A Holiday Luncheon Surprise

https://www.fillupwithbillups.com/

So my daughter Taylor is off work through the New Year from her job at USM Gulf Coast. She's an Academic Advisor and we are so proud of her. Her dog was at the vet and then to the groomer so she and I went to the Island View Casino. We typically play penny slots on the smoke free side. We held our own today and left down about $15 but with a complimentary coffee and Christmas cookie. I would use the word free but I've paid for the cookie many times over.

After we left Island View she asked if she could buy me lunch. For those who read my blog you know I'm a pretty healthy eater. I said I'll just do my regular veges and spinach lunch. She decided to stop at McDonalds for her lunch. lol I quickly reconsidered and we decided to go to Fillips by Billups in Pass Christian, about 2 miles from the house.

https://www.fillupwithbillups.com/

We had had carry out burgers during covid and they were great. Huge, juicy and stacked tall with condiments. Today I craved pizza.

Pizza Pizza Pizza

I grew up in the NW Indiana corridor known as "da region". It's the Lake Michigan version of the Gulf Coast and borders Chicago. So we had Flamingos (Gary IN), House of Pizza (the BLVD), John's (Calumet City IL), Barton's (Lansing IL) and later one of my customers was Gino's East of Chicago a Richard Melman deep dish Chicago legend. So we know pizza.

Today Taylor and I had an all meat and a cheese pizza and took the remainder home for Carmen. Truly this was the best I've had in a seriously long time. We lived over 20 years in Florida and I even had independent pizza restaurant customers. We love Sal and Mookies, Anthony's and Sarduccis here on the Gulf Coast. The pizza today was outstanding. Sorry guys it was better.

Perhaps Megan our server, Taylor my host or the old Pioneer/ Bose 901 sound system playing Motown hits helped make it an enjoyable lunch. Megan was efficient and personable sharing information about the restaurant and it's history. Taylor was of course chipper and engaging in conversation as usual. Always a special time with my wingbuddy. The sound system was favored by many Viet Nam ERA veterans coming back from Europe and a standard sale at the Post Exchange aka PX. Motown is well...Motown. 

The result made my day and exceeded expectations not met since definitely before covid and possibly my move from the midwest.

They even had the in house made doughballs stored in the old plastic bins similar to the ones we sold at Edward Don and Halco. The latter we created in a durable less heavy plastic that stacked. We basically recreated the heavy fiberglass standard for the Detroit mega chains. 

What a nice lunch with Taylor and a chance to reminisce about the food service days. 

Thanks Rudy! 

BIG Money Lottery UPDATE

 Well, I had my challenge during the 2 Billion Powerball rush last week. I went multiple times had help with the forms and on Wednesday played my numbers again. Or so I thought. Turns out I had a couple numbers right and thought I won a couple bucks. I went in Friday morning and the Circle K lady said...you have the Mississippi Mega Millions tickets for tonight. What? Not even the right lottery. I finally sort the Powerball deal out but NOT?

All's well that ends well. I had the same winnings from the Mega Millions and now can finally move on to tonight's Powerball. Yes it's only paying 150 million or so but that should be enough for me to get by on.

WINTER FOOD for a CHILLY SATURDAY

Meanwhile I got my instantpot out to make something warm and tasty. The cold front is coming in. It's snowing in Indiana so I feel fortunate. I put peas, cannelloni beans fire roasted tomatoes and seasoned it with garlic powder, sea salt, white pepper and onion flakes. Cooked for 35 minutes the peas and tomatoes turned into a soup consistency and the beans were all dente. I served in on crusty sourdough bread drenched with olive oil. Very nice. No pictures as I ate it as I made it. lol Not much of a blogger am I Next time for sure. Bon Appetit.  

Scientific Experiments Wa Ha Ha

 So soon after Halloween and still using ghostly voiceovers, my usual Virgo self is staying busy doing experiments and being creative. With the Powerball over 2 Billion and a winner Tuesday morning (delayed due to technical difficulties) I stopped in the Circle K to check it out last week. I've never been in the store and we've lived here 2.5 years so I needed help filling out the forms and understanding the rules. Last Wednesday I got the quick pick and Monday after 3 trips to the kiosk got my form correct picking my own numbers. Monday night skipped and Wednesday night I used my VERY scientific  formula. I watched a you tube video of a guy offering to sell me his system. Hmmm. It sounded pretty easy to do and I got my clipboard out and crunched the numbers from last year. Low and behold I got the powerball number right. $4 cash out and now am excited and thinking I may be able to make Carmen rich. Dangerous right?

