Helloooooooooooo everyone!!
How are you doing on this fine day?
I'm doing just terrific thank you!
I know these past six months or so I've been updating CCH all willy nilly left and right with no rhyme or reason but that lull is about to come to an end I can assure you! I've been going through big life changes this past year or so and it's been hard to find the time or the actual want to update and talk about my daily life. But I'm starting to settle into myself again and am finding myself in a really awesome place in life. So what better time to pick back up where I left off?
I miss my blogging hay days where I was posting every day or every other day without fail, so let's see if I can get back to that place, eh? It's a lot of hard work keeping up with work, my personal life, and food blogging, but I will do my best. Although I don't get paid for CCH I look at it as my second job. So thank you to those who've stuck it out despite my days/weeks/months without posting! But I digress....
Todays post is a sort of catch up on the last few weeks/random type of post......
Well....all of my posts are fairly random now that I think about it. That can most likely be attributed to the fact that my mind is all over the place and I'm usually thinking a bunch of random things all at once. I can't always be held accountable as to how my thoughts just spill out of my brain! Seeing as I can't wait a second longer to listen to this song....
I suggest you listen to it as well whilst perusing through the rest of this post :)
Marcie is my little blogging puppy.....
Whether I'm laying on my bed, sitting on the couch, or perhaps at the kitchen table - Marcie isn't far behind. She just jumps up and sits on my lap while I type away. For the most part I enjoy her presence, but sometimes she really gets on my nerves. If she isn't sleeping like an angel or occupying herself by chewing the shit out of her collar, she is walking across my MacBook or licking my face relentlessly. So when these shenanigans happen I start taking pictures of her. She hates it. This works without fail every time.
(My own interpretation of Marcies voice....because what else do I have to do with my time? lol)
"Ooooo oooo oooo mom pick me up! Pick me up! Pleeeeasseeee pick me up! Oh my god I'll just die if you don't pick me up right this second! "
"Wait.....what? Pictures? I hate pictures. I just came to lick your face, scratch my ears, mess with your key board and take a nap on your arm so that it's hard for you to type."
"Sigh....not the ears. Mom let go of my ears. I'm not kidding. Let go. Are pictures really necessary??"
"Fuck this. I'm out."
Works every time.
I spent my St. Patricks Day celebrating the same way that I'm sure a majority of you did .......
Drinking and eating with friends of course :)
I'm pretty sure this was my first year celebrating the holiday in any way shape or form, which makes complete sense seeing as I'm twenty one now. Gotta live up to the stereotype I suppose lol. Shar (my roommate) and I started the day at about 9:30 in the morning... and when I say "started the day" I mean we started drinking at 9 in the morning lol.
Shar and I spent just about all day at Lee Anne (my coworker/friend) and Bryans house. If I'm not at work, at my apartment, or at my parents house, I'm most likely hanging out with Lee Anne and Bryan. Luckily for Shar and I we were invited over for drinks (which goes without saying) and brunch! I know to never pass up an invite to eat anything Lee Anne cooks up.....that'd be just crazy!!
Without further adieu - here is our holiday celebration of sorts in picture form..... because lord knows I can't form the words to describe any of this. Let's just say good times were had by all :)
My health and exercise is a topic we will get to within the next few days..... but for now I will continue to stand by my decision to drink and eat donuts first thing in the morning lol.
Lucky for us Daytonians - the weather on St. Patricks day was on point.
It was absolutely wonderful the entire day!
It was so warm outside that I decided to wear my favorite jumper and a pair of flats. No more tights for me! Wooday woot! Take that winter. It's time to show my pale legs off.
HOLY YUM.... the combination of the two was ridiculously good.
Sweet hangs with dress up refrigerator Jesus.
What was on the menu you ask?
Biscuits, sausage gravy, and bacon.
Holy moly my mouth is watering just thinking about it.....
Don't let the photographs fool you, this was just the first plate of several....and the drinks pictured above wasn't even half of it. I'm not proud of my actions, but I'm not necessarily ashamed either lol.
How could I forget the poppers?
