Guest Post by Arianna - The Foodie Penpal package I sent to PA

I just want to start off by thanking Molly for allowing me to hijack her blog for this post. I found foodie pen pals through another blog, Fit In Heels (fitness and fashion, what could be better). Anyway when I signed up for the first time this month, I didn’t know what to expect. Well I was quite pleased with the results! Molly here was very understanding with my vegan lifestyle and tried her best to accommodate. Molly sent me some delicious Dark Chocolate Caramel Pop-Corn with a spicy kick. Since caramel isn’t vegan, I just had to go against my vegan choices and taste this delicious looking popcorn. And boy was it good! Also in this awesome selection of food from Minnesota is a mix for Garlic Cheddar Biscuits. Again not vegan, but I have some Almond Milk and Vegan Cheddar Cheese that I will use with the mix. I’m excited to see how they turn out this weekend! The Wild Rice was really yummy with some Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Peas and Broccoli thrown in. I added lots of spices too. I think I might add some sort of sauce to the leftovers to change it up a bit. There is a salsa that I can’t wait to open up and try, but the rest of the salsa in my fridge has to go first. Lastly there’s a Nut Roll that looks really delicious. That one isn’t vegan, so I’m not sure yet if I’ll be trying it, but someone I know definitely will! One thing that Molly didn’t know was that I’m now eating gluten free too (gluten free vegan I must be crazy!). To be fair, I didn’t know that either until after I received her little taste of Minnesota. Lucky for me, ALL of this food happens to be gluten free so I get to enjoy everything. So thank you Molly for sending me some delicious treats, and for allowing me to use your blog to share how much I enjoyed getting some new foods to try!

Foodie Penpal Package - January 2013

A new year for more new food and fun.

If you didn't see my first post about Foodie Penpals, here is a little information about the program.

-On the 5th of every month, penpals receive their pairs via email. Within 72 hours you must contact your penpal to chat about preferences and addresses. You won't be paired with the same two people so you sent to person A and person B sends to you. Gets you connected to two people per month.
-The boxes are to be filled with fun local foodie things or homemade treats. The spending limit is $15 and the box must also include something written (a note, recipes, etc.).
-Figure out the best method and price for shipping and get it in the mail by the 15th of the month. This gives each person enough time to receive the package, check out the contents and write a post about it if they have a blog. Those without a blog can create a guest post for their penpal if they desire.
-Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian & European residents.You will only be paired with others from your country.
-Each month you sign up so if you have a busy month you don't have to participate in that one. If you don't contact or send your package more than once you will not be allowed to participate again. It is meant to be fun for all rather than a chore or a disappointment.
Check out Lindsay over at The Lean Green Bean for more info and to sign up for February.

Okay, on to MY food! This month my package was prepared by Kristin over at Making Grand Plans. First off, great package. I was so happy to get it all! If you would like to see what I sent to Arianna, check out her guest post on my blog.

I love that most of this is available at a store I can go to!

Kristin sent me a really terrific group of foods. I have tried, and eaten, almost all of it already. She is from Kansas so the sunflower granola and the BBQ sauce was in reference to her location. The rest of it was from Trader Joe's which is one of my new obsessions so I know I can get more.

The Sunflower Granola is definitely my favorite food in the box and I am really sad that I probably cannot find anything like it around here but I will keep an eye out. Though I lived in the KC area, and with all of my subsequent trips, I only have experienced KC style BBQ once so I will have to find a recipe I want to use the sauce to make.

The pumpkin pancake mix was used for a family breakfast the same week I got the package and I am really glad I found a way to share it because I would have eaten all of it. It was delicious! The pumpkin flavor was not too overpowering but enough that you knew it was there.

I have tried two of the four nut butters and they are definitely an intersting twist for me. I eat peanut butter with an apple every single day as my afternoon snack so changing up the nut butter was fun. I do have to say the maple almond butter did not really have that maple flavor but maybe it was overpowered by the almond. The honey almond butter did have a bit of honey sweetness to it. I am saving the chocolate hazelnut butter for a special dessert or something.

