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December: The Month of ME!!

Posted on December 31, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Happy New Year’s Eve!

But before we dive headfirst into 2015, it’s time to slow down and take note of some “Currentlies”. December may have gone by in a flash, had a few stresses, and been colder than hell, but it was a damn good month and deserves some appreciation. Besides, I did get some pretty rockin’ hair days out of it too! 😉

Current Book:

I finally hunted down, Nanny Returns, the sequel to last month’s book, at the library in hopes that it would give me some closure…don’t you hate it when books just end and you’re left with five thousand questions?! Well, as of today I’m on page 53 of 305. Whoops?

Current Music:

I’ve been a bit all over the place with music this month…Glass Animals, Alt-J, all my favorite Christmas tunes, and over the weekend, after sorting through all my old CDs, I broke out some Drowning Pool. But really, the number of times I’ve played Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” is slightly embarrassing.

Uncensored of course…because ya know, I like to say “fuck” a lot and well, this way I get to sing it a whole NINE TIMES! 😉

Current Guilty Pleasure:

In addition to all the cookbooks gifted to me between my birthday and Christmas, I just had to go out and buy TWO MORE! But hey, the birthday bookcase/wine rack is looking pretty freaking awesome…

I’m throwing the idea back and forth right now to challenge myself in the new year to randomly make at least ONE recipe a week from one of these books…not a resolution but a recipe roulette if you will. We’ll see.

Current ~~Nail~~ NUB Color:

My nails are beyond pathetic, but earlier this month, I had hoped that my new Essie color, No More Film would help to protect my little nubbies. No such luck. BUT, I do have a recommendation from a friend that I’m going to check out called Nailtiques. Anyone ever heard of it?

Current Entertainment:

How do you pass away the gray and gloomy days of December? ALL THE NETFLIX! Since finishing off season two of The Carrie Diaries, I’ve been alternating between season three of Switched at Birth and season one of Portlandia <-HI-LARIOUS!

Current Wish/Needs:

Motivation to get back into the gym/yoga studio/anything that involves movement! I’ve become a Netflix-bingeing sloth!! 😯

Current Food:

In addition my apparent need for ALL THE CHEESE, I’ve also recently become addicted to and compelled to track down/buy/hoard…

ALL THE JIF WHIPS!!

What can I say? I’m a total sucker for anything “limited edition”. I really have no one but ~~myself~~ Instagram to blame. Oh and Sara, for introducing me to ecstasy that is s’mores flavored peanut butter. And even though I can’t track it down ANYWHERE within a 50 mile radius of my little po-dunk town, I’ve decided it’s better to have ~~loved~~ s’mored and lost than to have never ~~loved~~ s’mored at all.

Current Drink:

Hey, I didn’t go to wine snob class for nothing! I gotta earn my ~~stripes~~ grapes!

Current Triumphs:

I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT! I have to say I’m pretty proud of myself for finally crossing off just about everything on my to-do list before the end of the year…now to find a damn kitchen table!

Current Bane of Existence:

The tiny little gnomes hiding inside my computer who fuck up my online purchases! I had not one, not two, but THREE payment snafus while getting all my Christmas shopping done this month. Needless to say, breakdowns ensued and can now name a couple of my gray hairs after them.

Current Blogger Crush:

Can I just say I have a crush on all you guys? Seriously, I’m STILL glowing from all your sweet, sweet comments on KMB’s birthday post! xoxo

Current Indulgence:

Besides spoiling myself and spending just about as much on ME as I did for others this year (because, umm, I deserve it…duh!), my coworkers have been spoiling me even more…

Another year, another cookie conundrum. Of course I do give myself props for only stuffing myself silly ONCE this year!

Current Blessing:

Family, friends, health, happiness, to love, and to be loved.

Current Outfit:

Alert the presses! Mark your calendars! Heather’s wearing PANTS!! 😯
I know, I have failed you all, but it has just been TOO damn cold for leggings…so I broke out the jeans…and have basically been living in them all month!

Current Excitement:

Call it cliché, but I’m really excited about the new year! This year turned out to be one of the best years for me…in terms of growth, maturation (except for my thirteen-year-old sense of humor), and fulfillment. I can’t wait to see what 2015 holds!

Current Link:

http://jetpack.me/annual-report/27379510/2014/ 😀

Current Mood:

Curious. Eager. Excited.

