nekkid costa rica

So far, I LOVE Costa Rica! After you read this, you will probably think I should be checked into a mental institution, (if you don’t already think that) but here goes. …..In a majority of my travels, Verizon has been very good to me, including Latin America. However, the minute I landed in CR, I had no cell service. Despite being in my 30’s, I still send a “wheels down” text to my mum, no matter where I go. You know how mothers can be……but because I was trying to make the last bus down to the beach town of Jaco, I needed to haul arse through customs (ha!), get a cab and get to the Terminal de Autobuses in less than an hour. So forget the cell service right now, I’ll call mum later. Got straight through customs and I was on my way EXCEPT, I forgot, “I have NO cash!!” I was in such a hurry to make my Atlanta connection that I didn’t get to an exchange kiosk. No worries, I’ll just go to an ATM here. Wait! What on earth is the currency in CR?! What’s the exchange rate?! No worries, I’ll just Google it—crap! I have no cell service! Needless to say, many thanks to the little Japanese dude at the ATM for helping me convert! I sure hope his Spanish is better than his English…..

Soooo, I managed to hail a taxi to the local bus terminal . After the cab driver dropped me off a good distance from the bus stop and ripped me off by $10 (I’ll let this one slide, he needs the $$ more than me), I managed to be the only (very obvious) white chick strolling up to the bus terminal. I had no idea where I was, but I could telepathically sense the shiver down my mother’s spine, as if she could also see this place. No worries, I have been in much worse areas (sorry if you are reading this mum), but this one is definitely going in the Top 10! After a 30 minute wait in the blazing 90 degree sun, and everyone looking at me (not in a good way) as if they were practicing for the local staring contest, we finally boarded the bus for Jaco. The un-airconditioned, over-crowded, standing-only, livestock-toting bus. I’m just trying to keep it native! At this point, I am laughing to myself, yet still a little concerned because I know Marsha is probably pulling out her hair, since she hasn’t heard from her daughter yet. I just want to pre-apologize for the heart attack that I will make her have one day. Sorry mumsy.

Surprisingly, the 2 hour bus ride was more comfortable than my flight to CR. I made it to my hotel after dark and was finally able to have some internet access and reach a very frantic mum. I fixed the phone with Verizon and was ready to start my evening exploration of Jaco. However, I was really tired, so I thought I might have a quick snooze. A ten hour snooze, that is.

Wake up! Surf’s up! My hotel is steps from the ocean and my Surfing lesson dudes. Thus, I was out and hitting the waves by 0730. After several hours of ocean/surfboard abuse (I am terrible at surfing), I decided to head back to my hotel and relax poolside. As I walk up to the pool, I see a sign with several words in Spanish that I do not recognize. Then I see the sign in English…..what the?? Please see photo of English sign above. It was early and I could “sorta” see that no one was in the pool area, so yours truly kept her bikini ON. Then about 15 minutes later, this surfer dude (mid-20’s) walks up and puts his stuff down several chairs from mine and yes, you guessed it, he “dropped trou” right there----leaving NADA to the imagination. Then he started doing a Tai Chi routine directly in front of me!! I thought to myself, “Is this really happening? are people watching me and laughing hysterically at me behind some curtain??” Thanks Expedia for NOT telling me this was a “nude friendly” hotel. Needless to say, not that I haven’t “gone native” before, I decided to take my book and head back to my room. But not before I took one last "peek." (tee hee!)

Am off to the jungle next. Then, a good friend is flying in last minute to climb Arenal with me! Que suerte! Manuel Antonio National Park is on my bucket list because I want to see a real live sloth before I go to surfer heaven. Hopefully the sloths will keep their fur on and skip the Tai Chi routines…….

Baby Sea Turtle Guacamole

No hay palabras para descubrir el amor que tengo para Mexico. There are no words to describe the love I have for Mexico. Put me in the Yucatan or in the Oaxacan center, I love this country from the bottom of my heart. Every time I return, it’s like seeing an old friend from college…….. always a great time and looking forward to the next opportunity to “hang out.”

This particular trip has been most interesting since take off. For the first time in my life, while in flight, I saw a shooting star. Unfortunately my wish did not come true: 1) The pilot was not hot. 2) He did not ask me if I wanted to fly the plane then head to Madrid for the weekend………. and so we move forward.

The second thing that has occurred on this trip, which boggled my mind, is one of the most surreal occurrences I have ever experienced. My first night here, I decided to take one of my typical late night strolls along the beach (I realize this is not the epitome of safety but my middle name IS Yoshimi). There I was, walking the beach, with absolutely no one anywhere nearby. I saw a little black squiggly thing in the sand, and then another little black squiggly thing next to it, and then I looked up and saw about 50 or 60 little black squiggly things coming towards me! Is this?……….no way!......Baby Sea Turtles heading to sea! I tried to find anyone around me to share in this ultimate joyful Mother Nature bliss, but it was late at night and in a deserted part of the beach. Therefore, I just sat down in the sand, with all the baby turtles, crawling over my toes. Although I am sure I disrupted some sort of Darwinian evolution vibe, I made sure each and every one of these little dudes made it to sea. As a non-religious person, this was probably one of the most religious-esque experiences I have ever had. How on earth could I have been more “in the right place at the right time” ??? No hay palabras.

