#everyone else is eating like couscous or pasta salad

[nevergoesout]

feel like such a little show off eating homemade tacos in the staff room but it was actually such a last minute decision n easy packed lunch . leftover chilli leftover corn tortillas . chopped and quick pickled the leftover end of a red onion in the fridge. chopped some lettuce. grated some cheese. put them in my lunchbox with lots of little sections . wrapped the tortillas in my lil sandwich wrap. put the chilli in a lil tupperware. then at work just microwaved the tortillas in damp paper towels and microwaved the chilli . then assembled . and it was so yum

[jaybug-jabbers]

Meal Ideas for College Students

Ok, so. As a college student, I’m compiling my own list of easy meal ideas. I have a bad habit of skipping meals, like many students do. A list of ideas helps a lot when you’re busy, stressed, tired, and/or not feeling up for much.

This post will prioritize quick/easy meals, ideas for relieving meal monotony, food that gives energy that sticks with you throughout the day, and meals that are generally healthy and balanced.

Note: This list of ideas was made with myself in mind. Everyone has their own dietary needs and/or preferences to keep in mind! Still, you might find something useful here. :) Also, check out my other post of recipes for more specific ideas.

Lunch/Dinner Ideas

1.) Soup/Salad/Sandwich.

-Not many canned soups are worth eating in my opinion, but a few taste acceptable (split pea’s pretty good), and sometimes grocery stores have containers of fresh soup. Those are almost always better tasting then canned!

-Salads ideally are more then just plain romaine lettuce and croutons/salad dressing. They can have all kinds of crap thrown on: nuts, seeds, tortilla strips, dried fruit, fresh sliced fruit, cheese, chicken, even some pasta noodles.

-It’s better to buy heads of greens and wash them yourself, as the already-washed bags of greens go bad quickly and have been prone to e. coli outbreaks. A little salad washing bowl speeds up cleaning greens. In either case, try to get a mix of darker, vitamin-rich greens.

-Sandwiches can use the healthier lunch meats but also leftover cooked chicken, or just a grilled cheese sandwich. (Use different kinds of sliced cheese.) Fancy mustard, pesto and horseradish can really punch up a sandwich; so can bread that actually tastes good.

2.) Pasta.

There are a lot of options of what to put on top of pasta; just adding some marinara sauce to spaghetti noodles is only the beginning.

-If you do use red sauce, I suggest adding mushrooms, sliced sausage or ground meat, or lots of cheese on top to bump up the protein.

-If you do something else, stir-frying some veggies (fresh– zuccini, mushroom, celery, carrot, snappeas, etc. frozen– frozen stir-fry veggie mix) and adding a light sauce is good; even dumping vinegarette salad dressing on it can be tasty.

-Other options include frozen shrimp, meatballs, leftover chicken, tofu or a cheese casserole.

-Try other kinds of pasta noodles, because even that can relieve some food monotomy. You can even use cheap ramen noodles, because why not? Just skip the spice pack they come with and add other things instead.

-Raviolis or tortillinis are also great for a light dinner or lunch.

-Sides for pasta include bread/garlic bread, salad, and fruit.

3.) Tacos/Burritos/Tostadas.

Canned beans, cheese, a bit of shredded lettuce, some jarred salsa, a tortilla, presto. Also great for using leftover ground meat or baked chicken. If you are lucky enough to own an avacado, please use it for this.

4.) Nachos.

This is basically when you have canned beans but you ran out of tortillas. Dump everything on top of corn chips instead.

5.) Enchilada Casserole.

Ground meat (or shredded chicken), canned black beans/red kidney beans, shredded cheese, canned enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and a casserole dish. Dense and lasts you for a long time. Freezes well, too.

6.) Baked chicken.

There’s about a million different ways to prepare chicken. What’s more, the leftovers are so useful for so many things.

7.) Homemade pizza.

-They sell those kits at the store with the shell and the pizza sauce all ready. Just add your desired toppings and cook. A million times better then frozen pizza and worth the five extra minutes of work. You’ll need to invest in a large cutting-board and a pizza cutter or a large knife, but that’s it.

-If you want emergency personal pizzas, you can even use English Muffins for the task.

8.) Hamburger.

If you don’t care for ground beef, ground turkey or chicken works just as well; you can cook them insanely fast and easily on a Foreman grill, but still cooks pretty fast in a regular pan too. Adding some fixings goes a long way: pickles, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pineapple rings, etc. Good sides: salad, fries/potato, peas or beans.

9.) Baked frozen fish/salmon.

Again, you’re unlikey to have the time to buy and prepare fresh fish, which needs to be cooked and eaten quickly, but you can buy a filet of frozen fish. Good sides: rice, easy risotto, boxed couscous, broccoli, bread, etc.

10.) Fajuitas.

Steak strips/chicken strips that are pan-fried, plus stir-fried mushrooms, asparagus,  zuccini, etc. Lime juice and avacado add a lot of flavor.  

11.) Chicken, mustard, mushroom, garlic, spinach and swiss hot sandwiches.

Bake ‘em after assembling them for melty goodness.

12.) Smoothies/shakes.

This is a great addition to breakfast or lunch if you’re not very hungry or running low on food supplies; only if you have a blender, of course. Ice cubes, plain yogurt, fruit (fresh or frozen), shredded coconut, honey, fruit juice or ice cream, and blend. Experiment to find what works best.

Breakfast Ideas

Bulk up on breakfast if your schedule demands it!

1.) Oatmeal loaded with nuts, dried fruit, powdered proteins, flaxseed, and a dash of maple syrup/honey

2.) A plain yogurt parfait loaded up in a similar manner, plus granola

3.) Bagels or toast with cream cheese, nut butters, jam/honey, or avacado

4.) Stir-fried potatoes, potato pancakes, hashbrowns

5.) Low-sugar muffins

6.) Breakfast burritos

7.) Omlettes

8.) See above for smoothies!

General Tips

1.) Always make large portions when you cook so there are leftovers. When you bake chicken for dinner, you can use the leftovers the next day or make a sandwich or a taco or whatever. If you’re going to invest your precious time and energy into cooking, get the most out of it. If you have TONS of leftovers, freeze them in portions that are easily taken out, bit by bit, to use later on.

2.) See if you can locate a microwave on campus. This expands your options for what to pack for food, in case sandwiches a million times a month gets tiring. Pack things into microwavable tupperware or bring little paper plates and plastic utensils. Plastic bento boxes are also handy ways to pack things other than sandwiches. You can even bring soup, pasta, or ramen with you in a thermos.

3.) Frozen vegetables help a lot. You may not have the time to buy, clean and cook fresh veg, but grabbing a bag of something frozen is easy to make sure you have balanced meals. Steam them in the microwave easily in a bowl with a plate on top; avoid the ‘steamer’ plastic bags if you can, which tend to taste gross imo and may not be super healthy. (zapping plastic may create toxins.)

4.) See what’s in season for fruit. That way you can buy cheaper organic fresh fruit such as grapes, melons, berries or even exotics like kiwi. If you get them in bulk and need to use fresh fruit up before it spoils, try smoothies or put them on cereal/oatmeal or even make a fruit salad.

5.) Consider investing in a crock pot or insta-pot cooker. This opens up options for a lot of low-effort recipes, where you can just toss crap in and come back later and it’s done.

6.) Invest in spices. It’s worth the money and effort to get a variety. Get in the habit of tossing them into things. It can punch up just about anything and is way better then just salt. Even scrambled eggs can be punched up with some Sriracha sauce or some spices, or a little bit of shredded cheese.

This is a repost on a new blog. The original post was on Nov 4, 2019.

[timobeechalamet]

Do you have any easy vegan/vegetarian recipes you could share? 🤔 Or like a youtuber or a magazine or stuff like that that helps you when trying to plan meals? Also, if it's okay with you, can I ask how did you become a vegan/vegetarian? 😊

i should straight up write a cookbook no joke lol i’ve shared my buddah bowl recipe before here, i’ll leave some more recipes under the cut too but my go-to

blogs: cookie+kate, love and lemons

youtube: caitlin shoemaker (great for budget cooking and begginners), hot for food, deliciously ella, avantgarde vegan (more advanced)

cookbooks: beautifully real food (for when you’re more familiar and comfortable with vegan cooking and ingredients), deliciously ella cookbook only if you find it hella discounted because it’s really not worth the 30£ or so it costs

i stopped eating meat in the summer of 2015 after some introspection lol i’ve been an animal lover my whole life, i grew up around horses and i’d find myself constantly questioning if i could never eat a horse/dog because to me they have personalities and identities, how are cows, pigs, etc. any different? i’d push it under the rug and make excuses like everyone else but then cue in essena o’neill lmao the vegan community on yt around that time was more orthorexia in disguise than anything else and i do believe ultimately they did more harm than good but essena (in the beginning anyway) was the only one who was in it for the animals, which resonated with me. i watched all the documentaries and all the speeches about animal cruelty and factory farming and it also helped that, at that time, i was studying for my philosophy final which was heavily based on ethics. 

in the end there was no choice to make, it was simply a realisation that i would always come to sooner or later - i can’t love animals and kill them. which is not to say i’m not a hypocrite because i am in more ways than one, but regardless this was far out the best and wisest decision i made in my life. i wish i could go back in time just to shake hands with 16yo me.

everything is eyeballed so pls bear with me 

basic tomato sauce / soup which you can use for loads of things (my mum’s recipe uwu)

chop tomatoes in quarters, enough to cover an entire baking tray. to the tray add 1 roughly chopped onion and 5 cloves of garlic (or more), no need to peel. drizzle olive oil generously over everything and sprinkle salt, cracked black pepper and oregano or basil (or both). roast in the oven at 180ºc until the tomatoes are tender and juicy and the onion brown, roughly 40 minutes. 

if making soup: sautée 1-2 carrots and 1-2 courgettes in olive oil, then add water and boil until super tender. add everything - tomato, onion, peeled garlic, carrot and courgette - to a blender (immersion blender works just as well) with enough water to make it ~soupy, idk start with a cup and keep adding to taste. add more black pepper, herbs, and nutritional yeast and salt if needed.

