Thursday, April 29, 2010

Workout Recovery Drink

Last night I was at dinner with several of my friends.  Among them were two personal trainers, a nutritionist, and five former collegiate athletes.  At one point I brought up the subject of the best post-workout recovery food/drink.  I wanted to see what the consensus was so I could adjust my diet accordingly.  The opinions were mixed.  Some felt that a PB&J was good, one even suggested Gummy Bears, but most seemed to agree that chocolate milk was ideal.

With that in mind, I picked two drinks that we have in our weight room at school that I could easily drink after my workouts.  Because I workout in a college athletics weight room, all of the supplements they offer must meet NCAA regulations.  Here they are:

Muscle Milk Collegiate

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Stats:  250 calories, 8 grams fat (2.5 saturated), 18 grams protein, 4 grams sugar.

Thoughts:  It tastes pretty good going down, but there is a weird aftertaste a minute or so later.  Because it is a “collegiate” brand, there are several ingredients in it that aren’t in normal Muscle Milk.  A quick look at the ingredients list reveals at least 30 different ingredients, most of which I can’t even pronounce.  The first two are purified water and maltodextrin.  WTF is that?  Maybe that’s why it has an expiration date of 1 year!

Shamrock Farms Rockin’ Refuel

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Stats:  300 calories, 4.5 grams fat (2.5 saturated), 20 grams protein, 44 grams sugar.

Thoughts:  My initial reaction is, “Whoa, 44 grams of sugar!”  However, most of my friends say that sugar is really important immediately following a hard workout.  So I guess that makes those 44 grams good, right?  I also like the ingredient list.  The first two are lowfat milk and nonfat milk with only 11 total ingredients listed.  Also, it expires in a reasonable 2 months, similar to regular milk.

Because I like natural foods, I am leaning strongly in favor of the Rockin’ Refuel.  I like that it’s mainly a milk product as opposed to Muscle Milk which ironically doesn’t contain any milk at all.

What do you think???

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jail Birds

So the other day I noticed a little spot of bird poop on top of the chickens’ box.  That’s odd, how did it get there?  The next day I walked into the chickens’ room to check on them, and lo and behold, Spanky was standing on top of the chicken box!

Over the next few days I began to notice little chicken poops on the floor of the chicken room.  Clearly they were getting out of the box and exploring around their ever-expanding environment.  Since their room doubles as our TV room, I had to put a stop to it.

With a little chicken wire, they are now securely confined to their box.

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Despite being on lockdown, I did take them outside for 30 minutes of RNR.  Notice their feathers…they are getting so big!

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

2 Weeks

It’s been 2 weeks since we got our first three chicks (1 week for Ms. Ameraucana).  It’s time to take them outside to play!

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They were a little agitated that I was taking them out of their home and putting them in a dirty box.  Little did they know that they’d be clucking around the backyard in a few seconds.

I was a little nervous to have all four chicks outside at once.  I wasn’t sure if they’d try to run away or hide under some impossible-to-reach spot.  I sure didn’t want to play hide-and-seek with baby chicks all night, so I took them out to the enclosed pen we have in the backyard.

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They loved it!  They were a little unsure of what to do once they were outside, but pretty soon instinct took over, and they were hopping around and pecking at the grass. 

Even the little Ameraucana was figuring out how to act like a big chicken.  They definitely liked being outside though and even acted less nervous around me than usual.

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They are also looking significantly bigger.  Their feathers are really starting to come in too.  It’s amazing how fast they grow!

They could have kept playing all day long, but after about 30 minutes I brought them back inside.  I’m sure they are sitting at home right now dreaming of going back out to the yard!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Special Delivery

The other day I went to the mailbox to get our mail, and I noticed something odd…there were a bunch of sticks, twigs, and grass lining the bottom of it.  It had been rainy and windy during the preceding week, so I just assumed some debris had blown from the front lawn into the mailbox.  I scooped it out and tossed it away.

The next day, however, when I went to get the mail, there was more of the same stuff in the bottom of the mailbox.  What is going on???

Laurie finally figured it out.  When she pulled up into the driveway, she saw a bird fly out of the mailbox.  They must be building a nest!

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Sure enough, over the next couple of days, the pile got bigger.  It’s hard to see in this picture, but the birds hollowed out the bottom corner to make a little cave. 

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I left a sign for the mailman to leave our mail in a cardboard box by the front door.  I haven’t actually seen a bird in the mailbox, but the nest is still there.  Hopefully we’ll have a family of birds living there soon!

