11..., Lifestyle

11… Disappointing Things I Have Shoved In My Mouth

Bad Banana Bread is up there in disappointment factor. | Sweater | Sports Bra | Yoga Shorts | Glasses |

I’m sure Freud has something to say about that title. 

When we’re children, we stick everything in our mouths because that’s one way we learn. It’s also evolution’s way of weeding out the real dummies. Kidding. As adults, we are more fastidious about what we shove into our mouths. But there’s really only one way to know if you’ll like it or not: open up and let your tongue decide. 

  1. Bland Indian Food This deserves to be number one for a reason!!! (The rest are not in numerical order, but this one is.) Bland should never be an adjective for Indian food. They just don’t go together. But I have had bland Indian food, and it was the most disappointing thing I’ve ever experienced. It hurt my soul and sent me to Yelp, which never happens. Zero stars. Go somewhere else. 
  2. Bad Banana Bread Is there anything worse? Absolutely, but this is disappointing. Dry banana bread is the most disappointing, but I made bad banana bread a couple weeks ago. (Pictured) It was totally done on the outside yet pudding-like on the inside. Why? Because I ran out of regular flour and used whole wheat flour to finish it off. Nope. Doesn’t work. Don’t do it. DISAPPOINTING.
  3.  “World’s Best [anything]” It’s not. They just put it on the sign to make you stop and steal your money with their disappointing world’s not best whatever. 
  4. This One Dude in College I’ll keep it at: disappointment. Wherever your mind wandered, subtract all of the inches and it’s still more than what it was. 
  5. Anything Chocolate Chip When You’re Expecting Blueberry I’m weird. I don’t like chocolate chip muffins or cookies or really anything. It’s such a disappointment when it turns out to be chocolate instead of blueberry, which I don’t love, but give me a free muffin, I will take it.
  6. Post Five Second Rule In my house, if it hits the floor, it’s the dogs’. There is too much puppy glitter – aka dog hair – for me to put anything in my mouth once it hits the ground. I found this out the hard way. Water only does so much.
  7. Dog Treats That Look Like Human Cookies I love giving my dog pretty treats. They deserve nice things too. But when I grab a cookie out of a jar, I want it to be a human cookie. Label that shit!
  8. Tea Bags I mean tea bags with tea in them not the other thing that dudes do [Although, that’s pretty disappointing to have in your mouth too. Balls!]. Once you’ve gotten used to that high roller life of loose leaf tea, tea bags are just not so good. 
  9. Cilantro Everything There’s a genetic component in this one, which doesn’t apply to me. Cilantro doesn’t taste like soap to me; I just don’t love it. I don’t hate it, but it is a continual let down because it’s never as good as people say it is. 
  10. Folgers My high school AP U.S. History teacher (Mr. Mooney was the best) referred to this as the F word. He’d rather hear “fuck” than “Folgers” in his classroom; neither were encouraged. It’s not the best part of waking up. Don’t lie to me like that Folgers. 
  11. Real Milk When You Ordered Almond Milk This is disappointing because it tastes so good and you realize it tastes so good because the barista did it wrong and gave you the thing you can’t have instead of the less good thing you can have, and it’s the worst because you think, “Man, they have some bomb almond milk” only to realize “Nope, almond milk still tastes like almond milk, and this is good because fat.”

bisous und объятий,
RaeAnna 

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Eateries, Houston

Three Years and A Sweet Cup

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Enjoying Sweet Cup!

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Three years ago last Tuesday, I moved to Houston. I knew zero people. I knew almost nothing about the city except: NASA and it’s an hour away from the beach. Dylan and I were very, very poor. We didn’t even have a couch at that point in time. We were saving money in every way we could, which means we didn’t get out and do much at first. 

There are tons of perks to being in a big city, especially one as international as Houston. Food is my favorite part of a diverse cities because of the access to obscure and unknown foods. The problem is food costs money. When I moved here, there was very little money and a lot of food to try. It was easier not to tempt myself. I did go on the hunt for gelato. I love ice cream a lot. I love gelato A LOT more. 

I found Sweet Cup shortly after moving to Houston. I fell in love with them for their gelato. I liked them even more when I found out they are a female owned business. The owner is even sweeter than her gelato! Sweet Cup was the first Houston business to follow my blog on Instagram. Actually, they were the first business to follow my blog on Instagram. I had no following and no real direction. Although currently, it could be argued my direction is no direction. I bop in literally whenever I’m in that part of town. I’ve even been known to drive across town for a cup. It’s delicious. 

