when I looked outside and saw it snowing yet again, and the forecast called for -16 Celsius by Wednesday:
2/20/09
Update Time!
I have been neglecting the poor little blog lately, so wanted to offer a quick update on our past two weeks here in Calgary:
Dates
I explained to Ben that, while skiing on the weekends is a blast, it does not exactly constitute romantic "alone" time, so we decided to institute a new Thursday date night. Our first date consisted of a visit to an intimate wine bar in downtown (Divino). We intended to head on to an art show, but we enjoyed lingering over our food and wine for so long that we entirely missed the event! For our next date, I met Ben at a cute bistro (Escoba) for a glass of wine before walking next door to see "Milk" at a charming old movie theater, the Uptown. What a fabulous movie! It's inspiring and timely given the gay marriage bans floating around, not to mention the legislation in Tennessee that's attempting to block gay couples from adopting. Grrr, don't people have better things to do with their time than trying to take away civil rights??
On our way out of the theater, we heard music coming from upstairs and learned that a band was playing. We wandered up, paid our cover charge, and opened the doors to a magical little venue. It felt almost like we'd discovered a secret; it was so unexpected given the surroundings. I had almost given up hope on seeing good music here (what can I say, Nashville spoiled me more than I ever realized!), until I saw this fabulous band take over the stage. Library Voices (visit them on MySpace to hear for yourself - photo from Library Voices page) totally rocked the room with gritty but perfectly orchestrated, high-energy pop/rock. Their slogan, "Pop as Fuck," cracks me up.
They kind of sound like the love child of old-school Weezer, Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire. The band was huge - I think there were like ten of them squeezed onto the stage - and included everything from an accordian and tamborine-player, to a saxophonist. I've realized that I instantly love any band brave enough to incorporate a saxophone! Like the Wheatmonkeys, who we saw and enjoyed in Banff, Library Voices are from Saskatchewan, a province known for little more than its country, rural lifestyle, which apparently produces great music!
Socializing
This past weekend we spent Friday night at a few bars in our neighborhood, getting to know a gal I've been volunteering with. She's our first truly local friend, making her a great resource for what's what in Calgary! Then we had an amazing Valentine's Day of lounging around in PJ's all day, breakfast in bed, and a home-cooked vegetarian dinner. I was pretty proud of my concoctions (they are all linked to the online recipes):
*Appetizers: Goat cheese with crackers and fig spread
*First Course: Roasted asparagus, arugula and parmesan salad with shallot vinegrette
*Main: Vegetable Quinoa Paella (Recipe calls for couscous, but I prefer quinoa!)
*Dessert: Vegan Spiked Chocolate Mousse (I used a Bailey's-like liquer)
*Drinks: Champagne and Pinot Grigio
Of course, a weekend would not be complete without a day on ths ski hills, so on Sunday, Ben, Alicia and I took off for Sunshine Village and tore up the hills (or in my case, tore up my knees, which are almost recovered now for another weekend of skiing!).
We enjoyed our third hockey game of the season a few nights ago, and it was by far my favorite. Calgary was playing Vancouver, which made for the liveliest crowd and best energy I've seen so far. The game was really exciting, going into overtime and then a shoot out, which the Flames lost in the end. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile Wednesday night!
Since this blog entry has turned from a quick update to a novel, I will leave you with that. We have booked a room at a hostel in Banff for Saturday night, so are heading up there with a small group early tomorrow to spend the weekend in the mountains. Woo hoo! Hope everybody treats themselves to a fabulous weekend filled with relaxation, good food and good friends :)
Dates
I explained to Ben that, while skiing on the weekends is a blast, it does not exactly constitute romantic "alone" time, so we decided to institute a new Thursday date night. Our first date consisted of a visit to an intimate wine bar in downtown (Divino). We intended to head on to an art show, but we enjoyed lingering over our food and wine for so long that we entirely missed the event! For our next date, I met Ben at a cute bistro (Escoba) for a glass of wine before walking next door to see "Milk" at a charming old movie theater, the Uptown. What a fabulous movie! It's inspiring and timely given the gay marriage bans floating around, not to mention the legislation in Tennessee that's attempting to block gay couples from adopting. Grrr, don't people have better things to do with their time than trying to take away civil rights??
On our way out of the theater, we heard music coming from upstairs and learned that a band was playing. We wandered up, paid our cover charge, and opened the doors to a magical little venue. It felt almost like we'd discovered a secret; it was so unexpected given the surroundings. I had almost given up hope on seeing good music here (what can I say, Nashville spoiled me more than I ever realized!), until I saw this fabulous band take over the stage. Library Voices (visit them on MySpace to hear for yourself - photo from Library Voices page) totally rocked the room with gritty but perfectly orchestrated, high-energy pop/rock. Their slogan, "Pop as Fuck," cracks me up.They kind of sound like the love child of old-school Weezer, Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire. The band was huge - I think there were like ten of them squeezed onto the stage - and included everything from an accordian and tamborine-player, to a saxophonist. I've realized that I instantly love any band brave enough to incorporate a saxophone! Like the Wheatmonkeys, who we saw and enjoyed in Banff, Library Voices are from Saskatchewan, a province known for little more than its country, rural lifestyle, which apparently produces great music!
