ArcaMax

Snowy Birthdays...

Almost every year of my life it has snowed on my birthday (which happened to be yesterday). I started keeping track when I was a little kid. From the time I started keeping track until I was 43 it either snowed on my birthday in the town I lived in, or I was in a place celebrating my birthday where it snowed. I just sort of kept track of the snow following me around.

When I was little I was usually ice skating on my birthday. I started ice skating about the same time I could walk. I can remember my older sisters each holding one of my hands while my legs dangled between them, skimming along on the ice. I must have liked it because I became better and better at it. The neighborhood kids and their parents called me “Little Peggy Flemming”. I loved that.

There were days when my brother and I would ice skate before lunch, after lunch and even after dinner in the dark. We were allowed to put our skates on in the house and walk in them around the block to the grade school where they had an ice rink. We could stay on the edge of the sidewalk on ice or snow so our skates didn’t get ruined. In those days no parental supervision was even necessary and thankfully, my mother got some relative peace while we were out. We came home with bright pink cheeks and we’d make hot chocolate. Those were the days.

Well actually they weren’t the ONLY days. I have made a point to enjoy winter (and especially my birthday) every year. As I write this we are having a snowstorm in Chicago. I do love a good snowstorm. I don’t even mind bundling up after it’s over to shovel. Shoveling right after the big snow is one of my favorite times. The wind is usually calm, the temperature quite bearable, and I love the exercise of shoveling. After my back surgery my surgeon instructed me never to shovel again. I miss that. So now I go out and putter around with the broom while my husband shovels. We don’t have a lot to shovel in the city. Behind the garage and in front of the house is it. That’s a lot less than when I was small and we lived on a corner lot with a huge driveway, but we had more kids to shovel then.

Most consider shoveling a chore. I don’t.

There are other ways I’ve entertained myself on my birthday to take advantage of the snow. I have skied in Banff, Canada several times. Boy, I can tell you stories. I’ll keep it short, but one time I was at a ski mountain and they had a celebrity event. We just happened to pick that day (at random) to go to that mountain, so we got a bonus. I walked into the wash room and clomped around in my ski boots and heavy clothing. I about stepped on Jane Seymour. That actress is one tiny woman! I felt like an Amazon around her, and I’m not all that tall! Her hair was so long at the time that even in ski boots it actually draped onto the floor! She had taken it out of her hat and was sort of trying to straighten it. Those of you that ski know you do not want to walk around a public washroom at a ski mountain in your stocking feet. The slush, the mud and the yuk are everywhere. It really can’t be helped. I winced when I saw her hair swishing around in that slop. So much for seeing famous people. There were quite a few there that day but maybe next year on my birthday I’ll talk just about that whole day. It could fill a column in itself.

Another time in Banff (one of my favorite places on the planet by the way), we went snow shoeing in the wilderness. After a big storm the night before, that’s one major chore! Talk about getting a workout! I was exhausted and we were making our way back to the hotel. We had to cross over a set of train tracks. Half way over, we look to our right and lo and behold a train was coming. My heart raced. We made it with more than plenty of room. No horns were blaring or anything but it does give your heart a jump.

I’ve ice skated in Banff outside a hotel bar and reception room. (Another story for a whole column).

I’ve visited an amazing ice sculpture conference in Lake Louise (again in Canada and enough for another whole column) and I’ve cuddled up in front of the fire when it was too cold to venture out.

Do you get the feeling I should write a series on the snow adventures of Zola? I’ve had plenty and they all bring back wonderful memories; except for that one on Mount Hood in Oregon when I dislocated my thumb screaming down an icy slope. Or the time a snowboarder cut in front of me, ran over my skis and I slammed my head into the base of the mountain. Ouch. (More stories to fill columns). I lived to ski again and to celebrate more birthdays.

So Happy Birthday to me!

Chicken Patty Salad
Today’s recipe is a nice lunch or light dinner. From the ZReduction section of The Zola Diet this is a new one I came up with this week. You’ll feel like you are sitting on a terrace in Paris eating this one.

Don’t be afraid of the ground chicken. It’s gooey when you open the package but I have given you hints on how to handle it with ease and you’ll be amazed at how “together” it tastes after it’s cooked. This is even more healthy for you than ground turkey.

