Photo Throw Up

I think I can safely say that I hold the trophy for worst blogger ever. Part of it isn't my fault! I blame Blogger's inability to function the way it's supposed to for separating me from the masses. The other part is completely my fault. Go ahead, take a second, judge me, you'll feel better. It's okay, I'll wait.

Okay now stop. I have feelings too ya know. In order to play catch up, here is a plethora of photos (and one recipe). No licking your screens.

Binky and Snooky's Lasagna (and no you're not going to get the recipe for this one...we own this dish!)

No licking the screen!

Jam Muffins! My 10 o'clock snack...and 12 o'clock...and 2 o'clock...and...

What's that little muffin? Eat me you say? Don't mind if I do.

Breakfast!

Making falafel.

Falafel and Goddess Dressing. You could maybe drool a little.

I figured out the grater can actually grate more than cheese. Who knew??

Sunday Morning Breakfast: Hash Browns

So let's talk falafel. I love it. Would eat it everyday. And since the UDG is cursing...er uh, counting calories, I could get away with it with this recipe.

BAKED FALAFEL

recipe posted by CATCH23 on Recipes.Sparkpeople.com

(my changes in italics)

1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans
1 small onion, finely chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped (I used pre-minced garlic)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans. Put in a medium sized bowl and smash with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. (I used my small food processor and mixed after I added each ingredient) Form into small balls, about 1 1/2″ in diameter and slightly flatten. Place onto an oiled baking pan. (items from Pampered Chef's stoneware line work really well also, just saying)

Bake for 15 minutes on each side, until nicely browned (since it’s baked, only the part actually touching the pan will be browned and crispy). (I would maybe do 17 minutes per side but that's just my oven. You have to know your oven, feel it out, maybe take it out for cocktails)

There you are. Hope this post was worth the wait. Cheers!

Food Friday...Kind of

**So obviously it's not Friday but after I underwent internal combustion on Friday, I had to put off this post. I needed to lay in my recliner with my remote in one hand and my pants unbuttoned. In other words, I needed to be a man. A woman would have come home, poured herself a cocktail and finished Panini Week off strong. I chose another path. Don't judge me. Instead, please proceed to our normally scheduled post.**

 Since I used some of our Christmas money to buy the George Foreman, I've been meaning to try paninis on it. I should say try again, as the first time I tried, I used normal slices of wheat bread which were crushed under the weight of the lid. Note to self: use more substantial bread. Hence, the induction of Panini Week.

Monday: Grilled Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!!!!!!!!!!

  So to kick off Panini Week, I relied on an old standby-the grilled cheese. Now if it wasn't for my toaster oven, I would've given up on standard grilled cheese a long time ago. I don't think I was meant to cook in a pan; it just ends with pizza being ordered and endless scrubbing of aforementioned pan. To make a grilled cheese sandwich now, I put American cheese between two slices of bread and stick it in the toaster oven until the cheese is melted. What would the UDG be without her appliances?? (most likely just UD)
   For my grilled cheese, I used Pepperjack and Cheddar Cheese Sourdough purchased at the From The Hearth Bakery Cafe stall at our Farmer's Market (which is wonderful slathered with cream cheese! not just for bagels people!). The all important cheese portion was a mixture of shredded mozzarella and thinly sliced sharp cheddar (once you go sharp...never mind). I buttered the outside of the bread with, uh, butter and the inside I layered on Best Foods mayo (that's Hellman's to those of you East of the Rockies). The real stuff. No imitators allowed in the UDG casa. Topped it off with a salad drizzled with GODDESS DRESSING!! and popcorn. Yes popcorn.

Next time I'll leave off the butter as the sandwich as a whole got mushy in the center instead of nice and crisp. 

Tuesday: Turkey Panini w/ Mozzarella Cheese

  For my turkey panini, I used sourdough bread from Trader Joe's. Not a super impressive bread but it did have HUGE slices, which is great for sandwich making. No butter on the outside but did lay on the mayo. Paired it with some pineapple slices and my staple salad and this was a delicious dinner.

Fresh off the press w/ ice cold pineapple

Take a look at all the goo....food porn at it's best...

Wednesday: Mexican Panini

  So putting this post up late was actually my second epic pail. My first epic fail was when I ran out of momentum on Wednesday and made a Mexican Panini aka Quesadilla. And this wasn't even like, a fun quesadilla. I grated some cheese, put it between two tortillas and threw it on the press. Melted cheese everywhere. Still haven't cleaned up from it. Should probably be more ashamed, but I'm not. Topped it off with some sour cream and called it good.