Anyway, I’m staying in a beach dojo, outside of the small town of Tulum, Mexico (about 2 hours south of Cancun). This is where I come to revive my “inner hippie.” It’s where young backpackers from all over the globe come to stay and old backpackers come to die.

The dojo where I am staying is called “Om Tulum,” and it’s definitely not meant for luxury beach travel. No television, no hot water, and only several hours of electricity each day. Local vibe only. However, there is always a fully stocked bar and very resourceful staff to help accommodate any other needs one might desire to have the perfect “yoga/meditation hippie chick beach vaycay.” Every morning, I step outside my room and make a bee-line straight into the ocean……that’s all I need. (that, and vodka)

As well, throughout this entire trip, I have literally eaten my weight in Ceviche and Guacamole. Since I cannot per-fect a ceviche recipe to share, I thought I might hand over my double-secret guacamole recipe. It is full of antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, lycopene, and fiber ……..plus, it tastes so good when it hits the lips!

TJ’s Guac
2 avocados, smash’em up (save one of the seeds)
Juice of 1 lime
½ yellow Spanish onion, finely diced (NOT a first date dish)
1 clove garlic smashed (see onion comment)
1 small tomato, diced
½ handful cilantro, finely chopped
1 Jalapeno, finely diced
Salt to taste
A few shakes Tabasco or hot sauce of your choice

Smash avocados with a fork, add juice, add the few shakes of hot sauce, smash some more, stir in onion, garlic, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeno. Add the salt to your liking and store in the refrigerator with the avocado seed in the guacamole. This keeps it fresher and from browning. True story! You’ll be balls deep in guacamole goodness!

Costa Rican Abs

So. I have less than 4 weeks to get my abs back into a “two pack” (TuPac!) before my surfing/medical mission trip to Costa Rica. I’ve officially thrown in the towel on regenerating the 6-pack, unless of course, it consists of Dragon Fly IPA.

In my past experience, it is noted that these Pacific surfer chicks literally have their abs carved out of stone. Since I am terrible at surfing, I have been working a little harder-than-usual at the gym in order to try and somewhat “blend in”----- at least on land. (operative word actually being “somewhat”)

The problem is that despite my daily workouts, I detest doing an abs routine. To me, Ab workouts are like a side of steamed broccoli to a fat person. The difference is that I can’t put gooey cheese or butter on an abdominal workout in order to make it more appetizing.

Even further to my abdominal workout aversion, I despise fitness DVDs. However, in slight desperation, I recently purchased “The Best of Tamilee Webb’s Abs, Abs, Abs” dvd by my old gal pal, Tamilee Webb. I refuse to put a photo of the dvd cover on here because her outfit is ridiculously embarrassing. (oh Tamiliee, what were you thinking?!) This dvd won’t change your life but it has 7 different tolerable abdominal routines, each lasting 10-20 minutes, which will definitely make you sore the next day. You can purchase the it on Amazon for about $15, so there are no excuses in “not being able to find that dvd.” It’s well worth its weight in steamed broccoli.

And on that note, I am off to the gym for Spin Class, with my adorable pudgy spin instructor, who has stolen all the music from my iPod. Surf’s up!!

Colorado Action

It’s official, Denver is a go! Had a very mellow, non-dramatic, easy going time on my short trip to the Centennial state---the weather was perfect, sunny and in the 70’s and while I was there, CO voted to legalize recreational marijuana use. After all the time I spent in CO in the 90’s, I could have sworn it was already legal. I definitely anticipate Frito Lay building a Denver-based factory in the not-too-distant future.

Anyway, I was successful in finding some hospitals (one specifically) where I can push infinite amounts of Dilaudid to patients who are allergic to everything but……..

However, I am going to wait to set sail until the Spring. But I will certainly give myself enough time to catch the tail end of ski season----and then straight into cycling season!!

During this trip, I went to one of my favorite eateries, which is centrally located in Boulder (or “Bolter” as my dad used to pronounce it, in his thick southern Indiana accent) called Walnut Street Brewery. I decided to go off the deep end while I was there and indulge in my favorite of the seven deadly sins: the Starch sin. The sexy photo that you see above is my “Mac-n-Chicken.” That’s mac-n-cheese with chicken topped with parmesan bread crumbs, washed down with their house IPA. Not the most culinary adventurous dish but quite tasty, nonetheless.

I also found a great new place in Boulder called Zoe Ma Ma. It’s a newer little place that serves amazing Bao Steamy Buns with marinated pork. I highly recommend you eat one before passing on to your next life…..even if you are a vegan.

