Goodlife

I rejoined the life of a gym worker outter today. Back at Goodliife. I asked about membership costs and stuff while I was getting my membership reinstated and I was told the funniest thing. To save some money I can down grade my membership to a "london only" membership, which is fine because I have never used a gym outside of London - let's be honest, it's hard enough getting me to a gym in London- in order to do this I have to sign a new contract for a year - burn! I have been a member forever at Goodlife but that doesn't seem to count for anything over there. Nope, treated just like a newcomer, like I just walked in off the street and haven't paid thousands of dollars to the David Patell Evans retirement fund - no trust. You can catch a break at Goodlife. Then the girl tells me, as if a threat - if I down grade my membership I won't be able to use the fancy new "Platnum" gym out in Masonville. To this I think, wow! cool! the new gym must be something special, olympic size pool maybe? spa? hot tub? squash courts? nice dressing room? hot yoga studio? all of the things most of the other clubs don't have I might add.....to which she says no actually, it is the same as all the others but it's new and has less members. Huh? Honestly, the only redeeming feature of the new club is that they charge you more to go there so that there are less people using the facility at one time. Less people per class etc...ok there is something to that, but ONLY that? Common Goodlife....I reallize you dominate the London fitness market but can you please at least pretend that you're still trying??

sigh...where do I sign?

Cooking a whole chicken!

So the packages of chicken breasts were so expensive last week so I decided to protest the extreme price mark of chopping the chicken up into pieces and bought a whole chicken. Take that Galen Weston! Only the joke was on me because when I got home I realized I didn't know how to cook a whole chicken.

So, I decided to take the chicken by the legs and just do it. So here's what I did and what it turned out looking like...

I boiled a lemon for 10 minutes to heat it up enough to release the flavours and heat the chicken from the inside of the chicken, I then stuffed it inside the chicken.

I made a rub consisting of garlic, olive oil, thyme, rosemary and lemon zest and rubbed it all over the chicken and stuff a little inside too.

Cooked it for 1 hour and 40 minutes, basting it half way and throwing in potato wedges when I basted it.

Amazingly it turned out great! I even have a testimonial to the success! Given she is my sister and given she suffers from a need to encourage me and be positive but still!

Loved it! The potatoes were great too!

So You Think You Can Dance Canada

My good friend Katie called me up yesterday and told me that her and I are going to a taping of So You Think You Can Dance Canada next Sunday! How hilarious is that? She won ticket, I think...so her and I get to go and watch! Fun stuff!! Watch for me on TV! haha

Pizza Review - Papa Johns

Ok so I've heard that Papa Johns is the best pizza, so I felt compelled to try it out for myself. Not blown away! I have to tell you I'm even slightly disappointed. I happen to consider myself somewhat of an expert in pizza; this is purely based on the fact that I eat of lot of it and nothing else and I couldn't even find the mushrooms I ordered on the pizza. Papa, you boast of better ingredients don't you? How are they better if I can't even see them? I don't get it.

I give Papa Johns a 6/10

Pretty good taste, decent thin crust, no whole wheat option and only ok toppings.

Tish pregnant

So Patricia is pregnant and due October 2th - 27th (has changed a few times so I am covering my bases). I cannot wait for this baby to be born! So exciting! I want to buy so many cute little baby things. I am however restraining myself because her lovely husband (Chris I mean it...) won't let us find out what the sex of the baby is so I am restraining myself until I find out.

sigh..... soon....soon

Jenny and Madamba's wedding

This is Den and I at Jenny and Madamba's wedding on July 31st. Den was in Madamba's wedding party so he's looking all fancy in his tux. Well more drunk than fancy in this particular picture.

Newest hobby - Running!

So back in March I took up running -once those of you who know me well stop laughing - I can tell you all that I actually really like it! Now that I am several months in I would say I now consider myself a real runner. I have completed a 5KM Race and and have finished a 10K clinic as well. Next I hope to run a 1/2 marathon, maybe in the spring.

