When Life Gives You Lemons....

...Make lemonade, of course!...(Lemon, ginger, and mint lemonade, that is). :)

I have some very exciting news today. All of my hard work has finally paid off. I found out last Monday that I PASSED the Florida Bar Exam, which means that I am now officially an attorney. I cannot begin to express how I feel: blessed, inspired, accomplished, loved, happy, excited, hopeful, empowered, and a billion other feelings that I simply cannot put into words.

I haven't posted because I have been bombarded (in a good way) with congratulations and celebrations from all of the amazing people in my life. My friends even had a surprise party for me the other night! It was so thoughtful, and I am so grateful to have them in my life.

I was sworn in on Friday, and this experience has taught me many things, one of which is that if you have a feeling that you should do something but are too afraid to jump, jump. Always jump. You will learn exponentially by taking that leap of faith. If people doubt you, prove them wrong, and for the ones who believe in you, succeed not just for yourself, but for them as well. Shine your light. Be the one who others look to and hope that one day they're brave enough to do what you did.

When I do take the time to think how far I have really come, I think back to a trip to Orlando when I was 16. I remember being on I-4 (which now is literally minutes from my house), and thinking, "If only I was brave enough, I would move here." Funny, how life does that to you. If you would've told me at 16 that I'd be doing what I'm doing today, I would be so proud of myself. It was scary to take that  leap of faith, but now I'm here, and I feel like the world's at my fingertips. My only hope is that all of you have felt or will feel this way at some point in your lives.

My point?.......make lemonade with the lemons life has blessed you with!

This lemonade is sweet with a gingery kick and a minty freshness. I used 2/3 cup of sugar, but you can use more or less according to your taste preferences. It would also probably be delicious with no sugar, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth today. I hope you like it!

Ingredients:

2.5 to 3 quarts cold water

3 lemons, 1 sliced and 2 cut in half

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

2 tsp. freshly grated ginger (or more)

Instructions:

1. Add the slices of lemon, the sugar, and the ginger to a large pitcher. Pour in the water, and stir.
2. Next, stir in the mint, and squeeze the juice from the lemon halves into the pitcher. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Let stand in the fridge for an hour or so to let the flavors combine, and serve.

Hey There!

I'm sorry readers, for I have sinned. It has been over a month since my last post...I guess I'll accept my penance of posting lots of delicious recipes in the coming weeks (a penance that I'm actually pretty excited to do). I hope that I haven't lost all of you. The Bar Exam came and went, and I've been trying to get settled in at my new place ever since. (It's only been a few days).

I'm oh-so-excited to resume my life now that the Bar is over and now that I'm almost done moving. That being said, I owe a lot to this Bar Study (aka "hazing" experience). I can't remember the last time I was this healthy. I eat right (5 to 6 meals a day and lots of chickpeas, peanut butter, walnuts, and berries), go to the gym on a regular basis, and make sure to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep on most nights. I also have been treating myself and letting myself relax when I need (and deserve) it. My body feels good. My brain feels good, and I'm feeling pretty confident in myself these days.

For now, I leave you with pictures. I hope all is well, and I can't wait to her about all of your exciting summers. :)

Chili :)

Simple Vegan Tapas:

Lately I find myself in quite the predicament...I'm too spent to cook, let alone blog about it. By the time I sit down at my computer to write (lethargic and slightly depressed), it's like I can't lift my fingers. There's no words left in my head.

The same thing happens when I try to cook. "Rice takes too long....you're not having pasta for the 5th night in a row! Fatty." So I end up with some sloppily-thrown-together meal, in my messy hair and sweatpants, and I think that I may be in a rut.

But the truth is that I'm actually not in a rut at all. I'm really about to cross the finish line in this crazy marathon that I started over seven years ago. Yet, while all of these things are going on behind the scenes, I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. (Who wants to run a marathon anyway? - Side note - I'm thinking of running a half marathon!)

But, all in all, I'm sure that when the Bar is over and I'm all settled into a new home, it will be different, and I'll be able to enjoy the simple things...like the smells of garlic wafting through the kitchen and freshly-made pizza dough rising. Soon. 

I guess I'm really in no rush. The rest of my life is waiting for me regardless. Besides, sometimes it's nice to have a legitimate excuse to have unkempt  hair and live in sweatpants. 

So anyways, who really cares about all of that? I just want you all to know that I haven't forgotten about you!!!

Now...Vegan Tapas!

In case you didn't already know, I am absolutely in love with Spain. Everything about it: the culture, the people, the food (pero no jamon por favor!), everything. Spain has a liveliness that's unparalleled, and it's a beautiful country to spend two summers in. 

Funny thing, before I went to Spain, I absolutely hated olives. Now, if you want to cheer me up or comfort me, all you have to do is hand me some Spanish olives and some Tempranillo wine. It's such a comfort!

