Exciting News

Guess what? I'm writing a new cookbook, and it's vegan!! I'm so excited and it's now official. It's scheduled for release in Fall of 2010, so I will be busily writing and developing recipes for the good part of this year. I couldn't be happier!

In another couple of months I may be ready for a few testers, but I'll post about that at a later date.

In other news, we filmed a couple of segments for Everyday Dish last weekend with Wheeler Del Torro of the famous Wheeler's Frozen Desserts in Boston. Wait until you taste his ice cream. It's amazing stuff!

Valentine's Day

Happy almost Valentine's Day! In honor of Valentine's, I wanted to share one of my favorite dessert recipes with you. It's the Chocolate Mocha Cakes on Everyday Dish, which makes the ultimate in VDay desserts. If you don't have a heart-shaped pan, don't worry about it. You can make them in other shapes too. Don't forget the ganache, which really takes these cakes to another level. Oh, and to really gild-the-lilly, serve the cakes with a raspberry or cabernet sorbet. Whoa!

On another note, I have to say how nice it is to have found so many kindred labeling spirits. There is something so fun and centering about it. Maybe it's because I am a dissorganized person by nature, so when I do organise things it feels great. But whatever the case, Viva La P Touch! Also, a couple of people have asked me about the glass crocks. They were from Ikea, although I believe that they have been discontinued. I've had them for about 6 years, and went back recently to get more. Don't you hate when stores do that? But, I also have some other glass crocks that work really well. They're the biscotti crocks (at least that's what I call them) from Anchor Hocking. You can find them in a number of different stores, but the best prices that I've found are at Target or restaurant supply stores. They have that nice wide mouth, which is great for measuring right out of the jar.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Julie

Getting Organized

With all of the projects that I'm currently working on I thought that it was time to get myself organized, starting with the kitchen. Now I'm not an organized person by nature, so this is something that I really have to work at. But for the first time ever, it's actually become fun. This is no doubt due to my new label maker, an impulse buy from Costco.com last month (at a rock bottom price of $9.00 shipped). That was probably the best $9.00 I've spent in a long time, and I'm sure that my husband will agree. I single-handedly labeled dozens of jars and crocks of different flours, sugars, spices and grains. I was in labeling heaven!

It feels so good to work in the kitchen now, with everything in it's place and easy to find. This makes it so much easier to move from project to project, which is exactly what I needed. I know that I still have some other cabinets left to tackle, but if the kitchen is any indication of what is to come, I look forward to the challenge.

Next up: replacing most of my plastic storage containers with glass.

Something New

Sometimes moments can be so serendipitous. Like last month for example. I was getting my hair done, and at some point in the conversation I was asked if I run. I kind of laughed as I said no, but that it was something that I had been contemplating doing. Actually I had been contemplating it since I turned 40, almost 2 years ago. The problem is that I can be pretty unmotivated when it comes to exercise. I am a pro at putting it off. This doesn't mean that I'm a couch potato. I love doing yoga in the mornings and hiking in the hills or going for walks. But when it comes to getting my heart rate up with serious exercise, I just haven't been able to find the motivation.

Well the hairstylist started telling me about a book she was reading called Chi Running. She said that it is a revolutionary approach to effortless, injury-free running, based on principals from Tai Chi, yoga and Pilates. A brand-new way to run. From that moment on I was captivated. I couldn't get the book out of my head, and immediately bought myself a copy. For the first time in years, I suddenly felt excited and motivated to run. I did a little more research and discovered that that there is a whole Chi Running website, with loads of additional information, including a DVD (and information on Chi Walking, which I will blog about at a later date, for those of you not so motivated to run).

The DVD is awesome, and takes the information from a great concept, to something very visual. I'm a visual learner, so reading something in a book doesn't always help me totally grasp it the way a DVD does. It's an awesome DVD, and has aided me immensely as I try to re-learn running in a brand new way. It seems that my excitement has rubbed off onto my husband too, because the two of us started Chi Running this past weekend, and I wake up every morning excited to go out again. How cool is that?!

So although I tend to primarily talk about food, I love sharing info on cool products that help promote a healthy lifestyle. I also thought that if Chi Running was something that I was excited about, and actually wake up excited to do everyday, then it's definitely share-worthy information. I plan to continue this new-style of running everyday, and will share my progress here on the blog. Man, if I can do this anyone can.

Really, go check out Chi Running. And, if anyone is interested in getting in shape along with me, please do! I've only begun running this past week. Just imagine, I might actually be in shape by my 42nd birthday at the end of April. Wow, how cool would that be?