For the love of cuisine, crafting and cocktails

Bites, travel, culture, crafts and all things in between 

[thenhomad]

Keeping calm in the Coronavirus chaos: healthy ways to stay busy

We heard chirps of a novel Coronavirus strain rearing it’s ugly head, but for some of us, the situation we are in now is downright frightening, surprising and certainly one we’d never dream of experiencing. The CDC as well as local and Federal governments have recommended that we practice “social distancing” and isolation, something that contrary how they sound have spurred much chaos and is leading to sitting home in front of the TV, increased smartphone screen time, overeating “quarantine snacks” and increasing frustrations as our daily lifestyle has changed and become far more sedentary. What are we do to!? Here’s some healthy ideas for mind and body that I think we can all benefit from during this time. Perhaps, it is time to put down the technology a bit and to re-acquaint ourselves with simpler times.

1. Explore the path less traveled 

Ask yourself: when is the last time you climbed a tree? The answer is most likely sad (I know mine is). Is your normal workout routine disrupted by gym closures? Get outside and go for a run! Reduce your screen time and get in touch with nature by exploring your local parks, trail heads and mountains. Just remember that while this will likely be less populated than the grocery store, that you won’t be the only one out there so respect personal space by keeping distance of at least 6′ from another person. In addition, spring has officially sprung and it’s absolutely beautiful! The trees will begin to bud, the animals are out and the streams are flowing. How could this not put you in a good mood!? It’s also great cardio!

2. Read a book

For many, physical reading material is a thing of a past as we’ve embarked on an electronic mission to replace paper with kindle and online news sources, but there’s something special about a book, the way it smells, feels and connects many readers even further to the story. Now is a good time to pick up your favorite book, or one that’s been collecting dust on the shelf and dive head first into a plot that has nothing to do with our latest headlines. Better yet, take that book outside and read while getting some fresh air and soaking up some vitamin-D!

3. Bust out the board games and puzzles

You won’t have a CLUE what you’ve been missing! See what I did there!? Remember how fun games and puzzles were when we were younger? Why did that have to end? Something tells me life got too busy and we entered a truly digital age. Well, times are reverting (at least temporarily) but many of us still have those boxes of joy laying around our homes. Time to bust them out! If you’re isolated at home by yourself, puzzles are a great way to stay busy and also to keep your mind sharp and focused. Don’t have any? Many online retailers are still in business so hop on the internet and order a few!

4. Spring cleaning and household chores

There’s no excuse now NOT to start cleaning out your closets, under your bed, the garage... you know, all these household chores we put off come spring and put even further off by not doing it at all. Well, some of us have much time on our hands being quarantined in our homes. This is the PERFECT time to do it, plus, it gets us off the couch and gets us moving, physically, around our homes and yards. The payoff also feels great and for those of us unable to work at the moment, it can be a useless feeling so seeing improvement and getting our blood flowing is a positive thing! 

5. Try new recipes, HEALTHY ones!

For many folks, our daily, busy work lives take over and despite that some of us love to be in the kitchen, meals get tedious, routine and quite frankly... boring. To break that monotony, we spend tons of money going out to eat, sometimes necessarily, just because we are sick of our own cooking, or because we are too tired to cook. Now is the time to explore if you have a bit more time on your hands, or your daily life has become a bit less hectic. Pick up that cookbook you got for your wedding and never used, or hit up the millions of fabulous online recipes. Be adventurous! Healthy recipes that provide much for leftovers and are cost effective for yourself and families and keep well are ideal for right now, but there’s so many out there. I’ll be posting some later! 

6. Start gardening

Now is as good a time as any to start your seedlings if you have a green thumb, but even if you don’t, it’s a great time to begin thinking about being more self-reliant as we find ourselves embarking on some uncertain times. Some stores remain open and while I don’t promote heading out into the public for a big shopping spree, it’s OK to keep your distance and pick up some items (IMO) as long as you remember social distancing. Get some soil, seeds, planters and start your spring vegetables. Don’t want to begin from seed and planters are expensive at a time like this? Use containers you have around the home such as larger cans, 3L soda bottles (cut 1/3, or half) or other items and re-use those romaine lettuce hearts, carrot and celery stems, etc. to begin your own little garden. Upcycling is always good and so is being able to feed yourself, at least a little, without having to go to the store all the time!

