The hit of the going-away party was most certainly the sangria.
Note: Eating Nepalese food, which is essentially Indian to an untrained tongue such as mine, on an already funky stomach, is not a good idea.
Perhaps it was karma for ditching a run in favor of dinner.
Regardless, it probably wasn't a bad thing that Boston denied me some snuggle time to go on his own run after dinner. I don't think I'm ready to shatter his whole "girls don't poop" outlook on life.
Ooooh, probably TMI there... Sorry!
Boston is one of those guys that can (and does) eat anything and everything, and not gain a pound. I'm trying very hard not to start picking up his eating habits because if I ate what he ate... um yeah, I'd be packing on the pounds. He also can't make a thing in the kitchen, which means if I am attempting to eat healthy (and also convince him that "vegetable" isn't an evil word) I have to pull out my apron and start cooking.
The problem? I really don't know how to cook all that well. Unless it involves a microwave of course.
Last Monday I hit the grocery store for, I swear, the first time in weeks. I spent over $100. Shocking for a girl who typically shops in $15 to $20 increments. But I did knock out 4 attempts in the kitchen, all of which I'd classify as successful in one form or another.
#1 I made a salmon bisque from a recipe I found in Women's Health. It was... okay. Good, but not certainly the amazing I was picturing in my head. I didn't puree it in a food processor, but I think it was the taste, not that texture, that was a little off. Looking at other bisque recipes, I think it was because there was no butter in it (I'm sure to keep it healthier). Overall, I little disappointing because I was hoping to love it.
#2 I made dinner for Boston - for the first time. It was simple, just breaded chicken, rice and salad. Nothing world class, but nothing involving a microwave either.
#3 Our Saturday morning ski trip was thwarted by a power outage (gosh, there seems to be a pattern there) so after turning off the alarm and sleeping in, I decided that I HAD to have pancakes for breakfast. Initially, things looked pretty bleak - the supposed pancakes in the pan were a mess, but we decided that my pancake mix was old and took a walk to the market up the street for another box, and some fresh blueberries. Yum! It was delish!
#4 I brought chili to yesterday's superbowl celebration and, as always, it was a hit. There weren't even any leftovers to bring home (which I was disappointed about – now I am going to have to make another batch!). Chili is one of the few things I can make consistently well (and not feel like I might freak out in the kitchen). And I lucked out, making amazing corn bread from a random mix I grabbed at the store.
Of course, tonight - I'm thinking about dinner. And thinking it is going to be a frozen meal. And tomorrow I'm taking Boston out to dinner - for fried chicken (his favorite). That screams healthy doesn't it!?!? So I probably won't spend as much time in the kitchen this week, but I really do need to try and make more of an effort. And make sure I get a good run or two in to counter-act that fried chicken!
Love: That I have tomorrow off.
Hate: That I will spend most of the day working anyway.
Love: Living in Seattle - I'm so happy that this summer's bad attitude is over.
Hate: That two of my best friends in Seattle are looking for jobs on the other side of the country.
Love: That my birthday is next week.
Hate: That my boyfriend will spend the day heli-skiing in Canada without me. No fair - I wanna go!
Love: Taking naps on Sunday afternoons.
Hate: Knowing you won't be able to fall asleep Sunday night because of above nap.
Love: Pizza, Sushi, Burgers, Burritos, and Beer.
Hate: The thought of stepping on the scale at the gym.
What are you loving and hating this week??
OK, so I am certainly no Betty Crocker and most of my dinners are prepared in the microwave, but I can whip up a few concoctions in the kitchen. My latest creation made its debut at my holiday party last weekend. It certainly isn't healthy, but you can't eat carrots sticks all the time.
Courtesy of Rachael Ray (and the back of a wheat thins box), I give you...
Red Pepper Pesto Dip:
1 tub (8 oz) cream cheese spread
1 large red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp. pesto sauce
Mix all together* and spread into an ovenproof dish. Bake in a preheated 350 deg oven for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes and serve with crackers.
Very simple, but very delish!
*The cream cheese was a bit hard to mix so I just through all the ingredients together and let bake for 5 minutes before stirring it all up real well.
You love Red Robin. We all do. But do you take a date there?
My roommate is online dating and on the 2nd date, she let the fella pick the place. He chose Red Robin?!? In the words of my other roommate - Red Robin is the place you take the girl you've been dating for a year and are no longer ashamed to admit your love for the place to. It is not a place you take a girl to impress her, no matter how good the fries are!
I had a date at the original Red Robin today with Shell - completely acceptable as we have been friends forever. Girl talk and clucks and fries... does it get any better?
