Did Someone Say "BBQ" ?

A certain special friend of mine loves bar-b-que's. He loves them so much we have a running joke that despite his various academic degrees and accolades, all that really goes on inside his head is the word "BBQ" over and over again, at least for the summer months (maybe in winter the word changes to "turkey" or "eggnog").

As you can imagine, we derive many jokes and laughter at this friend's expense, but all joking aside, who doesn't love a BBQ? Summer has always been my favorite season and a big reason for that is the fact that during the warm summer months, more than any other time of year, we treat ordinary days like holidays, which means lots and lots of BBQ's. Yes there are some actual holidays, like the 4th of July,  but even after, all we really need is a day (or afternoon) off from work, sunshine, a few friends, and simple, yet delicious food to throw on the grill.

Many people associate nostalgia with summertime, and for good reason;  most of us spend more time using our senses for pleasurable experience in the summer than in any other season. Think about it, we are outside (which is already a sensory plethora) with the sounds of birds singing, ocean waves crashing and if we're lucky, music and laughter. Now add the scents and tastes of flame grilled corn, melted butter, and a juicy steak smoking over a fire. Who wouldn't be nostalgic?

Cooking over a flame is the essence of cooking. Using fire to create food is how the human species survived and evolved over thousands of years. There is no experience that makes us feel more human, more connected, than the act of cooking with fire, outside, with others. And what else is a BBQ but this act? No wonder my friend can't stop thinking of them.

Last week in the Poconos... I'm really enjoying my Smores!!

Two thirds of summer is already gone, and with it the opportunity to slow down, unwind, and spend much needed time with our friends and family. But there is still some time left and however busy you are, it would be nothing short of tragic to let it slip by un-celebrated or un-enjoyed.

I haven't been writing much (as you can probably tell from the lack of blog posts), but that's because I've been out enjoying life, which I hope is the case for you too. As much as I love writing, I love living more. And so far, I've had a pretty amazing summer! Take a look...

Me, enjoying a lovely afternoon on the beach, back in June

At the Biergarten on the NYC High Line

Surprise! Happy 78 Grandma!!

Does this shot really need a caption?!

     

Good times with friends "glamping" in the Poconos :)

     

Finally! ...Meeting my sister for the first time (it only took 13 years!)

Happy 13 Years to this couple!

... I guess 13 is my lucky number ;)

Replacing Meat With Life- and one courageous guppy! This is March So Far...

 

What you see before you is my breakfast, a bowl of oats and almonds with fresh blueberries and of course, milk. It was my first meal of Meatless March, and it was so good, I had it for breakfast the following Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday!

For the last week or so I've been keeping a food journal to chronical my month long journey. It's helping me to stay focused and make sure I'm getting all the nutrition I'll need without meat in my life. It's also proof incase someone asks.

So far I've consumed 3 veggie burgers with spinach & portabello mushroom, 6 eggs, potatoes, toast, broccoli, spinach & artichoke dip, calamari, more mushrooms and spinach, chard, baby kale, 7 bananas, 1 grilled cheese sandwich, one mini cupcake, talapia, red kale, quinoa, 1 spoonful of apple sauce, carrots with roasted potatoes, 1 slice of plain pizza, more kale, more talapia, and hell of a lot of bread. Oh, and two slices of my favorite chocolate mousse cake from Whole Foods (an early start to the birthday festivities). 

    My supper last Friday: talapia, quinoa, and fresh red kale. Bon appetit.

I might have missed a meal or two, but you get the idea. So far I have not craved meat, even last Sunday when my whole family enjoyed a grass fed, organic roast right in front of me. What can I say? I'm too busy tasting life I guess- I got two cavities filled, reunited with a long lost friend, went blonde, adopted and rehabilitated a dieing guppie and passed my road test at the ripe age of (almost) 29! Delicious. No, but in all seriousness, I honestly have not been tempted and I think it's owed to the fact that I am really inspired to become better and make a positive change, not to mention I just really love vegetables :)

   The newest addition to the family: Lil Guppreet, my new guppie!

                                    Who are these two trouble makers??? Together again!

One, not so tasty change I have noticed though, is that I've been feeling somewhat fatigued, just in the last day or two. A lot has been going on, so there's no reason to assume it's diet related; I have been living at different people's houses for the last 2-3 weeks, learning how to drive, and drinking a bit more moonshine than I probably ought to be (not before or during driving of course). Hopefully as life gets back to "normal" I'll regain my energy, but thanks to the food journal I've been keeping, I realized that regardless of my current happenings I do need to introduce more seeds, beans, and other legumes into my diet for optimal health. So stay tuned because Ill be researching the best vegetarian "meat replacements" and trying out some new recipes over the new few weeks!

Until then, enjoy the unseasonably and downright strange warm weather and as always, happy eating!

    Artichoke, spinach dip

       I bet you wish this was your breakfast: fried egg with portabella mushroom and spinach

From breakfast to blonde; beauty comes in all forms.

Shout out to my amazing hair stylist Jamielynn for this stunning work of art! I'm feeling lighter inside & out!

    My aunt and I found this little guy abandoned, freezing, starving, and choking from lack of oxygenated water! He was the lone survivor of 6 guppies all left in a dark basement for 1 month! But somehow he managed to survive- #revenantfish. But it is, after all, the season for us Pisces and what better way to celebrate that than by adopting a fish? After buying a new tank, water filter, heater, food, and all the other essentials, Guppreet is doing much better and finally eating! Tomorrow we will redecorate his tank and bring him a friend :) There's nothing like kindess to rekindle a life.

Happy Birthday to me! Finally, after two degrees, living nearly a decade of my life in Jersey, and traveling (some of) the world, I am a NYS licensed driver! And all before the age of 29! Life tastes pretty sweet :)