Veterans Date

It's always fun to have off work for a holiday, but this one was extra special. Around the time that Zack and I started dating, I was looking ahead at my work calendar and realized that this Veterans Day off may be different. I'd certainly never dated a veteran before, and none of my immediate family are veterans. So I asked him what he'd like to do on Veterans Day--with visions of parades, wreath laying ceremonies, and the like in my mind. He said he wanted to eat free food. Who knew there were so many free offers for veterans?! He also came around and decided to give more input.

We started with breakfast and cards. 

Zack got a free haircut at Sport Clips. 

Zack had been talking about us going to visit his Aunt Ann and Uncle Brad for a while, so their house was our next stop. He got a free Starbucks coffee on the way. Uncle Brad showed me his Marine Corps awards and decorations; there were many. 

We finally made it to the airport and started preflighting about the time my dad showed up. Zack helped him get his airplane ready, then we headed out. 

We took Zack's plane to visit his sister and niece. 

We flew a little too close to the towers for my liking. The airport had a sweet fifteen passenger van for us to drive to Zack's sister's house. 

Somehow, we ended up at the big airport, where Zack's parents picked us up to head to Grandma's birthday dinner. 

Zack and his brother had one more free meal (until Golden Corral the next week) to finish out Veterans Day. 

paleo supper

I'm reading The Paleo Manifesto by John Durant, which is convincing me to change my diet a little from the low carb/clean way I have been eating for a few months. Sweet potatoes used to be an absolute staple in my diet until I started eating low carb and cut them out. So far, I've still felt great after re-introducing sweet potatoes. 

The salad includes organic spinach, cucumbers I grew, and tomatoes that friends grew. I bought the whole free range chicken and organic sweet potatoes from Trader Joe's. The potatoes are locally grown. 

I rinsed the chicken, patted it dry, and stuffed it with thyme from my garden and Kerrygold butter. I seasoned it with salt and pepper and baked at 425 for an hour and a half. 

The whole meal is what I would consider paleo, healthy, easy, and delicious! 

cooking with herbs

My basil, parsley, and oregano have taken off lately. As there's more to harvest, I'm trying to use my herbs more in every day cooking. 

One of the pasta alternatives I've tried since eating low carb: zucchini noodles. These "zoodles" are topped with meat sauce made with my basil and oregano, pine nuts, and parmesan. 

I used both green and purple basil to make pesto. 

Topping scrambled eggs with pesto really takes them to the next level!

The day before my parents' anniversary, I made them a supper of caprese salad, green salad, spaghetti squash with meat sauce, and paleo doughnuts. It was both low carb and tasty. I tried to make my dad proud by eating a slice of tomato. (I know, I am not a true southerner.)

I'm really enjoying my herb garden this summer. What should I use them for next?

protein pancakes

Why the lack of doughnuts and biscuits and food in general on my blog lately? Well, for the past month or so, I have changed my diet. My dad has improved his health by cutting carbohydrates, and my sister in law has been telling me about coconut oil, olive oil (don't cook it), grass fed meats, etc. for months, but it took me hearing a presentation on health and faith from an expert to finally get my thoughts organized and motivate me to make a change. The change is totally worth it as it's been over a month since I've taken medicine for a headache. It's been several years since I could say that. 

Also, low carb food does not photograph well. Below, I tried taking my first action shot of food as I drizzled way too much maple syrup on my low sugar pancakes. Still not that appetizing, but this is real. 

I was a little tired of protein smoothies and eggs for breakfast, and almost every "low carb" recipe I tried turned out disappointing, so I decided to remake some of my favorites with substitutions. So I made two versions of these protein pancakes within the last week, and I'm posting the second (better) version today. 

Coffee in a jar always makes me think of Pauline, my late family friend. She used to keep the leftover coffee in old pickle jars. When I go on my summer road trips, I make sure to bring some of my homemade cold brew along so I'm never without good coffee in the morning. 

Protein Pancakes

adapted from Martha Stewart's Basic Pancakes

1 c almond flour

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used tera's whey brand)

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 c organic whole milk

1 large egg

2 T coconut oil

I whisked together the dry ingredients, then added the wet ingredients and whisked again. I cooked the pancakes one at a time in an omelet pan on medium heat. They turned out fluffier and tastier than my first attempt.

Any great low carb recipes I should make next? 

Szechuan chicken

For a recent weeknight supper, I made Szechuan chicken for the first time.  I used this recipe because it was the easiest I could find that required me to buy the least ingredients.  B has been ordering Szechuan chicken frequently from a Chinese restaurant, so I set out to make it for much cheaper at home.  However, I had never tasted Szechuan chicken and only knew that I was aiming for a spicy flavor.  