I'm still doing Dr Gundry's nutrition program and on my restocking trip to Walmart met the bread guy who does my Rustik brand Sourdough. It's very good and I told him I suspected that a small local restaurant may be buying up his bi weekly stock. He had a loaf on the truck for me and that made me happy. I also got a dozen Wild caught Atlantic Scallops and sauteed them in Braggs Olive Oil and 365 Organic garlic powder. My treat for the day was a chunk of the bread soaked in the finished juices. Wow. Delicious and I still have a dozen scallops reserved for my protein this weekend. I used a few pieces of Sourdough from Wholefoods which was perfect sponge. 

Todays tip...Never throw the pan juices out. Have a great weekend, hopefully by next week I'll be rich. 

Wow it's Halloween already.

 I know, I know I promised I would write weekly. Well I was doing a great job and then got sidetracked by health and fitness concerns. Having turned 69 in early September I've always tried to stay ahead of the health curve. I'm fortunate to have VA and service related medical coverage. 

Basically I've felt my life was like a speedometer and my fitness and nutrition has followed than line. So my early years I spent with Grandfather most Summers and weekends. I was the oldest grandchild.

He had a dump truck and tractor and leased property that would become Southlake Mall in Merrillville Indiana. We raised cantaloupe and tomatoes for Libbey Company. I loved taking them to the Alsip Illinois plant to be made into ketchup. We mostly ate what would be considered organic and healthy today, mostly vegetables and grass fed beef and chicken. We would stop at the farmers stalls in the Merrillville and Crown Point areas for our food. The chain grocery stores were just starting to open in the Gary area. This was around 1965 and I was lean and energetic. I was a catcher in little league.

The next phase was phase was middle school through college. I was in the middle of the conversion of "real" sugar drinks to fructose. I was a fry man at the local fast food restaurant, a Hotel school major at Michigan State and spent 4 years in the Army in Germany. So by my late 20's I weighed 310 (think 85 Bears lineman). We took KFC to our family reunions.

About that time fitness became a thing and after reading a book by Bob Haas who trained famous tennis players and my cardiologist warning me of future arterial bypasses I started my own fitness and nutrition routine. Eventually eating from Whole Foods and the like and running 6 miles a day. I was 215 and had some muscle going...lol sadly the running wasn't good for my hips. But as this life is a learning experience, I'm still learning. Sometimes less is more.

Yeah so here I am at 69. I've had AFIB Atrial Fibrillation (funky heartbeat) for about 15 years and treated the symptoms with acupuncture and herbs. I've always said if I had an event I would see the cardiologist immediately. I tell people I have a disco heartbeat in a jazz world...maybe a little rock too.

So that's where I've been this Summer. On June 9th I went to the ER ( my event) with RVR...a more serious AFIB related heart rhythm disorder. My herbs and fitness routine changed out for American drugs and therapy. The drugs while slowing my heart packed on 22 pounds of fluid and made me tired and gave me nightmares. I was scheduled for an Angioplasty. I aced the Angioplasty no plaque and no stents. I feel my plant based diet was the reason for that. Also my basic fitness level. I ride my bike, swim and lift moderate weights. 

We then scheduled the Ablation. My heart was shocked 7 times and regained my original 1980's heart rhythm for an hour. The following week I had the shock again and the rhythm remained 5 days. So that's where were at now I have one drug for the heart rate, one for thinning the blood (stroke risk) and the last for the fluid...I've gotten back to my original starting weight of 200. My eighth grade weight.

So that's catch up...I see the cardiologist next week. There is a chance my rhythm will revert to the  correct beat as my heart heals. I'm cleared to bike swim and lift my moderate weights. My main goal is to get off the drugs and back to herbs. I had my first acupuncture visit Saturday. That was beneficial.