The dark chocolate covered pomegranate seeds are a great little "grab a few when you pass" snack. I like the tartness and really like the dark chocolate even though I prefer milk.

Definitely in love with this granola.

Overall great package and fun to get foods from a store where I can buy more. Thanks Kristin!

I am taking a break for February since I have some other things coming up but will definitely participate again in the future. 

2013 Will Come and Go. Learning and Reflection.

Today's impulse: self-reflection and goal-setting.

I have never been one to truly plan on or stick to resolutions. I am generally quite skeptical and negative about that type of thing. I also believe in constant self-reflection, though often more self-critical than self-affirming, but only in about the last two years have I made goals and expectations out of my personal reflections.

I do have goals. I do have passions to pursue. I do have expectations for my life and career. I am more prone to self-reflection and goal-setting on my birthday but found myself lost in thought today. Maybe this year, having written this out for all (read: me) to see I will follow up and through on my thoughts at the beginning of this new year.

A small list of things I hope to accomplish this year: I want to continue my journey to healthy habits by sticking to my exercise plans (5-6 days per week), trying new recipes and restaurants (at least 3 per month), becoming more financially stable and smart, and strengthening the connections I have to my family and close friends. New goals I have are to make career moves and goals at my current institution by June 1, to create a list of at least 20 activities I would like to try before January 1, 2014, and to actually focus on dating.

Today I was reading the January issue of Real Simple, a favorite magazine of mine, and it obviously focused on making 2013 a great year through goals and other things. I really enjoyed the article "10 Things Your Mother Didn't Teach You." My first thought at skimming the 10 ideas was that my mother is truly amazing having modeled much of the behavior included. Upon further reflection, she has done so without really drawing attention to much of it.

One idea from a research expert quoted in the article really stuck with me on one particular goal I set for myself on my 28th birthday. The section was "How to Take a Compliment." The expert, a clinical psychology instructor at Harvard, said that one of the reasons we do not take compliments well is the cultural expectation, however outdated, that we appear humble to praise. He goes on to say that the humility is also "a form of protection: 'We all just want to be loved and valued, but we walk around holding our breath about the ways in which we aren't.'" This really resonated with me. I went through a process of losing weight and becoming a healthier and happier person. This journey came to its culmination around my 28th birthday in reaching my goal weight a few weeks prior and meeting Lifetime Membership status with Weight Watchers, through which I was learning to be healthy the week of my big day. One thing that happened time after time as I went through that process, and also since, has been many compliments and comments about my physical appearance. When I was heavier and unhappy with myself compliments were few and far between as well as received with skepticism and dismissal. I often told myself that not only did I not deserve a compliment on my looks while being overweight and unhealthy but people must be really stretching to say such things to me as they could not possibly be true.

How many of us do this to ourselves? We learn from an early age to be confident in our self and our abilities but not too confident as to appear cocky and prideful. We are told to love ourselves as we are but that there are serums, medicines, clothing, acccessories, makeup, and procedures that can alter our appearance to others' liking. I learned from both of my parents that life is not an easy or obvious road but that you work on what you have and love those around you and you get through it together.

I think one major goal I would like to actually mark off my list in the coming year is to learn how to give and take compliments. This concept does not mean I want to have people tell me how great I look all the time. The skill of taking compliments, and therefore giving them properly, has a lot more to do with being present and being kind. Though I am a highly observant person I often choose not to say complimentary things to people. It is partly as the article stated, I want to appear humble and therefore do not want to invite comments toward myself. It is also often a self-conscious action as making comments on others' appearance, thoughts, or actions shows them just what I am observing and I do not want that to make another person self-conscious as I make myself in similar situations. I want to learn to take a compliment without analyzing why someone would give it and I want to give compliments with the sincerity they deserve.

I think this is also about focusing more on the positive and learning from every experience and person. It is about constant observation, being present, and choosing words wisely. These are all things I would like to say that I do naturally.

