elainedispo

Archive for the ‘Foodie Friday’ Category

Foodie Friday: Pocket full of Yumshine 

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 03/18/2016 at 09:45

As Dr. Ken😷* says…

______’s my jam!

In my case, stuffed starches are.

What can I say? I am what I eat!

 
🎎Asian versions from Pho #1 :

  • Steamed potstickers 🍜
  • Boiled wontons (not pictured) 🍜

🍕Italian-style versions from Mami Aya:

Basically, these all are dumplings!

ALM

@abilenelivingmagazine @drhodes3326 #ALM #Spring2016 #DominicRhodes #RhodesToSuccess #PayItForward #ExtraExtraReadAllAboutIt (pp. 134-138) #Phil413 #community #leader #leadership #GivingBack #RunningBack #football #SuperBowlChamp #SuperBowlXLI #NFL #IndianapolisColts #AbileneTexas #AbileneTX #Abilene #AbileneCooper #CooperHigh #CooperCougars #StateChampionship #ClackMiddleSchool #ClackCardinals #ReaganElementary #ReaganRangers #RoleModel #Rhodes 📰🏈🏉⚾️🏆🎽🏅👟🏫🏤🍏🍎

While I’m visiting home over ♣Spring Break, the piece that I covered on my homeboy (literally) was published in our hometown magazine:

*Check out Dr. Ken tonight & Fridays on ABC + ISAtv‘s Dr. Ken feature!

Foodie Friday: Bubble Tea

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 03/11/2016 at 15:55

Cheers to 🌎cultural🌏 openness ~ including to food and drink!

 
Valley Bubble Tea
My spot in the lower 🏖Valley🏝 now offers 🍢boba! 

🍜Pho #1🍲 in Harlingen ~ White Chocolate🍨

I also hit up my former neck of the woods for more 🍡bubble tea!

🍧Tea Rush Express🍱 ~ 🎂Red Velvet🍰 with 🍓Strawberry🍥 Jelly (which matches my 💅🏽mani🎨 dedicated to my 🌹Lola Rosa🌷 the Belated 🎈Bday🎁 Girl)

^– For your bubbly entertainment c/o fellow foodies Fung Bros –^

Foodie Friday: Around the World

In Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 03/04/2016 at 17:45

Last week, my speech students🎤 delivered their cultural reports!

Some offered us 🎁giveaways!

 

  • Jenna ~ 🇰🇷South Korean translation of our names🎌
  • Dom ~ 🇨🇳Chinese Almond Cookies🍪
  • Dani ~ 🇲🇽Tomatillo y Salsa Tamales🍛
  • Sarahi ~ 🇰🇭Cambodian Noodles🍜

Foodie Friday: Must-Try Crust Pies

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 02/26/2016 at 03:33

Ever since I returned to South Texas, I’ve had my share of pizzas🍕
e239029f-22be-471a-afa4-63396efade8fHere are my pie highlights:

  • Almost as soon as I relocated, I picked up a pie from the Valley‘s original The Pizzeria: Baked Ziti🍝
  • When I visited family and friends, including dinner with Bestie Evie, Mama Maggie picked out this Mac ‘N’ Cheese🧀 masterpiece from CiCi’s
  • I tried the Garlic Knots from the Hut last week + the Bacon-Wrapped from Little Caesar’s this week (except Meatless Friday today)

But when it comes down to it, Baked Ziti still is my fave YOLO, hands down! 🙌🏽 ✌🏽️2 of my faves:

  1. Pasta
  2. Pizza

Bam!👊🏽

Disclaimer: Consumption of any of the above may contribute to ♥heartburn.

