Lunch or Dinner Suggestion: Super Easy and Super Yum BBQ Chicken Salad

I'm always making salads for lunch, and just decided to concoct this one one day, throwing things into a Tupperware with wild abandon. It's really tasty, really healthy, and really low-cal (especially if you leave out the avocado and/or the corn). Yay!

In a Tupperware or other non-trademarked container layer in this order, from the bottom up:

chopped tomato (I like halved cherry tomatoes)
1/2 a chopped cucumber
1 grated carrot (or a handful of pre-grated carrot from Trader Joe's)
2 stalks of chopped celery (you can even include some of the leaves)
diced cooked chicken breast or black beans (or a little of both) OR soy chickenless chicken strips
2-3 T of chopped fresh cilantro
1 chopped green onion
a little chopped avocado if you like
1/4 to 1/2 cup of corn kernels if you like - I like the roasted corn kernels that are frozen from Trader Joe's
2 handfuls of torn lettuce - any kind. I like romaine for this one.

In a smaller container make the dressing - I like to use 1 T of Annie's Natural BBQ sauce and thin it out with a little vinegar (about 20 calories worth of dressing). You could also use a pre-made cilantro dressing if you like and thin it out as well. Pack the small container of dressing into the bigger container with the salad, throw in a few slices of lime if you like (you can even squeeze a little of the lime over the avocado (if you used any) to keep it from turning brown). Store in the fridge til ready to eat. This keeps for a few days in the fridge. Be on the lookout for more salad creations from yours truly. I've been going a little crazy lately!

Wine: Novella Zinfandel (Trader Joe's - $6.99)

I love red zins. I especially love red zins that taste much more expensive than they are. This wine is cheap enough to crack open at home for that one or two glass evening in front of your fave TV show (with or without food). It also tastes expensive enough to take to a party without breaking the bank - and bonus, you won't be embarrassed. Please, please -- never, never show up to a party toting Two Buck Chuck. Ever. Please. Thank you.

If you're like me and can't be bothered with all of the vacu-save-wine-pump-gadgetry out there, then you will be perfectly satisfied corking the bottle, leaving it on the counter, and having a glass the following day. If you need to throw out a glass or two never fear - at $6.99 a bottle it is not the end of the world.

This Paso Robles wine is medium bodied, very jammy, with lots of cooked cherry and maybe a bit of licorice. My untrained palate thinks it detects a teensy bit of vanilla on the finish, which was confirmed when I ran a few searches. Yay! Maybe one day I will actually become confident in my tasting abilities. Novella has some other wines at TJ's as well, though I haven't yet tried them. I'll just wait til they run out of the zin before I venture out.

Downtown Los Angeles: Gigi & Stacey Are Ready To Fix All Of Your Broken Jewelry, Design You Some New Styles And Repair Your Discarded Time Pieces.

It's happened to all of us. We reach for our favorite necklace, the chain breaks, and we have a moment of disbelief followed by an extended period of feeling naked, and then we discard it in a drawer along with half a dozen other broken chains, bracelets, earrings with missing backs, and watches that no longer keep time. Every once in awhile we wonder what to do with all of those almost-but-not-quite-functional items that used to be our wardrobe mainstays but now have absolutely no use. We contemplate fixing them, but, not knowing where to go, we leave them abandoned in the drawer in their sad, snarled and tarnished state.

No more. If you live or work anywhere near downtown Los Angeles then you have absolutely no more excuses. Gigi and Stacey's watch and jewelry repair, located in the top floor of Macy's at 7th and Flower (look for the long glass counter tucked in the back of the housewares department), is your answer. They are chatty and friendly and extremely knowledgeable about gems, jewelry repair and design, precious metals and stones, and watch repair. You can take them your halted watches and broken and/or tarnished chains, bracelets and earrings and they will return them to you repaired and polished to perfection. Their prices are so reasonable that you can even afford to bring them your broken costume jewelry for repair. They've fixed chains for me, re-strung beads, soldered ring bands that had broken from too much wear, repaired earrings, and of course replaced the batteries to my watches. They also can special order particular chains that you may want, charm bracelets, etc., as well as help you with jewelry design. For example, I had set of pearl earrings but no pearl pendant. Gigi and Stacey matched the pearls with one to be used for the pendant, paired it with a chain, and also suggested a neck wire to use for variety in place of the chain (it looks fabulous). Additionally, they design gorgeous jewelry and have some of it for sale in their shop, all of it very reasonably priced and extremely high quality.

