Time, time, wherefore art thou?
I don’t care for superhuman strength. I don’t care for reading people’s minds, or freaky flexibility, or invisibility. I just wish I could control time.
Maybe it’s because I’m a college student tackling an 18-credit semester. Maybe it’s because I live in America, a fast-paced “go-go-go I want things done NOW” society. Or maybe it’s because my sleep pattern is messed up.
But I feel like I’ve lost any form of regularity in time management.
Where are those days, when you could wake up in the morning without rushing out, handful of peanut M&M’s and coffee mug in hand?
Where are those days, when you could open your eyes slowly, stretch out lazily, enjoy the feel of the covers, and smile at the sunlight trickling through the window?
Where are those days, where you softly patter into the kitchen in fluffy bunny slippers, and on a whim decide to make pancakes?
I miss those days. Where I wake up without any specific agenda, without the weight of a million things to do. I miss just breaking out the flour and eggs, mixing up something without the need to rush. 
I miss those days, of carefully plating misshaped pancakes and a slab of butter just to make it look pretty, for no particular reason except to please your aesthetic eyes. 
And I miss those days of sitting back with those pancakes and the Sunday newspaper. 
Dang. I just realized that I don’t even have a subscription to the Sunday newspaper. In fact, I barely even flip through the newspaper anymore—I get my news in condensed version through LA Time’s Top of the Times headlines by e-mail.
Sigh. Time flies by, so so so fast. It seems like yesterday that I was traveling around Asia, doing nothing but eat good food, poop it out, and eat some more.
Nope, those days are gone, as I look ahead, and face the doom of four mid-term exams and a project, all within this week.
Yes, no more lazy Sunday pancakes for me for awhile, but don’t worry. I still manage to eat really, really well. I just need to make it speedy, is all. Like the other day, I made risotto cakes with the leftover Lemon-Zucchini Risotto I made for my Lemon Tree Party. 
It was soooooo easy. All I did was shape the cold, congealed risotto into little cakes, then coat them in fine grated Parmesan cheese. 
Then, fry them up with some oil: 
Layer the onto a dish, and drizzle some (jarred) marinara sauce over. Sprinkle with a bit more Parmesan cheese. 
Enjoy. 
Obviously, since I was photographing this dish, I had to make it aesthetically pleasing; hence the random sprig of parsley in the middle. 
It was sooo good. Never mind that risotto itself takes forever to make—these cakes were done, hot and crispy, in 10 minutes! 
Though because I’m a food blogger and I couldn’t pass up the chance of sharing this revelation with you, I took an extra 10 minutes to snap a few pictures. So 20 minutes. Nice hot fancy meal. Yum. 
Now. I have a confession.
I’ve been a terrible, terrible blogger. And I blame time. It’s all because of time.
A couple weeks ago, I got contacted by a representative of RecipeNut, letting me know of an opportunity for a giveaway. I agreed, and then caught up with schoolwork and the fuss of Project Food Blog, almost forgot about it. But better now than never.
RecipeNut is a new social network site sponsored by Hormel Foods, designed to bring together recipe-hoarders, because let’s face it: we may buy cookbooks, but we rarely cook from it. Instead, most of us return to searching Google for recipes, because it’s fast and convenient.
Well, RecipeNut makes the process even easier and fun for you. It enables users to collect all your recipes (either your own, or from bookmarked sites) into one site, and even allows you to interact with other users. That means you can start befriending fellow “recipe nuts” who share similar cuisine and ingredient preferences as you, so that you can share the recipes that you have collected.
RecipeNut is also linked with Facebook and Twitter, so you can shout out to the world that you have the best brownie recipe ever, nah nah nah.
In fact, right now it’s holding a contest on its Facebook page for a chance to win nearly $2000 in prizes. All you need to do is:
- Take a digital photo of the actual ingredient list and directions of the most treasured recipe in your collection.
- Submit it to the RecipeNut Facebook page.
- Write a few words about the history of the recipe, why it’s your favorite and the role it plays in the culinary life of your family
Ten finalists will then be selected, and fans will vote for or “like” the one they think best exemplifies a truly treasured recipe.
The sweet deal? Check this out:
- One grand prize winner will receive a premium Calphalon cook set and $200 in Hormel Foods coupons.
- Two runners-up will receive smaller Calphalon cook sets and $100 in Hormel Foods coupons.
