Orange Glazed Tofu

So as promised, here is my go to tofu recipe that I love. I actually adapted this recipe from somewhere online a long time ago (probably at allrecipes.com or somewhere like that) but sorry I can't credit it properly. Suffice it to say it's not 100% mine.

For the orange tofu, you have to use firm tofu. I like the nasoya brand personally, but use whatever you like, just as long as it's firm. You could also substitute chicken in this recipe as well. The first step is to press your tofu between paper towels or a clean dishtowel to get out the excess water. I used a bowl of fruit as my "squisher."

Cut the tofu into cubes and saute in 2 tbsps of olive oil and either 2 garlic cloves, or if you're lazy like me, a tbsp or 2 of minced garlic from the fridge (I use two because I love me some garlic).

While that is sauteing, combine the following ingredients:

3 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 cup orange juice

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1/4 cup orange marmalade

1/2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
 
Once the tofu turns a nice golden brown, add the mixture to the pan, being sure to coat the tofu evenly. After a few minutes, add 1 1/2 tbsps of cornstarch dissolved in water to the pan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens to desired consistency.

Serve with a grain and some veggies. I served mine with quinoa cooked in vegetable broth and a side of steamed broccoli. YUM!

So as a side conversation, has anyone else been watching and enjoying this season of Biggest Loser?

 

I have to say that I am really liking the changes they have made to the weigh-in/vote off process. I think that only making half of the people safe at this point makes for a more dramatic weigh in. I also love making the other half compete for safety. The one change that I am not loving, but can at least agree that it adds drama, is allowing the person with the highest percentage of weight loss to choose one of the unlucky half to "save." The reason why I don't like this is because you are giving a spot away to someone who doesn't necessarily deserve it. Theoretically, you could lose very little or no weight, but still get saved every week and make it to the end. I don't really think that's fair. At least the people who fall below the yellow line have to earn their safety in a challenge. I also don't see how this new yellow line system is going to work as they get down to fewer numbers. At some point they are going to have to go back to the regular way of 2 people being below the yellow line because you won't have enough people to really compete in a challenge. This will stop being effective at 10 people remaining (5 below the yellow line, one gets saved, so 4 people competing in the challenge with only 2 people winning their safety). I am interested to see what new directions they will go in this season.

Have you been watching Biggest Loser? Do you have any other go to recipes for tofu?

Did Someone Say Va-Jay-Jay?

So it's finally not raining here and Boston but it's still cold and dreary. So much for a nice fall. We are going to go straight from this into winter (my most hated season). Boo.

Breakfast this morning was an egg and cheese sandwich on a whole wheat english muffin. I thought I had cheddar slices but it turns out I only had colby jack and had to use that. I was a little skeptical about how it would go with the egg, but it actually turned out really good. I of course forgot to take a picture. I really do have to be better about that. Lunch was the last of the leftover steak tips and some chips and salsa. Snacks today were a banana (unpictured), a plum, and a sliced green bell pepper.

I did manage to make it to the gym this morning despite my overwhelming urge to reset the alarm. My goal was 4 miles on the treadmill and I did just that with some improvements over last weekends treadmill run. First mile was at 5.0, second at 5.2, third at 5.5, then a quarter mile at 5.7, and the remaining 0.75 miles at 5.0 for recovery. I felt awesome after this run for some reason. I got off the treadmill feeling like a million bucks. I guess some treadmill days are just better than others!

Here is an interesting article I found on CNN today (for you ladies): 5 Secrets You Shouldn't Keep From Your GYN. I love my gyno despite the awful things she does to me.

Source



I think finding a doctor that you are comfortable with is extremely important. Keeping things from your doctor could effect your health in many ways, so finding a doctor that you can openly communicate with without fear of being judged about being a little promiscuous is critical. For those of you who read but don't know me personally, I have been through some things healthwise and my doctor has been indispensable over the last five years (no worries, I'm perfectly ok and still have working parts). But that is a post for another day.

Speaking of vaginas and working parts, another thing I want to point out was actually a post from a fellow Bostonian, The Ketchup Diaries, about Teen Mom. I too love this show. I don't know what it is about it that keeps me coming back, but damn I love disfunctional families and whiny teenage girls and I love watching their lives on television. I love these kinds of blog posts. Anything that fuels my obsession with crappy reality TV and knowing there are other people who have the same sort of sick obsessions makes me feel good about myself :)

Does anyone else watch Teen Mom? Who is your favorite? And do you have an open relationship with your gyno?

Breakfast for Lunch

Ugh Monday.

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was extremely eventful. Shopping and drinks with Kristen Friday night, more shopping with Meg on Saturday, engagement party for friends on Saturday night. Lots of sleeping on Sunday since I was up a tad late Saturday night. Just a tad.

I also went to see The Town this weekend. What did everyone else think? I LOVED it. Ben Affleck is the epitome of male deliciousness. And I also think he is a fabulous director with lots of potential. This only being his second movie, I can see some room for improvement, but so far I love what I'm seeing from him. And of him ;) I went to go see the movie with the fuzz and we had an interesting conversation after the movie about what our favorite Boston-based film was. Or rather, top five favorites. So we started out by listing the movies...The Departed, The Town, Mystic River, Edge of Darkness...then the fuzz spits out "Fever Pitch." And I just stare at him. Is that a legitimate suggestion? Fever Pitch is the worst representation of Boston in the history of the WORLD. It definitely did not deserve any reference in this conversation. We both of course agreed that The Departed was number one. Does anyone else have any suggestions/favorites for best Boston movies?