The cherry tomatoes don't go the best with olives, but they sure are delicious. Besides, tapas are random small plates that don't really have anything in common with each other anyways. 

Ingredients:

1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half

2 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. olive oil

Dash of salt

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 1/2 cups arugula

3/4 cup Spanish olives

Baguette bread, sliced

Total Cook Time: 10 minutes. 

Instructions:

1. Add the grape tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and cayenne pepper to a medium skillet. Cook on medium to medium-high heat until tender and a little charred, adding more salt or lemon juice to taste.
2. Once the tomatoes are done, top the bread with the arugula and serve the tomatoes and olives on the side. Don't forget the red wine!

Restaurant Review: Ethos Vegan Kitchen:

I've been wanting to try Ethos Vegan Kitchen for a long time now. Unfortunately, however, I have had trouble finding the opportunity to go. Apparently they have a killer Sunday brunch with vegan comfort food all over the place. I still have yet to make it to brunch, but I did finally get to go for dinner last week. After a long day studying for the Bar at school, my friend Sara and I figured that some vegan food and cheap beer would be perfect to lift our spirits. It sure was.

After admiring the menu, which was full of items that I could eat, I decided to go with the Sheep's Pie, a lovely combination of sauteed onions, broccoli, carrots, and peas, covered in buttery mashed potatoes and an almost-too-convincing gravy. It was delightful....but I did end up scorching my mouth a few times because I couldn't wait for it to cool down. 

Sara and I also ordered their garlic knots, and their addition of vegan Parmesan was a nice touch. The knots were great, and Ethos' great deals on craft beers makes this place even better. (I've been on a craft beer kick since Colorado). It was a real mood lifter for me, and I'm looking forward to going to brunch there very soon.

Oh...and I forgot about their dessert menu...chocolate amaretto mousse, Ethos sundae, cake, cookies, and an ice cream float. Though I was too full to move after filling up on Sheep's Pie and craft beer, I really wish that I could have gotten my hands on that ice cream sundae. I guess there's always next time. Check out their menu here. 

Photo Journal: On Life These Days:

I made it home in time to see the apple blossoms.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." ~ Johann Von Goethe

 So...in case you've been wondering where I've been lately, and because I have been wanting to write all of this down at some point, here's a quick run-through of my life over the past month or so...

Photo Journal from my instagram (and a few other photos):

I graduated from law school and had a better-than-perfect graduation weekend with family & friends.

I watched hockey with my baby brother.

I cooked for my mama. :)

Got to have those graduation pina coladas by the pool.

Went to my cottage!

My best friend got married!!!

I finallyyy got a haircut. :)

I went to Fort Lauderdale to celebrate graduation with friends who I've met throughout this crazy journey.
(I am so grateful).

Watched more hockey.

I celebrated turning 25 with my favorite twin brother in the whole wide world.

I started a new job!

Ate some super delicious, fresh Florida fruit.

I also made a major life decision as to where I'm going to be in the near future. (To  be revealed...)
...and I started preparing for the Bar Exam.

It's been crazy and emotional, and I've never been so happy and so sad at the same time. Saying goodbye to a chapter of life that has been such a pivotal experience isn't nearly as easy as I thought it would be, but the fact that everything is falling into place so seamlessly is truly inspiring. Good things really do come to those who work really hard to get where they want to be.

Law school has changed me in a million ways. I've laughed. I've cried, and I'm glad that I didn't just breeze right on through it.  It brought out traits in me that I never knew existed. It's hard to imagine that, once upon a time, there lived a little girl who thought she'd never be good at anything. It just goes to show that you really can reach the stars with determination, perseverance, a little bit of idealism, a few strokes of luck, and an amazing support system of family and friends. ♥

Vegan Beet, Carrot, and Snap Pea Cous Cous with an Apricot Lemon Arugula Side Salad (Recipe to Come!):

Quick Update: I cooked this for my mother last night. It was delicious. All of the flavors melted together beautifully. I used ginger, a touch of soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, lemon, cayenne, and salt. Because my mother and I love wasabi, I also added a touch of wasabi on the side.

I will post these recipes at some point this week. My family has been in town for my graduation, and I haven't had my computer with me. My mom and I are about to head to the beach, and we're going to make tapas when we get back. I can't wait! Just so you all know, I have had the most amazing week with my family. I am so incredibly blessed to have them in my life. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I wish that I could transport them all to Florida and never let them leave.

Anyways, I hope all is well with all of you! Can't wait to catch up with everyone. ❤❤❤

Tomatoes Everywhere:

Monday, I came home to this big box of beautiful Houweling's tomatoes. It was the perfect evening. The weather was gorgeous, and I was loving picking the grape and cherry tomatoes out of the box, eating them by the handful while enjoying the sunset from my patio. I felt like a little kid. The vine ripe cherry tomatoes smelled of my grandma's garden in summertime, and it brought back memories of all of my summer adventures in the woods behind our house. Memories of picking perfectly plump, purple blackberries, building forts, catching salamanders, camping out, climbing trees, and pretending to be Pocahontas with my cousin. I'd like to thank Houweling's and their tomatoes for taking me on such a nice trip down memory lane. And aren't the tomatoes just so pretty?

