Moe Knows

Coming hot off a post about Fatty McFatterson Jr. I found it appropriate to talk about my most recent encounter - with food!

Last night after accompanying the SO to pick up his new car, he took me to Moe's Southwest Grill as a "reward."

And let me just tell you, it blew my mind!

For those who are not familiar, Moe's is a quick casual restaurant similar to Chipotle and Qdoba, a make your own burrito type of joint. Of course, they have tacos and quesadillas and nachos too. But let's talk about my burrito experience, shall we?

The SO'd been talking about this place for a while now, saying how much better it is than Chipotle, that there's a lot more variety, but I didn't believe it till I saw it.

Not only can you choose toppings like black olives and jalepenos, but they even have free chips and a salsa bar. YEAH!

So when your burrito isn't spicy enough or you want to try a different salsa with your FREE CHIPS, it's all there for you.

On top of that, their sour cream is a lot thicker and their queso is delish! It's made with one of those white cheeses, tasted like Chihuahua. 

Here in NE Ohio they have one in Avon and in North Olmsted, but I highly recommend you look them up in your area. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Cheers!

-A

p.s., I don't feel bad about chowing down last night after completing my third EA Sports Active workout. I'm gonna kick this 30-day challenge in the ass!

Full and shivering

Look Food, we all know how much I love you and your nourishing goodness, but I've got a serious beef with you.

Stupid pun not intended.

This is a problem I've been suffering with for years. Almost immediately after consuming your pure deliciousness my extremities get so cold they feel as if they might fall off.

C'mon food, I know this is your fault, it's been happening for too long now for this to be some kind of coincidence.

What's more - when I wash you down with pure, crystal clear water it only escalates the situation.

Now, this becomes a problem when I need to eat outside of my house, because it certainly isn't acceptable for a grown 25 year old woman to carry around a blanket to wrap herself in post-meal. And I'm certainly not wearing a Snuggie around in public. 

So tell me Food, what's a girl to do? Please do tell, because I know I'm not the only person out there who suffers this debilitating coldness after eating, and I'm certainly not going to go on living like this.

Until I get an appropriate response, I'm boycotting. I'll live on coffee and tea until we can work something out, Food.

Hungrily yours,

-A

p.s. Anyone who believes I'm actually giving up food, even for a second, is out of your bloody mind.

A few reviews

In the last few days I've had a chance to try out some new products that, I must say, I either loved or hated with a passion.

And since I care dearly for all my readers out there, I wanted to share my experiences with y'all so you can know what to expect if you find any of these products being added to your wish list.

Let's start with the one overly-negative experience and get that out of the way.

Mariani Dried Cherries by Far Away Foods - after picking these up at the store on a whim (I read somewhere recently that dried cherries have lots of antioxidants and have been dying to try them) I took them home to enjoy by the handful. After popping one - just one - in my mouth I bit down HARD on a cherry pit! 

Now, let me just say that when I was a kid this same thing happened to my dad, only it was with an olive that should have been pitted, and he had to have a root canal because he cracked his tooth. 

Today, I'm in pain. But of course, I looked at the back of the package and there's a small-print warning that, due to machine pitting, there may be remnants of pits left in the snack. 

So, they covered their asses, but I'm still pissed none the less, and will only be buying Sunmaid brand in the future!

(If you see these in the store, back away slowly and save your teeth!)

Now, onto greener pastures, shall we?

EA Sports Active for Nintendo Wii - I avoided Wii Fit like the plague, mainly because of availability and cost, (oh and that little fact that you have to own up to how much you actually weigh and stuff on that little board...) but at a minor $59 bucks on Amazon, I decided to give this at-home workout game a chance. Last night I took it for a spin. To my surprise, the 17 minute "easy" lower body workout I participated in about killed me. 

If you see me walking funny today, it's because my quads are killing me. Damn you inventor of squats. You suck! But this product certainly doesn't. It was a fun and challenging workout. I can't wait to test out another workout - once my legs are back from their current Jell-O-like state.

Special K Protein bars (strawberry) - I found these by accident, needing to pick up a little something on the way to skydiving a couple weeks back. Not only are they delicious, but they aren't the type of protein bar that sits like a brick in your stomach. And the texture isn't grainy at all. 

(These come in three flavors, all delish I'm sure!)

