Turkey and Avocado Sandwiches are a Hit!

Around Noon, I recieved a text from one of my Meal Plan eaters. Here is what it said: LUNCH WAS TRULEY AWSUM.

So here is what they found in their cooler:
Turkey sandwiches with avocado, feta, tomatoes, onion, baby greens and spicy mustard on multi-grain bread.
Carrots, sliced bell peppers, and ranch dressing.
Honey wheat pretzels.
Arizona Sweet tea.



At the office, folks were eyeballing my sandwich while I ate it. Maybe soon, I will have more on the meal plan.

Today's Meal Plan Lunch

I am really enjoying making the Meal Plan Lunches. Here are today's sandwiches.

Roast beef, with sharp cheddar, banana peppers, onions, horse radish, dijon mustard, tomatoes, and baby greens on a cibatta bun. In the cooler along with the sandwiches were 3 cans of arizona tea, tortilla chips and a container of salsa. Happy eating boys!

My first sailing trip.

Oh what a good weekend I had. Friday, I went out around Ocean Springs, and I was exhausted, so I went home kind of early. Saturday, I started some Occo-buco in the crock pot(another post to come) and my friend James picked me up to take me to a delicious lunch at Al Fresco. I had a cup of minestrone soup and a fried green tomato sandwich, he had the ravioli. Once we finished our lunch, we went to Miners Toy Store. If you dont know this place and you live in Ocean Springs, or along the coast, you should visit. We went there last week to get a gift for a friend's birthday, and we had so much fun we decided to go again. James bought me a big green ring, and he got two wind up air planes.

We took the planes to the park and flew them. Oh it was so much fun. We ran a bunch of errands an then headed to his house to see if we could rig up his catamaran. He didnt have the right size sails for his boat, so we headed to my house for that Occo Buco and the Big Labowski.

Sunday, I got a lot of chores done and around noon James called up telling me to pack a lunch for three and put my swimmies on. (he used that word, swimmies. so cute) anyways. i did what he said, and about an hour later he picked me up and took me to a dock, where we met up with one of his friends.

We were going sailing!!!!! We were on a trimaran, which is a very fast and stable sail boat. We (james and his friend) got all of the rigging set up and we were off. We ran on the little motor until we got past the bridges, and they raised the Jib and the Main Sail. We were sailing! it was so amazing. James was definitely in his element, but he was being a good teacher as well, showing me how work some of the ropes and the rigging. Oh my goodness it was so much fun.

When we got to where they were ready, they rose the spinnaker. It was so beautiful.

I have to say that sailing is amazing. You don't have any motor, it is all natural power pulling you along. It is so quiet. All you hear is the water hitting the bow.



We were sailing for a while and they let the spinnaker down, and I guess we were moving a long so pretty that a flock of pelicans started flying with the mast. There were probably 7 or 8 of them. It was so neat.

All in all, i loved sailing. It was amazing, and relaxing, and humbling. I think I have the bug.

The Meal Plan is Back!!!!! oh and Grapefruit Cupcakes!

IWhen I lived in Starkville, it was hard to cook because I was cooking for my self. I would do it, but i was a bit uninspired. There is something so delightful about cooking for others. I would cook for my few friends every once in a while, but, for the most part, it was just me. Then.... one of my friend's came up with the idea that i cook for them and they give me some money. Another friend found out about this, and he just happened to be an owner in a bar, and he wanted in too, although his trade was beer. It worked out great. I could generally end up paying very little for my food, and get all the beer I wanted. It was amazing! This deal ended when I moved to the coast.

For three years, I have been cooking for my self or cooking for my friends.... well, a few weeks ago, a friend of mine was complaining about the food choices at lunch, and how expensive it was, and greasy it was, and how it didn't really taste that good, and it put him and his work crew into comas.

I suggested they pack their lunch. They in the typical manly fashion, admitted that they would probably never do that. This discussion (complaining) went on for the last several weeks. Finally I mentioned that I would pack their lunch if they bought all of the food including the food for my lunch. They were extatic, and I was too seeing as how my budget is super tight and my lunches as of lately have been less than beautiful. So today was my second day.

