Are You Mocking Me?

Well, once again I am an unfaithful blogger, but at least I blog sometimes :)

So far, I have done at least six more recipes, and more are coming up!

I am making Soft Pretzels tomorrow for the season of Lent.

So today I was working at the barn again.

My second time and it was awesome!

Last time, the first time, I had just mucked the wash stalls (standing for the first five minutes like a mindless moron who didn't know what they were doing...but I should cut myself a little slack since it was my first time...), cleaned a saddle, and learned how to wash a horse.

While I had been in the first wash stall, Phantom was looking at me, so I naturally asked, "Are you mocking me?"

He probably was.
(BTW my instructor wants me to canter soon!  I have been riding for almost four years so this is really awesome!  I have never cantered and then the next time we go up to Mt. Washington, I can do the advanced trail ride :)

This time though, it was a lot more fun.

I groomed Phantom, watched someone put medicine on his hocks (they had cuts on them), helped feed the horses their hay and grain, turned Phantom out, and cleaned the tack/trainer's tack, and A.V. "house."
It was so much fun!

Poor Phantom doesn't like to be alone without a horse named Rosco near him, so we couldn't put him in his stall.

During all of this, another working student, who called me the "Rookie," quizzed me on how much horses/ponies should be fed, the names of the horses at the barn, and where they lived in what order.

So next weekend is supposed to be more barn painting, and I plan on helping out again on Sat. to help move the jumps to the outer field and whatever else needs to be done.

Anyway, just now my family and I made pizzas.
My pizza was spinach, Daiya Mozz., tomatoes, and sauteed whitecap mushrooms.
Really good.

Sadly, tomorrow I am not making anything Easter related except the pretzels...:(
Happy Easter!

Hello! Happy Spring Break!

I'm back!  I seem to say those same two words every time I blog now.  

I haven't posted anything in the past few days because I have lacked a computer at hand.

But I chose to post now, because if this rain lightens up, and even maybe if it doesn't, I am headed to the barn to help take care of the horses.

This is really exciting, and I am also hoping for sun on Sunday because we will be having a barn party where everyone is invited to come eat party foods, paint the barn, and for those who have lessons on Sunday, they get to ride as well!

Aren't I lucky?

Also, an hour ago I created three more recipes out of HH.  Yummm.  They tasted great!  Except for some Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits w/ Basic Glaze w/ Almond Extract.  

Sigh...

I didn't go to dance last night because I was so tired, and it's break so...

There is no dance tonight, and even if there was, I wouldn't be going. 

Happy Herbivore is almost below a hundred recipes to go!

I hope to do more of the baking/desserts soon as well.

Wish me luck!

Finally Meeting Some MAJOR Goals

First of all, I will be blogging more next week!  No school, see?
Anyway, while I have not been blogging, I have been cooking non-stop.
Not only did I throw down a bunch! of Happy Herbivore recipes out of the book, but I met my three Vegan hopes after I turned.
- Mac and Cheese (Baked, wanted an almost-exact replica of my friend Colleen's)
- Mashed Potatoes
- Chocolate Chip Cookies

AH!  I was so happy when I made these.  Remember Brandy?  Remember how she doesn't like Vegan/healthier food (she doesn't eat well...)?  Well, I gave one of each cookie to my teacher and she liked them a lot.  She even said they didn't taste any different from a normal cookie!
Happy Days...
Also the Mac and Cheese came from the 30-Day Vegan Challenge.  Boy, I need that book soon.  The mac and cheese was amazing!  I made the baked version so I could have it taste like Colleen's...
It was just like how I remembered!

Finally, I just, as in just, made these potatoes.
They were part of the St. Patrick's Day stagger.
They were amazing plus they were with a mushroom gravy!
Those recipes came from Robin Robertson's 1000 Vegan Recipes which I hope to finish in the next four years.

So the past few weeks have been all about dance, and I am finally catching a break.  Meaning, I don't have it five/six times a week and don't have any performances on the weekend.
Whew...
I am back to regular classes and don't plan on doing any of the feisanna for a while, unless the MA one...but the judging wasn't great last year even though people loved the hotel.

So yesterday was horse day.  I rode Mojo.  Mojo was different.  Extremely different.
Here's how I see it:
Jersey Girl - Stubborn.
Phantom of the Opera - Lazy but Obedient.
Mojo - Prankster but Obedient.

