T'was the Night Before Thanksgiving...

T'was the night before Thanksgiving and all through the day,

People were rushing to get things at bay.

Turkeys were thawing and pies were being set,

Grocery stores were flooded with last minute forgets.

This girl had to work so the excitement had to wait,

In order to get by she coped with goodies to fill her plate.

Breakfast was savored and eaten with cheer,

Because warm Pear, Yogurt and Granola was near.

Lunch had intentions of warming her soul,

The leftover Sweet Potato Chili overflowed in her bowl.

And Dinner was yet, the best of them all,

Because BFD was on tap for the Wednesday in fall.

Egg Sammies was all that this girl could crave,

With the highlight of the seasonal Cranberry EM's all the rave.

Sweet Potato Home Fries accompanied her plate,

And this BFD turned the evening into a lovely little date.

Now her pie must be made and the veggies await,

It's Turkey Day tomorrow and this girl can not be late.

May you all have a day filled with happiness and good grub,

And may your find thanks in your soul for the gracious amounts of love.

Sleep well tonight, for tomorrow is near,

Thanksgiving Day is a sensational time of year!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Now We're Getting Somewhere

Yesterday was a long and exhausting day. Fortunately, it was the best appointment I have had so far and I FINALLY felt like I got the answers and understanding I deserve.

We left for Maryland and made it to my 4pm appointment by 3, so that I could start the paperwork and get situated. I actually ended up waiting for awhile and wasn't able to see the doctor until 5pm. I didn't mind because I knew he was doing me a favor and cramming me into this extremely busy schedule.

Okay, let me just say, this guy was unbelievable! Not only are his credentials entirely remarkable, he was the most kind and empathetic doctor I have ever encountered. He spent 2 hours with us listening to my story, going over every single issue, every image, gave me his thoughts and what he believes I should do. He was also very reassuring that he does not believe this is cancer and since he does happen to be an oral cancer expertise, I felt good hearing this from him.

Now, where do we go from here? Well, he believes I should proceed with the surgery and have some of the lymph node biopsied to determine what is causing the inflammation and to rule out anything else. He was also quite concerned on my numbness on the right side of my mouth and referred me to a nerve specialist at the UMD. I guess if there is any chance to regenerating feeling back, it is something that has to be assessed immediately. So unfortunately, I'm dealing with 2 major issues but hopefully, they can both be taken care of at the same time.

As revealing as it was to finally feel like I was being helped, I still feel that this is not the end but only the beginning. The surgery will only start the process and truthfully, it's not as though after I go through it, everything will be better. They still need to figure out what this is exactly and then determine how to treat me. It will be quite a long road, but unfortunately, I have no choice. I'll keep my head held high and try to maintain the best attitude throughout it all. I realize that so many others endure pain and suffering that go far beyond this, and I can only be grateful that my situation is not as bad as it could be.

Again, I can't thank you enough for all of your love and support. It truly means the world to have such amazing people that extend their genuine care during times when you need to hear it the most. Love you guys!

Okay, story time over, moving along…

Do you guys remember when I told you that I was having the hardest time locating my beloved granola? Zoe's is by far, my granola obsession. I have yet to meet a granola that even comes close to comparing to how much I love this.

Well a few months ago, I noticed that it went missing from the shelves of my grocery store. I checked every week, and each time was devastated to not see it. I finally asked, and the manager said they stopped selling it. Then, I went online and discovered that the company went out of business, but it was still available in select Big Lots stores.

Well, of course, I sprinted to my nearest Big Lots in hopes of locating this little jem.

And... guess what.....

Ta Da!!! I found it!!!! I only picked up 3 boxes, but I am already planning to go back this weekend to get more. People, if you love Zoe's as much as I do, and you see it on the shelves, GRAB AS MUCH AS YOU CAN because it will soon be more no!

Aside from my granola munching, I did manage to eat a real meal today.

Obviously, I wasn't able to honor BFD yesterday, but that doesn't mean it was forgotten this week. Oh no, we just readjusted and moved the occasion to tonight.

All I have really been craving these days are big bowls of random veggies all stir fried together into one enticing concoction of unusual flavor.

