Monday, January 14, 2008

And the winner is ...


... me, for finding lots to fill my plate (and tummy, for that matter), at my family's traditional award show appetizer buffet.

The Golden Globes may have been canceled, but it didn't stop us from having our preplanned spread of h'orderves (I spoke of this is a previous post).

My mom was kind enough to provide a large salad with choice of toppings, a veggie tray and fruits, while I added to the raw offerings with a Mexican layered dip (Cafe Gratitude's refried "beans," walnut "meat," guacamole, fresh salsa, mock sour cream, shredded carrot and sliced olives), served with thinly sliced yellow squash, "fried" (make that dehydrated) zucchini with marinara, and more chocolate dipped strawberries garnished with sliced star fruit to make it festive.

My mom and one of my sisters were brave enough to try the dip and surprised to find that they actually liked it (my sister was quite fond of the mock sour cream). But, my other sister, whose specialty is making (and eating) the cooked version, was not allowed to even sample my dish.

Unfortunately, she has an allergy to all raw fruits and veggies. I'm not making this up; she really does. It started as just a tingle or an itchy tongue when she ate them. But now, it causes her throat to swell and nearly close up.

At first, we thought it was a reaction to pesticides, so my mom switched to all organics. However, she still had the same reaction to the chemical-free produce. She has to at least steam all her veggies before she consumes them. Poor thing, especially since she really does like them in their natural state.

It does remind me how lucky I am to be able to live this lifestyle. I eat a diet rich in raw produce all the time. I eat whatever I want, when I want it, and I feel great. I really am a winner (there I go sounding cashew "cheesy" again).

But back to the awards. We, along with the nominees, opted not to cross the picket line, and dressed comfortably this year (we usually dig out the formal wear; we have a closet full of old homecoming, prom, bridesmaid and party dresses for this purpose). We watched the interviews on my parent's television, making our predictions and anticipating the results.

And the Golden Globes went to ...

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:
ATONEMENT
Working Title Films Limited; Focus Features

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:
JULIE CHRISTIE
Away From Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA:
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS
There Will Be Blood

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Parkes/MacDonald and Zanuck Company; DreamWorks/Paramount Distribution /Warner Bros. Pictures

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
MARION COTILLARD
La Vie En Rose

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
JOHNNY DEPP
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
RATATOUILLE
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Pixar Animation Studios

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – FRANCE AND USA
A Kennedy/Marshall Company and Jon Kilik Production; Miramax

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE:
CATE BLANCHETT
I’m Not There

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE:
JAVIER BARDEM
No Country for Old Men

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE:
JULIAN SCHNABEL
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE:
ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN
No Country for Old Men

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE:
DARIO MARIANELLI
Atonement

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE:
“GUARANTEED” — INTO THE WILD
Music & Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:
MAD MEN
Lionsgate; AMC

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:
GLENN CLOSE
Damages

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:
JON HAMM
Mad Men

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

EXTRAS
BBC and HBO Entertainment; HBO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
TINA FEY
30 Rock

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
DAVID DUCHOVNY
Californication

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
LONGFORD
A Granada Production in association with Channel 4 and HBO Films; HBO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
QUEEN LATIFAH
Life Support

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
JIM BROADBENT
Longford

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
SAMANTHA MORTON
Longford

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
JEREMY PIVEN
Entourage


Go Jeremy Piven! I'm an Entourage fan :-)

10 comments:

April said...

I am going to have to try that mexican dip. It looks great!

Unknown said...

i have a friend who has that same allergy. we always joke about how we have completely opposite diets.

Kristen's Raw said...

Sometimes I just feel the need to swear (okay, more than sometimes, I do it a lot - but it's not in a bad mood, it's when I'm happy and trying to add emphasis) and I feel the need to do it with those pics of yours....WOW (I'll stop with "wow"...yeah, not a swear word but this is your blog after all, and it might be rated "G" right?). Great job!!! Can you come over to my house PRETTY PLEASE and make me some???

shannonmarie said...

Thanks April. I think it tasted better than it looked. The leftovers made for really good tacos/burritos.

Alissa, you know someone with the same allergy? How does she deal with it? Can she ever eat raw produce again?

Thanks Kristen. I'd love to come over, but you're so far away. Maybe we can make it happen sometime in the future. I've also been salivating over some of your food.

We could get together and make a ton of stuff like Heathy and Carmella. Hey, we could invite them, too :-)

Kathy said...

You must have a great family, very close, what a wonderful yearly event! Bet your mom is proud to have her family still come home and have fun!

I know you mentioned your photography skills in a previous post, but I have to say, I LOVE your photos - the angles and props are great!

Also, tell your sister I understand. I cannot have any uncooked "tree products". It is funny to hear you describe her reactions, I thought the same thing at first (that it was the pesticides). I only had a problem with "stone pitted" fruit (cherries, peaches, nectarines, etc.) and couldnt eat them, my throat would actually swell (have to carry an epipen now). I figured that it was the pesticides leaking into the soft skin and contaminating the fruit. Years later, at an allergist, I was advised that I had a "tree allergy", and that my reaction was so severe that anything uncooked from a tree caused this reaction.

Whatever the exact substance that I was allergic to in the fruit/nuts, was removed by heating.

I can relate. It is funny though that she cannot have veggies either - that is a new one. I thought I was the only "strange duck" out there. (people look at you funny when you tell them you are allergic to "tree products"). Nice thing though, lately products have labels stating "may contain tree nuts", so there must be more than just me out there ;0)

Heather Pace said...

Girl, looks great at always!
It's so funny that you went on a little mexican kick - on the weekend I did my mexican food class and just finished blogging about it, only to come over here and see yours :)
I looove the layered dip though - ive never done that before. Shall have to try.

shannonmarie said...

Kathy, I really do love my family. We are so close, both in how we spend our time together and where we live.

I'm lucky to be only a couple streets away from my in-laws and just 15 minutes from my parents. My youngest sister (she's 10 years younger) lives with them, and the other sister's house is on the same cul de sac.

Thanks for the photo compliments. I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Wow, so you have a raw allergy, too. Any advice for my sister? I guess you can't outgrow it.

By the way, I don't think you're strange :-)

Raw Goddess, checked out your post. I want to fiesta with you guys. We seem to be on the same wavelength.

Jenny said...

maybe we should think about manifesting a girls' weekend of raw food, energetic and excited sharing, and photo snapping!!!! like the best kind of spa/recharging retreat ever! something to think about. . . i'd be in heaven to hang with all you raw ladies
oh and i agree fully with kristen, wow + yummy
xx

Sam said...

The food looks great. what kind of chesse stick substitute was that with the tomatoe sauce? Your blobb is very inspirational. I try to view it at least every other day.

shannonmarie said...

Jenny, that's a great idea, but we'll have to wait until Carrie and B are done juicing.

100 percent, the sticks are actually "fried" (dehydrated) zucchini with raw marinara for dipping.

I marinated the zucchini in olive oil, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Then, I coated them in a mixture of almond meal, nutritional yeast, garlic, oregano, basil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and cayenne, and dehydrated them to get a cooked effect.

You can make raw "cheese" sticks. There is a recipe in Rawvolution, but I prefer to use the same coating as I put on the zucchini, and I sub cashews for the sunflower seeds.

Actually, I do my own version of a "cheesy" center, because I'm not a big fan of all the Noma Shoyu. I guess I don't really use the same recipe, but you can try it and make changes to suit your preferences.