The Good News
As I mentioned somewhere in the comments, I’m going to be developing some recipes for a cookbook during my month off!! I was contacted by a publisher to do about 26 recipes, and of course was thrilled to participate. While I do hope to write my own cookbook someday, I’m so excited to get started on this project – and to have a "part time job" for my month off that doesn’t require commuting 2 hours a day!
The Bad News
I’ll need to keep the recipes’ ingredients and techniques a secret. I will be posting photos and titles to show what I eat generally, but unfortunately I won’t be able to post recipes for some of the things I create (and eat!) Tonight’s soup, for example. AND……I’m pretty sure the cookbook isn’t being released until 2010. So if you can just wait a few years then you can go buy it and my recipes will be in there!
Cool As A Cuc
I went for a 45-minute walk this afternoon for some light exercise and to return our video to the grocery store. It felt great to get moving and I think I’ll be up for my normal workouts tomorrow morning. I don’t have Sports Nutr. tomorrow so we’re planning to go to the gym in the AM. Note to Self: DO NOT walk outside in jeans in July even if it’s a cloudy day!
Coming back steamy from my walk, I wanted to try a new Chilled Cucumber Soup recipe. There are a few secret ingredients here, but it’s mostly cucumber and yogurt –
My picnic version. It tasted great to begin with, but like most chilled soups, I think my portion was too large. You have to sip them no more than a cup at a time or it gets to be too much!
I also had a bagel sandwich with turkey, Laughing Cow, mustard and basil –
And packed some red peppers but didn’t eat them (too much soup). Along with a ginger ale –
Chem
Tonight was my second-to-last chem class!!! While the class officially ends next Tuesday, I’m not going to tomorrow’s lab or Wednesday’s lecture and will be taking a lab test on Thursday in the testing center in the afternoon (all for complicated "you can miss this many classes" reasons and because I’m not taking the last test for "you can drop your lowest test grade" reasons). Sweeeet. My goal with this class was to just get through it and I’m almost there! It’s actually gotten a whole lot better. The prof lightened up a LOT and we kind of (*KIND OF*) like him now 🙂
Snack
My stomach still feels funny – like there’s a gas ball in it or something!! All day I can tell I’m hungry, but I don’t get the normal hunger pangs. On my way home from chem, I could tell I really needed a snack and couldn’t decide between cold cereal (my favorite late-night snack besides ice cream) and a molasses cookie. So I had half cereal and a cookie. I took a bite first – I couldn’t wait!
The expiration date on the cookies says June 4….they’re not moldy or anything, just a little stale. Should I toss ’em??
Goodnight!
foodie911 says
no way! as long as they taste good 🙂
Deb says
Toss a cookie!!?? (double meaning there, get it? ha ha) Heavens NO! Put them in the oven on low heat to crisp them up. I do that will all sorts of baked goods- crackers, cookies, cereal…anything that has gone past the “date” or is stale…they come back to life amazingly well!
BethT says
Wow, how did the publisher find you?
And I eat cookies until they grow fur or start tasting bad 😀
Allyson says
Hi Kath,
I don’t know if you check all the posts but I thought I would send this out in hopes you do. I am a 22 year old recent college grad (start at an accounting firm in the fall! yippee!) in Seattle and just stumbled across your blog one day when I looked up a mix of ingredients I had in my pantry and was led to a recipe on your site. I absolutely LOVE what you have created and read it every day.
I was raised very healthy, and many of my favorite flavors, meals, dishes, combinations, and snacks look a lot like yours. I have gotten so many ideas from your site and such good advice. I really didn’t like Trader Joes store brand greek yogurt so I tried the Fage you talked about and it might be my favorite food of the moment. I also have mixed up my oatmeal in the morning with some of your ideas, use pumpkin in more stuff now, love your salmon salad, all your granola ideas, how you incorporate large servings of fruits and veggies w/out being bland, and all the endless dinner entrees that I have to look forward to trying. I do have to admit though…I am quite jealous your husband is so involved with cooking and healthy eating…my boyfriend still eats poptarts regularily and hasn’t once cooked me a meal (almost 4 years!!).