Another superb location I encountered on this trip, down in Denver, was a bar called The Thin Man. It’s a local neighborhood bar in the City Park West nabe (neighborhood) of the downtown area. It was flooded with people who are way cooler than I will ever be. (so many hipsters, so little time) Not only did I surrender to my IPA addiction, but I was also surrounded by “my kryptonite” (moustaches and converse chucks) whilst imbibing. I think I might have found a new place to hang my hat, especially if there are a bunch of Magnum P.I.-ish dudes running around the area!

So in all, this should be a great chapter around the corner. Plus, living in Colorado will allow me to do a lot more West Coast travel than before----and maybe branch out a little further and finally discover the teeny tiny continent of Asia……LEAP!!

All Hail the Bloody Mary

As I have been away from this blog for many moons, I thought it was time to get back into the swing of things and what better way than to pay homage to the greatest mixed drink of all time: The Bloody Mary. Although I tend not to favor mixed drinks (just some plain ol’ gin over ice w/ a lime, for this gal), the Bloody Mary is an exception as well as one of my favorite drinks on the planet. Plus, if you turn a blind eye to the sodium (or just drink it after a hefty workout), it’s a relatively salubrious cocktail. It’s significantly lower in calories than most (i.e. margarita, daiquiri, gin-n-tonic, etc.), it has Vitamin C, lycopene, potassium, fiber and if you get one from Union Jack’s Pub in Indy, it comes with added protein! And it would be an absolute sin not to mention the Bloody Mary is the ultimate antidote for a hangover.

When doing my Indy commute from Louisville, there are two things I love to do on Saturday and Sunday mornings: 1) Partner up with my favorite cyclist/lawyer and ride the Indianapolis Monon and Cultural Trails http://www.indianatrails.org/Monon_Indy.htm http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/ and 2) Escort my favorite drinking partner/cyclist/lawyer to Union Jacks Pub http://www.unionjackpub-broadripple.com/ to watch Eurotrash Soccer or Rugby, accompanied by Bloody Marys and top notch pub grub. Jenn, the bartendress, makes THE best Bloody Marys in the world—even better than Harry’s in Paris. They consist of Jenn’s own secret recipe, which she claims “love” is one of her priority ingredients. They are accented with a seasoning salt rimmed glass and topped with olives, a lime wedge, big dill pickle, celery stalk and a shrimp. Dee-lish! I usually have it with their White Bean Chicken Chili and the Blues Burger which includes bleu cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms. One must note to bring a pack of Trident to be used for post-consumption. And another added bonus is despite being a British pub, they actually make incredible pizzas.

So if you’re looking for the perfect version of the perfect post-workout cocktail, my utmost recommendation is Union Jacks, especially if you’re also in the mood for some sports action from across the pond. OR if you have a favorite Bloody Mary location, please let me know....I'm always on the lookout to try a new recipe!

End of the semester.....

The past five months have been such a whirlwind! So many things have occurred, I'm not sure any of it actually happened. In the midst of that time, I was able to sneak in a few trips to Mexico and a quick trip to Mex wouldn't be complete without a layover in Houston. I found this blog entry that I wrote but never published, so I thought I would share it.

Home Sweet Houston
My dear sweet lovable H-town, how I miss thee, let me count the ways.
I was beyond fortunate to have recently had an overnight layover in Houston coming back from Mexico City and was able dine on some classic eats.
In my tenure here in Louisville, I recently had someone say “Isn’t Houston full of only poor people?” Well my beloved Louisvillian, who has only been to Indianapolis and Florida for two spring breaks, NO, Houston is not “just full of poor people.” I believe the Bush’s, the Cheney’s, the Rockets, the Texans, and a majority of the world’s wealthiest oil companies would beg to differ. (Although I am sure Jeff Skilling might be cursing himself at this point for taking the wrong path)
Houston is a hot bed of culture with a zillion restaurants of any ethnicity you could possibly choose from, plus a shit-ton of music, art, nature-stuff (blah blah blah). Point being, it was R’s first time and I wanted him to return to Indy full of culinary bliss and perhaps be agreeable to me coming back to practice at Texas Children’s Hospital.
On to the food…….In terms of eating, let it be known the best Cuban food in the world comes from Miami (sorry Fidel, but you know it’s true), yet Houston runs a close second with Café Piquet ( http://www.cafepiquet.net/ ). Spoil yourself with the Platanos con mojo de ajo, and make sure to get the Pork with some Frijoles Mixtos----the staff is rather “easy on the eyes,” so please don’t hesitate to bring your girlfriends for a lunch date.
Another “absolute must” in H-town is the “Breakfast Klub,” which is conveniently on one of the Metro stops ( http://www.thebreakfastklub.com/ ). The brain-child of Houston native, Marcus Davis and one of my favorites since they opened when I lived back at 230 West Alabama. The l-o-v-e that birthed and nurtured this place both socially and gastronomically warms my cold and bitter heart. If you only have one trip here, get both the catfish & grits AND the wings & waffles---best 20 bucks you’ll ever spend.