if making sauce: add the oven ingredients to a blender with water, again start with a cup of water and keep adding. you don’t want to make it as thin as soup, but still pretty smooth. add more black pepper, herbs and nutritional yeast, and salt if needed.

tip: you might need to add sugar if it’s too sour for your taste but don’t go rogue because once it’s too sweet it’s hard to fix. 

bonus: you can use the sauce for lentil bolognese (italians don’t @ me). just simmer it in a pot and add about 1-2 cups of cooked+rinsed brown lentils depending on how much sauce you’ve got. it usually makes loads so freeze/save for later/feed your friends. serve with pasta of choice and extra nutritional yeast.

tofu bacon to annoy the carnivores (spoiler: doesn’t taste like bacon) (i think?)

smoked tofu is best but any firm tofu will do. 1 block = 4 servings. press the tofu between paper towels to squeeze out excess water. grate with the big holes of the grater (i’m sorry but wtf are they called) and put in a bowl.

to the bowl add soya sauce, garlic powder and olive oil. toss until everything’s coated.

fry on the hob until it gets crispy. mostly just sit with it without stirring too much for added crispiness, might take 10-15 minutes. but don’t leave cos it tends to burn quickly.

good to use over pasta of any kind, in salads for crispiness, in sandwiches or straight from the pan if you’re anything like me

pesto couscous for summer lunches and/or potlucks, as a main or side dish

cook the couscous according to the package and season with nutmeg (optional but yum) and salt.

chop cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumber and garlic.

sautée the mushrooms and garlic in olive oil.

let everything cool before mixing it together in a bowl. add spinach/rocket/green of choice. 

add 1-2 tbsp of pesto and mix until combined. you can add tofu bacon too! and cheese (vegan or vegetarian, up to you). 

season with black pepper. might need salt depending on how salty your pesto already is.

stir fry rice for when you’re running low on everything

works best with left over rice! but if not, just cook rice the way you usually would.

basically just chop every veggie you can find in the house super fine. if you’ve got a food processor even better (but not necessary) pulse until finely chopped. must include garlic and/or onion for flavour.

some favourite veggies: tomato, mushrooms, leek, carrot, asparagus, broccoli

sautée the veggies in (you guessed it) olive oil for a couple minutes. add the rice and stir. drizzle some soya sauce to deglaze the pan. add greens of choice (optional but good for u)

if you’re a protein freak: add cooked+rinsed chickpeas and sautée with the rest.

optional: drizzle sesame oil and sesame seeds before serving.

if you make any of these let me know how it goes, what worked/didn’t work etc. or if you’ve got any questions. also dm me whatever ingredients you’ve got around and i’ll come up with something for you pinky promise x

[amatchgirl]

25 Pantry Recipes (That You’ll Actually Love)

Here we are. We are in a TIME, folks. It is uncharted territory for most of us. We are making the map as we go and wheeeew baby, there are a lot of feelings running us in a lot of different directions. We feel stuck and restless and unsure and tired and wired and ok-maybe-actually-enjoying-some-dedicated-time-together but also worried, anxious and please let me watch this show by myself and oh no what day is it.

But we are staying home because it is an act of love. An unprecedented act of love to take care of each other. To make the world safer for each other. To help build the world back up to a new normal, for each other. 

We know cooking can get very tricky these days this with limited access to grocery stores and sometimes even more limited items on shelves, so we pulled together a collection that relies heavily on pantry staples. The ingredient lists are short and the recipes are so very very flexible, (something we’re all really trying to practice being right now – oh, hello multiple Zoom meetings in one house with children and animals and are even the plants somehow louder?).

Here we go.

Trying to keep ingredient lists as short as possible these days and this comes in at a whopping three. We’re using our best pal cashews to add a creamy, velvety twist on the standard pasta, and the jar of tomato sauce we’re probably all coming to know really well right about now.

Get the recipe here.

No, we did not mistakenly put the words salmon and burger together. Give it a crisp sear, top it with a dollop of yogurt and dill and float it on a bed of herby cabbage slaw and you’ll totally get why this pantry-friendly protein patty is worth your bravery.

Get the recipe here.

We cannot lie – these pancakes are straight up exquisite even WITHOUT blueberries, syrup or dripping buttery goodness, but if you happen to have any combination of those things at the ready, these are an absolute dream of a breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Get the recipe here.

We call it “Back Pocket” Noodle Stir Fry because we want you to keep this simple perfect recipe in your back pocket at all times, not the beautiful noodlefull dish ITSELF. That would gross. So grab your noodles, find all the veggie stragglers in the fridge, crisp up a protein, shake up your sauce in a jar, and you are READY.

Get the recipe here.

If you’ve got a pound of chicken in the freezer, a stocked spice rack, and a can of coconut milk, this is for you. Lots of coconut and curry-like flavor, but no cutting boards, no measuring cups, no fuss. Just pack it all up in a bag, freeze or refrigerate, and pop it in the Instant Pot. 

Get the recipe here.

If you’re not currently using your vodka as a backup disinfectant then boy do we have a delicious and incredibly easy recipe for you! We swapped out the cream for, wait for it (and trust), coconut milk to make it vegan but ALSO because you might already have a can on hand.

Get the recipe here.

We’ve all had the same nightmare: what if we run out of crisp and wonderful carby things to serve on the side of everything? Chickpea flour to the rescue! This single ingredient (and ok fine, there’s water, olive oil and salt involved too but that’s it!) is delivering to you your new favorite gluten-free dipper.

Get the recipe here.

Cream-free but creamy-as-all-get-out and here to replace your usual coffeeshop latte. You’re free to come to the party at any time of day because literally morning, noon or night (decaf-style), it’s just a straight-up TREAT.

Get the recipe here.

Isn’t it beautiful how potatoes just seem to kind of last forever? Sweet potatoes serve as the base of this spicy creamy delight – just add in some cans of tomatoes and coconut milk, a scoop of peanut butter, lots of spices, and add in some chopped kale to finish it off (which, well, also kind of seems to last forever?).

Get the recipe here.

One silver-lining from this pantry-cooking situation is that everyone seems to be dipping their toes into amateur breadmaking and we are HERE FOR IT. If you haven’t considered it yet, here’s a heck of an easy intro that is going to yield you the perfectly crusted outside, soft and chewy inside loaf of your dreams. Also, carbs.

Get the recipe here.

Sure, baking might be a coping mechanism, and sometimes it has us in front of the oven, oven mitts on, praying for a warm, sweet, wholesome, unfussy and delicious treat to appear. Prayers answered, friends! Carrot muffins at the ready. And by at the ready, we mean blended up in a blender, poured into a muffin tin, baked, and ready to devour.

Get the recipe here.

Lentils, amiright?! Healthy, filling, affordable and they kind of do all the work for you! We put these in the Instant Pot with some warm curry spices, a can of tomatoes and a bit of coconut milk or butter/ghee to make it a little creamy. Scoop it on top of some steamy rice and you have yourself some easy delicious comfort food, which really feels great right now.

Get the recipe here.

This Vegetarian Chili is super cozy, deeeeply flavored and super meaty but with not one little bit of actual meat! And we’re not making up for it by just adding a bunch of beans, friends. No way! This chili uses a delicious blend of walnuts, carrots and mushrooms as a “meat” for all your hearty chili texture needs. Grab your tortillas chips and get ready.

Get the recipe here.

On a scale of *very* to *runs out of room screaming*, how intimidated are you by the thought of making your own curry from scratch? GOOD. You are a real person with well-adjusted fears! But you can totally do this. We believe in you. It’s easier than you think, only requires a few ingredients, and will be so, so worth it.

Get the recipe here.

We all just really need a cookie right now, don’t we? The especially beautiful thing about it is that you probably already have everything you need tucked right in your pantry/fridge. Flour, sugar, butter, chocolate – staples are all here, ready to play.

Get the recipe here.

If you need to clean out the last dregs of your fridge to make space of the restock, this Lo Mein Is. Your. Answer. You can toss almost any protein or veggie you have at it, we swear we won’t tell if you’re using regular old spaghetti noodles and no matter what combo you come up with, that sauce is still going to make it sing.

Get the recipe here.

There is no box situation here! (unless your noodles came in a box but, like, go with us here) There’s also not an elaborate sauce construction and hour-long bake time! Just 5 ACTUAL REAL FOOD ingredients, nothing is powdered or in a pouch, and the whole thing is creamy cheesy yours in under 15 minutes.

Get the recipe here.

If you are looking at those chickpeas on your pantry shelf and thinking, “ok but what else do they do.?…” Well, this! They’ll soak up this deep and complex Morrocan spice blend and then simmer in a fire-roasted tomato sauce to a stewy perfection. Scoop them on top of some couscous or another grain on hand, put a little cucumber salad on the side and a pop of fresh cilantro, mint, parsley if you’ve got it.

Get the recipe here.

Shepherd’s Pie always seems to be an ideal scrappy sort of recipe. Potatoes keep a good long time so we usually have a couple of those laying around, you can definitely use frozen veggies for any fresh that you’re missing, and you can flex all around with quick gravy ingredients. All roads lead to something delicious, bubbling and deeply comforting coming out of that oven.

Get the recipe here.

Maybe you need a little boost because, wheeeew, it is all…a lot to manage right now. We’re right there with you. But if you can find yourself some oats, some peanut butter, a little honey and fingers crossed, a few chocolate chips, we’ve got about 30 little bite-sized pick-me-ups headed your way.

Get the recipe here.

Here’s a little something if take-out isn’t an option for some of your favorite restaurants right now (although buy a gift card for later use if you can!). A great sesame noodle hack that is super flexible depending on what’s available, it comes together in a snap and is a great meal-prep option, you know, if you’re craving some consistency in this DEEPLY INCONSISTENT TIME! We sure are.

Get the recipe here.

If you happen to have curry paste and some coconut milk sitting on your shelves, this is a seriously delicious and easy 5-ingredient way to use up any scrap veggies or protein you might need to get through in your fridge. Listen, you can even throw some golden raisins or any other odd/interesting ingredient at it if you wanna get creative, which is definitely the name of the game these days.

Get the recipe here.

We’re always here for a no-bake situation, but honestly, just very thankful that recipes like this exist right now. Pasta and tomatoes from the cupboard, milk and butter from the fridge, and meatballs from the freezer. Grate up those scrappy pieces of cheese in the back of the drawer to top it off and get going.