The contest ends October 11th—which means you’ve only got one day to scramble and enter, and also that I am a horrible blogger for forgetting to post this until now. *Hangs head in shame*
But wait! You still get a chance to win a giveaway. One winner will get all this, valued at $30: 
-
Hormel® Always Tender® pork product coupon
-
Hormel® Natural Choice® deli meat full value product coupon
-
Hormel® real crumbled bacon bits
-
Hormel® pepperoni minis
-
Hormel® premium chunk chicken breast
-
Hormel® chili with beans
-
RecipeNut Oven Mitt
You might recall, that I used some of their products in my Project Food Blog entries. Like these Parmesan-Parsley-Pepperoni Scones:
And their bacon bits in my kimchiyakis! 
To enter, simply answer the question of the day below.
And for a separate entry, tweet this giveaway: Hormel Food giveaway prized at $30 value @burp_excuzme —> http://bit.ly/bQ2XvR
Another reason you should totally enter? You get this super cute oven mitt: 
Love the squirrel. The squirrel always gets me.
I have a feeling, the squirrel and I will get very very friendly as I start my midnight baking again. Meanwhile, I’m going to try hard to relive those nostalgic Sunday pancake days in my mind. 
Okay, that’s enough. Back to work. Screw you, mid-terms.
Question of the Day: Let’s play pretend. Say you won that giveaway I mentioned above. What will you do with the products? What will you make? Hit me. Humor me. Throw me the wackiest idea you have. I’m sure it shouldn’t be too hard with pepperoni minis!
P.S. I have not had the chance to do much reading yet, but I will share my Project Food Blog challenge #4 favorites soon! In the meantime, please, please take a moment to vote for me! Peas and carrots! 
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{ 52 comments }
Hmm…because of your post, my first thought would be to make pancakes with bacon bits in them and drizzle with hot chocolate protein sauce.
For one of the best thoughts on time, check out Andrew Marvell’s poem, “To His Coy Mistress.”
I’d make pepperoni and cheddar muffins for Hunni since he doesn’t eat meat at home because of me.
Man, goodluck on ALL those midterms. Let us know how it goes. At least you’re making things happen. I hate how I’m always rushed as well. I’m always wondering if things will change once I’m out of college. It’s unlikely. Maybe it’s because we’re Journalism majors? Is this a common trait within our majors? To always feel burnt out, rushing, un-quitting? Or maybe it’s just me and you?
Anyways, I wanted to mention that those pancakes look DIVINE. What kind are they? And I ESPECIALLY am in LURVE with the slice of butter you have over them. I’m trying to gain a few lbs at the moment, and today I was like “man I should just eat a stick of butter.” And now that piece of butter over those pancakes actually looks really good.
I think it may be a trait of journalists to run around like our heads were bitten off. Probably because our swollen heads HAVE been bitten off by editors marking our written works and making us doubt our writing abilities. lol.
Those pancakes, sad to say, are from Aunt Jemima’s boxed pancake mix. I told you I don’t have time for Sunday pancakes anymore! lol.
Just a stick of butter won’t exactly make you gain weight. Actually, it’s a myth that butter makes you fat. Just let loose of food controls, and let yourself eat everything. Don’t obsess. Don’t count. Don’t calculate. Then your weight will start balancing out to the weight you’re supposed to be.
Your dish looks beautiful and delicious! But girl, you NEED to take some ‘me-time’ soon. You know you need it and everyone needs it now and then. What about taking a day (or even some hours) off after your exams? Sleep in, have some pancakes with a fresh newspaper, take a nice bath, read, whatever makes you feel good. Believe me, after that you will feel so much more relaxed and ready to rock on. You deserve it Sophia and I hope you will allow yourself this. Take good care sweet girl! xxx
Hee hee. Yes, ma’am! You’re right, of course…
I actually do take some “me” time daily…like writing this post! To be honest, I’ll say blogging is my happiest source for entertainment, heh heh….and thanks for reading, Julia! You always make me smile.
I’ve always wanted to make doughnuts from scratch and I heard of a place that serves doughnuts with bacon bits, which I find very in triguing. Maybe I would take the time to try my hand at making bacon bit doughnuts! Good luck Sophia on your midterms. I wouldn’t go back to the stress of school for the world, but you seem to be handling it well.
Wow, your life sounds jam-packed at the moment!
I love, love, love the addition of butter to pancakes…I can imagine the amazing taste!
Hope all the mid-terms and the project go well (brilliantly!) this week and you have time to relax afterwards!
xxxx Jessica.
remind me to never read your blog before breakfast……..all i want is bacon and pancakes! Which I don’t have!
Definitely going to tweet about this. What a great giveaway, love the squirrel!!
um forgot to answer, I’d make cornbread with bacon bits in it!! My nana used to make this, so good!
