Cheese for the Soul

Saturday morning I did something I haven’t done in a while on a weekend – workout!  Shaun T and I got busy with Beta Cardio and then I did the Ab Interval.  With the central air not on, and the temps in the mid 80s outside, it was kind of doing a hot yoga only with Shaun T!

As I was showering and getting ready for work, I told Tony that I had a taste for a chicken pita that’s at a beef place by us.  It’s so simple, yet so good, so while I ironed my work shirt for the last time, he did a lunch run.

So by the time I got to work, everyone had heard that I quit, except they thought by seeing me there that I changed my mind and was staying.  This one woman came in and said “oh, so glad to see you – we need good people like you staying.”  I hated to tell her an hour later when she wasn’t busy that it was in fact my last day.  I had to be there by 3:30 to set up for a party of 45 for a 90th birthday party.  I split the room with one of my good friends and we had a fun time with it.  The Chef was there, he told me the door is always open if I want to come back, or if I just want to work private parties.  I always leave a job on good terms because you never know – never burn any bridges.

So here’s a twist in things.  I quit on Monday – and the two GM’s quit on Wednesday!  This week is going to be their last week, and the Chef apparently is going to play a bigger role in the front of the house.  He mentioned again how they were going to break ground “any day” on the outdoor patio.  Um, that hasn’t happened yet, and I think by the time it does break ground by the time they finish they’ll need space heaters!   I was home by 10:30 and in bed by midnight.

Now, I am the person who LOVES to sleep in.  Like, it’s my favorite thing to do on the weekend.  Saturday?  I was up at 8:30.  Yesterday?  I was up at 8 and wide awake!  It was perfect.  I was working on the computer, had an awesome breeze coming through the window, it was quiet – it was very productive and relaxing all at the same time.  I ended up heading to our local farmers market.  We don’t get any local produce until late July, early August.  But there is cheese!

I actually didn’t buy any.  I don’t know, it looked like store bought cheese so I took a pass, but I do believe that Cheese is for the Soul!  I did end up buying Cabot cheese at the grocery store, and a jalapeno havarti.  The world is right again now that I have cheese in my fridge.

I did buy basil though – $2 a bunch!  And I bought some flat leaf parsley and some asparagus.  $8 out the door.  Next time I go, I am going to get pizza – there was a guy in a mobile pizza oven!  He said he had it built and shipped from Italy, and then he mounted it on a custom made trailer so he could drive it from place to place.  He used hard wood and said that it got up to 900 degrees.

And it was a gorgeous day – you can never have too many cloud pictures.

Tony and I ended up going out to lunch before hitting up the grocery store.  We ended up going to Texas Road House – it’s our second time there and it’s pretty good.  I had to have a beer because I haven’t had this new one – New Belgium’s Snapshot.  Carrie, have you had it before?   It was delicious – it reminded me of a milder version of Blue Moon.  Tony thought it tasted like ass.

I ended up getting a pulled pork sandwich.  It was a tad on the dry side, but nothing a few (dozens) of sprinkles of Tabasco sauce couldn’t cure.

When we got back from the store I got busy.  I am entering another recipe contest – where again the prize is $5,000.  My friend at work told me about it – it’s a recipe contest for Extended Stay America hotel chain.  They have kitchens in their hotels, and it just so happens Tony and I will be staying at one when we go to Mayo in a few weeks.  She told me all the things that are provided in the kitchen, so obviously baking was out because there is no oven.  There is a two range burner, a microwave and full fridge.  And pots, skillets, utensils, plates and silverware.  I am not going to show my recipe yet, but I used one pot and two skillets and it was done in 30 minutes.  Oh, and it could only be 10 ingredients or less!  Fingers crossed – I have to submit it by July 7, and then the first round gets announced at the end of July.  The top four recipes get a trip to New York where you have a cook-off with Sunny Anderson of Food Channel, and the winner of that gets not only the $5,000, but also a 4 day pass to a Food & Wine Festival in October.  Um, yes please!

So after being bizzy in the kitchen, it was nice to sit outside with Tony, cool off and do some grilling.  I love grilling once and eating twice.  I first grilled up How Sweet Eat’s honey chipotle chicken to make her burrito bowls later this week – you need to make this chicken – so flavorful and spicy!

And then I grilled up some rosemary and garlic marinated pork blade shoulder steaks.  It’s pork and it’s thin enough where Tony likes it – winning!

Today starts Week 4 of my strength training.  What I am really reaching for is to be able to do a handstand like my sista Heather – is she a bad ass or what?!

Today is WI day – and I am down exactly one pound.

I didn’t do that great on the water intake last week, going to try to do better this week.  I have some good recipes to share with you later this week though – peanut butter chip banana muffins, chipotle roasted red pepper hummus and sesame seasoned baked pita chips – so good!

Alright, time to pack my gym bag and food for the day – make it a great day!