A Great Indian Meal

We’re taking a break from the recipes today to talk about Indian food.

Is it ok if we take some time to do that? I just feel that I’ve just got to talk about it.

Let me know what you think.

So, last weekend I got the chance to go with my sister and brother-in-law and two of their good friends to an Indian restaurant in Morrisville. Just so you know, dinner dates for Indian food are the best.

Indian food really holds a special place in Jason and my heart. Some of my first Indian meals were on my trip to Burma, where I got inspired a few months later to try out dahl and chapati on my own. When I made that dish for dinner, Jason told me that it was one of his favorite meals that I’ve ever made (and probably one of the cheapest- gotta love him).

Then, we had some of the best Indian food we’ve ever eaten at an Indian buffet in Oklahoma City on Thanksgiving Day lunch with my family (we did the traditional turkey stuff for dinner).

N.C. One Bite at a Time (Part 6)

Hello and welcome to August.

I hope it’s treating you well. We’ve had a bit of cool weather blow in around us, and I sure am enjoying it. We’ll see how soon fall is around the corner.

While we wait to see about that weather, take a look at what N.C. foods and festivities I have been enjoying over the past month.

Capitol Club 16

I know that I’ve mentioned this spot before, but I just must reiterate how amazing their pimento cheese is. It’s creamy, smokey and served on bread with figs and honey. You’ve got to go try some (and a schnitzel sandwich, too).

Simple Saturday: Ice Cream Sammy

Ice cream sandwiches have really been on my brain lately…and not just because some are suddenly not melting.

It’s probably because recently, in a “treat yo’ self” moment, I picked up some Trader Joe’s Mini Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls. And yes, they are delicious. I’ve been eating one every few days or so as a little after-dinner snack.

So, I started thinking about how simple it really  is to make an Ice Cream Sammy, especially if you already have cookies on hand.

Here’s how I made mine:

1. Take two leftover cookies (I used some Chai Tea Cookies) and put about a tablespoon or so of vanilla (or any flavor you like) of ice cream on one cookie. Then, gently press the other side on top, wrap in plastic wrap and put straight back into the freezer.
2. Let the cookie freeze for at least 30 minutes, then unwrap and enjoy!

My Ice Cream Sammy with the Chai Cookies tasted like pumpkin pie with whipped cream because of all the tasty spices.

If you need another excuse to make some cookies, here you go!

If you end up making your own Ice Cream Sammy concoction, I would love to hear about it or see pictures, so tag me if you do (@thinkfruitful on Instagram, Think Fruitful on Facebook and @gracepenn on Twitter).

Life & Almond Joy Brownies

It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve just feel the weight of it all.

I feel the weight of persecution in Iraq, conflict across the globe and personal goals that I haven’t met yet.

As often happens, one thing piles on top of another, and it’s hard to see clearly where you’re headed.

Then, you see things like this video of cocoa farmers tasting chocolate for the first time. What an incredible thing! These men, who work their whole lives harvesting cacoa beans, have no idea where the beans go or what they make. (And yes, I get a lot of my news from Relevant.)

I think it’s an interesting picture of how we often don’t see the fruits of our labor in life. Sometimes we just have to keep going, keeping working and doing good and shining light, even when we don’t get a pat on the back or see what change we may make.

You really never know what a conversation means to someone or a warm delicious brownie baked just for them.

Thinking Fruitful: 5 Ways to Waste Less Food

The other day I ran across this article about what people around the world are doing to help our food waste problem.

It’s really awesome that people are finding ways (and new technology) to get food that would be wasted to people who really need it.

I definitely want to keep an eye on these projects and do my part to waste less food.

Here are 5 ways that I use (and will get better at using) to waste less food:

A Southern Treat

When you read “a southern treat” what do you think?

Are you imaging your grandmother’s tart lemon bars or maybe a summer’s best peach cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream?

I can definitely see my mind going down those paths.

But, in this case, this southern treat is not of the sweet variety…but it is of the non-healthy variety.

(But it uses local ingredients. Does that count for something?)

This indulgent side dish is Creamy New Potatoes.

More Healthy Snacking

Dates.

I’m talking about the fruit, not the activity here.

Why buy dates to keep in your pantry?

These Chocolate Peanut Date Bars are a pretty great reason.

Simple Saturday: Boozy Mint Melon

It’s been quite a while since I’ve put a cocktail up on the blog…and it’s been quite a while since we’ve had liquor in our cabinet.

We’ve been enjoying the local beer scene (Fullsteam, Big Boss, Wicked Weed) and inexpensive but delicious Trader Joe’s wines so much that I haven’t really thought about homemade cocktails in a while.

But, we finally bought a little bit of gin the other day, and I had watermelon in the fridge and mint in the backyard, so I started there.

This Boozy Mint Melon drink is super refreshing, smooth and light (but with a little kick, of course).

Fancy Pasta Night

It’s  a weeknight.

You don’t know what to make for dinner.

You have spaghetti, bacon, eggs and tomatoes in your pantry and fridge.

Soup for Summer

It’s no secret around here that I love to eat soup, no matter the weather.

But it’s also no secret that it is getting HOT where I live.

I thought since I moved north from Arkansas to North Carolina that I would leave the humidity behind and be enjoying 75-degree summers. I was mistaken.

It is heck-a humid here and very toasty. Nineties is kind of the norm right now.

So, this makes a bowl of hot soup sound a little less appealing. But what if that soup was chilled and refreshing?