Summer Classes Come to an End

Today was so relaxing! I sat in a beautiful park downtown and read Angels and Demons all day. I was so relieved to be done with summer classes (especially after studying my brains out for a semester-worth of material in a few short weeks) that I vowed to not even touch my textbooks for the next week. It's my way of saying goodbye to Economics and Statistics--that is, at least for the summer.

It is so sad! I have lost all hope in waking up to a bright, sun-drenched summer morning. But, the weather proved me wrong today! Despite what seems to be a constant, month-long rain shower in NY, the sun actually peaked out for a little today. I was so excited to stay out and break out the new sunglasses. But, I decided to pick up and go by mid-afternoon when I saw some terrifying, rain clouds rolling in.

It turned into an easy excuse for me to venture into Whole Foods. (I refused to let the weather get me feeling down.) Call me crazy but I actually get excited to go aimlessly grocery shopping! Most often, these are the times when I get the best finds (as well as the most--my wallet can vouch for me on this one).

Anyway, my intuition served me correctly! I discovered a delicious organic macaroni and cheese--two 10 and a half ounce boxes for only five bucks (I couldn't resist). It was called Annie's Homegrown Organic Mac and Cheese Shells. I tried the white cheddar flavor but they certainly had a wide variety available. I was surprised! It was so yummy--super creamy and it only contained five ingredients! (Click the nutrition label on the right to see for yourself, or check it out on their website: http://www.annies.com/organicmacandcheese#jump39). I went back for seconds!

I was then in the mood for a small, light side dish. So I prepared baked pita chips to dip in the cheesy sauce. They are so simple and quick to make. They are also a great side to any meal. You only need are a few 6-inch pita breads and some olive oil, or you can substitute a sprinkle of garlic instead. (Black pepper and salt are optional for added taste.)

Here are the quick steps to making them: 1) Take your 6-inch pita bread (I used Toufayan WW pita) and slice it in half with a sharp knife. Further cut each half into thirds. 2) Carefully pull apart each slice apart (so you have double the chips!) 3) Spread or spray a light coating of olive oil on each slice. (Kudos if you use extra virgin olive oil because it's unrefined and, therefore, pure. Olive oil is a great topping because it's light, when used sparingly. It' also rich in monosaturated--good--fats.) 4) Then, make sure you pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. 5) Place all of your triangles on tin foil or a tray and heat for 7 minutes (or until browning and toasty). 6) Flip the chips over to bake the other side for an extra 5 minutes--making it just as toasty! 7) Serve plain or get creative. Add a glob of hummus, salsa, or guacamole on the side to contrast the crunchiness of the chip with a soft, flavorful topping. Bon appetit!

My sister came back from a long day at work and we sank into the comfort of our couches, and enjoyed our equally comforting foods. (I made one full box of the mac and cheese but way overestimated our eating capacities. I sealed the rest in a container and happily tossed it in the fridge for another quick meal this week!) My sister and I officially decided that Friday nights should traditionally be dubbed "Nights of Nothing"--in celebration of an exhausting work-week. So we decided to be cheesier than our dinner (a cheesy joke in itself) and rent a chick flick (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2). Looking back on it, it was a pretty impulsive decision--which both of us had simultaneously agreed on.

But, the best part of the night was yet to come. We were in the mood for something sweet and BerryWild hit the spot. We even got a buy-one-get-one-free-deal. (Yay--snipping coupons finally paid off!) If you have never been to BerryWild, I strongly recommend it! At first glance, it seems like your typical FroYo (Frozen Yogurt) place, but don't let it get lost in the mass of other names such as Pinkberry and Red Mango. Wildberry offers both icy and smooth FroYos--all for the same price! (Icy's are about a third of the calories of the smooth.) My sister and I both ordered the small banana smooth flavor and topped it with our own personalized fruit combinations. (Visit their website to see all of the tasty flavors/toppings: berrywildyogurt.com) My favorites are strawberries and blueberries. It was aesthetically appealing--and satisfying too! I definitely have to make another trip back soon.

We arrived back to the apartment around 10 PM. I was excited that I could actually pack up my belongings (for good) and prepare to head back home to LI! After sticking around in the city for so long, I decided my lifestyle needed a change of pace. Back to the suburban neighborhood I go!