Mojo is also a pony.  Maybe two-thirds Phantom's size.  I was to say Phantom is between fourteen-fifteen hands but that might be too much.  Anyway, Mojo is pretty small, also meaning that his strides are shorting, "quicker" as it feels, and his neck is longer.
All opposites of Phantom's stride and body.
And Mojo's skinny, but since I gave Phantom four sugar cubes yesterday, Mojo will get fatter too...
I almost fell out four times yesterday.
New record!
But my instincts are getting sharper and more prepared for a fall.
At one point, Mojo faltered in hole.
Another time Mojo had an itch (Actually this happened twice) and quickly stopped to put his head down and scratch his leg - I almost fell out as I jerked forward.
Finally, Mojo tripped again, and fell forward to the side (right, outside leg).  This time, as my left foot came out of the stirrup and I tilted to the side, I grabbed the bridle then pulled myself up and literally hugged Mojo who was standing still in half-seat.
It was a ride to remember.
Bounce, bounce, bounce....
It didn't help Mojo's quirks are stopping in corners or standing in the middle of the ring and stopping (he did not stop in the center, just refused to stay trotting near the gate corners or by my instructor.
Gr.
I did love him though, but I need to get used to him.
Also, there was a three-way conversation between me, my instructor, and a little girl cleaning her horse.
We were talking about what Mojo was, and my instructor says I hit it right on the dot: a Rogue Teddy Bear.
Ha, can't wait till next week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

No photos today or reviews, just a heads-up.

Today consists of:
Four performances at four different places.
Making mashed potatoes!  (Hopefully...Depends when I'll be home long enough)


Also, I have already make Beer Bread.

My St. Patty's Day recipes will be staggered.

Sigh...

I am going to make sugar cookies too :) '

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

BIGGEST PERFORMANCE EVER

Last night was HUGE.
It was the biggest performance I have had yet.
And it was a lot of fun.

I won't tell you what specifically, but we were an opening performance for something that was broadcast on TV.
:D
We weren't on TV though....
But last night we met the owner, his mascot, and caught glimpses of other things.
Amazing!
Plus, it was really sweet because I was leading a little girl named "Bailey" around.
She kept jumping up and down to become taller than me, and I said maybe by the recital she'd make it, but when I knelt down a little, she made it and she was so excited!
Bailey showed me her family in the stands and it was sweet just talking to her.

Anyway, I didn't fully remember what order the second dance went in, so I made it like this with motions:
Circles, Cheer, Partners, Double, Out, Bow.
:) Mysterious how I can't tell you exactly what that is, but that's the rules of my school.

On another dancing note, we have another Big, but not so big, performance this afternoon.
Fun, but I am so tired...
Dance for the past two weeks has been five or four times each week.
1 and a half to two hours.
Exhaustion is here...

We left the show early, due to the fact we don't really like it, and when I got home, I dressed in clothes that I could breathe in, and I was in complete Boston wear. (we were dressed in boostieas/corset type of things)
It were as though my mind were cleansing itself ;).

:)
Next, an update for St. Patty's Day!
I have four performances, plus I am cooking a dessert, breakfast, and side dish.
They look very good.
Also, Happy Herbivore is almost done with.
YES!

Update:

No, the update is not entirely about ice cream!  (Who can talk about ice cream for a whole conversation???)

The update is that I am feeling much better and am sleeping a lot better these past few days.  

Why?

Well, I don't think that it has to do with the B12, but I feel it might be because I have been eating a lot more and the past few days have looked a little like:

Breakfast-

Pumpernickel bagel with Cashew Cream Cheese (Need to post recipe)

Grapes

PB&J

Lunch- 

Leftovers (Cornbread Casserole, Veggie Taco, Smoothie-Ice-Cream-Thing) (will post too)

Snack-

Pretzels

Banana with Almond Butter 

Cashews

Dinner-

Pizza

Salad

Taco

Anyway, I have been eating multiple small meals as well.

Hmm Tasty!

There was definitely more on that list, but I don't remember.

The only thing I'd tweak is less nuts...I have such bad control, especially when it comes to RAW cashews... yum...

Now as for the ice cream picture, I have been craving it.

Also, I did make a whole conversation about ice cream on the way home from the barn yesterday.  It went from talking about the horses to the lesson to sugar cubes to ice cream.

I don't know how it got there, it just did.

"Um, excuse me...."

"You lost an earring," a little girl at dance practice told me yesterday.
It was so adorable!
Then later, as we were all leaving the studio, another girl came up to me and asked me if I only had one earring.
I said, "No, I just have three earrings."
Strange number, I know, but I only wanted an odd one.

Dance was yesterday for two and a half hours as the first practice for a big performance next weekend.  So excited!

We have practice a few more times this week and then have the last one on the day of the performance.

So last night I tried to cook myself a re-creation of a salad that I have yet to post.
I completely ruined it!
Yesterday was just not my day.
First off, as I cooked, I turned away to chop some cucumber then went back to the stove knowing the couscous was done.
The recipe next to it was burned.
Half of it.
Amazingly, all the notes and recipe instructions were still in tact, but not only was there charred paper flying around the granite counter, but I also charred a little bit of the wooden spoon I was using.
Uh-oh.

