I love this graphic from Sweatpants & Coffee. It was definitely that type of day—you know, the one where you have to choose between doing your hair and getting coffee on the way to work? Three guesses which one I chose... ha!
This week some feels hit me like a train wreck, which is too bad. I suffer from a common mental illness, which means I'm mostly, 99.7% of the time, a completely normal, successful human being, who happens to take a mound-ful of pills each morning and night (blah), sometimes gets too excited or sometimes gets a little down, or (which is the most problematic state, because what goes up up up must always come way, way down) waxes philosophical, stays up late, and obsesses over a song or a book or a rainbow or something benign like that (here's looking at you double-rainbow guy).
Anyway, the point being that cooking is one of those cool things that helps out when things are unpredictable. The best thing I can do at a time like this is 1) make sure I'm sticking to a routine, 2) doing things that make me feel calm and happy, and 3) make sure I'm eating well, sleeping well, and getting physical activity. So, as you can see, cooking is happily one of the things that fits the bill. :)
I have done a bit of cooking this week (except tonight when I was craving pizza and DQ lol), and some successful but also some not-so-successful dishes:
Okay, I'm absolutely losing my mind lately over Chrissy Tiegen's cookbook that came out about a month ago. Holy crap. I've already made two or three of the recipes AND have read the entire thing front to back (Chrissy, you're TOO funny girl). The thing that is blowing my mind is that every.single.recipe. is just delicious. And I mean delicious. Boy, does the girl know her flavors!
This week I tried the Cheesy Jalapeño Tuna Casserole with Potato Chip Topping—featuring Tim's Cascade Jalapeño chips, which happen to be my hubby's favorite chip. Since he was home every night thanks to training in town this week, it was a perfect opportunity to try this one.
Verdict: B+
Don't get me wrong, the flavors are massive. I swapped the cream of mushroom for cream of chicken because hubs doesn't like mushrooms, and I may have mixed bowties and elbows instead of spirals because YAY for using what you have on hand. And it's so, so good. Think mac and cheese, but heartier, casserole-ier, and spicier. With salty fried crunch. Like, winning the work potluck or football party in the very best way.
BUT the thing we didn't like was that it definitely feels like a party appetizer instead of a go-to home meal. It's crazy indulgent, and even I, who could eat an elephant if I put my mind to it, couldn't have more than one serving. It's like the thing where you have to fight everyone for a tiny scoop and it's really okay because the rest of your plate is like pasta salad and veggies because nobody wanted to be publicly identified as the non-health-conscious cook of the office (well, except for me. I'll gladly accept that label if it means jalapeño casserole is happening). But if its the main course at a dinner party? Don't go there. Your guests might not sleep that well, ha!
The other cookbook I'm crazy about right now is Gina Homolka's (SkinnyTaste fame) of the same name. Okay, yes, I guess you need to be healthy sometimes.
I was really craving chocolate earlier this week—CHOCOLATEOMG—but wanted something a little lighter. So I tried the Skinnytaste Cookbook double chocolate chunk cookies with a SECRET healthy ingredient (you have to get the book to find out what the secret is, sorry!).
Verdict: C+
I'm kind of sad about this one, TBH. They were good. I mean, for a health-ish cookie, they were good. BUT. (dontcha hate buts?) I just... didn't feel like they were quite right. They were like just a little too much _______ (fill in cookie ideal-y-doo here). Too chewy, not quite enough melt-in-your mouth; TOO rich, not quite enough balance in flavor; and did not soak up the obligatory milk. Waaaah. That last strike. :( Sad sad sad.
I mean, if I'm really going to need a healthy cookie for some reason (HA RIGHT?!)... or if I need a vegan cookie for a friend... this would be a good choice. But I would just keep this in my back pocket rather than my trusted tools belt.
Okay, after that choco-fail, sadly, I was looking for a quick fix, and let me tell ya I LOVE ME SOME MUG BROWNIES. But it is difficult to find a reliable one, amiright? Good news: I found a good one. Like, a really good one:
Verdict: A++++++
Behold: the holy grail of mug brownies—or in this case, a ramekin brownie (don't judge kthx). I liked it so much, I decided to adapt the recipe to a mix I can store in my pantry. That way my mug brownie is on-hand for a choco-emergency. Here's my adaptation:
2 cups baking flour
2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Mix then sift into a lidded container (I used an extra-large mason jar with a lid). You can label it with these instructions:
1/2 cup mix + 1-2 Tbsp milk of choice + 1-2 Tbsp oil/applesauce/whatever
Microwave 1 min 30 seconds on high
Enjoy immediately
YUM. :)
Okay, so I lied about posting recipes/adaptations. Hehe. Nothing is permanent, right?
There ya have it—some fails, one so-so, a big win for mug brownies. This weekend I was hoping to try two more recipes from Cravings, but I have a weird work schedule this weekend, so I'll most likely be doing fancy brunchez (my favorite) and micro-meals for dinner in the break room. You do what you gotta do. :) I'll check back in with some brunch-goals next time, deal?
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