You have such a healthy approach to food, and you should be proud of your accomplishments in weigh loss/maintenence. I struggled with a brief eating disorder about 5 years ago, and returning to eating healthy, balanced, nutritious, flavorful meals like the ones you make helped in my return to eating/living normally.
Well, really long post, but I thought you deserved to know what an excellent job your doing and that I am inspired by your daily strive towards a healthy/balanced life. I look forward to reading everyday. Take care!
Allyson
lara says
Don’t toss them! But you and the husband should try to eat them up sooner than later.
I have some yogurt that is a couple days past the expiration date… do you think this is safe? Isn’t yogurt just fermented milk anyways?
..btw, have you ever tried making your own yogurt with milk?
natalie says
Congrats Kath! You have amazing kitchen skills and I and I’m glad you’ll be able to share your recipes with alot more people. Can’t wait for the cookbook 🙂
Karen says
Congratulations on the book! That is super cool.
And yes, I would toss the cookies.
Julz says
That is S.O. exciting! How cool that a publisher Contacted YOU, and not the other way around! Obviously, my excitement is for selfish reasons, but I can totally keep secrets like it’s my job 🙂 So no worries, you can tell me the recipes 🙂
Glad we got that one covered! Whew! 😉
Aaand I’m glad to see you’re feeling better! That was scary!
Saima says
Congratulations!! This is SOMEEE BIG NEWS :D!! Truly amazing!!
Little Black Dress says
Congratulations Kath! This is wonderful news and your dishes are always so interesting and gorgeous- this will be a wonderful way to share with readers and friends!
PS- regarding your “snack” feeling- I completely sympathize. Getting back into the groove after a weekend like your is tough!
Jessica says
Wow, you’d make some fantastic recipes for that cookbook!! I’m looking forward to it.
I have a random question regarding tortillas/wraps. At the grocery store the other day, I saw a La Tortilla Factory brand EVOO Multigrain Wraps. Here is the link: http://www.latortillafactory.com/jadworks/ltf/jwsuite.nsf/ViewSelection/D26AC3FED90263138825723B006A2BFA?Open&site=Home*ViewSelection=Products**dl
They boast a staggering 12 g of dietary fiber!!! For 100 calories?? I know wraps can be pretty high in cals with a mix of flour, shortening, oil, etc. But i thought these just look too good to be true. What do you make of them? What type of wraps do you buy?
lucy says
congrats on the cookbook deal! you’re an inspiration to me with all your creative combinations, i’m sure your recipes will be awesome 🙂
Jenn says
Congratulations to you on the cookbook excitement! I will anxiously await the 2010 release!!
I currently have that gas ball feeling as well – I think it’s absolutely the worst thing one can have!
Every Gym's Nightmare says
congrats!! thats exciting. so that means you have to think of new ones, huh? I owuld think that would be hard, probably not for you though. When does it come out?
www.groundedfitness.com
Every Gym's Nightmare says
oh, heh heh, you already answered that that….
whoops.
tiedtogetherwithasmile says
How exciting about your cookbook, congrats!
Your cereal looks delicious, I’m definitely going to try it!!
jimmi says
omg. congrats kath. thank god already, though really…. i’m tired of printing out oatmeal bar recipes and shoving the stained pages into my cook book for later… a full-on glossy paged book will fit nicely onto my cookbook shelf!
woohoo. congrats.
Claire says
Hi Kath
Congrats on the cookbook! I am sure it will be just as inspiring as your fabulous blog! About the cookies, its a toss up for me. I would toss any dairy or proteins but the cookies may be fine. As someone recommended, I may reheat them a little (and I think all cookies are better warm).
Kristie says
A cookbook?! Wow, I’m super excited! I’ll definitely be buying it for sure. Too bad it doesn’t come out for a couple years!
And double excitement for the chem class being almost finished. What a relief.
magpie says
I can’t wait for your cookbook!!! Writing my own cookbook would be such a dream 🙂
Yayy, for class being done, and have a wonderful night!
