What Ana Does

 I was out to dinner with a bunch of friends and a news item came up about protein powder having too much iron or zinc or something. And there was some incredulity and back and forth (like, how could this seemingly "heathy product" not be good for you, what?!?!) and here's the thing ...  When are we going to stop being surprised that processed food isn't good for us?  The thing is, all ultra-processed food is not good for you -- for any number of reasons. Let's stop being shocked. It's not a surprise.   Even if it's packaged in a cute box or has the word "organic" or "all-natural" it's still not doing you any good. Sure, it's delicious. But did you look at the list of ingredients? Anything you don't recognize as food? Can grow in your backyard?  It's not what your body should be eating. From protein powder to my favorite sandwich cookies.  Sure, we all eat processed foods now. Since the Industrial Revolution when the foo...

When the Baguettes Are Warm! I'm just going to say it: Paris isn't a foodie destination. I know, CRAZY right?! But after traveling to a few other European cities, I'm struck by how limited the food options are here in Paris and now I can't unsee it. But first ... Yes, you can find French bistros on almost every corner, and some are fantastic and some are so-so (there's honestly no way to tell). So, if you're in the mood for an omelette, a salad or a cheese sandwich ( croque ) -- and have a few hours to tuck into a nice meal, because service will be traditionally slow -- than, you're all set. (Though, you can't sit outside on the sidewalk terrace unless you want to inhale second-hand smoke. Blah!) And YES if you just want a delicious baguette sandwich or a pastry, you are in the right city because they are everywhere, and usually delicious. The baguettes and butter here are the best in the world. No competition. (So, as a tourist, you'...

You know how I said I was researching this KETO diet and contemplating giving it a try? I bought two books and was reading up on what it was all about, because I'd heard some great things. Yeah, no. Just no. Here are a few things I decided ... 1. When you're contemplating a diet that suggests getting a tool to "test your blood" (say what?!!) to make sure you moved from metabolizing glucose to fat -- that's a red flag. Blood tools are a no-go. Also, when there's an adjustment time that includes sleep issues, hair loss and very bad breath -- also a red flag. Sure, if I lived by myself. Or maybe a house with a bunch of other adults and a chef, like the Biggest Loser or Big Brother or something, than yes. Sure. But, otherwise, no. It's a pass. 2. The other thing I realized is that I'm exercising to create a "habit of exercising." ( Remember my five-year goals? ) But also to get out into the world and socialize with people. And when I st...

Food waste is just another road I'm going down these days. Did you know the average American throws out on average 40% of the food they buy?!? That's a staggering amount! So, I'm trying to look at what we toss and what I can save. I don't have composting available in Paris -- at least, I don't think I do. I've read some big cities offer composting but my French is not quite up to asking around, ya know?! So, it's really up to me to buy and cook only what we'll eat. With kids and odd schedules, etc, this is a challenge, but it's certainly worth the attempt. In my research, I found some really good tips on wasting less food. Those tips include menu planning and shopping with a list (which I've been practicing at for years). And buying only what you intend to eat in the next few days -- instead of stockpiling. This is especially useful for produce that spoil fast here in France, because it's super-fresh. Then there's the idea of...

Lately it seems my anglophilia has been overriding my francophile-ing. As in, I've been digging a lot of British things -- and I think I'm long overdue for a trip to London. Right? For instance, Netflix is streaming Jamie Oliver's cooking show "Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Food Fight" and it's giving me life this week. The Britishisms are killing me ... "get it in your gob" and "in the bin" and his signature lisp. Not to mention all the focus on food waste. I mean. I'm in nerdy-"cooker" heaven. Then the obvious, I was in tears watching the Prince Harry and Meghan wedding . Who wasn't?! What a great little Cinderella story and the whole wedding was done with such sweet dignity. And who among us didn't think that sunshine was from a special someone looking down on the whole thing. *Sniff* Yup, I've got my commemorative teacup and mugs , care of a British Shop in my neighborhood and some sweet friends. And I...

After spending a week at a Mexican resort, we all got hooked on the "green juice" at the breakfast buffet. When we asked what was in it, the waiters listed off things: cucumber, spinach, celery, orange juice and pineapple. Maybe apple? Ginger? It was hard to tell and each morning it tasted just a little different. But so delicious. The weekend we got home I got to work on the recipe. We thought it was a traditional Mexican juice and therefore a published recipe would be easy to find. Not so much. Our Mexican friend Patty had never heard of "jugo verde" and each recipe I found was very different. Cactus, parsley, cilantro, almond milk were also kicked around as ingredients. Undaunted, I got a few things we "thought" were in there and whipped up a few test batches. I gotta say, I was definitely off, but what I ended up with tasted pretty good. And the juice lasts a few days in the fridge, so it's only requires a weekly mess. Recipe Making My ...

