Food Waste Friday

Not too bad this week. I'm still wasting ingredients rather than whole dishes or leftovers, which is an improvement. But I hate wasting produce! I meant to put the squash in with the Pasta and Veggies on Monday, but it must have gotten buried underneath something, because I forgot. The onion is really going bad. I started smelling something on Wednesday whenever I opened the pantry and when I checked yesterday I found just how gross it had gotten. Luckily, it was the only one that was bad.

I've got a little bit of fresh broccoli that needs to be used up. Does anyone know if I can freeze it? Do I need to blanch it first or anything? Suggestions are appreciated!

Some New Favorite Blogs

I spend a lot of time blogging and reading other blogs. As a result I am always finding new blogs to read. I try to limit myself so not to over-burden my Google Reader, sometimes I just can't help myself! Here are a few of my new favorite blogs.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam – Jennifer's blog is dedicated to frugality and raising her 5 children. She hosts Tasty Tuesday and I really enjoy her Frugal Fashionista series.

Be Someone: Compelling, Complex, Unforgettable – This blog is written by one of my closest friends from high school. Kristin isn't the most consistent blogger, but when she does post, she has the most insightful things to say. She writes on a variety of topics all relating to trying to be a better person. Her close relationship with the Lord is super inspiring.

Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice – I just started following this blog on Monday and I've already found two great recipes to try. She hosts a Burger Club where readers can try and rate a new burger every so often. I haven't participated yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

Coal Creek Farm – I found April's blog when I was voting on some blog awards a while back. She writes about living on her farm with her husband and their four children, being a chicken doctor (I'm serious), and many other very random things. Everything she writes about is hysterical. Stop by whenever you need a laugh.

Krafty Librarian – The Krafty Librarian is a medical librarian and I'm using the blog as a way to better acquaint myself with the world of medical librarianship.

Premeditated Leftovers – Alea is a reader and I've been familiar with her blog for a while but only recently started following. She participates in a lot of the same things as I do including Menu Plan Monday and Food Waste Friday. She blogs frequently about going gluten-free and has some really great recipes.

The Tasty Kitchen Blog – Tasty Kitchen is an amazing website and if you aren't using it, then you are missing out. It's replaced AllRecipes as my go-to place for recipes. The blog is run by the author of Steamy Kitchen and Ree from The Pioneer Woman drops by one a week or so to blog and sometimes give something away. This blog spotlights the best recipes Tasty Kitchen has to offer.

The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style – I don't usually like fashion blogs, but I love this one because the author blogs about fashion and where to buy it cheap. This is a great way to keep up with the latest trends without spending a fortune. She also shares internet-only deals and the codes needed to get them.

Christine's Little Blog – I have to mention this blog because it's written by my best friend and that's what friends do. No really, Christine has a gift for sharing funny stories that happen in her job as an athletic trainer. She also tends to get herself into messes (God love her) and the resulting story is usually hilarious.


I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I do! Have you found anything new to read lately? Please share!

Recipe: Blondies

Blondies are almost as good as brownies. Keyword here is almost. These taste like a cakey chocolate chip cookie, which is always a good thing in my opinion. Just nothing beats a brownie. Especially these brownies. But blondies come in a close second. Okay, maybe third behind a double chocolate gooey butter cake. But they are still really good. Trust me.

Chocolate Chip and Nut Blondies – Adapted from Bon Appetit magazine

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1¼ cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup coarsely chopped nuts (I like peanuts or pecans, but use whatever nut you like), divided

½ cup chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate, but semi-sweet or bitter sweet would provide an interesting flavor)

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8x8 baking dish. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl and set aside.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in brown sugar until smooth. Allow to cool 2-3 minutes. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add in dry ingredients and mix until combined (you may need to switch to a rubber spatula as batter will be thick). Stir in ¼ cup nuts and ¼ cup chocolate chips.

Pour into greased baking dish. Top with remaining nuts and chocolate. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and blondies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Best served warmed (or rewarmed in the microwave) with ice cream and chocolate syrup.

