Back in Action Jackson

by Emily

My fabulous weekend (fueled by lots of booze) left me not so fabulously dazed. Jet-lag doesn’t even describe it, more like rocket-lagged! Unfortunately my Chemistry test preparation this afternoon paid the highest price.

I was exhausted when I went to bed last night (after 1:30!) so I told myself I could sleep in as long as I wanted. I got out of bed at 11, and it’s possible I should have stayed in until noon. Even sitting on the couch in a daze wore me out 🙂

I need manage to cobble together some lunch out of the husband’s leftovers from this weekend.

I steamed 3oz of broccoli in the microwave, then added 1/2C cooked quinoa, 1/2T worchestire, a few dashes chipotle tabasco, and 3T low fat mozzarella.

I rounded things out with a candy sample from my Foodbuzz swag.

The packaging was lovely and the carrot cake goodies inside were even better. They were nice and chewy. The serving was the whole box (3) but I ate two and left one for the husband.

I realized I was going to eat more candy if I stayed at home, and was getting nothing done anyways, so it was time to head to school. I got dressed in my ‘I worked in New York City” duds,

and even pulled out the big guns.

Sadly, none of this helped me to do any studying this afternoon. I went to the library to print of the class notes and ended up doing more dazed sitting until it was time for the test. Shockingly, I think the test went really well! I felt very confident and I’m excited to get my grade back.

During class I snacked on my last 18 Rabbits bar, Haute Diggity Date.

This is my last taste of SF until my swag box gets here from Fed-Ex.

I got home at 8:30 and got started on dinner. Someone commented last week that it is hard to eat well on a budget, so I give you the main component of tonight’s dinner –

and in fact, this would have been a twofer meal with leftovers had I not dropped half of it on the floor 😦

But drop I did, so I will give the recipe for a two-serving portion – Cauliflower Patties

1/2 lb cauliflower, chopped
1/2 C flour
1/8 t curry powder
salt and pepper
1 egg
2T lemon juice
1T evoo

Steam cauliflower.
Pour cooked cauliflower into a blender/food processor and pulse, stopping occasionally to stir, until cauliflower is uniformly crumbly.
Pour into a medium mixing bowl and add everything but evoo.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan over medium high heat.
Mash cauliflower mixture together and form into 8 small patties.
Cook patties on stovetop in two batches, about 2minutes per side.

I served mine on top of a lettuce base, drizzled with 1T light blue cheese dressing.

Delish! I also shared a Zevia with the pilgrims.

On the agenda for the rest of the evening? A trip to Wendy’s to redeem some frosty coupons, couch cuddling and an episode of Bones, and a bit of unpacking. Tomorrow I’m going to school with the husband in the morning so I’m not sure what the posting situation will be. Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite!

What have you made into patties? I’m a fan of pretty much any veggie/meat in patty form, in fact, we are having something similar for dinner tomorrow!

9Nov2009

Home Again Home Again

by Emily

I’m sorry to do another quickie (that’s what HE said, ba-zing!) but I have a test tomorrow and my flight didn’t get in until midnight.

This morning Camile and I walked down to Pier 39 to see the sea lions one more time.

I think I’m in love!

After a quick shower and pack-up we made our way over to Café Lulu for a goodbye brunch. They had a make your own bloody mary bar!

I also had some pear and frisee salad,

and a bit of soufflé.

It was a good breakfast.

On my first flight I ate a KIND Plus bar,

and a serving of veggie chips from Oh! Nuts,

and a Cliff Mojo Bar.

It was a five hour flight!

I had a quick layover, during which I spotted a Freshens. Not getting some wasn’t an option.

Small cup of fat free pecan praline, so worth the $3.59 and lack of real dinner.

Now I’ve got to get some Zzzzzs so I can hope not to fail my Chem test tomorrow. I had a fabulous time this weekend, San Francisco was great and it really was a joy to connect with the other bloggers. I met so many people who I deeply respect and had many good conversations. Thanks Foodbuzz!

Challenge Balance – $35.30

8Nov2009

Dinner with Outstanding in the Field

by Emily

Tonight was amazing! I am so sorry for another lame post, I truely truely am. I get so excited about food but I have so much to say that it is too much and I’m exhausted.

Dinner was put on by Outstanding in the Field (a very locavore, farm to table, excited about sustainability organization) and was held at Greenleaf Warehouses. The setting was legit a warehouse, I love industrial/fashionable settings.

You can just go ahead and multiply this glass of vino by 3.

And I had 1 shrimp crisp,

and a whipped tuna cracker.

Dinner was family style, so we got to serve ourselves. First was a pickled veggie plate Ahi tonnato on pain de mie with gochukaura and parsley.

I loved how spicy everything was.