Anyways, I've decided to come up with some creative tomato recipes that enhance the ingredient while really highlighting its flavors. I have also been enjoying eating them in their natural, delicious form. There may be nothing more perfect than a ripe tomato. Think about it....(no further explanation necessary).

I know that I just did a pesto recipe, but this one is a little different. It has spinach and pistachios in it. I also added a little bit of lemon juice. The pistachios and lemon juice highlight the flavor of the tomatoes, while the spinach lends a summery feel. By the way, these cherry tomatoes are delicious. They're ripe and full of flavor. If you come across Houweling's Tomatoes, I definitely recommend that you pick some up and try this recipe for yourself.

Cherry Tomatoes in Spinach, Pistachio, and Garlic Pesto:

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 tbsp. pistachios, shelled + 1/2 tbsp. pistachios, shelled and chopped

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (divided)

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Dash of salt

You'll also need:

4 flour tortillas (6 inch), cut into fours

Spray olive oil

Dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Add the spinach, garlic, pistachios, 1/2 tbsp. olive oil, and lemon juice to your food processor. Process until the mixture is fine.
2. Add the spinach mixture to a small saucepan. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.
3. Preheat your oven to broil. Place to tortilla chips on a baking sheet, spray with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown.
4. While the chips are baking, add the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 tbsp. of olive oil, and a dash or two of salt to a medium bowl. Toss to coat.
5. Next, add the spinach mixture and toss to coat. Top the mixture with the remaining chopped pistachios. Serve with the baked tortilla chips and a side of hummus. 

St. Patrick's Day Recipe: Vegan Colcannon Pizza with Bacon-Flavored Onions

In coming up with a good St. Patrick's Day recipe, I decided to go with some of the ingredients that I already had. This is a relatively simple recipe. I come mainly from Irish and Eastern European descent, so anything starchy with cabbage is comforting and delicious in my book. Not to mention the fact that the ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find.

I've already put up my recipe for Smashed Redskin Potato Pizza, but if you're looking for an Irish twist, go with this colcannon pizza. Serve with green beer or Guinness, and you're stomach will be nice and full to get you through St. Patrick's Day.

These "bacon-flavored" onions also turned out to be delicious. They have a bacon flavor, but I made them very quickly, so I wasn't aiming for perfection. Maybe next time. For whatever reason, I skimped on the onions when I made this, but don't worry, I added more in the recipe. Feel free to use less if you're not a big onion fan.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

2 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded

1 cup red onion, sliced

1/3 cup plain unsweetened almond milk

3 cloves garlic, cut in half

1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. vegan buttery spread

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. liquid smoke

1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste)

A few dashes of paprika

Dash of cayenne

Dash of garlic powder

1 can pizza dough

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to the temperature directed by your pizza dough instructions. In a large saucepan, bring the potatoes, garlic cloves, and salted  water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook for about 7 minutes. Stir in cabbage, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.

2. While the potatoes are cooking, precook the pizza dough for about  2/3 of the cooking time directed by your pizza dough package.

3. Also while the potatoes are cooking, in a small skillet, combine the onion, a dash of salt, a dash of cayenne, dash of paprika, and garlic powder. Turn the heat to medium-high, stir, and add the liquid smoke and 1/4 cup of water. Continue cooking for another 7 minutes, until the water and liquid smoke have reduced and formed a sauce.

4. Once the potatoes are ready, strain the potato/cabbage mixture, and return to pot. Stir in the almond milk, buttery spread, salt, and paprika. Mash with a potato masher.

5. When the pizza dough is ready, take it out of the oven, and brush it with olive oil. Spoon the potato mixture over the pizza dough and  spread it out evenly. Top it with the onions.

6. Bake the pizza in the oven for another 5 to 7 minutes. Once you take it out of the oven, top it with the remaining tablespoon of buttery spread. Let cool and serve.

Journal Entry: Visitors, Palm Coast, and Disney World:

My dad, step mom, and baby brother all came to visit me last week. We had an awesome time. Of course, after I've been telling them how beautiful the weather has been, they happened to visit on some of the only cold days that we've had this entire winter. That was a bummer, but we still managed to have fun.

After I picked them up at the airport, we stopped at Julie's Waterfront, a quaint little restaurant on Lake Jennie Jewel in Orlando. As some of the reviews say, the place has seen better days, but the food was delicious, the view was pretty, and they had lots of veggie options. The temperature was rapidly dropping, but we decided to sit outside and enjoy the sunset anyway. They did have heaters outside, which they kindly turned on for us.

