Last Hot Night in America

Once again!  I didn't fall off the earth, I was just drowning in paperwork and school.  I didn't forget about the blog, though it's possible many people have.  I'm back and it's ever so tempting to yell and jump up and down, because last night... I sang with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.

I don't think posting that on my food blog is going to make a difference, or announce to the world how over the moon excited and happy I was, but it's a start.

I SANG WITH JOHN RZEZNIK LAST NIGHT AT THE CONCERT!!!

And really, does anyone want to deal with the whole "caps lock is for cool"?  No.  It gets old and people just want to hear what my latest amazing dish is, not about some silly concert.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!! I SANG INTO THE SAME MICROPHONE AS JOHN RZEZNIK!!!

So, when you start reading and think, "Wow, am I thankful she kept that to herself, I'm here for the cheesecake recipe,"  I'm just so happy I could oblige.


SINGING WITH GOO GOO DOLLS AT THE CONCERT LAST NIGHT IS A HIGHLIGHT IN MY LIFE AND A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE!!!

Did I mention I'm going to another one of their concerts tomorrow night?

Let's hope I can be as self controlled tomorrow as I was today.

And, as a welcome back from the dead party for my blog.  This week will have a new recipe which is AMAZING (almost as amazing as singing with Johnny).


Hey, at least I tried to keep calm!

Pics!  Though I don't have one yet of me actually singing with him because I was singing, not taking pics!

Food Negligence

I think that should be a blog felony. You cannot write a food blog then neglect food. It just isn't right. You see, it all started on Monday (last Monday) with my delusions of grandeur....

I thought I'd get on the right track by starting to talk about hot mayo and how riled up I could get talking about that one thing that's so icky, but then with the saving grace at the end by tossing in a redeeming dish with no hot mayo! What a great game plan. Until I went to see Johnny. Oh ya. You read that one right. My birthday was this past Friday, and what did I get for my birthday? John Rzeznik. Well. Not like in my house, at my disposal (whoa is it getting warm in here???) but live in concert; an acoustic show worthy of all praises. I was front row, pretty much, one short girl kinda next to/in front of me but I was really close. My friend went with me and I shot some amazing video, very very awesome. He was on F-I-R-E fire. I was getting really bummed out waiting because I got there so darn early, since I was afraid of missing it, that I started getting so tired of waiting and thought about if it was going to be worth it. But alas, he was the last one on stage and boy did he rock it. Very alive and sounded like an angel. Good setlist, nothing crazy, BUT he did sing American Girl - hot! When John Waite doesn't come in and take over... =( I wanted to get it on video John singing American Girl live... instead I get this 80's throw back singer turned stage hog. Don't get me wrong, John Waite is great for his own songs. But John sings American Girl like a dream.

For dinner, I had the steak and shrimp fajita at a decent chain restaurant. Later that night a hit at the rack for some sushi. That was the day's dealings with food. I was going to try to be up early to write here but it just all fell through. I was going to go for a walk too and that didn't happen, and I was going to sleep more and that didn't happen either. Seems like I have some catching up to do. Saturday I did end up making a gluten free sugar free cake, but I'll have to replicate the recipe a few more times to make sure it's right on.

So. Since I partied with JR, screamed like a overzealous teenager, celebrated my birthday and had a blast this past Friday, it's time to get back to work. So, what's coming up on Friday?

Hint: What I was going to talk about last Friday. =)

Stay tuned!

Oh he's so beautiful... Like an angel with golden ethereal tresses and a voice from heaven... (am I going a bit overboard? NAH I DIDN'T THINK SO! hee hee!)

Sneak Peak Monday - Side Dish!

So, welcome back from the weekend. It's been a great one for all you who are probably NOT reading this blog but still on a Sat night high from the Goos show in Orlando. Of which... I missed. DON'T PANIC! I didn't die. Obviously. I'm here writing. =) No, perhaps in a fate worse than death, I had sinus surgery. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Well, what day was it, cuz I'd totally brave some pain to get some Goo?!" Yes, agree. I think under normal circumstances - like pneumonia - I'd just go and that would be that. But this was a little different. I didn't have someone who could drive me (and I couldn't drive), I had no working painkillers (still don't), and doc orders said to stay away from other people (what's some germs among Goo fans?) Monday morning found me at my computer, sighing over fan recordings and comments on the site about how awesome and kick@ss it was and how John sang an acoustic version of "Can't Let It Go." /swooning.