I've added Trace Mineral drops and Vitamin C power pack each once a day. While taking the fluid retention drug they will keep my body healthy with minerals and core vitamins. I'm still doing the Dr Gundry diet with a little more calories. My thoughts are...the RVR may have been hormone related or weight loss as 200 is 32 pounds below my Army weight. Either way the Trace minerals have helped make my routine easier to administer while taking the American drugs. 

We'll see how long it takes me to get off the drugs and back to herbs. Here's to your health. Finding new ways to live longer and having fun doing it.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hamburger, French Fries and Coke

 I had a couple funny conversations this week that tied together, inspiring this short prose. First, on Wednesday we commemorated the 53rd anniversary of Man's Walk On The Moon. 53 years really...wow that's about one food service career. If you asked me what I wanted to eat the first 25 years of my life it was Hamburger, French fries and Coke. Ironically my career started at the McDonalds on 175th and Indianapolis Blvd in Hammond Indiana. Graduating MSU Hotel school and eventually working in the industry as my career. 

The "store" as we called it had a huge stockroom in back with shirts and hats we put on everyday. Most times they were clean sometimes you got the last shifts. On Saturday mornings Lou Nazzaro (owner of all the Region stores) would come in and make himself a double cheeseburger. Wow...the owner. Lou had a Caddy convertible with leather interior and 4 stores. We wanted to be Lou back then.

Well I wasn't Lou. I was the fryman ...after working all the stations I fit best there and flourished. In the old days we cut our own fries. We soaked them in the 3 compartment sink and peeled them in the Hobart peeler above. Cut them, blanched them (pre cook) in beef tallow (fat) and hung them in rack baskets waiting to finish them when you ordered. They were the best...eventually they became frozen consistent potato sticks from Idaho. They were cooked in a Proctor and Gamble styled liquid fat (think Fry Max). They were supposed to be healthier...the jury is still out on that one. I made 95 cents an hour and all I could eat on my two breaks. I would work open to close Saturday and Sunday. Leaving Sunday night after the Sherwood Club Wild Goose concerts... the patrons would storm us for their late night munchies. 

I worked the Saturday Ronald McDonald came to visit we went through all 3 racks bagging fries for 4 hours. What a party that was.

You're fired!

That day (moonwalk) was not without drama at the store. The management choose to cross train me on the grill and I was buried deep in burgers while everyone was listening to the moonwalk on the office radio. Yep portable radio. I asked for help and they shusssed me. I made a snide remark and suddenly it was about me. You're fired I was told. First time being fired but not too scary. 17 year olds firing a 15 year old. I used the office phone to call my Mom to come get me. I was unemployed one day. They forgot I was their best fryman and they had no one to cover the Tuesday night shift. The rest is the career. 53 years...smiling.

Cars, Cars and more Cars

 I know I know where have I been? Doing nothing really and the Tao says "do nothing and nothing remains undone". I did have a New York Strip from Stonnington Farms. Very nice... today I sauteed 2 dozen Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp for my weeks protein. I'm developing more recipes too.

BUT...this last few days the Cruisin the Coast buzz has been growing. My BEMA (Big Easy Mopar Assn) guys are prepping their cars. One of my FB groups asked what the most scary car following you was...the consensus was a Dodge Charger cop car lights blazing. I posted our twin 2011 Dodge Father/Daughter Nitros with the Scatpack tags. I did get the "not really very scary" comments which made me want to challenge with my car history. I did. I am.

Since Chrysler acquired AMC in 1987 they are a part of the MOPAR Group too. So my 1969 AMX two seater 390 cu 4 speed Hurst with Drag Pack qualifies. Very fast and I did get to race it in Cincinnati. It was my first restoration. That was in college. It was my last "hi po vintage machine"

Speaking of drag racing my track was US 30 Dragstrip (https://lostindiana.net/2001/08/01/us-30-drag-strip-hobart/)      4 miles east of Gary (IN) on highway US30. Where the "great ones run" on

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!

The Cuda below is pictured on a different track. This is actually the landing strip at the old US ARMY airbase Fliegerhorst Caserne Hanau West Germany. The car was shipped over and raced by one of the NCOS. I had a 1971 340 CUDA myself in orange. It was fun going to the Army drags. One Sunday afternoon the races were stopped to land a plane.

