Older Bolder Life

Stronger | Leaner | Sharper | Longer - From Older Bolder Fitness

The Older Bolder Life Friday Feast: Chile and Sautéed Garlic Shrimp

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We’ve made a pact around our camp to increase our intake of quality seafood this summer, and strolling through my favorite Central Market a few days back I saw to my delight fresh caught Gulf shrimp on sale.

The shrimp were in great shape (always check), and I couldn’t resist picking up a pound and a half, knowing that once shelled we’d be looking a roughy a pound or so.

Our friend Chef Libby sent me this recipe for Chile and Sautéed Garlic Shrimp years ago, and I’d forgotten how wonderful it is, especially when you take care to deeply brown the garlic slices (my wife calls them chips).

This one is incredibly easy, worthy of any company you might care to entertain, and plays well with a host of sides, appetizers, and salads. Don’t forget to share the browned garlic fairly, and drizzle some of that wonderful oil over the shrimp at service.

Oh, and by the way, crushed red pepper flakes of course work if you don’t have the preferred dried red peppers laying around…

2-3 tbsp avocado or EV olive oil
10-12 cloves, thinly sliced
3-4 dried red chiles, crumbled coarsely
2 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 tbsp brandy

2-4 tbsp chopped parsley or cilantro, optional

Heat the oil of choice in a medium-large saucepan over high heat; add the garlic slices and sauté, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add the chiles, then the shrimp, and cook another 3-4 minutes until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through, turning once.

Carefully add the brandy, cook for another minute or so to cook off the alcohol; you’ll notice the pan sauce will thicken a bit.

Add a sprinkle of good salt as desired, top with the parsley or cilantro, and go to it; make sure everyone gets their fair share of that delicious garlic too…

Enjoy.

Quote of the Day: Amelia Earhart on Tenacity

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The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity.

– Amelia Earhart

Over the past several days I’ve had the opportunity to interact with an individual (from Scotland actually, ain’t digital communication today grand) who’s been internally debating with the decision to take charge of their health and nutrition after having several “warning sign” events transpire since the year began.

We happen to share several common experiences in our pasts, and they’ve committed today to start their life “do-over” (via a health coaching program) and to dive in and fully engage after I shared the quote above.

Amelia was right; finally, and truly, deciding to act is a huge step. And tenacity can be nurtured, exercised, and developed along the way.

The Older Bolder Life Vegetable Wednesday: Spicy Baked Popcorn Cauliflower

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Talking to our friend chef Libby in Austin a couple of days ago she shared this recipe, saying they’d been working hard lately on an Indian-themed catering project coming up this week.

Her client is a home health advocacy group there in town, and they wanted a very healthy-food focused menu served, though with a decidedly Indian focus. This Spicy Baked Popcorn Cauliflower was one that made the final cut, modeled after something Libby saw in the Tasting Table feed a few months back.

She (and we) is(are) enamored with spicy foods, and she worked the source recipe around the edges a bit, tweaking the spices, adding coriander (a mainstay in traditional Indian cooking), and said you really need to spread the cauliflower florets out on the baking sheets to allow them to fully crisp in the hot oven.

I put this together last weekend to serve alongside a grilled ribeye and it was outrageously good, and smelled delightful roasting in the oven.

1 large head cauliflower cut into florets
3-4 tbsp coconut oil or ghee, melted
1 tbsp garam masala
1 and 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 and 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 and 1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp good salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

2-4 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro or parsley

Preheat your trusty oven to 350 and parchment line two baking sheets.

Prep the cauliflower and place in a large bowl, drizzle with the melted fat, then sprinkle the spices over. Stir to mix well (use your hands!).

Divide evenly between the two parchment-lined baking sheets, make sure the pieces aren’t touching or they won’t crisp as well. Bake for 33-38 minutes until beginning to caramelize on some edges and they’re crispy; they should be a wonderful golden brown.

Enjoy.

A Useful Tool: Changing Your Routine

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There are times in life when routine can be your friend.

There are times when stepping into your routine can be reinforcing, choosing willfully to engage in behaviors that will become habits down the road, laying foundations upon which success will be built in the days ahead.

Some days stepping into your routine is downright comforting, allowing you to get on with the day’s business with less attention to details already smoothed by your routine, hopefully spending minimal time on less critical decisions, and smoothing the tugs and pulls of daily decision making.

