Apples, Continued...

Well, our apple stash certainly is dwindling. And after this weekend's first snowfall of the season, we probably are down for the count...that and the fact that I have been eating them nonstop :)

Thanks to all your apple ideas, I have had tons of tasty recipes to experiment with, and this was one of my favorite suggestions. It was suggested by a sweet gal named Nina, but I don't think she has a blog of her own to link back to, so a big heaping thanks to her for this supremely seasonal Sweet Potato Apple Hash.

Based on Nina's suggestions, here's what I used:

• half a small-ish baked sweet potato
• 1 small apple, chopped
• an embarrassing amount of onion
• ~1/3 c. black beans
• chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and garlic
  

I sauteed up the onion, then added the apple and let it cook until it became a tantalizing golden brown. Mixed in the chunks of sweet potato and then added the spices. When everything started to darken a little on the edges, I stirred in my black beans and then dumped the mix over a bed of mixed greens. Topped of with a creamy cool dollop of Fage.
It was almost like a mock taco salad, and it was very delicious. I loved the crisp, juicy burst of flavor the apples offered to the dish and I thought it mellowed so well with the smoky spices and soft sweet potatoes.

More apple deliciousness, this time in the form of the world's best way to use up a $#@!load of apples. Applesauce. It's amazing. I filled up two HUGE pots to the brim with so many chopped apples that it made my head spin, and...well, you'll see how many jars I got out of all that slicing and dicing...

Because we had so many, I actually decided to try my hand at honest-to-goodness canning. It's an art-form and I'm bringin it back peeps :) Just call me Grandma Emily.

It's important to heat the jars first, and then scoop the applesauce into them while the sauce is still hot, too. That is a true adventure in not giving yourself tragic burns, so watch out.

According to my little canning guide, it's also important to get all the air bubbles out of the jar by pressing against the mush with a spatula. I had no idea if this was working because it still looked kind of bubbly. But I figured if it didn't work out and caused the jars not to seal properly, I would just have to eat it faster. Oh the horror.

the hardest thing is trying to work quickly so everything stays warm before you put it into it's big boiling bath. That way the glass kind of tempers itself and you don't end up with applesauce shrapnel all over your kitchen.
Boil for 20 minutes and voila!
Count em, baby. Seven jars. Seven. Over two hours of work and three huge grocery sacks full of apples equals seven jars. Not that I'm complaining. That is seven jars of sweet autumn bliss that I get to dig into until next year. Okay, well two, because I gave most of them away. Sigh....I am nice like that ;)

I mentioned up there that my apple hash reminded me of a taco salad. Ever since eating it, I don't know what my deal is , but I have been CRAVING taco salad in the worst possible fashion. Weird. Is there anything you have been craving recently?

Also, have any of you ever canned or done any preserving?

My mother-in-law lives in an area that is very bounteous in terms of it's local produce, and I first became interested in it when I was up there last summer and saw her and her neighbors bottling everything from peaches to asian pears to plums, grape juice, and yes, applesauce. I thought it was the coolest thing that they actually had that much of a surplus and were putting it to good use. I think I made a few comments to that effect, and sure enough, I got the whole kit n caboodle of canning supplies for my birthday last year (nevermind that I didn't have anything to actually can at that point). Thanks MIL!! Very useful :)

Speaking of being useful, don't forget to click here to send Holly some "well wishes" and over here to help Katie's cause.

Have a great day everyone! xoxo

Tea and Sandwiches

I have to start by saying I loved your response to my last post. Although a lot of you commended me for trying it, very few would be willing to chance it yourself. Come on you guys, you are more adventurous than that! Just kidding--if not for FFF, I may never have risked that amount of potent fermentation myself. ;)

Anyway, after my international adventure yesterday, I decided it would be quite fitting to continue on today with my own redneck version of a continental tea party!

Thanks in part to my faveee healthy Holly, who sent me the most awesomest (yeah, I know that's not a word) package, which I received in the mail yesterday.


Green roasted loose leaf tea, with a little infuser spoon thingy (yay!!!), some sweet coupons for my penny pinching little behind and the most ingenious chocolate bar ever--nutmeg and cacao nibs. I can't wait to try that one!

