Life has a way of kicking us in the pants sometimes. Sometimes, we see it coming...and sometimes, we don't. We could just be going about our lives and then BAM! we find ourselves lying on our backs, stunned, wondering how in the world we found ourselves in this place. We never set out to hurt ourselves or to hurt others. At least, I hope no one does. I think, in the Christian life, Satan has a way of slipping into our lives and weaving himself and his lies into the fabric of truth we hold onto. He takes the truth and distorts it. He is so sly, so manipulative, so evil, that we rarely see him coming. We get so intertwined in his lies that we often don't realize the mess we are in until we are neck-deep, struggling against his tentacles.
And you know what institution Satan seems to LOVE attacking lately? Marriage. He will do any and everything he can to destroy marriages. He seems to relish in it. Revel in it. Delight in it. And it's sick. He has destroyed the marriages of friends, of my parents, of other people in my life. And, he got ahold of mine... No one goes into marriage expecting to end up divorced after a year or two. You go into it expecting it to last...to go the distance. And that is what I did. I went into my marriage blissfully happy and ready to spend the rest of my life with C. And it seemed for the longest time that it would end up that way. But eventually, over time, Satan crept in and did his thing and, after a year and nine months of marriage, we divorced. It hurts. It sucks. It is not at all what I expected or planned...yet, here we are. But, even so, I know God is faithful. He can be trusted. He is good.
Redemption... Let me tell you, that word sounds so sweet--to both those in need of it and not. It holds the promise of hope, better days, and restoration of God's working in your life. God can redeem and restore any and all situation, any and every person, any and every place. God's power to redeem has no limitations. And I know he will redeem me, redeem C, and redeem our futures apart from one another. God has a plan. God knows what lies ahead for both of us and I am trusting Him in that. He has forgiven me and He can redeem me, redeem my life, my past, and my future...and I am thanking Him for that every day.
Forgiveness
Friday, August 30, 2013
So it has been a while since I have posted a food recipe. And you know how I love my food. Mmm Mmmm Good.
Waffles. Superior to pancakes? Yes. In every day. They have perfect, tiny little pockets just WAITING for melted butter and sweet, sticky syrup to be poured in. They are cute in appearance (come on, admit it). They taste phenomenal no matter what kind they are (buttermilk, chocolate chip, cinnamon, banana, chocolate, etc). They are everything you could want and more...
Except when you eat Paleo. Like me. Curses. I have something called Diverticular disease. Essentially (and skip ahead if you don't like medical stuff), I have pockets in my intestines that like to hold onto seeds and give me infection, fever, and pain. It is manageable and I can deal with it (especially by avoiding seeded things) but sometimes, I forget. I ALWAYS seem to forget tomatoes and cucumbers have seeds. Oops. Well, a few months ago, my sugar intake was OUT OF CONTROL. I was vegetarian but a lazy one so, rather than cooking lots of vegetables, I tended to eat a lot of carbs and sugars. My body didn't appreciate this and decided it did not want to regulate my blood sugar anymore AND my diverticular flares got worse whenever I had them. A good friend of mine took my diet and completely changed it--and helped my health--by turning me onto Paleo. My blood sugar is stable 90% of the time now AND my flares (when they happen) are not as bad.
So, I eat Paleo now. Which means no bread, beans, grains, etc. Bye bye waffles, I thought. But then I found this recipe (and tweaked it). Paleo Waffles. Wonderful, fluffy, tasty waffles. Heaven.
Waffles. Superior to pancakes? Yes. In every day. They have perfect, tiny little pockets just WAITING for melted butter and sweet, sticky syrup to be poured in. They are cute in appearance (come on, admit it). They taste phenomenal no matter what kind they are (buttermilk, chocolate chip, cinnamon, banana, chocolate, etc). They are everything you could want and more...
Except when you eat Paleo. Like me. Curses. I have something called Diverticular disease. Essentially (and skip ahead if you don't like medical stuff), I have pockets in my intestines that like to hold onto seeds and give me infection, fever, and pain. It is manageable and I can deal with it (especially by avoiding seeded things) but sometimes, I forget. I ALWAYS seem to forget tomatoes and cucumbers have seeds. Oops. Well, a few months ago, my sugar intake was OUT OF CONTROL. I was vegetarian but a lazy one so, rather than cooking lots of vegetables, I tended to eat a lot of carbs and sugars. My body didn't appreciate this and decided it did not want to regulate my blood sugar anymore AND my diverticular flares got worse whenever I had them. A good friend of mine took my diet and completely changed it--and helped my health--by turning me onto Paleo. My blood sugar is stable 90% of the time now AND my flares (when they happen) are not as bad.
So, I eat Paleo now. Which means no bread, beans, grains, etc. Bye bye waffles, I thought. But then I found this recipe (and tweaked it). Paleo Waffles. Wonderful, fluffy, tasty waffles. Heaven.
Gluten Free Almond Flour Waffles
1 cup almond meal/flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (plus a sprinkle or two extra)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 dash pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
Whisk together the dry ingredients. Then add in the wet. Whisk until well combined. Cook in a greased waffle maker.
ENJOY.
And if you want to make it even SWEETER (double meaning intended--haha), make it dessert.
Cook some bacon and soak it in maple syrup or caramel (your choice) for 10 minutes. Top your warm waffle with 1-2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, the bacon, and some extra syrup or caramel. Trust me. It is wonderful.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Guys, it has been a crazy last few months. There have been a lot of changes, a lot of heartache, a lot of God moving. I hope to someday soon let you in on a lot of it and to show you how faithful God has been in my life. Let me just say, He TRULY can bring beauty from ashes and redeem even the most hopeless of people and situations.
A month ago, I found myself jobless and on the hunt for a new job. I loved my old job and knew I was blessed to even have a job, but I knew God had placed a different calling on my life. I have previous teaching experience from when I lived in Memphis and I knew that was what I wanted to get back to someday. God just decided that day was sooner than I anticipated or planned for. The day I became jobless, I got a call FOUR hours later from a school asking me to come and interview. I was beyond thrilled. I did not know much about the school, but researched it the moment I got home.
Guys, have you ever prayed for something SO specific that you knew it may be a long time before that prayer was answered? THIS was my answered prayer. My senior year in college, God placed the call to teach on my life. Shortly after, I found out about a program known as Memphis Teacher Residency. This program equips future teachers to teach in urban, high-needs schools in Memphis, Tennessee. During the program, you work on a Masters degree in Urban Education and co-teach in a school of MTR's choosing. Because I moved to Florida halfway through the program, I was unable to complete my degree. However, I still knew my heart was for high-needs, at-risk, urban youth. While there are certainly students like this in the public school system here in Polk County, Florida, it just didn't "fit" with what I wanted. I wanted to work with kids who had been told they wouldn't amount to anything, who needed an advocate, and who needed a second chance.
The school at which I interviewed is called PACE Center for Girls. Straight from the website, here is what PACE is: "PACE Center for Girls, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that 501(c) 3 corporation that provides a non-residential delinquency prevention program in locations statewide, targeting the unique needs of females 12 to 17 who are identified as dependent, truant, runaway, delinquent, or in need of academic skills. PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education) accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children and Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals. Its purpose is to intervene and prevent school withdrawal, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and welfare dependency in a safe and nurturing environment." Answered prayer? Uh, I think yes!
The interview went VERY well and I was hired on the spot. Another HUGE blessing. I was less than 24 hours without a job. Totally a God thing. BUT, just because it was a God thing and I was finally going to be doing what I dreamed of, that does not mean it was going to be easy. These girls come with a whole different set of challenges than I would experience in a regular public school. These girls could come to PACE with history of abuse (physical or sexual), drug problems, assault records, delinquency, etc. And most of the time, unless they tell you or their counselor tells you, you won't know. As teacher, you figure out over time which girls have anger issues, which have problems with adults, and which you will have to fight every step of the way. NO work day is the same. Some days the "trouble" student can be an angel, and some days the "angel" student may be the one causing problems in class. Some days there are no code reds (lock downs resulting from either a student walking out of class, a physical fight, or a major behavior issue usually) and some days there are a LOT. I have been blessed so far to have had only 2 code reds (both from a girl walking out without asking permission to go get water) out of the many we have had.