Get the recipe here.

If you can only have one sauce on hand right now, this is it. And good news! You probably have most ingredients hanging out in your kitchen already – peanut butter for creaminess, soy sauce for saltiness, sesame oil for smokiness, rice vinegar and ginger for zippiness, and sambal for that perfect spicy hit.

Get the recipe here.

We make no bones about it, this is straight up legit better-than-meat taco meat. In some sort of vegetarian magic spell, it manages to be crisp, spicy and oh so taco-y delicious that you forget to even marvel at all the nutritional bonus points you’re getting from good old fashioned plant-eating. 

Get the recipe here.

We hope this helps. We believe big time in the joy and connection food can bring, so we feel grateful to be able to help you put a little scrappy, creative joy on the table during all of this. Take care of yourselves, take care of each other. 

from WordPress http://sweetly.site/25-pantry-recipes-that-youll-actually-love/

[elevenhoursinfront-blog]

20th November 2017

Our alarm was on for 0600. We had to get ready for our first day trip and we were being picked up at 0710. Well, 0715 but the lady on the phone said to be ready and outside for 0710. We got ready as quietly as we could, forgetting what it was like to be in a dorm room again. We love Mad Monkey hostels though – the wifi is incredible and the vibe is generally awesome.

We couldn't feast into the free breakfast because it starts at 0800 which was a shame. We didn't have any food with us so it was an empty stomach, for now. The trip offers free lunch which is hopefully nice. My Dad and I are quite fussy (me, most) so I end up having the most awful lunches on trips out – my own fault, of course.

We were outside by 0700. Call us keen beans if you like. There were quite a few other people outside waiting for their transfers for all sorts of trips too. It was 0715 and we still hadn't been picked up. I got excited every time a tour bus arrived but it was never for us... By 0720, I started to get nervous. Had we been scammed for over $600? I always assume the worst, some may say I'm pessimistic and I would say I am too, sort of. Realistic, I like to call it.

By 0730, Steve was on the phone. Unfortunately, there was no communication – just hold music. My heart was in my stomach. By 0740, a bus pulled up. He waved at us to get on, he didn't even get out. He had our names and I felt a rush of relief. We hadn't been scammed. That would've been a good start to the trip.

We got onto the bus and there was one more pick up before we got dropped at the reef terminal. We had to queue up at our tour desk 'Dive Evolution'. There were loads there, all doing the same thing, same reef spots and whatever else. We checked in and the guy asked us what our package was. We said Scuba, Snorkel, Helicopter and Semisub. I was so excited. He gave us wristbands for the helicopter ride and a ticket to get on board. Our boat was parked in bay 5 and off we went.

Our boat was the biggest of them all, which only meant more people. The skipper checked us in onto the boat and we were directed to the top level where we had paperwork to fill in. We sat with two German girls who thought we were German. They quickly realised when we starred at them after they spoke to us... The majority of backpackers are German. I am actually surprised if there's anyone between the ages of 18-30 left in Germany...

We filled in our paperwork. Health and safety stuff about the dive etc. 

A lady called Shakira started speaking. She was a young Australian – staff member. Bright white teeth and the curliest hair. She was lovely and made everyone feel at ease. The boat didn't seem to be all that packed, I guess it was because of the size of the boat. I will say that 90% were Chinese and every speech had to have a Chinese translation.

We were able to go downstairs and grab a coffee and a biscuit before the speeches started which was good. Shakira mentioned that the water will be rough and travel sickness tablets were for sale and advised to those that suffer. I already had mine as I bought them with me. I've never had seasickness before – I'm usually quite good with boats so it was a precaution.

We had to have a separate speech for those doing the introductory dive. Steve and I sat there and listened to the rules and what tests we had to do. The risks of diving and whatever else. There was a massive build up for it and afterwards, we were both nervous wrecks.

The water was rough and I felt sick. That would be what I call typical. Not only was I feeling seasick, but I was nervous too. Steve and I started biting at each other which normally happens when we're both scared. We were told our dive times as we had to go in groups of four... “Charlie and Steve – group one!”. Oh God. The boat stopped and half of me wanted to be sick from nervous and the other half from the sea. We went downstairs and got our wet suits on. They were special stinger suits as marine stingers are out between November – May. We had to pay for our suits which annoyed me. Surely that should be included with the dive... Any who, we suited and booted up. We sat down and our tanks were put on our backs. We had to put our flippers on as we sat on the edge of the boat. We had to be helped down the steps as the tanks were so heavy. We both sat next to each other with our legs in the water and we were told to drop into the water one at a time. I went first and flopped in. I had a button to make my suit fill up with air so that I wouldn't sink. Helpful tools and all that!

Steve was in the water with me and we had to hold onto a ladder that went underneath. We had to perform our two tests that enabled us to swim. If we couldn't do them, we couldn't dive. 

First one was to get water out of our goggles under water by blowing out our nose. Both completed. Next was to take our oxygen out of our mouth and put it back in, then blow the water out the pipe. Both completed! Wahoo – off we went!

We deflated our packs and we went under. There was an English lad who couldn't do it as he panicked about breathing under water. I spoke to him before about being nervous, he said he was too. He was given another chance to go later on, I hope he did do it.

We went down as a group of 3 and 1 instructor called Shannon (I didn't really like her). We had to stay linked arms as we swam as we were only doing an introductory dive which was annoying but better than nothing. We went down 10 metres. Steve and I kept floating up which was irritating, I think we both needed more weights. You have to wear a weight belt to keep you down.

After a while, we got the hang of it. According to Shannon, I was swimming with bent knees which made it worse and Steve was swimming upwards that kept taking us up. We were in the water for a good 20 minutes which was tiring but amazing! We didn't see anything out of the ordinary but we were concentrating so much on Shannon and signals etc. We did see a kitchen knife though, it was very, very shiny.

The photographer swam towards us and took our photo which was great. We were given a sign to hold too. We continued with our swim and we eventually went up. Steve struggled to equalise his ears so they were hurting him as we were under. He thought they were going to burst.

We come up and got out of the boat. What an unreal experience! We wanted to pay for a second intro dive but that was another $45 each. We would've been able to do it not linking arms which would've made it so much easier and better I'm sure. We didn't have the time because we had so much more to do.

We jumped out the water (not literally, with the tanks and all that). We got undressed and got our snorkel stuff on. We were back in the water within moments. Snorkelling around was amazing. There were so many colourful fish and we saw two massive Wrasse which were very ugly but you should never judge a book by it's cover. I bet they have lovely personalities.

I started to feel sick as the waves were huge. We got out and went inside for a coffee but lunch had already been served. The boat was worse sitting still and I thought it'd be better than moving. Lunch was prawns, fish and steak... I knew I should've gone for the vegetarian option. I had the couscous salad and pasta but picked out the olives. I got two slices of bread and butter to fill the gap instead. Steve tried the prawns but didn't really know how to go about it. He's never had the head and tail on before so by the time he  finished picking and poking, he didn't want to eat it. He thoroughly enjoyed the fish, he had two pieces. Steak was like rubber, apparently.

I started eating but I felt so seasick that I couldn't even manage the bread. I was so hungry but there was no point in eating if it was just going to come up. I had another tablet and watched everyone eat. Silly idea, not that I could help it, but everyone around me was eating their food like it was about to pack its bags and jump back in the water!

We had to go back upstairs at midday for a helicopter briefing. An American lady on her own sat next to us. She could see by the way I was sitting that I was feeling very ill. She asked us if it was okay if she sat with us, so she could eat her lunch and listen to the briefing. I couldn't say no, but the way she was eating made me grab a paper bag at the ready.

We were put into groups. There wasn't really much to listen to mind you, just health and safety bits and bobs. We had to watch a video, you know, just in case. 

“Charlie and Steve, group one”. I was so pleased we were first, that meant we had time to snorkel in the second reef spot and go on our semisub. The second reef looked much better than the last. This one is called North Hastings. The first one was called Saxton. I was a little (a lot) underwhelmed by the reef if I'm honest. I expected bright, beautiful colours. Coral upon coral. It was so dead, so uncoloured. It was just, beige. I suspect that it once was absolutely beautiful, it still is, but it's dying. There was no wow factor to it whatsoever. It just looked like any old reef. It's the Barrier Reef. Which, is quite sad really.

We waited at the side of the boat as told. The helicopter was running late so I was getting more and more excited and impatient. Steve and I have never been in a helicopter before. I was hoping that I didn't get travel sick. It's only a 10-15 minute ride so that's perfect to find out whether you like helicopters or not.

We saw the bright red chopper in the distance. We started going down and getting onto a little boat to take us over to the helipad. We were with an English guy (the other from our scuba group) and an Indian couple. I presume they're on honeymoon. She had the most wonderful henna tattoos all over her and beautiful bracelets going up her arms.

We got onto the helipad and waited behind a yellow line. We were given life jackets and told to get in one by one, after our photos had been taken. I was so excited. Steve let me have the window seat even though he hasn't stopped mentioning it (we're a week on now). We put our headphones on to cancel out the noise and so that everyone in the chopper could talk into the microphones. We would be able to hear one another.

After 5 minutes, the pilot finished fiddling about and we were up, up and away! It was amazing! We loved it from the moment we took off. The views of the reef were just something else. Bright blue ocean on the outside, bright green islands of coral and turquoise sea surrounding. The pilot said to keep an eye out for turtles and sharks. The moment he said that, I saw a shark! It had a long body and a face going the opposite way. I told Steve after and he said it was a Hammerhead shark. It could've been a fish but we were 1000ft in the air and I don't think I would've seen a fish from that height. How scary to think we're snorkelling with things like that swimming with us...

The English guy saw a turtle but we didn't so that's a shame.

The helicopter ride was over before we knew it which was a shame. I told Steve, the next time we'll go in a helicopter, will be over the Grand Canyon (or so I hope). We were back on the ground and we had loved every single minute of it. We were taken back to our boat where we were told the semisub was leaving.