But of course, I didn't wait to try the tea! I was so excited to use my new tea spoon and I loved the comforting flavor of this slightly smoky, but light and delicate blend.

Thanks so, so much Holly! Muah! Big kiss to you.

And now on to the sammies! What's a proper English tea party without a dainty little sandwich?

Whole grain bread toasted with laughing cow, pumpkin butter and thinly sliced apples. This idea courtesy of a combo of some of the suggestions listed on my apple ideas post. Seriously, if you guys are overrun with fall fruit, check that post for some super inspiration. I even think pears would work wonderfully in most of the suggestions.

...and then this mouthful of glory and goodness.
Ok--I have to admit--this was NOT a dainty little bite, but rather a huge chunk of the most delicious homemade bread I have ever tasted.

Slathered with peanut butter....

and jelly....

YUM!

The neighbor who brought this over actually taught a bread baking class at our church activity today. I'd been raving about that loaf of love all week, so I HAD to check it out. Now, I too, can make scrumptious hunks of dough seeded with nutty pops of whole grain wheat...that might be dangerous.

*Sigh* still no Philly cheese steak this week, but I have not given up hope yet--I WILL get one, and it better be good when I get it! Grr :p

Hope everyone's weekend is going swell! I may attempt this bread baking business tomorrow, so if I do, I'll let you know how that goes. What was the last thing YOU baked? xoxo

I come from a land down under...FFF #13

My favorite thing to do on Friday mornings? Park it in front of my laptop with a big old mug or three of tea and catch up on my ridic Google reader. I feel so satisfied when I'm done. As if everyone couldn't live without my input on their lives. Jeesh :)

Another favorite thing to do on Fridays? F-f-f-f-freak-ay food, baby!

I have been planning this one for a while, just because it seems like the perfect odd duck food for my American palette:

Vegemite!


For those who don't know quite what this is, or have only heard about it through that classic Men at Work song, Vegemite is a fermented yeast paste, particularly popular in Australia.
Please note--suitable for vegetarians. Any takers?

I did some research on this,and evidently it is used quite frequently by those in the land down under as a sandwich spread, or served with hot buttered toast for breakfast. Well, how can anything with hot butter(spray)ed toast be bad?

So that's how I decided to try it, in the traditional fashion.

I wasn't sure what to expect, because the only yeasty experience I had to draw on was my use of nutritional yeast a while back. I had used a couple different brands of "Alfredo" sauce powder and got mixed results, but liked the overall flavor of nooch--not quite as sharp or cheesy as I'd like though.

Even though I was gunning for the sharpness, I was worried about the Vegemite being overly pungent--I mean, I didn't want to feel as though I'd bitten into a chunk of sourdough starter. Yuck.


Tasted straight out of the jar, I was very weary and almost put off from trying it again all together, even though it looked exactly like hot fudge sauce. Caution: This in no way is similar to hot fudge. Holy SALTY!!!

But, adventurous as I am (sometimes), I spread it on some toast, spritzed away with a little spray butter and gave it another go. Well, a little certainly goes a long way, but in combo with those other two items, it really wasn't half bad. It actually reminded me of super sodium-loaded mushroom gravy. I am feeling quite continental now, if I do say so myself!

What's the most outrageous international food you've ever tried? Have a happy Friday everyone! xoxo

Oh, P.S.--does anyone know if you are supposed to refrigerate this after opening? It doesn't say on the jar. But, really, how much more fermented can it get?

P.S.S. Oops. I originally published this as FF #12, but it's actually #13. AND it's Friday the 13th! Ironic, no?

Copy Cat

I mentioned a while back that I was stuck in a bit of a food rut, and asked you for some of your greatest food winners to help me out of it. You all had some great thoughts, and I can't wait to try some suggestions!

In the meantime, I turned to some of my favorite bloggies for inspiration. These ladies are some cool cats , and have some unique staples that are worth breaching the routine for. So I decided to incorporate some feline design and do some copy-catting down the line.

Copy Allison

Traditional spicy oats. You may recall my spicy fail here, but by actually following the directions (for the most part), they are a savory success. I usually prefer to get my day started on a sweeter note, but spicy oats are truly a crave-worthy concoction for breakfast, lunch or anytime.


