Food Truck Tour Stop: Hola Arepa

Hola Arepa is the fourth Food Truck I've visited this Summer.

They describe themselves as: "A food truck bringing delicious, mostly sustainable Latin cuisine to the streets of Minneapolis." 

A couple of weeks ago my coworker mentioned that she really wanted to try the Arepas at Hola Arepa & I was like: "the what?! What is an Arepa?" You too? Ok, now I don't feel so bad!

So the cornmeal they use to make the patty seems to be a white cornmeal, which I love - I may be totally wrong, but for those of you who need to eat Gluten Free, it's a great way to enjoy a "sandwich" without the traditional bread. It's also a great vegetarian option.

 

So they will take your order & give you a playing card - when the number & suite on your card is called - it's to to eat. Easier than butchering a bunch of strange names.

 

My girlfriend had the Pulled Chicken Arepa, which I was instantly jealous of because the pickled cabbage looked like it could have been pretty tasty. She also chose a side of chips & salsa.

 

Pulled Chicken Arepa - Kadeyan Farms Chicken, Black Beans, Tomato, Salsa Verde & Pickled Cabbage

I tried the Slow-Roasted Pork Arepa with a side of Guacamole.

Fischer Farms Pork, Black beans, Cohja cheese & Special Sauce (I think!)

The juices from the pork oozed out as I went to pick it up to take a bite. I had drizzled a small amount of the med-hot red salsa & I immediately thought I should have added more - I love spicy food. The combination was so very flavorful.  I added another layer by squeezing some of my guacamole over my sandwich as if it wasn't messy enough to eat.

I highly recommend you bring a fork, otherwise you'll be doing a lot of finger-licking as I did.  Grab lots of napkins too. So to no surprise I went back for more the very next day.  It was still hopping - they had brought down an extra person, so they were still turning out orders pretty fast, but there was a line.

This time I tried the Black Bean & Queso Fresco Arepa with tomato & pickled cabbage (yes, I had to try it), then ordered the Chips & Salsa (They had run out of guacamole by the time I arrived.) 

They give you two little cups to hold the salsa, but there was really only room in the little tray for one - I doubt that I would have made it back to the office without a second getting dumped all over my clothes.

It was surprisingly filling for there being no meat.  It was still pretty messy to eat because of the juice in the beans. If I have to choose a favorite, however it would be the Pork. The Vegetarian option could have used a couple more ingredients to add to the layers of flavors. Next time I will add some of the pickled cabbage & a lot more salsa in lieu of the guacamole on top.

I do recommend that people give Hola Arepa a try. It's something totally out of the ordinary & very flavorful.  For the guys you may want to try two Arepas to feel totally satisfied.  For more information, follow them on Twitter or check out their website at http://holaarepa.com.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: My Food Truck Tour Continues: Dandelion Kitchen or Minneapolis Loves A Good Food Truck Vendor

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: A Look Book - Beyond the Runway

It's Week 8 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts. It's a typical Sunday. I've got a pot roast in the slow cooker.  Using a Guinness this time at the request of hubby.  I'm not a beer drinker - but I love to cook roasts in beer.  If anyone knows what that little plastic ball in the can does - I'll love to know. It must be some secret part of their recipe.

Anyway, every time I peruse the online sales, I start to forget what I've already purchased. Last weekend I hit the Stride Rite store at our closest outlet mall & got 6 pair of socks, a pair of hikers & a pair of tennis shoes all for $64.00. I had an idea, while I was shopping then, to take photos of the kid clothes I had stashed away & create a "look book". Something to remind me of what I already have purchased so I don't go shopping for more of the same.

My favorite place to buy kids clothing, outside of the end-of-season sales is "Once-Upon-A-Child a wonderful place to find gently used name brand clothing for kids. It's cool to know I'm doing something good for the environment - re-using things instead of always buying new.  

I was there today I picked up 2 Gap sweaters, a Gap hooded sweatshirt & an Old Navy sweatshirt - all for $31.00. So when I got home, I took photos of all the things Munchkin will wear this fall & I am so excited - we are in awesome shape - he needs hardly anything. 

My time is up, but I'm curious - what do others do to stay ahead of clothing shopping for our kids who grow like weeds?  Is it something that you've been able to continue as your kids have grown older over the years?

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Stream of Consciousness Sunday - The Pieces That Make Us Whole or Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Mom's Night Out

The Stranger

The day drags on.