I asked a member of staff how long we had left on the second reef and they said '20 minutes'. We didn't have time to snorkel the second reef if we go on the semisub. I said that it wasn't fair considering the helicopter was late enabling us to snorkel and we had prepaid for the semisub. They shouldn't advertise all activities if you can't fit them all in. Steve said he wanted to snorkel more than go in the semi sub so we didn't go. We jumped in the water and swam around for 20 minutes. This reef definitely was much better so I'm glad we did snorkel. Steve saw loads of jellyfish and started to panic. We didn't put our stinger suit on this time as we didn't have loads of time. He jumped out the water and a guy asked us 'What's wrong?'. I explained that there were hundreds of jellyfish but he just grabbed one out of the water. It sat in his hands, literally like a spoonful of jelly. He said that they were harmless. We jumped back in the water for 10 more minutes. I wanted to find out about a refund but the staff were useless and said I had to ring up.

We all got back on the boat for the journey home. The water was much smoother on the second reef so I didn't feel so bad. I was able to put my spare sick bag away. I went and laid on the front of the boat in the sun. Steve said he couldn't lay in the sun so he went off for a walk. The American lady asked if she could lay with me so I said of course!

We chatted for a while. She's from Arizona, Phoenix. On holiday, alone, meeting up with friends over all their birthday's in November. She'd been promising to get over for about 10 years but finally saved up to come to Aus. She'd done all the good bits – Great Ocean Road, Alice Springs etc.

A member of staff said to everyone to go over to the left side. She had some fish she was going to throw in. I walked over and stood there waiting. My feet were burning so whatever it was she was showing us, better be worth it!

A load of fish came up and ate away... She said 'Wait for it...' A massive Barracuda came out and ate all the fish being chucked in. It was massive. It almost looked like a baby dolphin/shark. The staff had named him Barry. He lives underneath the helipad and comes out everyday for the fish. She said the little fish around him are shark bait. He will pretend to be friends with them for ages and then decide to eat them out of the blue. How clever is that?

I sat back down and I saw everyone with wine. I knew our package came with wine and cheese so I went downstairs. I saw Steve climbing the stairs with two glasses of wine so we went and sat where our bags were. What a good (fermented) egg. He also told me that he purchased our photos from the photographer. He knew that if I found out the price, I wouldn't have bought any even though I'd want them. He's a nightmare but I am pleased. They came out great. $95 worth of great memories to look back on.

We pulled up back at Cairns and I had never been so pleased to see concrete. GROUND. FLOOR. I was so happy to not feel sick any more. We were given a certificate from our scuba as we left and we walked back to where the coach dropped us. We wanted to ask at the desk about a refund but they're only there an hour in the morning. We had to ring up. How annoying.

We went outside to find out coach but it wasn't there. We were walking up and down, up and down to the point Steve decided to ring. They said he would be there soon. It would help if they had a labelled van like the rest of the tours but never mind. The American lady found us walking up and down so she walked with us. We saw the Indian couple looking about too so we told them he was on his way, in a van called 'International Coaches'.

He pulled up, we all jumped in. We were dropped off second and we said goodbye to our American friend. We got into the hostel and shoved our bags in the room. We were hungry so we went downstairs to eat. We had $5 meal vouchers so we got a pizza and nachos. Healthy diet and all that... By the time dinner came up, I wasn't hungry. Steve done a great job in eating the majority. I was falling asleep at the table. I was actually completely knackered. I had to force myself to go to the chemist round the corner before going to bed. I needed to grab a few things. I was tempted to go in the morning but I knew we had to get up to pick our camper up. There was no way I'd do it in the morning.

We went to the chemist and walked back. It was 1830 and I told Steve I needed to go to bed. I got into our room and into bed straight away. I was out like a light. At 2030, a new room-mate appeared who turned the light on. It woke me up and it took him 5 minutes to realise I was trying to sleep. 

He turned it off and left the room. I went back to sleep.

Our roomie returned around 2330. He had the brightest lamp on. I had slept a fair amount already so I started waking up thinking it was morning already. I looked at my phone and it definitely wasn't morning. I did however, want to punch the kid in the face for waking me up again.

[thisislizheather]

February Feats 2020

I write this from underneath two blankets, perched atop three pillows. This is day three of being sick (Nathan just joined me in illness yesterday) and I think I’m getting better but that could just be blind hope. In any case, I still have to tell you what went on last month. Forgive the tone of this post, it might be… affected.

I heard that Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are going to be in the Paul Simon play Plaza Suite together and so I casually thought “Ooo, might be nice to catch” so I looked it up and tickets START at $700. So I guess fuck me then. I swear to god, this fucking city.

The best cover so far this year:

Above Photo: Brian Stauffer, The New Yorker

I rewatched a movie I love: The Door In The Floor and it really holds up well. Kim Basinger and Jeff Bridges and both too good at what they do. Love this movie so much.

I rewatched The Evil Dead and look I understand it’s probably a “good horror movie” especially for its time and budget, but I fucking hated it, maybe even more so than the last time that I saw it. Never again. Why do I keep rewatching things that I hate? I don’t have to like everything. I must repeat this to myself daily.

I had lunch at Daily Provisions and their lemon cruller was really good and light and the chicken club sandwich was good, too. Always a solid morning/afternoon place.

Favourite tweets of the month.

I tried Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Couscous and maaaaan, it was so good. So I guess all couscous is good? Gotta get my hands on that pearly couscous. That seems like the money cousocus.

I made this Greek Couscous Salad for lunches for a week and didn’t get sick of it at all, I gotta remember to keep this in the rotation. I also kept the salad and the couscous separate until I wanted to eat, and then I’d join them together.

I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this sketch before (calling someone a “goofy bitch” just about killed me), also ignore how bad an actress Cardi B is.

I finished watching The Good Place and yes it was a good show. I don’t think l liked it as much as pretty much everyone else in my life who loved it, but it was definitely a good show. This scene was the best part of the finale, for sure. That song used in the scene will always elicit tears, I remember falling in love with it when it was used in the movie that everyone hated but me, Swept Away.

Again, I visited Everlane and it still disappoints. Why do I keep thinking it’ll be different each time? What the fuck is wrong with me?

I saw Parasite and it was wonderful and everyone who hasn’t seen it should see it. I haven’t heard from one person who didn’t like it. Universally liked!

I listened to the new Strokes single and hated it, so that’s something. Growth?

I haven’t seen the whole episode yet, but I really liked RuPaul’s SNL monologue.

Why isn’t everyone putting pickles on grilled cheese? Makes no sense. Fucking taste explosion.

I finally tried the (off-menu, must be requested when it’s not brunch) Cacio E Pepe at L’Artusi and holy christ, it might be better than their mushroom ragu. I KNOW. Such wild developments! (They also started serving at lunch, but only lunch delivery, not dine-in. SO this means nothing to me.)

I think I will officially stop buying candles from Bath & Body Works. The ones at Marshalls are cheaper, last longer and the variety of scents is endless. I have a candle from Marshalls right now simply called STORM and it really does kinda smell like stormy weather. Obviously I’m waiting for a thunderstorm to light that mother. I have mental issues?

I watched the newest season of Shrill (no big spoilers ahead) and loved it, obviously. The disappointing-ness of parents is so nicely shown (that moment at the restaurant when she asks her dad what he thinks of her boyfriend and he’s so indifferent, ugh so perfect), I absolutely LOVED the wedding episode (infact all of the episodes following that one are the best ones, I think I just love the episodes not centered about this not-great relationship with her and her boyfriend), the WEHAM episode is perfect (finally someone making fun of makeup for for legs), and I continue to love the character Fran. Really hoping for a third season, especially based on the season finale.

Don’t ask me why, but I watched most of the Police Academy movies and I think the Miami one might be the best one?? I couldn’t make it twenty minutes into the Moscow one, so I feel like you might want to trust me when I say that I know what I’m talking about.

These are my new favourite leggings of all time, they feel like you’re wearing nothing at all.

Cannot get over the beauty of these women and these outfits.

Above Photo: Camila Mendes

Above Photo: Nyma Tang

I watched the Michelle Carter documentary and I don’t know how other people feel, but it’s absolutely unreal that she was found guilty. Of course Nathan disagrees.

I ate at Frank for the first time in over a decade with the one and only Irene and it’s still great. Love that they do the opposite of al dente pasta here. Photos below.

Above Photo: Tagliatelle special, at Frank

Above Photo: Roasted garlic bread, at Frank

Above Photo: Mushroom pappardelle special, at Frank

I can’t find a link for them online, but I bought some reusable Leak Proof Snack Bags by Kitchen Details at Nordstrom Rack and they’re perfect since we typically use a million of those disposable ones for holding sunflower seeds and almonds

I threw out a lot of clothing/shoes/bags, so I went out and bought some things that I absolutely love. I now have a faux fur, brown evening coat that I’ve long dreamed of owning, a new everyday purse, a vintage, gold, mesh evening purse, new everyday shoes, more sunglasses and some new wedges that may or may not replace the older wedges I’ve had since 2006 (the ones lovingly referred to as my Terminators because of the massive fall that I took in them upon exiting the movie Terminator Salvation). I could show you all of the new pieces, but I’d much rather slide into a room you’re in to show you my new fur coat. However if it annoys you not to see any of these new things that bring my joy, here are two of them.

Above Photo: Classic Reeboks from DSW

Above Photo: I also got them in blue

I’ve actually started using tiny drops of facial oil mixed with my nighttime face lotion and even though I’ve only just started to do this, my face is already way less dry when waking up. I don’t know if I can do this in the hotter weather, but for now I’ll keep it up.

I know all of these are old songs, but I recently heard and fell in love with this Taylor Swift song. And this one. And this one. Oh and this one too.

I went to Giorgio’s of Gramercy again (the last time was a few years ago with Nathan) and it’s still great! I haven’t had a steak in awhile, but the one here? Holy hell. Magnificent.

I went to see the new Kubrick 2001 exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image and it was pretty neat. They have one of his Oscars on display in a case, which was actually really cool to see.

I read and reviewed a biography of Johnny Carson that truly sucked.

So Nathan and I are in the middle of watching McMillion$ and can I just say: boooooooooooooooo. I’ve never seen a “documentary” more over-produced, self-indulgent, superfluous and WILDLY overdone. It’s a bloody six part series that could’ve EASILY been an hour and a half movie. If you ever need proof of a documentary having too much money spend, my god have you found it. Of COURSE Mark Wahlberg has something to do with it, this man needs to fucking STOP. I know they are countless other men attached to the project too, but it’s much easier to shit on just him. God, what a waste of time. The Wikipedia page is more succinct.