These have become my standard breakfast, skydiving or just heading to the office. It's what I should have eaten instead of those two cupcakes today (follow me on twitter for more stupid updates like this @ashleymead).

What products have you tried out lately?

Cheers!

-A

A complete blank

My mind is, at least.

The last couple days I've been thinking hard about the topic of today's post, and to be honest, I got nothin'.

Most of my weekend was spent skydiving - which I'm sure comes as no surprise - and y'all don't wanna hear the details of that, I'm sure.

But on the way in this morning I did think of something that might be of interest.

So as you might be aware I'm slightly obsessed with the Food Network and Bobby Flay. Well while I was in NYC last week a few of my colleagues and I headed out to Mesa Grill - one of Bobby's Manhattan restaurants.

I was surprised to see an item on the menu that was recently showcased in a Throwdown. It was a chile relleno. 

As you can see, the presentation was gorgeous - and the taste was even more sensational. It left me with a spicy taste in my mouth for the rest of the night.

We also indulged on his dessert sampler that consisted of 6-7 featured items on the dessert menu. Needless to say, my standard PinkBerry run was not needed this time around.

If you're ever in the NYC area, check out Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. You won't be disappointed.

Cheers!

-A

Detox Delight

Alliteration!

...now I'm just doing it to be annoying.

And apparently super cheesy in the process. Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed this time.


Anywho, for those who follow me on Twitter (@ashleymead for those who don't) you may recall past tweets about my 3-day fruit detoxes.

Note: I just spent the last 10 minutes searching for these tweets so I could show you...to no avail.

Twitter search just doesn't want me to find these gosh darn things.

Twit FAIL.

Regardless, I have done these detoxes twice this year already. The first was to get my body back on track after the holidays and the second was to drop some extra poundage before my vacation. Successfully I might add. In three days I averaged 5-6 pounds. Not too shabby.

Well, given that willpower is not my strong suit (read: I have none), I'm back at this detox thing again.

Only this time, it's for one day, juice only, as a sort of reset.

I've found that one day of this detox is all that's really needed to stop cravings in their tracks.

Granted, it's one day of pure withdrawal HELL, but what's 24 hours, really?

I've found these Naked juices to be the best. They are a little expensive but tasty and natural - and honestly less expensive and time consuming than juicing your own fruit. I'm a fan of the Red Machine, Pomegranate Acai, and Watermelon Chill flavors.

So I'm hoping that by tomorrow I'm craving salads and wheat germ. Okay, so it's not that good, but if your body needs a reset, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

Just be prepared for the ensuing caffeine withdrawal headache.

So tell me dear readers, what's your technique for a health reset?

Cheers!

-A

Pasta Paradise

For some reason I really wanted to use alliteration in the title today.

Though this doesn't have anything to do with paradise, and honestly, the pasta I'm talking about isn't really all that special, I still felt compelled.

Shut up.



Lately I've been on this pasta kick. Lunch typically consists of some form of pasta - mainly because companies like Lean Cuisine and Kashi only know how to make vegetarian meals with spaghetti, linguine or penne.

There are other options here, folks.

But I'm not here to bitch.

*gasp* I know, right?!

Actually, I'm here to brag a little. I've been feeling rather good about my cooking skills that seem to be improving. By modifying recipes I find to fit my diet - like my stuffed peppers that are a version of Giada's - and coming up with little concoctions of my own I've become quite the little chef in the last six months.

Food Network here I come!

Okay, so maybe not quite yet.

Sure, I'm not creating sauces from scratch or anything, but I'm pretty proud of my recent pasta creations.

A few weeks back I was working from home and got hung up on what to make for lunch. When I'm not at the office I refuse to microwave my meals - fresh is always better.

So I grabbed a box of whole wheat penne from the pantry and thought it a good idea to create my own recipe on the spot. After all, I had 12 minutes of boiling time to come up with something great.

How hard can it be, right?

Surprisingly, not all that difficult at all!

A can of white mushrooms and some fresh, halved Kalamata olives and my pasta was in good shape. And lucky for me I always have sun-dried tomatoes lying around for just such an occasion. Toss with a little extra virgin olive oil, fresh ground black pepper and viola!