Throughout the 21 days I have been working officially at PACE, God has had His hand on me. The students, normally anti-new teachers and likely to test their teachers to break them, have given me no problems. They are respectful, they get their work done, and they always greet me with a "hey Ms. Camille!". I attribute ALL of it to the fantastic training I received at Memphis Teacher Residency. We learned the importance of developing a relationship of sorts with our students from the get go. We get to know them and allow them to get to know us in turn. After all, how can we expect students (especially THESE students) to automatically respect us and listen to us if they don't know us? I told them at the very beginning, I want to get to know them and let them get to know me. I will always be real with them and will never lie. Certainly, some questions I can't answer (and OOOOOH man you should hear the personal questions I get asked), but all other appropriate ones, I will always answer. I told them I will always respect them and will never talk down to them or act like I am better than them.
Because of the way I handled the first few days (getting to know them, showing them a PowerPoint of all of my friends, family, pets, interests, etc, and playing games with them), I have ZERO issues with students acting out against me or disrespecting me. One student told me today it is because I am laid back, chill, and am myself with them. I make them do work, yes, but once the work is done, I give them a few minutes to talk and be themselves. I have had so many positive experiences and had so many great conversations with my girls already and the fall semester has only been going since the 19th! I cannot wait to share some of these, give y'all some of the funnier (appropriate) comments I hear, and to tell more of how amazing God is in all of this. He has a plan for my life and a plan to redeem my life and all the mess that has been going on around me. My world has fallen to pieces in so many ways but God is building it back up into His plan for my life and He is faithful in redeeming every last bit.
In the meantime, until my next post, pray for my girls. They need some serious loving. They are so used to being put down, neglected, etc. I bought them all FRESH, new notebooks for note taking and when a girl asked me why I used my own money, I told her that the school couldn't get more than we already had but I wanted them to have them anyway. Her response was "why waste your money on girls like us". It broke my heart. They don't see how much potential they have! They don't see the miracles they are. They are so strong and so resilient and I KNOW they can succeed. So, pray for their hearts and for healing, and pray that God uses me and the PACE staff however He wills.
A month ago, I found myself jobless and on the hunt for a new job. I loved my old job and knew I was blessed to even have a job, but I knew God had placed a different calling on my life. I have previous teaching experience from when I lived in Memphis and I knew that was what I wanted to get back to someday. God just decided that day was sooner than I anticipated or planned for. The day I became jobless, I got a call FOUR hours later from a school asking me to come and interview. I was beyond thrilled. I did not know much about the school, but researched it the moment I got home.
Guys, have you ever prayed for something SO specific that you knew it may be a long time before that prayer was answered? THIS was my answered prayer. My senior year in college, God placed the call to teach on my life. Shortly after, I found out about a program known as Memphis Teacher Residency. This program equips future teachers to teach in urban, high-needs schools in Memphis, Tennessee. During the program, you work on a Masters degree in Urban Education and co-teach in a school of MTR's choosing. Because I moved to Florida halfway through the program, I was unable to complete my degree. However, I still knew my heart was for high-needs, at-risk, urban youth. While there are certainly students like this in the public school system here in Polk County, Florida, it just didn't "fit" with what I wanted. I wanted to work with kids who had been told they wouldn't amount to anything, who needed an advocate, and who needed a second chance.
The school at which I interviewed is called PACE Center for Girls. Straight from the website, here is what PACE is: "PACE Center for Girls, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that 501(c) 3 corporation that provides a non-residential delinquency prevention program in locations statewide, targeting the unique needs of females 12 to 17 who are identified as dependent, truant, runaway, delinquent, or in need of academic skills. PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education) accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children and Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals. Its purpose is to intervene and prevent school withdrawal, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and welfare dependency in a safe and nurturing environment." Answered prayer? Uh, I think yes!
The interview went VERY well and I was hired on the spot. Another HUGE blessing. I was less than 24 hours without a job. Totally a God thing. BUT, just because it was a God thing and I was finally going to be doing what I dreamed of, that does not mean it was going to be easy. These girls come with a whole different set of challenges than I would experience in a regular public school. These girls could come to PACE with history of abuse (physical or sexual), drug problems, assault records, delinquency, etc. And most of the time, unless they tell you or their counselor tells you, you won't know. As teacher, you figure out over time which girls have anger issues, which have problems with adults, and which you will have to fight every step of the way. NO work day is the same. Some days the "trouble" student can be an angel, and some days the "angel" student may be the one causing problems in class. Some days there are no code reds (lock downs resulting from either a student walking out of class, a physical fight, or a major behavior issue usually) and some days there are a LOT. I have been blessed so far to have had only 2 code reds (both from a girl walking out without asking permission to go get water) out of the many we have had.
Throughout the 21 days I have been working officially at PACE, God has had His hand on me. The students, normally anti-new teachers and likely to test their teachers to break them, have given me no problems. They are respectful, they get their work done, and they always greet me with a "hey Ms. Camille!". I attribute ALL of it to the fantastic training I received at Memphis Teacher Residency. We learned the importance of developing a relationship of sorts with our students from the get go. We get to know them and allow them to get to know us in turn. After all, how can we expect students (especially THESE students) to automatically respect us and listen to us if they don't know us? I told them at the very beginning, I want to get to know them and let them get to know me. I will always be real with them and will never lie. Certainly, some questions I can't answer (and OOOOOH man you should hear the personal questions I get asked), but all other appropriate ones, I will always answer. I told them I will always respect them and will never talk down to them or act like I am better than them.
Because of the way I handled the first few days (getting to know them, showing them a PowerPoint of all of my friends, family, pets, interests, etc, and playing games with them), I have ZERO issues with students acting out against me or disrespecting me. One student told me today it is because I am laid back, chill, and am myself with them. I make them do work, yes, but once the work is done, I give them a few minutes to talk and be themselves. I have had so many positive experiences and had so many great conversations with my girls already and the fall semester has only been going since the 19th! I cannot wait to share some of these, give y'all some of the funnier (appropriate) comments I hear, and to tell more of how amazing God is in all of this. He has a plan for my life and a plan to redeem my life and all the mess that has been going on around me. My world has fallen to pieces in so many ways but God is building it back up into His plan for my life and He is faithful in redeeming every last bit.
In the meantime, until my next post, pray for my girls. They need some serious loving. They are so used to being put down, neglected, etc. I bought them all FRESH, new notebooks for note taking and when a girl asked me why I used my own money, I told her that the school couldn't get more than we already had but I wanted them to have them anyway. Her response was "why waste your money on girls like us". It broke my heart. They don't see how much potential they have! They don't see the miracles they are. They are so strong and so resilient and I KNOW they can succeed. So, pray for their hearts and for healing, and pray that God uses me and the PACE staff however He wills.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Breakfast. I love breakfast. I don’t just say “I love breakfast” like any other person. I mean I LOVE it. Breakfast was a special time in my family. We had our standards (bacon, eggs, toast, you know), but we also had some crazy awesome things. It was a time of experimentation. Basically, any time a new breakfast anything showed up in the grocery, it seemed we tried it. Orange sweet rolls, cherry turnovers, peach turnovers, homemade poptarts, well…you get the picture.
