I’m a big fan of personal accountability, although, admittedly, perhaps more often in theory rather than personal action. That admission being made, I do like to take responsibility for my own actions, my own course, my own reactions, my own “victim” mentality. It’s easy to talk about doing things, much harder to actually accomplish those things. One way in which I love how corporations are, um, incorporating, this personal accountability into their own practice is through health insurance (don’t worry, I’m not going to take a political tangent here). At both my current and previous employer, employees were able to gain monetary benefits if they completed certain healthful activities. These activities ranged from getting your annual exam to exercising to completing volunteer projects. Now, let me just say, I LOVE this idea. I’m fortunate in the sense that whether I complete these activities or not, I have good insurance. However, want a couple hundred dollars back for that good insurance? Then work for it. Get healthy! Be preventative! Just do it! Now, I’ll also admit (before anyone needs to point it out!) that I’m certainly not the healthiest of people. It’s my own fault, due to my own actions, and yes, my own laziness. And it’s up to me to fix it. And why not let my employer remind me of this—if health itself isn’t enough of a motivator, well, money is. So, through my employer and the wide variety of programs they offer, I have enlisted in a 10 week healthy living/exercise/weight loss initiative. Honestly, the goal seems easy enough to meet but will require continuous, on-going maintenance. This is a good thing, a great thing!! I’ve also enrolled in beginners’ ladies running group. It's a 6-week training program with the goal being a 5k in August. Seems easy enough to most, next to impossible for me! But what’s the point of trying new things if I only stick to the ones I already know I like? Yesterday, I may have told a friend to not hold me to any of the aforementioned running stuff. That if you never hear me mention running again, assume that running became extinct. There is no need to ask me “hey, when are you running that 5k?” BUT what’s the good in that? Where’s the accountability? So hopefully, by writing this long-winded blog entry, I will, in some small way, be making myself accountable. Who wants to admit they failed? Besides, how can I let my loyal blog audience down? J

Tonight's Experiment.....Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Seeing as it’s 98 degrees here today and I spent most of the day in a non-air conditioned warehouse, heating up the oven and subsequently, my entire apartment, seemed like the perfect evening project. Meatloaf seemed like a good comfort food and I could use a little comfort this week (but then again, who couldn’t?)! I used the following recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Brown-Sugar-Meatloaf/Detail.aspx

In the tips I read a tablespoon of Worscheschire was a good addition, so I threw that in and also substituted actual breadcrumbs for saltine cracker crumbs. I also used half ground turkey/half lean ground beef. I put the brown sugar/ketchup on top.

The results: Pretty Good (of course, despite the luxury of the fine dining experiences my previous job afforded me, I like everything!). I sort of like my mom’s better! I think next time I will add a little more onion, maybe some celery, a little more seasoning etc. Good, a little sweet, but could used a little more savory.

The Asheville in me....

Seeing as I had pretty much all the ingredients on hand, I decided to give granola a try. Yes, I had most of the ingredients on hand. Apparently I really thought a giant, Sam’s Club container of oats was really necessary. There’s not even cabinet space for this container—it sits on top of my wine glasses, because I’m fancy. Anyway, while it seems super easy, apparently granola can be very temperamental and somewhat difficult to master. But again, I consulted www.allrecipes.com, and settled on this top-rated recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Megans-Granola/Detail.aspx

I pretty much followed the recipe exactly but I left out the oat bran (I’m not even quite sure what this is or where I find it in the grocery store! Somewhere in the cereal aisle I’m guessing….) and added coconut (which, for some reason, I had in my cupboard). Note: granola burns really easily and really quickly. Once you take it out of the oven, it just continues to cook itself. I find that slightly “smoky” flavor delightful though and when you mix it with the other batches that are less “smoky”, it’s just fine! It turned out pretty well I think, especially for a first attempt. And thanks to the ample recipe serving size (which I apparently overlooked), I had plenty to share with my friends, who are really good sports about this whole cooking thing.

On a side note, as I’m following more recipes and learning more about cooking, I’m discovering a bunch of healthy-cooking tips, such as cutting the required vegetable oil in the recipe above with applesauce. I seriously had no idea that this was an option. I’ll try it next time though! J If you have any other healthy cooking tricks or tips, I would love to hear them!

So yep, this is a great recipe for granola and it makes a whole bunch!!! Careful, it can be addictive though and with that much vegetable oil, I feel like maybe the healthfulness of it may be questionable! I’m pretty sure adding more dried fruit will help though. J

All good things.....

They say all things end badly, otherwise they wouldn’t end. By “them”, of course I mean Tom Cruise in Cocktail--that movie is profound and genius. Good or bad, necessary or unnecessary, happy or sad, I hate endings. If I come across a series finale on the television, I will cry, regardless of whether I’ve ever watched a single episode of the show. I’m not sure why I’m so affected by these endings. Perhaps it’s the feelings of loss accompanying them—the fact that now I have to find something else to fill my time at 8:00 pm on Thursdays. Perhaps it’s the disappointment—the idea that I’ve put several years into these characters and their lives and now they’re gone. I’ve watched them, supported them, hurt for them, and have come to expect them to be there for me. Maybe I’m just really curious and want to know what’s going to happen next—that because I’ve been part of the past, I deserve to be part of the future. Maybe I’m really selfish and arrogant—if I’ve chosen you to be a part of my life, then how can you just not be there anymore? It seems quite silly to me……and a little sad.