There are times in life, on the other hand, when routine can become dull, limiting, repetitive, and soulless.

Some days (or weeks, or months) we need a change in the routine, something to shake things up and inspire a new view of life and the challenges of the day.

Those of us working hard to improve our health, for example via optimizing nutrition and activity, changing our routines often becomes an integral part of the game.

Simply moving off the standard American diet is a huge change for most people, not to mention a genuine run of nutritional ketosis, adding fasting days, or even going full on carnivore. Carb cycling is another great example, and the lay fitness literature is chock full of recommendations about changing up the exercise game (see this, this, and this for example).

The trick of course is knowing what to change and when to do it.

And let’s face it, changing the diet and fitness games is sometimes a matter of trial and error, or an N=1 experiment if you prefer. Listening to your body is key, as is not changing too many variables in too short a time frame.

I recommend you always have a reason to implement change, however simple it might be, and it’s often incredibly helpful to run your ideas and goals by a trusted friend, mentor, or coach.

Maybe it’s time to change up your fitness and/or food plan this week. Git ‘er done.

Memorial Day 2019: Take Time to Remember

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We’re taking a break from our regular schedule today in honor of Memorial Day – a time when we as a nation set aside a day to honor those who have fallen in her service.

Over on a fly fishing blog my family has written for a few years I’ve shared a tradition we now practice that was inspired by another fly fisher several years ago – the simple act of placing a stone on a veteran’s grave marker on Memorial Day. The practice has ancient roots (Jewish tradition from Biblical times, adopted by many cultures over time), and is commonly practiced even in our Nation’s cemetery at Arlington.

I’ve also just finished a fascinating read recommended by a friend and mentor – Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery – detailing the history of Arlington (quite the story actually), the deeply embedded traditions there, and the role it has in the lives of families and those appointed to administer and care for the monument.

Whatever point on the political spectrum you chose to occupy today, please take some time to remember, and honor, those who have fallen preserving the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Back to regular programming tomorrow.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Older Bolder Links, Reads, Recipes, and More 25 May 2019

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Science News That Caught My Eye This Week

Ultra-processed diets cause weight gain.
Is your sleep disorder making you fat?
Fasting (or low-carb/low-protein) may regenerate pancreatic beta cells. A mouse study, but interesting potential…
Sunscreen ingredients are being systemically absorbed?
Are IQ really dropping in developed countries?

From the Keto World

Using ketogenic diets to manage MS (free MedScape account required).
Ketones as tool to manage overtraining?

Living, and Aging, Well

Learning from our ancestors to regain the American lifespan (free MedScape account required).
Exercise helps prevent arthritis induced cartilage damage.
Religious couples have happier marriages (news article, study).

Is Traditional Medicine “Fiddling While Rome Burns”?

An interesting article covering the travails of a popular biohacker being investigated by California authorities for the “unlicensed practice of medicine”.

Meanwhile, for example, prescription drug use issues and chronic conditions devastate the populace and economy…

Food, Glorious Food

A nifty look at making Icelandic sea salt.
Another win for avocados.

Quick Grilled Tomato and Jalapeño Table Salsa
Crispy Verde Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
Texas Red Jalapeño and Chipotle Harissa

The Older Bolder Life Friday Feast: Texas Red Jalapeño and Chipotle Harissa

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A couple of months ago I was given the pleasure of writing a short piece for a fly fishing magazine based out of South Africa – The Mission – detailing a version of this Texas Red Jalapeño and Chipotle Harissa we’ve been playing with for a while.

I shared with The Mission team –

Exceptional sauces and salsas are some of life’s simplest and most valuable additions to the table, making good foods great as they deliver layers of flavor and spice, most often as the best supporting actor and not stealing the scene from the star of the show.

Texas offers a fascinating and eclectic food culture, melding influences from early settlers hailing from across the world, but leaning heavily on Mexican, Germanic, and Irish roots, with a healthy scoop of Vietnamese and Asian influences thrown into the mix as well over the past several decades.

Distracted for years by delicious salsa verdes, fresh table salsas, and more guacamoles than I can count, of late we’ve been playing with different harissa recipes, including this one featuring a pepper unique to these parts – the Dulce Mediterraneo, for which you can readily substitute with a red bell pepper.

Harissa, a Tunisian hot chili paste, makes just about everything better, from the morning’s scrambled or fried eggs, to seafood, lamb, pork, beef, or wild game hot from the grill.

