Vacation -- It's "Away From the Computer" Time

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In order to re-charge my creative juices, I'm going on a blog (and work) vacation until August. Unless I have a brilliant idea just pop up, I won't be blogging for a while. Have a great summer everyone and stay cool!

Exercise--Enchanted Run

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The Assessor and I were on a run the other night and we came up with an exciting idea! Sometime, before we're old and grey, we want to run the Enchanted Circle in New Mexico over a period of 5-6 days.

I've been talking fora while now about how I would love to run an ultra marathon (more than 26.2 miles). But then the Assessor and I watched this movie called Running the Sahara on Netflix.

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Okay, so those three people are nuts. The heat, the politics involved in moving through several countries, the running more than a marathon each day, and the drama between the runners and their team were all insane! But the idea of creating our own extreme long run in a place that's relatively cool and somewhere we love: we can't beat that!

According to the Running the Sahara dudes, they were running anywhere between 14-20 minute miles. That's totally doable, and it tells us that they had several walking breaks during their 4,620 mile journey.

For us, the idea would be that we would obviously do some distance training (running and hiking) in the mountains before we start the journey. Then, when we felt we were ready, we start in Angel Fire and run to Eagle Nest and then spend the night at a hotel. That's about 12 miles of running. And just in case I don't mention it, we'd stop in a hotel in each of these towns that I'm going to mention.

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The next day, we'd wake up and run from Eagle Nest to Red River and stay at another hotel. That's a distance of about 17 miles and it'd probably be the biggest climb of the trek.

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Then the next day we would travel from Red River to Questa (15 miles).

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We'd then go from Questa to Taos.

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Then Taos to Angel Fire would be the last leg of the trip, and also the longest (24 miles).

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Then we would collapse, preferably into our husky and border collies waiting at the finish line. :)

Obviously, we're not ready yet to do this run this summer. We need to prepare and there are a lot of things to consider like the following.

• Reservations: We'll need to reserve hotels and that would make our decision to run very concrete (no backing out).
• Time: We'd need to make sure that we could already run a good 6 miles before going up to the mountains, then we would need a least a month to prepare for the several day run. Maybe even more prep might be required.
• Babies: We want to have a baby or two, and this involves a bit too much extreme exercise for baby-making. Once, Lord willing, babies are had, that creates a bunch of other issues as well.
• Other Babies: We have two dogs that will need attention while we're gone during these days.
• Help on the Road: What if we run out of water or food, we need help checking into a hotel, we have medical issues, we need a little inspiration from a friendly face? We're going to need people to help. Maybe even some people might want to join us. :)
• Equipment: Clothes, shoes, etc.
• Injuries: We'd need to be relatively injury free (like my knee problems would need to go away or somehow be minimized).

So, thoughts? Interested in helping or joining? Have a better idea? The Assessor and I would love to hear it!

Cook - Superhero Cooking Oils Series, Corn Oil as Rougue

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Don't go away (or visit the loo)! This post is a continuation of my Superhero Cooking Oil series.  You can read my previous post on sunflower seed oil.

Corn Oil as Rogue

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Corn oil is extracted from the germ of the corn kernel much like Rogue was removed from her southern home by Mystique after Rogue discovered her powers.

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Rogue isn't always a goody two-shoes. She spent a lot of time with the criminal mutant, Mystique before she amended her ways and joined up with the X-men. Similarly, corn oil is also not the best of oils. It's slightly higher in saturated fats than canola and grape seed oil, but as a whole it's no where near as bad as butter, hydrogenated soybean oil, and coconut oil.

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Corn oil is high in polyunsaturated fats (which can reduce LDL and triglycerides 4x more than olive oil, but also decrease HDL as well). In fact it's mostly unsaturated fat and therefore awesome like Rogue and her superpowers (flying, power-absorbing, memory sucking, fire, etc).

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If you put Rogue under fire, she tends to get a bit testy, a little miffed. Corn oil is just the same, with a smoke point of 350-400, corn oil is best used for cooking at medium temperatures otherwise it can discolor and stink up your food.

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When Rogue gets tired in the fight against evil, she just saps someone's energy to replenish her superhero strength. While corn oil does take away your strength to grow it's own, the large amounts of vitamin E is great for increasing your immune system.

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Although Rogue is quite worldly because of her travels with the X-Men and her ability to fly around, she never looses her country accent. Corn oil hasn't lost it's hillbilly ways either. Corn oil is most commonly sold unrefined and, as a result, it has a little flavor and is yellow in color. Make sure it stays that way.

