Be Careful What You Ask For

     We in the Northeast, should be careful for what we ask for! Driving to work was nothing short of aggravating. Just a mere 18 hours ago, you could move around with little effort. Now it is snowing like crazy, and my feet haven't warmed up since I left for work at 7:30am. I would love to stick my hands and feet in an oven for just bit.

     Being a chef and working in a medical office has its differences. Chef's on their feet the entire shift. Medical office on your keyster the entire shift. Chef's minimal contact with the public, medical office non stop contact. Chef's some grammatical work, medical office get writer's cramp. Experience is priceless. I have learned the art of compassion for my fellow human beings, being able to listen is all that anyone ever wants, people want validation and someone who cares. I am grateful to have learned those traits.

     So with a New Year on the horizon, what I am I resolved to change?   More doing, more getting in the game, less moments where fear decides what I will do, less temptation to focus on the negative. You know that annoying little voice that tells you that you can't, won't and don't. I resolve to step outside my comfort zone. I don't want my health to stand in the way of doing something great.

     Set goals and make baby step changes. Like "drink more water", that one I can never seem to adhere to.Take a dance class, this would certainly be out of what I deem comfortable. Stop cooking like Paula Deen (sorry Paula but , although your cooking rocks, it is fattening me like a Christmas goose). Not to mention that just about every recipe, would pretty much be banned in any context of health.

     For the New Year, I am going to make an effort to cut out all white foods, that means flour, potatoes, rice, including the brown, pasta,cereal, bread and cheese. I am a chef, so this could be a win-win situation for everyone in my house, we all could stand to shed some weight. Eat more Legumes, but what is a legume?  any bean, pea, peanut or lentil is a legume, they are rich in fiber and protein. They are fairly inexpensive and can take place of the macaroni and cheese, french fries, and rice pilaf.

Chicken Chili

2 packages of ground chicken
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sweet onions, rough chopped
2 green peppers, rough chopped
2 red peppers. rough chopped
8 cloves of garlic minced
1 46oz bottle of V8 juice
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 6oz can of tomato paste
3 cans of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon tumeric
2 tablespoons dark chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
salt and pepper to taste

In a stock pot, heat the olive oil and add the onions and garlic and cook until you can smell the garlic, add the peppers, diced tomatoes and ground chicken cook until the chicken is done. Drain in a colander and return to the same pot and add the V8 juice, tomato paste, and all spices and cook on medium low heat until the chili thickens, add the kidney beans and season, cook for about 10 more minutes and serve with a fresh slice of avocado. Remember no white food. :)

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.~ Oprah Winfrey