Copy Holly and Tay

Thanks to Holly, who introduced the homemade yogurt idea , and Tay who keeps making it look so darn easy and delicious on her blog.

I was weary to make my own yogurt--see question and answer here--but there is nothing like taking on a kitchen experiment to perk up your Sunday afternoon and then bounce your Monday morning.

My batch didn't turn out as thick as tangy as "real" Greek yogurt, but it definitely lost a lot of liquid and took on a more custardy texture throughout the process. I'm thinking about mixing some of this style with a container of Fage to get a greater return on investment...we'll see. I am interested in trying a couple of other brands of plain yogurt to see if the texture or flavor turns out any different. All in all, it's a great addition to any mess or beautiful breakfast creation.

Copy K and Susan
Reese's Oats. To. Die. For. I don't know why I don't make these more often. Look at that decedent swirl!

A little candy added to make them extra sweet a la Susan

I think I actually smiled ALL morning when I made this for brekkie. Got my day off on the right foot for sure! If you have not tried A) PB and chocolate (or carob) in your oatmeal or B) decorating it with candy goodness, what in H-E-double hockey sticks are you waiting for??

Copy April
Roasted Kabocha Squash and nut butter. Given the wonderfully gooey and marshmallow-y texture of a roasted kabocha, the addition of peanut butter makes it almost reminiscent of a fluffernutter. I said almost. Best snack ever.

Copy Mama Pea
Pumpkin spice chickpeas. I cannot tell you guys how amazing my kitchen smelled while baking these. Luckily, they tasted just as amazing--but it is my suggestion to WAIT until they cool down after removing them from the oven before you eat them. Otherwise you will probably suffer the eruption of a wonderfully spiced chickpea volcano on your tongue. And that is not wonderful.

Copy Janetha B.
Garbanzos and CC. While I didn't have any ranch seasoning, I totally thought of the protein queen when I whipped this up. You know I'd never turn down a new CCC. Fab.

Come to think of it, so much of what I eat has been influenced by the blog world and your wonderful creations! Where would I be without a good Lauren-lovin' BFD every once in a while?Or some of my favorite recipes including Danica's delicious enchiladas, Lainie's super versatile turkey joes and a twist on my favorite English Eater's veggie Biryani?

I am constantly checking out Sophia's Asian persuasion for burpalicious creations and blissing out on peanut butter for some lovely lists. I've seen so many things I want to try (hello kelp noodles and kefir cheese!) on Emily's blog and great baking ideas from my little dancer.

Even beyond food, I always look to Abby to say what's on my mind, or Erin to keep me ethical, and even on my worst days, I can usually find a little bit of love here.

My apologies if I've missed ya, but please don't think think I've dissed ya (you love my rhyming skillzz). Just know that everywhere I look, click or comment, I am finding inspiration in you!
You are amazing!

What's inspired you lately? xoxo

Pass/Fail and Sammie Saturday Round 4

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I though of a devastatingly clever and hilarious opening line for my post today. As you can tell, this was not it. Obviously I should not think and/or expect to remember things I think of after 9:00 at night. I am old. Fail.

But I am actually posting anyway. Pass.

It would not be Saturday without a recap of my weekly sammies...

This one was definitely delicious--I bought a jar of sauerkraut specifically for this purpose. I know a lot of peeps think sauerkraut is gross, but I like to support my heritage (Slovak) and EAT UP. It's cabbage. It's pickled. What's not to love?

Turkey Rueben on toasted multi grain bread with laughing cow and a sprinkle of feta. Pass.


There is a new restaurant down the street that I have been dying to try--like I talk about it every day, and have been planning to go there for weeks. Their thing is Philly cheese steaks, and I don't know why, but the sound of that sammie siren was calling my name. Or yelling. Whatevs. I WANTED one in the worst way.

D and I had finally settled that we were going no matter what yesterday night. We got ourselves all stoked up and rolled into the restaurant around 6:30. THEY WERE CLOSED!!!! What in the Fraggle Rock???? Who in their right mind, or even their left mind is CLOSED at 6;30 on a Friday night? Good grief. No one who wants my business, that's for sure. Fail.

