I'm Baaaack!

I finished the California Bar Exam on Thursday, and I am so happy to be free again! Now I have two months before I start my job, and I plan to be blown by the wind just like this adorable pinwheel in my backyard.


Will the wind blow me back into the kitchen? I hope so. And maybe to Hawaii? That's the plan. It should be an exciting few months, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Now I think I better do a little spring cleaning around here ~ in late July, no less!

Taco Remix

The bar exam is now exactly a week away ~ yikes! This is what fueled me last week since now I seem to be grabbing the camera less and less often.

Wheat tortilla
Toasted with cheese, tomato salsa, frozen bell peppers
Top with black beans
Fresh baby spinach
Pre-sliced mushrooms

Pizza Remix 2

Kitchen shortcuts can be a lifesaver, so don't be afraid to turn to the pre-chopped produce section, the canned/jarred food aisle, or even the freezer for the makings of some really great food.

Whole wheat pita
Refried beans
Tomato salsa
Shredded jack cheese
Frozen corn
Lots of black pepper

Grilled Cheese Remix 2

As you may know, I've been mixing it up around here with my Remix series. These are my quickest, easiest, and most basic recipes for the busiest of times. Enjoy!

Wheat bread
A thin layer of pesto on each slice
Salt and pepper
Shredded mozzarella
Fresh baby spinach

Veggie Remix

More re-mixing!

Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
Start with a large bag of pre-chopped broccoli
Use clean hands to break apart any oversized florets
Drizzle with olive oil
Toss with your hands
Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt
Add freshly ground black pepper
Roast at 450 degrees for 15 minutes
Sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
Roast another 5 minutes
Scrape the Parmesan bits off the pan and enjoy!

Pizza Remix

Whole wheat pita (great for portion control!)
Basil pesto
Fresh baby spinach
Coarsely chopped artichoke hearts
Shredded mozzarella
Shredded parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper

Grilled Cheese Remix

For today's remix, I'm starting out basic:

"The Traditional"
Sharp cheddar
Wheat bread
Brushed with olive oil
(because it's faster than spreading butter and it crisps up nicely!)

The Simple Mix

Right now I'm both studying for the Bar Exam and really missing my blog. Here's what I've decided to do. First of all, I'm not making any promises about whether or not I'll be blogging at all in the next few weeks. (Although I suspect I will be. . . some, at least.) If I completely fall off the face of the planet, you should know that I have some really great things planned for Appetite for Conversation in August ~ new features, new topics, new recipes, and all kinds of "new." If I disappear, definitely check back in August.

Second of all, there's this idea floating around blogs these days that I kind of like. The "Remix Challenge" is popping up everywhere. (Like here and here) Basically, people are agreeing to select 30 items from their wardrobe and only wear those 30 items for 30 days, mixing and matching as they go along. Kinda fun, right?

Since I read about this it dawned on me that I often follow a "Remix" kind of lifestyle, but with food. Particularly when I'm super busy I turn to a handful of standard things my family and I like to eat, and I reinvent them over and over again. The shopping is simple, the preparation is simple, and the amount of thought that goes into it is simple. Yet more often than not we end up eating a variety of meals with pretty darn good food.

In the coming weeks I plan to blend my need for "simple" with this idea of "remix." When (and if) I post, it will be some remix of one of my standards. You are likely to see:

Sandwiches
Pizzas
Tacos
Burgers
Roasted Veggies

Let me know what you think!

It's All in the Toppings

Red tomatoes
White crema
Blue corn tortilla chips