Cheesesteaks

Tara and Donna convinced me to go to Houlihan’s with them after work, which could have derailed my dinner plans - if I didn’t have such an iron will. While there, I ate a couple of chicken lettuce wrap things and some nachos. I was feeling slightly (massively) guilty about the nachos by the time I got home, so I decided to at least round things out, nutritionally, by making myself a smaller version of the dinner I planned. Luckily, Matt came home from work starving, so it all worked out. Here’s half of a vegetarian cheesesteak with some kale chips:

I’ve been fascinated by the idea of kale chips for a few weeks, but I haven’t been able to find kale at Dillon’s. Until now. Totally worth the wait. I mean, for some bright green leafy things, they tasted almost disturbingly like regular potato chips.

These cheesesteaks were the first recipe I tried from Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, though it would’ve been easy enough for me to invent it on my own. I am not terribly impressed by these self-proclaimed “skinny bitches,” and I’m glad that I didn’t buy this book. The recipes are fine but not mind-blowing. And, I’m sorry, but I have some issues with people who are all “processed foods are evil” and then use vegan cheese (”cheeze”) in everything. How is that not processed? Does vegan cheese just… happen? Naturally? As in, in nature?

No.

Vegans can school me on this if necessary. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m wrong. Anyway, these were delicious.

(Not vegan cheese)

Now I’m off to sleep before I pass out on the couch and get all belligerent with Matt when he tries to convince me to go to bed.

Bracketology

I was going to take a picture of my NCAA tournament bracket for you, but I’m not going to because I know you’ll try to steal it.

Dinner tonight was a fancy work thing at a restaurant we’ve never even tried because it’s too expensive. This town is interesting like that. Just when you think you’re feeling really depressed b/c of all the chains, you find some crazy expensive fancy pants restaurant stuck in the middle of a strip mall, right next to Snip n’ Clip and Subway.

Anyway, I felt like I was in that credit card commercial with the cute couple where the woman has really good, voluminous hair, and everything’s going well, and then the food is… tiny. That kind of happened. The actual main part of my meal was quite good-sized, really, a nice slab of mango-peppercorn glazed salmon. But it was on a a bed of, oh, I don’t know, 1/4 cup of greens, and it propped up (literally) 5 pieces of asparagus. I love asparagus, and that’s one of the main reasons I ordered the salmon. WHY WOULD THEY ROB ME OF THAT?

I didn’t actually finish the salmon b/c the mango-peppercorn glaze was just a little too hardcore there at the end, but I did get ricotta cake with blueberries and ice cream for dessert. Mmm. Ricotta.

Here’s what’s left, as I didn’t take any pictures of the actual meal. I’m just not ready to explain myself with the camera yet.

And here’s what I’m currently resisting:

That’s my pedometer, resting lovingly on there to remind me of the many miles I’d have to walk per cupcake.

Not.

Actually, I just set it down on whatever surface was handy when I took it off. Not that I changed my pants in the kitchen.

Don’t judge. It’s a very small apartment.