Breakfast this morning was cereal. My original plan was a couple of Vans organic waffles with a banana, walnuts, and maple syrup but a quick glance in the fridge and I realized I didn't have any maple syrup, so I settled on cereal instead. Lunch was breakfast for lunch! Now, let me start out by saying that I really love eggs, but they really don't love me. That doesn't stop me from nourishing the craving for them every once in a while and today was one of those days. So I fried up an egg, added a piece of toast with Crofter's on it, and an apple with PB. What a perfect breakfast. I mean lunch. Either way.

Dinner tonight is stir fry (which I've also been craving for a while) and tonight is my book club meeting. Books are one of my many loves. I would read all day long if I could.

As side news, I heard on the radio this morning, that my favorite Jersey Shore cast member is getting his own spin off show. That's right! Pauly D is getting his own DJ-themed reality show. You KNOW I am all over this. What is better than trashy reality TV?? Trashy reality TV starring Pauly D, that's what. Will anyone else be watching?

Premier Party

Tragedy! I forgot it was bagel friday today! I don't know how this happened :( I woke up, had a bowl of cereal, and put on my jeans for casual friday, but it apparently never entered my mind that there were warm fresh bagels waiting for me at work. So obviously now I have already had breakfast and can't enjoy a bagel :( Not a good way to start my friday.

Last night was the Grey's premier party at Meg's. The theme of the evening was pumpkin since we had pumpkin beer and pumpkin cupcakes. With a spectacular brown sugar rim (as a funny side story, in preparing my beer Meg told me that "she was going to give me a rim" and my mind went to someplace completely dirty and just stared at her for a few seconds before what she really meant sank in...lots of laughter at my expense, lol) this beer totally hit the spot. After the bitchy day I had yesterday, I needed a drink for sure.

I also brought over my pumpkin cupcakes and chocolate chip blondies to share with the girls. Both had a blondie and Meg ate a cupcake. Which I of course finagled a picture out of which she wasn't super excited about...

But she was a good sport and let me take her picture anyway ;) It's all in the name of good blogging!

The premier of Grey's Anatomy was actually a little disappointing, but still excellent. The flashbacks to last season's amazing season finale managed to bring back some of the feelings I had watching that two hour block of pure genius. I am loving the new and improved Derek, adding a little fun to his otherwise boring (albeit dreamy) character. I also loved Bailey and Weber's scenes. The scene of the night though, goes to Lexy and Alex. I won't spoil it for those of you that haven't watched it yet, but it's a winner. I have really high hopes for this season.

Lunch today is TBD since I have an appointment at lunch time, so we will see if I have time to go home and whip up a sandwich or if I will have to hit the drive thru today.

Did anyone else watch Grey's? What did you think?

I Love Gossip

It's official. The TV premier season is upon us! First up we have my personal fav (besides True Blood of course) Gossip Girl! I was disappointed by the mere glance of Ed Westwick, who is 50% of the reason I watch the show...but I have a feeling he will not disappoint me next week. Swoon. I happen to love "teenager" shows and would most certainly act like a tween with a celebrity crush if I ever ran into any of the stars of the shows on the street. Or I would stalk them for six blocks like I did with Kelly Washington. Bottom line is, I'm a little obsessive. And Gossip Girl is right up my alley because well, I love me some gossip. I LOVE hearing about other people's lives. Which is also probably why I tend to be a facebook stalker. Hm. I'm sensing a pattern here. Anyway, I'm hopeful that this season of GG will be great because frankly, if it's not, the ratings are down and it will be on the chopping block.



Breakfast today was the same as yesterday, a cantaloupe bowl with greek yogurt and granola. I actually like it so much that I went to the supermarket to get two more cantaloupes. Yes, whenever I find something I like I eat it until I'm sick of it, so it looks like that's what I'm going to do with this cantaloupe bowl too.

I didn't stay true to my word today :( Instead of having just a half a cup of coffee, it actually ended up 2/3 of a cup. Oh well. At least it was a little less. Lunch at home today will be a big salad and a piece of the rye bread on the side. I don't know what it is, but the Hannaford in Waltham makes the softest loaves of bread and I really can't get enough. I thought the sourdough was my favorite, but the rye is catching up fast.

Speaking of bread, I walked through the organic/natural aisles last night and saw ezekiel bread. I have never seen it in a supermarket before, just at Trader Joe's. This supermarket actually sells a variety of things I have not seen outside of TJ's or Whole Foods so I'm quite happy about that. I have tried Ezekiel bread before, and I know Jillian Michaels is a huge fan...but I have to say, it tastes like dog shit and it's like chewing on rubber. When I eat bread I want to be flavorful, soft, and delicious. I really don't know what the hulabaloo (that's right, I used hulabaloo in a sentence) is all about with the ezekiel bread. I know it's healthy for you, but much like low fat cheese, why do it? It's just not the same.

I'm going for a 4 mile run tonight on the Charles River Bike Path that I have been raving to you guys about. I've decided I'm finally going to try upping my mileage this weekend and either go for 5 or 6. I'm slowly but surely getting there! When I burned out last fall on running, I actually became so disillusioned with running that I ebayed my Garmin. I am regretting that decision now. I have been considering the 405, does anyone have any experience with the 405? I really loved the 305, but hated it's bulk. Something to consider.

What "healthy" foods does everyone rave about that you can't stand?