She painfully waits in anticipation.

As she walks though the door,

a voice screams "Momma!"

A gentle calm rushes over her.

http://writeonedge.com/red-writing-hood/

So I'm trying something new:

writing with a prompt from Red Writing Hood - a writing meme.

This week’s assignment was simple: 

Write a story of your choice. 

The catch? 

Write it as a tweet. 

Use only 140 characters – including spaces. 

And no, the title didn'tcount.

So, what would your story be?

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:  Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Motherhood in the Forties or  Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Mom's Night Out

Wordless Wednesday - Simple Joys in Life

Nothing says sit down & take a rest after a tour of the stands at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market like a tall cup of fresh squeezed lemonade...

Or your Munchkin deciding that he really wants some freshly made 

mini donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar 

after catching a whiff of them cooking.

They were light, tender & oh, so yummy 

- one of the most simple joys in life.

A portion large enough to gladly share with his Momma 

- Lucky for me!

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Not So Wordless Wednesday: Sample the Beauty - Mpls Farmers Market or Carnivals - Simple Family Fun

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - The Pieces That Make Us Whole

Here it is a few minutes before midnight & the house is now peaceful. Just a little while ago, I woke up from watching preseason Minnesota Vikings football to a screaming Munchkin tearing down the hallway into our bedroom wanting to be comforted & held after waking up from a nightmare.  It all comes clear in moments like that what my role is as a mother - to protect & nurture that child so that he will grow into a confident & strong young adult.

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- J.K. Rowling

It's Week 7 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts and this is one of those self-revealing posts I'm never sure I really want to write. But here it goes. I've been thinking more about positive energy, flow & focus.  So often we stay stuck in our routines when what we really want is to actively move toward some bigger goals for our careers & life in general.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." 
- George Bernard Shaw

Time is flying by and before I know it another month is coming to an end & I've caught myself simply existing - treading water in a way, when what I really feel the need to do is swim forward. 

"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela

This recession has left many of us in a mode of survival, altering our once very confident & secure identities. For me, after the layoff, the first hurdle was finding "a" job. The next hurdle is the transition to finding "the perfect job for me". I have been craving change, exponential personal & career growth.  I'm taking steps, slowly checking a few bullets off of my list, but still don't yet see how the broken pieces will all fit together to create the big picture & make me whole again. 

Just because you commit to something, it doesn't mean all the answers will suddenly be revealed. It often times takes more research, digging deeper to narrow your options. It's time for me to stop wishing & to find the strength & time to do more doing.  Being a nurturing, protective Momma is not the end all be all for me.  I need & want to be a whole individual person again & finding that way forward rests squarely on my shoulders.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Motherhood in the Forties or Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Mom Power

My Food Truck Tour Continues: Dandelion Kitchen

Today I was swamped at the office & although I planned to wait to visit the Minneapolis Farmers Market until Saturday when I could shop at a leisurely pace, I wanted to grab a quick lunch at one of the food trucks.  The first truck I walked past was already closed for the day, so I headed toward Nicollet Mall.

Dandelion Kitchen it was! 

I tried their BLT with maple-glazed bacon, heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, and avocado, served on a baguette.

I love that they source their ingredients locally when possible:

The bacon comes from Pastures A Plenty in Kerkhoven, MN

The tomatoes come from eQuality Farms in MN

The baguettes come from Salty Tart Bakery in Minneapolis, MN

At first I was skeptical about trying a BLT with avocado - but... it was delicious. I almost tasted like there was some sort of sweet & tangy dressing on the sandwich - a combination of the smoky & sweet in the bacon blended well with the perfectly ripened heirlooms & the creaminess of the avocado.

"Great flavors. Messy fingers. Happy tummy." 

So. I'd say my first experience was a positive one, so don't be surprised if before the end of the season I make a return trip to try something new.  If you'd like to learn more about Dandelion Kitchen - check out their website, or follow them on Twitter.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Not So Wordless Wednesday: Sample the Beauty - Mpls Farmers Market or Minneapolis Loves A Good Food Truck Vendor

Wordless Wednesday - Patience Reaps Reward

From humble beginnings

Some of the varieties I'm growing, besides the big cherry tomatoes include:

• The Big Rainbow, a sweet, mild & gorgeous, pictured above with striking yellow and red streaked flesh. 

