everyday. Some days I had to ice my knees and use Castor oil packs. (Will explain next Tuesday). Other days I had to ice my back and eat lots of anti- inflammatory kale. In late August both my knees swelled up. I refused to get discouraged, and concentrated on meditative healing. I cut down on my mileage and am now back up to a 4 mile run with 3 mile walk. I have added more stretching and core ball exercises. I don't self flagellate if I miss a few days. Missed days are rarely if ever due to sloth, beating myself up is not healthy.

Let's all celebrate Training Tuesdays with PB Popcorn.


Ingredients
1 C unpopped popcorn or 16 cups popped popcorn (we use a whirly popper)
1 C agave
2 Packets Stevia
1 C natural peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Pop corn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large paper bag. Meanwhile in a heavy saucepan, combine agave and Stevia. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool for a minute. Add peanut mixture to popcorn bag and shake until coated. Pour into bowl.

So who's in? Let's support each other with positive change.

Let me know what's on your asset list. What do you want to achieve?
I am so excited to hear about your goals.
Today's motto:

Congratulate don't flagellate.

Hugs,
GiGi





Wednesday, October 12, 2011

MoFo Day 12 Lookie Lookie Lookie Here Comes Snoozy

Is it November 1st yet? Sorry didn't know you were there. I was busy celebrating my first day off in two weeks. Tomorrow is the actual day off but tonight I got to take a power snooze. I could have slept until tomorrow but the Type A nudnick inside of me didn't want to miss another MoFo post this early in the game. I'll keep it short, sweet and unadorned. I wanna get back to my pillow. No technicolor dreams for me. Here is a snapshot of the inside of GiGi's REM  cycle brain. Photo credit of GiGi's inner sleep sanctum taken by the husband aka Psycho Boy. Thank you PB!



 Our awake life and dinner...

Sweet dreams.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A Narcoleptic's Food Blog

My sleep habits are funky lately. If you stopped by because you are vegan for health reasons, you came to the wrong place. Sorry. We're ethical vegans over here in Veganville. If it was the 90's and I was a decade younger, (okay 20, 25 oh shush years younger), we'd be vegan straight edges here too.
Anyway let's discuss narcolepsy, shall we? Narcolepsy as anyone would tell you is characterized by scatter shot sleep patterns. Narcoleptics fall asleep at inopportune times like when triple chocolate chip cookies are supposed to be taken out of the oven. Remember when I gave in and got the most unugly crocs I could find? They are very comfy. Crocs are a big catalyst for narcolepsy. Anyway my snoozing function is off kilter. An intended one hour catnap could morph into six or even a baker's dozen. By the time I drag my groggy ass to the kitchen to cook dinner, kale and wilted greens become less of an option. Homemade kettle corn usually does the trick and provides the needed nutrients.
I started recording again and am working on a new show. I know the adrenaline rush has effected my quotidian shut-eye. If you are good I'll give you a peek at the new project at the end of this post.

Kettle Corn- (My keyboardist makes it in a Whirly Pop but you can use a big heavy pan)
1/4 C sugar
1/2 C popcorn kernels
1/3 C mix of canola/olive oil
3/4 tsp sea salt

Heat oil in a large pot or Whirly Pop over medium-high heat. Add popcorn and sugar giving it a quick stir and then cover with lid. Once popcorn starts popping, pick it up and give it a quick shake every few seconds until popping slows down, between 3-4 minutes. Remove immediately from heat and pour into a large bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and chow down and checkout this Cd..
Our keyboardist, Larry Tasse suffers from the same syndrome I do.

Robby will don this shirt for the next shoot. What was he thinking?