Foodie Fun

Faux Pas? No, Pas.

/ foodsweatandbeers / 11 Comments

The countdown is so fully ON.  Two days left of work, and I’m headed up North for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and all the fun in between. I’d like a Philly cheesesteak, a Capriotti’s Bobbie, and a TON of time with my family and beau. Until then, my mission to empty the fridge continues.  Today’s project?

Fully loaded omelet.

Slathered in goodness

Today’s omelet got rid of a lot of bits and pieces from the produce drawer!

  • 2 egg whites, one yolk (only one egg left!)
  • Red onion (sauteed in EVOO)
  • The last of a bag of spinach
  • The last of a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Some Boar’s Head Pepperoni (my VERY favorite kind of pepperoni)
  • All sorts of Frank’s Red Hot

It was delicious, and the fridge is looking emptier by the second. I also gifted two of the fancy beers I’ve been saving for my hop-head coworker.  The gift of choice was the Thomas Creek Brewery’s “Up the Creek Extreme IPA”. I’ve actually tried this beer once before and, though I don’t have a picture, I do remember being surprised at how much I didn’t like it.  It’s 12.5% ABV, and (though the site claims otherwise), I couldn’t help but taste the booze, and be turned off by the overly-sweet taste. Someone online compared it to a barley wine and, though I wouldn’t ever confuse the two (it’s still too “beery”), I can definitely recognize the similarity.  I’d bought this beer for my coworker a few months ago, and was saving it for a special occasion. Thank goodness for the IPA-fiends in our lives….

In other news, as I mentioned via Twitter, today’s outfit was one of those times where I’m fully aware that I’m not a “fashion blogger.”  I feel like I’d heard that navy and black together are a big “no-no” in the fashion world. But, when I tried on today’s outfit, I felt adorable and twirly, so I just ran with it.

Minus the belt-slippage, cute, right?

I’ve been spinning around all day, and feel certain that, faux pas or not, it’s comfortable and cute.  Big thanks to my NYC correspondent, Lee, for confirming that it is not the biggest fashion mistake I could make.  And the slouchy boots are consistently the coolest accessory I own.

On today’s agenda:

  • Get accustomed to my new computer at work (Christmas came early at the office!)
  • Facilitate a support group
  • HOPEFULLY grab a drink with the infamous Sierra from Posh Meets Pavement, my IRL college buddy who blogs about her jet-setting lifestyle and staying fit in South Africa!
  • Wrap presents/pack like a maniac

Luckily, I heard the latter two are always better after a drink…

Do you disobey any “fashion rules”?

I’m notorious for giant flip flops all the time (especially the least appropriate times…. like weddings.)  The burden of my massive feet.

Did You Know that Bees and Dogs Can Smell Fear?

/ foodsweatandbeers / 15 Comments

So, at the end of every year, I hoard my vacation time in hopes for my grown-up version of winter break. And, since I was a grade-A hoarder this year, I’ve successfully collected enough to leave this Friday for over a week!  I’m incredibly excited for a long break without feeling like I’m packing to leave the moment I get settled in a new place.

With that long break looming, though, I have an important task to accomplish.

Daunting, eh?

I’ve gotta eat my way through the remainders of my fridge/freezer. Or at least the perishable foods.  No spinach left behind, and all that good stuff.  Considering the fact that about 40% of my fridge space is taken up by beer, I’m not actually too worried, but there’s still a reasonable amount of eating to do.

Enter the classic “Everything Pizza.” Tonight’s pie was just that, using a base of the tail end of a bag of pre-made whole wheat dough from Harris Teeter. The toppings was where it got really tasty, though:

I popped it in the oven at 425 for about 14-16 minutes, and VOILA!!

Molto bene!!

It was good to the last bite, and fancy-girl cameras always make it look even tastier.  As per, I covered the bad boy with oregano and crushed reds (in essence, probably obliterating any natural flavor from the pizza’s ingredients). Hey, tasty’s tasty, in my book.  I’ve still got a few eggs left, and some spinach to take care of, but it’s nothing a little omelet or two can’t handle.  Needless to say, I’m counting down the seconds to head up to Philly and maybe enjoy some everything bagels and a buffalo chicken cheesesteak (or two).

Since it’s Monday and a segue between pizza and the following subject is too tough, let’s just jump into it: Jonathan Lipnicki.