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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Rainy Saturday

It’s been raining most of the day today.  Luckily Laurie and I got out during a brief break in the weather.  So what did we do with our precious 3 hours???  Beer of course!

Like Oak Brewery, a small local brewery in East Austin, was having its 13th anniversary party.  They had free beer, free vegetarian  food, and plenty of people watching.

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I had ice cream from Nada Moo, which is a local dairy-free ice cream company, and vegetarian fajitas from White Mountain.  The “meat” was made by combining wheat gluten and peanut butter and frying it up with peppers and onions.  It looked like marinated tofu slices and tasted like a soy product.  Not too bad for freebies.

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The beer was good too.  Live Oak offered a Hefeweizen, a Pilsner, an Amber Lager, and an IPA.  The Amber Lager was my favorite, although I didn’t try the Hefeweizen.  As an amateur brewer, I was hoping to see their operation…no such luck.

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Our friend Chris and his dad met up with us a little later.  The sun came out for a brief while too!  All in all, not a bad Saturday afternoon.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Ameraucana Woman

We got her!  It was a bit of an ordeal, but we found a little Ameraucana chick at a feed store in Pflugerville called Gaddy’s.  Ameraucanas are cool because they lay blue eggs.

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She kind of looks like our other Barnevelder, and it’ll be hard to keep track of them once they are bigger.  However, for now she is noticeably smaller than the other three and quite shy.

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The other three were very curious with the new “intruder,” but they treated her relatively nicely.  We checked on them a few times throughout the night, and the Ameraucana was sleeping mostly by herself.  It was kind of sad, but I think she just needed to be in a warmer part of the box under the light.  I’m sure in a week or so they’ll all be best friends.

As for the other three, they have begun to sprout feathers on their wings.  They are now hopping, scratching, and semi-flying around the box.  They grow up so fast!  We’ll probably have to get a screen cover for the box soon.

Martin, my handyman, came over the other night and surveyed the site for the coop.  He’s going to send me a quote soon.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

One Week

It’s been one week since we got our 3 little ladies.  Here’s a quick update:

They’ve settled into their new home.  They’re still a little nervous around humans, but they don’t seem to mind the dogs.

They figured out how to eat and drink pretty well, although they like to put the pine shavings in the water dish which then absorbs all the water and turns into a big goopy mess.  Maybe they’ll learn how to drink properly in week 2!

They’ve also grown a little too, so I went ahead and expanded their temporary house.  I got another box from Uhaul and cut the sides out and taped the two boxes together.  It’s like they have an extra bedroom!

Week 1

Today we’re supposed to go back to Callahan’s to pick up our Ameraucana.  Then My Four Chicks will be complete.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

First Bike Race

I’ve been biking for quite a long time, practically my whole life.  Whether riding around town, commuting to school, or charging the trails, biking is AWESOME!

2 weeks ago my friend Max and I rode in the Bicycle Sport Shop Pace Bend Race out at Lake Travis.  It was my first race, so I rode in the Cat 3 division which is pretty much for new racers. 

Everyone is bunched up so closer together, especially at the start.  Fortunately I’ve done tons of running races, so I pretty much knew what to expect.  I have to admit that I was still a little nervous though. 

The race was a 9 mile loop of mostly single track.  I did pretty well, finishing 23rd out of 48 riders in 1 hour, 2 minutes.  The best part was the free beer at the end of the race!

Max and I signed up for our next race which is the Rocky Hill Ranch Roundup on May 15-16 out at a private ranch an hour east of Austin.  It’s been raining here a bit, so I’m going to have to train in the mud!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Beer 101

I originally posted this blog on Lauries’s Daily Veggie, but I thought it was worth a repost since I’m about to cook up another homebrew.

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OK, so you’re asking yourself, Why is there a blog about beer on DailyVeggie? Interesting question indeed, but if you think about it, the two are very closely related. After all, beer is a completely natural beverage; all of its ingredients are from the earth. My goal is to show you the ins and outs of brewing your own beer, from the ingredients to the equipment, so you know what you’re drinking and from where it comes. But first we must start with the basics.

Part 1 – A Closer Look

Beer has been around forever…literally. The ancient Chinese began brewing beer over 9000 years ago. Yes, nine thousand years! So it’s really no wonder that there are now numerous styles and variations of beer. Each one is brewed in its own special way, and understanding the nuances of each style is key to enjoying it fully. So let’s take a look.

What is beer?

Beer is made in two stages. In the first stage, various ingredients, such as malted barley, are combined and boiled to make a sugary liquid called “wort.” The wort ultimately gives the beer its color and flavor.

