Tuesday, May 5, 2009

To eat (sweets) Or not to eat (sweets)?

After praising my new found ability to credibly bake (NOTE: not smashingly bake or beautifully bake) - but just "simply" bake, I have noted that my chubbiness has been expanding. I had resolved to not bake or eat sweets for the month of May. Oh, I know I had a cannoli ... or two ... or three... yesterday. But they were mini-cannolis, so they don't count. Besides, I walked off the calories stomping around the house.
`
And then I went out and bought, radicchio, zucchini, "live" lettuce (yes, I know - as opposed the dead kind), tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, red peppers. And came home resolved to not look at a baked good.


I went soaring through blogosphere instead. And what did I find?
Cheesecake extraordinaire from Cream Puffs in Venice
Linzer Torte bars from My Tasty Treasures
Strawberry Shortcake from Elyse's Confectionery Creations
and from one whose kitchen strives to be healthy -
Chocolate almond macaroons from Sara's Kitchen
`
And that's just the tip of the ice-blog-berg. Really! What's a chubby blogger to do? Devise an Italian salad. (NOTE: All my solutions to problems involve food.)

I dutifully took out my "live" lettuce, sliced 1/2 zucchini, chopped up a red pepper (okay I gave some to Sadie - my chubby blind dog - she loves her vegetables), threw on some olives, tomatoes and feta. Scattered some Italian parsley and radishes. Mixed 2/3 olive oil with 1/3 lemon, some chopped shallots and oregano and voila!




Okay. It's not a cannoli or a cheesecake. But it makes me feel virtuous. That I have a semblance of self-control. That I am master of the hand-to-mouth activity. It will do. Yes, it will do.
And now I will go back to savoring blogs. And bookmarking. For June. Or July ... or August.

25 comments:

Lori Lynn said...

Hi Claudia: Being a savory kind of gal myself, I would take your lovely salad any day over the baked sweets. Good luck with your goal :)

Nice to meet you, thanks for commenting on my blog.
Lori Lynn

Wanda..... said...

Oh I so relate to your post Claudia...I have a large package of red peppers and other salad fixings in the fridge...but am baking Banana Coconut Bread tomorrow!

Dewi said...

Such a delicious salad, wouldn't mind to eat eat everyday. Yes, of course I demand sweet treat once a week. The canoli you mention, make my mouth water indeed. Never made, I shall....
Cheeres,
elra

Bunny said...

The salad looks devine, I understand your pain. I think I have sugar running through my veins instead of blood!!

Reeni said...

I understand your expanding chubbiness. I have to hold myself back from baking. It's hard. I love it. I had salads for lunch and dinner today, but they were nowhere near as delicious as this one!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I feel your pain. I have to be careful about how much I bake, else I watch myself drastically expand... but I love a good salad, too!

Donna-FFW said...

Your salad looks quite wonderful Claudia..I really need to eat more of them.

Heather said...

the blogosphere can be dangerous, huh? all those recipes sound delicious, as does your salad! i say you should always eat sweets... but my waist disagrees, too!

Sara said...

I try to limit my baking, it definitely helps with curbing the temptation to eat sweets! I have been really into salad lately, I eat at least one a day. Tonight it was shredded romaine with persian cucumber, ricotta salata and marcona almonds. Your salad looks great!

Gloria Chadwick said...

Your salad sounds wonderful. :)

Pam said...

I think that salad would beat the sweets for me. It looks fantastic.

unconfidentialcook said...

Nothing beats sweets (especially chocolate) for me...and I'm so admiring of your conviction. The salad looks wonderful....

Pearl said...

that salad looks incredible enough to not desire dessert ;)

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A wonderful salad! I can't resist sweets, although I'm quite a savory person ;-P!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous said...

Salad for chubbies! Pass me the salad ;) xox

OhioMom said...

....and thus you know why I have taken a break from the stove/oven :) Is it my fault that my two men love home-baked bread and goodies? Is it fair that they gain no weight and my waistline has expanded .. I have been eating whole grains, veggies and fruits .. there will be no baked goodies in my home until the cook shrinks! Salads will be added now that greens will be available locally.

LOL!

Heather S-G said...

I love it all! It's all about balance, I suppose...

Anonymous said...

Lovely salad! We all need to eat more greens for sure and less sweets.

Alisa@Foodista said...

Hello Claudia, found you through the foodieblog,I've had so much fun reading through your blog!And Ive bookmarked your site for my daily blog visits :)Hope you wont mind but I'd love to guide Foodista readers to your site, just add this little widget here to this post and it's all set to go, Thanks!

Sara Reddy said...

Oh my gosh, you're hilarious. So glad I found your blog! And yes, yesterday's coconut macaroons are driving me to fennel salad today. One chubby blogger to another.

Joie de vivre said...

You've heard never to go grocery shopping while hungry? I've found the same to be true of food blogging as well! :)

Ann said...

The feta cheese is calling my nem.. looks so yummy :)

Pearl said...

Claudia - thank you for sharing the story about your father. I'm so glad that your father is still with you and healthy. Your mother must've done an incredible job.

Retno Prihadana said...

Thanks for stopping by my site. You´ve so many delicious italian recipes. Have you foccacia bread´s recipe?

grace said...

i, too, am a master of hand-to-mouth activity, and i could never give up my sweets. here's to self control, claudia (and to a terrific salad). :)