What's on your Wednesday Menu?

Me too! I never have, I either get from a restaurant or I buy in a jar.

it's so easy. I make it like DCGirl does - only I buy my curry paste at Asian food stores where a lot of it comes in cylindrical cardboard containers (and it lasts FOREVER - as in YEARS - in the fridge). I turn my burner on medium-high, then I put a scoop of the curry paste in a wok (but not a huge scoop - some of it is pretty spicy - and you can always add more to taste later if you want to).

After it's heated for a minute or two, I pour in a can of coconut milk and stir it around until most of the paste is mixed in. At this point you can add a scoop of peanut butter if you want to (sometimes I do...sometimes i don't). Then I add my meat and any vegetables that take more time to cook (e.g. carrots).

Then a couple minutes later, I'll add any quick-cooking vegetables I have (like broccoli). I then usually add a little brown sugar (I use Swerve - no calories) and a little Thai fish sauce (and we're talking like a teaspoon or two of fish sauce) - and then let it all cook 'til it's done - which should only take a couple more minutes.

it's fast, easy - and great!

Panang and green and red curry all come either in a can or small jar, and you sauté them up with coconut milk (also from a can, I buy the six-pack at Costco). It's not as flavorful as a curry from a Thai restaurant where they are literally steeping it with lemongrass and whatnot but it's good nonetheless!

You can buy fresh ground lemongrass paste ( at least at Publix) , fresh basil paste too, and garlic/ginger ground mix too.

The reason the restaurant's curry is "better " is they sort with toasting very finely diced ginger and garlic in a bit of fragrant sesame oil , then add the curry into the hot pan ( taking it off the heat ) and " blooming " the flavor .

Then thinning is with chicken stock ( organic only please ) and either coconut milk or my fat free substitute fat free half n half or thick powdered milk slurry, coconut extract and a Biot of butter buds ( and cornstarch mixed in before adding ) .

Fresh Thai basil ( a little stronger than regular American ) is added liberally at the end of cooking before serving.

I love a curry ... my Dad finds them challenging so... many fewer curries and satay meats .

I noticed the throat cancer has affected his taste buds ( or his mind lol) that he now believes entitled to ask for his favorite meals from childhood on... and he REALLY criticizes EVERYTHING I cook and bake so it becomes perfect for him lately ...

Which is EXASPERATING to say the least cuz MOM was the picky eater until now ... now I've got TWO that want different things in TINY amounts fresh every day .... oy I've created a MONSTER !

Well if this is my biggest problem this year I'm so totally ahead !

B- Chai tea latte - too cold 2 swim

L- Sancocho Garlicky Spanish Chicken Stew with Yucca , Recaito and fresh herbs ( mostly cilantro ) .

S- Pie ( banana cream SF FF , Key lime - FF ) Home-brewed fancy decaf espresso w FF whipped cream

D- Brie en Croute ( made lower fat with Lite Brie , a fat free bread crust rolled out ( I just used expanded oil-less dollar frozen pizza dough from Wal-mart - my absolute favorite base for so much baking !) and wrapped around the cheese with a dried fig and almond and apricot paste topping on top ) . Baked in 425 oven for about 15 minutes ... most of the butter melted out of the cheese and I drained it and threw it away and 'rents ATE IT ALL UP ! so it was a HIT . Served it with toasted French Bread Rolls . Even I dared eat some despite the threat of GERD eating fat at dinner ... but it wasn't that fatty and I slept well.

Set up Christmas tree for the first holiday celebration together since literally CHILDHOOD ... and Mom was VERY pleased. ( as were the immensely curious Katz !!! )

Ornaments going on today .

I have a handful of (mostly twelve step group ) friends/sponsors who I can call anytime and who I've realized I'm also a great resource for because though they are totally enviable ( strong, beautiful, successful , in most cases SUPER successful) women...for that very reason its hard to find really trustworthy and truly supportive female friends .

Especially as you MATURE , interestingly, because not everyone ages at the same rate ... people's lives go up and down and its rare not to encounter backbiting and jealousy SOMETIME .

I'm NOT a jealous person AT ALL ... but I understand it ... I HAVE felt challenged and well, UNCOMFORTABLE regarding myself when faced with the undoubted achievements of these world-class ladiez when I myself was a clueless, penniless , forty-lbs overweight and unable to stoop binging and purging street urchin...

At that time I often RAN from contact because I felt less than ( of course ) and being friends ( or being sponsored ) made me feel feelings ( that I wasting performing dog-years of my time not getting my act together ) I was very uncomfortable with especially since I couldn't then significantly alter my day to day weight or stop my binging behavior .

IF ONLY I'd done things DIFFERENTLY !!

But I'm NOT DEAD YET ... my good friends keep telling to get on with what I've always wanted to do ( perform) ... and I'm finally in a place where I can conceive of making a sustained effort in this direction, riding out the inevitable rejections and disappointments and ACTUALLY succeeding eventually .

I feel SO PRIVILEDGED that these amazing great GRRLZ haven't forgotten me or written me off but have and are providing a powerful example I can ( and dare ) follow .

Happy to see you posting! Great job killing it with the morning workout :)

My main reason for being on Facebook is to stay in contact with friends who have moved far away from Ohio. I used to think we would all meet in heaven, but it turned out that we are all meeting on Facebook.

My brother lives in Missouri. His wife died this summer and they were limited to ten people at the funeral. So he wants to come to Ohio and get together with everyone at Christmas. I had to say No. We are not having any holiday gatherings this year. He is welcome to come and visit, of course, but no big party.

I don't think he believes that there is a risk. So I feel bad about saying No. But I won't take the risk.

Glad you are holding the line and staying safe! A doctor from Rhode Island posted last night about how she is treating a critically ill person who went to a 22 person Thanksgiving gathering and now every single one is infected and some are very sick... How do people not get this yet?

Good afternoon for most of you. I jumped right into work today and forgot about posting.

QOTD: I have a few friends like that. We don't see/talk often, but when we do, we pick up like there's never been a break.

My Plan:

B: fairlife latte

L: the insides of 1/2 a prime rib french dip sandwich with onions and mushrooms(I got a groupon for a local restaurant and ate the other half last night. 2 sandwiches, a grilled artichoke and 2 drinks cost me $35.) The food is delicious and I'm happy to support local businesses.

D: unknown.

S: apple

E: at home spin. I cancelled my in person class since I'm pretty sore and sit up front. I don't want to throw everyone off if I can't keep up

I love that you sit up front. Meaning, everyone has their spot and if you went in and sat in the back, you would get the side eye! My gym classes were all like that - you enter the room and know exactly where your space is! HA. Even at my outdoor boot camp we all gravitate to the same order week after week!

I sit up front because it keeps me honest. Frankly, I could move back, but she makes you "book YOUR bike" ahead of time, meaning you have to pick your spot when you reserve your class. Wednesday and thursday nights sell out (particularly since she's limited to 50% of capacity) so there's no chance of getting a less visible bike.