BUT, we had one breakfast item we were famous—or infamous depending on your diet—for, and that was chocolate gravy. Wait, wait, wait! Before you get all grossed out and think of all the nasty things it could be, let me explain. As I have said before, my family is like one giant sweet tooth. And this gravy is case and point of this. ”Ok, ok. What IS chocolate gravy,” you may ask. I am SO glad you asked. Chocolate gravy is just this…chocolate icing that we call gravy. Yes. You read that right. What do we put it on? Well, usually my dad’s homemade biscuits, but there is also the occasional waffle, piece of bacon, and (if you’re my brother) eggs. Have you noticed a theme? Our breakfasts were always more sweet than savory. :)
Anyways. Casey and I are at the beach for a long weekend (Friday-Monday, hallelujah no work!), and have been eating lighter because...well...you GOTTA look good at the beach. :) totally kidding. Because I have had fries with dinner every night since we got here. Anyways. I woke up this morning and skipped out on my run for the day--17 mph winds, chilly temperatures, and slight vertigo? Yeah, even I am not crazy enough to risk that. So, I relaxed...listened to the waves...did some pondering, and THEN...I had to eat.
Seeing that we are staying at the condo of some friends of ours, we had plenty of supplies to cook with. Needless to say, we have a happy camper in me. And since I am trying to be better about being vegan--despite my undying love for grilled cheeses--I decided to make French Toast--without the good stuff (eggs, milk, butter). So, I used the whole wheat mountain bread we bought at publix and began toasting it in the skillet. Once both pieces were toasted on one side, I slathered them with peanut butter, topped with sliced bananas, and drizzled a little honey. Then I put them together like a sandwich and cooked it on both sides to toast the remaining bit. Then, plate it, drizzle MORE honey, and enjoy!
Skillet Peanut Butter Banana Toast (or Elvis Toast, if you like that name)
2-4 slices (depending on if one or two are eating) of bread
Peanut Butter (Jif Creamy works best)
Honey
Bananas
Butter (if you want to use that pre-skillet toasting for more crisp--and aren't vegan)
Heat a skillet on medium heat. Trust me on this. I get impatient and try to set it on 7 or 8, but then the bread burns. And nobody wants that. Put the bread down and toast until golden-ish. Plate. Layer peanut butter, honey, then bananas on the toasted side of one slice, and peanut butter on the other toasted slice's side. Put together like a sandwich. Cook on one untoasted side until golden brown, flip, and toast the other side. Plate, slice in half, and pour as much honey on top as you want (for me, its a LOT). Then enjoy.
BUT, we had one breakfast item we were famous—or infamous depending on your diet—for, and that was chocolate gravy. Wait, wait, wait! Before you get all grossed out and think of all the nasty things it could be, let me explain. As I have said before, my family is like one giant sweet tooth. And this gravy is case and point of this. ”Ok, ok. What IS chocolate gravy,” you may ask. I am SO glad you asked. Chocolate gravy is just this…chocolate icing that we call gravy. Yes. You read that right. What do we put it on? Well, usually my dad’s homemade biscuits, but there is also the occasional waffle, piece of bacon, and (if you’re my brother) eggs. Have you noticed a theme? Our breakfasts were always more sweet than savory. :)
Anyways. Casey and I are at the beach for a long weekend (Friday-Monday, hallelujah no work!), and have been eating lighter because...well...you GOTTA look good at the beach. :) totally kidding. Because I have had fries with dinner every night since we got here. Anyways. I woke up this morning and skipped out on my run for the day--17 mph winds, chilly temperatures, and slight vertigo? Yeah, even I am not crazy enough to risk that. So, I relaxed...listened to the waves...did some pondering, and THEN...I had to eat.
Seeing that we are staying at the condo of some friends of ours, we had plenty of supplies to cook with. Needless to say, we have a happy camper in me. And since I am trying to be better about being vegan--despite my undying love for grilled cheeses--I decided to make French Toast--without the good stuff (eggs, milk, butter). So, I used the whole wheat mountain bread we bought at publix and began toasting it in the skillet. Once both pieces were toasted on one side, I slathered them with peanut butter, topped with sliced bananas, and drizzled a little honey. Then I put them together like a sandwich and cooked it on both sides to toast the remaining bit. Then, plate it, drizzle MORE honey, and enjoy!
2-4 slices (depending on if one or two are eating) of bread
Peanut Butter (Jif Creamy works best)
Honey
Bananas
Butter (if you want to use that pre-skillet toasting for more crisp--and aren't vegan)
Heat a skillet on medium heat. Trust me on this. I get impatient and try to set it on 7 or 8, but then the bread burns. And nobody wants that. Put the bread down and toast until golden-ish. Plate. Layer peanut butter, honey, then bananas on the toasted side of one slice, and peanut butter on the other toasted slice's side. Put together like a sandwich. Cook on one untoasted side until golden brown, flip, and toast the other side. Plate, slice in half, and pour as much honey on top as you want (for me, its a LOT). Then enjoy.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Lord have mercy! Where has the time gone?? I mean, seriously. Has it really been so long since I last posted? Time just got away with me, I guess. My sister was in town, then my brother/sister-in law and niece, and then...well, life. I am so sorry to you, my readers, that I have been absent for so long! But no more! Today, you get a blog post! :)
Because people were in and out of town visiting, work and life were crazy, and well...me taking a break from cooking, I have not had occasion to post a new recipe. But no more. Tonight, I decided to cook AND give you a recipe. And, I needed (well, and my stomach) a break from the meal I have been having every night for the past three nights (and for lunch today). That meal, you ask? Only the best, gooiest, crispiest, most amazing meal ever. The meal for which I have an undying love? A grilled cheese sandwich. Gourmet, I know.
I hated grilled cheese sandwiches growing up. HATED. But, my family loved them--paired with tomato soup. Blah. Maybe its because of the cheese used? I DO use a different cheese. Growing up, it was Kraft American cheese slices. Now? Psh...I have GOURMET taste buds...I kid. Seriously. No, now I use extra sharp cheddar cheese. For some reason, this is the one kind of cheese I could eat at any time. Other cheese, I have to be in the mood for, and those moods are rare. Very rare. So, I choose to make my sandwiches with extra sharp cheddar. Thick slices. Lots of them.
I buy Publix bakery's Whole Wheat Mountain Bread to make these babies with. Oh heavens. It is some gooooood bread. I could eat it by itself. Every meal. Seriously. But, I am getting off topic. I butter both slices...liberally. But, hey. I used Smart Balance Light spread. So much better for me. Then, I cook them in the skillet til browned, flip them. Pile one with cheese...lots of cheese. Probably too much cheese. Then top it with the other, wait til the bottom side is browned, then flip and brown the other side. It is perfection. Gourmet-tasting perfection. And sometimes if I want to get really crazy, I throw in some slices of sharp white cheddar cheese. Trust me. It's good. Or if I want that whole sweet and savory combo, I cook thinly sliced apples in a skillet with butter and cinnamon-sugar, then add those inside my grilled cheese. Sounds gross, but it isn't. It's incredible.
So, after having a grilled cheese Saturday, Sunday, Monday nights and then one today for lunch at Panera, I decided I needed a break. Note: That doesn't mean I don't want one for dinner tonight. Because I totally do. Seriously. I want one. Now. I will never get sick of them. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? Anyways, here is an easy, minimal-ingredient, recipe for you to try! I usually pair it with a baked sweet potato or sweet corn-bread (2boxes of Jiffy, can of creamed corn, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk and bake according to the box). Thanks to Patsy, a friend of mine, for the recipe (slightly modified). Excuse my picture. I didn't buy enough mushroom caps and was NOT going to waste the filling...so I overstuffed them. :)
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped
1 T olive oil
1 red bell pepper
1 can chopped artichoke hearts (drained)
3-4 portobello mushroom caps (gills scraped out)
1 package of mushrooms (white or baby bella)
Instructions:
Sautee the peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic in olive oil until they begin to soften. Add artichoke hearts and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a few drizzles of balsamic vinegar if you like (I do and it is a nice touch). Fill the mushroom caps with the sauteed mixture and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. If you desire a crunchy topping, add bread crumbs. I used Italian seasoned bread crumbs and it was very good.
