It is a Monday right!? Cause it sure felt like one!!
I really, really enjoyed my visit to the community garden this morning!
Founded by the Garden Writers Association of America and managed by Master Gardeners and volunteers in the Fort Mill, SC area, this garden provides nearly two thousand pounds of produce each year that is donated to those who need fresh food on their tables. The produce is grown and picked by volunteers and distributed through a local nutrition center.
OKRA!!!!!
I met Betsy, the force behind the garden, at 10 this morning for some bean picking, weeding and turnip planting. Two hours and some muddy limbs later…
It was so relaxing (and helped that we had great overcast + cool weather!) and knowing these delicious looking beans were going to a good place made it all the more special.
I finished up around noon (I’ll be back a few more times!) and decided to check out a little of the greenway on the property: the Anne Springs Close Greenway. I had no idea this place existed just 20 minutes from my house! I ran about 1.5 miles down the gravel pathway – and across the scariest metal bridge ever! – and back. Felt good to sprint out after all that digging.
Continuing on my day, I met my friend Lauri at Quiznos for lunch! I received a gift card from Quiznos a few months ago to try out their new Bullet subs and hadn’t got around to going. I had the materials out to pack a lunch yesterday and remembered my gift card. It was the perfect place to squeeze in a visit.
Per their recommendation, I got the Turkey Pesto Bullet! Description: Turkey, mozzarella, chopped lettuce and tomato, Basil Pesto, Red Wine Vinaigrette. I am not sure my cheese was mozzarella….
And I also asked for it to be without vinaigrette because I’m not a fan of them but somehow my pesto was left off too! I almost didn’t realize it until Lauri said something, so I went back and got it on the side.
Also got some of these because, ya know, I had more $ to spend!
Ate half. That’s some BBQ sauce on the side too!
The Bullet was good – the bread tasted nice and fresh and doughy and crispy. Sub shops are my favorite pit stop when I need real food on the go and didn’t have the chance to pack a lunch.
Lauri got the Bourbon Chicken sub and a side salad – an oniony salad!
We also got a chocolate chunk cookie, ya know, cause we could 🙂 I had a bite, but honestly, it wasn’t the best cookie I’ve had.
Oh, and iced tea!
Next stop: the Winthrop locker rooms!! I had 30 minutes to shower, get dressed and get over to the building where my internship meeting was!! Speed demon, I made it in the knick of time.
The internship meeting went well. There were about 40 people, some of whom had FLOWN to the area for the interviews that are happening tomorrow. I cannot express how relieved I was knowing I have already been accepted!! A huge "WHEW" to that one.
It’s going to be a really long, hard 6 months next January – July. I don’t really know what will become of my life, but I do intend to blog my way through it, and I know it will be life-changing and probably so educational.
The test that followed was 100 questions from all of the subjects covered under the R.D. exam. Of the 100 questions, I marked the ones I felt pretty confident that I knew were right at about 60. So I think I got above a 60!? I believe you need an 80 to pass the R.D. exam, so I know with a little a lot of studying, it’ll be all good next year.
Post-exam snacks included this apple (love little apples!!) and a Blueberry Fruition bar. Both were great. I love these Fruition bars and all the little bits and pieces of seeds in them. I’d like them even more if they weren’t fruit flavored though. I don’t care for fruity things. I prefer nutty/desserty bar flavors. (It’s undesigned because i got it to try out before they debuted). LaraBar did not get eaten – it was just photographed in case i ate it instead!
I didn’t feel much like cooking tonight, so I ditched our dinner plans for Eat, Drink + Be Vegan’s Sunflower Lentil Pie (coming later!) for some simple veggies and leftover Newk’s pizza.
Hello beautiful okra!!! I decided at dinner okra is my favorite green vegetable (it beats out kale!!)
The Two Taters. So cute, my precious!
I microwaved the the (what’s) taters (precious) for 4 minutes until they were fork tender and finished them off the in the oven where the okra was roasting at 375* for 20 minutes after being sprayed with cooking spray and sprinkled with creole seasoning.
The only dishes I dirtied were the oven pans. Not even a cutting board was brought out!!