Then this week, I had to head home from the office early for the installation of AT&T U-verse in my apartment (which, by the way, if you don't have you NEED. It's amazing, and I'm not even that much of a TV watcher...but I digress).

So for lunch, it was time to create!

I pulled out the second half of that trusty box of whole wheat penne and went to work. Only this time, instead of adding veggies straight from the jar, I sauteed some white mushrooms and Kalamata olives (again), and switched it up with some cheery tomatoes.

The pasta was cooked al dente and added to the sautee pan along with some pesto sauce from the fridge. I prefer Buitoni brand - it tastes fresher.

Once the meal was cooked evenly I plated it and garnished with some shredded pecorino romano for a nice little flavor burst.


Essentially, these were the same dish with minor alterations. But I have to admit I definitely favored the latter version with pesto and cherry tomatoes. Though next time, I'm going to let the tomatoes burst for a little more flavor.

All in all, I'm pleased, and I think my pasta skills have improved exponentially since I started.

So what do you say Bobby - are you ready for a Throw Down?

Cheers!

-A

(p.s. - yes, I truly believe that if I link to the Food Network site enough times that they'll notice me and want to hire me because I'm just that cool...)

More of the good stuff

It's Monday again, can you believe it? Where did the weekend go?

Oh, that's right. I spent mine in a car.

Given that Christmas was the last time I visited my parents in Michigan, I forgot how draining these quick trips can be. And this time was even quicker than usual.

Leaving on Saturday morning really puts a dent in the amount of quality time with the fam. But what can I say, yoga was calling my name and knowing that I've gotta be ready for beach wear in less than a week, I really couldn't deny this need.

After arriving home I had just enough time to chat with the 'rents before heading out again to get my hair did. Oh and in case you care I'm a blonde again...whew! I definitely feel more like myself.

And after my appointment I decided to do a little more cruise shopping - I was already in the mall, after all.

Speaking of spending, I really need to get my budget in order after this vacation. Know of any good financial advisers?

Anyhow, lucky for me by the time I got back, a vegetarian pizza from my favorite joint back home - Deluca's - was waiting for me on the table.

Well, there goes the yoga class....but it was definitely well worth it. Yumm...

But the heavy dough put me to bed early. And in an effort not to miss my Spartans beat down on USC yesterday evening, I left Michigan earlier than anticipated. Sorry Mom and Dad. I promise to come back soon!

But in the meantime, I thought it would be fun to make some additions to my list of The Good Stuff that I started earlier this month. Because, let's be honest here, there's lost of good stuff out there.

• Shirts straight out of the dryer. No matter how warm it is outside, donning a freshly dried hoodie always feels amazing. And it smells great too!
• Trips on the company dime. This stems from my recent week spent in NYC. I love visiting that city. But it's expensive. So traveling there for work is always welcome as I get to stay for free. Sure, I spend the majority of the time working, but those little moments of downtime make it all worth it.
• When a Barista learns your order. I love the Starbucks in my building. More than that, I love the fact that two of the Baristas know what I'm going to order. It definitely makes you feel like a valued customer.
• An unexpected March Madness upset. Even when I didn't call it in my bracket, this is great to see. Like Cleveland State beating out Wake on Friday. Or Siena almost beating Louisville. And we all remember George Mason's run to the Final Four 3 years ago. Gotta love a great underdog victory!
• Being a regular. Whether it's a bar, restaurant or even a store, being a regular somewhere has it's perks. You know there's always something you're going to like, you can bring friends and family to share in the experience and it never gets old, and sometimes even discounts are involved...just because they know you.
• Perfect hugs. Let's be honest here, I'm a hugger. Friends, family, even people I've just met. And nothing beats a good hug. You know what I'm talking about. You're with a significant other and you find that spot that's just so comfortable you never want to let go. Yeah...that's what I'm talking about.
• Natural blue. You know the color I mean - when you look up and say to yourself, "wow, the sky is really blue today." Or when you go on vacation and the water is this bright blue - almost turquoise - and yet when you walk in it's crystal clear. There's no color in the world like it.

Can you tell my brain has already checked out on vacation. Sorry y'all. I'm sure it's getting a little old. But there will be plenty of encounter stories when I get back. And of course, a Photography Friday with lots to share.

What'd y'all do this weekend? What are your additions to The Good Stuff?

Cheers!

