Friday, January 15, 2010

Freaky Fake Noodles and Pretty Pink Everything Else

Hi there everyone! Well, when I mentioned I would probably be blogging less frequently, I certainly didn't expect a whole week to go by before I posted anything! Speaking of my last post, thanks so much for all your incredible sweet comments on my wedding and your anniversary wishes! You guys are so nice! Anyhowzzles, there has definitely been a lot going on in the food world and other wise, so lets hop to it shall we?

First up, let me show you a little of the things that have been keeping me occupied...
one the food front, we have experienced the passing of a few greats recently including my beloved PB2 (unpictured), crunchy Sunbutter and super chunky peanut butter.
You can see I don't typically leave enough remnants for OIAJ so that was no consolation, but to be fair I'm not that disappointed. I tired them once, and found it a little too messy and not nearly enough nut butter to go around (as evidenced by my thorough cleaning job above).

We also had our very first meatless Monday, which sadly, went undocumented, but was delicious. I know it would be a lot more appealing with pictures, but I enthusiastically encourage you to try the Rice and Beans recipe from Eat, Drink and be Vegan. I modified it a little bit, adding half an orange bell pepper and 1/2 c. frozen corn kernels. I also used chicken broth instead of vegetable broth since that's what we had on hand. Very delicious, but beware, because it makes "four" VERY generous portions (we got 6). Even though I am not vegan, I checked out that cookbook from the library a while ago and found a lot of great recipes. I would love my own copy because I only got to copy down a few especially enticing ideas.

I have a fantastic Freaky Food Friday for you today, too! I have been looking for this particular product FOREVER since seeing it on the other Emily's blog this summer. I had just about given up hope of ever locating them in Utah, when I spotted them at a local natural foods store:

Kelp Noodles
!


Yipeeeeeeee!!! I was so, so pumped to try these, but upon opening the bag,

I made the mistake of taking a big whiff---ick!! Like sea water and brine. Of course! Luckily, I am not one to let a little weird smell deter me from my plans ( this IS freaky food, after all!).

After rinsing them very well and steaming them for a few minutes in the microwave, I topped them with garlic powder, chunky tomato marinara sauce , two extra lean meatballs and a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Not bad! Although the texture was not really similar at all to traditional pasta--kind of chewy and oddly crunchy--I thought it tasted just fine and was a perfectly reasonable substitute. If any of you have ever tried the tofu shirataki noodles, they reminded me a lot of those. I used to think those things were so cool before I discovered my soy sensitivity. Now I know why they gave me such a bad tummy ache!

No problems at all with the kelp noodles, though. The stats were really interesting, too. Actually, there almost were NO stats! A four ounce serving only has 6 calories and the only ingredients are kelp, sodium alginate (sodium salt extracted from a brown seaweed), and water. The only other component of nutrition was 15% DV of calcium.

I don't know that I'll be eating these on a regular basis because they are pretty expensive (plus I am pretty sure D wouldn't touch them with a 10-ft pole), but they were really fun to try!

Some other fun things I have been keeping myself busy with:

Making Fruity Pebbles treats for my little Sunday School class. Ok and let's be honest, for Dustin, too :) Look at how cool that picture is though! I have to admit that I snuck some Fruity Pebbles into my greek yogurt, and holy cow those puppies are SWEET!! Even against the sour tang of the yogurt, they were almost too much. Wow. Do people really eat those for breakfast? Dang. I'm not saying it wasn't delicious though!

I have also been making an attempt to work out my brain as much as I work out my body--


D got me a subscription to our local newspaper for our anniversary. This may not seem very romantic to most, but he knows me so well! Usually, the only source of real news I get is from the Today show, so it's nice to be able to keep informed on public affairs. Plus, I used to love getting the morning paper and reading the comics and doing the crosswords every day when I was growing up. Now, I love the ads and the Sunday coupons, too! Lucky girl, I got a 12 week subscription and I feel enriched already!

I am making a concerted effort to read more as well, but sometimes it really does hurt my brain too much after a long day. reading is seriously my all time favorite hobby next to cooking, but these books aren't' exactly as light and fluffy as the Sookie Stackhouse novels I've been hooked on! Jenny Scheaffer's new book, Goodbye Ed, Hello Me, is incredible and even better than her first offering (Life Without Ed). Unfortunately sometimes it really hits me in terms of my recovery and I have to take a break from reading it in order to process.

I also love this Malcolm Gladwell book, The Tipping Point. Yeas, I know it's old and you've probably already read it, but it is so interesting! Sadly, I don't think I hold any of the qualities he elaborates on just yet, so it kind of makes me feel like a loser. I am only a few chapters in though!
More fun things!

I got this most adorable mug at Target the other day and I am completely in love! I collected polar bears when I was younger, plus it's pink, plus it has a heart on it! And it holds tea! What could be more perfect? Ha ha! I love that my birthday is in February because everything in the stores is pink with hearts, so I feel like it's all decorated just for me! ( I wonder how it is possible to simultaneously be 82 and 12 at the same time--old lady and little pink princess!)

Speaking of hearts, my hottie friend Janetha B is holding a sweet Valentine's Day exchange, so don't forget to sign up and spread the love!