7. Video chat with friends and family

While getting away from all the technology can be cleansing and healing at times, it does permit us (especially at a time like this) to interact with loved ones that we can’t see, or visit which is really fantastic. In addition, it will help us keep morale and mental health up and maintain some level of social interaction during quarantine! Here’s a list of the best video chatting apps according to www.parade.com:

Facetime

WhatsApp

Facebook messenger

Skype

Google hangouts

Zoom

Marco Polo

Instagram

8. Scavenger hunt with the kids

OK, we all remember how fun these were and how GREAT we felt when we found the prizes! Why not recreate a scavenger hunt in your owPn home, or on your property with your family!? It’s a great way to get kids excited, to get them moving and to get them outdoors! In addition, it will bring back all those fun memories of when you were little. Hide little prizes, or clues around the home and watch them go crazy! Here’s some great ideas from Spruce.com! 

9. Learn something new

In this day and age, the world is literally at our fingertips and so is a ton of information. Ok, ok it’s not all correct, BUT there’s some really great online platforms out there to learn new skills, to expand our minds and to promote thought such as Masterclass AND you don’t even need to leave your house! I just signed up for it and it’s AMAZING! Yes, the cost can be a bit high at $180 for unlimited usage over the course of a year, but each course costs $90 so in the grand scheme of things, if you do plan on using it, the unlimited option is pretty good. There are wine and culinary courses, creative courses such as performance, comedy, acting, interior design... you name it and it’s probably on there.  Don’t want to sign up for Masterclass? The internet is flooded with information to learn from, especially video platforms such as youtube. EDX also offers free online courses for a myriad of topics as well which you can complete at your own pace through various institutions. In addition, they even offer certificates (for a fee). 

10. Pick up a new hobby, or an old one

Perhaps it’s time to dust off that old musical instrument from high school, or maybe even asking your musician child to teach you a thing or two with his/her own! There’s also many arts and crafts you can do from home with limited supplies, or inexpensive supplies you can pick up from a local store that will occupy yourself and your family for hours. I’ll be posting some ideas shortly as well but as a preview, hold onto those glass OUI yogurt jars! In the meantime, here’s a great website full of ideas of $5 or less crafts for teens that you may even enjoy!

[thenhomad]

Buzaru: a savory seafood dish of Croatia (and recipe!) Obala (Otok Lopud, Croatia)

The mysterious seaside gem of Eastern Europe has always been on my list, but I never thought I’d get there. To my pleasant surprise, I got to spend a week in beautiful Croatia swimming, kayaking, hiking and eating my way through Dubrovnik, Lopud Island and Cavtat. What an unforgettable trip and equally unforgettable cuisine.

The cuisine is seafood heavy and the taste is shockingly rich due to the salt content and cleanliness of the Adriatic Sea. They have the most fantastic wood-fired pizza and homemade pasta (Fusi) perhaps because it’s right across the pond from Italy. The meat (which I did not have) also seems splendid and highlighted traditionally in the form of stews (Pasticada) with beef and lamb. Perhaps the best meal I had in Croatia was a traditional seafood buzaru. Buzaru actually means stew and can also take the form of buzara, buzzara and bouzzara. Yes, it’s confusing but it boils down to a simple fact: it’s freaking delicious. For anyone who truly loves cioppino, this is for you- Dalmatian style.

Traditionally, buzaru is made with what Croatians call skampi which are like massive prawns but bigger, better and sweeter (longostines would be the closest) or dagnje (mussels). The dish I had was at a fine restaurant called Obala on the main “road” in Otok Lopud. For 360 kuna (approximately $54 USD), I received a piping hot stockpot (literally a stockpot) full of lobster, mussels, scampi, prawns, oysters and mussels simmered in a very rich tomato, wine, garlic and cognac sauce. This may very well have been in the top 3 dishes of my lifetime thus far...

Below is a recipe from Saveur. You can use longoustines which will be the closest to scampi; you can also do a variety of shellfish to your liking. In any event, you’re sure to enjoy it- just don’t forget a nice wine and some crusty bread. If you de-shell the seafood, I won’t forgive you, ever.

