Ticking Away, The Moments That Make Up A Busy Day

It has begun.

The sheer madness of taking a full-load of college courses in addition working full-time has dawned, and for the next four months I’ll be spending Monday-Saturday either working or burrowing myself in the following studies:

-Psychology

-Art (Elementary Sketching)

-American History

-Algebra

I’m actually thrilled about the first three classes, especially since one of them pertains directly to my major. However, the last class of the week is math….on a Saturday….for four straight hours. That’s my own personalized version of hell. In light of the loathsome study , I’ve even formulated a basic equation that can further illuminate my sheer hatred of variables, PEMDAS, and numbers:

4 hours of Math + Saturday -time I could be spending at a Farmer’s Market= Disgruntled Chelsea

As the harsh florescent lights in the classroom burned into my skin Saturday afternoon, I just kept reassuring myself that it will be over in the blink of an eye, and all well worth it once I’m in graduate school. Also, for those fellow impoverished students out there, I highly recommend you check out bookrenter.com. Unless of course, you really want to hold onto that riveting Geology textbook forever and ever.

Since I’m going to be one busy beaver for the next four months, and I don’t want my healthy habits to fall to the wayside, here are some ways that I plan on incorporating a healthy diet and fitness regieme into my harried little life:

Act like a Girl Scout: In other words, be prepared! Since I’m out of the house most days from 7am-9pm, I’m packing lunches, snacks, and my gym bag every night before I haul off early the next morning. That means planning meals ahead of time, cutting veggies, having a readily available supply of snack bars, trail mix, dried fruit, and nuts.

Schedule work-outs like doctor’s appointments: Contrary to what the Rolling Stones may believe, time is not on my side. Ergo, I have to really seize those rare windows of time when I can actually hit the gym. Thankfully, my gym is located right around the corner from my office and I workout in between the two hour period work and school. I’ve also started taking a brisk walk during the second half of my lunch-break to add a little movement to my day.

Make sleep a priority: We’re all familiar with the idea of the cliched college student cramming or finishing up a term paper until the wee hours of the morning. However, what’s the use of writing a paper at all when your mind has deteriorated into mush thanks to major sleep deprivation? Time management is my best friend, and prioritizing my to-do list. Certain leisure activities such as television, leisure reading, and sadly, even blog writing/reading will have to take a back seat to more pressing academic responsibilities in order to get everything done before I catch some zzz’s.

Sunday is the Studying Sabbath: Sunday is my only completely free day and it will be used to study, work on major projects, papers, and reading. That is, only after having a hearty, leisurely breakfast and accomplishing mental invigorating yoga or a long run. I figure the meal and the exercise will help aid in desperately needed mental lucidity.

Another thing I know I need to look out for is stress eating. I know when the mid-term sweats start kicking in, I need to resist from impulsively reaching for these types of treats:

That’s not to say I haven’t reached for a handful of the pictured goodies after a particularly exhausting day of work and school, traffic-filled drives home, or that fight I got into with a horrible, selfish woman at the gas station the other day…

I’ve managed to successfully avoid the fast-food traps that on-the-go lifestyles are vulnerable to. Tupperware and my gym bag are my new best friends, and I’ve been reaping their benefits these past couple weeks.

So if you see less of me on the blog, it’s not that I don’t love y’all or don’t want to share the amazing foods I’ve been discovering (especially those bacon-wrapped, walnut stuffed date appetizers I had the other night), it’s just that I’m knee deep in textbook reading, property managing, commuting, or using what little spare time I have to sweat it all out at the gym.

How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re constantly out of the house, and have little free time?

Eating Out (Without Going All Out) 101

Since moving to California, I’ve done my fair share of eating out. That’s not to say that I didn’t dine it up in New York City by eating out (or ordering in) at places like this, this, this, this, this, and that.

Eating out in California is a bit different. There are certainly plenty of healthy options, such as the fabulous vegan restaurant Andy Nguyens, which is dangerously close to my college campus. Never mind the hilariously cheesy new age menu:

Mmmm, Limitless Compassion...

