A snack that eats like a dessert!

Cinnamon Harvest Kashi cereal and Silk Vanilla Almond Milk..... MMMMM!!!  Try it.  I mean it may even be good for breakfast ;-)

Delish spring cuisine

Since I read a lot of food blogs, I am constantly seeing my own meals and snacks through the eyes of a computer screen/ blog post.  I find reading about what other people are making and eating interesting, so hopefully you guys will too!

The other night we had a fish dinner.  I've never been a big seafood eater, and the only thing I used to like was tuna from a can (made with miracle whip, celery, relish - basically unrecognizable as fish).  Then I cut that out because of being vegetarian.  Lately I feel like I'm not getting enough... I don't want to say protein exactly, because the amount of protein people think you need is such a myth...but I just feel deficient in something.  I feel like I'm just not eating meals with enough solidity to them.  So I decided to give fish another try, and tilapia is said to be one of the least fishy-tasting, so I bought that.  I also made sure to buy one that had a crust on it, to disguise it a little for my first real fish dinner.

It was garlic encrusted tilapia, and I made cous cous with dried cranberries and pecan slivers in it, and a broccoli cheese noodle side dish.  With a glass of Riesling as well. Overall, a winning combination of things, and the fish was great!

Another night I made this whole wheat pasta with a little olive oil, oregano, steamed broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Scruptious!!

Homemade pizza is our usual Friday night dinner... with all sorts of toppings.  Pineapple, onion, green pepper, sun-dried tomato, garlic powder, oregano, etc...

Some of my lunches at work:

roasted red pepper hummus and spinach on homemade bread (not homemade by ME, but my boss, an excellent cook)

Peanut butter, sunbutter, and banana, again on homemade bread... sometimes with a little honey on top...

Also today I had a sandwich on one of these:

I didn't take a picture, but it had laughing cow light spreadable swiss cheese, avocado, and spinach.... and was one of the most wonderful sandwiches I've ever had!!!

Read This Book!

When You Reach Me was one of the best books I've read in a long time.  It was the kind of book you can't put down, you want to race through to find out the mystery, but at the same time you want to savor every word of this amazing author's prose.  When I was 40 pages from finishing, I was already hoping the author was working on a sequel!

It's an understatement that this book deserves the Newberry Award!  Rebecca Stead, you are a genius.  After finishing the book I wanted to hug you, then chat with you over coffee all about this amazing story, and how you came up with it! 

I truly never read a young adult novel that made me think so deeply, and that I related to so well (I mean since I was a young adult I guess!).  Though I will say, Miranda- the narrator who is 12- is quite mature and smart for her age.  She says things I've thought myself, or did closer to her age.  All the characters in the story are so real and so relatable...

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story... with a little bit of sci-fi, coming of age, 70s nostalgia, school days crushes and cold shoulders, and true heart... This book had it all.

The most gorgeous nephew ever born.

On September 21st my first nephew was born and it was love at first sight.  Of course I think he's gorgeous and perfect, but you be the judge for yourself!

Meet Gaetano Haze DiCicco:
(from our trip when he was 2 weeks old)

 

 

 

 

And here are some pictures from our recent visit the beginning of January.  He's over 3 months now!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been remiss.

To all my blog followers:  I thought you didn't exist and that I wrote this mostly for myself... but I hear you, I now know you're out there, and you say that you actually miss my blogging!  I am back after almost 4 months of absence, and I promise to give you something to read soon, and more often! 

A Few Food Recommendations

Three yummy products I've tried lately that I must recommend to my friends!  The first is Rachel's yogurt.  I tried the CALM flavor with plum, honey, and lavender and the VITALITY with acai and pomegranate - both delish, and I'm anxious to try more flavors.
Another product I love is Archer Farms (from Target) Strawberry or pomegranate fruit bars!  This is like eating pure fruits in bar form and I love them!  At 140 calories, it makes a good snack.

Safier Mediterranean Deli

What this tiny hole-in-the-wall place lacks in ambiance and decor, it MORE than makes up for in deliciousness of food!  I had a falafel appetizer with taziki sauce and the Vegetable Paradise sandwich (a grilled pita with tabouleh, feta cheese, hummus, lettuce & tomato in it).  One of the best sandwiches I've ever had! 

Their tag-line is "delicious food from the middle east" ...and they aren't lying!  Check it out if your around downtown Louisville, 4th street near the Brown Hotel.

http://www.safierdeli.com/