Catherine Week 8: A Wonderful and Busy Week and Keeping the Faith

What a wonderful week I have had!! As I told you all in my last blog my dear friend Misty from the BBC show has come to stay with me till the 19th of this month. It has been a busy week and she has been going everywhere with me and we have been staying on our regimens!! Last Tuesday she even went with me when I had an appointment with my wonderful Dr. Policy whom I told you all about. He was delighted to meet her and happy with my progress. Oh by the way… I lost 2 pounds this week!! I am finally below 342 pounds and 5 pounds away from my 100 pounds weight taken off mark. God willing I will be there in the next couple of weeks!

On Thursday, Walter and I had an important errand to do in West Hollywood so Misty and James decided to join us. Wednesday, we had gone into our local Goodwill. I love to go hunting in thrift shops and second hand stores. You never know what you will find. I have found treasures!! Getting back on track… We are looking around and Misty sees what she thinks is a jewelry box. I take a look at it and I immediately recognize what it is. It is not a jewelry box. It is a Butsudan, an Arc used to house the Sacred Scroll known as the Gohonzon. This is the focus of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. I hoped there was not a Scroll inside of it but sure enough when I opened the doors there was one inside. I knew immediately what I must do. It must be returned to a temple or a meeting place if there is not a temple. Luckily here in Los Angeles there is a temple. I called Walter and told him what we had found and even before I finished my sentence he said to purchase it. Without saying he knew what we had to do. Thus the errand to West Hollywood. We returned the Scroll.  Here is a link if you want an explanation of what  Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism is about http://www.nst.org/. I can tell you it is not worshiping a god. It is a philosophy. It brought me peace and more understanding of my own religious faith and goes along with it. Faith and spirituality, I know, is a very individual thing and a personal journey and to me it is so much a part of what we need to change our lives. To accomplish what we are doing now which is a very difficult and challenging thing. I am challenged every single day. Temptations are in my path everywhere I look. I am not only tempted by fattening things but things that are non gluten. I admit every time I go into a 7-11 those KrispyCremes are calling out to me and it takes every ounce of willpower and faith to not grab a couple. I am constantly praying “God help me!” or chanting “Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo” to get through it. I’ve said rosaries. Doing that has worked but as you all know I still have had those occasional slips but I get back on track. Faith is important everyone. Whatever works for you and most important everyone have Faith in yourself. Never give up on yourself.

When we left the temple we headed over to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood because we were all hungry. I wanted to introduce Misty to the delights of Seafood Gumbo. There a a wonderful place there called “The Gumbo Pot” an authentic New Orleans restaurant owned by a New Orleans native. The original one is in the Farmer’s Market next to The Grove in Beverly Hills. The way they make their gumbo is not bad for you and I order mine with a side salad. They also do not cook with heavy lards and such but yes they do have a lot of the wonderful foods of New Orleans. Misty ordered vegetarian collared greens on the side with hers. Now I do confess to you all that  we did allow ourselves a treat. We split a small order of hush puppies that were not greasy. I also could not resist introducing to Misty the classic New Orleans specialty… beignets and chicory coffee. We shared an order. I know they are no – no’s ( not the chicory coffee )  but a treat once in a while is okay and they were not the gooey super rich super caloric kind. Also we made up for it with all the walking. Even me even though I am in the wheelchair. I get in and out of it when we take the buses and sometimes when we go into stores and such. I get a workout!! I even shocked Misty when I walked a few feet without the aid of my walker till I needed to grab something and then sit down. I was not able to do that last November!!!  

Friday  afternoon I had a meeting with upcoming photographer Sergio Zaragoza. I of course introduced him to Misty. We ended up doing a photo session right there in my apartment. We spent a wonderful couple of hours taking pictures. Sergio was so happy. He said the last few models and actresses were so stiff. Misty and I are so alive and animated. We are so beautiful!! He was so sweet to say that. He shot pictures of us individually and together. I can’t wait to see them!! We also have a very special project planned but I am not going to give it away. You just have to wait for the pictures!!!    After Sergio left, Misty made the most delicious vegetable stir fry for dinner. It is her version of what they make in the Chinese restaurants and it is not fattening at all. Misty can open her own restaurant. She is so creative and a wonderful cook. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful day.