For an appetizer, I decided upon the spring rolls, which were filled with vegetarian ham, tofu, rice noodles, and veggies. Not to mention an excellent peanut dipping sauce:

I ended up going with the “Universal Love Lemongrass,” which definitely gave my taste buds good karma:

Mixed Veggies, Soy Chicken, Tofu, Doused in Some Sort of Brown Sauce

Who knoew unlimited love came with a side of brown rice?

It was absolutely amazing. Since the portions at Andy Nguyen’s are enough for two people, I packed the remaining half of this entree in a doggie bag. It ended up serving as an excellent lunch the next day.

What if  I’m on the corner of Greasy and Processed?

Despite having many delicious and healthy dining options here in California, I’ve had to contend with the limited options of mall food and chain restaurants when I’ve either been in a pinch or if the ultimate dining choice isn’t up to me. When navigating the inherently unhealthy menus of fast food and chain restaurants (whose portions could feed a starving pack of wolves), don’t give up hope. Think outside the “Jack in the Box,” and you’ll realize that even the most grease-laden food courts offer up some healthy choices.

Friday after work (and after receiving my paycheck), I decided it would be wise to start dressing the part of Assistant Property Manager by getting some official office attire. Off I went to the Roseville Galleria, a mall that warrants its own zip code. Malls are unheard of in Manhattan, so I was flabbergasted by the sheer enormity of this consumption metropolis. Or, as The Arcade Fire puts it so brilliantly in their latest album:

“Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there’s no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights”

It had been at least two years since my last Mall visit, and once I was over the initial shock of it all, I got to cracking on purchasing two-for-one pin stripe pants. I think shimmying out of dozens of different blouses, pants, pencil skirts, and dresses for nearly two hours definitely qualifies as cardio. Ergo, my appetite made itself known after one particularly exhausting fitting room workout at H&M.

I nervously trudged over to the food court, and was pleased to discover a health-conscious restaurant called “California Crisp.”

Veggie Wrap (Romaine Lettuce, Onion, Tomatoes, Sprouts, Avocado, Hummus) and Laughably Small Fruit Salad

Their prices were fairly absurd (that shot glass of fruit was $0.75 extra!), but I’m always willing to pay more to eat less garbage…if that makes sense.

Also, it’s my personal belief that when one passes a self-serve yogurt shop, one must indulge:

Cake Batter Froyo (Toppings: Graham Cracker Crumbs, Mochi Candy. Blueberries, Brownie Bits, A Teeny Weeny Drizzle of Butterscotch Sauce)

Even if that happens two days in a row:

Circus Animals (A Childhood Favorite), Buttersotch Chips, Raspberries, Reeses Peanut Butter Sauce, Vanilla Froyo

What if it’s not up to me where I eat?

My brother is a generous lad. He’s not only loaning me his super sweet mustang, but he likes to take my Dad and me out to dinner often. The other night, we were in a particularly suburban area, where the closest you can get to exotic dining is P.F.Changs or The Olive Garden. When my brother asked if we were okay with eating at The Olive Garden, I immediately ignored the vivid memory of a drunken rant I once went on about how places such as “The Olive Garden” were the demise of society, America, and the integrity of food culture. (Jodi, if you’re reading this, you were my witness. I know you remember that diatribe well.) I also dropped three slices of pizza on the floor during that rant, but I digress.

Believe it or not, there are healthy (and dare I say it, tasty) options at the Olive Garden. It’s nothing that comes close to comparing to a meal in Italy, Little Italy, or even that little hole in the wall pizzeria I used to frequent on Columbus Avenue…but the Capellini di Mare surprised me in both quality and nutritional stats:

Shrimp, clams and mussels sautéed in white wine, garlic and a zesty marinara sauce. Served over capellini and topped with fresh basil.

The Nutritional Breakdown:

650 Calories

18 Grams of Fat

1830 mg of Sodium (Yikes!)

7 Grams of Fiber

???-Protein

I ate about half, and reserved the rest for leftovers. Also, since I was dealing with seafood I made a point to refrigerate the leftovers immediately and eat the following day. Seafood (especially shell-fish), has a very limited leftover lifespan!

