Plane necessities

As a frequent flyer, I’ve found that there are a few items that really come in handy on an airplane. It always makes me laugh when someone refers to their “long flight” from New Jersey to California. 5-6 hours does not constitute as long. After spending most of my childhood flying back and forth, literally to the other side of the world, from Bangkok to New York, anything under 8 hours is a walk in the park. However, whether it be a short or long flight, there are items that every traveler should bring with them. Whether it be an actual necessity, someting to pass the time with, or something designed to enhance comfort, these are the things I bring on an airplane whenever I travel anywhere (short or long).

More Vacation Time Please

I have been out of college and working a 9-5 corporate job for a number of years now. I remember when I first graduated and got a job, the process of working full time kind of shocked my system. Don’t get me wrong, college was tough, what with the exams and the loads of homework, but college was also fun. Some days I had no class, or just one class. On those days, I’d come home, work on some homework for a couple of hours, but then I had the entire rest of the day to do whatever I wanted AND I could stay up as late as I wanted. The schedule was so lax. Not to mention, you get loads of vacation time. And you never realize how lucky you are until you graduate. I remember complaining about the homework and the tough exams and the annoying professors. Looking back, I wish I could tell my college self to enjoy it and stay in as long as possible. Those “super Seniors” really had the right idea. Stay in school as long as you can kids. Even change your major a couple times if you have to.

Good reason to break a diet

I was so good on my diet. I really was. I didn’t cheat at all while on the Daniel fast, at least not knowingly. Except once. One Friday night while on the Daniel fast, I made an exception. Sometimes, you can’t help it…this was one of those times. 

Sometimes you just need to eat pasta..

Done with Daniel

I am finally done with Daniel. I’ve completed the fast. I feel relieved, healthier, and lighter. I didn’t lose as much weight as I expected, but 7.5 lbs in 3 weeks is not bad. Honestly, the first 2 weeks were easier than the 3rd week. This last week was a challenge. I found myself craving bread and meat, tempted to reach for the tortilla chips, and getting lazier in my cooking. It’s hard to cook from scratch every night, and after 2 failed dinner attempts, I almost called it quits. I’ve decided that I should stick to eating Indian food, and avoid cooking it. I still can’t figure out what I did wrong, and I’m blaming it on the Garam Masala I bought at the store.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

SPOILER ALERT – Don’t read on if you don’t want to know what happens.

I love love love LOVE this movie. Love the books even more, but the movie did not disappoint. I was one of the crazy ones who decided to purchase midnight showing tickets and, despite having to wake up for work at 6:30 AM, oversleeping, and getting to work late, I don’t regret that decision one bit.

Eating more Kale

I’m a “cooking with Kale virgin”. The only time I’ve really eaten Kale is out at a restaurant or if someone else happens to cook it for me. It’s not that I don’t like it. I totally like it. It’s just that I’m never quite sure how to cook it. Kale is one of those vegetables you have to cook right or it can turn out tasting completely awful and bitter (same as Broccoli Rabe, which I still have not figured out how to cook with).

Veggie Paella

It’s Day 9 of the Daniel fast and I’ve found my favorite recipe thus far! Veggie Paella. I would totally eat this even if I weren’t doing the fast. It is so good and unbelievably easy. Non-vegetarians could add chicken, sausage, shrimp (or basically any meat) to this dish and it would be delicious but it is very tasty as it is. It’s a very colorful dish too!

Spinach, spinach, spinach

Everyone knows that spinach is a power food (remember Popeye?), but sometimes it can be hard to figure out new and exciting ways to incorporate spinach into meals. This past weekend, I discovered two new recipes FULL of spinach.

3 meals, 1 day

Wednesday evening was my day of food prep and cooking for the Daniel fast. I got A LOT done. I made chola tikkis (Indian flavored chickpeas & potato cakes), corn & bean salsa for burritos or salad toppers, and a huge pot of Weight Watcher’s vegetable soup.