• Djena Lee's Golden Girl (orange), also pictured above, which we ate too fast to take a picture sliced.  

• The Black Krim Heirloom Tomato, a "medium-sized, very dark maroon beefsteak, with wonderfully rich flavor." 

• The Rutgers Heirloom Tomato, pictured above - a "legendary 'Jersey' tomato, introduced in 1934: a cross between J.T.D. (an old New Jersey variety from the Campbell Soup Co.) and Marglobe. Its flavor, both for slicing and cooking." 

Hope you are enjoying fresh Summer treats from your garden as well!

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:  Lunch via Vellee Deli or Minneapolis Loves A Good Food Truck Vendor

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Say Cheese!

It's Week 6 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts and the subject is about whether or not a picture with no face still tells a thousand words.

Who am I kidding, when I first started my blog, I thought I'd be able to pump out posts, attracting readers that could identify with my life as an unemployed Marketing professional & mother on the path to rediscover herself, find a new career opportunity and make sense of her life again. So many of us have detoured onto tracks where we couldn't quite foresee where they were headed right? I'm back to juggling life as a FT working mom & thus the subject matter of my blog has zigzagged & I'm still trying to find the right balance of material to write about.

I didn't want to rely on pics of my kid filling every post, in fact my hubby & I agreed that I would not show Munchkin's face at all. So, when I do sneak pics of my son to go along with a post, I don't say "Cheese!", it's always taken when he turns his back or I crop the photos in a way that you get an idea what he's up to without seeing his adorable little face. Protective...yes... irrational? I'm not so sure. Getting a good shot like that is harder than you think & protecting our son will forever be a priority.

Munchkin ran out of steam & had to stop & lie down ;  )

So my question of the day is does a blog that keeps the identity of the children a mystery have less appeal & draw than a blog that does show precious little faces? Does it make the writer's thoughts and opinions less marketable? Less memorable? Or is it a matter of having focused subject matter & compelling stories that pulls a blogger's community of readers together & fosters loyalty? 

Do you simply respect the writers most who aren't afraid to let their hearts lead the pen along the page & their fingers across the keyboard without reservations or regret. I'd love to hear your ideas.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:Breakthroughs or Melsha Unplugged - Feeling Helpless

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Clothes Shopping for Boys

It's Week 5 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts & my topic is kid shopping - specifically boy shopping. Granted I cheated a little because I wanted to show you a few examples of what has been driving me a little crazy since I started shopping for big boy sized clothing for Munchkin.

 

From Gap

Also From Gap

From Old Navy

Why is it that little boys clothes have to progress from teddy bears to skulls and crossbones?! I'm all good with animals like sharks & dinosaurs, bikes, surfing, some pirate gear, super hero, cars, even camouflage, but I'm not feeling skulls & crossbones on my 4 or 5 year old's little body - at least not yet.  I hear from a friend that boys love skulls & crossbones, but this Momma, who has the wallet & makes the buying decisions does not. 

Daddy is a deer hunter & I feel that weapons in general carry a lot of weight & responsibilities. It's our job to teach Munchkin the appropriate uses for things like guns - as a way to protect society for law enforcement or as the equipment of choice for the sport of hunting.  There is no in between in my opinion. We are already having to remind him that it's not appropriate to point guns at people - whether they are play guns or not. Violent messages whether they are in a video game or on clothing send mixed messages to our kids. I equate those types of graphics with death & violent actions & don't want those types of things glorified. I'm afraid of my child being de-sensitized in the process.

Am I over-reacting - or just being way too sensitive. Are boys just boys who will do what they do & play fight with guns & swords whether I agree that it's good imaginative fun or not? I'm open to some feedback here - what do you other moms of boys think?

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:  Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Motherhood in the Forties or  Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Mom's Night Out

Carnivals - Simple Family Fun

Just thought I'd share a recent Friday night out with the family - Summer is so short in Minnesota we take as much time as possible to enjoy it as a family.  This was our second year going to this Carnival which my hubby grew up going to.  No doubt some of these rides have been around for a very long time.

#NoFear

;  )

 

Of course Munchkin spotted Spiderman

And Munchkin had to have a Raspberry Blue Sno-Kone

Look Momma!

Of course the evening's main event was the fireworks.

 

Simple. Family. Fun.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Wordless Wednesday - Fall Nostalgia or A Christmas Eve Tradition