Socializing
This past weekend we spent Friday night at a few bars in our neighborhood, getting to know a gal I've been volunteering with. She's our first truly local friend, making her a great resource for what's what in Calgary! Then we had an amazing Valentine's Day of lounging around in PJ's all day, breakfast in bed, and a home-cooked vegetarian dinner. I was pretty proud of my concoctions (they are all linked to the online recipes):
*Appetizers: Goat cheese with crackers and fig spread*First Course: Roasted asparagus, arugula and parmesan salad with shallot vinegrette
*Main: Vegetable Quinoa Paella (Recipe calls for couscous, but I prefer quinoa!)
*Dessert: Vegan Spiked Chocolate Mousse (I used a Bailey's-like liquer)
*Drinks: Champagne and Pinot Grigio
Of course, a weekend would not be complete without a day on ths ski hills, so on Sunday, Ben, Alicia and I took off for Sunshine Village and tore up the hills (or in my case, tore up my knees, which are almost recovered now for another weekend of skiing!).We enjoyed our third hockey game of the season a few nights ago, and it was by far my favorite. Calgary was playing Vancouver, which made for the liveliest crowd and best energy I've seen so far. The game was really exciting, going into overtime and then a shoot out, which the Flames lost in the end. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile Wednesday night!
Since this blog entry has turned from a quick update to a novel, I will leave you with that. We have booked a room at a hostel in Banff for Saturday night, so are heading up there with a small group early tomorrow to spend the weekend in the mountains. Woo hoo! Hope everybody treats themselves to a fabulous weekend filled with relaxation, good food and good friends :)
2/11/09
Thought for the Day
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
-Mark Twain
Making Changes
I want to give a shout out to the fabulous organization I've started volunteering for: the Making Changes Employment Association of Alberta. For the past few weeks, my Tuesdays have been dedicated to this group, and it's one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I've had in ages!
At the Walk-in Closet, women in transition (from shelters, survival jobs, imprisonment, abusive relationships, etc.) get the chance to "shop" for several outfits that will be appropriate for a professional position. My jobs include sorting clothes that are donated and working as an "image consultant," during which time I get to spend an hour and a half essentially playing dress-up with each client! This is my kind of volunteer job!
It's amazing to see women come through the doors of the Walk-in Closet feeling nervous and insecure, and then watch them leave feeling confident in their new look. Although I know that new clothes are not the answer to all problems (just some problems!), I cannot say enough about the importance for women to feel beautiful and proud of their appearance as part of a healthy attitude about life. Many of the women I've worked with comment that they have never gone shopping or owned anything that's not second-hand (corporate donors make it possible for the Walk-in Closet to offer some clothes that are brand new!)
When I offered to put a client's clothes in her dressing room while she kept browsing, she was shocked and said she was not used to receiving service while shopping. I overheard another woman explaining how she had been kicked out of McDonald's after purchasing a burger there and trying to sit inside and eat. And on my first day of volunteering, I worked with a woman who was impeccably dressed, well-spoken and clearly came from an affluent lifestyle. When I first spoke to her, she teared up while explaining that she had lost everything and only had the clothes on her back, literally. She was looking for a fresh start outside of Alberta, and I did my best to help her and make her visit a fun and positive one. If I saw her on the street, I would not for a second think that this woman needed help, and I got the sense that she swallowed a lot of pride to ask for it. I imagine that admitting one needs help is probably the hardest thing for many people to do.
One of the most striking things about my experience so far is the realization that anybody can fall on hard times at any point, and that I should really appreciate what I have while I have it!
At the Walk-in Closet, women in transition (from shelters, survival jobs, imprisonment, abusive relationships, etc.) get the chance to "shop" for several outfits that will be appropriate for a professional position. My jobs include sorting clothes that are donated and working as an "image consultant," during which time I get to spend an hour and a half essentially playing dress-up with each client! This is my kind of volunteer job!
It's amazing to see women come through the doors of the Walk-in Closet feeling nervous and insecure, and then watch them leave feeling confident in their new look. Although I know that new clothes are not the answer to all problems (just some problems!), I cannot say enough about the importance for women to feel beautiful and proud of their appearance as part of a healthy attitude about life. Many of the women I've worked with comment that they have never gone shopping or owned anything that's not second-hand (corporate donors make it possible for the Walk-in Closet to offer some clothes that are brand new!)
When I offered to put a client's clothes in her dressing room while she kept browsing, she was shocked and said she was not used to receiving service while shopping. I overheard another woman explaining how she had been kicked out of McDonald's after purchasing a burger there and trying to sit inside and eat. And on my first day of volunteering, I worked with a woman who was impeccably dressed, well-spoken and clearly came from an affluent lifestyle. When I first spoke to her, she teared up while explaining that she had lost everything and only had the clothes on her back, literally. She was looking for a fresh start outside of Alberta, and I did my best to help her and make her visit a fun and positive one. If I saw her on the street, I would not for a second think that this woman needed help, and I got the sense that she swallowed a lot of pride to ask for it. I imagine that admitting one needs help is probably the hardest thing for many people to do.
