One of my favorite things about living in Manhattan was the wide availability of “Build Your Own” salad bars. I guess they are pretty common, but it was my first introduction to them. I loved that I could pretty much go anywhere and know I would be able to get a giant salad filled with all sorts of goodies. Well, I don’t live there anymore, but that doesn’t mean the salad fun is over. I developed a much cheaper alternative.

At my awesome and cheap salad bar was:

• Romaine Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Sprouts
• Blueberries
• Chicken with Zaatar from Rhodey Girl
• Red Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Egg Whites
• Red Onion
• Smoked Almonds from snacktrition

I piled on everything except the chicken, which was for Marky.  He liked the Zaaatar and said it made the chicken taste “Greek.”

While elevating and icing the ankle.

I enjoyed every bit of my salad, but my favorite bites were egg whites and blueberries!

Extending the blueberry theme, I just made myself some Blueberry Rooibos Tea. I love drinking Rooibos and this kind specifically is wonderful hot and cold. Did you know Rooibos is not a “real tea,” but actually an herb?

From the South African Rooibos Council, “The brew made from the dried Rooibos leaves is therefore a herbal infusion (known as a tisane) rather than a tea, but is widely known as Rooibos tea.”

I love how it has whole dried blueberries in it.

Mark bought me that red mug as part of  a set of four mugs and matching spoons for Valentine’s Day four years ago at the William Sonoma in the King of Prussia Mall.

Red, Pink and Orange

There was a purple set, but sadly, they broke. I love them, use them all year around (I am a Valentine’s Day and heart fanatic) and mix and match the colors for fun!

And that’s it for me. I am off to ice and compress the ankle.

Guess what? Mark’s mom reads the blog and gave us an old spice rack plus some cinnamon, chilli powder and other goodies! Yay. Now I can get small amounts of different spices from bulk bins! 

Pre-spice rack I made Mark and I dinner. Mark eats a lot so I am getting used to figuring out how much to cook for both of us so there is enough, but not too many leftovers. I always feel badly wasting food and don’t want to each the leftovers just because they’re there. 

Anyway, for din din I made some tofu with mustard/smoked paprika sauce, sweet potato fries (no kethcup yet!) and a mix of spinach, zucchini, onions, garlic and tomatoes. 

Then Mark gave me an old school T.V. antenna so I could set up a T.V.! Oh I how I missed you. All week my only T.V. access was at the gym. Tonight I watched the Biggest Loser. Was it jut me or were these people far more emotional than contestants in years past? 

I also enjoyed some great tea my lil’ bro gave me. 

Goodnight everyone!