Serves 2

8 oz of ground chicken breast

Olive oil spray

Spice blend of choice

2 handfuls of greens

1 large tomato, sliced

1/4 cup of sliced cucumber

1/8 cup of sliced onion

3 Tbl of Zola Diet Dressing* (For this one I used the regular dressing recipe using balsamic vinegar. I added 2 tablespoons of sugar-free mustard and 1/4 tablespoon of dried tarragon. Then just follow the parameters of the recipe. The one I listed below gives you a general guideline for oil-free dressings of all kinds).

Divide the chicken breast into two patties; just like you would a hamburger. Ground chicken is very gooey so just keep your hands wet while you handle it and it will cooperate just fine.

Lightly spray your sauté pan with olive oil spray. Just a spritz. Set your chicken patties in the pan and begin to cook on medium high. These will cook just like beef burgers.

While they are cooking sprinkle on your spice blend of choice. You might use celery salt if you want them mild or you can use any meat rub or Cajun blend if you like them zippy.

When the chicken is light brown on one side, flip it over to cook the other side. You need to cook them until there is no pink in the middle but you’ll be amazed at how moist they stay if you don’t overcook them.

While the chicken is cooking, assemble your salad ingredients. Arrange your greens and toss with dressing. Add the veggies and then place your cooked chicken patty on top.

This makes a rather elegant meal. Enjoy with some bread sticks to round it out and then follow up with your fruit.

For Zola To GO! Just cook the patties ahead. Put them in a baggie and transport the salad and the patties separately. When you want to eat, heat the burger and toss the salad with the veggies.

*The Dressing:

Making dressing is very easy on The Zola Diet. Here are some hints and tips that will help you add a little zest to your Zola Diet foods.

Servings:

See details below

Ingredients:

1 cup of water

1/3 cup of vinegar**

1 to 2 packets of stevia***

Herbs, spices and salt and pepper to taste.  Mustard too.

Instructions:

Making dressing is very easy on The Zola Diet.  A blender is a handy device to make this.  A “bullet-style” blender makes it a breeze if you have one.

I have laid out the proportions above to make a generous amount of dressing but you can just follow the proportions if you want to make a smaller amount.  Just remember the portions are three to pne.  So if you are making dressing for one serving,  three tablespoons of water and one tablespoon of vinegar would do it.  See the process?

Your serving of dressing for a salad is two tablespoons max of any dressing.  All you are really trying to do is give your greens some extra flavor.

**Suggestions for vinegars include:

Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine, garlic red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, balsamic and on and on.  There are so many flavors now.  Read labels so you don’t chose one with sugar in it.

***Suggestions for stevia:

This is a matter of taste. Some like their dressings sweet; others like more vinegar flavor so just add a bit and keep adding til you find out how much you like for a dressing.  For an Asian dressing I might add more stevia so I get a sweet dressing or a sweet-hot dressing.

Herbs, spices, salt and pepper:

Go crazy.   You can use any of these and choose your amounts.

For a French dressing I’d use a white or red vinegar or balsamic, and tarragon.  For the larger amount of dressing up to a tsp of tarragon is fine.  Add salt and pepper to taste and you’re set.  When you get a bit more daring you’d add a Tbl of sugar-free mustard to this and maybe a bit of garlic.

For a dressing over cucumber salad I’d use apple cider vinegar and salt and pepper.  That’s the basic.  For a spicy dressing you can add cayenne

For a Mexican dressing get out your oregano and chili powder.  Add to the water/vinegar combo

For an Indian slant I’d add cumin or curry powder or both to my dressing.

Just experiment with your spice and dried herb collection.  It’s really an open field.

Suggestion for travel:

Get some small baby-food jars so you can carry dressing in your purse or pocket.  This is one thing you’ll need to take to a restaurant unless you want to just dress your salads with vinegar.  They will bring the oil to your table, but don’t use it.

If you order a grilled piece of meat on top of your salad, often the juice from the meat is satisfying without the dressing.  The further you get into ZReduction the less likely you are to miss the dressing but either way, you’re covered.

Cheers
Enjoy,
Zola

Send email to Zola at zolacooks@gmail.com.