Just Food

In as many ways that Oregon has been hard for me, it's also been very good to me.  Oregon is a funny place.  There are dreadlocked-hippies constantly hitchhiking along the freeway (which is totally legal here, mind you), a certain tolerance (eh...and promotion?) of marijuana, and an affinity for recycling that borders on obsession.  And that's a pretty short list of the oddities that I've encountered here.  I'll spare you my thoughts on the transportation system.  I'm not sure I could get through that rant without smacking my palm against my forehead multiple times.

One thing that is easy here?  Living a health lifestyle.  With Whole Foods and Trader Joe's on every corner, Fred Meyers that carry bulk beans, rice, and lentils along with all things organic, and an insanely aesthetically pleasing landscape that you can't NOT explore...well, living healthy has never been so simple.

I tend to cook pretty healthy for myself, but I've taken it to whole new levels here.  I'm even cooking VEGAN MEALS.  What?!  Yes, this red meat-eating, Bud Light-drinking redneck chick has been branching out.  I still eat meat, but usually just chicken.  And that's pretty rare even.  My diet mostly consists of fresh produce, rice and beans these days.  It's been good for me.  And I always loved creating and using colorful, pretty food.  Oregon has just made that super simple for me.

So here are two pictures of my latest culinary creation.  Lime chicken tacos with spicy chipotle sauce.

All organic.

And all delicious.

I marinaded the chicken, and made the chipotle from scratch.  The only two seasonings I have in my kitchen right now?  Salt and pepper.  I haven't had mayo, ketchup, mustard, butter, or anything of the sorts since I moved here.  I know!  What's happening to me?!  I've decided to try and embrace this crazy notion of enjoying food.  Just food.  So far, so good.

Don't think that I've completely changed my ways, though.  To say that I won't be dining on my family's BEEF and enjoying some homemade beer when I go home next week would be the understatement of the century!