The Fat Girl's Guide to Living

Mini muffins. They’re fun, they’re bite-size, and they’re portion controlled… what’s not to love here? I recently dug up this recipe to bring to work for a friend’s birthday after remembering that she loved a similar version from one of the large coffee shop chains. The upside of doing them homemade vs. store-bought is you know exactly what’s in them and exactly how fresh they are.

These little gems aren’t overly-sweet. Instead they’re light and citrusy with little bursts of tart cranberry, and a slightly crunchy, sugary top…mini perfection! You can certainly make them in a regular-sized muffin tin but I like them better as minis – not only because they’re adorable, but also because their small size allows you to eat two or three of them instead of just one. Seems a little more decadent that way, don’t you think?

Orange-Cranberry Muffins
(recipe modified slightly from Food Network)
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
zest of one orange
2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus some for topping the muffins
2 eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup skim milk

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Put the cranberries and orange juice in a small saucepan, and bring just to a simmer over medium heat. Remove berries from the heat, and set aside to cool and plump. Drain off any excess liquid and set aside.

Line a 24-mini muffin tin (or regular size 12-muffin tin) with paper liners. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with an electric hand-held mixer in a large bowl, cream the butter, orange zest, and 2/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Remove the bowl from the mixer.

Fold the flour in 3 parts into the butter mixture, alternating with the milk in 2 parts, until just combined. Fold in the cranberries until just incorporated. Do not over mix. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin and sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes for minis and 25 minutes for regular-size muffins. Cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before removing from pan.

Yield: 12 regular-sized muffins or 24 mini-muffins

Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com

Yes, you can hike when it’s cold. It’s all about the gear, baby!

As fall color reaches its peak in northern climates, it’s easy to forget that we’re about to hit that lull before winter makes its frosty self comfortable. For many of us, that might mean heading indoors to work out, but I’d like to argue that time spent outdoors is both essential to our well-being and achievable year-round. I covered hot weather hiking earlier this year (see Part 1 and Part 2), but when temperatures drop, your comfort outdoors is largely dependent upon how you dress. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll need before heading out for a brisk hike.

What to Wear

The phrase “dress in layers” comes up often in articles about outdoor activities. But what exactly does this mean, and how does one achieve proper layering for cold weather? ‘Layering’ simply means dressing to insulate your body from the cold without trapping too much sweat against your body or letting any rain or snow leak through your clothing (both of which could put you at risk for a serious condition called hypothermia). In very cold weather, this means a base layer of long underwear under warm clothing and a wind- and water-resistant jacket or parka. Your clothing and coat will vary depending on the season and amount of rain, wind, or snowfall.

The trick to dressing in layers as a fat girl is to balance staying warm and dry against looking like Randy from A Christmas Story. It can also be tough finding outdoorsy clothing and outerwear in plus sizes. I’ll share a handful of retailers I’ve had luck with, and always welcome reader suggestions for more resources in the comments section.

Long underwear - Look for non-cotton fabrics that will wick perspiration away from the skin. Junonia offers long underwear up to size 5X; the only down side is they only offer one style and weight in two colors. Lands’ End and L.L. Bean each have a small selection of plus size long underwear up to size 3X.

Winter Coat - Who says parkas can’t be sexy? (See photo, above). Okay, nobody–but that doesn’t mean you should wear a lightweight or dress coat that will let cold and water seep through while hiking. Ideally you should look for a parka or long jacket with vents you can unzip to allow heat to escape. Finding a plus size winter coat can be tricky, as many outdoor companies don’t offer much (REI) or anything (Title 9) in the plus size range (what’s up with that, outdoor retailers?). Once again, Junonia comes to the outdoorsy fat girl’s rescue, with parkas and jackets made for safe, warm outdoor fun in sizes up to 6X. The parka I’ve had the red parka in the photo above for about a decade, the Squall Parka from Land’s End, available up to size 3X, and their sizing tends to be pretty generous.

