Have you guys been watching all of the Casey Anthony news?
I’m no lawyer, but I am shocked she was found not guilty.
How is it that people who are so terrible and that don’t contribute good to the world walk around alive and free? Why are people who were amazing human beings, who gave back, who cared for others are taken too soon?
Mr. Billy Joel, why is it that only the good die young?!
I should probably have warned you that today marks 3 years since my dad was taken by cancer. 3 very fast years. It’s hard to believe…
Not. Fair.
Maybe I write about it too much, but my dad had continues to have such a huge impact on my life. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. On the 4th I ran the Peachtree Road Race wearing a ribbon (orange for leukemia) in his honor.
A big FU to the people out there who are just taking up space or – even worse – are harming others. You’re lucky to have the opportunity to live. Don’t waste it taking from others.
***Stepping off soap box***
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Lucky for anyone reading this today is WIAW! I have something less depressing to post about!
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Breakfast
These Apple-Carrot Muffins I made a few months back are awesome. Super filling, especially with the massive glob of PB I iced it with.
Lunch
Garden Lites Zucchini Souffle. These are surprisingly good for frozen food! Thanks to the egg, they are pretty filling as well.
Even though I microwaved it, the edges were a crispy (read: not rubbery) texture. The egg helped make the inside of my souffle fluffy rather then mushy like any frozen meals.
Snacks
Pretty standard – I was super busy at work.
Side note: my dad used to love Think Thin bars. He liked Chocolate Fudge, but I think Chocolate Toffee is the only way to go.
Dinner
I was underwhelmed by my dinner out, so instead I’m going to share a particularly delicious salad I ate this weekend.
It is no secret that I do NOT like white potatoes. I do not like thick french fries, potato salad, mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes. I just don’t, Uncle Sam I Am.
The 4th of July is a potato salad-centric holiday… so I made a version that I like!
Obviously, it had to be Mexican-inspired. Nothing says 4th of July like México.
Spinach also must be incorporated. It is my salad. Bwhahaha! Of course there was cheese – I used Daiya
pepper jack but honestly it didn’t nearly spicy enough. Use regular pepper jack if you eat dairy!
This was a winner. The spices made the salad taste “special” and I was able to join the potato-salad eating. Mine was better than that white potato stuff.
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Mexican Sweet Potato Salad
- 1 sweet potato, baked and cubed
- 1/2 C black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 1 C spinach
- 1/4 C red onion, diced
- 1/4 C pepper jack cheese (I used Daiya)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp coriander
- Juice from 1/4 lime
- Drizzle of EVOO
- S+P, to taste
Prepare first 6 ingredients and mix in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Whisk remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. Adjust spices to taste.
Pour vinegarette over salad and toss to combine. Enjoy!
Makes 1 entree ensalada or 2 sides.
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Tonight I’m looking forward to a meal by a chef you may have seen in Food & Wine. 🙂
Does it make you made when justice isn’t served?
Do you think karma will take care of it in the long run?
Thoughts are with you, Laura! Sending positive energy to you dad, too!!
Love the mexican salad. Looks delicious!
I make plenty of meals that are just.. ehhh! THey don’t make it to the blog. haha
IMO, you’re entitled to write about him as much as you want. I think it shows how much you loved him and remembrance of the great father he was to you. Nothing wrong with that at all.
In stark contrast, apparently there are others that couldn’t care less about their family. Yes, this verdict upsets me and I hope karma puts a beatdown on the monster known as Casey.
Thanks Mark. 🙂
I agree with Mark, I think you should write about your dad as much as you want. It’s great that you ran the Peachtree for him.
I’ve had that zucchini thing before and it’s not bad. Some of the other things from that brand aren’t too bad either.
So sorry about your dad. Keep writing about him!! It helps keep your memories alive.
And yes, I believe in karma.
And I also believe that salad looks really tasty 🙂
Oh Laura, I’m so sorry about your dad. That makes me so sad. I couldn’t agree with you more about the people that waste space on this earth. I don’t understand cruelty at all. My thoughts are with you now.
I say, write about your dad as much as you want! This is YOUR blog! 🙂
I tried one of those garden souffles once and I think I microwaved it wrong (can you do it wrong?!) because it didn’t come out very good. I like, burned the edges and it was cold in the middle. haha total fail!
Laura, you go ahead and write as much about your Dad as you want to. It seems like he was just great and sharing your memories is a wonderful way to keep him with and around you. That was really special to run the Peach Tree for him.
As for the case, I think karma will win out in this one. I just hope it does before she has a chance to profit from this.
Your salad looks awesome and I’m intrigued with the zucchini souffle. May have to try to recreate that one 🙂
I don’t think there is anything wrong in writing about someone you care about. They are apart of you, so why not share memories. 🙂
and wow your eats look really tasty! I am intrigued by the apple carrot muffin. I gotta check out that recipe!
My thoughts are with you as well, Laura. I always have those same thoughts – why are good people taken so soon. 🙁 And I do believe karma will take care of it…
Love the salad! I absolutely love your creativity!
I can’t even put into words how I feel about the Casey Anthony trial. I saw the defense lawyers toasting and celebrating to their victory yesterday and it made me sick. I just don’t understand.
Thank you for sharing those beautiful words about your father. It is awesome that he continues to have an impact on your life daily. These are the people we need to hear more about so keep taking about him.
Every single day – some almost 31 years later – I still miss mine and he still impacts my life so much.
every single day.
Love you – aunt teresa
The Mexican salad looks so good. I love any dish that’s Mexican, my fav! My thoughts are with you on this anniversary.
