<p>OK, stop with all this cake and cookie talk. I usually allow myself one box of Doh-si-do Girl Scout cookies each year, but not this year. (40th high school reunion in August!)</p>
<p>I made wonderful vegetable stew last night, so put away the dessert items and try this:</p>
<p>11-Vegetable Stew
Saute onion, celery, and lots of garlic in small amount of olive oil.
Add cubed butternut squash and cubed red potatoes.
Add large can of fire-roasted tomatoes, half a cup of red wine, a third cup of water.
Add pepper, dill, tiny bit of salt.
Cook about an hour on medium-low.
Add small pieces of broccoli, mushrooms, peas, zucchini, asparagus.
Cook another 30 mins.
For meat eaters, place small amount of warmed meat in soup bowl (I used sliced roast beef for my H) and then add the stew on top.
Finish each bowl with a sprinkle of good parmesan cheese.</p>
<p>abasket - you don’t eat the pods. It is a fun food IMO, and it is hard to stuff your mouth with edamame because it takes some work to get the beans out of the pods.</p>
<p>Here’s what I don’t get about edamame. I’ve cut out several recipes of how to cook it (them?) Some call for a kosher salt seasoning, others chile powder. But if you don’t eat the pods, why does it matter? Isn’t it just the same if you boil or steam with no seasoning?</p>
<p>Ok, so you don’t eat the pods just the beans inside. If you eat them raw, open the pods and eat the beans. If you cook them, boil the pods and then you have to open them up ? I think I’d just stick with them raw. Costco has bags of them frozen I believe - are these a good quality?</p>
<p>When you eat edamame in a Japanese restaurant, they are sprinkled with salt. You pick up one edammame pod, split it open, and pop the beans in your mouth. A little of the salt from the pod (or a lot if you want) goes along with the beans. They would be quite bland if not served with salt or some spice.</p>
<p>I’m still here. Surviving. Not getting enough activity - but it’s my own fault for not just doing something. I have videos, weights, etc. Need to get my butt in gear. I will take a walk this afternoon to see if I can get out onto our “main” road. I need to get out if the Red Cross sets up a warming shelter this evening for stranded motorists. This is what I have been training for - I am ready and willing.</p>
<p>I skipped yesterday. No excuse since we had beautiful weather. I didn’t feel like going out for my walk today but my sister dropped off a box of ruggula on her way back into town. Ate two. At least it made me get out for the walk.
What I find frustrating is that after 2 1/2 weeks I still find myself breathing hard as I head up my hill. I am faster and I don’t have to stop till I reach the top but it is annoying.</p>
<p>I honestly think it’s okay to give yourself a day off. Hills are tough - we live in a very hilly area- to walk anywhere it’s down a hill and of course, then back up it. I still breathe hard everytime I’m walking up a hill!</p>
<p>Sorry to hear you guys got snowed in. It is actually recommended to have a day or two of rest per week. Yesterday I was eating edamame instead of my nightly run. Tonight, no skipping - my dreadmill has a mysterious “5K Fun Run” setting. I’m going to get some fun! :)</p>
<p>Beautiful sunny day here. Too bad there’s 40 inches on the ground! Ddog did not get a walk yesterday and sat at the bottom of the stairs desperately whining. So we took him out to a nearby apartment complex and walked the plowed roads with him. And I went to the club…it was deserted. Forgot my ipod…which made me remember how much I HATE machines. I did 5-7 minutes on three different machines to mix it up. Better than nothing!
I love edamame but have been avoiding them since soy seems to mess with my system. No true of everyone though.</p>
<p>Back from a little getaway in NYC. How’s this for keeping yourself honest - a scale in the bathroom. I never had a scale in a hotel bathroom before. It was called “Thinner.” Made me laugh, guess the name “Fatter” wouldn’t sell too well.</p>
<p>Did LOTS of walking, not at my usual speed because I have to be a lot more alert, but the Thinner scale reported I was holding my own. </p>
<p>Ate at my favorite, favorite vegetarian restaurant twice while we were there - Candle 79. The food is just exquisite. We ate there last night and watched the snow fall from our table on the second floor. Perfect night. </p>
<p>Well, tomorrow it is back to a schedule. Unfortunately, my walking will have to be at the indoor track at DH’s college. It is not as bad as a treadmill, but it is still a little boring. </p>
<p>Thanks for the veggie stew recipe, bookiemom. I have been replacing regular tomatoes with the fire roasted in a couple of recipes and they are really good.</p>
<p>My run was “fun” - the “course” seemed to have lots of very steep hills! I did it at 7 mph (8.5 min mile), and it was challenging.</p>
<p>bookiemom, your stew came out delicious. I did not have any squash, so I improvised and used the yellow beets and turnips that have been sitting in my fridge for a while. H said it was excellent! Thank you!</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know if this was mentioned before, but I have found that having individual bottles of sparkling water (Pellegrino in glass bottles) on hand curbs my addiction for a Coke. It is more filling than regular water and just seems like a treat. It is expensive, but I think it is worth it in my ongoing battle against soda/caffeine and those darn 5 pounds.</p>
<p>Was able to get out for 4 mile walk at crisp pace. Sun felt great, little ice on the roads, beautiful day. I should go down and lift weights, but my back is still stressed from shoveling.</p>
<p>Didn’t get to the gym today, but after 29 years in Texas, I had forgotten what good exercise a walk in a foot of snow is!</p>
<p>Gotta figure out lo cal foods that everyone will eat. I made a lovely spinach and grilled chicken for dieting daughter, roasted veggies for myself, and a nice mixture of brown and white rice for everyone else to eat with whatever else they can find. I just can’t be making three meals every nigth.</p>
<p>I increased my run from 30 to 35 minutes on Friday, so that is progress. </p>
<p>Here is a question for knowledgeable folks. My sister has osteoporosis. She does pool exercises with those little foam weights and says that is “weight bearing” because of the resistance of the water. Does anybody know if that works to strengthen bones the same as using free weights?</p>