Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Dinner For One

It's really annoying to cook dinner for one person.  Last fall, as I was adjusting to living on my own, my dinners consisted of salads (quick, healthy, no cooking required), grilled cheese (delicious, dirties only one pan), cereal (terrible dinner choice, I know), and freezer meals (enough said).  By Christmas, I was sick of eating like that, and on New Years, along with a bunch of resolutions I didn't keep, I made a resolution that I DID keep: make proper dinner for myself every day.  Since then, I have done really well with this.  My meals are by no means original or interesting, but they're a lot healthier than what I was eating before!






Tonight, I whipped together a simple meal of baked salmon and roasted broccoli and cauliflower.  I made enough broccoli and cauliflower to have leftovers for two days, but only cooked one piece of salmon, as I hate leftover salmon.

So easy, and so delicious.  If you like salmon, that is.  I don't really like it but I think it's good for my skin and all that, so I eat it.  I simply sprinkled a single serving size piece of salmon with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, chopped onion, and a lemon slice, and baked it at 350F for about ten minutes.  A person could probably get away with less, but I like my fish pretty well-done.  For the broccoli and cauliflower (which I really do think is amazingly delicious!!!), I simply chopped it up, arranged it on a baking sheet, sprinkled it with olive oil, sea salt and pepper, and baked it at 400F for about 23-ish minutes, until it was tender, with crispy edges.  This meal is pretty satisfying as it is, though sometimes, I'll have some cooked quinoa on the side.


Other things I like to make for myself include roasted sweet potatoes, homemade turkey meatballs, chicken breast stir-fries, assorted vegetables, and the occasional salad.  Sometimes you have to be creative when thinking up meals for one person, but eating healthy things for dinner is important.  No matter how many times you tell yourself that whole-grain bread and low-fat cheese make a grilled cheese healthy, a grilled cheese is still a grilled cheese (I'm still working to accept this).  :)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Oh, she's so cute!

Okay, I'm about to say some pretty cheesy things.  If that kind of stuff bothers you... well, I can't help you. If not, read on and learn all about my favourite person in the whole entire world!

This is Indy.


She's not my daughter, or my granddaughter (duh! I'm only 20) or my niece.  She's my cousin, and I won't hesitate to say that she's the bestest, cutest, funniest little person I've ever met.  Especially when she's eating cupcakes.  She smacks her lips, and chatters the whole time.  And of course, she gets cupcake goo all over herself and her high chair.


Before I continue to gush over Indy, I'll explain about the cupcakes.  My best friend, Jamie, and I had never made or eaten red velvet cupcakes before, so we decided to try it.  They were soooooo delicious!  And Indy thought so too.


Indy came over later in the day, after Jamie and I had baked the cupcakes, and she just knew that there were cupcakes in the house, and demanding of her mother to "Try one Mum?  Can I try one?"


I gave her a cupcake and watched (and photographed) everything she did after that.  I sure sound like a creeper, don't I?  I just can't help it though, she's just so sweet!


Words I use to describe Indy:  precious, beautiful, brilliant, adorable, wonderful, sweet, perfect, cutie-petutie (not a word, I know), fabulous, blessing from Jesus (I know, I know), the light of my life (seriously Jacy?!)...

She's two years old, blond yet very smart, loves Barbies and cupcakes (a girl after my own heart)... how can I not be completely in love with her?!  And I mean that in a totally non-creepy way!

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Ugliest Smoothie Ever

Is that not the nastiest looking smoothie ever?  It's all speckled and chunky-looking, not to mention it's a creepy shade of greenish-grey.  Yikes!



This smoothie is so ugly because instead of containing fruit and yogurt and other delicious smoothie things, it contains everything you might find in a salad: avocado, lettuce, seaweed (yikes!), and several other veggies.  You may ask, why one earth would I ever blend a salad?!?!  Well, for starters, blended salads are easier to digest and often more nutritious than "chewed" salads.  They are filling, yet low-calorie, and are an excellent snack or meal, especially if you're trying to lose weight or are just feeling sick or bloated.  Besides that, they actually do taste good!  If you don't believe me, make one and decide for yourself!

Blended Salad

one small tomato
chunk of cucumber
a few leaves of romaine lettuce
two or three stalks of celery
chunk of red, green, or orange bell pepper
one small apple
splash of lemon juice
one teaspoon dulse flakes

Place these items (in the order given) in a high-powered blender and process until the "salad" has the consistency of baby food.  Test it, and add ice or additional veggies/fruits to make it taste the way you like it.

Drink it up, and think of all the beautiful veggies you're putting into your body, all without the time and effort that goes into making and eating actual salads!