tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46602475102524279062024-02-18T19:58:48.286-08:00About the year I gave up ALL "fast" foodOne entire year. No drive throughs, no take out, no delivery. No short cuts, just real meals. Thoughtfully prepared, thoughtfully eaten. Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-84756162280276907702015-12-03T15:58:00.001-08:002015-12-03T15:58:17.407-08:00"Boodle"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dk5MuNOU7m-MJ_9IyFDfQoXhLnSJJSjcNwadsDU47qbN-mqfcfbiNEbCEWZBcaVE6jKGtWROuFDuvrXIIDJUwmthhNrLpPLzB6PMLFAaeAlvgkeAdPogMOX7kQpx5rygw_D0tCao3I5R/s640/blogger-image-1339961405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dk5MuNOU7m-MJ_9IyFDfQoXhLnSJJSjcNwadsDU47qbN-mqfcfbiNEbCEWZBcaVE6jKGtWROuFDuvrXIIDJUwmthhNrLpPLzB6PMLFAaeAlvgkeAdPogMOX7kQpx5rygw_D0tCao3I5R/s640/blogger-image-1339961405.jpg"></a></div>Sometimes nostalgia is the most important ingredient. When Evan and I were just cutting our teeth in our relationship, there was a divey Vietnamese take out place a block from his apartment. There was an endless supply of excellent Vietnamese food only a quick subway ride away, but this place was decent, and delivered. They also had a meal that the carefully edited menu described as "boodle." It was some delicious combination of ground pork, ginger, rice noodles and other mystery flavors.<div><br></div><div>I have been unsuccessfully replicating this dish for over 10 years now. Every time it tastes only mildly like the original, and every time we love it. What it really tastes like is falling in love. Boodle.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheexXl5uD2UFQQpCY9KFqnMriSk8mU1ALcSr50H4oqu6q4EksIKUqgMYCSQOpcoOOgZMID6PtjIsGs__uq3Z5qEYY7E8X_sof18tNDCutO7EIbwWhVRzQBNszQaYgEH5M07GwmlYrg7ldo/s640/blogger-image--1056002538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheexXl5uD2UFQQpCY9KFqnMriSk8mU1ALcSr50H4oqu6q4EksIKUqgMYCSQOpcoOOgZMID6PtjIsGs__uq3Z5qEYY7E8X_sof18tNDCutO7EIbwWhVRzQBNszQaYgEH5M07GwmlYrg7ldo/s640/blogger-image--1056002538.jpg"></a></div><br></div>.</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-79593278269213189132015-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:002015-10-07T11:16:54.795-07:00YouTube Videos and favorite meals.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiWPn1OmvYA4FypKnneI1tOnwUpl1EW-iPvSjga4cXqSDV9bkfSG7k7Xz12q1EfIUYQcBYrIFCPHcx7ZpoLdJRYNIaFBwNyLM_H84Vh340F-wfDJDNAZhzLqpg1eoyq_5NMM3NnqDUMqc/s640/blogger-image-1754955313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiWPn1OmvYA4FypKnneI1tOnwUpl1EW-iPvSjga4cXqSDV9bkfSG7k7Xz12q1EfIUYQcBYrIFCPHcx7ZpoLdJRYNIaFBwNyLM_H84Vh340F-wfDJDNAZhzLqpg1eoyq_5NMM3NnqDUMqc/s640/blogger-image-1754955313.jpg"></a></div><br></div>I am making a giant batch of what I have decided I will from henceforth refer to as "California Chili." It is the chicken chili recipe from the Lemonade Cookbook and it cannot be overstated how much I love this meal. It's healthy, easy (albeit time consuming, but not in a pull your hair out kind of way) and SO SO SO delicious. It tastes rich and decadent and perfect for a brisk day when a heavy, warm meal sits so happily in your belly. I LUH it.<br>
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As I was prepping my mire poix (see how I use fancy terms like Mire Poix? It's because I have watched 4328490328390438290842 hours of Top Chef,) I thought to myself, I should watch a YouTube video on how to properly dice an onion. And a carrot. And come to think of it, my dream of one day taking a class to learn how to properly butcher a chicken, I bet I could learn that on YouTube as well! <br>
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YOU CAN LEARN ALMOST ANYTHING ON YouTube! It's amazing. Here is the short but life saving list of things I have watched videos and then taught myself how to do on YouTube:<br>
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1) Make Cacio e Pepe properly. I watched an Italian chef, speaking Italian, perform this delicious feat and then repeated it promptly with wild success.<br>
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2) Install the child trailer attachment to my bicycle. It was overwhelming and it took me a LONG time to find a video that showed the right way to do it, but when I finally did the actual installation took me about four minutes. And I felt like a super hero.<br>
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3) Locate a wall stud. Use that wall stud to locate ALL the wall studs in the room. The majority of standard wall studs are 16 inches apart. Did you know this? I do now. Also, 2x4s are ACTUALLY only 1.5x3.5. Why lie construction industry? Why lie?<br>
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4) Install a drywall anchor. Remove a drywall anchor.<br>
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That's it so far. But seriously, all of those things I could never have done without YouTube. I would have paid someone to do them for me. It's also worth noting that I used to be a person who flat out refused to watch videos on the computer. My friends would send me links to things and I would respond "I will never watch this. Why do you bother?" Oh, to think of all the years of learning I have missed. Never again!<br>
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Maybe I will find an amazing chopping video and post it here. Maybe we can all learn how to properly dice a mire poix! In the meantime I will enjoy this amazing California Chili.<br>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-25998357068403965702015-09-22T11:04:00.001-07:002015-09-22T11:08:02.819-07:00Lunch for two.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJoPbjxyOpS14rBC9dCNeBHCq-m1oBE1274UR3YPhyphenhyphen0-U4wKleptPG2Txw74-kPimVKyf_oSBn_CD4tl3W3I9BSw4yLoHjsFWWrAz2OYWvP2zLouqJXxcFPPYxRvSwkr24yqNU5rxxoHn/s640/blogger-image--1935416726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJoPbjxyOpS14rBC9dCNeBHCq-m1oBE1274UR3YPhyphenhyphen0-U4wKleptPG2Txw74-kPimVKyf_oSBn_CD4tl3W3I9BSw4yLoHjsFWWrAz2OYWvP2zLouqJXxcFPPYxRvSwkr24yqNU5rxxoHn/s640/blogger-image--1935416726.