Simple Cracker Dip

To make a short story long...
The other day I was at work and, as I didn't have any work to do, I was reading The Journals of Sylvia Plath (so good!). At one point she happened to mention cream cheese. So, of course, my mind started wandering...I started daydreaming about that wonderful, smooth, deliciousness. It occurred to me that it could be really delicious to take cream cheese, add fresh chopped herbs, and make a dip out of it (I know, I'm soo creative and original!).
So, when I got home, that's what I did.
The first time, I just added thyme, and I ate it right away, so it wasn't very strong. The second time I added thyme and basil and then let it sit for 15 ish minutes before eating it (I had to walk away to maintain my self control), and it was delicious! But I will warn you - that basil stuff is strong. Don't add too much, or it could be overwhelming. Unless you really like basil...in which case, you might like a ton.
Anyway.

Cream Cheese and Herb Cracker Dip
Ingredients:

• Cream cheese 
• Fresh herbs
• Crackers - I recommend Wheat Thins

Cut a chunk of cream cheese (I used about 1/4 of a cube for myself ). If you wanted to take the lazy way out (or if you were in a hurry), you could microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds to soften it up some. Chop up your herbs and stir them into the cream cheese. Let sit for 10 minutes, and enjoy. Chill leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Love,

Scout

Kale Chips

This is basically the easiest snack ever. It takes about ten minutes total - that's my kind of food!

Found here. I think this is the original. 

They're so delicious! Here's what I learned from making them:

• Use small leaves of kale, or cut up the big leaves into smaller pieces - it's kind of difficult to eat them without stuffing the whole thing into your mouth, because they crumble, so you want pieces that you can stuff into your mouth without looking barbaric. 
• Personally, I don't like sea salt - I've had some bad experiences. I just used the tiniest bit of regular salt and it was plenty. 
• Check your teeth when you're done eating. Kale chips are much more clingy than other kinds of kale, and you probably don't want to be walking around with green teeth. You are welcome.

I ate them way too fast to take any amazing pictures. 

Love,

Scout

Bean Burgers

Oh man, you guys.
I made black bean burgers today.
I know what you're thinking. Just give me a chance.

I found this recipe a while back and was interested in trying it - the list of ingredients definitely sounded appealing. However, it's still a bean burger, and I'd still have to cook beans (my family doesn't usually have canned beans because of the salt content). I hate cooking beans. It takes so. freaking. long.

Anyway, I recently decided that I would try to not eat meat, at least for this month. I've been reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer and decided it might be healther. And besides, it can't hurt to eat more veggies. So, given my recent decision, I figured that now was the time to try the bean burgers.

They are so good.
They don't taste like meat, so don't be expecting that, but they are so delicious and rich in flavor.
I followed the recipe almost exactly - I added some extra veggies, because I chopped more than 1/4 c. and didn't know what else to do with them, and I didn't add the bread crumbs because we didn't have any. I also forgot to add the salt because my mind doesn't really work that way anymore - I've been training for almost a year to cook without salt.
You know what, though? It totally doesn't need it. The "burgers" are so flavorful already. Maybe salt is more important if you have bread crumbs.

Ingredients waiting to be mixed.

Okay. Now it's your turn. Don't think of it as a replacement burger, because it's not. Just think of it as a delicious sandwich that you need to try.
Click me for the recipe!


Love,
Scout