Food

Synopsis of this post: It's July and I still love cooking food, making it aesthetically pleasing, and taking pictures of the plated product. 

One of our roomies has been finishing up a class online in order to officially complete her degree. She has been working her regular job, babysitting, and working on assignments! I asked what her favorite dessert was to commemorate finishing the class to which she replied "anything with peanut butter and chocolate". Welp, not sure if it was good or not since I only made her one special mason jar creation, but it was graham cracker, cool whip and peanut butter whipped together, with layers of chocolate. 

Spinach quiche- one of my favorite things to make (and eat)

Margs with fancy straws from my mom to go with the fabulous Indian tacos for my half birthday celebration. Thanks Grandma for sending the fry dough mix!

Family Brinner! (breakfast for dinner!)

Sarah, our 19-year-old housemate, likes to refer to herself as "The Underground Chef". In an Australian accent as if describing a rare crocodile sighting she'll narrate "the underground chef has done it again. No one would have believed the youngest in the house could become the top chef." 

The meatloaf WAS good Sarah, but the lessons will continue to diversify her gastronomical bag of tricks!

I know that I am forgetting several, but here's a list of some of the things we have introduced Sarah to this summer:
Pineapple. All pineapple. This time in the form of grilled pineapple.
Pepitas
Goat cheese
No bake cookies 
Prosciutto
Feta
Vermicilli (new for Em and Sharon as well)
Asparagus
Brie
Bean sprouts
Indian tacos (new for Emily and Sharon too)

 

Baked brie with sandplum jelly and a little dough covering

A nice salad with "caprese nachos" on triscuits

Everyone was amazed by the broccoli cheese chicken casserole.
 "Wait, you don't even cook the rice?"
"You just mix everything together and it all cooks?"
"You just use that one dish?"

And now the collection of Mermaid Farm yogurt + Aunt Dianna granola + fruit pics

A yummy quinoa and veggie hash made by Emily and a little side caprese

Cous cous, lemon steamed green beans, brown sugar reduced apples, and pork tenderloin (+Bota Pinot Noir)

Fourth of July consisted of french fries and burgers- 'Merica!

Emily and I are intrigued by spaghetti squash and all of its uses. I found this video for how to make a spaghetti squash breakfast hash. This has bell peppers, tomatoes, bacon, an egg and is topped with provolone and avocado. It was delicious.

We played a "game" for my weekly meeting. Everyone had to think of all the birds that occurred on the Vineyard that had red on them, in honor of the Fourth of July. I created a PowerPoint with clues and information as well as these scorecards. I made some cinnamon rolls as our meetings are in the morning.


 

I experimented making "quick" pho last night. I've really been craving and missing good Asian food since moving from OKC. There are so many amazing Vietnamese places with different fresh noodle bowls and sushi that I had at my fingertips for so long! I used to go to happy hour sushi right by campus every Monday. I would usually be seated at the same table, order the same two rolls, and read for my World Religions class before making my way back for the 6:00 lecture. Homemade pho is the next best thing! If you know me well you'll know that I'm very type A and thrive on planning and organizing, yet hate following instructions. Therefor I just "winged it" on this one.