You might know him better as Ray Boyd from Jerry Maguire.

”]Wasn’t he just the cutest? Well, guess what he’s been doing in the past 15 years?

”]Apparently, sit-ups. And weight lifting. And getting tattoos.

At first, this made me feel old.

Then, I realized I love all those things too. And that Jonathan Lipnicki would probably give me a sexy side-eye if I were at the gym, especially since I’m 3 years older than he is. What child star doesn’t love a successful older woman?

Oh, yeah. (click for source!)

Or older man for you, Chris.  Either way.

Do you have any favorite “clean out the fridge” recipes?

How about any famous child stars ALL GROWN UP?

 

Candied Christmas Cashews!

/ foodsweatandbeers / 13 Comments

Yesterday, I received one of my first “holiday” gifts from a coworker.

Merry, indeed!

Though that festive looking Snowman tried his damndest to hoard all the sugared almonds, I finagled the bag away and managed to enjoy the entire little baggy over the course of yesterday afternoon/evening. I was totally hooked, and after she mentioned that the “recipe” was basically “Pour, mix, let them cool, gobble them up!” I knew what I had to do when I got home.

All I really needed. I like recipes like that.

With the help of a barely-eaten bag of raw cashews that I got a while ago for a Foodie Penpal Exchange, some sugar, and cinnamon, I was on my way.

Mixah Mixah Mixah!

Here’s the recipe, full credit to my coworker Anne, though she’s blogless, so just imagine a lovely blonde California marathon runner serving up a warm batch of these:

Cinnamon Sugar Almonds Candied Christmas Cashews!!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

3 cups raw almonds Cashews (or any other nut)

1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon

1/4 cup water

 

Directions: In a large skillet combine the sugar, cinnamon and water. Add the almonds cashews and stir constantly with a spoon over medium heat, coating the almonds nuts with the syrupy mixture. Keep stirring until the sugar crystallizes. Remove the pan from heat and scoop the almonds cashews onto wax or parchment paper. Let the cinnamon almonds cashews cool before serving. These can be made a few days ahead.

I could hardly wait for them to cool before I popped a few in my mouth.

Terribly tempting

Trust me, though, they’re just as tasty the next day during lunch as they are right after making them.

Color block Jordan APPROVED!

And since I wanted to show off my bag of goodies and my brightly colored outfit, I even nibbled a few outside in the crisp 65 degree December weather.

Though it doesn’t feel as cold as Christmas time, yet, these would make great presents for anyone who isn’t allergic to nuts. So much so, in fact, that I hope to receive a 3lb bag of my own.

Have you ever gifted or received a DIY present?  What was it ?!

 

Skinnylicious and Zumba-tritious!

/ foodsweatandbeers / 10 Comments

Hey hey folks, we made it to Wednesday!

Since I’m in the office for lunch, today, no No Pants Wednesday for me today…I enjoyed a few leftover chips and bread from our office holiday party for which, true to fashion, I was the only one that dressed up.

Old habits die hard.

Oh well, I think it was obvious that the holiday spirit was in everyone’s hearts as we ate our way through a MASSIVE catering by the Cheesecake Factory.

I normally steer clear of the giant Factory, known for it’s ENORMOUS portions and frying everything from zucchini to macaroni and cheese.  And I’ll admit, yesterday during lunch, I definitely over-indulged a little bit.  But by choosing a very healthy option from their “Skinnylicious Menu”, I managed to not feel too bloated after enjoying some of the shared appetizers (spinach artichoke dip and Tex Mex egg rolls).

I even had enough for a hearty dinner made of delicious leftovers.  Folks, I present about 2/3 of the Skinnylicious Grilled Salmon and Vegetables!

Skinnylicious!!

I scoped out the Skinnylicious Menu and found a bunch of (reasonably priced) healthier options and small plates that I think will definitely come in handy the next time I head to the Cheesecake Factory.  It was delicious, even reheated, and the (likely less-than healthy) dipping sauce on the side made everything even more tasty, creamy, and flavorful.

As for the Zumba-tritious…. well that’s gotta be the sore, sweaty feeling I felt after a particularly intense Zumba session at the gym!  There were actually 4 Zumba instructors in the class, though only one was the instructor, and, for some reason, I tend to get competitive when I feel like there are skilled folks in my group fitness classes.  Or if there’s a very tall lady, or a pregnant women. I don’t know, it’s a bad habit, but it’s the athlete inside of me and wants to win.

