Going Glamping

I'm super excited for my glamping trip with friends this weekend. It's been several years and then some since I've been camping. My unusual health restrictions make "roughing it" a little more difficult than it might be for others. No matter. This year, my friends and I decided to kick in for some picturesque digs in nature so we can enjoy the best of both worlds: clean, natural living and indoor plumbing! And, because I have the best friends in the whole universe, they even found a spot that will allow Ms. Eleanor, the dog-faced girl, to join our adventure. This week I'm busy planning and preparing for the trip... 

Sure, as campers we usually just brought a package of hot dogs and enough beer for the end of the world, but as glampers a little forethought is required.

The Cowboy Hotdog

Hotdogs are a camping must, but there's no reason we can get a little fancy with this classic. I know my fella will insist upon a veggie dog anyway so we've already abandoned the traditionalists. 

Perfect Picnic Sandwich

Not only is this supposed to be the perfect picnic sandwich, it's also supposed to be better a day or two after it was made so I can pack it up and bring it along.

Beer-Steamed Hobo Potato Pack

In theory, my friends might actually catch some fish at this lake. If that happens, this would be a great accompaniment. If not, PBJ for all! 

Lemon Meringue S'mores

S'mores are the camping treat for the ages. I, however, have been trying to eliminate chocolate from my repertoire so I might have to get a little fancy with these Lemon Meringue S'mores. 

And, if all else fails, the Food Network has this handy guide to 50 Things to Grill in Foil... 

Junk Food Copycats

Sometimes we all want something bad for us. Living with a medical condition, it's not always a matter of drive-thru when the craving hits. I have to make my own food at home. And, every once in a while (usually around my period), I'll sit at home thinking about some forbidden food. After the Homemade Hostess adventure, I see the endless mimicking possibilities. Here are my worst menstrual cravings (minus chocolate which is bad for headache conditions) transmogrified into at-home versions. I'm probably over-sharing.

Oatmeal Creme Pies

Be still my heart. These always remind me of visiting my grandparents in the summer with my kid brother. I love love love oatmeal creme pies.

KFC Chicken

God only knows what is actually in KFC Chicken, if that's even chicken. This particular fast food joint represents so much grossness I haven't partaken in sooo many years. At least, I know that if I really want the deliciousness without the vileness, I can make it on my own. 

Milano Cookies

Why is it that everything I crave reminds me somehow of childhood? This is suddenly getting way more Freudian than I anticipated. Oh well. These cookies are too delicious to care.

Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich

Um, this one breaks me sometimes and every time I give in, I'm horrified in the wake with visions of liquefied roast beef and chemical-laden cheese. Gross and yet oh-so-good. I think this was my mom's idea of a "healthy" dinner out when I was a kid. It was a sandwich, after all.

Desserts for Easter

Okay, so I'm not a practicing Christian... I'm more like a secular melting pot of puritanical traditions - one Hasidic grandmother and one Quaker - with a vicious anti-authority streak, a master's degree in religion & philosophy, and a spiritual commitment to Martin Buber. That being said, I love holidays. I'll celebrate them all. Holidays are a great way to break up the year so it doesn't pass in a blur of drudgery and isolation. It's a time to pause, connect, and enjoy. While I'd prefer to celebrate the Spring in some precursor pagan manner, I'll take what I can get. So Yay, Jesus isn't dead or whatever. Let's eat some cupcakes!

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

These might win out just because they are adorably pink and I'm trying to avoid chocolate due to the neurological condition. And, they're adorably pink. The color scheme really sets each holiday for me.

Tuscaloosa Tollhouse Pie

Maybe I'll pretend I'm not avoiding chocolate... just for as longs as it takes to eat this pie, the delicious cookie-like pie.

Easter Marshmallow Bark

Super easy and cute. Sometimes, that is all I want in life... when it's time to up the dose (kidding).

Homemade Peeps

Peeps are almost synonymous with Easter for me but they probably cause cancer or something. Better to make them at home and enjoy the splendor of childhood traditions without all the creepy additives.

Monday Meal Planning

Last week proved rather successful with regard to new recipes. Somehow, I managed to try several new things but none of them were the things I initially planned on attempt. So it goes. I had one tragically flawed attempt at homemade mayonnaise. Perhaps, I aimed too high. I did make a fabulous strawberry pie in preparation for my first recipe group meeting this week.

Strawberry Pie

I had never even tasted Strawberry Pie before last week. Now I dream about it. 

If you've never partaken, I strongly recommend correcting this immediately.

Avocado Egg Salad

Trying to look for health, easy lunch options for the week.

This looks like it might be a winner, but I might swap out the mayo for some Greek yogurt. 

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos with Lime

I haven't brought out the crock pot since the oatmeal fiasco of February.

It's time we made amends and what better way than with my favorite cooking combo

(sweet potatoes & black beans)?

