Long time no post!

So, I thought about resurrecting this thing again. I love posting about food and life, and for some reason, I really love this blog, so I figure I'll give it another go around. It's been 6 months since my last post, and I'm cooking new and different things, so it'll be fun to get back in it. Especially since I'm now eating a whole new diet, so having a record of recipes I love will help. Plus, my phone now takes and sends pictures! Not great pictures, but pictures nonetheless.

I guess the real reason why I brought this blog up was I was looking through old facebook stuff and saw a picture I took, and the caption was "first day being 26." And I remember taking the picture so vividly. I had walked out of Latin class (uuugh Latin, you were the bain of my existence!) and had about an hour to kill before I was meeting up with my mom in Alexandria. We were going to see Julie and Julia and have dinner beforehand. The night before Jill came over and we watched Kenny vs Spenny episodes and Andrew bought me a beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings (that to this day I've never taken out, I love them so much). It was a fantastic birthday, and not because of what I received, but I was with people that I love.

This birthday, one year later, is quite different. This past year has been a whirlwind and I can say that when I took that picture a year ago, I never thought I'd be where I am now. I graduated from Maryland in January. I thought I would have no problems finding a job, and was even off to a good start with some promising interviews, but interview after interview turned up nothing. I seemed to always be in second place. From about March onward, I feel back into probably the worst depression I'd had in a while. I knew I was depressed then, but now looking at myself then, I don't think I could have realized how bad it was. I neglected my health, put on too much weight, was irrational/emotion and strained relationships.

I finally did get a job in May but it was a crazy one. A good friend of mine asked me to work with her until I figured things out doing customer service for an electronic cigarette company in Baltimore. It was by far the most trying job I've had. The people I worked with though, were amazing. It's the only job I've had where my coworkers yelled at me all day, then at the end hugged me and asked me to have dinner with them. Different cultures =) I'm back in DC now though, working my same on and off again job, but it's something to tie me over until I either go permanent, go back to school or find a different job.

This birthday is also different than the past several, because someone that I've spent the last few birthdays with someone who will not be present in this one. In May, my world at that time came to a sudden stop as the person that was my best friend and my life broke up with me. Different reasons were given (and sometimes changed) for the cause of the break up, but in the end, and at least today, it seems like it really was for the best. I hope anyway. I can see now that we lost our own identity, and no couple survives unless they can be themselves. It's still hard to accept sometimes that it's really done and over. The recovery has been bumpy but the old saying of "time heals all wounds" really is true as each day gets better. I still care deeply for him and it's taken me a while to reach this point, but I sincerely hope he's doing exactly what is good for him and he's happy. I did realize through this process is that I really do have amazing friends. Friends that listen to me cry about the same things over and over, friends that hang out with me at the drop of a hat and friends that would literally do anything for me. I can confidently say that I'm not only lucky to have the people in my life that are there, but I really am lucky because these people do love me.

My 26 was an intense year to say the least. But its end brings a promising and hopeful start for 27. I do live at home with my parents, and although they agree that this is not a living situation that either of us want to last forever, they are very kind for allowing me to live there until I get back on my feet. I'm now vegan and have been for 3 weeks now, and have never felt better. I'm not even trying and I'm losing weight. And for the first time in weeks, I'm.....happy. Like, not just in a good mood, but people have commented that they can see that I'm happy. I feel hopeful. I'm painting more and focusing on myself and having fun. I can see how much I've grown up in my face from my last picture but it's okay. I've come a long way. So even though I've already cried today (I'M SO CLOSE TO 30 NOW!), I can honestly say that I look forward to what 27 brings. I think it's going to be a great year of new experiences, new friends and a new me. So, happy birthday to me!

Brownies, the low fat version

So, I had a hankering for brownies but don't want to blow my ww diet. I also had no eggs and started looking for substitutions. Pureed black beans? I had no beans. Bananas? I had no bananas. I searched and searched and remembered Julie talking about putting yogurt in cake mix in place of the oil and eggs so yogurt it was. I opened and dumped out the brownie mix, then looked through the fridge and only had strawberry yogurt. So I put that in there. Oil? No oil, but not wanting to throw it away I used applesauce.

