What's In Your Noms? | Ceviche la comida de Peru

Ceviche is one of the best known and most delicious dishes of Peru. As I have only started eating fish again for almost 2 years now, I tired it for the first time last May. And let me let you, it is quite superb. Although there are different styles of ceviche here are the most common ingredients:

"Raw" fish / Pescado

Onion / cebolla

Lime juice / jugo de lima

Potato / patata

Corn / choclo (maiz)

 

Although sweet potatos, onions, fish, and lime juice might not seem like a savory combination, trust me, you've got to try it. It is my experience that Peruvians have a healthy appetite; my family of five orders plate loads of ceviche family platters, arroz con marisocs (rice with seafood), and pescado frito (fried fish), and by the end of the meal those plates are wiped clean. Interesting fact: although the fish is raw; it soaked in lime juice, which is one way to "cook" fish. The acid makes the fish firm and you can trust the fish is fresh as the Peru is so close to the coast of the Pacific ocean. I've travel quite a bit for my age, alone and with peers, and I know travelers can be hesitant to try new, strange, foods. I understand, believe me. But trying new things is part of escaping your comfort zone and a risk well worth taking. It also shows respect towards your hosts and their country. Peruvian are very proud of their cuisine.

Being a Veggie

Although I do not eat red meat (I haven't for about 7 years) for this trip I have made a rule for myself: If I am served a plate (with or without meat) I will eat it. For strict vegetarians, this may be a shock. However, this is what works for me. I don't buy or order anything with meat in it, but if someone serves me food, I believe it the most polite way for me to handle it. Now, I don't eat all the meat; as I am not used to it, I only eat a portion so my stomach doesn't react ...negatively. lol. I am also not worried about being a strict veggie because  here I am not eating meat from a fast food chain where the source of the meat and treatment of the animal is problematic. As my health was one reason I started eating fish again, a little more protein won't hurt me as someone with anemia. It is something I have question as I gotten older; whether I should continue being veggie, but one this trip I am content with my rule. Any veggies out there with a similar rule or opinions?

Chicha Morada

 

Corn Juice. Yup, I said it. Corn. Juice. PURPLE corn juice. And yes, it is also delicious. The typical ingredients include:

Purple corn / maiz morado

 

Fruits / frutas

Cinnamon / calena

Cloves / clavo de olor

 

Sugar / azúcar

 

Lime juice / jugo de lima

 

Besides tasting wonderful, chica morada is also very healthy. It contains high amount of anothocyanins and antioxidants, meaning the health of your skin and your regenerative tissues are improved in addition to other benefits.

 

My tios are visiting the US at the moment, so I am living here alone, sorta. My cousin is here, but he works a lot. I'll be cooking and eating out on my own now, but I'm excited. I have lots more family here in any case, and there will be plenty more traditional foods to try.

 

Chao for now,

 

Ginny

What's in Your Noms? | A chart and updates

So here is something handy:

Thank you Pinterest for this lovely chart about vitamins!

I plan on operating 'What's in Your Noms' a little differently. Instead of writing about each vitamin, I'm going to look specifically at what I eat and drink for breakfast, lunch, etc. and learn about its nutritional benefits. I'll also research information about health issues for women and young adults in general--people like me and Kayla, or maybe you! Here’s a sneak peek.

 

 ♥♥♥ Ginny  ♥ ♥♥

A 90 Year Old's Life Lessons

I have learned so much about life and myself within the past several years. I will always remember my 90 something year old grandfather laughing every day and making others laugh, while at the grocery store or the doctor's office. He died not too long ago at the age of 99. Yes, 99! I hope to live until I'm quite ancient and always be surrounded by laughter and love. 

While both of my grandparents were alive, he said his reason for staying alive so long was to take care of my grandma (who was about 11 years younger). Several months after she passed, he soon followed. I'll always try to apply his way of life to mine, by laughing every day and enjoying my loved ones while we're all here together.

When I stumbled upon this piece written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer Newspaper, from Ohio, I knew I had to share! I took away some valuable points that I had forgotten for a while. I hope you also take away something from this too! :-)

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step..

3. Life is too short - enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23 Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don't forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

♥, Kayla

Foods of 2012

Since I tried to improve my cooking habits over the past 5 months, I started photographing the meals I prepared. Here are just a few of my ups and downs. One thing I've learned is that I should always make more for dinner so I can save the left overs for lunch. One thing I want to improve is just my creativity with mixing and flavoring foods. Any suggestions are welcome. Here we gooooo...

I guess I could look at the good part about this. The fiber from the granola bar is a good source of energy. The macaroni is ...filling? And the soda.. ah... the soda. A bad choice. But you know? I'm not really on a diet. I didn't have too much soda over the past few months. I like orange juice in the morning and lots of water through the day. Still, the meals improve I promise.

I showed these in an earlier post, and I made them a few times. They got better!

A nice improvement from simply pasta and cheese. I got this idea from a friend who mixed peas and carrots with mac and cheese. Here I mixed in Lima beans, black olives, and tomatoes.

I've been taking car of my basil since this summer and it's doing well here. I didn't take a picture of it but there was pasta too. The basil was good with the pasta and the croissants.

Vegetable pancakes are sooooooo NOMNOM. And really easy to make. I think there are some recipes on our pinterest for a homemade pancake mix as well. That could make this meal even more healthy.

Another easy meal to make. Rice is cheap and filling, easy to flavor and mix with stuff. I always make too much. That's good though because I end up with more for later.

I'm a pescetarian but don't always eat enough protein. I got this awesome salmon burger while grocery shopping and I cooked it for dinner. Awesome wholesome sandwich. 

That's all for now. Next year I want to work on cooking even more often and making more interesting delicious meals. Guess I should also work on learning how to take good pictures of food. hah. Well, until next time!

Peace and Noms,
Ginny