Going Veggie For the Week

I grew up in Texas, I love steak. I love a Sunday roast on a cold day and hamburgers make me happy. Lately though, I have really been considering my carbon foot print. A carnivorous (human) diet takes its toll on the environment and I feel bad for the animals. I read somewhere to produce one calorie of beef, we must expend 78 calories of fossil fuel. The list goes on for pork and chicken. I drive my car more often than I should, I love the sauna at the gym..in essence I use and enjoy the energy resources that are bad for the environment. I am no eco warrior, but I feel that if I go veggie for a week, I will be helping mother earth in my own way. Plus, it's healthy. I will start my veggie voyage this week and after that I will start meatless Monday, and possibly try out a vegan day, as well.

Houston Yoga Experience Thus Far

Since returning from London, yours truly has been on a quest to find a yoga studio. I recently joined a studio for a month of unlimited yoga and I must say that I have mixed feelings about the this place. The only yoga studio that I have attended in Texas was an amazing place in Austin. The center in Austin and my favorite center's in London were challenging, relaxing and most of all serene. The place that I attended here in Houston was challenging, but had more of a fun component to the classes. The main thing that stuck out for me with this particular studio was the people in attendance had a strong affinity for being incredibly corny. How can yoga be corny? My answer: I never knew it until now, but it really can...and the corniness can really be a distraction when you are reaching for deep relaxation.

In my experience with yoga, I have witnessed people showing off or trying to be the best in the class with very challenging poses and from what I hear from instructors that is not uncommon. The thing about this particular studio was the attendee's of the class were show offs, but were so hokie about their abilities. The one instance that really sticks out in my mind was a woman in her late 40's..she was in great shape. It was an afternoon class and the instructor had us doing hand stands against the wall. It's a challenge to maintain the pose for many reasons and a few people were having trouble staying in the position. Said woman was doing so well that she felt inclined to tell people around her ( while upside down) in a hubris tone that "It feeeeeeeels great to get out of the office on a Friday afternoon!!". A few of us managed to control our laughter, but several people around emphatically agreed with her and said things like "Aint that the truth" an "uh huh, sister!"

Maybe I had missed something and these people had all connected on a deep yogic level, but trying to control my eyes rolling or trying not to laugh isn't really my idea of stretching. Instances like this happened constantly and I found it incredibly distracting, while in the middle of a complicated poses someone shouting out "Savasana NOW!!!!" Savasana in Yoga is marked at the end of the class when the body and mind can rest. The person shouting this was not wanting the class to end, but was trying to garner cool points by trying to get cheap laughs from the class. The amazing thing was people did laugh and it just seemed to egg him on.

I am trying out another center soon and will be sure to write about that.

Anthony Bourdain Cooking Course

As many of my friends and family know, I really enjoy cooking and consider myself a foodie. I also watch No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. So, it stands to reason that when I heard that Sur La Table had an Anthony Bourdain cooking course, I signed up. Bourdain was not actually teaching the course. If, Anthony had shown up, I would have had to conceal a girly squeal of delight. The course was a three part series and I even got a signed copy of Bourdain's new book.

The recipes in the course are so innovative and relatively easy to make. I have made a few of the dishes and my guests seemed impressed. Sur La Table offers a variety of courses that I am eager to try out. They even have a sushi class!

Once, I finish Bourdain's new book : Medium Raw, I will be sure to write about it.

Above is a picture of the work station for the students.

New Kitchen Purchase

I attended an Anthony Bourdain cooking course at Sur La Table. Fantastic course that I will write about later. One of the perks about the course was a discount on purchases in Sur La Table. Discount's there is the equivalent to foodie shangri la. I managed to control myself and bought just a few things. Above is new hand mixer..I can now perfect my Senate bean soup recipe and different sauces. Hooray.

Brilliant