Broadripple Bagel Deli

During my Freshman year of college, after I was fired from my job as a lifeguard at the YMCA, my friend Tom (still a great friend) negotiated a job for me at New York Bagel Deli on Kirkwood in Bloomington. It had to be one of the greatest jobs of my entire life. An eclectic blend of college kids serving up steamed bagels and sandwiches until 2am. I fondly remember Rule #27 of the Employee Rules: Never be too drunk or too stoned to make a bagel. Our friends ate like kings and there were several occasions when Rule #27 was "almost" broken.
Upon my return to the Midwest and my part time life in the Broadripple neighborhood of Indianapolis, much to my content, I recently stumbled upon the Broadripple Bagel Deli. ( www.ripplebageldeli.com ) It's based on the original one at Miami of Ohio (same as they did in Bloomington) but because I usually avoid Ohio, for all intents and purposes, let's say it reminds me of the one we had in Bloomington over 15 years ago.
The menu is just as diverse as the employees. During my visit, I had a cute Emo-dude take my order (I emphasize cute because he was wearing glasses--everyone looks cuter in glasses--wink!) and I decided on the Aunt Pin's Bagel (plus a little feta and banana peppers to make it not-so-PETA-friendly) and it brought back such blissfully steamed memories of my bagel days at NYBD.
So people of Indy, please rejoice that you are fortunate to have such a "kosher-gem" in your area. (ok, they aren't really kosher) This place has something for everyone. You can easily appease your inner vegan or you can let your carnivore side take over. But stop in and check them out, when you get a chance.
And now I find myself quite curious if perhaps Broadripple Bagel Deli also has a Rule #27? But that's for y'all to decide.

Lovin' on Lilly's

Since my arrival in Louisville, “Lilly’s Bistro” in the Highlands, (www.lillyslapeche.com) has been on my to-do list. However, I have been skeptical because the menu looks so fabulous, I assumed it would be one of those places full of pretentious foodies and a wait staff which is continuously trying to “one-up” you on your knowledge of food or wine. Let’s just say, I was proven wrong—very wrong.

This place is an absolute MUST. R & I decided to walk in the 20 degree weather because it was less than a mile from the house and upon our arrival to Lilly’s, you would have thought we were old besties with the entire staff.

First and foremost, they have an amazing selection of Bourbons, including A.H. Hirsch Reserve (R’s fave). In addition, I always know it’s going to be a good restaurant when they have more than one Spanish wine on the list AND they also have Cava by the glass. Their wine menu was very old-world-friendly and as much as I wanted some red, my first patient was at 6:45 a.m. the next morning, so we decided to keep it safe and settle with a crispy White Bordeaux.

We purposely sat at the bar, due to someone being a giant (he always prefers to sit at the bar), where our enthusiastic bartender proudly (not pretentiously) relayed how much he loves the food and that the Chef could most likely make dirt into a gourmet meal. Lilly’s, unlike most places, admirably uses a majority of local ingredients. Almost every item on the menu comes from a local farm or at least from a local wooded area.

We started with the Chicken Liver Pâté, garnished with apples, pistachios, Dijon and cornichons. Since I like to think I am a pâté connoisseur (thanks to the love my parents instilled upon me for organ meats) I can easily say Lilly’s was silky and savory. I often think most restaurant pâté is too sweet or has an overly-gamey finish—Lilly’s had no trace of either. C’est Parfait!

We then tried my new-found favorite treat, Rabbit Croquettes = Two tiny bites of heaven. If you order them, get two servings, I promise you won’t be sorry. The rabbit was shredded and perfectly textured yet slightly spicy and came with a Bourbon sauce in which I was dipping everything, to the point I just started eating it with a spoon----All class from this end.

For dinner we took in the massive Bone-in Pork Chop wrapped in Pork Belly. Dear Lord was this thing tasty! To “try” and balance things out, we also ordered the local farmer vegetable plate which included spinach, parsnip, mushroom and butternut squash crepes. It was absolutely divine. However, we must have looked like jackals between me eating the Bourbon sauce with a spoon and R actually picking up the pork chop bone to get every last vittle on it.

Although there were plenty of temptations for dessert, including the Apple Tartin and the Artisan Cheese Plate, R kindly rolled me home because I was so full, I felt like a Manatee. After a very cold walk back to the house, we opted for a my ghetto-version of rice krispie treats, which was a bowl of rice krispies and coconut marshmallows melted in the microwave, and then I mixed in some dark chocolate chips (a budding future pastry chef, indeed) accompanied by Bailey’s and coffee.

Take-home-point is to cancel your plans for tonight and go to Lilly’s---genuine service, scrumptious food, and charming atmosphere with a superb libation selection------ and of course, feel free to call me if you need a dining companion.

