… and this:
Poor trees! Everything is drowned in snow. There is no way they’re going to open schools tomorrow, seeing as how we lack the awesome snow-removing equipment of the more northern states (and Canada, lol). Maybe not even for Friday. NY trip = as good as rescheduled. Please cancel the bio field trip. Please, please, please… I love how my bio teacher is the only one who doesn’t keep us posted on schedule changes. We’re not seriously going to just keep using the calendar from the beginning of February that is now completely invalid?!
Sigh. Well, let’s talk burgers.
After turning my failed spaghetti squash-black bean pancakes (with no eggs for a binder… thank you, rustique! ;]) into baked “burger” patties, I well, built a burger from it. I confess: I’ve always hated veggie burgers. “Gimme the real stuff!” I would proclaim in elementary school as I stood in line in the cafeteria with my pink Styrofoam tray, eager to grab my burger and baked potato wedges. Well, those burgers were actually straight-up nasty. But they weren’t as horrible as the veggie burger I grabbed by mistake in my rush to stuff my face one day.
*shudder*
I’ve mostly avoided veggie burgers since then. However, the ones I ordered at Ruby Tuesday’s not too long ago (or at least it seemed that way) weren’t so bad, so I decided that maybe veggie burgers aren’t evil after all.
Cue crazy burger ingredients time!
I actually bought this jam awhile ago, but it’s just been sitting in my pantry unopened, since I had all these other random jams /fruit butters still open and waiting to be eaten. Well, I finally finished my vanilla-cantaloupe jam from I-don’t-want-to-think-about-how-long ago, so I decided that it was time to open the fig jam.
Spread it on a Thomas English muffin like so. It’s really, really sweet, so just a little was enough for a flavor pop.
This is a post-toaster oven picture of the whole thing. On the right, we have the last of the emmental cheese (in cubes) sprinkled with a little fine sea salt (I’m saving coarse for something else) with the last of the roasted cashew pieces atop the fig jam. I forgot how delicious cashews tasted charred. My tastebuds threw a party. Spicy, hint-of-miso-flavored burger + sweet fig jam + nutty, rich cheese + CHARRED, CRUNCHY CASHEWS (self-explanatory) = holy flavor explosion.
And on the left, we have the burger.
Of course, no burger is complete without a side of fries. However, seeing as I was too lazy to slice potatoes, season them, preheat the oven, and wait, I settled with my new favorite snack from TJ’s: lentil-potato crispy things. I forget what they’re really called, but they’re absolutely amazing. Potato-y from the potato, but with a new dimension of nuttiness from the lentil flour, and perfectly crispy and airy. If you have a TJ’s nearby, get these ASAP!
I’m obsessed.
Threw a few edamame crackers in there, too…
Holy. freaking. yum. :] I’m going to try and perfect this recipe (or a similar one), hopefully one that solidifies the first time I fry it. :P
Yesterday was spent watching FFVII: Advent Children Complete, playing Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and finishing up a bio note card for Chapter 37 at 2 AM. o__o Erm… well, I had to get something done, ya? The thing is, though I woke up four hours later than usual, so it balances. out. :] 5 AM on school day vs. 9 AM? I take the latter. x)
Things to accomplish today:
* Chemistry problems
* Reading for 3 chemistry chapters (midterm prep)
* Chapter 38 note card
* Chapter 35-36 articles
* Finish the vertebrate notes chart for hominoids/hominids. I’ve been putting this off because I haven’t been having bio, and the last thing I want is to study and forget everything by the time I actually have to know it!
* Bake cookies if there is school tomorrow. It was my friend’s birthday yesterday, and I already had the cookie dough prepared, but *BAM* no school. I hate living so far away from all my friends. I can’t go to gatherings as frequently (e.g. the one yesterday for her birthday), and I don’t have anyone in the vicinity who(m?) I really know or can talk to. I’m living practically in the middle of nowhere, close to the ‘burbs but not close to my friends, my school, or my dad. :(
The cookies were an experiment. Maybe not the wisest thing to do, seeing as this is my first time baking cookies! I’ll let you guys know how it goes once they’re done! :]
Q1: What is your favorite burger combo?
Q2: Have you ever felt isolated from your friends? How did you deal with it? Give a girl some advice. :( Email + Facebook don’t quite cut it for me…
Love you ALL!
ox ~ c a n d i c e *
February 10, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Glad it worked out for you! Nonmeat burgers can’t sub precisely for the real thing, but I think with a powerful condiment (like avocado or a sweet jam like you used) they work even better, melding the flavors better. And charred cashews– a shrewd move; that whole thing is a masterpiece.
