reunited and it feels so good…

Way back when I was in college, during a time when Facebook was new and reserved only for college kids, there was an option on the burgeoning social network to put in what classes you were taking. And like all the other cool kids, I put in my schedule. Shortly thereafter, I found myself with a handful of new adds from people I’d not yet met but who I’d be having class with that fall. It was actually a pretty clever function; we could set up study groups and such and communicate missed assignments. I remember noticing one girl in particular who added me and who I’d never seen around.

On my first day of PR Writing at JSU, I sat in the back. I saw a vaguely familiar head of hair sitting in front of me. I tapped her on the shoulder. “Excuse me, but are you Kristin?” I asked. The beautiful girl nodded and smiled at me.

And the rest is friendship history!

Kristin and I became fast friends, and as I remember it, that very first week, she invited me out to dinner and drinks with her friends. She was not only the most gorgeous girl I’d ever seen in real life, she was also super down-to-earth and funny. We spent many a late night drinking wine, eating cookie dough and laughing our asses off.

We were study buddies, drinking partners, and karaoke queens. Kristin and I, along with my friends Kevin and Kaitie, became a very close-knit group within the communications department.

In 2007, Kristin moved to New York for a fabulous internship, and it was a big change that soon became semi-permanent. We kept in touch, and no matter how infrequent our conversations may have been, she was still one of my very best friends. I swore I’d come for a visit, but the money and time were never available.

The next year, Kristin moved home for a little while, and we were able to see each other a little more. But before I knew it, she’d found a new job and new place to call home: Washington, D.C. (Virginia, to be more correct). A lot closer, but still so far away. We continued to have sporadic visits as she returned home to see family, including a fantastic whirlwind trip last fall when we attended our alma mater’s homecoming festivities.

This past March, I decided to check out flights on AirTran, on a whim. Kris had told me she’d been able to find reasonable tickets between two smaller airports, and I just had to see. As luck would have it, I found a round-trip ticket over Memorial Day weekend—for just under $150 total.

I bought it immediately.

So in less than 24 hours, I’ll be DC-bound and reunited with my BFF Kristin. We’ve been looking forward to this trip for a very long time, and I foresee a lot more wine and late-night chatting on the agenda.

And if we’re lucky, maybe a little karaoke.

Take a few minutes to make a phone call to someone with whom you might have lost touch. I’m sure it’ll brighten both your days. I hope you all have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend—see ya on the flip side!

we can’t keep meating like this.

So as you know, I’m gradually dipping my toes back in the meat-flavored water after a short hiatus during the season of Lent. One my first meat-centric recipes back on the wagon was this delicious turkey-spinach-feta turkey burgers. Jonathan and I decided to take the leftovers and recreate one of our favorite restaurant dishes at home: chile rellenos.

We started out by roasting the Poblano peppers on the grill, along with ears of corn and skewered veggies.

To roast the peppers, we blackened them on the grill, then put them in a bowl and covered them with plastic wrap and let them sweat it out a while.

(Emily would be so proud!) Then we just peeled off the skin. Easy peasy Or easy pepper-y.

While these guys hung out on the grill, we cooked the ground turkey in a pan with some leftover mushrooms and taco seasoning. (No pictures…it’s just boring ol’ meat.)

The next step was a little more involved, but not necessarily complicated. We rolled the peeled peppers around in some flavor to get them ready for the “batter.”

For the batter, I whipped one egg white (into a frenzy, of course), then folded in the yolk.

Then I dipped the floured and stuffed peppers in the mix, and from there, it was a trip to a nice, hot olive oil bath.

Look how crispy! Just like the pros.

With a side of homemade guac and some chips, it was the perfect Mexican feast. Not too shabby for my first try, if I do say so myself.

happy weekend!

Hello all! It’s been such a busy week, with work and volunteering and everything else. I’m packing up to head to Huntsville to visit my sister and my mom, and oh yeah—run my first official 5k since I injured my foot back in January. Wish me luck!

Also, for those of you in the Birmingham area: My friend Jason is partnering with Alison Lewis of Ingredients, Inc. to host the 2nd Annual National Food Blogger Bake Sale for the state of Alabama (there are participants from coast to coast). They’ll be offering up delicious treats baked up by area bloggers and local businesses like Urban Standard and Dreamcakes. (OMG, cupcakes!!!1!) Head down to Homewood near Urban Cookhouse (across from Trak Shak) to pick something up and support Share Our Strength, an organization devoted to ending childhood hunger in the U.S.

I’m contributing mint chocolate chip cookies! There was a moment where I freaked out when the mixture didn’t look quite right—it seems that the trouble with making up recipes is when you don’t really write it all down…you think you’ll remember, but alas, that’s not always the case. But a quick sample proved to be pretty darn good (in my humble opinion, that is).