So, as you can see, it is possible to maintain healthy eating in not-so-healthy situations. Or, as in the case of Andy Nguyen’s, situations where the portions (though inherently healthy food), are too huge for one person to consume.

These tips help me get the most food for my buck, and the smallest toll on my waistline:

1. Modify your order: Order dressing on the side, ask to leave out cheese, bring a plate for sharing, substitute fruit, salad or veggies for heavier sides such as french fries, mashed potatoes, homefries.

2. Doggie bags or take-out boxes are your best friend: Since most entrees are typically large enough for 2-3 people, eat just enough to satiate your hunger and ask your waiter for a to-go box before you impulsively eat the entire dish. Not only will this save you from diner’s remorse, but it will save you from making lunch or dinner the following day.

3. Give in, just don’t go off the deep end: Dining out is one of life’s nicest luxuries. You should embrace the opportunity to try new foods, create new memories, and indulge. Go for the chocolate mousse if it’s whispering sweet nothings to your belly, just be sure to share it with your dining companion(s).

What are your favorite tips for dining out sensibly?

I always order salad dressing on the side, skip the bread (or just stop at one piece), and go easy on the booze! (Aside from that previously mentioned time I ranted about the evils of The Olive Garden while losing grip of multiple pizza slices.)

Mustang Sally

If you’ve wondered where I’ve been all week, here’s your answer:

As sweet as that ride is, I’m anxious to move to Sacramento as soon as possible so I can reduce the amount of time I spend in the hot rod. The country has been lovely and all, but spending $300 + a month on gas to commute to and fro from Sacramento is killing me. Also, waking up at 5:30AM in order to get ready for work and commute an hour to arrive by 8:00AM definitely chips away at my valuable daily time.

I have my fingers crossed that I may be able to rent an incredible loft apartment at a discounted rate where I work, which would shorten my hour-long, traffic saturated commute to just a mere walk across the parking lot. An option that would be much greener, and ridiculously convenient.

In other news, I made some wise and long-anticipated purchases this week:

I had to restrain myself from squealing out-loud with delight at the Natural Food Co-Op nut butter section. Nutzo is no new phenomenon in the blog world, but it was new to my pantry. The blend and variety of nuts provides a delightful crunchy texture. As for the flavor…it left a little to be desired. I like my nut butter salty or sweet, and this was kind of bland for my personal taste. I think Nutzo is perfect when incorporated in toast, oatmeal, and veggie dipping. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for blending in smoothies or banana soft serves in which a smoother blend of nut butter works best, at least in my opinion!

Carrot and Celery Cuts, Nutzo

Nutzo, Mixed Berry Preserves, Sliced Banana, Cinnamon, Whole Wheat Toast (Arnold's Double Fiber)

I’ve also discovered that adding a cup of Kefir probiotic yogurt smoothie to a green monster makes for the perfect smoothie in a bowl:

2 Cups Spinach, 1 Cup Kefir Strawberry Smoothie, 1/2 Frozen Banana, Ice Cubes, Topped with Galaxy Granola (Cranberry Orange)

Immune system boosting pro-biotics and 13 grams of protein in addition to all the green smoothie goodness? I’m sold on these Kefir smoothies!

Though I’ve been a busy bee for the past week, I’ve still found time to make at least one wholesome, home-cooked dinner for my Dad and myself:

For this chicken entree, I simply coated 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts with Italian Seasoning and pan-seared them in a cast-iron skillet for 7 minutes on each side. Once the chicken was cooked through, I topped them with a slice of mozzarella cheese, tomato slice, and basil leaf. I allowed the cheese to melt for about 3 minutes while the chicken was still in the skillet, then served the chicken alongside steamed kale.

It was incredible! I’ve been eating a lot of Italian inspired dishes as of late (which on a sub-conscious level could have a lot to do with the fact that while unemployed I was watching The Sopranos marathon style…)

While I cannot pinpoint the source of my Italian eating inspiration, all my taste buds can say is a simple grazie to whatever it is.