Hummus

Now that I've overcome my fear of the food processor, it's time to branch out.

Monday Meal Planning

I'm so excited to be in the new house. I'm just starting to get settled in my new (and smaller) kitchen and finding ways to make the space work for me. I christened the Kitschen tonight with the Curried Eggplant with Tomatoes and Basil recipe from last week (see here). It worked out swell. Can't wait t to try out some new dishes this week while maintaining the health trend. As always (unless I've made some error somewhere), just click the link or the image to check out the recipe! 

Black Bean & Corn Salad

I think I'm going to bust out the tortilla bowl maker (thanks Kim!) on this one. Maybe I'll wait til the avocados are ripe and add guacamole.

Spinach Pistachio Pesto

omg. This recipe sounds so delicious I am dumbstruck by the possibilities. I just so happen to have some Arizona-made DeCio Pasta on hand already. I'm thinking Pesto Pasta with Cesar Salad (a personal favorite).

Lentil Rice Soup with Caramelized Onions

My fella has only recently allowed soups into his eating regime. He maintained a long-standing aversion to any and all soups. He doesn't like soups to be too soupy. He also doesn't like anything cream-based. I should add here that he will eat just about anything I cook with a supportive enthusiasm, but I try to work with his slightly particular palate. When I attempt this soup, I believe I will finally attempt homemade bread as well after several weeks of broken promises to myself.

Black Bean Burgers

I've been aching to try a homemade vegetarian burger. This one sounds awesome.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Healthy, delicious, and colorful? Yes, please, and thank you. I might make this to accompany the Black Bean Burgers up above. Who knows?

I Miss Cooking

     My kitchen is in a state of transition. Yesterday, the biddies (my mother and my aunt) gathered to get the move moving along. Everything in the kitchen got packed up and sent on its way. I can even make a bowl of cereal. Clearly, there was some questionable prioritizing of the household goods, but the biddies were ready to demolish some project so we decided to take it on. It has given us an excuse to tour our favorite healthy eateries as part of our nuhouse (testing the name) health kick! Tonight we ate at Pita Jungle! Macro Platter por vida!

     Sorry, I diverge. I can't wait to get settled in my new kitchen! I plan to put it to go use. Healthy, fresh, unprocessed food... mmmm, hippie food. I'll throw something sneaky in there somewhere, I'm sure. I still have to test out the new French cookbook I received during the holidays. I'm day dreaming about new quinoa recipes. Lame, but I don't care. I'm excited and I don't give an F (still not swearing). I would like to take a moment to share some of recipes cooking only in my brain for the time being. Soon, however, I will regain access to my cooking swag and I can wreak havoc once again! 

Curried Eggplant with Tomatoes and Basil

Source: realsimple.com via Carly on Pinterest

Balsamic-Grilled Vegetables & Quinoa Salad

Source: veggiebelly.com via Carly on Pinterest

Butternut Squash Pizza

Source: realsimple.com via Carly on Pinterest

Seafood Quiche

Source: novice-baker.blogspot.com via Carly on Pinterest

Baked Black Bean Flautas

Source: peasandcrayons.com via Carly on Pinterest

Monday Project:: Valentine's Day!!

    Valentine's Day has long been one of my favorite holidays. I love red and pink and hearts and flowers and chocolate and love. Gross, I know, but it's true so why lie? Anyhoo, with all the packing going on there has been little time for gearing up for the holiday this year.
     My fella and I decided that we should have a nice quiet evening at bluehouse this year because it is our third (and final) V-Day in our first home together. I like to try and plan ahead with my partner for the holiday because I've always been of the mind that it sucks for dudes to have to plan some fancy event and make the arrangements and usually pay for the whole thing. I like to, at least, start a conversation about what we might do so my boyfriend doesn't feel stranded on his own little island in a sea of my expectations. Give the man a paddle or something.
   Being super strapped for cash with the move, I am planning on some homemade goodies for Valentine's Day this year. Who knows if I'll even have access to a kitchen in the coming week so I better throw in a fabulous home-cooked meal as well... or not.

This right here might be my winner.

I make a mean rise krispies treat.

Source: foodfamilyfinds.com via Carly on Pinterest

If only I had the time...

a mini jar of pie?!!

Source: onceuponaplate1.com via Carly on Pinterest

A little weird and a lot of love,

I'm about these homemade candy jars.

Source: blogalacart.com via Carly on Pinterest

Chocolate Pomegranate Bark, 

full of antioxidants and CHOCOLATE! 

Source: finecooking.com via Carly on Pinterest

Of course, we can't forget the homemade card.

My favorite part of the holiday... maybe.

