Hello from the Cold Stone parking lot…again! Haha!
I feel so out of the loop and incomplete without my blog…without internet!!! It has been 9 days since I last had internet and I’m basically foaming at the mouth and jittery with anxiety. What has our world come to!? Internet is nearly a necessity of life – right up there with water, shelter, and safety! And sadly, I have another 2 ½ days without internet! Here is where heart palpitations begin. It’s been hard, and it’s not getting any easier!
I will say, being internet-less has forced me to a bit more productive as far as unpacking (which is not done, by the way…ugh) and just taking time for me. Gina sent me a really sweet email tonight, assuring me that Columbus would soon feel like home and I would enjoy my job in no time. How did she know that’s just what I needed to hear? 🙂 As much as I love Columbus, it’s not home…yet. And my job is simply training this week…OSHA, HIPPA…you know, the stuff that makes you want to sob out of boredom. At least tomorrow I’m training with the district dietitian and will finally get a better idea of what my day-to-day responsibilities will be.
I did want to take a moment and tell you guys that Columbus is one healthy place! Please note that my most recent geographic comparison is Tulsa, Oklahoma! But I am loving Columbus’ “green” and “active” living. I made a little top 10 list for you guys…
Top 10 Things I Love About Columbus (so far…)
- Local, hormone-free, grass fed meat sold in major grocery stores
- Runners, walkers, and bikers…everywhere!
- The summer’s “heat wave” – this is easy breezy coming from the south!
- Hills! Ohio is surprisingly very hilly! Makes for challenging workouts!
- Selection of fruits and vegetables at grocery stores – I found shallots and star fruit…yay!
- Trader Joes (!!)
- Wine and beer is sold in grocery stores…and it’s full-proof! Oklahoma has some DUMB liquor laws..
- Walking trails within walking distance of our house!
- Living across from a pond and a block from corn and soybean fields
- Farmer’s markets and fruit and vegetable stands
Tonight was my first time actually “cooking”. Finally! Between no cooking and no internet…I am completely out of my element and am frankly, a little lost. At least I’ve been keeping up with regular runs, albeit not very long since moving is nothing short of exhausting!
Anyways, tonight was Georgie’s vodka sauce recipe that she shared in her guest post for Prevention RD last week.
Shrimp Scallops in Vodka Cream Sauce slightly adapted from Ask Georgie
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup vodka OR ½ cup broth
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
1/8 to ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
¾ cup fat free half and half
1½ teaspoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon baking soda
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound large shrimp scallops, peeled and deveined
10 ounces linguine, cooked
Directions:
Place a medium pot of water over high heat for pasta. (Note: This will be also used to boil the shrimp/scallops in step 5.)
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add oil, shallot and garlic and cook 2 minutes to soften.
Add vodka or broth to skillet and raise heat to bring to a boil. Boil 2 to 4 minutes or until reduced by about half. Stir in tomatoes, basil and hot pepper flakes and reduce heat to medium.
In a small bowl, whisk together half and half, cornstarch and baking soda until smooth. Whisk mixture into sauce, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste and turn heat to very low to keep warm.
Add shrimp to boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes with pasta or until opaque. Drain and pat with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Toss shrimp with vodka sauce and serve.
Makes 2 4 servings.
Result: It was delicious! Mr. Prevention agrees. It was also really simple and really fast! The scallops worked wonderfully as a substitute for the shrimp, as well. We definitely plan to make this again! Thanks, Georgie!
Well, Mr. Prevention is finished with his Cold Stone and so I’d better leave the free internet and head back home. Thanks for reading and being patient with me during this transition! Your support means so much – thank you!! Hugs!
Much love,
I’m so glad you’re finding things your like in Columbus!
That pasta looks delicious! I’m so hungry right now!
I was going to ask if you actually bought ice cream or just used their Internet! 🙂 Glad to hear that Mr. Prevention is supporting the business… 😉
Your top ten list sounds great! I’m sure you’ll feel at home in no time!
Glad you are getting settled in!! I can’t wait to come to Columbus for a visit and meet you and Gina heheh!
When Andrew first moved into our first apt. and eventually our house we’re in now, neither of them felt like “home” at first. I’d say it usually took me at least a month to adjust. But once you’re there, you meet people, become familiar with your surroundings, and make memories, it will feel like home. Here’s to hoping it feels like home soon!! 🙂 I know it will!!
Sounds like an amazing place to live! I’m sure it will feel all sorts of wonderful soon. 🙂
I would go insane without internet too. Heck, we lost it for a few HOURS once and I was extremely frustrated.
Columbus sounds great! Glad you are settling in. Hang in there – you can survive a couple more days without internet!
It sounds like you’re getting settled!! I’m glad you’re discovering things that you like about Columbus! When we moved to PA, it took me about a month before I realized that I had kind of settled in and felt like I was home, you know?
Actually, it still doesn’t feel like HOME, but you know what I mean 🙂
Glad that you are getting settled! Internet is a necessity of life…I agree:) Your pasta looks absolutely amazing! Columbus sounds great also! The fact that you found so many good things about it already is good!
girl that is hilarious you are blogging from coldstone! hahahah!! i love it!!! glad you are getting settled!
