Lunchtime

Yummy, yummy salad.



This was spinach, one chicken tender, goat cheese, sweet peppers, onion with honey dijon basalmic.

And 2 dark chocolate Dove squares for dessert.

A few more hours and I'm off!

I'm getting in the mood for tonight by listening to a mix I made on my iTunes. I was going to show you the cheesetastic songs on it but I'm trying to figure out how to use SnagIt to get it to save the right size. I'm failing miserably. Anyone know how this thing works? It's saving way too small.



If you squint while wearing glasses you will see the appropriate genres represented. Plenty of Flo Rida with a side of Ke$ha and the perfect amount Britney to round things out.

Let's see - other things I'm thinking about today. This book:



From the author's official website:

About the Book

You have a fulfilling job, a great group of friends, the perfect apartment, and no shortage of dates. So what if you haven’t found The One just yet. Surely he’ll come along, right?

But what if he doesn’t? Or even worse, what if he already has, but you just didn’t realize it?

Suddenly finding herself forty and single, Lori Gottlieb said the unthinkable in her March 2008 article in The Atlantic: Maybe she, and single women everywhere, needed to stop chasing the elusive Prince Charming and instead go for Mr. Good Enough.

Looking at her friends’ happy marriages to good enough guys who happen to be excellent husbands and fathers, Gottlieb declared it time to reevaluate what we really need in a partner. Her ideas created a firestorm of controversy from outlets like the Today show to The Washington Post, which wrote, “Given the perennial shortage of perfect men, Gottlieb’s probably got a point,” to Newsweek and NPR, which declared, “Lori Gottlieb didn’t want to take her mother’s advice to be less picky, but now that she’s turned forty, she wonders if her mother is right.” Women all over the world were talking. But while many people agreed that they should have more realistic expectations, what did that actually mean out in the real world, where Gottlieb and women like her were inexorably drawn to their “type”?

That’s where Marry Him comes in.

By looking at everything from culture to biology, in Marry Him Gottlieb frankly explores the dilemma that so many women today seem to face—how to reconcile the strong desire for a husband and family with a list of must-haves so long and complicated that many great guys get rejected out of the gate. Here Gottlieb shares her own journey in the quest for romantic fulfillment, and in the process gets wise guidance and surprising insights from marital researchers, matchmakers, dating coaches, behavioral economists, neuropsychologists, sociologists, couples therapists, divorce lawyers, and clergy—as well as single and married men and women, ranging in age from their twenties to their sixties.

Marry Him is an eye-opening, often funny, sometimes painful, and always truthful in-depth examination of the modern dating landscape, and ultimately, a provocative wake-up call about getting real about Mr. Right.


I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think settling is just a really bad term to use but I'm finding I relate to it quite a bit. Well. Not the no shortage of dates. I don't know what city she's talking about - but my dates seem to happen with the same regularity as Groundhog's Day. And that's when I'm actively online dating. When I'm left on my own you do the math. I will say that my laundry list of "must haves" has dwindled considerably. I used to say I'd like for a guy to simply be both breathing and unmarried but...I do actually have a bit higher standards than that. :)

As I head into a second date on Saturday (weather permitting) it's giving me something to think about.

Single ladies of a certain age...any thoughts?

It's an English muffin

with peanut butter.

You can now go back to your regularly scheduled program. :)

It was good for me to get up and out and go to the office today. Since I did have to get up and get dressed I would like to publicly thank the creator of the sweater dress. I swear it is the best invention since sliced bread. I'm wearing one today that looks like this but in red and from Lord & Taylor not Ann Taylor. :)

If not for the shoes I'm wearing I'd swear I was in sweats.

Plan for the day is a webcast at 1 (not one I've planned - one that I'm choosing to attend), a salad for lunch, and Zumba after work. Then it'll be home, shower, dinner The Office and if I can stay awake, a visit with Heidi and Tim.

See you in a bit. Have a happy Thursday!

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Shrimp

I am learning more and more everyday that I'm a pretty damn good cook.

I know. Modest much?

I'm not an expert in anything fancy or incredibly gourmet but I can make some pretty tasty food.