What’s your favorite Italian dish?

Berries, Cherries, and Peaches From Outerspace.

One thing I love about my temporary stay in the country is the access I have to local fruits and veggies. Case in point:

A Bounty Of Blackberries

When I say local, I mean it. Sunday evening, I took a stroll down my Dad’s driveway which is lined with dozens upon dozens of blackberry bushes. They’ve just reached their peak ripeness, and despite being pretty seedy, were perfectly sweet and juicy.

They were also deemed the perfect addition to Monday’s yogurt mess:

1/2 Cup Fage 0% Greek Yogurt (Sweetened w/1 Dropper of Vanilla Stevia), Blackberries, Sliced Banana, 1/4 Cup Galaxy Granola (Cranberry Orange), 1 T Sunflower Seed Butter

Lunch consisted of leftover eggplant pomordoro pasta on a bed of spinach leaves, plus a extraterrestrial peach on the side:

Interesting Peach Variety, Appropriately Titled "UFO Peach"

If you get a chance, read this article about the UFO peach. Never underestimate the powers of agricultural science!

After an hour long walk with the dog, Spiggy, a couple loads of laundry, and one viewing of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, I deemed it snack time and noshed on this protein packed fella:

Dinner was one of my favorite ready-in-a-flash creations:

Curried Spinach and Chickpeas Over Baked Sweet Potato

This recipe is posted on my recipe page, however, this time around I substituted cumin due to not having any curry powder off-hand.

Dessert was a bowl of cherries, because after all…that’s just what life is:

"Life Is Just A Bowl Cherries, Don't Make It Serious, Life's Too Mysterious."

In addition to the merry cherries, there may or may not off been some Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles given to me by one of the sweet senior tenants at work. Ok, there were three:

What’s your favorite recipe involving blackberries?

She Puts The “Sit” in House-Sitter

Over the weekend, I house-sat for my Aunt. Taking care off her adorable Yorkies and Cats was a pleasure, and I think I took the term house-sitter a little too literally, as I didn’t exercise at all and now I feel like a giant Hefty bag filled with pudding.

After work on Friday, I scooted over to my Aunt’s Casa and immediately unwound with the ultimate lazy combo, pizza and beer:
Now, some of you may remember me announcing way back in January that I quit drinking entirely. Well, I did for 6 months. Yet, I’ve decided (after much thought and consideration), that a couple of beers or glasses of wine every now and then won’t kill me and may even be good for my health.

Some other indulgences over the weekend included:

Filled With Powerful Nutrients (Omega-3, Flax, Apricots, Rolled Oats) and Delicious When Topped With Nut Butter

Trader Joe's Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies (Particularly delicious when frozen)

Vanilla Drumstick

Eager to get back on track with my eating, I came home on Sunday to prepare a nice, light eggplant pomodoro pasta for my Dad and me:

Eggplant Pomodoro Pasta (adapted from Eating Well)

(Yields 6 Servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium eggplant, (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes
  
• 1/3 cup chopped pitted green olives
• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 4 teaspoons capers, rinsed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 12 ounces whole-wheat thin spagetti or angel hair pasta
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions:

-Put a pot of water on to boil.

-Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add tomatoes, olives, vinegar, capers, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper (if using) and cook, stirring,  5 to 7 minutes more.

-Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water until just tender, about 6 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and divide the pasta among 6 shallow bowls. Spoon the sauce over the pasta and sprinkle basil on top.

It was absolutely delicious, flavorful, and extremely filling. Thankfully there were plenty of leftovers, so I’ll be enjoying its remains throughout the week.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get into gear and work up some kind of sweat because my sedentary ways as of late are getting the best of my mental energy and waistline.  I think some vinyasa yoga, followed by an hour long walk is in order.

How do you break out of a workout rut/hiatus?

Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog!

