Diet, Dessert and Dogs

[Warning:  Extra, extra, extra-long post.  Feel free to portion it out in smaller doses. . . or simply take your time and revel in the sunshine.]

[Nope, no alligators in this Florida body of water. (And no, that's not the HH at the pool!)]

Um, so, yes, I have been rather MIA the past week or so (I’m referring, of course, to the established acronym for “missing in action,” and not the edgy, avante-garde, new-mama songstress of the same initials).  Well, a few days before Valentine’s Day, I simply couldn’t stand this cursed frosty landscape a moment longer; and, since I am on holidays from the college at the moment, I entreated the HH to join me for a spontaneous (albeit short) junket to the same place we sojourned last February: Sunny Florida!

Unlike last year’s pitfall-filled trip, however, this year everything ran smoothly.  I made sure to leave my threatening keychain at home and packed my suspcious toothpaste in my checked baggage, so we breezed through the security checkpoints; our plane took off and landed on time, with a turbulence-free flight in between; our hotel was lovely; and we got to spend a great deal of time with my cousins Marketing Guru and CBC in Sarasota (the former lives there and the latter was visitng).  Even the weather cooperated after an initial protestation and presented us with sunny, temperate days (in the low 70s F, or 22-24 C).

While I won’t bore you with every little activity and event as I did last year, I thought I could encapsulate the trip in a few key photos and captions.  So here goes: 

[source]

I. Trivial Pursuit–Florida Edition:

Who knew that the Tropicana factory was in Tampa?  As we reclined in our Airport Taxi being transported from Tampa to our hotel in Sarasota, our driver, Roderick, provided an ongoing (and constant) narrative about the scenery and locale.  In addition to the Tropicana trivia, we also learned that most homes in the area have automated sprinkler systems to water their yards at night, when it’s cheaper; that Walgreen’s and CVS are the two most popular drugstores in Florida; that driving from New York City to Miami takes about 24 hours if you drive nonstop with two drivers (one sleeping as the other drives); and that one of the biggest Pythons ever found in the Florida Everglades had eyes bigger than its belly when it tried to eat a fully grown alligator; when the alligator got stuck, it exploded and they both died.  Oh, and that Roderick broke up with his girlfriend the second he found out she owned a pet snake–just walked out of the apartment and never looked back.

II. When Travelling While on the ACD, Remember the Boy Scouts (or, God Bless Whole Foods).

[Would this breakfast sustain your for more than 12 hours? Me, neither.]

Because our plane was taking off at 10:00 AM, we had to be at the airport by 8:00, which meant leaving our house at 7:30.  Since The Girls had to be dropped off at doggie daycare by 7:00 AM (“Mum, we like it there and all, but we really didn’t appreciate having to stay for three full days. . . they just don’t dole out the treats the way you do“), we were looking at a wakeup time of 5:30 AM.  It seemed early, but not impossible.  When the hour arrived, however, I was so rushed I had no time for breakfast and blindly grabbed the last (plain, unfrosted) whoopie pie I’d made the week before as sustenance on the way to the airport.  All I can say is, “Foolish, foolish girl.”  Of course, it hadn’t occurred to me that there would be absolutely NOTHING I could eat at the airport; I assumed I’d be able to buy an apple, or some nuts, or something. 

For some reason, though, the airport restaurant offered only pre-cut fruit plates that featured mostly melons (not allowed on the ACD); I just couldn’t justify paying $7.95 for two pieces of pineapple when I’d be throwing away the rest of the fruit.  And there were no plain bags of nuts in sight (only sugar-coated–another no-no).  Ah, well, no worries; I knew we’d be landing by 1:20, so I reasoned I’d buy something once we arrived at the hotel, around 3:00 PM. 

As it turned out, by the time we met up with Roderick, drove to the hotel, checked in, picked up a rental car and got back to the hotel, it was after 5:00 PM. 

Which meant I hadn’t eaten for almost 12 hours.

