Sometimes I stop by

I know I'm truly terrible about writing in this blog. But I'm just as awful about just about everything. My garden has gotten so full of weeds we're going to just till it under and start all over again. Classic. Start the garden at the very end of July. I am interning in a law office which is much better than not working at all, and I rather enjoy it. At least it is interesting, although it is also sad a lot of the time. It is a family law office, and people who are going through easy, amicable divorces do not really need an attorney. We mostly see people going through hell. I am trying not to compensate with food. Last night I did make something both terrible and wonderful.

Macaroni and cheese pancakes.

2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups a.p. flour
Salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup malt powder

1 cup elbow macaroni, cooked tender
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla until foamy, 3 minutes. Beat in oil. Add flour, salt, baking powder and malt. Mix in gently and quickly. Let sit while heating a greased cast iron pan over high heat. Drop 1/2 cupfuls of batter into pan and cook until bubble begin to form and break. Sprinkle a handful of noodles over batter. Sprinkle a handful of cheese over noodles. Flip. Cook till cheese is melted and a little crispy. Pile up on a plate. Makes 6-8 pancakes.

I tried these with both maple syrup and sriracha. Both were delicious in their own way.

Today is the Super Bowl! I don't actually pay any attention to football (unless the Seahawks or Ferndale Golden Eagles are doing especially well), but the Super Bowl provides the opportunity to eat absolutely decadent junk food. Chicken wings, super nachos, muffaletta, not to mention, chips and dips. And the crown jewel: a chocolate fondue. I am in charge of the wings, which I intend to roast in the oven rather than deep fry them. They come out lovely and crispy. It is the sauce that makes the magic though. My secret ingredient is Sriracha hot sauce, the California made Thai style sauce that no foodie is without. My kids love Sriracha on sweet potatoes and I throw it on anything needing a boost of flavor, including pizza and spaghetti. The sauce I make for wings is simply Sriracha, butter, and a little cider vinegar to give it the characteristic Buffalo tang. Delicious!

Seeds

I went to the 2nd Annual Seed Swap in Bellingham yesterday, and now I am ready for spring. Last year was the first time I participated in gardening and I was very reluctant. It was more a chore than a hobby. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover I enjoyed playing in the dirt. And I especially enjoyed growing amazing vegetables I could turn into amazing food. This spring I intend to really get into it even more. I'm not telling anyone (except you, dear reader) but I have decided to exert ownership over the garden. I will decide what should go in. Broccoli romanesco, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, salsify, zucchini, buttercup squash, fennel. Oh I can taste it already. Just picture the abundance, the rows of green leaves, thriving in the warm sun, droplets of rain clinging to them after a gentle shower. Bring on spring.

Monday sans sugar

Day one is almost over and I have been strong. Oh, don't get me wrong: I've been a raging bitch pretty much all evening, but I haven't gorged myself! I ate oatmeal this morning with dried cranberries, vegetables with hummus and salsa for lunch, and black beans and brown rice for dinner. The rice and beans were pretty fancy though- I tossed in some roasted sweet potato cubes, some avocado chunks, salsa, cilantro, and just a smackeral of grated cheddar. Mmmm...so good! But no refined sweeteners today (except this morning- I downed a Diet Pepsi before I remembered no sweets. There I've confessed. Now let it go.)
The day has been pretty terrible even with my success. I've been irritable and distracted. I spent a good portion of the day trying to finish my reading for this evening's class; after about the fourth attempt I abandoned the effort. Instead I watched Twin Peaks on cbs.com.

Beginnings

I'm going to start a sugar detox tomorrow. Oh, wait, its already tomorrow. I'm going to start a sugar detox today. Me without sugar is like Churchill without booze. I know its kind of grandiose to compare myself with Churchill, but, c'mon, who's really going to read this? Anyway, I love sugar. I love to bake. I'm an amateur pastry chef really. Yesterday I made split level pudding cups with a chocolate ganache bottom and a cornstarch thickened vanilla top. Tomorrow I'm going to make brown rice. There is really no comparison. So we'll see how it goes. Maybe this blog will help.