Voila! A quick, easy, and tasty meal! It is a great meal to have when you want something light (like, for instance, after a grilled cheese binge). Oh, and the man approves of this one too. :)
Have a fantastic week, all!
Because people were in and out of town visiting, work and life were crazy, and well...me taking a break from cooking, I have not had occasion to post a new recipe. But no more. Tonight, I decided to cook AND give you a recipe. And, I needed (well, and my stomach) a break from the meal I have been having every night for the past three nights (and for lunch today). That meal, you ask? Only the best, gooiest, crispiest, most amazing meal ever. The meal for which I have an undying love? A grilled cheese sandwich. Gourmet, I know.
I hated grilled cheese sandwiches growing up. HATED. But, my family loved them--paired with tomato soup. Blah. Maybe its because of the cheese used? I DO use a different cheese. Growing up, it was Kraft American cheese slices. Now? Psh...I have GOURMET taste buds...I kid. Seriously. No, now I use extra sharp cheddar cheese. For some reason, this is the one kind of cheese I could eat at any time. Other cheese, I have to be in the mood for, and those moods are rare. Very rare. So, I choose to make my sandwiches with extra sharp cheddar. Thick slices. Lots of them.
I buy Publix bakery's Whole Wheat Mountain Bread to make these babies with. Oh heavens. It is some gooooood bread. I could eat it by itself. Every meal. Seriously. But, I am getting off topic. I butter both slices...liberally. But, hey. I used Smart Balance Light spread. So much better for me. Then, I cook them in the skillet til browned, flip them. Pile one with cheese...lots of cheese. Probably too much cheese. Then top it with the other, wait til the bottom side is browned, then flip and brown the other side. It is perfection. Gourmet-tasting perfection. And sometimes if I want to get really crazy, I throw in some slices of sharp white cheddar cheese. Trust me. It's good. Or if I want that whole sweet and savory combo, I cook thinly sliced apples in a skillet with butter and cinnamon-sugar, then add those inside my grilled cheese. Sounds gross, but it isn't. It's incredible.
So, after having a grilled cheese Saturday, Sunday, Monday nights and then one today for lunch at Panera, I decided I needed a break. Note: That doesn't mean I don't want one for dinner tonight. Because I totally do. Seriously. I want one. Now. I will never get sick of them. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? Anyways, here is an easy, minimal-ingredient, recipe for you to try! I usually pair it with a baked sweet potato or sweet corn-bread (2boxes of Jiffy, can of creamed corn, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk and bake according to the box). Thanks to Patsy, a friend of mine, for the recipe (slightly modified). Excuse my picture. I didn't buy enough mushroom caps and was NOT going to waste the filling...so I overstuffed them. :)
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped
1 T olive oil
1 red bell pepper
1 can chopped artichoke hearts (drained)
3-4 portobello mushroom caps (gills scraped out)
1 package of mushrooms (white or baby bella)
Instructions:
Sautee the peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic in olive oil until they begin to soften. Add artichoke hearts and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a few drizzles of balsamic vinegar if you like (I do and it is a nice touch). Fill the mushroom caps with the sauteed mixture and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. If you desire a crunchy topping, add bread crumbs. I used Italian seasoned bread crumbs and it was very good.
Voila! A quick, easy, and tasty meal! It is a great meal to have when you want something light (like, for instance, after a grilled cheese binge). Oh, and the man approves of this one too. :)
Have a fantastic week, all!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Now, I love Mac n' Cheese...blue box brand to be exact. Casey, however, loves Velveeta brand. We agree to disagree about which is better (hint: truth is the blue box wins). In the past, I make homemade velveeta mac n' cheese when we have it from scratch--but oh BOY is it an undertaking. When I found this recipe on Pinterest, I was rejoicing. It was mac n' cheese but LOADED with fresh vegetables--cheesy, healthy, veggie goodness. So, since the hubs has been crazy busy at work lately, which means late work days for him, I have had free time to bake and cook to my heart's content.
Thursday, I took on this guy and (asides from one cooking accident--more on this later) it was a success! I chopped my vegetables, boiled some noodles, made the cheese sauce and tossed it all together. Simple, right? Yes. Except I did all of this PLUS bake a cake and a batch of cookies and make lunch...at the same time. Distracted and busy cooking and I are not friends. A cookie sheet left on the hot stove top should NOT be grabbed with an oven-mittless hand. It hurts...and burns...a lot. So learn from my mistakes. I swear, 99% of the scars on my hands and arms (and theres quite a few) are the result of cooking burns.
Sorry for the short intro to the recipe but it has been a BUSY weekend so far! Company picnic, long runs, and now...the Chris Tomlin concert!!! So, enjoy!
Thursday, I took on this guy and (asides from one cooking accident--more on this later) it was a success! I chopped my vegetables, boiled some noodles, made the cheese sauce and tossed it all together. Simple, right? Yes. Except I did all of this PLUS bake a cake and a batch of cookies and make lunch...at the same time. Distracted and busy cooking and I are not friends. A cookie sheet left on the hot stove top should NOT be grabbed with an oven-mittless hand. It hurts...and burns...a lot. So learn from my mistakes. I swear, 99% of the scars on my hands and arms (and theres quite a few) are the result of cooking burns.
Sorry for the short intro to the recipe but it has been a BUSY weekend so far! Company picnic, long runs, and now...the Chris Tomlin concert!!! So, enjoy!
SPICY ROASTED VEGETABLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup broccoli florets, chopped into small chunks
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 yellow squash, quartered and diced
10 baby carrots, sliced thinly
2 cups whole wheat pasta (elbow macaroni, rotini, penne, etc.)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups (8 oz.) Sargento® Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp. panko breadcrumbs
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Set a medium pot of salted water to boil. Prepare a large baking sheet by lining with aluminum foil and coating with a little olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Toss broccoli, red pepper, squash and carrots onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until vegetables have softened. Remove from oven and set aside.
Once water is boiling, lower heat slightly and add pasta, cooking according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar cheese until well distributed and melted. Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Add macaroni and vegetables.
Place mixture in a large casserole dish and sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Place under the broiler in your oven (500 degrees) for 3-4 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Source: http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/02/spicy-roasted-vegetable-macaroni-and-cheese.html
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Before Casey
and I began the vegetarian lifestyle, we had a weekly tradition. I loved this tradition. The moment that week’s occurrence was
over, I lived for the next week.
Sure, I felt overstuffed, bloated, and content all at once. But I loved
it. Ok, ok. I guess it’s time to clue you in. This weekly “date” we had was for
taco night. Wonderful, beefy,
seasoned, salty, crunchy goodness.
We went all out too. Soft
tacos, crunchy tacos, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, all kinds of cheese, olives,
onions, and even guacamole and salsa sometimes. I love tacos so much, I even out-ate Casey some weeks.
But unfortunately, beef is not a vegetarian thing. If it comes from something with a face,
it must go. And away our taco
nights went. *Moment of silent and one single tear* I didn’t even want to
bother with substituting that night with black bean tacos or fake meat
tacos. Nothing could replace
it. NOTHING. Taco night is one of the few meaty
meals I truly miss on a regular basis (that and Chick-fil-a and Zaxby’s…oh
Zaxby’s). But then I happened upon a Pinterest pin
(God bless whoever invented Pinterest) for roasted vegetable tacos. And I sat there, looking at it, and
thought, “I happen to love anything involving roasted vegetables. I also happen to love tacos.”. So, I decided maybe, just maybe, I
should give vegetarian tacos a try…maybe.
I have been trying to cut our grocery bills down lately
since we have had some costly weeks (My half marathon, my mother’s visit, and
now my sister’s upcoming visit).
So my first question before deciding to make it was “Does it involve a
LOT of ingredients I don’t have?”.
