To Thine Own Self, Be Food

So much for keeping record of my wine drinking. This is a blog I definitely do not want to discontinue, but I am not as ambitious in recording my beverages as I originally thought I was. However, I am finding that I am passionate and interested in food (wine included), and so I've decided to use this blog to preserve my thoughts and insights about all things food - and that includes the great grape. Ready? Here's my latest mental meanderings: My parents are coming to my house for Christmas Day dinner, and this year, my mom wanted to really do something different. I suggested doing a Mediterranean meal, and she was all for it. As I researched, I found (and it's really not new news to me) that Mediterraneans eat much differently than we do. For example, this is our food pyramid, courtesy of the USDA: At first glance, it seems to tell you so much...but then you realize it's telling you so little. 1. What does it mean to "go easy" on juices? 2. ...

First, a thing about our No-Restaurants experiment. This past weekend, we traveled with good friends to Kansas City to the Renaissance Fair. We made a pit stop at Gino's Italian Cuisine in Kearney, and I'm not exaggerating (much) when I say Brent and I both copiously salivated for days before the trip. It would be our first outing since the inception of NR. And really, the food was good...but I wouldn't say it was the most amazing meal of my life. And yes, both Brent and I spent some time on the toilet the next morning because of it. (Better on it than in it, I say) So, end point, the experiment continues (although, it seems less of an experiment now and more of a lifestyle choice). The kids agreeably are on board with continuing, so now maybe the challenge is to see how long we can go before we cave into the pressure/desire to visit a local eatery. Second, my obsession with purchasing food-related texts is nearly at a climax. I have not even finished with Marion Nest...

I've been reading Marion Nestle's "What to Eat" lately, and let me tell you, it is quite a tome. Overwhelming, perhaps. The more I read, the more I am convinced that a. Food consumers are not stupid, but yes, ignorant. b. The food industry is fraught with unscrupulousness. c. Various concerns about public health and safety come in second place nearly every time to companies who have a lot of money and lobbyists. d. All of the above. I suppose you could look at it two ways: one, it's depressing to think how duped the American consumer has been for all these years...and yeah, an isolated tropical island free of politicians is looking pretty appealing right about now. OR Two, this is Enlightenment. This is evolution of the human species. Knowledge is power, and knowing is half the battle (via G.I. Joe). Now, we can start making good and right choices. Me, I choose No. 2. Nestle's section on fish is rather extensive...at various points, it occur...

On September 5, 2010, the Nelson family undertook the great task of withdrawing from all restaurant outings. The final pronouncement: Not painful at all, and actually, worth continuing. Oh sure, there were times we craved non-homemade-food. I mean, how can we physically not crave it when we live in such a processed-food-world? But mostly, suppressing the urge to indulge was easy (or at least, grew easier with time). So, dear readers - let me give you the highlights. 1. I purchased a nice, new food processor, which has allowed me to make fresh salsa, mashed sweet potatoes, and broccoli pesto - just in the last week. 2. Slowly but surely, Brent and I keep dropping weight. I believe this can be attributed to smaller serving portions and the elimination of junky, processed foods from our pantry. 3. We have become more resourceful. Bags of lettuce or produce are no longer being thrown out because of spoilage - we are actually eating them before they go rotten. This in turn leads...

Week Three of No Restaurants is rapidly approaching, and I honor that anniversary with a quick rundown of important happenings. 1. When it comes to literature I have read about food, there are three that form My Power Triad: "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan So, I have recently purchased a new book, which I think I have mentioned here already: "What to Eat" by Marion Nestle. And now, the Power Triad shall become the Power Quad. Page twelve is when I came across this tidbit: "Nearly half of the typical family's food budget goes for foods prepared and eaten outside the home, where businesses with motives having nothing to with health are in control of content and amounts." <---- That was me when I read that. We were about a week or so into the OOR Experiment, and talk about vindication! Never had I felt so justified about this ...

Yesterday might have been, by far, the dark nadir of this whole desperate No Restaurants experience. Ok, nah, scratch that. Not really...but a little. Energy levels were running pretty low yesterday. Soccer practice, bowling league, and Opening Night were the key factors in this late-week exhaustion. Subway beckoned to us, ever so seductively... But then I asked, what's in it for us? Sure, Subway is tasty food, but we could probably get that at home too, if we looked hard enough. It certainly wasn't going to be quicker than eating at home; not by the time we piled everyone (clad in various soccer or bowling or theater accoutrements) in the Sedona (this would probably be after several minutes of hassled shouting, “Hey, get your damn shoes on!”) The point here is, there was no legitimate reason. So, why? In the town I live in, there are many chain restaurants and a few local joints – places I’ve eaten at several times. I wasn’t hankering for anything special. So, the que...

One week has passed since the Great Resolution of 2010. And how have we been doing? Twenty-one meals have been consumed either here at home or with food taken from our home. No restaurant meals! It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. The kids have not complained, and Brent has been an oak, as well. Friday night was a bit of a weak moment, as I contemplated an end-of-the-week trip to the local sandwich shop (as a reward for completing the week, I guess??), but in the end, opted for a much more fun and interesting "Fend For Yourself" pantry scavenge at home. Today was our first real challenge, as Kirby had a soccer game this afternoon in a town 20 minutes away. In the past, we probably would have headed straight from church to Subway (or similar) to grab something before we left town. Today, though, the kids packed their own lunches and drinks...to be eaten on the road. Nobody missed the turkey flatbread or meatball sub. I'll admit, I've craved...