I made the most craptastic, heavy, chewy brownies that had an after taste of strawberries.

Next time I'll just go to the store for eggs and oil and have regular brownies.

This is what happens when you don't want to get pantsed...

So this weekend I had Jill, Julie and Lizzie over. Lizzie left early but Julie and Jill stayed. About 1am Andrew decided to go to sleep. Julie then decided that potato cakes were an awesome idea, then this is what happened:

Let me explain. Earlier in the night Jill pantsed me. If you don't know what pantsing is, it's the act of pulling down one's pants exposing your hiney for all to see. She then did it to Julie when Lizzie gave her a piggy back ride (I dropped her earlier)
So then I was after Jill. She begged and pleaded for me not to pants her. "Please please please Susan, please don't do it! I don't want to show my butt!" So I didn't and you know what she did? She poured a cup of water on me. Since Julie and I had both been pantsed by her, we decided to gang up which really just resulted in me throwing a pitcher of water on her and Andrew. He was innocent and unaware this whole time. Cold and wet he went to bed when I started potato cakes. Then flour started being flung because water was thrown. Then potatoes were thrown because of flour. Jill aimed a bottle of mustard on me and I returned the favor with ketchup. It was disgusting and Julie cleaned my kitchen the next morning while I scrubbed the floor and carpet. Here are the photos that captured the event:

They look innocent and sweet but they aren't

Beautiful

Bulls-eye

She likes it

So the last couple of pictures are just too gross or not flattering. One I am covered in wet potatoes and ketchup that's clumped over my eye. Remember when Jack Black from Shallow Hal pretended to have pink eye to avoid seeing Rosemary so he gunked up vaseline over his eye? That's what it looked like.

Jill's Dinner

So I know I said I'd have pictures. I promised even. You know what though, I stink at taking pictures and I'm even worse when it comes to uploading them. When my phone could send pictures, I did it all this time but now I have this crappy phone that doesn't send or receive pics, so I don't often do it.

I will however share the wonderfullness that is Jill's Dinner. This dinner started off as a "i think this is what I used to put into the burrito casserole..." then I just sorta played with it from there. I also put different things in it all the time. Sometimes I use turkey meat. Sometimes it's two different peppers. Other times I make my own concoction of seasonings. Point is, I've never disappointed with this dinner. I cooked it once for my bff and she loved it so much, and requested it over and over that I named it after her. It really is that easy and yummy, so onto the recipe!

Filling:
1lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
3-4 garlic cloves (pending the size and love of garlic) minced
1 red or green pepper (which ever is on sale)
1 can refried beans
salt, pepper, sprinkling cayenne
1/2 packet taco seasoning

Sauce:
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 packet taco seasoning

Extras:
8 soft medium sized taco shells (i think they are fajita size-NOT soft taco or burrito size)
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar or mexican blend cheese

Saute the onion, pepper and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add ground beef until brown, cooking it slowly (for some reason it tastes better this way). Add seasonings to taste, turn off heat and add the refried beans and blend well.

In a separate bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients until well mixed. Add more salsa or sour cream as you see fit. Basically, if it doesn't taste good or is too thick, add those two accordingly.

Heat the soft shells in the microwave until they are soft. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with a little sauce to keep the burrito things from sticking. Fill each with the mean filling, fold like a burrito then place seam side down in the pan. You should be able to fit 6 vertically and 2 horizontally. Cover the burrito things with the sauce, cover with cheese, cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 min, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove, let sit for 5 min or so. Add optional chopped cilantro for color.

Serve with either salsa, sour cream, both or none.

And enjoy.

And be prepared to make best friends.

coming this weekend..

