Hi guys!

Thank you to those who shared their thoughts about my increased protein intake.  Some interesting comments, for sure! 

I’ve been trying a lot of new food products lately (not samples sent for review, just picked up at my local Whole Foods), so I thought today I’d write about a few of the recent products I’ve tried.

The product:  Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Drink.

Why & what:  I bought this because I’ve heard about how great vinegar can be for your body, but could never bear the thought of drinking it straight up.  The ingredient list is simple:  distilled water, Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, and organic honey.

The verdict:  Surprisingly drinkable!  I could really taste the honey, so there must be a lot of it in that bottle to mask the taste and smell of the vinegar.  The whole bottle had 120 calories and a lot of sugar, so I don’t plan on drinking this regularly, but it was a pleasant way to add vinegar to my life.

The product: Food for Life’s Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins

Why & what:  This is the first Food for Life product I’ve ever tried, despite hearing about them for ages around the blog circuit.  I couldn’t wait to try the sprouted grain bread, which is flourless, organic, and oddly appealing because it’s stored in the freezer aisle. 

The verdict:  They’re a pain to defrost in the toaster, but they are pretty darn good.  Anything cinnamon raisin flavored almost makes me happy!

The product:  Organic Velley’s Neufchatel cheese. 

Why & what:  I needed a low-cal and preferably organic English muffin topper   Ingredients:  organic pasteurized milk and cream, organic whey, salt, cheese culture, and organic locust bean gum.

The verdict:  This cheese is really creamy without the fake taste of lowfat cream cheese.  The pairing with the Ezekiel muffin really hit the spot!

Lastly, I finally got my hands on the Chocolate Oikos yogurt.  I still can’t find the caramel flavor (this photo is from a food show when I got to try samples!).

The verdict is simple for this one: DELICIOUS.  I only wish they were more widely sold.

What are some new foodie purchases you have tried lately?

For the last few days I’ve been playing with my protein intake, airing on the high side (or more) of my recommended allowance.  I thought I’d see how my body responds to it, since I normally have a pretty carb-heavy diet.

So far, it’s not going that great.  I feel more bloated than usual and the scale isn’t doing much.  Despite my calorie intake being normal, I wonder if my system isn’t handling the excess protein well.  

I was not planning on doing this for more than a few days at most.  If anyone out there is knowledgeable about weight and water loss with a high protein (temporary!) diet, can you please share your thoughts?  Friends have told me it is normal for the body to hold onto water at first while it adjusts.

For the record, I am aware that excess protein can be stored by the body the same way as any other excess calories, and that it can also be hard on the kidneys.  I do not generally subscribe to anything extreme, but am just experimenting this week.

Rock the Vote

Thank you for the amazing amount of support you have all given me for the Mad Men Casting Call!  I am touched by how many of you have retweeted or posted the link on facebook.  You guys ROCK!

What I’m about to do is awfully shameless.  I abandoned the blog for over a week and am now coming back, asking everyone for a favor.  What can I say?  I’ve been running around like a mad woman. 

Or should I say, a mad man ?

I’ve entered the Mad Men Casting Call and would so appreciate your vote!  That is, of course, if you think I am fit for the part

Voting is anonymous and very simple, just two clicks!  And you can vote every day until September 6…if you are so inclined   Vote for me here.

I WILL be back with food posts soon!  Thank you in advance for your vote!  How cool would it be to walk on the MadMen set?!  I’d have so much to report!

After spending the weekend in hundred-degree-plus heat with family in Sacramento, I am reminded of the sharp contrast between what San Francisco and Sacramento each call “summer.”  I also finally understand what Mark Twain meant when he (arguably) said:

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.

—Mark Twain

You see, “summer,” can mean different things to everyone.

To my niece and nephew, summer means Sunchips, err, it means watermelon and sunscreen.

To my grandpa, it means his 86th birthday (how cute is he?!).

To my dad and my husband, it apparently means dressing in twin outfits.

To me, it means the San Francisco Soup Company.

You’re thinking, “Is this Thinspired or her other food blog?!”

The truth is, I love this place and their soup. It is a part of my real life and not just subject material for the work blog (but don’t be surprised if it turns up there, too).

It is freezing today in the city, so I ordered a regular cup of Grilled Chicken & Roast Corn Chowder.  It’s lowfat, dairy-free, gluten-free, and, most importantly, hot and delicious.  This bowl has 201 calories and 15 grams of protein.

It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that I had room for a few more lunch calories, preferably in the form of a Larabar.

Yup, that is one of the new Larabar flavors!  Yes, it is very good.  No, it does not overwhelmingly taste like dates.  It really does resemble the taste of carrot cake!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go grab a scarf and boil some tea.  It’s summer, you know.

I know I have mentioned our electric indoor grill before, but I need to seriously talk to you about how much I love it.

Before I do, you should know that this is not a sponsored or paid promotion in any way; I just really love the product…but in the spirit of full disclosure, I do get a little kickback if you buy it through my Amazon store

About a week and a half ago, Matthew and I bought the Cuisinart Griddler.  It was on our wedding registry list but we never received it, and we have wanted it ever since.  Finally this summer, we decided to spend the hundred bucks and buy it.  We have used it almost every night since!

The plates are reversible (ribbed “grill” side and flat “griddle” side), dishwasher safe, and non-stick, so you don’t need oil.  It comes with a “fat dripper” thingamajig, which drains from the back instead of the front (unlike the George Foreman grill).  I love this feature because I think visible fat drainage is unsightly.

We’ve been grilling everything from pork chops (with peach salsa)…

…to salmon and asparagus…

…to honey and sesame oil-covered Gliding Calm tofu…

…to pancakes.  Yup, pancakes are so easy to cook on this thing!  I use Quaker’s Oatmeal Pancake mix with almond milk and egg or egg whites.

My “secret” is to add a splash of vanilla extract in the batter before cooking. 

Matthew begged me to share a photo of his plate, too.

…I guess even if you’ve grown up enough to grill, boys will still be boys.

Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all who entered by giveaway for Substituting Ingredients!  The winner is…

Jennifer!  Jennifer wrote:

“I don’t have a lot of tips, but I do know that you can mix 1/2 milk with 1 tbsp of either vinegar or lemon juice to make buttermilk. As you can see, I need a copy of that book if that’s the best I can come up with!”

Jennifer, please contact me with your mailing address so I can get the book shipped to you!

Do you grill, indoor or outdoor?  What are your favorite grilling tips/recipes?