Now I wouldn’t exactly consider this a blind date, but with the excessive amount of alcohol consumed this weekend in the summer of 2009, it might as well have been.  “Mark” was a friend of an acquaintance, and a tad not my type, but he was nice (from what I remember) and he somehow weaseled my number from me.  So we schedule a date for drinks and from the moment I’m about to be picked up, I’m slightly nervous… only because *I DONT REMEMBER HIM AT ALL!* Being a tall girl, height is a major concern for me.  I’m getting all cute, and I can’t decide if I should wear some cute pumps, or flats, because the night we met, we were sitting the entire time… *I DONT KNOW HOW TALL HE IS!* Dilemma. But as the conversation ensued later that evening… that quickly became the bigger dilemma. Being a bartender, I can talk to a brick wall.  I think the brick wall was easier to talk to.  End of story… there was no second date. Moving on.

I recently had a friend tweet this article to me from yourtango.com. The name of it was “Boys-Summer-Challenge” and it got me thinking. 12 guys in 12 weeks… that’s a tad ridic. But it had quite the appeal to me, looking at the 12 specimens… in hindsight. Now I’m not trying to say I’m a professional dater, but I meet a lot of people at my job, and work can typically be a first interview in a potential new relationship for me. I have met all sorts of attractive specimens in my five years in the service industry/Madison/the WORLD!, and all of which have fit the criteria of this hilarious “challenge.” So if hind-sight is 20/20, lets take a look back on some of the funniest/strangest/best dates I’ve ever been on… http://is.gd/cqrEE

I’ve worked in restaurants for years and most of them have had a Sunday brunch of some sort.  With cheesy omelet stations, over cooked roast beef, and pounds of bacon.  But one of the restaurants had an Eggs Benedict station, with an array of options.  I always spruced mine up - made it spicy.  And now that I have this overwhelming desire to cook, I thought, why not try and recreate that delicious, high-calorie, breakfast delight? …revamp it and make it healthy!

Huevos Rancheros.

One Whole Wheat English Muffin

2 Poached Eggs

1 thick slice of Tomato, cut in half

Handful of reduced-fat Mexican Blend Cheese

Fresh Pico de Gallo

Tablespoon of Salsa Verde

Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Bring 7 cups of water and one tablespoon of white vinegar to a boil in a big dutch oven.  Crack two eggs into separate custard cups (any bowl or cup could work), and slowly drop the egg into the boiling water.  Repeat.  Now I like my eggs over-medium (runny, but with a thicker consistency), so i would recommend 3 1/2 minutes in the boiling water.  Obviously leave them in longer if you don’t like the runs.  Use a slotted spoon and gently remove the eggs and all the stray egg whites from the pot.  Meanwhile, you should be preheating your oven to Broil, and place the halved English muffin on a baking tray with your desired amount of cheese. (if I weren’t trying to eat more healthy, I would TOTALLY make a cheesy hollandaise for this bad boy!) Slice your tomato, and when the cheese is melted, plate away!

Use the slotted spoon to pick up the egg, and make your Eggs Benedict come to life!  Garnish with fresh pico de gallo and a little bit of salsa verde.  And if you live a spicier life-style, “Cholula” hot sauce is my favorite Mexican kick.  Brightens up any dish!

I’m totally making this for breakfast tomorrow. So. GOOD!

So i know I’ve done something like this before, but this has a better flavor than the last one.

1/2 Yellow Zucchini

4 Whole Button Mushrooms, cut in fourths.

1 HUGE clove of Garlic. mmm… garrrrlic.

Handful of baby spinach

1/4c Orzo

A sprinkle of Reduced-Fat Feta

2 Slices of a Large Tomato (optional)

2 Kalamata Olives (optional)

Black Pepper, Oregano, and Sea Salt to taste.

Saute yellow zucchini and mushrooms in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  Add salt and pepper to the ‘chini and ‘shrooms, and maintain on a medium-low heat.  Meanwhile bring four cups of water to a boil and add 1/4c of Whole Wheat Orzo, give it EIGHT minutes for a nice firm consistency.  Turn the heat off on the saute pan, and add in a handful of baby spinach and as much feta cheese that your little heart desires. Wilt the spinach and let the feta get gooey.

(I use such technical terms. ha)

Toss in the orzo, mix, and plate.  For another “texture” slice up some raw tomato, and a couple Kalamata Olives for the “Salt-a-holic” in all of us…

Disregard the first recipe I ever posted.  This one is leaps and bounds better!