Here's to ending 2012 on a high note but expecting so much more of myself in 2013 and beyond.

Happy New Year to you as well. May you find your life filled with happiness.

I love packages!

One reason why I am the perfect online impulse shopper? I love getting packages! I love coming home and finding a box with my name on it outside my door.

When I found out about Foodie Penpals, courtesy of Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean, I knew I had to give it a shot. It combines my love of getting packages with my deeper love of FOOD. Win-win.

Foodie Penpals pairs people from across the country with others to send small, inexpensive packages of food. The point is to have connections but also to experience new and exciting food trends around the states. An interesting piece of the matches is that the person sending me food is not the same person to whom I send my package. So each month I am directly connected to at least two new people through our love of simple, fun, and local foods.

My match, Alexis, sent me an email right away when the matches were sent. After letting her know my personal food habits, which are "gimme," she sent me a wonderful package of delicious foods.

The package must include"something written" so Alexis included an adorable card.

First, how funny is it that someone from Florida sent me a package including a wild rice blend from California? Being a proud Minnesota girl I do love that wild rice. This blend actually includes wild, brown and red rices cultivated in California. I was very excited to see this in the box and have already used it in a delicious Mahnomen recipe (see previous post). It is delicious and has a great texture with the blend of rices.

The package also included sweet potato chips, the Food Should Taste Good brand which I love, and those were eaten quite possibly the next day. They are great with homemade guacamole and salsa.

Alexis also included some Chai Tea (yummy) and hot chocolate mixes (double-yummy). Either I gave her a lot more information than I thought about my food likes or we are the same person. Going into the winter when I love snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating, these will be used and enjoyed often. I will also use the trail mix and protein bar while enjoying outside winter activities.





In short, this was a great package for me. I get to experience some new rice and drink blends and connected with the wonderful Alexis.

Next month we are forgoing sending packages to penpals in lieu of sending money and supplies for relief efforts of Hurricane Sandy. Thanks, Lindsay, for an awesome movement!

Traditional Mahnomen

Wild rice is one of the few rices I will eat. I do not particularly like the texture or lack of flavor from regular white or brown rice but I do love the nutty, flavorful, textured loveliness of wild rice. Yes, I am a true Minnesota girl in that love.

When I was in college I took several courses in American Indigenous cultures (Native American). One of the best parts of any culture, in my food-loving opinion, is the food. We often had potluck classes where people would attempt recipes or our professors brought in traditional family recipes. During many of these classes we discussed wild rice in the Northern Minnesota and North Dakota tribes. Today versions of wild rice can be found in more places, California has been cultivating a form of wild rice, but the traditional harvesting methods here in the northern Midwest are still the best and most sustainable. The tribes of northern Minnesota and North Dakota often still harvest the rice using hand-built canoes and rice paddles.

I only include that little story because I like to find sustainable farmers and I love the indigenous history of my beautiful state. Also, you can order wild rice directly from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa as well as find recipes and stories.

Okay, history lesson done. Let's cook!

A great way to enjoy wild rice, Mahnomen, is to cook the rice and mix in local seasonable vegetables and herbs. Or, as we have access to non-seasonable, non-local everything in this global economy, whatever you have in your veggie drawer. I had my last butternut squash (still good!) from my CSA, fresh onion, mushrooms, and sage.

The great thing about meals including a grain like rice is that you can prepare everything at once while the rice is simmering and it all finishes at the same time beautifully.

Wild rice is a 3 to 1 process. 3 cups water to 1 cup dry rice. It is done when the first few grains begin to "pop."

Full disclosure, this rice is actually a rice blend I received in my Foodie Penpal package (see next blog post). It is an interesting and delicious blend of wild, brown, and red rice cultivated in California. It definitely changed the flavors and texture but was still very good and I really liked the blend.

While the rice was doing its thing, I peeled the squash, sauteed it with onions, garlic, sage, and mushrooms, and a little spice (red pepper flakes).

You could also roast the squash and other veggies, pears, or apples, to add to the flavors.

