Sam and Daphne (Day 1)

I presume many of you have heard of, if not seen/read, the book/movie "Julie and Julia"? If you haven't I'll provide a brief summary. Julie lives in modern day New York and is a bit bored with her life, after having just moved to a new place and not having a very cushy job. At some point she discovers Julia Child and her famous cookbook, and decides to make every recipe in it, and write a blog about her experience. Well, this post shall be the first of many in which I shall attempt a similar feat, but instead of Julia Child, my food inspiration shall be Daphne Oz, chef and daughter of Dr. Oz, from that show called "The Drs."

Daphne wrote a book called Relish: an Adventure in Food, Style, and Everyday Fun. My grandmother sent it to me in the mail because she wants me to be more "comfortable in the kitchen". Well, having perused it, I have found that not only will this book absolutely do that, but it will also hopefully improve my quality of life at an important time in my life. A time that is a transition stage, when most people are out either starting their first job or finding themselves: the early 20's. I'll be 24 in November, and now is as good a time as any to start crawling out of this rut I've been stuck in. Relish doesn't only have food recipes; it also contains tips on taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally (more on that in future posts).

Without a job I have a good deal of free time (which has mainly been filled with trying to find a job, as there are definitely limitations on how much fun I can have with no money). So I think, to keep my mind off of the fact that job hunting is frustrating and exhausting, I have decided to take a page out of Julie Powell's book (pun intended) and start finding my way through food. 

Today I made my first recipe from the dinner section of the book: roasted veggie whole wheat mac 'n' cheese (page 244 of Relish). I had to cut the recipe in half, as it is supposed to serve twelve, but it's just me and my dad here for now. With this recipe I got to use a kitchen appliance I have never used before (at least not by myself): the food processor. I know, at 23 you'd think I'd have done this before, but no. Luckily it was easy as pie (which I hope I get to make eventually--love a good pie). I've only ever had whole wheat pasta once before, a long time ago, and didn't care for it. But this time around, it was quite good. And because of all the fiber, I got full faster, and actually had to put some of what was on my plate back into the pan! That was nice.

So, the first recipe was easy (sort of). The next one? Who knows? I'll be jumping around in the book in terms of types of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as well as including some of the life tips I intend to try (Exercise routine? Maybe? I'll think about it). I'll try my best to paraphrase Daphne's words as to why these tips matter, although I think it would be more fun for you as the reader to hear my version of things (maybe I'll include both). 

So then. Sit back, relax, and Relish the day (pun obviously intended)!

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Getting Back on the Horse (Or in This Case, Bicycle)

This may come as a shock, but I never learned how to ride a bike. In my almost 24 years of life, I've only been on a bike twice. The first time, all of my cousins tried to teach me all at once--and with four different people telling you so many things, at only about four or five years old (I think), it can be a bit overwhelming. And then comes the incident a few years later, when you try to ride down a hill and hit your head on a tree because its roots were in the way (and because apparently it's acceptable to go down an uneven grassy hill on a bike having never ridden one). Needless to say, those two memories were major factors in me not bothering to learn.

Recently, though, I've been thinking. I'm almost 24 years old. I'm a lot more coordinated than I was twenty years ago (I should hope), and a lot more balanced. Now is as good a time as any to fill in that hole from my childhood. Plus, I need more exercise, and with spring finally here, it's time to get outside. Going for walks just doesn't seem like enough.

But there is a tiny snag. I don't actually have a bike. The only bike I had I shared with my sister, and the last time it was meant to be ridden, I was ten. I may not be tall, but I am certainly too big for a ten-year-old's bicycle. So, it's time to go bike shopping. Since I don't have a lot of money, I'll have to go to thrift stores, or scan the newspapers looking for yard sale announcements. Hopefully I can get a bike in decent condition for a reasonable price. Then I can teach myself to ride and get some needed exercise, and then I won't have to worry about wasting gas in the car the next time I need to go to 7-Eleven for chocolate (wait a second.......).