Rocky

Have you ever noticed the word 'desserts' is the word 'stressed' only backwards? My thoughts exactly. I listened to a podcast today by Radio Lab , and the subject matter for an entire 56 minutes was stress and the effects of stress on the body. It was all very interesting. They explained how stress is a must in order to function properly. Stress is a motivator to get things accomplished. Though too much stress can mess you up and tear down your body's tissue, cells... stuff you are made of. When physically stressed, stress hormones release adrenaline. You need immediate stress relief and energy so you get a surge of energy and stress hormones pumped into your fat cells which pour out all the excess energy into your muscles. In addition you want to deliver all this energy faster so you increase your heart rate. Another thing you do is shut down everything that is nonessential, such as reproduction, growing, digestion...etc. (hence your mouth might become dry without ...

Today while cooking with my grandma we made Greek Spinach Pie and Molten Lava Chocolate Cake. I can't wait to share it with you! It was sooo good. But before I can do that I must do as I previously promised and share with you our Glazed Apple Pork Chops. The pictures didn't turn out as great as I was hoping and look less appetizing as they really were. I realized pork chops are a bit more difficult to photograph and still maintain appeal. So bare with me on this one. So here we are ladies and gents... Glazed Apple Pork Chops (Note: Generally speaking, I am not really a fan of most pork products except for bacon. Though these were delicious and tender and therefore I like them.) Step one: Account for all the ingredients (as always) 4 (¾ inch thick) center cut pork chops salt ¾ cup all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 4 cups (½ inch thick) peeled sliced cooking apples (Johnathan or Granny Smith) ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar 3 Tbsp. maple flavored syrup Sprinkle of cinnamon...

I decided to tell you about my day... and in attempts to make it less boring for you I have included pictures. I spent hours today waiting in line outside a Dentist office because they were holding a free clinic for the uninsured. I am uninsured, I have a cavity and I need my wisdom teeth pulled. I received a number after a couple hours in line. Then I waited outside for a while, and checked on what number they were on. There were 113 people ahead of me. So I went and sat in my car to thaw out (because it was FREEZING and snowing). Then after 2 hours worth of Suduko playing I checked the pace again and I still had 100 people ahead of me. I did the math and at the rate they were moving, I would be worked on around 5pm so I decided to drive around and then I would come back later and check the progress. Apparently at AMC the matinee prices end at noon, Cinemark on the other hand has the matinee prices until 6pm...what a rip off. Also because AMC has the ForkandScreen (which is normally ...

So I told you I would post another food post. I made Apple Dumplings as well as the Glazed Apple Pork Chops in the same day though I will post the pork chops on another day so it isn't confusing or too much food for one post. Oh and as mentioned as before, I made these dumplings at my grandma Hamilton's home. She has been teaching me to cook, and because she has taken culinary classes before she has some great and easy recipes. Oh and I love love love her kitchen gadgets. So here it begins. Apple Dumplings- Step 1: Ingredients ingredients ingredients... 2 large Granny Smith apples 2 tubes crescent rolls (original) (make sure you get the triangular crescent rolls, we made a mistake and had to shape our own) 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon 1 can Sprite P.S. How much do I love that little teaspoon and tablespoon measurer. Like I said, I love her kitchen gadgets. Step 2: Peel and cut your 2 Granny Smith apples into 8 slices each (so a total of 16 apple slices). (Remembe...

I am a day behind. Though I was going nonstop yesterday. Yesterday was a significant day. For starters, it was SARS' birthday. (She kept flinching each time I released the shutter. So she squinted her eyes in each shot.) Also yesterday marked a new year in China, the year of the tiger. (I'm a tiger so it was even cooler) Group shot in the Chinese restaurant, waiting to be seated. Hannah in her full Tiger garb. Haha I thought I was fully in this shot. Though I like it because of the colors. I usually make something to commemorate Chinese New Year, but I was unable to do so yesterday. So just stay tuned. Yesterday was also Valentine's day. I love Valentine's day. I always have. I love making the Valentines, and the Valentine boxes that people are supposed to drop their Valentines in. I usually make Valentines but I also was unable to do so this year. I might make belated ones. Not entirely sure. Perhaps I will just make the Chinese New Year picture a Valentine as well. I ...

Every Tuesday the church where I work receives day old bread from a nearby grocery store. Pies, ciabatta bread, tortillas, stale doughnuts, if it is a carb, we get it at some point. Today I noticed we had wheat hoagie bread. I was instantly inspired to make a homemade meatball sub. I have never made meatballs before. I know I know, I have been fortunate enough to have my family's cooking almost every night of my young adult life. At least I am branching out now. (Sidenote: I successfully made my own stir fry on jasmine rice last week and it was delicious.) I used my lovely lights to demonstrate how I went about making my Hero Sandwich, (apparently another word for hoagie, sub, blimpie or a grinder). Oh and I did not use a recipe of any sort for any of this, I just kind of guessed so I am sure you could do whatever you think would taste good. Step 1: Make sure nobody is brining home pizza already (dang it). Also Make sure you have all your ingredients. -Sub bread -Marinara Sauce ( I...