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lunch. One of the main motivators for this challenge was the eliminating the convenience of "grabbing something quick on the road" for myself, for lunch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last thing I want to do at lunch time is cook. I don't even want to think. I would really enjoy just sitting down and having delicious food placed in front of me. So lunch feels like a daily struggle, what can I microwave or snack on that will feel enough like a meal that I can make it to dinner, but requires as little effort as humanely possible? Enter photo above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had tacos for dinner on Sunday, and because it was Sunday, tacos were accompanied by cheesy Spanish rice, beans, fresh diced tomato and avocado. Luckily for me, no one in my house was interested in anything but the tacos so I have been enjoying this immensely satisfying leftover combo for lunch thus far this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Reed has even discovered a taste for beans (notice they are absent from the bowl save for the scrapes left behind from his little fork.). So delicious. So easy. And so frugal, one meal for four with two full lunches and then some of leftovers. If only lunch was always this simple!</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-55882204380339812802015-09-03T17:31:00.000-07:002015-09-03T18:22:50.532-07:00Hey you, it's me again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Heyyyyyyyyy. Sooo it's been awhile! Brief update, the challenge is still ongoing but not nearly as strict as I had originally intended. We are officially out of the "habit" of takeout and delivery, which means I have allowed the occasional "treat" meal to slip back into our lives. Plus a new local coffee shop opened up in the neighborhood so it's obviously important to support them.<br>
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I know the year isn't over, but I have learned SO much in the past 9 months and one glaring lesson needed to be shared as I suffered through it today. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfJr4ZCcOss6QMCsUHbLWaTR9vNgwwj6cOlLUJfgW0T1xzC1E93qU-RA6psBpUmGxudwOVERFxD6Gdq4M7YM4vzdCQYiY3nps8iPdpy1F8eCx9ofMT_vfUt3tZDHroqahmey9kG84PBTJ/s640/blogger-image--413958011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfJr4ZCcOss6QMCsUHbLWaTR9vNgwwj6cOlLUJfgW0T1xzC1E93qU-RA6psBpUmGxudwOVERFxD6Gdq4M7YM4vzdCQYiY3nps8iPdpy1F8eCx9ofMT_vfUt3tZDHroqahmey9kG84PBTJ/s640/blogger-image--413958011.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Recipe books are ALL liars. Or, to be fair, they present a veiled version of the truth. Think about it, have you ever once seen a recipe that includes clean up in its start to finish time? I haven't. And you know...those knives and cutting boards and bowls and whisks and measuring cups and pots and pans don't just magically dance into the sink and wash themselves all Disney style. Then, there's the actual EATING of the meal, don't forget that ticking clock. Set the table, serve the food, clear the table, package the leftovers, load the dishwasher. Where are those minutes in the total count time? Those minutes add up. They add up hard.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We all know it isn't time consuming to throw some pasta in boiling water and bake a piece of chicken with a vegetable. But the cleaning of the pans, and plates, and serving utensils - that's the real evening killer right there. And all of that is assuming you DON'T have an almost two year old who eats three or four happy bites and then kamikazes his slow cooked carnitas and cilantro lime rice all across the kitchen. No. There is no recipe book that includes the clean up time for that. The most family friendly of all food blogs do not go into detail on how to not pull out your hair when said 4-5 hours preparing delicious, wholesome family meal promptly lands all over the table, chairs, floor, and dog underfoot.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is the grind. This is the day in, day out, dirty business of raising kids. They eat three meals a day, plus snacks. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes, they have the gall to NOT eat those meals. And we have to feed them anyway.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yet people have the audacity to pretend they don't understand why KFC is so successful...</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So despite my every instinct, when tonight's lovingly thought out and prepared feast landed where it would, I did not tear out my hair. I did not crawl into a hole and hide. I did not even threaten that "I'll sell this house before I'll clean up this mess!" I just took a deep breath and decided, maybe no more "complex" meals until everyone in the family can speak in complete sentences. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Another day, another dinner. Done.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">(Mic drop)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuaztMwKRw9Q4sgwfC80Rk-U_rbSKdZ71DzKTzzODS73HyS-zewriYPMWDl-_p86ytQCO9f0-fu6bplIdATXF-fDB9GTBUm0Bof0DsbjTKzqfBeNgMvDl1XAaCIcusoC1hkSorbUcTXTb/s640/blogger-image--1029850400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuaztMwKRw9Q4sgwfC80Rk-U_rbSKdZ71DzKTzzODS73HyS-zewriYPMWDl-_p86ytQCO9f0-fu6bplIdATXF-fDB9GTBUm0Bof0DsbjTKzqfBeNgMvDl1XAaCIcusoC1hkSorbUcTXTb/s640/blogger-image--1029850400.jpg"></a></div><br></div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-10946000284844783062015-04-16T15:24:00.001-07:002015-04-16T15:24:37.863-07:00It's not takeout!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFYQ4oUOmh6CNpxYHIsZ4HCZLJywdUGE-vhhg-NuNmjWZPxuCBRGlRymTi6p4LUvUQGPIoij28TSZFpeME0kPcDKvulztQj9_5CQ9AYctvScMhUxLckKk1i3z1073Umx27zh4dWM6bt5L/s640/blogger-image-873704460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFYQ4oUOmh6CNpxYHIsZ4HCZLJywdUGE-vhhg-NuNmjWZPxuCBRGlRymTi6p4LUvUQGPIoij28TSZFpeME0kPcDKvulztQj9_5CQ9AYctvScMhUxLckKk1i3z1073Umx27zh4dWM6bt5L/s640/blogger-image-873704460.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But it sure is frozen chicken fingers, tater tots, and peas (not shown.). Yup. It was that kind of day.</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-42184291092102490302015-04-09T10:53:00.001-07:002015-04-09T10:53:37.170-07:00Do you know about freezing bananas?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazykTJFBdPHO1zg5ktxHhmXkMBPy3Cuil7SZJS00RmCj6daljY8ycAXXtb2y-q1ZZ4TSfdUrLMDInBHqyD4bxhD-oli17eG8jOBpYNFH5aFfUlcn8Citje_wSCQ9Plw8SabU6zTP-OWTl/s640/blogger-image--1891830478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazykTJFBdPHO1zg5ktxHhmXkMBPy3Cuil7SZJS00RmCj6daljY8ycAXXtb2y-q1ZZ4TSfdUrLMDInBHqyD4bxhD-oli17eG8jOBpYNFH5aFfUlcn8Citje_wSCQ9Plw8SabU6zTP-OWTl/s640/blogger-image--1891830478.jpg"></a></div>My children love fruit. Until they don't. As most children do, I'm sure. They want bananas at the store, but don't want them at home. Bananas turn brown, then they DEFINITELY don't want them. So into the freezer they go, to become bread at a later date.