Once it is all done, mix together and enjoy!

I couldn't wait to eat it so I quick threw it all on a plate and almost forgot to take a picture!

I also made myself some venison bratwurst to eat along with the mahnomen (not pictured, too hungry). It tasted like fall air and falling leaves and crisp evenings drinking cider and watching the moon rise.

Wild rice can be enjoyed in so many ways; Sweet or savory, soup or stew, main course or side dish, it is one great grain.

Traditional Mahnomen with Butternut Squash

1 cup wild rice
3 cups water
2 cups butternut squash, cut into 1/2" pieces
1/2 an onion, large diced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes to taste, optional
Serves 3-4

Bring water and rice to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 35-45 minutes. The rice will be ready when you see some of the grains "pop" revealing the creamy white interior. Set aside with lid on for approximately 10 minutes.

While the rice is simmering, heat frying pan with oil and saute butternut squash until it begins to soften, approximately 10 minutes. Add onion and saute until soft, about three minutes, then add the garlic for approximately one minute. Add the mushrooms and sage and leave on the heat for about three minutes for the mushrooms to soften. If you desire, add the red pepper flakes at this point.

Fluff the rice and add the sauteed vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Additional options for this recipe: venison, ground turkey, ground beef, or bacon. Corn, shredded carrots, or celery. Basil, parsley, or chives. There is really no way to mess up in a dish like this. If you have a lot of leftover rice, make soup or add it to a potpie.

Kitchen casualty: large cut on my palm that occurred while quartering the squash.
Recent new recipes: Martha Stewart's Honey and Sage Cornbread, spicy roasted cauliflower, brown sugar glazed carrots, chewy oatmeal scotchies.
Hopeful to try soon: anything with peppermint and chocolate for the holidays, Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple salad, pull-apart breads, Barley and Mushroom Risotto.

Let's Eat!

Impulsive shoppers beware! Personal shopping is a click and a package away.

Through a wonderful blogger I follow, Jenna at Eat, Live, Run, I was turned on to a new way to shop. Terrific. My credit card is currently sobbing in the background.

I saw Jenna's post about joining stitch fix and knew I had to try it. How could I say no to a package made just for me of clothing I don't have to go to the store to find? I signed up, got my approval/invitation, and filled out my profile.

First, how weird and awesome is it to answer questions about myself with a definitive "No" on animal and floral prints and a resounding "Yes" on bright colors and dresses? Also, I joined this service because I don't HAVE style...so stop asking me what styles I like and what designers I know. Let's go with none.

Anyways, I love coming home to packages!

This was sitting outside my door. What a great welcome home surprise! I was pretty pumped to open and see what I got.

First, this dress. I have always liked wrap dresses but don't often find ones that I like on my body. This was unfortunately the same issue. Beautiful navy color, thick and luxurious organic cotton, very comfortable for both work and play. The problems I saw when trying it on were that it didn't wrap far enough around so it didn't lay right in the front. It also was a bit pricey for the type of clothing item than my budget would allow. 

Notice the adorable, and practical, pictures of how to wear it and ideas for different outfits? I love it too! This is why I need that personal stylist/shopper! "You, wear it this way and with this color to accessorize! Good!" If only...

At this point, I have to ask, does anyone remember the iconic and wonderful movie Clueless? How I wish I had Cher's closet and computer animated stylist. So much easier than actually thinking, right? Also, the David Bowie soundtrack would really pep up my morning rituals. 


The next three items were less than ideal. Each "fix" will include four clothing pieces and an accessory from what I understand. The accessory in my first fix was a simple silver necklace with rings set at intervals. The only real problem is that I didn't like where those rings were set and that I can find similar pieces already hanging on my wall. The two shirts were both concepts I have tried and don't enjoy. The no-shape button-front shirt is not good for a curvy girl. And the V-neck with ruffles at the center of the chest draws too much attention to a spot where I do not need to draw attention.

The redeeming factor in both shirts is that I loved the color of both. Bright jewel tones are wonderful. I will definitely look for these colors when I go shopping. Gulp.

