Saturday, June 11, 2011

frozen yogurt diet and art

 Because it's YOGURT, it's nutritious - right? Right!  And because it's fat-free with only 75 calories/cup, and because I add only 1/2 c sugar (385 calories per quart of yogurt (i like it tart), and because there are eight 1/2 cups per quart (48 calories, approx) -- blah blah blah - by my mathematical figuring, including berries or lemon juice or such, 1/2 c. of the frozen stuff is only about 150 calories and good protein.

I have a few recipes for Lemon-Ginger Frozen Yogurt, but this is the first one I tried. The original recipe follows, but I changed it and added some pistachios. Makes 1 quart

8 cups plain yogurt (drained to thicken)
1/2 c light corn syrup (I omitted - bleh)
3/4 c sugar (I used 1/2 cup because I like it tart)
3 T. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 T minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup sliced crystallized ginger
Throw it all into the ice cream maker and follow directions.  It will be a bit soft, but you can harden it by putting it into the freezer.  Yummy!

Yesterday I did some errands I should have done a year ago and then had lunch in a new Turkish restaurant that opened in the town I was errand-ing in.  A treat -- 5 cold appetizers.  They each tasted different and I ate slowly, trying to assess what was in them.  The eggplant was loaded with lemon and dill and the stuffed grape leaves had raisins and pine nuts in them.  Lovely!  Next time I will try hot appetizers.

I've been getting out at night - something I had not done for a long time. Of course, new driving glasses help.  Tonight, I have a dinner date with dear friends of ours - a date I made while Marty was still around.  Yesterday I got an "opps I forgot to tell you"  e-mail from a friend about an art opening she was in and I went for an hour. The night before, my cousin called with a last-minute dinner invitation and I was actually able to go. Had a great time!

And Wednesday was an art day. Our fiber crit group went to the Princeton University Art Museum to see the Kurt Schwitters exhibition.  Collage that we think nothing of today was revolutionary early in the last century and Schwitters was a multi-talented, somewhat eccentric artist.  We had our own docent who really added a lot to the exhibit and was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

We asked to see the museum's Pre-Columbian collection and the docent obliged. What fun! The Pre-Columbians played lots of team sports because they had something nobody else had: rubber. This looks like a giant hula hoop but is probably rubber.  The objective was to not use their hands or feet, but to use their bodies and those giant donut thingies to hit the ball.
I don't want to know what this guy plans to do with the head in his right hand and the bowl in his left.
I thought these two made a cute couple.
 Then we have the Coneheads.  You will have noticed the guy in the first picture has a cone hat. Here's the story.   Corn (maize) was the biggest staple food and this was the most wonderful thing on earth to the pre-Columbian people. Some actually put their children's heads in a binding so their heads would be shaped like corn as they grew.  This group is an exaggeration, I think - but that's the way it was.  I hate to think what happened to their brains, but you will know when you see any sculptures with these elongated heads, it was to honor the corn.
That's probably enough of THAT.  Anyway, I have to go back to paying the stack of bills that is covering my kitchen table.  Ta ta for now.



7 comments:

Judy said...

Your frozen yogurt sounds so good!
Nice to hear that you are able to go out in the evening.
The cone heads are so freaky! It is unbelievable that the ancients honored the corn and not their precious children, or human life in general.

Jeannie said...

The frozen yogurt sounds yummy. The cone head children - not so much. I can't imagine the headaches they would have. Have a beautiful "weekend".

Judy said...

GOOD FOR YOU!!! I am so happy to hear that 'my Rayna' has not changed!!
I can't wait to try to the yogurt recipe....thank you so much!
I love preColumbian art. The High has a nice collection, and we love to take a peek every now and then.
I love Turkish food too......especially the grape leaves. You have my mouth watering....and we've just consumed half of a yummy Calzone!

xo

California Fiber artist and composer said...

I am glad that you are starting to get out and about. Go see the Woody Allen even if you have to do it alone! It is OK to go to a movie alone once in a while---and that is a lighthearted one which should bring a smile to your face.

I love the yogurt recipe and will have to try it with even less sugar (but some is needed for texture.)

Susan

Eva said...

Wonder if the Schwitters expert told you about the ursonate. Suitable sound to go with the conehead pictures. Just listen on YouTube!

Debra Dixon said...

You seem to be doing OK. Good to hear.

College Papers said...

Your yogurt recipe looks super !!! in that recipe i love one thing most it's fats free and low calories.. i must try to make this super recipe..

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