Luckily, since EVERYONE wins when we Zumba, I left feeling great.  I also left thinking about the most recent Zumba classes I’ve taken.  And I think I realized that, even though it’s supposed to be a “Latin dance inspired cardio workout”, I always prefer the songs that are less of a samba and more of a chance to dance like a crazy person.  So, in case you’re looking for a fun (short) dance party playlist, these are my three FAVORITE Zumba songs to dance to!

1. Jai Ho – The Pussycat Dolls

With a sweat-blasting pony step, sexy hip swirls, and Bollywood inspired moves, this song’s beat and tune always get me working harder/better/faster/stronger.

2. Waka Waka – Shakira

This official song of the FIFA World Cup always makes me want to kick a ball into a net, rip off my shirt, and show off my killer bod a la Brandi Chastain.

HECK YES, WE'RE THE WINNERS!

In the video, it’s very apparent that Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and the African chanting lend themselves so well to the lyrics:

You’re on the frontline
Everyone’s watching
You know it’s serious
We’re getting closer
This isnt over

If the little kids jumping all over the place in the video don’t inspire you, clearly you have no soul.

3.  Country Girl (Shake it for Me) – Luke Bryan

I think my family would disown me if they knew just how much I love country music. Clearly, my parents should’ve never let me go to school in North Carolina (oh, and falling for a Mississippi boy… I’m a walking cliche).

This song makes me wanna sweat the heck out of my achey brakey heart, eat some fried catfish, and grab some boots.

Mostly, I just look good in a cowboy hat.

What’s your favorite song to Zumba to?

Or, if you don’t Zumba, what’s your favorite song to workout to? That one tune that makes you push harder than anything else?

Six Pack Sunday: Asheville Eats!

/ foodsweatandbeers / 16 Comments

Asheville: It’s a hell of a town.

Even though I was there for less than 24 hours (whoah, didn’t even realize that until now), I certainly didn’t go wanting for food during any of those hours.  My mother flew in on Friday night and, after whipping up a DELECTABLE cream cheese dip which we nibbled on and enjoying several cocktails, we hit the hay hard with alarms set for 7:30 am.

We drove across North Carolina in a few hours, and before I knew it, we were in the mountain hippy HQ, Asheville!

Quality State, that North Carolina

And while I’ll write more about the trip later, I figured a PERFECT Six Pack Sunday would be on the fantastic foods I enjoyed during my stay.

1. Corner Oak Chocolate

Mmm mm good.

Upon arrival at the Corner Oak Manor, our B&B for the weekend, we were welcomed with my FAVORITE of the Ghiradelli chocolate squares.

It was a perfect, pepperminty way to be welcomed to town.

2. Reuben Romance

Oh, it is love.

This photo truly doesn’t do the Turkey Reuben from Julian’s Gourmet Sandwiches in the Biltmore Village.  The hot turkey, the 1000 Island Dressing, the marble rye…. it was a dream come true. AND, in a true game changer, I actually liked the (not-so) sauerkraut. Our first meal in Asheville was served with Kettle cooked potato chips, and fueled massive amounts of shopping.

Wait, this one might do it justice.

Much better, good to the last bite.

3. Pretzel Pairing

Match made in heaven

So it’s not like I didn’t know this before, but something about pretzels and beers together just make both taste exponentially better.

My first trip to the legendary Bruisin Ales was timed right, apparently, as there was a tasting of Sierra Nevada beers.  Word on the street is that the West Coast brewery’s looking to set up shop on the East.  Well, I personally think that Asheville’s got Sierra Nevada written all over it.  Just saying….

4. Olive & Kickin’ (Get it?)

EVOO bar?! Yes, PLEASE!

Ok, after looking at that picture, I want you to read the description of my new favorite store concept.

Olive & Kickin’ sources the freshest extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from hand selected growers.  They are held in the store in stainless steel containers called Fusties that allow you to sample the individual flavors of each prior to buying them.

So basically it’s a store that sells Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. And you can sample all of it. Chipotle EVOO? Garlic EVOO? Cranberry Pear Balsamic?

