2nd Blogoversary: Finding Meaning in the Here & Now

2 years.

Wow.  That truly snuck up on me, so much that I didn't even realize it had happened until after the fact.  I remember last year around this time, scrambling to publish posts detailing my favorite moments of the first year and the obligatory celebration cake.  I was in a very time consuming show that required me to arrive at the theater hours in advance for makeup and wardrobe, so in order to make my everyday life, my actor life, and my life as a blogger all fit into one I had to extend the hours in the day, sacrificing even more hours of sleep beyond my usual night-owl nature.  In short, I was not the happiest, nor the healthiest, camper.

Gluten-Free, Vegan Chai-Spiced Pancakes

I remember the first time I had homemade pancakes.  Growing up, I'd had plenty of pancakes made at home, but they always came from a box.  Just add water and eggs and voila - fluffy pancakes to stack high and then drown in maple syrup.  But the time I'm referring to is when I first had pancakes from scratch.

Ratio Rally! Gluten-Free, Vegan Teff & Black Sesame Shortbread Cookies

Welcome to another Gluten Free Ratio Rally challenge!  After sitting the last four months out, it's good to be back, especially with this particular challenge:  shortbread.  Shortbread cookies were one of my first baking successes after transitioning to a gluten-free way of living, and in fact, my most popular and most requested recipe to date is for rosemary lemon shortbread cookies.  And while I could easily have rehashed or regurgitated that recipe, what fun would that be?  

Give me baking trials, give me learning opportunities, give me inspiration to re-envision and reinvent.

Operation "Feed Me" : Gaining Muscle on a Gluten-Free, Vegan Diet - Part 3

This is the final part of a 3 part series on how a super-busy, skinny guy like me was able to gain weight and lean muscle mass on a gluten-free, vegan diet.  I'm sharing it in response to several requests.  The title is an homage to one of my favorite musicals, "Little Shop of Horrors," and the mantra of the alien plant in its quest to grow bigger.

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Well, here we are, finally at Part 3 where I will share with you my diet, not only the things that I ate, but also why I ate them, throwing in a little nerdy biology/chemistry, a dash of wisdom, and a few more photos charting my progress.  So back to it.

Operation "Feed Me" : Gaining Muscle on a Gluten-Free, Vegan Diet - Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on how a super-busy, skinny guy like me was able to gain weight and lean muscle mass on a gluten-free, vegan diet.  I'm sharing it in response to several requests.  The title is an homage to one of my favorite musicals, "Little Shop of Horrors," and the mantra of the alien plant in its quest to grow bigger.

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Hey!  Sincere thanks for coming back to read more.  So as promised, today I'm going to discuss 'how' I was able to gain 10 pounds of additional muscle mass in 7 weeks.  Breaking it down to its bare bones, the formula was quite simple.  Increase my workload in the gym with an emphasis on weight training and boost my calories to match and exceed my caloric expenditure.  But of course, when it came to the execution of that formula, particularly upping my food intake and creating time for the gym beyond the times I was there to teach, it was much easier said than done.  But when motivation combines with having the tools to carry out a vision, anything is possible.

Operation "Feed Me" : Gaining Muscle on a Gluten-Free, Vegan Diet - Part 1

This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on how a super-busy, skinny guy like me was able to gain weight and lean muscle mass on a gluten-free, vegan diet.  I'm sharing it in response to several requests.  The title is an homage to one of my favorite musicals, "Little Shop of Horrors," and the mantra of the alien plant in its quest to grow bigger.

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At the beginning of each new year, there are almost always changes that we'd like to make.  Whether we name them "resolutions" or "goals," they share in common the desire to make a difference.  To see something differently, feel it differently, to begin a transformation or to maintain the effects of one - we often find renewed energy and motivation in the first months of the year to make it happen and hold ourselves accountable.  

And for me, my goal was to gain 10 pounds by the middle of March. 

Baked Sweet Potato Fries & Curried Coconut Milk Dip

This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite childhood food memories.  I know I have a lot of them, but if you recall, I was definitely not thin in my younger years.  And a big reason for this was my love affair with food of the fast and junk varieties, particularly french fries.  You wanted me to do my homework or mow the lawn?  Promise me french fries and you wouldn't have to ask twice.

Spirulina Pineapple Juice with Herbs: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've never been much of a drinker.  I will partake once in a blue moon for special occasions, like toasting to a couple at a wedding or ceremony.  But on the whole, if there's a non-alcoholic option, trust that I will take it.  So today, on a day where people are expected to start drinking as part of their morning meal, I decided to come up with a quick and easy drink you can chug with abandon with no regrets.  It provides a spring in your step as well as boost for your health with loads of vitamin C, anti-inflammatory enzymes, and antioxidants galore.  Other added bonuses?  It may decrease your chances of having to call a cab, laying blame on beer goggles, and/or retracing your steps the next morning to find your wallet, your keys, or your car.