One Day I Will...Cook Again!

I have a good feeling that after this weekend I'll be able to take a deep breath and start cooking again. It's hard to cook when you are coming and going and you're never sure which way that is. 

Until I can get back into the kitchen with my beloved pots I'm going to just look a pictures of things that seem delicious. 

Remember all those magazines I told you I read? Oh you don't? Then you need to go back and read this blog...

As a Christmas present this year I had my mom subscribe me to several magazines. Southern Living. Food & Family. Cooking Light. Better Homes and Gardens. Actually I'm not sure how the Home and Gardens got put in the mix, but it has good stuff. 

Since I'm all packed for my trip I've been sitting and catching up on magazines. 

What have I found...Lots of goodies...

In the June 2011 issue of Cooking Light includes a recipe for a Four-Herb Green Goddess Dressing. 

This is delightful to me and I've decided to make it. Not today. Not this week. But this month!

In the June 2011 Issue of Southern Living it included Fried Green Tomatoes. I've never cooked these. I love to eat these. Now I feel like I have to try these. Mmmmmm

Better Homes and Gardens, June 2011 issue swept me away with a Grilled Chile-Lime Shrimp. What's better for summer??

Last but not least...Food & Family. What do they have to offer this month? Lemon-blueberry crumb bars. 

Getcha some. Getcha some now. If you get you some will you give me some??

That's just what I'm folding over, tearing out and hoping in the next month I can make the time to try...

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Time to Slow Down? Doubtful.

Saturday morning I woke up with a scratchy throat and felt tired. Not thinking that I could possible get sick since I take enough vitamins a day for a small army, I just brushed if off that I was tired and that my birthday was the next day.

My birthday is always daunting to me - it's scary. I know it's coming. You can't stop it. I never feel prepared for it.

When it comes to birthdays I get weird, strange and my friends think I'm about to jump off a cliff.

Later that Saturday I started to feel better. Sunday comes and I feel the same way again. Scratchy throat and tired. Since Saturday had ended up being a busy day I blamed it on that.

Monday seemed to be a different story. I woke up feeling like I had been beaten up. This headache wouldn't go away and my throat felt like I was swallowing knives. By 3 p.m. Monday afternoon I knew my body was in retaliation of turning 25. 24 had been such a great year that I don't honestly blame my body for the revolt.

I left work early to come home and rest. I took more vitamins, Aleve, sleeping pills and fell into a deep sleep until 2 a.m. where I woke up thinking that I was on fire. Fever. Wonderful.

5:30 a.m. I woke up to the feeling of my throat being on fire and someone pouring bleach down my mouth while laughing. I stumbled into the kitchen where I found some more Aleve and went back to bed. The alarm goes off at  7 a.m. I go back to sleep. I had never been so happy for the arrival of 8 a.m. This meant I could call the doctor. I Googled the number, called and begged to have them work me in. The first available time? 2 p.m.

For the first of the morning I worked from home. I had plenty to do with emails, working on projects and self-diagnosing myself on WebMD. As long as I didn't swallow or talk the pain was manageable.

Once I'm in the examination room of the doctor's office the nurse starts asking me questions. Why are you here today? Where do you feel bad? Do you blah blah blah? What about yada yada yada?

Then I hear those dreaded words from the nurse, "Well, let's test for strep first and then if it's not that we can take blood." Oh goody. I walk back to the lab where the nurse seems to shove a extra long cue-tip to the back of my throat. A warning would have been nice.

Then I have to sit. And wait. And sit. And wait. Results? Negative! Yes! No strep.

Which means...yep...time to draw blood. This part has never bothered me. I don't particularly like to watch someone stick a needle into my vein but I'm not grossed out by it either. After the fun part is all over I'm allowed to go sit in the examination room again to sit. and wait. and sit. and wait.

The doctor walks in with the blood results. My white blood cells seem to be high which means by body is fighting something. It's probably fighting the little ninjas who are having a sword fight in the back of my throat.

Doctor: Well...it's not strep.
Me: Okay. (Nurse already confirmed that.)
Doctor: It could be tonsillitis.
Me: I don't have tonsils.
Doctor: Your white blood count is high so you must have a infection.
Me: Look of 'duh'
Doctor: Let me look in your mouth
Me: I hate this part.
Doctor: Yeah, it's a little pink.
Me: Probably from all of the ninja fighting (Just kidding. I didn't say that.)


