May 2013 – Page 2 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Simply Satisfying – Vinegar Braised Chicken

This delightfully tangy rich recipe is inspired by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s (of “Marketplace” at the Shangrila) recipe for vinegar chicken. He suggests seasoning the chicken with salt a day in advance. Serves six.

3-4 lbs. bone-in chicken pieces, preferably dark meat (like thighs).

2 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided

½ tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 ½ Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup finely chopped shallots

1 ½ cups red wine vinegar (I substituted about half the vinegar amount for *red wine used for cooking purposes).

1 cup chicken broth

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 cup canned whole peeled plum tomatoes, drained and quartered

6 cloves of garlic

4 sprigs of thyme

3 bay leaves

2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 300. Season chicken with 2 tsp. salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 5-to-6 quart Dutch oven or wide, ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken by arranging half the chicken in pot in a single layer and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken

Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and cook until much of the acrid aroma has dissipated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add broth and ½ cup water, bring to a vigorous simmer, and cook until slightly reduced, 3 to 5 minutes

Whisk in tomato paste and remaining ½ tsp. salt. Add tomatoes, then arrange chicken in pot, skin side up, pouring over any accumulated juices from plate. Tuck garlic, thyme, and bay leaves in liquid. Cover pot snugly with foil, then lid, and transfer to oven. Cook 1 hour and 15 minutes, until chicken is very tender.

Let rest 30 minutes; discard thyme and bay leaves. Scatter parsley and serve.

*I always keep a vacumized bottle of wine aside for cooking purposes. Usually it’s one I’m not so crazy about drinking so it comes in handy for recipes such as this one or in a hearty Bolognese sauce or Beef Bourgignon. More recipes with wine to follow. Of course I always drink a glass while cooking.

FUN

On the Storefront – stepping back in time with…

A beautifully curated space filled with one-of-a-kind vintage stock and unique items for your life.

FUN

Away with Words – the Secret of Happiness

Happy vs Unhappy

Excerpts from “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle Unhappiness – what is a negative emotion? An emotion that is toxic to the body and interferes with its balance and harmonious functioning. Fear, anxiety, anger, bearing a grudge, sadness, hatred or intense dislike, jealousy, envy – all disrupt the energy flow through the body, affect the heart, the immune system, digestion, production of hormones, and so on. Even mainstream medicine, although it knows very little about how the ego operates yet, is beginning to recognize the connection between negative emotional states and physical disease. An emotion that does harm to the body also infects the people you come into contact with and indirectly, through a process of chain reaction, countless others you never meet. There is a generic term for all negative emotions: unhappiness.

The Secret of Happiness – How to be at peace now? By making peace with the present moment. The present moment is the field on which the game of life happens. It cannot happen anywhere else. Once you have made peace with the present moment, see what happens, what you can do or choose to do, or rather what life does through you. There are three words that convey the secret of the art of living, the secret of all success and happiness: One With Life. Being one with life is being one with NOW. You then realize that you don’t live your life, but life lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance.

FUN

B PURE – B RAW – B your ULTIMATE self!

ENERGIZE yourself with PROTEIN POWER. You deserve to know what goes into a “perfect” protein powder. One made with 100% pure plant protein.

THERE’S NO BETTER end to a good workout like drinking a perfectly healthy protein shake. It will bring your energy level right back and help to build muscle. But with all the varieties out there in the marketplace how do we know WHICH PROTEIN POWDER TO CHOOSE? Don’t be fooled! You want the ULTIMATE PROTEIN POWDER – one that will deliver. You want *Brad King’s Ultimate Vegan “TRUE RAW” Energy Protein *Organic Sprouted & fermented Brown Rice Protein – (that’s a real mouthful, literally). Here’s what you need to know:

*Brad King is a highly sought after authority on nutrition, obesity, longevity and one’s health and has been touted as one of the most influential health mentors of our time. Brad is also a Best Selling Author (having written several books including “Beer Belly Blues”), Keynote Speaker and Award Winning Nutritional Formulator.

The ULTIMATE VEGAN ENERGY PROEIN is comprised of organic sprouted brown rice protein – the Cadillac of plant-based proteins because it is a non-GMO sprouted whole grain complete protein that is made from the whole rice grain (including the bran, germ, and endosperm). It is processed using low-temperatures (never heated past 90oF) without any chemical additives like hexane. This creates a superior raw plant-based protein with pure amino acids in their most bioavailable forms, which greatly enhances the quality, digestion-rating and bioavailability of the protein as well as ensuring high levels of naturally-occuring vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals, antioxidants – tocopherols and tocotrienols – and other essential nutrients.

