Super Bowl Super Food

I realize kick off is in less than an hour and the odds of anyone reading this now when you're likely feasting & drinking & watching the pre-game shows (if you're even watching football at all) but I came up with a ridiculously unhealthy and therefore appropriate Super Bowl snack.

I call it - Mac & Cheese Rolls.

I saw something similar and also had deep fried mac & cheese balls a week ago when I went out with a friend so that was the inspiration behind this snack.

• Cook macaroni and cheese according to the box. After draining the water, mix the cheese powder with a 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup sour cream (full fat, don't you dare skimp on fat here. This is the Super Bowl). Add the noddles back in and mix it all together. 
• Set aside a small bowl for yourself. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Roll out 1 pkg puff pastry on a floured surface. Spread mac & cheese on the pastry, leaving about an inch border all around.Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of the macaroni. 
• Roll up the puff pastry, tucking the ends under and placing the roll seam-side down on a baking sheet.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until the puff pastry begins to turn a golden brown. 
• Eat the small bowl of mac & cheese you set aside for yourself in step 2.
• Allow each roll to cool then slice and serve (Best served with a cheesy dipping sauce) !

Go Bronchawks! 

I normally like to cheer for the underdog but I'm also a fan of Manning (based largely on his hilarious SNL hosting gig years back)... so while I'm leaning towards cheering for Denver... I don't know. I also quite like Sherman (based largely on a buzzfeed list).

Either way, enjoy the game & the food!

Birthdays & Blue Jays & Sammies

 

I think when it becomes a habit to go so long in between blog posts I can stop apologizing for my absences.

 

While I haven't completely gotten out of my slump yet (my plenty-o'-days-off has helped) I've been trying to keep myself busy with things.

 

Like baking!

My dad and my sister's boyfriend both celebrated birthdays (on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively) so I ate a lot of red velvet cake. My mom bought these incredible huge cupcakes from costco and I made a batch of cake pops the day after.

I have to say these were my best batch yet (ed note: I've made 2 batches. Ever.)

The recipe I used called for coffee in the batter which gave the cake an interesting extra flavour. I'll find the recipe and post it later.

 

 

I've also been fortunate enough to have gone to 2 Blue Jays games so far this season including the home opener. Unfortunately they lost both games (as, also unfortunately, seems to be the trend so far) but I can't say I didn't have fun.

The opener was the most packed I've ever seen the SkyDome and despite getting beaten embarassingly by the Red Sox, for my dad's birthday we got to see two - count 'em, TWO - fans run onto the field and be taken off in handcuffs. On seperate occasions in separate innings. The first guy slide into second then took off so fast he almost made it over the outfield wall. So close. The second guy.... well, he got dragged out by his shirt by two police officers.

 

I've also been running a lot and going to the gym (including a squat challenge for the month) which has been good for my mood and my health.

 

Having not slept very well last night, then working from 7-3, then not being able to nap before work tonight, I debated calling in sick. But after a very headachey and dizzy walk to get sandwiches for dinner, I filled my belly with a chicken sandwich from this place and was able to take a quick 1 hour nap.

 

Boar sandwiches on Yonge, near Davisville. Hidden almost behind another restaurant, just off on a side street called Glebe.  

Brother to the Black Camel, famous for their sandwiches.

 

I got the chicken sandwich (cause they were out of sausage) with lemon garlic aioli, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and provolone cheese.

It was delicious and very filling and now I really want to try the Black Camel.

 

Anyway, that's it for now.

I'll try to post more regularly if I can!

 

 

Kilimanjaro: Day 3 - Shira to Barranco

 

Feb. 7, 2013.       7:40 pm

Barranco Camp (3940 m)

 

So this might be officially the earliest I've ever been in bed without having worked a night shift prior. We woke up this morning at 6 (standard), had tea in the tent, got our hot water bowls to wash up with, then met in the mess tent for breakfast. Ooji (the porridge), toast, omelettes, hotdogs, and mango. Then we got our bagged lunches and were ready to go.

 

We hiked 18 km today. Left around 8:15 and got to camp around 3:15. We ascended up to 4500 m from our camp at 3850 m to the lava tower (*Lava Tower may actually be somewhere closer to 4800 m - I've seen varying elevations) which is this amazingly huge rock that John said looks like an oversized Pride Rock (from the Lion King).

 

 

We started out the day warm and sunny (John was in a t-shirt) but then the clouds rolled in over us and it became incredibly misty. We descended from the Lava tower down a really foggy, treacherously rocky slope. But the rain started just as we were about 5 mins away from the camp so we avoided getting really damp.

 



Our group is awesome and really supportive of one another. The two feeling the altitude were in bad form today - tons of headaches and both threw up again. But they managed to rally and started feeling better. We were singing a lot of movie theme songs today and some Bon Jovi. At dinner I think we were all feeling a bit tired/feeling the altitude because we got the giggles really bad. It's nice to get along with everyone so well.