It’s official, after two full days of workin’ it-, I can officially declare that I love my new job! Besides it being comprised of simple clerical duties, I’m also able to assist and help house senior citizens who, in many cases, would be homeless or living in severe poverty. I won’t even get into what an architectural accomplishment the lofts are (it’s good to know I’m able to house hip, urban professionals as well). So far, I’ve met a broad variety of residents who are the sweetest, most engaging, and colorful group of folks. Not to mention, the location of our office is walking distance to the State Capitol, Cesar Chavez Park, Old Sacramento, and Midtown (where I’ll be moving in the next couple of months!)

In other news, I had the best hot dog last night for dinner:

I know, what an appalling thing to show on a healthy living blog. Color me disgusting, or filled with nitrates, but I love a plump, grilled hot dog once in a blue moon. The more loaded with sauerkraut the better, not to mention oodles of ketchup and mustard. In fact, I love hot dogs so much that many years ago after a night of drunken shenanigans in the West Village, I departed from my gaggle of friends with the promise of picking up a pizza for us all to share and sop up alcohol with. While on my pizza mission, I got sidetracked by the lure of the neon Gray’s Papaya Dog sign and its come hither glow. I immediately forgot the task at hand, purchased a hot dog loaded with toppings, hopped in a cab, woke up in my bed several hours later with my high heels still on and my cell phone exploding with voicemails from my now concerned and abandoned friends. One of the particularly unforgettable voice mails went like this:

“Chelsea, I hope you ended up hailing a cab and got home safely. Please call me as soon as you get this so I know you’re ok. Also, if you’re still out and about….can you please bring us some pizza because I’m REALLY hungry!”

It’s been three years since that night, and I still get teased about it. Oh well, it’s a humorous memory that I’ll always relish. (rimshot)

Now that I’m on an 8-4 work schedule, I’m bringing lunches to work so you can expect to see a lot of to-go meals such as this in future posts:

Carrots and Celery Sticks, Small Tupperware with Crunchy Peanut Butter (For Dipping Veggies), TERRA Chips, Luna Protein Bar (Afternoon Snack)

Tuna Sandwich (Loaded with Mustard and Spinach Leaves) on Whole Wheat Bread

How do you feel about hot dogs? Do you vehemently oppose them, or are you more than open to the occasional indulgence?

Employed and Overjoyed

Remember that job I interviewed for last week and was waiting to hear back from? I got an official offer this afternoon! Today is my first official day, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to get back into the working groove again. There’s only so much daytime TV and Craigslist job surfing a girl can handle. The position I’m taking on is as a Tax Credit Leasing Agent for mixed income senior apartments and market rate lofts. My duties will entail showing apartments, screening applicants, collecting rent, and general clerical duties around the leasing office. This is the first job in my work history in which I’ll be required to dress office casual, so in other words…it’s high time for me to get some “real adult” clothes in the form of pencil skirts, blouses, and pantyhose. I have to say, my new work wardrobe will be a definite step up from my days as a teacher at Gymboree Play & Music, when I occasionally had to wear a clown costume…long story.

Before I received the good news about the job, I had a yogurt mess for breakfast:

1/2 Fage 0% Yogurt, 1 Dropper of Nu Naturals Vanilla, 1 Crumbled Apple Pie Lara Bar, 1 TBS Sunflower Seed Butter

After completing a simultaneously relaxing and challenging Yoga to the People podcast on the deck, it was time for lunch. I broke into a new bag of chips from my TERRA stash. Today’s flavor was:

Terra "A La Mexicana"

Cheddar and Jam Sandwich, Sliced JUICY Nectarine, Terra "A La Mexicana" Chips

The verdict on the chips? One word should sum it up just fine: ADDICTIVE. A lovely blend of vegetables (tomatoes, parsnip, taro, yukon, sweet potato), that had the lightest touch of cayenne pepper which gave the chips the perfect kick.

Also, I think cheddar and jam sandwiches may be seriously contending with PB&J for the title of best lunchtime sandwich, I mean geez:

After running errands around town all afternoon with my brother, I had a hearty, colorful snack once home:

Celery and Carrot Sticks, 1 Heaping TBS of Crunchy Peanut Butter

Still not satisfied (my appetite went into high gear today), I also had a small, red delicious apple:

An Apple That Lives Up To Its Name

Dinner was nothing complex, but was still incredibly filling and colorful:

Avocado Slices, Morningstar Vegan Griller Patty, Organic Baby Spinach, Sweet Pepper Slics, Goddess Dressing

Baked White Sweet Potato with Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Note: sweet peppers and avocado make ideal salad additions. The former is loaded with healthy fats, the latter loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and the sweetest flavor.