What to expect:

Made from fermented raw sprouted organic brown rice protein
Non-GMO
Complete hypoallergenic plant protein
3 grams of 100% organic maca per serving
No Sweeteners
Natural flavors
Easily digested
Produced with low temperatures and natural enzymes
No chemicals and processed without acid hydrolysis

*Organic sprouted brown rice protein is the highest quality protein among all cereal grains, containing all essential and non-essential amino acids and a good ratio of the extremely important branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are necessary for cellular repair.

Watch your “Peas” & “Q’s”: the next paragraph will make you Question your current formula:

IMPORTANT Note: Many vegan protein supplements on the market cut their products with inexpensive proteins like pea (usually the first ingredient in the formulas, to save cost and increase profits), which causes digestive complaints and gas in numerous individuals.

Ultimate Vegan Energy Protein contains the added benefit of a full 3-gram serving (per dose) of the highest quality organic gelatinized maca available today (Ultimate Maca Energy^TM) to ensure maximum energy enhancement, hormonal support and stress adaptation. No other plant protein formula has this quantity and quality of maca in their product.

Suggested Use – Mix 2 scoops (50g) with 250 – 350mL of water or juice in a shaker cup or blender. You can use it just on its own or add fresh or frozen blueberries, organic yogurt and a banana for more of a smoothie.

More ULTIMATE products and information can be found at – http://www.ultimatevegan.com/

The Ultimate Man himself Brad King, MS, MFS, Nutritional Expert, Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker. — The Ultimate Man himself
Brad King, MS, MFS, Nutritional Expert, Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker.

To know more about Brad King please visit http://transforminghealthinc.com/about-brad-king

Also **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

Oh; did I mention he’s also my brother? Having said that I must say that I am totally unbiased when it comes to what he knows and the integrity of his products. You can find out for yourself. What I know to be true (I sound like Oprah now) is that Brad takes these products himself. I figure if they’re good enough for him then I better take them too. I’ll strive to be my Ultimate self.

STYLE

style & substance – on my “bucket” list

is a champagne carryall – the Louis Vuitton iconic Noé bucket bag which has just been re-released in various shades of leather and monogram canvas.

from images – more bags for more bottles, some cash & a lipstick.

In 1932, a Champagne vintner commissioned Louis Vuitton to design a carryall for his precious wares and voilà – the original Noé bag was born. The result – a simple leather bucket bag that safely and stylishly housed five bottles of champagne – four upright and a fifth place upside down in the middle. Now I know why I always loved this bag!

The bag came to represent the free-spirited, effervescent lifestyle of liberated women.

Now, 81 years later, and available starting this month you can find the pint size version – the Noé BB, more suited to the bare essentials – and room enough for a Veuve Clicquot mini or Sofia Coppola blanc de blanc, possibly both.

As seen in marie claire magazine.

FUN

Simply Satisfying – Halibut with Cilantro-Sweet Chili-Lime Butter

This recipe is so simple yet so incredible. I ended up freezing the butter I did not end up using for next time – you can adjust the quantity. If you can’t find halibut then use another type of solid white fish similar to halibut which is light and mild with a slightly sweet flavour. Serves 4.

4 halibut fillets

1 tsp kosher salt

8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 Tbsp. sweet chile sauce (I use Thai)

1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

zest from 1 lime

Set the oven temperature to 375

In a small food processor combine butter, sweet chilli sauce, cilantro, lime juice and lime zest. Set aside.

Season the halibuts with salt.

Place on a baking sheet (like Pyrex) and bake until done – approx. 15 minutes or until fish is opaque and starts to flake. You can also grill this.

Remove the halibut from the oven (or grill) and serve with the clilanto-sweet chilli-lime butter generously dolloped over top. It will melt in to form a rich flavorful sauce. Serve with sides like rice and asparagus or green beans. In Photo: Quinoa cooked with black beans, shallots & red pepper and Asparagus drizzled with vinaigrette of olive, white truffle oil & champagne vinegar (from last week’s recipe).

A perfect wine pairing – crisp Chardonnay.

Halibut is in season normally from April to November. It’s a great source of protein and vitamin B3. It is also high in omega-3 fatty acids. It lends itself easily to different sauces.

How to know if fish is fresh:

1) Look them in the eye if you can. Clear, bright eyes are signs of the freshest fish; the eyes of a less fresh fish will be dull of greying.

2) If the fish still has its skin on it, check it for shine and brightness. A fresh fish should look metallic and clean. Dull or discolored scales could be a sign of a less fresh one.

3) It should not smell fishy. An overwhelmingly strong smell is a sign that the fish is past its prime.

4) If the fish is in fillets, press your finger gently against the flesh. The indentation should disappear quickly as the fish springs back into form. A lasting indentation could mean the fish is no longer good.