I wanted to gargle with it.

The women who run the shop, Karen and Vic, are nice as nice can be, and we could hardly control ourselves as we sipped gourmet oils and b.v. If you go to Asheville, do NOT miss this shop!!

5. Shrimp and Grits that Just Won’t QUIT!

Creamy, spicy, decadent, delightful

Tupelo Honey Cafe.

Recommended by more people than any one spot in Asheville, this establishment lived up to the hype.  Described by the restaurant:

Brian’s Shrimp and Grits » When your chef puts his name on a dish, he has to be pretty proud of it. Such it is with our shrimp and grits – seven large delectable shrimp served over Goat Cheese Grits and anointed with a spicy roasted red pepper sauce

It couldn’t get any better. The creaminess of goat cheese lent itself so well to the grits, and the shrimp, plump and fresh, were spicy in that way that demands you keep eating it.  Don’t worry, I did. I virtually licked my bowl at the end, and that last bite was like saying farewell to a best friend.

A best friend that you’re about to digest.

6. Putting the Breakfast in B&B

From Karen's Kitchen!

Corner Oak Manor was actually the first B&B I’ve ever been to, and I loved the Breakfast B just a little more than the Bed B. Creamy eggs with spinach, tomatoes, and feta served with fresh fruit and pepper bacon was a great way to fuel the long trip back to Durham.

It was a most delicious weekend, and rest assured, I’ll write more about the trip later. Now I’m off to digest and (hopefully) finish my applications.

Asheville, I’ll be back, I promise. And I’ll definitely come hungry.

TYT Featuring a TST

/ foodsweatandbeers / 9 Comments

Gooooood afternoon, friends!

So, apparently, with my Treat Yo’ Self Six Pack Sunday, I made a bit of a SMFP (Social Media Faux Pas).  APPARENTLY, the real trending phrase that all the cool kids (on Twitter) use is #TreatYourselfTuesday.

Don’t I just feel like Amber walking into the party wearing Cher’s exact same outfit.

Yup, definitely that outfit.

Oh well, the real moral of the story is that you should Treat Yourself EVERY DAY!!  Then, we all win.

Today, I decided to treat myself with one of my very favorite sandwiches.  It’s called The TST (Tuna, Spinach, Tomato) and it’s a grown up version of my favorite sammy as a little kid.

Big Girl Lunches for Big Girl Things!

Those three little nibbles on the left of the sammy aren’t actually because I always  nibble three bites of bread before making a sandwich (that’d be an irritating and time consuming habit), but because my bread of choice, the Arnold’s Healthfull Nutty Grain (a new favorite!! 80 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fiber per slice) was far too big for the office toaster.

Little kid Jordan would’ve had her tuna sammy on white bread, stuffed with some Doritos for crunch. And while putting Doritos on a sandwich is a trend that will NEVER die with me, it’s not exactly the healthiest option, so, in this case, spinach and tomato provided just the right texture mixup that I needed.

Here’s another habit that I picked up as a little kid that hasn’t changed in all my years.

How many nibbles does it take to get to the center?

I always like to bite around the sandwich (or slice of pizza… or French toast… or breakfast sammy) and save what I designate as the “Best Bite” for last.

Luckily, in some cases, every bite is the best bite.

In those cases, all bets are off.

How about you?

Do you like to eat the best part of your ______ first? Or save it for last?

Six Pack Sunday: Treat Yo’ Self

/ foodsweatandbeers / 10 Comments

My goodness. A Sunday where I’m not headed to the airport, or saying goodbye to someone I love as they head out?!  I forgot what this kind of day felt like.  It’s been a busy weekend, but definitely not quite the chaos of jet-setting that I’ve become accustomed to.  It’s like a breath of fresh air to not be skittering around trying to cram as much as I can into a weekend.

That being said, it didn’t stop me from cramming a lot in there (I think there is a that’s what she said joke to be found somewhere in there, but I’m not in that kind of mood.)

This week’s Six Pack Sunday seems to revolve around beers (duh), buddies, and bells. Jingle bells (read: Holiday cheer.)

1. A Partridge Brewski in a Pear Beer Tree

Tastes like holiday fun!