Ahhh, that was FUN! Any of you out celebrating there tonight, have fun and be safe! I’ll see ya “next year”! 😉

What is your current guilty pleasure?

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

Posted in Currently | Tagged cookies, music, peanut butter, Quest bars, wine | 19 Comments

Going Out and Getting Cheesy

Posted on December 30, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

I go through a lot of phases with food…

From what I eat to WHERE I eat, I can’t help but get fixated on certain foods or flavors…even if it takes actually scrolling through my photo library for me to realize it. Which is what happened over the weekend. I don’t know about you guys, but I tend to go out for meals more often this time of year. There’s just something about having a warm meal brought TO you that helps melt away the holiday stresses…and it’s even better when it gives you more time to spend with your nearest and dearest. And as CHEESY as that sounds, it’s true in every way!

Like the dinner I had with a couple of friends earlier this month…

Bust out the beer flights, it’s time for some fun!

But seriously, it was a great night spent telling stories, sharing laughs, and pausing momentarily to praise the pizza gods for this one here…

Seriously the BEST veggie pizza I have ever had in.my.life! Sorry, Mellow Mushroom, but you ain’t got nothing on Rock Bottom Brewery! Epic love stories could be written about this thing…of course it would always end in tragedy since it’s absolutely impossible not to devour every last bit! Topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, DRESSED spinach leaves and feta, I can assure you, Shakespeare would be pleased.

And you know what makes a night out with friends even better?

MORE pizzaaaaaaaah!

After a couple of hours/drinks at The Flying Saucer (my new FAVE-o-rite hangout…they have leather fucking couches, people!), we got a fever and the only cure for that fever was more ~~cowbell~~ cheese!* Our “smack yo’ mama good” combo included spiced beef, BEER bratwurst, and perfectly sliced prosciutto and it seriously earned a moment of silence after the first bite. Also? I feel the need to bring to your attention that this pie was incidentally the exact OPPOSITE of the last one we ordered. Yeah, I couldn’t help but laugh.

*Please dear god, somebody get that SNL reference!

After visiting some old coworkers a couple of days later, I ended up faced with a serious case of the hangries. Since the weather was all gloom and doom like it’s been most of this month, I wasn’t really surprised when I found myself automatically pulling into Olive Garden. But instead of the soup, salad, and breadsticks that I usually order, I decided to finally sample some of the small plates I’ve seen advertised lately (and drooled profusely over). Starting with these Crispy Risotto Bites…

They weren’t bad. I would’ve preferred a bit more of a cheesy flavor inside so I didn’t finish them, but I made sure to lap up every last bit of that delicious marinara! Luckily my other selection made up for what the other lacked in the gooey melty cheese department…

BAM! This tortellini, stuffed with prosciutto, topped with bacon and COVERED in parmesan cream sauce, with extra grated parmesan on top (who am I to say no to a waitress offering free cheese?), was…dare I say, too much cheese?! I’ll admit, I did entertain the idea of ordering their pumpkin cheesecake for the road, but this little sly ninja cheesemonger had to tap out after all that richness! 😯

THEN there was Tori’s graduation dinner a couple of weeks ago at one of my favorite local restaurants, Liberty Park Grill, where some (sadly unpictured, but nevertheless ahhhhhMAZING!) Southwest Egg Rolls were devoured among the lot of us. After taking a dip in some fried pickles and quietly reciting poetry to the softest bread ever made, it was time for our entrees…

And my Strawberry Chicken Salad did NOT disappoint! Super juicy grilled chicken breast over fresh farmers’ market greens with strawberries, CARAMELIZED pecans and bleu cheese crumbles with a delicious honey vinaigrette dressing.

And because we all know my little sister has more guts that me…

Creme Brulee Cheesecake for dessert!

No words. None.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Do you have a go-to order?

Posted in Restaurant Review | Tagged beer, cheese, cheesecake, Liberty Park Grill, Nashville, Olive Garden, pizza, Rock Bottom Brewery, salad, The Flying Saucer | 15 Comments

Top 10 Recipes of 2014

Posted on December 29, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Hey there, my little broccoli sprouts!