5) The flesh of the fish should be moist and not spongy. Fish that is yellowing or discolored is past its best before date.

Do you have a favorite halibut recipe?

FUN

Seen – Once in a “Blue Owl”

You’ll stumble upon a charming Home Boutique located in a heritage building that will take you back in time.

Blue Owl Home Boutique

Located in Vancouver at 2308 W Broadway.

FUN

Words with Woody – and how ageing backwards works

“My one regret in life is that I am not someone else” – Woody Allen.

New York Stories: I was always a big fan of Woody Allen. Once I had the pleasure of meeting Woody at Michael’s Pub – the place where he’s known to play clarinet in a dixieland jazz band most Monday nights (over many years, even missing an Academy Award Nomination to be there). My friend and I made dinner reservations with seating infront of the stage and we happened to walk in at the same time as Woody so we chatted for a while at the bar but we could tell that he was very serious about getting started. And, as suspected he’s also a very talented musician who tends not to look at the audience. So aside from the adopted daughter marriage I have nothing but great respect for the comedic brilliance his neurosis brings to film making. Here are a few quotes narrowed down from many – Enjoy:

I am not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.

Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.

I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it’s the government.

If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.

I’m astounded by people who want to ‘know’ the universe when it’s hard enough to find your way around Chinatown.

It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more.

“The difference between sex and love is that sex relieves tension and love causes it.”

“In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!” ― Woody Allen

Do you have a favorite Woody Allen movie? My Five Favorite Woody Allen Movies – ones that made me die laughing, all genius with perfect casting in all: 1) Annie Hall 2) Manhattan 3) Bullets Over Broadway 4) Mighty Aphrodite 5) Vicky Christina Barcelona 6) Blue Jasmine (okay, make that six).

FUN

B well – a GUT Feeling

Chronic diseases are on the rise and so many people we know are suffering from something, getting tests done and taking over-the-counter or prescription medications. My gut feeling says THIS IS NOT NORMAL!

MOST PEOPLE today have some degree of gut damage which is a serious problem because both health and disease start in the gut. What’s happening?

When our gut is damaged, it becomes more challenging to lose weight, digest food properly and maintain stable moods and energy levels. Gut damage also makes us more vulnerable in the long run to chronic disease. It is through gut repair that we can address the root of our health problems and avoid disease in the future. Now there’s a new book that addresses these problems:

In Clean Gut, Alejandro Junger, M.D, New York Times bestselling author of Clean and creator of the world-famous Clean Program, delivers a complete toolkit for reversing disease and sustaining life-long health. He explains why understanding the gut is one of the missing factor in thinking about our health.

All of today’s most-diagnosed ailments can be traced back to an injured and irritated gut. The gut is an intricate and powerful system, naturally designed to protect and heal the body every moment of every day And yet for far too many of us, this remarkable system is in disrepair, which leads to all kinds of health problems—from extra pounds, aches and pains, allergies, mood swings, and lack of libido, to heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, insomnia, and depression.

But we no longer have to be sick to get healthy. In this groundbreaking program, Alejandro Junger, M.D. explains how instead of treating the symptoms as they arise, we can preemptively attack disease before it takes root in the gut.

No matter your current state of health, you will benefit from this program: Clean Gut will help you put an end to everyday ailments, reverse chronic disease, and achieve true, long-lasting health.

Book available on Amazon.com & Harper Collins

Also, Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

Join the Club and know not what to expect

Woody Allen quoting Groucho Marx – “I’d never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.”

I’ve been curious about belonging to some club other than the gym I go to. While I do enjoy reading, book clubs can be boring and members not always on the same page. I need something a bit more exciting. It would be nice to belong to a golf or tennis club – or better still, a yacht club but I’d end up using the privileges for the bar or restaurant because I’m not so good at either golf or tennis. I do really enjoy ~~sitting on a sailboat drinking wine~~ sailing.

Anyway I found something I excel at – wine tasting, wine drinking and wine sourcing (for drinking purposes). So I joined a wine club. Every month starting mid-May I’ll be getting 3 (starting out small) exceptional bottles from Marquis wine club delivered to my front door. All of which are not easily found elsewhere in the BC marketplace and many of the selections are brought in just for the club, and thus are not available anywhere else. Talk about customer service and aiming to please: they claim to deliver great value wines that are delicious and technically superior to many wines available in the marketplace. They guarantee all of their wines, meaning if you really don’t like one, or if it’s flawed in some way, you can let them know and they’ll send you another bottle. What’s not to like?

Then I plan to do wine/food pairings based on the particular bottles received – looking forward to that. Most people plan their meal and then choose the wine to go along but this time it will be WINE FIRST. I love the element of surprise….(of course providing it’s a good surprise). I’ll update you later with results. Until then….cheers!