Fiber One Pancakes...Oh yeah!

When it comes to pancakes, sometimes I'll make them from scratch and other times from a mix.  Just add water and they are ready within minutes.  Voila!    In general, a boxed mix tastes like a boxed mix.   Whether it's pancakes, muffins, brownies, cornbread or cake - this isn't grandma's home cookin'.   That isn't necessarily a bad thing.  What a boxed mix says to me is please feel free to make me better.  There are a million ways to doctor up or enhance a recipe.  This time, I just added blueberries to the pancake mix.

In all of my years of living,  I do declare that Fiber One is now my favorite pancake mix.  The pancakes are light and delicious.  They didn't taste artificial nor did they taste too organic.  When I made the oatmeal, wheat and banana pancakes, I enjoyed them, but I knew that I was eating something very healthy and organic tasting.    I prefer to eat healthy and not be reminded of it.  I don't think that the taste has to closely resemble the healthy and basic ingredients.   I found a blogger that reviewed these pancakes back in 2008 and there were a lot of positive comments that followed, one as recent as January. 

I cut them up so you could see the blueberries inside...oh yeah.....

Here are a few thoughts on nutrition labels.   I have a tendency to focus on the top half of the label, especially the serving size.  People keep saying size matters...heh, heh, hehhhh.  But seriously, we should be aware of how much we are consuming.  The amount of fat and calories per serving size should be taken into consideration.  For example, if you prepare 3 Fiber One pancakes using 1/2 cup of mix, you will consume 3.5 grams of fat which is only 5% of what you should have per day.  This is based on a 2,000 calorie/day diet.  This is just for the cooked pancakes and does not take into consideration the oil you will cook it in or toppings (e.g. syrup).  I also pay close attention to fiber, sodium, protein and sugars.

 

The bottom half of the label is also important.  I tend not to read this portion as much.  However, it lists the nutrients and the percentage found in a serving size.  I tend not to keep up with my intake of important nutrients and apparently I should.  Upon a recent visit to my doctor, I was told that I was low in Vitamin D.  In her eastern European accent she said Vitamin D...everybody low.  I run your test and you will see.  I know.  Everybody low.  She was right, I was low.

The footnote tells you that the Percent Daily Values is based on a 2,000 calorie diet.  In other words, you may need to adjust these appropriately based on how many calories you need to consume.  The FDA has great information about nutrition facts label here.  

Standing around in the grocery store may seem kind of lame.  I used to think these people were quite odd. But back then, I was a good 30+ pounds heavier...maybe more. Now, I too stand in the aisles of the grocery store reading nutrition labels.  I also look at how much more this healthier option is going to cost me because there is a limit to what I'm willing to pay.

5K, here I come!

I've always wanted to be a runner and I've always wanted to be a swimmer.  Recently, I've taken on running.  The swimming can wait as this may involve psychotherapy.  Let's just say that a swimming instructor physically forced a terrified child, head-first, into the deep end of the pool.  I guess that was how the YMCA taught children who can't swim, to dive, back in the mid to late 70's.  As I said, psychotherapy. 

I want to make it clear about the type of runner that I want to be.   As of today, I have no desire to run in half marathons or marathons.   I have no desire to time myself.  Running a 5K here and a 10K there without stopping would be quite sufficient.  This is my goal today.   One day, I may want to do more.

About 2 months ago, as part of this goal, I decided that I would participate in the Ben Does Life tour  when it comes to Atlanta on Sunday, June 26.   I thought that was realistic since I could comfortably walk 5 miles.   In the last few months, I would run at least a third of it.  My strategy was similiar to the Couch to 5K running plan.  So, I could possibly complete a 5K without walking.  If only I believe.

Initially, when I made a conscious decision to jog longer than half a mile, I remember exactly how I felt.  Sluggish, slow and annoyed.  Sluggish and slow, because I was.  Annoyed, because I didn't want to feel sluggish and slow.  I wanted to go jogging off into the sunset like I had been running for years.   But that's not how it works.  One great piece of advice given to me from a colleague and friend was that I should jog at a really slow pace.  She said something like... Karen, c'mon...like for real...technically you could jog at a slower pace than you currently walk.  That made a whole lot of sense to me and it works. 

