Since When Do I Like Mustard?

If you would have asked me that a few months ago my answer would have been, "since never". Mustard and I have never had a good relationship. So imagine my surprise when I am fixing my usual lunch and a thought creeps into my head: "You know what would be really good: mustard" That simple thought turned into a monster that wouldn't go away and suddenly I found myself in the condiment aisle at the grocery store looking at the options for mustard in front of me. And for the first time EVER in my life, mustard found its way into my shopping cart. The funny part is that I still don't like it very much. I put it on my sandwich and think "Hmm..this really doesn't taste very good." But I keept eating anyway... it's become an addiction I can't stop. Everytime I think of a sandwich or dipping sauce my mustard craving hits and I am unable to resist. Apparently, the baby really likes mustard.

Since we are on the topic of food, I thought I would also share some of my cooking successes lately. If you know me, you know that I am no chef. In fact my sister will happily tell you about the time I called her to ask how to melt cheese on a tortilla. Making something completely from scratch or involved ingredients that I wasn't familiar with automatically went into the "too hard" category in my mind. So maybe it's my new affinity for mustard that is making me more adventurous in the kitchen, but I have been stretching my culinary skills with some pretty tastey results. I love the "our best bites" website and that is where I get most of my ideas. Recently I've made Mississippi Mud Brownies. Serioulsy, the BEST brownies ever! I've made them twice and the second time I skipped the marshmellows and just did the frosting on top and they were still just as yummy! I will never go back to box brownies. The other night I made coconut breaded chicken tenders with mango salsa on the side for dinner. Both were great, I got to stand in the produce aisle and try to guess what the heck a mango looked like. And although the salsa was good, I still am looking for the perfect mango salsa recipe. I am in love with the salsa from Rumbi Grill and will not be happy until I can make something that mirrors that. And finally I have made the spinach tortillini bake. This one really tested my cooking skills as I stood in front of the frying pan thinking "ummm... is this sauce going to thicken up?" It did eventually but not before I had a panic attack.

I guess it probably goes without saying that I have already gained 15 pounds. I am sure that has nothing to do with the large cheese pizza I got last night and ate almost the entire thing by myself. But today, I swear, I've turned over a new leaf. I am resolved to go buy a bag of baby carrots and snack on those instead. In reality I'm sure I'll do that twice before I never look at them again and they get moldy in the fridge. But at least I'm trying, right?

Now if someone can only tell me how I can stop crying when Mulan climbs to the top of the pole to retrieve the arrow while "I'll Make A Man Out of You" plays in the background I will be a happy camper.

And on another baby-related note: Brooke is so funny when we talk about the baby. She remembers going to the doctor with me to listen to the hearbeat and always wants to pull up my shirt to pat my tummy and tell me how cute it is. When I ask her where the baby is she says "it's hiding".