Snow or Ski Pants (optional) – I only wear snow pants when I know my legs are going to get wet, as when I’m sledding with my kids. (I found mine at L.L. Bean – their XL juuuust makes it over my size 20 bum). Unless you tend to run super-cold or know you’ll be in wet conditions, these are optional for hiking. I know I sound like a broken record but: guess who also has snow pants in extended sizes? Snow pants tend to be uninsulated and lighter, for those of us who tend to run hot, and ski pants are thicker and made for extended time outdoors.

Hat, Scarf and Gloves – You’ll also want a scarf, hat and gloves, in fleece, wool, or any other non-cotton fabric, because cotton retains moisture, which you don’t want happening while you hike.

Footwear – As our recent Ask FGG post about building strong ankles illustrates, preventing injury and re-injury to your ankles is essential. Wear sturdy, water-resistant boots with good ankle support when hiking in wet or snowy weather, or trail runners with sturdy construction in milder, drier weather. I’m a big fan of Zappos.com and their free, lightning-fast shipping on purchases, returns, and exchanges. Montrail is probably my favorite footwear brand, though I know many Merrell fans, too. Ideally, visiting a store with knowledgeable sales people who will help you find shoes and boots is the best move (REI is the best in this department). And don’t forget cozy socks (I love SmartWool and Thorlo) in a non-cotton fabric.

Ultimately, when choosing gear for cold weather hiking, know your own body and tolerance for cold. I tend to be a sweaty Betty, so I wear lightweight long underwear and avoid down jackets for more than just their Michelin Man effect on my upper bod. If you tend to run colder, look for mid- or even expedition weight long underwear and a heavier jacket. Either way, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you forget the cold when you’re properly decked out to enjoy it.

Safety and Etiquette

Food and water. Carrying a water bottle, granola bar and apple in a small day pack or fanny pack will keep you hydrated and blood sugar levels stable.

Pace Yourself. Winter hiking means trying not to work up too much of a sweat. Having a jacket with vents to unzip can help in this regard, but remember also not to push yourself too hard in cold weather. Picking up your feet to stomp through leaves or snow requires extra effort, so build that into your experience beforehand to avoid overdoing it on the trail by either going more slowly than usual or choosing a shorter route. Also, be watch for ice patches hidden under freshly fallen snow and consider trekking poles for extra stability, particularly in rougher terrain.

Be Aware. Know the symptoms of both hypothermia and frostbite and head back at the first signs of either condition.

Protect Yourself. Whether or not you’re hiking solo, always let someone know where you’ll be hiking and an estimated time of return. If there’s a register at the trailhead, sign in and out so park rangers will know whether to look for you. Make sure your cell phone is charged and consider carrying a loud whistle to signal for help or dissuade potential human or animal attackers.

Know the rules where you’re hiking. Many state and local parks offer multi-use trails that include cross-country skiers, and it’s good trail etiquette to not stomp over pre-existing grooves. Also practice leave no trace ethics, an extension of the classic hikers’ adage, “take only pictures and leave only footprints.”

Stateside readers can find local trails at AmericanTrails.org, and GoTrekking.com offers reviews of trails around the world. Also, remember that you don’t have to be hard core to hike outdoors, even in winter. To get a nice dose of the natural world, any municipal park will do, especially for beginners.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab some gear and get ready for some cold weather hiking! And look for guides to snowshoeing, ski boots, and cross-country skiing later this winter.

Ask questions, share tips on where to find the best cold weather outdoor gear, and tell us about your favorite hikes in the comments section.

Jenny and fellow actor, Ben, during a show. Photo by Ron Zambor.

Greetings from LaLa Land,

I’m a working actor right now, which is awesome and amazing – I know how lucky I am and relish the work, and the great cast and people I get to work with.

A couple of weeks ago one of my fellow cast members, Ben (pictured above), booked a film. We all congratulated him and told him we’d miss him. A colleague asked him what role he would be playing. “The asshole friend,” Ben replied. “I always play the asshole friend.” I pointed at myself and said, “The sassy friend.” We high-fived. But it led me to think about yet another interesting thing about this business: typecasting.

