What's a'Going on?

I've gone back and forth whether to post about this or not, but I feel like I owe you guys an explanation for my absence on my blog, as well as my absence on your blogs, which I feel worse about. But my explanation comes with a bit of a back story.

My weight has always been a bit of an issue, and every single year I'd start the new year with a resolution to lose it. And of course that would last for about a month before I was back to my old ways. Well I don't know if it was turning thirty, or just an extra strong desire, but this year I was actually accomplished my goal of a twenty pound weight loss, which on a 5'0 body, is fairly significant. Since then I've become a bit obsessed with fitness and nutrition and just started a new weight lifting regime called LiveFit, created by Jamie Eason.

So basically my life has been revolving around eating a TON of protein and spending a lot of time in the gym. It's been a tough, but very rewarding challenge. However there's absolutely nothing exciting going on in my kitchen, unless you find grilled chicken and brown rice to be a total party. Oh gosh, the foodie in me just died a little by writing that.

I feel a bit silly posting about this since I still feel very new to this world. A year ago I wouldn't have been caught dead in a weight room. I will be back to normal in a few months, but probably with a few less "sweets" recipes :) I'll also do my best to visit as often as I can because you guys are always posting such amazing recipes!

And now, a few pictures for you...


This was me a month ago, 130 lbs. I'm posting this first because I do not want my before pictures to be on everyone's feed, haha! Since then I've lost five pounds, but have gained some muscle. I'm currently at 30.0% body fat, so I've still got a ways to go, which I'm excited about. You'll notice my midsection is a bit lopsided, that's due to some medical issues I had forever ago. I'm hoping that as I lose weight it becomes less and less noticeable.




Before pictures, between 150-155 pounds. I feel like this is the part where I should say how nasty I used to look, but I'm not going to do that. I know that I didn't look my best back then, but I'm not going to put myself down. I was doing the best I could with what I had at the time, and I was happy with that.

So that's what's a'going on right now. It's been a really exciting year, this is the first time in my entire life that I've ever been this involved with health and fitness and it's been really fun. I've made a great friend who's been doing the program with me, which has only added to the enjoyment. I'll definitely keep you posted on my progress, and now that I've publicly announced this on my blog, I don't feel like failure is an option! I may also be posting my progress on another blog, which I'll link up in a few days.

In the meantime I hope you're all doing well and that you're enjoying the cooler fall days!

6 Years Old

No food today, just pink. Pink and Giggles and Fancy Nancy books.

This blonde little thing turned six today, SIX! How does this happen? It feels like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital, completely adorned in ruffles, bows and all things girly. Not a lot has changed, she's just a lot more talkative, and I'm okay with it.

For her birthday we brought home a package of Parmesan Arugula ravioli and Lobster ravioli from Trader Joe's, both were her requests. I'm okay with that too.

Happy birthday Princess, we sure love you!

Asian Shrimp, Mango and Avacado Slaw

Hello my friends, I've missed you! The month went so fast, but what a great month. Lots of relaxing, boating, swimming, playing and EATING. Spending all that time with family was so nice and we had a great time, but it also feels good to be back in the comfort and quiet of home.


I have to post this salad because it's what my mom and I ate the most when we were together. Cathy, who's got a great blog at Wives with Knives posted this a few months ago. I immediately bought the ingredients, absolutely loved it, and promptly sent my mom the recipe. Since then I'm fairly confident that her and my dad have enjoyed it at least ten times. We have tried the creamy dressing as well as the vinaigrette, and honestly they are both delicious. The only change we made was adding a bit of red pepper to the slaw, and a scoop of peanut butter to the dressing. The slaw lends itself to a lot of variations, like Cathy says, but guaranteed delicious. Check out the recipe here, and thank you Cathy!




And now a few pics of one of our best boating days. We combined a day at the lake with a my mom's birthday and it was a fabulous day. My entire family was there and we had an absolute blast. I never laugh as hard as I do when I'm with these people.