-A

My Favorites 'Ms'

Earlier this week Ang posted a "few of my favorite things" and it seemed like a great idea! So, in telling her I wanted to play along, she used a randomizer to assign me the letter M.

Whew! That could have turned out bad...I don't know anything that starts with the letter X. I would have had to make it a backwards game - your favorites that end in this letter. My list would have been one word long. Oh!

So here are my 10 favorite 'M' things, in no particular order. Most of which, I'm sure will not surprise you.

1. Microbreweries: Lucky for me, Cleveland has some of the best. Between Willoughby, Great Lakes, and the Rocky River Brewing Company I'm in heaven. Can't beat a fresh Dortmunder on tap.


2. Manhattan: No surprise there, eh?

(Yay for one of my favorite pics shot from Brooklyn!)

3. Morning: As much as it completely sucks sometimes, I love getting up early and taking advantage of the day. And nothing is better than a relaxing cup of morning coffee, brisk morning run, or watching the sun rise over the lake.

(Let's just pretend this is what Lake Erie looks like, okay? Thanks.)

4. M&Ms: Peanut are my favorite, and for some reason I prefer the green ones, but I'll take just about any candy coated chocolate. Yummy!

(I ate all the green ones already...)

5. Massages: In college I was religious about getting the monthly massage - I've been slacking lately. Though I do use my charm to get them from the SO from time to time! And honestly, I like giving them just as much as I like getting them.



6. Mini Dachshunds: Again, this should not come as a shock. And though I truly believe Otis is the cutest pup on the face of the planet, this one takes a close second. Her face is just so adorable!

7. Mary Janes: Who doesn't like a comfortable shoe, right? The heal still helps elongate and accentuate the legs, while the rounded toe gives your toes some extra breathing room. I'm wearing my favorite black pair right now.



8. Margaritas: On the rocks. With salt. Poolside, if you don't mind.



9. Michigan State University: I love everything about this place. The ever expanding campus, the sports teams, the school pride, everything.

(Good ole Beaumont Tower)

10. Michael Symon: Again, this goes back to my obsession with The Food Network. He's not only a phenomenal chef, but his restaurants here in town are very cool, and he's not all that bad on the eyes, either. Besides, who doesn't love a man who can cook?


So there you have it, my top 10 favorite 'Ms.' I'm sure there are more where that came from, but you get the idea.

If you're interested in playing along, let me know in the comments and I'll send you your own letter.

Cheers!

-A

Learning about myself

So far, 2009 has taught me a lot about myself. Between the ups and downs of stress, training, work, and attempting to keep resolutions this past month has really opened my eyes to some of my little quirks.

Here's what I've learned so far:

I'm a much more patient and understanding person than I give myself credit for. Though when it comes to laziness or incompetence, I'm still pretty intolerant.

I love cooking. If I could afford it, I'd move to New York City and go to culinary school.

Even the smallest compliment acts as a great ego boost for my day.

As I get older, my procrastination gets worse. Though, in my defense, it's not because I don't want to do these things - it's more about not having enough hours in the day and having to choose.

I need frequent change in life. If it's not something drastic like moving across the country (again), you'll probably find me at the salon changing my hair color (again), or traveling, or testing out a new workout class. I get bored easily.

Yoga keeps me sane.

Hard as I try, I don't drink enough water. With all the coffee and tea to fuel my workday it's no easy task to replenish. And I hate buying water at the store - I hate lugging them in and it's just so environmentally unfriendly it hurts.

I still have no idea how to balance my career with my personal life - and still attempt to do it all.

When I'm down, the best thing is a good quote from The Office:

"If it were an iPod, it would be a shuffle." ~Pam

"Oh well. If they're not together now, then they probably never will be. I thought they would be good together like PB & J. Pam Beasley and Jim. What a waste. What a waste." ~Kevin

"I'm not insightful enough to be a movie critic. Maybe I could be a food critic. These muffins taste bad. Or an art critic. That painting is bad." ~Andy

"Yeah. Right. I filled him full of butter and sugar for fifty years and forced him not to exercise. Now take a lesson from Stanley and jog on up here and sign this, okay?" ~Dwight