<div><br></div><div>My children also love muffins. Chocolate muffins. As do I. So today I went to make use of those freezer bananas and in the search for banana muffins came across a chocolate banana muffin recipe. Genius!</div><div><br></div><div>I added ground flax seed and protein powder to beef up the recipe a bit and they turned out great!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFlFjsV0Z5VoaJ3oWsVuR5VvmOaKMz6UVeMU-xJsFoQD33Bk6_SdrEDsgg3nRuj113n4aWolFkMzBdwa1ofrn2c-D9PNTjJ2-W7r2SRVqPfzRZ7MRVQYWxaOULq0hw6Zrjcvb6vSK2RAL/s640/blogger-image--905645287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFlFjsV0Z5VoaJ3oWsVuR5VvmOaKMz6UVeMU-xJsFoQD33Bk6_SdrEDsgg3nRuj113n4aWolFkMzBdwa1ofrn2c-D9PNTjJ2-W7r2SRVqPfzRZ7MRVQYWxaOULq0hw6Zrjcvb6vSK2RAL/s640/blogger-image--905645287.jpg"></a></div>Recipe here:</div><div><a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2014/09/chocolate-banana-muffins">http://www.chef-in-training.com/2014/09/chocolate-banana-muffins</a></div><div><br></div><div>I used 3/4 cup of sugar instead of a full cup, and added one ounce of unsweetened organic protein powder and one tbsp of ground flax seed.</div><div><br></div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-87057637857196737492015-03-31T10:15:00.000-07:002015-03-31T10:25:40.444-07:00A disappointment and a short break<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Several months ago Evan and I booked a trip to Los Angeles, just the two of us, for a friend's wedding reception. We looked forward to this mini-vacation IMMENSELY. A much needed respite from Tampa, and being parents, and the daily grind, you know how it is. My brother and future sister-in-law came down to watch the boys and we were to fly out Friday morning, returning Monday night. Or so I thought.<br />
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Actually, I booked our flights for THURSDAY morning. So when I went to check in Thursday midday, not only did I realize my mistake but the plane had already left. Without us on it. There was no way to fix the error without spending insane amounts of money, so our vacation became a "staycation" and in my sadness I decided that a weekend break from no fast food was more than acceptable.</div>
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Had we gone to LA, I had dreamed for months of all the delicious meals we would have. <a href="http://www.elikioliveoil.com/custes.html" target="_blank">Aliki's</a> (my favorite greek place on earth) <a href="http://www.trustmesushi.com/" target="_blank">Sasabune</a> for Evan, and <a href="http://animalrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Animal</a> and <a href="http://www.lemonadela.com/" target="_blank">Lemonade</a> and <a href="http://www.gjelinatakeaway.com/" target="_blank">GTA</a> and the to die for breakfast burritos that this <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-milan-playa-del-rey" target="_blank">little hole in the wall</a> near our old apartment makes. <a href="http://www.themisfitbar.com/" target="_blank">Happy Hour</a> with my girlfriends from my old job, <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/" target="_blank">In 'N Out</a> eaten over a bonfire on the beach with friends, <a href="http://www.coffeebean.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwi-moBRDL4Omf9d_LndMBEiQAQtFf86ehJfDKmYU9HDkIYOP_kD0YpJuwH_V73hDgMnJtNaoaAjcC8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Coffee Bean</a> in the morning with my best friend and <a href="http://www.sprinkles.com/" target="_blank">Sprinkles</a>, the list goes on.</div>
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It felt like a candle had been blown out when I realized, not only would we not get our trip away, to see all our friends, to be present for our dear friend's celebration, but all this food I had imagined, and quite honestly held up as a reward for all my sacrifices in skipping the junkie food here, was no longer going to happen.</div>
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So I got Starbucks and we ordered pizza and I had PDQ. It was nice. It wasn't great. I wasn't sad when Tuesday rolled around the "ban" was back in place. The food I put in my body, and the bodies of those I love, should be meaningful. I don't miss junkie fast food. I miss LA. And the people there and the life we lived, and all the incredible flavors that enhanced those experiences. Papa Johns and Chick-fil-A, I can leave those for everybody else.</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-11339066403421626542015-03-08T17:27:00.001-07:002015-03-08T17:59:41.779-07:00Planning and prepping and cleaning.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTakA0eiVi_GuTpOP0JpC_vqj1dF9PYrA1WHAEpus-XfMqkancWSBW6zhlWgvolBOt2xsw1obsdKkXMM4XTv0hM9E_4mf6OIyk4zJRwB1h78Y5JZcSwJ_9ZpOr6kTklLJIeFHWiHrpuFc/s640/blogger-image--1710952050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTakA0eiVi_GuTpOP0JpC_vqj1dF9PYrA1WHAEpus-XfMqkancWSBW6zhlWgvolBOt2xsw1obsdKkXMM4XTv0hM9E_4mf6OIyk4zJRwB1h78Y5JZcSwJ_9ZpOr6kTklLJIeFHWiHrpuFc/s640/blogger-image--1710952050.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>One of the many positive, but unintended consequences of this adventure in home cooking has been the new time frame it allows for in the evenings. Dinner time is stressful in a house with young children. Add to that an erratic schedule for my husband and it used to be that 3 out of 5 nights of the week were pure chaos around 6pm.<div><br></div><div>I have been shockingly pleased at how much smoother evenings are in the Patterson house now that takeout/delivery are off the table. We have adopted Taco Tuesday's ( I think I've mentioned this before?) and Fish Friday's, which take such a weight off my shoulders in terms of planning. Every Tuesday we have tacos. Regular old ground beef, lettuce, cheese, hard shell tacos. It is delicious, affordable, easy and everyone is ALWAYS happy about it. Same for Fish Friday. We eat some kind of seafood every Friday night. Pair it with a vegetable and a starch (almost always broccoli, rice or noodles.). Again, so easy to plan, prepare and EVERYONE is happy.