Topics come up hourly on the FB groups asking all sorts of questions. One was "What wheels were the best?" The Cragar S/S Mag wheel has always been the number one wheel in my book. Shown below off their website, Ironically I owned the Gold Supertricks shown on the AMX above.

But the question I responded too I answered "Fenton mags". I bought a set of Fenton Slotted mags for my 1968 Dodge Charger. They were popular and I paid about $25 a piece for them used. I should have bought the car they were on too...a 1968 Ford Galaxy Convertible. 

I've had a few cars and all of them have stories. We're not finished driving yet...unless I get money, a limo and a driver then it's like the Rock and Roll Express Disney ride. Taylor and my favorite.

See ya in my rear view mirror...the lights green.

Busey Bank Shout Out

 

Just want to shout out to my banking team. Years ago when we moved to Florida we opened an account in Punta Gorda's Busey Bank. Eventually Emerson came as assistant manager was promoted to manager and then manager of Punta Gorda and Pt Charlotte branches. The kids grew up our family moved to Tampa then Long Beach (no the other Long Beach MS). We sold our house and and had some unfriendly interaction with a big city bank. I asked Emerson to keep our money. It's not much but it's all mine.

The pandemic came and Emerson helped get the PPL worked out for my business and now my contact is Merica and Meryca and their manager Jackie. When ever there's a need they jump in and follow-up. Today we had a minor issue with a debit card. We don't use them enough it seems. Althea jumped in and even the Regional Jenni called me to pitch in. Who gives service like that. They do. 

It looks like they may have a shot at my retirement account as well. All they did was ask. Meanwhile locally I couldn't get change for 6 hundred dollar bills...I didn't have an account. Could I open an account...go home and apply online. Thankfully Busey Bank has been there for me. 

Lunch ready to go

Lunch ready to go. The Nuts.com organic pinto beans were down to the last serving in their own juices...mmmm pressure cooked in my Instant Pot to get rid of pesky lectins. Well, that became the soup base for my lunch...integrate 6- 8 tablespoons of my Weekly vege stack...organic celery, carrots, brussel sprouts and vidalia onions baked at 350 d for 40 minutes. Heat garnish with reggiano/ parm mix cheese shred and a nice sourdough bread slice covered in A2 casein Irish butter. I'll mention the cheese later but it is shredded with out the added chemical melamine. Great consistency holds well in the fridge. As usual all was prepped and in the fridge. As most of you know I do my prep on Sunday morning. A nice mental health break. Chopping! 

Black Beans and Chickpeas

 I fired up my Instant Pot and did a cup of black beans and then a cup of chickpeas. Both I purchased at NUTS.com. Great product, prices and prepaid freight at $59. So I get all my nuts, dried fruit and pantry items there.

The black beans were sea salted, some organic dehydrated onion, garlic powder and white pepper added. They will be put on Siete taco shells with Hass avocado, and my Stonnington Farms grass fed grass finished filet pieces I sauteed and reserved for meals. 

https://sietefoods.com/

https://www.eatwholly.com/products/wholly-avocado/wholly-chunky-avocado-minis/

https://www.stonningtonfarm.com/

Check their sites out for the best food, wonderful stories and more products and ideas.

After pressure cooking, the chickpeas portion was split in half, half were baked until crispy and are great to top salads or as a afternoon nosh. They are commonly found at local Chicago bars. The remainder I'll mix with roasted garlic and olive oil and puree for a hearty hummus. Any of the misen place sides can be pureed in or nothing at all for a plain hummus. Enjoy!

Indiana Wants Me

 Chuckling to myself and hearing J Dean Taylor's 1970 classic Indiana Wants Me in my head. I'm once again remembering my birthplace and "home state" Indiana. Why? A number of reasons. The Indy 500 yesterday, a conversation at the pool with a fellow Logansport Hoosier and my usual Facebook friends posts.

First the Indy 500. Jimmy Johnson's debut. Sadly ending in a crash at the end. Ironically with all the places to watch it I thought "let's go old school" and listen to it on the radio. When I lived in Gary IN the Hasting Brothers put up a tent in their backyard on Hovey St and we listened to a little portable. Mrs Hastings made lunch. That was 1964 and that year my favorite driver Eddie Sachs was killed in a crash.

