The Reader Digests | Clean Eats

It seems like the minute I turned 33, my metabolism decided to punish me.  I used to enjoy eating pretty much whatever I wanted and saw small to moderate weight gains, but nothing too substantial. Apparently, at 33 - for me anyway - it's all over.  Which is really irritating, especially since my blog is all about food! 

So I sought out new diets and eating habits to try and find a good balance that would allow me to eat pancakes, pizza, sushi, and burgers every once in a while, still maintaining a healthy weight. I came across "clean eating."  This diet trend has received much attention in recent years, espoused by

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celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyonce.  It can go from very extreme liquid diets (juice fasting) to simply adopting an awareness about the content and purpose of the food we enjoy.  I chose the latter, because as is obvious from the title of this blog, I like to eat.  Plus, I work at a library and can't afford a $500 juice cleanse pack (Sorry Gwynnie, it's just not happening) and I hate cleaning my juicer. Also, the idea of detoxification hasn't been scientifically proven.  Mostly though, I really like to eat.  

So what is clean eating?  Here are some very basic principles, which I sometimes try to follow:

• Eat simply.  Stick to plants, meats, whole grains like rice and whole wheat.  Try not to eat things out of a box.
• Choose food with a manageable amount of ingredients. If you are eating something with 20 lines of strange ingredients that you cannot identify, that's not so good.
• Eat smaller meals more frequently.
• Remove chemicals and processed foods from your diet.

  

  Photo courtesy of laurenknightfitness.com

• Limit saturated fats.
• Reduce alcohol (1 drink per day) or eliminate it if you can.
• Replace coffee with green tea (I don't do this!)
• Watch sugar intake.  Sometimes even seemingly healthy food like yogurt can contain mostly sugar.
• Some people supplement with probiotics and extra vitamins, but doctors should always be consulted before adopting a diet like this.

 If you want to learn more about "clean" eating, check out some of these books:
Clean eats : over 200 delicious recipes to reset your body's natural balance and discover what it means to be truly healthy / Junger, Alejandro.

 The quick & clean diet : lose the weight, feel great, and stay lean for life / Alexander, Dari.

Clean food : a seasonal guide to eating close to the source / Walters, Terry

 The Chefs Collaborative cookbook : local, sustainable, delicious recipes from America's great chefs / Jackson, Ellen

The Reader Digests | Coffee, Coffee, & More Coffee

Someone asked me earlier today how I can fit all the things I have going on into my schedule. I would love to say I am Superwoman, but the truth is I just get very little sleep. I do homework after my kids go to bed and usually turn in around 1 a.m., sometimes later.  Then I get up and go to work the next day.

So, how do I do it? It's coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.  I spend an inordinate amount of time (and money) at Starbucks. It's like "Cheers", except sometimes I get a little embarrassed that everybody there knows my name. And they only serve coffee and tea - at least, for now.

However, I remember the first time I went into a cafe. It was so intimidating. All those weird names for coffee - lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos. What does it all mean? When I was a new coffee drinker, I wished someone had told me how to order

courtesy of cornerofthecafe.com

coffee, because there were many times I got something that just wasn't good. I hated holding up the line trying to figure out what I wanted (and doesn't it seem like they are getting longer?). I am no coffee snob, but I also don't want to look silly trying to order a cup of coffee.

So here's a little U.S. coffee menu explanation (If you were in Italy it would be a different ballgame, plus you would say caffe!):

Espresso - finely ground coffee served in shots.  More concentrated and darker than regular coffee.

Cappucino - Foamed and Steamed Milk over Espresso.  Dry means less milk, more foam.  Wet means the opposite.

I love you too!!!

Latte - Espresso with  steamed milk.

Mocha - Espresso with steamed milk and chocolate.  It can be white chocolate as well.

Machiatto - Espresso with a small amount of steamed or foamed milk added.  Baristas at many cafes use this drink to make designs, or latte art. Some also add caramel or hazelnut, to make flavored macchiatos. 

Americano - Espresso and water.  This is similar to a cup of brewed coffee. 

I'll end this post with some interesting coffee caffeine facts!

• Espresso drinks usually have less caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee.

• Light roast coffees generally have more caffeine when brewed by volume, and there will be no difference in light or dark roasts' caffeine levels if brewed by weight.  This is because caffeine is lost in the roasting process, and the more the bean is roasted, the more it expands.  The light beans are smaller after roasting, therefore can be packed in at a lower volume.

Want to learn more about coffee?  Check out our coffee book collection!

