Delicious

My mom is an amazing cook.  It is kinda a lot of pressure being her daughter.  Oh...wait...my dad is a chef by trade.  PRESSURE.  Anyways.  I am pretty self-critical about the way I cook, but today's dinner was delicious.  And here is what it is in case you were wondering.

(the other pot is couscous for the veggie leftover if I run out of pasta)

 Put a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta.
 Then cut up:

3 baby yellow squash
2 baby zucchini
2 medium gold onions (I would have used red if I had them)
2 medium tomatoes
These were all from Farmers market
about 2 heaping tsp of minced garlic




Put some oil a large skillet and heat some oil on about medium heat...I would say I used a few teaspoons or a tablespoon of oil (i used peanut to mix it up, but olive would be delicious too) enough to cover the pan when you move it around a bit.

Put in the onions and garlic and let them saute a wee bit then add the other squash.  The key is to cut them pretty small.  Mine liked kinda like corn kernels. 

Put your pasta in and follow the instructions.  I LOVE Buitoni agnolotti wild mushroom pasta (LOVE LOVE LOVE...more than I love wheat thins...whoa).  Yes, this is a link to the pasta....delicious.   



Add about a Tablespoon of basil pesto (I am a basil fiend...so add what you like) and about 10 basil leafs chopped up to the veggie mix. 

Here is what it looked like when it was done...I added parmigiana cheese (duh), salt, and pepper. 

Not as good as mama's...but pretty tasty

MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm!

 

 

This was delicious.  So as I work on an APA presentation for my students, and skyped with my mama, i ate this wonderful goodness....mmmmm.  And I have leftovers. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 30

Well...today was difficult.  I won't go into it too much, but I am almost as busy this year with responsibilities as I was last year (minus a a few classes) but PLUS a job search and a dissertation.  ERG.  So I was a big crying mess today.  I am not sure if I really did much fun...but I did realize that i have a few amazing people in my life that I am so thankful for.  If I every question why I moved out here, i have a few friends that make it all worth it, and i would not have moved out here, I would not have met them.  I am so thankful...which is different that fun, but in the long run, way better.  I am also SO SO So thankful for my best friend.  I am not sure how I got lucky enough to have her dropped into my life.  I love that we are different in so many ways, but in the ways that count we are so alike.  Anyhow, The fun things i did today were talk to my BFF and a few of my so good friends here.  This semester is going to be hell...but at least I got some rad people hang with. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 29

Well...one day left of fun...ok, not really.  I am thinking about another blog project.  My friend April has a blog where she posts food that she makes (yummy recipes...check it out).  Maybe I will do that.  I love to cook and today was no exception.

I worked on an ethics presentation today with one of my amazing peers.  Then...I came home and cooked!  Mmmmmm.

Sweet potato and bok choy soup

This was all pretty tasty as well.  It is called ABC Juice and it is from the Reboot website.  I am going to have it for breakfast tomorrow.  It has pears, apples, celery, beets, carrots, cabbage, chard, hum...and maybe a few other things.  

 

Also...I ate about 2 pounds of blueberries today. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 28

What a lovely lazy day!!!!  Farmers Market this morning was so great.  We got lots of lovely stuff--blueberries, squash, squash blossoms, acorn squash, tomatoes.  mmmmm!  Then stopped by to see a friend at the co-op and pick up a few more things on my list. 

Then home to make these lovely bites.

Squash Blossoms

A simple mix of one organic egg, some organic milk, and a pinch of salt then dipped in rice flour

Pan fried

 If you are going to make these little treats be sure to take the stamen out of the middle.  I looked up a simple recipe for a pan fry.

The rest of the day was spent looking for new dress shirts and bikes and movies and candy.  Yep.  A great Saturday.   

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 27

Well---I had my first Ethics committee meeting.  I think it will be fun since all the members are new except for the chairpeople.  It won't be fun if we have to make ethical decisions, but they said that doesn't happen that often.  I am excited to get involved in some committee work in the field.  I feel like an adult.  I guess it only has taken me 30 years.  I also went to the doctor.  My body is being freakin' weird.  Shingles---WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME???  Yuck.  I seriously have shingle tingle everywhere...headaches, back pain...the doctor said it is possible it is all related to the shingles.  F.  I want it to be over.  Five weeks, seriously?  I was going to start a juice fast today but then I decided to not be a crankypants during my last three days of vacation.  The manfriend and I went to an Italian place for dinner.  It was ok, but nothing like mom and dad.  Then the man went home and I went out with some of the new friends.  That was fun...not to mention the band was good at the Flipside.       

