Monday, December 14, 2009

Julie and Julia

Watching DH endure 2 bouts of flu/cough in the past month, my body must have decided that some sort of sympathetic reaction was in order. After a crisp 8-mile tempo run last Monday (1 1/2 mile warm-up, 4 mile tempo at 8:10 per mile, 2 1/2 mile cool down) when I felt on top of the world, and a 6 mile recovery run the day after, I caught a severe throat infection that still has me croaking (though at times, I sound closer to a sheep in distress). I bleated to my brother across the globe in India, who, after a rip roaring laugh at my plight, pointed out that this is the sexiest I have ever sounded. Anyway, this bug's got me cowering under a blanket with soup, hot water, cough drops and antibiotics close at hand. I have not attempted to venture out in the cold in the past week. A feeble 1/2 hour on the bike a couple of times was all I could manage.

The past weekend has consequently been a blur of movie watching and mindless reading. The one movie I really enjoyed is Julie and Julia. If you have not watched the movie, I recommend you head over the nearest Blockbuster or order it on pay-per-view or wherever it is you get your movies from. It is a must-see for all you established and/or aspiring food bloggers! I am a little embarrassed to admit I watched it to the accompaniment of take-out from Schezhuan Kitchen (I have nothing against Chinese take-out, but we all know it can't hold a candle to the authentic Chinese fare). The movie inspired me...especially as I have been spending an awful lot of time in the kitchen lately. I cannot imagine living on French cuisine for a year and I am pretty confident DH would suffer tremendously if he is not fed Indian food for more than 3 days in a row. But all the time I watched the movie, I was feeling intensely jealous of the husbands (of Julie & Julia) who got to taste Julia Child's delectable culinary creations on a daily basis.

On a different note (but also in the culinary department), I realize I have been spending a lot of time lately in planning healthy meals. You see, it takes a lot of creativity and deception to get DH to ingest healthy food...he has such an aversion to anything proclaimed to be healthy.

Some of the tricks I've resorted to include:

- passing off scrambled egg beaters (with tons of veggies) as scrambled egg.

- keeping a bowl of baby carrots and another bowl of walnuts and cranberries within easy reach when he returns from the office (that's the time of day he is ravenous and doesn't really care what gets shoveled into his mouth).

- satisfying the sweet tooth by substituting the syrupy Indian sweets he used to knock back daily with these phenomenal Banana Butterscotch blondies that I read about on athlEAT. (I use EVOO instead of butter (Julia Child would not have approved) and honey instead of sugar and molasses; and I bake it at 300 degrees instead of 350 degrees).

- using less oil and boiling veggies instead of frying whenever I can get away with it.

- making atleast one whole wheat pasta dish and 2 salads a week. For DH, salad and pasta can never be a meal...they are appetizers at best...but this way, he gets a couple of extra servings of veggies and fibre every week; and it means that he eats a little less of the carb-rich white rice that we South Indians are so addicted to.

- I also carefully avoid letting DH accompany me on grocery shopping trips, so a lot of fried snacks, desserts and other dangerous items don't make it to the shopping cart. Of course, that doesn't always solve the problem, because I'm not craving-free myself. But better to indulge one craving than 2!

DH calls me manipulative; I think I am creative. You be the judge!

I am a sucker for books, and running books in particular, so let me point you to a super giveaway by The Happy Runner...one that I am hoping to win myself!

19 comments:

Abby said...

I loved that movie, and thought it was an interesting commentary on this whole blogging world. Brent came home inspired to make an omelet a la Julia. He youtubed a video of her and then got to crackin' some eggs :)

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Beth said...

I'm so glad your blog is still here. Last time I checked, blogger said it had been removed. I was very alarmed! I hope you are feeling better soon. I love your suggestions for sneaking in the healthy foods. I can't wait to try out some of your ideas. Thanks!

Mica said...

Ah, I'm so jealous that your DH gets Indian food at least thrice weekly! I just made chana masala yesterday, but I bet it is garbage compared to your cookin'!

I'm going to rent "J&J" later this week!

I Run for Fun said...

Beth, thanks for not giving up on me! I have to fix this #@$%& blogger issue. My blog keeps disappearing and I can't figure out how to fix it.

Irene said...

Sorry to hear you're dealing with being sick! It sure has been a tough year for colds and flus, and my family has been hit as well. I'm trying hard to avoid it, but sometimes there's just no hiding.

Yes, I think you are being creative. :)

Take care!!!

Emily said...

I think you are super creative. My dad and brother have an aversion to my healthy treats, too. I like your idea of keeping healthy treats out when your husband gets home. I know exactly the feeling when I get home and am soo hungry!

I hope you feel better soon!

Erica said...

Oh girly, I hope you feel better!! I still have not yet seen Julie and Julia, I really want to. I am always doing the same for Josh. I think of it as good practice for kids one day ;)

Teamarcia said...

Your throat infection sounds awful...hope you're better soon! Great healthy cooking ideas! I'm 'manipulative' that way as well!

Heather said...

I watched Julia and Julie last weekend too and loved it - the book is even better! It inspired me too, but there is no way my husband could handle french cooking. Plus you can't get a lot of those ingredients in our little town. Maybe I'll cook my way through my Taste of Home cookbook . . .

Anonymous said...

Hope you start feeling better soon. Bet you'l be good to go for all the holiday festivities. The banana butterscotch blondies sound really really good!

Ali said...

Hope you are feeling better. I like your idea list that is a great stay healthy during the holidays

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X-Country2 said...

I'm dying to see that movie. Hope you get well soon.

Felice Devine said...

I want to see Julie and Julia. My parents saw it and really liked it, too.

Thanks for the link :-)

Scheri said...

I also loved Julie and Julia! My cooking group and I are planning on doing a Julia inspired cooking session and watch the movie while we cook.

I hope you feel better soon!

lauren said...

I wish I could take credit for those banana butterscotch blondies! they are incredible. Jasmine from Sweet & Fit came up with the awesome recipe. But, I love how you "healthified" it. I need to try that!

Tricia said...

I watched it for the first time this weekend and LOVE it! It made me want to love food more....like butter...lol, have to get over my fear of butter ;)

zzz said...

Hope you are feeling better Kavi. Talk to me about eating white rice. I have finally figured out something like you do to reduce white rice intake. But it is still hard.

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