</div><div><br></div><div>So the "unintended" part is that the simplicity of these meals has made cleanup easier! With less work to do during the day and before the meal, the post eating cleanup feels much less overwhelming. It's the little things right? Going to bed with a clean kitchen just makes waking up in the morning so much more pleasant 😊</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-88867915275602746522015-03-02T17:55:00.001-08:002015-03-02T17:55:18.877-08:00More random non-takeout meals<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB38YJ81NAsHS5jdVgxLhHIgOcn7Y5NBiMFJB6Q96XWNjYUID62DjSXpjh0GSNGnJ4oeiKm4jHs0pXkar2smE2NUCdkmwFhmdGUOdZTeGh9k99XuDIcHxXkpMgcw4KgXgw7LtfTtAMmjoU/s640/blogger-image--846456800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB38YJ81NAsHS5jdVgxLhHIgOcn7Y5NBiMFJB6Q96XWNjYUID62DjSXpjh0GSNGnJ4oeiKm4jHs0pXkar2smE2NUCdkmwFhmdGUOdZTeGh9k99XuDIcHxXkpMgcw4KgXgw7LtfTtAMmjoU/s640/blogger-image--846456800.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, provolone, bun (obviously.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9a19-nP1azxvQNfCiwlpWNkHApLrNJw_td-oagop363r0N1GrUt1QarpUokFm5TeM6EE6UCSPraX1HfkKgdGi05gokpYZvClTO0WNRsJqc7c3j9PF3ek6qwBzFjYoWFTapPfdjRc3A_K/s640/blogger-image-91525783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9a19-nP1azxvQNfCiwlpWNkHApLrNJw_td-oagop363r0N1GrUt1QarpUokFm5TeM6EE6UCSPraX1HfkKgdGi05gokpYZvClTO0WNRsJqc7c3j9PF3ek6qwBzFjYoWFTapPfdjRc3A_K/s640/blogger-image-91525783.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8_MW1u8wNtm-rRXdp6xjDxB6K9iVtoKltMnOKh9DLLYkfTkRgfYq1HXH78lTDM1mVW0MoT9Wqci_pyIeRL5p91ITxaco7y0nReqQJCcm4xrhNaAVOk8dtuM0XSM7SZDypqON9tKzQQUg/s640/blogger-image--1155700612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8_MW1u8wNtm-rRXdp6xjDxB6K9iVtoKltMnOKh9DLLYkfTkRgfYq1HXH78lTDM1mVW0MoT9Wqci_pyIeRL5p91ITxaco7y0nReqQJCcm4xrhNaAVOk8dtuM0XSM7SZDypqON9tKzQQUg/s640/blogger-image--1155700612.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One million shortbread valentines cookies. Made from scratch. Fresh raspberry purée icing. Nailed it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw7Y6fpWyTSEC11IRMzYg6xqwe8YuDEuou2AdUjuoUVffTw8bIC_8KTUvDgbY6X9gc3F_dWhmHn4ARhkrIcV8Uk3w4puS4mRI4e1bNRewTFr_cVKQ5-sOr9MM6EWOOlbF1-fI3Ffk18BK/s640/blogger-image--1972826021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw7Y6fpWyTSEC11IRMzYg6xqwe8YuDEuou2AdUjuoUVffTw8bIC_8KTUvDgbY6X9gc3F_dWhmHn4ARhkrIcV8Uk3w4puS4mRI4e1bNRewTFr_cVKQ5-sOr9MM6EWOOlbF1-fI3Ffk18BK/s640/blogger-image--1972826021.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Broccoli and cheese soup. Pioneer woman recipe but with chicken stock instead of one million cups of half and half.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmmxyhJp4K4Csh4s83qKbETmfb_OULfevkVsHgFzYLELXGGaZKf04BHaWQdfymm22RpVKbmdNLwgnsOXVxpjo4cGxuNZkRYMYkzLHuYQ1cqmME3dhTTffbD07K-Q_QvTh8A6pHjPnJ0Rz/s640/blogger-image--1381290559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmmxyhJp4K4Csh4s83qKbETmfb_OULfevkVsHgFzYLELXGGaZKf04BHaWQdfymm22RpVKbmdNLwgnsOXVxpjo4cGxuNZkRYMYkzLHuYQ1cqmME3dhTTffbD07K-Q_QvTh8A6pHjPnJ0Rz/s640/blogger-image--1381290559.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Trader Joe's eggplant parm "nuggets"? They're delicious. Threw in some melted provolone and Rao's sauce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu_lUoLPcbezmKO3C5-mTIaf5bDkaKXKD45F7kiSjbiap64MpU6WAcdL8F6kN0tLT8cYx0LO3O8CRc_vsByJLjx2cmqshhrd9Ln4ngBtEUlYNb8Pu2ZgXJFykq1K8AE9ZZczp5Lfags1H/s640/blogger-image--2018834204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu_lUoLPcbezmKO3C5-mTIaf5bDkaKXKD45F7kiSjbiap64MpU6WAcdL8F6kN0tLT8cYx0LO3O8CRc_vsByJLjx2cmqshhrd9Ln4ngBtEUlYNb8Pu2ZgXJFykq1K8AE9ZZczp5Lfags1H/s640/blogger-image--2018834204.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My morning coffee. Not from Starbucks. Tervis I love you.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-4518949407904348512015-03-02T17:47:00.001-08:002015-03-02T17:47:55.550-08:00The going continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzdPIAp6ye2ppkDFN7Bbuej81GJ4E_l6MSVIelyOxFx9Q5_cFIWoYd__sEKgH08Ks2EI1JTQsvG4UAu0k3FB_dWJ1GnglhJbiN69NlDWLOTY3zKTUVY4aJJr8J7_2mGmV0OjM2SVWQ4cL/s640/blogger-image-815375112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzdPIAp6ye2ppkDFN7Bbuej81GJ4E_l6MSVIelyOxFx9Q5_cFIWoYd__sEKgH08Ks2EI1JTQsvG4UAu0k3FB_dWJ1GnglhJbiN69NlDWLOTY3zKTUVY4aJJr8J7_2mGmV0OjM2SVWQ4cL/s640/blogger-image-815375112.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Trader Joe's steak and bean burrito. Some diced tomatoes and avocados.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Several months ago if Evan had a work dinner I would hesitate, and then order pizza or Chinese. And eat way too much, and spend too much money, and not even enjoy it and feel disgusting afterward. This year, Evan has a work dinner and my meals look like this. SO MUCH BETTER. SO much.</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-22121322270727582522015-02-03T18:50:00.001-08:002015-02-03T18:50:31.751-08:00Super bowl deliciousness<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5Pz8tiSXzPXdQfsWq2tjUoXPnuIxiVG6BRBx1dXVjFsjjZp2o9m_cR5JMjuXTa1Gy2jpvwvgBDkUKKlPX9-pmWpxgrGqoU2s9iiAuf8XHBDLJzLaPrlQp7PACrRHtc3fCi6eLI2XqxL4/s640/blogger-image--263384168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5Pz8tiSXzPXdQfsWq2tjUoXPnuIxiVG6BRBx1dXVjFsjjZp2o9m_cR5JMjuXTa1Gy2jpvwvgBDkUKKlPX9-pmWpxgrGqoU2s9iiAuf8XHBDLJzLaPrlQp7PACrRHtc3fCi6eLI2XqxL4/s640/blogger-image--263384168.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Homemade BAKED buffalo boneless wings. Ba-zings, as my friend who gave me the recipe calls them. One month down. 11 more to go!</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-19010641017601562722015-01-23T10:37:00.000-08:002015-01-23T10:37:08.626-08:00can't win 'em all<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous Reed photo. Maybe he was waiting to eat the chicken. Could be...</td></tr>
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The chicken was mediocre at best. I probably left it in the slow cooker for too long. JR's eloquent review was "this chicken is yucky!" Slow cookers elude me. I can never seem to get anything quite right in them.<br />
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Oh well. It fed us and I didn't waste, or spend any extra money so mission accomplished.<br />
