And so begins the fridge challenge...

When my mom visited me in April, we were thrilled to discover  the new Publix Greenwise was opening in my apartment complex the same weekend. 

While we didn't technically plan the two to coincide, you may as well have thought we did based on our grand opening attendance. We ran around the store like kids on Christmas morning - checking the superb aisle organization, oohing and aahing at the product selection and interviewing the employees: "are you excited?" "do you think the people at Kroger are sad?" "what's your favorite sample?"

We love a good grocery store.

However, combine that with my love of fresh produce, and you've got an astronomical grocery bill.

Inspired by Shape's One Month No Grocery Challenge and the fact that I'm moving at the end of the month (more on that later), I'm abstaining from going to the grocery store for the rest of the month.

It's going to be a serious (majorly serious) challenge, seeing as I'm currently chickenless in this house. However, I'm relatively stocked up on vegetables - both frozen and fresh. It will just force me to eat more strategically and be less flippant about expiring spinach. No doubt I'll be nomming on soup by Jan. 31, but I'm hoping I'll actually clean out the cabinets, save money and avoid lugging cans of beans to my new place.

Wish me luck!

PS I only wish I had so many peppers as there are in that stocked fridge above! Yummers!

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three cheers [and three days!] for MLK

We had yesterdoozy off for MLK day and it was glorious. I had a baby panic attack when I woke up - positive that I actually needed to go in, but after quickly checking my email and realizing no one was missing me at the office, I rolled right over and snuggled under my covers for another hour. 

I checked off a few small tasks, but mainly just enjoyed a slow day, including coffee+the Today show, bike shopping for tri training, a long walk in the afternoon with Abby and experimenting with a new veggie burger recipe. 

The day affirmed my belief that every weekend should be three days and I'm about ten seconds away from starting a petition. Areyawithme!?

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Is it OK to blog about food two days in a row?

Don't get too excited now, but this week can be summed up most adequately as the Week of Brussels Sprouts. I've been on a serious mission to fall in love with them, partially because of their high Fooducate score, and partially because I'm trying to expand my horizons.

Tuesday night was a total failure. I threw them into a sauté pan with veggies and chicken, and when I started eating them, they were basically still raw.

My mom then informed me that you have to boil or steam them prior to sauteing, which was a real game changer Wednesday night. Once boiled, I cooked them with walnuts and evo -- and never looked back. I can't stop thinking about them! Now I know why people either love or hate them. People that love them have moms that know to boil them. People that hate them have sillies like me making them.

I'm really excited about this addition to my fridge. Anyone want to come over so I can sauté them up some bsprouts?

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sweet pickles

It's rumored that the only people in the world that know the recipe for Coca Cola are two top company executives, both of which only know half of it. Regardless of whether this is true, its kept under lock and key, and I'm pretty sure my dad's recipe for pickles should be treated the same way.

Absolutely amazingly delicious, I'm positive they're his ticket to fame. But, I'd be kind of sad because then he'd be too busy making them for other people than for me. Ah!

Last week was Leslie's last week with our company (sad) and after learning of her mutual obsession with sweet pickles, I decided to give her a jar from my stash.

It was really (really) hard to part with them, but she loved them so much that it was definitely worth it.

I'm down to only two jars, which is concerning. But I have a feeling my dad might send me more if I ask really nicely.