PB&J - You had me at PB

I remember eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a kid. Anyone who doesn't, missed out, and I'm sorry. I don't recall ever being tired of these simple lunches, and I'm sure my parents were grateful as we survived on a very limited budget.

Now that I'm an adult, this is how I'm spending my lunch break:

Yep, a PB&J sandwich (and Cheetos, of course). When I first moved out on my own, there was one day I packed a PB&J sandwich for lunch, and my mom (who is also my coworker) was so concerned for me. She knew finances were tight as I juggled my income for the first time, and she was worried that that's all I could afford to eat. I had to laugh because though money was tight, my reason was because I liked this kind of sandwich.

And today I'm, once again, thoroughly enjoying the ooey-gooey goodness. (Do I dare admit that I was actually craving this, and that's why I brought it for my lunch today?)

My taste buds and I have a really good relationship with the simple things, besides PB&J. Take mashed potatoes, for example. I like instant better than the real thing. When it comes to macaroni and cheese, I'd rather have the generic brand over Kraft. I love canned chicken. Pasta? Put a little butter and parsley on it, and I'm happy.

I don't need a speech about processed foods - I get it. But I have to admit that my taste buds often do go for the unexpected. (Oh yeah, green beans is another one - I prefer canned over fresh. Go figure.)

I try to eat fairly responsibly, whether talking in terms of quality or quantity, but that doesn't override the fact that sometimes I do crave (and prefer) the "simpler" things. Maybe I like PB&J sandwiches because they're stuffed full of carbs, I don't know, but I think that I just enjoy it because it's quick, easy, and I do like the taste. (And as a bonus, it is cheap.)

I won't eat PB&J every day for multiple reasons, but I do consider it a treat, not a "I have to because that's all that was in my refrigerator" thing. Tomorrow? Who knows? You might find me dipping canned chicken in some ranch dressing. Or eating a whole can of green beans.

If I can't find enjoyment in the little things, I'll be up the proverbial creek when it comes to the big things. And once I think about it...it really is all in perspective, whether we're talking food or circumstances. I can find enjoyment in anything I really want to because I'm the only one in charge of my own attitude.


I love hearing from you! Feel free to leave a comment. Do you have any weird food quirks? 

Heaven-Sent Chocolate

Yesterday I received a sign. And it was a glorious one at that. Who wouldn't want proof that chocolate is indeed a helpful instrument during one's workday?

I'd decided to give myself a treat. It was one of those days. You know the kind. All I wanted was to stuff that glorious peanut butter cup in my mouth and savor every delectable moment. I was already fighting to keep from drooling.

As I tore into the foolproof orange package that resisted every gentle attempt at separating the edges glued with cement, my impatience overcame me. I felt a Hulk-ish rage inside of me as I growled and threw all of my arm muscles into the task.

Unfortunately, it was just a tiny bit too much force.

The Reeses cup flew out of that package like lemur who'd just sat on a thumbtack. Only later did I realize that perhaps the candy knew all along what it was doing, and that perhaps it was not by my might at all that it had slingshot itself from its airtight confines.

When the cup landed, it chose a very specific spot on my computer's keyboard (yes, I eat at my desk). The "help" button. And it landed at such an angle with such precise force that it pushed the button, opening up my current application's help screen.

It was during that very moment of hearing a choir of angels somewhere in the distance, I realized this hunk of chocolate, peanut butter and 8,954 calories truly was sent to help me in conquering my day.

I refuse to think my energy after devouring my treat was due to the amount of sugar I'd just consumed. Instead, I choose to believe my heaven-sent candy miraculously gave me a mental and physical boost to propel me through what continued to be quite a day.

In the end, I was victorious. All because I'd chosen a Reeses peanut butter cup as my snack.

I've never had an apple land on my keyboard's "help" button. Just saying.

Simple Favorites

The simplest things are sometimes the best. At least in our memories. As a child, there were many things, of course, that seemed much more fantastic than I’d believe to be today. The size and steepness of the parking lot hill where bicycling and rollerblading took place. The great distance it was around the block. The enormous weight of fish on the end of my fishing line. And my mother’s cooking.

I’m not saying her cooking is any less than what I thought as a child – she’s still a wonderful cook. Nobody else’s food is like hers…especially her chicken and noodle casserole and apple pies. Oh, and her beef stew. And her zucchini bread. And her lasagna. And her cheesy potatoes. Actually…there’s a really long list of favorite meals. What’s interesting, though, is what I remember most as a kid.

I can recall many lunches of a particularly scrumptious pasta dish. It was so tender and buttery and oh, so good. Certainly another one of my favorites – still – even after I found out what my mom’s recipe was. She used any kind of pasta, though often small shells (I always loved that texture). She would cook it like any other, by using boiling water. Once cooked to the perfect tenderness, she would add butter and parsley. And that…was it. In my younger years, I had a dislike for most spices, which is probably why I loved this meal so much. But I have to admit, I was a little surprised to later find out its simplicity.

Another favorite meal was French toast. While the egg-dipped bread itself was always good, it was the syrup I was after. See, my mom made her own syrup. The unique thing was that it was clear – not brown like the typical maple syrup on the store shelves. It was also rather runny, but I didn’t care. It was sweet and it soaked into all the cracks and crevices of the French toast. I do remember my mom seeming to find my compliments amusing, but I didn’t know why until one day it finally registered. Her syrup only had two ingredients: water and sugar.

I have many more memories of delectable meals, but these two recipes are ones that I can still taste. My favorite flavors were the simplest – and often times still are.

I love summer rains. A cat’s purr. Warm sunshine. A crayon-colored picture from a child. A hug. A smile. All such simple things that mean so much.