Celestun, Mexico

The great beach town sans tourists and future home of my winter restaurant and beach hotel.
I have found a new favorite haunt in terms of quiet little coastal fishing villages of Latin America. In Celestun, Mexico, just 75 kilometers west of Merida, you can find everything from Scuba Diving to Flamingo Breeding. If you are looking for beach luxury and bland food, head back to Cancun but if you are looking for beach adventure and tasty eats at a very slow place, then park yourself in Celestun.
Highlights included our hotel stay at “Maria Del Carmen” on the south side of the beach front. Carmencita (a tiny round Mayan lady) told us it would be $35/night for a beach front room and to “pay me whenever you get the chance.” This transaction was definitely a steal for both parties involved. Although the rooms were modest (no tv), they were clean with hot water, air conditioning and a fabulous ocean view with private balcony.
We trekked up and down about six miles of open beach full of mostly local people although there were a scattering of Euro-Speedo-Banana Hammock-clad tourists. I fell in love with a beach front restaurant called Café Avila, which served fabulous Ceviche and Filete con mojo de ajo (Fish with garlic sauce). The fish was fresh AND seafood was the only thing on the menu—my motto: keep it simple, keep it local. Plus, we had fat little beach dude missing an eye and walking around selling yummy Elote. Doesn’t get much more authentic than that.
Night life is much more laid back in terms of partying all night long. Bars close early, so buying liquor or Mayan Moonshine from the local “liquoria” is crucial if you want to drink past dinner time. However, most places turn a blind-eye if you want to bring in a bottle and keep it below the table and we happily obliged to this rule.
You can also do anything here in terms of outdoors: sea kayaking (most popular), flamingo watching (there is a Flamingo Eco-Preserve here), scuba diving, snorkeling, wake boarding, and plenty of fishing.
The last night we had a great pizza on the terrace of a restaurant on the town square called “El Lobo.” R fell head over heels for the chica working there in her flattering skin tight mini-dress. Perhaps that’s why the restaurant was so crowded….
Although the next time we go, we’ll probably rent a car, Second class busses leave from the Merida Terminal Noreste every hour ($10 roundtrip). However, despite Celestun being laid back, the busses leave on time. Yours truly ended up chasing one down the dirt road out of town because we thought we might “just have a quick beer” before we left. We eventually caught the bus and learned our lesson!

Check out this great MSN video: Sledding Dogs

This is the funniest thing I have seen in a while. Sure makes me miss Zuni!!

Check out this great MSN video: Sledding Dogs

Merida

I wish I could say something bad about Merida but I can’t. Merida is an UNESCO town www.unesco.org on the Northwest part of the Yucatan with a large university and plenty of culture. As opposed to Cancun, it’s a town that’s easy to visit on a budget or absolute luxury.

Getting there and back is simple. You can fly into Merida or busses leave every hour from Cancun ($40/each way for first class). Spend the extra money for first class. Otherwise you will ride for eight hours on a bus, stopping in various towns, instead of the regular four-hour straight shot.

We stayed at a local hotel called Hotel Real Gran Yucatan (request to NOT stay on the traffic side). It’s mid-priced ($70-$150) and three blocks from the Gran Plaza. It had all the amenities including cocoa toiletries--you know I love my hotel sundries! It’s an open air hotel with a bar, pool, restaurant, courtyard, etc.www.granrealyucatan.com

Food = Life in Merida. Mayans love to eat. I’m a big fan of street food because it’s made in front of you, it’s usually damn good and in Merida, you can eat like a king for less than $10 anytime. Yet, caveat emptor with street food. Throughout my travels, I have gained some immunity to various parasites so my stomach tends to tolerate a lot of the germs which come with street food. It has been a long time since I’ve been sick in a foreign land, so I’m sure my days are numbered---right, Andrew Zimmern???? The best street food in Merida was at the Mercado Artisano, several blocks southwest of the Plaza. Every stand at their fish market served fresh Campechana and down the way, the Tacos al Pastor were inexplicably divine.

Ceviche was number one on my list in this town. We found a little place by the plaza on Calle 62 called Marlin Azul and we ate our weight in Ceviche and Filetes Yucateca (fish grilled with paprika, lime, cilantro, butter and tomato). Plus the staff was young, cool, friendly and knew all the “less touristy” bars to visit. Notice the photo of me chowing at the Marlin Azul and getting the info on where to find my next cocktail.

The night scene of Merida is hot! Most people eat around 8-10 pm and then full-speed bar hopping afterwards. A very unsuspecting yet favorite bar of ours was called Pancho’s. www.panchosmerida.com Not the most original name but they make the best Caiparinha in town. Although it looks like a typical bar on the outside, ask to sit in back because it’s a beautiful massive open-air bar surrounded by stone walls and lots of vegetation adorned with photos of Frida Kahlo. (Add a taco or photo of Frida Kahlo, then low and behold you can call it Mexican......)

Finally, a real treat about Merida is that they have a Fiesta del Domingo every Sunday. Streets around the Plaza shut down while food, clothing, and jewelry vendors come out in the midst of local dancing and music. Have a Marquesita and enjoy!