On Thursday night at Rockfish, I enjoyed my first official Christmas beer on tap!  The dubious honor went to the Anchor Steam 37th Annual Christmas Ale . Anchor Steam, a brewery that Caitlin introduced me to after her hubby ventured to San Francisco for work, doesn’t always produce my favorite beers. My opinion was rocked, though, with this Christmas Ale! It tasted like mulled wine, done with beer. Cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe even a little fir tree? Either way. The taste was on point, and the complimentary glass, rimmed in gold, makes me feel like a fancy pants. Or a Santa pants.

2. Treat Yo’ Self

Don't mind if I do...

In case you don’t watch Parks and Recreation (I don’t), or you don’t use the internet (I hope someone printed this post out for you, weirdo), you might not be familiar with “Treat Yo’ Self”. Well, please observe the following video, summarizing the concept:

Well, I figured that Saturday morning, I’d do just that. After getting nearly all my Christmas shopping done before 10 a.m., I decided to treat myself with a pair of new tall black leather boots AND some homemade pumpkin French toast.

I’ll clue you in on a little secret: for me, pumpkin French toast just means that I mix pumpkin and pumpkin spice into the egg dip. It worked, it was delicious and decadent, and I felt like a little princess.

3. Applications: NO BREATHING!

Sweet set up

Yesterday, the only true goal of my afternoon was to finish up my personal statement. After working on it for several hours (who would’ve ever thought it’d be so hard to state my purpose?), I completed it at the Nordstrom eCafe!  In case you’re not aware, the Nordstrom at Southpoint has free wireless which is reliable enough to stream Pandora! And, after dropping some SERIOUS change there earlier in the day, I figured I should finish my work where I started my morning. My romance with Nordstrom knows no bounds. None.

PS: Contrary to popular belief, my purpose is not just “Drink awesome beers, sweat up a storm while I dance, and dress up in wacky outfits because theme parties are the defining occurrences of my life.”

That would’ve been a much easier essay to write.

4. Speaking of Wacky Outfits…

Fashion is my middle name.

Leggings, boots, Santa suit, undies on my head, and PBR suspenders aren’t what you wear when you go out on a Friday night?

Well, maybe you should try it.

North Carolina Girls’ Pint Out’s First Annual Festival of Beermas was a HUGE success, but I’ll write a full post on that later.  In the meantime, just go crazy and Polyvore my whole outfit.

5. Classy Broads Drink Classy Drinks

Oh, you fancy, huh?

My new friend, Amanda, and I went to celebrate the completion of my essay with some big girl drinks at Fox Liquor Bar.  This Raleigh establishment reminded me a lot of the Crunkleton in Chapel Hill where the focus is on well crafted cocktails made with care and love.  And giant ice cubes.

My drink of choice was the Late Night Reviver: Beefeater gin, Fernet Branca, ginger, lime juice, soda water. Shake and served long with a garnish of candied ginger.  Amanda went with the classic Old Fashioned.

The best looking pair at the bar, other than us, of course

Hopefully, the classiness of our cocktails out offset the magnum of Arbor Mist we consumed in a Rugrats drinking game earlier in the night.

It’s all about balance, right?

6. Rap Battle in the Basement

I could be hallucinating but, if the sounds I hear are correct, this is what’s going on in the apartment below me:

Is this 8 Mile? (click for source)

There’s a lot of loud, angry rap music going on and I think my floor is vibrating.

If I’m missing Eminem rhyme birthday with first place, I’m gonna be super ticked.

If he’s shirtless, the ticked is going to be on a whole new level (woops. Confession of attraction to shirtless white rapper for the day? Check.)

Jeez, I think I need a nap.

How would you “Treat Yo’ Self”?  Fine leather goods?

 

 

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Channa Masala

/ foodsweatandbeers / 11 Comments

Hooray!

It’s Thursday!

I know, I know, it’s not Friday, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.   The light is probably Rudolph’s Nose, as Friday night is North Carolina Girls’ Pint Out’s First Annual Festival of BEERMAS!!  I’ve dusted off my hat and beard, and after today’s lunch, my belly is feeling particularly jolly.

Ho, ho, WHOAH!

As I nuked the Trader Joe’s Channa Masala, my tiny igloo apartment filled with the warm smells of Indian spices, and my tummy started rumbling. This was the first time I’ve ever tried this particular dish, and was so excited with how it turned out!