 Wm R LaDow a Facebook friend and journalist from Griffith follows the 500 through out April and May keeping me up to date on lineups and practices giving final comments on the race afterwards. I grew up mainly with the Andrettis, Unsers, Foyt and always thought I should be out there with them. Faint Laugh here. I really have more in common with Don Garlits and the US 30 Dragstip folks. That should be another post. Yes I raced.

While swimming my laps the other day I asked a sunbather near the edge if I had sprayed her with my Olympic Michael Phelps kick. She said no and I said my Olympic days were probably behind me although I think we both agreed they were only in my head. Turns out she is from Logansport. I was born at Memorial Hospital about 50 years before her. So I gave her a historical trip through 60's Logansport. 

We (Dad and I ) would leave the Gary IN terminal on the Pennsylvania Railroad train to Logansport stopping in every burg along the way. We would usually visit the weekend staying with Uncle Ken and Aunt Marge. Taking a Saturday daytrip to Deer Creek and Camden seeing relatives all along the way.

Keitzer's 

So we chatted about restaurants. While I couldn't think of the name initially later I found it...google search. It was Keitzer's Drive In on the West Side, on US 24 at Miami Ave. The best Hamburgers, French Fries and Cokes. My main staple through the years. I also went to the diner where Aunt Marge worked for pie at the counter. That is where she plied me with a promise of a $1 (12 comic books for $1) if I would get a crew cut while I was there (Dad wanted that). We frequently went to the diner on the way to Deer Creek that had juke boxes on the table. I would play "Do the Freddy". My Dad's name is Fred so that totally embarrassed him.

We also liked to go to Riverside Park and ride the Carousel. It had a brass ring feature that if you pulled a ring out as you went around you got a free ride.

 www.casscountrycarousel 

So we had a great chat about Logansport and the changes through the years. We discussed Gary Indiana a bit too. My family moved there in the early 60's. Dad was an accountant at US Steel. More on Gary I'm sure. I mentioned to her a recent story about growing up and we had a good laugh. She's a nurse.

A Facebook from a friend asks "Did you ride your bike behind the Mosquito fogger growing up". We sure did and to top that off Hamlin St in Gary was gravel and every week the city would spray used oil it collected from the mills to spray the street to keep dust down. We rode on that too not including the fact we lived 8.4 miles (google maps) from what is now BP refinery in Whiting IN. The refineries burned off spent waste gases continuously. So I'm been treated to a lot of airborne toxins. Catching my breath.

Memorial Day and Logansport make me think of our family member buried over seas. Private Courtland Williams my Uncle. Six Williams' boys served and one didn't make it home. 

Dad is a Purple Heart winner in Okinawa. Four days in the Sea of Japan before rescued the survivors.  

I'll do more posts about "Growing up in the 60's".  Enjoy the holiday weekend! 

Link to my lectin free instant pot cooking.

 https://wellfitmommy.com/recipe/instant-pot-lectin-free-beans/

Instant Pot

 

I purchased an Instant Pot 3 quart cooker yesterday at Walmart for $69. Throughout my life I've had various cookers...whatever cooker was the rage. Blenders, juicers and kitchen tools as well. I have to say cooking beans was never easier. Being on the Gundry Lifestyle nutrition program (avoiding lectins basically) left cooking beans and legumes to the "pressure cooker " or long time periods of soaking.

The Instant Pot did it in about 40 minutes start to finish. I found the recipe online bought the pot, put in two cups of pinto beans from Nut's.com covered with about two inches of water, turned it on and that was it. I see myself doing various beans, legumes and peas weekly. Delicious, nutritious food...no cans and NO lectins.

Grandma's "pressure cooker". Frankly a pretty scary looking device brought out at holiday season, Sundays and church dinners. Somewhere in my youth the slow cook "crock pot" eclipsed this monster. It reminds of a still from an old Jimmy Cagney movie. 

I can't wait to cook more beans...black beans next and of course chick peas or garbanzo beans. I'll make delicious hummus or bake them after to a nice crisp flavored with a bit of sea salt. A great snack.

Anyway...we're having fun with a new old cooking style.