Feliz Año Nuevo!

Time to take on a fresh concept with my highly neglected blog. This year presents a concentration on eateries and travel in combination with a healthy lifestyle.
Although my ideal new year’s resolution would be to become a highly-functioning alcoholic, in reality, I hope to concentrate more on my studies (to help ensure I don’t kill anyone when they finally give me a license to practice), and lose the 10 pounds I have gained over the past year so I can stop ripping the seat out of my cargo pants. (yes, that really did happen a few weeks ago)
As I write this, my beloved and I are taking a second class bus from Merida to Celestun, Mexico, which is quite relaxing, despite being the only “gringos” on the bus. It seems as if the other passengers are practicing for the “local staring contest”---perhaps out of fear because R looks exactly like the son of Pablo Escobar.
It’s been an interesting adventure in getting here. For those of you who know me, when I either a) don’t get my way or b) get hungry, or c)feel like I’m getting scammed, then I can turn into a “mega-puta.” On this trip, we had to fly into Cancun in order to get to the West side of the Yucatan where the swindling began upon arrival. After arriving several hours late (tired and hungry), we tried to grab a (shared) taxi, and the cheapest taxi was $30 (each) to go 2 miles to the local Bus Terminal. As six of us piled into the taxi, I soon realized we weren’t going anywhere near the bus terminal and we were on to the hotels at the beach (10 miles from airport). (side note: My Spanish is the equivalent of an 8 year old----verb conjugation is not my strong suit---with a bunch of Spanish SAT words thrown in.) When I asked the driver what was happening, he explained that he needed to go to the hotels first---this did not bode well with me. Therefore, I began arguing with him about how it made more sense to first go to the bus terminal. (For the two Spanish speaking passengers in the taxi, this had to be hilarious because I was talking like an 8 year old while throwing in various Scrabble-words in every other sentence.) On a high note, I won my case and he then took us to the bus station with (literally) 5 minutes to spare to catch the last bus of the night to Merida.
First class bus ride to Merida = 4 hours of much-needed sleep and arriving at the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in while traveling through Mexico.

More to come about the food and hot spots in the lovely city of Merida, Mexico.

Back in the Groove....

Happy Jewish New Year!!

After a much-needed hiatus, academics are back in full swing. However, this time things are little different as I have been separated from my beloved cohort mates. We are all at a point where some of us have been placed in different courses and yours truly is with a new group now. Let the adventure begin--but let it be known there are some people I will definitely miss.

Now that the weather has cooled off a bit, I have been living on my bike. Whether it be mountain biking or just riding around the city, cycling has to be one of the most therapeutic activities I have ever encountered.

As well, lots of cycling means lots of eating (another favorite activity of mine). I have discovered a new rich, healthy and delicious snack which is both vegan and gluten free--crazy---I know!! Here's hoping you enjoy the Double-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies and if you don't have the Almond Flour, you can always use whole wheat pastry flour but that will knock out the gluten-free factor.

B'Teavon!!

2 ½ cups blanched almond flour
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup canola oil
½ cup agave nectar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup dark chocolate chips 60% cacao should do the trick
½ cup sliced almonds

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt and baking soda
2. In a medium bowl combine canola oil, agave and vanilla
3. Stir wet ingredients into the almond flour mixture until thoroughly combined
4. Fold in chocolate chips and almond slices
5. Spoon dough 1 heaping tablespoon at a time onto a parchment lined baking sheet, pressing down with palm of your hand to flatten
6. Bake at 350 for 7 to 10 minutes, until lightly golden
7. Cool cookies on the baking sheets for 20 minutes, then serve

Hola from Panama!

As I find myself tucked away at a guest house located in the Panamanian jungle with my travel partner snoozing away due to being pumped full of Vicodin and Imodium, I thought I would take advantage of this new-age jungle technology and write a blog article about Panama. Surprisingly, I'm not pumped full of drugs also. But I now believe because my intestines have been exposed to so many parasites, they are now made of steel--hence my continuous street-food indulgence on this trip. Look out Anthony Bourdain--I'm nipping at your heels!

There have been a few highlights to the trip including the above photo of me ziplining about 250 feet above a jungle mountain abyss at the Panama/Costa Rica border. Six runs of pure adrenaline and I can't wait to do it again.

Anyway-----Before coming here, I had read some articles about Panamanian cuisine---all reviews pointing to "could use improvement." I thought there is no possible way a country with so many edible resources, plus amazing culinary influence from countries to the north and south, could produce such bland food. To sum up Panama's culinary gift to the world, it would consist of two items: the deep fryer and the plantain. (that's plantain sans any seasoning or sauces fried to the point of being unrecognizable). Anyway, after digging and hitting some relatively rural areas, I have found a few tasty delights, one in particular is the Official Soup of Panama, Sancocho (a great dish for rainy weather!). So here's the recipe.