When I'm running, I'm aware of demoralizing thoughts such as BOY ARE YOU SLOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU ARE WAYYY TOOO BIG TO BE RUNNING, I BET YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS AND SOMEWHAT FLICTED...etc, etc, etc.   I no longer worry about these thoughts or chastise myself for having them.  That's just fear and disbelief talking.  They do a whole lot of yappin initially in protest of change.   Besides, thoughts come and go.  All I need to do is to just keep running.  And I do.

The place where I am in training is Mountain Park Park.  And yes, it is really named Mountain Park Park.  One of my friends who lives close to the park told me about it.  I love it.  There are all kinds of friendly people there of different ages and skin hues.  Just the other day a tall, white fellow with beautiful grey hair in his sixties or seventies jogged past me and waved his hand and said...Hello there!  It was almost as if we knew each other.  I want to be like that twenty years from now.  I want to be jogging past people, enthusiastic, vibrant and saying hi to people I don't know. 

The park gets great useage because of the trails, baseball fields, tennis courts, skateboard park, soccer field and playground.  The 1 mile multi-use paved trail has 1/10 mile distance markers and that is great for what I'm trying to do.  This is one great use of public dollars.

On this particular day, I spent the first mile leisurely walking and taking photos (see below).  I then jogged the next two miles without stopping.  The last mile I walked and smiled like a fool.  It was approximately 1:08 pm, Sunday, May 15, 2011 when I finished 4 miles.  When I started the first mile at 11:55 am, I had no intention of jogging 2 miles.  However, I have consistently jogged 1-1.5 miles without stopping the last two weeks.   This time, I had reached a particular stopping point and decided to keep going.   It was a pretty simple decision.  Just keep going.  5K, here I come!

The starting point.  Most distance markers are partially hidden. 

A visually appealing pond that sometimes smells weird and stinky.

Maybe its the ducks...

This photo of the skatepark was actually taken several months ago.

Baseball fields down to the right

A lonely little stretch....

Playground and soccer fields.  A visible distance marker!

Just through the trees on the left is the public library.

My favorite distance marker...I'm close to finishing a mile.

More of Memphis

Stax Museum

Since I was in Memphis to exhale, it was not my plan to try and see everything.  That would defeat my purpose.  But I saw a few things.

The Stax Museum of American Soul was pretty cool.  It was interesting how something so phenomenal was just down a lonely, two-lane road.  Earlier, while eating catfish alongside an older black couple on Beale Street, I mentioned that I was on my way to see the Stax Museum.  They were on their way to see the Memphis Grizzlies.  He said, Yeah...my wife is from that part of Memphis.  She, fondly and sweetly, said..Yes, I used to play right outside the museum as a little girl but it wasn't much of nuthin then.  They've done such a good job with it!  He said, as if this was crucial to the conversation...Yeah...she from the hood!  We all laughed. 

Stax from across the street

On a spinning platform was Isaac Hayes' peacock blue 1972 Eldorado Cadillac.  It had a white fur interior and 24 karat gold accessories and trim.  Stax gave this $27,000 car to him as a gift.  There was a little television between the front driver and passenger seats in the front. 

It was a beauty...

On this site stood Stax Records...in case you didn't know it from the big building with the red marquee that says STAX.

Oh...then there was the floods...

Evidence of the flooding was just a few blocks away from my hotel.  I took this photo riding on the Riverfront Trolley.

This police officer in the cute yellow shirt was glad to talk to all of the tourists about the flooding.  He was very dramatic and excited.  It was as if he was born to educate others about the 2011 floods of Mississippi.  

 

The officer said that this tree (below) was halfway submerged in about 15 feet in the water.   Wherever you see water used to be greenspace.  This was after I asked him...what's normal?  He couldn't wait to tell me. 

Tree, half-way submerged and several days before the river was to crest

No parking sign..so there was a time when people tried to park here

Floating dumpster

This was as far as we could go and the police made sure...

And to me, all of this was very sad.