I watched To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before 2: P.S. I Still Love You and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Loved the Adventures in Babysitting reference right off the top (I’ll forever love that movie and it doesn’t get talked about enough), I loved pretty much every musical choice (these are my top three songs from the movie), and I loved the idea of doing another Thanksgiving in March (although I’m pretty sure Chrissy Teigen did this a few years ago and planted that great seed in my head). Definitely the best thing on Netflix at the moment.

Seeing this restored footage of NYC in 1911 is both exciting and eerie as hell, for some reason.

Nathan and I went to the Raptors game that ended their winning streak, sorry about that.

I’ve been consumed with reading so much stuff about what’s going on right now and this was a little helpful: 4 Practical Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Pandemic. Don’t judge me for sharing this link! I’m delirious.

Things that I’m looking forward to this month: visiting Collingwood and going skiing with my family, I might splurge and get that mini birthday cake from Momofuku Milk Bar, and the new season of On My Block comes out on the 11th. I’m pretty into the idea of turning 35, usually I’m more jacked about my birthday month but I think I’m too down to care at the moment. Caring coming soon.

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in January over here.

[writingsforwinter]

why you’ll never live in a gorgeous house and do yoga at 6am with the perfect job and quinoa salad for lunch and a glass of wine after dinner, and why that’s okay

So you’re twenty or twenty-something or twenty-five and you’re applying to a dozen or maybe even thirty jobs on Indeed.com or LinkedIn per week but almost no one is calling back, or when they do your social anxiety decides to make you choke in the middle of an important phone interview. And you don’t have a car, or even a fourth of the amount of money you’d need to buy a used car, and breakfast most days is either frozen mozzarella sticks or nothing at all. You work a little at a few part-time jobs or a few jobs that only give you a few hours per week and you try to go out on the weekends and make jello shots and go to clubs but you end up falling asleep with your cat at 8pm instead.

And you want that nice car, one of those cute little boxy ones in mint green, and either a gorgeous house or a nice apartment with sunflower yellow walls and a terrace you can do Blogilates on every morning before work. And you want couscous and quinoa salad for lunch with a glass of water and only a handful or two of nuts at your prestigious attorney job for a snack, the job where you can do ab and leg exercises under your desk without anyone noticing. With the perfect boyfriend and meals you cook yourself every night, a new recipe to try every night, without trans fat or carbs or gluten or the latest thing all the health blogs you follow warn you not to eat. And a hot tub and a huge master bed with cream sheets and silk pillows.

But you can’t have all those things, or maybe even half those things, and you won’t. And that’s okay. Because one night, in the middle of the winter in your tiny little apartment with your cat who’s in the middle of old age, with your rickety heater, you’ll make clam chowder and stand at the window in a wool blanket watching the snow storm out the window beneath the stars. Or you’ll have a friend over after one of your minimum wage jobs and you’ll make popcorn on the stove and watch a movie on your boxspring mattress together, without the silk pillows and cream sheets, but with everything else in place you could possibly want. Or you’ll only be able to manage two or three workouts a week, and you’ll come home to the leaking shower covered in sweat, with your hair stuck in tendrils like Jack’s beanstalk to your neck, but you’ll realize that the last thing you wanted to do that day was work out and you did it anyway.

Or you’ll have to ride the bus to work instead of the mint green boxy car you always wanted, but you’ll meet one of the best friends you’ll ever know on one of the stained polyester seats in the front instead, after you almost fall onto their bookbag after a particularly sharp turn by the driver. And maybe sometimes you’ll order pizza a little too often or get Chinese takeout a little too much, but on the most part even without that quinoa salad or those bagels with salmon and avocado you’ll still do the best you can. You’ll accidentally overboil a pot of pasta onto the floor, or burn your $3 skillet trying to sautee chicken, but you’ll have tried something new and that’s all that matters.

And one day, you’ll wake up in the middle of the night, and have that disorienting feeling that comes to everyone once in awhile where they can’t remember what house they’re in or what direction they’re facing in bed. But then there will be a moment of clarity, and you’ll realize that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, not just in bed, not just in the right house and not accidentally in your neighbor’s house, but exactly where you’re supposed to be in life.

[instantdeerlover]

Where To Eat Outside When It’s Not A Billion Degrees added to Google Docs

Where To Eat Outside When It’s Not A Billion Degrees

Looking for places that are open during the coronavirus crisis? Check out our new guide to Miami Restaurants With Outdoor Seating, which we’re keeping updated with all the current info.

Contrary to popular belief, we have bad weather in Miami, so we really do appreciate those absolutely perfect 75-degree days when we nearly shed a tear every time we open the door. When that happens, eating outside is basically mandatory, and the 17 places on this guide are where you should go to do it. These are the restaurants where sitting outside is the whole point - places that are going to make you look around and mumble a prayer of gratitude that you’ll never have to learn what black ice is.

the spots  Tasty Planet Amara At Paraiso $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  Edgewater $$$$ 3101 NE 7TH AVE.

You can’t eat much closer to Biscayne Bay than at Amara - unless you own a boat or are a manatee. But if you are not a herbivorous marine mammal, then this is a really good choice because both the view and food are great. The menu is pretty much all seafood, with a small raw bar, some great ceviche (we like the grouper), and a banana leaf-wrapped cobia you should absolutely order. Come during the day if you really want to see the view in all its glory - and come early to beat the crowd because they can’t guarantee you an outdoor table, even with a reservation.

 Tasty Planet Naomi's Garden Restaurant and Lounge $ $ $ $ Caribbean ,  Haitian  in  Little Haiti $$$$ 650 NW 71st St

From the street, Naomi’s just looks like a little take-out spot. But after you order from their menu of Haitian and Carribean dishes, walk around to the side of the building and find the garden seating. It’s a casual space with plenty of tables, a couple of loud roosters, a small stage for occasional live music, and a few hammocks you’re welcome to use in case you overdid it with the jerk chicken. Naomi’s is one of the best restaurants in Little Haiti, but it’s such a relaxing space that we’d come on a pretty day just to read a book and have a passion fruit juice.

 Merritt Smail Shore To Door Fish Market $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  Coconut Grove $$$$ 3380 Douglas Rd

Shore To Door is exactly the kind of salty, unpolished dive where we love to squeeze limes onto fried seafood and have a few beers. The fish market/restaurant serves food Wednesday through Sunday and has a backyard that will make you feel like you just drove three hours to Key West instead of however long it takes you to get to Coconut Grove. But the old school South Florida atmosphere still isn’t even the best part about this place. It’s the food - which is always fresh and prepared simply. The fish dip and shrimp are some of the best in town - but the whole fried fish is the one thing you absolutely have to order.

 Tasty Planet Cafe Roval $ $ $ $ Mediterranean  in  Upper East Side $$$$ 5808 NE 4th Ct.

Cafe Roval has the best backyard in all of Miami. It’s a lush, swampy space that features a little lagoon, original limestone from the ’20s, and more plants than the apartment of your most succulent-obsessed friend. The Upper East Side restaurant is one of the best date spots in the city and could easily be the best, but sadly the random Mediterranean menu isn’t quite as thrilling as the atmosphere. We’re OK with eating average food though, in such an extraordinary setting.

 Tasty Planet Mandolin Aegean Bistro $ $ $ $ Greek ,  Mediterranean ,  Turkish  in  Buena Vista $$$$ 4312 NE 2nd Ave

Though it’s sometimes tough to get a table on a very nice day, it’s still easier than buying a plane ticket and flying to Greece - which is what having lunch here kind of feels like. Mandolin is in Buena Vista, and it’s about 90 percent outdoor seating. The tables are shaded by trees and canopies, and the grilled octopus, whole Mediterranean sea bass, and watermelon salad with feta and mint are the exact kinds of things we want to eat on a sunny day. White wine is optional, but highly encouraged.

 Verde at Pérez Art Museum Miami $ $ $ $ American ,  Pizza ,  Brunch  in  Downtown $$$$ 1103 Biscayne Blvd

Verde has one of those views that’ll make it hard to get up even after you’ve paid the bill. This surprisingly casual restaurant in the back of the PAMM gives you a wide-open look at Biscayne Bay, and lunch here feels like eating in the biggest, fanciest backyard in Miami. Though they stay open for dinner on Thursday, Verde is best for brunch or lunch, when you can eat pretty good pizzas, sandwiches, and salads while trying to guess how much each passing yacht costs.

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INFATUATION NEWSLETTER Get our newest guides & reviews first,

plus more restaurant intel you won't find anywhere else. ATL ATX BOS CHI LDN LA MIA NYC PHL SF SEA DC Subscribe Smart move. Excellent information will arrive in your inbox soon. Do you have friends and family who also eat food? Enter their emails below and we’ll make sure they’re eating well. (Don’t worry, we won’t subscribe them to our newsletter - they can do that themselves.) Help Your Friends No Thanks Well done. You’re a good person. All good. We still like you. Want to quickly find restaurants on the go? Download The Infatuation app.    Tasty Planet Lagniappe $ $ $ $ Wine Bar  in  Edgewater $$$$ 3425 NE 2nd Ave

Yes, Lagniappe is more a place to drink than eat, but the mostly outdoor wine bar in Edgewater does have a small food menu that’s good enough to justify coming here for dinner even though the silverware is plastic. After you grab a bottle of wine inside, head to the backyard to order something from the grill: churrasco, mahi, salmon, chicken, and sautéed veggies are all solid options in addition to the very good meat and cheese plates. Come on the earlier side and you won’t have to compete for a table with a thousand first dates.

 Ironside Kitchen Pizza & Coffee Co $$$$ 7580 NE 4th Ct

An outdoor table at Ironside is going to be lovely no matter when you come. At lunch, the courtyard is sunny and bright, with lots of trees, plants, and live music during the weekend. At night, string lights hang over the tables and create an ideal mood for a pizza date, which is usually what we end up ordering here even though the pasta is pretty tasty too. This place is BYOB (with no corking fee), so pick up some beer or wine before you come.