But it doesn't end there. Have something that are coveting from a retailer? You can also bring them photos of things that you like and they will make it for you at a fraction of what you would pay a retailer. Yay!

You can find one or both of them at the counter (you might have to ding the bell on the counter once to get their attention) on Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 213-628-9311 X2220. And if you live nowhere near Los Angeles (and don't have a little messenger you can send with your broken bag of accessories), they are so nice and accommodating, they just might consider allowing you to mail them your items for repair. It never hurts to ask!

Photo courtesty of Freedigitalphotos.net. Gigi and Stacey's designs are MUCH cooler!

Facial Moisturizer And Sunscreen: Neutrogena Healthy Defense

It's almost Memorial Day Weekend - and hopefully you have hours of sunny activities lined up including BBQ'ing, the pool, the beach, or maybe just sitting in your yard with a good book. Whatever you are doing, don't forget to apply sunscreen! I am religious about applying sunscreen to my face and have been doing so every single day since I was 18. It all started when Johnson & Johnson was handing out samples on campus of their Purpose line of products. I picked up a sample of their moisturizer with sunscreen and I was hooked. Unfortunately, when I got older and started traveling more, the bottles that Purpose came in gave me headaches because they were oddly shaped and the top would often break during travel. Additionally, it was hard to get the last bit of moisturizer out of the bottle and a lot of energy would be exerted as I banged it upside down (painfully) against my hand or a counter several times. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, a lot of moisturizer would be left behind -- inevitably (and sadly) ending up in the trash.

Then I discovered Neutrogena Healthy Defense (I sound like a cheesy commercial here, but it's seriously a great product). Yes, it's great moisturizer and makes your skin feel silky smooth without being oily. Yes, it's great sunscreen - I usually use SPF 45, applying it every single morning after I get out of the shower. For some reason my face never gets burned, even when I fail to reapply, far outlasting and out-performing any sunscreen I have used on the rest of my body (even after spending a whole day on the beach). But, best of all, the bottle is just perfect for travel. It is flat and holds just 1.7 oz, so it fits great in pretty much any space (especially in your 1 quart clear plastic bag for air travel), thereby allowing you to easily pack your requisite lip glosses and shampoo around it; also the cap stays on very well and will not break off. Plus, the bottle is more like a slightly rigid flat tube, so you can squeeze every last drop out of it. It's a win-win situation. You can pick it up at most drugstores and supermarkets, though sometimes they don't carry it. I just order a supply from Drugstore.com and keep it on hand at all times.

For those of you who may be interested, they have a lightly tinted version which is nice, especially if you need to even your skin tone out a little bit but don't want that foundation look. It's fragrance free, hypo-allergenic, and protects against both UVA and UVB so it is an all-around great moisturizer and great sunscreen. One tube runs $11 to $14 (depending on specials that may be running) and will last about three months with everyday application. A small price to pay to keep that skin lifted and glowing.

The Perfect Cocktail: Gin Lovers Only!

For a long time I have thought that gin and tonic with extra lime is truly the most perfect cocktail - not too sweet and heavy (like a margarita can get after only one), appropriately citrus-y and easily sipped on its own, although it will not be ruined if you have a few bites of food as well. A gin and tonic also has the added advantage that it is difficult to mess up - true, some are much better than others, but even the worst one is likely palatable as long as the tonic is fizzy and you throw in some fresh lime. I'm also a fan of liqueurs as well, though I often find them too sweet and so generally stay away from them unless I'm adding a dash to a glass of sparkly, like prosecco or cava.

With this bit of a background, you can imagine my delight when I discovered a wonderful cocktail offering on a menu while visiting Colorado last spring. The words "gin"and "St. Germain" leapt from the page with intensity, followed with another favorite, "champagne." The word "lemon" was a clincher, appealing to my preferences for cocktails that carry a citrus base. The pronouncement of "honey" as an ingredient did nothing for me at the time, since I am rather neutral on honey, enjoying it in herbal tea once in awhile but otherwise not giving it much thought.