One of my favourite running toys is this Nike gadget that goes in my shoe. Literally in my shoe. I plug the other part into my iPod and it tracks my distance, calories, time etc. Very cool! It also works with your playlist and everything so I can listen to my tunes as I run. Love it!

Check it out here: Nike fun stuff

It's very cool except when I have a crappy run and it tell me so, that's not so fun.

Back!

Long hiatus but I'm back!

Excuses:

1) no computer (biggest reason and most believable)

2) very lazy (also believable and true)

Spicy Garlic Shrimp

While having dinner at a friends house over Christmas I learned a new recipe that is so easy and so tasty it would be a crime not to try it for yourself. However....this recipe is not for the faint hearted. What could I mean? Well for one, you should use the shrimp that are still in their shell, legs, tails and all! And no pre-cooked all cleaned up shrimps - where's the fun in that?? Believe me it will be worth it for taste and culinary fun when you get to eat with your hands!

Here it goes:

Shrimps - depending on how many people and how hungry you are - but make lots
Olive Oil
Garlic - fresh is best and most flavourful (flavorful for my American viewer (Bree that's you)
Red onion chopped roughly
1 tomato/several cherry tomatoes whatever you like
Red chilli paste
Dried chilli peppers
two lemon wedges - skin and all
couple table spoons of water

So combine, oil, garlic, onions, lemon, tomato (chopped), chilli paste, chilli flakes (lots if you like it with a kick) - basically put everything in the pan but the shrimp and let the flavours jive for about 10 minutes while the tomatoes get runny etc. Med-high heat - stir often.

Put shrimp in mixture and move around a bit so that they cook evenly in the pan. About 10 minutes, if that.

Put whole mixture in a bowl, serve with rice. People can spoon what shrimp and mixture they want onto their plate and then you get to pick at them and eat with your hands! SO GREAT!

Let me know how you like it. This meal honestly takes a total of 20 minutes start to finish - or you're slow. :)

Worst blogger of all time

Well, I'm self titled and very disappointed in myself. I am the worst blogger of all time. But on the bright side, the first step is to admit the problem and there I have. Let us say it is a New Year and perhaps I will get better at blogging. Perhaps. I am beyond promises because I am a liar. But I will say I will try.

SB

Eco Efforts

I found this fun website today that has all sorts of environment friendly products. Some very cool stuff, check it out.

Nubius Organics

Eco-Care 2008

Yesterday and today I attended a conference hosted by London Health Sciences Centre called Eco-Care 2008. LHSC is trying to find ways to reduce their impact on the planet - what a cool concept eh? I think it is fantastic that the organization is supporting this effort to wholeheartedly. There were vendors of the hospital (me included) and just over a hundred attendees from different health care related facilities around the country. It was so heart warming to see so many people taking the issue of our environment so seriously.

Last night as part of the conference there was a gala dinner at Museum London, with Justin Trudeau as the key note speaker. I went excited to hear Justin speak on his views on environment and the inevitable political topics that were raised. Justin was charming, funny and was able to say the right things. He was very honest and spoke with passion and I think my favourite part of the evening was when Justin proclaimed to the crowd that he has so much to learn and many years to until he would think himself in a position to even think of leading the Liberal party, nevermind the Country. I look forward to watching his career unfold!

Eco-Care 2008

Slow cooker time

I recently bought a slow cooker because I decided it was a great idea for no good reason. I just got the idea in my head because my friend Sarah has one and she's a great cook argo if I got a slow cooker I would be a great cook. Perfectly sensible.... ahem

So now that it's getting colder outside I'm about to christen the cooker. Sarah (the great cook) sent me a few recipes that I am going to try out, soon!

Can always count on Martha - Pot Roast Stuffed Peppers Chili Chicken Tacos

A slackers promise

I sort of fell of the blog map in September. September is the hardest month of the year for me personally and I have not been very motivated to do much of anything. I am going to try and do better. October will be a new start....

Private Practice - Season Premiere

I watched the season premiere of Private Practice last week and really enjoyed it! I gave this show a hard time when it first started but now I have to say I'm a regular. It's pretty cheesy but I will be tuning in next week to see if Addison and Naomi will still be friends....