Blue Plate Cafe in Memphis



The Blue Plate Cafe was in close proximity to my hotel (Courtyard Marriott).  What I liked about this restaurant had more to do with the ambience than the food.  It was bright and open with local artwork on the yellow walls.  A lot of the paintings were of animals.  It looked like a renovated two story home where the ceiling between the first and second floor had been removed.  Near the front entrance on the left, was a dramatic wooden staircase leading to the second floor. 

The Blue Plate Cafe

I thought the menu was pretty cool.   At first, I wondered why the waitress gave me this community paper  to read instead of a menu.  The front page included the history of the restaurant and a list of rules to follow to have a good life.   

This was a pretty huge menu similar to most diners in Anywhere, USA.  I was worried that I would spill my coffee thereby destroying the thin menu.  The week before, while at work, I was enjoying a wonderful cup of herbal tea.  As I reached around the cup to adjust my laptop,  I knocked the entire cup of tea into my lap.   Legitimate fears. 

While enjoying my breakfast, I received a text from DevinZ.

DZ: Where ya headed this morning?

KT:  Eating at the Blue Plate Cafe now and then to the National Civil Rights Museum.

 

KT: Pancakes...good!

KT:  Creamed spinach omelet...eeewwwwwwww...I sent that shit right back

DZ:  Naaaasty!!!

KT:  Bacon and cheddar omelet...much better!

DZ:  Why were you ordering a creamed spinach omelet?  What were you thinking?

KT:  Yeah...I got what I deserved.  Just to try it.  I didn't think they would use the same creamed spinach they serve in prison.

DZ:  Hahajahaaaa

Overall, the food tasted pretty good.  The staff was super nice and accommodating.  My waitress was genuinely sorry that I did not like the creamed spinach omelet.   She immediately offered something else and checked back with me later.  She even gave me a cup of coffee to go.  If you are staying in the area I would definitely recommend it. 

Mother's Day - Your Love is Like Tears from the Stars

Grandmother Hattie, Mom, Aunt Parthenia - Wedding Day, Sept. 1962

Mother's Day is a celebration and tribute to all women in the world who are mothers or who have loved, mothered, guided, supported and nourished others to make this world a better place. In the words of my friend Julie Rainbow: Thank you for sharing your loving, nurturing, and caring Spirit with me and others. You have enriched my life and the world. May the feminine energy continue to express itself and balance life on earth.

Song for Mama - Boyz II Men

You taught me everything
And everything you've given me

I always keep it inside

You're the driving force in my life, yeah

There isn't anything

Or anyone that I can be

And it just wouldn't feel right

If I didn't have you by my side

You were there for me to love and care for me

When skies were grey

Whenever I was down

You were always there to comfort me

And no one else can be what you have been to me

You will always be you always will be the girl

In my life for all times

Mama, mama you know I love you

Oh you know I love you

Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart

Your love is like

Tears from the stars

Mama, I just want you to know

Lovin' you is like food to my soul

Yes it is

You're always down for me

Have always been around for me even when I was bad

You showed me right from my wrong

Yes you did

And you took up for me

When everyone was downin' me

You always did understand

You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times

Looking back when I was so afraid

And then you come to me

And say to me I can face anything

And no one else can do

What you have done for me

You'll always be

You will always be the girl in my life

Mama, mama you know I love you

Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart

Your love is like

Tears from the stars

Mama, I just want you to know

Lovin' you is like food to my soul

Yes it is

Never gonna go a day without you

Fills me up just thinking of you

I'll never go a day without my mama

Exhaling in Memphis

  

A view of the hotel from the park



So I needed to get away. In my getting away I found myself in Memphis, Tennessee.  There are quite a few details and nuances about why I needed to get away and how I selected Memphis.  Blah, blah, blah....  That's a story for another time and another day.   Frankly, I find it boring, you know, those things we generally complain and ponder about.  What matters is that this is what I needed.  In fact, I will do this more often.  

 

A beautiful live plant arrangement

I thought I would blog about my solo visit to Memphis because I think a lot of people are afraid to do unfamiliar things, especially solo. I use the term solo instead of alone. Often when people use the term alone, there is the connotation of sadness, pity or despair. Solo has more to do with a decision or choice...therefore coming from a place of empowerment.