Houston has been home for three years, and I love it. I wasn’t sure if I would that first year because life was hard; I was poor. I couldn’t enjoy the city to its fullest or tastiest at first. Over the last two years, I have fallen more in love with the city, met friends, explored, and tried new foods. But for me, Sweet Cup tastes like Houston. In the beginning, it was all I could afford. Now, it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and the dreams I’m still chasing. Three years have come and gone in a flash. So much has changed, but some things are just as sweet.  

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

 

Dinner, In The Kitchen

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits

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Shrimp and grits is a southern staple. Depending on the region and the chef, the recipe varies drastically. Some sauces are similar to etoufee, a broth, a red sauce, or something in between. I like to make mine with a tomatoey, chickeny broth. I like to saturate the grits with as much cheddar cheese as physically possible because cheese is delicious. I’ve made this for friends and all over the country. As my grandpa would say, it’s a solid B+, which is high praise, and he requests it every time I visit.

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This is one of my favorite dishes to eat and make for people I love.

Ingredients

  • Shrimp (raw)
  • Scallops (raw) (Optional)
  • Mushrooms (Optional)
  • Brussel Sprouts (Optional)
  • Artichokes (Optional)
  • Bell Pepper (Optional
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • 3 large Tomatoes or 8 oz package of cherry tomatoes
  • Bay Leaf
  • 3 tsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp. Turmeric
  • 1 tbs. Honey
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Grits or Yellow Cornmeal
  • ½ cup Milk
  • 1 tbs Butter
  • 1 ½ cup Water
  • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese (or more to taste) 
  • Salt/Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°
  • Chop mushrooms/bell peppers into bite sized pieces. Half brussel sprouts and artichokes. Place on a cookie sheet and coat veggies with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 15 minutes or until browned.
  • Chop onions and garlic. Cook in sauce pan with 2 tbs. olive oil until translucent. Add in cumin, chili powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper. You can add more or less spices depending on your tastes. 
  • Chop tomatoes if using large/Toss in whole cherry tomatoes into the pan with the garlic and onions. Add one tbs. of water. Cover and let simmer for five minutes.
  • In medium saucepan bring water, milk, butter to a boil. Slowly add grits or yellow cornmeal, whisking constantly to avoid clumps. Let mixture come to a boil. Then, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir often to avoid burning. 
  • Tomatoes should reduce and have a decent amount of liquid being very saucy. Add ½ cup water and stir to mix. 
  • Make sure to be checking grits. When the liquid is almost gone….
  • Add shrimp and scallops to tomato mixture. Cover. Shrimp and scallops should be thoroughly cooked in five minutes. 
  • Stir cheese into grits. Cover and set aside. 
  • When shrimp and scallops are done, add the roasted veggies to the tomato/shrimp/scallop sauce.

To Eat
Place grits in a bowl or plate, then ladle a generous portion of the shrimp/scallops/veggies tomato sauce on top. You can garnish with green onions or chives. Dig in!!!

Variation
You can always add in some andouille sausage to give it a NOLA kick or just add some extra yum.
I also love playing with the veggies you use. You can use as many or as few kinds of veggies as you want. In my opinion, the more the better!

 

Breakfast, In The Kitchen

Sweet Potato Hash

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Sweet Potato Hash for breakfast! | Cast Iron Skillet | Mug

I love breakfast. I waffle (pun) between sweet and savory breakfast foods. I love both equally!!! I found a yummy looking hash recipe on page 44 of the Sugar Free Cookbook by David Zinczenko. I took it as inspiration and completely changed it to fit my tastes. This recipe is gluten free, sugar free, and super yummy. It is really filling. You can add more eggs to this or more ingredients to feed several people. I actually made this as follows and ate it two days in a row because I had left overs. 

Ingredients

  • 1 tbs. Olive Oil
  • ¼ Onion
  • 1 Garlic Clove
  • 1 Sweet Potato
  • 12 Grape Tomatoes
  • ½ Can White Beans
  • ¼ of a Turkey Kielbasa
  •  ½ Fresh Spinach
  • 1 Egg
  • Salt/Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a cast iron pan. 
  • Mince garlic and onions. Add to pan with salt and pepper until browned. 
  • Chop sweet potatoes into small chunks. Half the grape tomatoes. Cut kielbasa into bite sized chunks. 
  • Add sweet potatoes and tomatoes to pan. Cover and let cook for six minutes or until tender and tomatoes have burst. Stir frequently to avoid sticking. 
  • Add kielbasa, white beans, and spinach. Cover for two minutes. 
  • Stir everything together. Make a small divot in middle of the food. Crack egg. Cover. Cook until the yolk is as runny as you like. 
  • Enjoy!