Then, when I was adding the mint to the salad, I took the lid off of the spice container and out is all came!
It was disgusting.
I tried to force it down, adding more salt and olive oil but that didn't help at all.
So I had some leftover chilled banana with some cinnamon and coconut flakes.
Dessert first.
Then, I had some leftover stir-fry my parents had.
Now, I love cashews in a stir-fry, and my parents had put shrimp in it, so I worked around it with a fork.
I selectively took out anything and everything I wanted with the four-pronged fork, and stuffed it into a little wooden bowl.
Sadly, to my lack of knowledge, I never saw the big, wooden spoon lying next to the wok.
....
How frustrating.
I could have saved myself  a lot of time.

Now for today.
So remember Splotches from last weekend?  Well, today I learned, once again, that his name is Happy.
Ugh, Happy is so annoying.  His full name is Splotches Rude Face Sugar Addict Happy.
Mouthful, yes.
S.R.F.S.A.H. tried to nip my face off (maybe that's being too dramatic).
He kept coming at me for a fourth sugar cube.
I had yet to give Phantom one.

Then, I went over to Big Red.
I scratched him a little, but left after being a little grossed out because someone had a runny nose...

My dad and I also met Mojo, the horse I should be riding soon.
Mojo was white and his upper lip was quite silly because it would jut out as he tried to nibble his way into our pockets where the sugar cubes were held.  But the only problem was that he was a good three inches too far from our pockets :P :).
Remember the black horse?  I forget what I called him, but his name is Token of My Affection.  Love that name.

Anyway, I tried to give Phantom a cube before I got on in hopes he'd have a sugar rush.
No.
Not even close.
He was just as lazy in the circles and crossing across the ring or riding down the center on a turn.
He also wouldn't keep the trot up.  I swear I was squeezing him the whole time and just as hard.
Besides him, it was really great.
Sigh, today I had the worst crop but I used it more than I ever had!
I wasn't angry, just a little annoyed.
I love him though...

As my instructor told me that I could get off as I brought him to a stop, I was so excited!
Not only was I still holding the crop as I got off, but she wasn't holding on to his bridle either!
I pulled something in my leg as I slid off.
Gr, I did not need that this week.
I mean it is better, but still, what if it hurt me all week?
Phew.
Sigh, maybe next week.
Phantom then got two more cubes.

Figure Eights, Poles, Rude Faces, and Sugar Cube Games

By the looks of this picture I bet you can tell what I will be talking about today :-)

Walking into the barn yard, there was a cute little pony who looked a lot like a new pony from Alberta, CA that came a few weeks ago to a little girl.  His was gray and white both in the body and tail/mane, but had brown splotches dancing across his spotted face.  

It was adorable!  And when I came to him and tried to pet him, he drew his face away from me and wouldn't let me touch him!  

Then, when my mom came over with the Sugar Cubes, he made a small whinny that was equally adorable to his profile. 

He happily ate the sugar cube I gave him but quickly decided he wanted more by calling out again.

He did this a few times and he did get one more.  (Let's call him Splotches because 'he' and 'his' is getting old).  Splotches remained stubborn in his refusal to let me touch his fuzzy face, but gladly took took the second cube.  

During that last cube, I decided to try to get him to play (Also, when I went to his buddy across from him, my mom and I turned around to see his ears pricked up and attentive and pawing the ground with his left hoof).  So I took the cube and placed it in my right gloved hand and told him to try to find it (he had to decide if it was in my left or right fist).   I did this four times switching it back and forth until I decided he was no fun, still not letting me touch him, and that he would get too fat and that he was getting frustrated with me not giving him the dang sugar cube. :-)

Across from him, (he was in a paddock) there was a large chestnut with a white line running down his face.  His ears (This one we will call Big Red) were flat against his head.  But he let me feed him a cube.  :)

Five or six stalls down, my dad fed a sweet little white pony while next to him was a big black horse (not a Friesian but maybe a cross).  This horse, (We're calling him Blackie.  How creative?)  Blackie, had a net on his face and a gate across the top opening of his stall gate.   

My dad thought it'd be hard to give him a cube, but I gave him one.  He was sweet.

Now for lesson.

Phantom is so lazy!  You literally need to crop in your hand to really get him going or otherwise he will be tripping over his own feet. 

I can't help you, Phantom, if you don't do your part.

...

But I love him anyway! 

I talked to him warming up, took up the crop after his lazy trot once around the barn, and he got his rhythm.  

There were three "cones" down the center of the barn, and jumps were scattered everywhere inside.  These jumps didn't pertain to me, but they were extra obstacles.

Anyway, two poles were in the front of the bar, (picture looking over a gate into a barn, the poles would be in the very front near the gate) I did figure eights around these and Phantom would stay in his rhythm but I won't blame him entirely because I don't know if I was squeezing my calves.  

