Blog-Worthy Lunch

Generally, my meals have been lackluster, undeserving of a photograph, and definitely don’t make the cut for blog-worthy.   Today’s lunch, however, was something to blog about.

I don’t usually like lunch.  It’s my least favorite meal of the day because it always ends up being so boring.  Not today though!  I bought some parsnips the other day at the grocery store for the moment that I felt brave enough to try my hand at parsnip fries.

I used to HATE french fries.  But in the last few months, I find myself craving them non-stop.
So when I came across this method of creating fries out of parsnips, I decided to give it a go.  Simply peel, slice, doctor them up, and bake at 420 for 25 minutes. 

Of course, the real thing is better, but these sure give the real fries a run for their money.  Plus, getting a serving of veggies in while feeling like you are being rebellious isn’t such a bad idea .
With some ketchup for dippage:

With my fries, I had a bowl of grapes and an English muffin pizza.  I sautéed some sun-dried tomato chicken sausage, added it to a toasted English muffin with pizza sauce and FF shredded mozzarella.


Baked in the oven at 420 for about seven minutes, or until the cheese melts. 
Perfection!  Fueled up to take on this hump-day! 

~Bridget

This appeared on my Yahoo! homepage today from Good Housekeeping, and like any good-to-know information, I felt compelled to pass it around.  Although I personally disagree with the Tide To-Go pen since discovering Melaleuca's Pre-Spot (which gets out virtually ev-er-y-thing!) I think they have Tide's bootie beat on that!

Enjoy!

11 Innovative Products from the Past Decade

 

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute reviews thousands of products each year, but only the most revolutionary, problem-solving gadgets receive the top honor of winning a VIP (Very Innovative Product) Award. We took a look at award winners from the past decade to find some of our favorites that we still use today.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Brooks Brothers No-Iron Shirt

Ironing clothing can be the most time-consuming part of the laundry process, so in 1999, we were excited to discover that the Brooks Brothers No-Iron Shirt is truly wash-and-wear. We boldly proclaimed that "Your husband can pluck it from the hot dryer and walk out the door." The secret to its design is a "baked" in finish, which eliminates wrinkling.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Huggies Little Swimmers

Unlike plastic- or rubber-lined swim pants for babies and toddlers, these throwaway winners "won't swell in water or droop on land." We lauded the bright, colorfast covers on Huggies Little Swimmers and they swam to the top of our list in 1999.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Olay Daily Facials Cloths

These all-in-one towelettes became part of our skincare routine in 2001. Daily Facials Cloths "create enough suds to take off makeup, even mascara," providing a quick-clean fix on nights when you're too exhausted to wash your face with cleanser. Unlike other wipes, they won't leave your skin dry or with an oily residue.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

OXO Measuring Cups

(I have to agree, this are life-changing!)

Whether you're baking a cake or whipping up waffles, it's important to measure precisely. But to get an accurate reading, you need to check the markings at eye level. Not so with OXO cups: "A quick glance at the inside strip shows the exact amount as you fill the cup," allowing us to take perfect measurements faster in 2002.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Crest Whitestrips

In our tests, Crest Whitestrips lightened teeth an average of three shades, giving us something to smile about in 2002. If you're tired of coffee-stained teeth, use this product twice a day for quick results.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Dutch Boy Twist and Pour Paint

Does your leftover paint dry out by the time you're ready to touch up? We solved this problem in 2003 by using Dutch Boy's Twist and Pour latex paint, which has twist-on-lids to keep paint fresh and a handle and spout to reduce spills.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Uncle Ben's Ready Rice

Rice from the microwave that's actually delicious? You're skeptical, but trust us: Uncle Ben's Ready Rice was a tasty time-saver in 2005. It cooks in only 90 seconds.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Tide To Go Pen

Whether you're heading out for work or play, take along this tiny stain remover. In a 2006 Good Housekeeping Research Institute test, the Tide To Go Pen "safely erased most fresh, nonoily drink and food spots such as red wine, tomato juice, ketchup, and coffee." It even works on silk!

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Target Pharmacy's ClearRx Bottle

Finally, we found a prescription label you can read without your glasses in 2006. The drug and dosage info on this bottle is printed in large letters, it has colored rings to help identify medicines, and even comes with a card highlighting side effects and warnings.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Wii Fit

In 2009, even the most committed couch potatoes enjoyed "standing on the Wii Fit Balance Board and following on-screen instructions for yoga, aerobics, strength training — even walking a tightrope and hula hooping." You earn points for good performance, and get feedback on how you can improve.

Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Scotch Fur Fighter

We won the war against pet hair in 2009 with the Fur Fighter, which "has a textured pad that grips and removes virtually every hair — even ones deeply embedded in the fabric." Once a sheet is full, just throw away and replace.