Ingredients              

1⁄3 cup olive oil            

1⁄4 cup bread crumbs           

8 cloves garlic, minced           

1⁄2  small yellow onion, minced          

 3 tbsp. cognac or brandy            

3⁄4 cup dry white wine           

2 tbsp. tomato paste           

1  (15-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, puréed             

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste           

1 1⁄2 lb. raw, unpeeled langoustines or shrimp, heads on           

1 tbsp. minced parsley           

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice             

Country bread, for serving        

Instructions             

Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a 12″ skillet over medium heat. Cook bread crumbs until golden, 2–3 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Wipe skillet clean; heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and onion until golden, 5–7 minutes. Slide pan off heat, add cognac, and, using a match, carefully ignite; return to heat and cook until flames die, 1–2 minutes. Add wine, paste, tomatoes, salt, and pepper; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add langoustines. Cook, covered, until pink, 4–5 minutes. Stir in reserved bread crumbs, the parsley, and lemon juice; serve with bread.      

[thenhomad]

The FrIeNdLy Toast Portsmouth, NH

Atmosphere: 10 Food: 7 Service: 8

Having organized a small Team meeting in beautiful Portsmouth for the eclectic variety of shops, restaurants and small-town, fishery feel of quintessential New England, we certainly got our fill. For lunch, we were ready for a bit of spunk and randomly stumbled upon this place- The Friendly Toast and thought to myself, “oh, that’s such a cute name.”

Cute as it was, The Friendly Toast definitely served up something interesting to the eye from the moment you walked in. If you’re bored (nearly impossible in Portsmouth), come here. The eccentric decor, bright colors, amazing music (Heart, Genesis, Foreigner, etc) will keep you occupied as will the various “Chinchilla farm” signs and truly vintage diner furniture. I loved it. I especially loved that they’re open until 2AM apparently (weekends only, maybe) and that they had...drum roll please...MAKE YOUR OWN BLOODY MARY AND MIMOSAS with an awesome variety of concoctions you could choose from (vegan included). Personally, I loved that my menu was vandalized. They must have known I was coming. Personalized cocktails alone means that I’ll be returning, maybe today! Hopefully, I’ll get the “eat shit” sheet.

The food was pretty good. The menu was huge so no matter what you are in the mood for this is the spot. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you will not be left out so truly, I think this place is literally “friendly” to everyone’s tastes. The service was really good also and everyone was very nice. We split sweet potato fries which were what one would expect minus the fact that the portion was small (aren’t we in America?). The buffalo chicken dip was pretty good, although it was my first time having it. Normally, I’m not a fan of that type of stuff, but it wasn’t bad! For my entree, I got the “taco party” which consisted of 3 small soft-shelled tacos full of various delicious things and sauces and a “pick your own protein.” I asked to do two grilled chicken and one falafel, but the server rejected my request (totally weird. I don’t get that...there’s 3 separate tacos...) so I chose all grilled chicken. Lunch was really tasty, but the best part of that dish was the corn salsa. Holy crap, it’s crack and next time I go, whatever I order, I’m requesting they smother it with corn.

All-in-all, I really liked The FrIeNdLy Toast and I will definitely be back on a normal basis. It is a semi-stuffy hipster paradise so I’ll need to wear my vintage-inspired glasses to fit in but yeah, overall, very cool and unique spot! Apparently, there’s additional locations in Cambridge, MA and Back Bay so Boston folk, they’re friendly to you, too.

[thenhomad]

Five Things You Shouldn’t Wear on a Plane

Don’t be like Lady Gaga.

I am always researching travel tips, especially for those long-haul flights as I typically have at least 2 to 3 per year and they can be quite brutal. Long flights have been shown to cause DVT (deep vein thrombosis), headaches, dehydration, muscle cramping, sleep deprivation, anxiety, bloating...the list goes on. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to be prepared and there’s some steps one can take to make the trip more enjoyable and well, slightly less taxing especially if seated in economy.

