Happy Butter Bean Pâté Lunch

I feel like I have not embarrassed myself on the blog for a while, so thinking I need to fix that! Dating… should do it.

One of the reasons I decided to leave LA is due to my mid 30, brunette locks and real small-ish boobs are not quite what the males fancy in Lala. To put it blunt I don’t look like barbie and I am not twenty. Now what I lack in cup, I make up in personality, but who can get a word in edge wise when two double d’s have hypnotized the guy?

So I packed up and headed to Texas where single men are free range and grass fed. Right?

After settling into my new digs and started to familiarize myself with the locals, I started to realize I had a whole different set of issues. Marriage!! In LA all my friends are single and the few who took the plunge do not have kids. We have dogs!!

All my new  TX friends are married and I mean… ALL of them!! As much as I was confused by them, they were confused by the single me.

Here are a couple observations between married species and single species:

1. Married women are far nicer to single woman than single female vs single female. They are loving and extremely encouraging to put a ring on it.

2. Married women love to set-up single girls. For them it is more about the set-up than an actual personality match. Again goal put a ring on it.

3. Married women love to ask age and then promptly.. Are you married? Kids? When I reply no. A sound of sadness is quickly followed. I think they assume I live on a hill with multiple cats.

I have always been a career girl. Again one of the reasons I left LA, less career more life. Enter online dating. According to everyone, they know a thousand people who met online and are happily in relationships and married just last month. With those odds, I don’t know why I had waited so long to join and be happy!!  According to the ads 1 out of 5 relationships start online, I guess they never said 1 and 5 are happy relationships.

So the timeline has to be simple. 1. Sign up. 2. Go on a handful of dates. 3. Change facebook status to “in a relationship”

Well that is not quite how it has worked out.

1. I did sign up…. as a matter of fact for two sites. Better odds!!

2. Go on a handful of dates. Well that part is true, I have only been on a handful of dates. 3 to be exact.

Guy #1 was 20 years older than the photo. Like I was not going to notice!!

They guy I thought I was meeting vs actual guy.

Guy #2 Sweet as he may have been. Having a job is kind of important in your late 30′s. No go!!

Guy #3 Awesome… but when I was ordered glass of wine #2 he was ordering whiskey #5. Yikes.

I know the saying.. you go to kiss some frogs to find your prince, but frogs don’t email. Whew… Let’s just say online dating is also a place for just hooking up. Usually these emails come in at 3 am, so that is always a great way to start my day!! Ha ha.

3. Change relationship status… not yet, but will keep you posted!

Here is an amazing dish for whatever relationship status you are sporting!!

Take a can of butter beans, 2 cloves of fresh garlic and 1 cup of mushrooms and sauté in a skillet with olive oil.

Throw everything in a food processor and add 1/4 cup of Happy Hemp.

Put lid on and turn on. Pour a steady steam of olive oil into the mix until the mixture turns into a think puree.

Scoop the mixture in a bowl. Serve with crackers and side salad.

Yummy!! Enjoy!!

Happy Salmon Sheet Dinner

My mom called me raving about the sheet dinner idea in Bon Appetite magazine.

I loved the idea! I loved the simplicity! I love the minimal clean up!

So here we go…

Tonights dinner is wasabi mayo Happy Hemp crusted salmon with a side of roasted veggies.

Take a aluminum cooking sheet or line one in foil.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2 Bok choy

1 Bundle of scallions

1 Small napa cabbage, halved.

Toss all in olive oil until lightly coated with a pinch of sea salt.

Spread out the veggies out on one side of sheet.

In a small dish mix wasabi and  3 TBSP of mayo together.

Remember you can always add wasabi, but not take it away.

So taste and see what heat level is good for you.

Spread the mayo dip on top of the salmon and then sprinkle the top with Happy Hemp.

Lay the salmon on the open end of the sheet.

So to recap veggies one side, salmon chilling out of the other side.

Everyone happy!

Last but not least grate some fresh ginger over the top of the veggies.

Cook for 10 min.

Take left over wasabi mayo and spread over the cabbage.

Thanks Mom! Thank Bon Appetite!

Now let’s eat!

Happy Birthday Happy Hemp

Happy 1st Birthday.

You have taught me so mush this year about myself.

I know longer fear the unknown. I wake up everyday eager to greet the day and face what life has planned.

 I have learned to see myself in the mirror. I love who I am… just as I am.

 I now listen to my inner voice.

 I am rich in the things that matter. Friends, family and memories.

 I have learned to forgive. I no longer hold on. I am free.

 I have passion.

 I see.

  I have true happiness.

The true meaning of being happy is right here right now…  In the moment.

I am.

 Thank you Happy Hemp!

Happy Artichoke. Happy Me.

Have you ever eaten an artichoke?

No? You are missing out!!

Head to your local farmers’ market immediately.

Got mine at Hairston Creek Farm .

Let’s get the facts straight.

1. Easy to cook.

2. Amazing flavor.

3. Great for you!

Cut the stems off.

Place a stock pot on medium heat with a couple of inches of water.

Add in a steam basket and place artichokes on top.

Cover and bring to boil, turn down to a simmer.

Cook for 30 to 40 min or until leaves easily pull from base.

I am a big dipper.

Mix a spoonful of mayo, fresh dill, Happy Hemp and a squirt of lemon to a bowl.

Stir.

Add a pinch of salt to taste.

You are ready to rock and dip.

Plate. Eat. Enjoy!

Happy Black Radish Chips

Potato Chips are the evilest of all evil snack foods. These light and fluffy little liars lure you in with their promise of just eating one, one won’t hurt. The problem is and I am pretty sure there is scientific research proving my point, no one has EVER eaten just one potato chip in the history of mankind. I have on several occasions sat and mindlessly eaten an entire bag without realizing what i was doing. My choice was simple 1. go to chip rehab or 2. come up with a healthy solution. I have chosen to by pass going to Passages at 32k a day and found a fun chip option to satisfy snacking and won’t lie to my thighs.

Black radishes are the perfect veggie to turn into a a yummy snack.

This root vegetable is great for stimulating digestion!!

They have a wonderful pepper flavor that is perfect for a snack.

Ingredients:

• 2 Black radishes. Thoroughly washed or peeled.
• Olive oil
• Happy Hemp
• Sea salt

Directions:

1. Take the washed radishes and thinly slice them. I suggest using a mandoline if you have one. The thinner the better.
2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
3. Place slices in a bowl and drizzle olive oil, 2 pinches of sea salt and 2 TBSP of Happy Hemp.
4. Mix together until all slices are lightly covered in oil. The less oil the better. Don’t soak.
5. Spread the slices out in a baking dish. Try to keep them from over lapping to much.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Enjoy!