Cat says
That’s wonderful news about the cookbook!! Congrats! I have tried many of your recipes (and they’re great by the way), and read your blog all the time. I’m so happy for you! And now I have something in 2010 to look forward to 🙂
hk says
too cool! I’m so sad I have to wait until 2010- CONGRATS on such an exciting new project 🙂
Sidi says
Congrats Kath! A week ago my sister got the good news, too. She’ll have two novels published by the end of this year. Keep up the good work!
Andrea says
KATH – CONGRATULATIONS! That is SO fabulous! I envisions BIG BIG BIG things in your future and this is definitely a stepping stone! Great job. I can’t wait to buy the cookbook…you know we all will 🙂 You are such a motivation for me and I just thought I’d let you know. I always think to myself ‘What would KERF do?!’ when I’m ordering at a restaurant or grocery shopping etc. Keep up the great work. I know you will.
Andrea
Kath says
BethT ,
Publisher found the blog 🙂
Allyson ,
Thanks so much for your comment and great feedback. I saved it in my “awesome comment” archive!
lara ,
We haven’t made our own yogurt. I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort to buy the machinery and all.
I’d eat yogurt a few days past exp. if it looks OK but not more than a week.
Julz ,
LOL.
Jessica ,
High fiber + low cal go together because insoluble fiber is indigestible (and you’ll see oat fiber is the second ingredient). They also get the calories lower by having water as the first ingredient. I’d buy ’em if I can find ’em!
magpie ,
Don’t get too excited – it’s not MY cookbook!! I’m just one of a handful of other contributors. And it could also always fall through or something.
Sidi ,
TWO novels! Tell her congrats from me! My mom’s an author and I know how hard the industry is to crack.
Andrea ,
Maybe I should make bright green bracelets dotted with brussels sprouts or oats with WWKD on them!? Or even better – made them oatmeal scented!!
Kath
VeggieGirl says
If you need any recipe testers, you know where to find me :0D
Bridget says
Jessica,
I’ve had the La Tortilla Factory brand EVOO Multigrain Wraps! I think I might have bought the Sundried Tomato-flavored ones, though? Anyways, they were delicious, very moist and big enough to actually WRAP stuff in. I think they were a little pricey, though, almost $4 for 6. But definitely worth a try!
Jessica says
That is wonderful news on the cookbook entries – you will have so much fun with this!! Can’t wait to buy it in 2010!
Sarah says
Just a note about making yogurt- it’s really not hard at all, and no special equiptment is required. The basic idea is just to mix together a little yogurt with milk or your choice, then keep it at a warm temperature (in a water bath, usually), until the yogurt thickens. It’s fun to have control over your yogurt, and esspecially if you use dried milk powder (delicious!) it can be a lot cheaper than stpre bought yogurt.
Justy2003 says
The book isn’t coming out til 2010?! Man, I was thinking like a few months. Guess I forgot that it takes some time for production, editing, etc. Boo.
Congrats again though!
Betsy says
congrats!!!! that is quite exciting news. i can’t wait to see your new concoctions
karla says
Felicidades!!
If you need any recipe testers from spain….= )
I agree with the comment that you have a great future ahead of you, how cool would it be to have you and Jenna in a tv show or your own cookbooks??
keep up the fantastic energy!! its so inspiring!!
Phoebe says
Re yogurt — I think yogurt (if it’s good quality yogurt, like a top brand, or organic) is basically good forever unless it gets furry or looks or tastes bizarre. It’s not the kind of thing that really goes bad if it is cold enough (like eggs). That’s just my opinion though. I’ve been known to keep unopened yogurt for like 2 months and opened yogurt for probably over a month and I’ve never encountered bad yogurt.
Deb says
I’m with Phoebe on the yogurt. Until it literally walks away from me, it’s mine to eat. 😀
Penney says
Congratulations about the cookbook! I can’t wait to buy it.
Christie says
Congrats on the cookbook, that is awesome!