Then again, most of the time I'm the only one eating what I cook. Maybe I have just fooled my own taste buds. :)

The first time I decided to make this dish I followed a recipe by Robin Miller. I agree with a lot of the reviews. That version is really watery. I improvised greatly and even more today when I was missing some of the ingredients.

I also pared it down. I have some left over for tomorrow night but not much. And I have some sauce that I'm going to freeze for another day.

I don't order Chinese or Thai food often. I find it's waaay too salty and I'm not keen on eating a lot of MSG. Soooo, it might not be authentic but it works for me!

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Shrimp




Ingredients:

For the sauce:

1 cup chicken broth
2.5 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I'd have used sesame if I had it!)
1 tablespoon spicy chili sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce (All I had was Teriyaki)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

For the shrimp:

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 jumbo shrimp (I ate 4 and have 2 leftover)
1/2 small red bell pepper sliced
1 clove garlic minced
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped parsley and basil


2 cups whole wheat thin spaghetti - cooked per package directions



Combine broth, peanut butter, oil, soy sauce, chili sauce and red pepper flakes in a sauce pan with a whisk, making sure the peanut butter has dissolved. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10-15 minutes.



Sautee the onion and garlic with the shrimp in olive oil in a pan over medium heat.



Add the pepper.



Add about a half cup of the peanut sauce and mix together. Let the shrimp and vegetables simmer in the sauce for a few minutes. Add noodles and parsley and basil and combine well. Add another ladleful of sauce if needed.

Dinner is served!!



THINGS I WOULD HAVE ADDED IF I'D HAD THEM IN THE HOUSE - Sesame oil instead of canola in the sauce, about a half a tablespoon of chopped ginger to the shrimp.


On a separate note: I'm having a big issue. I'm on exercise hiatus it seems. Not totally - but the gym has not called my name in over a week. I have Zumba tomorrow night but please. Hold me to this. I want to make it to the gym on Friday. I'm thinking I just have to wake up and go. No more of this bullshit.

I'm weighing in next Friday and if I'm not careful those three pounds I just got off will creep back on. I've been eating pretty well and the scale isn't scaring me but I gotta get moving. I'm feeling sluggish. I know I'm under quite a bit of emotional stress these days but enough is enough.

This also means I didn't completely clean my apartment so this thing is still tucked behind my bed.

What was I smoking when I ordered this? I mean in theory I get it. It is right up my alley. The ballet like component is totally me.

But I live in a (and I'm being generous here) 400 sq ft studio apartment in Manhattan.

Therein lies a problem don't you think??

Get your greens

First of all - I am pleased to report - mission accomplished!!

Grand total - $18.99 baby!!!

I got some milk, a red pepper, spinach, some herbs, some eggs, some chili sauce, whole wheat EM's (which I've been missing!), some pasta and some broccoli.

(PS: The chili sauce, pasta, herbs and red pepper will be seen again at dinner time. Recipe included.)



Speaking of broccoli...

I wanted something green with lunch but didn't want salad. I took some frozen broccoli and parsley and chopped it up in the Mini-Prep.



Then I added it to some of the leftover cheesy potatoes. With a baked chicken tender on the side. I know. It doesn't look very pretty but it tasted pretty good.



Be back in a bit!

Sunny Side

We got snow last night. Not a lot mind you - but a good little dusting. It does however make me glad that I'm at home today.

I'm about to head out to TJ's for a few staples though. I don't need much - but it's worth the walk for the $1.99 bags of baby spinach. :) I'm going to try and make it out of there for less than $20. We'll see if I can pull it off. My issue is I'm like a kid in a candy store when I'm in a market. I want to try everything and it's really hard to resist.

I decided instead of buying bread that I'd make it instead. I mixed it up a bit and added some whole wheat flour to the mix today.



And then...we wait.



I made a poached egg for breakfast. I put it on a slice of whole wheat with goat cheese. A very delicious combo.



All gooey and runny and sunny.



I'm spending the bulk of today on the phone (sigh) so I'd better run out and get some fresh air while I can. I'm hopeful I find the motivation for some form of exercise this afternoon. If I get this apartment straightened out I might bust out this piece of exercise equipment I just HAD TO HAVE a few years ago.

It might be just the 'mix it up' kind of thing I'm looking for. And it's already paid for (and then some).

Back at lunchtime. See you then!