Your Local Publix Grocery Expert. Also, Crabcakes.

So guys, I went to Publix today to pick up a couple ingredients for dinner tonight. This is how the conversation with the cashier went:

Publix cashier: "Hmmm.... cabbage.... what are you making?"
Me: "Coleslaw, nothing too exciting."
Publix cashier: "Really? Coleslaw? I don't think I've ever had it."
Me: "You've never had slaw....?"
Publix cashier: "No, what is it exactly?"
Me: "Cabbage and stuff... pretty sure you guys have some in your deli...."
Publix cashier: "Hmmmm, ok, well your total is..... blah blah blah."

I SERIOUSLY hope he was being sarcastic but he just seemed way too interested in this mystery called slaw. Thank goodness I didn't tell him I was actually making apple-lemon poppyseed coleslaw. It may have caused an aneurism.

So since I've already mentioned the slaw, here is the recipe:

Apple-Lemon-Poppy Seed Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups chopped or shredded green cabbage
• 1 cup chopped or shredded red cabbage
• 3/4 cup shredded carrot
• Half of one granny smith apple, julienned (thinly sliced)
• 3 TBSP mayo
• 3 TBSP olive oil
• 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 TBSP lemon juice (depending on how sour/tangy you like)
• 1 TBSP poppy seeds
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix cabbage, carrots, and apple in a large bowl
2. Combine mayo, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, poppy seeds, & salt & pepper
3. Toss together and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving

Here is a visual- this is what I made for dinner tonight:

 

 

 

Guess I may as well give you my recipe for crab cakes as well, huh? That I can do... the lemon aioli on the other hand, there was no measuring or anything involved so I don't know what to tell you here. Other than it included mayo, dijon, and lemon juice.

 

Crab Cakes

 

Ingredients:

• 1lb lump crab meat
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs or 2 slices of white bread, crumbled
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 TBSP mayo
• 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp "old bay" seasoning
• 1 TBSP dried parsley flakes (or not, its really optional)
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• olive oil for sautéing

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except crab & olive oil
2. Fold in crab and refrigerate for at least half an hour
3. Pat into 3oz size patties (give or take a little)
4. Sauté in olive oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes per side or until a nice brown

Parmesan Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

 

Ingredients:

• large head of cauliflower
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop stems off cauliflower
2. Boil the cauliflower florets with the garlic and vegetable stock for 40 minutes or until cauliflower is soft.
3. Drain cauliflower.
4. In a mixer with a whisk attachment, stir cauliflower with parmesan cheese, salt, & pepper until desired consistency. You could also mash the cauliflower and mix it by hand, the mixer is just much easier.

 

My review on above recipes??

The slaw: If you aren't a big fan of tangy stuff, you won't like it. Do not waste your time.

The crab cakes: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, deliciousness.

The cauliflower: Great alternative to mashed potatoes if you are trying to eat lighter, but no replacement. I would still eat mashed potatoes with steak ;)

 

 

 

On to other things...

 

Today I finished Day 7 of my 30 day shred goal. My endurance is building quicker and quicker it feels soooo freakin' good! This is also my 4th day of finishing the day under 1200 calories. I can feel the progress, just gotta have patience until I start seeing it more (that's the hardest part).

 

I realize its now 26 minutes into Friday but I'm gonna pretend like it's still Thursday because I technically started this blog on Thursday. I opened this page on Thursday. I just wanna post my Throwback Thursday pictures because as lame as these theme days are, the throwbacks are fun and get me looking though old pictures I normally wouldn't have thought twice about. Since it's now prom season, here are a couple of throwbacks from my junior and senior high school proms:

 

 

Prom, Junior Year 2007

 

Prom, Senior Year 2008

(I obviously lost the battle of the poufy dresses)

 

 

Today.. err... yesterday... was also National Siblings Day! So here's my lil' sis and I!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all folks!

-Amby

 



 

Southern Buttermilk Pie & Siracha Marinade

Today was a better day for food, because I made this:

 

And guess what? I'm posting my recipe. At least as close as I can get to it as possible, I don't always measure things and when I do they normally aren't exact. This particular one is with a store bought pie crust, I haven't yet perfected my own pie crust recipe yet but rest assured (because I know your life will not be complete without it) I will post it once I get it figured out. :)

Southern Buttermilk Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 9inch Pie Crust (get the kind in the freezer section, not the refrigerated roll out kind- those are gross)
• 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
• 2 cups Sugar
• 3 TBSP Flour (don't scrape the top even, make them full tablespoons)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (use pure, not imitation, if possible)
• Nutmeg (however much you want to dust over the top)

Directions:

1. Place your pie crust in a pie pan if it did not come in one.
2. Cream together butter & sugar using a mixer until combined and kind of fluffy.
3. Add flour and eggs and mix until fully incorporated.
4. Stir in buttermilk and vanilla extract until completely combined. It will be a very liquidy mixture.
5. Pour into prepared pie crust, dust nutmeg over the top.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. (Do the toothpick test if uncertain about doneness, it should come out clean after being stuck in the middle.)

