Left Neglected

This week I’ve learned a lot about the brain. Worlds like “peduncle”, “foramen” and “fornix” are swimming around in my brain. Neuroscience is no joke, folks. I spend quite a bit of time making up dirty helpful acronyms. You would think that between my lectures, copious amounts of textbook readings and memorizations that I’d have enough of the brain. But apparently it’s not enough. Because after finishing The Rum Diary I picked up this book:

Now, I know I asked for recommendations for a book to read that wouldn’t make me cry or be incredibly sappy but I went ahead and broke all of my rules on this one. Okay, well in my defense, I haven’t cried… yet. I really only cry when reading books about dogs but we won’t even go there. But this book is GREAT so far. I seriously can’t put it down.

For a brief summary, the main character is in a terrible car accident that leaves her with a condition called “Left Neglect”. Essentially her brain cannot recognize anything she sees to her left. There are moments when she can’t see her kids, dessert on her plate (the horror!) and obviously, her mobility is greatly impacted. What I’m loving most is just the description of her impairment and the realization of just how amazing the brain really is.

Wow, major nerd alert there.

But you get it.

So I recommend it, even if you aren’t into sappy books. It’s good, I promise.

In other news, I’ve lost my memory card which pains me to tell you because I, of course, do not back anything up and therefore lost 4 GB of photos. I know, but it’ll be okay. I bought a new one today and apparently my camera takes a unique and expensive memory card that Best Buy only carries one brand of so I shelled out a pretty penny to replace it. I’m hoping that because I bought a new one today, mine will show up. Fingers crossed!

Last but not least, I’m heading away for the weekend. It’s my friend Kate’s bachelorette weekend and we are whisking her away to an undisclosed locale (don’t even think she reads my blog but just to be safe I won’t say). The weekend should be full of shenanigans and good times.

Off I go to make cookies that I can’t even take pictures of! Happy [almost] weekend!

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

It’s amazing I’m blogging right now because I don’t feel that hot but I feel that I’ve been slacking so here I am, checking in. It’s been a busy weekend. On Friday morning I drove up to Maine. Yesterday afternoon I drove back down to Boston and today I have been doing homework and napping intermittently (and hopefully kicking whatever this is to the curb). All that doesn’t mean I have neglected eating, how ridiculous!

I picked up this smoked Gouda at Trader Joe’s last weekend and have been trying to decide what I wanted to make with it. On a day like today, comfort food sounded ideal so I used it to make a quick and easy macaroni and cheese.

{Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese}

serves 4

• 8 oz. whole wheat shells (or any other short pasta of your choice)
• 2 oz. smoked gouda (grated)
• 1 T butter
• 1-2 T ap flour
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 shallot, chopped finely
• 1 1/4 c plain, unsweetened almond milk (or cow’s milk)
• couple dashes of garlic powder
• 1/4 whole wheat panko crumbs

Pre-heat oven to 375. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Boil water for pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, begin your roux. Melt butter and add 1 T of ap flour. Slowly add in milk. If roux isn’t thickening, add in more flour up to 1 T. Season with salt and pepper. Add in garlic powder and chopped shallot. Remove from heat and whisk in grated cheese until melted.

Add pasta to baking dish. Pour cheese mixture over pasta and stir to ensure pasta is evenly coated. Sprinkle top with panko.

Cook in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Though this is extremely filling, I am craving dessert. But I think I’ll abstain given how iffy I’ve been feeling today. I’m attempting to quell the urge right now by burning this new candle I picked up today.

It smells delicious. Highly recommend. Pumpkin buttercream sounds like everything my dreams are made of. Alright, I’m back to the books.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Whole Grain Strawberry-Almond Cake

This weekend was perfect. Friday night we cooked out with friends. The man-friend made garlic bread on the grill and we enjoyed various meats and accompaniments. Saturday we went to the beach after enjoying delicious fresh-fruit smoothies. In the evening we went into town for dinner at one of our favorite places and after being encouraged to grab a drink by the Seaport, I was surprised with tickets to see Huey Lewis at the pavillion.

Like I said, perfect. Just like summer strawberries. I.can’t.get.enough.

{Whole Grain Strawberry-Almond Cake}

• 1/2 c spelt flour
• 1 c buckwheat flour
• 1/2 c steel cut oats (you could use old fashioned)
• 1 t baking soda
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1 c strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 c soy milk (or any other milk of your choice)
• 1 c unsweetened applesauce
• 3 T coconut oil, melted
• 1/3 c agave-maple syrup (honey or maple syrup fine too)
• 1 T chia seeds
• 1 t almond extract
• zest of one lemon
• 3 T sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 375. Generously grease 8×8 baking dish (or line with parchment).

Whisk milk, applesauce, soy milk, agave-maple syrup and chia seeds together.

Combine all dry ingredients, except for the strawberries, and add to wet mixture.

Gently fold in strawberries. Pour batter into prepared dish. Sprinkle top with sliced almonds.

Bake for 30 minutes, cake is done when a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Allow cake to cool completely before removing  from dish.

Store cake in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

*Serves 8-12

I ate a second piece topped with reduced balsamic. Delicious. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.

What are some great recipes using strawberries you’ve tried this season?