 Smart Bites $ $ $ $ American ,  Sandwiches  in  Allapattah $$$$ 791 NW 20th St

Usually, we have to drive out west to find a place like Smart Bites, but this restaurant that feels more like a farm is in Allapattah. The very casual, kind-of-healthy food here is fine, with things like turkey sandwiches, spinach ravioli, and a handful of burger options. But the best part about this place is the backyard, which is a large space that feels somewhere between an actual garden and a beer garden. There’s also a stage where you might see occasional live music or a small gathering of iguanas.

 Tasty Planet Andiamo Brick Oven Pizza $ $ $ $ Pizza  in  MiMo $$$$ 5600 Biscayne Blvd

Even though MiMo’s Andiamo Pizza is right next to busy Biscayne Boulevard, eating under the roof of this retro building still feels secluded. You’re boxed in by lots of plants and tiki torches - and there’s also a big projector screen that’s usually playing whatever local sport happens to be on TV. Everyone here is eating pizza because it’s pretty much the only thing they serve and it’s a very good pie - especially if you prefer a thicker crust and lots of toppings.

 Tasty Planet Rouge $ $ $ $ French  in  North Beach $$$$ 908 71st St

Rouge probably has the smallest outdoor space on this guide, but it’s every bit as romantic as you’d expect from a little French spot. The tiny courtyard is covered in vines, lights, and could easily work as the setting for a scene where two spies who eventually fall in love meet for the first time over foie gras and wine. The food is pricey and the dishes are pretty heavy, with things like creamy escargot in a flaky puff pastry, quails with couscous, and black truffle risotto, so you’ve got to be in the mood for a big, luxurious meal to come here. But it’s worth a trip the next time you want to pretend like you’re a foreign agent putting true love before duty.

 Cleveland Jennings 27 Restaurant $ $ $ $ American ,  Mediterranean  in  Miami Beach $$$$ 2727 Indian Creek Dr

There aren’t any great waterfront views or remarkable things to stare at with 27′s outdoor seating, but we like it because it’s got the same house-party feel as the dining room inside. And before or after you eat (preferably both), you can take about 15 steps to 27′s sister cocktail bar, Broken Shaker, where the lush, tropical outdoor seating is absolutely gorgeous.

 Monty’s Raw Bar $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  Coconut Grove $$$$ 2550 S Bayshore Dr

Eating outside in Coconut Grove is an easy thing to do since just about every restaurant here has at least a few sidewalk tables. But none of them do it as well as Monty’s, which is located along a marina on Biscayne Bay so you can convince yourself that maybe you should buy a boat. Come here for fried seafood you can eat with your fingers and strong frozen drinks that make both the seafood and the idea of boat ownership seem better.

Shuckers Bar and Grill $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  North Bay Village $$$$ 1819 79th Street Causeway

Every table at Shuckers is technically an outdoor table because this place doesn’t have walls. And that is a good thing because it’d be a shame to block this good of a waterfront view. A lot of people come here to watch sports, but we go to Shuckers to just stare out into the blue horizon while occasionally breaking eye contact with the ocean to eat a chicken wing or fried calamari.

 52 Chefs Malibu Farm $ $ $ $ American  in  Miami Beach $$$$ 4525 Collins Ave

If your goal is to eat as close to the beach as possible, then Mid-Beach’s Malibu Farm is an appropriate choice. Of course a restaurant this close to the sand - especially one that’s inside a hotel - is going to be pricey. But if you’re okay with that and really want to be able to smell the ocean while you eat decent $22 fish tacos or a $24 avocado pizza, then you might like it here.

 Doce Provisions $ $ $ $ Cuban  in  Little Havana $$$$ 541 SW 12th Ave

Doce Provisions serves Cuban fusion food a block north of Calle Ocho - and their Cuban sandwich and vaca frita tostones are both reason enough to come here if you’re looking for some good food in Little Havana. But if you’re also trying to eat outside, then Doce is absolutely the place to go. They have a very pretty back patio, with string lights, picnic benches underneath a pergola, and some murals you can stare at while you try to decide between the bacon and egg arroz frito or fried chicken and plantain waffles.

 Katie June Burton The Lido Bayside Grill $ $ $ $ American ,  Seafood  in  Miami Beach $$$$ 40 Island Ave

The food at Lido is not as good or as cheap as it should be, but these are the sacrifices we make for one of the best waterfront views you can have while eating an average $20 cheeseburger. This place is located in The Standard Spa, which means you also have an above-average chance of seeing a celebrity or overhearing a conversation about someone’s recent luxury ayahuasca retreat.

via The Infatuation Feed https://www.theinfatuation.com/miami/guides/best-outdoor-restaurants-miami Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://trello.com/userhuongsen

Created July 17, 2020 at 04:42AM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

[appletable80-blog]

A Stop at The Dolar Shop, Haymarket

The Dolar Shop is not a discount variety shop, rather it is the latest outpost from the Chinese Macanese hot pot eatery chain. Located in the 1909 dining precinct of Market City it offers people a large hot pot menu with 6 soup bases and a range of items to dip into the pots.

The response came fast from Mr NQN after I sent him the calendar invitation. "Why are we going to a dollar store for my birthday dinner with your parents?" he asked. The name does suggest otherwise but the sleek, glam booths of the month old Chinese hot pot restaurant belie this. The Dolar Shop service is very friendly and sweet from the all female service team - not words usually used to describe service at Chinese restaurants (curt or perfunctory comes to mind). You can also book here.

There is a list of three warning tips for diners: be careful of high heat from broths, be careful of ball shaped items (!!) due to heat build up in the centre and please inform your waiter of any allergies, consuming raw or undercooked food may increase your risk of food borne illness. The ball one is a new one to me!

Although it says Chinese Macanese, there aren't any Macanese dishes and it seems more Sichuan hot pot than anything else. We choose one soup base per person: for my chilli phobic father it's the mild chicken consommé with carrot, leek, celery, onion, potato and lemon. For Mr NQN it is the tomato and oxtail broth with tomato relish, beef oxtail, green onion and wedges of tomato. For me I have the pork leg bone broth with green onion, bamboo shoot and bean curd strips while my mother has a combination with spare rib broth and a Szechuan hot and spicy broth in medium heat.

Snacks and drinks for people waiting

They suggest that we order the soups first as they take some time to heat up and then place our order for the meats, seafood and vegetables. These are sliced and served from the kitchen and from the centre open kitchen area.

You've got to love a menu broken into sections like "Balls" "Broth" Asia's Favourite" "Fungi" and "Starch". All of the items with an award symbol are recommended dishes. "Do you really want three starches?" they ask and I nod yes but refrain from extolling my love for carbs, carbs and more carbs.

We try each other's broths and they're all very distinct although the Szechuan hot and spicy and pork spare rib broth is the favourite while the tomato and oxtail is surprisingly good. The chicken is true to form and soothing while the pork is probably my least favourite in that it is so mild but indistinct. During the night they top up the bowls with more broth.

While we are waiting, my mother and I go up to get sauces while we leave my father and Mr NQN to catch up on the gossip. Just kidding, I'm pretty sure that my hard of hearing father and shy husband just sat there in amiable silence nodding at each other occasionally taking sips of water.

The condiment station has a slogan that reads, "The most exciting and comprehensive sauce bar to hot pot that you have ever seen" and I read this with a Trump voice in my head (try it, it's scary). You also have to pay $3 extra per person to have the sauces but sauce is life for me and it also comes with watermelon and honeydew melon cubes, a gingery kim chi, peanuts and an odd sort of couscous, corn, pea and carrot salad.

We take a few of the sauces including a peanut sauce, sesame sauce, XO sauce, chilli sauce, chive sauce, mushroom sauce, garlic, peanuts, shallots and they come up to us at the table and offer some of the Dolar Shop's sauce mixture with green onion, garlic, coriander and chilli with soy sauce.

The Dolar Shop Banana Egg Pancake $11.90

The egg pancakes are best eaten hot and they're like a banana and egg roti. I like them dipped in the peanut sauce but I wished they were hotter as they were just warm by the time they reached us. Everyone else seemed to really like them though.

The shrimp pâté comes out as a large ball of minced prawns with water chestnut and celery. They help us by taking a long spoon to this and depositing some spoonfuls of this into each of our hot pots. It's very good-fresh and flavoursome especially with the mushroom sauce and chilli sauce.

The Dolar Shop Shrimp Pâté $16.90 (front), Veggie Basket $17.90 and sweet potato pappardelle $5.90 (right)

Which brings me to two other favourite items. Now a huge bowl of salad doesn't usually excite many people but I loved having all of these vegetables on hand because sometimes hot pot feels too meat heavy. This is a lot of vegetables, even for four people and they do take a while to cook but it's nice to follow the meat with something healthy. In the basket are a napa cabbage, lettuce, watercress, spinach, tong ho and purple lettuce. They're all mild greens that cook up well without going slimy.

The sweet potato pappardelle was another item that I really liked. I think it is sweet potato mixed with a flour to form a pasta style dough that cooks super quickly in the pot. It has a slightly springy texture like rice flour and it slippery and full of carby goodness.

Selected platter $19.90

we also tried the signature shrimp balls, fish roe balls, cuttlefish balls, cheesy beef balls and beef balls. It's not so much a platter but more a plate with 11 balls on it and so not everyone got to try everything although the fish roe balls were a favourite. You're probably better off ordering them separately if there are more than two of you.

M6+ Wagyu Boneless Short Ribs $32.90 for 150g

We ordered two types of meat, the first was the wagyu boneless short rib slices, paper thin and served over ice. They're fast to cook and wonderful dipped in the sauces of your choice.

Kurobuta Pork $12.90

We also loved the pork which really melted in the mouth and cooked quickly too.

Hand crafted noodles $5.90

The noodles come in three bundles and they're fine but they do make your soup a bit cloudy. Honestly I preferred the sweet potato pappardelle because it was much more interesting and had a better texture.

Shrimp won ton $9.90

Another delicious morsel are the shrimp and pork won tons. These are particularly good dunked in the chilli sauce.

There's no dessert (although perplexingly there is a picture of a soft serve on the menu) but we are full to the brim. The birthday boy Mr NQN happily eats his fill of watermelon and honeydew which they have brought to the table.

