Fall Weather

It is finally Fall in the Sunshine State!  Well I don't know if finally is the correct word, it seems as thought it's here earlier than usual.  But I'm not complaining!  I love having the windows and doors open on the cool mornings.  It is quite pleasant outside.

I've really enjoyed the cool mornings to practice my yoga with the windows and doors open and the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels scurrying around.  It does a lot for the mind and body.

Fall also brings fabulous fall decorations.  I decided to make some a few additions this year.  My favorite being from Michaels of course! If you don't visit Michael's regularly you really should!  

How cute are these little words?

With the cooler weather comes the craving of heartier foods.  I went to Publix for some inspiration without really having a list (could have been a disaster) however I kept myself in check.  I'm trying a new recipe tonight for chicken stroganoff, saw it on the TODAY show (of course).  Beef Stroganoff was one of my favs growing up but this one seemed healthier so we shall see how it turns out.  I'm doing it from memory of what I saw this morning.

Tomorrow... CHILI!  OH I CAN'T WAIT!

It's truly Fall when you have Chili cooking all day long!

Happy Fall Y'all!

-lp  

Summer Salad

Ok so I mentioned in my last post about a Martha Stewart's high and fancy summer salad that I had to make on a working girls/boys money...i.e. no lobster sub shrimp from Publix.

It was so good on Sunday I had to make it again for dinner tonight...for just me. I'm a little obsessed with it and was so excited I had enough of all ingredients left over except for the shrimp to make again tonight!

I like good food ok, deal with it.

Take a look though. Tell me that doesn't just look divine, refreshing and healthy (minus the bread I know...sometimes you have to have a little french baguette in your life).

Thank you Martha for the recipe. It made me feel high and fancy as I ate and watched House Hunters International and dreamed of living in Paris permanently.

So if you're interested here's what the salad consists of:

Arugula (fresh)

Cilantro (fresh)

Grilled Corn on the Cob sliced off the cob

(brushed with olive oil and salt and pepper)

Tomatoes

(grape or whatever you've got)

Avocado

Squeeze of lemon or lime whatever you've got

(Martha prefers lime I suppose)

Shrimp (or Lobster if you're so inclined) brushed with olive oil, fresh parsley and fresh chopped chives (broiled or grilled)

Sliced french baguette (my addition not Martha's)

I suppose you could add fresh shredded parmesan too but I didn't as that thought it just now occurring to me.

I couldn't tell ya how much of what was in the salad I just threw it all in there till it looked good enough. That's just how I cook, take it or leave it.

- summer salad chef lp

Distraction, Veggies, and the Effects of Marriage on Diets....

I am in need a of a distraction from staring a food, recipes and training materials this morning or afternoon whichever it is and....
This one has lost his crazy mind today


And has therefore influenced this one to be just as crazy....

So here are my thoughts lately on food.
Monday I went grocery shopping. While shopping for the necessities I had a hard time figuring out which protein (specifically chicken, pork and turkey) sounded good to me and which ones I would want to cook with this week.

Alternately while in the perusing the produce, veggies, and nuts I had to make myself stop from putting items into my cart. The fresh fruits, decadent berries, tasty leafy greens and delicious roasted almonds were just so appealing to me.

Monday and Tuesday MK wasn't really around so I cooked and ate whatever looked good to me at the time. By Wednesday night when I contemplating dinner I realized it had been since Sunday since I had had protein from a meat source and the lack of meat didn't bother me.

All this made me wonder......
Would I be an vegetarian inadvertently due to my own food preferences and not convictions (cause let's be honest I do not have personal issues with eating animals) if I were still single at this point in life and not married to MK who is very much a carnivore?

It is quite interesting to consider how the person you are married to influences every single part of your life including which foods you choose to eat even if those items may or may not be a personal preference. Now understand that I don't have an issue with this influence, I just think it's interesting to think about.

- carnivorous lp

p.s. Alternatively Doritos were Buy One Get One (BOGO for Payless fans) and I'm weak. I do love Doritos! Don't judge.

Anxiety, drugs, bangs, and groceries

Ever feel like you need to go to the grocery store and then when you sit down to make your list and go through your coupons and look for deals you just feel like I don't know if I really want to eat any of that stuff? Or what on earth can I make for dinner off of this list....nothing?!??

Anxiety is no good. Life seems unsettled and as it gets unsettled I get to doing things. Laundry at amazing speeds, cleaning like I've got the queen of England coming to stay with me, drastic decisions like to have Jenny give me bangs and dye my hair super dark.

MK suggested I take a Xanax...I don't think I'm to that point..............


yet.

So here I sit with a grocery list of necessities that can't make weeks worth of dinners. The grocery store does not sound inviting on this monday COFFEE-LESS morning. YUP! We were out of coffee too!

There is a trip to the gym that has to fit in somewhere too along with our weekly group meeting tonight. I suppose I should get off the computer and do what I need to do then.

Before I do that though...

When was the last time you had bangs? Mine would be probably around 9th grade in the middle of my ever so long awkward stage. Welp I may have stepped back into it because as mentioned before in ever drastic move to be in control I had Jenny change my hair.So there you have it
bangs.
And here I go...groceries. Blah.

-lp