One of the most striking things about my experience so far is the realization that anybody can fall on hard times at any point, and that I should really appreciate what I have while I have it!
2/2/09
Vegetarianism and Football? In Alberta?? You Bet!
Yes, Ben and I went skiing this weekend, and yes, we had fun throughout, with dinner, drinks and boardgames with friends - but I thought you might be tired of hearing those stories. Instead, I decided today to offer some thoughts on my foray into vegetarianism, since it's now been six months since I began this metamorphosis. I've survived (even flourished) with no more than a few bites of meat and some fish now and then. Although Ben still loves bacon on Sunday mornings and a good hamburger on occasion, he has said he's pretty happy with the vegetarian dinners I cook and he does not miss eating meat every day.
It's amazing how much healthier I feel - I think I get more vitamins and nutrients than I ever did before, as I used to put very little thought into what I ate. I've discovered that I actually LOVE cooking and appreciate quality food more than ever. What has surprised me the most, though, is that I've not craved meat like I thought I would. Plus, now that I've adapted my grocery shopping habits, whipping up a quick dinner is easy (just stock the freezer with veggie burgers and frozen vegetables, and the fill pantry with whole grains and beans). Of course I was nervous about maintaining my new-found diet when we moved to Alberta, one of the beef capitals of the world, but it's been easier than I expected with the plethora of good veggie options now available at most grocery stores. Even cutting meat out of your meals for few days out of the week can lower risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, obesity and more ... plus it's great for the environment. :)
Anyway, enough of the reasoning behind my choice and on to the good stuff! For the Super Bowl yesterday, we had friends over - all of whom thoroughly enjoy meat - so I knew I needed to make something hearty for them to feel satisfied without it. I've tried a few versions of veggie chili but decided to try a new recipe yesterday and serve it with cornbread muffins. I found both recipes online and adapted them a bit, and wowee was I happy with the results!! Alicia and Almudena perhaps were just being nice, but they said both were better than the chili and cornbread from a local restaurant that we have all been raving about. My love for this chili, I must admit, might be borderline obsessive - but it's so easy, the ingredients are cheap, the recipe makes a ton, and it's packed with protein, veggies and tastes great. What's not to love? I must mention that the muffins were so yummy that they almost stole the show!
So without further ado, here are the recipes for anybody interested in giving this delish vegetarian meal a try (I promise you won't miss the meat one tiny bit!):
The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever
It's amazing how much healthier I feel - I think I get more vitamins and nutrients than I ever did before, as I used to put very little thought into what I ate. I've discovered that I actually LOVE cooking and appreciate quality food more than ever. What has surprised me the most, though, is that I've not craved meat like I thought I would. Plus, now that I've adapted my grocery shopping habits, whipping up a quick dinner is easy (just stock the freezer with veggie burgers and frozen vegetables, and the fill pantry with whole grains and beans). Of course I was nervous about maintaining my new-found diet when we moved to Alberta, one of the beef capitals of the world, but it's been easier than I expected with the plethora of good veggie options now available at most grocery stores. Even cutting meat out of your meals for few days out of the week can lower risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, obesity and more ... plus it's great for the environment. :)
Anyway, enough of the reasoning behind my choice and on to the good stuff! For the Super Bowl yesterday, we had friends over - all of whom thoroughly enjoy meat - so I knew I needed to make something hearty for them to feel satisfied without it. I've tried a few versions of veggie chili but decided to try a new recipe yesterday and serve it with cornbread muffins. I found both recipes online and adapted them a bit, and wowee was I happy with the results!! Alicia and Almudena perhaps were just being nice, but they said both were better than the chili and cornbread from a local restaurant that we have all been raving about. My love for this chili, I must admit, might be borderline obsessive - but it's so easy, the ingredients are cheap, the recipe makes a ton, and it's packed with protein, veggies and tastes great. What's not to love? I must mention that the muffins were so yummy that they almost stole the show!
So without further ado, here are the recipes for anybody interested in giving this delish vegetarian meal a try (I promise you won't miss the meat one tiny bit!):
The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped (I used 1 green and 1 yellow)
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 (12 ounce) package vegetarian burger crumbles - mexican flavored if available
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chili powder (or less for milder chili)
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, bell peppers, jalapeno pepper and garlic. When vegetables are heated through, mix in the vegetarian burger crumbles. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes.
- Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season chili with chili powder and pepper. Stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving. (I also added a bit of hot sauce for some extra zing)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used organic pastry flour)
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup milk (used vanilla soy milk and it was delish!!)
- 3/4 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease or line 12 muffin cups.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, honey, eggs and salt. Mix in flour, cornmeal and baking powder; blend thoroughly. Stir in milk and corn. Pour or spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
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