Do you ever wonder why a particular actor is doing yet ANOTHER romantic comedy (or action flick or any other formula genre)? It’s not because we shoehorn ourselves into a favorite role and refuse to step out of it, it’s because that’s what we’re almost always offered. Portia De Rossi as the ice queen. Kate Hudson as the cute, quirky girl-next-door. Even the character actor whose name you don’t know, but whom you always see playing the harried mom or sassy secretary. From the A-list to the working stiffs, every one of us has been branded with a “type,” and that’s what we’re expected to play.

And yet typecasting is an equalizer – because no one escapes it. If you want to work as an actor, you have to embrace who this business thinks you are on-screen. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been told how wonderful or beautiful or talented I am, “but ____.” Bottom line, they don’t want a fat girl. Every actor I know has their own version of that story.

That’s part of what got me into the writing side. My writing partner and I were tired of the lack of diversity onscreen, and we’re not alone: everyone involved in preproduction seems to have the common goal of portraying life as it really is, cast with normal, everyday people, not models. One of the things we want to see happen through this screenwriting project is almost unheard of: a story in which the fat girl gets the guy. As our director, Patrick, pointed out: girls of all shapes and sizes get the guy in real life, but you don’t often see it happen on-screen. So while the fat-girl character in the film we’re writing has elements of the sassy friend, the harried mom and other similar characters that I’ve played, this time we gave her a love story.

It rails against type, but I’m willing to chance it.

And so was my current director. For the show I’m working now, I wasn’t cast because they needed a fat girl, which is what usually happens, but solely because the director liked me and thought I was talented. So I have had the privilege of creating a character from scratch on this one – a role that wasn’t written for a fat girl, and provided the challenge of being completely unlike other roles I’ve had. And I’m having a blast. My character, Kitty, jumps into every fight scene, and even gets to make out with a hot Brazilian guy (lucky me!).

It’s a rare gift to be cast on your talent and not your looks in this business, and though putting on the wig, jewelry, heels, makeup, and taping my breasts into my tarty hot pink bra every show takes forever – I have a whole new respect for drag queens – I relish every chance I have to inhabit this layered and human character who is not defined by how she looks. Ben’s not playing the asshole friend this time, either, in fact, a lot of the cast are playing against usual types. And you know what? We’re still a huge hit. As of this weekend, “A Big, Gay, North Hollywood Wedding” at the Crown City Theatre is the #1 show on GoldStar.com, L.A.’s big ticketing web site, and we’re about to extend…again. Just goes to show that stepping out of the types created for us, and that we create for ourselves, doesn’t mean risking success.

Fingers crossed that the film I’m writing does as well!

- JENNY

Fix weak ankles with basic exercises you can do anywhere

I’ve gained about 60 pounds over the last 10 years, and it seems like my ankles are shot from carrying the extra weight. They twist and sprain easily, and get sore when I take longer walks. Are there any ankle treatments or exercises that will help?”

That’s a common problem, and as those of us in northern hemisphere head into winter (think: ice skating, skiing, balance on icy driveways), a good one to tackle this week.

First, it’s important to note that once you twist or sprain an ankle, you’re more likely to do it again (and again), resulting in some pretty weak, wobbly ankles – overweight or not. That’s because an injury to the ligament affects not only the ankle tissue, but also to the neuro-receptors there that tie into the central nervous system. These are responsible for our physical stability and balance. In short, damaged ankles mean damaged sense of balance, and damaged sense of balance means, well, more unsteadiness and therefore more twisted, sprained and even broken ankles.

To stop that cycle, you need to heal those receptors with simple balance training.*

Once you can bear weight on your injured ankle without discomfort, stand (shoeless) near a wall, counter, desk or dining-room table so you can reach out to catch yourself if you need to. Practice balancing on one foot, and then the other, spending three to five minutes on each foot. Do this a minimum of three days a week, though preferably every day, for about four weeks following an injury, after which you can scale back to a few minutes once or twice a week to keep ankles and receptors in good shape long-term.

To make a regular practice of ankle strengthening (tissue), check out these simple exercises.

