u/Dontfeedthebears

This week’s heat has made me feel pretty crappy. It’s paycheck week, so I figured I can treat myself a bit and try to eat. I’ve also been in love with making my own lemon/limeade. It’s so much better than something from the soda machine, and way cheaper to make your own. I like mine with a lot of fresh juice (did you know a lot of “lemonade” doesn’t contain ANY actual lemon juice?!) I also don’t like mine sickly-sweet. This brand that was originally in the bottle was indeed good (and actual limeade, made with juice), but mine is just as good. I just have a thing for cute bottles! I made a ginger simple syrup for it, which I’m very fond of! Pizza is from Beer City Pizza, which is dangerously convenient (even on the right hand side of the road!) on my way home from work. Already vegan, you don’t even have to modify it 🤷‍♀️. I did ask for their sesame crust, and I am the weirdo who requested square cut. Really good, and the service when I ordered/picked up was friendly.

I am a cook in Arden (but live in Asheville) and we have a work bear. She has 3 babies and she is VERY smart. She figured out that if she got on top of our dumpster and jumps up and down that the top will fall through (even though she’s fairly small). We got a new dumpster yesterday, much to her chagrin! (It’s reinforced at the top so can’t fall through. But she still can get in if the side is left open.

She still got on top and gave a valiant effort!
The funniest part, though? She knows when we start serving food! 😂😂. This is she, 10 minutes before service. On time and ready.

I saw these on here and I love pineapple. I don’t have kids, there was no real reason for me to make them, as I haven’t had Kool Aid in like 35 years and I like plain old pineapple just fine 🤷‍♀️. But, I made them because I like doing little projects, and, why not?
I also was very skeptical and totally thought this would possibly be gross/a bust.

Firstly, I’m no longer familiar with this product and haven’t held a Kool Aid packet in my hand in just as long as mentioned, so I just picked a blue packet and a red packet.

The blue packet turned out to be Tropical punch, a radioactive red color (lol) and the other was Black Cherry, and the color pretty much matched.

Honestly? Not a bad flavor! The inside keeps its natural color (at least at a 24-hour full submersion). And a note- the flavors ARE distinctly different, it’s not just different coloring.

For each quart container I used the following:
1/2 cored/peeled pineapple cut into lengths
200g (weight) water
280g (weight) pineapple juice
1 level Tb (volume) caster sugar.

Comparatively to the things I’ve seen here, I’d say it’s “less” stupid- as it’s not wasteful, actually tastes good, and isn’t expensive.

Totally 100% unnecessary? Yep! Possibly could be used for something fun/colorful at a party, or for just an activity, especially if you *do* want a kid-friendly activity (assuming they aren’t spilling it everywhere)? Also Yep. Also don’t have to involve kids at all.

This is in case anyone was wondering how they actually turn out in real life. Hope you have a nice day!

Mediterranean:
Red base, sauteed mushroom/onion, spinach, red onion, yellow bell pepper, marinated tomatoes, ho-made candied jalapeños, Kalamata olives, feta, parm

Chipotle Elote-
Red and adobo base, sautéed mushroom/onion, red onion, chipotle sausage, candied jalapeños, spinach, yellow bell pepper, corn, tajín-adobo mayo, almond cotija, cilantro, green onion, pepper jack.

I know candied jalapeños may not be”belong” on the Mediterranean but I don’t really care ;) Got the crust at a discount grocery and it’s been in my fridge for ages, and still is really good. I like thin crust best and this is good!

Mediterranean:
Red base, sauteed mushroom/onion, spinach, red onion, yellow bell pepper, marinated tomatoes, ho-made candied jalapeños, Kalamata olives, feta, parm

Chipotle Elote-
Red and adobo base, sautéed mushroom/onion, red onion, chipotle sausage, candied jalapeños, spinach, yellow bell pepper, corn, tajín-adobo mayo, almond cotija, cilantro, green onion, pepper jack.

Only letting me choose one photo :(

Mediterranean:
Red base, sauteed mushroom/onion, spinach, red onion, yellow bell pepper, marinated tomatoes, ho-made candied jalapeños, Kalamata olives, feta, parm

Chipotle Elote-
Red and adobo base, sautéed mushroom/onion, red onion, chipotle sausage, candied jalapeños, spinach, yellow bell pepper, corn, tajín-adobo mayo, almond cotija, cilantro, green onion, pepper jack.

Yeah, doesn’t look good, but it is! Coconut black beans, grilled jerk veggies, Meati steak, and elote: ho-made mayo, tajín, almond cotija, cilantro. Sauce is reduced jerk marinade (first plate).

I really feel bad for those folks who have the cilantro gene where it tastes like soap. They can’t help it. But goodness, cilantro is SO good ❤️

I don’t usually eat frozen meals like this, but it was at the discount grocery. I did do the microwave option and will try the oven option (as I bought 2). Hopefully the nugget part (and yes, there were 3, so that was accurate) will be chewier from the oven. The voting on them was not crisp at all, but I understand it’s a microwave meal.

LAST photo is the one heated and stirred. The other photos are frozen, and just out of the microwave not stirred.

I wouldn’t say it was bad, but I wouldn’t say it was great. Definitely edible, but I could make way better and definitely won’t be buying it again, and certainly wouldn’t pay full price. For a 4 minute lunch, though, wasn’t “bad”. The sauce did come out pretty soupy but the flavor was good. Maybe 5/10 overall?
I wasn’t expecting much, so it did meet expectation.

Haven’t seen my mama in over 3 years. 🥹 Made her this tonight for dinner. Based on Minimalist Baker recipe. Doubled the sauce and did an assorted veg stir fry to go with it (that’s why I doubled the sauce). Bonus pic: we took my dogs to Lowe’s and they got a lot of pats. ❤️

I work in a kitchen and had a little extra time for a project so I decided to make something different (to the clients) for deli case. Peanut-Sesame noodles (technically pasta). We sold 7/9 in 20 hours (clients there work all hours and facility is open 24 hours most days of the week). Made 11 more and some of those sold as well.

No less than 4 people directly (verbally, to me) said they enjoyed the dish! I try to provide as many vegan items as I can. It felt great to have such nice feedback! (Nobody is vegan there except me, afaik).

Will definitely do my best to put these in rotation. They are tasty cold, room temp, and hot, so it’s nice any time. :)