Anyway, they were fun. 

My sit-trots were better too. 

Down the middle of the barn, I did weaving.  I still had trouble keeping Phantom at the trot.

Later, we were put on the lunge line.  Now, although the lunge line is my friend, it is definitely not Phantom's friend.  

I was on there for only about a minute, if that.

My instructor had me take my feet out of the stirrups and let my legs hang long.  While in this position, I was supposed to do sit-trots.  Not successful.  As soon as Phantom was finally going, I told her almost instantly I couldn't.  Although, I was somewhat close.  

We went back out along the rail and tried more half-seat, posting trot a few more times.  

At one point, my instructor asked if I was tired, and I laughed and said yes, my knees were hurting. 

So we let my legs hang long and walked around one last time before the end of the lesson.  

My instructor said Phantom was taking advantage of my pain and was being lazy. 

I told him that was rude.

When I got off and gave him a cube, the green slime that is usually coating his lips, was thankfully not there, but I did tell him his breath smelled awful!  As I walked over to my parents who were sitting down, my mom suddenly said he wanted more.  

To my surprise, Phantom was absurdly close to me and he looked incredibly happy!  :) I gave him another but  the cube dropped and he bit my finger.  I swear each horse today has bitten my finger!  Sigh.  It is a wonder I still have my finger :-)

B.B. Smoothie Recipe

1 c Frozen Blueberries 

2 Frozen Bananas

Unsweetened Almond Milk

Blend.  It should be thick. Very thick. 

The Much Long Awaited Post Has Arrived

I don't want to be an unfaithful blogger but it sure has turned out that way, especially when I get off of my blogging-binges.
Well I know you have been dying for the results of the feis right??
Well..........

After waiting and standing for five hours straight, no water since breakfast which was not even 1/4 c., I, 426, was called to take the stage alongside one of my fellow dancers from my school.
We did Reels first, then Slip Jigs, then Treble Jigs, Hornpipes, Saint Patrick's Day, Treble Reels, and finally Jockey to the Fair.  I only Reels, Slips, Treble Jigs, and Jockey (I keep spelling it Jocket...).
Anyway, when we finally got to the awards, the three of us in our age/level group went up.  This means that I had to get a trophy for each dance I did.
I got Four trophies plus a medal for participating.
It was a rush to get my third trophy...
Why?
Reels - Second (My arm came in front of my dress's skirt at one moment before I fixed it, and I forgot to bow... don't know if that changes anything)
Slips - Third (Slips are my bad luck dances because my soft shoe always starts to come off during my favorite Slip and I just made it with that at the feis)
Treble Jig - First Place.  
Jockey to the Fair - Tied with Second (because it was only me and one other girl from my school who did it)

Not bad for my first Novice/"Normal" Feis eh?

                      Some horses are just to pretty too pass up like this Morgan horse!  Plus, this one says Hi :) !
Let's start with the first photo:
Southwest Chop Salad p. 124
Notes: Winner.  Lime juice for dressing, avocado would also be good in here. 


Second:
Creamy White Bean Dip
Notes: Best. Dip. Ever. Nuff Said.


Third:
Tiffany Blue Almond Frosting and Vegan Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Notes: This frosting is great with coconut milk. Smells fantastic too.  These were so good! My first Vegan cupcakes too :)

Forth:
Cherry Quinoa Salad p. 122
Notes: Needs dressing.  Winner by far. 


Fifth:
Greens Quiche p. 152
Notes: Winner.  I did not have a chance to eat this till nine o'clock after dance, but my parents did and my mom had been on a cleanse and took a bite and loved it.  My dad on the other hand, had to stop himself from eating anymore and had to make himself mac and cheese because he wanted to eat it all!  I needed some so he stopped.  It was fantastic.  But nothing like real quiche he said.


Six:
Spicy Mushroom Stir-Fry p. 142
Notes: Very good.  Spicy and warm in the belly.


Seven:
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie p. 16
Notes: Tastes like a cookie.  Nice and thick.  Just how I like it :)


Eight:
French Toast Muffins p. 53
Notes: So good!  I ate half the batch before the next day.


Nine:
Pasta with Greens 
Notes: This was amazing, my dad said this was the first time he LOVED Kale.

Ten:
Tuscan Kale Chips
Notes: The might have tasted better, no they definitely good, but they needed to be crispier. They smell awful if you throw them out (as I did today).

Eleven:
Apple Oatmeal Smoothie
Notes: My play on H.H.'s Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie.  I used an apple, not a banana.


Twelve:
Ginger-Miso Quinoa Stir-Fry p. 136
Notes: Winner. Light, crunchy, and tasty.  Quinoa does not add much, only nutrients and texture.  Reminded me of my first time with Fish roe.


Thirteen:
Whole-Wheat Drop Biscuits p. 37
Notes: Pleasant, tasty.


