Celeste's Creations

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Hunger Busting Chili

Last week at our company's annual Chili cook-off I got pre-taste of one contestants chili as I went in for my morning oatmeal. Already by 9am the smell of spices and meat were thick in the air and I could smell it from my cube around the corner. Most of the chili's are red and thick with sauce and meat, but my friend Jenny's was more clear and full of ground turkey. The smell of cinnamon and cumin struck me first and then I couldn't wait to try it. A healthy chili, yes it's true and yes it's very good. At the cook-off I filled my dish up with her chili along with samples of others. Jenny ended up winning most colorful, but I think it should have won most unique and tasty category. I asked her immediately for the recipe and even took leftovers home with me and had them for dinner the next night.
I got the recipe from her and couldn't believe how simple the ingredients were. She said for a double recipe the cost was about $30 for 12 servings. Not bad. I decided to make it up tonight so all the yummy spices and flavors could soak in for a great lunch tomorrow, and from the looks of it many after.
First you will notice is the smell, it's sweet and cinnamony (its a new description). I made the regular amount and it looks like enough chili to last a few days and nights. Which is good since I'm on a budget and need to eat healthier. In this chili you have 3 beans (chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans) and ground turkey so LOTS of protein in there (30g in fact). It's low fat (5g) and low calorie (292 a serving). I used the low sodium beans and chicken broth to keep it less salty. But overall the taste is great and if you have some artisan bread to dip in it, it's a perfect new healthy chili to enjoy all winter. Now if they weather would just realize it's fall and not be 80 degrees in November it would be perfect.

Recipe:
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 small white onion chopped
1 lb lean ground turkey
1 can diced tomatoes with jalapenos (or chilis in this case)
1 10.5 oz can each of chickpeas, kidney beans and black beans, drained
1 can low sodium chicken broth
1/4 tsp each salt and cumin
1/8 tsp each cinnamon and cayenne pepper

In a large pot, heat the oik on medium-low heat. Add the oino and saute until soft (about 3 mins). Add the turkey and brown it (5 minutes). Add the remaining ingredients. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Top with low-fat shredded cheddar, if desired.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Where I've been

I've gotten a few emails asking where my blogs are. It's seems the last month has been either really busy or really lazy for me. After the weekend in SF for my birthday I got back to reality and tried to get back to work without really being in the mood for it. I was able to talk to my boss and get my schedule back to Folsom more than Arden. I'll now being working 3 days in Folsom and 2 in Arden. Now it means I'll be in the loop more now, but now I'll have to pack my lunch, as I won't be able to run home as much. But I think that is a good compromise.

In terms of fun, I got to take Jasmine (along with Fonda and Lisa) to her first ever concert at Shoreline. It was the Bridgeschool Benefit concert that Neil Young has been putting on for 20 something years. It felt like it's been that long since Lisa and I went and saw and met Pearl Jam there and getting a neck massage and falling asleep to James Taylor (that long fun weekend is still in the memory bank).
This year there were no cute young boys to give me a neck massage, only weird old people wearing strange hats for Jimmy Buffet and lots of pot smokers. The lineup looked interesting but quickly grew boring after too much time was given to a unknown band Monsters of Folk. Gavin Rosedale opened the concert with 4 songs while this crap band played on for almost an hour. Finally around 10pm (mind you we got there at 5) the good bands come on, but seemed to have a quick set compared to the unknowns (Fleet Foxes, Wolfmother and Monsters of Folk). Jimmy Buffet got the crazy drunk dancers going. While Chris Martin added some much needed humor to the show. Sheryl Crow was good and convinced me that she can sing live. Then No Doubt finally come on around 10:45. Gwen looked great once she turned to face the crowd more than half way through their opening song. It was weird to see them as an acoustic set, but of course it's No Doubt so they did great. And then it was over as soon as they started. We made a mad dash for the exit, missing the closing Neil Young act. This worked to our advantage as we parked facing an exit gate that we just drove right out without hitting any traffic. I think we left the stadium and were on the freeway in less than 10 minutes.
Overall it was a great first concert for Jasmine as the crowd was mellow (mostly from smoking pot all night), she got to see a lot of good bands/singers and we had NO traffic coming or going home. The next day I mostly slept away after getting home at 2am and having Fonda and Jasmine stay the night and leave early morning. Missing out on my homemade pancakes that I was dreaming about thanks to the second hand high I got at the concert.

Jasmine enjoying her first concert

The weekend before that was Making Strides walk at the Capitol. My mom spent the night to avoid the early drive down and Shelly met us at my house to carpool to the Capitol. We arrived just in time for the walk to start and actually met up with our company at the front steps. I've never seen so many people at this walk. I'm not sure if it's just because more people are aware and want to support or if more people are just being affected by the disease. Either way it was great to see so much support. The weather was perfect, cool to start with and warm by the end. We decided to have breakfast afterwards at Crepeville since we were parked a block away. We earned it after getting up at 7am and walking 3 miles. After returning home and a quick stop to set up my new phone at TMobile (finally upgraded to a mytouch and LOVE it) it turned into the lazy Sundays I've come to love. A quick sweep of doghair around the house, lunch and than a nap. Then wake up to watch all the night shows I love (Amazing Race and Dexter) and then off to bed to start the week over.