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 26

Well, my last year of the doctoral program has officially started.  We had our masters orientation and set up our schedules.  I have more obligations than I had wanted, but some of them I volunteered for, and I am getting paid to earn an education in one of the best programs in the US, and if my instructors trust me enough to run labs and teach beginning counselors than who would I be to not do whatever they ask without questions?  We had a cookout tonight with the professors and the doc students.  It is strange to me how quickly the last two years have gone.  I can remember two years ago, being at the party at a strange professors house and feeling out of place and missing home.  I always knew this was the right decision (ok...maybe not always, but I had very little doubt).  I have met so many amazing friends here.  I have learned so much about myself. 

The more I am here in this conservative little town the more I realize that I believe in goodness and energy and the importance of putting good things in your body, mind, and spirit.  I think the only way I can clarify my current existence is based on the above notions.  If I had believed that I was a sick person instead of a person who was sick, I would probably be dead.  I probably have my mother to thank for that.    Now, that said, I can be a snarky bitch.  I am working on it.  Really.

The next year is going to be a rollercoaster.  Good thing i got a wristband.

Cider with a few new friends is always a wonderful nightcap. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 25

I had a full day of training today at the CAC then an orientation for the clinic.  I once again feel so lucky for the people in my life and the people I work with.  Last night my friend came over and helped me clean up clutter...and while yesterday it was not so fun, today, it was fun to see the pile of give away, to be able to actually give some of it to a friend, and to see the space on my tables. 

To go pile!

I know this is gross...but there is something about picking scabs that I think is fun.  Luckily, with the shingles, I got a lot of scabs right now.  I know...gross!  It is embarrassing to say...but true.

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 24

Here is what I love.  I love working with awesome people.  We had a clinic meeting today and I am not sure if I could have picked two better people to be working with on the clinic this summer.  I always have a good time with them---always, even when I am feeling frustrated and like a crankypants.  It is just a perk that I respect them and appreciate their personhoods.  So my fun thing for today was doing "work" with two of my favorite people in this lil' town.

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 23

Today was the first day back in the grind, but I got to see the new crew at work (as well as the old folks) which was fun.  I love new people (not quite as much as I love the old established one though).  I should just say, I love theme parties...and I think we have a good theme party group, which makes me SO excited.  Now I just need to clean up my house so I can be a host instead of pawning the duty off on friends.  I made gazpacho (this is actually a link I put in so it won't take you to some random thing on the internet) tonight.  It was AMAZING.  I am going to try and eat more raw foods and this was my first step.  Well, that's not true.  My first step was purchasing a juicer.  I also made a base for a fasting juice.  It looks pretty gross.  I haven't tried it yet but I will once I get a strainer.  The manfriend said to tell him when I start the fast so he can get out of town.  Probably a good idea.  Maybe I should wait until my 30 days of fun are up...as i am pretty sure I will be a raving bitch the first few days at least...if I even make it that long.


I got my scooter parking pass, so now I just need my scoot (and helmet) from the shop.
Fun fun.


I ate 4 cups of the gazpacho and my body is not sure what to do with itself right now.

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 22

Well today was just down right lovely.  I am back to weather that doesn't leave you a moist disgusting mess.  And a hike turned into swimming in a sea of butterflies today! 

The more I live in this little town, the more I realize I like it, despite some of it's shortcomings.  About 10 minutes from my house I can go for a great view

To end the day I had had the pleasure of eating with a gang of educated misfits at one of the only places open on a Sunday around here.  The last year of this whole "doctor" thing is looking like it may be pretty cool.  What a fun day.

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 21

Today I got to go to a bad-ass farmers market AND my favorite dim sum restaurant.  I think I would drive the 2.5 hours (or 7--see the last blog) to just eat there!  I know what I am getting next time.  I keep track of what others get in the restaurant.    I think my heaven would have dim sum and tapas all the time.  I love tasting a bunch of little things.  You would think I would like buffets better...(I don't because everyone can breath on my food...gross.)  We drove back without indecent.