Next was soup Mushroom dashi, maitake, shimeji, enoki mushrooms.

It was very similar to a miso but the mushrooms had an insanely lemon taste. This was the only thing I didn’t love.

Then they brought out udon noodles with fresh calamari Udon, grilled Monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisee & yellow pear tomato with chojang & sesame vinaigrette.

I was very nervous about it but Jenna convinced me to try a taste.

So glad I did! I actually really liked the calamari but the soba noodles were the best, very doughy and raw. Plus the dish had a good spice kick.

Then came salmon and mushroom risotto Salmon baked with dashikombu, fried garlic and Japanesse curry powder / Mushroom risotto with koshihikari rice, crispy maitake mushrooms.

I don’t know why I took such a tiny serving, but it was delicious. I love love loved the curry powder.

There was oxtail, but I obviously ignored it, and then came out a platter of brussels sprouts Roasted brussels sprouts, ponzu fried garlic, guanciale, bonito flakes. Jenna told me there was short rib in them, so I resisted. But brussels sprouts are in my top five all time food favorites, so I finally said f’ it and ate one. Delish. Then the waitress came by, and said “vegetarian.” So I loaded up a plate.

So.Fricking.Fantastic. They tasted like McDonald’s fries, which sounds awful but was just amazing. However, apparently, so not vegetarian. They definitly had pork in them. Which makes me quite sad 😦

Finally, dessert. Ah dessert Koshihikari rice pudding, cookie crumble, and warren pear.

I love rice pudding, but the pear, oh the pear! I had a bite of pear at the farmer’s market this morning and I’ve been telling people all day that it was seriously the best thing I’ve eaten out here. The dessert was from the same farm!!! I was in heaven.

Before we headed out they did Foodbuzz awards which was a lot of fun. I definitly congratualate some very deserving winners!

A bus ride later, Camile and I walked the mile back to our hotel for the last time. On the way home I just might have seen a 7-11 and shrieked at the top of my lungs. Bosenberry and cola, oh yeah.

Even more exciting? Getting in bed now! Tomorrow morning there is a goodbye breakfast and then I fly all day long and get back home at midnight! I have a big test on Monday so I’m not sure what the posting situation will be. I hope everyone else’s weekend ends well!!

Challenge Balance – $31.71

7Nov2009

ANOTHER Drogging Post!?

by Emily

Yes, yes, I am drunk again (i.e. yet another lame post). We’ve been so busy and carrying so much stuff, and tasting so many things that my pictures are pretty weak. It’s funny that my worst blog posts are coming from a blogging event! Also, disclaimer – I do not have a ton of time, I apoligize profusely for not linking in this post!

I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30 this morning and met up with a group of runners to hit the piers.

I actually jogged the mile over from my hotel first to met them at theirs. Everyone is so friendly and nice and I was beyond happy to be able to keep up…..until I couldn’t! I ran 1.87miles with the group before I thought I’d die and I stopped to walk. Brittany was super sweet and walked with me (I guesstimate about 2+miles?) around the piers. We stopped by the sea lions which was pretty thrilling.

I ended up running back to my hotel too (more than a mile because I got a little lost) so I actually got in a pretty good work out!

After a quick shower Camile and I headed back to the ferry building for the first event. There was a farmer’s market on and it was so gorgeous.

I had a few small samples,

and I had to buy a diet coke ($1.25) because I was super thirsty.

Then we went to an olive oil tasting class, which was super informative.

And then a large group of us headed to the “tasting pavillion” which was almost like a food expo. We got to watch Brandi cook her winning recipe.

So.Many.Samples!!! I had lots of good eats. Again, about 95% is shown.

The Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer people rocked my socks, I totally got my own can!

Camile and I left early and I spread my swag out on the bed and did my evil genius laugh.

All my swag in total –

We walked to FedEx and my swag package weighed 16lbs! Now we have showers, and then a walk back to the other hotel before we are bussed to a fancy dinner. I can’t wait!

7Nov2009

Lazy Drogging

by Emily

Y’all, I am so sorry for the lame post, but I am a little bit drunk! We went a cocktail party and then a “street food fair” this evening. It was great getting to meet some of the other bloggers and I think SF is beautiful. Instead of descriptions, I’m going to have to do a picture line up of what I ate (the photos show about 95%).

Foodbuzz gave us AMAZING swag bags.

I nibbled on this candy from the swag while I wrote my post.

*Passing Out*

6Nov2009

We Are Here!

by Emily

I’m finally in California! I’ve been waiting for this since I was a kid! I need to finish getting ready so I’ll keep it quick, but I wanted to check in.

My flights went well, things were nice and uneventful. Because of the challenge (I’m not gonna lie, I love airport food, it is totally worth the money to me usually) I tried to pack all of my own snacks for this travel day. I’m not quite sure how things will work on my return flights, but I do have some bars stashed in my suitcase.

