I love food.

I just love it!

I especially love it when I’m on vacation. A little bit too much, actually.

When I’m home during what would otherwise be a work day, something happens to me. I try to focus – I really do! I sit down at the computer to get my work done (work = all the things I don’t have time to get to when I’m out of the house for 12 hours a day), and immediately my head is filled with thoughts of food:

“Hm…maybe I’ll cut up some watermelon. Maybe I should have a second breakfast – the oatmeal isn’t cutting it! Can I eat lunch at 11am even if I already ate breakfast? Ooh – I should make some veggie chili before those red peppers start to turn. Chocolate. Peanut butter. Dang it – where did Ted hide that chocolate bar?”

I’m seriously insane. Before I know it, it’s 12pm and I’ve already eaten the equivalent of breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a little dessert. And I’m never, I repeat, never hungry when I eat. In fact, more often then not, I’m feeling full or bloated. Emotional eating much? Hm…

The up side to it all is that I tend to do a lot of recipe testing. Since my appetite seems to be insatiable, I tend to stick to the healthier recipes. Good for me and you (not to mention my backside)!

My new latest favorite recipe is from this month’s issue of Cooking Light Magazine:

Apple Celery Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups thinly sliced apples (I used fuji, the recipe calls for honey crisp)

2 cups sliced celery

1/2 cup coarsely chopped flat leafed parsley

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

1. Whisk the first 4 ingredients together.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss to coat.

Enjoy, guilt free, on an empty or a bloated “vacation” stomach!

Your crazy friend,

Lauren

xxx