Week 1: Coulinary Concoctions

So this week I managed to make TWO things!!!  Way to kick of my cooking challenge with a bang!  I am calling my cooking challenge copycat creations because I am certainly not talented enough to make up my own recipes.  Not yet at least.  Baby steps grasshopper, baby steps.

For my first meal, I decided to go with a soup.  It is getting a little colder outside and soup just sounded good.  So I made an Italian Sausage Soup. I used this recipe.  Mainly because I had a lot of baby spinach and I wanted to put it to good use.  I think I may start adding pictures of my finished product for proof, but I have not taken any pictures yet...  So for now, I give you the picture from the site.  I promise I made it!  Ask Sarah.

My thoughts on the recipe are: good relatively healthy soup, but definitely use spicy sausage!  I used sweet turkey sausage and that was a mistake.  The recipe was bland without the spicy sausage.  I added crushed red pepper and it helped.  On the whole, it was simple to make and pretty tasty once I added the pepper.  I would make it again.  Woohoo for recipe one!

For my second recipe, I went with my absolute favorite tuna noodle casserole.  I cannot find a picture of a casserole online that does not have peas.  And my tuna noodle casserole certainly does not have peas (yuck)! So no fake picture for this one. And no recipe either.  Not because it is super secretive, but because it is not already online and I don't want to take the time to write it out.  Lame, I know.  But I am sure you can find some TNC recipe online if you are dying to make it... actually, if anyone is dying to make tuna noodle casserole, let me know and I will write out and send you my recipe.  I think I may be the only person on earth that loves TNC, so I would gladly take the time to jot down my recipe if I found out I had company.

I heard my college roommate Tess's voice in my head the entire time I was cooking.  She HATES tuna with a passion and every time she would come home after I made tuna of any kind, she would always say "Ewww, Jen made tuna!" or something to voice her concern that our house smelled fishy.  The thought made me laugh and miss her so much (she lives in Baltimore)!  But just as I did in college, I enjoyed my tuna noodle casserole this week despite others thoughts or protests.  I love it ever so!

On to next week!  I am thinking squash of some sort... Spaghetti squash or squash soup....  Who knows!  Any good squash soup ideas?

Thursday Thoughts

I survived my first trial.  The first week of October, I was second chair in a four day trial and I managed to escape with my sanity.  We won a pretty big verdict, which is exciting, but have to survive the judgment phase and the appeal before we can actually celebrate.  My thoughts: Trials are crazy and I find them extremely stressful.  However, I felt more like an attorney during those four days than I ever have before.

I just renewed my health insurance and bought life insurance.  Both good things, I guess... but they make me feel old.

I have decided I need to cook more.  I honestly cannot remember the last time I made food.  I am making a goal for myself to cook one meal a week throughout the end of the year.  Hopefully I can manage.  Does anyone have a quick and easy recipe for a beginner?

I recently bought a nook from Barnes & Noble.  I am in love.  Though I still think there is something to be said for paper books.  Is it okay to love both?

Turns out my spiffy new workout clothes were not as much of an incentive to workout as I had hoped.  I have worked out once since my last post.

Since Starbucks discontinued the treat receipt for the fall, I have managed to exude self-control and I have not had my sweet pumpkin chi latte since.  I am proud of myself and yet feel strangely un-festive without my pumpkin pick me up.

Is it weird that I am already counting down the days until I can play Christmas music without being judged?  It is not even cold outside and I already have the itch.  "Santa's Lost His Mojo" wants to be played people! 

I am no longer a "wilderness woman" as my roommate is the proud owner of a Bosch dishwasher.  I will have to go visit Laura in Alaska after all to claim the title.

Alright,  I better get back to work. Have a good one!

Ft. Worth Zoo with the Family

The State Fair of Texas

I went to the fair with Erin and Jason this year.  It was their first outing sans William and it was a blast.  We tried fried Frito pie, fried cheese curds, a corn dog and a jalapeño and cheddar corn dog, and a fried Twinkie.  I washed it all down with lemonade and root beer.  We also saw the dog show, the bird show and went to the petting zoo.  I can’t wait to go next year!  Though Jason told me they were going without me next year, so maybe I am not so cool after all.  I think I lost the cool points because I ate the corn dogs funny… But in my defense I don’t like mustard and I was avoiding it!  I will do better next time.  I promise.  Give me another chance!  Please.