I was willing to let it go. In fact, I was almost over it. Pass.

However, my hardworking hubby was in the office today (sad face) and he informed me that they were ordering in....cheese steaks. Gah!!! Fail!

Of course, I wasn't invited to the work-a-holic lunch party, so I was forced to improvise, lest my craving force me to hop on the nearest plane and have my own party in PA. ( I know two lovely ladies who might join me, but only if it was veggie and ethical!

Substitute:

LOTS of onions, sauteed up with mushrooooooms

Lavash wrap spread with laughing cow, sliced buffalo chicken breast and a sprinkling of Frank's
Pretty yummy for a buffalo chicken mushroom wrap. Pass.
Piss poor substitute for a Philly cheese steak sandwich. Fail.

Oh well. Never fear. I am devising a way to get my hands on the sammie for next week. Or else!

Anyways, one thing that never fails me is the outstanding show of support and encouragement from all of you! I am always amazed by your so sweet comments, and I can't tell you how much it means to me! Or maybe I can--it means the world! I am so lucky to have you guys as my readers, and I truly regard every one of you as my friends. Pass!

Hope you're all having a great weekend! Have any pass/fails of your own? xoxo

Thankful/FFF#12

Jeez. No post since Monday. Just call me slacker-face. (Not to be confused with snacker-face, who is much cuter!). But (big sigh of relief) , I have spent my a.m. catching up on all ya'lls blogs and my reader is at zero. Ahhhh.

And even though my computer is all hot and bothered and is probably getting ready to burn a hole in my table, I am now writing my own post, sure to be little long-winded...

It is also sure to be a little more personal and revealing than most of my posts, so if you are more anxious to check out my freak-a-licious food find, please scroll (scroll, scroll)--it'll be worth it when ya get there :)

November is all about the start of the holiday season, and of course, Thanksgiving. It's often an over looked holiday, but I love it in and of itself as opposed to just a kick off to Christmas.

A lot of us are talking about the things we are thankful for, and I wanted to add my own thoughts.

November is an interesting month for me. I have been feeling highly contemplative. It seems as though this month has brought about some sort of medical malfortune in the past , and history seems to be repeating itself . Not anything drastic for the most part, just little instances that make you take a step back and examine the way you are living your life.

While some of these things are a little too close (or not mine) to share on the blog, there is one item I wanted to talk a little about in my most supportive forum....

This time last year is when I began to really list back into the clutches of my eating disorder. I had been battling and resisting for months at that point and could no longer muster the resources for a fight. I was done.

I was pushed to the maximum on all fronts. My job was in a series of upheavals and co-worker drama (why can't we all just get along?). I had gotten in my first ever car accident in my company vehicle--yikes. I was direction-less and therefore unproductive in my work behaviors, which of course led to a huge dissatisfaction in myself.

The holidays were approaching and our families were waging a full on guilt war over where D and I would be spending our time. No matter what my suggestion, offer or attempt, it seemed I just couldn't make any one happy. Least of all myself.

I wanted everything to be perfect....

I don't pass along this info to throw a pity party--simply to suggest my state of mind at the time.

Thanksgiving was spent in tense moments and tears. I was already restricting, counting, measuring. My dad noticed.

Christmas was wrapped in the comfort of ed.

New Year's came and went. Cold.

February, March, April. I got help.

I am thankful for my recovery team. For my nutritionist, my group, therapist one...and shortly, therapist two.

I am thankful that this year will be different.

This year I will bake pies and EAT them. This year, I will share in, and enjoy the family recipes that mean so much to the rest of my family. I will not indulge in self destruction and guilt in stead of togetherness and joy. The holidays will not be just about FOOD, but about the traditions and relationships associated with it--those things that help to normalize eating behaviors and build a life around something besides the calorie count of a piece of fudge.

This year will be scary because I will not be in control of all of my food the way I would like to be.

But I am thankful for the challenge.

Sophia and Allison posed a difficult question the other day, and I wanted to share my response. The question was :

Is full recovery form an eating disorder possible?

here is what I wrote:
Hmmm...complicated question. Hard and fast, I DON'T think full recovery is ever possible. but let me clarify--full recovery from an eating disorder isn't possible like recovery from LIFE isn't possible.

