2010 Summer Food Tour: Breakfast

The 2010 Summer Food Tour explained.

Saturday morning we consulted Yelp and decided on a downtown restaurant.  Unfortunately, it was this weekend they closed for remodeling.  Fortunately, one of Houston's finest was parked across the street so we pulled along side and asked for his breakfast recommendation. 

"The best one is The Breakfast Klub," he said, "but there will be a line so you might try Harry's."

A line!?!  A restaurant with a line is surely worth mentioning so we plugged the address into our trusty Garmon and headed over to The Breakfast Klub.  There was indeed a line, snaking under three awnings and anchored by fans and a misting system to keep the potential patrons cool in the sweltering heat.  We plugged in the address for Harry's and was NOT disappointed.

Let me take a moment to sing the praises of our Garmon GPS.  Where Yelp was a treasure trove from which to choose the right eating establishment the Garmon provided the directions to get us there.  Both invaluable in the success of this food tour.

We didn't leave without making our way to the Breakfast Klub, early on Sunday.  There was still a line, only about 15 minutes, but worth the wait.

Harry's is American, Mediterranean and Latin fusion, "The Globe On your Fork." Great coffee, freshed squeezed orange juice and a menu deep in unique flavors.  I had the Larissa Plate the first time and a blueberry waffle the second time.  Wonderful!

The Breakfast Klub has an ethnic flare and their two speciaities are waffles with wings and katfish and grits.  My son enjoyed the waffles and wings and I enjoyed the french toast, highly recommended by a Yelp reviewer.  They had an extensive coffee/expresso bar with four different blends of coffee available with the bottomless koffee kup.

Both restaurants are a thumbs up!

2010 Summer Food Tour: Bombay Pizza Co.

The Texas food tour was a culinary success. With the help of Yelp, a wonderful traveling tool, we found places that MUST be mentioned.

For those who are familiar with our last seven months at Weight Watchers I want to preempt the following blog by saying we made use of the excercise room and pool every night and ate two meals a day, supplemented with healthy snacks, in order to stay within guide lines. 

Our change in eating has "cleaned" our taste palettes.  It seems like the old standards use the same distributor, the same ingredients and produce the same tastes.  We began to wonder, "Where have all the unique restaurants gone?"  We began the hunt for those establishments that offer something other than what the distributor delivers; scouring for those eateries that make it fresh, add something different, up the bar for flavor.  What we want are those places that are worth mentioning.


Our first find was in downtown Houston.  The Bombay Pizza Co. is a fusion of Italian and Indian ingredients into wonderful, flavorful combinations.

The pizza crust was a combination of regular dough and sesame seed dough which made for a light and crispy, cracker consistency.  The sauce was listed as Bombay pizza sauce, red, but not the standard tomato flavor. 

We ordered the 16' Slumdog pizza for $19.00 along with a bowl of tomato basil soup and salad.  Check their website for the wonderful combinations of pizza.  This will be a definite repeat visit and if I lived there a frequent lunch stop.  I'm sorry we didn't have enough time to sample more of the menu.

What an interesting combination of ethnic cuisine.  Houston was the only location for Bombay Pizza we could find.  Do you have a favorite pizza worth mentioning?

Goal! 3 Tips on How to Get There

In an earlier blog I mentioned my family's turn toward healthier living. All three of us have done very well. I have reached my weight range where the hard work begins, maintenance. The backsliding tales are epidemic and I am not immune. My success on that subject is yet to be seen, but there are three specific items I’ve noticed that were essential to our weight loss success.

The most important element of our success has been making this journey together. A buddy in every situation is beneficial, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV) Having the whole house eating the same way and working towards the same type of personal goal is an advantage beyond measure. Every member of every household would benefit from better nutrition and a healthier lifestyle.

1. Everyone in the house is on board, has their personal goal and is eating the same type of things.

The Weight Watchers concept that aided our success was the points system. To manage your weight you have to know what you are putting in your mouth, which means counting, something. It isn’t necessarily their point system but how the system steps you down in points gradually. I started with 24 points. Those first two weeks I felt as though I was getting enough to eat and yet still lost weight. Over a period of 20 weeks I gradually stepped down to 18 points. By the time I reached 18 I still felt as though I was getting enough to eat. I never hit the spot where I felt I was starving myself.

2. Slow, controlled weight loss. Slow and steady wins the race.

Learn about and embrace fruits and vegetables. The negative is they are “fresh” meaning they have a short shelf life. It is understandable, in a busy household, that you don’t purchase much fresh produce because it goes bad and you end up throwing away money. Changing how we viewed and used produce was essential to our success. Produce “fills” you up for less calories meaning you can eat A LOT and still feel full and lose weight. In the beginning decide to make more trips to the store and buy only what you’ll eat for two-three meals. As you adapt to a heavier consumption of produce your menus will begin to naturally include fresh items and you will be able to purchase more and get it used up.

3. Discover the wonderful, varied world of fresh produce. Gradually increase your purchase of fresh produce. Invest in frozen veggies.

There are many free programs with online features that can help you be successful. Find one that you are comfortable with, learn it and DO it. Every weight loss plan and piece of exercise equipment works if you use it. Getting the whole house involved keeps accountability close and everyone is interested in the conversation. Nothing rushed is fully enjoyed. Be satisfied with incremental weight loss it’s healthier and stays off longer. Be willing to learn about new and better foods to eat and have the courage to try them.

Don’t expect to cut the fat and sugar in a current recipe and like it. Expect to gradually move yourself away from your current menus into new and healthier menus. Here is an excellent place to start.  You CAN reach your goal.