OK, OK, OK. 26th year of my life and I now admit to loving leftover pizza. It just has to be warmed in the oven!!!
Sprinkled with cinnamon, this tater was perfect in every way. Wish they were all this cute and small!
Love, love, love!!
I love any meal that involves dipping things in ketchup!
I have to leave the house at 7:30 tomorrow, so I’m going to call it an early night and probably go read in bed.
T-24 hours until the new Gossip Girl!!!!!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
No wonder you felt like today was a monday! You worked your BUTT off! Great dinner though… leftover pizza is fantastic 🙂
Diana says
Neat! I saw a TV special about community gardens and wondered if we had one near here. The garden you visited looks beautiful! 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I need to try that okra!! Still never had it!
Katie says
I’ve got to try okra with ketchup. I love it anyway but that makes it almost seem like fries 🙂 Looks so yummy!
Jill says
To be a fly on the chip bag….great pics~~yes that okra is very goood in ketchup! Thanks for the great ideas!
Ellen @ Peace in Motion says
I love COLD leftover pizza. Most people find it vile, but I find that the pizza never quite tastes the same heated, So I would rather have it taste totally different.
angieinatlanta says
Yum! I love a good sub every now and then! And those taters are the cutest!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
What kind of potatoes are those? I’ve never seen sweet potatoes so tiny (and precious)….
Sarah
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What a fun day! That garden is beautiful and so darn impressive. LOVING the looks of those beans. Green beans used to be one of my favorite fresh veggies when I had my own garden.
Another simple, yet lovely dinner. Perfect for a Sunday night! 🙂
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
What a beautiful garden & wonderful cause!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) says
The community garden is a cool place!
I love leftover pizza – even cold!
Bec says
Sub shops are my go to as well. can’t wait to see that lentil pie
kay (eating machine) says
i haven’t ever heard of a community garden like that-what a cool idea!
Adriane says
Yay, for securing an internship! Good job on the practice exam too. Have a good night.
Erin says
What an excellent thing to do with your Sunday morning. Good girl. 🙂
Kristen says
What a wonderful concept for a community garden! Looks like fun. Way to go!
Marcia says
Nice! I love our CSA. My niece lives in Fort Mill, SC.
Margie says
I’m so jealous of all the okra you have, Kath! I absolutely love okra and finally tracked some (sad looking) down in the store. It tasted good, but it was too expensive for such limp veggies. I don’t even remember seeing any at our farmer’s market!!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
That garden is awesome!
You ate all my favorite foods today; sandwich + chips for lunch; pizza for dinner… YUM! I reheat leftover pizza in the oven or in a frying pan covered with foil until the bottom is crispy. I also like cold pizza. 😳
Jenn
wow says
6 months? Your internship is only 6 months? Frankly, I didn’t even know 6-month internships were possible. My dietetic internship was 10 months, and the shortest one I remember seeing was 9 and a half months. Combine that with the fact that your nutrition program will only take you like two years (?) (mine was a full four) and you are like literally do your RD in half the amount of time as most dietitians. It is supposed to take almost 5 years with the internship. Makes me wonder how the heck your program got accredited. And whether you will actually be qualified to practice
Stephanie says
I was thissss close to buying okra for the first time at the store today, but chickened out haha. I think I’m going to have to go for it next time 🙂
Kath says
wow,
Our 6 months included zero time off. And you weren’t taking ONLY nutrition classes in your 4 years. You were getting a bachelor’s degree. I will now have two degrees – a bachelors and a regular. I’m taking all of the same classes you did, per the ADA’s approval, and I’ll be passing the same exam you did. And then getting a masters degree. No worries.
Kath
Kath says
Sarah,
They were in with the regular sweet potatoes!?
Kath
Emily, homecookedem says
Kath, next time try warming your pizza in a pan on the stove over low/medium heat! It’s magical how perfect it warms… way better than in the oven. Trust me!! 🙂
Anne says
I hope kale doesn’t hear you talk about it like this!! but I have to admit, okra is pretty tasty, and your fresh ones look especially delicious!
quiznos is awesome for their condiment bar as well – sauces and peppers and pickles galore!