Good news: It didn’t--just
some zucchini, squash, corn, onion, and peppers were all I needed to buy. All the seasonings and the shells were
things I had. On to my weekly menu
“board” it went. And then, before
I knew it, the day was upon us. It
was time to make “the tacos” and hope they were good.
Aside from chopping the zucchini, squash, onion, and pepper,
this recipe was super easy to make.
Once its all chopped and tossed in the seasonings, you just roast it in
the oven, mash some avocado with yogurt, and then assemble the tacos. I looooved that. It meant I got to spend the 40 minutes
while they roasted doing other important things…like making chocolate gravy
(which will be a whole other post devoted to my love of it). A
few notes: I omitted the baby
tomatoes (mostly because I have diverticular disease and these and strawberries
really hurt). I used canned corn
instead of real corn (I have issues with chopping as it is and wanted to make
it easier on myself). I forgot
cilantro so I didn’t use that.
And….I used feta instead of goat cheese (it was a better flavor in my
opinion).
The final verdict:
I loved them. The veggies got
a nice flavor once they roasted and then paired with the cream sauce and
feta…man it was good. It doesn’t
even come close to resembling taco night and all its former glory…but it was
fresh, had good flavor, AND the husband liked it. That makes it a win in my book. So, here is the recipe. Enjoy and let me know what YOU thought about if you make
it. Also, do you have any other
non-meat based taco recipes? SHARE
if you do :)
Roasted Veg Tacos with Avocado Cream and Feta
Ingredients
Filling:
1 small zucchini, diced
1 small summer squash, diced
½ medium red onion, diced
1 ear sweet corn, removed from cob *I used
canned sweet corn and drained it
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half *I
omitted this part
1 medium red pepper, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons cumin
¼ teaspoon salt
Avocado Cream:
1 ripe avocado
⅓ cup full fat, plain greek yogurt
¼ cup cilantro *NOTE: I omitted this part…because I forgot it at the grocery…but
it was still good
1 tablespoons lime juice
Everything Else:
Feta or Goat Cheese
4-6 corn tortillas
Extra cilantro
Instructions
1.
Preheat oven to 400˚. Prepare all the veggies as
described and toss with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and cumin. Roast until
tender and lightly browning. *I roasted them for 40 minutes.
2.
While veggies are roasting, whip together
avocado, greek yogurt, cilantro, and lime juice.
3.
To assemble tacos, warm up tortillas (in the
microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel or a oven with a damp tea towel) and
assemble with roasted veggies, avocado cream, and a sprinkle of feta.
Source:
http://naturallyella.com/2012/08/08/roasted-veg-tacos-with-avocado-cream-and-feta/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NaturallyElla+%28Naturally+Ella%29
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
So this Sunday, I did something I have been wanting (and trying) to do for almost three years now. I ran a half marathon. After two failed attempts (one case of Salmonella and one move to Florida), the third try was the charm! I ran and completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I had been excited for this race since August 6 when signed up (hey, this race sells out and I was not about to miss out). Training was a breeze (if you don't count being out a month for vertigo and a week for IT band issues) and I knew the distance would be no problem. The things that DID make me nervous, however? IT Band acting up (it happened), my feet hurting because my shoes weren't tied right (I had them perfect, ok?), being so tired from waking up early, etc.
The race started at 5:35 AM...Yes, AM. They recommend being there by 4 AM. They warned about bad traffic and road closures. So, the resulting decision was to leave the hotel at...3 AM. Meaning, I was waking up by 2:30 to get my things together, drink coffee, and eat something. Well, wouldn't you know it, there was no traffic, parking was a breeze, and we arrived at 3:30 AM. However, it turned out to be a HUGE blessing because at 3:45, Mom and Casey dropped me off at the entrance to where the runners wait before heading to the corrals. As soon as they turned around, the masses came flooding into the common area. Mom and Casey rushed to the entrance to Magic Kingdom (to get a good view of me running by) and managed to be first in line to enter. Me, well I went through the tent, fully expecting to be on the road to the starting line, only to find a holding area for all of the runners. At 4:00 they finally opened the gate and we began the mile long walk to the corrals.
Because I had run a 10K the previous May and had a decent time, I was placed in corral B which would start at 5:42 (after Corral A cleared out). Because we got there so ridiculously early, I was at the front of my corral--which meant when Fairy Godmother yelled "GO" and the fireworks went off, I was running, not walking. I had stopped running the Wednesday before the race and OH did it feel good to run. In fact, I was so excited to be running again that I had to continually watch my Garmin to make sure I didn't go too fast. Eventually I managed to slow from 9:10 to 9:22 for my pace, but that was as slow as my body wanted to go. The first five or so miles were fantastic. My pace held steady, my breathing was normal, and the temperature was cool with a light breeze.
Then Magic Kingdom happened. I had just passed Mom and Casey at mile 5.6 (they almost missed me!) and was so caught up on staring at the castle that I did not notice the sharp turn in the course. I turned hard to follow the crowd and felt it...my knee. Pain. Heat. My IT band was not happy with the sudden turn. The moment it happened I began to pray HARD. I told God I would be ok if it hurt for a week or weeks after the race, but to please let me finish the race on time. I was aiming for a PR (2:00-2:02 finish time) and wanted it so badly. So each time it flared and tightening, I prayed. When it stopped hurting, I thanked Him. And, wouldn't you know, it helped. It didn't get unbearable until I was 0.5 miles from the finish line and when that happened, I would stop, stretch, and run, trying to put all of my weight on my other leg. And I managed to cross the finish line at 2:07:35...and promptly begin limping the moment I crossed it.
All in all, I loved this race. It was entertaining at every moment thanks to characters on the sidelines, volunteers cheering us on, the runners' costumes (the men went ALL out too), or choirs singing us on. It was extremely organized. The volunteers were helpful. And the starting was efficient...especially when you consider that 24,000 people supposedly ran it. I would HIGHLY recommend this race to anyone--especially if it will be your first half marathon. The only thing I would change--I would go more "all out" with my costume!
So, here's some pictures of the race and be expecting a food post in the next couple of days!
 |
| My mom flew in to town to come watch! |
The race started at 5:35 AM...Yes, AM. They recommend being there by 4 AM. They warned about bad traffic and road closures. So, the resulting decision was to leave the hotel at...3 AM. Meaning, I was waking up by 2:30 to get my things together, drink coffee, and eat something. Well, wouldn't you know it, there was no traffic, parking was a breeze, and we arrived at 3:30 AM. However, it turned out to be a HUGE blessing because at 3:45, Mom and Casey dropped me off at the entrance to where the runners wait before heading to the corrals. As soon as they turned around, the masses came flooding into the common area. Mom and Casey rushed to the entrance to Magic Kingdom (to get a good view of me running by) and managed to be first in line to enter. Me, well I went through the tent, fully expecting to be on the road to the starting line, only to find a holding area for all of the runners. At 4:00 they finally opened the gate and we began the mile long walk to the corrals.
 |
| Walking to the main area |
 |
| All of the runners in the corrals behind me |
Because I had run a 10K the previous May and had a decent time, I was placed in corral B which would start at 5:42 (after Corral A cleared out). Because we got there so ridiculously early, I was at the front of my corral--which meant when Fairy Godmother yelled "GO" and the fireworks went off, I was running, not walking. I had stopped running the Wednesday before the race and OH did it feel good to run. In fact, I was so excited to be running again that I had to continually watch my Garmin to make sure I didn't go too fast. Eventually I managed to slow from 9:10 to 9:22 for my pace, but that was as slow as my body wanted to go. The first five or so miles were fantastic. My pace held steady, my breathing was normal, and the temperature was cool with a light breeze.