Epic Fail #1 (but it was so tasty!)

After Wednesday, it was just all downhill. Thursday I ate with the Binky's (kickin' chicken taco salad) and Friday sucked so bad I treated myself to baby Panda's...no I didn't, I got take out from Panda Express (that's how rumors get started. 

Ultimately, I learned that when making a commitment to eating something for an entire week, it's best to have a menu laid out. These were probably the most boring paninis ever made and it was all due to poor planning on my part. Here's hoping Salad Week goes better.

The One Where The UDG Gets Free Food Just For Showing Up

Last Sunday, Binky and I set out to the bridal shower of the 3rd member of our tantalizing trio...

...and already our story diverges. Back story: I first met Binky in one of our college classes, something about music and children and worksheets that I never got a 100% on, even with my music major roommate helping me. Fast forward a couple of months and Binky actually became my boss (I worked for the events department at the college during the school year and then stayed on to work the summer crew as well). It was my first time being a supervisor and her first time as a boss and in my own humble opinion, it was like Goddess Dressing and Feta Cheese, Bruce Willis and Die Hard, Mandie and Peanut Butter.

I eventually graduated but continued to work for the college until I found my first big girl job. Now, you know you worked for someone who really has it together, when after you move on to another position after working for said person for two years, you still consider them to be one of the finest human beings. EVER. And during those two years, we were introduced to Cush. Cush was a family friend of THE Boss and worked in the office my last summer there. My introduction to Cush actually happened before I ever met her. Her father, who also worked for the college, came in to chat one day and we ended up on the topic of Cush in South Africa for a school trip. Apparently, she had called to perform her daughterly duty of letting her mother know she was going to be swimming with sharks.  Said mother then did not hear from daughter for a few DAYS.  That is how I became aware of Cush.

So over the years we've bonded and formed the Tantalizing Trio (you can view our journey in picture form if you have access to my Facebook). Now Cush is getting married and we'll get back to our regularly scheduled story...

...The shower was very warm and inviting.  The hosts were extremely attentive, not only to the Bride but to their guests as well.  They totally justify my demands in people acting hospitably toward people in their homes.   These hosts did it to perfection.

The Binky and Me (and I know the camera adds ten pounds, but #%%#$^. I had to crop my arms due to the overwhelming desire to actually go Venus di Milo on myself)

A plethora of chocolate strawberry delights (my favorite was dipped in white chocolate and sprinkle with little tiny chocolate chips, so dainty; I ate it in one bite and I think I chewed but no one was willing to confirm)

CAKE POPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These cookies were absolutely precious and delicious. Such a combination.

Cush opening The UDG and Husband's Present (in real life, she's much more in focus)

Congrats to Cush and Future-Mr-Cush! Very excited for the big day...and more free food.

UDG

Food Friday

**I need to preface this edition of Food Friday by saying that most of this food was consumed post-workinducedseparation. Since Husband has been away, I haven't cooked myself a single meal that involved more than one pot.

This was the very first meal I ever made without a plan. I knew what I had on hand and every recipe I could find called for things I didn't have, so I said "Screw you recipe fascists!" and came up with my own delicious meal for Meatless Monday. IT WAS SOOOOOOOOO GOOD! If anyone would like the recipe, please let me know.

Spinach tortellini yumminess w/ homemade cheddar biscuits (tip: when cooking w/ cheddar use sharp or extra sharp, otherwise you lose that amazing flavor).

First time I used my broiler! (Lessons learned: use more cheese and do not attempt to watch reruns of Two and a Half Men at the same). 

MY NEW ALL TIME FAVORITE LOVE!! 

Since Husband has been gone, I have eaten two salads a day exactly like this, w/ nothing but romaine lettuce, feta cheese (from hormone free cows of course) and GODDESS DRESSING!! I sit at my desk and count down the hours, minutes, seconds until I can have my next tasty bite of Goddess dressing. There hasn't been this much excitement in my mouth since this.

Since I'm limited in my meat selection, I was super excited to pick this up and try it and wasn't too disappointed except that I think next time I won't make it in my toaster oven. Just didn't get hot hot in the middle like I would have liked (which is a bummer because I LOVE my toaster oven).

But even in the midst of all this delicious food, tragedy has struck. I'VE RUN OUT OF GODDESS DRESSING!!! I just slathered on the last tasty drops on today's lunch salad. Now I'm slowly beginning to understand why the girl I saw in Trader Joe's had (I kid you not) eight bottles of the stuff in her cart. Lesson learned.