June 23rd, 2011

Today was a day for firsts.  Never have I ever cooked with eggplant before and for some reason this was the week to do so.  Admittedly, I should have read up more on the technique to get it to cook correctly before I jumped into the recipe but I was hungry!  Hind site; never cook when you are very hungry or you'll make too much or do something wrong.  It is kind of like how you should never shop while hungry, expect entirely different.

When I bought the eggplant I did at least look up how to find one that was ripe and I think I succeeded at least in that.  The recipe I found was eggplant parmigiana.  Basically it is just like chicken parmigiana except with eggplant in place of chicken (imagine that).

Some of the ingredients listed were not in my cupboards or I had forgotten to get them at the store, but I made due.  The only things I think I changed were crackers instead of bread crumbs.  After having made them I'm almost sure bread crumbs would have worked better.

The recipe in a nut shell: eggplant, crackers, egg whites, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese.  The eggplant is put in the egg whites and then dipped into the crackers, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder mix.  Then it is baked, flipping them once.

After they baked on the sheet you lay them in a pan and slather on the pasta sauce and cheese in layers, and then baked it again!  Some how with all this time in the oven I'm pretty sure I still managed to some how under cook them because they seemed far to crunchy and chewy.  Then again I haven't ever cooked them so I'm not really sure how they should taste.

All I can say about it is, I doubt I'll probably make it again.  Definitely not added to my favorites.

June 22nd, 2011

So I decided to finally risk the grey skies today and ride my bike.  It didn't look like it was going to pour rain or anything so I took it as a challenge.  Well, sort of... 

Having not had a bagel from Bruegger's Bagels in far too long I decided that should be my destination.  There was more uphill parts of the path than I expected.  Guess I never really noticed while driving.  About half way there I walked next to my bike; I'll admit partly because my legs were not used to hills and partly because I had to answer the phone and make some other phone calls as well.  

I made it to Bruegger's Bagels without any rain.  Did I really succeed so easily?! Nope.  While I enjoyed one of their new skinny bagel options (egg white patty, turkey sausage, and some tomato tasty spread on a sesame seed bagel) outside in the cool morning air I got a phone call and moved back into the building.  

Shortly after I was on the phone it started to mist rain outside.  Bah!  I ended up having to ride part way home in the misting rain.  Luckily it was only the annoying mist kind and not heavy drops or I would have probably had to stay at Bruegger's until it let up...which probably would have led to me eating more bagels which would be oh so bad for the diet.

My reaction to having to ride in the rain.  I had to carry my purse under my light jacket to keep it safe from rain and I decided that I kind of looked like a pregnant lady on a bicycle.  I wonder how many people passing on the road thought I was.

June 13th, 2011

Time to get creative with my food.  Well, semi-creative.  I made pancakes today with strawberry chunks cut into the batter.  I think they turned out pretty well considering I haven't made pancakes with fruit in it.  The only thing I have added to my pancakes is chocolate chips and those are definitely not on my healthy eating radar.

Is it just me or does everyone else have issues turning over the first two pancakes?  The first two pancakes I make I usually end up screwing up because they don't flip over nicely.  One of them ended up in two halves and the other one kind of folded into itself, but then the  next two I made turned out perfectly.  Pancakes.  Funny things.

I also made some turkey bacon to go with my pancakes.  Someone please tell me if they think this is totally crazy but I was considering making pancakes with pieces of bacon in them.  Is that super strange? Ha ha.  I think it might be interesting.  I might try it some day.

June 4th, 2011

I wanted to fly my kite on Friday but another case of running out of time.  Soooo I fit it in on Saturday.  Sadly the wind did not cooperate with me.  I got it up for maybe a minute and then the wind just died down.  Meh.

I just kind of gave up on getting it to fly.  Kinda sad.  I was rather frustrated because I checked online and it said there was some wind blowing.  I will have a better kite flying day.  Or else! *Shakes fist in the air*

For dinner I decided to get creative and make some taco hot dish thing.  Basically I took my Jenni-o taco seasoned ground turkey and cooked it.  Then I added diced tomatoes, and celery.  Mixed it all together with some elbow maccaroni and threw some cheese on top and baked it for a few minutes to melt it.  It's pretty good.  I've got plenty though!  I know I'll be having some leftovers.

May 30th, 2011

Parents headed out bright and early. I guess I should say my family because my little brother came along as well. Would have been nice too keep them for longer but I knew they had to get back.

I honestly didn't accomplish much today.  I thought about riding my bike but then I heard hearsay about severe weather and decided to nap instead...  I don't even think the weather got that bad.

I did make up for that laziness by playing some kinect and getting a work out from that.  Some of those games can really get your heart pumping while you jump around like a fool.  I had no idea the adventure game that came with the kinect was actually fun until I had  played it with my brother and Scott in Montana before returning here.  I think I have discovered a way to work out that might actually be fun. :P

Oh, by the way, why can't the wind be a little less powerful so I can fly my awesome dragon kite?  It says it can only take winds up to 15 mph.  When I was considering flying I looked up how fast it was blowing outside and it say around 25 mph...so I decided to say no to the kite.  I'm sure I'll get another chance to fly it and it's awesomeness.

RAWWWWWWRRRRRRGGHGHHHH