Normal Day 53 - 125 (Day 110)

The shop said that my transmission is shot. They are going to see if they can locate a rebuilt one. Otherwise, I'll be shopping for a used car soon.

I picked up a bag of Buffalo Barley a couple of weeks ago at the health food store. It has been sitting on my countertop until I decided what to do with it. Today, I threw a bunch of things together that I had on hand and it was delicious and very filling. My boyfriend and I both ate several bowls of it. My 13 year old even had a bowl and liked it.

Black Bean & Buffalo Barley Broth

1 cup Buffalo Barley - rinsed
1 tsp coconut oil
inner leafy stalks of celery - chopped
1/2 large onion - diced
1 clove garlic - crushed
1 bay leaf
2 tsp Better Than Bouillon mushroom base
1 T nutritional yeast
2 T textured vegetable protein (TVP) granules
1 15 oz can black beans - drained and rinsed
1 28 oz can tomatoes (whole or chopped is fine)
freshly chopped herbs: tarragon or parsley is good
freshly grated parmesan

Cook the barley per package directions until done or nearly done. In a 2-3 quart pot, saute the chopped celery in coconut oil over medium heat until the celery begins to soften. Add the chopped onions and saute until translucent. Add the crushed garlic and saute for another minute. Toss in the bay leaf. Fill the pan with water about half way. Mix in the bouillon. Add the nutritional yeast, TVP granules, black beans and the cooked barley. When the mixture comes to a boil add the tomatoes and reduce to a slow simmer. Let the soup slowly cook over low heat until its the way you like it. The barley can soak up a lot of water, you can keep adding more water as desired or needed. To serve, top with freshly chopped herbs or grated cheese.

Food:
3 cups air popped popcorn - drizzled with 1 tsp coconut oil and nutritional yeast
4 bowls of Barley Soup (with fresh tarragon)
handful of yogurt candy coated raisins
tortilla chips with cheese sauce, salsa and veggie sausage
1 nectarine

Exercise:
walk 1 hour

Normal Day 22 -- 139.2

My son watched an episode of the cartoon, Southpark. Apparently they were making fun of Jewish people and the holocaust. He thought he was being funny by mimicking what he had heard. My boyfriend and I were appalled. We tried to explain to him the seriousness of genocide, but he didn't quite understand. So, I researched some movies that we could watch together. He is a very sensitive person, I figured if he saw a heartbreaking movie or documentary he would begin to comprehend that it isn't funny to laugh or joke about genocide. I made a list of movies and the first video store we went to didn't have a one -- not even Schindler's List! We drove to another store and were able to find Schindler's List and The Pianist. I was really hoping to find a 9 and a 1/2 hour long documentary that aired on PBS called Shoah.

We got home from the video store and my son was in his room reading the book we bought him yesterday. He was annoyed and angry when he realized that it was a children's book about the holocaust. Even more pissed when I made him sit through Schindler's List. I remember the first time I ever saw the movie, I curled up in a fetal position on the living room floor and sobbed for an hour when it was finished. By the end of the movie he understood that the holocaust and genocide is NOT funny.

We also researched together and found that thousands of people with my mother's maiden name had died or been murdered in the death camps and ghettos. If you're curious you can look up your own family name on the Shoah website . You can also add to their database if you have information on people who should be listed.

Breakfast: 1/2 cup tuna & tofu with 1/2 tsp mayo 1/2 tsp coconut oil and chopped onions, 1 cup of steamed brussels sprouts

Snack: small handful of dried cherries & almonds, 1 organic apple

Lunch: 2 cups of homemade cooked pinto beans with kefir drizzled on top

Snack (or should I say -- SNEAK?): tsp of Nutella (straight from the jar)

Dinner: salmon & tuna sushi, green olives, 2 tablespoons Baileys in 1/2 cup milk

Pinto Beans

Rinse a bag of dried pinto beans, cover them with water and leave to soak overnight

In the morning, drain and rinse the beans again. Put them into a pot and cover with water, leave them to simmer 2-3 hours. If you want, smash some of the beans with a wooden spoon against the side of the pan to make a thicker broth.

Season the pot of beans with the following:

1 tsp Better than Bouillon Mushroom base
1 tsp Better than Bouillon Vegetable base
1 tsp Coconut Oil

Normal Day 8 -- 147.8

My boyfriend and I went for an hour long walk this evening. Nothing much to say today, except its really nippy outside!

Breakfast: organic tofu scramble in a whole wheat tortilla with cilantro, green onion, lettuce and salsa

Lunch: another organic tofu scramble burrito (My son hates tofu but he loved this recipe.)

Dinner: sushi

Tofu Scramble Recipe

1 block tofu
2 T nutritional yeast
1 t Better Than Bouillon mushroom base
1 stalk celery
1/2 red onion
3 cloves garlic

1 cup water
1/4 tsp Better Than Bouillon mushroom base

tortillas
cilantro
green onions
lettuce
salsa

Crumble the tofu & mix in the nutritional yeast and mushroom buillion

Saute the red onion and celery in a little olive oil until soft. Toss in the tofu and gently brown it while stirring.

Mix together the water and 1/4 tsp mushroom bouillon until dissolved. Pour over the tofu mixture. When most of the liquid is gone, remove from heat.

Serve in a warm tortilla topped with fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, lettuce, and salsa.

** stopped eating by 6pm