Why did I mention Lady Gaga? Well, according to this website she was wearing something not only horrifying but downright hazardous to her health on a transatlantic flight which nearly caused a dreaded DVT. Let’s all learn from Lady Gaga, an outfit of tape and stilettos isn’t really advisable for travel (haha).

So, what should you avoid wearing on planes? Here’s five tips from this awesome website:

Tight, restrictive clothing (your skin and body needs to breathe!)

High heeled shoes (they’re restrictive and not good for emergencies)

Perfume, or cologne (on planes, odors are intensified)

Offensive t-shirts (yup, you can get thrown off the flight!)

Warm weather, or summer clothing (planes are often freezing!)

There you have it. Next time someone smirks at you for traveling in your yoga pants and hoodie, just know you’re being the smarter traveler!

[thenhomad]

A Personal Recipe: vanilla chia seed pudding Vegan, sweet & healthy

So what are chia seeds? They’re seeds from a plant of the mint family, Salvia Hispanica which is native to South America. These tiny seeds are jam-packed with nutrients and you can really get creative how you implement them into your diet. Personally, I love the basic pudding but I do throw them into most things at this point, particularly on my avocado toast. Here’s some nutritional facts:

A 1 ounce (28 grams, or 2 Tbs.) serving of chia seeds contains:

Fiber: 11 grams.

Protein: 4 grams.

Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s).

Calcium: 18% of the RDA.

Manganese: 30% of the RDA.

Magnesium: 30% of the RDA.

Phosphorus: 27% of the RDA.

They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.

Here is my basic recipe for vanilla chia seed pudding that I have compiled from others I’ve been trying. Mind you, I’ve stopped measuring the vanilla and honey so strictly but you get the gist! This pudding is a great base to make a creation of your very own consisting of various fruits, seeds, nuts, cocoa, cocoa nibs, sea salt, avocado, the list goes on! I really love berries, sweetened cashew cream (recipe coming soon!), raw almonds and raw pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients:

1/4+ C black chia seeds

1 C vanilla almond milk

1/4 tsp. Moroccan vanilla extract (optional)

1 tsp. organic honey (preferably raw)... some vegans are anti honey, you decide what sweetener you’d like.

Fruit of your choice

Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl and transfer to a cup, or smaller bowl and refrigerate for one hour or more. Occasionally stir the pudding to ensure distribution of chia seeds. Enjoy!

[thenhomad]

Off the beaten path: an eco-friendly romantic getaway Waialua, HI (North Shore, Oahu)

It was Justin’s first time to Hawai’i and as our lives are so hectic during the week, we really were seeking something more quiet, different from the norm and a vacation that was knee-deep in natural surroundings. It was important to me that he saw the ‘real Hawai’i’ and be surrounded by locals so that he got a more authentic experience. Thanks to Airbnb, the ‘North Shore Eco Hideaway’ nestled away on a former sugar cane plantation gave us just what we needed.

If you’re interested in booking this, or learning more about this property, click here. I can certainly promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Just a few stairs up onto the lanai, you enter a comfortable and roomy outdoor kitchen with comes complete with everything you’ll need, including a full size refridgertor, an adorable camping stove and all pots and pans including dinnerware. There is a small dining set that can sit 4 minimum which is completely covered so protect you and your belongings from any rain (it’s Hawai’i, it’s wet). Sylvan (the host) is fantastic and she left us a bowl of fruits picked from the property (and yes, you can pick them during your stay!) as well as the most gorgeous tropical flower arrangement also from the property! Pretty welcoming, huh?! On the property is also a pet chicken, her name is Blackie but we named her Esther because she responded to it (haha). Below is a photo of her sweet little house. There is also composting on the property.

There is a thick zipper which allows entry to the elevated and extremely comfortable safari tent that has more than enough room to accommodate two people. There is a HEAVENLY queen sized bed which I miss dearly, a futon, a bench, some book shelves, lighting and a chair to relax on. There’s also many windows which you can open to allow for fresh air, or close at your leisure. Through another zipper door, you’ll enter an attached container bathroom with full plumbing, a small portable water heater and yes, a working shower and claw foot bathtub. Needless to say, this is eco-friendly glamping at it’s best!