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If you know Rogue at all, you'll know that she's super powerful, but she has one down side. You don't want too much of Rogue or else she'll extract your life force and superpowers and leave you in a comma or leave you dead (if you touch her skin). Corn oil is rich in Omega 6  (a healthy fatty acid that we consume in unhealthy quantities) and has been associated with cancer in some studies. However, because corn oil is found in so many unhealthy foods (fried foods, chips, candy), it makes you wonder if it's our unhealthy use of corn oil and the high quantities of the stuff that's the problem.

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And lastly, even though she's a little rough around the edges, everyone likes a Rogue. She's witty, strong, and a definite feminist. Corn oil is also quite lovable; it's often in tasty salad dressings and delicious baked goods and it's very inexpensive

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For more information about corn oil, check out Wikipedia's article, or this, this, and this web site like I did.

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Cook: Peanut Butter Cups (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Gluten-Free)

For years, I've had a hankerin' for some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups like when I was a kid! Sadly, I can't have them. They contain cow milk products. But I found a recipe online that's supposed to imitate the taste and I tried it out this weekend.

I made a few changes to the original recipe. First, I decreased the amount of peanut butter filling (the original recipe called for too much and we "had to" chow down on the extra because it wouldn't fit in the containers). I used semi-sweet dairy-free chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Finally, I didn't follow the instructions to add extra salt to the peanut butter (there's already salt in the all-natural peanut butter that we bought).

According to the Assessor, my recipe is a good match with the original in terms of taste. The chocolate was a bit harder than Reece's chocolate, but that's probably because it's not milk-chocolate. I might try to make my own goat milk chocolate some time and see if that doesn't help.

Before using my recipe, you might read the original because he gave a good explanation for why you should use high quality chocolate and peanut butter to make the recipe work.

Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Cups

Theses are the brands I used.

Ingredients (as adjusted from the original)

• 12 paper muffin cups
• 1 12 oz package of milk-free chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
• 1/2 cup reduced fat all-natural smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1) Cut the top half off of the paper muffin cups.

2) Heat up all the chocolate for 2 minutes at 50% power in a glass, microwave-safe bowl. Then take a teaspoon full and drop into each paper cup. Spread the chocolate up the sides of the cup.

3) Put in freezer or fridge until hardened.

4) Mix powdered sugar and peanut butter.

5) When the chocolate hardens, heat the bowl of peanut butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave and place even amounts into each cup. Make sure to pat the peanut butter down so that the second chocolate layer will cover the top.

6) Let your helpers lick the peanut butter bowl while the half-finished cups are cooling in the fridge.

7) Once the peanut butter has cooled, spread the remaining chocolate over the top. If the bowl of chocolate has cooled and is stiff again, you can reheat it on 50% power in increments of 30 seconds.

8) Decorate your helpers with the muffin tops while the peanut butter cups are hardening in the fridge.

9) Enjoy!

It's so tasty! 

Also, check out the new pages I have tabbed at the top of my blog. I've got a Spotify account and a GoodReads account so you can keep up with the crazy stuff I've been listening to and reading about.

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Think: Tragic Events

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My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

-Psalm 73:26

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaiah 41:10

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 

-Psalm 82:3-4

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but have courage--I have conquered the world. 

-John 16:33

The waves of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I called to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears. 

-2 Samuel 22:5-7

Below's Garth Brooks and "The Dance." His performance was meant for a different memorial service, but I think it fits recent events.

Watch and Read: Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Other Prides and Prejudices

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I watched the entire series of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries last week on YouTube (you can see it from start to finish at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6690D980D8A65D08). It was awesome! But it also got me to thinking how timeless Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice story truly is and just how many versions I've seen recreated for the small and big screen. So here's a recap of my favorites in preparation for the future Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie that's in production (which may or may not come to fruition). I've listed the movies/series in the order in which I first saw them. Maybe your favorites are different?

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1) Pride and Prejudice (1995) with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and Colin Firth as Darcy

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This 300-minute TV miniseries of Elizabeth and Darcy's love story is, in my opinion, the best ever depiction of the book in it's original setting (1800 England). From Jennifer's 100 playful and witty tete-a-tete's with all her friends and family to Colin's 3 million awkward and haughty facial expressions make me want to re-read the original every time (in a good way, because I'm so excited). The music is catchy (watch yourselves or you'll be humming the theme song as you brush your teeth). Also, the last scene between Lady Catherine de Bourg and Elizabeth Bennet had me serial-wacking couch pillows and hooting with exaltation.