Fourteen:
Mistake Muffin
(Notes on another post)

Fifteen:
Tex-Mex Shepherd's Pie p. 157
Notes: I used almond milk.  SO good.  Like very good.  We added hot sauce.


Sixteen:
My trophies, medal, and flours from family.

Seventeen:
Creamy Dijon Pasta p. 197
Notes: NEEDS Salt, GARLIC.  Parsley might be nice.  Pleasant (w/o add ins).  We did put in tomatoes and peas.  It was NOT a favorite at all without garlic, but with garlic... I WANT IT AGAIN SO BADLY.  Can't wait for leftovers!


Eighteen:
Close-up on pretty flowers :)

Nineteen:
Horse :)

Well that's it.  The Creamy Dijon Pasta was tonight's dinner.

Recipe:
Another Smoothie:
Cacao Nibs (Sunspire, the ones I didn't like)
Banana
Rolled Oats
Almond Milk

That might have been it, I will need to make it again to fully remember, but otherwise it was so good!

Now that I have caught up on all the photos, here is a new blog update:
If you look at my profile, there is now another blog on it.  Only, it hasn't and will not start until sometime next September.
Why?
One set back is the fact I will need to find and make my own copywright so no one steals my work.
Secondly, and this is really the main thing, the photography is what I hope to take as a class next year and I see no reason as to why I will not be able to.

So why did I make it now?

The excitement of the idea was too much, plus I loved the name The Remembered Forgotten and I did not want anyone to think of that name before me.  Although, I have had the name in my mind for the past five years and have been thinking of almost every imaginable idea to name it this.

Anyway, I hope to finish Happy Herbivore before June and then I will hope to finish Appetite for Reduction  over the summer.  By next September, I plan to start Vegan Bites for Singles so I can make them after school and so on.

1 More Day

Tomorrow is the feis.  Check-in time is 12:30 for Novice and I should be dancing around 1-1:30.  The feis is small and is estimated to end at 2:45.
Anyone else excited?
I am not nervous... Let's see how long that'll last ;)

Two More Days

Anyone see the Grammys??
Just saying, Deadmau5 was great :) Foster the People was funny.  Maroon 5? That was not their best.

Saturday is the feis.  Ready?  I will be in my new dress and will dance two soft shoe: Reel and Slip Jig and two hard shoe: Jockey to the Fair and Treble Jig.
Excited, not nervous.  Yet...
I made CCK Nutella again so we can make sandwiches for dinner tomorrow at our hotel and then I wanted to make Soft Molasses Cookies from Happy Herbivore but... no white beans.
So here's a recipe that is a combination of two HH recipes: Soft Molasses and Spiced Chocolate Muffins. (remember those delicious cutie muffins?)

The Mistake Muffin
Makes 5 Muffins

1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger (maybe a little more to override bitterness)
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder (maybe a little less for a less bitter taste)
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. nondairy milk (I used (unsweetened/original Almond Milk)
1/2 - 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix and bake for 15 minutes.  Maybe a little more, I lost track of time.

So I messed up and didn't check for beans because I was too lost humming "Raise Your Weapon"  by Deadmau5.
Sigh.
They were slightly bitter, but I would make them again but maybe with more spice or less cocoa.
They were small but sweet :)
Just like I like em'!

Still sick :(
Missing Phantom again this week because I might be tired after the feis.
Hey, so I brought sugar cubes last week and now I can't find them!  Argh!
There was at least 100 cubes in this medium sized, bright colored box!
How can you lose sugar cubes?
Did some horse fairy (maybe a horse fly :) take them?
Sneaky.
Sigh, now I can't give them to anyone now :(
I am supposed to be riding a different horse sometimes to get a feel for another rhythm and stride.  Plus, Phantom is a good beginner lesson horse and I am one of the more advanced riders, so I suppose the other horse I am going to ride, who I believe is a little too small for me and my teacher does too, but his name is Mojo.

Lesson of the day:
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I write this because when I last rode, two years ago, I still couldn't get trotting.  I had been over a jump once and I had never held a crop before!  Now though, I am back and stronger and better and love it all the more.
Anyway, maybe God has these things happen to us to stop us for a while so our bodies, especially our minds, because more capable to handle these things we learn.
I really feel that this is true because it has happened to me!  (As I said before).

I really love to ride.
I plan on working there at least two times a week next year to pay for lessons.
Maybe I'll start in the summer?

Dinner tonight is from Happy Herbivore!  

Vegan and Exhausted

It has been ten months now since I became a Veg.  But even before that, but it wasn't that bad, I was tired.  Actually, I think I am now tired for other reasons.
B-12 is a vitamin that comes from animal products and being Vegan...Well, there are no animal products in this diet.
Furthermore, my tiredness has been getting worse and I could have the best night's rest and wake up feeling groggy and absolutely sticky.  I don't think I know what a good night's rest is and how it feels in the morning...