Then Magic Kingdom happened. I had just passed Mom and Casey at mile 5.6 (they almost missed me!) and was so caught up on staring at the castle that I did not notice the sharp turn in the course. I turned hard to follow the crowd and felt it...my knee. Pain. Heat. My IT band was not happy with the sudden turn. The moment it happened I began to pray HARD. I told God I would be ok if it hurt for a week or weeks after the race, but to please let me finish the race on time. I was aiming for a PR (2:00-2:02 finish time) and wanted it so badly. So each time it flared and tightening, I prayed. When it stopped hurting, I thanked Him. And, wouldn't you know, it helped. It didn't get unbearable until I was 0.5 miles from the finish line and when that happened, I would stop, stretch, and run, trying to put all of my weight on my other leg. And I managed to cross the finish line at 2:07:35...and promptly begin limping the moment I crossed it.
 |
| Crossing the finish line--FINALLY |
 |
| Ice bag in hand and relieved to be done |
All in all, I loved this race. It was entertaining at every moment thanks to characters on the sidelines, volunteers cheering us on, the runners' costumes (the men went ALL out too), or choirs singing us on. It was extremely organized. The volunteers were helpful. And the starting was efficient...especially when you consider that 24,000 people supposedly ran it. I would HIGHLY recommend this race to anyone--especially if it will be your first half marathon. The only thing I would change--I would go more "all out" with my costume!
So, here's some pictures of the race and be expecting a food post in the next couple of days!
 |
| My niece Elley saying "Good job Camillionaire!' |
 |
| SO proud of this. |
 |
| Fireworks as Corral A begins |
 |
| I can have one of these on my car now :) |
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Guys, I am so excited about this blog post. You have no idea. Seriously. I went to my hometown to visit family and a couple of friends this past weekend. Usually when I go back, I end up going to the same old places to eat—the favorites. After all, they are the ones I miss most when I am here and not there. I’m talking things like a Huey Burger from Huey’s, an Avocado BLT from Booksellers Bistro, pizza from Memphis Pizza Café…those places. Memphis, TN is becoming a big place for good, local, and even unique, food. Bloggers are blogging, critics are loving, and Guy Fierri is driving by. Naturally, being the foodie I am, I have been keeping a food “bucket list” of all the places I want to try when I visit. Well, Casey and I have been married fourteen months now and have visited Memphis five times collectively…Had we been to any of these places yet? NO! I put it off. But no more! I promised myself this past visit to Memphis, I would go to a place on my list every day. And did I? You betcha!
Gibson’s Donuts
So, I landed in Memphis at 7:40 AM. By the way, for those of you who were wondering, that means my flight left at 6:30 AM, which means I woke up at 2:45 that morning. Because I know you were wondering. Traditionally, as soon as my mom picks me up (and Casey if he comes long), we head to Gibson’s Donuts. If you are ever in town, you HAVE to go there. It is one of those nondescript, hole-in-the-walls that looks like it COULD be decent, but in reality, it’s the best food you will ever put in your mouth. Gibson’s makes their donuts fresh throughout the day and never re-uses day old donuts. They’re open twenty-four hours a day, so beginning at 11 PM, donuts at 6 for $1. Needless to say, they run out fast. For college kids, this is the place to hang out and study late at night. AND I have even seen a group of elderly people come in a midnight to enjoy a few amazing, cheap donuts.
So, I landed in Memphis at 7:40 AM. By the way, for those of you who were wondering, that means my flight left at 6:30 AM, which means I woke up at 2:45 that morning. Because I know you were wondering. Traditionally, as soon as my mom picks me up (and Casey if he comes long), we head to Gibson’s Donuts. If you are ever in town, you HAVE to go there. It is one of those nondescript, hole-in-the-walls that looks like it COULD be decent, but in reality, it’s the best food you will ever put in your mouth. Gibson’s makes their donuts fresh throughout the day and never re-uses day old donuts. They’re open twenty-four hours a day, so beginning at 11 PM, donuts at 6 for $1. Needless to say, they run out fast. For college kids, this is the place to hang out and study late at night. AND I have even seen a group of elderly people come in a midnight to enjoy a few amazing, cheap donuts.
Recommendations: Plain Glazed (it is that good—better than fresh and hot Krispy Kreme), Old Fashioned, or the Blueberry Cake Donut.
The Elegant Farmer
This place was the one I was looking forward to and dreading the most. The vegetarian options were limited to three or four options, which made me nervous, but Guy Fierri came here for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so it HAD to be good, right? We arrived and were greeted by the very friendly (and funny) host, and soon seated with a “right this way sweet potato” and a smile. The waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and quick. We never once had to ask for a refill, he had tried everything on the menu, and seemed to know everyone who came in. My mom and I both elected to try the vegetarian plate and we also split a cup of Sweet Potato Curry Soup. Out of all of the places I went this weekend, this one stood head and shoulders above the rest—and that’s saying something. The roasted root vegetables were perfectly seasoned with a little olive oil, garlic, and pepper and the natural flavors of the yellow peppers was amazing. The corn bread pudding was different than I was expecting. I thought it would be like sweet corn bread made into bread pudding but it was grainer, more solid, and had a hint of a taste of parmesan cheese to it…but it wasn’t bad at all! Me being me, I am a bread lover. And my favorite thing was the dinner roll. It was soft, buttery, and had a slight sweetness to it that just amazed me.
This place was the one I was looking forward to and dreading the most. The vegetarian options were limited to three or four options, which made me nervous, but Guy Fierri came here for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so it HAD to be good, right? We arrived and were greeted by the very friendly (and funny) host, and soon seated with a “right this way sweet potato” and a smile. The waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and quick. We never once had to ask for a refill, he had tried everything on the menu, and seemed to know everyone who came in. My mom and I both elected to try the vegetarian plate and we also split a cup of Sweet Potato Curry Soup. Out of all of the places I went this weekend, this one stood head and shoulders above the rest—and that’s saying something. The roasted root vegetables were perfectly seasoned with a little olive oil, garlic, and pepper and the natural flavors of the yellow peppers was amazing. The corn bread pudding was different than I was expecting. I thought it would be like sweet corn bread made into bread pudding but it was grainer, more solid, and had a hint of a taste of parmesan cheese to it…but it wasn’t bad at all! Me being me, I am a bread lover. And my favorite thing was the dinner roll. It was soft, buttery, and had a slight sweetness to it that just amazed me.
Recommendations: The Vegetarian Plate (Sauteed Asparagus, Roasted Root Vegetables, and Corn Bread Pudding)
Trolley Stop Market:
This is another one of those ones on everyone’s (it seems) Memphis Must bucket list. While they do have other menu items, pizza is the “must” for this restaurant. The location is downtown on one of the streets that has trolleys running up and down it. Fitting name, huh? Anyways, the atmosphere is laid back and the dining area is fun to look around. They have shelves and fridges all around with local art work, meat, jewelry, clothing, you name it. The pizza we ordered was incredible: Margherita Pizza with fresh blobs (I like the word, ok?) of mozzarella, basil, incredible pizza sauce, and whole slices of tomato. I could have eaten a lot more than I did but we also got breadsticks (which in reality, was pizza crusts), hummus with fresh, soft, warm pita bread to dip, and chocolate mousse cake. I say go here just for the environment itself, and the location, but it helps that the food is great enough to draw people in too.
This is another one of those ones on everyone’s (it seems) Memphis Must bucket list. While they do have other menu items, pizza is the “must” for this restaurant. The location is downtown on one of the streets that has trolleys running up and down it. Fitting name, huh? Anyways, the atmosphere is laid back and the dining area is fun to look around. They have shelves and fridges all around with local art work, meat, jewelry, clothing, you name it. The pizza we ordered was incredible: Margherita Pizza with fresh blobs (I like the word, ok?) of mozzarella, basil, incredible pizza sauce, and whole slices of tomato. I could have eaten a lot more than I did but we also got breadsticks (which in reality, was pizza crusts), hummus with fresh, soft, warm pita bread to dip, and chocolate mousse cake. I say go here just for the environment itself, and the location, but it helps that the food is great enough to draw people in too.
Recommendations: Marghertia Pizza, or any of their pizzas really. The selection is incredible and they can do custom by the slice too.