With this year quickly coming to an close, I thought, what better way to spice up this last boring Monday than with a little foodie celebration? I mean, today and tomorrow aren’t going to be very productive for many of us out there anyway. So let’s break out those party hats and noisemakers a little early…and heck, if you wanna pop open a bottle of champagne while you’re at it, you won’t hear any complaints from me! So here we go. Based on you guys’ happy little clicker fingers, I present to you…

Top 10 Recipes 2014 www.kissmybroccoliblog.com

Your TOP TEN recipes of 2014!

PS, you really don’t want to know how long it took me to make that collage. And now you can all pause for a moment to admire its beauty before reading any further. Really…scroll back up…ahhhh, that’s better. 😉

1. No-Bake Protein “Buzz” Bites

It’s really no surprise that these little cuties made the top of the list. Healthy foodies everywhere are always on the hunt for a good portable snack. These No-Bake Protein “Buzz” Bites meet those nutritional needs you’re looking for and can also put a little pep in your step too thanks to the addition of JAVAPRO protein powder!

Nothing beats the balance of this bowl...healthy fats, plant-based proteins, and ZERO sugar! Start your year off RIGHT with this Detox Quinoa Salad from www.kissmybroccoliblog.com!

2. Detox Quinoa Salad

Ahhh, my post Christmas reboot! This Detox Quinoa Salad is a good way to get yourself back on track after an indulgent holiday season…with REAL FOOD! With nutty quinoa, creamy avocado, juicy pomegranate seeds, and a bit of lemon, it is an absolute explosion of flavors and textures. And damn, you just feel good eating it! <- Kinda like all those pictures you see in magazines of girls eating salads with HUGE smiles on their faces.

3. Beautifying Beet Smoothie

The thickest, creamiest smoothie I’ve ever made WITHOUT protein powder! Cottage cheese, avocado, and beets come together to make on hell of a drink. Ditch the straw…the only way to enjoy this baby is with a spoon. And I promise, it’s too sweet to even taste the beets! Oh snap, I made a rhyme! 😉

4. Chunky Monkey Granola Bars

Oh look, the bars I took 409,239 pictures of! Besides helping me “teach” class on food photography, these chewy Chunky Monkey Granola Bars, filled with peanut butter, bananas, and mini chocolate chips have gotten me through many of a hangry state this year…since I was smart and froze half the batch!

5. Carrot Cake Chia Pudding

Another gem from my little experiment with the SP Food Cleanse. While I only made it nine out of the twenty one days before yielding to the lords of bread and eggs, I have to say it really helped me get more imaginative in the kitchen. Coming from a person who’s never really jumped on the chia seed bandwagon, I have to say this Carrot Cake Chia Pudding helped sway me a bit. And I only ended up with two stuck in my teeth!

6. Vegan Sweet Pea Smoothie

The #strangebutgood recipe that surprised even ME! But just like my “Spring” Pea Dip, I proved that we all need to give peas a chance…as dessert! This Vegan Sweet Pea Smoothie combines frozen peas and banana with a hint of mint to make a flavor that is just almost shocking to believe…kind of like the existence of aliens. Yes, this is just a green, sippable crop circle.

7. Valentine’s Day Mug Cake

If there is one thing I love more than the near instant gratification of a microwavable mug cake, it’s the fact that I can stuff all kinds of vegetables in them and no one would be the wiser. *insert evil laugh here* This Valentine’s Day Mug Cake, with its unBEETable texture will let you have your cake and hey, why not eat two? 😉

8. Vegan Beautifying Beet Smoothie

With the same game plan as the original, this VEGAN version of my Beautifying Beet Smoothie uses tofu instead of cottage cheese to pack in some protein that’s seriously fit for a princess. And just in case you’re wondering, yes, I do still have my tiara from prom.

9. Carrot Cake Quinoa

Not many people think of quinoa as a sweet dish, but if you consider it as just another grain, like oatmeal, it doesn’t sound all that strange. Getting in touch with my ninja farmer side again, I packed TWO servings of vegetables in this Carrot Cake Quinoa. Then I topped it with melty coconut butter and birds started singing outside my window. No really. It went something like this.

10. PB&J Granola

Ok, so I literally jumped up and down in my seat when I saw that my PB&J Granola made the cut…~~fuck~~ save the best for last, that’s what I always say! This was another recipe that I had a lot of fun with (read: took an embarrassing amount of pictures of) and oh my god, those clusters! Ugh, I really need to get some more peanut flour soon!

Did YOUR favorite KMB recipe of 2014 make the list?