So cheesy and delicious!
For dessert - a delectable Guinness chocolate cake with smooth Baileys cream cheese icing.
Believe it or not the photographs don't do this justice. I ate more than I should've.....not even the least bit ashamed about it either lol. Every good day should end with cake.
And it most certainly did :)
I'd like to give a warm shout out, and a hearty "I feel you girl" to those of you who've had the flu these past few months - or who are currently suffering with the dreadful sickness.....
Sunday, Monday and most of Tuesday a couple of weeks ago I had one of the worst stomach flus I can remember. I looked a hot mess, I was all sorts of sick, and I had to miss a day of work. I can count the number of times I've missed work due to sickness on one hand. I have to be pretty bad to call off. But luckily everyone at Olive was super cool about it and my shift was covered in a jiffy. Thank goodness for that.
What is my remedy for sickness? Nothing out of the ordinary - Plenty of rest, tons of fluids, a lot of vitamin C (my Odwalla was a must) a little bit of 7 up, pedialyte, and when I could finally keep food down I had some saltine crackers and a plain baked potato. It took me about a week or so to feel back to my healthy self again. Bleh I hate being sick....then again I'm not sure who really enjoys it lol, but I especially hate it.
If you're sick then please do everyone a solid and keep to yourself as best as you can. I got my dad sick, and I was hardly near him mind you, and I felt like an asshole for inadvertently doing it!
My most recent vices........
Sinfully delicious breakfast items....
Breakfast. I'm sure most of you are thinking "Breakfast has always been your favorite meal Jenna....it's hardly a vice." Yes....but lol - I haven't always had biscuits, gravy, and bacon every week. I have fallen off the wagon my good friends. But don't worry I'll be back on ASAP. But unhealthy weekend breakfast choices has most certainly been a vice of mine as of late.
Inebriated walks/hikes through the woods....
Sounds fun right? No....not always. Not when you get lost in the woods for an hour and a half and the only reason why you found your way back on path is because your friends dog led you there. Yea... Adventures have most definitely been had this year lol. That I can say with full honesty. My life is like a movie. The strange situations I get myself into never stop. I have stories for days... one of them being the time I got drunk and went on a hike and got lost.
One of my favorites.
Eating at my favorite mexican restaurant Taqueria Mixteca....
How could eating at my favorite restaurant be a bad thing? Well once you account for the rice, beans, cheese dip and/or guacamole, chips, etc. and multiply this meal times three or four (because let's face it, once a week isn't enough) it adds up lol. Taqueria is most definitely a must have vice - but multiple times I week? I think I'm starting to go off the deep end with this one. If there is such a thing as too much of a good thing - TM is it lol.
I'm powerless when it comes to an ice cream cone on a hot day......
Utterly powerless I tell you.
My last vice, and probably worst of all (also the only vice that does not contain drinking and/or eating mind you lol) needs a bit of explaining.....
Yes this vice does have to do with shopping, but let me explain myself first....
I hate shopping. I mean I really hate it. Not only am I an extremely picky girl with a very specific style, but NOTHING ever fits me. Specifically shoes and dresses. (I have issues finding pants that fit right as well, but I gave up on pants long ago so that's no longer an issue.)
Cute shoes that fit are hard to come by because my feet are big and it seems as if the only constant shoe size in stores is 7.... not a size 10 lol. As for dresses? I know it's hard for most people to tell, but I'm a pretty chesty girl. By pretty chesty I mean very lol. You must be thinking "Big boobs? Woo! Awesome!" For the most part yes, but the rest of my body is on the small size, so I have to buy large dresses just so my boobs fit - problem with that is the dress fits HUGE on the rest of my body. Then I try buying small dresses - problem with that is they don't zip up past my rib cage.
Long story short - I hate shopping. BUT. On the rare occasion I strike gold. And this is where my vice comes into play......
When I do find a dress, a pair of shoes, etc. that fits me right or that I adore - I HAVE to buy it. No ifs and or buts about it. Because chances are it'll be months and months until I find something I like again, and I will most definitely regret my not buying the aforementioned item that I adore.