Me and the plant

I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott at Jefferson and Main Street. This hotel was really nice. The interior design was modern and welcoming.  The color schemes belonged to the brown, organge and gold family.   In the lobby, there was a really nice scent which I associated with a spa moreso than a hotel.   And scents matter.   There were beautiful plant arrangements throughout the hotel. 

 

My room was really nice.  The bed was super comfy...

Another view of my room from my bed...

Once settled, I went searching for food.  It was early evening - cool and breezy.  I decided I needed to walk.  Walking is a great way to unwind and force your body and mind into relaxation.  It was about two miles to and from Beale Street.  Along the way, I stopped by Walgreens and picked up a candle, postcards and snacks.  Once I got to Beale Street, I discovered, rather suddenly, that I was exhausted.   Then there was all of this loud music blaring from the various clubs, bars and restaurants.   I scurried away in the direction of my hotel.   There, I had a delicious dinner of burger and fries.   

I decided not to have a planned schedule for this getaway.   I had a general idea of things I wanted to do.   However, the overarching goal of this getaway was to relax, write and experience something new.   So, I moved about intuitively.  

 

I lit my candle and took a  hot shower.  I put on my favorite PJs. I sat in my bed with my herbal tea.  Then, I exhaled.   

Some Things Never Die

Devin Zimmerman

Guest Blogger

Growing up, we were NASCAR fans. Diehard NASCAR friends. My dad had a network of 30 or so friends from across the Southeast who would all meet up and go to the races together. It was more like a family reunion every Spring and Fall when the loud group of rascals would roll into Douglasville with their pickup trucks, motorcycles and minivans. 

Living in Atlanta, the Zimmermans always had the privilege of hosting all the rowdy friends the night before the races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The house would be packed and the garage would be rockin' when country came to town in anticipation of the 500 miles of asphalt-grinding excitement that would come the next day. Aviators were out in full swing and everyone wore the logos and sponsors of their favorite NASCAR drivers on those great Sunday mornings. 

My step mom and I always donned the task of preparing breakfast for our friends. Being a personal chef, my step mom was always the master of preparing in advance, thus breakfast was always on par for the hungry NASCAR fans and most of the time, some, if not all, was prepared the night before. My favorite (and the simplest) recipe is Stuffed French Toast.

When I moved to school and became a University of Georgia bulldog, I took on the same task - breakfast before home games. Every Saturday morning before we all made the 2-mile trek to Sanford Stadium to cheer on our dawgs, breakfast was at Devin's! All the neighbors, friends and family in town would come over to apartment 304 for morning mimosas (or Bud Light, if you're really classy) and the freshest prepared breakfast. The biggest hit of my college career and the football season of 2009 - Stuffed French Toast. 

So as the tradition continues, the recipe lives on. And while I mourn the death of my father, it brings great joy to me that I can give to my best friends what was given to his before the races. It's the simple things that we must all appreciate - like family recipes and loved ones.  Recently, I shared the recipe with my office. Some things never die. 

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for your next big breakfast. In the words of the great Darryl Waltrip and as my Daddy and all his friends would say before each race - BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY BOYS! Let's Go Racing!

Stuffed French Toast

1 loaf of homestyle white bread, unsliced

3 fresh peaches

2 packages cream cheese

2 cups milk

6 eggs

cinnamon

confectioners sugar

maple syrup

vanilla

Slice bread into 2-inch slices. Cut a small pocket into each piece. Soften cream cheese in microwave and add 1/2 cup confectioners sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Stuff cream cheese mixture into the pocket-incisions in the bread. Be generous! Insert 1-2 slices of peaches into each piece of bread. Lay all pieces into a greased 9 x 13'' baking dish. Speckle tops with cinnamon and a coating of confectioners sugar. Mix eggs and milk in a bowl and pour generously over bread in baking dish. Cover and cool in refrigerator overnight.

In the morning, bake your Stuffed French Toast on 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Egg mixture will be fully cooked when ready. Sprinkle another coat of confectioners sugar and serve with your favorite maple syrup!  Enjoy!

 

Devin Z, as I call her, is a colleague and friend.  She easily falls into the category of real cool chick.  The two pans of stuffed french toast that she brought into the office were simply divine!   You can follow Devin Z on twitter @DevinZ - Karen