Then there was this last week and weekend. I love Halloween, Fonda and I usually get to dress up in some fun outfits, take Jasmine out for begging for candy and then eating most of it ourselves. This year though was low key. Our work had our annual Chili cookoff contest on Wed (usually it's on Halloween or Friday but the organizer had a deadline and had to move it to Wed). I look forward to chili cookoff as you get to taste a lot of different but good chili, mingle with co-workers and just take in the festivities. This year I came prepared. Tony brought little drink size cups for us to put many different tasters of chili instead of mixing them all in one big bowl. I brought the spoons. Luckily I got to taste the winning chili this year, as I got a sneak preview when I went in for my breakfast that morning and knew what was good. My top 3 favorites were Monica (even though it made me sweat and nose run), Jenny (a healthier but great smelling version) and Jessica's (the winner). I actually liked Jenny's so much I got the recipe from her and will be making it this week (bought all the ingredients so look for that blog later this week).
Friday was the costume part at work which for the first time in four years I did not participate. Jasmine got invited to hang out with some friends instead of being embarrassed as always by myself and my sister. So I didn't see the need in getting a costume this year. I did have the great idea of being Octomom by borrowing a long black hair wig from my mom, getting some wax lips and eight baby dolls from the dollar store, but just didn't put in the effort to do so. Instead I locked down the house, turned off the outside lights and watched a movie with the dogs, ignoring the few doorbell rings I did get (I could hear they were older kids so not worth passing out candy and in my neighborhood not a good idea to open the door at night to strangers).

Sunday afternoon I made it up to Apple Hill with Shelly and Bella. We got to a late start but made it up to High Hill just in time for lunch and the crowds. It was packed! I haven't been to Apple Hill in a long time and never seen it that crowded. We had hot dogs for lunch, which Bella tried to partake of. Then I went and stood in line for my yummy caramellows for about 20 minutes because it had to be the same line as caramel apples. Got a couple apple fritters and then we went on a search of apple cheesecake for my friend Tony. Every year when he and his family go to apple hill he is nice enough to get me a caramellow, so I thought I would return the favor by finding his favorite cheesecake, but with apple . I remember one year getting a apple cheesecake but couldn't remember the farm. So we drove around hoping something would look familiar. I stopped at one place I thought looked like it but instead got distracted by the winery next door and ending doing a wine tasting and purchasing some yummy sparkling almond champagne (for new years eve). I was smart enough to ask them at the winery if they place next door had the cheesecake and was told no, but Rainbow acres did. We drove there and they had apple cheesecake tart. Not the same thing but close enough. We stopped by my mom's house on the way home and then got back just in time for my shows.

Bella goes in for a bite

So that is where I've been and what I've been doing for the past month. Hopefully I'll start cooking more and add more photos next time. I'm sure with the holidays coming up I'll have lots more to share with you all.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Wicked in SF

Yesterday my friend Shelly and I headed to San Francisco to see the play Wicked. She had seen it in London and loved it, so I was excited to see the play since I've heard such great things about it. It's the story about the "good and bad" witches of Wizard of Oz and how they became who they were and how they were friends before. It was a really good show, even with the major players being the understudies for the afternoon show (I suppose the principal players have to save their voices). You would never now that these were understudies as their voices were incredible. It would have been great to see it on a bigger stage, but the Orpheum theater allowed for a close up and personal view of the play.
It has a ton of humor in it and great songs. I would definitely go see it again, maybe somewhere bigger though, like Vegas.
Afterwards we went to have dinner at the cute little french restaurant Cafe Bastille where they were offering a 3 course meal at a reduced price. It's off a little alley way by Union Square that puts you right back in Paris or Florence with twinkle lights above and rows of little restaurants offering all different cuisines. We both had the ahi tuna tartar for starters, steak for dinner and creme brulee for dessert. It was a great way to end my birthday week of celebration.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Birthday trip to Yosemite