Thank goodness for reruns and syndicated television, those moments that allow you to remember those who were a part of your life, albeit briefly, with fondness and a hope that whatever comes next for them, that it was good and their endeavors were successful. And maybe, these moments will also provide a moment in which you suddenly realize that there are indeed other options at 8:00 pm on Thursdays, that now this show seems a little out-dated, a little less relevant, that you miss it a little less……

I have a feeling that maybe we’re not really talking about just tv shows here anymore….either way, I hate endings. Even when they’re for the best.

By Popular Demand.....

A certain picky and demanding overnight guest recently requested (read: demanded) waffles for breakfast. Eggos of course wouldn’t due, no matter how many ways I tried to fancy them up. So a waffle iron was purchased (based on reviews and research performed, the cheap one from target was the way to go), www.Allrecipes.com was consulted and a recipe was selected (read: sent to me with a note demanding I make these waffles)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cinnamon-Pumpkin-Waffles/Detail.aspx

Um, I’m not a big fan of waffles, but these are pretty delicious. And the wheat flour/germ totally makes me believe they’re healthy despite the butter/milk/sugar/etc. The best part? They freeze well! I made a whole bunch at once and froze them individually. I just pop them in the toaster and they’re good to go! Based on feedback, I’m not the only one who thinks so! J I highly recommend this recipe!

Jennifer Van Gogh

I subscribe to two on-line coupon groups: www.groupon.com and www.livingsocial.com, which allow me to “get one unbeatable deal on a restaurant, spa or event in Charlotte emailed to you each day.” These are awesome! I’ve gotten great deals on massages (my personal favorite), facials, spa treatments (see a trend here), and restaurants. But you know what’s even better than these deals to places I would have frequented anyway on my own? That it also introduces me to events/activities/places I wouldn’t normally find/research on my own: belly dancing, painting classes, glass blowing, pottery classes, etc. (Yes! that is totally a foreshadowing of upcoming events you will read about here—I know, you’re super excited! So am I!).

So when a great deal came to my inbox for this place, I had to give it a shot.

http://www.cajuncanvas.com

I know, I know. This place probably would make a "real" artist turn over in his/her grave. But to me, a girl who has neither artistic skills nor imagination*, it’s a great way to spend an evening. AND it’s BYOB! What could be better than getting your girlfriends together and spending an evening here, painting, with a bottle of wine (or two….).

I went on Havana Night—by the end of the evening I had a delightful painting of an ocean sunset scene, a belly full of Cuban food, and a coupon for a $1 off a mojito. A Piece of Havana provided the appetizers—although my knowledge of Cuban food is somewhat limited, it was delicious and I can’t wait to give it a real try for dinner sometime. Check it out! http://apieceofhavana.com/index.html

The painting hangs in my cubicle at work. I haven’t gotten a lot of comments on it yet, but I know everyone is intimidated by my skill.

*Although anyone who saw the paint job I did on my dorm room sophomore year might disagree. That was pure artistic genius!!!...thank God they tore that building down later that year….Also, I apologize to whoever drove that pickup truck parked on the second floor of the West Ridge parking deck. I’m sure that pepto bismol pink paint wasn’t easy to get off of your tires. L

Ta-Da! I'm a Chef!

I know pasta dishes are probably among the most easy dinners to throw together…if you’re not me. However, when boiling water has been known to take a disastorous turn, it seems like a really good starting point! I wanted to make a delicious, healthy, vegetable-filled pasta dish and preferably something not tomato sauce based. Seeing as one of my earlier “projects” this summer was growing my own herbs, primarily basil, a pesto-based dish seemed like a good choice (also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE pesto). I usually go to www.allrecipes.com for my recipes. I love the rating and review system. It’s pretty similar to www.tripadvisor.com, which is my go-to travel site!

Anyway, I found the following recipe for pesto, which allowed me to put all of that basil to use AND was a good way to get more spinach into my diet:

Pesto:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spinach-Basil-Pesto/Detail.aspx

This is a great pesto recipe (although I’m fond of adding more walnuts) and I’ve used the pesto both frozen and fresh—both times it was pretty delicious (if I do say so myself)!

I used the following pasta recipe:

Pasta:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pesto-Pasta-with-Chicken/Detail.aspx

I used whole wheat pasta and added a bunch of fresh veggies (broccoli, zucchini, and squash). I also used a TON of pesto—more than called for.

Also, my recipes usually end up with a dash of pug hair. This is strictly optional L.

PS—growing my own herbs proved to be so easy. Especially considering I’m growing them indoors. So cheap too! Simply picked up basil, mint, and cilantro at walmart and potted them. The basil requires a TON of water, the mint smells fantastic but I have NO idea what to use it for (I’m leaning towards mojitos! You provide the rum, I’ve got the mint! I think that’s fair. J), and the cilantro died really quickly. But hey, two out of three isn’t bad for an indoor, spur-of-the-moment herb garden. Also, check out that awesome pink elephant watering can. $1 from Target. How great is that?!?!