The best think I heard today was, "You should just assume me wanting you to come is always a default."  

I am not sure why I need to hear it.  And I guess "need" may be an overstatement...but in the past I made assumptions with others that were inaccurate about this default position which has made me a bit trigger shy.  Anyhow, I think this was more twitterpated than fun...but I will take twitterpated over fun most days. 

I got to see several of my best lady-friends when I got home and a few of my good dude friends too...so while coming back to my "other life" was a bit weird, I am happy to be back with so many lovely, caring, and amazing people. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 20

I am finishing my day 22 hours from where I started it.  It was hard to leave, but I enjoy my "other life" a lot...and as time goes by it is becoming "my life," if that makes sense.  I spent some quality time with the dogs before I packed.  I have a hard time leaving them, as I can't talk to them on the phone (without worrying it is some form of torture to them) and I don't think they understand why I just leave for months at a time.  I hope they don't feel abandoned.  The quality time was fun.  I think I sort of forced it on them, but they didn't seem to mind too much.  Ma made tostadas. 

They are amazing

They are from the cookbook Diet for a Small Planet and I am pretty sure they are the best thing I have ever put in my mouth.  All-told, I ate them at 4 different meals in two weeks.  I can make them, but there is something about them that is just not as good as it is when ma makes them. 

I took a puddle jumper plane to get to the airport.  Those things are hot.  It was not fun, but it was better than driving and making ma drive back.  The man friend picked me up after being in the car for over 6 hours.  Apparently a propane tanker was leaking...then there was another wreck on the detoured route.  I appreciate that he didn't complain too much about having to make the 7 hour drive to pick me up.  :-) The hotel has a temperpedic bed.  AH-MAY-ZING.  They are nice.  Kinda a crap little place, but really what do you need besides a bed in a hotel room?  

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 19

Today was my last full day at home.  I got so many things done today, which was nice.  I got my scooter permit.  I am pretty sure the test I took the first time was not the same test.  The last one had a lot of questions that made no sense...I also studied the whole book instead of skimmed...so that may have had something to do with it.  I picked up my new glasses which are out of my lovely plastic comfort zone.  They are metal.  But they also have kinda a cat-eye shape and they are purple...so they are still kinda funky.  I got to spend time with some of my favorite boys, a friend who is becoming one of the people I look most forward to visiting when I am home, and had wine with two people I adore while we sat in a fenced in backyard and played with a hole-diggin pup and pondered the choices of a cat named Norma Jean.  It was a splendid last full day at home.  I am realizing I am ok with a slowed down life that involves people who I love doing a whole lot of not much.  I have always known this, but also always felt a pull towards needing to do everything.  I am realizing everything is not what it is made out to be...and just a little is often so much more fulfilling.   

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 18

Today was lovely.  My wonderful friend and I had chai tea cookies for breakfast.

Then we went to the dog park and the girls LOVED it.

This is how one of them rode most of the way...

I think she may be in love with the dog park...and my friend.

Then we had amazing food at my favorite veggie place in town...Then we went to my favorite little boutique with tons of local artwork and I got a super cool octopus piece of artwork.


Then my friend left and I felt sad...but am so glad she got to take time away from her life to visit an old friend.

Then I had an amazing dinner prepared by my dad.  I go back to the fact that I love and am mildly (or more than mildly according to some people) addicted to good food.

Whole grain pilaf

organic chicken picatta

Then I went to the best place I have ever been to have bloodymary(s) and fraternize with some lovely people...again, eating and conversating---two of my favorite things...What a fun day.

doppelgangers...and they are friends!  Cray-cray!

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 17

Fresh fruit is delicious and fun to eat.

Yoga with a good friend is fun...and being told I am really flexible after not feeling flexible since the whole crushed wrist thing felt really good.  Breakfast at a fun restaurant and talking for hours is one of my favorite things in the whole world...food and conversation...double favorites.   Leaving the restaurant and finding these just added to it.  Making not so pretty things a little prettier.  People do that here.

In the afternoon another wonderful friend came down from the middle of the state today...I am so lucky!

