Cheers!

I forget where, but I got this recipe for basil cocktails on the same day that d2d brought me a big bunch of fresh basil and strawberries. It was fate.  Now, Friday nights are basil nights!!
This cocktail calls for 3 strawberries and 5 basil leaves, muddled in a 16 ounce glass. Then, you mix 1 oz of strawberry puree with 1.5 oz of strawberry flavored vodka, dump it in the other and top it off with 4 oz of lemonade.
So, as you can imagine I made this Cocoa style. Which means...Magic Bullet! I pretty much just dumped everything in a cup and zipped with the bullet and it came out GREAT! Oh yeah, and I used regular vodka. Partly because I was too lazy to go to the store and partly because I don't trust flavored alcohols to be gf. But that's just me.
Then everyone gets a fun colored top for the cup - whee it's a party!
Now, I'm going to go eat my yummy breakfast: stuffed omelet.

I basically sautéed up the leftover insides of the zucchini after I made Zucc noods, a whithered tomato, some onion and tucked it into a plain egg omelet. MMMMM.

Like at a restaurant

One of my favorite things now are Suzanne's zucchini noodles. I have found them to be delightful! So, I coupled them with a steak and leftover mushrooms sautéed in red wine and olive oil. I felt like I'd just ordered a meal at a fancy restaurant.  The mingling flavors and textures were really fun!
I'm such a lazy simple cook that I don't often go to the bother of using things like spices, herbs, wine or garnish. So, when I do it feels really special. When I do it just for myself, it feels indulgent!
By the way, save the insides of the zucchini and use them in salads - so refreshing and a nice option besides cucumbers. *tips from Cocoa's kitchen*

Door To Door Organics some more

I'm kind of happy to spread the love and got a friend of mine to sign up for D2D. So, like this week, it is not only a great deal it's also a lifesaver because I just really don't want to go to the store! It's so nice to have a box show up on my door step and know that I'll not starve to death this week despite my aversion to shopping.
So, in thankfulness to the d2d people, thought I'd post a few pics of past boxes that I forgot to share:

If you think you'd like to try it too use code: happy, to get $5 off your order and tell them I sent you to share the love (I'll get a credit too). I'm finally endorsing it because their track record with me has been great. Also, I love the fact that they will pick up your old packaging and recycle it. Not only is it a hassle to try and recycle or trash it myself, but it's economical for them!

Grits!

Look what I found, leftover (never even opened!) from my F$ project!! Grits!

What a great snack, with butter and salt.  I have a feeling they will be a staple this week since I'm just not feeling like going to the grocery store.
Related to the anti-grocery week, I'm cleaning out cupboards and fridges.  I found a chunk of fresh mozzarella in the crisper - it was beginning to mold - green! So, I cut off the mold and threw it on a pan with the leftover pepperoni for a "pizza". No crust, unless you count the aluminum foil I lined the pan with...

Just broil it on high until the pepperonis sizzle and the cheese gets bubbly
And finally, the last of a jar of marinara sauce (could be a week old!) and some pasta

Now, I've got to go scratch a mosquito bite and see what else I can dig out for sustenance. See ya!

Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Bob's Redmill mix)

Good morning!
Yesterday I made cinnamon raisin bread in my bread maker. If you don't have a bread maker for your gf bread- go get one NOW! Cuisinart brand - I'd recommend. 

This was cuisi's first bread and I want to be the kind of girl who can set it and forget it, but I'm not. I was checking on it and making sure it was doing it right! And, control freak that I am, I had to take a spatula and jab at the dough to make sure it all got mixed in right.
We all think it turned out good. Barfy cat had to have the first bite, naturally so I gave her a bit and she l.o.v.e.d. it. She pretty much goes nutsy for any gf baking I do. No idea why. I mean, she will beg for a gf muffin with more desperation than for steak.  It's pretty obvs God picked her out special for me.
I ate a huge chunk right out of the pan smeared with butter. It was good!  Today, I'm going to toast some and see if it lives up to my memories of cinnaraisin toast.
In all fairness, I will admit. I've never liked bread and I couldn't tell you if any gf kind is really tasty or not, because I still don't really enjoy bread. I'll eat it and I know if it's bad, but mediocre isn't going to raise flags with me.
So, I called my mom and dad and offered them some, if they'd come to my house for a visit. And sure enough, they showed up! I toasted some for them - on the stove! Yeah, I don't own a toaster and tell you the truth - it's faster and easier to just throw the bread or whatever in a non-stick skillet on the stove.  Then you can butter the first toasted side (while the other toasts) without burning your fingers! *tips from Cocoa's lazy kitchen*


I'm off to have some breakfast now :)

Finished the spinach bread - ham and cheese style. I luv that stuff! Gotta get more eggs and make another batch.
In other news, I'm currently baking some Cinnamon Raisin bread, from a Bob's Red Mill mix, in the bread maker. Will fill you in on it tomorrow!!
So, I haven't been blogging much. Partly because I'm tired of talking about food. I can't seem to figure out what I'm eating or if it is what I'm eating that keeps upsetting my system.  I'm down to 2-3 good days a week when I'm not in acute pain or worse...
So my food is boring. I eat a lot of stuff picnic style:

And I'm still getting my door to door organics delivered every week:

That means trying new recipes like Chard Chips.  Look how gorgeous this chard is! It was a shame to cook it and then eat it - would've liked to just hung it on the wall!

Somer Enchiladas

After an especially sweet breakfast of canteloupe and raspberries (drool, drool!!), I got brave and ready to fire up the oven and decided to make Suzanne's enchiladas.  It was surprisingly easy and fairly tasty, although I'd skip the tomato paste and go for something fresher...you know cuz of my boat load of tomatoes.

So, the egg crepes were much faster and easier to make this second time. I used a smaller pan and a pour-able container rather than the ladle. Much better!

Cooked the sausages and rolled them up with onions and cheese...

Baked and done!

Would I do it again? No. Why? because I'm lazy that way. I'd have just made the crepes and put them on a plate with the stuff and covered it with sauce.
Should you try this anyway? Yes! Why? Because it was a yummy dinner and presented nicely if you're cooking for a group.

There once was a girl with a boat load of tomatoes

Yeah, so I have a lot of tomatoes!!

And other stuff too.  Desperately eating them now that I'm not so under the weather and all that.

It's really hard to fit anything else into my meals than veggies since I'm getting them delivered in a bitty big box. I was craving chocolate and cake the other day and realized, there just weren't enough hours in the day or room in my stomach for them. Weird, right?

Here's my sample pics of the salads I eat all day every day!

We have the most fun!!

I got so sick last week so I'm taking it easy!
Snackies of the week:
More mozzarella with basil and tomatoes, sort of a poor man's caprese. And what's left of my celery and peas :)

For my "carbos" I did a little cucumber with non-fat plain yogurt and dill (S&P too)

Look at these cukes from door to door!

 Had to peel the crusty skin off but the insides taste deeelish.
Also on the menu ham and cheese roll-ups and salads.  Simple foods for a simple girl!

hot food, coming up!

I had to give in and fire up the cooking appliances!
First, it was the micro (ok, that doesn't really count) and the stove to make some pepperoni chips and sauteed mushrooms.

 Then I turned George on and he cooked me a nice steak. 

I had to make my own zucchini noodles on the stove though. 

So good! Gotta say that Suzanne, she knows her veggies!
I'm starting to dread the return to work. Isn't that sad? I still have days left of my vacation yet I start to think of all I'll have to do when I get back. I need a new job.
Any suggestions?