It's All So Black and White

So I went on a few adventures towards the end of Spring Break.  First my friend Lauren took my to Brooklyn because I had never been and wanted to be shown around by someone who knew it well.  She spent a lot of the time trying to convince me to move there but I don't know it didn't excite me that much.  It had some cool restaurants and some cool views of Manhattan but there were no skyscrapers and busy streets.  I like the city for a reason. I did get some cool pictures taken though:

Then a few days later I went to Princeton to see Pietro and enjoy the beautiful spring weather in one of the most beautiful places around.  I even got him to take a break from his thesis for a while so we could go for a walk along the Tow Path, my absolute favorite place in Princeton (sorry I threw a few color ones in there which ruins the theme but I liked them too much)

It was a good if not eventful break but it only emphasized how much I didn't want to go back to doing school work. I like my classes (for the most part...) but I CANNOT WAIT until I finish this degree.

Rejuvenated

So a lot of things have happened in the past few days.  After I learned that I was laid off I decided to go home for a few days as it was my spring break. While I was home I left my phone in NYC which sucked a lot.  While my phone was in NYC I got a very important phone call from Argo saying I might not be laid off after all.  Thank goodness I was able to check my voice mail from home and call them back.  I talked to them again today and it seems they decided to keep me and one other person to try and rebuild the department so I am not laid off after all... WOOHOO! Saves me a job search, I was so sad so now I am relieved.

Anyway now that you are updated on my life I figured I'd update you on some of the recipes I've been cooking lately!

^First,  White Bean and Spinach Salad Recipe found here.  This is my favorite winter soup recipe.  Its just so warm and comforting and savory it feels like it has warmed you right down to your bones.  And it is surprisingly filling for such simple ingredients, and CHEAP!

^Next Coriander Crusted Scallops served over salad recipe found here.  I forgot the tangerines in the salad but it was still good, a little too much pepper for my taste though but I think the tangerines would have balanced it out a little.  I LOVE scallops so I would be more than willing to try again.

^This is Avocado Egg Salad.  It is similar to the regular egg salad recipe but involves using greek yogurt instead of mayo, adding avocados mashed like guacamole and some spinach.  I would recommend going heavy handed on the spices (they recommend red pepper flakes) because it was a tiny bit bland but super healthy and still good.  Recipe here.

^Lastly we have tonight's meal, Quinoa Cakes with a side of Sauteed Spinach.  THIS WAS DELICIOUS. the cakes were so flavorful it surprised me.  I'm glad I have leftover so I can experience the yumminess again tomorrow! Here is the recipe for the Quinoa Cakes and here is the recipe for the Sauteed Spinach

You might notice a distinct spinach theme but I gave up meat for Lent (not including seafood) so I am working to get enough iron and I eat about three bags of spinach a week.

Anyway, Enjoy!

Organizational Change

If it is possible to have a dream part-time-support-yourself-through-school job, I had it.  I got to talk about something I loved and had extensive knowledge of... and I got paid for it.  I got to go to cool places and events to do this... and I got paid for it.  I got a free unlimited subway pass and free drinks from my favorite cafe... and I got paid for it.  I could easily work my schedule around school and wasn't over worked at all.
It was awesome.  I had only been doing this for a month (after working for them miserable as a barista for 5 months) and I loved it so much I planned on keeping it through the summer and through my last year of my grad school program next year.

Then out of the blue this past Tuesday morning I got this email from my boss:

Hello Emily,

Can you meet Friday at 1pm?
Since we cannot meet until Friday I feel its only right that I explain to you the situation. As of this Friday all Field Marketing Activity across the country is canceled and the program is suspended. It’s no fault of ours here in NY, Argo decided to go into a different direction. You are more then welcome to once again Barista, just let me know if you choose to. This come as a shock to myself as well, as I also just found out.

So Friday I will need you to come in to fill out all the proper forms and I will answer all questions you have.

Best,
Jaime

Yup. That happened. Laid off. Cool.

Jut goes to show, your plans can change in an instant.  Also don't take awesome things for granted, because they can be (and usually are) taken away with no warning

Baking Fun

So I tried two new recipes recently that I thought I'd share

The first one was oreo stuffed cookies that I made for Pietro's birthday.  They were pretty simple: buy cookie dough and oreos.  Wrap cookie dough around oreos, bake according to cookie dough instructions.
One person at the party called them inception cookies because they were a cookie inside a cookie, that made me laugh.  They were of course AMAZINGLY delicious (especially straight out of the oven) because how can that level of fattiness not taste good?

The second recipe was for sugar free dairy free breakfast cookies.  Sounds gross but they're actually delicious! I love grabbing a couple to eat on the way to class or lab in the morning and its like portable oatmeal and fruit

Ingredients:
2-3 ripe bananas mashed
1.5 cups unsweetened applesauce
1.5 cups oats
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 sliced almonds
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Mix oats, coconut, almonds, allspice, salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.  Mix mashed bananas, applesauce, and vanilla extract together in a smaller bowl.  Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients and mix well.  Drop cookie sized blobs onto greased baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes.
Makes 24 cookies

**UPDATE**

This person made essentially the same thing in muffin form! Cute! http://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/personal-sized-baked-oatmeal-with-individual-toppings-gluten-free-diabetic-friendly/

Day with Dad

So my dad FINALLY came to visit me last week and we had a great time.  I showed him all around the city and took him to all of my favorite places and we even decided to do something touristy so we went to see the World Trade Center Memorial (and while waiting in line for that realized why we never do anything touristy).  Just like with every doubter who comes to visit me I made him hate the city a little less (my love for this city is very infectious).
Any way here are some pis from downtown in and around the memorial:

^Woolworth building... very intimidating looking

^I just love red buildings :)

the memorial had two pools, one in the foundation of each tower

^the Freedom Tower in currently being built and is due to be the next World Trade Center

^At the end of the day we were exhausted from all the walking around so Dad needed to sit and relax and have his beer