in the hole

Before any dirty thoughts pop in your head, let me explain the title of the post for the rest of this blog entry.
I'm on my last days of my academic career which I repeat on this blog multiple times and will continue to repeat until May 17th when I wake up in my bed in my hometown with a slight panic attack.
I was also on my last avocado. The end is near and contents of my pantry and fridge are on their last leg just like me (metaphorically that is.)
Instead of making guacamole, or putting it on toast or mushing it up, I decided to go back to my summer job roots of sitting in the front desk of my job eating avocado straight out of the shell.
Recreating my summer job ways when life was simple and all I worried about was getting sunburned and not making kids drown, I ate the avocado pretending that I had no worries and college graduation was just a dream.
It didn't help.
I ate the whole avocado while watching Netflix and sat in my chair and sulked. No matter how much I try, the thought of leaving and become a grown-up is terrifying. Also I was sad that I was out of avocados.

Goat Cheese in Avocado with Dried Cranberries
1 avocado- cut in half
Goat cheese
dried cranberries (or any dried fruit)

Cut avocado in half and take out the pit. Lather goat cheese in the hole (the title of this blog) and sprinkle dried fruit or any nuts that you have. Sprinkle salt and pepper and eat with spoon.

I have 11 days until I will be done and 11 days until I will be quiet about graduation.

I apologize for talking about it so much, but thank you to all who are tolerating me. I really do appreciate it, in return I will come to your house and make you something, just give me a time and date.

Okay thanks bye. 

local outing with the spinster sisters part dos

Sunday Brunches are the new thing within hipsters and young-ins these days. I'm not sure how it got started or how brunch became an ordeal on Sunday mornings but they are.
Waking up early to fill your stomach with breakfast food at a later breakfast time to the point of a food coma where you then spend your Sundays laying in bed napping with Netflix waiting until the food coma ends.
It's exhausting but it's delicious and worth it.
I have gone to several brunches in my college time, to different places around the Bay Area and in Sweden, putting my stomach through multiple food comas. It is a never ending cycle of food comas and I enjoy it all the time.
This Sunday morning (so, like today) I did not put my stomach through that, fortunately and decided to be frugal yet adventurous with my bunch.
Normally, I put my body through pancakes, waffles or eggs benedict that are delicious and mouth watering, but today was not that day.
Looking at the menu, I decided to be different that the normal waffle/pancake/eggs benedict, and go for something less brunch-y.
I know, the brunch gods may haunt me for this, but I'm on a budget for the week and I wasn't really that hungry.

Place: The Spinster Sisters
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Food of Choice: Crostini with cream and strawberry onion jelly*
Cost: $12

*I know strawberry onion jelly sounds weird and gross, but being the adventurous eater that I am, it was delicious and the jelly was not onion-y. Also the waitress approved my order and said it was her favorite and it's always a confidence boost when the waiter approves your order.

local outings

With this blog coming to a close and hitting my goal (whether or not I will continue this blog is still up to date), my ideas of what to make are going blank and the stress level is high.
Sitting on my bed (which is something I usually do as you may know by now), I was thinking of what recipes I could make in the upcoming week before I present this blog to 40 students and then it came to me, via a text message.
My friend Olivia, the one who I snuck into her kitchen though her screen door hoping the cops didn't catch me friend Olivia, had invited me to get dinner at Ike's Sandwiches, a local sandwich place that has been poppin' in the Bay Area. (The cool kids still say "poppin" right? I hope so).
That's when the idea came to me, college students go out to eat every once in a while to explore the area around them and get away from cafeteria food.
88 posts in and I just figure this out. I could have had segments on going out on a budget but it took me until May to figure it out.
Go me.
But it's never to late, as this time around people are going out to eat to get the last meal at this place and so forth.
So this segment covers "How to go out on a budget under $20" by Estibaliz Romeo.

Place: Ike's Place in Santa Rosa and all over Bay Area
Item of Eating Choice: Menage a Trois: BBQ, Cheddar, Halal Chicken, Honey Mustard, Pepper Jack, Real Honey, Swiss
Total Cost: $10.68

It was bomb, the sandwiches are big and filling and I will repeat, it was bomb.
If you are ever in the Bay Area, go to this place, eat the sandwich be in love with Ike's and his place.

procrastination snack

With my last academic graduation coming close in two weeks, packing/ the idea of packing has come to mind.
For those who have packed and unpacked, it sucks. Like it really sucks. It's a whole days work to pack what you need, what you don't need, what you need to break down, what you can throw away and then the screaming in your head of "HOW DID YOU ACCUMULATE SO MUCH CRAP THESE PAST 10 MONTHS?!?!"
Every year, this happens and every year I accumulate an immense amount of crap that is unnecessary for a 18-21 year old.
Then during the process of packing, you find excuses of why you shouldn't pack or why you should stop packing, such as:
1- Your arms and leg start to hurt so you need to sit down to rest and watch just ONE episode of Netflix.
2- That one episode of Netflix then turns into four, then six, then eight, and then a whole season.
3- You finally get up from your chair and pack some more because you realize it's 10 p.m.
4- You pack for 15 minutes and then realize that you are sweaty and gross and should take a shower
5- Find a good song to listen to in the shower which requires 10-15 minutes.
6- Take shower with perfect song
7- Dry off and change into comfy PJ clothes.
8- Attempt to pack but then realize that your body is warm and cozy and walk to your bed
9- Pass out with Netflix and wake up the next morning regretting all your decisions.

