Secret Hoarding: Office Edition

Good evening, all! Normally, I’d just be turning off my HRM from a sweaty BodyCombat class….  That’s my preferred Monday exercise of choice.  Today, alas, I’m on call and BodyPump is really the only fitness class I can take with my phone on hand (translation: the only class that I’m not so drenched in sweat as I kick, punch, or zumba my booty off with the music blasting in my ears where I can hear or see my phone.)  So I took today to run some errands… which was partially successful. The drive-thru ATM at the bank wasn’t accepting checks, but other than that, I:

  • Dropped a package off at UPS
  • Picked up some goodies at the store for a package
  • Packed that package!

I promise, the knife has nothing to do with this package.

Oooh, I also just recently got a package that I’m pretty stoked for….

Oooh, what's that?

More about that at another time. The real topic of the day is something that I just learned about myself.

I think I might be a secret hoarder (of snacks). A coworker gave me something to put in one of my drawers, and that’s when it hit me.

Triscuits Thin Crisps in Quattro Formaggio (deadly addictive, never ever get them) and Odwalla Protein Bars

In our next shelf?

Adora Calcium Disks in Dark Chocolate

Across the office (i.e. over a desk that isn’t even my own:

Two of my cereals from Attune Foods! (Not pictured: my favorite Uncle Sam)

Need a mid-day pick-me up?

Trashy mags and Coke Zero!

Ok, I’ll admit, that last picture was staged. If I’m going to have soda, OBVIOUSLY I’d put it in the fridge (and truly, I am mandated by my job to have tons of media all around me, which actually means that sometimes… I make a workday out of perusing those trashy mags!)

I scatter my goodies throughout my office (didn’t even take a shot of my dried cranberries in the refrigerator or the gum in my purse).  That way, no matter what, if I forget a snack or lunch, I should be okay.  Often, I also keep a can of soup or sandwich thins in the drawers (but you caught me on an off day.)

I promise, I don’t hoard all my things like a thieving magpie (at least not regularly) but something about the amount of drawers and cabinets in my office just brings out the nester in me.  It’s like I’m ready for anything (as long as anything = a hunger pang… or a trip to the hair salon or the waiting room at the doctor.)  Now it’s time to use my hoard of goodies in the fridge and try to find something for dinner! The beau’s talking pork chops…. Let’s see how that goes.

Do you keep snacks at work or by your desk?  If so, which snacks?

Hybrid Crab Cakes and Whipped Avocado Sauce

Today was a day of temptation, as a meeting at work featured cookies and fruit cups.  I held off from the temptation of cookies by focusing on a much more delicious snack (note the dripping sarcasm.)

Oh, neat. Celery.

Paired with Athenos Hummus (which is not nearly as delicious as the Sabra I had earlier today and, comparatively, it is dry and grainy.)  Oh well….

I thought I was playing it cool, being all healthy and junk when…. WAIT A MINUTE!! WHAT’S THAT OVER THERE?!

Honeydukes Chocolate Frog!!!!

It came complete with a Godric Gryffindor trading card!!  My coworker just recently came back from Orlando, FL after spending a long weekend in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. She brought back a chocolate frog, which I consider a major tease/appetizer for my trip to Orlando in October!!  That’s right, home of such major attractions as Julie of PBFingers and former haunt of Meghann (Meals and Miles). Oh, wait, also home of such exciting spots as Disney World, Universal Studios, and Halloween Horror Nights is where I’ll be the weekend before Halloween!! (I’m welcoming any tips and advice of what to do in the sunny city as this was a totally random flight plan spawned by the Southwest Airline 40th Anniversary SUPER SALE!!)

Obviously, I had to have a few bites.  Oops.

Tonight, for dinner, I decided that, when life hands you crab flakes on sale, make crabcakes!

Since I’ve never undertaken such a wild dish as this, I knew I needed some inspiration, and so I of course looked to the internet.  Taking a bit of two recipes, one from the Trans-Ocean website for Cajun Crabcakes, and another for “The Wire” Worthy Crab Cakes from The Kitchen Sink.  They both looked good, so this is what I ended up with:

Recipe Hybrid Crab Cakes

  1. 1 tablespoon of Fat Free Greek Yogurt from Trader Joes
  2. 1 tablespoon of Hellman’s Low Fat Mayo
  3. 1 egg white
  4. the juice of one lemon
  5. a few splashes of worcestershire sauce
  6. Salt and Pepper
  7. Cajun seasoning
  8. 8 oz of crab flakes (Trans-Ocean was my choice)
  9. 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  10. 1/3 of a red pepper, diced
  11. 2 to 3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

In a bowl, stir together ingredients 1-7 (yogurt through Cajun Seasoning) together. Add the crab, mashing the heck out of it so that it’s got a nice finely mashed texture.  I wanna say stringy, but that sounds gross. But I guess that’s what I mean. Add the panko, red pepper and maybe some more spices if you forgot to add them earlier (like I did.) Split the total mix into four even parts and mold each part into a round little cake. Refrigerate the cakes for at least 30 minutes.  This will help the cakes hold together a little better on the pan.

Put 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is heated, add two crab cakes and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes before flipping and doing the same on the other side (or until lightly browned and heated through.) Remove the first two cakes to a plate; and repeat the directions above. If necessary, add some more oil to the skillet and cook the remaining two cakes according to the directions above. Serve warm, and maybe with a little of this yummy whip.

Whipped Avocado Dipping Sauce from Kristin of the Kitchen Sink’s Recipe
1 avocado, skinned and pitted
juice of one lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Combine the ingredients in a large bowl and whip with a wire whisk (alternately, place the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse) until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Serve chilled.

This recipe worked out pretty well though I think, if I didn’t have the sauce, it would’ve been a bit dry. It was a healthified version of a dish that I’d only had SUPER FRIED in the past, which also helped. The peppers added some crunch to it, and I bet it would’ve been excellent in a sandwich with some lettuce, a tomato, and a sandwich thin!  Maybe tomorrow, as I have two leftover cakes!

Since I’m hoping to FINALLY get back to the gym tomorrow, I’m off to sleep in hopes for an early workout!

Have a splendid night, and remember (remember) the 5th of November (the beau rented V for Vendetta, which he’s never seen before…. Adorable.)