I am so sorry about your dad!. It doesn’t matter the amount of years, it was someone who had an impact in your life..past and future 😉
My gpa is actually suffering from lukemia, and prob wont make it much longer. I love that u ran in ur dad’s honor. I may have to do the same!
I am so sorry to hear that. I’ll keep him in my thoughts.
Really sorry to hear about your dad.
We’re all thinking about y’all today. Your dad was a wonderful father, husband and friend. We miss him too!
I am so with you on that verdict. (It joins a long line of historically bad jury decisions.) I also understand about your dad. I lost my mom to colon cancer and will miss her for the rest of my days.
Belated congrats on the July 4th Top 9, and woot on today’s recipe. Looks amazingly refreshing, and I’m looking forward to trying it. Finally, thank you for sharing yourself and your recipes. 🙂
Cheers,
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
I am so sorry for your loss, Cleo. 🙁
Thank YOU for reading!
Thoughts are with you today…I don’t think you can ever talk about things like losing your father too much, especially if he had and still has such a huge impact on your life…thats what blogs are for! I’m always so impressed by your WIAW posts. I definitely did not eat that well 🙂 And that sweet potato salad looks lovely!!
Listen luv you can write bout your dad as much as you feel you need to! This is your blog! 🙂 And I 100% agree that it always seems like bad things happen to good people and vice versa! I’m a big believer in karma though so those that deserve it definitely have it coming! I hope your ok and I know this probably doesn’t help much but am thinking of you today! 🙂
bahahaha at your comment! those were totally not eggs in my post but yellow rice =) though black beans on top of eggs are one of my fav combos… I make bfast burritos with eggs, black beans, cilatntro and all the mexi fixings and looove em! <3
your mexi sp salad looks awesome girl! happy wiaw!!!!
I was shocked about the trial as well.. crazy.
I am really sorry about your dad. It is awesome though that he still impacts your life AND you think of him all the time. 🙂
I don’t like white potatoes either! My whole family thinks I’m crazy but to me it’s the texture that is just BLAH. I’ll eat french fries if they are doused in ketchup but that’s about it 😉
Your dad is with the angels. <3
Jen, I am so with you on liking sweet potatoes more than white, they are so much more flavorful!
I can’t believe Casey Anthony wasn’t found guilty. Sounds like a) the prosecution didn’t do a good job of presenting the case and b) perhaps noone wants to believe a mother can kill her child. (b was suggested by a psych on CNN and I agree)
I do hope karma will come around in the end. To be honest I have no idea what Casey Anthony will be able to do with her life now bec the general public def believes she’s guilty. She won’t have much of a life.
Hope you’re having a great day! 🙂
Those muffins just got added to my to-make list. And I am similarly not a fan of white potatoes. That salad looks delish!
Im so sorry about you dad!
This salad looks amazing, really a type of meal i would love! And sweet potatos beats white potatos every time 😉
There are far too many good people in this world that never get the recognition they deserve. I didn’t follow the Casey Anthony story closely, but even I know that this just isn’t right. The only thing we can do is rest assured that one day…justice WILL be served. Call it karma, call it divine intervention, but in the end there is always balance…we may just not be able to see it. I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. I can tell just from the words you chose, how strong of a relationship you had with him. And I think it’s awesome that you ran the race in his honor!
On a much lighter note, I love your salad! The combo of the spices in the vinaigrette sound delicious! I think coriander is a highly underrated flavor!
what a fun salad mix!
i can’t keep up with all your foods I want to try. I’ve got a running list. haha.
It all looks so good but I especially like the looks of that salad!!
That salad looks AWESOME! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Whitney
I get soooo mad when I hear about people like Casey Anthony getting to walk free when innocent people are taken every day. Ugh, I’m getting mad just thinking about it!
Writing about personal issues is part of what makes a blog enjoyable, and I enjoy you for it. Reading about other people’s emotional struggles help us to get through our own, no matter how different the struggles are.
On a happier note, YAY for Atlanta (I live there) and the Peachtree Road Race. What a great way to spend the 4th. And these Apple-Carrot muffins are now on my to-bake list.
Question about the Garden Lites: I’ve had their sweet potato souffle and found it to be sadly boring. Have you tried that and, if so, do you have a comparison for whether this is better/worth trying?
Congratulations on taking strong control of a tough day!
Hi Katy! So nice to meet another Atlantan!!
I actually haven’t tried the sweet potato, but I thought the zucchini was flavorful enough. I also like the portobello mushroom dish.
I think it’s beautiful that you care so deeply about your dad and his memory. No shame there. Your zucchini soufflé is so great and the sweet potato salad fresh, colourful and full of flavour – gorgeous! Thanks Laura.
I am a HUGEEE believer in karma. I have to believe that what goes around comes around or I’d drive myself absolutely mad!
I’m so sorry that you lost your dad. There’s a lot of unfairness in the world, and it just seems wrong that some good people die while others go on hurting people. My thoughts are with you and your family!
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. I know how tough it is to have a sick parent. You’re totally right – it’s unfair who lives and who dies, for sure.
I am angry about Casey Anthony, but I do see it as proof that our justice system works as it should. They did not have a case to convict her, so she walks. This makes me so sad for Caylee, because I DO think she did it, but at the same time, I would hope that if I were ever wrongfully accused of something, that the same justice system would save me from conviction, if that makes sense?
Ohmygosh, I think I tried that souffle when I was in New York last year! However, seeing as I can’t get my hands on it again, I’ll simply have to make your muffins 😉
Thank you for sharing about Garden Lites! If anyone has questions on where to get our frozen veggie souffles and dishes, check out our website http://www.gardenlites.com. Happy Eating!