It happens every year and every year I tell myself that it won't happen, but it doesn't.
Packing is stressful and exhausting.
Which is why I made the below recipe, in hopes that it would give me the energy to pack some more, but it didn't. I just ended up eating the whole thing and continued to watch Netflix.
I will never learn.


Chia Seed Pudding with Pistachios and Dried Cranberries
1/3 cup of milk
3 tablespoons of chia seeds
pistachios (or any other nut you have)
dried cranberries (or any other fruit  you have)

In a small bowl or mug, pour milk and then add chia seeds. Mix the seeds into the milk so that it is easier for the seeds to absorb the milk.
Leave mixture in for 30-45 minutes. Once done, add the pistachios (or nuts) and dried cranberries ( or other fruit) on top and and eat.

Eat and procrastinate on packing, mostly because you are in full denial that your academic career is almost over and the real world is just a really scary place with will scary things. 

bae-con

I normally don't use "bae" in my vocabulary as it means "poop" in another language and I don't like calling someone "poop" in a loving way. It's just weird.
Also the phrase came out when I was abroad and any lingo that came when I was abroad is still foreign to me and I still refuse to use it.
The only reason I am using it for the title of this post, is because for a while, when "bae" came into the American lingo, I literally thought it meant "bacon and eggs".
I'm dead serious.
It wasn't until I looked in Urban Dictionary and read what it actually meant:
"Before Anyone Else" Or another way to say babe or baby.
I still like "bacon and eggs" better.
Which leads me into this post's of "food of the day"
Bacon. 
The love of many, the "bae" that will probably be in your life longer than any man or woman. The greasy fat that has everyone worrying about their health. 
Ron Swanson's kind of meat and the "manliest of meat". 
Bacon. 
Even the word itself just has my mouth watering, wanting the greasy fat and meat.
Bacon. 
No matter how many times I say it, the craving for it, gets more and more. 
Bacon.
Okay I'm done now.
Despite all the health worries, bacon does contain nutrients needed for good health, however within moderation. 


Health Benefits of Bacon
-Bacon contains grams of protein and provides amino acids that is needed in your body. The protein helps your body maintain lean muscle, hormone balance, brain function, and keeps tissues in your body healthy and functioning. 
- Bacon contains the vitamin- Vitamin B-12 which is important for healthy red blood cells. This vitamin helps make hemoglobin which is a protein that helps blood transport oxygen. Eating Vitamin B-12 also helps metabolize fats and protein, plays a role in brain function and protects you from nerve damage. 
-Bacon contains iron which is a mineral essential for hemoglobin production. 


Bacon is also recommended to be eaten in moderation as eating too much may cause health risks.
So instead of eating 8 pieces of bacon, having 1-2 a day or every other day is probably the best choice, or turkey bacon as a substitute is a better alternative. I have had turkey bacon and it is not that bad, which says something. 


http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/good-health-benefits-sausage-bacon-8236.html

feed your feelings

I am now declaring every Friday "Feed Your Feelings Friday".
As a senior ending her academic career in two weeks, feelings are coming in and out and my emotions and are a roller coaster.
If you are not a senior in college, this may not make sense, if you are or ever have been, then this will make complete and total sense.
Ending your academic career and heading into the real world is the most scariest thing and having people remind you everyday does not help, it only freaks it you out more.
Also the fact that my cap and gown sits on my couch staring at me hauntingly, reminding me that the time is coming.
So on Friday, after a staff meeting where, then again, the topic of graduation, leaving and heading into the real world popped up, I headed home and instead of crying, I ate my feelings in this cookie in a mug below.




Okay, I cried a little.

Gluten Free Cookie in a Mug
1 mashed banana
1 cup of rolled oats
2 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of almond butter (or peanut butter)
1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
1/3 cup of chocolate chips


In a bowl, mash the banana well and add the almond (peanut) butter. Once mixed, add the oats, honey and vanilla and mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
Add in chocolate chips.
Mircrowave for 2-4 minutes (This requires more time in the microwave, as it does not have flour nor eggs).

Sit in bed and eat your feelings.

It helps if Netflix is there, Netflix always listens and knows what to show to make your smile.

Thanks Netflix.

combining everything in my pantry

You ever have one of those days when you take what you have in your pantry/fridge and stick on a piece of bread and call it a sandwich, kind of day?
That was me on Wednesday. Usually I during my 30 minute free time before a meeting and class, I prepare a well-colored salad that is posted on the Insta (<-- that's what the cool kids call it right?)
But my spinach wilted and I had to throw it away and my vegetables contained of tomatoes and carrots so a salad was out of the picture. I looked in my pantry and found a loaf of bread and my typical combo of dried cranberries and pistachios (no I do not have a problem). I then opened my fridge and found my mini-tub go goat cheese and a tupperware of black bean and corn and took that out.
Combine all those ingredients together and BAM, you have a sandwich filled with components that will fall out when you take one bite.
Clearly I did not think this sandwich through.


Black Bean, Corn, Pistachio, Dried Cranberries Sandwich
2 loaves of bread
2 tablespoons of black beans
2 tablespoons of corn
1 tablespoon of pistachio (or any nut you have)
1 tablespoon of dried cranberries (or any dried fruit you have)
Spreadable Goat Cheese

Take two pieces of bread and lay flat. Spread goat cheese on each side. Place black bean and corn on each side and then add the pistachios and dried cranberries. Put sandwiches together carefully to not let any of the contents spill.