Special K is also caring and sharing again with a tea exchange (you KNOW i was all over that one!), so check that one out too!

I really will be posting more frequently to avoid the textbook-sized entries, so thanks for sticking this one through til the end :)

Questions: Are you closer to 82 or 12 yourself? I think it's hilarious that I would rather spend Saturday night at home with my crossword and mug of tea and at the same time die over anything that is pink and foufy. That's just me :) And you now know I used to collect polar bears--what about you? Any kiddie collections you may or may not still have an affinity for?

Happy Friday! (AND Happy End of this Post--you really are a trooper!) xoxo

17 comments:

  1. Ooh, I am just salivating over those two books. They're in my Amazon cart, waiting for me to splurge :)

    I don't know if I could do those noodles. Maybe. I admire your creativity :)

    Glad to see you back! I always read, rarely comment... So it goes ;)

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  2. Kelp Noodles? Hmmmmmm……. I am not sure. I remember when everyone got all weirded out over the Shikata noodles. To me, they taste like poo but I guess when you are carb counting, you will do anything for something noodle-like.

    Good think I like my carbs. ;)

    Glad you are doing well hun.
    Miss you!!!

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  3. Oh my gosh I am so late to the Eat Drink and Be Vegan party! I have GOT to get that book...rice and beans sound delish! And you're braver than I am with the kelp noodles...! Have a lovely weekend miss!

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  4. Hmmm, good to know about the kelp noodles. Not sure if I could get past the smell though. Fruity Pebble Treats?!?! OMG I want one!

    Have a good weekend girl!!

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  5. So many things to say! Glad you're back and well.

    I love seaweed salad, but I don't know if I could do up kelp like spaghetti! I don't think I could get over that 'hump'!

    You are making me crave fruity pebbles. Really, cocoa pebbles...oh my gosh, yes they are terribly sweet, but they are also delicious at breakfast. HUGE bowls at breakfast. Thus I do not buy them.

    Totally closer to old lady, I am always the first one asleep at a party. But I do still have my childhood stuffed animal on my book shelf...I freak when the dogs get a hold of her! So maybe I'm six too!

    I have not read those books, but let me know if you like them, I'm building my library list.

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  6. yay! you tried the kelp noods! so glad you didn't hate :) they're pretty bland. the texture just takes some getting used to.

    nothing wrong with tea and crosswords on a saturday night!

    btw, I am starting fresh with a new blog! this is my new digs: www.naturalfit.wordpress.com

    xo

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  7. omg I'm in LOVE with that mug!! I love all things pink and polar bear (and also deem any white bear a polar bear haha).

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  8. Hey love!!!
    SO glad you are back :) :)
    thank you for your sweet comment-i missed you!!
    those noodles sound so funky!! and LOVE those fruity pebble treats!! those are the bomb DOT com. im closer to the middle..some nights when im tired i want to stay home, but i did that too much when i was really sick with ED, and i DONT do that anymore! i love going out and being social!! thats when im happiest :) happy saturday love!

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  9. just made spaghetti last night myself... of course mine looked a bit different (whole grain, organic noodles with hommade sauce and oh so quick frozen meatballs :) I think if I had put those puppies out for my family to eat I would have gotten thrown out of the house!

    my favorite marshmellow treat is with classic krispies... (chocolate and vanilla mixed - yum!) But I must say - I would totally sit through class for a treat like that!

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  10. That fruity pebbles pic IS awesome!! I kinda want to try them now. My parents never let us have sugary cereals growing up. Those kelp noodles actually look good! They remind me of the shiratake ones, which I legitimately like. And good for you reading the newspaper :) While it's important to be aware of national and international issues, not enough people keep on top of local events!

    I'm definitely on the 82 side of things ;)

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  11. You are one brave lady for trying those kelp noodles!! The fruity pepples pic looks amazing! I was a cocoa pebbles kid (among other cereals) but never had the fruity ones. That mug is so cute - I think there's a Target trip in my near future!

    Humor wise I'm closer to 12 but lifestyle habits I'm 82.

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  12. Yay for checking back in and updates! But kelp noodles? Not so sure about that one, dear...

    And I am the ultimate senior citizen when it comes to bedtime, evidenced by the fact that it's Saturday night when I'm leaving this comment. I love sleep and make no apologies! Give me my blanket, good snacks, the couch and a ballgame over a smoky bar any day.

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  13. I'm pretty sure Jenny Schafer is from around where we live. Where do you find the kelp noodles?

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  14. You are a funny gal!
    That pictures of the Fruity Pebbles treats is pretty cool. Although I can't stomach sugary, fruit cereal like that, kids would probably love the treats!
    My oldest (11) collects polar bears (and has been since his grandparents gave him one when he was 2. Not sure he'd go for the pink mug attached though! ;)

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  15. um. those fruity pebbles treats just gave me a cereal boner. YUM! i wish i was in your ward and in primary.. ha. those noodles are crazy! and i love the cute mug.. i may need to get some valentines dishes goin ON. THANKS for spreadin the word, babe! LET'S DO SOMETHING. NOW.

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  16. shiratake noodles are also fun to experiment with, but i definitely don't recommend sniffing them. woooh! i accidentally sniffed and almost threw them out haha.

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