Roadtrips Maine, Lobster Festival 2009

 When I was in elementary school and a cub scout we had Boys Life magazine and in the back were ads from Time Life Books. They are collectables now and available on e-bay. I scrounged a dime somewhere and taped it to the postcard and they mailed me my first book. It was the the State of Maine from the United States collection. The deal was you pay for the books on a monthly basis the first few were a dime. When my parents got the letter telling them I signed up for the collection. They cancelled it immediately. But I had MAINE.

I read that paperback book stem to stern and by the end of the week I knew I had to get to the annual Lobster Festival. I guess it was on my (a 10 year old's bucket list.) (Did I invent that?...the bucket list). 

It would play on my mind all these years, about 46. All the years in food service, cooking eating and serving lobsters. In 2009 we made LOBSTER FESTIVAL, the Williams Family Vacation. I cobbled my Southwest Airline points, my Hertz rental points and my Hilton points to make this a practically cost free trip. 

We flew into Manchester NH and rented a Mercury Marquis. The girls said it was an old man car, bordering on a State Patrol vehicle. It was big comfortable and had a V8. Embarrassing... no way. So off we went hitting various preplanned stops. 

The Hampton by the Wholefoods in Portland is where we spent the first night. We bought their healthy prepared foods buffet and loaded up our snack stash. In the morning continuing along the coast stopping next in Freeport to tour the LL Bean HQ and outlet store.  We made various photo ops at lighthouses and while stopping for literature at a local tourist center further North we were told the best sea/ocean glass to be collected was right here in Penobscot Bay. "Go down to the blinking light turn towards the Holiday Inn, park in the city lot and wade out." We were waiting to get further north to collect our sea glass, up by Martha Stewarts Summer House (another must see) ...chuckling to myself.

I thought we made a huge dent in the vacation already getting great photo ops and a basket of ocean/sea glass and could skip Martha...but no we went on, spending several nights in the capitol Augusta doing day trips around Central Maine and a trip to Martha's. We were rewarded there with a tall wooden fence and celebrity hiding pines. There was a nice beach where we waded into the water, but the wind was too heavy to get some sun.

Maine is a great place, slow pace and lots of history and least funky antique stores. We loved it.

Oh yeah the LOBSTER FESTIVAL...Harbor Park Rockland Maine. The poster at top is number 2 signed that year by artist Bill Ronalds. He's done the annual poster for years and hand signs them. 

We were number one in line when an elderly lady came up and asked if she could have the number one spot. Apparently she had been there every year for however long getting the first poster. Well trying not to be a Rickie Bobby where "if you're not first you're last" I relinquished my spot. 

Turns out the park and festival was the size of the Holy Rosary Carnival every Summer in Gary Indiana. The Lobster rolls were delicious and a great time was had by all. I guess when you're a kid things look bigger. I am happy with the Time Life experience results. We got a primo parking spot at the Walgreens across the street.

So was that the end? Nope we had a Clark Griswold experience too. I pulled into the hotel and curb smacked a tire. I thought no harm no foul. The girls said they heard air escaping from somewhere. I chuckled no way. They were right I had killed the tire and we had to have Hertz send us a new ride. This time we got a Ford Explorer which made the girls happy. We had a nice meal at the 99 er and made our way back to the airport. Thanks to my muse Kuryn for inspiring this review. 

Travel Memories Strongsville Ohio

 

I'm adding a few stories about my travels. Most relate to food, fun and explorations. This one is a vignette about Strongsville Ohio. When I lived in Kentucky I would travel the roughly 387 miles to the Strongsville Ohio Holiday Inn. It was my first stop on my Northern Ohio sales trip. I would be visiting food service distributors. The Holiday Inn there had a wonderfully large pool and in those days the airline pilots and flight attendants would stay on the 6th floor. Since I was well behaved and a regular patron I typically stayed in room 610 along side them. They would be in there crisp uniforms in the lobby at check in and out flying all over the country. My room even had pictures of old Mercedes Benz automobiles over the bed. Comforting for an old 60-70's car guy.

The Chef there ran a real nice dining room and always had my favorite German hardrolls in the baskets with real butter to nosh on before dinner. I loved those rolls (called brotchen in country) and I was no stranger to butter. One Monday after Easter I came in for dinner and was presented a basket of bread. With sadface I asked my server what happened to the hard rolls thinking there was a new Chef. She said no changes but they had left over bread from the Easter buffet (fresh bread but more than they needed for Sunday's lunch and dinner). I do like rye bread but my sadface showed through and my server announced that Chef would make a basket of my rolls. Just give him 20 minutes. 