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Day 23 in the challenge and I am stretching my will power on a more regular basis now. The excitement of the goal has worn off a bit, and with friends in town this past weekend it was very tempting to just "make an exception." I didn't though! <br />
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It is very nice to settle into the thought of how much money I'm NOT spending every time I want to go get a Starbucks and don't. It makes me feel very righteous and that makes me feel lovely.<br />
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By the time this year is over my head is going to have grown quite a bit if I can manage to go the entire year!</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-24481491186528795442015-01-22T07:51:00.002-08:002015-01-22T07:51:56.578-08:00If you've got it, use it.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4JUSjfjf6ABPHC5gYYi9ELU53UAR2-UNULC2POx_-QgOr0UisLmqvgNOGztNncn0HWQCex69fvuOWSmOaawNrmN9ms_fSku170aWh8D8h72f0gu2bpMfGk-sWE_tWb0szas0ziEzYuJT/s1600/IMG_2965_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4JUSjfjf6ABPHC5gYYi9ELU53UAR2-UNULC2POx_-QgOr0UisLmqvgNOGztNncn0HWQCex69fvuOWSmOaawNrmN9ms_fSku170aWh8D8h72f0gu2bpMfGk-sWE_tWb0szas0ziEzYuJT/s1600/IMG_2965_2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlg-5xNmD9DHF6tqdw34Z3d7F674KCpdkLADXy3HGBwPUNmoFV6A34bED00zdU6T_DfFSjZqUO-MUGNRBDjMIptd5pcgKgLMbAA0F0spoAQ1fR7w5LbbdhBHn3IsgYn8b9Wbu9GeWhsMq/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlg-5xNmD9DHF6tqdw34Z3d7F674KCpdkLADXy3HGBwPUNmoFV6A34bED00zdU6T_DfFSjZqUO-MUGNRBDjMIptd5pcgKgLMbAA0F0spoAQ1fR7w5LbbdhBHn3IsgYn8b9Wbu9GeWhsMq/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I grew up in a boneless, skinless chicken breast kind of household. My husband grew up in Kentucky - home of the Colonel, the extra crispy, the biscuit, you get where I'm going here.<br />
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A compromise which I have only grown to actually enjoy over the past few years - the chicken thigh! They're actually real good - and a happy medium between deep fried and bone dry.<br />
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We had a package of defrosted bone-in, skin ON chicken thighs in the fridge this am that I have been pondering what to do with. The boneless, skinless thighs are much easier for me to handle. Saute, bake, even pan fry. No biggie. But WITH the bone - that's a different beast entirely. It's a home day. Everyone has a cold, there aren't any must do errands, so I threw that chicken (peeled the skin off first) into the crock pot with:<br />
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a large shallot<br />
the juice of two small limes<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
a few generous shakes of:<br />
cumin<br />
oregano<br />
chili powder<br />
paprika<br />
onion powder<br />
garlic powder<br />
cinnamon<br />
<br />
covered those suckers with beef broth (because that's what I have) and turned the heat on low.<br />
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It already smells sooooo good. I'll let you know how it turns out.</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-25945562951143814272015-01-16T21:13:00.001-08:002015-01-16T21:13:18.740-08:00Mall snack restraint! Go me!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXHFzhFGi9_x8xF6T5NpRES2SWL-Gb7txaRujQ1tCXqNJebPPcimI2z4o33g_3aNmGW6bZW1Pg4FPt-9mN4L6a_8qPBBv5vFSrgXCMXjbB2PNXz1yw3wk8TIoUXAuzkRFtFbP8TIEuRZq/s640/blogger-image--30487671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXHFzhFGi9_x8xF6T5NpRES2SWL-Gb7txaRujQ1tCXqNJebPPcimI2z4o33g_3aNmGW6bZW1Pg4FPt-9mN4L6a_8qPBBv5vFSrgXCMXjbB2PNXz1yw3wk8TIoUXAuzkRFtFbP8TIEuRZq/s640/blogger-image--30487671.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A dear friend is in town visiting from LA. We went to the mall this afternoon and the boys played at the adorable indoor play space. What you can't see in this picture is the "Auntie Annie's" very strategically placed right up against the play area. Smells of delicious, chemically flavored, "butter" like pretzels taunting our nostrils. JR and my friend both enjoyed a pretzel after we were done playing, and I, thinking all the while "this isn't reallllly take out...I could probably let this be okay" quickly said no thank you and kept my hands and mouth away from the treats. Self discipline, you are an ever growing muscle!</div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-73151427015346772712015-01-16T21:02:00.001-08:002015-01-16T21:02:55.523-08:00Rice cooker. Thanks for being you.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym_7IWaM1uOllpVbIPvgZa1cAPscN22vnXW5gK-7_TxmMbozsxC4mNrZ_lh6Nx7vjn1qJUZuVix-VJZMpIly5EoKHjcQmdkkUDQ1P8FZCXVB1chHrsBbxrhAbQSJ1PJEN4em8HPAfyt56/s640/blogger-image--1447812501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym_7IWaM1uOllpVbIPvgZa1cAPscN22vnXW5gK-7_TxmMbozsxC4mNrZ_lh6Nx7vjn1qJUZuVix-VJZMpIly5EoKHjcQmdkkUDQ1P8FZCXVB1chHrsBbxrhAbQSJ1PJEN4em8HPAfyt56/s640/blogger-image--1447812501.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We got a new rice cooker! It's a beauty and cooks rice like a dream, and if you don't have one, and eat rice even infrequently, you need to immediately buy one. They come in all shapes and sizes, suitable for all price ranges. Rice is delicious. Rice is CHEAP. Rice cookers effortlessly cook it perfectly. Zojirushi, you make my dinners so much easier!</span></font></div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-20365082018844354062015-01-14T10:02:00.001-08:002015-01-14T10:02:13.309-08:00Waste. And the world as we know it.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu2cKk5ff07GM3X0xh0aKGLIhy2sPvP33ojUaCKOU1KhgZnXNu8dVYrkvgB4SKceJLIWiODVV_GlL7jdms1pU4668VCvd11Up648dARtDV2Hl0f7o9R1TyasdmE5V9HuFSQrsW5z1vOCY/s1600/dirt+heart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheu2cKk5ff07GM3X0xh0aKGLIhy2sPvP33ojUaCKOU1KhgZnXNu8dVYrkvgB4SKceJLIWiODVV_GlL7jdms1pU4668VCvd11Up648dARtDV2Hl0f7o9R1TyasdmE5V9HuFSQrsW5z1vOCY/s1600/dirt+heart.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://suncoastwaldorf.org/admissions/apply" target="_blank">Dirt Heart</a><br />(Total coincidence that photo goes perfectly with my post)</td></tr>
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I just returned from my first Mommy and Me class at a local Waldorf school with Reedy. It was so hippie de schmippie and lovely. We made lunch together. We ate brown rice with nutritional yeast and avocado and had "adults' tea" and "children's tea." Then afterwards, we scraped all the leftovers into a compost tan, washed the dishes by hand, and felt good about the world.<br />