Young Avenue Deli:
I still find it amazing that I never made it here when I lived in Memphis. Everyone I met loved it, all of my graduate school classmates went there regularly, but somehow I never went. But no more! I have been to the goodness that is Young Avenue Deli. The list of 101 Things to Eat in Memphis recommends this place, and its sweet potato fries…which is awesome because I happen to have an undying love for sweet potato fries. I met a friend there and singled out three options, then asked the waiter which was best. After getting over his “huh” when I gave him like four options, he chose the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich for me. I was a bit “meh” about it, mostly because the cheese was feta, but I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of the cheese (I don’t think feta melts though, so maybe it was a different cheese), the marinade of the mushroom, and the overall goodness of the sandwich. Oh, and those sweet potato fries? Crispy, cinnamon-sugary goodness, my friends.
I still find it amazing that I never made it here when I lived in Memphis. Everyone I met loved it, all of my graduate school classmates went there regularly, but somehow I never went. But no more! I have been to the goodness that is Young Avenue Deli. The list of 101 Things to Eat in Memphis recommends this place, and its sweet potato fries…which is awesome because I happen to have an undying love for sweet potato fries. I met a friend there and singled out three options, then asked the waiter which was best. After getting over his “huh” when I gave him like four options, he chose the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich for me. I was a bit “meh” about it, mostly because the cheese was feta, but I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of the cheese (I don’t think feta melts though, so maybe it was a different cheese), the marinade of the mushroom, and the overall goodness of the sandwich. Oh, and those sweet potato fries? Crispy, cinnamon-sugary goodness, my friends.
Recommendations: I highly recommend the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, and my non-vegetarian friend Ally recommends the Chicken Salad Sandwich, saying it is the best she has ever had.
Tazikis:
New to Memphis, this greek restaurant is already gaining fame among Memphians and foreigners alike. Part of a chain, this restaurant still manages to provide good, non-chain tasting, quality food. My dad, stepmom, sister, and grandparents and I met here for dinner on a Saturday night. While the place was loud and hard for my grandparents (and me) to hear, the food made up for it. The majority of us tried gyros of different types: chicken, lamb, pesto chicken, and veggie (I bet you can’t guess which was mine). All of us were impressed by how good it was. Mine came with cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, greek salad dressing, greek slaw, onions, and a couple of other veggies. While it is easy for all veggie wraps and sandwiches to not be as good, this one was better than any veggie wrap I have ever had. The dressing was flavorful and bold, the veggies were crisp and fresh, and the gyro bread was soft and tasted fresh baked. After eating, my dad (being the sweet-aholic he is) bought us all Baklava to share and, while it was good, it still did not stand a chance compared to the gyros.
New to Memphis, this greek restaurant is already gaining fame among Memphians and foreigners alike. Part of a chain, this restaurant still manages to provide good, non-chain tasting, quality food. My dad, stepmom, sister, and grandparents and I met here for dinner on a Saturday night. While the place was loud and hard for my grandparents (and me) to hear, the food made up for it. The majority of us tried gyros of different types: chicken, lamb, pesto chicken, and veggie (I bet you can’t guess which was mine). All of us were impressed by how good it was. Mine came with cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, greek salad dressing, greek slaw, onions, and a couple of other veggies. While it is easy for all veggie wraps and sandwiches to not be as good, this one was better than any veggie wrap I have ever had. The dressing was flavorful and bold, the veggies were crisp and fresh, and the gyro bread was soft and tasted fresh baked. After eating, my dad (being the sweet-aholic he is) bought us all Baklava to share and, while it was good, it still did not stand a chance compared to the gyros.
Recommendations: Village Veggie Gyro, Lamb Gyro (according to my dad), and Chicken Gyro (based solely on how much my grandfather seemed to enjoy his)
Muddy’s Bake Shop:
I save this one for last because it is near and dear to my heart…an obsession…a love…a…well you get the point. Muddy’s came to Memphis when I was in college, but once I discovered it, I was there every chance I got. The cake is scratch made, the icing is superb, and the cookies and pies? Well, they are every bit as good. The shop/bakery is decorated uniquely and “cutely” and matches the personality of its owner and employees perfectly. Never will you see an angry person behind the counter nor in the line waiting. The line often goes out the door, even at two o’clock on a Saturday (when I was there), but no one minds waiting. Their mission is: to delight people with delicious treats and a smile while being a good neighbor to our community, the environment, and our animal friends. They use eggs from cage-free or free-range hens and their milk is organic. They are also a part of Project Green Fork (go check the website out, seriously) and do not accept tips. Instead, they have a jar in which people can put money to go towards the local non-profit for the month. I could go on and ON about Muddy’s (and I often do to friends, coworkers, and anyone else who will listen) but for now, food. I usually get the same thing every time at Muddy’s but this time, I thought I would be adventurous…so I got the same cupcakes I usually do PLUS a new one AND a piece of pie. Cocoa Chanel Pie I am pretty sure. All I know is I saw something gooey and chocolately and said “I want that chocolate pie right there”. I fully intended to eat it later and only try one little bite at the shop…but within five minutes it was GONE. It was the best pie I have ever had and the most I have ever “mmm’ed” and “wow’ed” and “yum’ed” over a piece of pie. Go there. Eat it. Thank me.
I save this one for last because it is near and dear to my heart…an obsession…a love…a…well you get the point. Muddy’s came to Memphis when I was in college, but once I discovered it, I was there every chance I got. The cake is scratch made, the icing is superb, and the cookies and pies? Well, they are every bit as good. The shop/bakery is decorated uniquely and “cutely” and matches the personality of its owner and employees perfectly. Never will you see an angry person behind the counter nor in the line waiting. The line often goes out the door, even at two o’clock on a Saturday (when I was there), but no one minds waiting. Their mission is: to delight people with delicious treats and a smile while being a good neighbor to our community, the environment, and our animal friends. They use eggs from cage-free or free-range hens and their milk is organic. They are also a part of Project Green Fork (go check the website out, seriously) and do not accept tips. Instead, they have a jar in which people can put money to go towards the local non-profit for the month. I could go on and ON about Muddy’s (and I often do to friends, coworkers, and anyone else who will listen) but for now, food. I usually get the same thing every time at Muddy’s but this time, I thought I would be adventurous…so I got the same cupcakes I usually do PLUS a new one AND a piece of pie. Cocoa Chanel Pie I am pretty sure. All I know is I saw something gooey and chocolately and said “I want that chocolate pie right there”. I fully intended to eat it later and only try one little bite at the shop…but within five minutes it was GONE. It was the best pie I have ever had and the most I have ever “mmm’ed” and “wow’ed” and “yum’ed” over a piece of pie. Go there. Eat it. Thank me.
Recommendations: Plain Jane, Prozac…these two are my have to have them every time cupcakes. If you like peanut butter, try the Tomboy. If you like fruity things, Razzle Dazzle is another favorite of mine. For cookies, try the oatmeal coconut or the sweet n’ salty cookies. For pie, do I need to remind you about the Cocoa Chanel?
Now, my hope is that after reading how much I love food and I love Memphis food, you are booking a flight to Memphis right now. Seriously, go. Do it. I am so glad I finally decided to give my food bucket list a try and I can’t wait for the next visit so I can try some more. Well, more plus go to my usuals (Muddy’s and Gibsons and now The Elegant Farmer). Happy Tuesday everyone and, as always, comments and feedback are welcome! :)
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
So I am three weeks into the vegetarian (trying to make my way to vegan) lifestyle. I gotta be honest with you...I don't know that I will go back to my carnivorous ways. I notice a difference in my body, my energy, and especially my bounce back from exercising and running. Before I tried this, it took me a good half-a-week to recover from a long run but now, I am able to get back at it 1-2 days later--which, let me tell you, is a HUGE blessing since my half marathon is a week and a half away.
Do I miss meat?
