Joining the Fun

Cooking has always been a favorite hobby of mine, and in stressful times (such as bar study time, I think) I can still justify taking the time out to cook because a girl's got to eat - and I would rather do it in a healthy manner.

I spent way too much money at the grocery store and the local bulk store the other day - but it was an investment in things to use in the future: saffron strands, kosher salt, dried porcini mushrooms. The porcini, in addition to some fresh mushrooms, went into a mushroom risotto the other evening (picture not available, as I had not yet discovered this blog). I had never cooked with them before, but they were fascinating. The recipe told me to soak them in hot water, and when I had they rehydrated, regaining their old size and giving off a hearty, kind of meaty aroma. I'm a fan.
Another goal on the eating healthy/saving money front is to pack my lunch if I have to be at school for a while. Today I had chickpea salad. It includes: one can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed), two roma tomatoes, and one cucumber in a dressing of balsamic vinegar and raspberry vinegrette. Yum.

I've also discovered hard-boiled eggs as a snack. If you eat a veggie-to-mostly-veggie diet, protein can be hard to come by, but eggs are a good source.