Hi, my name is: Oprah

So I'll admit it, I've gained weight. I figure if I write it out here for all the Internet to see, then I must be held accountable and actually do something about it. Like Oprah on the cover of O Magazine, except I'm not a multi-billionaire admired by millions. At least my vajayjay doesn't want to kill me, at least I don't think. Anyway I digress.

For those who don't know I used to be bigger. I'd say I was a "big girl" but I hate that Mika song "Big Girls you are Beautiful" so much it has put me off the term. I find it patronizing that a gay man is telling curvy girls they are pretty, because seriously, he's not going to sleep with me, so just shut up.

Back to me. This was me August 2007:



Then I met the South Beach Diet and the gym, so by April 2008, this was me, 3 1/2 stone (50lbs) lighter:



Which luckily shortly coincided with my wedding and honeymoon:


But now it's almost 2009 and I've put back on a stone (14lbs). How? Well I could blame a lot of things. I got a new job (which I love) and cancelled my gym membership because it was not close to my new office, forgot everything I learned and started eating whatever the hell I wanted especially high sugar type items and was in general busy and lazy as shit.

I don't believe in New Year resolutions, but I'm calling on all of you people who read this blog to hold me accountable. Sugar free, skim lattes are just as nice as full sugar ones. If I buy an exercise bike it's just as easy to ride the bike while watching "Neighbours" as it is to just sit on my ass and play online. It's easy "eat less, move more" and I'm going to do it...if Oprah can own up, so can I.

New layout

Thank you Mooeta for my new custom background. I love it! I think it exemplifies what this blog is about :)

Merry Christmas!

Crumblelicious

Jbug has started experimenting with vegan baking and I realized that my crumble recipe should work with margarine. You can have most of the ingredients sitting around so it's great to make if you want to bake but don't fancy a special trip to the store.

Filling:
5 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (I use canned peaches in JUICE not syrup and fresh berries)
2t teaspoons lemon juice (I use juice from canned peaches sometimes if no lemon)
1/3 cup fine white sugar
3 teaspoons corn starch
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (I've used cinnamon if out of nutmeg)
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Topping:
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 tablespoons COLD unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (I often use a butter spread, so margarine would work here to make it vegan)
1 cup chopped walnuts (I have never made this with nuts)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (about 180 C)

Butter 9" oven-proof casserole dish. (Grease with veggie oil to make vegan)

Mix berries in a large bowl; set aside.

Mix white sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg and lemon juice separately then sprinkle sugar mixture over berries and mix well.

In a separate bowl mix well the flour, brown sugar and nutmeg.

With a pastry knife, cut the butter into the flour until it looks the size of small peas.
(I throw it all in a food processor and mix. It's way easier)
Add the chopped walnuts and mix to distribute the walnut pieces evenly.
Sprinkle on top of blueberry mixture. (If you over mix the topping, like I often do, it is okay, just smoosh it down into squares to make lay over like a patchwork of crust over the top of fruit)

Bake crisp for 40-50 minutes until the blueberries bubble and the top is golden brown.
(Less for fan assisted ovens)

Serve hot from the oven or slightly cooled. I think this is an acceptable breakfast food, feel free to agree or disagree, but oatmeal and fruit is reason enough for me.

Few of my Favorites

Ask and you shall receive! I apologize for the quality of the pictures, but if it's the last thing I do we are getting a new digital camera in Cincinnati. This is our first full size tree so it's a collection of ornaments we've gotten over the years and a set we got at Ikea. I personally like some ornaments (like our Ikea ones) that are vaguely consistent mixed with random mismatchy ones.

Our tree (no lights at the bottom just incase Emma wants a chew)

My Aunt Patti made me this Nutcracker ornament in 1986 when I was in the Cincinnati Ballet Company's performance of "The Nutcracker."

I love my dreidel because it makes me think who decided to make Chanukah ornaments? Works great for Cashews like me though :)

Tartan Santa is new this year and I love him!

Elvis is new too (and was free!) and I include him since his glasses played a role in how NBH and I met.

Emma like to sleep under the tree

I'm a lumberjack & I'm okay.

Growing up my sister, Dad and I would drive out east towards Bethel, Ohio and cut down our Christmas tree. It was a fun filled day filled with hot chocolate, looking for the perfect tree (with enough space underneath for presents) and lunch at BJ's Lake where if the lake had water in it (it was drained sometimes) you could catch & cook your lunch; we never chose that option.

This year I was able to find a choose and cut Christmas tree farm here in Scotland, which is basically unheard of in the UK. We drove about an hour north to Wester Auchentroig farm on the boundary of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park near Buchlyvie.

NBH's Mom, NBH, Emma and I all made the journey a few weekend ago. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more Emma, who was a very, very dirty and tired girl afterwards or Arlene who has in her own words "the most perfect tree ever." Trees were £5 a foot and as our tree is taller than me, but not taller than NBH £25 is a steal!

Here are some photos from the day. There was some snow on the ground, but mostly just ice; still it was the only snow we've seen so far this year. Please ignore NBH's questionable mustache; it has since been shaved off and forgotten.

And the winner is.....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 7

Timestamp: 2008-12-17 09:57:16 UTC

Congratulations Lizzy! Send me your address (Facebook is fine) and I will post off your prize; but be warned UK postal workers are striking on the 19th so I won't guarantee prompt delivery.