Short & Sweet

Stylish by JESSICA0 comments

Oh hey again. I know right, 2 posts in one day, kind of impressive…

But I merely just wanted to let you all know something, as I said, short and sweet, and by sweet I of course mean…
(drum roll please)

The return of the Blogger Sweet Swap!

 

This time the theme is Fall Faves! You’ll get paired up with another blogger (readers can play too!) and send them your favorite fall-themed treat, whatever it may be. (I’ve heard some rumblings of pumpkin around the blogosphere lately…) Either way, do whatever you have to do to make your house smell like a Yankee Candle, and join in the fun!

If you sat on the benches last time and drooled from afar, now is your chance to participate. No one is expecting Top Chef Desserts here, people, just have fun and connect with some of the other fabulous bloggers out there! Oh and get some delicious sugary treats, obviously…

All you have to do is email me (ssh.jessica@gmail.com) or Amy, my lovely partner in crime (secondcityrandomness@gmail.com) by October 4th, and we’ll get you signed up and paired off by October 6th. Be sure to include your mailing address and if you have any dislikes or allergies!
We’re asking that all baked goods be mailed no later than Monday, October 17th, (so please be sure this is not a conflict for you!)

Rules:

1. Each participant should send approximately a dozen of whatever treat they choose to make. (12 cookies, brownie pan to serve 12, etc). Of course, you are allowed to send more, but please keep the minimal to 12.

2. Pairs will be finalized and notified by October 6th and the delicious treats should be shipped by October 17th. We just ask that you be respectful of others and try to get them out before, or as close to that date as possible.

3. Tell Amy & Jess how much you love them for organizing this fantastic operation. (this one is optional…)

*Disclaimer- the organizers of this bake swap are merely responsible for matching the participants, and are not …

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Stealthy Recipes by JESSICA0 comments

You know what’s great about a vegetarian diet?

…No seriously, tell me because the last five days have consisted of me opening and then closing, opening and then closing the refrigerator, skipping the entire back wall of the grocery store (they have bacon back there people, BACON) and waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and shouting “LUNCH MEAT!”

 

Alright, maybe some of those things aren’t true…ok none of them are true, but the point…the point is, being a vegetarian is hard work, y’all.

 

It was easy for me to say, “Oh, I could totally be a vegetarian.” I don’t eat red meat very often, and I regulary incorporate so many vegetables and grains and beans already.
False. It’s hard. Not every meal, or even every day. But when you cook dinner every single night and have to think of something other than ground turkey or chicken to start with, it’s a challenge. And for some crazy reason I decided to eliminate fish and eggs as well. I’m obviously a masochist.

However with the challenges do come a lot of positives. Firstly, eating a dinner where the main ingredient was never a character in a Disney movie is nice. (To this day I will never, I repeat, never eat venison. Or watch Bambi again because I bawl like a baby every time.) Also, even though I still feel full after a vegetarian meal, it’s different. I don’t feel tired or weighed down. I feel satisfied and even energized.

So when I started planning my meals, there was one that I knew I would be making. I saw this recipe on the lovely Andie‘s blog, of whom I just adore, and am inspired by daily to be a better writer. I just can’t say enough good things about this chick, so if you are by any slim chance not familiar with her blog- get familiar with it. But just not until you finish reading this because her pictures literally blow mine out of the water and I’ve already been embarrassed enough today. (Just found …