I love this shot, my husband, who really hasn't done a whole lot of waterskiing, has absolutely no fear. The very first time he got up he was catching air. He did have his fair share of wipeouts though, as you see here.

Taking a tube ride with our son. He's braver then I am, I caught him laughing during some moments that had me white knuckled.

Hanging out on the Big Mable with two of my brothers. Seriously the funniest people I know.

My little girl taking a swim. Her favorite part of the day was just being able to jump off the boat into the water.

Me and my guy.

My daughter and her grandma, the birthday girl.

My son and his cousin. Two of the best friends and worst enemies at the same time, you know how it is at that age, haha!

How has your summer been so far? What are you doing to beat this heat?

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Cookies

As I've mentioned in the past, my husband is a dental student out here in Philly. Because of this, virtually all of our friends are students as well, all of us away from family, and most of us experiencing the east coast for the first time. It's really nice because we can all sympathize with each other when we get homesick, or when we're feeling exceptionally poor that day. We all rely on each other for babysitting, support, or even just a shoulder to cry on. For four years, they ARE your family and we become very close.



The hard part about having student friends is that every year you have to say goodbye to a fraction of them who are lucky enough to be graduating and moving on. It's always sad, but it's also so exciting for them to reach that next step. About a month ago we had a big bbq for the families leaving. It was a lot of fun and a good chance to give hugs and well wishes. Everyone contributes to the potluck and there is always lots of good food.



These were my contribution, I found these cookies on Maria's blog Two Peas and Their Pod. I love Maria's blog, her food is so beautiful and fresh and there is NO shortage of cookie recipes, this girl can bake! These were bright and delicious, and my favorite part was biting into a juicy blueberry. They're perfect for summer and the recipe can be found here. Thanks Maria!

I'm Still Here!!

Hello my food-lovin' friends! I miss ya'll and I'm sorry that I haven't been around to say hi, but I've also LOVED my time with my family. We're in Idaho now, and the weather has been gorgeous. We've been enjoying all sorts of delicious food, especially Mexican food, which is scarce in Philly! I miss food blogging, but I do admit, sitting down to eat without having to take pictures of every plate is nice. I will definitely be back, but I am enjoying the break!

In the meantime, here are some food, and non-food related recommendations for you.

Have you ever tried these tortillas?

I generally prefer corn tortillas over flour, but sometimes they're a bit dry and crumbly for me. La Tortilla Factory makes corn tortillas that are so good, I would practically eat legos off of them. They are very soft, slightly sweet and delightfully chewy. They will not split or crumble at all and will be the shining star of any Mexican dish you'll make. So far I've made enchiladas, taco, quesadillas and fajitas with them and I can't get enough!

And second, I thought I'd share a website that has brought hours of late night giggling. Have you checked out The Oatmeal? It's basically made up of a bunch of silly cartoons, all with different scenarios, but it is HILARIOUS! A few of my favorites are How to Suck at Facebook, Minor Differences, and Ten Reasons to Stop Talking on the Phone. There is a bit of language in them, but they've had me laughing until my tummy ached! My favorite time to read them is late at night, I tend to laugh at everything when I'm sleep deprived.

Anywho, I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I'm going to do my best to check in on your blogs, but if I can't, I will definitely be back sometime in August. I hope you are all having wonderful summers with lots of sun, good company, and of course, great FOOD!

A Night of Meat (and Potatoes)

(I'm the short one with glasses!)

A few Saturdays ago I ran a 5K with a few of my friends. It's become a bit of a tradition that we started last year, and hopefully with every year my time will improve. The weather could not have been more beautiful and we had a great time, there's nothing like starting your day then with a good run. I can see how people get addicted to this running business.

So after the race, we did what any good food lover would do, cooked about ten pounds of ribs and ate them with our friends!

Ah ribs, truly God's gift to the carnivore. Is there a more succulent meat on this earth?

Ribs are surprisingly easy to prepare. The trick is just giving them enough time to cook low and slow. Whether you rub, sauce, or grill is up to you!

