Snow Snow, Go Away

Yeah, Yeah, It's beautiful. Last weekend was the one year anniversary of totalling my car in an ice storm, so I begrudgingly and cautiously admire how picturesque it makes the parking lot. Snow is beautiful, but deadly.... which sounds like a cheesy action movie starring jackie chan. However this is real life not a TBS weekend marathon we're talking about here and the weather bug is claiming to be 10 degrees right now.. YIKES! Before it became so arctic in the Midwest, it was mild and fabulous in time for the hilarious and wonderful weekend that is now living in infamy in the hearts and cameras of myself and my counterparts. I purchased new shoes (merry Christmas to ME!), I got to see my parents, went to five parties on Friday (saw TONS of old friends, met new neighbors), then another party plus running home for a wardrobe change and out again the next night. All Shoes and Booze, no food... hey... 2 out of 3 ain't bad.. right???? This was our late night excursion Saturday. Let's break this down: here i am with my two lady friends, and the random in the background is my soon-to-be or current ex-boyfriend-on-again-boyfriend. photogenic, no?

This was the tacky sweater I borrowed from Jaclyn and it was out of this world. A barnyard theme. I had a Christmas bow and a bedazzled Christmas bag. Definitely a winner at the party (although there were some seriously impressive 90s attire)

And finally... when all of the pizza, take out china, and other grease-tastic food from the weekend was gone... the healthy detox began. I made John and I my new FAVORITE sandwich ever which i have been eating non-stop the past week.. I thought I'd share.

The grilled cheese to end all grilled cheese:

• WW bread (local bakery.. heaven)
• cherry tomatoes, sliced
• avocado
• laughing cow light Swiss cheese wedge
• all natural turkey slices
• spinach leaves

When grilled its all warm and gooey. Amazing. I had it with some tomato soup. I love tomato soup and it has been a wintery staple for me since the dawn of time. I hadn't had it since I made the conversion to healthier foods last spring. (i.e. i always had it with milk, creme, etc.) I tried the V8 carton that everyone seems to love, and truthfully, it wasn't my everything. I thought the seasoning was extremely strong and the soup itself was really thin. The sandwich on the other hand..... that i could day dream about until lunch.

I hope everyone had a FABULOUS weekend and is out playing in the snow if applicable (appropriately bundled up of course). And someone who is home today tell me what happened on All My Children... since that's what snow days are for, right? soaps? :)

Procrastination, Anticipation, and Gyration

Okay so no body's gyrating, and certainly these hips are firmly planted in my desk swivel chair, but it really spices up the header, don't you think? Like some buttoned-up preacher from footloose should talk about how scandalous and unholy it makes this post. And how Kevin Bacon's gonna have sexy food blog and dancing anyway! Well the other two are true because i have been procrastinating at work all day (*cough* week) and now there's only an hour left a work and I am feeling guilty for delaying said project and still dragging my feet (hence me posting now). However the anticipation is for my lovely college roomie and bff to arrive at my apartment from st louis JUST as I am getting home so we can hit up no less than 4 parties this evening. Yes four. Tomorrow's a big day too. Does this weekend have fun written all over it or what? Speaking of fun, Jaclyn came over last night and I made her the above food (recreated the shot for when i had more after she left, it was still that good!) The pizza was modeled after the veggie pizza served at the flying saucer. Emily made a version of it for me one time too (shout out, oh haaay). I used WW pita rounds, covered with low fat cream cheese. I sprinkled it with diced poblano peppers and put kalamato olives, artichoke hearts, red onion slices, and spinach on top. MAGNIFICO. I put it in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 (although you could totally eat it cold just as deliciously).

Then I made an instant frozen yogurt. I used a recipe from eating well with had frozen peaches, peach schnapps, yogurt, vanilla, and a lot of sugar. super delicious. except now i have an enormous thing of peach schnapps that i'm trying to figure out what i'm going to do with... anyone have any good cocktail recipes for this? note to self: branch out from beer more often than to make frozen yogurt.

And finally for your viewing pleasure is a magnet on my fridge (i heart art, i heart magnets, i heart shoes... be still my heart for a combo of the three of them) There is a super cute saying about shoes on the magnet, but you'll have to use your imagination since I can't read it at the moment nor can I remember what it says. I think it says Lauren: stop being a moron and procrastinating so you can get home and wear fun shoes for the evening.

It's the hap-happiest season of all....

I am happy to report that I received a clean bill of health yesterday, despite my worries of the black lung, agoraphobia, and restless leg (p.s. my cousin was diasnosed with restless leg, who knew it was real?). Below is the holiday flair coming from my home to yours. This weekend I was gloriously sloth-like and stayed in, attempted to knit, wrapped presents, and was in bed before SNL started. Man, is 25.5 years old the beginning of the end? Friday night was also tame as I stayed in an DOMINATED a few friends in trivial pursuit. What has two thumbs and can answer questions from Benazir Bhutto to My Fair Lady? This Guy.