Well, the cocktail arrived and it was sublimely perfect. Sweet immediately on the tongue with the flowers and fruit of St. Germain but quickly giving way to the bite of lemon and gin, all with a bit of bubbly dancing around on your palate, changing things up a bit and keeping the drink alive in your mouth. After offering sips to my travel companions (each of whom pronounced the drink delicious), I hoarded the rest of it to myself, determined to try to recreate it when I got home.

Since I'm not great at measuring, preferring instead to taste as I go, I offer the below amounts only as a guideline. You should adjust depending on preferences. Also, a word to the wise - do not ignore the honey in this libation. It adds an extra perfume and layered flavor that really compliments the St. Germain and lemon and although the drink is delicious without, I believe the honey really is the silent ingredient that helps to launch this drink into another category of deliciousness.

Cocktail: 1.5 shots of gin (I usually have Bombay around), 1 shot of St. Germain, a squeeze of fresh lemon - mix or shake well with ice so that it is very cold. Add a tablespoon or so of a simple syrup made with honey and water (mixologists would probably be horrified, but I make mine in the microwave - do not try to heat the honey in the microwave without adding the water - it will turn into a sticky mess that cannot be easily added to the drink). Garnish with a floater of champagne (or other sparkly, like prosecco) and a twist of lemon.

A note about St. Germain: you can pick up a bottle of this elderflower liqueur at Bevmo, but you can also order it online. The flavor profile is unique and the bottle is gorgeous.

Lunch Suggestion: Low Calorie, High Protein, Low Fat and Trader Joe's. What's Not To Like?

I LOVE Trader Joe's. I mean really, really, really love it. What's not to love, really? There's amazing produce, fabulous frozen food, terrific tapenades, lovely smelling lavender dish soap, and a great selection of wine and beers. Oh, and my dogs are big fans of the dog biscuits too. Everyone wears Hawaiian themed shirts, is super duper friendly, and they often pipe eighties music into the aisles (that alone would win me over, seriously). And on top of it all the sunshiny checkers not only send you on your way with a smile but they also ORGANIZE all of your purchases when they pack them - i.e., when you get home you find the frozen things together, the herbs and produce together, the canned good together, etc., etc. It just makes sense and lends an ease to unpacking, quickly allowing you to place all of your items in your cupboards, the freezer, and wine rack(s) without having to dig through the bags and reorganize the contents while you stretch out all over your kitchen trying to place things in the proper area.
But I digress.

One of my favorite lunches at work or quick dinners at home is the Trader Joe's Egg White Salad With Chives. This little delight is found in the refrigerated section near the prepared salads and has the perfect amount of chives, celery and spices set off with a bit of vinegar and mustard and, of course, egg whites. And, get this, an entire container is only 100 calories. Yes, it's true. With 4 grams of fat, 4 of carbs and FOURTEEN grams of protein I think the $2.69, while slightly on the pricey side, is well worth it. One of my favorite ways to eat it is to pile a whole container (hey, splurge - it's only 100 cals) into a spelt or whole wheat tortilla (you could even go for a carb cutting tortilla made of whole grains), add arugula or spinach or lettuce or micro-greens, some small cherry tomatoes of you like, and roll it all up for a very filling and healthy wrap. Eat with a side of fruit and/or carrots and you have a satisfying lunch that is around 300 calories total. Hard to beat that. I often leave a bag of tortillas in the fridge at work so they're there when I want them, and bring in my container of egg salad and a little Ziploc of my greens and tomatoes (leaving the tomatoes uncut so they don't wilt the leafies). The result? in a quick minute you have a very easy lunch to pack, and one that you can eat without guilt while sitting on your derriere at your desk surfing the web or working away. Plus, it's also good for a snack straight out of the container.

Trader Joe's also makes the salad in a spicy "ranchero" style (I'm not a fan) and "Santorini" style utilizing spinach, feta and parmesan (tasty!). That one packs a little more calories (deep breath now - a whole 140 cals for the whole container) and a bit more fat (7 grams), 4 grams of carbs and SIXTEEN grams of protein. (See the Footnote at the end of the entry.) There's also an "eggless egg salad" (presumably with tofu). I haven't sampled this one so I can't comment, but I'm sure it is worth a try.

