an accidental book review

I am such a creature of habit. I didn't know that about myself until fairly recently, though, I'm sure my friends and family were well aware.

One habit I've had for some time concerns cookbooks. I have lots and lots and lots. I often buy new ones, especially Paleo cookbooks, but I rarely use them. Mostly, they sit on one of many, many shelves. And worse, I often don't read or use them at all until they've been around awhile. I'll often open them, glance at a few pages, maybe the table of contents, then set them aside. This has become such a habit that I talk myself out of each purchase many times before I succumb to the temptation.

Yesterday, I bought a new cookbook, Quick and Easy Paleo Comfort Foods, by Julie and Charles Mayfield. I had almost ordered it half a dozen times on Amazon. I think at least once I even ordered it and then cancelled the order two minutes later. Yeah, that's another dumb habit I'm not so proud of.

Still yesterday, when we came home tired and hungry and not really wanting to cook, I actually opened that brand new book. Just look at its title, Quick and Easy Paleo Comfort Foods. And staring at me to the right of the Table of Contents was meat on a stick; okay, they called them Beef Kebabs. I love the look of almost any food on a stick. And I just happened to have thawed a package of beef filet chunks from US Wellness Meats. Before we even put away the groceries, I was making the marinade. A couple of minutes later (seriously) the tender chunks of filet were soaking up those lovely flavors. GK fired up the Big Green Egg, and we were off and running.

I still didn't know what I'd serve with the beef. When I am tired and hungry, I'm at my least creative. But somehow I opened the book to Greek Salad. It sounded perfect. And it was.

This morning, feeling more relaxed and less rushed, I've been turning the pages, oohing and awing over the pictures as much as the recipes. I've got a long mental list of dishes I want to try. Seriously, for those of us who cook virtually every meal we eat, quick and easy sounds like a siren's call. Possibly, the only thing better is comfort food, but we don't have to choose. Buy the book. Or ask your local library to get it for you.

whole30, day ten

Yes! It's really Day 10. I must admit I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, too. So far, so good, and so easy to stick to it. Sometimes I remember the saying, "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels," though for the most part it's really just become habit so quickly.

At home this is made much easier by the elimination of anything that I might accidentally put in my mouth without thinking, foods or drinks that would normally be in my already pretty restricted diet that are no-goes on the Whole30. I didn't throw them away, mostly just froze or put them where I don't normally look for food or ingredients.

At school, my work, it's not quite as cut and dried. There's always an obstacle course of food and drink. Today, we had a breakfast potluck for Boss's Day, which was actually yesterday, but we don't work Sundays here. My first inclination is always to beg off when presented with a potluck announcement. I can't eat anything others bring, usually, and when I've tried, the results are often disastrous for me. Sometimes, like today, I feel a bit too awkward just saying no. I'm afraid it will sound like I'm blowing off the boss or being uppity with my coworkers. So this weekend I made a large batch of breakfast sausage from Paleo Comfort Foods, cooked them just before work, and participated. Virtually everything else is off-limits for me, though the person who brought scrambled eggs made a bowl without salt or pepper just for me. I use salt and pepper, but the thought was nice, and I don't expect others to commit my diet to memory, anyway.

I stay safe at work most of the time by having foods that I really, really like available in the refrigerator there. My big concession during my workday is using the microwave. I am not a fan. I didn't have one in the house for years and probably wouldn't now if I could get GK to go along with it. At school I've been using the microwave lately just to make it a little easier at lunch here. Somehow a salad every single day wasn't working for me. I've got to think of a better solution soon.

Today is also the day that Whole9's new rule to be introduced for the Whole30 5.0. I haven't purchased the 4.0 plan; I've just been using the vast amount of information available on their website. I plan to order the new survival guide, though. Its being published while I'm in the midst of my first run at this also feels a bit like an omen. I love the idea of omens, good ones anyway.