ramblings of a (health) food addict

When me and the hub were in Vegas, we were lucky enough to have brunch at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.  OH.MY.HECK.  If you ever have the chance to go there, you simply must go!  Everything was super yummy.  Like, super-hero yummy.  We foolishly tried to walk-in for dinner, and ended up making reservations for the next afternoon.  If we canceled, it was a hundred smackaroos automatically charged to our card.  They mean business!  But what an excellent business they have.

We shared the following: Rough Cut Tuna "Nachos" + Tiger Shrimp Roasted Garlic Corn Tamale + Barbecued Lamb Cobb Salad.  I honestly can't tell you which was my favorite.  Even their bread basket was an assortment of deliciousness!  Four different biscuits/scones, and we HAD to try each and every one.  So much goodness.  And everything complimented each other.  The flavor(s) in our mouth by the end of the meal was almost as rewarding as the food itself.  Almost ;)

Brad and I tried to explain our Mesa Grill experience to our friends.  Pretty sure we failed...  You just had to be there!  But, Mr. friend noticed how much my face lit up and how excited I got when I was describing the food.  And you know what?  I get like that anytime I talk about good food!  For example, the Buffalo Blasts at The Cheesecake Factory: life changing.  Seriously.  And I don't even like chicken!  When I was trying to convince my husband how amazing they really were, he noticed my immediate animation.  Because nothing turns me on like food.

Pretty sure I'm a foodie.  And I think I'm a pretty good judge of what constitutes as good food.  But my real passion: good food that is good for you.  After a week(end) of indulgence, my body was crazy out of whack.  My stomach hurt.  I was lethargic.  Headaches galore!  No amount of tasty food is worth a life of discomfort.  I love the occasional Tiramisu cheesecake.  But I can't eat it every day.  What once tasted amazing now tastes... gross.  Because I'd feel gross.  Sometimes I have a hankering for a Whopper.  Yes, meat.  So I eat it.  But having a burger every single day?  No thanks.  When I'm planning meals for my family, I make sure it tastes good.  And I make sure it feels good.  It makes those trips to Chuck E. Cheese and Coldstone, or the Mesa Grill, that much more special.

Sometimes my mouth craves the unhealthy.  So I eat it.  I enjoy it.  And I relish in the flavor(s).  But then it's time to move on.  Because my body craves healthy. And I listen to it.  Because my body is worthy of good food.  I deserve to be healthy.  I enjoy being healthy.  And a healthy body is much more appreciative of what Life has to offer, such as food.  I eat to live, and I live to eat.  It just makes sense that food can (and should) taste good and be good for you.  It is not about denying what tastes good.  It's about tasting what is good.  *B

this week's plan: 3/14 - 3/20

And we're back!  Time to restore our tummies to healthiness ;)

Mexican Monday: Veggie Fajitas
Oriental Tuesday: Tofu Coconut Curry
Twisted Wednesday: french toast w/ peanut butter syrup
Authentic Thursday: rice pasta w/ grilled vegetables & avocado sauce
TGIFriday: pesto portobello burgers with spiced fries and applesauce
Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT
Special Sunday: Pot Roast w/ roasted veggie medley




Looking forward to a healthy week, and a happier tummy.  *B

Parmesan Popcorn

Guess what?!  You can make microwave popcorn, from scratch!!!   I got the idea from Our Best Bites, but made a minor tweak here and there... It's cheap and beyond easy, and there's no fake nothin' about it.  Just pure yumminess :)

Ingredients:

• scant 1/4 c. popcorn kernels
• 1 T. butter
• 1 t. canola oil (you can use a good flavored olive oil, too)
• 1/8 t. salt
• scant 1 T. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 brown paper bag

Directions:

1. Pour popcorn kernels into bag.  Flatten out bag and then fold the top of the bag over twice.  Make two notches about 1.5 inches apart, and fold flap over (see picture).
2. Place bag in microwave and cook for a little over 2 minutes, depending on your micro.  Mine turns out great at 2:15, with just a few kernels unpopped.
3. Lightly shake bag and dump popcorn into a medium bowl; set aside.
4. Melt butter (about 15 seconds in the zapper); add oil and salt and stir well.
5. Pour butter mixture over popcorn and immediately toss.  Add Parmesan and toss to coat.