So, BFD this was another Skillet Creation!

I know I tell you this all the time, but this one was soooooo good!

Butternut Squash, Red Onion, Brussle Sprouts, TJ's sweet Apple Chicken Sausage, sauteed in a little balsamic and maple served over wilted spinach and topped with feta.

Oh, and just so you know, after this was taken, I drenched this bowl with lots of Honey Mustard. Unbelievable!

Toly felt rather fond of his skillet creation tonight as well. Let's just say he ate it faster a Kobiachi eating hot dog contest.

Bacon, Potatoes, Cheese, fried eggs and tomatoes.


As we were eating, I tried to explain to him my theory of bowl eating. I assured him that eating out of a bowl just makes everything taste better. The idea of layering flavor combinations into every bite is by far the best method of consuming food.

He didn't disagree.

Again, I can't stress enough how encouraged I have been by everyone's amazing comments. I literally get chills and then tear up after I read each one and I can't explain how much that means to me.

Hope everyone is having a great week! TGTIF!!!

Adios!

Touched By Angles

I can't begin to tell you how touched I was by your overwhelming wishes of encouragement and support from my last post. It truly means so much to have an entire network of friends that I am able to connect with on so many levels and who also deliver unbelievable compassion. You guys are the best!

There is so much that I need to get done before I have this surgery and right now I am also in the midst of another big possible life change. More to come on that later, but for now, I can assure you that NO, I am NOT pregnant. (Everyone's first natural thought when any married woman says she is going through a life change, right?)

Okay, moving right along. Since I have been depriving this blog of recent food creations, I thought that I would offer a full day's recap. Today's eats were entirely delicious all around so here is a peak….

Breakfast: Pear Yogurt Granola Bowl



Diced warm pear sprinkled with cinnamon and flax, ½ C of Kashi Autumn Wheat, 2 T of Pumpkin Spice Granola, Honey Okios, Spoon of Chunky Apple Sauce, Drizzle of Honey Almond Butter.

This is coming close to being my favorite Autumn Breakfast.

Lunch:

1 C of TJ's Sweet Potato Bisque, Handful of baby spinach, sprinkle of blue cheese with cranberries and a few roasted pistachios

1 small slice of Pumpernickel with Cran-Apple Butter and Carrots

Fruit

Delicious and well-rounded lunch indeed!

Dinner: Oh WAIT! It's Wednesday. You didn't forget did you? Come on, what is the highlight of our weeks in the Podolsky household…..

Those 3 little letters that produce a bounty of joy….

B!

F!

D!

I think it is so great that you are all diggin the BFD thing too! And for all of you BFD newbies out there, you have no idea what you are missing. Breakfast for Dinner is nothing short of a beautiful thing.

Egg Sammies and Home fries

Egg whites with pesto and Dijon on a Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Pumpkin Butter, Laughing Cow, Avocado and Spinach

Butternut Squash Home Fries

Toly's Sammy-

Egg, Cheese, and Bacon on Blueberry

I don't think it's possible to ever tire from this staple meal.

Now, time for the Phils to pull out a MUST win! This is when it gets exciting folks. ;)

Before I leave, I can't forget…

TITF #2- Today, I am thankful for my job and the people that I work with. I really do love what I do and I love who I work with even more. They are some of the most supportive and caring people that I have ever met and I couldn't be more blessed to wake up and have this to look forward to every day.

Much Love All! XoX0

Rewarding Awards

Hi guys!

Before I get any further, I need to take a moment and show my greatest appreciation for being awarded the Kreative Blogger Award by the lovely Mara of What's For Dinner?

I'll admit, staying creative everyday can be challenging and I am sure that some days are a lot more mundane than others, but none the less, I still am completely honored that Mara was kind enough to think of me for this one.