The recipe suggests serving it over white rice, and I wanted vegetables to go along with it.  When B arrived, he told me that he eats it with the vegetables, chicken, and sauce all mixed together.  That worked out perfectly because I made the amount of sauce in the recipe and cooked a little less chicken than in the recipe.

I cooked a bag of snow peas, carrots, and broccoli, then added sliced mushrooms, canned water chestnuts (drained), and a sliced pepper that my dad's coworker had grown.

It came out tasting just like stir fry that my mom used to make.  The tiny bit of cayenne pepper didn't make it spicy enough, so we ate it with sriracha.  Then, B said, it tasted more like the Szechuan chicken he's used to.

Do you like Szechuan chicken?  Do you ever attempt to make Chinese food at home?  What's your favorite Chinese dish?

By the way, it was somewhat similar to the food I ate in Asia this summer (1, 2).  I LOVED it when we had plain white rice (instead of fried) at a meal there!

camping

Last week, I packed up my car and went camping at the beach.  I borrowed a fire pit, tent, tarp, lantern, beach chair, and oh yes, a beach house, for a few days.  I roped one of my off-all-summer friends into going with me, even though she hadn't been camping since she was a child.  I hadn't been camping since almost four years ago, when I headed to the mountains on fall break with several very experienced campers.  I was ready for a manageable adventure again.  

My car was packed so full that I felt like I was moving.  

                  

After setting up the tent and building a fire, we took a short walk to the campground's pier on the sound.  

We watched a beautiful sunset and talked for hours.  We had the pier all to ourselves, except for one man and his dog, pulling up their crab pots.

We enjoyed hot dogs and s'mores cooked over our fire.  Then we slept in 100 degree, 98% humid summer air and were woken up by a nonstop rooster crowing, but that was all character building.  I think my grandparents may be onto something with their RV.  

The next day, we crashed my awesome friends' house.  We slept much better while it stormed outside the next two nights!  

Have you been camping?  Any must-sees, must-haves, or tips?

Bible study and pizza

I hosted my Bible study group last week.  Each time we meet, we have it at someone's house and she cooks the meal that night.  I made pizza and served it with salad, fruit, and vegetables.  I also made a cookie cake, which is not pictured because I made the icing too runny, and it was a mess.  

I sauteed sliced mushrooms with some grated elephant garlic and fresh herbs.  

A woman at the farmers market talked me into the elephant garlic, and this was actually the smallest size she sold.  She said that it is kind of like a mix between onions and garlic and it is in the leek family.  I have sliced and grated it to go in a few things I sauteed; it smells like onions when raw and looks like garlic.  I can't exactly pinpoint the flavor since I've mixed it with several other foods, but I would say it is milder than either onions or garlic when cooked.  

Again, I put my dad's friend's fresh herbs to work.  I sauteed oregano with the mushrooms; it smelled amazing as soon as it hit the hot pan!

I have made pizza crust several ways, but my favorite is using pizza crust yeast and following the recipe on the packet.  Well, this time I wandered away for about thirty minutes [distracted by blogs I'm sure] and came back to find the dough had risen quite a bit.  I then rolled it out and topped it and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours before it was time to bake it.  It was the best crust I have made yet--a little crispy on the outside with a yeasty flavor.  

I chopped some more oregano along with basil to top the more adventurous of the two pizzas.  

The finished products: something for everyone.  We have different palates in our group, so I made a little part of each pizza with a different combination of cheese and toppings.

What's your favorite meal to cook when you're hosting friends?

avocado chicken salad and late night cookies

I've had a great time cooking lately, but to be honest, B cooked the meal below.  

Before I left for Zumba fitness class, I helped him get set up a little bit, then I came home to this!  I sprayed a baking pan and placed on it four chicken thighs, seasoned only with salt, pepper, and some fresh thyme from my dad's friend.  I'm not sure how long or hot B baked them, but they turned out to be delicious!

I can only stand leftovers of certain things as is, but I enjoy turning leftovers into new dishes.  I had been curious about various avocado chicken salad pins I'd seen on Pinterest, so I set out to try it.  I shredded two leftover chicken thighs and mixed them with about half of a large avocado, mashed,  about a teaspoon of chopped cilantro, a generous dash of lime juice, and some salt and pepper.  I tasted and adjusted as needed.

I hate mayonnaise, so I have never chosen to eat chicken salad before, but this kind was irresistible!  I texted my mom to tell her that I was actually eating chicken salad, and she texted back, "you're grown up now."

I ate chicken salad sandwiches probably five times and did not get tired of it.  Maximizing those leftovers!

I took a page from mom's book and made some late night cookies last week.  This recipe for peanut butter cookies is simple and delicious.  

The only way my parents eat cookies: with a glass of milk.  [Hey E & C - we love your engagement party cups.]

How do you feel about chicken salad?  What's your favorite cookie recipe?