So I haven't seen Jill in FOREVER so this weekend I have invited her over. Julie too. I was pondering what to make for dinner and Andrew sheepishly asked me "isn't Jill coming over?" I said yes and he responded"...doesn't this mean we get Jill's Dinner?"

Yes!

He LOVES LOVES LOVES this dinner. It's practically the only casserole thing I can get him to eat. Jill loves loves loves LOVES this dinner, which is why it's named after her. I make it many times she comes over for dinner. It's a whole made-up thing I started cooking when I couldn't remember the recipe for a tex-mex dish. So, all of you out there keep an eye out, this weekend Jill's Dinner will grace the likes of this blog. With pictures. And you will want to recreate this dish.

I should trademark it.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread

So I was in the mood for bread making this evening and the only bread flour I had on hand was my King Arthur Whole Wheat flour, so I felt like my options were limited. I went through some blogs and found a recipe I wanted to try from fake ginger and went ahead with my wheat flour. I decided on cinnamon wheat bread, hoping for the best but honestly expecting the worst.

You know what though? It was pretty fantastic. Like, more than fantastic, it was down right great. Here are the pictures I took right after removing it from the pan:Isn't that a beautiful loaf? I thought so. I was so impressed with it. Notice my awesome salt dish that is actually a small Halloween candy dish. I wanted to be like the food network people with their salt cups instead of using a shaker.


This. This was great. The bread was super moist and the cinnamon and sugar was melty and oh so good. I should have waited a few more minutes to cut the loaf, but you get the idea. It was good. We have already eaten about half the loaf.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread
1 packet active rise yeast
2tbs warm water
1/2 c warm milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tbs soften butter
2tbs sugar
2.5 c whole wheat flour plus 1 or 2 tbs more

Filling
2 tbs melted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1tbs cinnamon

Prep your yeast in the warm water. Mix all wet ingredients, the butter, then add the yeast, then in half cup increments add the flour. After 2.5 cups is added, add the salt. Knead the bread for 5 min with your mixer adding just enough flour, if needed, so the dough separates from the bowl. I imagine this process is a little longer if kneading by hand.

Once your dough is kneaded, remove from the bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. It will be sticky until you sprinkle flour all over it. Roll it out until it's roughly the size of a piece of paper, then brush with the butter and cover with the brown sugar mixture. Roll it up tightly and pinch the ends slightly, then place seam side down in a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise an hour or so in a warm place so it doubles in size. I turn my oven on so it's warm. Once it's risen, put in 350 degree oven for 25 min. If it's not yet golden on top, the recipe calls for you to cover with aluminum foil for an additional 5-10min. Remove and cool on rack.

Then enjoy!

I'm back!

So, now that I'm still unemployed (hopefully not too much longer) and have internet, I have been cooking more. I made this pretty wonderful lemon pasta dish that I want to share and is taken from pioneer woman. I tweaked it only mildly.

1lb of thin spaghetti
2-3 lemons (one lemon zested)
parsley
2c sour cream (can use light)
4tbs margarine or butter
2tbs olive oil
4 garlic cloves
parmesan cheese

Boil and drain the pasta until you reach desired consistency. Run cool water over it until it's cold. In a skillet over LOW!!! heat, melt butter and add olive oil. Crush and dice garlic cloves and add to oil. Cook 1-2 min, add lemon juice of one lemon, turn heat off then add sour cream and mix well. Add salt to taste and the lemon zest and stir.

From here you could have a cold pasta by mixing the pasta, sour cream sauce then adding more lemon juice and parsley and put it in the fridge. What's nice for when it's cold is mix the pasta and sour cream, add half the bag of parmesan, cover with foil and bake for 15-20 min. Take it out, add the rest of the cheese, the lemon juice and chopped parsley , mix and serve.

It's so good. I ate it for dinner, lunch the next day, then snacked on it in between meals too. I highly, highly recommend.

ALSO NEWSFLASH: I fell back in love with bread making. I made whole wheat bread and it was oh so good. Once I find my stupid camera cord, I'll post pictures again.