The little engine that could.

The little engine that could is a story told to children about the value of optimism and hard work.  I almost wonder why this story hasn’t been adapted for adults.  They could make the engine look a little racier, throw in some scandal, some flying bullets and maybe add in a sex scene here and there (hey, they did it with puppets in Team America, they can do it with an engine).  Yep, that will surely get adults tuning in.  The moral of the story is that we all have to remind ourselves that yes, it is possible…

Sometimes I find it hard to pick myself up from out of a rut.  I’m caught between the dichotomy between wants and needs and find myself sulking like a ninny in the corner when I have a hard time balancing the two.

Melissa wants a new pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans.

Melissa needs new bed sheets…damn it.

No, I don’t need to be coddled, but sometimes giving up and crawling back into bed seems like a better option.  Being dragged out by Chou Chou, my pseudo flamboyant boyfriend number 2, we giggled like little girls over $3 martinis.  There over my pink cocktail and his martini (which I swear is called blue balls…hardly a drink a man should have), Chou Chou cheered on what I’ve been doing.  And if that didn’t make me feel better, he decided to make me laugh by adding in a little info session all about remote controlled vibrators that can be used in long distance relationships.  No, I have no idea how my gay male friend Chou Chou actually knows about this stuff. Yes, my friends are a wealth of knowledge and they make me laugh…which other than food is the best medicine.  I was having a good time and I was beginning to feel better and more charged to take on the world…er…wait, they call that liquid courage. I will admit, I completely and utterly retoxed to detox the other evening, but spending time with friends made me realize how important they really are.  And while certain aspects of me would love to be in love, the other part of me suddenly feels happy I’m single and actually empowered by it.  No, this is not the alcohol talking, it’s Melissa here. Suddenly I am the little engine that could…um, sporting a very Diane Keaton look today with a pair of cute strappy black heels thank you.

So this new empowered, sexy little engine that could has gone full force…solo and happy. I’m rubbing elbows over lunch with people who can open doors and get me talking at some great shows this year, plus I’m making headway with the Sexy Food Therapy book proposal. 

Random House NYC, if you’re reading this, I love you, so please love me and take me on.

Plus the Sexy Food Therapy 28-Day Cleanse is coming up and the sexy family I’ve built are all going to support me by doing it themselves.

I’d really rather call this the 28-Day Sexy Food Therapy Date, because cleansing sounds scary.  But this is where we clean our foods, get a little exercise and really treat ourselves kindly – and yes, that means no martinis. You’ll be tempted, but when you are, write me because God knows I’ll be writing you.  If you’re feeling cold, then eat something warm. If you feel too spacey, add in some grains to bring you back down.  If you’re craving sugar, then have a little bit of unpasteurized honey -  just don’t over do it.  It’s balance and all we’re trying to achieve here is a state where we can bring ourselves out of the dairy, wheat and sugar filled haven that so many of us live in on a daily basis.  As for the zero meat thing.  No I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I’m Brazilian thank you and I like my meat, but 28-days without is a good way of concentrating on adding in more veggies, more veggies and yes, you guessed right…more veggies.

So I’ve neglected you for the past couple of days.  So I’ve added in two great recipes.  Yes, you get a double feature today folks.

LIVER LOVING SLAW (photo to come)
1/2 beet
2 carrots
1 handful parsley
2 tbsp olive oil
Juice from half lemon
1 tbsp stone ground mustard
1 tsp unpasteurized honey
Pinch of sea salt and cracked pepper

Throw all ingredients in a small food processor or magic bullet and process until shredded.

I swear it’s the Polish side of me that adores beets or maybe it’s my liver after last night’s martini party.  Regardless beets increase and allow for the smooth flow of bile and Qi (energy).  Added with a little parsley in there and you’ve got a liver rocking salad that’s super easy to make.  Simple.

FAB FENNEL AVO SALAD
1/2 fennel roughly chopped into bite sized pieces
1 avocado
1/2 tangerine sectioned off into sliced
1 handful arugula

Dressing:
1/4 cup grapefruit or orange juice
Just under 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove
Pinch sea salt and cracked pepper

For the dressing, simply blend all the ingredients in a mini mixer or magic bullet until smooth and creamy.  Add more juice for a more liquid texture.

Grill fennel adding a little olive oil and set aside.  In a separate bowl add in arugula, chopped avocado and tangerine slices.  Add fennel and drizzle over with dressing.

I’m going to admit that I actually hate fennel. It’s not like it’s ever done anything, but I was determined as the little engine that could to find a way to like it.  And seriously, add avocado and I’m sold.  Yes, this dish has made a fennel lover out of me.  And no, it’s not raw, but a large portion of this salad is.  The cooked fennel adds a little warmth to this otherwise cold raw dish.  In Chinese Medicine, it works on what we call, the tai yin phase which encompasses the spleen (governs digestion) and lung (governs respiration).  So amazing for getting us to digest life and have the breath to let the bad stuff go.  It’s all about taking in and letting go peeps and that’s what we’re doing together.

So as I Diane Keaton my tooshie off today, I’ll go full steam ahead, hopefully providing an optimistic viewpoint, because if I can somehow maintain balance with sexy food, keep going despite all obstacles and still believe in a brighter tomorrow, then anyone can.  Because eventually folks, something’s gotta give.

I think I can, I think I can. No, I believe I can.