Last night I made a stuffed acorn squash. I had it with some baked tofu which was sort of a disaster. I will be trying to revive that in some way in the near future, not to worry. My attempt at cutting the squash probably could've been set to carnival music... or been a movie montage where i'm trying to kill the squash with the biggesst knife I own. I had to microwave it for a couple of minutes to even get it soft enough to cut. SHEESH. then i baked it at 350 for 30 minutes to soften up. Then I filled it with brown rice cooked with vegetable broth, and some sauteed garlic. I mixed the cooked rice with some raisins, pumkin seeds, and mixed some of the squash in with it too. Flippin good.

Tonight I'm getting an early Christmas present.... Jacks Mannequin tickets! They are playing just a few blocks from my house... how perfect is that? I'm going to hum JM songs all day in my i'm-healthy-class-is-out-concert-tonight-woohoo euphoria.

TGIW friends :)

The Meaning of Life, etc.

Hi friends. Although I am sitting at my desk pondering the meaning of it all (as opposed to, say, with my BFF at the airport on a Gremlin) I am having a philosophical day where I am trying to put into perspective all that is on my mind. For instance today is one of those days that thus far is angst-ridden. My to-do list is ridiculous, and I'm twiddling my fingers and thumbs in anticipation of my doctor's appointment this afternoon where I will a) have to recap the laundry list of health issues that can now be added to my family history and b) try to leave with assurance that nothing is wrong with me (does any one else become a hypochondriac right before a visit?).

There is one thing I thought I would throw out there. I realize the internet is a bathroom wall upon which people write anything and everything imaginable. Though I would love to be many things including a writer, and outstanding cook, an astronaut, cycle 15 America's Next Top Model winner, etc, etc. ... I do not wish to plagiarize or overstep any lines of legality or inpropriety when it comes to internet posting particularly where all things food are concerned.

I had a comment that I didn't give credit to the author of a recipe, which I hope I have corrected in the right way. To my knowledge I've always included a hyperlink or some sort of reference while also not giving a play by play, more a highlight of ingredients. My intention of this blog was not to get a fledgling food career off the ground, particularly under false pretenses. Rather, I am attempting to chronicle my trials and tribulations in the otherwise completely foreign world of healthier cooking and eating --- particularly when trying new vegetables, recipes, and/or products.

Kapeesh?

It's the Freakin' Weekend

I don't really like R. Kelly (what with him peeing on underage girls and all), but this song is very appropriately stuck in my head on this Friday morning. The last couple of nights I have stayed at home with no long to-do list (or more appropriately, not worrying about an existing long to-do list) No, instead I have been basking in the glow of nothingness as I am now DONE with school for the next month. That's right, finals are over, whoop whoop!! My blissfull school-is-out feeling coupled with the the crazy holiday upcoming holiday schedule.... means my immediate future resembles cleaning, cooking, christmas shopping, and/or spending so much time on my couch that i have to remind myself to quarter-turn every few hours to avoid bedsores. yessssssssssssss. I felt a little creative with my eats for the week. I made a fire roasted corn burger the other day. Not too shabby. For the life of me I can't find the actual recipe link anymore, but I found it on this super creative site. It uses the potato as a binder and has lime, cornmeal, kidney beans, fire roasted corn, and some spices. Grilling would've been ideal, but baking was delicous also. I had it with a WW bun, romaine, tomato..and.. be still my beating heart........... avocado. It was good, better than it looks at least (i realize the color is a bit unappetizing).

Also I've recently discovered that I'm obsessed with dates. On my last grocery trip I was looking for raisins for the recipe below, when I stumbled across a bag of dates from Dole. Because I love apricots, prunes, and apparently being an old person, I am no stranger to the dried fruit aisle in the grocery store. However seeing dates there made my heart skip a beat. The entire package is now gone and the next grocery shopping excursion cannot come fast enough! Anyway I made a salad based on the recipe on the back. It had pears, balsalmic vinagrette dressing, walnuts and romaine. There it is, in all it's date-like glory in front of my christmas tree. Also, fun fact, dates are from palm trees and are of middle east origin. Question: do I love food or wikipedia more? answer: looking up food on wikipedia.

Also I made a tuna salad recipe from whole foods online cookbook. It had raisins, carrots, almonds and cottage cheese. Here and I thought I could never love anything without mayo. It was a christmas miracle.

Have a fabulous weekend peeps.

Oh Greek Yogurt... how I love thee.. let me count the ways..

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height, my soul can reach when feeling out of sight....

A little strong for yogurt? That's a little bold for you to insinuate considering you haven't tried it (okay I'm assuming that part). I'm guessing Elizabeth Barret Browning, the author of that sonnet, didn't have access to Greek Yogurt... not because she lived in England in 1800, before whole foods, and that this yogurt is of middle eastern origin... but because she never wrote sweet sweet poetry about this stuff. Oh that's right... it's that good.