I ate breakfast before I got on my first flight, a crumpet(!) topped with Crofter’s Superfruit Spread and an egg.

I cooked the egg in the microwave – small bowl, crack, stir, salt & pepper, 45second nuke – and it worked out very well. I was worried about how well this would keep as ‘leftovers’ but it was pretty tasty. I’ll be doing the micro method more often.

I ate a sandwich on my second flight. For my sandwich I packed 3slices of turkey on 2slices of bread, with a packet of horsey sauce from Arby’s to squeeze on in flight.

My long flight (5+hours) went well. I watched “Why I Wore Lipstick to My Masectemy” on my laptop and bought a “Real Simple” and “Bon Appetit” that kept me very occupied.

Camile and I met up in the airport and headed to our hotel via the BART. We are sharing a room and the receptionist was totally sweet and upgraded us to a king bed.

I think the room is gorgeous, it is tiny, but well decorated. Plus the front desk has awesome candy.

As soon as our bags were dropped off we headed out to explore the area around our hotel – Market Street. I munched on an apple from home to hold me over.

Now we are finishing getting ready for the first Foodbuzz event, a cocktail party! I am so excited to meet all the bloggers! I’ll be back with a recap this evening.

What eats do you pack for travel?

6Nov2009

San Fransisco Bound!

by Emily

Today has been packed! Similarly, I am all packed, and ready to go to San Fransisco for the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival! Actually, that’s a lie, I’m packed, but not fully ready, and I’m leaving for the airport in 5.5hours! Obviously this one will be quick.

My friend Caroline came to pick me up at 10 for an all day study session at Barnes and Nobel. I overslept and didn’t have much time to pack, and therefore did not do so hot on food all day. I did manage to bring my Sigg and a delicious Cheeky Cherry Chocolate 18Rabbits bar (from SF!) for breakfast.

I also bought a small diet coke because I felt bad sitting at the cafe without ordering, $1.25.

We studied all day long! I am not 100% ready for my test on Monday but I certainly know more than I would have. After we drove to school for lab I caved and bought a bag of Doritos because I was starving, $1.00.

Lab went really, really well. I was one of the first ones done and all my calculations for next week are complete! Adam picked me up at 9 and we drove to Wegmans. I realized this evening that my flights are much, much longer than I thought and that I cannot not pack food for the plane. I would usually buy something on my layover but since I’m doing the Thanksgiving Challenge that’s not an option. We had nada at home to pack so we bought some supplies at the store, along with food for next week and Adam’s food for the weekend, $26.23.

Dinner was my exciting find from last week.

Kashi Caribbean Carnival Pizza. I ate mine cold, hours after Adam made it, and it was still fricking unbelievable. I loved the plantains, the tangy of the onions, the ww crust, everything!

I am so excited to be heading to California, it is 30* outside and it hailed today! I did get to wear a vest gifted from my grandma though.

Now I have a few final to-dos (including a shower!) before I go to bed. My flight is at 6:30 tomorrow so we’ve got to be up super duper early. My plan for the festival as of now is to post at least once a day. If there is some sort of internet trouble I may end up doing a mega recap post on Sunday, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. See you in San Fransisco!!!!!

Challenge Balance – $29.08

5Nov2009

Almost Time to Repack

by Emily

Howdy folks! I’m exhausted, so I’ll keep this quick.

I got a lot done around the house today – the kitchen is clean, the living room is clean, and I’m finally unpacked! Just in time to pack again tomorrow! At least I got my fall decorations up in a timely fashion.

Plus I finally took a much needed shower and put on my new favorite pants.

Old Navy had all sorts of colored cords (I bought orange and green) and they are so cute!

I was hungry and thirsty before I even left for class so I packed myself so snacks from home. A Zevia for the car,

and some veggie chips from Oh!Nuts.

The chips were fantastic! [As I write this post Adam has been finishing off most of the bag!] I packed 2 servings – 2oz.

I planned on doing my printing at school but the intense downpour meant my commute took double the time. I did some studying though, and made plans with Caroline for a loooong study session tomorrow. At 8 I swung by the house and picked up Adam for a study session at our friend’s house. The medical students worked on body parts and I finished up my notecards.

Dinner kind of never happened, but I did snack on a few items from our friend’s bowl-o-candy.

I’ll have to eat a big breakfast tomorrow. Put first, I have to go to bed, night!

How often do you skip dinner? It seems like I’ve missed a bunch of meals this year, but I eat so much (crap) all the time that it’s all evened out. If it gets too late and I know it’s time for bed I’ll skip it even if I’m hungry; I have enough trouble sleeping as it is.