A Spangly New Year

~Sparkles!~

Look folks, I could not tell you why I really love sparkles, but I just do.  And if nothing says "super spangly new year!" like two hands full of sparkles then I don't know what does!

So here we are - the year 2014 - and all I have to show for it so far is some glittery flanges.

Also, on the subject of party-ifying body extensions: I once more have pink hair!

(and sparkly nails! Have I said that already?)

But all sparkles and jokes aside, I really have a spectacular feeling about this whole 2014 business.  Usually new years are exciting, fresh, new, and all - but this one seems extra potential-filled for some reason.  There's already so much I'm looking forward to, but I'm also excited to see what unexpected adventures happen to drop by from time to time!

If you were hoping for a more in-depth look at pink-haired-person: you are in luck!

If you were hoping for a new image to haunt your nightmares: you are in luck!

If you were hoping for free synthesized music to be played whenever you walk through doorways: sorry, play again later!

Peace out, and have a positively rocket-powered start, middle, and finish to your 2014!

NEW miracle health product!

That's right!  We're finally getting a Halloween recap around here, as well as a mind-blowing health tip!

CURIOUS?

Raisin Brahms!!

Watch here for the hilarious Brahms-osity that inspired my costume for this year!

Johannes says: "For a healthy and fun life, make sure you get at least 2 servings of the Arts each day!"

Let's get real here folks: the arts are awesome.  They inspire us, they challenge us, they bring us together, and help foster creativity, dedication, and humor in those who partake in them.  The arts can provide much needed human-connection in communities, families, institutions, and even whole nations!  The arts allow us to escape, but they can also wake us up to the world around us.  They can be as irrelevant and old, or as fascinating and cutting-edge as our imaginations allow them to be.

Basically...whether it be forms of textiles, theatre, music, etc etc etc - the arts rock and everyone should have access to them in their life and community!

So go ahead - get your full serving of Arts each day and everyday!  You'll be glad you did, I promise.

(or Brahms will be quite upset with you...and you don't want that now do you?)

For those of you wondering, YES OF COURSE I burst into my Jazz theory class yelling "GUTEN TAGGGggggggggg!!!!!" and was greeted by a chorus of "JOHANNES BRAHMS!?!"

(I admit, I made sure that at least 3 people knew I was coming so that I would have a few responders)

To my immense delight, I actually got a bunch of unsuspecting class-goers to to yell back in total spontaneity!!  I also got a "you are officially my favorite" and a "everyone around the school of music is talking about you - in a good way!" which made me feel very proud indeed.

Also, check out the Pumpkin the H-roomie and I carved!

So remember folks - get your arts in for a good healthy life, and if you every hear anyone yell "guten tag" the only appropriate response is:

Johannes Brahms!!

Sunday Sustenance

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR...

I actually think this might be the most delicious dish I have ever made in my life.  Well maybe that's an over-statement, but BELIEVE me when I say this things is DELICIOUS!

(just look at this bite...)

Now are you ready for the kicker?

THERE ARE NO NOODLES IN THIS DISH.

Terrifying right?  Well fear not, because one man's empty pantry is another man's full stomach!  (In this case I was both of those men...)

Now before you dismiss this as your average boring ol' souped-up lasagna recipe trying to fit a load of veggies in a perfectly good dish - here me out!  Not only is this dish full of meaty, cheesy, warm goodness, it is also simply put - delicious (have I said that already?)

The story is as follows:  I had not a noodle to be found, and a serious lasagna-on-the-brain.  I also had a fridge full of eggplant from 2 weeks ago that needed a happy home before they went bad.  With the help of the internet, I learned that both zucchini and eggplant could make wonderful lasagna noodles...so off I went!

Should you wish to experiment, my very crude details are below:

1.)  Slice your zucchini or eggplant into very thin strips or rounds (I used a combo of both).  You want them to be approximately noodle thickness, but a little more or less really won't matter.

2.)  Do something to your "noodles" to take some of the moisture out.  Here's where I didn't do a very good job, and ended up pouring off the entire Atlantic ocean from my finish lasagna before I ate it.  It still turned out amazingly, and none of the flavor was sacrificed - still I would recommend trying to reduce the water if possible.  Here are some ideas that have floated around:

- baking the "noodles" for a few mins while your oven is pre-heating

- crisping them up a bit on a hot pan

You don't want them to be crispy, just a bit less water-filled.  If you don't do any of these, don't worry to much, you'll just have to pour off a lot of liquid after the baking stages.

3.)  Brown your meat and slice up all the fixings for your layers that you desire

4.)  Artistically assemble your layers.  Mine consisted of: Classico tomato basil sauce, mushrooms, ground beef cooked with parsley basil and fennel seed, more basil, red pepper, purple pepper, cottage cheese, Parmigian-Reggiano (gettin' fancy I know!), and of course your "noodles" in-between!

5.)  Bake for about 35 mins.  My oven was at 375 I believe (in a 4-serving glass pan).

6.)  Force yourself to let it sit for about 10 mins and ENJOY!

Who says you can't make absolutely awesome food at college?  All you need is a little farmers market love, and about 30 mins of prep on a weekend!

Also, a personal preferance note: I think I enjoyed the combo of zucchini AND eggplant, because sometimes eggplant can just get so...I don't know...eggplanty!  You know, that taste that's just slightly too much eggplant than you really wanted?  This dish however, struck the perfect balance!

What do you think?  Are veggies (although eggplant is technically a berry!) a viable noodle-option, or is this a disturbing attack on the classic dish?

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU DARE...