<br />
Back home now, I've pulled out leftover lasagna to reheat for lunch (made at home on Monday of course, woo hoo, go me) and realized it was time to throw out old leftovers (also homemade) that had been sitting in the fridge for at least a week. Not so woo hoo me. So much waste. Easily 3 cups of cooked pasta, lightly sauced with Raos - which is $$$$$. And a serving and a half of Chicken Basque that I made to freeze, but also ate one night for dinner and had leftovers that never got finished. sigh. So much waste. I HATE wasting. I hate wasting of all varieties. But food - which could *relatively* easily be composted, put back into the earth, and make the soil and our lives, BETTER, it kills me to waste that. To dump it into the trash, literally throwing money away.<br />
<br />
One of my long term goals is to compost. One of my hopes is that this challenge results in far lest waste overall. I am already eliminating all the additional packaging that comes with any ordered food. No paper, no plastic, just fresh ingredients, cooked and served - with the exception of freezer bags of course, but that's still much less "wasted" material than individually packaged to-go everything.<br />
<br />
Do you think about waste? And how terrible it is secretly, silently, but not slowly, making our planet? I actually try not to think about. It makes me horribly depressed because I know I contribute to the problem just by being alive, I know I <i>could</i> do better, and there are only so many hours in the day, which is how we got to this place anyway. <br />
<br />
Here are some depressing links if you feel like going down a rabbit hole of how terrible human beings are to our beautiful, exquisite planet. I warned you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/magazine/its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-and-he-feels-fine.html?_r=0" target="_blank">It's the End of the World as We Know It...and He Feels Fine</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.midwayfilm.com/" target="_blank">A movie about all the birds dying from eating plastic on this beautiful remote island</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://storyofstuff.org/" target="_blank">The Story of Stuff</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.epa.gov/composting/benefits.htm" target="_blank">Composting - you should do it. I should too...</a></div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-82234203854831932422015-01-13T08:39:00.003-08:002015-01-13T10:20:59.200-08:00A love song about buffalo chicken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you ever had one of these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9L2dPU_wL-y4lPXI4nVQgdYh6ByE4dCoegVNgEg4x6JfCepHkhkmWGUSJCk2B7OMaR6PcQzv5rz0cW5oW8ADnm16XuvekDgIDB7G2U8riahvYRXQpo42M4ftqkcyLaAbeqlWzALhg9Yt/s1600/Sandwich-SpicyBuffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9L2dPU_wL-y4lPXI4nVQgdYh6ByE4dCoegVNgEg4x6JfCepHkhkmWGUSJCk2B7OMaR6PcQzv5rz0cW5oW8ADnm16XuvekDgIDB7G2U8riahvYRXQpo42M4ftqkcyLaAbeqlWzALhg9Yt/s1600/Sandwich-SpicyBuffalo.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatpdq.com/menu" target="_blank">PDQ Buffalo Blue Cheese Sandwich</a></td></tr>
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<br />
I have. Many. More than is appropriate to admit. Because, they delicious. I don't know when I even started liking buffalo" chicken. I'm not a wings person. Just have no use for them. But a "boneless" buffalo wing can be pretty darn tasty. And this sandwich is the perfect ration of chicken, to bun, to crispy, crunchy lettuce, with a sprinkling of blue cheese both on the chicken and mixed in the sauce. Perfection. I could eat one a day. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
But yeah, can't (and SHOULDN'T anyway) do that this year! So I found these buffalo blue cheese chicken sausages that are a shockingly decent replacement. I have spent a lot years reading about "swaps" as diets are oft to recommend and usually they are pathetic and would never in any way leave the person who is "swapping" not still hankering for what they really wanted in the first place. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Imagine my surprise when these sausages actually did the trick! Evan grills them, I throw one on a bun, with or without crispy lettuce (better with, but what the fridge holds, the fridge holds) and voila! A delicious, non-fast food buffalo blue treat!!! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmL603k2q2t4-yWcuAaPZELAPo9CbJzVDL1tNhtyzqeE0BWyXX2xD060Msgo2jtULASFumypNmlzvqKq2zXXcvW9xHv-ZGyntcKrDlQ_Gcv1UZqcTJiKY4P6RFi40DMmb6R13J2EmQ5Ti/s1600/buffalo-style-with-blue-cheese.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmL603k2q2t4-yWcuAaPZELAPo9CbJzVDL1tNhtyzqeE0BWyXX2xD060Msgo2jtULASFumypNmlzvqKq2zXXcvW9xHv-ZGyntcKrDlQ_Gcv1UZqcTJiKY4P6RFi40DMmb6R13J2EmQ5Ti/s1600/buffalo-style-with-blue-cheese.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bilinski.com/products/natural-sausage/" target="_blank">Bilinski's Buffalo - Style Chicken Sausage</a></td></tr>
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<div>
These are the only kind I recommend. I've tried several brands of the same "flavor" and for whatever reason these are dynamite and the rest are "meh" at best.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Day 13. Still going strong!</div>
</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-35366202957555432122015-01-08T09:02:00.000-08:002015-01-08T09:02:06.764-08:00The first (of many) day of weakness. sigh.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning I could not get my coffee to taste right. To the extent that this train of thought took place in my head:<br />
<br />
"you know, drinking cold, reheated coffee just isn't the way to go. I should probably start using the french press every morning. Maybe even get one of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chemex-6-Cup-Classic-Series-Coffee/dp/B0000YWF5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420736128&sr=8-1&keywords=chemex" target="_blank">chemex </a>things Lisa has. I just don't think I can put up with this old, reheated coffee anymore. That's the real problem here."<br />
<br />