It's a frigid weekend here in the midwest but we're starting to think about Spring and backyards and gardens and grilling. Oh Spring, you are so full of promise. Spring also means a slew of new books I can't wait to get my hands on. There are two in particular that I'm counting down the days to their release. The first is Laini Taylor's new book (part one of two) called Strange the Dreamer . Gah! Just the title hooks me in! It looks to be the aftermath of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and I'm counting down the days. It's always a good season when my friend Kieran Scott has a new book coming out. This one is called Pretty Fierce  (such a rad title) and it's about an assassin's daughter on the run. YES! It comes out in April and of course I've already preordered it. This one is right up my alley, so I can't wait to devour it. In other book news, I'm sailing through The Rose and the Dagger , which is the sequel to The Wrath ...

I've told you about my favorite spots in Tenerife and shared the two-day itinerary of Madrid, so let's now get to the important stuff ... THE FOOD! Our first meal in Madrid: Tortilla Espanola on fresh bread with Cafe con Leche.  This Got Us Out There!   We ate lunch in Plaza Mayor ... which I KNOW is a faux pas, but we just wanted the views. And the ham. We got both. We were happy. Jamon Iberico -- Worth the Price of the Flight.  After sleeping through our hotel-provided breakfast the second day in Madrid, we hit the streets and found this little cafe near Plaza de Espana. Faborit Breakfast - a Mini Banana Muffin, Yogurt with Fruit and ... yes! Cafe Con Leche! In Tenerife, we had been walking around for a few hours and needed a bite. Glorious ham, manchego cheese and bread are almost always on the menu -- even at a tiny plaza cafe. Manchego Cheese and Jamon!  Seaside in Puerto, we dined on veggie pizza (surprisingly good), croquettas, a f...

Before I begin let's all just agree that Madrid is like your laid-back best friend that likes to stay up late and drink way too much wine. Ok? Madrid is a diamond in the middle of an arid plain in the middle on Spain. Though it's been an important Spanish city of centuries, it wasn't the Spanish capital until the early 1600s. The grand palace was built in the 1700s, which isn't that long ago given the ancient castles in Toledo or Seville. I arrived in Madrid on Monday morning with my Mom and two sisters. We got an apartment suite just north of the the Gran Via -- the main boulevard that cuts through Madrid east to west. We got lucky because the room was ready, so we were able to dump our luggage, freshen up and head out onto the street. Here's the most important thing you need to know about Madrid -- this is a very walkable city. And a walkable city makes like all the more easier. From our hotel, it was an easy 30 minute walk to the Prado, which was basicall...

We try to eat some-what local/seasonal at my house. Mostly, I try to avoid fruit flown in from outside the country. And only organics. In the summer, we pack in fruit like crazy -- especially from our local CSA. In winter, it's all about west coast kiwis and avocados.  So when Costco has California organic strawberries in the middle of winter -- not a normal occurrence -- it's a little like winning the lottery. Sure, they are twice the price as strawberries in the summer, and they don't taste as good -- but it's like a little taste of summer.  Life is Like a Bowl of Winter Strawberries

This seems to be a very midwestern thing to do because we've not witnessed it on with coast we've lived in. Enter fast food place (with ample seating, mind you), order and pick up food, exit building, turn on car, and eat food IN THE CAR while it idles in the parking lot. They don't even drive anywhere. They just sit in the parking lot, in some instances staring INTO the place they got the food, and eating their food. Then, at some point later, they drive away. Now why is that?! ** Editor's Note: I'm doing my best to make this about the behavior of eating in the car and not my personal repulsion of most fast food chains. It's not about the crap they are eating but the way they are consuming the crap. 

With Lots of Butter

Not sure what got me thinking about this, but there's a bunch of food I have always wished I liked. And isn't it weird to think you WANT to like these things but YET you don't? Why do tastebuds have such power over my life?! Here's my list, in no particular order: Honey -- I love the idea of becoming a novice beekeeper to help bee populations, "as the bees go, so goes the earth" and all that. Plus, it's a natural sweetener you can get locally.  But, yuck. Too bitter.  Granola -- healthy, nutritious and cheap. My hubby loves it. But me? No thanks.   Jam and Pickles - because I took a jamming seminar and thought it was the coolest thing, but why go through all that just to make something I don't like to eat?   Applesauce -- my Mom used to hide penicillin in applesauce, thus all applesauce has that awful chalky taste to me. Done.  Oatmeal -- seriously, why don't I like oatmeal? Much the same reason as granola, I guess. I discovered steal-...