You must be thinking "nothing wrong with striking gold every now and again Jenna." Yes. I agree. That's what I continuously tell myself prior to making a clothing purchase. But on the rarest of rare occasion.... this happens over, and over and over and over again. And every single thing I see I love, and what do you know - it fits perfect too! So I have to get it because chances of me ever finding something so perfect will never happen again. Then I go to the next store and OMG these shoes fit perfect! Next store, omg this dress! Do you see where I'm going with this?
Well this girl that absolutely hates shopping - had one of those weeks.....this week my vice was spending an unsightly amount of money on beautiful dresses that fit like gloves, countless bras from Victoria Secret (being chesty is not cheap mind you - you have to buy the proper bra - which always ends up being a fortune), underwear, shoes, a bathing suit (that makes me look totally bodacious might I add lol), etc.
I couldn't help myself....my poor poor credit card.
Can't wait to get my tax returns lol.
(Just a mere pile compared to the rest of my purchases lol)
I will never ever forget the dress that got away........
It may look like a white dress to you.But it is the end all be all of dresses to me.
The dress above will always haunt me. It was meant for me. When I lived in Florida way back when I took one of my weekly trips to Marshalls and put on this dress. Pardon my unnecessary potty mouth, but it fit like a fucking glove I tell you! I referred to not buying this as "self control" - I now call this self control "stupidity." AGHHH I wish I could rewind time and buy it lol.
My new motto: If I try on a dress and immediately feel like Jackie O or Grace Kelly - I cannot pass it up.
Like I've stated before - when I find something I like I can't pass it up, because chances are I will never find anything like it again. I'm too picky to pass these things up. My style is too particular. (Did I mention I'm also really picky about fabrics? lol)
But I digress........a little too late might I add. I'm sure all of you think I'm a basket case by now haha.
Now time to drool over the photographs I've taken of the lunch specials Lee Anne and I created together the past two weeks at work.....
I know I've mentioned it a number of times before but I feel the need/want to mention it again.....
The art that is food photography fascinates me to no end. Despite the fact that I'm not the most professional of photographers around(meaning I take all of these pictures on my fancy schmancy iPhone lol)- I strive day after day to try and do my best to capture beautiful photos of our food. I not only represent the restaurant I work at through these photographs but I also represent Lee Anne and myself. Not to toot my own whistle but I think the two of us are doing a pretty great job ::TOOT TOOT!!::
:)
A spinach, mushroom and tomato strata - topped with feta cheese and served atop siracha.
Sausage breakfast casserole.
Angel hair pasta and veggies.
Bib lettuce shells filled with herbed brown rice, tomatoes, roasted veggies and a lemon and basil slaw - served with a feta yogurt sauce.
A BLT on croissant with pesto aioli and a side of roasted brussels.
Super three cheese grilled cheese sandwich with pesto aioli.
Braised beef lasagna.
Veggie 'mexico' breakfast casserole.
Omelet sandwich on freshly made ciabatta bread with peppers, onions, provolone cheese and a rich pesto aioli.
A cream cheese, walnut and chocolate chip stuffed french toast.
Brunch is my favorite day of the week :)
Lemon basil & chive hummus sandwich.
Berry cobbler (Not 100% certain what's in this one....I think it might've been gluten free)
Fresh salad with baked chicken tossed in a tomato balsamic dressing topped with pancetta, bleu cheese crumbles and scallions!
Baklava....need I say more?
A beautiful creamy beet and sweet potato soup garnished with pesto and feta.
Chicken, bacon and cheese casserole with a rich veloute sauce.
A fried egg sandwich on ciabatta bread with aioli, basil, havarti cheese, lettuce and tomato!
Quesadillas on chipotle tortillas with sweet potato, feta & cilantro puree with spinach, avocado and havarti cheese. It came with a roasted red pepper Greek yogurt dipping sauce.
If you visit Olives Facebook page HERE every Tuesday through Saturday you will find pictures I've taken similar to the ones above of our wonderful lunch specials! Or you could just come to Olive on the aforementioned days, have lunch, and say hello!