Before we called my cousins, before we unpacked our bags, before we looked through the tourist pamplets, before we marvelled at the fact we no longer needed our coats, before we even used the washroom–yes, before anything else–we drove to Whole Foods so that I could stave off starvation (okay, I’m being overly dramatic; really, it was so that I could stave off fainting from hunger and crumpling in a heap in the middle of the hotel lobby).  Once there, I bought a trayful of prepared dishes (curry quinoa salad, raw kale salad, garlic tofu and baked beets), a celery-apple-beet-ginger juice and a wheatgrass shot, and downed them all before I even remembered to snap a photo.  Then (and only then), we proceeded to the hotel dining room, where the HH had his dinner and I sipped, quite calmly, on green tea.

Note to self:  no matter how late you need to stay up the night before a trip, be sure to pack a bag of food that you can eat to take with you.

III. My Relatives Make Great Tour Guides.

[St. Armand's Circle, looking very un-circular.]

Despite a short (3-day) trip, my relatives made sure the HH and I saw a lot of the surrounding sites.  On our first afternoon, we were taken to St. Armand’s Circle, an upscale shopping area where “epicurean delights tantalize your taste buds.” We stopped for a relaxing lunch at Venezia, where we ate pizza (everyone else) and salad (me). We later embarked on a walking tour of the Sarasota downtown district, where we learned that the library looks like an opera house, there are sculptures dotting the urban landscape, strangers will let you pat their dogs if you’re in canine withdrawal, the actual opera house itself is fairly nondescript, squirrels in Florida are angular and skinny unlike our fat, round ones here (they don’t need to fatten up for the winter–there is no winter!!) and, according to my cousin, Sarasota is the cultural hub of the entire state.

Our last full day started out at a local deli where my cousins shared a huge pastrami plate, the HH munched on a Reuben, and I scooped up hummus with carrot sticks.  My cousin had actually chosen the place because they promised a “gluten free menu” which turned out to be a typed list of things on the menu that were NOT gluten free as a warning to those celiacs among us. (Bizarrely, the list included “Rice” under the “Do Not Eat” category; when I questioned the hostess about this, she noted that it referred to “wild rice.”  “But wild rice is also gluten-free,” I countered.  At that point, she wrinkled her nose, pretended she didn’t hear me, and began to search for our table.)

[Not a bad place to spend an afternoon.]

After lunch, my cousins drove us around the Siesta Key area as the HH and I gawked at the stunning homes on the water and then strolled along Siesta Key Beach, one of the most appealing beaches I’ve ever seen, with sand as fine and white as talcum. We strolled under the soothing sun beside the gurgling tide and relaxed into our holiday.

IV. Sarasota is a Cultural Hub; but Sadly, Not a Culinary Hub.

[Our hotel breakfast table:  three kinds of artificial sweetener and only one kind of real sugar.  HH, I think we're not in Toronto any more. . . ]

After my success finding so many fabulous ACD options last year in Miami, I assumed I’d have just as easy a time this year.  Well, you know what they say about those of us who assume. Perhaps it was because I was in the company of omnivores who love their meat; perhaps the HH and I simply didn’t find the “right” restaurants there (and many thanks to those of you who proffered suggestions–which I wasn’t able to frequent). After the first night’s Whole Foods escapade, I made do with the few options available wherever we happened to be.  In our hotel, where breakfast was included each day, I was able to pick out roasted potatoes (one day, they were sweet potatoes), fresh pineapple, and green tea.  It wasn’t until the last morning there that it occurred to me to tote along my own accoutrements to add to the pot of cooked oatmeal, thereby re-creating a familiar favorite, like so:

[Behold the only food photo I snapped during the entire holiday: cooked oatmeal with almond butter (thanks, Justin's individual packets) and my own, always-with-me, stevia (thanks, NuNaturals).]

In fact, the best “restaurant” meal of the trip turned out to be the takeout Chinese my cousin brought home for Valentine’s Day, after all the restaurants he tried were booked.  The four of us shared food out of cardboard boxes (well, we spooned it onto plates first) and gabbed for a few hours.  Perhaps not the most romantic V-Day, but one spent with three people I love. And we were in Florida, away from the snow, ice, cold, wind, frost, snow, slush, grey skies, and snow. 