I will definitely, without question book Adam and Sylvan’s North Shore Eco Hideaway again, repeatably. They provide so many nice amenities including welcome flowers and fruit, towels and snorkeling equipment, too! If you need anything else, they are happy to help. I highly suggest booking this property, or one like it instead of doing the same old-same old hotel.

[thenhomad]

Tips for healthy cooking

More flavor, less fat!

Healthy food can taste good, too. Skip the high fat (butter, cheese and cream) and use healthier, low-fat options such as:

aromatics (ginger, garlic, onions, scallions, shallots)

mustard

horseradish

citrus zest and juice

salsa, hot sauce

chiles (fresh, dried, or pickled)

capers and pickled vegetables

dried spices (cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, etc.)

fresh, or dried herbs (thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, dill, etc.)

Tips from: “300 Calories or Less” by LoveFood

[thenhomad]

Getting crafty: hand-painted terra cotta planters A fun DIY for your home or garden

This DIY doesn’t really require much instruction because it’s super simple, really fun and thankfully dries really quickly! What you’ll need: Terra cotta pots Paint brush(es) Acrylic and/or outdoor paints Protected surface

Choose any size clay planters you’d like, I did the 3″ diameters which I bought from Michaels for $1.29/piece just be sure to check them as some can be cracked on the shelf. For paint, I used Martha Stewart acrylic satin finish paints as well as Patio Paint Outdoor by DecoArt which you can also buy at Michaels. The DecoArt paint was especially super easy to apply and got amazing coverage. In both cases, I did have to apply two coats with air drying in between.

These little pots came out super cute and I love them! They’ll be great to liven up a small herb garden, in or outdoor (if outdoor, use outdoor paint!) or to start your little seedlings.

[thenhomad]

Taj India Manchester, NH

Atmosphere: 10 Service: 8 Food: 10

Oh my God. Ok, besides the service being a little slow at first and having to ask to receive (the apparently not complimentary) papad, this place was AWESOME. I am so grateful there is solid Indian food within a few miles of the house in what feels like one of the “whitest” states in the U.S.A. We don’t have as much ethnic diversity in NH as I am used to (being from Rochester, NY) but that being said, we really have some kick ass ethnic food. This place is no exception. The food here was really, really good.

The restaurant was super clean (so were the bathrooms!) and really beautifully decorated in royal colors of red and yellow with crystal chandeliers. The atmosphere was really nice and the staff super friendly. After I asked for the papad, the guy gave it to me complimentary which was really nice (but I don’t think one should have to pay for it anyhow). The dishes were phenom and to me, tasted pretty authentic (not that I am from India, or have ever been there) but the dishes resembled more of what I’ve had in terms of Indian home-cooking from friends of mine. What did surprise me, though, is the lack of ghee. Yes, they do not use ghee. They use oil, but perhaps that makes it a bit healthier in our sense. Justin (my boyfriend) and I split two orders of plain (unbuttered, yes I am boring) naan, chicken tikka masala and rav rattan korma with of course, basmati rice. No lassi’s here, sorry! Holy crap, I can’t wait to go back.

[thenhomad]

The Kenilworth Inn A unique boutique hotel in Kenilworth, NJ

Accommodations: 9 Service: 8 Comfy bed rating: 7

Because I’m super lazy, especially during work trips, I usually choose the closest hotel possible which reasonable accommodations. For me, that typically means some Marriott; however, NJ (in my experience) is such a darn mess that I literally wanted to no more than 2mi away because traffic is awful anywhere remotely near Newark and NYC and I like to sleep in as much as possible.

Randomly, I found the Kenilworth Inn as an option on my companies travel agent site and it did not disappoint. Apparently, I did get the last room available which can mean, “the gimp room” on occasion so I was a bit skeptical. The staff were super friendly and the inn was a renovated motel from a long time back that felt really welcoming, very “fresh” and actually pretty neat- it looked like a little gem you’d find in a big city and not directly off of an interstate off-ramp. Instantly, the 6 hour drive (which was supposed to be 4.5 hours) felt a bit worth it to stay in somewhere new and kind of exciting from the usual cookie cutter Courtyard.

