Medals and Other Musings

I would like to take a moment to give Michael Phelps his due.

Yes, the man has won more gold medals than any previous athlete. Yes, he breaks a world record every time he dips a toe into a pool. Yes, he has an "aw, shucks" adorableness that NBC newscasters giggle and blush over (I'm talking to you, Bob Costas).

But have you heard what this guy eats for breakfast?

"Three sandwiches of fried eggs, cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onions and mayonnaise, add one omelet, a bowl of grits, and three slices of french toast with powdered sugar, then wash down with three chocolate chip pancakes."

The man eats between 8,000 and 10,000 calories per day. And then he gets in the pool and swims for five hours.

He should get a medal every time he finishes a plate.

If I could consume 8,000 calories in a single day and not burst like the Hindenburg, I would eat the following:

1. 25 chocolate chip cookies
2. 2 slices coconut cake
3. 1 Margherita pizza
4. 1 glass red wine
5. 3 avocados
6. 3 Twix bars
7. Vegetables (for balance, you understand) over pasta (because I can)
8. 1 pint of Ben and Jerry's Half-Baked.
9. Cheese: so, so much of it
10. A loaf of warm sourdough bread
11. A big ol' steak
12. Have I passed 8,000 yet?
13. Several plates of true fettucine alfredo, made the way Cafe Romantico here in Fort Lauderdale prepares it: Buttered pasta swirled in a large carved-out wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano, spoons scraping curls of cheese off the sides, a little black pepper on top... mmm...

Unfortunately, unlike Michael Phelps, I do not exercise for five hours every day. I do a lot of sitting. I do a little standing. I pace myself with a brisk walk to my printer, then loop back to my desk. I do a few reps of this over 9 hours or so.

Yeah, I work it out. Body by Dell PC.

That's why I need recipes like this one. Vegetable-based, low-fat, whole grain recipes that are utterly tangy and satisfying in sedentary-human-size portions. Recipes that'll leave room for some dessert.

Zucchini, Garbanzo Beans and Quinoa
Adapted from this recipe at Epicurious

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric, divided
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
2 cups water
2/3 cup quinoa (about 6 ounces), rinsed well, drained
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 medium zucchini, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds on the diagonal
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/8 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Combine garbanzo beans and lemon juice in large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil; press in garlic and stir to combine. Let marinate at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water, quinoa, and coarse salt; bring to simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until all water is absorbed, about 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan. Place zucchini on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with ground cumin, a pinch of turmeric, and a pinch of paprika. Toss to coat evenly.

Place zucchini in saute pan and cook until tender and browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to work surface. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add zucchini, green onions, and parsley, then garbanzo bean mixture to quinoa. Toss gently to blend. Season with salt and pepper.

Serves: 2

Poise Regained

Whew.

What a hairy week. After the circus on Tuesday, I needed to recover my composure. As I mentioned, I took to my pool on Tuesday afternoon, then took to my bed. In between, I made dinner.

Comfort food was called for. Something that required repetitive, soothing motions. Tai chi in the kitchen, if you will.

So I made risotto.

A lot of people avoid risotto because it demands a lot of time at the stove, stirring. That's one of the reasons that I enjoy making it, provided I have the 30-40 minutes that it takes. I can stand at the stove and stir methodically, adding chicken stock at regular intervals, and zone out. When I'm done, I have a creamy, filling meal and a centered chi.

Last night, I told my mother that I made risotto to help cope with the day's trials. She laughed and commented that it's interesting what different people eat for comfort. My grandmother, she reminded me, could eat a gallon of ice cream in one sitting when she is under stress. My other grandmother derived strength from a pack of cigarettes, a pot of coffee, and a pan of homemade fudge (she no longer goes for the cigarettes or coffee, but the woman can still put away an unsettling amount of chocolate). A friend of mine craves Tex-Mex when she wants comfort food, and a different friend eats those scary "Ranch-flavored" chips.

Which makes me wonder: What's your comfort food?

Risotto with Green Vegetables
A Fritter Original

You're going to be stirring a lot when you make risotto. Some people will tell you that you need to stir constantly. I don't buy it. You can step away from your saucepan for a few minutes to prep vegetables or set the table. Just don't get hooked on an episode of Hardball or spend 10 minutes photographing asparagus.

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 teaspoon (roughly 1 clove) garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine (I used an unoaked chardonnay, but sauvignon blanc would work too)
1/2 cup risotto rice
1 zucchini
1 bunch of asparagus, cut 1 1/2 inches below the tips
1/2 cup shelled edamame (frozen is fine)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
A few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley

The Risotto

Heat the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until simmering. Reduce the heat to low and cover.

In another medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until almost translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add the garlic and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to prevent browning. Add the wine and reduce for about 6 minutes, until the liquid is almost completely evaporated and the onions are thick.

Add the risotto rice to the onions and stir to coat. Cook the rice for 1-2 minutes, stirring to prevent burning.

Add 1/2 cup of hot chicken stock to the rice and stir until the stock is almost completely absorbed. The mixture will become very thick and dense and when you scrape the bottom of your saucepan with your spoon, the rice will not slide back into place very quickly. At this point, add another 1/2 cup of chicken stock and stir. Repeat this process until the rice is nearly al dente, about 25-30 minutes.

See my note above about stirring. The next part of this recipe can be performed either before you begin the risotto, if you are a "constant stirrer" type, or while you're making the risotto, if you do not believe that you need to be stirring for 30 minutes straight (like me).

The Veggies

Peel and chop the zucchini into 1/4 inch rounds on the diagonal. Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat and saute the zucchini with a pinch of salt and pepper for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat a small saucepan containing 1 inch of water over high heat until boiling. Add the asparagus tips and boil for 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well and set aside.

All Together Now

Once the rice is nearly al dente, add the shelled edamame and stir to mix it in. Gently fold in the asparagus and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper, and allow the risotto to cook another 2-3 minutes so that the vegetables are evenly heated.

Serve the risotto in bowls and garnish with a few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley and a sprinkling of lemon zest.

Serves: 2. This recipe can be increased easily by adding 1/4 cup of uncooked rice per person.