Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?

Did you spend time outside? 

Did you exercise?

Did you cook?!

My weekend was great, although now that I'm out of school it seems as though every day is part of the weekend.  I was stuck in traffic on Wednesday and happened to also be on the phone with my mother.  I was complaining to her that the traffic for a "Saturday" was awful and that there must be an accident.  She then informed me that it was actually Wednesday and that I was most likely stuck in rush hour traffic. Ha! Silly me.  When I don't really have to keep track of days and time it all runs together.  I have to make sure my schedule is very up to date. 

Friday 

we did nothing, well that's not true. I got up and went for a run, the first one since June 3. Kinda crazy huh?! I've been exercising, just not running.  So I eased back in to it with an easy 4 miler.  When I got home the hubs had made is "man-cakes." AKA pancakes.  There isn't even anything special about them.  I didn't have any of them, but  I did have a nice big glass of chocolate milk.

Then we washed the pup.  She has been shedding like it's her job, as has the cat. Stupid winter coats. I could probably knit a sweater with all their hair.  We've been brushing them a whole lot. Thank goodness for the furminator. That thing is a lifesaver! So much hair comes off of the pets. Even though this is for our dog, it works great on our cat too. Our house looks like there has are tumbleweeds of hair rolling across our "desert." Note: if you visit us, don't wear black.  It's crazy, why do they need winter coats? They barely go outside in the winter, well the cat NEVER goes out!

Anywho, after the pup wash, we took her for a 2 mile walk to help her dry off.  We stopped at the grocery store, the pet store and the hardware store. I needed to purchase mosquito bits.  They are supposed to help get rid of the skeets, since they are supposed to be awful this summer because we had the lack of winter. 

Gary made dinner, we had salad, with grilled chicken, chickpeas, corn, cheese, avocado and toasted walnuts.  He also picked up some yummy bread- we love our carbs!

Saturday

 Gary had to work the brunch shift on Saturday.  Boo! But it pays some extra bills. I didn't sleep in too late either. I went to Eastern Market and ran some errands. I also did my Jillian Michaels DVD for the first time in forever too.  That night we had a 30th birthday party.  UGH, yes, my dirty thirty is coming too....I have no idea what to do for it, of if I should even do anything?

 Suggestions WELCOME?!

Sunday 

I actually had to work. Long story short, I'm working part-time at New York and Company. It's one of my favorite clothing stores.  They give teacher's discounts which is fab! I've never worked in retail before. I've always worked either with children or in the food industry, which I liked.  This will definitely be an interesting job, but I should also have a great wardrobe for next fall. Best Dressed Teacher 2012? Haha! Gary's worried that I'll spend all my money there. But I'm going to be good I promise! It's hard though they have some great bright clothes right now and lots of green which is my new favorite color to wear.  

Photo of the Day

From now on, my POTD is going to just be posted on my facebook

 Feel Free to like me too!

Tupperware

So a few weeks ago I went to my FIRST ever Tupperware Party

I know, you are probably thinking, tupperware?! You mean that stuff my mother and grandmother have?

The answer is, YES! It actually does last that long with a lifetime guarantee. Crazy huh, my mom has a lettuce and celery keeper she has had for as long as I've been around, so doing the math 29 years!  

I was a little skeptical at first, but then again I have never ought Tupperware before, so why not go. I love kitchen gadgets.  The lady who did the party sure knew her stuff, how many things you could put in a container, how long to cook an item, what you could cook in a dish, etc...

The best part was that I walked away with at least 4 FREE pieces of Tupperware.  Say it with me people, "Free!" We had an auction, we could earn "Tupperbucks" during the night and then bid on bagged items. I mean, as teachers, we love free stuff, but then again I'm pretty sure most people like free things.  

My husband has used the sandwich keeper multiple times now, despite the fact that it is pink. He has also used the bright blue microwave dish for leftovers that he has taken to lunch.

She said you can microwave eggs, chicken, steam veggies in the container.....I am one of those, don't believe it till you see it people. So I nuked up some broccoli tonight, no need to add water. It was like 1-2 minutes for crunchy and 2-4 for softer broccoli. 

A few weeks ago I hosted my own party and did it at school. I figured my co-workers are already there so they don't have to drive anywhere, plus free things, plus I enticed them with cookies. Mwahahaha....ask them, they think they are pretty legit, my cookies, not the free things.  Because I hosted, I got more freebies! 7 things in all and if people order I get discounts and some other host gifts. So, while I don't wanna pressure anyone into buying anything, I would love for them to buy something, so I guess we'll see if they do or not.  

My new free microwave soup bowl

 This is great, the top expands up so that items don't have to be level with the bowl

 No idea what I'm going to use these for, maybe hummus or other dips.

I'm tossing around the idea of becoming a Tupperware salesperson myself, to earn some extra money. Seems fairly easy, although it makes me super nervous to be a speaker in front of adults trying to sell things.  I mean, yes, I speak every day, but to 6-7 year olds. I mean they don't judge me and aren't too critical of me:-)  
These are cute, not sure what to do with those either, pills? dressing? Thoughts?