Well, about that “gimp room” phenomenon- there were a ton of shavings in the sink from an electric razor. On my way to dinner I promptly told the manager and when I returned, it was like it never happened. No biggie, things get overlooked. The hotel was so cute I didn’t care. Later that evening, I was washing my face and noticed the sink wouldn’t drain properly- ah ha! That was it. The sink just needed some attention so I left housekeeping a note and I imagine they’ve taken care of it by now.

The rooms were nicely appointed, trendy and fun; the bed was really comfortable. Not at first, it felt hard and similar to a bed one would find in Japan, but as the minutes passed it grew on me (or I grew into it) and I never wanted to get out. In fact, I slept in an extra 30 minutes.

This little boutique hotel was well worth my stay- perfectly close to various stores, a gas station, the Garden State Pkwy and a number of restaurants (especially La Griglia Seafood Grill and Wine Bar- but that’s a different post...freaking DELICIOUS). There’s a very nice little bar off the lobby which has a NYC lounge feel that is nice should one want a drink after work, or his travels. I think that whenever I am in the area, the Kenilworth Inn will definitely be the hotel. I highly recommend it! Plus, it’s less than 30mins from NYC!

Visit their website here!

[thenhomad]

Not your traditional eggs benedict Some ideas to spice up a breakfast tradition

Everyone loves a good eggs bennie (I know I do!) so here are some ideas to create modern, flavorful twists on a breakfast favourite!

Maple ham and asparagus (shown)

Lobster meat and asparagus (my boyfriend’s requested Valentine’s breakfast)

Oscar style! (lump crab meat and roasted asparagus)

Crab, or ham meat and avocado

Avocado, tomato and red onion

Crab meat or a mild, poached white fish with braised spinach

Herb turkey breast with braised spinach and provolone

Crab meat with sauteed, garlic spinach and creamy feta

Roasted tomato with breadcrumbs and graded parmesan

...the ideas are endless!

Click here for my all time favourite hollandaise sauce recipe from Williams Sonoma.

[thenhomad]

Welcome to the dark side: traveling for business. Is it all that glamorous?

I travel extensively for business and in my efforts to reduce it I’ve been successful but there’s still large chunks out of the year when I just have to live on the road. Studies, conferences, meetings, customer “tours”...they’re inevitable. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel and I love my job but looking back to the bright-eyed, bushy tailed girl whom interviewed for a life on the road, well, I would have told her a few things. While there are so many positives, here are some of the big, bad and the ugly that I didn’t realize...

1. It’s still work

A few times a year, my company does send us to extraordinary places (I guess that’s subjective to the individual) and I have been incredibly lucky. Because of them, I have seen some beautiful parts of the world which include Japan, Rome, Naples, Athens, Cologne...soon to be Croatia, Shanghai...and what I post in my social media, well, it’s on purpose. Gorgeous places yes, but it’s still work and lots of it. One isn’t resolved of his responsibilities and duties to neither the purpose he’s there, the numerous emails or the customers you’re dedicated to back home. I take a ton of photos and I post them everywhere, but I’m selectively showing the amazing aspect of travel which is not only incredible, but also grueling.

2. Travel is exhausting and makes you bloated

It’s known that flying disrupts one’s circadian rhythm, causes dehydration and swelling and is flat out exhausting. Sometimes, I need to medicate myself to sleep (more often than I’d like) and drink more coffee than I’d like to in order to stay awake (caffeine is not good for you in excess). Usually on flights 4 hours or greater, if I am wearing footwear which is slightly tight or requires fastening (such as a zip up bootie), if I remove them during flight, I can’t get them back on as my ankles and feet have swollen so badly that it looks like I’ve got “preggo cankles.” Yup, that’s true. Nobody tells you that part. If that happens at your feet, well, you also swell in your abdomen and face. The bloating is quite uncomfortable so at least for me, there better be some extra room in my suits. I need it.

Prevention tip: drink water and lots of it pre-flight, post-flight and especially in flight. Avoid alcohol and caffeine intake as it causes more dehydration. As always, avoid sodas!