Because spending MORE time on myself in the morning is certainly a viable option. Um, no. We're late to school everyday as it is.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I was hungry, there wasn't time to make a real breakfast, the pre-made pancakes from the freezer were completely gone by yesterday morning, and I was TIRED.<br />
<br />
Tired + driving = no good. And my go to, in situations like this, is something yummy to hold my alertness.<br />
<br />
I refrained though. Suffered through my weird tasting homemade coffee, dropped off JR, got home, and made 4 ham, egg, and cheese english muffins. Ate one, it was insanely delicious because breakfast always is, and stuck the other 3 in the freezer. So not only did I use up the English muffins in the fridge that "expired" (as if I stick closely to those dates) today, but I made four meals without spending an extra penny AND powered through my first temptation to pick up food on the go.<br />
<br />
Yup. Made it one full week on full steam. Only 51 more to go...</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-61233886740703345222015-01-07T07:56:00.001-08:002015-01-07T07:56:52.046-08:00This guy.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwXU2KN2JEFPY5PEGswgWysUV_1B79m4AJv2kyfVHc4ECnSoCu5yrei66Y9SZo8_2DbMCKkI6EPHAytCv4mt6n8OuOA4HQ5K_BlJEoMLuHI0B2C-qRpZ3b6rH8ifI5UBPllmBrsH16k5Z/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwXU2KN2JEFPY5PEGswgWysUV_1B79m4AJv2kyfVHc4ECnSoCu5yrei66Y9SZo8_2DbMCKkI6EPHAytCv4mt6n8OuOA4HQ5K_BlJEoMLuHI0B2C-qRpZ3b6rH8ifI5UBPllmBrsH16k5Z/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGCMllsOpbnyTnxQUn_lyFQyg2fj-Xn2abVTnBfxD51xRvmxB7g9WWYeO5PfjlLySfYcCRzv88iYsQW1w75q59oG_Z5-kNreV1D4h2AOVWlQAtvlZWk1AVUU1xuPW9NimdQp73aT7OxDN/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGCMllsOpbnyTnxQUn_lyFQyg2fj-Xn2abVTnBfxD51xRvmxB7g9WWYeO5PfjlLySfYcCRzv88iYsQW1w75q59oG_Z5-kNreV1D4h2AOVWlQAtvlZWk1AVUU1xuPW9NimdQp73aT7OxDN/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
And getting to be home with him. Wowsers it is awesome. Sticking to a budget seems SO worth it when it gives me the freedom to be home and not stress about not working. He is only going to be this small for a very small period of time. Bestill my heart baby Reed. I just adore you.</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-19154423239983589042015-01-06T09:17:00.002-08:002015-01-06T09:17:55.038-08:00Motherhood...and meal planning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have ALWAYS loved food. Which naturally lead me to mostly enjoy cooking. When I met my husband, we spent countless meals grocery shopping, prepping, and creating recipes together. Usually rather expensive, decadent recipes.<br />
<br />
About a week after my first baby was born, my mother was staying with us for two weeks to help, and I remember so vividly this feeling of overwhelming panic when this very sentence appeared in my mind. "I have to make dinner for this child. Every day. For at least the next EIGHTEEN YEARS."<br />
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Even now, it still sends a bubble of anxiety into my stomach, remembering how daunting and impossible that task seemed. Cooking, for pleasure, is so enjoyable. Cooking out of necessity - it's down right exhausting.<br />
<br />
This is clearly one of the reasons why places like KFC and Pizza Hut and the countless other "bring home dinner in a pinch" establishments have flourished like wild fire over the past decade. Who on earth truly wants to plan, shop for, prepare, AND clean up after a home cooked meal every. single. day. ????<br />
<br />
No one is the answer. Not even the most "devoted" of care givers wouldn't love a day off, or seven, every now and then.<br />
<br />
But - all that being said. Living in Tampa, the availability of "to go" foods is pretty pathetic. It's all terribly unhealthy, not very tasty, and really not all that inexpensive either.<br />
<br />
When we first moved here I imagined I would actually lose weight just from not wanting to eat out nearly as much as we did in LA where every cuisine imaginable was at our fingertips and DELICIOUS. Yet, habits are habits and I quickly found myself eating the readily available food just out of convenience because cooking is tiring and hard.<br />
<br />
Today is day 6 of this challenge and I am so thrilled to report that so far it has literally been a delight. I almost feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders - that the "option" to pick up dinner or order delivery is just gone. So I have no choice but to meal plan and cook and that's that. I think back to my own childhood, where growing up in a town with no streetlights, and no sidewalks, there were CERTAINLY no delivery options nearby. My mother was also an incredible budgeter - and take out was budgeted as needed, and never more. She HAD to cook. So she planned, and she prepped, and there was a healthy, family dinner on our table literally every night. It was just that simple. She had to do it, or we wouldn't eat.<br />
<br />
Taking away the "option" of fast food has, in these six short days, actually felt very freeing. I HAVE to make myself a cup of coffee before I drive JR to school in the morning because stopping at Starbucks isn't available to me. I HAVE to know what I'm having for lunch because grabbing something quick while I'm running errands can't be done. It's like when you tell a child their choice is one cookie, or no cookies. Suddenly, not having 5 cookies doesn't seem so bad because at least you can have one. <br />
<br />
I guess it's what some might refer to as "simplifying" your life. So far, I'm a big fan.</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-22508106991768856622015-01-04T13:26:00.000-08:002015-01-04T13:27:18.900-08:00Some of the food so far...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the left: ground beef with taco spices and diced onions, Chicken Chili, recipe from Lemonade Cookbook</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey Sloppy Joe's, recipe from Dinner: A Love Story Playbook</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg448t9qEU_LrX6X-AUAaHVyYk9Pdy5OE8g1_TBsIiQlJ3FiK00d2b-pIluUgxhS2z-oaJ9uM1p6JOKA-oxeahtaS7373ZCAHnU0_BcJAnp_LGREcNJ7ZVktlJSOV2ilnJoXzTgJuQoaCRm/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg448t9qEU_LrX6X-AUAaHVyYk9Pdy5OE8g1_TBsIiQlJ3FiK00d2b-pIluUgxhS2z-oaJ9uM1p6JOKA-oxeahtaS7373ZCAHnU0_BcJAnp_LGREcNJ7ZVktlJSOV2ilnJoXzTgJuQoaCRm/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't remembered if I learned this trick from Pioneer Woman, but it is the BEST way to freeze food for easy and quick thaw/reheating. Plus takes up so much less space!