On Saturday night, my parents were talking to me and they were finally tired (no pun intended) of hearing me say  how exhausted I was.  My dad doesn't think (and I can agree but I enjoy my diet and want to keep it) all of the aspects of being a vegan are healthy and/or necessary and my mom feels I should have fish a few times a week.
Being the stubborn thing I am, I said nothing and left.
I was searching the web yesterday to see why I was so tired.
Quote me, "Tired and Vegan" on the search engine.
NOTHING COMES UP
Arghhhhhhhhh
That was so annoying!
But I did find some things, but otherwise is nobody else tired when they are Vegan?
It seems more people would talk about B-12 deficiency and how you need to get it, but they don't! 
Anyway, when I mentioned it this morning to my mom about a supplement for this, we got it two hours ago.
I took it and am awaiting the effects for it.
So excited!
I almost fell asleep during class and, by the way, I am sick again.... With a sore throat the burns every time I swallow.
Anyway, I will tell you about the effects when it happens.

I Officially Own A Dress

X1654.  Bought it and done.  Now, all is needed is the alterations.

It is so extremely pretty and it came with a pink hairband with black flowers and then a pair of earrings that are really not me at all.  My teacher even said it. Ha ha.  Gaudy and big!

It is really sparkly too.

Next on the blogging agenda, is no pictures but some reviews.  Finally, I know!

Happy Herbivore
Cherry Quinoa Salad pg. 122


Notes: Delicious, but needs a dressing. Or so my dad claimed.  I thought it was fine.  It also calls for some lemon (that'd be the dressing) but that would take away from the sweetness of the cherries.  Furthermore, I HATE cherries, but I hated coconut too (hint hint), until this salad.  There was no coconut in the salad, but the dried cherries were amazing!  Really, it the whole salad was.  
Also, I had some of the cherries with some coconut flakes we had.  What a special treat!


Southwest Chop Salad pg. 124
Notes: Winner.  Lime Juice for dressing.  Avocado would be very good in here.  Good with chips :) Who'd knew? ;) 


Ginger Bok Choy Stir-Fry pg. 139
Notes: A.Maze.Zing.


Spicy Mushroom Stir-Fry pg. 142
Notes: It was tonight's dinner.  Warm, very spicy, and absolutely delicious. 


Greens Quiche pg. 152 
Notes: It is making it into a weekly/monthly schedule.  So, in other words, it was very good.  Although my mom hates tofu, she liked it, and although my dad said it tasted nothing like quiche, he had to make mac and cheese after two slices to make sure I got some after I came home from dance.  :)


So that's all the reviews from Happy Herbivore for now.
Next thing.
Superbowl.  Let's not talk about sad things, but very good things.
Like...
Red: It was inside the cake. Mini Cupcakes. Note: I didn't have mini things so I made twelve big ones.  Just as good plain :)
Blue: Coconut Almond Frosting.  Note: The coconut is a replacement for the vegetable shortening to make it healthier. Although, it came out a little watery and I don't know why :( But it still tasted delicious!  My dad loved them very much.  
White: Best bean dip ever!  Note: I had to make two batches because I was tempted to finish out the first one.  But the second one, the one I did purely from memory and rough measurements, came out just as good and dilly!  Not so garlicky as the first one, which I like.  The second was definitely my favorite.  Serve with crackers (Stone Wheat Thins and such) and celery.


So that was the Superbowl for us.
Not glamorous but definitely the tastiest :)

So no pictures for now, but guess what?? I officially got Jockey.  Now for the feis next weekend... whew.

Maybe pictures this weekend but I have to do these things also: Sat. The Vow and Starbucks with friends.  House being shown to realtor which means cleaning.  Reading and if I can, finish War Horse.  Sun. Horseback riding.  Logging it for project. Pastor's wife's baby shower.  Making another Herbivore recipe.

I guess it isn't that much, but who knows!  And throw in food shopping too!

Food shopping, on that note, has become tons of fun!  Not that it wasn't last time, but it has become more fun now that our budget is 100-.  It is like a game :) and for the first time, we do another of my favorite things: Plan what we are going to eat.

Sigh, it is fun.

I Foresee A Football Game and A Strange Bowl of Oatmeal in the Distance!

I am still alive, don't worry.  Right now I am eating my second breakfast because the first one was cold and now I want something warm in my stomach.  Mmm....

So yesterday I made the observation that both of the football teams today have the almost the same colors!  Only, as my dad puts it, silver is a prettier color than white.  HA!

;) 

Patriots fan.  Yes I am. 

Anyway, what is warming my stomach right now?

Well, you are going to think it's gross, but really it is pretty good.  

So, if you're willing to try something "out of the box..."

