Recipe(tried): Notes from Dean Ornish-ville

Well, this latest adventure is going much better than I thought it would on October 25th when I first heard about it! It's been made that much easier by the wonderful support of loving family and friends. What would we do without them in our lives? Dean Ornish even speaks of the mortality rate of those without "confidants" in their lives.

Here are a couple of my thoughts:
Eating out:
This was the part I thought would be very difficult. But I've been out 3 times now and all three have been wonderful, encouraging experiences. DH and I wandered into a little hole in the wall place we had never been to in a strip mall in Scottsdale called Piccolo Cucina a couple weeks ago. The serve (daily) a fat free lentil and greens soup. It was fantastic! Just the thing I needed right when I needed it.
Then last Sunday DH and I took a road trip up North through some small towns. We stopped at a favorite small tavern of ours, Creekside. On the menu we found a veggie burger! It's the same menu they have had for years and we never noticed it. (do remember to ask wait staff to hold the butter on buns when you order veggie burgers, we didn't this time but won't forget again. Live and learn!)
Then yesterday my friend and I went on a doctor/shopping trip to Scottsdale and dined at Tommy Bahama's. They serve immense portions, be sure to share. I ordered their Rum Runner's Fruit Salad, had them hold the coconut and nuts and put the dressing on the side (which I ended up not even bothering with). It was a HUGE bowl of spring greens topped with some of the most beautiful, ripe fruit I have ever had! At least 2/3 cup each of fresh pineapple, cantalope and honeydew along with half a mango, diced on the skin and turned inside out very decoratively, 4 slices of peeled orange and a few strawberries. Very, very yummy. The couple next to us were sharing the steak plate and just the wonderful aroma was enough to satisfy my beef desire, I was surprised. My friend had the crab cakes which she said were outstanding. (Later in the day she got her cholesterol results from the doctor and was ordered onto a lower fat diet for 3 months, guess I'll have a diet buddy!)

So, if you have to cut back, don't cut out the fun of dining out, my experience is you can make it work. These days wait staff and chefs are more than willing to work with you.

Coffee loss:
I have been wrestling with the thought of NO COFFEE perhaps EVER AGAIN! What's more, a holiday season with NO Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks? The other day I bought a small bottle of Gingerbread syrup at Starbucks, yesterday I bought Postum at the grocery and I'm satisfied! A little soy milk or nonfat milk, a tiny bit of the syrup and I'm a VERY happy girl. I also have some soy coffee on order via the internet. Will let you know how it measures up in my book.

Desert:
I found an angel food cake at Fry's without any ingredients I can't have. A broiled banana cut up over some of that cake makes me wonder just what it is I'm missing out on! Dean Ornish has a recipie for an angel food cake in his book, but right now, this is easier with everything else I'm making along with having to take it somewhat easy.

-Micha