If you’re not in the Birmingham area, check the main page to see if your state is on the list and find a bake sale near you! Whenever I think of bake sales, I’m transported back in time to when we used to fundraise for band trips and church trips, and also when I was so geeked out over 4-H that I entered (and sometimes won, holla) the cooking competition every year.

Check that sweet outfit!

Have a great weekend!

who wants man meat?

Then my man meat he shall have.

Name that show! Or…click on that link, and then giggle, and remember the name of that show!

Can I just say thanks for the awesome, well thought-out responses yesterday?? Vegetarianism is a super hot topic these days. I’m glad to have people with whom I can have a good conversation about it all. Something Jaclyn said about “losing the identity” really resonated with me, and I’ll touch more on that soon.

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I haven’t really been eating meat since Lent ended. I mean, I’ve dabbled, but I haven’t really jumped back aboard the meat train, so to speak.

Last week, Jonathan and I decided to have a low-key, cook-at-home evening. I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for, but then it just came to me: burgers. I saw a recipe on someone’s blog earlier (I can’t remember whose, I think maybe Rachel?) this year for burgers with feta and spinach. The thought invaded my brain and wouldn’t let go.

Burgers it was!

We decided to go with lean turkey, spinach, feta, mushrooms and onions, and oven fries with olive oil and dill.

It was fairly simple. I chopped up the mushrooms and sauteed them in a skillet for minute or two, then mixed them in with the meat along with ripped up spinach and about half a cup of feta cheese, maybe a little less. We pattied them out and cooked them on the grill while the potatoes roasted in the oven.

Perfection! I had mine on half a whole wheat bun with a generous pile of ketchup.

Closer…

Closer…

In your face!

These burgers were perfectly juicy and the flavors all mixed together very well. I added a little feta to the top of my hot burger. I think next time I might add some garlic into the mix. Other than that, they were amazing. Pretty delicious for my first main meat meal back on the wagon. Will it last?? Time will tell…

Lent and what it meant.

So as you may remember, I gave up meat for Lent (except for seafood). I had been abstaining from meat for a while, but I decided to try and make the big change over Lent. Verdict? It wasn’t that hard. The worst was going to events/places where there were absolutely no options. And the only real time that was a problem was when I went to a fraternity event with Jonathan and it was allll BBQ. And mayonnaise. (Ick.)

I was able to get all kinds of creative in the kitchen.

So much good stuff…and recipes to come.

I ate good food at various restaurants…

The last one would be veggie Chicago-style deep-dish from Tortuga’s. Oh, how I love Tortuga’s. I was able to find good options pretty much everywhere I went. Of course, it helped that I was still eating seafood.

Oh, and I went to three weddings while I was a vegetarian. Above is a plate from my favorite. So many fresh, delicious options!

The main question now, at least for me, is will I continue on with the vegetarian diet? And my answer is a little tricky. I was considering becoming vegetarian for a while, and for several reasons. I’d felt a strong urge to stop eating meat, and it intensified after watching the movie Food Inc.

The movie doesn’t use scare tactics like some others do, but it basically makes you feel more informed. And it opens your eyes to a lot of dirty practices in the food industry. It made me want to make better choices.

I had thought that when I finished abstaining from meat, I’d go from there. And my thoughts were that if I decided to eat meat, I’d make smart choices.

And I think I still feel that way, but I’d be lying if I said all the meat I’ve eaten since Easter has been organic, grass-fed, and so on. It was really hard to actually get used to eating meat again. I had ham on Easter, and then I think I had it twice that first week. Since then, I’ve not really gone out of my way to order, cook or eat meat.

Well, I did last week, but more on that later.

I think I”m eventually going to transition back into the pescatarian lifestyle. In the end, what you eat is very personal, and it’s nobody’s business how I choose to eat. I don’t want to label myself.

Sooo…as I said, I tried a lot of delicious recipes, and I can’t wait to share them all with you in the coming weeks! Now tell me—have you ever experimented with meatless eating? Thoughts? I know Jaclyn just ended a long-term relationship with vegetarianism, and she couldn’t be happier. One word: bacon!

this is a man’s world…

…but it would be nothing without a woman, or a girl.

Happy Mother’s Day!

My mom truly is the best. Anything I’ve ever wanted, anything I need, she’s right there. I recall crying phone calls at 1am after I moved to Birmingham, desperate pleas on how to make the perfect meringue, more crying phone calls after getting my heart broken…she’s always there, telling me what I want to hear, but also what I need. There’s no better place to be than curled up in my mom’s bed, just talking, laughing…or even just sitting in silence. I may not have been the best child, and I may not have been the ideal daughter—but my mom has never let me down.

Check out my hot mom at her prom I happen to think my dad’s hair is pretty sweet.

I think one of the reasons why my mom is so fabulous is because she learned from the best:

My mom’s mom is the perfect grandmother: She makes the best biscuits and whips up pie recipes right off the top of her head; she has the softest skin and gives the warmest hugs.