After my fiber filled dinner, I took Spiggy for his nightly walk (30 minutes) and had an unpictured Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbet bar for dessert.

And now, for the first time in a long time…I must get ready for work!

Have you ever been unemployed? If so, how long?

Party Like Two 43-Year-Olds

Before I kick off this post, I want to congratulate Gina on winning the TERRA chips giveaway, who commented:

“Sweet potato sounds great. I love their chips!”

Send me your mailing address, so you can start enjoying those chips!

I’ve seen more of my family in the past month than I have in the past five years, and it’s been great. Case in point, today was my Grandmother’s 87th birthday. She’s my only living Grandparent, and such a sweet, cute, strong, and amazing woman. At her age, she’s still throwing yard sales, busying herself in the garden, and staying active. If I’m even a sliver like her when I get that age, I’ll consider my life well lived.

Before heading down to Grandmother’s house, I had an ooey-goey breakfast of OIAJ, thanks to a near-empty jar of Trader Joe’s Almond Butter:

1/2 Cup Oats, 2 TBS Ground Flaxseeds, 1 Sliced Banana, 2 TBS Galaxy Granola (Cranberry Orange), and Almond Butter Residue (About 1.5 TBS Worth)

My Aunt is an incredibly fit and active lady. She’s been dubbed a “fitness queen” on numerous occasions, and maintains a stellar diet. So it came as no surprise when she brought delicious fresh salads for us to eat for lunch:

Strawberries, Mixed Greens, Candied Walnuts, Chicken, Cucumber, Shredded Carrots, Feta Cheese, Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing (Unpictured)

I then spent the remainder of the afternoon hanging with the family and doting on my newborn cousin, who I met for the first time today:

I swear, he's giving me the "Get a load of this broad," look.

Monkey Butt!

Being Around Newborns Gives Me a Sense of Tranquilty

I also meandered around my Grandmother’s gorgeous garden and got a little carried away with the camera:

To quote The Who, "Pictures of Lily, Made my life so wonderful."

A Birdhouse Made Out of My Late Grandfather's Workboot

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

It's Your Day Lady, Time to Party Like Two 43-Year-Olds!

After bidding adieu to Grams, I came home and had leftover chicken jambalaya for dinner, this time served on a bed of baby organic spinach and drizzled with sriracha sauce, followed by a juicy and plump nectarine:

Dessert was Lindts Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt:

I didn’t get a chance to really break a sweat today, but I did squeeze in a nice 30 minute walk with Spiggy…during which I saw many deer and their adorable fawns prancing about. Ah the charms of the country…

Who do you admire most in your family?

Saturday Night’s Alright (For Eating)

Oh, what a delicious weekend. Saturday afternoon, I met with my Mom at her gym (she snagged a guest pass for me) and completed my first indoor workout since I moved back to California. I ran/walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill, constantly altering my incline and speed. Followed by 15 minutes of weights, I was a sweaty beast and ready for lunch. Mom and I decided to have lunch here:

Though I Now Live In California, I Can Still Eat Like I'm Living In New York On Occasion.

The mustard selection was certainly enough to appease my condiment cravings:

Given that most of the sandwiches served at Sam’s are gargantuan enough to feed a small African country, I went with the half-sandwich/soup combo:

Smoked Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread (I Added A Hefty Dose of Honey Mustard) With Cole Slaw (I Didn't Touch It, Not a Fan of the Slaw), Served With Cup of Unbelievably Creamy Clam Chowder

Even though I omitted ordering a whole sandwich, that didn’t stop me from having a bite of my Mom’s behemoth of a Monte Cristo:

Deep Fried Bread, Ham, Cheddar, Topped With Powdered Sugar

There are no words to describe how disgustingly delicious this mega-sized sandwich was, not to mention the nice touch of a little jelly I slathered on my bite. However, after said bite I couldn’t eat any more. It was way too rich and dense for my stomach to comprehend.

