Coming backAs I sit here at my laptop, I think ... "How am I going to do this?" Where do I start? What am I going to talk about? HOW am I going to even begin writing about the journey that I have been on?
Countless times have I started typing and set aside a few words, a paragraph or two, or even a whole page. Though, I never did post. I didn't think I was ready. Thoughts, feelings, insights, etc... entries in my email or journal, in personal texts, on scraps of paper, or swimming in my mind. And I am finally deciding to bring it all together. To share my burdens, my joys, my strengths and weaknesses, my insights, ... my life; this blog is no longer just about food. And if there's an ear out there, I am blessed. And perhaps I can bring truth to your world, as God has brought it to mine. Truth. About our purpose here. Truth. About my struggles. Truth. About my joys. Truth. About health. Truth. About our world. There are so many lies we were born or taught into believing and their manifestations are far beyond UgLy. But when we learn the Truth, we can make the changes we need to be better for our Lord and Savior. The changes that perfect us and make us new. I am becoming new. It is no easy journey and I am certainly not through, but I will no longer let the waiting period dictate the postponement of sharing my story. And so let it begin. This is my story... |
"Food is an infinitely rich subject, and there's always something about it to understand better, something new to discover, a fresh source of interest, ideas, and delight." |
Five years later and I'm finally able to sit down and post about my LIFE. The title of this post might deceive you. Or maybe it won't. You could be expecting adventures of rock climbing, surfing, swimming with the sharks, and whatever else your mind wanders to believe. Perhaps your thoughts venture so far as to believe that I cooked several crazy gourmet meals, but alas I've not (then again my standard for gourmet is rather high). But enough of my rambling. Let me start with the Friday before Easter Sunday. ...which really just involves a good meal: spaghetti, homemade meatballs, salad, and homemade garlic bread. Want to make some rockin' roasted tomatoes? Put them in the crock pot on low with EVOO, salt and pepper, tomato paste, and herbs and forget about it for a few good hours. The liquid from the tomatoes will evaporate off and your planned tomato sauce becomes a chunkier roasted tomato sauce. And the key to good meatballs? Put something IN them! So I will generally sautee onions and garlic with garlic powder and onion powder, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper, etc. But it's really the onions and garlic that creates such a juicy and textural difference. Then I cool that a bit so as not to cook the meat, mix it in with the meat, add an egg for binding (unless the mixture is too wet), and add bread crumbs. I prefer Japanese breadcrumbs (Panko) because they're just so crunchy, but regular Italian breadcrumbs work just the same. O! and the meat can be anything from ground beef to turkey, pork, veal, buffalo, etc, or a combination of them. In my opinion, combining meats enhances the flavor so I chose to mix ground turkey and beef. So once the mixture is a good balance of wet and dry, add the meatballs to an oiled skillet or pan and fry both sides until mostly cooked. Placing that in a dish with tomato sauce and allowing it to stew in the oven for 20 or so minutes at 350 puts just the right finishing touch to them. Top on spaghetti, grab a fork and significant other, find a romantic setting and what movie are you in?? Lady in the Tramp. :) That Saturday I went out to Epcot to meet up with a very special friend from Penn State: my college roommate Jess. Despite her living down here the past year, we've both been too tied up in life to have time to see each other. Nevertheless, we finally set a date... The great thing about going to Disney with a cast member who works there is that you see and learn more than what general guests do. This includes tips about food, best rides to go on and when to go on them, free activities in the park, hidden secrets, etc. For instance, at Hollywood Studios' Muppets Theatre, when you enter, the sign says something like 'will be back in 5 minutes but use the key under the mat'. Everyone always just passes it by, but Disney doesn't lie! There really is a key under the mat! But I digress ... I mean I was talking about Epcot, right? So Jess and I ended up going on Figment which is a ride where the dragon Figment turns everything upside-down and crazy. The ride itself is about the human senses and since I'm all about the senses, I enjoyed this ride. There's also this supposedly addicting song that gets stuck in your head if you've ridden it enough. I have yet to experience this. We also visited the Land where we were taken through different parts of the world (different biomes) as well as areas where Disney grows various sorts of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and the more. They've also got this really unique hydroponic aquaculture where water from fish and plants are connected to each other. To be more descriptive, the water that the fish live in becomes fertilized water which is then fed to the plants through a tubing system. The plants cycle through this water, cleaning and oxygenating it, which is then sent back to the fish. And so the cycle continues.. One of the many things I love about this world is how innovative we have become. The following day was an early morning. Getting to church at 6:30 AM I was able to experience part of the sunrise sewhichrvice. Not long after I was helping set up for the pancake and waffle breakfast. I was an official waffle maker. Well... not the device... I was the person in charge of making waffles. Anywayy... it was loads of fun and the food was great too. If you ever