Betsylife! A sunny perspective
I’m kind of addicted to arugula, and this arugula salad is exactly what I’ve been craving lately. Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve tried to focus on getting proper nutrition, and maximizing the benefits of the calories I consume, as opposed to just counting calories and cutting out sweets and processed foods. Continue reading “Arugula Salad with Tuna and Beans” »
Raise your hand if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all things 2013. For many, this is your first full week back at work, you’re probably dealing with 2012 year end wrap up stuff, and possibly new budgets, new projects, and new 2013 deadlines. Let’s not forget those pesky resolutions you made. Continue reading “Simmered Cabbage with Turkey” »
I eat alone fairly frequently. The Hubs works a ton, plays inner tube water polo on Wednesday’s, and is otherwise constantly traveling and entertaining clients. I don’t mind as our relationship began while he was in the Navy, so I’m used to him being gone a lot. The only thing is, its hard to cook for one. Continue reading “Eggplant Flatbread Sandwich: Two Meals for One” »
Maybe calling this a salad is stretching it a bit, or maybe not? What defines a salad anyway? This is mostly vegetables, its got vinegar on it, and its cold. Salad right? Continue reading “Salad of the week: BLTA stack” »
I’m currently working on a project with a magazine, and was searching my recipe archives last night. After all my bitching and moaning, I realized from past posts that September is this hot EVERY year. Well, at least the last 2 years in which I’ve had a blog to document my bitching and moaning. Continue reading “Tomato, Squash and Red Pepper Gratin” »
I think I’ve finally recovered from labor day weekend. I woke today with a clear mind, lots of energy, and motivation to get some work done! With my parents in town the week before, and the short week this week, let’s just say things have been slipping through the cracks around here. That’s about to change. Continue reading “Salad of the Week: Bean Salad with Herb Dressing” »
August 1st, 2012. I kind of feel like this is the first day of the rest of my life, although I do tend to over dramatize at times. Today I am 100% self employed. Yesterday was my last official day working at my security blanket, easy money, side job, and today I go forward on my own with high hopes, and a crap load of determination. Continue reading “Spicy Southwestern Tabbouleh” »
I’m guessing its about that time where everyone’s summer garden is overflowing with all kinds of vegetables from tomatoes to zucchini. If you’re running low on ideas of what to make, this recipe is for you. Actually, this is so simple, I’m not even sure you can consider it a recipe. Continue reading “Simple Roasted Summer Vegetables” »
Yay for short workweeks! Yes, its kind of a bummer that the 4th falls in the middle of the week this year. I hope that means a lot of you get Thursday and Friday off as well, but even if you do not, you still get a mid-week break which is something to celebrate none the less. I hope that everyone has lots of eating, drinking, sunning and laughing on their 4th agendas. Continue reading “Kale Superfood Salad” »
Do you guys know Bruegger’s Bagels? I know its not a nationwide chain, but I’m hoping at least some people will know what I’m talking about. Bruegger’s invented my favorite sandwich of all time which I will happily re-create for you today. Continue reading “Mediterranean Sandwich” »
Back to extremely busy life as usual around here. The Hubs is out of town, and I’m bustling around doing my usual work-blog-dogs-fitness juggling act. I’m getting pretty used to this frenetic pace we’ve been moving at for the last year or so, and I’m becoming an expert at healthy, fast meals for one. Continue reading “Charred BLT Salad” »
Is this even a thing? Caprese plus veggie patty? Continue reading “Caprese plus one” »
I’m very excited to have joined the Secret Recipe Club, a blog hop, where each month I’m secretly assigned someone’s blog, and get to make one of their recipes. For November I was assigned Heather’s blog, Its Yummy to My Tummy. After clicking around for a while, I realized that she and I have a lot in common. We both love to cook for friends and family, and our blogs were partially born due to the “can I get this recipe?” question being asked over and over!
Heather had lots of delicious stuff to choose from, but I was drawn to this bacon and sun-dried tomato guacamole. A. I love guacamole B. I’m a big Rick Bayless fan, and she adapted this recipe from a few of his, and C. This is perfect football food to appease The Hubs! Guacamole is one of those foods that you can pretty much add anything to, and Heather’s adaptation was a total winner!
Bacon and Sun-Dried Tomato Guacamole recipe from It’s Yummy to My Tummy
4-5 slices of bacon (about 1/2 cup or so crumbled up)
2 ripe avocados
1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/4 cup diced)
1/4 cup of fire-roasted red bell peppers, chopped (can find these peppers already roasted and prepared in a jar) **I roasted my own over the flame on my gas stove. Cook until blackened, then put in a plastic bag for 15 minutes. Peel and chop**
1/3 cup soft sun-dried tomatoes, chopped ***I’ve made these from scratch before too….not this time
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
about 1/2 fresh lime
Prepare bacon and cook to desired crispiness. When cool, crumble bacon. Cut open and prepare avocados by scooping out the avocado and place in a mixing bowl. Mash avocados with a fork or potato masher. Next, add in diced onion, cut up sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, bacon crumbles, and red roasted peppers. Add in the lime juice at the end and season with salt if needed. Cover guacamole with plastic wrap directly against the guacamole so that it does not turn brown as fast. Keep in refrigerator. Can garnish with extra cilantro and bacon when ready to serve.
Since I’ve been home, work has been pretty busy with lots of catching up to be done. That, combined with it getting dark so early, and the lack of food in the house, has made this weeks posts challenging so far. I did manage to make it to the grocery store for a few supplies yesterday (still have to menu plan and coupon clip to do the official, post vacation, re-stocking of our fridge) and whipped up one of my all time favorite comfort foods, the BLEAT….or BLATE……or BALET…..or TABLE. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and egg sandwich. So simple, so quick, and a complete meal between 2 slices of bread. The Hubs said “feel free to make this any time”. I think bacon is really the way to a man’s heart.
I told you I was going to go on a Seasonal Potluck rampage! For my 4 year work anniversary, my boss sent me a ‘foodie’ gift basket, which is great, but definitely added to my already over flowing pantry. Luckily for The Hubs, this means more pasta dinners in his future. Pasta is one of his favorite meals, and I rarely make it. (C’mon, we live in SoCal, the land devoid of carbs) I saw this recipe in Cooking Light, and figured it was a nice compromise between hearty and healthy. Plus, I love seafood.
The sauce was light, garlicky, and super easy to make. There wasn’t even anything left over!
Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Clams recipe from Cooking Light
I had an awesome day styling food yesterday. After a day of styling, my regular work always seems so much more boring than before. Its really a wonderful thing to get paid to do something you love. I’m hoping that this business will become more regular so I can finally get off the boring work roller coaster I’m on. Until then, only one more day to power through and then the weekend! I can’t wait for Leila’s party on Saturday. Pics for you all on Monday!