Dinner that night was eaten with my Dad and brother at a quaint little restaurant at the Monte Vista Inn, a place frequented by Tahoe’s ski bunnies in the winter months.

I started with a lovely salad that had the most amazing dressing, a spicy bleu cheese vinaigrette:

There may or may not have been a slice of unpictured fresh, fluffy, and buttered bread inhaled gently nibbled upon before my salad arrived.

For my main course, I ordered the salmon which was poached, topped with baby shrimp and an incredibly rich and creamy sauce. Sides included rice pilaf and mixed steamed veggies:

The salmon was absolute perfection, and while I found the rice pilaf tasty…they could’ve lightened up on the salt a bit. All in all, though, it was a great meal in a very quaint and pleasant setting.

Sunday morning was all about the sweet and savory combination:

Breakfast Quesadilla: Multi-Grain Tortilla Filled With Almond Butter, Cinnamon, Preserves, Banana, Sunny Side Up Egg On The Side.

I think these AB&J quesadillas are the best breakfast discovery I’ve come across since Oats In a Jar (OIAJ). I can assure you these quesadillas will be making frequent appearances on the blog in the future.

I wanted to make something completely different from my standard dinner recipes tonight, so on a whim I plucked an ancient and stained edition of “The Joy Of Cooking” off a kitchen bookshelf and started skimming through recipes:

This Particular Edition Is Older Than I Am.

Eureka!

Since I can’t exactly share the recipe with you all, let me just allude to it with this montage:

Any Recipe That Involves That Much Butter Is a Keeper, Wasitline Be Damned.

Chicken Pieces Swimming and Browning Themselves In A Pool Of Buttery Goodness.

The finished product:

I’m going to have to toot my own horn and say that I pulled this recipe off, despite never making jambalaya before. It was a cross between diced ham and chorizo sausage to mix with the chicken, but a lack of chorizo sausage options at the grocery store made the decision to go with ham an easy one. It ended up being a good one, because the ham added a ton of salty, succulent flavor to the dish.

Of course there was British dessert after my New Orleans inspired dinner:Just kidding, that was a gag gift my brother picked up at the grocery store. He’s also the proud owner of a can of “Spotted Dick,” which is prominently displayed on his kitchen counter:

(Source)

I love a lot of British things including but not limited to: The Beatles, Monty Python, Ricky Gervais, etc. However, some of their desserts perplex and disturb me to degrees I didn’t know existed.

And with that, I bid you all adieu. Hope your weekend was wonderful! Also, don’t forget to enter my TERRA Chips giveaway- I’ll be choosing a winner tomorrow evening!

What’s the strangest foreign or ethnic food you’ve come across or tried?

TERRA-ific Things and a Giveaway!

There are some things that immediately boost my spirit without fail. Things such as OIAJ for breakfast definitely fall into that category:

Thursday's Breakfast: Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter, 1/2 Cup Oats, 1 Mashed Banana, 1 Dropper of Nu Naturals Vanilla Extract, 2 TBS Wheat Berries, Bloobs, Coconut Butter

Things like snacking on a delicious Luna Cookie Dough Protein Bar while you rush down to Sacramento to fill out forms for a job that you’re seriously being considered for (I found out Monday what the final decision is!) This little baby did its job in tiding me over until my late lunch:

Things such as receiving a box of Terra Chip samples to review also fall into that spirit-boosting category:

Having been a loyal customer of JetBlue Airways over the years, I’ve become quite familiar and fond of the airlines signature snacks which include a variety of TERRA chips. I’ve already fallen in love with the Blue Potato and Orginal flavors, but was ultra excited to try their new exotic blend which features my favorite veggies:

Kabocha, Carrots, and Blue Potatoes? Um, Yes Please.

The naturally delicious flavor of the selected veggies was further brought to life thanks to the help of a little sea salt. The total result was a serving of chips that was light, packed with vitamin A and fiber, and half the fat of a typical serving of potato chips. The diversity of flavor from chip to chip definitely kept my taste buds on their toes as well! 