have the chance, volunteer. Yes, it makes you feel good, but it helps the people around you and makes them feel great. So why not? ... After the breakfast we all went to the 9:00 AM service which was wonderful<3. Many people who very seldom go to church often attend the 'special days' such as Easter and Christmas. But every Sunday is special! And you never know what that service may hold for you. Later that day I played tennis with my boyfriend Joe (and lost ... no surprise ..) and then met up with friends from church for an Easter potluck! Joe and I made beef and vegetable stew and baguette pizza bites. Others brought roasted chicken, hash brown casserole, mozz sticks, roasted potato skins, deep-fried mushrooms, chips and dip, apple pie, cookies, ... and possibly a few other things. I ended up taking the chicken carcasses home and cooking them in the crock pot with a ton of water, onion and garlic powder, garlic, white wine, and salt and pepper. Taking the bones and fatty skin out, I then added rice and potatoes. A day later, I added lemon, chili powder, a bit more water and spices, and local collard greens (which I'm calling my ingredient of the week). A co-worker actually gave them to me from her garden. You might think that they're bitter, but that's because you've not eaten them prepared properly. You need to boil them in water for a bit to extract the bitter compound(s), rinse them off, and THEN make your dish with them. Only two days later I was headed to the airport to pick up one of my best friends (since elementary school) from the airport: BECKY! She came down for three days during which we explored every park for crazy amounts of hours. Day 1 we went into Magic Kingdom and went on Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, and Haunted Mansion. Also, we saw Monster's Inc The Laugh Floor, the new 3:00 parade, Philharmagic, the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Castle Show Wishes Nighttime Spectacular, and the Castle Fireworks. Philharmagic was a first for me. It was a 3-D theatre show about Disney with a good touch of Donald Duck and some surprises along the way. I definitely want to go back to see it again and can rank this among one of my favorite shows. I've also not seen the nighttime shows and so those were also a surprising experience (but who is Disney without a little surprise?) By the end of the night we were POOPed!! Conked out when we got home and were glued to our beds until later in the morning. No matter. We started anew and went over to Epcot for the first half of our day. Since the flower and garden festival is still occurring, we were able to again enjoy the topiaries in addition to the normal attractions. Since several rides were already 'sold out' for fast passes, we couldn't ride on any of the fun and crazy rides. But we still saw Nemo and Friends, went on Maelstrom, and enjoyed Spaceship Earth. When we walked through the countries, Becky knew that she wanted to get a sweet treat. So when we journeyed into Germany's Karamelle-Kuche shoppe (http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/karamelle-kuche/gallery/30sep2010-opening-day-interior,-food-and-merchandise/11966.htm) she was completely entranced by the caramel. Yes. We found our sweet treat there. But you'll have to find it in the pictures below! Later in the day we went to Hollywood Studios and saw the 3-D Muppet Theatre Show, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic. Fantasmic has become a favorite show that I am TELLING you to see if you ever find your way down here to Disney. It's the best night show of all 4 parks! And it takes you into the imagination of Mickey Mouse. Trust me, it's worth it. The Muppet's show has always been close to my heart because I remember it as a child. Having a 2/3 work shift day the next day, we ran back to my apartment so I could sleep and then wake up at 4:00 AM for work. Following work, Becky and I went to The Animal Kingdom Lodge's Sanaa restaurant (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw_nextgen/CoreCatalog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/Media/InternetMediaType/Dining/Sanaa/sanaa-menu-dinner.pdf). Okay so this was a gourmet experience. For an appetizer we had their 3 types of naan and 9 sauces spread followed by a bass-like fish in a brothy saffron sauce with crispy al dente vegetables. We also had split a mango-berry smoothie. For dessert, we split their triple dessert dish: chocolate mousse with a salted rum-enhanced caramel, chai pot de creme with a blue-colored white chocolate spoon, and coconut cheesecake with a raspberry sauce. We were in food heaven. You've simply got to experience it! Following lunch and being on a time crunch, we briskly walked throughout Animal Kingdom and were so fortunate to get on Dinosaur and the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride, get into the TOL Bug's Life Show, and help her pick out some gifts for others back home. Only 2.5 hours there and we had to race out to get her to the airport. We had a good few crazy fun days together and I'm sooo soooo thankful to have a friend like you Becky!! :). I hope to see you again soon<3. My recipe of the week/ingredient self-assigned homework is not going to be as strict as it has been. To be honest, I'm trying to budget my money and need to cut back where I can. Of course, you can always buy cheap ingredients (i.e. canned international foods), but you should still expect stories and pictures of good food. If you ever want to donate money and recommend a recipe, I will surely take it ;), but all I really ask for is some time out of your day. Who knows, maybe this will take you away to another time and place in the hectic craziness that life promises us. But always remember that there is fun and peace in even the smallest of times in our lives. And we allow them to happen; we create the magic.