But what I really want to talk about are these bacon smashed potatoes. I had found a recipe in my Taste of Home magazine, glanced over it, misunderstood it, and now I like my version better! You can use red or russet potatoes (I like red). Boil them until they are tender enough to smash. Put them in a casserole pan.

And them smash the crap out of them.

I then drenched them in Italian Dressing, then sprinkled a generous helping of chopped crispy bacon, chopped parsley and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake them uncovered at 400 for about fifteen minutes, or until potatoes are heated through and cheese is melted or bubbly. These will disappear fast, I guarantee it!


I also served my all time favorite baked beans ala Paula Deen. Packed with things like crushed pineapple, molasses and french onions, these could practically pass for a dessert. Check out the recipe here.


The pictures might not be so great, but as evident by the big plate of bones, everyone was left completely satisfied! A very fun day (and night) indeed.

For My Mom

I talk about my mom a lot on this blog, but without her I probably wouldn't be near as interested in food and cooking as I am. I honestly can't remember a time in my childhood that she didn't have a delicious home cooked meal prepared for us to enjoy around the table. And now that I am a mother, who has plenty of nights of frozen pizzas and cereal, I understand how hard she must have worked to do that. I only hope that I can pass what she taught me to my kids, with the same love and devotion that she showed me. I love you mom!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

What I Learned on My Spring Break

Hello my friends! I have surely missed all of you, and from the looks of it, I've got some mouthwatering catching up to do!

Our staycation with Glenn's family has sadly come to an end and we've been booted back to reality. We sure had a lovely time though, and spent the week exploring all sorts of different areas in Philly, DC, Ocean City and more. And, true to my form, the week was also spent enjoying all kinds of FOOD! And I learned a few things. So, in my classic 5th grade essay manner, I will share what I learned on my Spring Break.


Cooking with loved ones is always much more fun than cooking alone (I'm in the black). Also, cooking an entire Thanksgiving feast in the middle of March is completely acceptable.

It might not be the prettiest way, but roasted turkey in the bag is still my favorite way to do it. Sorry Alton.

I'm still not a huge fan of pie, but I do really love a nice tangy lemon meringue pie. And a bit of grated cheddar cheese on the top of an apple pie makes it all the better!

These things...pretty good!

After reading and watching Julie and Julia (if you liked the movie, you'll love the book, she gets a lot more into the food), I too can get into the LONG line of people that are in love with Julia Child. This is me in front of the replica of her kitchen at the Smithsonian. What I would give for a chance to cook with her!

I'm in love with this picture. She looks like so much fun!


It doesn't matter what I make for Glenn, I'll just never be able to make him happy like this place can...sigh. :-)

Waffles, made with regular cake batter, covered in ice cream and hot fudge makes for a right dandy dessert. Give it a try!

The Reading Terminal in Philly does have a Creperie (I finally found it!), and it's fantastic! This one is filled with chicken, pesto, cheese and all sorts of veggies, delish!

The Shady Maple Smorgasbord, outside of Lancaster, PA is still one of the best buffets I've ever been to. If you're ever in the area, be sure to go, even if you're not a buffet fan. You'll get a taste for good homemade Mennonite cooking, it's well worth the drive!

The Pop Shop, a place that Bobby Flay had a grilled cheese throwdown is a place that I never get sick of. They have a huge menu of different grilled cheese sandwiches, and I recommend going with someone who will order something different and trade with you. I've burned through the menu a lot quicker that way hee hee! My sissy-in-law shared her Haddon with me, which is possibly my very favorite so far. Salty ham, sweet caramelized apples with cheddar cheese on a rich grainy bread, a big messy piece of heaven!



And this is me at my happiest. Okay, I didn't just learn that, but it was definitely reaffirmed! See how my pinky is raised, I'm fancy like that.

And since I don't quite know how to wrap up my posts, here's a picture of me and my guy at the beach. What a great time we had, and my belly was quite happy as well. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the gym!