Oh, yeah. I do from time to time...in fact, I had tacos WITH BEEF on Friday night. I fully intended to substitute sauteed mushrooms and black beans for it but when provided the chance to use that extra cooking time for a training run (did I mention I am so nervous about my race?), I chose that instead. And let me tell you. I can tell when I have eaten meat. I get tired, grouchy, and my stomach hates me. Like seriously. It's not like indigestion hate...its like bloating, stabbing pain hate. Which makes me think, Ripp (from Engine 2) is so right. Our bodies weren't made to handle lots of animal protein and by products. Especially four tacos plus a few fork-fulls of taco meat.
Do I plan to ever eat meat again?
Yeah. For sure. There are just times when you have to let yourself be lax. If you are super strict all of the time, it can develop into an obsession which can then develop into an eating disorder. And none of us wants that. So, yes. I will eat meat every now and then but try to limit it to once every other week or once a month if I can.
Is the vegetarian food really THAT good?
Let me tell you. I dreaded it for a while. I was wondering how in the world I would 1) find GOOD recipes and 2) find a big variety of recipes. But people, the resources are out there. Chocolate Covered Katie's website introduced me to some pretty good Lentil Sloppy Joes (recipe at the end of the post). And I have found myself experimenting. And the good news is, taste buds adapt. Before, a piece of wheat or multigrain bread was just...bread. But now I taste it and I taste the earthiness and the different flavors to it and OH is it so good. In fact, I ate just toasted multigrain/wheat bread every day for a week because I enjoyed it so much. So, while it may be difficult at first, once you are adjusted it is easy and tasty!
And now, for a recipe. I LOVE sloppy joes. I see Pinterest pins for recipes and I see that can of sloppy joe sauce at the grocery and I drool. But knowing how my body reacts when I re-introduce meat to it, I have not caved in. Besides, if I am going to have meat, I am going to go all out--I am talking steaks, or a fancy chicken dinner, ya know? Well, ONE pin caught my eye and I clicked on over to see I had all of the ingredients except lentils. So, I planned to make it this week. And boy, it did not disappoint. Even the husband liked it...although he did ask that we start making new names for things so he doesn't get his hopes up. So, we call these Sloppy Jeffs. :)
Note: I could not find canned lentils, so I bought a bag of them and cooked them per the instructions on the package. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!
Sloppy Jeffs (or Joes)
Per her website, a 1/2 cup of the filling is about 81 calories.
Do I miss meat?
Oh, yeah. I do from time to time...in fact, I had tacos WITH BEEF on Friday night. I fully intended to substitute sauteed mushrooms and black beans for it but when provided the chance to use that extra cooking time for a training run (did I mention I am so nervous about my race?), I chose that instead. And let me tell you. I can tell when I have eaten meat. I get tired, grouchy, and my stomach hates me. Like seriously. It's not like indigestion hate...its like bloating, stabbing pain hate. Which makes me think, Ripp (from Engine 2) is so right. Our bodies weren't made to handle lots of animal protein and by products. Especially four tacos plus a few fork-fulls of taco meat.
Do I plan to ever eat meat again?
Yeah. For sure. There are just times when you have to let yourself be lax. If you are super strict all of the time, it can develop into an obsession which can then develop into an eating disorder. And none of us wants that. So, yes. I will eat meat every now and then but try to limit it to once every other week or once a month if I can.
Is the vegetarian food really THAT good?
Let me tell you. I dreaded it for a while. I was wondering how in the world I would 1) find GOOD recipes and 2) find a big variety of recipes. But people, the resources are out there. Chocolate Covered Katie's website introduced me to some pretty good Lentil Sloppy Joes (recipe at the end of the post). And I have found myself experimenting. And the good news is, taste buds adapt. Before, a piece of wheat or multigrain bread was just...bread. But now I taste it and I taste the earthiness and the different flavors to it and OH is it so good. In fact, I ate just toasted multigrain/wheat bread every day for a week because I enjoyed it so much. So, while it may be difficult at first, once you are adjusted it is easy and tasty!
And now, for a recipe. I LOVE sloppy joes. I see Pinterest pins for recipes and I see that can of sloppy joe sauce at the grocery and I drool. But knowing how my body reacts when I re-introduce meat to it, I have not caved in. Besides, if I am going to have meat, I am going to go all out--I am talking steaks, or a fancy chicken dinner, ya know? Well, ONE pin caught my eye and I clicked on over to see I had all of the ingredients except lentils. So, I planned to make it this week. And boy, it did not disappoint. Even the husband liked it...although he did ask that we start making new names for things so he doesn't get his hopes up. So, we call these Sloppy Jeffs. :)
Note: I could not find canned lentils, so I bought a bag of them and cooked them per the instructions on the package. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!
Sloppy Jeffs (or Joes)
- 2 15-oz cans lentils, drained and rinsed (about 3 cups cooked lentils)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1-2 stevia packets, or 3-5 tsp sugar or sweetener of choice, or to taste
- 14 oz tomato sauce (I used no-salt-added)
- up to 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or soy-free alternative)
- optional: 1/2 an onion (diced) and 2 tsp oil
If making these on the stovetop: sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until onion is translucent. Add lentils and spices, stir, then add all other ingredients and cook uncovered (stirring occasionally) until thick like sloppy joe filling. If making this in the microwave: add all ingredients to a large microwave-safe dish (minus the onion and oil, which you won’t use with this method). Microwave until it boils, stir, then repeat the process until it is thick like sloppy joe filling. Makes about 5 cups.
Per her website, a 1/2 cup of the filling is about 81 calories.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
My coworker, Kelly, is a genius. Can I say that? Is that ok with you? Because it is the truth, after all. She has been budgeting and, as a result, has been making cheap, budget-friendly but also waistline friendly, meals. One day at work, as we stood taking a brain break from staring at our computers for hours on end, she talked about an idea for a sandwich she had had. Sourdough bread, brushed with balsamic vinegar, topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. I was drooling. So, I decided to modify it and try my hand at my own version. She said “Ok” so long as I named it after her. The name she decided upon? The Queen Kelprese, after her.
Now let me just forewarn you. You will dream about this sandwich. It tastes better than it sounds. It is super easy and fast to make. Its gooey, and sweet and savory at the same time. It tastes fresh. It’s filling. Its wonderful. The man enjoyed it too, but I don’t know if he liked it as much as I did. I couldn’t hear him over my exclamations of “oh my gosh” and “this is so good!” and “mmmmmmmmmmm”. Have I mentioned how much I love food? Because it’s a lot. Really.
Now, after all of my gushing and fanfare and ramblings…I present to you my creation!
Grilled Cheese Caprese Sandwich (AKA The Queen Kelprese)
INGREDIENTS
1 loaf of bakery style bread (don’t be skimpy and buy Wonderbread or whatever)—I used Publix’s Italian bread from the bakery
1 loaf of bakery style bread (don’t be skimpy and buy Wonderbread or whatever)—I used Publix’s Italian bread from the bakery
2 large, vine ripened tomatoes, sliced into whatever thickness you prefer (I like mine on the thin side)
2-3 basil leaves per sandwich (I usually buy the packaged bag of fresh basil that hangs in the case with the herbs
Fresh mozzarella (for 3 sandwiches, you will only need the small, baseball sized ball from the deli case), sliced into thin rounds
Balsamic Vinegar
Butter
DIRECTIONS
Turn a skillet or griddle onto medium heat. Coat both sides of each slice of bread with however much butter you want (I go on the lighter side, but some people prefer medium to heavy).
Put all of the slices on the skillet to brown. Once browned, flip them over. Top half with the mozzarella, tomato, and basil, and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Put the other halfs of the bread on top (browned side inside) and press. Once the bottom piece is browned, flip so the top half can brown. Once complete plate and drizzle with a little more balsamic vinegar and serve.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! But, who are we kidding. I enjoy food more than most normal people. :)
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