Festive Foto Foodie Friday ~ New Year’s Edition: G is for … 

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Foto Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 01/01/2016 at 12:35

🎁Gift-Giving Soup🍲

Gift-Giving Soup

From #TitaElaine’s Kitchen (YES~my newborn niece #GRACEdUsWithHerPresence #CHRISTmasDay!): #FeastOfTheHolyFamily #GiftGivingSoup #SoupItUp #SnowDay #TomatoBisque #BowTiePasta #RibbonNoodles #SpinachCheeseTortellini #LeanRedAndGreen #farfalle #cellentani #tortellini #tomato #basil #garlic #oregano #StuffedPasta #spinach #parmesan #ricotta #romano #CHRISTmasMiracle #CHRISTmasBlessing #FestiveFoodie #GoMAVS #GoCOWBOYS #NFLSunday 🌠🎆🎇🎅🏽🎄🎁💝👶🏻👧🏻❄️☃⛄️🏀🏈🏉🏆🍽🍴🍝🍅

🏈Game Grub🏉

Military Bowl of Navy Chili Mac

#MilitaryBowlOfChiliMac #GoNAVY #NavyBeans #MacNCheese #SnowDay #GameDay #CollegeFootball #MilitaryBowl #PITTvsNAVY #GameGrub #FestiveFoodie #CountdownToMNF #MondayNightFootball #MNF #ComfortFood #ChiliMac #chili #macaroni #mac #TitaElaine’s Kitchen’s where it’s @ #MilitaryBowlOfNAVYchiliMac #football #touchdown #score #CanIHaveSomeMore #DontchaKnowFoShow #StayingHomeInTheSnow #LetItSnow #snow #DISPObustAFlow ⛴⚓️🍲🏈🏉🏆🏅👊🏽👌🏽🙌🏽

😇Glorious Goulash🌽

SW Goulash

#WrappingUp2015SouthwesternStyle #BowTiePasta #tomato #BlackBeans #corn #GreenBellPepper #RedBellPepper #southwestern #farfalle #goulash #stew #chili #SoupItUp #soup #TitaElaine’s Kitchen #FestiveFoodie #SnowDay #NewYears #NewYearsEve #HappyNewYear #NYE #HappyNew2016 #savory #hearty #healthy 💝🎀🍝🍅🌽🌶🍲❄️☃⛄️

🍮Gooey Goodness🐿

Festive Foodies from CHRISTmases Past

🎓Grad Greetings & Good News

👶🏻Grace ~ my newborn niece👧🏻

☝🏽️GOD has blessed us with this best 🎇CHRISTmas🎄 🎅🏽gift💝 who shares her 🎊birthday🎉 with JESUS✌🏽

Happy New 🎆2016🎇 ~ the Jubilee Year of Mercy!

Festive Foodie Friday: CHRISTmas Smiles, Family-Style

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Foto Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 12/25/2015 at 00:00

Merry CHRISTmas!

JELL-O

@KraftJello #FestiveFoodie #TurtleTDpie #turtle #TurkeyDay #touchdown #7layerPie #GingerSnapCrust #field #pumpkin #pecan #chocolate #hazelnut #caramel #walnut #THANKSgiving #feast #kickoff #Advent #AlmondJoyToTheWorldPeaceOfPie #AlmondJoy #peace #joy #PeaceOnEarth #WorldPeace #almond #coconut #MerryCHRISTmas #CandyCane #Oreo #PeppermintPattyCake 🐢🍛🏈🏉🎂🍰🍮🍯🌰🐿🎄😍🌎🌍🌏✌🏽️🍫🍩🍪🍭🎁💝🎀

As I reached my ultimate goal for this role of Dr. Dispo and approach my next one ~ Tita Elaine ~ I’ve been reminiscing all Advent season-long about those who are important to me, especially my parents ~ who are counting down ’til grandparenthood