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Books, NonFiction

Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko

Worth a Read Meh
Length 272
Quick Review Sugar is really yummy, but cutting it out of your diet doesn’t have to mean you feel like you’re eating cardboard. 

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Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko | Cast Iron Skillet | Paw Print Mug

When I was 25, I went through a few health ordeals, which made me completely change how I eat. Since then, I have had a very healthy diet. I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to change things up. Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko is informative and inspirational. 

I love cookbooks. I don’t actually follow recipes because I know what I like and what I don’t like. I love looking through cookbooks for inspiration. I take the recipes and add and adjust where I see fit. 

Zinczenko gives a bunch of information about sugar and the health effects it has on the body and the mind in the beginning of the Zero Sugar Cookbook. Sugar is addictive. It is also added into so many foods. The book teaches how to read nutrition labels and ingredient lists. Food can be confusing, but it shouldn’t be. There are different kinds of sugars in food. Some sugars are added; some sugars are natural. There are good sugars and bad sugars. The book claims a person can lose up to a pound a day on the diet. I don’t know about that, but there are tons of great tips and information. 

I love looking through recipes. There are some really good ones in Zero Sugar Cookbook ranging from appetizers to entrees to snacks to dessert. I’m kind of a child, so I love looking at the pictures in cookbooks. These pictures don’t disappoint. Being sugar free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy food. I took a recipe on page 44 and tweaked it, but it still sticks to the sugar free diet. It was delicious.    

Buy on Amazon | Buy on Barnes & Noble | Buy on Book Depository
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Title: Zero Sugar Cookbook
Author: David Zinczenko
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9781984817334

 

Drinks, In The Kitchen

Valentine Drinks

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I love this Nasty Gal dress. (Valentine’s Perfect.) | I slip into these light pink Target shoes all the time. | Champagne Flute | Martini Glass | Cocktail Shaker

I don’t drink alcohol anymore for a lot of reasons. (I’ll probably talk about that stuff later.) Before my freelancing took off and after my short-lived corporate career, I bartended. I did that for about two years. I wasn’t great, but I wasn’t too bad! I have always had a love of stemware. Even in college, I had a set of wine glasses, champagne flutes, and martini glasses. I just feel classy drinking out of them!

Anyways, I came up with two Valentine’s inspired drinks. I am including the alcoholic version and a virgin alternative. They’re super yummy both ways. For the guys, embrace your masculinity and enjoy these pinky/purple drinks. One is a fancy martini, and one is a super simple champagne drink. You can drink these without martini glasses or champagne flutes, but it’s not nearly as fun in my opinions. I do suggest having a shaker with a strainer; it makes the process faster and  cleaner unless you know what you’re doing.

Ingredients
Blackberry Fizz Martini

  • Fresh blackberries
  • Fresh Mint
  • Vodka
  • Champagne/Sparkling White Grape Juice – chilled
  • Ice

Raspberry Sunrise

  • Fresh raspberries – frozen
  • Raspberry syrup
  • Champagne/Sparkling White Grape Juice – chilled

Instructions
Blackberry Fizz Martini

  • In the shaker fill halfway with ice. Add 1.5 oz vodka, five blackberries, four mint leaves.
  • Shake vigorously for thirty seconds to a minute.
  • Pour liquid through the strainer into the martini glass.
  • Fill the glass with champagne the rest of the way and garnish the rim with a blackberry.

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Shake, shake, shake! | Shake well. | Fill martini glass with the fizz!

Raspberry Sunrise

  • Fill champagne flute with champagne ¾ of the way full.
  • Slowly pour raspberry syrup down the inside of the flute. The raspberry syrup will settle on the bottom creating the sunrise effect.
  • Add a few frozen raspberries to the top to keep the drink cold. You can also garnish the rim with a raspberry.

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Pour the syrup gently down the side of the champagne flute for the sunrise effect.

To make these drinks non-alcoholic is very simple. For the martini, use sparkling white grape juice instead of vodka and champagne. For the raspberry sunrise, instead of champagne substitute sparkling white grape juice. For the sunrise look, it is really important to use white grape juice. The look of the drinks will be the same, but it’s perfect for the sober people, pregnant ladies, under agers, and anyone else. I love it. They are super quick, easy, and yummy.

No better way to toast your loved one than with a romantic cocktail. If you’re looking for a great red dress, I highly suggest this linen one from Nasty Gal! I love it. I’m ready for summer. I paired it with these light pink, faux-sued slip ons from Target. I wear them constantly and receive a ton of compliments.

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Clink to love of all kinds! | Champagne flute: Raspberry Sunrise | Martini glass: Blackberry Fizz