Did you know people still get shingles...and it looks an aweful lot like poison oak?  Yep.  And it lasts for 5 weeks?  And that chickenpox and shingles are both related to your nerves.  Chickenpox are the single nerve endings and shingles come from the base of the nerve and then come out through all the little nerves attached to the big nerves.  AND you only get them on one side of your body.  SHUT YOUR MOUTH.  It is true.  AND they can cause tingles all over your body kinda like a chill and the point in a sunburn where the burn kinda hurts when skin touches?  Yep.  And people can't get them from you if they have had chickenpox but they can get them if they haven't had chickenpox but only if they rub the area where you have it or the blisters pop and they get the blister juice on them (even babies or people with low immune systems...so don't rub babies on shingles, no matter how tempted you are).  This is what I learned today, and thought i would impart the knowledge.

Anyhow--Yoga, breakfast, second tostada dinner in two weeks with lovely people is fun.  My major fun thing was having another friend come down who is just a down right positive, fun, and amazing human being.  As hard as it is to be so far away from home, getting all this attention when I am home is a major plus (just being honest).  I love home...even if it is hot and moist as a theoretical hell (humidity is probably really bad in hell). 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 16

A wee rant before my 30 fun things.  I don't understand people who like semi-automatic weapons.  I don't understand why you need them or why you want them in your house.  I also don't understand Disney character tattoos.  I think both are absurd.  Whew, I feel better getting that off of my chest.


I got some holistic healing accomplished today.  I LOVE doing reiki/psych-k shares or other type of exchanges (with people who are not creepy and I know).  This is one thing I miss when I am not in a community that supports alternative care.  A friend said to me today, "Someone thought reiki was a Japanese dish."  This comment makes me both sad, and very nervous about where I may end up in a few years.

I love dog parks.  They are cool and I love when the weather is nice enough to take my canine sisters that my mother loves more than me to the dog park. Clearly the girls love it too.

Well hello.  I would like to smell your butt.

Wait a minute, you mean we can pee on this dog!!!

That was a lot of fun fun fun fun fun....fun.

Also, I think my tongue lost it's elasticity from all that panting.

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 15

Sidenote:  Some of the words turn into links...They are not my links and I am not sure how to unlink them. 

Halfway point!  Today did not disappoint. 

We had a Toast Party...What, cray-tell is a toast party?  It is a party where you drink and eat toast of course.

Delicious toast for eating

Delicious things to toast

And once again, friends did not disappoint.

I add a little crazy to their life!

She adds a little crazy to mine.

Two little ladies

He has always been into some pretty crazy stuff

 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 14

Ahhhh....afternoons at the pool are fabulous.   

Afternoons at the pool with one of your best friends are extra fabulous.

Even when she manly sleeps

 

Having some nature stop by is also always lovely.

Then I celebrated the masteryness of another wonderful friend.

So much fun!

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 13

I got to hang out with the dogs..

This is how she likes to sit.

 
One of my bestest friends is in town because she is amazing.  We went to the wineries, some amazing dinner at a hole-in-the-wall pizza place which is one of my favorites when excited on wine, and a few quality bands at a few quality bars.  Today was my favorite day home, surrounded by my favorite people (over 20 people showed up---y'all are awesome).  This is why I love this place.

I forgot to take many pictures...

Lucky I had someone volunteer to be my photographer.

But I think maybe he was drunk...or he was 4...

so his picture taking skills were a little off

But overall he did a pretty good job...minus the missing heads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 12

I got a super cute new haircut today.  My lovely hairdresser put some layers in front.  I told her she could do what she wanted as long as I can cut it to donate in a year.  I also got to see a lovely new little lady on this universes.  She is beautiful and her parents are beaming.  I am so excited to see that little family grow.  No pictures of the baby because of creepy baby stalkers who jack off to pictures online.   

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 11

Went to St. Louis today for an appointment and to hang with my best friend...and to eat two of my favorite restaurants ever.  Delicious.  I also go clothes for my interview.  Holy shit, this stuff is for real.  Also my best friend has the best apartment ever.  I am jealous.  Here is how the best part of my day went.

Two of my favorite people ever

My B.F. and I doing a cooking segment in her kitchen

Another picture of us

What, you have never seen a boob vase?

Or one out of noses?  Weird.