•4 Chicken thighs,
•½ pound yucca root, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes (one potato can substitute)
•1 large non-ripe (green) plantain peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
•1 bunch green onions coarsly chopped (white part only)
•1 large carrot scrubbed and cut into bite size pieces
•2 ears corn cut into 2 inch pieces
•1/3 cup Cilantro leaves and stems, chopped
•1 garlic clove, chopped
•2.5 cups chicken broth
•½ cup light coconut milk (optional)
•salt and pepper and Tobasco or hot sauce to taste
Bring yucca, carrot and corn to a boil in chicken broth, then simmer. Add chicken, onion, plantain, cilantro, garlic, coconut milk and salt/pepper/tobasco until chicken is cooked (about 20-30 min). Serve with rice or by itself.

Summer is Officially Here

I'm still trying to come to the realization that I have actually passed this summer session. 11 grueling weeks of memorizing more information than I could have ever possibly imagined combined with endless hospital hours. There is no way I would have been able to do this without the help of my incredible cohort, which has also come to be my second family. And of course the great support I received from mom and dad. Because of your financial generosity to further my education, I promise you will now be able to retire at the Ritz Carlton Senior Living Resort in West Palm Beach. Dad, I hear they have a NASCAR track for Senior driving enthusiasts, so you'll be just fine.

Now I have three full weeks until Fall Term resumes. In a few short days, I'll be back en route to Latin America to conquer a few volcanoes and (inevitably) battle a few parasites due to bad food choices.

Anyway, throughout this summer I have found my thoughts drifting from academics to what I will do after I'm finished with this program and back in the working field. Not about where I will work but when I can afford "ideal vacations" again. #1) Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. And then.. #2) Climb Everest. Plans are already brewing for these excursions which I intend to do both as charity projects. The current question is "which" charity to support during these excursions. Any suggestions are welcome......

Now let's talk food! My first day off from academics, I decided to make my Tejano Potato Salad. It's low fat and full of goodies. However, this is only a 4 person serving, so keep that in mind.....

6 Medium size red potatoes (chopped and boiled)
1/2 cup black beans (cooked)
1/2 cup corn nibblets
2 scallions finely chopped
1/2 handful of chopped cilantro
1/2 cup plain Greek low fat yogurt
1/2 pack of dried ranch dressing mix

Garnish: Chopped Green Olives, Chopped Tomatoes, Diced Avocado

Mix the yogurt with the dressing mix.
In large bowl combine potatoes, black beans, corn, and scallions. Add dressing mix and stir, chill for at least 30 minutes. When ready to serve, garnish with the goodies.

Garden Overflow!!

Guess who left all their homework at the hospital? Genius at work.

So I thought I would put up a blog entry for those of you (like my padres) who are having a massive overflow of Zucchinis coming out of your garden. Here's my super healthy Zucchini Bread recipe with a little bit of optional naughtiness thrown in.....

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (sift if you can)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 egg
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
2/3 cup sugar (raw cane sugar if you can)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup grated zucchini
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
(Naughty Option) 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray an 8-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, yogurt, sugar and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir until well combined. Fold in zucchini and walnuts (and choc chips, if you dare) then pour in pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.

Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes then remove bread from pan and continue cooling on rack.

Eureka!

Last year, I met a lady on a plane. Like most flights, I was having a few libations and the lady next to me started talking about this and that. Eventually we got a little more in depth with our backgrounds and she said to me, "You should read this book [Insert forgotten title of book here], it sounds very similar to your life story." Well, after sobering up during landing, we said our goodbyes, not exchanging any contact info, and went on our merry way. Later that evening, I tried and tried to remember the name of the book. No luck.

Fast forward to last night, I was watching a repeat episode of 30 Rock on Hulu and all of a sudden, I saw a preview for a very interesting movie and then I saw the title: Eat, Pray, Love. That's it! That was the name of the book! Unfortunately I have no time to read the book until Panama but if any of you see the film, please let me know if it's worth watching!

In Celebration of Dad, let’s have a Woodford Walnut Pie…..

Well, I’m trudging along this very non-fairy tale life and zero hour #1 (of 2) occurs next Monday. Here’s hoping my noodle is full of everything it needs to know!

I feel terrible that I am diligently studying for three exams and missing out on Father’s Day. A while back, I was handed a lot of lemons and thanks to the extremely generous support of my dad (and mum!), I am able to (hopefully) make lemonade. If all goes well, we can all have a sip by this time next year (perhaps with a shot of gin in it too!).

Although gin is the Jolly family liquor of choice, Mr. Jolly certainly loves a potable bourbon too. Thus, one of his favorite desserts is Bourbon Pecan Pie. And since I would not be able to see him on Father’s Day, I decided to make and ship a delectable twist on one of his favorites = The Woodford Reserve Walnut Pie. For those of you bourbon experts, I apologize for belittling your knowledge, but Woodford Reserve is a “preferred” bourbon and a bottle will always reside in my bar---usually catering to a certain Webb.