After dinner, we decided to make a trip to Mall at Millenia, on the more touristy side of Orlando, right near Universal. I picked up some nice stuff: cheap jewelry, another cute America shirt, and a nice dress for my Barrister's Ball (aka "Law School Prom").

After we had done a little shopping, though I didn't understand how my family could still be hungry,  they decided that they needed to get ice cream at the food court. After all, they were on vacation. I was tempted to order the always delicious raspberry sorbet, but my dad suggested another place with fresh fruit smoothies. I elected to take that route, and ordered a strawberry, banana, and raspberry smoothie. It filled me up even more, but I was very happy with my choice.

On Sunday, we decided to weather the cold, and visited my cousin Val and her family, who have a beautiful beach house in Palm Coast. For lunch, we enjoyed wine while overlooking the ocean, and later, we gobbled up some barbecue on the inter-coastal for dinner. It was nice to have some family time. I really miss that down here.

The next day, we decided to go to Disney. They just added a new section to Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland, which has 2 new sections so far: The Enchanted Forest, which was modeled after scenes and characters from Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, and Storybook Circus, which was inspired by Dumbo. The detail of the entire place is incredible. It always makes me want to travel. It reminds me of all of the quaint, little villages that I've seen around the world, and that magic really does exist.

It was my little brother's first time that he was old enough to really remember being at Disney, and because there weren't any other big kids there, we got to do a lot of fun little kid stuff for him. Being the youngest, he's usually dragged to all of the stuff that everyone else wants to do, and though he loves it, I feel like he doesn't get to be a kid enough. (Throughout the years, we've dragged him on Jaws, Jurassic Park, and lots of other rides that we forget are still scary for little kids).

I was reminded of how little he is when he squeezed my hand at the beginning of the Lilo & Stitch ride, scared and not knowing what was coming next, and again when he laughed when he realized that the "Level 3 Criminal" was only Stitch.  But, as always, he's growing up too quickly. I really miss squeezing his chubby baby cheeks, but I'm glad that he's still a kid. He needed a day to really be one.

...So that's just what we did, we got to be kids for the day, and I'm so thankful to Ashton for giving me the opportunity to be a kid with him and to remember that he's still little, even if just for a day.

Once it was warm enough for lizards to come out, Ashton and I did some lizard-catching. Other than that, we hung out, ate lots of fruit and Publix bread (my dad loves Publix bread), and chilled out. It was really nice. I'm definitely looking forward to getting to see my family more often next year. ❤

Out & About: Melt Bar and Grilled:

MELT BAR AND GRILLED:

 Glorified Grilled Cheese: I love it, and I could live off of this stuff. 

I met up with my brother at Melt for lunch after a meeting I had in Cleveland the other day. My cousin has been talking Melt up for over a year now. I'm just never home long enough to make it up to Cleveland. 

I'm glad that Mac and I decided to try it out. It was delicious. They have a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, and they have Daiya cheese. It's essentially a glorified grilled cheese joint, with a variety of options, from falafel to a nice long list of microbrews. 

I got the Roasted Vegetable Sandwich and added mushrooms and Daiya mozzarella cheese. I would say that the pesto on the sandwich was "to die for," but I hate that expression, so I will just tell you that it was heavenly and that I wish I had ordered one to go so that I could be eating it right now.

The zucchini, eggplant, roasted red pepper, carrots, and spinach drenched in pesto and covered in "cheese" left me smiling all day long, not to mention the fact that I was able to have lunch with one of my favorite baby brothers.

I should've gotten better pictures, but I always feel incredibly awkward while taking pictures of my food while I'm out to eat (as if I wasn't weird enough by ordering a vegan meal). Anyways, the pictures don't do the sandwich justice, but I promise you that it was delectable. The atmosphere is also very cozy and fun. If you're ever near one of Melt's Cleveland area locations, you should stop in and give it a try. Check out their website here: Melt Bar and Grilled.

Rich pesto with roasted mushrooms and Daiya Mozzarella: everything a girl could ask for in a grilled cheese.

Beach Adventures:

HOBE SOUND BEACH, FLORIDA: 

I mentioned in one of my posts awhile back that I was heading South for the weekend to visit my grandparents. We had so much fun! I actually forgot to take my driver's license with me, so I wasn't able to help Grandpa throw his money away at the casino. Instead, we watched Notre Dame whoop up on Michigan, went to the beach, and did some shopping. Here are some of the pictures:

Watching the game

Grandpa kept insisting on taking pictures "for my website." Haha. He may have a heart of gold, but it looks like he has a few issues in the photography department. Have I mentioned that I love him to pieces? I love my grandma (above) just as much!

Crab!

Grandpa and I were unaware at the time, but we were riding our bikes around in a tornado.