Truthfully one of the reasons I enjoy this food (like most foods) is for the texture. It sort of reminds me of thick sour cream.... something i semi gave up when i decided not to inch my way to cardiac arrest, one taco at a time. But anyway, a treat was much needed after I decided to only pick at the lunch I received via work, which sounded amazing on the menu and came back as a big pile of unappetizing disappointment.Normally I get the plain kind (I say normal, but it's more like special occasion since this is about 7 times the price of dannon) but honey looked interesting. I forgot that it already had the sweetener when I picked up this organic Vegan cookie. I'll admit, I was skeptical of a cookie with no eggs or dairy (and of course trans fats, etc.) but SHA ZAM it was good. It was cranberry orange Muffin-top style (and no, not that kind) and it was amazing. Although, admittedly, the honey with the cookie kind of was sweet tooth overboard.

overboard = okay with my taste buds = not okay with the dentist. good anyway.

The other night I made my favorite Vegan Dish. I almost always halve ingredients because there is just one of me and eating the same leftovers for a week usually bores my taste buds to tears. yes tears. However this is probably the third time I've made this in the last few months and have enjoyed every Delicious full recipe helping. ummm ummm ummm.

Quinoa Vegetable Paella (<-- linked up to the fat free vegan, a long time favorite of mine)

• onion
• garlic
• quinoa
• (the recipe calls for saffron, which according to wikipedia and my mother is the worlds most expensive spice. needless to say this was not included in my version)
• paprika
• cumin
• cayenne
• can diced tomatoes
• bell pepper
• can kidney beans
• vegetable broth
• zucchini
  

Seriously good. Plus it's a complete protien. Quinoa, pronounced keen-wa (although i wouldn't know because i've actually never heard another person say it aloud) is like the superfood stuff of champions. Think of every possible healthy thing that could be included in something (essential amino acids, calcium, iron, fiber, etc.) and it's got them all. plus it cooks faster than rice and is still a whole grain. Are you dazzled yet? Make it for yourself, it's good stuff.

In other news, I have a monster quiz tonight for which I feel woefully unprepared. I hate feeling unprepared, and woeful.

Off to work for the afternoon and sneak in some studying.... and of course emailing emily about how we're going to set aside time to practice Aud Lang Syne for this Year's New Year's Eve, so we can dazzle loved ones, friends, strangers, and those that can get us in front of hasselhoff for a little America's Got Talent. See how busy I am?

*previously this post included just a hyperlink to the real recipe page, and now includes a hyperlink AND the name of blog of origin. I suppose i don't know the actual proper etiquette, considering that i am a bit of a blog amateur... so if anyone has any pointers on what is proper i would be happy to get the info.

Things for which I am grateful:

• My family: how weird is it that I’d rather spend time with them than anyone else in the world? Apparently to a coworker of mine, and many many holiday movies based on the premise of escaping such situations, it is very weird.


• My family dos: my extended family could wrap around the globe twice if you lined us up (what with my mom having 10 siblings and all…hi aunts!). Somehow the completely chaotic atmosphere of our infrequent gatherings has a buzz of laughter and is so much fun to be around. Not to mention on this thanksgiving we sat around playing games and telling jokes until my cheeks hurt I was laughing so hard. Always worth the excessive car time to get there and then some.
  


• Friends: how I ever got so many people to laugh at my jokes and agree to hang out with me is just beyond me. They are fabulous and hilarious in their own right, and are so good to me.
  


• My education. I hate school right now (p.s. at this very moment I am procrastinating studying for the presentation I will give tonight, woof), but am grateful for higher education and eager for the future. Minus the part about repaying loans.
  


• O-BA-MA. Sorry, it’s obnoxious, I know.
  


• Good Health. Though not everyone I care about has been able to dodge illness, in the past year there have been more recoveries and remissions than not, and for that I am eternally grateful.
  


• Food. I feel I have only recently discovered the world outside Little Debbie and other individually packaged things more or less resembling kid food. It’s a good world, where things like pomegranates and acorn squash have entered into my vocabulary and pantry. Not just healthy food though, indulging in the butter/sour-cream/French-onion russet mashed potatoes, and going back for thirds is amazing and completely worth it.
  


• Indoor Plumbing. It seems so simple, but we watched a few episodes this weekend of ‘John Adams’ the HBO miniseries which reminds you how all of the comforts of civilized and modern life make things infinitely easier and more sanitary.
  


• Gainful employment. Everyone’s jobs has their pros and cons. A big ‘pro’ these days is having a paycheck at all. Yikes.
  


• Sunday Fundays exploring the city and laughing all day (like yesterday at the art gallery).
  


• The feeling of thawing out when jumping into a heated car, or taking a hot shower after standing in the rain/snow for four hours watching Mizzou lose to the overly obnoxious KU.
  


• Being mere WEEKS away from the next Holiday when I will be one semester closer to graduation, and will get to have all of this friend, food, and family time all over again.
  
  

p.s. more chronicles of my food adventures coming tomorrow, I promise :)