Ugh..I Suck at Posting

One comment asked me to elaborate on why July (and March and October) suck the big one in my industry, this is why. In general I put out about 35 proposals a year for new work. This should break down to about 3 a month, which would be manageable. But. the deadlines don't always fall into that nice 3 a month spread, they usually pile up on given months, for example so far this month I've had 7 requests for proposals for new work - 7, so about two a week, this is on top of preparing for a few interviews that are coming up in the next few weeks. So, that's just the proposal and interview part. Then there is the conferences that I have to travel to and attend. My company is often invited to present at conferences around the county - all these conferences seem to fall in the three months mentioned before, so not only do I have to prepare 7 proposals, and at least 2 interviews, I need to bounce around to these conferences that we are presenting at as well, to see existing and potential clients. It's tiring and a bit nerve racking, but it's also fun, I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it, it's just a lot of work in a very small period of time.

That, compounded by the fact that...thank you sweet Jesus...we are finally moving into our house in two weeks, I am now faced with the fact that I for the second time in 10 weeks need to pack all of my belongings and put them into boxes and move them. AGAIN. I can't wait, I really can't wait, but packing and moving again, ugh.

So, posting...not going to be much of that in the coming weeks. I do apologize, I know you all wait with bated breath for my new posts...NOT. But I will try and post when I can, come August, the posts will be much more frequent and will contain actual recipes. (Damn it where did the summer go?)

Also, one more thing. because CB and I were only going to be in the retirement village for 10 weeks we didn't have cable installed. Thank God for Netflix. Here is just a sample of what we have watched since moving in:
The Ice Harvest
Love in the Time of Cholera
Amazing Grace
Ocean's 13
The Brave One
Cloverfield
American Gangster
Charlie Wilson's War
Juno

Back Soon. Peace!

Summer Lovin

Remember when summer seemed so long...when it was relaxing and slow. I looked at the calendar this morning and was completely dumbfounded by the date...July 15th. Where did the summer go, how is it that the fourth of July has passed and I'm making plans for the fall. 12 precious weekends stud the summer months and I can't find one that will be filled with summer sun, laying on a blanket and reading a book.

I hate NPR and their list of the best beach reads, because to me it's like a bratty kid with it's tongue stuck out saying "na-na-na-na-na-na...you don't have time to relax and read any of these books".

Ugh, what I would give for one sweet smelling, relaxing day at the beach, with no fear of sunburn and my nose firmly planted in a good book, and maybe, possibly, a cabana boy delivering frosty pina coladas to me every 45 minutes or so.

Remember when summer seemed so long...

Chai Bread...still a work in progress

This post is quick quick quick like a bunny. Sorry, work is so amazingly craptastic right now. If you've been reading this blog for a while you know March, July and October suck balls in my business so I've been burning the midnight oil and not much else. I did find the time late the other night when CB was at the Red Sox game to make this bread, which I was super psyched about when I found the recipe, but honestly was a real disappointment. Maybe it's because it's been forever and a day since I've baked anything non-vegan, but this bread, I thought, was a real stinker. So I'm going to veganize the recipe and try it again next week hopefully with better results. If you want to try your hand at this recipe even though I've already said it sucks. Here it is.

Oh, and also, I have to have dinner with my mother-in-law on Sunday night. Please say a special prayer for me that I get through that.

Have a good weekend y'all. See you on the flip side.

Chickpea Fritters

I've become a bit of a chick pea freak as of late. Ever since I learned how to make hummus, every time I go to the grocery store I pick up at least two cans of chickpeas. This is great if I was actually constantly making hummus, but I just haven't made it in a while, and now I have seven cans of chickpeas in my tiny ass kitchen. CB actually opened up the cabinet the other day and said "do you think you have enough chickpeas?" So, in an effort to whittle down the chickpea stash I decided to try and make chickpea fritters, no recipe, just whatever I had in the fridge. This is what came out of that little experiment, and they were actually pretty good.

Chickpea Fritters..ish
1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
3 scallions chopped (white and green parts)
3 ribs celery finely chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 cup breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste.
Note: I didn't have any fresh herbs in the house, but if I did I would have added fresh parsley and cilantro (or whatever you like).

In a food processor, pulse the chickpeas a few times so that some remain whole, but most are mashed. In a bowl, combine the chickpeas mash and the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and form into patties.

In a non stick skillet heat enough olive oil (or whatever light oil you prefer) to come up to the mid part of your patty. Get oil hot enough so that when you place the fritter onto the pan it immediately starts to sizzle. Cook about 5 minutes on each side depending on the size of your fritters.

I served mine over cous cous, but I bet it would be great if you just served them with a little cucumber dill yogurt sauce. Mmm.

Rating = Good

Happy Fourth of July

Hey everyone, just a quick note to wish you all a Happy Fourth of July weekend. I won't be at work, therefore I won't have access to the internet (because there isn't access at the retirement village) so this is so long until Monday when I'll be back at work and all sorts of hooked up to modern technology.

Have a safe, happy and healthy holiday weekend. And if it's too hot for you and you're getting ass crack sweat and you just want to sit inside in central air conditioning, may I suggest that you rent the John Adams miniseries that HBO aired earlier this year. It's an amazing story about the founding of our country and how the Declaration of Independence was written and accepted. It's an eye opening look into colonial America, and I think everyone should take the time to watch this amazing story.

All the best.
JB

Vegan Blueberry Lemon Poppyseed Bread

In an attempt to halt the growth of back fat, and not have to buy a new summer wardrobe I purchased a Jillian Michaels DVD which I work out to on days when I'm not running (so, every other day). The DVD is called the 30-Day Shred and it's made up of three 20 minute workouts; you begin at workout 1 and then proceed to workouts 2 and 3. Workout one was hard, but I only needed to do if about 5 times before I felt that I should move on to workout 2. Um... Holy Shit Balls, workout 2 will literally make you gargle your heart, it is so damn hard - the workout video is only 20 minutes and about 12 minutes into it I was crying for my mama and asking for a time-out. My legs were shaking, sweat was dripping off my face, I was grunting and panting...I'm so glad I was home alone when I was doing this, because a pretty sight it was not. So, I endorse this product for a super ass kicking 20 minute workout. Wowza. I'm sore today. Do I think I'll be shredded in 30 days? No, but I think that maybe the back fat will have disappeared, hopefully.

This recipe is one I made up. I hope you like it. Let me know if you try it. It's vegan, It's Blueberry, It's Lemon and it has crunchy poppy seeds in it. How could you not love it.

Vegan Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
zest 1 lemon
juice 1 lemon
1.5 tbs poppy seeds
1 C fresh blueberries (put in freezer for about 30 minutes before using)
2 C flour
1/4C applesauce
1/4C canola oil
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C soy milk
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs honey (can be omitted if you do not consider honey vegan, I know the jury is still out for some people)

Combine the oil, applesauce, sugar, soy milk, honey (if using), lemon juice and zest in a bowl. Mix to combine. Sift together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, add the poppy seeds and mix to combine, add to the wet ingredients and incorporate. Fold in frozen blueberries. (Batter will be thick) Place into a greased loaf pan, sprinkle raw sugar on top.

Bake 375 for 45 minutes.

Rating = So Damn Good