This week seems like it has just been one thing after another.  Last time I posted, I mentioned that a friend of mine was in the hospital.  That friend passed away Monday, and it was very unexpected.  So on top of that tragedy, I’ve worked a stupid schedule at work (two 13 hour shifts on top of my regular schedule) and there just haven’t been enough hours in the day.  I have done my best to keep positive and find a silver lining in all this.  One thing I can say is that I have never been more aware of my health and more motivated to be as healthy as possible as I am following Ron’s untimely passing.  So here’s a few of the healthy meals I concocted this week.

For the chops, I seasoned some boneless pork chops I got on sale with my go-to house spices-salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Then I glazed them with a mixture of jalepeno pepper jelly and soy sauce. For a side dish, I sliced some red bell pepper and onion and tossed with asparagus in olive oil and house spice and roasted for about 10 mins.  I also boiled up some brown rice for a small amount of healthy carbs.  Fluffed with a little margarine and a dollop of sweet chili sauce it was perfect.

The buffalo tenders were great too.  I just cut some skinless, boneless chicken breasts into strips, dredged in whole wheat flour and egg whites then rolled in panko and baked til crispy and done.  Then I tossed them in some wing sauce and steamed some fresh broccoli for a side dish.  For dipping, I am obsessed with Litehouse kefir yogurt ranch.   It’s full of healthy probiotics and only has 60 calories per serving!

Also this week, I jumped on the opportunity to get out of town and take my mind off of work and funerals and went on a little girls trip to Asheville.  Asheville is only about 45 minutes up the mountain from where I live but feels like a whole other world.  It’s a little mountain town that packs a whole lot of culture into a beautiful, natural package and is brimming with fantastic food, art and shopping, and most everything is local.  And did I mention booze?  Yeah, there’s that little fact that Asheville is better known as Beer City, USA, and plays host to almost 20 breweries.

Our first stop was for lunch at Salsa’s, a tiny Mexican-Carribean fusion cantina.  Since we didn’t arrive until 2:30, we thankfully had missed the lunch rush and had the restaurant to ourselves.  As we poured over the drink menu (priorities!), I couldn’t help but notice the art on the walls.  According to our very knowledgeable server, the owner and chef Hector Diaz,  purchases all the art and changes the themes every so often.  Right now, they are featuring local graffiti artists, but unfortunately, none of the pieces are for sale.  I settled on the habanero margarita, which at $12.95 might seem a little steep but you really get what you pay for, because it was worth every dime.  Patron Silver tequila is served over rocks with Cointreau and hand squeezed citrus mix.  Muddled into the bottom is the smallest sliver of habanero pepper, which provides the perfect amount of heat to this refreshing libation.  Sitting inside this brightly colored oasis, sipping margaritas and watching the snow pour outside the large windows I felt like I was living inside a snow globe one might buy at the Cancun International Airport giftshop.  Within moments our appetizers arrived to the table, and believe me when I tell you, this may be some of the best food I’ve ever had the pleasure of putting in my mouth.  Ariana went with the pork tostadas, while Ashton and I tore into the jalepeno poppers.  And please be assured, these were not some little deep fried nuggets of crap.  Whole jalepenos, sliced down the middle, fire roasted and filled to capacity with a salmon/cream cheese mixture, rolled and dipped in batter then deep fried, topped with this delicious sweet and tangy pineapple/lime sour cream and a mango salsa.  Honest to God, those might  very well be one of the greatest things I’ve ever tasted.  I followed appetizers with an entree of fajitas, which the chefs were kind enough to modify to cater to my cilantro allergy.  Ordinarily I wouldn’t be so offensive as to ask for such an alteration at a place like that, but since they were not busy, I felt it couldn’t hurt.  And so glad I was–the rest of the food was just as delicious.  Salsa’s is just authentic, simple, fresh ingredients, tossed together in the most complimentary way and will definitely be a must-stop for every trip to Asheville.

As dusk fell in the mountains, we stopped in for sweets and wine at French Broad Chocolate Lounge.  Since poor Mitch was stuck at school all day, I decided to gift him with a box of assorted chocolates from the aphrodisiac collection–rawr!  I snuggled down in a big comfy leather chair and dove straight in to my warm nibby browny, covered with a fat scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and drizzled with freshly melted chocolate.  A big, bold glass of cabernet was the perfect compliment to this sweet concoction.  My lady companions settled on equally enticing treats.  Ashton, the creme brulee and Ariana, the carrot cake.  I heard no complaints from their end, but then again, their mouths were stuffed the entire time.

We finished up the day with a marathon shopping session, and you know me, we had to hit up the outlets.  These Fendi sunglasses that I scored for $60 at TJ  Maxx are everything.  Everything.

Yesterday, which was Wednesday, I had to go to that funeral and although it was a sad occasion, I was able to catch up with friends I hadn’t seen in awhile at a lunch afterward.  My best friend Alision and I also took the afternoon to toot around The Corner Nest, an antique warehouse in my town.  After being there for God only knows how long, we staggered out into the cold and darkness, disoriented, a few dollars poorer, but a few antiques richer.  All in all, it was a good peaceful day for remembering a dear friend, departed far too soon.

Tonight is supposed to be date night, but with temperatures dipping into single digits, I don’t know that I’m up for getting out of my sweats and central heat to venture into public for a cocktail and a movie.  We’ll see how it goes.  I’ll leave you with a look from earlier this week.  I finally got around to wearing that adorable little black dress with the prim scallop collar.  I paired it with some ballet flats, but ultimately I wish I would have had some Mary Janes.  A braid, rosy cheeks and glossy lips finished the look and I’m pretty happy with it.