Food(less) Journey

  This stuff is so delicious it deserves its own post, but here it is nonetheless. It's the Mandarin Orange Soy Chicken from Trader Joe's.   Just yum. That is all I can say. It is rediculously good. I ate it along with the brown rice mix also from TJoe's.   It's really easy to make. Just bake the chicken bites and toss with the sauce that has been heated up.   The calorie content isn't awful, but remember it's prepared food so technically cheat day food.   If you don't eat it on cheat day you will be compelled to to work it off. Speaking of working it off...   Fun exercise....       Another way to sweat off the pounds or just calories if you are already at your goal shape (i cant say weight since i refuse to weigh myself until im sure ive lost more weight) is to dance, or more specifically line dance! Dr. Dance an uber famous line dance instructor in my area held a free dance clas...

  Entertaining does not have to be expensive. There I said it. And I mean it too. Especially if you are anywhere in the vicinity of a Trader Joe's, but even if you dont you can have a party for 4 for under $20. Step 1: Make a guest list Step 2: Make a menu Step 3: Go shopping (be flexible)   I put together a last minute Tea Party Luncheon a few weekends ago. It always pays to be high on creativity when you are low on funds. Creative cha-ching! One of the best things about Trader Joe's is that they have one type of item in a variety of prices points. Or in other words 3 kinds of grapes at three different prices depending on your taste preference and budget. Love it! SO, since I already had the guest list together (me, cuz and baby cuz) I made up a menu (Chicken Salad Sandwiches, potato chips, Thomchord grapes, cookies and baby carrots) and then went to Trader Joe's. Lo and behold there was none of the chicken salad that i wanted to...

How could you ever get tired of tofu scramble? There are so many variations. Savory, sweet, and pretty much any cultural adaptation you can imagine... I don't eat tofu (or any soy products) often, but it's nice ot have a block on hold in the freezer for the occassional cravings and for a quick breakfast or dinner. I just drain it of any liquid its packed in, rinse it cut the block into four and then freeze. No other prep needed. And freezing it makes the tofu chewier in texture, so it doesnt need to be cooked as long. Just flash fried (cooked in a very hot skillet) to brown it. If you have any questions about Tofu feel free to email me or put it in the comment section in below. How much do you love it when the mushrooms are fried? Tuscan Scramble 1/2 block tofu crumbled (mine was frozen but nuked to thaw) 1/2 c frozen kale, thawed 1 cup sliced baby bella 1/4 c onion sliced or diced 1 t salt 1 T ...

So quick... So easy.... So tasty... How can you not give it a try?   Unless you are allergic to bananas. Then don't please.   Splash of Almond milk (2T) Splash of Almond extract (1t) 2 Splash of Vanilla Extract (2t) 1 frozen Banana, sliced and placed in miniblender (or whatever you happen to have  in the way of blending equipment) Simply blend until smooth. If you have a slightly whack (i.e. cheap) blender like I do you may have to pause blending every few seconds and scrape banana down into bottom of bowl.   Im still waiting for someone to gift me a hand me down orn buy me a new magic bullet or classy blender that cost more than DaveandBusters tickets.   I could just get hitched and put it on the registry but that seems like a lot of work for a blender and  saving for my trip to Ireland is taking financial priority so won't be saving up and buying one anytime soon. the end....

That is how I can best describe my eating habits as of late. Coming back from the "Safeguard Your Heart" Convention this past weekend is not helping. I tend to eat very strangely at Conventions. Partly because I don't want to eat too much and get drowsy and partly because I want something quick to eat so I can spend most of my lunch time chatting. Also, I eat less than usual to avoid travel related digestive issues. So each day I had: Breakfast: Bear Naked Granola and  Rice Balls (More on these later)with Vanilla Almond Milk Lunch: Wasa Sesame Crispbreads, Justin's Almond Butter, Tomatoes and/or applesauce Snacks: Lentil Chips or Snap Pea Crisps Dinner: Trader Joe's Mushroom Noodle Soup with Wasa Sesame Crispbreads Yesterday for breakfast I had the above. But I had a good reason. (Not that one needs a good reason to have  leftover Napoli Pizza pizza for breakfast.) I was headed to the Strip District with the fam at an unnaturall...

It was like a crazy Gelato weekend! I went to two different Gelato places in one weekend. How odd is that? Did I have Gelato? No Why? Because this is America and Americans don't seem to make Soy Gelato as freely as Italians. Oddly enough. But I had loads of Sorbetto to sop up my tears. That makes no sense..... Mercurio's I have been wanting to try Mercurio's in Shadyside for a while.. Well, since I heard they had a wood fired oven for making their pizzas Oh baby! You know you can't recreate the taste of Firenze without some fire! That slight charring of the crust adds flavor and character to the pie. I'm sweating a bit just thinking about the taste-bud overload. August 18th I finally got my chance to go! Raspberry Sorbetto And how cute is the little cup? I would show you the pizza, but I ate the whole thing No worries. I went to a 2 hour line dancing class after. Tee hee hee.... But I can tell you i...

Even though these were baked I still can't help calling them fried green tomatoes. The name is ubiquitous with the feelings they evoke. Long summer days,  big "I dont have anywhere to go" breakfasts with my family, 'accidentally' picking all the big green tomatoes while helping my mother harvest from our backyard garden, the feeling of accomplishmentseeing seeds and seedlings become a meal  for my family and a gift for friends. How could I not love these little beauties? I had just a remnant of my special flours left and wanted to put them to good use. So, I killed two birds with one stone (no i didn't! that is sooo violent) and used the flours to make something I'd been craving since the first green tomato poked itself out of the tomato plant in the backyard. And yes I do realize that one of the green tomatoes is red. I do not discriminate!  I feel that all tomatoes are created equal(ly delicious). Plus i...