Reminds-Me-Of-The-Time-Between-Winter-And-Spring Oatmeal

• 1 serving of Quick Oats
• (Raw) Agave
• Cinnamon 
• Dried Mint Leaves
• (Regular) Almond Milk
• Raisins

1. Cook the Quick Oats by the way of its instructions
2. Stop cooking!  Put in some almond milk, cinnamon, and mint leaves.  I used maybe half a tsp. of Mint and mix.
3. Put in more almond milk if desired/needed and put in agave and mix.
4. Lastly, put in Raisins. 

If you do try it, can you tell me what you think of it?

:)

Oh!  There might be another post later too.  Only because I making Red, Blue, and I can't find any Silver food, so White food.  

That's going to be exciting. 

"Who will win the 'superbowl?' "

- Quote from my report card... :)

1,2,3, 100!

Yep.
This is the 100th post.
Does it deserve something special?
Yes, but all I can do is give you an idea of what's to come for Super Bowl Weekend...

Let's just say Red, White, and Blue...

*Cliff Hanger*

Next, is McDonald's finally comes out!

Meat eaters who eat this stuff, look what you've been eating!
Uck!
Awful!

Back when I ate this crap a few times, I threw up.
I will never forget... Ew...

Dance was last night.
I have it again tonight, but I am exhausted from the cold I've had, and today everything has been blurring together.
I saw one of my friends' outfits, and I thought, "Didn't he wear that yesterday?"
Few seconds later, "No, that was still today..."

See?
And I was glued to the bed this morning.  I did not even feel my body connected together.
Sigh.
What else?
OH!
I am going to write a letter about something in IDM.
That's exciting.

So are apple seeds really poisonous?
Yes.  Everything that comes up on the search of "apple seeds poison" all say they are!

Well, hear's how yesterday's lunch went:
I came sat down.
Talked and ate my apple.
And finally, when it was down to the core, I always knock the seeds out when I see them.
But there was one problem...
I didn't see them. 
Gasp!
I felt my face freeze and I looked up at my friends and asked if they thought they were poisonous.
Then, I went to my teacher and asked, "Mr. 'Teacher', will apple seeds make me sick?  'Cause I just ate all the seeds in my apple..."
I know I looked horrified, but all he said was, "No, I eat the whole apple all the time.  What about when you make smoothies?  The seeds get all crushed up.  They are full of nutrients anyway."
....
Not what Google said.
My whole homeroom agreed that they all thought they were bad, and all I could think was, "Am I going to die?  Dear God, please tell me I'm okay."
I am still here.
Twenty-four hours later.
Unless, it is a slow and painful death of course...
By the way, while I thought of death, I said, "But can't you die?" then I quickly corrected myself knowing he would correct me. "I mean, you are still here and alive, but..."
He is in his sixties and I suppose if he eats them daily, something he is eating or doing is counteracting the poison.
?
Questions that cannot be answered are terrible :(

Do You Really Know PETA?

A Man's Best Friend

(Article above, last para. PETA)

PETA.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
OR
People Eating Tasty Animals.

Which do you prefer?

Anyway, that link/article above is a sad story about a man who laid his pup to rest and then committed suicide himself.  He seems to have felt sorry that he lived in an apartment because his dog and him were abused and harassed by neighbors.
The dog was his best friend.
It was not a pit bull.
It just had the looks of one.

You hear all these stories about how pit bulls are angry, ugly, vicious, fighting dogs, but they aren't.  
It is how they are raised, how people treat them, that make them think that life is all about fighting and snarling.
They are dogs.
All dogs can do that.  Not just pit bulls.
But does PETA understand that?
Apparently not.


What they are doing is like sending a homeless adult or child away from your door!  They need your help!
But instead, you kill them or turn them away.
Oh wait, you killed them.
Not turn them away.

And not only do they kill pit bulls, but how many animals in their shelters are actually adopted, not killed??

(The following articles/websites conclude this post)

101 Dalmatians.

More PROOF

Not to sound angry, but I am.  PETA lies. 
They are not our animals saviors.
Or at least, in one of the most important places.

Did they sign with Obama to send wild horses to slaughter houses? 
Just dump your unwanted horses starving on the back of a truck to be killed in Mexico for the little bits of meat they have.
But even before that, they are shoved into corrals and can just barely squeeze against the other horse-bodies next to them for breath.
That is where PETA needs to be.
With animals that really do need help.
Does anyone have the app that counts the number of animals killed every minute or so?
Why would you want that?
That is so disturbed! 


I've been believing in something so distant
As if I was human
And I've been denying this feeling of hopelessness 
In me, in me


All the promises I made

Just to let you down

You believed in me, but I'm broken

I have nothing left

And all I feel is this cruel wanting

We've been falling for all this time

And now I'm lost in paradise

Last one of two.

