Rewind to St. Patrick's Day

I am blogging on a Friday morning today because I have a 4 day weekend!  

No special reason, just one of those perks of being a teacher :-)

Yesterday we had a PD day (staff meeting, planning time).  I fueled for my day with a bowl of oats:

I went out for lunch with colleagues and got a Chinese meal for one.  It was way too much food, so I didn't finish it.  I didn't feel so great after - I won't be ordering this again:

The hubby and I decided we wanted a low key St. Patrick's evening, so we went to our favourite restaurant, 13th Ave. Coffee House (which our friends just became the owners of!!!).  

In the Leprechaun spirit I ordered a Lucky Bowl and Guinness:

Instead of going to bed at a reasonable time, I decided to make some magic happen in the kitchen until about 1:30 a.m..  We are having another couple over for dinner tonight, so I did some prep work last night.  I find cooking so relaxing and therapeutic.  It was fun!

This morning I tried a smoothie with this vegan smoothie mix.  I expected this to taste like chocolate, because that is what flavour it is, however all I could taste was berries, and I didn't like it at all.  I wish that there was a chocolate flavour in this brand that did not have berries in it.  

Have you ever tried Vega powder?

What is the greatest perk of your job?  

What would you do with a 4 day weekend right about now?

The greatest perk of my job is that I only work 200 days a year ...

I am going to spend this long weekend doing homework and hanging out with the hubby and our friends/ family.  We have a fondue dinner tomorrow night!

Breakfasts

For those who asked ...

This cereal is pretty good!  I think I could make it myself (it is just a combination of hemp seeds, chia seeds, and dried fruit basically), so I don't know if I will spend an arm and a leg on it again.  But I am definitely enjoying it.  Like I said in my last post, it was one of the inventions from the show "The Dragon's Den", although I have never, ever seen an episode of this show, I did see a clip about the cereal on a different show.

Speaking of breakfasts ... the hubby made vegan pancakes this morning. 

I LOVE these pancakes.

Dinner was very "breakfasty" too.  I had half a bagel topped with a veggie omelet and cheese.

I also finished the final 1/3 of my small caramel sundae from Sunday evening and last night 

(I seriously cannot finish an entire small sundae in one sitting - it took me 3 tries to finish this guy!!):

Before bed I am going to have the same thing I have had for the past few nights - a grapefruit the size of my head.  I could eat a grapefruit everyday, and some weeks I do.

 

What fruit do you/ could you eat everyday?

What foods do you have trouble finishing?  

I am never able to finish ice-cream, and I don't know why!

500th Post

This is my 500th post since I started this blog 585 days ago.

There is only one thing to say to that ...

Above is some cereal that I bought at my local health food store.  It was a winning invention on the Canadian show "Dragon's Den" (similar to the American "Shark Tank").  

I remember the day that I decided to start this blog, but I never knew at the time that it would lead me to San Fransisco, allow me to meet so many wonderful people (both in person and not), and be the most satisfying hobby I have ever had.

I love blogging and am looking forward to my next 500 posts.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.  I appreciate each and every one of my wonderful readers :-)

What is your hobby?  How long have you been doing it?

'Bread and Butter' and Tortilla Soup

This video just might make your day :-)

It is only 1:55.  Watch it, and you can thank me later.
Watch the WHOLE thing.  It is worth it.

It just might make you smile, or at the very least, poop your pants.

This evening I made some tortilla soup with loads of toppings.  

If you want to know the way to my heart, it is Mexican food, toppings of any kind ... and that lead singer from the video above ;-) Hehe.

Tortilla Soup

1 chopped onion

2 T olive oil

1 chopped red pepper

4 minced garlic cloves

1.5 tsp cumin

pinch cayenne

1/2 chipotle pepper in adobe sauce (1/2 a pepper, NOT half a can)

zest from 1 lime

1 small can chopped green chilies

1-2 chopped tomatoes

2 chicken breasts (cooked and shredded) - or you could use black beans for a veg. soup

4 cups chicken or veggie broth 

1/2 cup sour cream

Toppings:

• Sour cream
• Avocado
• 1 million bunches of cilantro
• Fresh lime
• Cheese
• Tortilla strips (bake 1 tortilla for about 10 minutes, then break up)

Directions:

Heat oil.  Add onion and red pepper.  Cook for a few minutes until soft.  Add garlic and spices and stir for 30 seconds.  Add everything else except the sour cream.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes.  Add sour cream and stir in before serving.  Throw a whole bunch of toppings on and enjoy!

All stirred up and ready to be devoured ...

After eating this glorious dinner, I avoided doing report cards by making chocolate chip cookies ...

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

What do you have planned for the weekend?  

Do you like tortilla soup?  What topping would you use the most of?

I think we all know I would push small children out of the way for the cilantro.

Chicken with a White Wine Cream Sauce

I haven't perfected the recipe yet ... but once I do, you better believe I will share it!

This one was pretty good (I used white wine, cream, chicken broth, bacon, garlic, onions, tomato, avocado, salt, pepper, thyme and parsley).  The hubby complimented the dinner a bunch of times, but I still wasn't happy with it.  It needed more flavour.  