 

my dad, Papa Jun, who from childhood to now has been involved in my projects

  • taught me how to compute basic math before I learned it in grade school
  • helped me with my Election Day political party coloring map in 6th grade
  • caught and froze insects for my bug collection assignment in 7th grade
  • took me to my first speech tournaments in 7th and 8th grade
  • coached me on the sidelines for my tennis matches in 8th grade
  • told me that he’d support me 100% when I applied for my doctorate
  • shopped with me for my presentation materials for my public defense

my mom, Mami Aya, who influenced me way more than I realized

  • taught me how to read at the tender age of two ~ which helped me articulate
  • wore sweet-smelling perfume that inspired my own fondness for fragrances
  • worked out to exercise videos ~ which spurred me on to publish about them
  • pointed out to me that my conduct affects my own relationships

my sister, Joanne, who has sent good vibes as she prepares to give birth to her first child (boy or girl?)

my mentor, Bishop Mike, who has shared the same home cities as my most recent schools

my bestie, Evie, who while praying and rooting me on all the way, went all out for my dissertation

This handful of special people were my starting five for Team Dr. D, out of a league of supporters throughout my Ph.D. GOD was the commissioner who made sure that I kept going while staying true to Him and myself

Who needs CHRISTmas presents when I have their presence?

Fitness & Foodie Friday: Health or Treat? Nooky Quickie

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Fitness Friday, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/30/2015 at 09:00

While trick-or-treaters may be house-hopping and candy-popping this weekend, I’ll continue consuming my healthy supplements on the ☼daily!

Ginkgo Biloba: to promote mental focus

IMG_6197

Centrum VitaMints®: to aquire essential nutrients in a tasty way

IMG_5630

  • I’ve come a long way since my childhood Flinstones chewables ~ which I doubt are the best bet for my teeth with the acidity
  • I’m still not a fan of swallowing tablets without having water and food in handy
  • Therefore, I’m all about double-duty of fulfilling my ☼daily☼ needs while freshening my breath!

Of course, I don’t skimp on the actual food that I need to fuel my brain and body ~ which I’m actually including in an analogy between my marathon and my main statistical method (multiple regression) for my doc research!

Pumpkin Trail Mix

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Speaking of my race, although I haven’t run as many long distances in awhile, I’ve fit in mini drills to keep my energy levels high while I’ve been drained from my dissertation, a.k.a., my doc docs …

During my dedicated eating time (yes, I must make a meal break away from my computer, according to my Bestie Evie‘s birthday advice), I actually HIIT before I sit!

IMG_5878

Olive Garden Leftovers from Ladies’ Night with the Holy Spiri† (counter-clockwise from bottom right): Chicken Cacciatorie & Cheese Manicotti (2 of my fave entrées rolled into 1) • Pasta e Fagioli w/ breadstick • MinestroneBestie Evie‘s Better-Than-Sex BrowniePumpkin Cheesecake (which took me 4 days to finish!) • Andes Mints ~ gotta ♥love♥ these after-dinner chocolate mints to cap off a classic OG meal!

While I wait for my chow to cook ~ simmering in the crock pot, boiling on the stove, or nooking in the oven/microwave/toaster ~ I do the following quick set(s), to induce more calorie-burning even after I’m done exercising:

Standing ♥Cardio♥

Floor/Mat/Carpet Core

More ♥Cardio♥

  • Dance ’til your ♥heart’s ♪content♫ ~ or your grub is ready

Stretch

Relieve those muscles after sitting at the computer desk and before sitting down to eat

Happy Early Halloween, All †Saints’ Day y el Día de los Muertos! ✌

Foodie Friday: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 10/23/2015 at 11:00

What’s better than carving and painting jack-o-lanterns?

Eating pumpkin … At least for yours truly!

I’ve already gone PSL-out and then some:

IMG_4751

IMG_5603

Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake dessert cookies & Pumpkin Spice Milano + Blue Diamond Pumpkin Spice Almonds from CVS | Quest Bar Pumpkin Pie energy bar (which we used to give away from Pretty Fit) from Market Street

IMG_5609

  • I’m nuts for pumpkins!
IMG_5830

Dynamic Dessert Duo: Olive Garden‘s Pumpkin Cheesecake

In fact, I used to buy a full pie for the fam to celebrate Halloween/Thanksgiving/my sis‘ birthday since college

(the Fazoli’s Ghirardelli tops a close 2nd)

IMG_5999

  • Even Yogurt!