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Not much has been going on this past week apart from hanging out with friends, running errands, working, etc. A few small events have made the week a bit more special, but there's nothing in comparison to the coming weeks. I would tell, but then there would be no sense of surprise, so why spoil it? :) This past week Sunday was a bit different from the norm. My usual Sunday entails working until 4, meeting up with a friend to play tennis, and then meeting up at his apartment with all of our other friends from church. Though this time everyone was playing basketball 6-9 pm and since I have work Mondays (4:00 AM wake-up), we decided to go to Epcot! Epcot is nice to just walk around in - particularly when you're in their world showcase: France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, England, America, China, Japan, Morocco .... so many countries with so many options of food, merchandise, stories, rides (very few but of those that have rides they are more informational and typically on a boat), etc. We ended up going on Maelstrom (Netherlands' boat ride) and then into Mexico. The crazy part about Mexico was that when we entered this Mexican pyramid, I was instantly taken back 12+ years when I had last been to Disney with my family. Have you ever had visions or memories in your head and you didn't know from where they originated? Well this one eventually got stored deep in my memory, but the second I entered the pyramid it appeared front and center! And I just about cried. Of happiness. It was a great moment. Later one in our walking around Epcot, we each ordered a split a dessert (after all the best way to eat food is to split dishes so you can enjoy more that one!) Before I discuss what we purchased, you should know (if you do not already) that Epcot's flower and garden festival also includes small food stands in each country where they have certain food and drinks that they don't typically have. Okay, that being said, we ended up splitting this "Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake with Maple Frosting and Pretzel Crunch" and "Pineapple Soft Serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum". Sure they weren't French or German dishes, but they were still ... just ... WOW. The cupcake was particularly interesting. I don't eat bacon, but I do agree that it provides great flavor. So when I bit into that cupcake, I got a smoky, sweet mapley taste with a pretzel crunch. And then the ice-cream dessert was delicious because how can pineapple and coconut NOT taste good? Tonight is the Seder meal at church which is a Passover meal. Several really good cooks at church are helping to prepare everything so I am excited for good food, good company, and Jesus. That's the only thing I'm going to tell you know. As for the rest, you shall have to wait. By the way, if you're ever looking for another Disney blog, check out my roommates!! It's: Well I must say I've been a bit lazy with blogging. Two weeks passed and no word until now! Life has been busy... but that is its nature after all. Outside of good food, nothing too too exciting has taken place. Two weeks ago I did finally get the chance to go to the beach with some friends. Though I was not very smart with applying a high SPF and so suffered a good burning. However, my other friends applied high SPFs and still burned like crabs as well so I may have come out with a darker tan in the end! Not that this is a competition ... the sun down here is very strong since the ozone layer is a great deal depleted. I've been careful not to sit in the sun since then to allow my body to heal and regenerate. Apart from working my awesome job/internship (which really doesn't even feel like work since it's so much fun!!), I've been cooking, hanging out with friends, playing tennis, reading (Pride and Prejudice, The Fault in Our Stars, and Tuesdays with Maury), writing a paper for a conference in August, working out, relaxing, and just enjoying every bit of life that the world decides to throw at me. This blog post is going to be fairly short, but make sure to look at the pictures because I will have comments attached to most of them explaining what the picture is or the event for the picture! I do have to elaborate on the last few, however: a friend told me about freshfield farms which is a store about 30 minutes away that sells a variety of produce from fresh to frozen to foreign for low prices. And they also sell a variety of local meats (no hormones or preservatives, etc) for low prices. So we both went shopping there yesterday morning and I've never purchased soo much meat! Nor had I ever seen so many vibrant colors and great selections of produce! My ingredient for this week is a coconut (which was 1. HUGE and 2. ONE DOLLAR). I'm not yet sure what is to come of it, but I certainly will be making use of every part that I can. For the meat, I bought shrimp (heads and all still attached), lamb, ground beef, ground turkey, thin sirloin steak, and chicken. And all of that cost me $30!!! I separated and froze all but the shrimp so that I am now stocked up for quite some time and can cook my shrimp tonight. Will likely be the recipe of the week, but I've yet to decide on what I am making! Enjoy the pictures! |
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February 2017
"Food is an infinitely rich subject, and there's always something about it to understand better, something new to discover, a fresh source of interest, ideas, and delight."
From Pennsylvania to France to Washington DC to Florida, I've had myself many an adventure. Now it's time to indulge in the life of a Floridian. With great food, great friends, and great experiences, I offer you stories and pictures to take you away, into my world at Disney. Categories |