Chaning My Eating Habits

In Southern California, nobody says they are on a diet, but everyone is on a cleanse. The word "cleanse" carries the connotation that we are losing weight for a higher purpose. It's not vanity that motivates us, it's spirituality. And we are letting each other get away with it.

I am making an effort to change my eating habits. Too often Eric and I end up eating big heavy meals late at night. I wake up feeling heavy and achey. Under the guidance of my Ayurvedic pal, Jackie Parker, I have experimented with eating my heavier meal in the middle of the day and not eating much after 6:00. I really liked how I felt in the mornings, but it is difficult to maintain when you don't get home till 7:30pm and enjoy cooking to unwind. Simultaneously, most social gatherings are around late night dinners. But I am making a new effort.

I feel inspired by my recent rediscovery of the bandhas in my yoga practice and feel that a new diet is in order.

Yesterday Breakfast
7:30am Hot Water
7:45am Coffee with milk
Cashews

10am Yogurt and Cashews

Lunch
1:30 Sauted Carrots, Fennel and Baby Satoi Leaves with Lemon and Mustard over Basmati Rice

Dinner
7:30 Miso Soup

Butter Lettuce, Radish, Fennel, Blood Orange Salad

Dressing
Mince Shallot and Combine with about 1.5 Tbl. Red Wine Vinegar
Let sit for about 15 minutes
Mix in 1.5 tsp. of country Dijon mustard
.5 tsp minced fresh green peppercorns
salt and pepper
1/4 cup + very good olive oil mixed in slowly and well

While shallots and vinegar are getting to know wash other, cut root off butter lettuce and wash and dry.

Slice Radishes.

Thinly Slice One Bulb of Fennel.

Using a knife, slice skin off 2 blood oranges to remove all white part. Thinly slice.

Toss Lettuce, radishes, fennel and blood oranges.

Toss with dressing.

(If I had been serving this salad with steak, an avocado might have been nice, but tonight with the potato gratin, the dinner was rich enough).

Potato Leek Gratin

It's late February. And even though we live in Southern California where the days are never colder than 60 degrees, the body still craves comfort food. You know, like Potato Gratin. This dish will always remind me of Greta Davis who I love dearly. Tonight we ate this with a Salad, recipe follows.

Potato Leek Gratin

Preheat Oven to 350/375 degrees

In a heavy Saucepan, like a Le Crueset Dutch Oven, combine:
3+ cups of desired combo of milk and half n' half
8 medium Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Leeks, thinly sliced, you know, "white parts only"
1 clove garlic thinly sliced
2 Bay Leaves
Several twigs fresh or several pinches dried thyme
A Sprig or a few pinches of dried Rosemary
Couple pinches of good salt
Freshly Ground Pepper to Taste
A smidge of freshly ground nutmeg

Bring Mixture to a Boil and Simmer for about 5 minutes until potatoes are tender.

While Mixture is warming, rub a clove of garlic around the 9 x 12 heavy Pyrex or other casserole like dish. When garlic is dry, smear butter on inside of dish.

Transfer Potato Milk Mixture to the Dish. Cover with grated Gruyere Cheese. If desired, add dots of butter around top, but not necessary.

Bake for 45 minutes to and hour.

Remove and let sit before cutting and serving.

Butter Leaf Salaf with Fennel and Daikon

Dressing:
Minced Shallot
Red Wine Vinegar
Country Dijon Mustard
Chopped Capers
Salt and Pepper Olive Oil

To Make Dressing:
1. Mix Shallot with less than a tbl. of red wine vinegar. Let Sit for 15 minutes.
2. Add tsp. of mustard, about a tsp. of capers, freshly ground pepper and good sea salt.
3. Slowly wisk in good olive oil, about 3 tbl. or so.

Salad
Thinly Slice 1 bulb of Fennel and 1 Daikon Radish.
Wash and Trim Butter Lettuce.

Toss all the ingredients with the dressing.
(If I had a ripe avocado, I would have added it).