These I actually ordered. So far they haven't failed me.  They are for the refrigerator. They have certain ones for microwaves, fridge, freezer, etc... They have labels on the side to let you know which fruits/veggies need to breath and which ones do not need to breath.

So far my mushrooms have lasted over a week in the containers and my grapes over 2 at this point. I also have celery inside them and broccoli. I mean, I throw away fruit and veggies all the time because they go bad before I can use them all.  If I can preserve their life than I save money! Win!


I have 3 other things coming in the mail two party dishes as well as collapsible dishes. When they arrive I'll let you know how they are. I'm excited to get them! Hope they come soon!

Also, if I do become a seller of Tupperware, be prepared for me to harass you into having a party! :-) Just think, you get freebies!

Battle Potato

Hobby of the day: Cooking

Several teacher friends and I have cooking challenges during the year. Ideally they should be monthly, but weekends get so booked up for all of us it's hard sometimes. 
The last challenge we had was the Wing Challenge and a few months ago, my husband won it.  He won for his honey sriracha wings.  Thus winning the wonderful looking tikki head.....that is now wonderfully displayed on our bookshelf for all to see. Since he won, the cook off is now at our house and Gary got to chose so tonight was, "The Potato Off!"

I had no idea what to make, it's kinda of a vague challenge since you could make a dessert, soup, appetizer or hearty meal.  Potatoes are also very filling....so it was quite a starch filled night. Thankfully there are many different types of potatoes, fingerling, baked potatoes, purple, red skinned, white, sweet....apparently there are 16 types of potatoes.

Finally, I decided on sweet potato burgers. Completely vegetarian. They are made with white canolleni beans, wheat flour, spices and panko bread crumbs. I also added in corn for some extra texture because otherwise, on its own the sweet potato burgers have a soft texture. 

 Mash together

Make small patties- may be quite moist so I added a lot more whole wheat flour than the original 1/4 cup. Than roll in panko bread crumbs.

Fry up in oil, browning on each side. You can also bake in the oven too. I actually added some corn to a few of them. I think these tasted better because otherwise they seem quite mushy and the corn added some flavor, as well as, texture.  I think that next time I will add more cayenne for heat and more garlic.  The spices were a little lacking, but it's hard when you are cooking for 7 different people with their different palates. 

Toasted whole wheat buns, made by Martin's Potato Rolls, they make slider size buns!

I've never actually cooked a sweet potato before, but it was extremely easy to peel off the skin. I didn't even have to cut the potato or scoop out the orange goodness. 

 
Top with fresh avocado, lettuce if desired or onion.  I just added avocado and chipotle mayo, my new favorite obsession, gave it some extra flavor and some heat!


Our appetizers: veggies of course

Of course beers since two of the guys are home-brewers- this is the party pig. Note its pig like shape? John is trying to convince Gary that we need one of these.....NOT going to happen, when we have a HOUSE, with an appropriate amount of room, than YES he may have one, maybe even 2, but not now.

Here are the potato contenders:
First up, a roasted red potatoes with garlic, rosemary and kosher salt

 My plate

 Next, mini loaded baked potatoes with mascarpone cheese and panchetta with chives

 

Followed by a sweet potato fritter with a sour cream, lime and cilantro topping

 

 Then, the first of 2 baked potato soups: cheddar beer potato soup with bacon and scallions.  They soup was super think almost reminded me of fondu.

Second baked potato soup, also super thick, but full of chunks of potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese and scallions.

And the winner is......(drum-roll please) ME!!! I actually won, so now I get to choose the next challenge. 

Suggestions?

What I Ate Wednesday

  I have been meaning to do this, thanks to the blog, Peas and Crayons who started this idea. We didn't eat at home, we ate out for our end of the year celebration dinner. End of the teaching year that is.  Gary and I ate at Founding Farmers.  