Recipe: The Best Macaroni and Cheese on Earth

No offense to Ree Drummond, Alton Brown, or anyone's southern grandmother, but no one makes Macaroni and Cheese like Paula Deen. There is something about this dish that is special; I can't put my finger on it, but I just know that I want to eat the entire 9x13 pan myself. The next time you are craving comfort food, make this recipe. Your taste buds will thank you. Although your waistline won't. But that's another story.

Macaroni and Cheese – Adapted from Paula Deen Celebrates

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup whole milk

3 eggs

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground mustard

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ cup sour cream

1 can (10¾ oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup

4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray (or butter if you don't like your arteries). Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt the water (it gives the pasta more flavor) and cook the macaroni just until tender, about 7 minutes. Do not overcook!! Drain pasta and return to pot. (Note: I suggest spraying the pot with cooking spray; it makes clean up easier.) Add 2 cups of the cheese to the hot, cooked pasta and stir until all the cheese is melted.

In a measuring cup combine the milk, eggs, and seasonings; mix well. Add the milk mixture, the soup, the sour cream, and the butter to the pasta and cheese. Stir until everything is incorporated and mixed well. The mixture will look rather soupy.

Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven, top with remaining cheese, and bake for another 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the mac and cheese is cooked through. Allow to sit for 5 minutes (if you can!) just so the pieces cut better. Serve to people who like fatty foods and/or things that taste amazing. 

Food for thought: Once I tried to make this "lightened up" by using whole wheat pasta, skim milk, light sour cream, 1 egg, reduced-fat cheese, and Smart Balance in place of butter. It tasted okay, but it didn't have the same creaminess and deliciousness that the original recipe has. So treat yourself on the very rare occasion to this amazing creation and enjoy every single bit. 

Picture courtesy of Paula Deen's website. 

This post is linked to Side Dish Showdown: Thanksgiving

I had a Job Interview Yesterday

Oh yes, I did. I had my first face-to-face interview since January. How did it go, you ask? It went quite nicely if I do say so myself. I was able to answer all the questions, asked some questions of my own, and didn't sweat off my makeup (it was really hot in there). When I asked the interviewer what she was looking for in a librarian, she said someone exactly like me. I took that as a good sign.

What's the job? It's the permanent librarian position at the hospital library I currently work at. Yes, my friends, I am working on being a medical librarian. Two months ago I was gung-ho about academic reference and hopefully being the collection development specialist for history. Not that I don't want that sort of job any more, I do, but this job is turning out to suit me perfectly.

I get to run the show (which is always good for type-A personalities) and really get to know my patrons. That's the biggest attraction to this job; the idea of knowing my patrons when they walk through the door or call and ask for an article. I think in a special library that's very important so I'm super excited about that prospect.

I have a ton of ideas for the library and many of them my would-be supervisor seems enthusiastic about. They are looking to make changes in the library and in medical education and want someone young, eager, passionate about librarianship to do the job. I just really really hope that person is me.

Hopefully, I'll hear something soon! I'll keep you posted!

Recipe: Broccoli Salad

I promised to share this amazing recipe last week, but I never got around to it!  So this week I'll hopefully be sharing THREE wonderful recipes.  Broccoli salad is a lot like pasta salad; everyone makes it, but no one makes the same way.  A quick search through AllRecipes turned up over 100 recipes for this one dish!  This recipe comes from The Chocolate Biscuit Tea Room in Trussville, AL.  It's one of my favorite places to have a ladies lunch and the food is just fantastic.  If you are ever in the Birmingham area, have lunch at The Chocolate Biscuit; you won't regret it.  

Broccoli Salad - 10 servings

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 bunch fresh broccoli, chopped into fairly small pieces
8 slices bacon, fried and crumbled (or an equivalent amount of bacon bits)
6 green onions, sliced
1 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Mix mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight.  Combine remaining ingredients in large bowl and pour dressing over.  Stir gently to combine.
Note: Many people substitute red onion for the green onions.  Raisins (including golden raisins and cransins) are a popular addition.  

Menu Plan Monday

Saturday: Pasta with Shrimp, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes, Homemade Dinner Rolls

Sunday: Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus

Monday: Pasta and Vegetables in Lemon-Parmesan Sauce

Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese, Corn on the Cob, Green Beans

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad


I am looking for a new pasta salad recipe. If you have one, put it in the comments!