You will never lose that experience, but then, would you really want to? Yes, I wish I didn't have to face these fierce struggles on a daily, hourly, all-the-time basis, but it has made me who I am. It has shaped my life and my spirit and my empathy towards others.

There is a part of me that believes I must have selected this trial in order to LEARN whatever it is that I am supposed to in order to progress.

I suppose I would kind of compare it to the process of repentance. We sin, we grow from our experience. We feel regret, guilt and humility. We turn to our Savior and He offers us complete forgiveness and erasure of our sins in his eyes. But we remember. We rarely forgive ourselves as fully as He is able to. We hold on to that experience to help us learn from our mistakes and become better.

There are many other moments of pain in my life and choices that I wish I could undo or forget, but they have made me who I am today. And I am growing to like that person.

One day I will be free of symptoms from my eating disorder and my thoughts of ed will be very few and far between. My life will be stuffed with things and people and emotions that are greater than food. I will be "recovered." But I will always remember.


Thankful for remembering.

Thankful for a wonderfully supportive husband and mommy, who came down to hold my hand through a particularly difficult and eye-opening doctor's appointment.

Thankful that my body has not given up on me yet.

Thankful for more family joining me and mommy for dinner
Notice how there are two bottles of ketchup on the table--one for ME and one for everyone else :) Thankful for condiments!

...and thankful for a deliciously deranged appetizer that had my name written all over it!

Fried pickles:


Hey, don't knock it til you've tired it! You guys know I usually would rather pluck out my eyelashes than eat something greasy and fried, so it's gotta be good! You also know I love pickles and these were no exception! Hot, battered and so salty. Perfect with ketchup (obv).

Thankful for job that, despite its stresses, allows me to have Fridays off so I can write epic blog posts like this one. :)

Thankful for my blog, my readers, for your support, kind comments and great ideas! You guys had some awesome suggestions to help me out of my food rut, so look out for some new things of YOUR creation here soon.

Thankful for sunshine, grocery shopping and old kickboxing workout videos, all of which are on my agenda for today, as well as meeting with a NEW therapist, as I alluded to above. Wish me luck!

What are you thankful for this Friday? xoxo

Random Monday

Well,l this just might be my most random post ever!

I have a lot of things to show you, but they're not really related in any particular way so.....

Now that October is over, I guess it's ok to begin appreciating the holiday season as opposed to the fall season.

Pee my pants tea find of the day:
I love this stuff. Maybe even more than the gingerbread chai. Maybe. Plus the box is pretty.

Oh Target, how I love you. Please jump inside my brain and come up with a more perfect yogurt flavor. Impossible.

Not only this, but I also picked up an eggnog and pumpkin pie flavor as well. It will be interesting to contrast that with the last pumpkin one I tried. Something tells me I will like this one better. I usually have pretty good luck with the Archer Farms products.

The bread pudding flavor didn't taste exactly like bread pudding, but it certainly tasted delicious. I immediately threw it in with some raisins, Kashi Heart to Heart and Quaker Maple Oatmeal Squares.
Almost as good as the real thing!

Inspired by my above pictured divine little lunch from Friday, on Saturday, I ventured out of my cottage cheese comfort zone and made another luscious mess for breakfast.

This one was decidedly unseasonally inspired--think more summer sunshine!

Look closely and you can see the crispy crunch-ness of my homemade pineapple chips! Pineapples were on sale a while ago at the Sunflower Market for 99 cents EACH! 99 cents! So I bought three of them and sliced ht em super thin to make these. Funny how three pineapples made a sandwich bag and a half full of chips :) Totally tropical with raisins, banana, honey almond butter drizzle, typical (cereal) trio and of course, some Fage down below. This was a winner! I know someone who'd agree!

I'm kind of curious about YOUR winners--I am SO stuck in a rut with my breakfasts and lunches lately. Bo-ring! Please share some of your favorites with me--I'd love to hear.

I know you guys are always the best source of inspiration for me, meals and otherwise :) Hope your Monday is off to a great start, and is slightly less random than these ramblings! have a great week! xoxo