Emily says
Wow, what a great and productive Sunday you had!
I’ve been craving okra lately but have not been able to find any fresh stuff around! So disappointing!
KatieMoo says
Wow,
That was an incredibly rude comment. first of all, there are PLENTY of 6-month internships (including the Mayo Clinic, which is one of the best hospitals in the world), so before you start being rude you should get your comments straight.
And I went through a very rigorous four-year program and I have completed a dietetic internship and I learn stuff from Kath all the time. She will make a great RD.
KatieMoo
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I love leftover pizza. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t!
wow says
Kath – zero time off? oh well, I had two weeks off during my 10 month internship, so that definitely makes up for the fact that your internship is 4 months shorter. Sorry, you’re right, they are totally equal. A master’s too huh? Ya, I did a 2 year research Masters – for a total of 7 years in nutrition education and training. Your masters will basically be just a few extra courses right? That is pretty much a joke. It’s amazing they even consider that a masters.
thepinkpeppercorn says
Wow! You had a busy day!!! Totally Monday-like 🙂 Hooray for gardening, lots of work, but what rewards!!!
Cara says
Hey Kath,
How do you normally cook okra? I’m not from the south, but after moving to Virginia I find it everywhere! I’ve only had it in stews before, and am skeptical that it’s any good solo.
Any okra-inspiring ideas?
Sues says
I always refer to french fries and stuff like that as “vehicles for eating ketchup” Love ketchup!
Congrats on your internship; it sounds awesome 🙂
Rebecca says
I had a horrible experience the last time I was at quiznos. I like Subway though!
KatieMoo says
Wow,
I really tried to refrain from commenting again, but shame on you. As a dietitian, you know much our field is struggling to get the respect that we deserve. And to go around bashing your colleagues?! That’s a sure fire way to gain respect.
KatieMoo
Gena (Choosing Raw) says
How fun! Gorgeous beans, Ms. K 🙂
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I think you may have solved my leftover pizza problem. I don’t like it after the first day because I don’t like it cold and I don’t like it from the microwave. I think I’ll have to snag a piece of our next leftovers and put it in the oven…that is if Hunni doesn’t eat it all first. 🙂
Congrats on you RD stuff and good luck tomorrow. Sounds like you have a busy day but what day with you isn’t 🙂
Nicole- Chasing Blue says
What a fun day you had! The community garden looked like it was busting at the seams with healthy produce for those who need it!
maria says
I’m not the biggest Quiznos fan. Probably because we had one on our college campus so I got sick of the stuff!
Nice LOTR reference, by the way.
Marcia says
I don’t know much about the RD requirements (though I do have a friend who is an RD).
But I do have friends who are nurses. And I remember attending a wedding where the mother of the bride wanted to be VERY CLEAR that her daughter is a “2nd degree nurse”.
Meaning – she has a full-on bachelor’s degree. Her nursing degree is a second degree – so she has MORE qualifications and MORE classes than a standard nurse. Mom didn’t want me to think that her daughter was “just” a regular nurse (like I cared, I’m an engineer.)
I wonder if Kath’s dietitian program is similar. I would expect that if someone had a full bachelor’s degree in, say, biology or chemistry, that there would be a lot fewer requirements to complete the RD. Same with pharmacy. I have a friend who is a PharmD, and a friend who has a bachelor’s in pharmacy. Not the same thing.
I could have taken only three additional classes in order to fulfill the requirements of both degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry, because the requirements are *very* similar – at least, if you are getting a degree in chemical engineering, you cover most of the chemistry requirements (the school didn’t allow that type of dual degree, because they wanted more money!)
My older sister completed a bachelor’s and a master’s in just under four years – in business. She basically told the school that she didn’t want to waste her time on the humanities classes. She was in her 30’s, she’d lived through the 60’s and 70’s, and she didn’t need to take classes on the subject. She took business classes only. She’s a company VEEP, so I don’t think it hurt her much.
Anyway, good job on the RD stuff. I really like hearing about it. I sometimes think when I retire from engineering I might go back to school for that.
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
I have yet to have a good Quiznos experience, but any place that celebrates pesto is a-okay with me!
