28 February 2008
I decided to have a special breakfast today. I usually eat the same thing every day, and quite happily, but it seems like I've been seeing a lot of bagels around lately. I'm not even sure when I last had a bagel -- I don't eat many bread-y things, and almost never anything as dense and doughy as bagels. But sometimes the craving strikes, so you make some from scratch:
I thought mine seemed a bit small, but I looked at a package of French Meadow Bakery's yesterday, and they were about the same size. I guess I've been been confused by those giant bagel shop bagels. At any rate, I do prefer to make my own bread, since I know what's in it. But I made a loaf of oat bread yesterday, and I just never get the baking time right. I worry so much about it drying out or burning that I always JUST undercook it. Still delicious, but not perfect.
So, yes, special breakfast. I get really excited about having peanut butter (another foodstuff I rarely eat), but the half with Tofutti cream 'cheese' was much better. I also bought a pot of Greek yogurt and had it with fresh mango and strawberries.
Here's a thing. I just finished reading Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food (thoughts: good, learned a few new things, but he's preaching to the choir in my case), and he mentions that we should try to eat a pound of fruit and veg each day. I thought, wow, a pound seems like a lot, so I tallied up everything I had et that day (which was a typical day). I'd had over a pound and a half of fresh fruit and veg! Who knew!
On the topic of food books, I've been working my way through Hungry Planet, sitting in front of the fake fireplace most nights and reading a few chapters. Each family in the book contributed a family recipe, and I've been really disappointed that none of them so far has been vegetarian. (Wait -- there's been one: a family in the UK gave a recipe for cheese and potato pie. To summarize: Put mash in a pie plate, cover with cheese. Bake.) It's sort of surprising, given how little meat a lot of the families have access to, but I suppose they're giving their 'best' recipes -- dishes they would have during celebrations, at which time they'd be cooking with meat.
Bah.
don't forget to say goodbye to Feburary tomorrow too! I mean, with all the leaping around and everything.
ps: isn't this the simplest way EVER to tell a leap year??
if ((year modulo 4 is 0) and (year modulo 100 is not 0)) or (year modulo 400 is 0)
then leap
else no_leap
where leap = nerd
posted by mo at February 28, 2008 11:46 PM
Yeah, I haven't forgotten about the leaps. But I've decided it's like its own month. Fumebruarchy. I'll be celebrating the 1st of Fumebruarchy tomorrow, which happens to be a holiday, depending on where you live.
posted by Anna at February 28, 2008 11:59 PM
Woah, a pound a day? Thanks for reminding me to eat the banana I set out for an afternoon snack.
posted by rachel at February 29, 2008 08:51 PM
If everyone starts eating a pound a day, they'll make it ten pounds a day.
Also, a happy Nerdsbruary to you and Mo.
posted by Rob at March 1, 2008 09:20 AM
That looks so yummy!
Eating a pound of fresh fruit and veggies in a day, huh? That's interesting!
posted by Katie at March 1, 2008 04:57 PM
I was pretty excited to see that Michael Pollan had a new book out, but I decided not to get it because it just looked like a rehash of his last book. I love him, but I'm not going to spend money on a book about stuff I already know. Good to know it's not worth it.
posted by Taryn at March 2, 2008 09:22 PM
That's interesting about the one pound a day. That does seem like a lot of fruit and veggies. But, then again, I haven't ever weighed my food. Hey, FYI, I just arrived in Singapore and have already gone to the local supermarket. Interesting, indeed! There are fruit and veggies there that I have never ever even seen before. It'll be interesting trying out new things....
posted by Jenny at March 3, 2008 06:15 AM