My first ever trip to Yosemite was for my 38th birthday this week. It's not like I haven't wanted to go before, I just never really planned it at a good time. I usually thought "oh this would be a great weekend to go" but of course it would be in the middle summer when no reservations were available. So in August I was thinking what can I do for my birthday, as I would never work on my birthday I think it should be a law, yet with no money for a big vacation I thought let's try for Yosemite. After consulting my resident Yosemite expert Sarah, I made reservations at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls that is right in the valley at the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls. Along for the ride was my mom, sister Fonda, and niece Jasmine. Fonda has been to Yosemite many times before but it has been a long time since, she thinks Jasmine was maybe just out of diapers. My mom and I have never been and since Jasmine probably doesn't remember her first trip, it was a great time for a first trip to make.
We left Monday from Sacramento heading down 99 to 140. Unfortunately I had a migraine the night before so I couldn't really help with the driving and Fonda made it through the winding, twisting, cliff hanging drive into the valley. We did a quick loop around the valley, stopping at several turnouts to take it all the beauty around us. We drove up to Tunnel View which is a classic start to the trip. All the valley is laid out before you. It amazing how all the trees in the valley hide all the roads and camp grounds and you believe there is no human life below you, just tree and nature.
We checked into our hotel around 4pm. Yes, this isn't true camping in Yosemite, but it's October and 20 degrees at night so I'm ok spending the couple hundred dollars a night to have a private bath, tv and refrig in the room and indoor heating. Our room had a private little patio to sit out and watch the fattest chipmunks ever beg for food (we obeyed the Yosemite law and didn't feed them). The bike trail was also right out our back door and Lower Yosemite Falls out the front of the building. Since it we had a few hours of daylight to burn we asked how long of a walk to the Ahwahnee hotel as we weren't aware there were free shuttle service in the valley floor. Instead we took the 2 mile hike to the hotel along the lower Yosemite trail and got there just before it was completely dark. We encountered a few mule deer eating in the back of the hotel.
Now I don't want to sound unappreciative of the beauty, but I wasn't really that impressed with the Ahwahnee. I guess I was expecting something bigger and grander from all that I've heard about it. But I think I'm just used to the Grand California Hotel in Disneyland and we expecting something more along that line. But it was still worth the long walk and luckily we found out about the free shuttle to take us back to our hotel, as it was completely dark out by the time we were ready to leave the hotel.
The next day was my birthday!!!! Woke up for a restless night sleep, 2 adults don't fit that well on a double bed. Still had a slight headache, but not enough to keep me inside. We decided to take the shuttle around the valley and hop off wherever the mood struck us. We took the Happy Isles stop and starting up the trail to the Vernal Falls. Usually this is a wet trail, hence why it's called mist trail, but at this time of the year the only waterfall to have any sort of water was Bridalveil Falls, so we thought this would be a good chance to walk the trial without getting wet. Unfortunately half way up either it was the altitude or just bad timing, but all the sudden I turned a corner and my head went into full blown migraine mood. It actually felt like I was going to blow out the back of my skull. I started to sweat, even though it was only about 50 degrees out in the shade and felt sick to my stomach. After a few minutes of trying to see straight and not black out we decided to head back to the shuttle and go back to the room for lunch and for me to stop my heading from pounding. After eating and a few moments rest I was ready to get back out there. We decided to take head over to Lower Yosemite Falls trial and then to the bike/hiking trail that was out the back door of our room along the valley floor. I believe it was called the Sentinel/Cooks Loop. It took us along the Merced River (more like stream at this time) through meadows and to the Chapel (the oldest building in the park which is still in use).
After about an hour and half hike my head told me it was time to rest and I went back to the room for a quick nap in the dark while my mom, Fonda and Jasmine took off for exploring. They returned after a nice hour and half of stillness and ready for my birthday dinner. We ended up at Curry Village which wasn't my original plan for dinner, but after seeing the prices and entrees at the Ahwahnee and the Lodge restaurants it turned out to be a better deal. I had cheese enchiladas, spanish rice and salad for dinner along with chocolate cake and apple cobbler for dessert. Overall a good birthday, minus the pounding headache.
Thursday was check out time. We got up early and headed over to the Visitor Center, Ansel Adams gallery and the museum before checking out. After a slight fight with the family in the parking lot (by now we have had enough of each other in close quarters) we all stopped a took pictures of the deer wondering in the parking lot. It's amazing how unaware these animals are of people. Luckily we did not see a bear, only plenty of the red signs warning speeding kills bears which marks a recent site of a bear being killed by a car. But we did see a bobcat outside our room, mule deer, plenty of fat chipmunks and crows that could carry a small baby away.
We headed to the south entrance of the park with a quick stop for lunch at Bridalveil Falls (only a little amount of water flowing, but still very pretty). After and hour and half drive in the park we stopped for a quick photo of Wawona Hotel and then went onto the Mariposa Groves. These groves house some large redwoods, one known as the Grizzly Giant that is as tall as a 19 story building and one branch is over 7 ft in diameter. These are really impressive trees and such a peaceful beautiful walk through the forest. Definitely worth ending or starting your trip to Yosemite here, but I think it's something you only need to do once, as there is so much more to do within Yosemite Valley and surrounding areas that I can't wait to go back. Overall it was a great trip at a perfect time to go to avoid crowds and still have great weather. I hope to visit sometime in the spring to see the flowers and falls flowing. Hopefully next time I won't have a migraine and can make it up more of the hikes and see the whole beauty of the park.

Mom, Jasmine and Fonda at the view from our hotel