Marcia says
Two more things (I’ve been exploring your site a bit):
1. Yay for valedictorians!
2. Boy, that Woman’s World cover is a riot. I can’t even tell that it’s you. You do look about 35 years old in that picture (I say this as a late-30-something myself)…it’s the hair and the sweater.
Jac says
congrats on your internship! hope you have fun!
Kristin Carlson Shadley says
It’s funny, in California (where I live) the ‘Bullet’ sandwiches are called ‘Torpedo’ sandwiches. Wonder why chains call things different names in different states like Edy’s and Dreyers, Safeway and Vons, Hellman’s and Best Foods. Just seems like unnecessary confusion to me… 😉
BroccoliHut says
Chocolate Coconut Chew=my fave Lara flavor! I am also lovin those okra fries…yum!
Marissa says
That pesto looks GOOD!
Maddy says
Hey Kath! I know you roast your Okra and was wondering if thats the same way Meghann roasts hers to make fries? I’ve never tried okra but am very interested!
ps- LOVEEE the GG countdown. less than 24 hours til we see Nate’s dreamy face =)
Nicole says
It’s so awesome that you helped out at the community garden! They rule. I helped start one at my old university.
christie, honoring health says
What fun you had helping out in the community garden!!
Naomi says
that garden looks awesome! did you get to keep all those beans?? I am sureyou will make a fabulous dish with them!…I am not the biggest fan of quizno’s either, and the few times I have went, I have not gotton exactly what I ordered too!! they left off the cheese completely and the other time gave me onions when i didnt ask! oh well, your sandwich looked good!
congrats on your internship!!
Bria says
Kath- I love the community garden idea! What a great place to get some volunteer hours. 🙂 I also love living vicariously through your exciting nutrition degree and internship experiences. Your blogs bring back so many happy memories from my internship/nutrition days (which were only a few years ago but seem like a lifetime away!). Your meal ideas are delicious and healthy too. Best of luck with everything, you have excellent time management!
Jessie says
Congrats on your internship! You are going to make a superb RD!
I just started my 2 yr Coordinated program a few weeks ago, so I still have a bit longer to go :). I’m so impressed that you’re going to finish the 1200 hrs. in 6 months! You are so motivated!
Sami says
Your blog deserves a high-quality camera. The new pictures look awesome!
Emily says
Looks like you had a great time in the community garden. I’m also going to be spending quite a lot of time in SLU’s garden as part of the internship….I’m nervous! I don’t really have a green thumb!
CaSaundra says
Gardens are amazing! My grandpa is a stellar farmer and he spoils me with all the fresh veggies 🙂
April says
Ketchup is the bomb!!!!! I need to try okra like that. I’ve only had it fried.
whitney says
love cooking sweet potato’s in the microwave. I am always to impatient to wait for them in the oven.
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? says
Oh my goodness I usd to live off Miss Vickies when I lived in Canada, delish!
Sarah says
I love sweet potatoes! I also bought some red potatoes this week to cook in the oven for me and the husband — he needs some variety in his potato life 😉
Kath says
Cara,
Either in a soup or roasted whole like above. Or oven baked. See the side bar for “better than fried” okra.
Marcia,
Yes, if you have a degree in chem they don’t make you re-take any classes you’ve had previously. I was approved to skip Psych (not developmental, just intro) and anthropology because I had those at Davidson, but all of the nutrition classes are non-negotiable, so we’re taking all of the comparable classes as someone who is doing it as an undergrad. We don’t have to do the bachelor’s degree classes like foreign language, math, English because I already did all of those!
Kristin,
The Bullet is a small version of the Torpedo and we have both here.
Maddy,
I would assume we use a very similar technique.
Naomi,
No beans for me – they all go to the hungry!
Kath
Anne Marie@Her New Weigh says
Cold pizza rocks my world!!
Jenna says
great garden! looks like you got enough okra for awhile!
i love quiznos for subs, they are perfect for lunch meals 🙂
jenna
Lynn @ The Actors Diet says
what a wonderful garden – i have heard it can be extremely relaxing tending one.
Jennifer says
@ WOW
Bitter much?