With summer day camp comes two boxed lunches each day for the kiddos -- and no hot lunch option when I'm not feeling "into" food assembly. Toward the end of the school year, I got uninspired and used too many (by my standard) prepared food. So, I'm attempting to get some of my lunch-making mojo back by snapping a few pictures of the little creations. Here are a few from this week: Leah: Apple Slices and Blueberries, Yogurt, Ham Sammy, Carrots and String Cheese Alice: Applesauce, Watermelon, Ham, Tomatoes and Rice Cakes Leah: Toast Crackers (No Bread in the House), Turkey, Banana Chips, Watermelon, Blueberries and Yogurt By the way, the awesome Ziploc lunch containers that never leaked (top picture) were discontinued. Ugh! I'm so upset with myself that I didn't buy a surplus when I had a chance. Needless to say, I'm treasuring the few I have left.

Today was a busy-in-the-kitchen day. I'm being a happy homemaker! There was instant oatmeal to make -- because that stuff in the packet is just a waste of money. Oats are cheep, folks. Eat them.  Then, I pickled a few of the cucumbers from the garden -- for MY FIRST CANNING project. Ever!  Messy Start! Turned in this... Pickles! Which, Honestly, I Don't Like .... But Dave Does! Then, it was jammin' time. I can't eat all the fruit we get weekly from the CSA. So, for my first food-in-jar project I made apricot and rosemary jam.  Let's just say it was a big learning experience. But overall, wasn't as hard as I thought.  Yummy Apricots and Fresh Rosemary Turned into this... Pretty Jars - Ready for Toast or Roast Chicken! Last, homemade cereal bars to pack in lunches and pre-soccer-practice snack bags. They're my go-to recipe that I'm just starting to master from Alana's cookbook.  I had planned to make spelt ...

I love my morning snack of homemade yogurt mixed with fresh berries. Now that it's summer, those berries are fresh and local -- direct from my CSA pickup. Deeeeeeelicious!! Triple Berry Medley! Yum! Who Want a Taste? I just love how the squishy raspberries turn the yogurt pink. If I really stir it, it gets BRIGHT pink.  Geez ... Pink is everywhere in my world right now. Pink is the new pink, people! Think pink! 

I was so excited to start our CSA fruit share this month from a local farm, not too far away. So far, it's been nothing but strawberries -- it's been too cool for any other fruit to decide to ripen. But, picking up my share takes me to the garden each week and gives me the opportunity to buy other farm-fresh veggies.  My CSA Strawberries, With Veg. The Asparagus is Especially Yummy!

I've started thinking about what foods I can make at home instead of buying processed. I've already ventured into homemade yogurt, which I enjoy and love eating, I'm wondering what else I can make weekly to become less reliant on food companies to make (and muck-up) the foods my family eats. And it's definitely a growing trend! For me, it started with Michael Pollen's books about the food industry. And I'm so inspired by the  Homemade Pantry cookbook, which I continue to love and use all the time. Not to mention sites like  100 Days of Real Food  that makes dumping processed foods look easy. Here's a breakdown of my Make or Buy foods: Yogurt - both: I love my homemade jars of yogurt, and each week I experiment with time and steps. Some batches are stiffer than others, but in another few months, I should have this buttoned up. Now, getting the kids on board will take some doing. They're hooked on the sweet flavors of our Sunnybrook and Trader J...

What's the latest crazy mom trend out there? Bento-style lunch boxes! Or, at least it's new to me. I spent Sunday evening looking at Pinterest posts loaded with ideas on these artfully-crafted school lunches from all over the place -- the best using lunch themes, like spring, gardens, or Star Wars. (See my Pinterest Lunch Board here .) After all that review, I've come to the conclusion that some Moms have way too much time on their hands -- especially the ones who cut cucumbers into little flower shapes, sandwiches to look like hearts or bears and artfully chopping cheese sticks. (And that's just the tip of the iceberg, there are books being published and Instagram clogged with little masterpieces.) That's not appealing to me. However, the idea of nutritious (mostly-whole foods) lunches, divided into little groupings that are visually attractive does appeal to me. Very much. And the reusable containers cuts down on awful ziplock baggies and tinfoil. And I ma...

Mind blown! This is what happens when I read Michael Pollan's books. I'm agog at the complexity and absurdity of food politics. And how far gone we've gone from what we SHOULD be eating. Guys, it's just logic that because our diet has changed drastically in the last 100 years that diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart attacks, obesity have jumped in that time. How could it not? Our bodies were not made to handle the food products we're stuffing into it. This last week I've been listening to his latest, "Cooked," in the car and I'm again totally blown away. Here are my new food obsessions and a few cool tidbits I found fascinating from the book. Hello live culture foods!! With the onslaught of antibiotics -- in medicine and being sprayed on our foods and injected into our livestock, we're killing all the good bacteria that live in our guts. And it's those little bugs in our tummy that keep us healthy. Especially our kiddos....