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygd2gnSdvnQh_DNV-YIY5WKw5uY0mISL9Tf4r2JvZ60qWy_K53yD7LACAzw3TZabUyO6M8SF_tVZFwQZIKCvFVvA_23IDybg6ZX6B2ruX4kl06fd5iaXGimEQF9jpHK6zf6NCwDn1qQEL/s1600/IMG_2913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygd2gnSdvnQh_DNV-YIY5WKw5uY0mISL9Tf4r2JvZ60qWy_K53yD7LACAzw3TZabUyO6M8SF_tVZFwQZIKCvFVvA_23IDybg6ZX6B2ruX4kl06fd5iaXGimEQF9jpHK6zf6NCwDn1qQEL/s1600/IMG_2913.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ham and Cheese "hotpockets" dough made from scratch, in the food processor! Way easier than I thought it would be.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpxahaNK_76lUYWes1Fb1Sc_5c1PRO1-thdEJnJviI45Xu2h8tav6YjMUpU-xgb9cYaQuYrXflrxfQuSMhLxsP-W14WQ8eje-cLKiVKOjuuIHrX5MSYUv__HJsRPxM6XSCiE-X-O4UrwY/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpxahaNK_76lUYWes1Fb1Sc_5c1PRO1-thdEJnJviI45Xu2h8tav6YjMUpU-xgb9cYaQuYrXflrxfQuSMhLxsP-W14WQ8eje-cLKiVKOjuuIHrX5MSYUv__HJsRPxM6XSCiE-X-O4UrwY/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trader Joe's pumpkin pancakes. I made the entire box, saran wrapped them in stacks of four and froze them. These things are seriously delicious.</td></tr>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-91242317458997016232015-01-03T17:28:00.002-08:002015-01-03T17:28:38.474-08:00A few thoughts on Starbucks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I posted this challenge on my facebook page, an old friend made the remark "you lost me at Starbucks." My husband was surprised when I mentioned it was included. <br />
<br />
Honestly, I feel like Starbucks is one of the THE biggest weaknesses I have! It's SO expensive (wait until you see my breakdown) and so caloric. Yes, not if you only get a black coffee every once in awhile. That is not what I do, ever. I go in for a latte, and leave with at least two edibles. Usually spending at least $10. For not even a "meal!"<br />
<br />
So let's do some number crunching.<br />
<br />
The relatively fancy, organic, DELICIOUS coffee that I buy at Whole Foods or Fresh Market or the like is 9.99/lb. This is not folgers crystals here folks, this is the good stuff. Probably higher quality than what Starbucks serves. At least comparable.<br />
<br />
So one pound of coffee easily makes at LEAST 10 pots. That's 99 cents per pot. One pot is easily 10 cups of coffee. <u>That's 9.9 cents per cup.</u><br />
<br />
I am a coffee with cream drinker.<br />
<br />
A pint of organic cream is on average, $3.50. I probably use 3-4 tbsps of cream per cup of coffee. There are 32 tbsps in a pint. That is approximately 11 cents per tablespoon.<br />
<br />
So, a very generous pour of coffee with cream, for me, at home, costs about 54 cents. FIFTY FOUR CENTS!!!!<br />
<br />
Now, sometimes I use willpower and order a venti coffee with cream. That's probably $3.00<br />
<br />
Most of the time, I get a venti iced caramel macchiato, add whipped cream. Which is around $6.00, and GOD knows how many calories. I won't even bother looking it up. It's way too many.<br />
<br />
Not too mention the sausage or bacon breakfast sandwich, and maybe a chocolate croissant for good measure.<br />
<br />
So let's say I go to Starbucks once a week (at least!.) That's conservatively $40/month. Plus an ungodly amount of calories.<br />
<br />
Versus my equally as delicious, instantly available 54 cent coffee that I can have guilt free every morning. <br />
<br />
So, I can go to Starbucks once a week for a month for a "breakfast" and coffee, and spend $40. While coffee, at home, every single day, costs me about $16 for the entire month.<br />
<br />
Obviously, I will be saving a LOT of money this year not having Starbucks available to me as a back up. (and the calories, let's not forget about those.)<br />
<br />
Day 3, done. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-71504667958213652422015-01-02T12:21:00.001-08:002015-01-02T12:21:39.913-08:00The New York Times is on my side...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My awesome soon to be sister-in-law just sent me this article.<br />
<br />
It's simple common sense, yet so hard to actually follow through with these days. When I think about the amount of money and number of calories that I waste grabbing a "quick bite" outside of my house, the tally is embarrassing, let's just leave it at that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/22/upshot/what-2000-calories-looks-like.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0" target="_blank">What 2,000 calories looks like</a></div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-46743316869536488842015-01-01T17:31:00.001-08:002015-01-01T18:47:13.043-08:00And....here I go!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Day one. bam. fin. el dunno. <br />
<br />
So the goal of this whole venture is multi-fold. Waste less money. Eat less junk. Be more thoughtful about my/our food choices. And in order to not give into the temptation to order a pizza when the day has been lonnnng and the boys have been craaaazy and Evan is home laaaate, I know I will need to be supremely prepared. Which is going to mean LOTS of pre-made meals that we all love, and are quick and effortless.<br />
<br />
So in my freezer thus far:<br />
<br />
5 portions ( 1 portion = enough for a meal for all 4 of us) of chicken chili<br />
4 portions of turkey sloppy joe's<br />
2 portions of taco beef<br />
6 adult size ham & cheese "hot pockets" (home made, obviously)<br />
4 kid size ham & cheese "hot pockets"<br />
2 meatloaves<br />
<br />
Ridiculous. I could give myself an award for all that cooking. From ONE shopping trip. And I still have a giant stash of chicken and one more recipe to make and freeze tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Pretty psyched about this challenge. Only 364 days to go!</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660247510252427906.post-59906571667338042982014-12-31T19:26:00.000-08:002014-12-31T20:14:49.229-08:00Last day before the challenge begins!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I went hog wild on my last day. McDonald's for breakfast, Chili's for dinner. All topped off with a chocolate milk shake for Baskin Robbins. Yuuuh -ummm. Good enough to last me an entire year....that's the plan!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486917503409203003noreply@blogger.com0