Keep it simple

I have always been the kind of person who enjoys simple but beautiful things. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive to be good and this translate to food. Sure I love an amazing modena balsamic vinegar and pink Himalayan sea salt (both of which are regulars in my pantry) But I'm equally as happy with a tin of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. And I have to agree with Nigella when she says there's nothing more perfect than a boiled egg.

I'm thinking of simplicity lately because being home with a newborn more or less forces me to pare down my choices. A good day comprises of getting a shower, putting on real pants (not just pjs or yoga wear) and actually eating with two hands using a knife and fork. Most days, I have to be satisfied with items I can eat one-handed while holding baby. So appreciating the simple beauty of certain foods is important - especially right now. Today my food of choice was a lovely toasted bagel with a slice of tomato, jarlsberg cheese, and some freshly sliced deli black forest ham. It was glorious. And I was just as in love with my glass of Diet Coke with lots of ice.

It's times when you're really busy that it's important to know yourself and what you like. It may seem like it's about survival but it's also about sanity. I know many would succumb to eating a microwavable meal over the sink in hectic times. But if this is your only option, at least make sure it's semi-nutritious and a meal you will enjoy.

Try not to make things too serious or difficult and accept the situation. A fussy menu is just not in the plans right now so I'm surrendering to re-heating leftovers (like Mom's lasagna which lasted us a week!), easy meals like sandwiches, and lots of snacks which we have stocked in the pantry and fridge (almonds, yogurt, or cheese are my favorites right now). Food is fuel and new moms (and other busy people) surely need their fuel. But it also helps to take pleasure in what you eat. It definitely makes the day's tasks easier to tackle! And if you really need a jolt of gourmet, go ahead and dip those apple or pear slices into some balsamic vinegar. Whatever works!

M.I.A.

I've been missing in action for the whole summer. BUT I have a good excuse. I'm announcing on the blog some big news: I'm pregnant! Right now, I'm about half way through to my due date of early in the new year. Since finding out I'm with child, there have been so many ups and downs...and surprisingly many of those bumps in the road were food related. I have been more tired than I thought humanly possible. Then there was the nausea and general loss of appetite. And, of course, the weird cravings.

It's been a whole new experience for me. At first I was fine and nothing seemed that different. Then the tiredness kicked in and the food aversions. I was left unable to think about what was for dinner let alone have the energy to actually cook something. And my poor boyfriend hasn't been able to have a fried egg in the house for months. I went from eating mostly healthy, lower-carb foods to high-fat and starchy treats. And I found I couldn't eat many flavour combinations at once or it made me wretch. I remember getting a lovely sandwich as Manna Bakery one Saturday and eating about a quarter of it before having to lie down for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn't the sandwich. It was awesome: turkey, cheese, pretzel bread, mustard and lots of olives on the side. Then there was another time at International Flavours with a friend where I barely got through my curry plate. Barely. And then also had to lay down on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. At times like those, I wished I could talk to my food: "Listen, you're awesome. It's not you, it's me. Really."

Fast food was not what I needed but I ate it more than I'd like to admit. There were times I felt so tired and stomach sick, it was like being hungover. And we all know the cure for hangovers: grease. I also had a whole phase (ahm, more like month) where I wanted ice cream every day. How stereotypical! To be fair, more often than not I opted for a popsicle or frozen yogurt.

And for about a three or four week stretch I routinely woke up at four in the morning craving chocolate milk. I ended up buying my own supply of 1 % so I could trot out to the kitchen at all hours and guzzle it right from the carton. In my second month, I traveled to a national conference and I insisted that the hotel give me a mini fridge room so I could keep some fruit and my precious chocolate milk for when I needed it. I've always liked soy milk so I tried substituting that to curb my cravings. Until, about fifteen minutes into drinking a cup of the stuff, I got sick and it all came back up again. I'm officially off the chocolate milk, soy or otherwise. 

Then I found the Babyfit website and have been tracking my food ever since, the good, bad and ugly. The website allows me to see where I've been strong in my nutritional intake and where I'm lacking on a daily basis. It sound tedious but it's worth it to have a healthy me and a healthy baby!

Thankfully, I'm feeling much better these days. My appetite has come back, I'm getting cravings (which is a whole other blog post!), and I'm eating pretty well...and eating a lot! So I'm looking forward to sharing my new cooking and eating adventures here as I go through the second half of my pregnancy and journey towards parenthood.

Saucy slow-cooked pork

I was gifted a large pork shoulder and had it hidden in the freezer for a while. Finally, I decided what to do with it: pulled pork! To make it easy on myself, I decided to combine the ingredients and pork into the slow cooker and let 'er rip. I threw it all in the in morning, turned it on 'low' and then 8 hours later, when I came home from work,I had a fulled cooked piece of meat.

The ingredients I put in with the pork shoulder were:
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
-2 tbs yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- salt and pepper


When the cover is lifted at the end of the slow-cooking process, the meat will be cooked and sauce simmering. What I did is to take the roast out of the pot and onto a cutting board to cool slightly. Then I poured the sauce into a pan on the stove. Once cool enough to touch, I shredded the meat with two forks and put all the meat into the sauce. I added a bit of store-bought BBQ sauce because I felt I needed more liquid to my homemade sweet & sour concoction. I then let the shredded pulled pork simmer on the stove for about 1/2 hour until I was ready for supper.

You can serve the pork on top of buns or alongside potatoes or other veggies. I had pulled pork sandwiches, with sweet potato fries and corn on the side. And there's lots left over for lunch the next day and even more for the freezer for a rainy day!

Monte Cristo Sandwich

So it's Saturday and you're up a little late and craving something a bit more special and substantial than cereal or toast. Do I have the sandwich for you. A Monte Cristo sandwich is a cross between a grilled cheese, ham sandwich and french toast. It's a wonderful combo of some of my favorite things. The Monte Cristo is a variation of the French croque-monsieur.

To make one on a lazy weekend morning what you do is put some cheese (good old-fashioned cheese slices are the way I go) and ham between two pieces of sandwich bread. Then dredge the whole thing in slightly beaten egg. Fry it up in some butter until crispy on both sides. You can serve it with maple syrup, fruit or whipped cream. Enjoy and happy weekend!