So tell me Dear Reader, do you like hot pot? Which broth would you have chosen? And are you cautious of hot ball shaped items?

This meal was independently paid for.

1909 Dining Precinct level 3 Market City 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000 Open 7 day 11am–10pm Phone: (02) 9281 2617 Free parking if you enter the car park after 6pm

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/10/03/the-dolar-shop-haymarket/

[pigeonmark6-blog]

How to Make an Easy Roasted Chicken + Video

Dec 12

Learn how to make a delicious and easy whole roasted chicken. You just a need a few ingredients, a good roasting pan or skillet and a little over an hour! Makes juicy meat that’s perfect for serving as is or shredding and adding to soups, stews, enchiladas or tacos! Yum.

OH HI IT’S ME making you a delicious, crispy, easy roasted chicken like good ol’ Betty Crocker (who doesn’t actually exist btw. That’s right everyone… BC is a made up woman. It’s okay though, I’ll be your real deal cooking guide!

First, let’s start with a whole roasted chicken!

I know it seems slightly intimidating if you’ve never roasted a chicken before, but it’s fairly easy and simple to do. Just slather it with a little melted butter. Add some garlic, salt and pepper. Add fresh herbs if you’re fancy. Maybe some potatoes, onions and carrots on the bottom? Perfection.

Bake it for 1 hour. Then wait another half hour and let those juices soak in. Cut, or just dig in a pull apart the meat for your favorite recipes. It’s cheap and DAMN GOOD.

I make this recipe once a week because whole chickens are fairly inexpensive. We either eat it as is paired with various sides, shred it to put in recipes, or my husband will eat it on his daily lunch sandwiches.

I hope you love this tutorial. If there’s anything else you’d love to see me make on a video, leave a comment below — I love hearing from you!

Watch the video below to see how to make a whole roasted chicken, decide how you’ll use it and enjoy.

SEE HOW TO MAKE THE ROASTED CHICKEN:

Sides to pair with the roasted chicken:

One Pot Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Salad

The Best Creamy Garlic Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad

Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto & Goat Cheese

Spicy Maple Roasted Brussels & Butternut Squash with Crispy Bacon

Maple Glazed Carrots with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Sesame Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Saucy Stovetop Thai Green Beans

Roasted Sweet Potato, Pear & Pomegranate Spinach Salad

Ways to use leftover roasted chicken:

Butternut Squash Green Chile Chicken Soup

The Best Chicken Soup You’ll Ever Eat

4 Healthy Meal Prep Salads

Golden Turmeric Chickpea Chicken Soup

Chicken Kale Waldorf Salad with Avocado & Goat Cheese

Crunchy Rainbow Thai Peanut Wraps

Golden Coconut Chicken Lentil Soup

Lightened Up Chicken Pot Pie

Spicy Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sour Cream Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Couscous

Healthy Pumpkin Seed & Avocado Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats

How to Make an Easy Roasted Chicken + Video!

Author: Monique of AmbitiousKitchen.com

Recipe type: Chicken, Gluten Free, Dinner

Prep time:  15 mins

Cook time:  1 hour

Total time:  1 hour 15 mins

1 (3-4 pound) young chicken without giblets, preferably organic

2 tablespoons melted butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground salt and pepper

Optional: 1 teaspoon each of fresh thyme and diced fresh rosemary

3 medium carrots, sliced

1 white or yellow onion, chopped

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove chicken from packaging and discard giblets if there are any. Place chicken in a roasting pan or skillet. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.

Add melted butter and minced garlic to a small bowl; add fresh herbs to the butter if you are using. Brush all over the chicken skin and underneath. Season generously with freshly ground salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting the chicken with pan juices halfway in between. Chicken is done when a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breast.

Allow chicken to rest for 15-30 minutes before cutting into. If you are shredding chicken or using for later, I suggest waiting an hour, or until the chicken is completely cool. Serves 4-6 and will make about 5 cups shredded chicken, maybe more!

3.5.3251

Pin this recipe:

Source: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/easy-roasted-chicken-video/

[lenaglittleus]

No-Wheat Diet: Everything You Need to Know

Is bread dead? Gluten-free and low-carb diets are now mainstream, but now there’s another diet to add to the list: the no-wheat diet.

Devotees of this diet cut out bread, crackers, and pasta to control their appetite, support gut health, and lose weight; some swear off grains entirely.

What is a no-wheat diet — and does it work? Do we really need to put grains on the chopping block and stop eating wheat?

Wheat has become a food “that everyone loves to hate,” says Paige Benté, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., and nutrition manager at Beachbody. Indeed, our collective wheat consumption started dropping significantly in 2000, according to the USDA, after three decades of increased per-capita consumption.

The cause for both the rise and fall: The ever-changing trends of what is considered “healthy eating.”

In the ’70s, we started embracing carbs — and wheat — as we ate fewer animal products. But by the ’00s, the low(er)-carb movement had us breaking up with bread.

By 2011, we were eating nearly 10 percent less than in 2000 (about 5.75 ounces daily).

What Is a No-Wheat Diet?

You may already know some diets that eschew wheat and grains, such as the Paleo, Atkins, and ketogenic diets.

A wheat-free diet may not resemble those plans. It may exclude wheat, but not rye and barley, which contain gluten. And it may or may not be a weight-loss diet — it’s simply a diet that excludes all wheat and wheat products.

Other Names for Wheat

Wheat, like sugar, goes by many names. When you’re trying to avoid wheat, look for these words, too:

Bulgur

Couscous

Durum

Einkorn

Emmer

Farina

Farro

Flour (all-purpose, bread, cake, durum, enriched, pastry, stone-ground, whole wheat)

Hydrolyzed wheat protein

Kamut

Seitan (vital wheat gluten)

Semolina

Spelt

Sprouted wheat

Starch (including gelatinized starch, modified starch, modified food starch, and vegetable starch)

Triticale

Wheat (including bran, germ, and malt)

Wheatgrass

Wheat berries

And wheat can be hiding in surprising foods like:

Ice cream

Oats and oatmeal

Processed meats

Rice cakes

Salad dressings

Sauces

Soups

Soy sauce

Why Would You Want to Stop Eating Wheat?

Swapping white bread for whole-wheat bread is a tried-and-true healthy eating tip, so why wouldn’t someone want to eat whole-wheat bread — and why would you want to stop eating wheat entirely?

Those who follow a no-wheat diet generally fall into three camps, says Benté. As with any diet, the motivation may be related to weight, health, or personal preference.

First, there are people who have an actual wheat allergy. Wheat is one of the eight major allergens that must be listed on food labels, but it is most common in children and usually outgrown by age 3.

Then there are the three million people who have celiac disease. When they consume gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and foods like soy sauce, salad dressings, beer, and more), it sparks an immune-system response that can damage the small intestine and interfere with nutrient absorption. Since gluten is a part of wheat, a gluten-free diet is also a no-wheat diet.

The final group is composed of people who simply choose not to eat wheat. Is this interpretation of a wheat-free diet a trendy way to cut carbs? “Pretty much,” says Benté.

Monica Auslander, M.S., R.D.N., and founder of Essence Nutrition in Miami agrees — and cautions against cutting out wheat just because it’s trendy, as that can backfire.

You “often end up eating less fiber, more carbohydrates, more refined carbohydrates, more sugar, and gaining weight,” she says.

Auslander adds a fourth group to the no-wheat camp: “Some people just feel better overall when they eliminate wheat,” she says. “The ‘why’ may not be as important here — if you can eliminate wheat and maintain a healthy, balanced diet, I wouldn’t resist.”

In 2013, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a review of individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Researchers found that eliminating gluten (and thereby wheat), helped both the gastrointestinal system and other areas of health for these people.

What’s in Wheat?

Gluten

This protein is off-limits to those with celiac disease. Otherwise, Benté says “there’s nothing wrong with gluten.” (Learn more about this protein, the gluten-free diet, and whether it’s right for you.)

Fructan

This is a polymer of fructose (sugar) molecules that can cause digestive issues in some people.

It’s considered off-limits in low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) diets. (A FODMAP diet is a very specific elimination diet that wouldn’t apply to most people.)

Wheat contains fructan, but Benté says that “many foods have one of the FODMAP components in them.”

Phytic Acid and Phytates

Phytic acid and phytates, which are found in seeds, legumes, grains, and nuts, are sometimes called “anti-nutrients,” since they can inhibit the absorption of other nutrients.

However, research shows that phytic acid may have antioxidant-like properties, and you can negate that anti-nutrient quality by adding garlic or onions. “In healthy amounts, they are not bad for you,” says Benté.

Here are some potential advantages and disadvantages of giving up wheat:

The Advantages of a No-Wheat Diet

You may eat more whole grains and fewer processed foods

You’ve seen all the places wheat can hide — it’s mostly processed foods. So if you’re replacing wheat products like frozen pizza with steamed quinoa and grilled chicken breasts, that’s healthier, says Benté.

You probably read labels more closely

Since wheat can hide in prepared foods, you’ll need to have an eagle eye to keep it out of your diet. This might draw your attention to other areas of the ingredients list, like salt, sugar, and trans fats.

You may lose weight

What do you eat on a wheat-free diet to lose weight? It’s similar to any healthy eating plan, says Auslander.

When you cut wheat, “you need to rely on more proteins, vegetables, legumes, and more nutritious sources of carbohydrates,” she says. “So many people lose weight just by virtue of eliminating the calories and carbohydrates from all the bread and breaded products they consume.”

The Disadvantages of a No-Wheat Diet

You may find it challenging

“It can make your life a lot harder,” says Benté, since wheat is the third-biggest crop in the U.S. and permeates our supermarkets and restaurants.

Cutting out wheat (aside from health reasons), she says, is “not dangerous, it’s not unhealthy, it’s fine” — but it may complicate your shopping, dining out, and cooking habits.

You may eat less fiber — and more refined carbs

Whole wheat is a major source of fiber for many people, says Auslander, and fiber can help with satiety and regularity, too.

Since the gluten in wheat has a binding effect in foods like bread, many gluten-free counterparts rely on gums and sticky starches (aka simple carbs) that lack fiber, a key nutrient we’re often skimping on. “Gluten-free bread still has calories and carbohydrates,” she says. “Gluten-free cookies still have sugar.”

