2012: Not a Strong Start

So....."blog more often" was clearly not one of my New Year's Resolutions.  Not a strong start.  2012 is starting to look like the 400 meter dash after the gun goes off, and I'm still tying my shoelaces.

I've been packing a sorry excuse of a lunch, even though I'm at the grocery store buying all sorts of Real Food like raspberries, etc.  "Tomorrow, I'm going to pack a good lunch!"

I've been waking up later in the mornings than I intend to the night before. That always happens.  "Tomorrow, i'm going to wake up earlier!"   Ambitions start lofty at 11pm and then somewhere between then and 7am, a REM cycle decides to take a big nasty crap on your ambition.  "This time, i'm really going to wake up earlier!"   That song and dance seems to be on Repeat lately.  Actually it's just song.  No dance.  Unless you consider me running in the morning from the kitchen to the closet to the garage back to the closet...a dance.  In some countries, maybe.  I've seen a similar dance in the movie Coming to America.  Parents should make their kids watch this dance before the first day of school.  "If you don't wake up on time, this is the dance you will have to do in order to get dressed and make it to the bus on time"

I currently owe eight people a phone date.  This would be ideal if I was in high school, and the phone dates were with cute boys.  But now, I've waited so long to talk to these people that I know I'm getting a lecture before proceeding with real conversation...so that, in turn, triggers further delay and procrastination. ...And they aren't boys.

What HAVE i done this year. 

• I've been using anti-aging cream
• I've been exfoliating.  Eh?  Shedding more cells in the universe. 
• I stopped wearing my lounge pants (bourgie pajamas) to the grocery store....but I am wearing other pants in lieu of those...I'm not going to the store pant-less.  (Can pant ever be singular like that?...Why was is ever plural to begin with?) 
• I started wearing clean clothes to work...or at least Febreze the clothes I plan to wear.

 So far my New Year resolutions concern improvement of the exterior me. 

For January, this is good.  I'll just work from the outside in.  Maybe by December, I'll discuss my bone health and how I've reduced risk of getting osteoporosis.

The following recipe has nothing to do with anything I've been talking about.  But it's yummy.

Sesame-Roasted Tofu with Satay Sauce and Broccoli

by Rose Elliot Vegetarian Supercook

(I loooove this cookbook.  She has many books and I think she is very creative!  This recipe is really quick and the ingredients are easily available.  I also think this is a great recipe to try on your kids.  It's a finger food and the dipping sauce is a sweet complement.  A good protein meal.)

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

1 lb tofu, drained
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons roasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 medium-sized bunches of broccoli, trimmed and broken into florets

Satay Sauce
4 heaped tablespoons peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 14-ounce can coconut milk  (I omit this and add water and some rice wine vinegar to thin it out)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
½ teaspoon dried red chili flakes
2-3 teaspoons honey
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro, to garnish

Directions:

1.  Blot tofu dry on paper towels and cut into thin strips about ¼ inch thick. Put the strips on a plate in a single layer, pour the soy sauce on top, then turn the strips so that they are all coated.

2.  Heat the sesame oil in a grill pan or shallow roasting pan under a preheated hot broiler. Put the tofu strips in the pan in a single layer and scatter with half the sesame seeds. Immediately turn them over and coat with the remaining sesame seeds.

3.  Put the pan back onto or under the heat and grill or broil for about 10 minutes, or until the tofu is crisp and browned, then turn the pieces over and broil or grill on the other side.

4.  Meanwhile, make the satay sauce. Put the peanut butter into a saucepan and gradually stir in the coconut milk to make a smooth sauce, then add the garlic, ginger, and chili. Heat gently, taste, and add honey to taste. Remove from the heat and set aside until required.

5.  About 5-10 minutes before the tofu is ready, heat ½ inch depth of water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli, cover, and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until just tender. Drain.

6.  Put some broccoli, tofu, and a serving of satay sauce on each plate, scatter the sauce with some cilantro and serve.