Weigh to Grow, Show, Know

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 Mustard Greens photoJHM ©10

 Brussel SproutsphotoJHM ©10

 Thai Basil photoJHM ©10

Okra Pods photoJHM ©10

I read in our local paper that the Lower 9th Ward's Sankofa Community Development Corporation announced the opening on November 20th,2011 of their Sankofa Farmers Market!  I strongly encourage people to support their effort since in the Lower 9th ward Community there is no supermarket & the pioneers who have come back to re-establish their homes in this community have to travel great distances for simple things we take for granted.

I see an irony for me as I am fortunate in the sense that I can leave my home & in 5-7 minutes can access 5 supermarkets and in 10 minutes the local Wal-Mart and yet 20 minutes away the residents of this community have to travel great distances for the aforementioned markets.

So as the adage goes: "If the mountain won't come to Muhammed, then Muhammed must go to the mountain".  I say way to go to this group in still yet another venture forth by creating this farmers market so the Lower Ninth Ward + their neighbors, Bywater, Arabi,Upper 9th Ward, St. Bernard Parish,Fabourg Marigny, & Treme + others could access fresh produce and other products locally grown.

I personally plan to support them with my dollars and volunteer in whatever way I can,some of which will mean traveling past the supermarkets I have easy access to and going downtown to do my part.

Kohl Rabi photo JHM ©10

About Sankofa Farmers Market: 

www.sankofafarmersmarket.org 

The Sankofa Farmers Market was developed in response to the requests of community members for access to fresh vegetables and fruits for sale at the market. You have asked for a farmers market where you can have direct access to home grown produce. The farmers market will operate every Saturday and will offer seasonal, nutritious produce and locally caught seafood. We will accept the EBT/SNAP benefit card, credit cards, debit cards, and cash. We hope to build a viable market for both vending and shopping to thrive with healthy nutritious food. 

This farmers market will be a year round outlet for local farmers and fishermen to vend their goods in accordance with state and national goals, as well as to provide a social outlet and neighborhood meeting place for families and seniors. We are working in peer partnership with marketumbrella.orgfor consultation with technical information, regular evaluation, and the appropriate market management trainings. We believe that adding EBT access, along with a strong marketing campaign and weekly retail outlet presence, will accomplish the following: increase fresh food accessibility to low-income customers, increase sales for our farmers and fishermen, increase economic and community development in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

The Sankofa Farmers Market will be the 2nd farmers market in the city to have EBT access. This market will also be the only farmers market, not only in the Lower Ninth Ward, but also in communities adjacent  to the neighborhoods, including the Upper Ninth Ward, Gentilly, Arabi and St. Bernard Parish.

If it is to be, it is up to me. Author Unknown 

Cranberry Relish

Chef Meg's Cranberry Relish

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 0.0g
• Carbohydrates: 11.2g
• Calories: 42.7
• Protein: 0.2g

Ingredients

3/4 c sugar
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 oranges, zest and fruit, discard pith and membrane
2 c cranberries, fresh or frozen
1/4 t cinnamon, ground
pinch cloves, ground

Directions

Remove the zest from the two oranges using a zester or a small knife. Place the zest, sugar, and 3/4 cup of water into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and continue to cook until the cranberries start to pop, about 2 minutes. Transfer entire mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Add the oranges and spices to the mixture. Process until mixture is combined. Transfer to a plastic or glass container and refrigerate, covered, for 12 hours.
A serving is 2 tablespoons. 

Number of Servings: 18

People's Issues...

I thought would be interesting to read.  While I am not morbidly obese or have a food addiction, Ruby's points were well taken in reference to a Marie Claire's blogger discriminatory comments about obese people & the TV show Mike & Molly.


This blogger who initial created a brew ha ha over her issues with obese people in my observation (and proven right) had more to do with her own personal battles then a TV show she has never seen.


Ruby Galliger of the TV show Ruby comments on her blog:
http://rubysfins.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-want-to-speak-to-yall-about-very.html



Here is the NBC interview:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/39887932#39830004

Well, well, WELL Wednesday

I walked 1.25 miles today averaging now about a 50 min walk.  I took a different route today and found a wonderful to drool over block & an art center that I will go back when open.   The owner it turns out has been ill and the place is only open on the weekend right now.  I am going to go back this weekend to speak with her to see if she would like to hire me to run the place during the week. 