Are you overly critical of the things you cook/bake? 

 Do you tend to like things that other people cook more than things you cook?

I don't think I am overly critical, but when something is GREAT, I know.  When it is not, I want to fix it.

I am still searching for a few perfect recipes, including the perfect brownies, the perfect chocolate cake, and the perfect mac and cheese.  If you think you have these recipes, please share!

Also, some friends of mine are looking for a gluten-free, vegan cinnamon bun recipe.  If you have one, or know where to find one, I would love the link.

Cookie Dough Dip

When Jessica posted a recipe for Cookie Dough Dip, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had no choice but to make it.  

The time has come my friends ...

I present you with 3 different cookie dough dips:

Snicker Doodle

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Double Chocolate

I will be taking these dips to share with my colleagues tomorrow.  I am going to serve them with strawberries and Teddy Grahams.  

Cookie Dough Dips

makes about 3 cups

(Adapted Slightly from How Sweet Eats)

1 cup butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 8-ounce block of cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

3 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add brown sugar and whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Set aside to cool, and whisk in vanilla.  Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar for 60 seconds. With mixer on low speed, add in brown sugar and butter mixture. Mix until combined. 

Separate the mixture into 3 dishes and add in any combination of the following (to taste)

• Cinnamon (about 1 T for a third of the mixture will make snicker doodle/cinnamon bun tasting dip)
• PB
• Chocolate chips
• Cocoa
• Coconut
• Etc. Etc.

Dip the following into the dips: fruit, Teddy Grahams, animal crackers, fingers, etc..

Last night after my tasty coq au vin dinner (I used white wine because that was what was open in the fridge from a risotto recipe), I enjoyed some fruit for dessert.

I then stayed up until midnight so that I could register for classes at the exact millisecond that the clock turned over from 11:59 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. (00:00).  Registration is so competitive for the Masters program that I am in, that one must register in this exact minuscule time frame or risk not getting in to one's required courses.

Luckily I got in to the classes that I need, although I was exhausted and trying to pry my eyes open.  I will no longer have to register for classes for my program, as I have registered for the final 4 classes in my program (2 in spring/summer and 2 in fall). 

This morning called for some extra caffeine.  I made mocha oats with 3/4 cup coffee, 1/4 cup chocolate almond breeze, 1/2 cup oats, chocolate chips and PB.  I had a cup of coffee and some water too.

Lunch was leftover white wine coq au vin and some strawberries.

This evening the hubby made supper while I was coaching a b-ball game.  He made sweet and sour meatballs with rice.  Dessert was an orange and a couple of the BEST chocolates in the world (a late part of my v-day gift from the hubby).

If you live in Canada, Oregon or Illinois, and have never had Bernard Callebaut chocolate, please remedy this situation immediately.  Thank you.

What higher quality food item have you had that has ruined all others that try to compare?

Are you a chocolate snob?  Wine snob?  Cheese snob?  Some other type of food/drink snob?

Tell me the tales of your food snobbery!

I will eat "cheap" or lower quality chocolate ... but NOTHING can compare to Bernard.  If you think something can, prove it (AKA - please send me free chocolate).

White Wine Coq Au Vin

The hubby and I went out on the town on Friday evening.  We went for dinner to a new restaurant, where I ordered the Bee Bim Bop with a side of kimchi.  

We then went to "The Adjustment Bureau", which was decent, but not great.   

Have you seen this movie?  Do you want to?

I hopped out of bed on Saturday morning at 7:50 with boundless energy!  I made some tropical oatmeal for breakfast while the husband slept on.

My sister and I went shoe shopping Saturday afternoon to look for bridesmaid shoes for her wedding.  

I love them, and am so excited to wear them!!

 

Lunch was French onion soup, and for dinner we picked up subs.  I had a turkey sub loaded with veggies and honey mustard.

This evening I made a wonderful (and easy) dinner that I will definitely be making again.

White Wine Coq Au Vin

5 T flour

1 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp dried basil

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper (plus more to taste)

6 chicken thighs (chopped into bite size pieces)

5 slices bacon (chopped)

2 cups chopped potatoes

3 chopped carrots 

3 chopped stocks of celery

1 chopped onion

2 cups chicken broth

1 1/3 cup dry white wine 

Mix first 5 ingredients in a large bowl.  Toss the chicken in the flour mixture.  Cook the chopped bacon in a small stock pot until done.  Remove and set aside.   Cook the floured chicken in the bacon fat for approx. 6 minutes.  Remove chicken and set aside.  Throw onions, carrots, potatoes and celery in the pot and cook until onions are translucent (deglaze with a bit of the chicken broth if sticking/ or add oil).  Add broth and wine and bring to a boil.  Reduce and simmer for about 20 minutes or desired thickness.  Season to taste.

Finished product:

This would be perfect with some crusty bread.  

It was warm, comforting, and very easy for a quick Monday dinner.

Have you ever had/made coq au vin?  With red or white wine?  

How was your weekend?  What was the highlight?