3. Forget home-cooking

So we’ve covered bloating during flights, but how about weight gain? There’s a few parts to this and I’ll be honest, I gained 20lbs. with this lifestyle. It isn’t my companies fault though, it’s mine; however, home cooked meals with controlled portions and known ingredients- forget it. On the road, I’m eating 3 meals (often 5, or 6 small meals) per day at some establishment. Sure, it’s up to me to order healthy options and I have been working on that, but still, it’s tough to know and control exactly what you’re getting. A true effort means either: A.) being that person whom alters everything on the menu, or B.) bringing your own meals. TSA rules and regulations as well as minimizing baggage makes the latter very, very difficult.

Prevention tip: it’s a pain, but make efforts to bring your own food from home. Stock up on healthy options which you can purchase at the airport or beforehand such as bananas, apples, raw nuts (I prefer almonds). Bring packets of shakes with you, lots of water and research restaurant menus before you make those reservations to find ones which lend to your diet. Many restaurants are becoming aware that more of us are trying to eat healthier so usually it’s OK to ask for sauces, dressings, butter, etc. on the side and to request grilled meats rather than fried.

4. Working around the clock

Many airlines now are becoming more equipped with in-flight WIFI (thank God) so working on the plane more often than not is possible; however, it’s insanely uncomfortable trying to type reports, analyze data and write presentations while being cramped into a seat that only a supermodel would feel remotely comfortable in. Bring a spare battery because most Airlines don’t have charging ports unless it’s a new plane and you’re in first class.

In addition, traveling takes so much time away from the day and because of my travel schedule and how compensation works, I’m actively making a huge effort to travel during business hours because after all, I wouldn’t be traveling if it weren’t for business. Luckily, I am very productive on the road and I maximize my work time during flights; however, there’s never enough time in the day. Often, you’re working into the night once you land so technically, you’ve been working from the time you woke until the moment you close your eyes.

Prevention tip: focus on your time management skills and use your time wisely. In addition, it is not possible to complete all tasks sometimes, it’s just the way it is so learn to prioritize your work, remembering that you need rest and a break- especially during stressful travel. Take the time to explore the area to de-stress!

5. It’s horrible for your immune system

Being exposed to some degree of antigens can foster a healthy and robust immune system, but too much can render you helpless. There are minimal to no functional air purification systems on airplanes to minimize the viruses each one of us is spreading around within this tiny, encapsulated vessel. We are in close quarters with each other, breathing vaporized viruses as we talk, inhaling them, it’s disgusting. In flight, we’re sitting in chairs which most likely are not 100% disinfected before each takeoff. How many people have put their dirty hands on your arm rest and tray? I don’t even want to think about it. Traveling while sick or while you’re finally getting better? Forget it. Your recovery time will be extended because our bodies require rest to heal. Stress of traveling alone can keep your immune system repressed and seemingly, we all forget that when we are stressed out, so are our systems and our cells. Recently, I was sick for over one month and what was the doctors recommendation? A really large, single dose of steroid (which turned me into a bloated monster with steroid rage) and to not travel for over a week, or my health wouldn’t improve.

Prevention tip: maintain a healthy lifestyle which means a well balanced diet, exercise, plenty of hydration and a solid sleep cycle. I really struggle with this, but I am getting better as it’s so important. Wash your hands frequently when traveling, avoid touching your nose and mouth; taking vitamin C can be very beneficial.

There’s more to this list, but that should shed some light on the dark side of exciting business travel that people often don’t see and unless you’re in the game- won’t experience.

[thenhomad]

Simple Sunday suppers Italian meatballs with caprese salad, burrata and fresh basil

Nothing beats a good meatball, garden veggies and a dollop of creamy, white cheese topped with your own fragrant, leafy green basil. Cutting into a ball of burrata like a lava flow of fatty goodness consisting of purely fresh mozzarella and whole cream. If you haven’t had it, you haven’t lived (simply put).

I don’t have a recipe for my meatballs, I just do it by smell but here’s what I put into them. Sometimes I have pasta, but really, I’ll just take meatballs with a caprese!

Ingredients:

Ground beef, pork and veal

2 eggs (or 1 depending)

Minced onion

Minced garlic

Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

Lots of garlic powder

Hungarian paprika

Black and white pepper

Sea salt

Over medium/high heat in a pan (I use a Dansk Kobenstyle) with canola oil (better for you when frying than olive oil), space meatballs and cook, rotating every couple of minutes. Cool and serve!

