February 6, 2010
Up before dawn, I worked on my reading list by starting to outline one of the books I read. I felt great about myself—like I’m really committed. For breakfast, I only drank peppermint tea with lemon and ate a cup of watermelon & pineapple.
I WENT TO THE GYM, and that is when it happened. I had to do step. First, I was late because I thought the class started at 9:30 (it starts at 9 am). I toyed with the idea of walking on the treadmill instead, but no. I had to step because that was all I could think about this morning. I wanted to get a work out on, so I could spritz (perspire) all of the toxins out of my body. I even stretched at home, so I felt warm, yeah. I did not listen to my little voice that said “Nicole, walk the treadmill,” and I got injured—a calf strain injury. I looked it up on the internet. I tried to stretch it out and to go on for about 25 minutes, but it hurt too much, so I just quit. I walked the treadmill for 20 minutes then went home.
Now, in the present, my calf hurts and I can barely walk. So, I am going to take it easy for a few days, but that does not mean I am stopping my 8 week program.
Up before dawn, I worked on my reading list by starting to outline one of the books I read. I felt great about myself—like I’m really committed. For breakfast, I only drank peppermint tea with lemon and ate a cup of watermelon & pineapple.
I WENT TO THE GYM, and that is when it happened. I had to do step. First, I was late because I thought the class started at 9:30 (it starts at 9 am). I toyed with the idea of walking on the treadmill instead, but no. I had to step because that was all I could think about this morning. I wanted to get a work out on, so I could spritz (perspire) all of the toxins out of my body. I even stretched at home, so I felt warm, yeah. I did not listen to my little voice that said “Nicole, walk the treadmill,” and I got injured—a calf strain injury. I looked it up on the internet. I tried to stretch it out and to go on for about 25 minutes, but it hurt too much, so I just quit. I walked the treadmill for 20 minutes then went home.
Now, in the present, my calf hurts and I can barely walk. So, I am going to take it easy for a few days, but that does not mean I am stopping my 8 week program.
I am grateful to only have a calf strain. I have to keep it positive people.
Jumping to last night, I had my cooked meal for dinner. I prepared meatless (vegan griller patties) potatoes and mushroom gravy with cole slaw.
When I first became vegan, I craved gravy. I didn’t think I could make it without butter and meat drippings. I toyed with buying the little packets of vegetarian gravy, but the flavor not so great. Then it hit me, I can make my roux with olive oil, and I can substitute vegetable stock for meat drippings. The key is making sure to get color on the vegetables. So, here is my mushroom gravy recipe and I hope it helps some of you out there.
Mushroom Gravy (serves 4)
Ingredients: Cremini mushrooms sliced thick, 10oz vegetable stock, ½ yellow onion chopped, 2 cloves of garlic chopped, ¼ cup of flour, lemon zest and lemon juice, 2 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf, parsley, ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper.
Process: Place olive oil in hot pan. Throw in the onion and mushrooms (season with salt and pepper to taste); allow them to get some color. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables, and cook a little to let the flour lose its raw flavor. Now, add the vegetable stock, and stir making sure to pick up the flavor from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil then turn the heat down. Add garlic, thyme (just leaves not stems), bay leaf, lemon zest, and lemon juice, and let simmer for 10 minutes. This is the point when I add the vegan griller patties to the pan and let them cook through and absorb some of that flavor in the pan.
Ingredients: Cremini mushrooms sliced thick, 10oz vegetable stock, ½ yellow onion chopped, 2 cloves of garlic chopped, ¼ cup of flour, lemon zest and lemon juice, 2 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf, parsley, ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper.
Process: Place olive oil in hot pan. Throw in the onion and mushrooms (season with salt and pepper to taste); allow them to get some color. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables, and cook a little to let the flour lose its raw flavor. Now, add the vegetable stock, and stir making sure to pick up the flavor from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil then turn the heat down. Add garlic, thyme (just leaves not stems), bay leaf, lemon zest, and lemon juice, and let simmer for 10 minutes. This is the point when I add the vegan griller patties to the pan and let them cook through and absorb some of that flavor in the pan.
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