IMG_6220

I’m flipping over this YOLOyo!

IMG_6219

TGIF *Friday Night* Addendum

Now I’m somewhat relieved that this weekend’s Halloween party has been canceled/postponed due to t-storms (Hurricane Patricia’s just further down south) ~ so in addition to preparing for my next round, I also can have some down time …

Bring on the cozy comforts of hot cocoa & mac ‘n’ cheese, please!

TGIF: Fall Perks & Quirks ~ Tacky Sweater Weather Edition

In ♥ & Soul, Beauty Tuesday, Community, De-Stress Saturday, Feline Friday, Flashback Friday, Floral Friday, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Musical Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Soul Saturday, Tag, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/02/2015 at 21:45
Holy Cow Cats

Don’t these *Holy Cow Cats* just warm your ♥heart? Both Belated Bday Girl Stats Cat & almost-decade-old Grad Cat do mine! Almost reaching our ultimate goal: PhD for Dr. D

To stay in the spirit for this season, I decked out with a little bit of my autumn aesthetics ~ ringing in the old with the new!

Halloween thru CHRISTmas

My little splurge to bring me cheer this time of year: this rad-in-plaid deer because plaid is on-trend (this one somewhat resembles Burberry) + it’s deer season (not that I’m a hunter) & reindeer season‘s just around the corner ~ so I’ll adorn it with special ornaments! Just to add to my eccentricity, I named this bad boy DOC to keep me motivated as I keep trucking along (more in high-speed) toward my doctoral degree! Along with Doc are A&A‘s *Dallas Cowboys* TD toy for football season & my classic Halloween decor ~ including Badtz-Maru pillow ~ on this plaid spread that accompanies autumn yet also is appropriate for winter as we approach CHRIS†mas in red & green!

Here’s more info on my fall favorites to take yours truly through this sweater weather & before the snow hits our neck of the woods …

Come Fall with Me

☼Sunset☼ Selfie: I’m double-cheesin’ (at least without a double-chin) and have a Kool-Aid smile (without the Kool-Aid) because I had a superb dentist visit & cleaning! Coffee stains: gone! {My 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Paper Floral Shirt Dress works in any season & I ♥adore♥ these Smithsonian Cherry Blossom earrings with Swarovski elements from Mami Aya as the perfect color for Breast Cancer Awareness Month + I’m dolling Dulce Candy‘s fall braid-framed bun}

13 Pre-Howl-o-ween Fave Fall Things

  1. What’s the best fall memory you have? ~ football games, both when I was in h.s. & when I’d see my *Dallas Cowboys* live (everything’s BIGGER in TX)
  2. What’s your favorite book you’re reading (or have read) this fall?~ Guts Grace & Glory (football devotionals) that I received during Lent & am reading through football season
  3. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?~ both (winged liner above in Exhibit B)
  4. Best fragrance for fall? ~ Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (above in Exhibit A)
  5. What is autumn weather like where you live? ~ we’re still as ☼sunny☼ as Indian summer but anticipate a cool-down soon
  6. Most worn sweater? ~ my tribal cardigan by ♫Maroon 5‘s ♪Adam Levine♪
  7. Must-have nail polish this fall? ~ Sally Hansen‘s Miracle Gel to top off color because it seriously lasts a long time (I’m just barely removing my color after 45 days)!
  8. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? ~ BOTH! (see No. 1 for football & Exhibit B for leaf piles)
  9. Skinny jeans or leggings? ~ either or, as long as I don’t have a muffin top in the denim or camel toe in the tights
  10. What is something that nobody knows about you? ~ I don’t mind digging into Ramen even if there’s other food in the panty (especially as comfort food now that we’re entering a colder climate), which I actually ate for lunch this afternoon while watching Wong Fu‘s major cook-off!
  11. Combat boots or Uggs? ~ bringing on my Docs, baby!
  12. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?~ ¡Claro que sí!
  13. What song really gets you into the fall spirit? ~ oddly enough, ♫Taylor Swift‘s Wildest Dreams because it could describe any desire (i.e., “tall” could be a tall order of Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha), fulfilled or fantasized about

1st Friday of Fall Y’all: TGIF

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Feline Friday, Fitness Friday, Floral Friday, Foodie Friday, Foto Friday, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 09/25/2015 at 20:45

Thank GOD It’s Fall!