Mmmm, wort boiling on the stove!

In the second stage, yeast is added to the wort in a fermentation process. Over time the yeast breaks down the sugar and creates a byproduct that is alcohol.

Ales vs. Lagers – what’s the difference?

Beer comes in two different forms: Ales and Lagers.

Ales are fermented at a higher temperature (between 64 and 70 degrees). The higher temperature causes the yeast to produce elevated levels of ester compounds which are byproducts of the fermentation process. These compounds remain in the beer and give it a “fruity” aroma and taste that is common in ales. Ales are typified as being “bold, rounded, and complex.” Different types of ales include IPA, Amber ales, Stouts, and Hefeweissen, all of which have a distinct taste.

Lagers, on the other hand, are fermented at a lower temperature (between 52 and 58 degrees). The lower temperature inhibits the yeast from producing as high a level of ester compounds. The result is a beer that is “crisp and clean.” Lagers are easier to produce and therefore consistently outsell their ale counterpart. Miller, Budweiser, and Coors are popular (and cheap!) American Lagers. There are also Pilsner’s, Bocks, and others.

Knowing where your beer comes from is not only informative but also fun! In part 2 (to be released soon), we will look at how you can easily brew your own beer…stay tuned!

Photo credits:  http://www.warsawtraveltours.com/zdjecia/beer.jpg, http://joshmadison.com/article/making-homemade-beer/

Monday, April 12, 2010

Meatless Grilling

Ah, Spring.  It’s that time of year for margaritas, long dog walks, and of course grilling.  We went over to a friend’s house last night for that very purpose.  Problem was that everyone else was eating buffalo burgers.  What was I going to eat?

On the way to his house I stopped and picked up a Portabella mushroom.  I’ve never grilled one before, and I was eager to see if it made a grill-worthy meal.

Portabella Mushrooms

I picked out the biggest, best-looking one I could find.  It was about 5 or 6 inches in diameter and had a nice fresh look to it.

I cut off the stem, washed it thoroughly (lots of dirt and grime hiding in there), and soaked it for about an hour in balsamic vinaigrette to help keep it juicy once it was on the grill.

I waited until the charcoal grill was at high/medium heat (hold your hand 4 inches from the surface for 5 seconds without burning yourself, and it’s ready) and placed the mushroom face up on the grill for 5 minutes.  Then I flipped and grilled the other side for 4 minutes.  If you’re not big into timing it, then drink a beer.  Halfway through the beer flip.  When the beer is gone, your mushroom is done!

Make Grilled Portabella Mushroom Burgers

I put it on a bun, added some sweet potato fries and a salad, and made my carnivorous friends jealous!

Photo credits:  http://ourohio.org/, sarahfrancis http://www.ehow.com

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Hemp Protein

My biggest concern when I gave up meat was where I was going to get my source of protein.  True there is a lot of protein in beans, nuts, and dairy, but it’s hard to replace the protein you get from meat with those less-than-filling items.  I am a very active person, so I was going to have to be very careful to make sure I was getting enough protein.

Laurie suggested that I start looking into whey protein and make at least one shake a day.  I did start with the smoothies, and I was adding Muscle Milk that we have at our weight room at school.  But a quick read of the ingredients revealed over a dozen words I couldn’t even pronounce!

I did some research on whey protein, egg white protein, and soy protein.  They all had their disadvantages, and many people say all three are particularly hard to digest.  I already have a “weak” stomach, so I wanted to get the easiest thing for me.

After a bit more research I stumbled upon hemp protein.  Hemp protein has many benefits.  In addition to being one of the most sustainable crops on the planet, it also provides plenty of protein (although not as much as some of the other protein powders), Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, it’s easily digestible, and it is plant based.  Oh, and it has one ingredient:  “Hemp protein powder.”

There are a couple of different brands, but I am trying Manitoba Harvest first.  We’ll see how it goes.

Photo credit:  Manitoba Harvest website

Saturday, April 10, 2010

The Chicken Coop

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As you can see we have a pretty big, open backyard.  When we had our first two chickens, we just let them roam around the yard unfettered.  It was quite nice for them, but it was hard for us to find their eggs.  And sadly, their wanderings ultimately led to their demise (i.e. hungry dog next door).