You may find your diet is not really healthier

Growth of the gluten-free market may be slowing, but it’s still nearly a $2 billion industry. That means that you can find a gluten-free or wheat-free version of just about every junk food imaginable.

Benté says if you’re swapping a frozen pizza with a wheat flour crust for another frozen pizza with a wheat-free crust, “in my opinion, you’ve done nothing to improve your diet.”

What About a Grain-Free Diet?

You may hear about diets that are against all grains as a way to cut carbs and — as proponents say — keep appetite and energy levels steady.

But are these grain-free diets good for you? “Not at all,” says Auslander. When you cut out grains, “you cut out nutrients — fiber, B vitamins, potassium, trace minerals.”

She adds that you might also overeat other food groups or macronutrients as a result. As for the energy and appetite benefits of such diets, Benté says cutting out grains is going to extremes.

Eating high-carb meals will affect energy and appetite — the ebbs and flows are normal. But “we need the energy that comes from those carbohydrates,” says Benté, adding that you can eat balanced meals — such as a serving of oatmeal, two scrambled eggs, and a piece of fruit or maybe some vegetables at breakfast — instead of cutting out whole food groups.

“I think people are constantly looking for these quick fixes, these easy ways to cut calories,” she says.

Are We Eating Too Much Wheat?

Benté and Auslander agree that we eat too much wheat. Grains tend to be cheaper than proteins and produce, so we load up.

Instead, Auslander says wheat should be a supporting actor — not the star. We’re not overdoing it on wheatgrass or wheat berries, says Benté. We eat too much junk where wheat is a filler.

If you want to eat less wheat, using the Portion Fix Container plan can help. “You only have so many containers that you can fill with carbohydrates, and even if you filled all of those with grains, the only grains that are allowed are whole grains,” says Benté, so you’re cutting out all that processed wheat. And, you can eat wheat berries, whole-wheat bread, barley, or other whole grains, she says.

The Bottom Line

While wheat is off-limits to those with celiac disease and allergies, for everyone else, going wheat-free is a personal choice that may help you reduce the amount of processed food you eat.

To maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet, be sure to eat a variety of whole grains — and that may include wheat.

from News About Health https://www.beachbodyondemand.com/blog/no-wheat-diet

[thisislizheather]

April Activities 2020

I’m really hoping that May is a more uplifting month than the last two months combined, I need it to be. We’re still staying at home and doing the best we can, but there have been so many things cancelled lately and I really just want to look forward to something. Here’s what went down this month.

I watched the first season of Dave on FX and wow. Just wow. It’s such a good show and I’m so glad I listened to my brother Robbie and watched it. Ten episodes. Each better than the last.

I also watched the new Mindy Kaling creation on Netflix, Never Have I Ever, and it was as good as I hoped it would be and more. Again, there are only ten episodes and I wish there were more. Also, the soundtrack is killer, see for yourself, bud.

I made this banana cake with coffee cream cheese frosting and it was heavenly.

If you are looking for an uncomplicated curry recipe to make, this is the perfect one (I used green beans instead of snap peas and it was still great).

My mom sent me this song for obvious reasons and now I can’t stop playing it.

So excited to hear that Shrill got confirmed for another season! Perfect show.

Do you know about Pluto? It’s a crazy good streaming platform and dare I say, better than Netflix (as long as you don’t care about the occasional ad).

You can see my favourite tweets of the month over here.

Tip: never get tomato sauce in a can. Tastes so tinny! Did everyone else already know this?

I tried Hal’s New York Seltzer water in the COLA flavour and HOLY CHRIST. Tastes exactly like Coke. It’s fucking wild. Shoulda bought ten of them but when I went back they were all gone. Like a mirage.

Is it abnormal to share a photo of a gorgeous woman? ‘Cause I saw this photo of Lili Reinhart (from Riverdale) and my jaw dropped, so gorgeous.

I finally finished this season of Curb and the last two episodes were probably the best. There were definitely cringey parts in a few episodes this season, but overall it was pretty good. I really think Larry David is probably just an asshole who happens to be funny sometimes, just my impression.

I’ve been burned so many times, but I’m never buying Barilla pasta again. Their no-boil lasagna sheets no-joke look like recycled sandpaper and taste like ASS. Never again. Also, I think I’m against no-boil lasagna sheets. Just boil some sheets! What’s the big deal! You’re not busy!

And speaking of lasagna, I’ve made this mushroom spinach lasagna three times this month and it’s heavenly. The only thing I do differently is that I use a food processor to grind up the mushrooms so they’re almost like a paste. Tastes incredible. It tastes better when it’s reheated the next day, too. Lasagna lunch? Get out of here, best day of the week.

These blueberry breakfast cookies are now officially in the recipe rotation since I’m about to make them for the third time. They taste better after being chilled, in my opinion. And not to be pornographic, but a blueberry bursting in your mouth? Yes, please.

I just tried this bath soak and it’s made me want to create a bath basket for myself, which is basically just a basket full of bath shit like Epsom salts, bath oils, bubble bath, bath bombs, etc. Future me is gonna be relaxed as fuck.

Love reading what people want to eat out when life is back on again. If you don’t think I already have a list going, THINK AGAIN. I’ll post it when better days are near.

We’ve entered the part of quarantine where Buzzfeed listicles are making me laugh. (Specifically #2 and #6.)

I made this cauliflower bolognese and look, it was good but I’ll never make it again because it took WAY too long for what you’re ultimately getting. It’s not a bolognese. Nothing meatless should be allowed to be called a bolognese, it’s unjust.

I watched The Phantom of the Opera for the 11th (??) time when it streamed for free a few weeks ago and it was, as always, magical. I maintain that Colm Wilkinson was the very best phantom there ever was. (P.S. I will always love these types of videos.)

Still in love with this egg salad recipe.

I didn’t know it was possible to do anything with stale bread other than make them into breadcrumbs or croutons: How to Revive Stale Bread

Can’t stop making these wildly easy smashed potatoes. When I’m feeling real fancy, I’ll make the sauce from this baked pickles recipe for dipping.

Yes, I have three books in my pile to be read right now, but I’m still really excited for this one. Already pre-ordered.

Really good article: Why Life During A Pandemic Feels So Surreal

Some of these quarantine tips about staying in touch with friends are actually good, not all but some.

I did a Zoom call with my whole family and we played games on jackbox.tv and it was actually really fun. Might become a standing Sunday morning activity.

When I’m not crying or drinking or taking a bath, I like to do beauty masks. But here’s the thing: I think all hair masks are a scam. How can you tell that they’ve DONE anything to your hair? Don’t you think that some charlatan could easily just put some basic-ass conditioner into a tiny disposable package and label it as some hair rejuvenating miracle? And while we’re here, it’s 100% likely that face masks are bullshit too. We’re being bamboozled and at this point I can’t even care about it because it’s genius. I’ll keep buying them and they’ll continue to do nothing.

Nathan started a Patreon! Check it!

This photo (below) from this nurse’s personal account of what’s going on right now is so good.

I tried a sample of Dr. Dennis Gross’s face serum and whoa. I love the idea of using a serum right after washing your face, so I just bought a reward-sized sample of this Drunk Elephant serum (it’s on its way) that’ll hopefully feel somewhat similar.

Loved the peachy smell of this Peter Roth cleanser from a sample I got.

I rewatched some of Master of None and it remains great.

Other still-great things that I also rewatched: Arlington Road & House of Sand and Fog.

I made the Dalgona coffee that everyone’s been making, but I didn’t put it on top of milk (that sounded gross). I put it on top of iced coffee for, like, some kind of super coffee. It was really good. I was jacked for hours. (And I haven’t tried it, but this Dalgona frosted chocolate cake looks nuts.)

Obviously loved hearing the Queen’s address.

I’ve been on almost all of Nathan’s podcasts this month, so just go on over there if you care (there are video clips too). Personal favourite is the bug mug one.

Little girl plays my favourite song.

I rewatched most of Community and I truly forgot what a great show that was. The first three seasons, I mean. MAYBE four. Best episodes: the missing pen one, the chaos theory one, love the Halloween ones, and the video game one is great. I will continue to hate musical episodes of any show, why do they do it? Who is it for? I’ve never heard one person say that they loved when a regular show did a musical episode. END THIS NONSENSE.

So I attempted to make the Asiago Chicken Bowtie Pasta from Jack Astor’s from this copycat recipe, and even though it reeeeally doesn’t taste the same, it’s still a decent recipe. It also tastes way better reheated the next day.

I made these chocolate chip cookies and they were very good. Not a super complicated recipe either, which is always a plus.

Tip: you shouldn’t just plop shampoo on the top of your head and then start rubbing it in (this leads to flat hair). You should rub it in right above the top of your neck and then work it in from there, it gets way more lathered up quicker this way. Please try it for yourself.

I finally tried the Canyon Creek caesar salad dressing recipe that I got from a waiter there years ago AND IT IS PERFECT. I feel weird posting it publicly, but if you love that salad and want to make it at home, I’ll absolutely send it to you if you ask.

Made this halloumi hummus bowl and it was really, really good. Love pearled couscous, love grilled halloumi.

Nathan and I watched Monkey Shine on Pluto and holy shit what a fun movie. Brief plot: It’s about a young athlete who becomes a paralyzed quadriplegic, and develops a bond with an intelligent service monkey named "Ella" who becomes homicidal after she is injected with an experimental serum of human brain tissue. HOW COULD THIS NOT BE AMAZING? It’s not going to sound funny now, but there’s this montage of the monkey doing all sorts of things for the man and then she puts this burrito-thing in the machine holder for him to eat and Nathan said something like, “Here… comes… PITA!” like she was gonna launch it to his mouth and I fucking died laughing. Truly just a fun movie.

Made these lemon ricotta cookies that were very light and lovely.

Some things that I’d like to do this month: make this burrata mushroom lasagna, I’d love to try this caesar recipe, I intend to finally review last month’s Ipsy bag that I’ve been putting off forever for no good reason, and I’ll likely rewatch the old Cannonball Run movies because I really want to. BIG PLANS.

Also, don’t forget about Mother’s Day on the 10th. Just a reminder. If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in March over here.