Pick a SIDE PETA

What Do You Eat When You're Sick?

Today I was "sik."  It is gross.  At least though, we have medicine in pill form to save me from a tissue-overload!  Ahhh!!
That'd be gross.
Anyway!  When I woke up, I thought I was going to school.  So I made a bowl of cereal with almond milk and dried cranberries.
Later, when I didn't go to school, I made CCK Chocolate Oatmeal.  The sad thing is, is that I had unsweetened cocoa so it was kind of bitter, but I did try to sweeten it with some extra chocolate chips (I didn't think of those though until I was one-third of the way through the bowl), agave, and sugar.
I made it extra thick, though.  Just how I like it :)
So what does one do on their day off because of sickness besides cook?
I read Specials by Scott Westerfeld.
I played Skyrim and am now part of the Dark Brotherhood.  (Assassins) It is pretty disturbed but I am only in it because of a horse you get :))
Sigh.
Furthermore, I did nothing.
I was curled up on a couch with Magical Unicorn PillowPet :))
I also watch Downton Abbey.  The best show ever. 
I hope I get better soon :( By Sunday preferably because I don't and can't afford to miss another horse lesson or I will go crazy.  More or less so.
More good news:  I got Catching Fire to read soon.
So excited.
Oh yeah!  Back to cooking.
I also just made some more rice, beans, celery, with turmeric, cayenne, dried cilantro, and cumin.
Warm and Spicy.
Two things I have been needing all day to get better.

Jockey to the Fair

I finally got it!  I just need to get the timing down pat.  The timing was my problem.  I am getting better!  YES!
Three more weeks.
Six more practices.
 Ten more hours.
Correct?
Anyway, the dress is going to be sent on Friday.  So excited!

Being Tired Has Its Downsides....

For example, I was "missing" part of my retainer since yesterday morning and have been looking for it, since a few minutes ago.
So this is how my mornings usually go:  I wake up all groggy and such, waddle down the hall to the bathroom, and go to brush my teeth.  Now, I usually put my retainer on the container before I put it away, but yesterday, I forgot to.  Furthermore, this has happened before, well, to the point I almost forget to put it away, but I didn't notice I didn't have it till last night.
Anyway, now my mom found it in a cup where my toothbrush goes...
Overall, the point of that story was to tell you how exhausted I was.

Second today, I just made some rice, salsa, and black beans.  That was good.
Dance is only for an hour tonight, and another good news for dance is:  My family might go to see Lord of the Dance!  Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!  (one of the dancers who will be one of the lead's this time around, was one of my teachers and is once and a while)

Some Vegan news (or just plain old food news):  I read in an article about a few food lies.  As in, when it comes to "natural" you might be eating crushed bugs for your "natural" food coloring.
Furthermore, aside from the article, (if I can find the article again I will post it, but it was on my dad's Facebook page) Tostitos don't seem to have any preservatives in them.  I just looked them up to be sure, and I couldn't find anything!  I am actually pretty shocked.  They seem like the are crap because I and my family feel sick after eating them...

Aftermath and Tears

Looks about right, right?
I need to start with the tears because the overwhelming feeling of regret and sadness for two people, maybe even three people, who aren't real but only characters of the most amazing trilogy in the world.  Yes, it is definitely safe to say that.
I can't ruin the end for anyone, but as I sit next to my mother who has taken away the book from me because she too has been sucked in, I wait anxiously to be able to talk to her about my pain and love for this book!
I haven't felt this way since I finished the third book of the Green Rider series by Kristen Britain.  I am stuck on the third book :(
Does anyone else have those stomach-churning moments when they read a book with a romance that just keeps accumulating then completely drops with a cliff hanger?
I am barely holding onto that cliff with only my nails scraping away any skin that lies between the rock and my bone.
Three character triangle.  Ergh.

Moving on...
The Aftermath of yesterday's fall.
Ah, the pain and soreness of today are relished with no complaint.  Although, I do enjoy telling people about it because I loved it so much and so I bring it up by saying things like, "Am I walking funny?"
And apparently I am.
My friends all brought to my attention that I looked like I limping.  I then asked Brandy which side I limping on.
"You seem to be favoring your right side.  Ya know, putting all your weight on there."
Well Brandy, that's because my left side of my butt is all achy.
I truly don't mind, but sitting down, let alone getting up from a couch, is somewhat difficult.
I also learned today, again from Brandy, that injuring you butt also can affect your back.
This was learned because I said my back was very sore today when I got out of bed.
When I tried to get up this morning, I felt the wind was slightly knocked out of me.
Strange...
Anyway, I am looking forward to what next week brings and I need to get through Specials by Scott Westerfeld by Thursday at the latest. (I can rip through his books as though they were a picture).  I need to get to Catching Fire before my mom and I go insane, and trust me, I am having difficulty keeping my sanity.
Help!