Saturday it was brutally hot but James, Misty and I still ventured out to the Farmer’s Market so I could get my fruits, vegetables, soap and body cream. I am trying more and more to eat organically and to use organic products. The North Hollywood Farmers Market is not an expensive market and I am on an extremely tight budget and I have to really watch what I spend. That being said I have noticed a difference in how I am feeling and looking since I am using more organic products. It really makes a difference. So if it is anyway possible  try and introduce organic products into your life.

James has been having a craving for Chicken Curry Salad and that is one of my specialties so that is what I decided to make on Sunday. My version of course is not fattening and not as spicy but a lot more delicious. I also made a Tuna Curry Salad as Misty is a vegetarian but she will eat fish sometimes. Needless to say both were a big hit!!!

I have to say I feel very blessed and happy to have Misty with me and of course to have James with me too. He is a lot of help to Walter and myself. I know that when Misty leaves at the end of the week he is going to miss Misty just like I am going to. They are like brother and sister.

Now I have to pay some attention to my husband Walter. He has been sitting very patiently by my side.

Have a wonderful and blessed week everyone!!

Here are the recipes of the foods I mentioned in case you would like to make them!!! 

MISTY’S VEGETABLE FEAST

Take stir fry pan and spray with 0 calories olive oil pan spray. Cut up eggplant into bite size chunks and place in pan with 2 tbs minced garlic and teriyaki marinade, then cover with lid.

Now, slice carrots thinly zucchini, red bell pepper, and mushrooms, and broccoli.

Add to bowl of veggies snow peas and long green sprouts (don’t know the name).

Mix all together in stir fry pan, spray with more olive oil spray and add 2 cans sliced water chestnuts, and two cans thinly sliced bamboo shoots.

While the veggies are cooking, you can now make the tofu, and veggie sauce.

Brown Veggie Sauce: 1/2 cup Hoisin, 1/3 cup teriyaki marinade (from bottle), and about 1/2 low sodium soy sauce. Add as much garlic as you like to taste. Set aside.

Tofu: Slice extra firm tofu into bit size chunks. Mix together masa powder, an egg, and some milk for a pancake batter texture. Completely cover each tofu individually and place in a pan (separate from veggies) frying with the 0 calorie olive oil pan spray.

Return to veggies. When they are half cooked to your desired texture (I prefer a little crunchy, but mostly soft), then pour the brown sauce all over, and stir thoroughly. Let simmer some more until completely to the texture you desire.

Make sure to turn tofu until it is nicely golden brown all over.

Brown Rice if desired.

For a giant bowl of the veggies, it should be about less than 100 calories. The tofu, for a healthy sized serving should be around 150 calories. The rice is approximately 200 calories. So for a giant serving (which could really serve two), with rice, your total is 450! You can have seconds at that rate (maybe nix the rice to reduce calories), if you still have room that is.

Gluten free, low sodium, I’m thinking fat free too, and definitely LOW calories

Cathie’s Chicken or Tuna Curry Salad

3 grilled Chicken Breasts and 4 cans of water packed Tuna

8 to 10 Apples (depending on size )

Raisins

Mayonnaise

Cayenne Pepper

Curry Powder

Get out 2 separate bowls. Drain your tuna very well and put it into one of the bowls and break it up it up till it is as fine as possible. Cut up your chicken breasts into as small as possible cubes and put it into the other bowl. Cut up apples into as small as possible cubes and divide and place in both bowls. Mix well. Divide Raisins in both bowls. Mix well. Sprinkle lightly cayenne pepper over tuna then a little more over chicken. Both should really be done according to taste. Mix well. When you are sure the tuna and chicken are well coated with the cayenne pepper and curry mix in both a spoon or two of mayonnaise. That is according to taste but I try to keep it to one spoonful to keep the calories lower. Sometimes you have to add a touch more because it is too dry and you need it to hold it all together.

You can serve it over a salad or or can wrap it in lettuce to make delicious lettuce wraps. You can also wrap it in lavash bread if you are non gluten or eat it on black bread. Enjoy!!