Back in the Day!!!!

Whenever I start to feel fall in the air, which is normally right around September, memories flood back of my college days.  The crisp air, liking school because you're not to far into the semester (not much has happened yet), photography, cooking, and having to go to Spanish class (even though I speak spanish, I didn't like this part of the schedule!!!)  I miss it (college) only until someone says they have a big test to study for or have a lot of homework.  I don't miss that one bit!!!! 

I graduated in Business, but I have an associates in culinary arts, and photography.....spanish didn't quite make it.   I was just looking at some of my photo's and decided I needed to start seriously practicing again.

I love Black and White Photography.  This is one of my all-time favorites.  I took this my last semester.

Here are a few more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I designed this, pretty cool huh......

I love sunsets, and I have quite a few, but this one sticks out to me because of the lighting. 

As for the cooking part of things, I have a lot of recipes that I can share, and will when I have a bit more time to type them out, but this is one of my favorites............

Pork:

2-1

LB Pork Tenderloins

2

Lg. Cloves of Garlic

1

Med. Onion

24

oz Zesty Italian Dressing (I substituted this into the recipe so it wouldn't take as much time...i make my own sauce)

3

C. Water    (add chopped tomato and some peppers if desired)

*This recipe works better in the Crock Pot

Cut the garlic lengthwise and onion into big pieces. Place pork and dressing in a bad with the chopped onions and garlic. Marinate over night or as long as possible. Place Marinated pork and liquid in Crock pot and cook on low 5-6 hours.  When done, cut pork or shred.

Rice:

2

14oz can Beef Broth

2

10oz can Beef Consomme

2

c. Long grain white rice

Preheat oven to 350. Combine broth and consomme, then rice in an oven safe container with a lid. Bake 45 minutes or until rice is light and fluffy.

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Place a scoop of rice on plate, place pork atop, drizzle with sauce.

My Mama taught me well....but I also took it to heart!!!!!

I rarely watch talk shows but today I turned the TV on and there was Oprah.   She had Jamie Oliver (the food revolution guy) on her show today.  He is trying to convince  America  they need to eat better...Eat real food he says!!! He is a food guy, not a diet guy.  

It was just crazy to me what they showed American's eating and feeding there kids......PROCESSED :( :( :(   That is disgusting to eat that crap regularly. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I just thought it was common sense to make food that you knew the ingredients and to also eat fruits and veggies.  

For Example:         Making mashed potatoes from real potatoes vs. instant potatoes.....there's like 20 ingredients

                              Baking something in the oven verses frying immersed in oil.  

                              Making Chicken Nuggets vs. buying the processed who knows whats in them nuggets

                              Eating apples and string cheese instead of chips and crackers all the time

                              Making Pizza at home and not buying the frozen card board pizza. 

If you can't tell I'm ANTI processed!!!!!   Don't get me wrong, I have it every once in a while and even crave it from time to time....don't ask me why....but I never feel good afterwords.  Therefore I try not to make a habit of it.

I'm so glad that I had a mom that taught me not to rely on processed foods, but how to make things myself.....also to live the law of health. (if we all lived that better, we wouldn't have as many problems)  Everything that Jamie Oliver said on Oprah's show today was common sense to me.  It almost made me feel proud that I have a strong point and someone else agreed with me!!!