Okay so now I must reveal to you 7 things that you don't know about me:

1. I never follow a recipe. It's true! I love to look and recipes and I get most of my inspiration by browsing many different cooking methods and ingredient combinations, but when it comes to the actual cooking part, I can never seem to methodically follow a step by step process. This probably explains my inability to bake.
2. I don't like bananas. Okay let me rephrase that, I don't prefer to eat a banana in its actual form. It's just not my favorite fruit; however, I love banana flavored things and I adore overripe bananas that are mashed on toast and in oatmeal. But give me a big yellow nanner, and I'll probably pass it up for the next available fruit.
3. I have no peripheral vision. This is due to a bit of optic never damage that I have developed over the years. So, if you see me rotating my entire body as I am trying to merge onto a highway, you will know why.
4. I can't spell to save my life. Funny, because most people assume that having an English and Writing degree constitutes your impeccable spelling skills; however, I grew up in the age of spell check and tech talk. Also, I think that when it comes to writing, I feel so passionate to get out my words before I loose them, that I really just don't have the time to think about how they are spelled.
5. I wanted to be a singer when I was younger. I even wrote a song at one point in my life that I can still recite the words to. Ask me sometime and I just might sing it for you. ;)
6. I have horrible patience. Really, I can't stand to wait for more than 30 seconds for anything. This is such an unsightly quality, my husband would agree!
7. I hate cats. After years of horrific experiences with these creatures, I have developed a great loath against all feline animals. It's not even so much a hate as it is a considerable fear. Sorry all you cat lovers out there.

Okay, so there you have it. Seven things you probably didn't know about me.

Now, to pass this along, I must choose 5 lovely individuals whom I believe deserve this noteworthy award as well….

1. Jen of It's A Wonderful Life
2. Katharina of Katharina's Food Adventures
3. Andrea of Off Her Cork
4. Whit of Whit's Getting Fit
5. Bobbi of N Her Shoes

Work today was fun. We had our annual Halloween Festivities which is highly encouraged my place of employment. Not really sure why, but our CEO has a pretty strong obsession with this holiday so every year, each department must choose and theme and decorate. Then, every department is judged and there are prizes awarded.

We did 60's!

There were even "special brownies" that were made along with some "Munchie" chex mix. Our Senior Managment Staff seemed to get a kick out of our little inuendos. ;)

Well, it's that time of the week once again. I know that you are all awaiting in complete and utter anticipation for this week's Wednesday Night BFD creation. And, you're in luck, because it's a new one!

So, here it is….

Baked Eggs with Sautéed Mushrooms and Spinach

1 egg
½ cup of sliced mushrooms
1 cup of baby spinach
2 T of balsamic vinegar
1 T of Dijon
2 T of crumbled Goat Cheese
Smoked Paprika

First, I sautéed the mushrooms with some salt, pepper and rosemary in a small skillet. After about 5 min, I added the vinegar and the spinach and let this cook down.



I placed the mushroom mixture in a small ramekin sprayed with cooking spray and spread the Dijon over top and then the goat cheese.



I cracked the egg carefully in the ramekin and sprinkled the top with some smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
Into the oven at 375 for about 10 min.The eggs will continue to cook after you take them out, so keep that in mind.


Now, mind you, I am not the biggest egg aficionada; however, this egg dish was excellent. I appreciated that the cooking method did not produce any of that gross runny snot that usually comes from cooking whole eggs and the flavors of the balsamic mushrooms, Dijon and goat cheese were superb together.

Toly's Baked Eggs were made with Bacon, Tomato and Cheese. Equally delicious, he proclaimed.

We also had a side Greek salad with romaine, beets, olives, capers, cucumber and tomatoes.

And ½ of a Honey Wheat English Muffin with laughing cow and cran chutney.

I just realized that this meal honors three different countries. France, Greece and England. How cultural!

Well friends, that's it for me tonight. I only have to get through one more day this week thank goodness because I ended up taking the day off on Friday. It's been such a terrible week and I am planning making a meal and spending some time with my friend with just lost her dad. The funeral will be sometime this weekend and I know it is going to be extremely difficult, so any chance I can get to help her through this I will take.

Thanks for all of your kind words! :)

Don't miss your chance to enter the beautiful Katharina's 101 Post Giveaway. She is fabulous and her blog is fabulous to make sure you mosey on over there sometime!

See you later!