After more 'ahhhsss' and 'ohhhhs' the doctor finally prescribes me some medicine.

Doctor: Have you ever taken "super big medicine word"
Me: Um. I don't know what even means.
Doctor: It's a steriod. It helps blah blah blah.
Me: I don't know. But I'm not opposed to it. What are the side effects?
Doctor: It can kind of be like caffeine.
Me: That's fine
Doctor: Have you had much rest lately?
Me: Um. You know.
Doctor: You may want to slow down for a couple of days.
Me: Slow down?
Doctor: Yeah. Your immune system needs rest sometimes. 

After I leave the doctor with my lecture on slowing down and without a sticker or sucker like the little kids get, I go pick up my prescription and head home. Take my three pills and pass out about 15 min after taking them.

After a good two hour solid nap, I wake up with enough energy for three 5-year-olds. What do I do? Well I clean. Pack. Laundry. Bleach. Go to the store to by lysol. Break out in a fever in the middle of Krogers and think I'm about to die. That was stupid to go anywhere. Go home. And look around. Take more pills. Go to bed.

Let's hope these pills kick this sore throat so I don't have to 'rest' too much during my Nashville trip.

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Something In The Water??

The past few days have been all over the place. Here. There. Everywhere.

Trying to shop, clean, pack, get ready for my Nashville trip while also trying to feel better (silly cold/allergies) I've realized that something must be in the water.

Let me explain...

Last Friday night my cousin talked me into going to see a movie with her and her husband...and their friend she's been trying to set me up with for like a year. Ah. Maybe set-up is too harsh of a word. Let's go with meet. Now, on the flip side there is already a guy I have a crush on but we haven't 'technically' been out yet...So, I told her I would go eat and see a movie with her, her husband and this guy.

Plus, she said she'd pay for my movie ticket.

I met them to eat at Vino's, a cute, hipster pizza place in Little Rock. I'm not hipster but I'll play the part. I walk into the pizza place and find them in the back.. I say hi to my cousin and her husband and introduce myself to this guy. Hmm...what shall we call him? I'll call him Mr. Big Shot. Now he's talked a big talk to my cousin of how he's a ladies man, can get the ladies, blah blah blahhhhh. I'm not the type of girl to swoon and I'm guessing he thinks that I'm going to walk into the restaurant and just fall to pieces over him.

Ain't. Gonna. Happen. Homeboy.

We have some drinks and he doesn't talk to me. Just because I didn't walk-in and fall to pieces doesn't mean he should have acted like a 12-year-old at a Christmas dance. I tried to talk to him. I tried to be interested into the douchey things he had to say about his job, how he works out, his 'nutrition plan,' and some girl he liked at work (no joke) but there was no hope.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't consider this a date. I consider this a meet-n-greet. Love at first sight is for movies and Taylor Swift songs. However, Mr. Big Talk COULD have been polite. After we got done eating we headed for the theater to watch X-Men. Maybe I'm one of the X-Men and I"m invisible to others and Mr. Big Talk just couldn't see me? No? Oh well.

Movie time came. We sat beside each other because that just seemed like the right thing to do. Now don't get me wrong, I hate talkers in a movie. I get that. I can respect that. I didn't talk during the movie but to ask one question. I've seen some of the X-Men movies and I didn't know how one guy became his character...

So I asked Mr. Big Shot...

Me: "Who's that guy?"
Big Shot: "He's one of the characters."

Boom. The entire movie he said five words to me. When the movie was over I ran out of there so fast you'd think my boots were on fire and my hair was falling out. Peace out Big Shot. See you on the flip side.

Next...

I had to go to Clinique for some make-up. All I needed was powder. I'm a pretty straight-forward person. Small talk isn't my thing. Let's get in, get out, move on with our lives.

I walk up to the counter to get new make-up...and here is what happens.

Makeup Dude: HI! May I help you?
Me: Yes. I need this powder. (Hand him powder.)
Makeup Dude: Sure thing! This is a great powder! Do you like it? Any problems with it? Want to talk about it? (I couldn't make this up if I tried.)
Me: Yeah. I'm happy with it. That's all I need.
Makeup Dude: Well great!  This has great coverage but I don't know if you are wearing it today or not.
Me: It's been a long day. It's hot outside. Stuff happens.
Makeup Dude: Are you out of it? Is that why you came in

(Side note: captain obvious, isn't he?)