Okay so I wouldn’t know what to do with a bunch of meat in a box, so I don’t need to enter the contest. But I just wanted to put in a little 2 cents to let you know you killed me with the line about eating good food, pooping it out, and eating more good food!! Classic Sophia.
“Dang. I just realized that I don’t even have a subscription to the Sunday newspaper.” Hehehe! Me too – I find that I haven’t even had time to read the newspaper that I WRITE for over the past MONTH. Yikes.
I took this weekend mostly off though. I got really sick last week and I’m pretty sure it’s from over-working myself (working at 3 part-time jobs. Writing 3 blogs. Writing for another website/creating an organization. Writing 2 books. Writing for a newspaper. Eep!). So I figured it was about time I just stepped AWAY from the computer and allowed myself to relax for this long weekend.
But I know that when you’re in school, it’s not quite so feasible to take an entire weekend off! So, hugs, my dear.
And I would like to eat pancakes with you. Just saying.
Pancakes! You know I die for pancakes!
And girl you are not a bad blogger. You are living your life! No shame in that! But seriously, good luck on all of that work this week!
I eat Hormel’s turkey pepperoni all the time!! I’ve eyed the mini pepperonis before and thought about buying them. But yeah, I haven’t thought about how to incorperate them into a meal….
Maybe homemade mini pizzas? If I bought mini bagels, I could make bagel bites Haha!! Too cute!
<3 Tori
Time is of the essence
When I think of pepperoni, I think of pizza! So I’d make pizza dough, with bacon junks throughout (I know, amazing thought), I’d make the ‘sauce’ out of the beans, puree’d with fresh tomato chunks and seasonings, spread that down, and layer the pizza with the chicken and pepp’s! And of course a generous sprinkle of cheese on top. Genius, no?
Holy cow. You ARE a genius. Man! I wish I’ve thought of that! I already finished off my beans, and almost done with my bacon and pepperoni!
Your plate of pancakes and those fritters look so very good! I wish I was over at your place now! I know how you feel about not having enough time. I’m so busy right now too! I would do anything for a couple of extra hours this morning. Ryan and I don’t eat much meat, so I don’t know what we would do with them. But I’m sure one of your other readers will enjoy them heartily! Thanks for sharing!
So excited to see pepperoni minis! The first thing I would make is pepperoni pizza dip (which is fantastic for this cooler weather and tailgating)! I’ve used Hormel’s pepperoni for it in the past, but always had to do a bunch of chopping to get a good spread of pepperoni throughout the dip. Pepperoni minis just made my dip-loving life easier!
Risotto cakes are half the reason to make risotto in the first place! Definitely one of my favorite foods. I love making and stirring it, too. Please sit down and make yourself a proper breakfast every once in a while, you deserve it!
Speaking of pancakes, i’d make savory pancakes with those hormel products!
Love the looks of these pancakes and the idea of reading the paper while eating them (when made by someone else!) sounds lovely to me. As does a lunch of these risotto cakes!
Dude, I seriously miss those days too. I also miss an officially instated naptime. If someone could bring that back as well, I’d be super pleased.
These risotto cakes are just the cutest most delicious things I’ve seen this morning! I want.
College will do that to you.
I too miss y daily routines of them old days. hehehe…
Yummy risotto cakes.
AS for those yummy hormel products. I’d make quite a bit of recipes with them. Pizza, tacos, muffins, stuffed breads. Yum. the choices are endless.
Mmm, I would make enchiladas with the beans, chicken, AND the pepperoni!
Pepperoni minis?! Awesome!! I’d love to make mini bagel pizzas with them!
I would make a chicken sandwich and a mini pepperoni pizza! That squirrel is just too adorable
I would experiment like a mad food scientist, several things come to mind!
dude the squirel is soooo cute!!!! i would use the peperoni to make a pepperoni bread thing that my mom used to make when we were growing up. i recall her cooking like three different things my entire childhood and the pepperoni bread was definitely my favorite.
I would make a dessert with bacon in it
time..never enough! wait til you have a house, job, spouse, and child…then truly there is NEVER enough!!! omg ! which is why i havent gotten back to you…
tight jeans, yes, the worst. ugh
going to fbuzz. Possibly. I really want to and am making a decision soon. I want to meet you too!!
this recipe..lovely!
the hormel products, not really for me, you enjoy them
If I won the products I think I would experiment with a polenta. Maybe a gooey cheesy bacon or pepperoni polenta? I’m also a massive egg fan so I’d probably find a way to work them into an omelette, frittata, or quiche.