What does all this have to do with a food blog? Nothing. But you can't have good food without good music and you can't enjoy good food and good music without good company and here we are. =) Glad you made it. I'm still kinda recovery mode and that means having to be purposefully lazy. So, as a sneak peak to Friday, we're going to do a really simple, colorful, delicious side dish. You're not going to want to save this one for company because it's just easy to do any night and then hide in the back of your refrigerator so you can have the leftovers the next day. Here's your hint: pairs perfectly with turkey! But like I said, don't just save it for that. You can put it with meatloaf, roasted chicken, and maybe even a buttered whitefish! They all work with this one.

To get your mouth watering, here's your pic of the day: >=) (evil grin)

I believe this picture was taken when he was talking about the time they woke up from a drunken night to find themselves in dresses, him with one leg shaved, and 3rd degree burns all over their bodies; it was also shortly before John started throwing his clothes into the crowd. That was a really fun night. We met him out on the street before the concert and got an autograph then my oldest son went with J (owner of the other pic from previous post) for the meet and greet. This was a Goo jackpot for him that night.

See you Friday!

Introducing Free Friday!

Sooo, this is kinda an inspiration from somewhere else, but I figured this would be a good way to get me here, writing on the blog once a week - introducing free Fridays. Basically, I'll try to come up with a simple or at least creative meal for Friday. IF somehow I can't come up with any amazing recipe, I'll make sure I post something edible. I promise not to say shrimp cocktails too many weeks in a row.

Today is for comfort food. I think I had a hard few days and decided that when you're worried about food all the time, it starts to weigh on you instead of being a good thing. Decidedly yesterday was one of those days nothing looked good. Insert reach for pasta here. Now every person out there with sugar and wheat issues knows pasta is not a great choice. There are a lot of different gf pastas to choose from: rice, quinoa, corn, amaranth. Pick a pasta you like the taste, texture and isn't too strong. Some people find quinoa to be too strong, but I really like the flavor and love the texture, it's as close as I can get to wheat. I'm so addicted to the texture of wheat - I'd never eat it again if it lost it's nice smooth, elasticky, rich texture. Ohya. I'm not supposed to eat it ever again anyway. I digress.

Watch portions of pasta very carefully, in regards to sugars. A single serving of quinoa corn pasta can have 46g carbs and that means a nice sugar crash 45 min later. Pair it with steak or shrimp, AND (yes I said and) some strong leafy veggies like kale, spinach or escarole. If necessary only have 1/2 serving. I'm a pasta fiend. I could eat a whole box in one sitting and have nothing more than garlic, butter and salt on it. yum.

So here's today's recipe (I'm going to super cheat here on ingredients so you can see how easy this would be to pick up and toss together - some work necessary but you'll be so glad you did.)

Craving pasta!

Cook 1 serving (for each person) of your favorite GF pasta

1 bottle of your favorite spaghetti sauce (yikes! or if you have your own use it but try to make it ahead so this is available!)

1/2 bag of frozen mixed veggies like squash, zuccini, carrots and whatever fun blend you want to use, red peppers, green peppers (whatever is already chopped!)

Couple handfuls of chopped kale

1 crock pot or rotisserie chicken (check labels for wheat used as a stabilizer in the marinade for these chickens)

Ok you have your pasta done in the sink with butter melting all over it. Take those frozen veggies and kale and omg /gasp (microwave them till soft) - no one heard me say that. Just get them unfrozen asap!

Open up the jar of sauce, pour into a pan or (yes you can microwave that too.) Toss the softened veggies/cooked kale in a food processor and pulse till you cannot recognize it for much more than baby food. =)

Pour into the tomato sauce.

Heat.

Place pasta on a plate, top with sauce, some cheese of your fav variety (I like mozo) and then a few slices of chicken on top.

Voila. Comfort food for the SFGF crowd. Everyone will love it. The sauce texture is amazing, the flavors pop and the balance is beautiful for when you're really craving pasta!

I realized today I have no real pictures of any of these foods or anything resembling a nice plate of wholesome foods... but I have a lot of pictures of Johnny Rzeznik. /sheepish grin. Does that help a food blog? Oh yes, I love good scenery while I eat. Ahem.

(Thank you J for your picture contribution, that is my favorite guitar of all time.)