And just in case any of you have a dad, grand-dad, brother, uncle, etc. who enjoys bourbon also……I thought I would share my recipe……

Woodford Reserve Walnut Pie
I made this with a Whole Wheat Honey Cinnamon Crust which consists of any ol’ whole wheat crust recipe with 2 tsp of honey and 1 tsp of cinnamon added to the mix. But after you prepare the crust, here’s what you do to create the yummy guts:
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup light butter (I used Smart Balance Light Butter)
2 tablespoons Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Walnuts, chopped
Whisk together the eggs, sugar, corn syrups, butter, bourbon and salt. Place the walnuts in the bottom of the pie plate. Pour the filling over the walnuts.
Bake at 375°F until set, about 35-40 minutes.

Summer Thaim.....

Oh how I have longed for these days of sweltering Ohio Valley heat. Thank you Mother Nature and please keep up the good work.

Had a fabulous time in NYC and I ate my weight in meat and alcohol. Have still been on the mend with that indulgence...however, it's back to the academic/medical grindstone. No time to indulge until the end of summer---then it's looking like Panama will be on the travel calendar before Fall term, pending any of those Latin American Political Coups or my personal favorite--Hurricane. Thanks again, Rita!

As most of you know, Thai cuisine is in my Top 3 and because it is super warm outside, I thought I would try my hand at a Cold (yet slightly spicy) Thai Noodle Salad. (note the photo above) It's full of good things (but you can make it a bit naughty, if you choose) and I've given both a vegan or a meaty version. So here's the low-down for

TJ's Cold Thai Noodle Salad--you will love it Long Thaim!

8 oz Uncooked Whole Wheat Thin Spaghetti
(Go ahead and cook it separately and drain)

Dressing:
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (I prefer chunky b/c I am a "texture" gal)
1/3 Cup Lite Coconut Milk
1/4 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon of Schiraca Vietnamese Hot Sauce (or a bit more if you prefer spicier)
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Powdered Ginger (I prefer 2)
2 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro or 2 Teaspoons dried Cilantro
*Whisk together the wet ingredients then whisk in the dry ingredients.
*Toss about 1/4 cup of dressing with pasta, in a large bowl and set aside in the refrigerator.

Salad Ingredients:
1 Bell Pepper Diced
1 Cucumber, sliced down the middle, de-seed and slice julienne
1/2 bag of Broccoli slaw mix (or shred 1/2 head of cabbage and 1 large carrot)
1/2 bag snow peas
(Optional) 8 oz diced grilled chicken or 8 oz grilled shrimp or 8 oz diced grilled pork (or just do shrimp and pork to seriously offend your Kosher friends!)
*Add these ingredients to your Noodles and toss with the dressing.
*Chill in the fridge for about an hour.

Garnish:
1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Peanuts
2 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds
1 Handful of Chopped Cilantro
*Add garnish right before serving

Flash those pearly whites....

Okay, so this weather is ridiculous! It's May and it is freezing and raining non-stop. Could we please have some sunshine and mild temperatures?!?!

I have had quite an interesting two week break. I had to swallow a big dose of reality while battling some miserable allergies but on the upside I have caught up on all the sleep I have missed over the past five months (adios to the dark circles under my eyes!). I've also been able to put in about 100 miles of running throughout the break but I fully intend to counteract that with my trip to NYC tomorrow. So many cocktails/culinary delights and so little time.....

By the way, I thought I would share a very quirky tidbit...due to my super curly hair, I have recently been accused of having a weave! (thanks Mary!) So I did some research and it turns out that the curly hair gene is called "trichohyalin." Any coincidence that one can spell "tricia" with that? I guess my parents knew all along.....

One other thing I have tried to do this break is to let go of my worst vice (except for black tar heroin) which is Diet Coke. I am grateful to also have the pearly white tooth enamel gene but unlike curly hair, enamel can be destroyed through consumption of certain foods and beverages--especially Diet Coke! So I thought I might share with you some guilty culprits of enamel erosion and how to help prevent it.

Acid is the number one villain of tooth enamel. Food with low pH and high acidity can create irreversible tooth enamel erosion. These include things such as ALL sodas (yup, that even includes tonic and soda water!), fruit juices (especially orange and pineapple), sports beverages (gatorade), and kool-aid or fruit juice cocktails. The two worst sodas are regular coke and regular pepsi and surprisingly root beer is the least damaging.

As well, it's true that sweets also make a significant dent but did you know all vinegar-based foods are even worse than sweets! (that hurts, that really hurts).

However, take heed because there are ways to offset the acidic damage. The best possible thing one can do to help prevent acid-based-tooth enamel erosion is to chew sugar-free gum. Also, drinking lots of water and using mouthwash after meals will help.

So remember, you don't need to stop drinking soda or eating mustard all together, just remember to cut back a bit (if you can) and chew that Extra or Trident and SMILE!