"Jim, you're six eleven and you weigh ninety pounds, Gumby has a better body than you. Boom roasted. Dwight, you're a kiss-ass. Boom roasted. Meredith, you've slept with so many guys you're starting to look like one. Boom roasted. Kevin, I can't decide between a fat joke or a dumb joke boom roasted. Stanley! You crush your wife during sex and your heart sucks. Boom roasted. Oscar, you're gay! Andy Cornell called, they think you suck! And you're gayer than Oscar. Boom roasted!" ~Michael

"Guess what? I have flaws. What are they? Oh I donno, I sing in the shower? Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me-- no, don't sue me. That is opposite the point I'm trying to make." ~Michael

"One day Michael came in, complaining about a speed bump, on the highway... I wonder who he ran over then." ~Jim

Yeah, I could do that all day.

What have you learned about your self so far this year?

Cheers!

-A

Braving the kitchen

As I've mentioned before, I would give anything to be a part of the foodie world. And I have a master plan for getting there, rubbing elbows with the best Food Network stars - okay not really, I'm just hoping something falls in my lap, but let's just pretend, okay?

One of the big flaws in this plan is that, well, I don't cook.

Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm incapable of cooking, it's more about lack of time and energy. And honestly, cooking for one sucks donkey balls - especially when you're like me and really don't care for leftovers.

Granted, since the SO has been around my kitchen has gotten some use, but not nearly enough to bump me up into the foodie category.

So, I've decided to start cooking more.

Now really, the main purpose behind this is to start saving a little more money - given that budgeting is part of this whole new years resolution garbage, and I've got plenty of expenses coming up in the near future (read: puppy spoiling) - but being classified as a 'foodie' is a huge bonus.

Problem being - I have no idea what to cook!

I wish I could just dive in like Ang - she's totally my inspiration. These dishes look so amazing. And yet, so complex - I'm just not sure I could pull them off in the minimal amount of free time I have left these days.


Given that I'm a vegetarian whose normal sustenance resembles rabbit food, I don't really know where to begin.

And, if I could make something that looks as appealing as it tastes - yes, I know this is a huge feat for a novice like myself, but I'm up to the challenge - better yet!

Mmmm, just look at that!

To all my foodie, and wanna-be foodie friends out there, help! Know of any good recipes I can get my feet wet with?

In the meantime, I'll be sticking to my fab. chili recipe and foolproof Italian dishes until I get the cojones to branch out to something more elaborate. Though after looking at those peppers, I may be inclined to stuff some in the near future (now would be the time to remove head from gutter, thanks). Wish me luck!

Cheers!

-A

When I grow up

...I want to be a chef.

Okay, so maybe not a chef, but definitely a foodie. Yeah, that's more like it.

Recent experiences with the foodie world have drawn me to this lifestyle. Being in NYC at Chelsea Market - surrounded by some of the best chefs and bakers all day, experiencing the best tasting food, touring the Food Network test kitchens, meeting celebrity chefs - I love everything about it.

Being in Cleveland, I'm always hoping for a chance to rub elbows with Michael Symon during a casual stroll down East 4th or swinging by Lolita in Tremont. One of these days, I will get that chance.

And no, that doesn't make me a stalker, thankyouverymuch. I'm just a paying customer who's in awe. I mean, anyone who has their servers wear Converse All Stars during their shifts has got to be pretty fantastic - and c'mon y'all, he can cook a mean meal.

There's just something about being integrated in the foodie world that's so attractive. The excitement of being in a kitchen watching edible masterpieces take shape, meeting world renowned chefs, learning techniques from the pros, promoting one of the best networks on television - The Food Network for those who didn't catch on - and of course the love and appreciation for food.

I've always wanted to be a pastry chef like Duff.

The problem is, I'm not the most creative girl, nor am I the most kitchen savvy but I can be taught, especially if I can get my hands dirty with the the players at Charm City Cakes or go on the road with Bobby for a throw down or head out with Michael on his next Dinner Impossible challenge. And words cannot begin to describe how much I'd love to be a fly on the wall for Iron Chef America or take part in one of the Food Network Challenges.

Or maybe I should just become a food photographer - that would get a foot in the door, right? Hell, I'd even be a personal assistant if it meant spending time with some of the best chefs in the world. Know of anyone in need? *wink wink*

Anyone else obsessed with The Food Network and life as a foodie? What do you want to be when you grow up?

Cheers!

-A