That's about enough rambling out of me this evening.....
It's waaaaay past my bedtime! If I don't get to sleep within the next thirty minutes I will most certainly be a grouchy girl at the restaurant tomorrow morning. No one likes a grouchy Jenna I can assure you.
I hope each and every one of you are having a splendid week!
Be sure to fill your body with healthy foods, and exercise as often as possible.
A happy body makes for a happy you! Healthy and still unhappy....well.... the only advice I have for you is to hold a puppy. Always makes me feel better :)
-Jenna
Let us begin.......
[[Todays music]]
SCISSOR SISTERS - I DON'T FEEL LIKE DANCIN'
[[Todays restaurant]]
VOO DOO DOUGHNUT - PORTLAND, OREGON
(Fast forward to 6:25 to see Voo Doo Doughnut)
[[Todays kitchen gadget]]
WORLDS SMALLEST PORTABLE MICROWAVE
"It is the world's smallest, portable microwave and can be powered via a link to the USB port on a laptop computer. The turquoise device -called the Beanzawave - has been created in partnership with Heinz to allow workers tied to their desks to create a warm snack, or hot drink, to see them through the day. However, it might also sustain a hard-working student through the many hours of lonely revision."
[[Todays random]]
(1) EDIBLE CRAYON
(2) CAPSULE HOTELS
"A capsule hotel is a hotel system of extremely dense occupancy in Japan. A guest room is truly just a human “capsule” providing room to sleep and little more, although facilities usually include a television and other electronic entertainment. These capsules are then grouped and stacked, two units high. Luggage is usually stored in a locker away from the capsule. Privacy is maintained by a curtain at the open end of the capsule but noise pollution can be high. Washing facilities are communal and there are often restaurants, or at least vending machines, and other entertainment facilities.
This style of hotel accommodation was developed in Japan and has n
ot gained acceptance outside of the country. The Japanese capsule hotels vary widely in size, some having only fifty or so capsules and others over 700, and are often male only. Clothes and shoes are exchanged for a robe and slippers on entry. The benefit of these hotels is convenience, and price, usually around $25 a night."
[[Todays food clip]]
MAN VS. FOOD - PANCAKES CHALLENGE
If you know me then you know I just looooove pancakes. I even dedicated a specific day of the week to this delicious breakfast item (pancake Saturdays). My mouth is seriously watering just watching this video!!! That being said - there is absolutely no way I could complete this challenge. My stomach couldn't take it. Props to Adam.
[[Todays curly head]]
SHAUN WHITE
I'm not going to lie.... I'm mildly jealous of his hair.
It is quite beautiful.
[[Today’s recipe]]
BROWNIE CANDY CUPS
CAUTION: If you are not a serious chocolate lover beware. This is SOOOOO choclatey and it is also filled with EXTREME peanut butter cup deliciousnesssss. You’ve been warned.
::Ingredients::
1 Package ‘Duncan Heins Chocolate Lovers: Extra double fudge brownie mix’
(Or something fairly similar)
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
Roughly 30 miniature peanut butter cup candies (wrappers removed)
::Directions::
-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
-Remove all of the wrappers from the peanut butter cups and set aside.
-Fill a baking sheet entirely with 2 inch foil cupcake tins.
-In a large bowl combine brownie mix, eggs, water, and oil.
-Blend/stir this mixture until well blended.(make sure there are minimal lumps if any)
-Spoon about 2 level tablespoons this mixture into teach of the prepared foil tins (I fill my cups about ¾ of the way up)
-Place the baking sheet into the oven for 10 minutes
-When the ten minutes are up; remove the sheet from the oven
-Quickly push 1 peanut butter cup in the center of each brownie cup cake until they are even with the surface of brownie. (Don’t push the brownie too far in to the cupcake or the brownie will be caved in when it comes out of the oven the second time)
-Place the baking sheet back into the oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes longer.
-Remove from the oven and transfer to a baking rack – cool completely
ENJOY!
Requests? Questions? Just want to chat? Leave me a comment!
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