The Reader Digests | Green Eggs and Ham

I've said before that I don't discriminate against food, but unfortunately the rest of my family kind of does.  My husband will try new foods, but there are a few things that he absolutely does not like (even though I've never seen him try them).  One of those things is sushi.  So, when we started expanding our family one of my goals was to introduce my kids to new foods - and to create a little sushi connoisseur, like me!  It started out great.  When my oldest daughter (now 5) was a  toddler, I gave her rice, seaweed, eggplant, ginger, soy sauce, soy beans, and fish.  She loved it all. 

Then something terrible happened.  I don't know when it happened, or why, but one day it just stopped.  No more unique and exciting foods.  She started eating only macaroni and cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta with alfredo, and surprisingly, tri-tip.  She would rather go to bed hungry than try something new. I had to start hiding veggies in her food. Her pickiness got to the point that we started lying to her!  I got really good at hiding foods under sauce. Chicken? "It's tri-tip!"  Shrimp? "It's tri-tip!" Broccoli? "Ummm...tri-tip???"

"Enough!", I said.  I decided that she and I were going to have special storytime. One all about trying new foods. It started promisingly with Green Eggs and Ham (which I am proud to say she read to me!).  We talked about how important it is not to knock something before you've tried it.

We followed this with The Sandwich Swap, about two little girls disgusted by each other's food at lunch time.  Everyday, one watches the other eat a hummus sandwich and the other eats a PBJ sandwich until they finally break down and admit they think each other's lunch looks disgusting.  Chaos ensues, but all is resolved in the end. So, my daughter started talking about different foods and how she would like to see what they taste like.  This storytime idea was totally going to work!

I ended with a special humdinger of a book that would surely convince her that she just had to eat sushi with me!  Yoko, by Rosemary Wells, about an adorable little kitten who brings sushi for school lunchtime and is teased by the other kids at school. That is until the teacher assigns everyone to bring an international food so they can all try something new.  And of course, little Yoko shares her sushi and makes a new lunch buddy.  It's great book about acceptance, tolerance, sensitivity, and giving everything (and everyone) a chance.  It also makes me VERY hungry for sushi.  We finished the book and discussed how important it is to try new things and experience all types of food.    This was my moment, I asked her if she wanted to go to sushi with me.  

"No," she said.

"Why not?  We just talked about trying all these new types of foods!"

"Because we read Yoko at school and I tried it at international food day and I just don't like it."

Okay, it's genetic, but I still have my youngest!

The Reader Digests | Fried Chicken and Waffles

One of my favorite things about traveling is discovering new places to eat.  About a month ago, I went to Phoenix and was looking for something close by the ASU Downtown campus.  Lo and behold, Lo-lo's Chicken and Waffles was just down the road. Now, I had never tried this fried sweet and salty combo before, but I'll try pretty much any food once - no food discrimination here.  My friends thought it sounded gross.  Really, what's odd about it?  We eat chicken fried steak for breakfast, we dip bacon in maple syrup, we pair fruit and meat all the time, and we coat pretzels with chocolate. So, what's so weird about fried chicken and waffles?  Nothing! It's delicious!  We all loved it!

Lo-lo's....yummmmm

Where did this scrumptious creation come from?  Who was the genius who put this together for the very first time? Well, according to The History Kitchen, the first chicken-waffle mixers were the Pennsylvania Dutch.  However, the first FRIED chicken and waffles were served up at the Wells Supper Club in Harlem, New York around 1938. And the fried part is key, in my opinion.  Ann and John Wells served up the delicious combo to late night diners such as Sammy Davis Jr., and Nat King Cole.  The meal was perfect for binner, dreakfast, supfast, or brupper - the meal between dinner/supper and breakfast. I have no idea if any of those are real terms, but if someone takes them, I said it first!

The book was adapted to film - twice!

The Wells Supper Club closed down after a 40-year run, but you can still find plenty of chicken and waffle restaurants all over the United States. Some of the closest to SSCJPL are Gussie's Chicken and Waffles (SF), Home of Chicken and Waffles (Oakland), and Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (LA Area).  

And, you can even find Chicken and Waffles in the library!  Pick up a copy of Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain, a 1941 book about (among other things) a single mother during the Great Depression who successfully opens up chicken and waffle restaurants in the LA area. Or, pick up a couple cookbooks about fried chicken and waffles and make some of your own! 

The Reader Digests | Free Hamburgers

What is better than a hamburger?  A FREE hamburger. 