I know everyone thinks that their grandma is the best cook ever….but mine really is. She did win an award for her chocolate pie, you know.

I snapped this photo in an album last Christmas—she served that pie at dinner, and I barely managed to snag a slice! I only hope that one day I make as many delicious treats as she.

Another fun picture from that album:

My ma and her sisters. That’s her on the far right!

cinco de reago!

Last Thursday, our friends gathered together to celebrate a very special holiday: Cinco de Reago!

Also known as the anniversary of the birthday of this lovely lady:

Reagan requested angel food cake and strawberries for her birthday (“since it’s healthier than other options”), and I was more than happy to comply. After calling my mom for advice, she told me to just go with a box mix to simplify things; she assured me it would turn out delicious.

She told me I would need a specific type of pan, a tube pan. I couldn’t find one anywhere, so I decided to go with loaf pans. The directions seemed simple. Mix, pour, bake. Easy peasy right?

Sigh. Nothing is ever easy.

Looks can be slightly deceiving. While this may not look that bad, I had some problems. The cakes puffed up beautifully…and continued to puff up until they spilled over and onto the burners in my oven. And consequently caught on fire.

It was all good, though. I managed to get it under control.

  Not so bad, eh? We’ll just ignore the metal tin of disappointment off to the side.

Oops.

We headed out to Jim ‘N Nick’s for dinner, then to karaoke for drinks and entertainment. Some shots from the evening:

Dresses with pockets rock!

in my mouth: oh, Canada!

A looooong time ago, Samantha made a post about some homemade Oreos. She also mentioned a delectable Canadian treat known as Fudgee-Os. I, being what she has referred to as a “Yankee” (though as a born and raised Southern girl, I bristle at the thought), had never heard of such thing.

I jokingly suggested that we set up a trade. Before I knew, we’d exchanged emails and it was on! I set out to buy certain goods that were native to the South, and more precisely, to Alabama. I gathered several items, but life got in the way (and money—it’s pricey to ship to Canada!) and I didn’t get my package mailed out. But it sat there, smiling at me, waiting to be on its way.

Last week, I got the most lovely surprise.

Goodies!!!!

Here’s what I found inside:

You’re looking at Tim Horton’s coffee, Maple Leaf cookies, Fudgee-O cookies (that started it all!), All Dressed Ruffles, Ketchup-flavored Lays, Smarties and a Coffee Crisp candy bar.

I started my next morning with a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee.

Yum! Very bold flavor—I drink it black That’s what she…?

I won’t lie, though—the first thing I did was tear into the cookies.

Oh, my God. I have to say, neither of these let me down. The Fudgee-O was chocolatey and creamy and awesome. But I have to say, it can’t quite compare to the Maple Leaf cookie. Trust me when I say it’s like you just licked an actual maple tree. The minute I opened the package, I could smell the maple trying to escape. And it did—right into my mouth.

Next up, Smarties:

First, let me just say that these things are not even close to what we call Smarties. They’re more like M&Ms, but with less chocolate. They had a nice crunch. (I often see these on E’s blog, especially when she makes baked party treats.)

More candy:

Coffee Crisp candy bar! I’ve heard a LOT about these. And it was all good! It looked a Nutty Buddy, but tasted different. There was definitely a coffee flavor present, and it reminded me of a cross between a Kit Kat and Nutty Buddy.

I haven’t tried the chips yet, but expect a full report as soon as I do.

To Samantha—thank you SO much! I loved everything. And I promise you my package is coming! I was all set to send it out last week, but recent storms put a kink in our FedEx operations at my job (where I send everything from). Expect something from me very soon!

What’s something delicious native to YOUR area?

we’re here, we’re hungry, get used to it, brunch.

Pretty much every year, since I could remember, I’ve spent Easter with my parents. There were several times when I couldn’t make it to church with them due to working, or being away at college, but for the most part, I always saw them.

This year was a little different. April was a month of go-go-go, and I was so pleased at the idea of being home alone and relaxed over Easter weekend that I decided to stay in Birmingham this year. (Luckily, I’d already planned on heading home the next weekend, so I got to spend some QT with mom and dad.)

From the moment I knew I’d be on my own, visions of Easter brunch recipes began to dance in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted. For starters, ham. I gave up meat for Lent, and while I think I decide to give it up again in the end, I was just in the mood for some salty yet minimally processed ham. Mandy and I picked up a tiny “ham nugget” at Whole Foods the day before.

Another thing that popped into my head and wouldn’t let go? Scones. But not sweet ones. I wanted cheesy, buttery, savory scones. Enter Rachel’s Cheese and Herb Scone recipe. I changed the recipe slightly, using cheddar instead of Gruyere and almond milk instead of heavy whipping cream (it’s what I had on hand). Another change: I made two piles of dough and cut them into 8 triangles each to stretch the recipe out a little. I like eating “more” of things, ie several small items instead of one or two large ones. (That’s what she said?)