The terrain quickly changed as we left Shira camp (which has been my favourite so far). We woke up the clouds had drifted away and we got the most amazing view of the summit. Also of Mt. Meru in the distance.

 

 

 

It's too cloudy tonight to see any stars or even really to see the Barranco wall that we'll be tackling tomorrow. We caught a glimpse of it coming in and it looks terrifyingly large.

Once we got under way on our hike the heather-moorland quickly disapeared and we were in the alpine desert zone. The plants look exactly like what you'd expect to see in the desert. At a few points it felt like we were on Mars - red soil and only rocks.

Once we got back down to our camp we saw a ton of these strange trees that I've been calling Giant Pineapple Trees. Because they look like giant pineapples growing on trees.

 

 

 

 

So far John and I have been doing well. No headaches or sickness. John did have a bit of trouble finishing his dinner which is a common altitude issue. I apparently can't NOT eat and finished my plate plus the rest of John's. We had carrot soup and crepes, then pasta with a beef sauce which was delicious. We're being fed very well. Our lead guide seems pretty sure we'll all make it to the summit.

Speaking of that - tomorrow we hike 4 ish hours up Barranco wall then stop for a hot lunch. Then another 2 ish hour hike to our base camp. Oncethere we'll eat dinner then go directly to sleep. We'll be woken around 11 so we're ready to go at midnight and then we push for the summit doing about 1 km an hour. (*note: our guide lied to me and told me it was only 6 km from our camp to the summit. It was 11 km). 6 hrs to Stella Point then 1 hr to Uhuru Peak. I'm excited but so nervous.

So far this has been the most exciting and exhilirating thing I've ever done. Fingers crossed I make it to the summit!

Now... I guess to sleep! We've got a 16 km hike and a super big wall to climb tomorrow. Our guide keeps saying it'll be a "piece of cake" but we suspect he's lying to keep our spirits up.

Getting in Touch with my Inner Warrior...

Despite wanting to do nothing more than image search wedding themed items and add pictures and lists to the protective pages in my wedding binder (more on that in a second), I am going to take you in a totally different direction with this post. 

...

But first let me get some wedding-related stuff out there first.

I took my ring in yesterday to be re-sized.

What a horrible feeling handing back your engagement ring is. The woman could obviously see the hesitation on my face when she asked for it because she apologized as I put it in her hand.

Robin and I then wandered around the store trying on rings to find the one she wants when her time comes. 

As for my wedding binder, it now consists of a mostly empty binder with the exception of a (very) rough first draft of a guest list. 

We're over the number I was hoping for by about 30 people....

I'm dreading the day when it comes time to get mean and break out the red pen.

The plan is to divide the binder into sections so I can organize everything from flowers to the venue to contact information for guests to favours and invites.

But that's enough wedding talk for one day.

As the week's pass there will be more and more wedding stuff so I'll try and spare you.

Later this afternoon I'm participating in a little something called the Warrior Dash in Barrie, Ontario.

Essentially it is a 5K run but the course is peppered with obstacles. 

While I don't know exactly what I will find myself up against, I think these things can be considered likely:

Mud.

 Lots of mud.

 Water.

Climbing nets.

I'm pretty excited to get down and dirty. To feel that old familiar muscle ache from over exertion. To earn my viking helmet and feel a new sense of accomplishment.

Then I can come home to a bubble bath and my bridal magazines.

Super Bowl Sunday!

Once every year, I watch a football game.

And that one game is almost always the Super Bowl.

I actually quite enjoy watching football, especially since learning (and more or less remembering) the rules of the game. Unfortunately I do not have time to watch games, pick a favourite team, and really hop on the foosball train.

So dilemma.

Who to cheer for?

I usually base my support around the better looking QB, the colours each team don, and other incidental factors.

One such factor?

This.

Obviously.

I DARE you not to bob your head along with this song. Or, like me, swagger around the apartment rapping to a cat.

So my decision ultimately fell to this: who has the better hair?

Representing Pittsburgh, weighing in at 207 lbs, and rocking some seriously poufy curls,

Troy Polamalu

And representing Green Bay, weighing in at 255 lbs, and rocking a blonde mop of glory,

Clay Matthews

With that pose, he could out shine the cheerleaders.

In the battle of the hair, I have to give the edge to Mr. Troy Polamalu.

His hair is ensured for $1 million. How much is yours worth, Clay Matthews?

Not even the lure of cheese from Wisconsin can sway me.

Pittsburgh it is.

And more specifically Troy Polamalu.

But even more specifically?

Go Super Bowl Food!

...And now for something completely different

And so, dear readers, the time has finally come.

Tomorrow is Ivory Coast's first World Cup game.

They play Portugal.

