It may be December 30th, but as you may have guessed, I am still listening to Christmas carols. I’m sitting by the now balding tree. The lights are as beautiful as ever, each strand trying somewhat successfully to cling on to the dried out, lifeless pine needles and branches they are draped over. The tree trunk is sitting in a pool of water, but it stopped drinking a few weeks ago. I guess that’s what happens when you get your tree the day before Thanksgiving. Hm…

Under the tree are some gifts yet to be opened for my mom, dad, brother and sister. But there are also opened gifts.

There is a brand new Breville 5 Quart Stand Mixer that was given to me by Charm City Cakes West because nobody wanted it.

Um – WHAT?

Yup, that’s right. You heard me! Last month, at the beginning of another glorious baking day at the bakery, the executive chef asked me if I wanted it because “it’s just been sitting here and no one else wants it.” She could barely finish her sentence before I said, “YES! Thank you!!” Do I already have a shiny, black Kitchen-Aid stand mixer that has traveled the globe from Montreal to Vancouver to L.A. and that is now taking up precious – and prime, I might add – counter space in my tiny kitchen here in Malibu? Um…yes.

Does that mean I can’t find space for another one?

Heck no!

Truth be told, I haven’t been able to find any space for it since I got it. So it’s been sitting under the Christmas tree with a pretty red bow on top since late November when I brought her home. I will figure out to do with her soon enough…

Also under the tree are 2 digital imaging lights and a background screen that my love, Ted, got me all the way from B&H in New York City! Complete with a book on Food Photography, the gift could not be more perfect! Thanks to Ted, you can expect better photos of food in the New Year. I promise to read the book and set up my lights in the next few weeks.

Along with all the presents, I now have a curious case of something I like to call a Food Baby. It’s not a boy, or a girl. No, no, no. It’s a clump of food that has been living rent-free in my stomach since mid December. I caught it from pumpkin pie, countless cookies of all varieties, pumpkin chocolate chip cake balls, chocolate with peanut butter (straight from the jar – YUM), Ferrero Rocher chocolates, toblerone bars, and too many second helpings of 4 different holiday dinners and brunches. Normally preferring to stay away from dairy and gluten, I dove in head first, and am now paying the price!

Yesterday, I got my mind right, and cooked up all the vegetables I had in my fridge. I bought some babaganoush and hummus. I bought some juicing fruits and veggies. Essentially, I’ve set myself up for success, and what is quickly turning into a January cleanse!

Perhaps you would be interested in doing it with me?

This is my loose plan:

Juice once a day (My personal fav: 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger w/ skin on, 2 apples cut and cored, 2 celery stalks, 2 carrots)

Eat only when I’m hungry (gulp)

Drink only water

When I’m having a sugar craving – make a cup of tea with some honey and almond milk

Cut out the dairy (I already don’t eat meat) and most gluten from my diet

Make lots of fresh juices, soups, stir fries and roasted vegetables to have on hand, ready in a moment so my snacking cravings don’t result in tearing open a bag of chips, or busting open the chocolates I hid away from myself (not kidding – I took all the chocolates I had in the house, put them in a box, and sealed it with a ridiculous amount of packing tape so it would be very difficult for me to get to it)

You don’t have to do it with me, but I will post tips and recipes that I find work for me as I rid myself of this food baby!

Starting….NOW!

Healthy eating tip #1: keep vegetables, raw and roasted, in the fridge along with hummus, babaganoush, and other healthy dips to satisfy your snack cravings (please – nothing mayonaise or cream base).

Yesterday, I roasted sweet potatoes in the oven. I sauteed swiss chard, arugula, broccolini, and mushrooms. I grilled zucchini. I made quinoa. I put everything in the fridge alongside the babaganoush and hummus. So now, when I’m starving and ready to reach for a slice of pizza, all I have to do is heat up some veggies and quinoa, add a dollop of baba or hummus, and voila – a healthy choice that is both delicious AND satisfying!

What I actually did yesterday, though, was to make a veggie wrap:

Lauren’s Veggie Wrap

1/4 cup Roasted Sweet potatoes

1/4 cup sauteed mushrooms

1/4 cup sauteed swiss chard

1/4 of an avocado, sliced

1 cup arugula

1/2 a tomato, sliced

2 tablespoons babaganoush

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1 whole wheat soft tortilla shell

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Cut them into cubes or quarters, depending on what you feel like. Toss them in 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper on a baking pan. Roasted in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until tender.

Clean the mushrooms with a cloth (NEVER wet your mushrooms! This makes them gummy! Just take a cloth and rub it over the tops of the mushrooms, getting the dirt off). Chop up your mushrooms and swiss chard. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over low-medium heat. Add the swiss chard and sautee until tender. Set aside. Using the same pan, don’t add any more oil – add the mushrooms with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sautee until tender. Set aside. Add 1/2 teaspoon olive oil to the same pan. Add the arugula with some salt and pepper and sautee for about 30 seconds, just to soften it up.

Place a dollop of babaganoush and dijon onto the tortilla shell. Add all the vegetables, including the avocado and tomato. Enjoy!

Next week? Butternut Squash soup with coconut and lime 🙂

Happy New Year, friends. May 2012 bring you nothing but laughter and moments that make your heart smile!

With all my love and affection,

Lauren

xxx