Well, that was enough to warm my heart.

V. There’s No Place Like (the food at) Home.

[The Girls getting back into their post-Florida groove.  ("We missed your treats--I mean, we missed YOU, Dad!)]

While we had a fantastic time with relatives and sunshine galore, one thing I learned from this trip is that Florida squirrels are skinny  you should always wear sunscreen  Pythons’ eyes are bigger than their stomachs  we are really blessed with fabulous food options in Toronto. 

And so, in honor of a dish that I often order at a favorite restaurant here in town, and one that we make at home all the time, I present you with today’s recipe for Pasta Arrabiata.  It has nothing to do with Florida, per se, but I sorely missed being able to order something that is both delicious and which I could safely eat at a restaurant while away during the past week.

The pasta recipe also introduces a new feature here on DDD:  Kitchen Classics! So often, we in the food blog world spend most of our time seeking out novel or unusual recipes, those we consider “blog worthy” or those that will stand out from the throngs of dishes being highlighted on other food blogs.  We sometimes overlook those recipes we make all the time–the “favorites” or “go-to” recipes we turn to when we want something comforting, or consistent, or reliable. 

I consider as “classic” any recipe for a dish that’s common across most of the continent, for which most people have one “favorite” recipe in their repertoire.  Everyone has their own favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie, right?  Or how about a favorite Guacamole?  Or Chili?  Those are the classics! 

I’ve also gone through the blog archives and tagged any existing DDD recipes that apply (such as those above), including Best Home Fries Ever, Chocolate Tofu Pudding, Soy-Free Vegan Whipped Cream, Fluffy Fruited Pancakes, Classic Green Smoothie, Coleslaw, Cheesecake, Oven Baked Root Vegetable “Fries,” and a bunch of others that have become my standard recipes when I’m looking for a classic taste.  (You can see them all by clicking on the category, “Kitchen Classics,” at right).

This Arrabiata has been in the DDD lineup for quite some time–I seem to recall cooking it for the HH on one of our starry-eyed early dates–and we tend to have it at least once or twice per month.  You can cook up the sauce in a jiffy while the pasta boils, and have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.  The result is a lively tomato sauce that won’t weigh you down, yet is thick enough to cling well to your pasta.  The addition of red bell pepper provides a subtext of sweetness that’s a perfect counterpoint to the spicy chili pepper.  It couldn’t be easier–and it always delivers a tasty, satisfying and quick dinner.  And there’s no need to fly in an airplane to get it.

Ah, it’s good to be home. . . .

Last Year at this Time: Flash in the Pan: Egyptian Fava Bean Breakfast

Two Years Ago: PS I Love You: V-Day Dinner 2009 (Celeri Remoulade and Tempeh Meatball Stroganoff)

Three Years Ago: Soba Noodles with Ginger, Chard and Walnuts (for ACD: substitutte Bragg’s for the tamari)

© Diet, Dessert and Dogs

[Do you have any idea how scary it was to snap a closeup of this alligator?!

 Me, neither. (Source)]

After that harrowing ordeal in the airport and the relentless carnival atmosphere of Miami Beach in the first half of our trip, the HH and I were more than ready to head north to Sarasota, where my cousin Marketing Guru (MG) had promised a more serene lifestyle.  So let’s hit the road, shall we?

I. En Route to Sarasota: See Ya Later, Alligator

[Can you believe how many alligators live along this stretch of Florida highway?? Me, neither. (Source)].

Leaving Miami, we headed along interstate Route 75, also known as “Alligator Alley.”  This 200-mile (320 km) stretch of highway dissecting the Everglades offers the curious sightseer but one image:  a seemingly endless vista of flat terrain dotted with the occasional tawny brush, swampland on either side, and a veritable army of alligators poised on either shore, patiently awaiting their lunch (human, perhaps?), effectively sporting their green leathery camouflage.  I tried over and over to snap a photo as we whizzed by the monochromatic scenery, to capture only this:

[Can you spot the alligator in this photo?  Me, neither.]

