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Ketchup Versus Catsup

I made my ketchup recipe again this morning. I can’t get enough of these egg white omelettes I have been making.

This one did not come out as pretty as last week’s egg white omelette did. This is probably because I added in shredded zucchini to the egg whites and then started washing dishes instead of paying attention to the pan!

Ingredients:

  • 5 egg whites (organic, free range! I’m being strict about this)
  • shredded zucchini (too much – maybe a whole cup or so)
  • fresh basil from my dad’s garden (thanks Dad!)
  • 1 small chopped tomato (my favorite part about any omelette)
  • peanut oil for the pan (maybe 1/2 tablespoon; this is from Bell Plantation and it is awesome)
  • homemade ketchup (the best part!)

I mixed together the egg whites, zucchini, and basil. Then I heated up my wok (high heat), added peanut oil, and dumped in the egg white mix. I let that cook for a minute and dumped on the tomato, then attempted to fold it… And failed. It still tasted good, especially with the addition of my homemade ketchup. I have been adding sweetener to the ketchup (today it was honey) and so far my favorite way to sweeten it is with plain old white sugar. I think brown might be even better but unfortunately I am all out of it so I haven’t been able to try!

Ketchup versus Catsup (Cats):

I love my kitty-cats. Kabocha “Bo” is above; Couscous “Koos” is below.

Sometimes when I upload my pictures to blog I discover that Bobby has been photographing while I sleep! He tends to go to bed later than I do (I’m a midnight person and he’s a 3am person – but I would really prefer to be in bed by 10-11!).

What is your “bedtime”? I recently went to a workshop that emphasized the importance of getting to sleep before midnight, stopping eating around 8pm (so your body has time to digest before it sleeps), and stopping drinking around 9pm (so you don’t wake up because you have to pee!). The second two (eating, drinking) are both really hard for me to do. I tend to eat after dinner and I always have a big drink right before I sleep. I’d like to try this though and see if I feel any different.

Exercise of the day: Today Bobby and I walked together that same route I did the other day – up 5th Avenue next to Central Park. It was rather humid, but it was a nice walk. We just chatted and enjoyed this beautiful Fourth of July. Hope you are enjoying it too!

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Homemade Ketchup Fun & Nature’s Pride Bread

I’m a big ketchup fan. Especially when it’s homemade. I first made my own ketchup last spring (with Sagan’s recipe). But I haven’t made it since before I moved to New York (back in November) and I definitely miss it. I am tired of the HFCS-filled stuff that I eat in restaurants! Anyway, I am getting off topic. I used my homemade ketchup recipe this weekend (the only difference was that I added a few teaspoons of sugar this time) to make a yummy ketchup dip. (Click here for recipe!)

Okay I used way more than pictured. I used it first for omelettes. My omelette was 5 egg whites with a fresh chopped tomato and sauteed greens (in peanut oil) that my dad gave me this weekend. (We were down in NJ doing wedding plans Friday-Saturday.) I cooked the omelette in olive oil. Bobby’s omelette was 3 eggs with tomato and no greens (but lots of ketchup) cooked in olive oil. (Not pictured.)

Omelettes are so good.

The other thing I used the ketchup for was Bobby’s hot dog. As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a bunch of Nature’s Pride rolls. So excited for these! I cooked up a nitrate/nitrite-free turkey dog for him and spread the roll with ketchup and mustard.

He loved it. I have been having these rolls for breakfast but I’ll share that later.

In other news, I’m still keeping up with my tv-exercise routine. I did this Kendell Hogan routine this morning. It’s a 30-minute dance routine from Exercise TV and it’s free! I used to do this one a lot back when we were in California. So fun. I highly recommend it.

Work has been busy and I can’t wait to plop down tonight with my book (finally going to finish Lipstick Jungle) and maybe a Bones episode (or 2 or 3). I also have a kabocha roasting in the oven. Sometimes it’s really nice to just *not* do anything productive at all. Anyone agree with me? What’s your favorite totally lazy thing to do?

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Brunch at The Mudspot: Perfection

A few weeks (months?) ago (here) we went to The Mudspot with friends for brunch. It was delicious! This weekend Bobby and I took my mom there for brunch on Mothers Day. She absolutely loved it. I think she said it was the best meal she’s ever had.

Brunch ($12.95) comes with coffee (“mud”) and your choice of a mimosa, champagne, or orange juice.

We all got coffee; I got a mimosa, Bobby got orange juice, and my mom got champagne. The cups for water are small jars, which I love. I always drink out of jars (even smoothies).

My mom got the special, which was an omelette with tomato, basil, mozzarella, and prosciutto. Home fries on the side and the most amazing 5-grain bread I’ve ever had.

Bobby got the bagel and gravlax, which is a bagel with cream cheese, salmon, tomato, and onion. He got this last time too.

I got the big love salad, which is mixed greens, fresh goat cheese, guacamole, roasted peppers, pico de gallo, and roasted corn. I got the vinaigrette and the 5-grain toasted bread with butter. I want this bread! I asked and they said it is from Amy’s. Must go.

I’ve been mostly vegetarian lately, but haven’t been able to shake the cheese or butter. Not that I’m trying! Just something I noticed. I do like my cheese, especially goat cheese. And I adore butter on anything and everything. (The other thing that keeps me from being a full-on veg-head is shrimpies. I love my shrimpies.)

What’s your favorite brunch food? I like pancakes, but only if my dad makes them. I also like French toast, but… only if my dad makes it. So when we go out I tend to stick with oatmeal, eggs & bacon, omelettes, or yummy salads with extras like goat cheese and guacamole.