Veggie Tray Sandwich

I started off our week together with dessert because that's just how I roll. I'm the kind of person who digs through the grocery store bags to find the cookies and eat them in the car on the drive home. I'm also the kind of person who eats dessert while waiting for dinner to cook.

Whoever said dinner should come at the end, anyway?

Well, I've got something easy, light, summery and fairly healthy for you today. I had taken this big ol' tray of veggies to a picnic the weekend before.

Mmm, veggies. Then I was busy and stressed all week, which led to too much takeout and frozen veggie burgers. By Friday, the leftover veggies were still in Tupperware. I sliced up a handful in tiny bits and mixed in some leftover ranch dip.

Then I spread a little more ranch dip on a wheat tortilla. For once, I'm not adding cheese, so I wanted to make sure this was still creamy and not dry.

Then just eat it like a cold summer soft taco. Yum!

My veggies consisted of scallions, red pepper, broccoli, carrots and cucumbers. Any veggies would work. It's just a fun way to reimagine some leftovers.

Monday Antidote: Caramel Banana Skillet Cake

I'm not convinced that Mondays are any worse than any other workday, but a lot of my friends and coworkers seem to think so. I actually made this cake on Friday, and could only think how great it would be to come home to after work on a long Monday.

I didn't really change the recipe, just halved it (I only had three old bananas total) and ignored the order of what ingredients to put in when.

It was delicious. I immediately scooped out a piece. Over the course of the Olympics opening ceremony, I ate half a pan. Oops.

Speaking of the opening ceremony...

Take that, Monday!

Happy Friday!

AKA, "Why My Job Rocks." Free frozen custard yesterday, topped with whipped cream and Reese's Pieces.

My Friday plans include watching the Olympics opening ceremony, baking banana bread, and relaxing after a crazy week. How about you?

Miami Part 3: Everything Else

Food, clothes and derby take up an embarrassing part of my life. Every once in a while, I do get excited about other things. Miami has lots of other things.

I hereby promise to stop posting pictures of my vacation, so you can return to not hating me.

Comfy beds. I don't want to admit how much I slept.

Beautiful fresh-cut flowers everywhere.

I mean, really. Wow.

Pirate ships.

For hire, even.

Houses of famous people.

More beautiful flowers.

Lizards! Everywhere!

The resort was heavenly.

Even when the weather sucked, it was lovely. 

Rain? Fine. I'll just sit here and read my book until it stops.

This was the most relaxing afternoon. Yes, this end table has both a Bud Light and a Fitness magazine. Judge away.

A night: more beauty on the resort.

And Miami Ink again. I may have squealed.

Miami Part 2: Eat All the Food

What does Mel Breakdown do on vacation?

She eats. Of course.

First night: wine on a boat. Oh, yes.

Second day lunch, fries and a beer. I feel gross already.

Third day lunch, vegetarian buffet. Woohoo!

These bean burritos were part of the buffet. I tried plain yogurt in place of sour cream and was delighted!

Dessert: strawberries, which I misted with pomegranate balsamic vinegar and then dipped in plain yogurt. OMG.

Snack sometime: alfajores. Brand-new to me, and an amazing little treat.

Dessert split with the hubby: homemade Oreo ice cream sundae. Worth it. So worth it.

Best veggie burger I've had in a long time.

This beer is local to where we were, and was quite satisfying after a long day of walking a lot.

If I'm going to drink, I generally stick to beer or wine. While out at Miami Beach, I ordered a strawberry coconut mojito on a whim. Such a delicious whim.

Just before leaving, I had this spinach salad for lunch. I was feeling guilty and fat and slow.

Then I caved and got this at the airport. I don't know what it was called, but it was chocolatey and nutty and flaky and delightful.

As soon as I got home, I stopped by the store and picked up veggies to make this to take to a team picnic. It's time to get back in the groove!

Why I Was Absent: Miami, Baby!

I apologize for last week's unannounced absence from blogging. Since starting Cooking on Skates in late 2010, I have posted something Monday through Friday every single week. On vacation in Miami last week, I didn't think I had wifi access. By midweek when I figured out where I could get it for free, I decided to just take a week off for once. As someone who is generally wound a little too tight, I thought it might do me some good.

It was glorious.

I showed up looking like a mess. Completely out of place at a fancy resort.

Did up my hair and makeup and put on a Bettie Page dress to go to dinner the first night.

See? Hair. Makeup.

The next night, went out to a local bar across the street. When you marry a derby girl, this is what you get to take to social functions with colleagues.

Then I lounged in the sun in unflattering positions for a couple days. Ahh.

Derby girl. Fancy resort. Something doesn't quite mesh.

The dress I tried to wear to South Beach broke, so I went rockabilly instead. No one else there was dressed like me, and I loved it!

Yep. I'm such a dork. I love Miami Ink and insisted that we visit.

This is my new favorite shirt, picked up from Love Hate Tattoo (aka Miami Ink). It's an Ami James design and has the shop logo on the back.

Unfortunately, I only skated once, and briefly outside because the sidewalks had one-inch cracks everywhere. So some of you can rejoice in not suffering through derby-related posts for a couple days.

Most importantly: I ate all the food. Photos of that to come tomorrow.

Don't forget to enter in the giveaway for yesterday's brownies and blondies from Lil Bitty Bites!

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Lil Bitty Bites: A Giveaway!

My friend bakes brownies. Not only does she bake brownies, but they're the most delicious brownies I've ever eaten—and I've eaten a lot of brownies in my 27 years. Check out some of her work.

Two-tier birthday cake

Blondie bites

Blueberry cheesecake cupcake

Brownies

Triple layer lemon bar bites

Red velvet cupcakes

Salted caramel brownie bites

Goat cheese swirl brownie bites

Lil Bitty Bites is on Facebook as https://www.facebook.com/LilBittyBites, and these yummy little things are only 50 cents each or 24 $10. Even as someone who enjoys baking, I think this is totally worth it for tasty little treats to take to an event. My coworkers and leaguemates inhaled them. The goat cheese were my favorite, followed closely by the blondies. My husband only liked the blondies because the rest tasted of coffee.

From my coworkers:


"Goat cheese + chocolate brownie = Perfection!"

"Blondies: I loved how they were slightly chewy. I’m someone who likes her baked goods slightly under done rather than over (dry should not be a word associated with a brownie). These were just perfect."

"Caramel: I loved the burst of caramel that greets you as you take a bite. Then you get the sea salt as a finish and it’s all perfect."

Now, on to the fun part. Lil Bitty Bites has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway of four dozen (48) brownie bites of any flavor and four dozen (48) blondie bites. That's 96 tiny treats, worth $40!

You can enter up to four times today and four times tomorrow by doing things in the Rafflecopter below.

I'll notify the winner by the end of the week. If you're not fortunate enough to claim the prize, definitely contact Lil Bitty Bites to try some of her incredible desserts anyway.

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