On the side, I was craving something with eggs. I found this recipe in the latest issue of Fitness, and I improvised just a touch, using 3 eggs and 1/2 c egg beaters, cheddar instead of Swiss, adding green onion and making 9 quiches instead of 6.

The leftovers for these have been great; if I’m in a hurry, I throw one between an English muffin and bam! Egg mcmuffin.

I hadn’t necessarily planned on a sweet finish, but when I saw La Fuji Mama’s recipe for an Apple Braid on Eat, Live, Run, I knew what I had to do. I made this pretty much to a T, just using 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1.5 cups bread flour.

And all together now:

Breakfast perfection.

However….in full disclosure, I did have one small issue. When I was making the apple braid, I decided to try and roll it out on the dining table for more room. We wiped it down and I went to town. (TWSS) All seemed well. Until…I was munching on some leftover braid when I felt a crunch.

I rolled the apple-y bite around in my mouth, trying to find the problem. Nothing. I chewed again.

Crunch.

As I moved the bite out of my mouth and into a napkin, I found the culprit: a tiny little nail.

That’s right, a nail. I was going to take a picture of it, but when I went back to snap a photo, someone threw it away

And THAT is why you always check and double-check your cooking surfaces. What’s the strangest cooking mishap you’ve run into? Once I found a crunch in a soft pretzel I made. I thought it was kosher salt—turned out to be glass. Yikes!

home sweet home, Alabama

As you might have heard, deadly tornadoes ripped through the South earlier this week, notably Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, and worst hit of all, Alabama.

I’ve lived in in this beautiful state my whole life. I’ve seen incredible thunderstorms and surprising snow and unbearable heat. And in 2000, a tornado blew through my hometown of Coates Bend, taking with it a massive amount of homes, hundred-year-old trees and even a huge chunk of our church. And while it damaged our town and hearts, it didn’t break our spirit. We rebuilt. We got by. And slowly, we healed.

But now a new hell has been unleashed in the South. Something I never thought I would have to encounter. On Wednesday, April 27, in the early hours of the morning, severe weather struck all over the state. We knew the worst of it wasn’t over, but we had no idea what was coming. By the end of the day, thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed (the number is constantly changing). Here are some hard numbers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

• There were 288 tornadoes during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 26 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011.
• During the 24-hour period from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 27 to 8:00 a.m. EDT April 28, The National Weather Service (NWS) estimates there were a total of 211 tornadoes.
• The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.

Expert NOAA analysis of the fatality information indicates that at least 344 people were killed during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 26 to 8:00 a.m. April 28. There were 334 fatalities during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28.

• This is the most people killed by tornadoes in a two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Mississippi and Gainesville, Georgia.

• This is the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states (including the Tri-State Tornado).

The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado during the April 2011 event caused at least 65 fatalities.

• These are the most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955, when 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas with 75 of those deaths in Udall, Kansas.

• The deadliest single tornado on record was the Tri-State tornado (MO, IL, IN) on March 18, 1925, when 695 died.

• (Note:  All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.)

In April 2011, there were 600 tornadoes. The previous record for April is 267, set in 1974, while the record for any month was set in May 2003 with 542.

The scary truth? May is typically the most active month for tornadoes.

There are ways we can help. If you live in the state of Alabama, collection sites are cropping up all over. If you don’t live Alabama, consider giving blood or just donating to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. You can do that via phone/text:

• Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross
• Text “GIVE” to 80888 to give $10 to the Salvation Army
• Text “TORNADO” to 50555 to make a $10 gift to United Way

Help Ree Drummond (aka, the Pioneer Woman) donate to the cause this week by leaving her a comment on this entry. She’ll be giving .25 for every comment left, and she’s also giving away four $500 donations to the charity of choice for four lucky commenters. At last time I check, there were over 8,000 comments. That’s a lot of quarters!

Live in Alabama and want to volunteer? Here are some helpful links:

• United Way
• Hands On Birmingham

Check out these links for several more ways to help, including how to make online donations:

• Huffington Post—Severe Storms in the South: How You Can Help
• Red Cross Needs Help for Alabama Tornado Victims
• MSNBC: How to find, help tornado victims

Here are some before and after shots from Tuscaloosa, and this Al.com Photo Essay really paints a vivid, real picture of the widespread destruction and devastation. Click here to see a scary video of one the twisters in Tuscaloosa. Another crazy video:

More facts, figures and up-to-date information regarding developing weather and the events from last week can be found at the Alabama Weather Blog.

Please consider giving to the cause. You never realize how horrible something like this is until it’s in your own backyard. And right now, the people of the South (especially Alabama) are hurting. And you can help.