Good luck and Godspeed.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 NIV

God's Map

While my son was away at a summer internship opportunity I sent encouragements to help him throuh his stressful,"nose to the grindstone" moments.  He was never far from my thoughts nor was the fact that his experience was but another mile along the journey God will map out for him.  Although I have edited out elements specific for him the message is the same for all of us Christians who have said, " yes" to the call.

If we are obedient to God's direction in our lives, He will ask of us things that are outside our comfort zone. If we embrace these tasks, we will grow in ways we never expected.

God bestows talents upon everyone that He will use for His purpose, if you allow. Your experiences add to, or grow, your gifts. With this in mind how are you being stretched?

You may be stretched environmentally by moving away from the comfort zone of your home and people who know you. You have to establish a new routine in a new place.

You may be stretched emotionally by being away from people who understand you. People, who share your humor, get your references and like you warts and all.

You may be stretched socially by having to interact with all types of personalities, in different situations, with different priorities and personal needs.

If you are obedient to God’s call, doing so in love and on His behalf you experience immeasurable growth.  Pray for wisdom, courage, patience and peace for this journey designed especially for you.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KVJ)

The Daily Schedule

For a majority of people, excluding active government agents, those who travel frequently and new mothers, our lives are steady and usual. Each weekday is so similar that a schedule is maintained. It is within the ordinary for this schedule to vary only minor degrees from month to month. For those steadfast individuals it may continue on into years without interruption.

A bomb comes in many varieties. It is always explosive but that explosion can be physically non-destructive, moving us physically from our home, our job or a relationship. Physically it can explode within our health causing damage that requires doctor’s visits, surgeries or hospitalization. A bomb can explode emotionally causing heartache and/or hurt feelings. I will quickly agree that there can be a positive bomb but that’s another blog.

For today’s purpose I refer to a bomb, not necessairly good or bad, but that explodes and changes the course of your daily schedule. What is usual and ordinary; your current schedule ceases to exist. What do you do?

My usual and ordinary changed on June 6th. It was not an unexpected change but I didn’t know exactly how the explosion would affect my daily schedule. Now that it is several weeks into the change I’m going to label the affect a “refocusing”. I have been refocused. Several items that were scheduled before June 6th have lost their place on the list and ceased to be addressed. These tasks I once monitored daily/weekly are currently gathering dust, unnoticed. My blog is among those items that grow dusty in the aftermath of the bomb change.

My small band of followers and subscribers are the motivation that keeps me honing my skill as a writer. Your interest affirms my desire to write; to share my words and thoughts. Although the bomb has shifted the daily schedule it has not removed the desire. As with most ‘bombs’ Helen Steiner Rice says it best, “This Too Shall Pass”.

When another bomb drops, or change occurs, and my schedule shifts once again my blog will reappear on the weekly list. I look forward to finding you all here.

“If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too” Helen Steiner Rice

What ‘bombs’ have shifted your daily life?

Another Treasure of the Heart

This weekend my husband and I took our seventeen year old to attend a five week, internship program, six hours away, at a major university.  It is a perfect trial run at "off to college" and we all handled ourselves well at the moment of departure.  In recognition of this I'd like to share another excerpt from my Treasures of the Heart.  Luke 2:51, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” NIV


January, 2004
Mrs. Brower works with the special ed. kids and brings them into Logan's 5th grade homeroom for mainstreaming.  During my volunteer time today she said to me, "I don't remember what we were studying but Mrs. Brammer was asking about the connection between forgiveness and eraser.  Your son raised his hand and said, 'Forgiveness is like the eraser for your soul.'  I thought that was really deep for someone this age." 
 
Do you have a treasure of the heart you'd like to share?

Long Suffering in Marriage; How long is too long?

I don’t follow public figures as a “fan.” I understand the concept of being a “fan.” As a teenager, I was enamored with the cover boys of Teen Beat Magazine but I left that behind with my teens. This being said I cannot express my disappointment when I read that Al and Tipper Gore have chosen to separate after 40 years of marriage.

They have chosen a public life along with representation of national and global issues. This has definately brought intense public scrutiny over many years. It is understandable that this alone would be a heavy burden on a marriage but to add the standard day to day issues every marriage goes through it is no surprise that there has been tough times.  Ending a marriage after 40 years begs to ask the question, “why?” Is there nothing worth salvaging? After 40 years, has the weight become so heavy there is no other alternative?

I am disappointed at the message they are sending to so many. I don’t know what the spiritual lives of the Gore’s are but such a public couple undermines marriages across the gamut. My husband is teaching a course entitled “Understanding Christian Marriage”. He asked his class, “What is a Christian marriage? Christ wasn’t married so how could a marriage be Christ-like. Is it two Christians being married?”

I believe a Christian marriage is ourselves being Christ-like in our marriage. It is difficult to find a full example of a ‘good’ marriage in the Bible. Even the example of Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride, the bride is adulterous.

The positive example we must take from the Bible on marriage is how long-suffering God is in his relationship with his adulterous bride. We sin and keep sinning and God continues to show mercy and forgiveness, taking us back again and again. At what point in our marriages do we decide we have no more mercy, no more forgiveness. When do we decide that we have suffered enough and we will suffer no more? At what point do we want God to decide he has suffered over us enough?

What the Bible shows is that all relationships are difficult. All relationships require long-suffering. If we are Christ-like in our behavior and work on our relationship perhaps we will not “grow apart" and our lives won’t get “more and more separated”; we won’t reach a “mutual and mutually supportive decision” to break the vows we made to each other. Gary Smalley is the author of the book “Making Love Last Forever.” It is highly recommended for every couple whether your marriage is strong or weak.

When do we want God to decide that He has suffered enough? When do we want God to decide he has no more mercy or forgiveness for us?

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)

Unequal Yoking Equals a Rough Journey