Since I didn’t have any rice on hand and, honestly, I kinda burned out on rice in my first year post-grad (rice, beans, cheese. all meals, every meal), I put down a solid base of spinach and just ladled the goods out on top. The chickpeas managed to not be too mushy as sometimes frozen foods can feel, and the base of spinach worked perfectly with the spices. While I actually wish there’d been more of a kick, spice-wise, I understand that, for the masses, sometimes you gotta tone it down a bit. It awakened the Indian food bug inside my belly, and I’m CRAVING some more, post-haste. Maybe I can convince someone to join me this weekend…. (or head over to TJs for some more of these goodies.)

In other news, it got COLD in North Carolina!!!

This morning, I was met with a 31 degree temperature and, when I stepped out to the car, a rude awakening of frost.  And, although I am the only member of my family that doesn’t own an ice scraper, I made due.

Ladies and gents: The Southern Girl’s Last-Effort Scraper!

Ta-Da!

Have you got an old Nickelback CD that you’d rather throw away than feature prominently in your car? Ashamed of that Baha Men phase in your life?  Collected a few too many of those free AOL CDs?  WORRY, NO MORE!  Your lame musical tastes and hoarding tendencies can be transformed into a practical and fun tool for the cold weather.

Toss on some gloves (because you’re getting up close and personal with this frost, no handles here!), and grab the CD, then get to scraping!!

Defrosters? I scoff at them.

You’d be surprised how fast you can scrape an entire car’s worth of windows when your hand basically becomes a scraper.  It’s much more flexible than a scraper with a handle and you can cover a lot of ground when you’re a long-armed scraping fiend like me.  For all you short folks with tiny raptor arms, I’m sorry and hope you manage to move to a warm location where your arm length won’t hinder your ability to get out in the morning.

Poor guy...

Now that the world’s thawed out a bit, I’ve got a lot on my plate. I’ll be baking some beer bread for the Festival of Beermas tomorrow, and hosting the Carolina Brewing Company’s Winter Porter glass night at Rockfish.  In the meantime, I’ll just be bundling up, thanking my lucky stars I found these fake rabbit fur earmuffs at Booth’s Corner in the summer.

Baby, it's cold inside

Do you ever MacGyver any of your belongings into new, handy contraptions? 

Other than the CD Scraper, best I’ve got lately may be using a can to crush up some graham cracker crumbs…

What’s your favorite food for when the weather gets chilly?

Chili for the chilly?

Orange You Glad It’s Freezing Out?

/ foodsweatandbeers / 14 Comments

No. The short and  simple answer to that question, for me at least, is no!

When I woke up in my apartment this morning, I was not unlike a groggy, angry bear who was forced out of hibernation too early.

I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant...

I was the opposite of a happy camper. I was an unhappy…. home-dweller.  It wasn’t pretty (as you can see.)

Lunchtime, though, did bring one happy winter reminder into my mind (and, later, into my belly):

The S&P Bears envy their juicy goodness

Navel oranges have made their way into the “cheap” season at my local grocery store, and the former-soccer player and future soccer-parent in me are both elated.

Last volleyball season, I can’t tell you the number of oranges I sliced and wore in my mouth like a neon smile while my teammates nibbled and looked on in confusion.  I flipping love oranges.

Stopping by the grocery store during lunch was also important because I needed some essentials.  Namely, veggies and sandwich thins.

Today after work, I have to head to Durham for some last minute preparations for the North Carolina Girls’ Pint Out Festival of BEERMAS along with some other errands, so I won’t be able to enjoy a home-cooked dinner like I am fond of doing.  Luckily, a can drain and a few chops into lunch, I had prepared both my midday meal and my evening ingredients.

La Banderita for the senorita!

For the lunch version, I whipped up some  tuna salad with low-fat mayo, cucumbers, and tomatoes.  With enough veggies stuffed inside of a wrap, a can of tuna can definitely make two sandwich “innards” for me, so this worked out perfectly.

ALSO, the La Banderita low-carb, low fat tortillas were a discovery of mine when I first started Weight Watchers, and I’ve sworn by them ever since.  With 81 calories, 6 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of fat, they are absolutely a staple in my household, especially for taco nights or quesadilla feasts.