And they are going to wiiiiiiiin.

Why am I cheering for the Ivory Coast?

They are a smaller, lesser known country and I flatly refuse to cheer for one of the more popular teams, i.e. Brazil, Portugal (2 of the 3 other teams in the I.C.'s group), England, France, Italy, etc, etc. I cheered for France last time around and even got my Italian friends riled up....until I got several rude phone calls. No conversations. Just me holding the phone as far away from my ear as possible while my friends, in the middle of the Italian celebration, screamed 'FORZA ITALIAAAAA' at me.

I will never cheer for Italy for that reason alone.

Loooooove the country. Probably one of the most beautiful places I've been. But deepest regrets, Italian soccer players, you do not get my rooting.

So. Let's learn about the Ivory Coast so that tomorrow you will cheer them on with me too!

Making wild assumptions from this google-image map, Yamoussoukro is the capital. And it's located between Liberia (side note: everytime I see this country I cannot help but sing Liberian Girl by Michael Jackson. True story), Ghana, Mali, Guniea and Burkina Faso.

In an interesting twist of fate that makes me believe it was more than random chance that I chose to cheer for the I.C., their flag is this close to the Irish flag!

So friends, please. Please help me root on the underdog in this so called 'group of death'.

How can you not cheer for such a happy-go-lucky group of guys like this?

IVORY COAST!

IVORY COAST!

IVORY COAST!

Olympic Fun

Here's what we went outside to find after the Canadian men won the gold in hockey:

What a way to end the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

14 Gold medals - the most gold medals EVER won by a country in the winter olympics and the most gold medals ever won by the host country.

Let's take a moment to celebrate with some national pride.

O Canada!
Our home and native land.True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free
From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

To properly close the Olympic games, here are my top Olympic men.

Jon Montgomery - you participate in a crazy sport but your beer pitcher walk through the streets of Vancouver on your way to a CTV interview will forever endear you to me. Well done, sir.

Also - further information provoking more love for this man: his occupation? Used care salesman and auctioneer.

John Morris, Canadian men's curling's pin up boy. Who knew? Ed note: the second picture is by far my favourite. Look at that deep lunge. Sexy.

Stevie Y, because you just helped us to win gold and you are adorable, especially in a suit. Keep up the good work.

P.S. I couldn't find a non-dopey looking picture of my boy Alex Bilodeau but he has a special place on this list having won the first gold and getting the games started for us.

P.P.S. I have been tirelessly trying to locate a picture of Jon Montgomery's beer trek but have so far been unsuccessful. Will try again. Promise.

Hats off to you, athletes of Canada.

You've made us all so very, very proud :)

Football's got a new fan

Well hello!

Today - I don't have a recipe for you or a craft. I thought I would, instead, talk to you about something I am attempting to get into.

Football.

American football.

My best friend is having a Super Bowl party and, despite having watched a superbowl game once or twice before, I do not know any rules. About a week ago I got a kind soul that I work with to break it down for me and explain it to me in the simplest (read: dumbest) terms. I kind of have a grasp on it now. Admittedly there are still things that stump me like offside kicks (?) but I believe I know enough to watch a game and follow it.

I put that theory to the test last Sunday over at my neighbour's place while we watched the Jets - Chargers game.

It was then that I noticed a fan in the cowd dressed up like a very stereotypical Mexican man, complete with moustache, poncho, and sombrero. The QB is a fella named Sanchez. How clever.

Since the Jets won and are getting closer to the final game, I've decided that should they make it to the superbowl, I will cheer for the Jets.

Simply for the dress-up factor.

Yes friends, I am going to offend the beejeepers out of my politically correct, very culturally competent mother and dress up like a stereotypical Mexican. Named Sanchez.

Go Jets!

Also it doesn't hurt that this Sanchez QB in question looks like this:

Oh hello there, muscley arms.
*Note: while learning the various QBs and other players in football, I was able to familiarize myself with the more popular ones by their celebrity connections.
Tom Brady? Oh he's married to Gisele Bundchen.
Tony Romo? Dated Carrie Underwood, recently broke up with Jessica Simpson, and may or may not currently be dating Chace Crawford's pageant-contestant sister.
Matt Leinart? Oh he's friends with Nick Lachey.
Reggie Bush? Dating Kim Kardashian.
Michael Vick? Where to start....

Are you impressed with my celebrity knowledge? Are you sad for me? You should be. Think of all that valuable brain space that could be housing drug names, families, and actions. I bet my patient's will appreciate the celebrity gossip updates.
All that celebrity-talk got me thinking. You know who I really like?
Diane Kruger.
She's quite an attractive woman, has great taste in clothes, was in Inglourious Basterds, and is dating Pacey.


Love her.

Up early for clinical tomorrow, then it's Friday! My favourite day of the week.
I'll have a recipe for you then.