**Make sure to let this cool COMPLETELY before serving otherwise you are going to have a mushed up mess. The pie is a little jiggly after coming out of the oven and needs at least an hour and a half to set.

 

yum.

 

 

If anyone attempts this please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

 

 

This was not the only thing I cooked today. I did some pretty awesome baked chicken breasts marinated in a rosemary siracha mixture, some green beans, and deviled eggs. Of course I took a picture.

 



 

Siracha Marinade:

• 1/3 cup Plain Greek Yogurt (I used Fage)
• 2 TBSP Lemon Juice
• 2 TBSP Siracha
• 2 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1 TBSP chopped Rosemary
• 2 tsp minced Garlic

Just mix it all together and marinate away! You're welcome

 

*Quick tip for green beans if you are cooking them from a can: add a TBSP of butter and a small block of beef bouillon. Cook them on low for 45 minutes- delicious. 

 

 

Now guys, I know it looks kind of impossible that I made my calorie goal for the day based on what's been posted above, but I consumed less than 1200 calories today. I also completed Day 4 of my 30 day shred. I'm on my way!

 

 

 

Lataa,

-Amby



 

 

Lessons Learned

Today was a terrible day for food.

Lesson #1: Don't eat greasy food from IHOP first thing the day after not eating anything at all the previous day. Actually, don't go a whole day without eating. It's a bad idea.

Lesson #2: I thought it would be quick, easy, and convenient to buy frozen salmon to throw in the oven if I needed a fast dinner. EW. NO. Never trust the Gorton's fishermen.....



*Day 3 of the 30 Day Shred: Complete

 

This guy had a bad day, hope yours was better but not less entertaining.

See ya!
-Amby

Pups & Lbs

Let's get the most important bit of news out of the way first:
I AM PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY PRETTY SURE I WILL BE GETTING A PUPPY SOON. An itty bitty teeny tiny puppy because that's all I'm allowed. BUT, after living in this house for about 2 years, my landlord (who just so happens to be family) has decided to let me have a small dog. You guys do not and probably will not understand how much of a shock this is, but it is, and simply... I'm extremely excited.

In other events, I have completed dia numero dos in Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. This is not a huge accomplishment, I've made it to four days consecutively so far at most but my right knee gets angry at me when I exert myself too much so I bought a knee brace yesterday to cheer it up. Now I can more confidently move towards that 30 day goal! I just took my "before" picture today and am ready to have something to compare it to.

happy knee, happy me.
(this is not my before- my before is myself in a bikini and is quite embarrassing... eek)

 

 

 

And some food for thought:

 

 

 

Goodnight!

<3 Amby

Mainly A Lot Of Rambling and A Wasted Dessert Pizza

Annnnnnd here we go again.

Here's how it normally works: I get bored. Then I get the amazing idea (that I have had 50 times previously) that I should start a blog! To be completely honest, I am not a writer and have no idea what gives me the notion I could have a blog of any interest. I mean, in actuality my track record when it comes to blogs is pretty darn depressing. The most blog posts I have posted on a past blog is 5... a big whopping FIVE.

Why am I doing this then? I think I'm in denial. Or something. But hey, this time I am not setting any goals for myself. I'm just going to have this blog for any old random story or rant or what have you. No theme, no promised amounts of entries.

Dear me, good luck.

I keep trying out this blog thing because I think it would be fun to be able to read this stuff years from now. Also I think it can be a way to hold myself accountable for trying to get in shape, keeping track of some of my recipes, and controlling my ADD when it comes to projects. I can never seem to focus on one thing at a time.

If this goes anywhere, and anyone reads it, you will see how much of a walking contradiction I am (cue Green Day). For one, I have a great love for food. This includes making it and eating it. Especially baking. I love a good cupcake. This presents a problem though as I am also obsessed with the idea of being in great physical shape, which I am absolutely not. This being amongst other things I'm sure will pop up.

Now for a short and sweet on my day today:

I fell asleep and slept on the couch last night so my old decrepit 24 year old body had tough start to the day. It was a very long day at work, our internet barely works so not only is it hard to get work done, once it's done I can't even look at USA Today! Frustration. I also had lots on my mind today, things that are none of your business. Once I left work I went to Walmart which is never a fun experience, and when I got home I cleaned and did laundry and washed dishes. SO, as we can all tell today wasn't exactly ideal. Not devastating by any means so I can't really complain, but what I can do is make a s'more pizza to make myself feel better.

I ate one piece and threw away the rest. Yes I did. I have to keep a little dignity here. I enjoyed making it more than eating it anyway.

Now I'm listening to Emery's Pandora station (which is like a total flashback to my teenage years and I love it) and feeling pretty crazy starting yet another blog. We'll see how it goes.

Til next time, whenever that may be.

-amby