Detox...Are you crazy?!

So it has been about a month since I have posted anything. I am not cooking or loving food the way I used too. I think I need to reboot my system. Buster went on this 21 day detox plan, which consisted of no chewing and lots of vegetable puree. It was hard but his results speak for themselves. He has energy and has a new appreciation for food.

I have always had a deep passion for food, but my energy was directed toward food that harmed me. That is my default. We all have stress and we all deal with it in different ways. I am aware of how I handle mine and that is with food. Before I would joke about how I needed that piece of chocolate cake or that burger and fries, now it scares me. I have seen what harmful food can do and the price you pay for ignorance and I don't want to go down that road.

I have worked at redirecting my passion for food toward food that heals, but there is still the old part of me that falls back into historic patterns. I think that this detox might be a good thing for me. If you (assuming that people actually read this) don't mind the Grub Junkie is going into food rehab.

My plans are to start at the end of the month and to use the time before then to mentally prepare myself. For someone with a food addiction this wont be easy I know but it will be worth it. I will keep posts of my progress and the routine. I teach 6th graders so I hope I don't get so hungry and seeing my students as giant turkey legs.

Martha's Paul Bunyan Cookie

I don't bake, well not until a few hours ago. I was watching a Martha Stewart podcast and she made Paul Bunyan Cookies (click the link for the recipe). These cookies stuck in my mind and I decided I would make them this weekend. I was a little intimidated because I don't have a Robin's Egg Blue mixer and the only thing I have ever really baked was chicken.

I followed the recipe exactly, except instead of vegetable shortening I used butter. I read a comment on Martha's website where someone suggested this and I usually don't have any use for shortening; it just sits in my cabinet. I had never used molasses before but I remember hearing many times to spray your measuring cup with Pam so that the molasses pours smoothly and it did.

I have to admit I am happy with the outcome. I didn't burn them and they are edible. To quote my Buster "It is a nice balance of chewing and crispy." The oats, chocolate, raisins, and walnuts create a nice texture. I chopped the walnuts a little too fine so they are sublet. I think next time I am going to chop the walnuts coarsely.

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes!

My new favorite breakfast. I got the recipe off of Slash Food. I have made these almost every weekend for the past month. I am trying to perfect the recipe and make it my own. I add some fresh grated nutmeg and cinnamon to the dry mix. I also use soy milk instead of regular milk and I mush up a couple of old bananas add mix them up with the batter. All of these little additions work. The nutmeg and cinnamon makes the flavor a little more complex and interesting. The soy milk is because that is all we use and I never have regular milk. I got tired of running to the store. The old bananas give the pancakes an extra banana sweetness. When the pancakes are ready top with some peanut butter, syrup and ENJOY!

If you make these and make them your own please let me know. I would like to hear your ideas.

One's A Meal is the meal!

This is probably the least talked about best Greek restaurant in Houston. Sure everyone recommends Niko Niko's, which is good, but just down the street and around the corner is my new favorite Greek restaurant, One's A Meal.

Buster and I had been apartment hunting and we were starving. As Buster and I walked in, we were greeted by two very friendly men. One who seated us and the other who took our order. We sat in silence as we glanced through the menu, everything sounded so good. We decided on the following:

Well before I give you the order, the meal started with a basket of baked pita bread and a dip of tomato sauce. The bread was crispy and sprinkled with sesame seeds, which was a perfect compliment for the fresh tomato sauce, nicely seasoned. I would go back for that sauce alone.

Spanakopita (spinach and feta in philo pockets)

It is hard to go wrong with these little hot pockets of warm spinach and feta. The philo was crispy and flaky and the filling was a nice balance of spinach and feta.

Souzoukakia (meatballs with tomato sauce over rice)

I had never had this dish before but I have now found a new favorite. The meatballs were a little over cooked but they were packed with flavor. The tomato sauce was the same tomato sauce for the pita bread. The dish was served with an extremely healthy serving for mixed herb vegetables (yellow squash, broccoli, celery...), green beans in the same tomato sauce, and two lemon herb potatoes.

Pastichio (tube pasta and beef topped with bechamel sauce)

This was Buster's pick and one of his favorite Greek dishes. Usually the pasta is a little dry, but at One's A Meal it was moist. It also had a nice herb flavor and topped off with the delicious tomato sauce. His meal also had the same vegetables as the Souzoukakia (he wasn't as excited about the squash and green beans as I was).

To sum it up, One's A Meal is the place I recommend for Greek food in Houston.

Sugarbaby's and Crave: Houston Cupcakes Are Taking Over

Sugarbaby's is an experience. When you walk into the store you feel like you have entered into a little girl's or little boy's (because I was that kind of boy too) big, pink, and extravagant idea of a tea party. It is cute and there is no other way to describe it. The assortment of cupcakes is overwhelming. There are so many choices and so far all of my choices have been delicious ones.

My visit to Crave was an accident. Buster and I were headed to Uptown Sushi (very good sushi) and saw this place in the same plaza. After dinner we stopped and it was like Jesus wanted us to get these cupcakes. When we walked in the girl behind the counter informed us that they had 5 strawberry cupcakes left. We ordered our two and they other three were gone with an a minute, after which many people left Crave very disappointed and empty handed.

I now know why they run out of all of their cupcakes. These little cakes are wonderful. The icing was nice and sweet and the cake was moist. If this is what the cupcake tastes like at the end of the day I can't wait to try one when they have been freshly baked.

Chinese Burger Joints!

Is it just me or is there a trend in Chinese burger places. Buster took me to Lucky Burger here in Houston. The menu consisted of your typical greasy-burger joint favorites: Burgers, Tater Tots, Fries...and FRIED RICE!

We just got burgers and I am sure the pics let you know what I thought of the food. I am tempted to try the fried rice next time. C&H Burger is another greasy-burger spot in Houston that serves some pretty good Chinese food and some really good and unique burgers. I don't know who came up with this combo but I have to say I love it! Two of my favorite food groups, saucy, fried Chinese food and a greasy burger.

What kind of Mexican am I?

It came to my attention the other day that I don't know how to make much Mexican food. I can make quesadillas, chorizo and eggs, and super-quick tortilla soup, but that's about it. I figured it was time to step up and represent my culture.

My mom had bought 6 dozen corn tortillas and sent me home with half so I needed to get rid of them. I found a from scratch enchilada sauce recipe on-line and after watching Martha's Cooking School segment on making rice, I decided to make Spanish rice.

The rice was a disaster. I went to the store to buy all the ingredients thinking that I had rice, which I did but it was brown rice. I decided to use it any way. I consulted my sister and some online recipes. It looked promising but after the 20 minutes of cooking the rice didn't absorb the liquid.

The enchiladas were good. I got the recipe for the sauce from Recipezaar. It was easy to make and tasted good. My aunt makes some really good enchiladas at her restaurant, El Matador in Dumas, Texas. This sauce doesn't compare to that one, but I am happy with it and now I feel like a Mexican.