Moon Rise

Facing east for the moon rise from my backyard garden … Just another West Texas Friday night!

As much as ☼summer☼ is my favorite season (after all, that’s when my birthday takes place), I’m making the most out of autumn ~ especially going outside for crisp, fresh air!

I’m also all about Starbucks seasonal flavors* ~ from ☼summer’s fruitiness to these comfy delights:

Salted Caramel Mocha Frap

My latest Starbucks Gold Card reward redeemed: Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino!

Starbucks Cold Cup

My venti cold cup always comes in handy … for a discount & a drink to last me all ☼day!

Toasted Graham Frap

Apparently, I was my local barista’s 1st customer to order a Toasted Graham Frappuccino! #StarbucksLovers ♥ #trendsetter

Furthermore, football has kicked off into full swing!

Refreshments Reinforcements

I refreshed my ♥heart♥ & ☼soul☼ with ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† holy hour at †Church† & with this ☼spirit☼ book + my bod with this Graham Goodness! (Even though I’ll cover up more, I’ll definitely still tone up with whatever energy I still can muster in the midst of working on my dissertation!

Here are a few of my favorite things for fall …

Howl-o-ween Hype

Trunk or Treat: ☼Sunshine☼ (my truck) tailgate was decked out with festive decor that featured ♥A&A♥ when we gave candy to my †Church† students last Howl-o-ween!

Nine Fine Fall Flaves

1. Favorite Candle: my Bath & Body WorksSalty Caramel that I used to light up my *Dallas Cowboys* jack-o-lantern and Advent †cross† (I’m also all about BBW‘s Pumpkin Pecan Waffles/White Barn‘s Thanksgiving Morning)
2. Favorite Lip Color: toss-up between my red Ardency Inn ♥Love♥ Cat lipstick from Sephora or purple Vera Wang *Rockstar* lip gloss from ULTA (c/o my Bestie Evie)
3. Favorite Drink: please view above {Exhibits B-E}
4. Favorite Blush: the ones from my KleanKolor Double Rainbow palette, plus I think that I’ll try Dulce Candy‘s tip on lip colors in a pill box for cheek colors!
5. Favorite Clothing Item: my birthday gifts ~ specifically the scarf/shawl ~ and my recent online finds plus my Target scores ~ particularly the jeans and booties!
6. Favorite Fall Movie: no new releases, so I’ll go with classic football flicks: Varsity Blues (came out my sr. yr.), Friday Night Lights (with a cameo of my h.s.), Remember the TitansAny Given SundayThe Longest Yard (including the original)
7. Favorite Fall Show: Grey’s ♥Anatomy!!! I’ve been counting down for the Season 12 premiere since the Season 11 finale ~ as a loyal fan for over a decade since the very beginning with the previous seasons on DVD
8. Favorite Thanksgiving Food: I’m not going to lie –> my Cranberry Pie #DISPObustAFlow
9. Favorite Halloween Costume: now how about I have y’all pick? My personal faves include when I rocked out my abs live, No. 5 … I won our contest in 2013 as Lone Ranger‘s Tonto and in 2014 as my Nurse Mom who was fine in 1969! Will I make a 3-peat??

Actually, please allow me to add a 10th item:

My #1 Favorite for Fall: my ✌two✌ ♥cute, cuddly companions♥ with whom to softly snuggle for cozy comfort plus who keep me company while hard at work and welcome me home after hard at play!

CHEERS to this time of year!