Starting our marriage on the right foot

I must--absolutely must--begin this post by declaring to the world how amazingly happy I am to be married to Erin! As I was sure to share with her earlier that day in a recorded message, regardless of anything else that might happen that day, the most important thing is that we would pledge our lives to each other. We did!

Also for the record, we had a beautiful wedding day! Erin was stunning, the day was beautiful, love and happiness were all around--it was grand! Yes, there was an injury. All things considered, though, it was a small mishap in a glorious day.

The accident: we were having a photo shoot at Stony Creek Metropark between the ceremony and the reception. Our first location was the old Sheldon Estates in the park. We decided to take a picture with Erin and me on top of a stone table that resides on the property (you can see it if you follow the link above). We did note that the table was cracked, and we did test it...at least on one side. After the photo, Erin dismounted safely. As I stepped down--mostly ignoring the offers of assistance from other members of the wedding party--the table fell apart and half of it landed on the side of my foot.

For sanity sake, I won't recount all of the details from there. Suffice it to say that I tried to persevere, but everyone else realized that I was in shock and needed medical attention. Erin rode with me in the back of a mini-van (sprawled out on the cargo floor in the back) to the nearest emergency room. That is when we discovered the secret key to crazy-super-speedy fast attention in an ER: a wedding dress. The staff at Crittendon Hospital were fantastic and had us out of there really quickly. Initial diagnosis was a sprain, so I left on crutches with an Ace bandage and splint (air cast).

We were late for dinner, but we still enjoyed our reception! Some would say that the crutches actually improved my dancing! I do still owe Erin a dance to our wedding song, "Now Touch the Air Softly" by Peter Mayer. We did the best we could, but she deserves another opportunity sans crutches.

We received a call on Sunday with the radiologist report: suspected minor fracture in the foot. We were advised to enjoy our honeymoon and call for a CT scan upon our return. So, we headed to our Lake Seneca (Ohio) beach house retreat for the week, and Erin took fabulous care of me! Again, I owe her a relaxing retreat once healed.

Upon our return, we discovered the joys of HMO healthcare, primary care physicians, and referrals. As of today, we are aware of two minor fractures in one bone of my foot (left foot) near the ankle. I am wearing a weight-bearing boot that can be removed, although I am not yet able to really apply any weight. As such, I am still on crutches. Anticipating another 4 weeks of recovery, but perhaps getting into some mild walking in about 2 weeks.

And that is the story of how we started our marriage "on the right foot."

Boca blunder? Beer it!

So, you tried some Morning Star black bean burgers and realized they were amazing. So, you went to Sam's Club and discovered they only carry the Original Boca Burger for veggie burgers...and you bought a case. You didn't do that? Well, I did.

Discovery: Original Boca Burgers consumed as burgers seem a bit like eating canned cat food. Ugh. Well, I am here to report that there IS hope when stuck with a bulk case of these faux-meat patties.

First step: remove any perception that the little buggers will ever be consumed as burgers or in sandwich format. The sooner this reality is acknowledged, the faster possibilities can take shape.

Second step: acknowledge that you now have a bulk supply of low-fat protein nicely packaged in single servings, taking the guess work out of measurement.

Third step: expand your culinary skills by thinking of ways to introduce "protein chunks" and "protein crumbles" into other meals. A half-step to this is to simply add your new wonder protein with beef in things like chili and sloppy joe--it's kinda like adding bread to the meatloaf, but with more nutritional value. However, it really can be a protein substance on it's own, added to things like salads and stir fry.

Final step: get creative with the protein preparation. This requires SEASONING for sure! I'm pretty simple, typically using original Mrs. Dash. However, I'm sure you can get as wild and crazy as you want with your own seasoning sensations, including fresh herbs, spices, peppers, and such. Just watch out for seasonings that contain salt/sodium, as you start to infringe upon the health factor of this protein substance. Since they are frozen, I suggest a quick thaw in the microwave (60-90 seconds should work). Then, toss 'em in a skillet with some oil or Smart Balance and seasonings, then fry 'em up just like ground beef.

Want to add a nice little extra flavor? Add a splash (well, 2 splashes) of your favorite beer to the frying process (and, of course, consume the rest of the beer). The faux meat substance absorbs the flavor quite nicely, and a malty amber will add a bit of caramelization to the mix (while decreasing the healthiness just a tad). My favorite right now is Dos Equis Amber, aged several months.

From there, add it to some veggie-based or whole-grain pasta entrees as you wish. I recommend consuming immediately, but it will store OK in the fridge (the texture just gets a bit chewy in my opinion).

I will admit that I've actually gone from being repulsed by these things to actually looking forward to my "Boca protein" additions. All it takes is completely disregarding the format in which they were prepared for consumption.

Oh, and for the record, the Morning Star Spicy Black Bean burgers really are fabulous...as burgers/sandwiches!

Cheers!