1. I love a black bean and butternut squash burger with tomatillo salsa. Sweet, savory, and a little sour. <3
2. That sounds like a very challenging situation. Is there possibly some intermediate between you and your friends–maybe a town with a few good coffee shops or some thing? It's hard to miss out on house gatherings, but meeting up every so often at a more convenient go-between can help bridge the gap. Maybe even arrange a sleepover or invite someone for the weekend. If you have a MacBook, videochatting and leaving video messages on Facebook are also decent ways to stay close.
February 10, 2010 at 5:26 PM
oh i hae to remember to grab those lentil potato swirly things! nice idea to add the fig jam to your veggie burger, yum! it sucks to be so far away from your friends, i hope it works out!
February 10, 2010 at 7:31 PM
GURL your burger combo is SO ballin!!!
those lentil thingies look GREAT too!! ahhh soo much goodness on here!
i LOVE five guys burgers and fries (burger joint) ..cheeseburger w. hot sauce and shrooms..nom!
February 10, 2010 at 7:44 PM
that sound slike a good burger!!!! =D
condiment WHORE i is.
yeah, i know it kinda sucks how family looks down on how you eat. apparently i’m weird for using mustard as my salad dressing. IT”S NOT WEIRD!
haha i’ve given up pb for a week. it was hard. =(
i was like AUGHHHH CINNAMON DELUGE!!!!!
sorry about the chem. i’m trying to cut my paper down.
February 10, 2010 at 7:50 PM
Ahh snow! We’ve got a ot here too. I’m sorry the people close to judge the way you eat, but just remember – do what makes you happy – it’s your life :)
Hope you have a beautiful day!
February 10, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Oh. My. Goodness. That “burger” looks absolutely delicious!
I love your pictures.
February 11, 2010 at 12:41 AM
As I started recovering, I started to feel isolated from friends because I thought they had abandoned me, not realising that it was I who had abandoned them in the midst of my disordered thoughts and eating. Anyway, I stuck to the ones who stuck by me, and I’m making new ones as well! I guess it’s a matter of smiling and trying to take the first step in saying Hi and striking up a conversation. It’s not easy I admit, but the satisfaction that comes from even a short convo feels awesome!
Ok I realise isolation for you may refer to distance. Lol. That’s a little tough to remedy although, I keep updated with a friend who’s living about 40 minutes away from me by public transport(that’s considered far here!) through emails. It’s pretty fun! And text messages! And if you still feel isolated, there’s always me!! I may be on the other side of the world but I’m super close where technology is concerned! x)
xx
February 11, 2010 at 7:07 AM
I often feel isolated by my friends, maybe TOO often. But just recently I realized that it was all in my head making stories, they still love me and a lot. it was me who was isolating myself from them. So, my advice sweetie is to talk to them. whenever you feel isolated, call them and you’ll know that it’s not true! :)
February 11, 2010 at 3:21 PM
aw i know what you mean with the isolation- just try to talk wiht them as much as possible via text/phone calls/etc. it’ll be ok! i like a billion different burger combos lol! great pictures :) stay warm hun
xoxo
shelley
http://findinghappinessandhealth.wordpress.com
February 11, 2010 at 10:09 PM
Holy moly…that burger is the BOMB!!! Love the addition of charred cashews…genius, my girl, genius!
1. Fave burger: turkey burger. caramelized onions. Brie, or goat cheese. some kind of fruit compote. Grilled pineapple. On cornmeal bun. Mmm….
2. Aw, I’m sorry…Not sure, but what about….calling them altogether for a nice, home-cooked meal?
February 13, 2010 at 12:39 AM
hmm, what an interesting “burger” combination! i would never think to put all of those ingredients together (especially the jam) but it looks so good. i love the idea of black beans and spaghetti squash — two ingredients i can’t get enough of.
have a great day!
xox
February 13, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Fig jam is absolutely amazing on savory foods. :) Also, a lot of prepackaged veggie burgers taste nasty, but I’ve found restaurant made (and probably home made but I’ve never done so!) veggie burgers look so much better. :)
I’ve definitely felt isolated from my friends…for a variety of different reasons. Are these friends you still interact with daily or friends separated by geography? I have different ways of dealing with both isolations. :P Feel free to email me if you want to talk about this.
February 13, 2010 at 8:46 PM
I wish I could offer sage advice for your friend/isolation situation, but I am a queen of isolation >> With friends who live far away, I try to stay in touch by writing long e-mails that are truly personal and thoughtful. For local friends, try calling them more often to see if they are interested in getting together. And if they say yes, then make sure you make a plan like “ok how about we meet up here at x time” or whatever so it doesn’t just fall through.
February 14, 2010 at 11:11 AM
hey!
i just came across your blog and i can’t wait to keep reading!
i would love it if you could check out mine and follow :)
jenna