2 doors down what I thought was a business turned out to be someone home and he invited me in (so New Orleans). Turns out he collects lots of art asked me to send him images of what I do as what he does is pay his bills and buys art.

Oh he was safe. I could have took him out if he got funny.

He left the doors open & I stood near it if I had to turn and run. Actually I stood on the sidewalk at the door

But I still could take him out. I was admiring the sculptures he own. 

Then I had to head over to Winn Dixie with my meager funds to buy food. I was happy Winn Dixie had olive oil, pomegranate red wine vinegar, chicken breasts, talpia, broccoli & shrimp as buy 1 get one free. I also got carbonated water & juice to make my own sparkling drinks to keep me from drinking soda, Creole mustard, Tabasco sauce & cayenne pepper for seasoning. And cage free Omega-3 eggs.

Man if I had more money I could have done some serious damage!

Now does pushing a grocery cart around a store qualify as exercise? :=)

Crustless Spinach, Onion and Feta Quiche

Nutritional Info

• Fat: 5.5g
• Carbohydrates: 13.5g
• Calories: 142.0
• Protein: 10.6g

Ingredients

1 medium onion, diced
6-oz fresh baby spinach
2 large eggs
1/2 cup egg beaters (liquid substitute)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
pinch cayenne pepper
1 1/3 cups non fat milk
1/2 cup feta cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.
Lightly grease a 10-inch quiche/tart pan (or a pie plate)
In a medium frying pan, cook diced onion with a bit of vegetable oil (or cooking spray) over medium-high heat until translucent and tender. Add in fresh spinach and cook until just wilted. Set aside to cool for a few minutes
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, then stir in spinach-onion mixture.
Pour quiche base into prepared pan. Top with feta cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until center is set and the outside edge is golden brown.
Let set for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

Number of Servings: 6

Spicy Taco Soup

Nutritional Info

* Fat: 10.0g
* Carbohydrates: 29.6g
* Calories: 281.5
* Protein: 17.9g

Ingredients
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Onion, chopped
2 14.5 oz cans Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
2 15 oz cans Pinto Beans (drained)
1 15 oz can Black Beans (drained)
1 15 oz can Cream-style corn
1 package ranch style dressing mix
1 package Taco Seasoning
1 Cup Water (or broth) Optional

Directions
Brown beef with onions in a medium soup pot. Drain excess grease. Add remaining ingredients, stir and simmer for 20 minutes. If it seems a little thick you can add some beef broth or water to it while it is simmering.

This is great with cilantro and a dab of sour cream!

8 servings of about 1 1/2 cups each

Weigh to Goal~ Something I Never DO...

10-17-10 This is me today beginning this modest goal...

I rarely ever do this "I want to lose XYZ amount of weight by_________"

So I am trying a modest objective.

It began because of something I did not follow through on that of being this past week despite my intentions, I did not get one day of real walking in although I did small increments of some movement. Somehow the week got a'weigh from me.

But now I learned my eldest daughter's Commencement is January 14,2011 in California and oh course I will be attending with rings on my fingers & bells on my toes! She has worked so hard for this.

They (my daughters, SIL and 8 of the 9 grandchildren have seen nothing but a few pictures of me since the surgery. The people who see me locally comments all the time about my weight release.

But now it is the appropriate time to gear up. I am writing this not as a commitment, but a contract to myself to move more to walk a bit further.

My goal will be to release about 30 pounds before travel. It only comes to 10 pounds per month or 2.5 pounds a week.

Since I will be heading to the West Coast after Commencement, I will travel onto the Pacific Northwest to vist my son & his family & if I dare perhaps a fast "holla" to a friend in Washington State on my return back. I love the train so it will be fun to gadabout.

And to see family & friends especially in the case of the ones in the PNW it will be over a year, 2 in some since I've seen them all.

So back to walking I go. Fortunately our winters are temperate & I like walking in the cold. I will do that before beginning the rest of my day so I won't get distracted. There will have to be some tweaking on time because as much as I like chill I will not be doing the 7am in the dead of winter.