I love anything free, but I was inspired to write about hamburgers this week because SSJCPL is giving out free burgers! Sort of. I mean, librarians haven't turned the info desks into grills or anything like that (but that would be pretty awesome). What I do mean is that SSJCPL is participating in In-N-Out's "Cover to Cover" club. Kids - ages four to twelve - can sign up for this club at any SSJCPL library location. The rules are simple: read five books by April 12, get a burger! And kids can read 15 books for a total of three burgers!

The program got me thinking. I know that I am a fan of burgers, but from where (not what) do burgers originate?  Many people think that hamburgers came from Hamburg, Germany and it is true that is where hamburger, or ground beef, was first introduced. However, hamburgers, the ones we know and love, beef in a bun - or, if you are watching your carbs, lettuce - were first enjoyed at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904! The easy, cheap, and tasty treat was quickly adopted as one of America's all-time favorite foods! We have added plenty of variety to our burgers over the years. People use different meats or meatless patties, a wide array of condiments, other toppings, and different types of breads (or lettuce).

So, here are my personal "burger awards". I would love to hear about your burger awards in the comments section!:

Favorite homemade burger: Beef burger with jalapenos, salsa, guacamole, and cheddar cheese.

Most unique burger: Gott's Roadside Ahi Burger

Best fast food burger: In-N-Out! I went to college in the Midwest and every time I came back to California I always put In-N-Out on my list of places to visit. The fact that they give kids burgers for reading makes them even more cool! 

The Reader Digests | Blogging, Take Three!

Alrighty, I'm not going to beat around the bush here.  It has been a long time since I have blogged.  I actually forgot how to log on to our blogging site.  That is how much time it has been!  

So let's review my blogging fails...

First, I tried the Short Attention Span Challenge and I couldn't keep it up. It was too, well, challenging.  But truthfully, it's because I went back to school (after this post) and I just couldn't do all those projects combined with working full-time, parenting my kids, and grad school every week. 

Then, I tried Miss Moneypennypincher's money-saving blog.  Here's the deal, I ran out of money-saving ideas.  I guess if I was Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey, I would have more than a blog at ssjcpl.com (not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you!).

If you won't, then I will!

Now (and hopefully forever-ish), I am undertaking a whole new blog!  And here is the premise:

Do I eat food? Yes.

Do I like food? Yes.

Can I talk endlessly about food? Yes!

Sounds like an obvious "blogging win" to me!

My new blog is The Reader Digests! Yum!!!

Every  Friday at 2 p.m. 

The Wanderlust Librarian | Thanksgiving Time

The big day is here with lots to eat

and after the feast, you'll be tired and beat.

But now, my dear readers, I think you should know

that I'm writing my blog (and I hope it doesn't blow)

I'm off to the City, the one by the Bay.

Not THAT one, the other... the one called San Jose.

The meal will be small, a decent repast

if you read my previous blog post....it won't be a turkey blast.

Potatoes, sweet corn, pumpkin pie and prime rib

It's simple and delicious (I don't want to be glib).

I can't wait to relax after cooking all day

My boredom will be quelled, "Let's play video games", I'll say!

Of course, it won't jibe with the family dynamic,

my brother will whine for football...it'll be awesome fantastic!

This holiday is one that is dear to my heart,

I'll spend it with my family, not shopping at a mart.

I'm thankful and happy for everything so dear.

To my readers, thank you for reading my blog for over a year! 

I wish you the best of your eating endeavors.

And from the Bloggess to you,

Have the Best Holiday Ever! 

:) 

The Library Bloggess

Learning | Bon Appétit!

Hey, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, caregivers of children! Summer Reading began on June 1. You probably have heard that this year's theme is "Reading is So Delicious." Many of us are thinking about our favorite food-themed books. One recent favorite of mine is a children's picture book with the Bullwinkle Effect--ostensibly, the targeted audience is children, but I think adults will enjoy reading this book with children.

Bon Appétit: the delicious life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland was published in 2012. It's a biography of an amazing woman.  She never quite fit into the roles one might have expected for her. She made her own career as the person who introduced French cooking techniques to the American culture through her cooking show. I remember my mother watching that show every week.  

Bon Appetit does not follow the typical narrative form of a biography; there are multiple illustrations on every page, with captions that range from humorous and informative to downright wise.  This format makes it especially suited to snuggling up with your child, reading together, and discussing what you see.

You may also want to watch the DVD Julie & Julia, or read the book that inspired the movie. We even have the e-book version; just click on the link in the title of the DVD to see the formats the library offers.  Julie & Julia is based on the true story of a journalist whose blog was based on the premise of learning to cook 524 Julia Child recipes in 365 days.  

What are your favorite books about chefs?