Those experiences were the norm in those days. When exceeding the guest expectations were paramont. Here I am still telling the story. 

Fitness sites VA provide FREE

 Hi Everyone

Happy Easter weekend. I'm doing two yoga classes a week now plus my regular at home routine. The links were provided for my home routine. Our Senior Center has the yoga classes free as well and the local library has Tai Chi.

I want to mention again two nice sites provided by the VA.

One: OMpractice.com  is a site providing classes for veterans and employees. You have to sign in. 

Two : https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/    go to the bottom of the page and click VAntage point blog...once there type in Tai Chi for instance...you'll find free classes. You can search for anything of interest.

Good luck! I sure like the free exercise programs. Remember less is more with exercise. It should be fun. See you on Beach Blvd riding the black Day 6 bike.

www.day6bikes.

Mise En Place ... the definition.

Mise en place to me coming from the Michigan State Hotel School, my internships and previous US Army officer club experience meant...being prepared for service...food, hot plates, utensils and equipment including pots, pans, spoons whips tongs and ladles..

  

What is mise en place...a definition.

The official definition...Mise En Place is a French culinary phrase which means to 'put in place" or "gather". It refers to the set up before cooking, and is often used in a professional kitchens to refer to organizing the ingredients. Typically cuts of meat, relishes, sauces, pre cooked items, spices vegetables and other items used to complete meal dishes including entrees, salads and desserts.

Micro Greens, Parsley Carrots and Onions

 This is a little something we have growing on the deck. I took 6 empty water containers and cut them to fit an 8" commercial bus tub. The plastic reflects the sun giving it a green house effect. Upper right is my onions. I snip the tops for a month or so to add to salads omelets and as a general garnish. 

Yam and crispy baked kale and seasalt snack

 

Cod and roasted veges lunch

 

A nice piece of Wild caught Alaskan Cod

 

Saturday Freebe

 Ok ok I know I don't have to post (my goal is once a week) but hey I'm excited and am getting into this. So every morning I bake my handful of kale on a non stick bake sheet at 270 degrees for 20 minutes. A healthy sprinkle of Himalayan sea salt on the kale helps hold moisture and flavor in. I put a previously baked sweet potato / yam on the sheet too (to warm it up) Lately I have been eating the sweet potato or yam for my after workout nosh. Today I dipped it into the kale/seasalt chips making it a  coated salty treat. The crispy salty kale makes a great topping for my roasted veges, sweet potato/ yams or even on my tacos. I'll be posting the roasted veges and tacos as I make them. I know this lifestyle is a bit different but I'm mitigating inflammation and maximizing vitamin intake naturally with food.

Tonight's Throw together sweetness. Sietefoods.com Cinnamon Cookies , Greek Yogurt, Toasted Coconut Chips and Dark Chocolate

 

Dessert consisting of Green Bananas, Raspberries, Greek Yogurt, Crushed Nuts and Dark Chocolate.

 

Dessert consists of Green Bananas, Raspberries, crushed nuts, Greek Yogurt, Dark Chocolate.

 So I seem to be on time this week being Friday. I started the Dr. Gundry food program in December. Not trying to lose weight but to reduce hip  inflammation. I have lost 13 lbs now. Dr Gundry said you would by changing up foods that aid your gut and avoiding those that tend to be sugar related. Removing inflammation related toxins from the blood. With consistent acupuncture, massage, twice daily Shakti Acupressure mat sessions, weekly chair yoga, bike riding and adding shoe inserts to adjust my leg lengths I have reduced the hip pain 60%. Mornings consist of Chi Qigong, Stretching,  Meditation and Tibetan Rites Yoga.

Look for the links posted along the with the blog entrees.

I will be posting recipes and entrees, sides and desserts pictures. I utilize these ingredients to adhere to the Dr. Gundry suggestion eliminating lectins. Bringing about good gut bugs and reducing inflammation.

