"They're men!"

DAY 13
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

Remember my recent Halal Food post? I'd actually written the draft a few weeks ago. I was in Chelsea and had a delicious meal of chicken and falafel over rice at the stall beside Bed Bath & Beyond. That same day, I decided to explore the Upper West all the way up to West Harlem and Washington Heights, just to see and know what's out there. It was a hot summer day anyway, and as such, I enjoyed hopping on the bus for AC.

Anyway, while waiting for the M4 bus, I met an elderly woman who was probably in her late sixties. We got to talking about clothes (she liked the silk romper I was wearing) and we had a pleasant conversation about keeping a young-at-heart disposition and accepting that eventhough one can stay as optimistic about aging as possible, the body eventually weakens, and so forth. (You see, it's not uncommon in New York, to have these random conversations with strangers.)

Later on I found out that this American woman was of French and Swedish decent, and she had a son who married a Brazilian woman whom she didn't like and who later on divorced her son (a pilot) after getting her green card.

"My son should have listened to me," she said.

"Oh! Your son should marry a Filipino!" I chirped. "We take care of our husbands."

"No, no...no Filipino. They are men and they get the surgery to look like women."

At that point I just burst out laughing, and the woman didn't seem to take offense. Talk about a comedy moment! By then the bus arrived and we both got on it, and when she reached her stop, we sent each other off with well wishes.

Trader Joe's

DAY 12
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

The original(?) Trader Joe's in Union Square.

So, I finally was able to do some decent grocery-shopping. By 'decent' I mean buying good olive oil, salad greens, eggs, and so forth. The newly opened Trader Joe's branch in Chelsea proved to be a fulfilling stop.

The original Trader Joe's in Union Square (steps away from Whole Foods) is known to be quite tight with long lines leading to the registers. But, most people and TJ fans claim that the queues move quite fast—and I agree. However, the new bigger branch was a breath of fresh air: One could linger and ponder purchases without having to go elbow-to-elbow with other shoppers, or feel the pressure to move along quickly because somebody has to pass through the narrow aisle you're in.

Ironically, I'd never gone to Trader Joe's the first time I'd lived in New York. Perhaps I was a Whole Foods purist, up until recently when a friend told me how much cheaper everything was at the former. AND SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE SPOT-ON! This evening I had a limited budget, yet, I'd managed to squeeze in said good bottle of olive oil, some cooked lemon pepper chicken fillets, milk, body wash, etcetera. Amazing.

The only sad part I see so far about the new Trader Joe's in Chelsea is that a
Barnes & Noble bookstore used to occupy this block.

Photos courtesy of dnainfo.com and besenretail.wordpress.com.

OOPS

DAY 11
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

I was so exhausted last night that I literally fell asleep in front of the computer as I was about to blog. Hence, I've just missed Day 11 of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, sigh.

I realized as the days have gone by, that it's a little more challenging to do this, now that I actually have a day job. But, that doesn't mean I'm giving up AND I am so not complaining. I love, love, love the recent turn of events, and, when the right time comes, I'm going to write about it for sure.

Meanwhile, the blogs must go on!

Taco Mix

DAY 10
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

Exhausted tonight, but before I go to bed, let me share with you a recipe for taco seasoning. I know I've just recently blogged about the Endless Summer truck (Day 3 of the 30-Day Blog Challenge), but thought I'd post this photo I took a few months ago when I first tried making the mix. Nothing beats the homemade version, with the most important reason for me is the guarantee of absolutely no MSG, as most ready-made packets have. It IS a lot of ingredients, but super easy to put together once you have everything on hand. One batch lasts a long, long time; and, you can use the spices for other delicious things (and if you're building a spice rack, this is a good way to start). Enjoy!

TACO SEASONING MIX
(Courtesy of http://busycooks.about.com)

Make your own taco seasoning mix to control the ingredients for better nutrition.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup instant minced onion
* 2 Tbsp. chili powder
* 2 tsp. paprika
* 2 tsp. crushed dried red pepper flakes
* 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
* 1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
* 1 Tbsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. pepper
* 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
* 1 Tbsp. instant minced garlic
* 1 tsp. ground cumin

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend thoroughly with wire whisk. Spoon mixture into a tightly closed container and label as "Taco Seasoning Mix". Store in a cool, dry place. Use within six months. Makes 6 packages (about 2 Tbsp. each) of mix. 2 Tbsp. equals 1.25-oz. pkg. purchased taco seasoning mix.

To make Taco Filling:

Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef (I used tuna) in large skillet over medium heat; drain grease. Add 1/2 cup water and 2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning Mix. Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes enough filling for 8 to 10 tacos.

Great Salad Days

DAY 9
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge

At my new job, I've noticed that everyone seems to eat healthy—which is not unusual in a city where one could buy fresh strawberries, cherries, and blueberries on the street while walking home; and where delis have salad and sandwich bars that cater to the most discerning lunch crowd (low fat here, soy there).

My seatmate (who was actually my boss at another job) shies away from dairy with the exception of ice cream and cheese every now and then. My new boss packs her own organic salad for lunch (an excellent reminder to start organizing and planning my meals to bring to work), and another coworker has the physique of a longtime runner (or regular gym-goer).

It's actually easy here in New York to get fit and fab. Not counting the daily commute wherein one rushes for the trains and constantly watches out for traffic lights when crossing the street, it's hardly ever a challenge to get moving out here. Come winter time, one would rather be huffing and puffing rather than stay sedentary, frozen. As for fitness opportunities other than walking or running, do a quick Google search of "yoga in mid-town Manhattan" and watch multiple balloons come up on the map.

The only challenge probably is cashflow—organic food tends to be pricier—but then again, exercise is free, and buying fresh produce, going to the supermarket, and making one's own meals is still far less expensive than takeout.