Me: Yep. It's all i need.
Makeup Dude: Well okay, let me get that for you.
Me: Thanks.
Makeup Dude: Why you are here let me show you this new package we have that's worth yada yada yada and contains blah blah blah.
Me: No thanks. Those really aren't my colors. I just need powder today. Thanks for showing it to me though.
Makeup Dude: Well you know we spend millions of dollars on putting these colors together...they know what they are talking about...sure you don't have time to try on these colors?
Me: I don't wear pinks or greens on my eyes...I like neutrals. But thanks.
Makeup Dude: Well you should at least try it.
Me: Not today...
Makeup Dude: Are you sure?
Me: More positive by the minute.
Makeup Dude: I think we should at least try it on you.
Me: Not today.
Makeup Dude: Are you really sure?
Me: Silence.

The moral of this story is that I don't wear pink eye shadows. Yes, on some girls it looks gorgeous and they can pull it off and it's like a shimmer of goodness on their eyelids. Me? It looks like I walked into a bad version of Pretty Woman and instead of Richard GereI get the creepo in the Mustang.

I'm not sure if it's me lately - or if there is something in the water. Holy moly let it be something in the water and not me.

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Birthday Eve Eve Eve and Bucket List

In celebration of my birthday eve eve eve where I will turn the age that is the year before the age that scares me the most...I feel like I should share some of my bucket list. 

That term keeps popping up in my life lately. Either it's God telling me to do something besides watch the Bachelorette or Swamp People, or he's telling that to everyone else in my life and I just have to hear about it.

Either way, it makes you wonder. What would be on my bucket list? I've already accomplished some things.

1. I met Reba

2. Saw the Dalai Lama. (Actually - that was just put on my bucket list before I went to go hear him last month.)

I never said my bucket list was long. Quality over quantity my friends. 

So for my current bucket list I have come up with this list: 

1. I want to be on a billboard.

     Why? Because it just seems like fun to drive by and see your face.

2. I want to meet Pioneer Woman.

      Because I want to see her massive kitchen.

3. I want to meet Paula Deen so we can compare southern accents. 

     Secretly - I know she has to act that accent up. I can act mine up. I want to see who can be the bigger actor of accents. 

4. I want to hear Billy Ray Cyrus sing 'Achy Breaky Heart'

     Because since I was 6 years old I've known the words to that song and it's just time that I hear it in person. (This one should come true in about 9 days...)

5. I want to go to Italy. Greece. Ireland. Australia. 

     It's where all the good lookin guys are. 

6. I would like for someone other than my mother to comment on my blog.

     Actually, my mom has never commented. If you are one of the five people who read this, do me a favor and share it with a friend. I'm trying to get to 10 readers. I never said my bucket list was full of big dreams. (My mom did tell me that one of her co-workers reads it and thinks I'm funny. Thank you for reading it and thinking I am funny. Please don't stop reading it or I will only have four readers.)

7. I want to be a GREAT cook.

     Right now I am a good cook. I can follow a recipe, I can make some things from scratch, but I want to be remembered by all. 

Those are the top seven things on my bucket list. It isn't long. It isn't wild and crazy and over the top. It's just my list and I am happy with it.

    

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Put a Little Salsa In It

My kitchen still works. I was worried that my pots and pans and oven and stove were going to up and leave since I hadn't used them in so long. Luckily for me, it all still works.

I cooked spaghetti last night for some friends and then made salsa.

Because if I was given a choice of only eating two foods the rest of my life, it would be salsa and spaghetti.

I love this salsa recipe. It's easy. It's quick. It's delightful. It taste fresh.

Shake it for me Salsa

Here is what you do:

1. 2 cans of Del Monte stewed tomatoes (mexican recipe - if you don't see that then use the peppers and onions style)
2. 1 small dab (in your hand) of fresh, thinly chopped cilantro
3. 1/2 Tsp Minced Garlic
4. 1 Whole tomato cut into cubes
5.  1/2 or 1/4 of an onion depending on your taste cut into thin slices
6. 1 or 2 jalapenos (I use 2. Call me a rebel.)
7. Dash of lime juice

Put all into a blender and blend as thin or as chunky as you wish.

Grab some chips.

Boom. Boom. Pow. You now have salsa.

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