2) You've Got Mail (1998) with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks and The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart

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I've lumped these two together because You've Got Mail is a modern remake of The Shop Around the Corner. You can read for yourself about how these movies draw from the original P&P, but suffice it to say they're both awesome movies that take P&P into the 1900s. Both movies reduce the number of characters and scene changes quite a bit to get at the heart of the whole Elizabeth and Darcy saga, which makes for much easier-to-digest movie-sized packages.

3) Bridget Jones's Diaries (2001) with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth (again!!!!)

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This movie (and the original Bridget Jones's Diaries book) makes no excuse for it's blatant draw from the P&P novel. According to the author, she even hired Colin Firth because she liked his 1995 Darcy portrayal so much! I must say that this is the most risque version over the tale, and why wouldn't it be with the indomitable British actor Hugh Grant.

4) Pride and Prejudice (2005) with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen

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If you have to watch a shorter period-version of story, I'd go with this movie staring Keira and Matthew. Although Mrs. Bennet (Elizabeth's mother) is not nearly as annoying and meddling as she should be, I think it's an excellent try. With over 28 main characters to develop, I think any film maker would find it hard to condense the story into 1 hour and 27 minutes.

5) Pride and Prejudice (1980) with Sabina Franklyn and David Rintoul

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I have to say that this version is my least favorite. There's very little background music, long lengthy conversations taken verbatim from the book, and a Darcy that I might mistaken for a robot if I were to meet him on the street. The chemistry between almost all of the characters is zilch, and it seems like Sabinia kept forgetting that she was playing the witty, playful, sarcastic Elizabeth and instead seemed to play the all too sweet and sensitive Jane instead. This is not a version I would recommend.

6) Lost in Austen (2008) with Jemima Rooper and Elliot Cowan

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So this, the latest BBC version, is quite a stretch. The likelihood that someone in today's world is going to step through a wall in their bathroom into the world of Elizabeth and Darcy is rather small. Also, the scene where Darcy is asked to dunk himself in the pond is quite silly. But overall, the main character, Amanda, does an awesome job and makes this a really cute, rom-com story (you can watch for free but not captioned at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-9gmfXjTI).

7) Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2013) with Ashley Clements and Daniel Vincent Gordh

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And this brings me to the last of the P&P-related film I've seen. This series was created in conjunction with Hank Green (one of the Vlog Brothers). What a unique way to re-tell the story from a vlogger's point of view! Don't get freaked out about amateur vlogers portraying beloved characters; these people are trained actors. Although I would have liked more episodes with Darcy, I think that maybe the suspense of not seeing him makes the episodes with him that much more exciting and epic. Also, the episode where Lizzie explains her parents and the episode when Bing Lee visits a sick Jane Bennet are "totes adorbs." Plus they're relatively successful at closed captioning the series. In the words and actions of Lydia Bennet, "Whaaaaaattt" [high five].

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Not really...:) So which one's your favorite?

Cook: Herb Time!

It's spring time and our herb garden is getting bigger! Specifically our rosemary bush is out of control and we need to do some trimming. A few people have asked me what we do with our herbs, so below are few options.

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1. Use 'em Fresh

Directions: Wash with warm water and add to current meal. Duh! :)

Note: We grab fresh rosemary quite often to spice up omelets and other family meals. Just remember to use a little more fresh rosemary (or other herb) than if you were using the dried version.

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2. Refrigerate 'em

Directions: cut sprigs, wash them in warm water, place cut ends in a cup of water (like flowers), and bag the top (sandwich bag will do)

Note: I haven't tried this method, but I hear it works really well. Your herbs should last around a week to two weeks this way. 

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3. Freeze 'em

Directions: Wash in warm water, pluck leaves from stems, and bag tightly in the freezer.

Note: I've used a similar process with ginger and orange/lime zest. Just don't forget to label your bags!

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4. Dry 'em

Directions: Wash in warm water, pat down dry, tie in bunches with string, and hang upside down for 4 weeks.

Note: I love drying herbs because it makes the house smell wonderful! The only draw back is the time it takes to dry the herbs and it's a little time consuming to remove the leaves if you've got big bundles. Be sure to store your dried herbs in a cool dry place (an old spice container or jar will do the trick!