I have read his books/ food guide and my food consists of the following:

Protein

Grass Fed Grass Finished Beef

Wild caught Fish and Seafood

Greek Yogurt  A2 Casein

Australian Cheddar Cheese A2 Casein

Main Carbs

Sweet Potatoes/ Yams

Spinach

Arugula

Kale

Romaine

Celery

Carrots

Brussel Sprouts

Onions

Avocado

Mushrooms

Sourdough Bread

Misenplace

Roasted Garlic

Sauteed Onion

Bacon Bits (illegal so only a teaspoon or less)

Crushed Nuts (walnuts, pistachios, macadamia, blanched almonds

Sorghum

Dark Chocolate 85% or greater

Siete Chips, Taco shells and Cinnamon cookies

Green bananas

Raspberries

Coconut Chips

There are plenty of ingredients above to make interesting and delicious meals. A positive by product is that grocery shopping is easy and repetitive helping you ignore unhealthy choices. Prep and cooking is easy as well with food ready to heat and eat.

Melissa Produce

 https://www.melissas.com/

Where I get my yams and sweet potatoes. The finger size Japanese being my favorite.

Tibetan Rites Yoga

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Tibetan_Rites

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_bY6REpIPE

Reactive Starches

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jJVtSLrrXE

Blog Writing Discipline

 Ok...so it's Saturday and I was thinking I should write everyday. A comment was made by a family member that if I only put links up was it really a blog. lol That led to a discussion on what is a blog? Versus is a what?  Linkspot? Anyway this is what happens... your thoughts and ideas morph until you finally get busy with a real project.

So I was thinking last night I would post every Friday but missed again lol so here we are. Now I have a fairly consistent routine mornings and it has changed up over the years. Lately I get up and bake some kale and reheat/bake my yams and sweet potatoes for my reactive starch portion of my breakfast diet/lifestyle. Prepare my mis en place for the days/week eating.

I did my regular exercise routine, Tai Chi, stretches, meditation and Tibetan Rites Yoga. The girls got ready to go to the farmer's market and zumba. We met at the kitchen island and actually had breakfast together,

I was eating krispy kale chips, sweet potato dipped in a sea salt and my daughter was eating a Natures Path Organic Toaster Pastry AKA PT from the big snack company K. A spirited discussion ensued as to the healthy nature of our breakfasts. Mine a Dr. Gundry approved nosh and hers, a sweet tasty breakfast I suppose. lol  At least she thought so and argued that the toasty pastry was organic and the strawberries were in season in Florida. So it met the "healthy" standards test.

So that's today's question. What is healthy eating and how do you know?  When it's around you all day as ads, and suggestions from helpful others. I'll post what I like and my thoughts. Hope you enjoy it. 

 

Tom Brady GOAT

Find out what Tom Brady does to combat inflammation and increase longevity. He has a lot in common with the Doctors listed.

Dr.Cole

 Find out what Dr. Cole has to say about nutrition.

Recommended by my massage therapist. Dr Cole has some interesting thoughts.

Dr.Gregor

 Find out more about Dr. Gregor

Dr. Gregor fact checks numerous products, ideas and lifestyle suggestions. I find his insight interesting.

Dr.Gundry

Find out more about Dr. Gundry

Dr. Gundry has a specialized lifestyle program utilizing certain foods and eliminating others. I've been using it since October 2021 and lost 11 lbs.  

Where have I been for 10 years, where I am going!

 Well it's been 10 years since I started this blog. Totally unsure what to make of it. The last posting was 2018 and it was a trip my wife and I made to First Watch on Henderson Ave in Tampa. A place we celebrated birthdays and relaxing weekend breakfasts.

Since that time the country has had the covid episode and more recently supply chain interruptions and the Russian Ukraine altercation. 

As far as me...well I've moved  from English Dinnerware sales for the resort, casino and hospitality trade to fitness and nutrition. A more Wholeheath program. I'll be posting some of my latest interests. Hopefully these posts will be informative and give some direction in changing fitness and nutrition needs. 

I'm currently using modified nutritional/fitness programs to eliminate inflammation and maintain cardio and muscular fitness.

Dr Gundry

Dr Gregor

Dr Cole

Tom Brady

Wholehealth VA

Ompractice/VA

Getting Food Products from Sietefoods.com, Haas and Stonninton Farms and Nuts.com

Getting Supplements from Life Extension (Orlando Store) and Dr. Gundry

Getting Herbs from Active Herb CA