~Bridget

Double-Ad Wednesdays. Did You Know?

 Here is San Diego we have a chain of health-food inspired grocery mini-stores called Henry's that everyone seems to love *almost* as much as Trader Joe's.  But, they're hit-and-miss with the prices - especially in the produce section.  You can literally pay $1.00 one day for a carton of raspberries and $4.99 the next.  You gotta plan the sale days.  They've simplified it with Double-Ad Wednesdays now, and it is such a savings I actually plan my day around fitting my grocery trip in.   Tomorrow, the savings are ridiculous, BOTH this week AND last week's ads will be in effect.  That just makes me weepy and anxious to type it. 

To check out their ads and plan your family's menu for the week, here is the link to their page:

http://www.henrysmarkets.com/html/WhatGrowin_child.aspx?iPageID=133   

Their deli and bakery is to die for.  Be sure to walk the whole store, you will discover may  new things when you're not in a hurry.  Our family has committed to eating healthier, fresher foods, and Henry's is our shopping headquarters for it.   Just one hint:  Don't shop hungry!

~Bridget

This is Why Everyone Shopping at Trader Joe's Hates You

By Blogger Laura Beck

Seriously too funny not to share this and re-post.  Hilarious! 

Face it, the sad truth of your existence.

Once an annual pre-Burning Man stop for cheap vodka, Cabernet, and Trek Mix, Trader Joe's is now a weekly essential ― seriously, who can survive without Mandarin orange chicken, chocolate-covered espresso beans, or processed enchiladas? But guess what: While you're intent on stocking up, you're pissing off every other shopper in the store. Here's why:
You don't know how to drive and/or park.
Every Trader Joe's parking lot everywhere is an effed-up jungle from hell. If you don't know how to properly wield your Subaru into a space the size of a kiddy pool, just walk. And once you're done shopping, throw your groceries in the car and drive. Don't sit there and phone your psychic or listen to the end of Fresh Air. It's rude.
You have no clue where to properly place your cart when getting items.
If you weren't such an idiot, you would leave your cart at the front of the store by the flowers. Who buys orchids at Trader Joe's? The person you just dumped if you have any self-respect is the correct answer. Everyone knows their plants die around the same time your Fair Trade University bananas go bad, i.e., 10 minutes from now.
You stand in the middle of the aisle while assessing your dried fruit options.
Quit blocking the aisles while you aimlessly wander about searching for those tricolored baby carrots you got last time. That shit is gone, man. You need to let it go. And for that matter, don't stand in everyone's way for 10 minutes while you determine whether to buy the organic chunky sunflower seed butter or the organic creamy sunflower seed butter. They cost 50 cents combined, just get both and MOVE!
Your kids.
Your F&*$ing  kids OMFG PUT A LEASH ON IT.  Ther's only ONE person in the world who thinks they're cute running around in their tiny shopping carts getting in everybody else's way.  You.  The rest of us just worked all day and need to get home and cook dinner.  Play at the park, not here.
You're a sample hog, plain and simple.
It's a sample, not lunch! Now get the fuck out of the way so I can get my five Dixie cups of pad thai. Next up, perfectly mixing my sip of coffee with sugar and soymilk.

You're in your gym clothes or pajamas.
You're not 12 ― put on some real pants. You've left the house and people are forced to gaze upon you. And what if you were to die in a freak accident when a Charles Shaw display fell on you? Is this how you want to be remembered? As a grown-ass fool in stretch lycra who can't afford to shop at Whole Foods? Don't answer that.
You have fifteen items in the ten-item line.
That's just cheating, son. If you want to see the skinny white bitches in yoga pants turn ghetto in 5 seconds flat, just try it. I'll be there backing them up because yo, it says TEN items, can't you read!? And no, having fifteen boxes of the same cereal doesn't count.
You don't chip in.
Pack your own damn groceries, lazy! Pitch in and let's keep this line moving. I still have to get to Whole Foods, Safeway, and Food 4 Less to get the shit they don't sell here. And you can ditch that smugly superior look when you take out your own bags. I forgot mine at home, okay? Quit patting yourself on the back for shopping at Trader Joe's; all your money is going to the same red corporate America. Stop trying to make yourself feel like you're all green and locavore and shit, you're just as trashy as the people who shop at Safeway; you just have 10,000 reusable bags and like better olives, cheese, and frozen foods. On that note, make sure to pick up the frozen "El Super Authentico Burrito," it's off the chain.
And perhaps most importantly, you hate other people who shop at Trader Joe's because you hate yourself.
You're pushy, consumeristic, and gluttonous. Other shoppers project unto you everything you hate about yourself; a mirror held up to the hellscape of your own existence. Enjoy those flax seed chips and spicy hummus until they're inevitably discontinued; they'll be doing the same!

~Bridget