The Family Farmer

"The American family farmer is truly at the heart of Founding Farmers because the restaurant is owned by genuine, hardworking, American family farmers.
We believe it is the right of all diners and food lovers to enjoy of a good “meal away from home” that is fulfilling, delicious and honest, made with ingredients from high-quality sources. We strive to source the best products seasonally and regionally whenever possible, and our meals are prepared with the utmost care and attention by our talented chefs and kitchen staff. “Strive” is an important word, because in today’s world and today’s economy, it isn’t always possible to source or buy the ideal products.
The Founding Farmers name represents a combination of ideas: it is a celebration of the land and the American family farmer; it is a nod to the founding fathers of our country, many of whom owned and farmed land that surrounds Washington, D.C.; and it is a place where true, sustainably farmed, grown and harvested American foods are brought to our guests.
The rich history of American cooking tradition is celebrated throughout the menus at Founding Farmers, with a philosophy to promote sustainable agriculture and the ways of the American family farmer at every turn. Each season, new choices reflect the best of what’s available from our sources.  At Founding Farmers, it isn’t always about “local”, or “organic” — sure, when it makes sense, those are great things, but local doesn’t always means the smallest carbon footprint, and “organic” can also refer to broccoli that comes from China.
Our mantra is “quality and natural ingredients”: if we find a product we love from a family farmer in California, we buy it; if we find a biodynamic vineyard in Chile, we love buying that wine. And carbon footprint, you ask? We buy carbon offsets to ensure that regardless of the distribution distance, Founding Farmers is walking its talk that the planet matters.
As stewards of the land, family farmers work to protect the soil, the air, the water and biodiversity in addition to producing high-quality, healthy foods. Thus the Founding Farmers philosophy to operate wisely, serve the community and live green is the heart of the American family farmer.
Everyone needs to eat. Most people prefer to eat food that is healthy — but how do you know what is “good” and what is not? When consumers make purchasing decisions on groceries for their households, they seek out opportunities to purchase the freshest and healthiest foods from local groceries and farmers’ markets, but they often give their favorite restaurants a pass on this high standard of food.
At Founding Farmers, know that we strive to make decisions the same way you do. We care about the source, and while sometimes — due to price, availability, or quality — we can’t be perfect with every item we buy, rest assured that we share the same values as you with regard to quality. In addition, it’s more than just the food; be confident that we use natural cleaning products in the restaurant, use low-voltage lighting and recycle and compost. It’s the holistic approach, trying to impact all areas of the business, and we appreciate your support." [source]

I love what this restaurants stands for. I know my bestie Teresa would love eating here especially since they support local farms.

A Couple of Hotties, me waiting patiently for my food and Gary contemplating what drink to get.

 Gary's Ricky Roy
The neat thing about Founding Fathers is that all their drinks, syrups are made in house, even their sodas. Pretty neat! I love that Gary's drink has a huge square ice cube.  At his restaurant they make huge balls of ice. So fancy.

 Smears, dips and table breads: Romesco Sauce, Green Goddess Dip, Pimento Cheese Spread. That bread was some of the best bread, the dips and smears weren't too shabby either.

Shared Farmer's Salad: Baby Lettuce, Avocado, Dates, Tomatoes, Red Grapes, Almonds, Parmesan Cheese, Champagne Vinaigrette
I've never had grapes on my salad, pretty tasty. I wish there had been more avocado, but there was quite an accoutrement of flavors that all worked nicely together. Loved the house-made dressing too. I think I could have eaten the whole salad solo, but instead we shared. There were also olives on the salad, they didn't mention it in the description, but I love olives, all for me!  With each bite of lettuce I also got a bite of one of the above toppings.  Sometimes when restaurants have a house salad, the toppings are lacking. If you know anything about me, you know I like me some toppings.

 House-made lemonade and raspberry limeade and MAN that stuff was tart!

Gary ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, mashed sweet potatoes with goat cheese and asparagus salad(it was cold). His steak was delicious melt in your mouth tender. I didn't try his potatoes. The asparagus was ok, not my favorite, but it wasn't cooked as long as I would have liked and it was cold.

 My dish was hailbut with a roasted hazelnut butter and cracked ground pepper. Sides: Garden squashes, peas, garlic and herb butter and Farmhouse Rice-A-Roni with scallions, basil and thyme.
The fish was great! I don't get to eat seafood very often since Gary doesn't eat it.  The fish was light and flaky and not "fishy" at all. You know, sometimes fish are uber fishy. The Farmhouse rice-a-roni was really good too with various types of pasta in it and almonds.  I couldn't finish the whole meal, which is a crime!

 

Rice-a-roni up close and delicious!

I am very particular about bathrooms, I mean, who doesn't like clean bathrooms?!  This was super clean, fun sink, nice soap, and quotes all over the walls. I had planned on taking a picture, but someone was also in there with me, so this was a super quick shot, before I got weird looks.

  

  We definitely plan on going back again this summer. Next time I really want to try the skillet corn bread with honey butter and the bacon lollies, as well as many other dishes!

Feel free to join us:-)

POTD Mon/Tues

Monday June 11, 2012

Subject: Door

Church door in Pittsburgh, thanks to my girl T for taking the pic!

Tuesday June 12, 2012

Subject: From a low angle

Let's Wok!

I'm SO cheesy! LOL

Hobby of the day: Cooking

Tonight I made steak stir fry with pea pods, red pepper, mushrooms, noodles and of course steak. We also had an appetizer! I know right?! Don't get too excited, they were frozen. I mean come on people, I'm only cooking for two!

I used garlic wok oil to cook my meat.  Actually just briefly heating up the meat, then added my washed pea pods, red peppers and mushrooms and some red pepper chili paste.  

Meanwhile my chicken and veggie spring rolls a la PF Changs were cooking in the oven 10 minutes, turn 10 minutes.

With 8 minutes left I started the water boiling. Sometimes I start the water too late, but tonight I was point on.  

I added the cooked ramen (couldn't find udon) to the stir fry.  Mixed it up, added some sriracha- y'all know I like my spice- and some lite soy sauce.

And of course, we ate with chopsticks, hello! What's an Asian meal without chopsticks?!