Source: pennychoo.com via Amber on Pinterest

Healthy Meal Planning

At this very moment, I have a crockpot full of black beans, butternut squash, mustard greens, and brown rice brewing for a healthy evening meal tonight. Snap. After dinner I'm going on a super grocery trip to load up on a ton of fruits and veggies for the week to come! I figure I should pull together some recipes so I'm not spending the whole week modge-podging recipes together out of whatever I happen to have whimsically purchased. As always, with recipes, just click the image for the recipe.

Quick Chickpea Curry

We love curry dishes at bluehouse but we always rely on pre-made sauces for our "homemade" curries. This week I'm hoping to branch out.

source

Crustless Kale Quiche

I have too many eggs. I must do something with them this week or risk wasting them (gasp). This seems like a healthy means of ridding myself of excess eggs and making use of some fresh kale.

source

Homemade Pico de Gallo

We love fresh salsa but have yet to attempt concocting it in our own kitchen. The time has come.

source

Pad Thai

Umm. Delicious. This is a dish I always head out for and have never made at home. This recipe seems like a great way to try my hand at Thai food.

source

Wish Me Luck!!

Healthy Meal Planning

I am in the process of changing my health habits. I have been moving toward a more plant-based, whole foods diet and increasing my daily exercise. I started a fitness blog (shh!) and hope to see some positive changes in my overall health during the year to come. The fella and I have already embarked upon our journey to better health. We've joined a local crop share to introduce new vegetables to our routine. We got rid of the soda and sweets from around the house. We eat at home with increasing regularity. We've switched the majority of what we eat to local, organic foods. We also had hot dogs at Short Leash today after we finished shopping at the Farmer's Market so let's not get too crazy.

Last night I made Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos. They were amazing. I added a ton of bell peppers and purple cabbage in addition to the roasted sweet potatoes and black beans. More good things planned for this week...

Mixed Bean Soup

Source: free-old-time-cooking-recipes.com via Carly on Pinterest

Pickled Radishes

Source: adventures-in-cooking.com via Carly on Pinterest

Garlic, Chickpeas, and Garlic Whole Wheat Spaghetti 

Source: zoomyummy.com via Carly on Pinterest

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Project Monday:: Cooking!

Two weeks later and I'm still cooking!! What makes it even better is that I'm happy to report no serious injuries to my home or person, no fires, no inedible disasters! I should thank my brother. If it hadn't been for watching that putz in his domestic goddess form I would have never believe such things were possible for our people. Good work, young man. I even made a meal plan and, subsequently, a grocery list based on said meal plan. Eat me, Martha.

Here are some recipes I attempted or will attempt in the coming week... 

Linguine with Zucchini and Chickpeas

I know this might not sound awesome but it was honestly amazing. Everyone enjoyed.

recipe

Barbeque Tofu with Pineapple and Mango

I'm actually planning on making this for BBQ sandwiches along with BBQ chicken a la Mark. We might pass on the mango because this really isn't the time for such purchases. Pineapple is on its way out (I think) but I did find one today.

recipe

Carmelized Onion BBQ Grilled Cheese

This really needs no explanation.

recipe

Quinoa with Eggplant and Roasted Red Peppers

This super health recipe can easily go from vegan (for Mark) to not (for me) with the addition of feta... mmmm, feta. I'm going to make this on a gym night so we can feel extra healthy.

recipe

Update on my last food blog post... 

Three out of four ain't bad. I didn't make the Southwestern Acorn Squash quite yet. The baked garlic brown sugar chicken was just about the best (and easiest) thing ever! It was super delicious. I used the same coating on some salmon the following week. Also delicious. And, the lemon bars! Awesome. Easy. Tasty. I'm trying a revision of that recipe this week with a strawberry filling!

Monday Project

I finally did it. I returned to the kitchen after an extended hiatus. I had become overly frustrated with some of my kitchen failures and renounced cooking. However, after my recent visit to see my brother and his fam in NY I was inspired by that kid's ability to pull together a meal. How did he get all the householder talent and the lucrative career path? My brother would be the perfect modern woman if only he were a woman. Instead, he's a dude who can whip up a mean beef burgundy or a restaurant's worth of perfectly poached eggs. That bitch.

Anyway... I was inspired to attempt cooking one more time. Last week, I successfully knocked out four meals which I consider a huge success. This week, I'm kicking it up a notch meaning more home-cooked meals and a little branching out into new recipes. May God have mercy on all I feed.

The best part? I'm finally utilizing Pinterest as I intended: an effective tool for organizing useful information. Not just yuppie porn for suburbanites. Here are some of the recipes I made last week or that are in the works for this week...

French Bread Pizza

Source: whatscookingwithruthie.com via Carly on Pinterest

Southwestern Acorn Squash

Source: shine.yahoo.com via Carly on Pinterest

Baked Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Source: jujugoodnews.com via Carly on Pinterest

Lemon Bars

Source: livingpractically.blogspot.com via Carly on Pinterest