I’m a big fan of personal accountability, although, admittedly, perhaps more often in theory rather than personal action. That admission being made, I do like to take responsibility for my own actions, my own course, my own reactions, my own “victim” mentality. It’s easy to talk about doing things, much harder to actually accomplish those things. One way in which I love how corporations are, um, incorporating, this personal accountability into their own practice is through health insurance (don’t worry, I’m not going to take a political tangent here). At both my current and previous employer, employees were able to gain monetary benefits if they completed certain healthful activities. These activities ranged from getting your annual exam to exercising to completing volunteer projects. Now, let me just say, I LOVE this idea. I’m fortunate in the sense that whether I complete these activities or not, I have good insurance. However, want a couple hundred dollars back for that good insurance? Then work for it. Get healthy! Be preventative! Just do it! Now, I’ll also admit (before anyone needs to point it out!) that I’m certainly not the healthiest of people. It’s my own fault, due to my own actions, and yes, my own laziness. And it’s up to me to fix it. And why not let my employer remind me of this—if health itself isn’t enough of a motivator, well, money is. So, through my employer and the wide variety of programs they offer, I have enlisted in a 10 week healthy living/exercise/weight loss initiative. Honestly, the goal seems easy enough to meet but will require continuous, on-going maintenance. This is a good thing, a great thing!! I’ve also enrolled in beginners’ ladies running group. It's a 6-week training program with the goal being a 5k in August. Seems easy enough to most, next to impossible for me! But what’s the point of trying new things if I only stick to the ones I already know I like? Yesterday, I may have told a friend to not hold me to any of the aforementioned running stuff. That if you never hear me mention running again, assume that running became extinct. There is no need to ask me “hey, when are you running that 5k?” BUT what’s the good in that? Where’s the accountability? So hopefully, by writing this long-winded blog entry, I will, in some small way, be making myself accountable. Who wants to admit they failed? Besides, how can I let my loyal blog audience down? J

Tonight's Experiment.....Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Seeing as it’s 98 degrees here today and I spent most of the day in a non-air conditioned warehouse, heating up the oven and subsequently, my entire apartment, seemed like the perfect evening project. Meatloaf seemed like a good comfort food and I could use a little comfort this week (but then again, who couldn’t?)! I used the following recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Brown-Sugar-Meatloaf/Detail.aspx

In the tips I read a tablespoon of Worscheschire was a good addition, so I threw that in and also substituted actual breadcrumbs for saltine cracker crumbs. I also used half ground turkey/half lean ground beef. I put the brown sugar/ketchup on top.

The results: Pretty Good (of course, despite the luxury of the fine dining experiences my previous job afforded me, I like everything!). I sort of like my mom’s better! I think next time I will add a little more onion, maybe some celery, a little more seasoning etc. Good, a little sweet, but could used a little more savory.

The Asheville in me....

Seeing as I had pretty much all the ingredients on hand, I decided to give granola a try. Yes, I had most of the ingredients on hand. Apparently I really thought a giant, Sam’s Club container of oats was really necessary. There’s not even cabinet space for this container—it sits on top of my wine glasses, because I’m fancy. Anyway, while it seems super easy, apparently granola can be very temperamental and somewhat difficult to master. But again, I consulted www.allrecipes.com, and settled on this top-rated recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Megans-Granola/Detail.aspx

I pretty much followed the recipe exactly but I left out the oat bran (I’m not even quite sure what this is or where I find it in the grocery store! Somewhere in the cereal aisle I’m guessing….) and added coconut (which, for some reason, I had in my cupboard). Note: granola burns really easily and really quickly. Once you take it out of the oven, it just continues to cook itself. I find that slightly “smoky” flavor delightful though and when you mix it with the other batches that are less “smoky”, it’s just fine! It turned out pretty well I think, especially for a first attempt. And thanks to the ample recipe serving size (which I apparently overlooked), I had plenty to share with my friends, who are really good sports about this whole cooking thing.

On a side note, as I’m following more recipes and learning more about cooking, I’m discovering a bunch of healthy-cooking tips, such as cutting the required vegetable oil in the recipe above with applesauce. I seriously had no idea that this was an option. I’ll try it next time though! J If you have any other healthy cooking tricks or tips, I would love to hear them!

So yep, this is a great recipe for granola and it makes a whole bunch!!! Careful, it can be addictive though and with that much vegetable oil, I feel like maybe the healthfulness of it may be questionable! I’m pretty sure adding more dried fruit will help though. J

All good things.....

They say all things end badly, otherwise they wouldn’t end. By “them”, of course I mean Tom Cruise in Cocktail--that movie is profound and genius. Good or bad, necessary or unnecessary, happy or sad, I hate endings. If I come across a series finale on the television, I will cry, regardless of whether I’ve ever watched a single episode of the show. I’m not sure why I’m so affected by these endings. Perhaps it’s the feelings of loss accompanying them—the fact that now I have to find something else to fill my time at 8:00 pm on Thursdays. Perhaps it’s the disappointment—the idea that I’ve put several years into these characters and their lives and now they’re gone. I’ve watched them, supported them, hurt for them, and have come to expect them to be there for me. Maybe I’m just really curious and want to know what’s going to happen next—that because I’ve been part of the past, I deserve to be part of the future. Maybe I’m really selfish and arrogant—if I’ve chosen you to be a part of my life, then how can you just not be there anymore? It seems quite silly to me……and a little sad.

Thank goodness for reruns and syndicated television, those moments that allow you to remember those who were a part of your life, albeit briefly, with fondness and a hope that whatever comes next for them, that it was good and their endeavors were successful. And maybe, these moments will also provide a moment in which you suddenly realize that there are indeed other options at 8:00 pm on Thursdays, that now this show seems a little out-dated, a little less relevant, that you miss it a little less……

I have a feeling that maybe we’re not really talking about just tv shows here anymore….either way, I hate endings. Even when they’re for the best.