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/DinnerAtXtinas/statuses/27076171435 Oh and I forgot to say that I love love love your creativity of the risotta pancakes – they look so delicious w/ that parmesan crust! mmm
Handful of peanut M&M’s and coffee mug in hand?…whoa, I need to start doing this, lol!
I know what you mean about not having enough time. I always say that I wish the day was longer but then that means I have more to do
I love your pancakes and I can’t decide which ones I want more.
Nothing says Sunday Morning like a big plate of pancakes but then those risotto pancakes looks AMAZING! Can I just have them both?
Thanks for the reminder as to why not to be nostalgic for college. Tests always made me crazy. As did editorial deadlines, hence my early departure from the world o’ journalism.
I just can’t do Hormel – far too many of my childhood memories involve their beef-stew-in-a-sardine can creation of days past. To this day, see the label and a little part of me dies
mmm both the pancakes and risotto cakes look divine!
The risotto cakes and those pancakes look amazing! Congrats on getting into round 4 (which of course we knew you would!) Just went over there and cast my vote for you. xo
I’m probably not as busy as you, but I do wish that I could just get up and have time to make a good breakfast. As of right now, my mornings are: Wake up 30 minutes before class starts, bolt to kitchen to grab a measly piece of toast and a hard boiled egg, and out the door in 10 minutes. GAH.
And those pancakes and risotto cakes look awesome
I know what you mean..I definitely miss those day, too. Actually, the only time I have those days are when I’m back home visiting family- no errands, no school, no anything.
Please don’t enter me in the contest, as I don’t do meat or anything, but I wanted to comment anyway.
Deep breath. Even if it seems like you have a million things to do, remember that the world won’t end if you don’t get them all done five minutes ago. I’m like you ambition-wise, but sometimes you do have to take a step back and actually enjoy the “now” instead of the “when this is done…”
You have such great opportunities and experiences right now, so make sure to enjoy them! There is no rush to get anywhere worth going. It will all still be there when and where it’s supposed to be
Now I want pancakes.
Yummy yummy, I’m glad you’re still eating good despite the rush around. You’re brave for taking 18 credits! I always died when I did that. haha
I love risotto cakes – I usually go to Whole Foods and totally overpay for them. If only I had time to drive to downtown – I would totally take these off your hands!
I feel the same–I need more TIME! I’m feeling like some major artery-clogging junk food right now so I’d like to smother some french fries with the chili, some cheddar, some green onions, the bacon bits and some sour cream.
This isn’t an entry but I totally hear you Sophia! There is just not enough time nowadays!
I am pretty sure you could take anything and make it look good on a plate! I am thinking about making Zuchinni Fritters soon!
OH goodness, I miss those days too. Although I do still make tip for blog reading in the morning, and drinking coffee and eating oats, but that’s only if I wake up at the crack of dawn. No sitting in bed and thinking about the day ahead…nope, I get right up (after hitting the snooze button once. Or twice…).
I’m going to vote for you!!!! You deserve it more than anyone I know.
I love bacon bits on baked potatoes and on my salads…so crunchy!
I haven’t heard of recipe hut, it’s sounds like just my thing. ’0)
I know what you mean about time. I feel like as we are getting older it’s getting more and more important and lacking.. Geez, I sound so old haha. My mom would yell at me if she heard me talk like this.
omg YOU KNOW I NEED THAT OVEN MITT!! ITS A SQUIRREL!! um Hellooooooo haha <3 LOVE it already!!
wow i would make a mean huevos rancheros with those ingredients, or some type of chicken/beef scramble or salad with bacon bits. actually this could totally work with cornmeal to make some delicious cornmeal beef cakes topped with bacon bits..or just go for an amazing salad version <3
now that i think of it.. bacon fritters anyone?? haha <3 YUM
1. This is not an entry (I’m vegetarian!
)
2. I love your whisk!
3. The pancakes and risotto cakes look amaaazing.
4. Thanks for the heads up about RecipeNut!
I’m a busy bee & need to keep busy because I get bored easy. On the contrary, if I’m too busy I need just one day & one day alone to unwind (yes I’m a contradiction). As far as cooking goes, I love taking my time because cooking alone helps me relax so I totally understand the feeling of not having to rush through the recipe. Also thanks for this twist on “cakes” I’ve added it to my “must try to cook” list.
I wish I could control time too! it’s been BUSY this week again and weekend is packed with action, so I’m hoping Sunday will be all about reading, sleeping, eating, reading, sleeping.. and eating
Have a great weekend
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