Healthy, strong, pain-free ankles means enjoying a wider range of exercises and improved endurance, which promotes more activity. More activity means a progressively leaner, healthier body, which means less stress on joints, which means fewer injuries, which means more activity…(see where I’m going with this?) So let’s love and care for those ankles.

* As with any exercise, check with your doctor first to be sure there are no other underlying conditions responsible for the injury, and no reason why you shouldn’t practice balance training.

Image by Alexander Drachmann

In last week’s “Ask FGG,” Tee tackled a reader question about where to find form-fitting, plus-size pants.  We were psyched to get several helpful reader comments, and the question invoked the vital and unique community we’ve been building.

More, please.

What other burning questions can we (and our readers) answer? Send questions to letters@fatgirlsguidetoliving.com or ask away in the comments section, and we’ll tackle a question every Tuesday.

New shoes by frageelay

Happy Birthday to FGG Editor, Toni, pictured above with her new fall shoes.

Today wraps up our All About Fall Flickr portrait contest, and Toni and I are pleased to announce that October’s winner is Playing in the Leaves from happywalks. Congratulations, Regina! Head on over to Lonna’s Etsy shop and pick out the book bangle of your choice, and email the link to it along with your address to letters@fatgirlsguidetoliving.com

Thanks, everyone, for playing!

November’s portrait contest theme is: COOKING

The holidays approacheth, for many of us the chilly weather is here, and I can hear pans and tins and rolling pins shuffling in kitchens far and wide. So snap a photo of yourself, or have someone else snap it for you, in the act of baking, frying, prepping, buying, anything associated with cooking. Then upload it to the FGG Flickr Group for a chance to be featured in FGG’s Photo of the Week each Sunday. At the end of the month, we’ll select one prize winner for November. Good luck!

The mellow, warm color of pumpkins signals to me that fall is in full swing. This time of year, pumpkins are everywhere, from pumpkin patches, pumpkins on front steps, pumpkins in loaves, muffins and pies, and pumpkins carved and flickering in the night. However, for years – and much to the dismay of my husband – I’ve adamantly claimed that I didn’t like roasted pumpkin seeds. My friends, I was wrong.

Until very recently, I’d never roasted my own seeds. I’d tried them when offered to me, but was always perplexed that anyone would enjoy the strange texture of the hulls that apparently you were supposed to eat. Now I know: they weren’t full toasted! Properly toasted pumpkin seeds are crunchy all the way through and are a pleasure to eat (think sunflower seeds you can flavor as you wish without the mess of having to spit out the shells!).

Now, everyone knows that what you find on the inside of a pumpkin is, shall we say, less than appetizing. Don’t let that deter you! It’s pretty simple to separate the seeds from the rest of the insides – just scoop everything out and into your clean sink or a large bowl of water. Be prepared to get messy for this step; using a spoon or one of those scrapers that come with pumpkin carving kits helps. Swish the gooey contents all around in the water; the seeds will float and everything else will sink to the bottom. Easy!

Not only can you make roasted pumpkin seeds a hundred different ways to satisfy any craving of the moment, they also pack a decent nutritional punch (iron, magnesium and protein). They also contain phytosterols, which have been shown to reduce levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. To be fair, heat does tend to destroy some of the nutritive value of the seeds – so a light roast is certainly better than dark – but they’re still better for you than that bag of chips that’s been calling your name. After visiting your local pumpkin patch, try this sweet and spicy version of roasted pumpkin seeds.

Spicy Candied Pumpkin Seeds
1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds, separated from the stringy insides and rinsed
4 cups water
1 tablespoons salt
1/4 cup natural cane sugar or brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine pumpkin seeds and 1 tablespoon of the salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sugar, pepper, cinnamon and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl. When seeds are done, remove from heat, drain and spread onto a paper towel. Pat dry. Pour onto oiled cookie sheet and coat all seeds with oil. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and mix to coat evenly. Arrange seeds into a single layer and bake for 12-18 minutes until golden (be sure to watch closely toward the end – they’ll burn quickly). Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to three days.

Yield: 1 cup

Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com