I'm too afraid to do the math and figure out how long it's been since I posted. April - June is a crazy time for fundraisers, with the fiscal year and all, so our dinner planning has taken a real turn for the boring. I've managed to keep our dinners, and most of our lunches, grain-free. But breakfast has been hard because I've eaten it on the road as I rush to meetings, end of the year events, or doctor appointments - leave it to Charlie to get every bug under the sun as the weather gets warmer. I keep imagining the Starbucks icon tapping her fingers all Mr. Burns style, saying, "Welcome back, my pretty" and then following up with a maniacal laugh.
So a typical dinner right now is broiled or grilled meat of some sort with two vegetables, one of which is usually broiled right on the same pan with the meat. I start the protein first. Last night it was pork chops with a quick spray of olive oil from the misto, salt and pepper, and a sprinkle of my new favorite broiler condiment Liquid Smoke. I put them under the broiler for 8 minutes (they were thick little buggers), then pulled them out to flip them and add the veggies. I threw some slice zucchini and leeks (I've been obsessed with the leeks from our local farmers market lately) on the pan, doused them in olive oil, salt, and pepper and then gave them a good toss before throwing the pan back under the broiler for another 10 minutes. While that cooked, I sauteed some baby spinach in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, on the stovetop. My new favorite short cut is minced garlic in a jar. Don't hate, all you foodies out there. We all have to make our sacrifices where we can! Fresh garlic is awesome, but taking an hour just to chop everything I need to start dinner is most definitely not awesome.
I have so many food-related goals for the summer and I doubt all of them will get done. I'd like to start going to pick my own fruits as each one comes into season so that I can freeze bunches of them for use during the winter. We bought a couple tomato plants and a bean plant that I hope to nurture this summer, as well as maybe another eggplant plant which always seems to be fruitful for us. I'd like to do some canning, at least of tomatoes but also peaches and pickles. And I would like to get back on the grain-free train for all meals because being off has been a very unpleasant experience.
On the weight loss front, a friend has buddied up with me to work out. We purchased a Living Social deal for a local Cross Fit operation and went to the intro class. It's taken us two weeks to work up the courage to go back after we got our asses handed to us, but I'm psyched. I'm a fan of tough, athletic work outs that push you to your limits and beyond. One of my favorite feelings is walking out of a gym with sweat pouring off me feeling like an utter and total badass. Rah rah for crazy Type A personalities.
All these goals might be tossed up in the air, as the potential for big change is on the horizon. (And NO, it does not mean another kid is on the way. Please. The very thought of two sets of ear aches and fevers gives me hives right now.) It's a change we've wanted for so so long, but we are patiently enduring the state of limbo right now. It won't be awful if things stay the same but it will be AMAZING if they change.
To sum up - things are crazy, my eating is "meh" both in terms of variety and health, I am going to continue to put too many tasks on my plate and then lament all of them, and none of this will mean anything if just one thing goes my way in the next few weeks.
Carry on.