The first day I made porkchop sandwiches, caramelized onions, feta, roasted red peppers, and baby greens on a baguette. I also packed some fresh fruit, 3 cans of arizona tea, a bottle of hot sauce and a bag of zapps. That was a winner. All three of them were happy.

Today I made Turkey Sandwiches with swiss, avocado, tomato, and baby greens on toasted whole wheat bread. I packed zapps chips, and Grapefruit cupcakes that I made from scratch last night.

When my friend came and picked up the lunch this morning, I gave him a breakfast cupcake with his coffee and he loved it. I was supprised, because he hasn't really liked the real citrusy things I have made, but these he did. He took another for the road.

That is my lunch, I decided against the chips for me and went with oranges.

The cupcakes were another recommendation from my friend Casie. Here is the recipe.

Oh my goodness. They were so light and refreshing. Perfect for this crazy hot weather we have been having.

Several Good Breakfasts, and a sunday of benefits

So.... unfortunately, I have not taken too many pictures of food the past few days, or pictures of anything for that matter. I guess it means that I have just been having that much fun! and I have.

Sunday morning, I woke up early, and with the craving of pancakes. I ran to the store, got some bacon, orange juice and blackberries, and whipped up a batch of my Dad's famous whole wheat pancakes, and fried up some bacon. I was lucky enough to have a friend join me for all of this delicious food.

Moving slowly after the pancake breakfast, I finally got moving and did some house work. I finished all of my laundry, and vacuumed the house.

A friend and I headed to the Chuck Gibson benefit at the grocery, where I ate 2 baskets of shrimp, and hung out with friends.

It was such a fun evening, and I won a months worth of drum lessons from the grocery!

Tuesday morning, I was feeling extra ambitious, so when I woke up I made biscuits and eggs and bacon. I know I shouldnt be eating like this so often, but I love breakfast!

A night of fun and a morning of recovery.

Last night, two of my friends invited me out to Just Us in Biloxi for an open mic night and a 2 for 1 happy hour. I had the best time. There was a great poetry battle between Lady Larry and the owner of the bar about the stools in the bar, and their state of disrepair. There were several folks singing, and reading poetry they wrote and poetry they love. I got to meet some new people too! We ended our time at Just us by dancing. I havent danced in so long! It was great.

We left the dance party and went over to my friend's house for the after show. It was a lot of fun, but my body was telling me to go home. So I heazded back to ocean springs.

This morning.... I did not feel good. I really didnt feel good. So... I made some coffee and soaked in the bath tub while I drank it. Then I made my self a beautiful breakfast of parmesian cheese grits and eggs with onions, tomatoes, and basil from my garden. I finished off the plate with some oranges. It definitely hit the spot and left me feeling much more lively.

I played ball with deloris, cleaned out my car, planted some turnips, kale, dill, and brussle sprouts(again...oops to the first batch) and now.... I am ready for the day! Happy Saturday Y'all!!!!!

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Around 2 pm, after laying around all day sunday watching Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and eating pork roast for both breakfast and lunch, I forced my self to get up and make the strawberry shortcake cookies. My friend Casie made these a few weeks ago, and told me how delicious they are.

They were so much fun to make, and really easy. Strawberries are always fun to cook with because they are so bright, hence all of the pictures. I couldn't stop taking pictures.

They turned out beautiful and were delightful when they were warm, and not bad at all when cool. They were not too sweet, and the strawberries added a little twang of tartness. I took the cookies over to some friends', because god knows I have no business eating all of these. Their daughter had a few friends over, and they were so happy to have such girly cookies. They are girly cookies. The guys really liked them too as they each ate about 6 of them, although the comment was made that they were no whoopie pie. I think I will make the whoopie pies this weekend. It has been a while since the last time I made them.

Anyways... here is the recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. You should make them. They are beautiful and delicious cookies!