Often in life, the simple things are overlooked or set aside. But sometimes the most important thing to do is stop and just take a moment to pay attention to the tiny blessings surrounding us every day. They’re there. Always. We just have to take time to see them.

I love hearing from you! Feel free to leave a comment!

I'm a Smorgasbord

So after hitting the snooze on my alarm, followed by my critter children trying to get me up, I finally dragged myself out of bed only to realize that I not only had very little time to get ready for work, but I also had no idea what I was going to eat for breakfast, let alone what I was going to take to work for lunch (sigh). It's not like there wasn't anything in my refrigerator, freezer or pantry. Granted, none are overflowing, but I do have food. I just couldn't decide what I wanted.

As I stood at my refrigerator, my older critter child gladly tried to help me decide what to pick...

...but she wasn't much help. I finally decided I had enough small portions of perishable food that I should just throw it all together and deal with the outcome. Besides, I was running out of time. I wound up with some Greek yogurt, a bag of chips, some imitation crab, an apple, and a few grapes. I did decide not to mix anything, for which I feel aptly intelligent. (And my taste buds won't have reason to kill me.) In the end, it was an odd lunch, but it wasn't bad, and it filled my nutritional needs. 

Sometimes I wonder if anyone looks at me and sees an odd smorgasbord. (Actually, I look at me in the mirror and see an odd smorgasbord.) I'm really not sure why I've got some of the interests or talents that I do, and some of them seem kind of unrelated, not to mention strange. But I figure God knew what He was doing when He created me, so no matter how odd I am, He must like it that way for some reason. (I guess that makes me a walking smorgasbord.) After all, He's a God who loves variety.

So have a good weekend, and don't forget to enjoy the variety of life. Just don't mix your Greek yogurt and imitation crab.

Tasty Memories

Goldfish and I have a pretty good relationship. (I'm talking about the Pepperidge Farm crackers, not the actual fish, mind you.) I've been eating them for as long as I can remember. First, I've always loved cheese, and second, I've always loved a good salty/crunchy snack.

As I broke into a bag of Goldfish today, it made me think of how something as simple as a taste could bring back memories. Where was I, as a child, eating this same snack? Sunday School? VBS? At home for a special treat? It wasn't every day that I got Goldfish, so even now, when I can go out and buy them any time I want, my emotions still deem them a special food meant for special occasion. Granted, the "special" in "special occasion" has become a game of justification. It's 9:55am! That's a special number! Or it's the third of the month AND a Thursday. That's special since it doesn't happen every month. Regardless of my excuse though, Goldfish remains a favorite and special snack.

Probably, though, my most vivid memory connected with taste is when consuming Skittles or grape soda pop. Mmm. Even when typing this, my mouth is starting to water. Those two things really make a bad combo as far as sugar consumption, however, those were my usual choices when allowed to get a treat while at camp. I was pretty young, but I still remember the chewy goodness of the Skittles. The cold can in my hand and the scent of grape that hit my nostrils even before I'd taken a sip. And it went down oh-so smoothly. Today, any time I eat Skittles or splurge on grape soda pop (or dare the combination), my first thought is of camp. It's accompanied by pleasant emotions, since I enjoyed that experience.

Of course, there are negative emotions that can be connected to tastes as well. Food that has a similar taste to certain medicines will turn off many eaters, even if they're not usually picky, since the emotions connected with that flavor are negative. Or if someone ever got sick while eating a particular food (even if it wasn't caused by the food), the taste can forever turn them off.

Our minds and senses are only a few of the incredibly amazing things we've been given. It's fun to recognize their presence so they can be enjoyed all the more.

(Yes, I often tear bags down the side instead of splitting the top...)

Do you have a favorite snack that's more about the memories than the flavors? Or a snack that's kept for "special" occasions?

Litter Boxes, Paper Cuts and Chicken Salad

I set my alarm for an earlier-than-normal time this morning. Fifteen minutes early was all. Just enough extra time to prep my lunch and not make me late for work. Good thing I did get up early.

I rolled my aching body out of bed, forcing my mind from a terrible fog. Oh yes. Lunch. That's why I was rising early. I needed to prep my chicken salad so I'd actually have something IN my wholewheat, low-carb tortilla. As I entered the bathroom though, I discovered my cat had "missed" her litter box. It was at least a ten-minute cleanup process, and I still hadn't even gotten out of my pajamas yet. Fantastic.

As a result, I ended up running late. Thankfully I did manage to prepare my lunch before walking out the door though. After getting to work, my day became a series of paper cuts, forgotten tasks, internet trouble, bruises, finicky equipment and news that one of my manuscripts did not place in a particular contest. Whoever said Mondays were bad had not yet been introduced to Tuesdays.

Thankfully I have an office buddy who surprised me with breakfast, I was able to take a break for my martial arts class, and my chicken salad wrap? Yeah, that turned out to be pretty tasty.

I guess the only moral of my story is if you decide to rise fifteen minutes early in the morning...you might want to make that twenty-five minutes, just in case. Especially if you have an ornery cat like mine.

Doughnut, anyone?

Happy National Doughnut Day! I didn't even realize that's what day it was until my mother mentioned it this morning...as we ate our breakfast pizza. Oops.

Another thing I didn't realize is that National Doughnut Day takes place on the first Friday of every June. (I think it's rather appropriate that it's on a Friday, don't you?) And another thing I didn't realize is that this doughnut-eating tradition dates all the way back to 1938 during WWI. (Take a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Doughnut_Day) Fascinating!

What's even more fascinating is that International Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day is on June 8th, National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day is on September 14th, and Buy A Doughnut Day is on October 30th! I had no idea there were so many days to honor the soft, warm, sweet goodness of doughnuts!

So go have one. Even if it's after the first Friday in June. Because hey, they still taste good on ANY day.

Picture by Tracey Alvarez