Enjoy it.  Love it.

makes my day.

ok. what started off as a night that was supposed to be dedicated to my sister, i booked it out to Milwaukee to make a 7pm dinner ressie (thats another fabulous story i’ll share later) to find out that my sister has ex-nayed the idea of dinner with family on her 18th birthday.  so.  it’s just momma and daddy Herzog chillin’ with their oldest on the Milwaukee River.  anywho.  so we get a drink at a bar afterward, and my noticeably intoxicated mother tells me she cant drive home.  fine. *i only wanted to sit at the bar with dad and chit-chat… but whatever, i can find some fun in MKE tonight* so, when those plans were foiled, i whipped out my lifeline - my blackberry - and called around to see if anyone was down in the Third Ward and would want to meet up for a drink. that’s when i got a text about a party bus making its way to Water St….

now. this party bus was for someone i was kind of dating, but due to distance would never have worked out.  so, i was happy to see him, and a handful of others that are an honest-to-god “good time”… but when a party entails a “BUS” there is BOUND to be drama.

let me set the scene for you.  picture those girls in high school that were “popular,” put them in the trendiest, skankiest thigh-length, spandex-y dress available at Forever 21, *drunk* and staring at you cause they haven’t seen you (cause god knows we never actually SPOKE in high school) in six years.  then, add boys in their deep v-necks, that think they are at an audition for the next season of Jersey Shore: Water St. Edition, and then put them on a bus that holds 20 people.  its a recipe for disaster.  especially for me.  when i am TOLD that even though i met up with these “friends” of his, i could hop on the bus to drive the two blocks to the next bar.  so, now i’m being told by (x)number of skanky girls that i “didn’t pay, and i needed to leave.”  hmm… maybe it was also due to the fact that i was in jeans and a cute t-shirt, not so much make-up and getting all the attention of all the “worthy” guys on that bus… but no, that couldn’t be it.  it was because i didnt pay.  so i have people telling me to just sit and relax; “they’re just drunk.”

*glad someone has a buzz… cause mine left an hour ago when i got on that damn bus… an hour ago*

head to another bar.  more drama ensues when these Jersey Shore boys start getting in fights with EACHOTHER on this bus! great.  and i’m stuck in the back, without an emergency exit.  pretty sure thats illegal.  esp. if there is a fire, or an attack of the overly tanned and intoxicated.  regardless.  got off the bus, said bye to all the cool kids, and said to andy - “you’re ‘friends’ are ridiculous… not in a good way” and walked back to my car alone with my pepper spray, and no dashing young man to follow me a block.  shocker.

needless to say.  i felt the need to send a message to all my friends i had in high school, saying “i know i haven’t talked to you much since we graduated… but thank you for NOT being like them.” glad i had/have real people as friends…

Running while watching Rachael Ray… this popped into my head…

1/2 Small Yellow Onion

1/2 Zucchini

1/4 Red Pepper

1/2 Roma Tomato

6 - 31/40 Tail-On Shrimp

Handful of Baby Spinach

4 Kalamata Olives, sliced

1/3 cup (dry) Whole Wheat Orzo

Garnish with Reduced Fat Feta, Salt, Pepper, Oregano, and Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Saute the sliced yellow onion, zucchini on medium-low until carmelized, add in your shrimp, red pepper and tomatoes, and reduce the heat to low.

Bring water to a boil and add in 1/3 cup of Whole Wheat Orzo, continue at a rapid boil for 8-10 minutes for “al dente.”

Mix in a handful of baby spinach to the drained Orzo and add sliced kalamata olives.

Whip it all together, put on a nice big plate, garnish with some feta, and spices to taste! Delish.

Oompa!? haha. idk.

as much as i love that it’s March 1st.  and that it’s sunny and a balmy 33 degrees outside… i’m getting the eff out of this state!  just booked my flight to San Diego with my friend Carly!  visiting my dad’s cousin… who is eight years older than me.  ha! (i love big families!)  so far, this five day vacation will be jam packed with sight-seeing, picture taking, pandas, “sexy Navy boys,” Coronado Beach, happy-hour at various locales, and very little drinking… haaaa! can’t wait. can’t wait at all.

eatdrinkmadison.com The new Vintage Brewing Company just opened up on the west side. Here’s a great review from guest blogger Kaitlyn Herzog. http://www.eatdrinkmadison.com/blog.php