I'm normally anti-micro, but for quick air-popped popcorn I can make an exception ;) This is our family's new favorite snack!  Everyone from the oldest to the youngest just loves it.  I'm excited to try some different flavors...  I'll keep you posted if/when I do.  But imagine all the possibilities!  Most excellent snacking indeed.  *B

curious still

Wow, who knew grocery budgeting would be so... conversationlistic?  I haven't quite figured out how much is too little or too much, but I definitely appreciate the feedback!  Thank you, thank you :)  The problem with eating cheaply is that most cheap meals are overly processed.  Example: Top Ramen or boxed Mac & Cheese.  We do eat those on occasion, especially when we're feeling pinched in the pockets.  But I do my best to healthify them as best I can when we do eat them.  Like my Fancy Ramen or my Sneaky Noodles!  Otherwise, my pantry is seriously lacking in prepared food.

Which brings me back to coupons.  I definitely admire those who take the time to make them work.  It's a skill I do not have.  But as many of you said, unless there are coupons on produce or whole food items, coupons just don't do it for me.  Call me lazy, but I don't like driving around to five different stores to find the best priced item either.  I'd rather save the money in gas...  But we do buy stuff in bulk.  Costco is our friend :)  We have to be very careful though to go there with a list in hand.  Something that we have learned with a small wallet and a small house (no real room for food storage) is that overbuying is the ultimate downfall.

My best trick for making my groceries go farthest is to plan my meals.  If I know what I'm buying and why I'm buying it, then we're pretty safe.  I'll never buy 20 boxes of Fruit Loops, because we won't even eat one box.  But I look forward to the day when we can afford to buy 10 pounds of oatmeal, and have a place to store it.  On the other hand, I'll never have room for Kool-Aid ;)

Next question(s):  Bountiful Baskets vs. CSA.  What's the difference?  Anyone have any experience with both?  And how do they compare to a Farmer's Market?  Thanks (much) in advance!  *B

this week's plan: 3/7 - 3/13

Me and the hubs are going out of town this weekend.  ALONE.  I know!!!  I think it's the first time in five plus years... Super exciting!  Anyway, this week's meal plan might be super lame for everyone else but us ;)

Mexican Monday:  Taco Salad

Oriental Tuesday: Hawaiian Haystacks

Twisted Wednesday: Biscuit Quiche

Authentic Thursday: Elsie's Bday - probably mac & cheese followed by cake/ice-cream ;)

TGIFriday: VEGAS

Super Saturday: VEGAS

Special Sunday: super potato soup

just curious...

How much money do you normally spend on food? Groceries vs. eating out, etc. Anyone mind telling me? I'm trying to figure out a realistic food budget... Is $300 a month too little, or too much? Maybe $450? I (really) have no idea! Which is scary. I just don't know.  Do you? Any grocery tips you'd like to share? Because I'd love some help in keeping our tummies AND wallets full ;)

Just FYI, I do not do coupons. I mean, I save a few for foods I would normally buy, and I especially save coupons for restaurants, just in case we eat out. But, I think clipping coupons for useless junk is a waste of time and money. Thoughts?  Pretty please?

Thanks in advance. *B

this week's plan: 2/28 - 3/6

This week is going to be a good one, I can feel it!  I think we're finally over our sicknesses, and it's time to get healthy again.  And that feels good :)

Mexican Monday: Awesome Meatless Chili
Oriental Tuesday: Tofu Lo Mein
Twisted Wednesday: baked potatos with broccoli & cheese sauce
Authentic Thursday: pasta surprise
TGIFriday: Pigs in a Blanket w/ Immune Boosting Smoothies
Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT
Special Sunday: Pot Roast OR Beef Stew