It started out just fine - despite the torrential, almost blinding downpours that render LA into utter paralysis. Or the fact that some of us pour souls still have to trek to work on a national holiday.
Usually the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof will put me at ease, zone me out, and perhaps even make me productive. But sometimes a little thing called 'ahh why is today so friggin crazy!' happens and throws you off your rocker. Sometimes, by the end of the day, all you want to do is curl up in a ball, barrel through an entire bag of M&Ms (the BIG bag of course) and zone out to some Jersey Shore. Of course, then all you did was lose a few brain cells and gain 2,000 calories.
So what did I do to re-zen myself?
1) Worked Out
Unless you are absolutely beside yourself in emotion, working out can do wonders for a mini bout of depression. Whether it's distraction, meditation, or getting out aggression, just remember that pumping up that heart rate releases Serotonin (aka your body's natural HAPPY drug!), so guaranteed you'll walk away feeling a buttload better than you went in. So do it. Sweat a little. My method of choice today? 20 minute warmup on the elliptical followed by an hour sesh of kickboxing. There's nothing like punching the crap out of something for an hour to release a little tension.
2) Cooked Up A Frenzy
I'd heard of those crazy women who bake vast quantities of goods in the midst of tragedy. Sadly, although nothing is 'tragic' - I'm slowly learning that I, too, cook to de-stress. Of couse, this doesn't mean I ATE it all. I just had some veggies and other goods that needed immediate action before spoiling set in. Mama said don't think of it as throwing away food, think of it as throwing away money. That wilted bag of salad you never got to? $3.50, sista. So yeah, freeze it, cook it, SUMTHIN. And I did just that.
Today's menu was homemade pasta sauce courtesy of some leftover crushed tomatoes I used in chili yesterday.
14oz crushed tomatoes
1/2 of an onion
3 cloves garlic
small handful of capers
tsp oregano
tsp basil
dash of dried chili flakes
salt
cracked black pepper
-sautee the garlic and onions in 1tbsp of olive oil until onions are translucent
-add crushed tomatoes and stir occasionally as it warms
-add basil, oregano, salt, pepper, capers, and chili flakes to taste.
Puttanesca is by far my favorite pasta sauce, so this definitely has a bit of that mediterranean flavor. The best thing about homemade pasta sauce is you can do whatever the heck you want with it. Add wine, bacon, vodka, cheese, whatever (not all at once, duh). Kinda makes you never want to buy that bottled stuff again.
Next up was crimini mushrooms sauteed in garlic and olive oil with a bit of some leftover zucchini. I like to make my zucchini fettuccine style with a veggie peeler (see below). This little mix is perfect mixed into pasta with a little olive oil and parmesan - or as I like to do it the low carb way - just shred enough zucchini to make a full bowl of 'pasta' and then add that homemade sauce above right on top. Mmm, veggie extravaganza!
And just to mix it up a little with that leftover zucchini:
Crispy Zucchini Chips:
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch rounds
2 egg whites (or egg beaters/replacement)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tbsp grated parmesan
cracked black pepper to taste
Prehead oven to 475 degrees
-Mix the bread crumbs with the parmesan and black pepper in a bowl
-Place the egg whites in a separate bowl
-Dip the zucchini rounds into the egg whites and then place in bowl of bread crumbs, fully coating each round with mixture.
-Place onto baking sheet, lightly greased
-Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Take sheet out and flip over each round. -Place back into oven and cook for another 5-10 minutes until crispy and brown on the outside. Serve with ranch or marinara sauce.
Of course, I've always said I work the best under stressful conditions. I'd call this a pretty productive and decidedly tasty night. Peace out, stress.
Oh yeah, a little vino always works, too.
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