One day down, twenty-three days to go. All quiet on the Nelson front...so far. I haven't heard any griping, pining, or salivating for a cheeseburger, quesadilla, or reuben. Our first significant test comes this Saturday with kid soccer tournaments in a nearby town. We will most likely be done right around lunchtime - and previous tendencies would have been to hop on over to Subway. This time, though, Momma's thinking ahead and will be packing a cooler. Nothing like sticking it to the Man on this lovely Wednesday morning.

...of eating in restaurants, that is... ...just for month of September... You know, kids, me and the mister aren't getting any younger. We've hit what I call the "mid-thirties paradox". I mean, finally, we're wise enough to understand just exactly what "good health" means, and we're also financially stable enough to invest in the whole grain/fruits and vegetables/exercise hullabaloo that "good health" commands. But...it's our bodies that betray us. Ol Mr. Metabolism ain't what he used to be...and consequently, every donut, peanut butter cookie, or handful of Lucky Charms conspicuously shows up on the scale in the morning. It doesn't matter how ascetic our diet is during the week...all that self-flagellating hard work is wiped out in one Fantasy Football Draft weekend of burgers and beer. Depressing, yes. But there are two things I know for sure... 1. I'm loath to give up those Fantasy Football weekends. The s...

The wine-drinking has been infrequent as of late; hence, no update for the last week and a half. However... I found a decent Beaujolais at the local WalMart (!), and we tried it by itself. Not a glugging wine, for sure, I don't care what the literature says. We've really been turned off by red wines in the past, honestly, I think because we tried the wrong one with a meal or just went too intense, who knows. The Beaujolais, we found, improved upon further tasting. It wasn't terribly off-putting, but it didn't change my life like some of the Rieslings we've had. So, in short...we will probably be trying a Beaujolais again. Now, a week ago, I picked up a 2007 Selbach-Oster Kabinett Riesling at a Co-op food store. $24 a bottle, by far, the most I've spent on wine. German wine labeling/categorizing is kind of confusing. Basically, from what I understand, there are four categories of German wine, and within the top group (Pradikatswein), there are four sublev...

Today, on a whim, I walk into one of two local booze shops we have here in town. Here is the conversation: Clerk: Can I help you find something? Me: Yeah, I'm looking for a Beaujolais. PAUSE Clerk: Uh. Me: It's a red. Clerk: How do you spell that? PAUSE Me: B-E-A-U-J-O-L-A-I-S Clerk (Looking at a random label): No, I don't think we have that. I didn't find at the grocery store, either. My next places will be the other liquor store and Walmart (cue doom music). Anyway, yeah. I haven't gotten anywhere near through my Riesling phase, but I'm thinking Beaujolais might be a fun foray into red wines, not to mention a change of pace. Anyone here have experience with the stuff?

So, anybody else here celebrate an American holiday with a German wine? Or...is it just me? Happy Belated Fourth, Everyone! Last night was a Polka Dot Riesling (Germany, Pfalz) with chili for dinner, and yes, I concur when the experts say R. goes with nearly any dish, especially spicy. How marvelous is it when one can enjoy wine with a simple bowl of chili?! Sometimes, and I have especially noticed it with beer, food can completely ruin the taste of alcohol. Not with the PD! I was able to eat, sip, eat, sip, ad nauseum, without grimacing. That says a lot for the wine. I don't recall a high level of acidity, but enough to clear the palate for every bite I took. But, I will say, I pay a lot more attention to my food and drink now that I've sort of taken up this food pairing stuff. Now, the stunner. I finally cracked into the Monchhof Estate Rielsing, paired tonight with an Asian Beef Noodle recipe and WOW! Tantalizing acidic, bubbles on my tongue - and there's n...

So, did I have weird wine-related dreams last night! It's all very sketchy, but I recall ordering some Riesling from some obscure place, and being on pins and needles waiting for it be delivered. Because of that (and other factors), I slept fitfully. That's it. On tap for tonight is a Washington state Riesling - Chateau Ste. Michelle and another German - Monchhof. The first one was right around ten dollars, and the German was right around fourteen bucks. My goal is to try a more expensive Riesling, but the Monchhof was the top priced at the liquor store here in town. Surely, there's got to be some $30 Rieslings out there for me? Also, I'm totally regretting finishing off the Schmitt-Sohne last night; it would have been very educational to test all three together.

My husband and I polished off a bottle of Schmitt-Sohne German Riesling tonight, and perhaps there was something in the grapes. I mentioned the idea of a wine journal to him, and he seemed receptive (although, he did not offer to be the scribe, I noticed). But, then it occurred to me - why not blog? Then I can include pertinent info, reviews, impressions, etc. Not to mention, this might just be a great place to discuss books I'm reading, places I'm visiting, and people I'm talking to. Ultimately, you all here are looking at two people who have little experience with wine...hopefully that will change. So, join us, follow along, as we morph into sophisticated cosmopolitans!