‘Nuff said.

2 large red dulce Mediterraneo peppers
1/4 pound red jalapeño chiles
1-2 dried chipotle pepper(s), soaked for 10-15 minutes

1 tablespoon coriander seeds, whole
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, whole
2 teaspoons caraway seeds, whole
4 large cloves garlic

2 tablespoons organic tomato paste
1/2-1 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (additional for storage)

Blacken the skins of the dulce mediterraneo peppers (over an open flame, under a broiler, etc), place in a paper or plastic bag and let steam for 20 minutes or so. When cooled, stem, seed, peel, and place in a blender.

Stem the jalapeños (Fresno or green jalapeños in a pinch) and place in the blender.

Toast the coriander, cumin, and caraway seeds in a dry nonstick skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant, then coarsely grind in a mortar and pestle and add to the blender. Toast the whole garlic cloves in the same pan until browned (lightly), then add to blender.

Finally add the roasted peppers, tomato paste, soaked chipotles, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 cup olive oil to the blender, then blend until roughly pureed (you want some texture in the sauce). Add olive oil if needed to thin, and adjust for salt.

Pour into a glass pint jar and top with a thin layer of olive oil to store in the fridge.

Enjoy.

Three Reasons You Need to Camp this Summer

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We’ve spent the past week and change with our daughter in Missoula (Montana) and son, daughter-in-law, and new grandson Brantley in Livingston (Montana); any time away from the routine is restorative, and it’s even better when you’re having fun every day.

As was the case during their childhood and early adult years, both of our offspring and their families are avid outdoorsmen and women, spending extensive time outdoors year round (that’s saying something given the winter that Montana has experienced this year), fly fishing, hiking, camping, river running, hunting, skiing, backpacking and more.

Given the fact they have an 11-month old in tow these days (watching the tent pitching with interest to the right), outings in Livingston have been fairly close to home this winter and early spring, though they’re gearing up to begin a new cycle of toddler-friendly car camping and establishing backcountry basecamps, including purchase of a new Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8 tent, seen above during its test pitch in the backyard this weekend.

As a family both of our children made their first multiday camping trips before their second birthday, as well as floating their first longer float trips in a drift boat on the Snake River in Wyoming. Getting kids outside takes some deeper planning, creative adjustments in their routine, and perhaps some specialized gear to keep them comfortable and safe, but it’s unquestionably worth the additional effort.

I’m a huge proponent of everybody spending time outdoors regardless of their age and would encourage you to spend a few days camping this year too; here are three simple reasons we’ve found multiday camping excursions so useful as a family.

Multiday Camping Excursions are Immersive

Day hikes and picnics are great, but there’s truly nothing like spending a few days camped in the great outdoors. So few children (and adults for that matter) spend a night outdoors these days, under a big, dark sky showing off the astounding brightness and colors of the Milky Way, hearing the night sounds, and rising with the sun as the summer songbirds greet the sunrise in full song.

Everybody should spend a few nights every season sitting around a blazing campfire and watching the mystery of fire turn forest logs into glowing coals; even better cooking a meal over fire is an experience few enjoy these days.

Lives most lead today are too routine, too insulated, too groomed, and too climate-controlled; deep immersion in the natural world awakens your senses and reconnects your physiology to more primal, natural rhythms. Getting your hands dirty, preparing and eating foods around a campfire, hiking, fishing, and throwing rocks in the creek are good for you – and just damned fun.

Multiday Camping Excursions Build Relationships

Some of the most formative relational time we ever spent with our kids was (and still is) when we were away from the routine of normal life and spending time outdoors camping, hiking, or on the rivers of the West. Even travel to and from treasured destinations, anticipating upcoming adventure or remembering great times spent on the trip, provided ample opportunities to spend undistracted time together, and sort through the occasional challenge along the way.

Multiday Camping Excursions Drive a Deeper Digital Disconnect

Without again overstating an obvious bias of mine, multiday camping/outdoor excursions are a wonderful way to digitally disconnect. We always made a point of heading out to places that were off the grid, much easier to do in Montana and Wyoming than many regions of the country, and relished time away from computers and off phones, with my ever-present pager left on the desk at home.

Conversation can truly be an art form and needs cultivation and practice; as does the ability to think deeply and with focus; the digital world we all spend so much time distracted by discourages both. Exercising those cognitive muscles makes them strong, supple, and responsive.

Get out there this summer.