Image credit

[thenhomad]

A personal recipe: banana bread

I love breads..perhaps too much. When it comes to my two favourites, banana and zucchini breads why not combine the two and remove over 800 calories from the loaf? Replace oil and butter with applesauce!

Ingredients

1.5 C all-purpose flour

½ C white granulated sugar

½ C light brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 egg

1 C mashed ripe bananas (I usually add more)

1 C grated/shredded zucchini (dry it for a little on paper towels)

½ C unsweetened apple sauce

½ tsp. Moroccan vanilla extract (I buy mine at Homegoods)

Steps:

1.       Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

2.       In large bowl, mix ingredients 1 – 6.

3.       In smaller bowl, beat eggs, oil, bananas and extracts.

4.       Combine in large bowl.

5.       Fold in zucchini.

6.       Pour in greased and floured loaf pan (mine is standard size). Bake at 325F 40 – 45 mins, or until toothpick in center comes out clean (for me, it was 50 – 55 mins).

 Add grated carrott, walnuts, etc. to make it your own, enjoy!

Keep in mind that this method can be iffy so play with your food and see if it works for you. I use unsweetened to prevent unnecessary sugar. You also need to ensure that you grease and flour your pan and that you avoid doing this method for non-cake like consistency baked treats.

[thenhomad]

For best results when you're baking, leave butter and eggs at room temperature overnight.

Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa: back to basics

[thenhomad]

Cooking with the locals: my big fat Greek lesson with Ivy Liacopoulou Nafplio (Ναύπλιο) , Greece

Menu:

1. Dip: Skordalia (garlic, lemon and olive oil potato dip) 2. Salad: Horiatiki (Greek style salad) 3. Appetizer: Tyropitakia (feta cheese wrapped in phyllo) 4. Main dish: Kleftiko (roasted lamb shank in parchment paper) 5. Desert: Ekmek Kataifi (pastry cream in shredded phyllo with syrup and preserved fruits)

We were heading to Athens for a work trip last fall and like most international business trips when I take some PTO to enjoy the culture and food, this was no exception. Knowing nothing about Greece other than I’ve been dying to visit, I started researching common local spots that are often enjoyed by Athenians. I stumbled upon Nafplio, a small seaport/fishing town in the Peloponnese just ~2-2.5hrs southwest of Athens via bus. Bingo! Ok, but now what?

Being a lover of Greek food, naturally I began seeking cooking classes and stumbled upon a stellar review from a tourist on TripAdvisor whom led me to Ivy Liacopoulou (check out her website here). To date, this remains the most memorable trip I’ve ever had and a huge eye opener to not only the gorgeous coastline, country and amazing food but to the kindness and hospitality of the Greek people which seemingly under the current economic stresses did not waiver.

Ivy was instrumental in assuring I arrived to my hotel, which by the way was NOT her responsibility, she’s just undeniably kind and generous. In the morning, about 8AM, she and her husband (whom spoke no English) retrieved me from my hotel in the center of town and brought me to their home. There, she offered me coffee and tea as well as an unbelievable Greek morning pastry (last photo shown in this post) which I can’t recall the name of but will not forget. We sat on her terrace amongst the olive, pomegranate and orange groves under the sun and talked about Greek life, the economic situation, our families and mutual love of food. Soon, it was time to begin and this day will probably be the most heartfelt cooking experience I’ve ever had.

I won’t run down the recipes as they’re simple ingredients, but certainly require some preparation and this post would be pages long; however, visit her website and you can see for yourself and order her books! This was an entire business day and more cooking and eating (now THAT is my type of day)! BUT I have recreated them (sans desert, I can’t find the special shredded phyllo) and they’ve come out perfectly. Finally, I have some traditional, authentic Greek dishes which I’ve learned how to make with a woman whom has published multiple cookbooks, raised a family with her husband in the countryside of the gorgeous Peloponnese and discovered it all, under her guidance in her very own kitchen.

Ivy and your dear husband, I can’t thank you enough! If you’re interested in this experience for yourself, visit Ivy’s website at http://kopiaste.org/

[thenhomad]

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.

Martin Buber