Scissor Quirk.

Gooseberry.

I go to school next to this really really delicious market, now, and whenever I pop in there I literally have to tell myself: 'don't buy anything!' But the most crazy exotic fruits are just overflowing from these places, and I have this compulsion to buy fruit I've never had/seen. Weird? Sort of...lol.

These little guys, I've seen before - but they're rare around these parts:

Gooseberries!

I've seen them before as garnishes on plates (they usually come in their leaves, which are kind of sticky, oval shaped things you have to peel back to get the berry in the middle). I saw these and had to get them - I remember them being super delicious the few times we had them. I have to say, they're a little bit strong - maybe 'rich' is the right word, but my tastebuds were definitely happy.

We ate these at the farmers market for breakfast with our fresh pastries. :)

Have you tried any new strange fruit (or gooseberries) lately?
I'm always looking for something new to try, fruit-wise!

Sensitive Factoid.

Just before you go thinking that motorcycle riding is uber cool.

My teeth have been bugging me, lately.

After years of not having any problems (except for, you know - braces), they got really sensitive after the first few fillings that I got back in January and are still bugging me.

I had a check-up a few weeks back and the dentist said that it's from my gums receeding a teensy bit (this is the boring part of the factoid), which he mentioned might be from clenching my teeth. Do I clench my teeth at night? No. Do I grind my teeth? No. I wracked my brain thinking about what the heck would be causing it.

And then I got on the motorcycle the next day and realized there's a constant teeth-clench going on while I ride.

Hah. Maybe it's mister husband's driving? The ability to see the idiots driving next to us & realizing there's nothing much between me, them, & the road? lol.

Anyhoo, funny little realization of mine.
It sure is awesome, but it subconciously stresses me out. Who knew?

It's not an entirely stress-free process for me, yet, especially in town.

Revived.

Yay! I'm happy to say, my basil is sprouting & growing like crazy!

You may remember me mentioning that my window-sill garden got a little fried in our hot sun last month (you can still see the last two dry-as-hay herbs behind the basil, above). lol. I was so sad! No joke. And then the flowers were done blooming. The sunflower died. Some herbs were sacrificed to the sun gods. It looked sad for a few weeks until I finally replanted things and trimmed and watered and rearranged.

The basil (which I had thought to be oregano, at first) managed to survive all along. I planted a few more seeds at the bottom after some of the underneath leaves died and they sprouted up again right away!

Now I'm careful to remember to water everyday and close the blinds a bit so they're not frying all day when it's super hot! Still working on my green thumb. :)

How's your garden doing?

I hope it survives our weekend of kayak-camping without water! lol.

On Healthy Eating.

Oh, I can do this eating healthy thing when it's yummy.
Seriously, I almost died when I had this egg salad with avocado. Died.

Does it look yummy in the photo? I was afraid it may look like green sludge - but I'm biased and therefore drooling looking at it, here...lol.

Anyhoo, yeah. I want to eat it everyday for lunch.

I've been bound and determined to be nicer to myself. I've been trying to start exercising regularly for a looong while, and I've finally actually stuck with it this week. I've been alternating bike rides on the seawall with jog/walks (I can't run - I always try, but can't do more than a few spurts at a time - lol). A little pilates for my core, lemon water in the morning, and trying to conciously get my 8 glasses of water a day in and I already feel like a million bucks!

I've also been sticking with the healthy food this week - which can actually be yummy, much to my hubby's dismay (he hasn't even had the egg salad, yet!) lol. I made kale chips for the first time (yum!), the aforementioned egg salad made with avocado instead of mayo in it (mayo is hereby banned from our house, just like the microwave), baked sweet potatoes with avocado & asparagus, eggs eggs eggs & fruit galore...om nom. I'm such a food nut.

Want to make your own? Grab half an avocado + one hard-boiled egg + 2-3 sliced green onions and smash them together in a bowl (I use a mini potato squisher), chill it for a bit in the fridge, and spread it on your sandwich - or, as I did - slice a tomato open and pile the egg salad in the middle of it. Enjoy!

Have you been feeling the Spring-is-coming healthy kick?
I think I naturally get it once a year, but it takes a bit to hit me...lol.

Blog Party: Vegan Snickerdoodles

Kaylah, aka The Dainty Squid sent me this *delicious* looking recipe for homemade vegan snickerdoodles to share with everyboday. ''It's a super simple, yet really yummy recipe that is perfect with a glass of milk (or soy milk!)'', she says. I'm tempted to hop off my computer and make em! Get your apron on...

Vegan Snickerdoodles

For the cookies-
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegan butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs worth of egg replacer
2 3/4 cups self rising flour

For coating-
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons
cinnamon

Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening,  2t cinnamon and "eggs" in large bowl. Stir in the self rising flour thoroughly.

Shape dough into small balls (approximately 1 inch). Mix the other 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon together. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack, cool and enjoy!

Kaylah Doolan is an amazing blogger (I visit hers nearly everyday!). She takes lovely photos, runs a cute little shop called The Dainty Squid, and enables a lot of readers to vicariously thrift shop through her amazing finds.

You can visit her on Etsy and Twitter, as well as her blog.

Thanks for the lovely recipe, Kaylah! :)