The power of blogging

Hi friends.

Its been an incredibly hectic two weeks for this girl. Work has been busy (which is great!) and between taking accelerated classes for school and wedding planning; I've not had an incredible amount of free time.

Its amusing to me that through the power of blogging, I have the ability to give people my inside thoughts... my nervous fears... my wacky recipes that I tend to make up in my head. But, its also led me to be able to try Udi's foods (they previously sent me a box of product to try) and the best part? I've made a great friend. A friend you ask? Yes.

Let's rewind.

Last year about this time, I was battling a sickness. I had been out of the hospital for about a month and a half and after growing tired of watching the food porn station, I somehow starting seeking food porn on the internet. I'm not quite sure how I stumbled on her site, but I found a website for something called 1 Fine Cookie. I started cruising through the site and found her posts to be hilarious. Being that I was stuck at home, I more or less looked through all the things she had posted. I started following her page and got emails when a new post was made. I thoroughly enjoyed each one and ended up making her Pop Rock Cupcakes with my niece and nephews for Fourth of July last year.

I felt compelled to email her after a few posts and just let her know that she brought me out of a funk. That I had been so depressed sitting a home feeling like doo that her posts made me laugh and at that point in my life, it was a difficult thing to do. So, I expressed my gratitude and appreciation and sent it on its way. To my surprise and disbelief, she replied back. Within 24 hours.

She had said thank you for the kind words and asked me some questions about me, asking me to keep in touch and let her know my progress. We emailed a few times back and forth. Come July of last year, my Thinfully Inspired page was up and running. She liked my page. We became friends through facebook (on our personal pages, in addition to our pages for the blog) and we exchanged comments and emails for a good time.

Fast forward to January, I got a new position at work and moved into a different role. The people I worked for lived in Boston. Guess who else lived in Boston? None other than Miss 1 Fine Cookie. I told her as soon as I knew I was flying out. We exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch until then. When the day finally arrived, she and I were joking it was like an internet date. She said what if we don't like each other in person?? I told her that after talking for the better part of a year, I think we're good.

We met up at a (overpriced) sushi place near her. She instantly recognized me from my pictures. We must have sat and talked for a good three hours. We had no problems at all striking up conversation and just having a good time.

Its been a few months since then. We text. Alot. We've recently branched out into talking on the phone because it seems that her and I have a lot of the same stressors and have been put in the same type of situations. I value her friendship incredibly. I see things that make me giggle or ideas on healthy eating and send them to her. She sends me things that make me giggle and I drool over the recipes she makes and posts online.  Note to reader: She makes things that are what divine thoughts are made of. I have made some of her recipes and there is absolutely nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while.
She's joked that she needs to start eating healthier. So she follows me. Its a great combo, because I eat healthy most of the time and when I want to indulge, I know where to turn.

In short, I would have never, ever have met this amazingly wonderful woman if I never found her blog. And emailed her.

You never know when one email may change your course.

A yummy summer recipe idea!

If you've followed me for a while, you know I'm not opposed to trying a different way of eating to try see if I like it. I'm a semi-vegetarian. I like chicken and fish, but mostly stick to the vegetarian choices here at home.

I found a few recipes a while back ago that I wanted to make my own and try to see how they came out. Today, I threw together a kale salad with a home made lemon basil dressing and a quinoa burger base.

And, I am happy to report they were FANTASTIC!

I got the idea for the quinoa burger here. I followed the recipe including the carrots (I thought I had zucchini but when I got in my fridge, I was mistaken) I used mozzarella for the cheese since it melts better and overall is a little better for you than cheddar. I also added a tablespoon of fresh basil and used a lot more freshly ground pepper. I used less oil than was suggested, just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Now, the big difference for me was that I wanted to make the mix to keep a few days to have for dinners the next few nights, so I did NOT put the egg in right away. I made the mix and put it in the fridge for a few hours. I separated it into thirds and added one egg to the serving I was making then. That way, a raw egg isnt just hanging out in my food for a few days. Of course, if you're making the entire batch right away, then you don't need to do this.

After making them, I'd suggest adding two cloves of garlic into the mix and omitting the cumin. It seems a little odd tasting in with the rest of the veggies...even though its a minimal amount, a little cumin goes a long way. I think just a little more salt and pepper or maybe even celery salt would be a little more flavorful.

I'd also consider adding another veggie, like a red onion with a fine mince or even a cucumber...  I love the taste of quinoa with fresh sliced cucumber and perhaps next time I'll substitute the cheese with a little bit of feta instead making it a greek quinoa burger.

On the side, I made myself a fresh kale salad.

I shredded the leafy parts off the stem and cleaned them well. I dried them and put a tablespoon of sunflower seeds and a pinch of fresh grated parmesan cheese on the top. For the dressing, I found a recipe here  but didn't have any oregano, so I subbed basil instead. I also used a little more garlic than they suggested and a ton more black pepper. I like the flavor that fresh ground black pepper adds (we have a pepper mill) so I would probably say I doubled what the recipe called for. I put it in the fridge for a few hours before I ate.

By far, this was the freshest tasting, satisfying summer dinner in a long time!  You should try it!

Gum

Yes. Gum. That sticky, gooey substance that you inevitably find on your shoe when you least expect it. Or want it. Perhaps right after cleaning your carpets. Or, meeting someone for the first time. . . if you're like me, you've also sat in it before. In the Arizona sun. In the summer. It's always fun googling how to remove it from your pants (ps, ice works fairly well)

Every time I buy gum, I always have to differentiate for my man the difference if I purchased 'adult gum' or fun gum. I love the flavored gum. Especially the flavors that make you feel five again. . .the Extra bubble gum (which is wrapped just like a piece of spearmint Wrigleys, but tastes deceptively like Double Bubble).

Its pure sugar; but I love the Grape Bubblicious. I even found an air freshener that smells like it. I have leather in my car so it absorbs the smell and everyone always says that my car smells the same... its funny how smells can take you to another place. It doesn't matter how long its been since I've seen someone, they open my car door and say the same thing every time... but I digress.