Finally, after about 2 hours without pit stops, bathroom breaks, or any other signs of civilized life, we lit upon Naples, then continued right through to Sarasota (with a quick rest stop at a local Sheraton Four Points Punta Gorda).

II. Sarasota:  Feed Me!

I was initially a little wary before our reunion with MG,whom I hadn’t seen in about 10 years. It was also the first time I really got to know MG’s wife (MGW), with whom I’d never really spent any quality time.  I shouldn’t have fretted: they were both incredibly hospitable, gracious and welcoming, and we four hit it off famously.  I mean, for our first dinner out, MG suggested  Chutney’s (“where spice is the variety of life”), primarily because “they have a daily vegetarian option.”  (Is he a great guy, or what?) The combination Indian and Mediterranean menu provided more than enough choice for this Canuck gal.  Thanks, cuz! 

A cozy, unassuming atmosphere beckoned and the food, both homey and creative, was excellent.  My pick (of course) was the vegetarian curry of the day (with chickpeas and vegetables) along with a hefty portion of the Mediterranean appetizer plate shared by us all (including baba ganouj, hummus, tahini and falafel).  We did manage to get back to the house in time for an hour of ice dancing* before falling into bed.  All in all, a great first evening!

III. Sarasota: Come Over Here and Give Me a Pug.

One of Sarasota’s most quirky public events is known as the ”Pug Parade.”  For this annual festival, every dog owner in the city–nay, the state (and beyond) dresses up her or his pug, then sashays along a runway with said costumed canine to determine which will win the Dog Owner with Way Too Much Time on Their Hands award.  (Okay, I made up that last part.  But they do choose a winner for best dog costume.). 

Well, as it turned out by sheer coincidence, the HH and I arrived on the selfsame weekend as this year’s parade!  And by even greater coincidence, Marketing Guru and MGW have a pug!  And her name is Misty!  And Misty is a former Pug Parade Champion!

Needless to say, we attended this year’s Pug Parade.

Milling about under a massive tent in the center of a local park, I have never seen so many pugs in one place, let alone so many pugs in wildly creative costumes (biker pug with actual tatoos; sushi pug rolled into a giant nori roll; bride pug with bouquet and groom pug; geisha pug; birthday cake pug; ballerlina pug, Tiger Woods pug, Lady GaGa pug, Bug Pug, and any other kind of pug you can imagine).  Misty, this time round, was dressed as Pugahontas.  Ain’t she cute?

[Can you spot the alligator in this photo?  It's right there in front, dressed up as a pug.]

Though she didn’t win this time round, Misty did receive a huge round of applause and several hoots.

Later, as we drove through the idyllic neighborhood with its palm tree-lined streets and placid parklands, the HH and I both marvelled at how beautiful the area was. A planned community, almost the entire city had been built from scratch. 

“Oh, when we first moved in, there were still lots of alligators roaming the streets,” MGW told us.  “And wild boars everywhere.” Alligators?  Wild boars? 

I nodded politely.  “Wow,” I said.  “You guys are brave to have moved here back then.  Good thing the alligators have all gone now.”

“Well, not really,” she countered. “They just hang around the ponds now.  You can usually spot a few at each pond.”  Given there were ponds at just about every intersection, and given I had not yet spied a single solitary alligator with my own eyes, I remained incredulous. We approached another pond.

“Here, take my binoculars,” MGW urged as Marketing Guru slowed the car.  I peered through the lenses at the not-so-distant shore.  And. . . what the–?? That dark olive-grey mass in front of the trees. . . by George, it WAS an alligator!  But wait!  There were two more masses beside it, just over there to the right. . . ! And what was that further down the shore–??!!  I could feel my skin begin to tingle.

“They stay still during the day, but they generally come out at night,” MGW informed us.  “Don’t worry, though, they don’t come up to the houses. . . well, not anymore.”

And just like that, there went my dreams of moving to Sarasota.  