The one piece I seriously considered keeping was this gorgeous cowl-neck sweater. The color was great, the cowl was really large which I really liked, the fabric was soft and not itchy as sweaters tend to be. The idea card included tucking it in to a pencil skirt which I really loved as an outfit.

Yes, the horror of the blurry, mirrored self-portrait. Again, I am not a photographer.

Overall, the fix and the experience were terrific. I was sad to send it all back after having a fun Saturday afternoon fashion show for myself. If you are ever needing a boost, have someone else dress you up for a while. Fun!

In the end, I did not keep any of the pieces in this first fix but I hope to find more success when out shopping on my own, with some ideas in tow, and more success in my next fix. Good news, they send a little gift with each fix so I have a new colorful package of different sized sticky notes.

stitch fix = 1
Molly = Let's say .5 :)

If you are interested in setting up your own fix, check it out: Take me to stitch fix! 

The Glass Castle: Don't Throw Rocks. Or Anything. Actually, don't live there.

I tend to stay away from non-fiction. There is something about fiction (read: fantasy. All novels are someone's fantastical invention) that draws me in. Often with non-fiction I find my mind trying to puzzle out that people truly exist this way. However, I have recently read 3 or 4 non-fiction memoirs as they were given to me by someone who read it for a book club that I wish I could join. Mostly I want to prove I can join the book clubs by reading anything they throw at me. Hint. Cough.

The Glass Castle was one of those memoirs where I immediately question human nature versus nurture.The main factor that kept me turning pages was Jeannette Walls' terrific writing and un-self-concious view of her less than ideal childhood. Walls has the ability to write each word as though she had journaled them during the events. To read about falling out of a moving car and being left on the side of the road for an indeterminate amount of time as an adult is terrifying and anger-inducing. To read about it through the eyes of a toddler who knows something is not right but doesn't have the high sense of self-preservation of the adult viewing the event with horror is eye-opening. A child only sees things as they occur and reacts authentically. When my nephew was younger, and now with the children of my friends, I learned not to overreact when they go through bumps, falls, lightning, fireworks, fill-in-the-blank. Their own true reaction, without input from an adult, is important.

Much like JK Rowling, Walls is able to elevate her writing with her age during the events in the memoir. As they near the age of realization that others live and interact differently in the world, Jeannette and her siblings come to realize their life with questionable parenting has consequences and is not an adventure as they were led to believe. The moment of realization that "I have to get out" seems so much more immediate and essential to survival than my own same feelings in my late teens.

The main reactions I had to the stories were about my own family life and that I had it really good. Even in the worst of times our family was functional and loving. "Adversity builds character" is proven time and again in all situations I see and I would be interested to meet and observe Walls and her siblings in real life. I also found myself hoping that the stories Walls tells were very embellished and exaggerated because I could not help but think, "How could these children possibly have survived or still have any feelings or thoughts for their parents?" The answer is of course that they see their experiences through a much different lens and, even within their own sibling group, have much different reactions to the experiences they faced with their mom and dad. One of my favorite authors, Diana Gabaldon, uses a phrase in her Outlander series that goes something like this: Home is the place where they have to take you in no matter what you did. That goes both ways here. My home and family was that place. So was Walls' home and family.

I also continue to marvel at the visceral reaction I can have at the written word. I read mostly on the bus to and from work. Strangers probably see me and my book/ereader and see my facial expressions changing with the scenes. They may see me laugh, scowl, gasp, or respond in some other way and wonder what I am reading, or maybe what I am on. I have completely lost it and laughed hysterically a time or two. I nearly cried once as well. What is it about stories, told aloud, seen on a screen, or read on a page, that drive deep into our minds and hearts this way? I wouldn't trade it if I knew how. Read this memoir. 

Previous Book: The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
Book Reviewed: The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Current Book: The Passage, Justin Cronin

New Blog FYI: I will do book reviews when I read something new. Also, someday I will create my own template and make this blog more me. Someday.