This time around we’re going to build them an actual chicken coop.  I like the idea of their being able to roam freely, so I want to make sure they have plenty of room.  They also need a nice roosting place so we won’t have to hunt for eggs every day.  We have two options:

The Traditional Coop

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I laid down a black plastic tarp about 15 feet x 6 feet.  The idea is to build a traditional coop ala http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=32956

Advantages – covered roof, easy to walk into, safe against predators

Disadvantages – lots of materials, limited free-range space, takes up a lot of space

The Conversion Coop

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The previous owners of the house build a make shit rabbit pen.  The basic structure still stands.  We can use this area as a free range pen if we somehow cover the top so the girls can’t escape.  I’d also build a smaller coop for them to roost and stay warm during the winter.

Advantages – structure already exists, lots of free-range space, doesn’t take up as much space

Disadvantages – curious German Shepherd on the other side of fence, not as secure against predators, hard to access since it’s only about 3 feet high

My handyman Martin is coming over in the next few days to take a look.  Based on his suggestions, we’ll choose one of the two options.  Right now I’m leaning towards The Conversion as long as we can secure the fence.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Day 1

They’re here! Yesterday Laurie and I went back to Callahan’s to pick out our little ladies.

At Callahan's

There were so many to choose from. As the title of the blog implies, we wanted to get 4 chicks. We figured that would be the perfect amount to produce the number of eggs we want. But with so many different breeds to choose from, we needed help. Fortunately the lady at Callahan’s, Francis, is a chicken guru. She helped us pick out 3 different breeds: a New Hampshire Red, a Plymouth White Rock, and a Barnevelder. All three lay medium-large eggs that are brown in color. We also wanted an Ameraucana which lay blue eggs, but they were out of those. Francis said she’d hold one for us when the shipment comes in next Thursday.

Coming home 

Here they are on the way home. The Barnevelder is the darkest one. The Plymouth White Rock is the light yellow one in the top corner, and the New Hampshire Red is the darker yellow one off to the right.

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We have a sweet little set up for them. I used a U-haul moving box for their pen and pine shavings for the floor. We have a 150W clamp light hanging about 2 feet high with a 75W infra-red bulb to keep them nice and warm. The temperature is supposed to be about 95 degrees for the first week. The hardest part is finding the perfect height for the light to produce that temp. Not too hot, not too cold.

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Laurie and I spent about an hour just watching them check out their new home. They’re so fun to watch. It’s amazing that they’re only 24 hours old right now!

We named the Plymouth White Rock (the light one in the middle) “Spanky.” We’re still waiting for names for the other two to come to us.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Getting My 4 Chicks

Last Spring Laurie and I decided to get chickens for our backyard. We bought a small coop and two bantam hens. They were awesome! They laid a ton of eggs, albeit small ones, and they were a lot of fun to watch. Then sadly one was eaten by the neighbor's dog and the other one sunk into complete depression so we had to give her away.

After a long, cold winter, we're ready to do the chicken thing again. This time we're going to get baby chicks and raise them ourselves. Yesterday we went to Callahan's Feed Store in Austin to look at them, but unfortunately they were out of the breeds we were interested in. Luckily though they are getting a shipment in today, so we should have the picks of the litters tonight.

Hopefully we'll be bringing home 4 little ladies tonight. I'll be documenting their upbringing, so be sure to check back daily for updates!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Top 10 Books

In no particular order:

1) Walden - Thoreau
Possibly the best book ever written

2) Into Thin Air - Krakauer
Absolute page-turner

3) On the Road - Kerouac
Ah, the simple life

4) The Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald
Gatsby is one of the best characters ever

5) Life of Pi - Martel
Was there really a tiger?

6) The Catcher in the Rye - Salinger
Can't stand phonies

7) The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book - Watterson
There really is a tiger!

8) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Kesey
Gets into the mind of a genius

9) Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine - Quin-Harkin
My absolute favorite children's book

10) Stand on Your Hands - Creasy
http://chrisroth.net/hands
A shameless plug :)

In the beginning...

Some of you may have read my about my life-changing act on my girlfriend's blog at http://dailyveggie.blogspot.com. If not, here's a quick recap...I killed and ate my very own chicken.

It was an incredible learning experience, and it seriously made me think about not eating meat ever again. That was 3 weeks ago to the day, and so far I've only eaten fish twice (after wrestling with my morals, I decided that fish fit into my belief system, so I feel o.k. with the occasional piece).

I'm starting this blog to chronicle my transition into pescetarianism, although I will use that term loosely. For me this journey is not about labelling myself but rather respecting my food, particularly where it comes from and how it's prepared.

I will be posting on various topics from my garden to my homebrew to my soon-to-be chicken coop. I invite you to follow me as I explore ways to live a more sustainable and organic life.

Cheers!