Thursday's Lunch: Tempeh, Jam, and Cheddar on Whole Wheat Bread (Toasted), One JUICY Sliced Peach, Side of TERRA Exotic Vegetable Chips

Though I love lots of vegetarian and vegan things, sometimes the thing that pleases my appetite and palate the most is a nice, juicy, medium-rare filet mignon hot off the grill:

Filet Mignon (Medium Rare), Steamed Carrots Drizzled in Agave Nectar

If you haven’t tried steamed carrots with agave nectar or honey, please do yourselves a favor and combine these two delightful things from nature.

The only thing better than a great dinner is dessert, especially when that dessert involved coconut ice cream:

Walking your spastic and directionally challenged dog up and down country hills for 45 minutes prior to dessert is also a thing that keeps the spirit afloat.

One of the few things that’s nice about being unemployed is the total lack of a schedule. The ability to take your time in the morning and utilize your creativity to come up with a delicious new breakfast idea. Today’s idea was an AB&J Quesadilla:

Two Multigrain Tortillas, Almond Butter, Preserves, Slice Banana, Cinnamon

AB&J Quesadillas

Spread almond butter, preserves on two multigrain tortillas. Add sliced bananas and a healthy sprinkle of cinnamon. Coat skillet or cast iron pan in cooking spray or butter (I used PAM).  Sandwich tortillas together and toast over med-high heat in skillet until golden brown on each side.

I wanted two tortillas for mine, but you can easily cut the carbs and calories back by just using one and folding it over while cooking. Also, many thanks to Maya for the initial inspiration for such a sweet, savory breakfast!

Served with Side of Honeydew

Things to do after such an energizing breakfast can definitely include a 60-minute Yoga to the People Podcast on a deck in the glorious countryside.

There are things that can be reused, so you’re free from having to clean a dirty bowl…things such as a Fage yogurt container with about a 1/2 cup of yogurt begging to be turned into a yogurt mess for lunch:

Diced Peach, 2 TBS Wheat Berries, 1/2 Cup Fage Yogurt, 1 Dropper Nu Naturals Vanilla Stevia, 1/4 Cup Galaxy Granola (Granberry Orange), 1 TBS Ground Flaxseed, 1 TBS Sunflower Seed Butter

Despite the enormity of that sunflower seed butter blob, I assure you it was only 1 Tablespoon- measured exactly.

Sometimes the best thing to do when waiting to hear back from prospective jobs is to veg-out on old HBO shows such as The Sopranos (my Dad has the DVD box sets), while snacking on veggie chips:And Red Delicious apple slices with an Ounce of White Sharp Cheddar:

Knowing that your dinner includes 3 of your recommended 5-9 daily servings of fruits/veggies is definitely a good thing:

1 Cup Baby Spinach Leaves, 1 Serving Cubed Wild Wood Tofu, 1 Sliced Carrot, Cucumbers, Goat Cheese Crumbles, TJ's Goddess Dressing, 2 TBS Wheat Berries, and Side of TERRA Exotic Vegetable Chips

Followed dinner with another 30-minute, hilly stroll with Spiggy, the mutt who forces me to keep up with him at a brisk pace. Followed by more (unpictured) Chocolate Hazlenut Coconut Ice Cream.

Generosity is also a thing I greatly appreciate and adore. So you can imagine how pleased I was when the wonderful  folks as TERRA Chips extended an offer to my readers to win a giveaway including four bags of TERRA Chips, TERRA coupons, a martini glass inspired serving bowl and printed Summer Entertaining Guide.

In order to enter this contest, follow these steps:

1. If you have a blog, link back to this giveaway and leave an additional comment telling me you’ve done so.

2. Visit TERRA chips online and leave a comment stating your preferred TERRA Chips variety (or one you’d like to try most), your favorite recipe from the online guide suggestions. (If you also completed step 1 this counts as two separate entries.)

I’ll be choosing a winner Monday evening (8/2), best of luck!