Game Time

It's Superbowl Sunday, and the FINAL SUNDAY of the challenge!  If this day had fallen earlier in the challenge, complete with the picturesque snowy weather, I would have struggled more with the food and beverage component of this day. Today marks a championship on the field, but also seems like a great day to celebrate the triumphs of eating completely clean for a month.

With so many Ravens fans around, we have heard about many gatherings, parties, and venues to watch the big game around here.  We decided to host a few people that are not really interested in the hard-core Superbowl Celebration, and Chris and I have been in the kitchen all day creating our Paleo Feast.  It's not too different than our average Sunday cooking all day long, but we've tried out a few new things that I think will keep our non-Paleo, non Sugar-Busting friends satisfied.  I even have a few dishes for the lone Vegan in the group. 

We've been cooking, but making sure we are drinking our water and throwing down a protein shake every now and then too.  We have made Pork Carnitas, now a weekly staple, Moroccan Lamb Balls (no, not the actual ones.  Meatballs), Ginger Lime Shrimp, Zucchini Aglio e Olio, and roasted spaghetti squash.  We are also making Cauliflower Hummus, thanks to a great idea from Brianna.  What was crucial in the planning is that all the people coming understand our food requirements.  They even bought into it, texting us with their planned food and asking if that was okay.  I explained that (gasp) the Weirs weren't drinking alcohol, and if they wanted some they are welcome to bring it.

The combined factors of this day occuring 4 weeks in  and knowing we are going to be weighed and measured in a few days makes it easy to celebrate without feeling like we are being deprived.  We did, however, have a funny situation in Wegmans today.  We ran into a bartender from a place in New Market that we would visit pretty regularly.  He said, "What happened to you guys? Did we make you mad some way? We haven't seen you."  It's pretty funny when you think that a bartender noticing your absence is part of your life, and probably not something to be proud of.  We are happy that as a side-bar to this challenge, we have become homebodies that are happy enough being in our kitchen and getting things done at home. 

Speaking of cooking, I went to work on Friday, and had a brain obsession with pizza going on for most of the day.  I was dreaming about pizza, borderline obsessing, so I texted Chris and got him started on the Well-Fed Meatzza recipe.  This recipe, pretty much like every single other one from her book, is fantastic, amazing, delicious, and completely satisfying.  We made the "crust" out of ground pork, then her pizza sauce with a homemade herb blend, and finally topped with all kinds of fresh veggies.  We added bacon because bacon is important from time to time.  We are now planning on trying several varieties of Meatzza this week, including a Buff Chix Meatzza.  Stay tuned for that one. 

Just like the players, stay focused during the superbowl.  Don't be swayed by cheap, processed varieties of corn and sugar.  I will be eating one of my meals immediately before people arrive so that I'm not starving and tempted to pick.  Enjoy the game, especially the commercials, and make sure your food for the week is ready.  Go get 'em Ravens!