IV. Sarasota, Sarasota: It’s a Wonderful Town!

As a perk of his position at the Sarasota Orchestra, MG was able to secure tickets to that weekend’s concert for the four of us (yippee!).  On the playlist that evening were three performances: Bernstein’s “Three Dance Episodes from On the Town” (from which “New York, New York, It’s a Wonderful Town” originated); Barber’s “Violin Concerto Op. 14” performed by the young, critically acclaimed Elena Urioste (whose performances–both visual and aural–were stunning); and Saint-Saens’ “Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78,” the organ symphony. 

Our pre-performance dinner that night took place at  Tropical Thai, another quaint spot that served up surprisingly good food.  I was, again, surprised and delighted with the number of vegan options (there was even an entire page of Macrobiotic dishes!).  I opted for miso soup, followed by a red curry with vegetables and tofu–not as tasty as the previous night’s Indian curry, but satisfying nonetheless.

Then, it seemed, just as we began to really relax and feel at home,** it was suddenly time to return to Toronto.  Here we are now, a week after our return, and it feels as if we never left.  And as a bonus, we were greeted last week with the biggest snowstorm so far this season. As Pepé le Pew would say,  Le sigh.

["Mum, it definitely felt like you left to us. And don't worry about the snow--at least you won't find any alligators living in this climate!]

Well, if I can’t physically remain in Florida, at least I can travel back along the highway of gustatory imagination. I decided to recreate the delectable butternut-edamame hash I savored at Wish in Miami.  With small, uniform cubes of roasted butternut squash cozying up to perky green edamame, both awash in a slightly gooey, slightly sweet maple glaze, this hash was the epitome of clean and delicious fare.  I had to have it again!

My version uses yacon as a standin for maple syrup in the original, though you should feel free to swap it back if you prefer the latter or can’t find the former (unless you’re also on the ACD, that is, in which case, sorry–maple syrup is verboten).

The bright hues and fresh flavors of this dish are guaranteed to bring a little bit of Florida sunshine into your mealtime.  And no alligators, I promise.

*That would be, “watching it on TV,” not “doing it.”

**Not that I’d ever get used to the alligators, however.

 Butternut and Edamame Hash (suitable for ACD Phase I or later)

inspired by a dish at Wish restaurant.

With its combination of sweet squash, chewy edamame and sticky glaze, this high-protein dish makes a perfect accompaniment to any savory main course. 

1 small butternut squash, peeled and seeded, cut into 1″ (2.5 cm) cubes

2 Tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) fine sea salt

1 cup (240 ml) shelled, cooked edamame

2 Tbsp (30 ml) yacon syrup and 3 Tbsp (30 ml) water OR 1/4 cup (60 ml) pure maple syrup

1 small clove garlic, minced

1 Tbsp (15 ml) toasted sesame oil

1 tsp (5 ml) arrowroot powder or cornstarch blended with 1/4 cup (60 ml) water until smooth

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) maple flavoring (if using yacon syrup), optional

pinch fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray with olive oil spray.  Also spray a casserole or square pan and set aside.

Place the raw squash cubes in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil and salt.  Toss with your (clean) hands until all the pieces are coated evenly.  Spread the squash on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the cubes are just tender.  Remove the squash and reduce the oven heat to 350F (180C).

Meanwhile, in a small pot, combine the yacon/water or maple syrup, garlic, sesame oil and arrowroot mixture until well blended.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and bubbles; continue to cook and stir for 30 seconds, until thick.  Remove from heat and stir in the maple flavoring, if using; season with more sea salt to taste.

Place the squash cubes and edamame in the reserved casserole dish and pour the glaze over them; toss with a large spoon or spatula until all the squares are coated.  Reheat in the oven until everything is warmed through, about 10 minutes.  Stir again before serving.   Makes 4 side servings.

Last Year at this Time: A break.  But how about My Mother’s Potato Corn Chowder instead?

Two Years Ago: Bangkok Noodles with Cashews and Pineapple* (*Or, How to Get Your Meat-Loving Guy to Love a Vegan Meal)

© 2010 Diet, Dessert and Dogs