Of course you could get egg whites and probably come up with something similar yourself, but really, if you're already a victim to mornings and can't seem to pack your lunch as often as you'd like as it is, who are you fooling? Just pick up a couple of these containers and you're set for the week!

Footnote: Don't ask why I had to put "sixteen" written out and in caps and yet typed the other numbers. I am trying to suppress the urge to make everything consistent so I will not go back and change it. I will not. I will not. I will also not check for spacing errors or other inconsistencies that do not matter. Writing a blog is supposed to be fun and not another outlet for OCD. And for all of you readers who also obsess over formatting issues and font size and if a comma is accidentally italicized (I know who you are), use this space for therapy as well and please keep those critiques to yourself. Do feel free to let me know of any spelling errors, however!

Gift Suggestion or For Yourself: The Best Cookbook Ever and a Dutch Oven

One thing that you will undoubtedly discover about me if you continue to read this blog is that I love theme gifts - you know, a few lovely items that just fit cozily together like puzzle pieces, all wrapped up and presented to the recipient in a self-contained little world of awesomeness. The gift that they can just open up and immediately cash in on the excitement by using it right away, rather than allowing it to gather dust while they search for the other components they may need. Well, that's what this is: a cookbook and a dutch oven. First, let's discuss the cookbook, Glorious One-Pot Meals by Elizabeth Yarnell ($12). This cookbook is unlike any cookbook that I have ever owned -- i.e., it is stained and tattered and actually frequently used. I could go on and on about this cookbook because it is so amazing, but in one sentence it allows you to cook a complete meal in 45 minutes, utilizing only one pot. You layer the ingredients (for example your starch, veggies, seasonings and proteins), sling it into the oven, and 45 minutes later you have a perfect meal which, get this, looks as if you have actually cooked the items separately. It really is that easy. My first foray into this was a five minute project of layering some cut up potatoes, frozen tilapia, some lovely dill seasoning mix I had laying in my cupboard and fresh asparagus. In anycase, 45 minutes later the pot emerged with perfectly cooked potatoes, a flaky, moist and deliciously seasoned piece of fish and a side of steamed asparagus. And may I once again mention that the fish was frozen?

Using the tenets that great food will result when utilizing the right pot and cooking at the right temperature for the correct amount of time, Yarnell developed this theory she calls "infusion- cooking", which produces, without fail, perfect meals with no fuss. Each recipe is a nutritionally complete meal so you don't need even a side salad - unless you want one, of course. You can rely upon the recipes in the book (which include a number of standard faves like pasta recipes, pot roast, or a one-pot Thanksgiving dinner, as well as lots of variations with ethnic twists such as greek chicken, tandoori salmon and kale, or Thai curry with tofu) OR you can venture out on your own utilizing the easy to understand method set forth in the beginning of the book. By using any ingredients you have on hand and layering them in a designated order you will have a perfect meal every single time. Forgot to take things out of the freezer - no problem! The meals come out just as perfectly utilizing rock-hard items just pulled from the freezer (you can also use dried and canned foods, as well as fresh, of course, or any combination thereof). And you can even layer the items in advance, throw the pot in the fridge, and then cook it when you get home. Awesomeness!

Besides the book, you'll also need a dutch oven. Yarnell discusses the virtues of various types of dutch ovens in her book, generally favoring enamel coated cast iron. You could go top of the line with a lovely Le Crueset (ranging anywhere from $120 to $250, depending on size) or you can go with a middle of the road and perfectly serviceable Lodge enameled cast iron (about $80). If you are being super budget conscious you could also get a plain pre-seasoned cast-iron dutch oven (about $30-50), which will last a lifetime and will work just as well (it will just require a bit of maintenance and will need to be re-seasoned and oiled once in awhile since it isn't enamel coated and will lean towards rusting). Get a 2 quart one for one person, a 3 or 4 quart one for two people, and a 5 or 6 quart one for a family.

Wrap it all up (or have it shipped to the recipient from an online merchant like Amazon.com) and you've got a perfect gift that will be used by everyone including singles, couples, moms, college students, newly marrieds, etc. Don't forget to have an extra one shipped to yourself!