Anyway, the final product was a very colorful wrap with spinach, tuna, avocado, tomato, cucumbers, and a final dusting of the (now empty) bag of Crackerful chips from my Foodie Penpal of November (sad to see them go…)

The giant looms over her meal, ready to pounce

My shadow over the food means I was starving and, promptly after this photo was snapped, scarfed my food down whilst watching Top Chef: Texas.  On the side were some steamed green beans/carrots with a butter sauce and some cranberries, from a frozen pack that was just waiting for me to eat them up.

I took the leftovers of this meal and turned it into a sandwich form for the evening realizing that, while I don’t love to go three meals in a row with the same food, two for me is pretty normal.  I realized long ago that cooking single serving meals was a pain, expensive, and a little depressing.

Now, when I’m in the kitchen roasting up enough vegetables for a small village, I pretend that maybe that village is coming over for dinner. (Fact: They never do, so I just eat their portions gradually over time.)

I’ve got a bag of goodies for later loaded with an orange, a sandwich, and some green beans, ready to take on whatever Durham’s got to give.  And, despite the freezing temperatures (of 50 degrees. I’m a weakling when it comes to temperature), I plan on finishing out No Heat November in style, orange in hand.

And in just two days, I’ll be starting off December the best way possible.  Suds and Santa style!

Just call me Santa's Little Helper

Do you have any fruits/veggies that you anxiously await for each year?

A Little Spice is NICE! November Foodie Penpal!

/ foodsweatandbeers / 14 Comments

Hey there friends and neighbors!

My first day back from the long weekend was actually a half-day, as I received a mere 3 hours of sleep on Sunday night. The combination of an early flight, puppy hair inhalation (resulting in a restless night of sneezing), and a last minute visit from the beau, along with a rather chatty early morning airplane crew and I was plum tuckered out. Zombie Jordan is not a productive employee, so I took some sick time to replenish my slumber funds.  Voila, a new woman!

And, waiting for me, was a delicious package, most of which I’ve been holding back on due to frequent trips and traveling.  Lisa from The Healthy Diaries was my lovely Foodie Penpal for this month!!  And little miss Lisa spoiled me rotten.

(In case you’re late in the game, check out my packages from Allie in September and Laura in October.)

Lisa’s package was the full Monty.

Holy DELICIOUS!

I’ll admit, I love that the majority of my packages have been savory and delicious.  While sweet treats are fun, I can’t help but follow my spicy and salty nature…. and it’s led to some AMAZING sauces, dips, and flavors in my mouth.

In my package:

Be still my savory-lovin’ heart!

My regular post-workout snack has been the crackers dipped in the Pepper Jelly. Or, really, my anytime-at-all snack. I’m addicted to the pepper jelly. I want it slathered on my lips like chapstick. But, in the meantime, it makes for a great base of a egg-cheddar-pepper jelly sammy!!

Match made in heaven (egg not pictured)

And for Monday night’s meal, a total treat:

Skillet Sauce, anyone?

Just a little sauteed onions, browned chicken, and some skillet sauce, and I had myself the makings for a totally delightful dinner.

This skillet sauce adds flavor to the most basic of ingredients, and couldn’t have been simpler.  Toss some of the mix on top of a salad base consisting of spinach, avocado, tomato, salsa, and a bit of cheese… Perfecto!

El Gigante

I’ll admit, I’ve got an aversion to Mustard (should’ve mentioned that in my email! woops), but I’m sure I’ll find a use for it in the future. And the next day I grab some serious avocados, you bet I’ll be getting my guac fix.

Thank you, Lisa, you palate-pensive penpal! You nailed my taste, and freshened up my kitchen in a time of need (after traveling so much, my cupboards were virtually bare!)

A penpal in need is a penpal, indeed.

If you’re curious about what I sent to Lindsay, check it out at The Lean Green Bean’s Foodie Penpal post!! (She’s the lady that organized this whole shebang, so I felt like I was writing poetry for Shakespeare or sending Bumpits to Snookie).

Thanks, Jordan, but I think I got this.

And now it’s time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. *US Residents only please at this time- hopefully we can expand soon!*

If you’re interested in participating for December, please send  an email to Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com  by December 4th and include the following information:

-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)

Maybe you’ll get a sexy package from MOI! or be able to send me one!! And, tis the season… It’s better to give than receive, right?

I do love making holiday themed packages, too! Oooh lala.