It stinks to be without internet! Glad the move went okay and best of luck with your new job!
Glad you are settling in- soon it will really become homey and it will be less stressful. You made my recipe look divine, thanks!!!
Georgie Fear RD
http://www.AskGeorgie.com
Forgot to mention – I love some of the same things where we are moving to in 3 weeks in Colorado. The grass fed beef availability and organic produce, farm markets, and walking trails galore!
Seems like we dietitians check out the food and fitness possibilities first and foremost! Tell us about your new job when you have time. I’m starting a PRN position when I get out there, but after 5 years lapse from clinical work, I’m worried and anxious. My MNT is rusty!
Georgie
I just started reading your blog, so I wanted to say hi! I’m glad you like Columbus so far 🙂 I live in Cincinnati, but I have friends/family in Columbus and it’s always such a fun place to visit. I’m sure that soon it will start to feel like home. If you like to shop, Easton mall is amazing. The Columbus zoo is a lot of fun. I’m an RD too and during my internship I worked a children’s expo there and it was really neat! Good luck!
The 10 things you love about Columbus make me want to move there too :-).
I love when I see runners and walkers out everywhere. That’s one of my favorite things about cities. So motivational and inspirational. The Internet break I think you’ll find will ultimately be a good break. I didn’t use the Internet more than one or two times last summer when I was getting my yoga teacher’s training. After a month, I didn’t even want to use the Internet. I’d rather read or write on find things outside of sitting on a computer…Well, obviously I’ve integrated Internet back into my life because it is such a great tool! But breaks from what may be our addictions are nice sometimes!
Columbus seems a lovely place and hope you have settled in there…
Cold Stone rocks my world! I need to make a trip there ASAP!
Sounds like Columbus is just the right place for you. Hopefully once you’re fully unpacked and settled into work you’ll feel like that even more. The first month of living in a new place is a transition and usually accompanied by sudden worries of Is this the right thing for me?
So glad you found a lot of things you like about your new location..I’d be SUPER stoked about a Trader Joe’s :o)
I will definitely go a little crazy without internet. You really don’t realize how much you rely on it til you don’t have it anymore.
Gotta love Trader Joes!! Hope you get everything settled soon.
It’s so true – water, food, shelter, internet! I’m the same way!!!
It will be crazy without internet! I’m glad you love your new place 🙂
Columbus sounds awesome! I live in the boonies and EVERYONE drives, I swear I might see someone walk once a year. I grew up in Philadelphia so I’m use to walking but it’s hard to do that here without getting hit by a car : ( I’m glad to see you’re getting settled in though!
I feel your pain about the internet, it can be torture! Hang in there you’ll be internet surfing in no time!
btw that vodka sauce looks AMAZING!
if it wasn’t for one of my neighbors leaving their wifi wide open, I would prob be hanging out at panera bread for their free wifi lol.
I am glad you are adjusting even if you have no internet for a few more days!
I love that you are using the free internet in the parking lot. It is nice that you have found a few things so far that you like about Columbus. I know it can be hard to adjust and get used to new things and new routine, but I am sure it will soon feel like home.
Sounds like a nice active area you live in. Gotta love that!
Love the look of your pasta! It is beautiful and has all of my favorite flavors. It’s also very cool that you’re taking time to acknowledge all of the good things about your new home.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying your new town! It sounds like there’s a lot to love there. 🙂 The pics of your scallop pasta dish are just gorgeous!
I actually find it refreshing when I don’t have internet. Of course, I get anxious and once I have internet again I forget that, oh yeah, I actually have a life outside of the computer. 😉 Which is why I’ve been so absent lately – I was actually having fun while not online. Which sadly doesn’t happen as often as it should. 😛
I’m glad you’re enjoying Columbus!
Aww, I’m glad you liked my e-mail. It’s true though. In fact I’m going through something slightly similar (just the new job part). I am STRESSING BIG TIME!! I know it will get easier, but right now I am sort of lost in my new job. I love it, but it’s stressful being new!!
So this”heat wave” isn’t really that bad?? Yikes. I can’t imagine it being any worse! I walked outside yesterday and it was so humid that my phone fogged up within 5 seconds (and my hair was a fro…as usual).
Hope you enjoy your weekend! You crack me up sitting in the Cold stone parking lot. Too funny!!!!
Its so hard to move to a new city, but it sounds like you are doing an amazing job! You’re right, the important part is to think of all the things you love about the new place, vs what you miss about the old one. You’ll be settled in in no time! Good thoughts flowing your way!
I’m so glad that you are enjoying Columbus, Nicole! You and Mr. Prevention are going though a huge transition, but are handling it with humor and aplomb. I guess at least Mr. Prevention is getting some yummy ice cream out of the “no internet” thing 😛 Yay for cooking again! Scallop pasta seems like the perfect intro dish for a new home. Good luck with training and the start of your job!
oh it takes a while to feel at home in a new place. it sounds like there are some postives already though……take it easy you will feel good soon enough….get out and explore if you have time 🙂
Columbus sounds great! And that dinner looks amazing. I’m plan on trying it out very soon. We certainly share a love of seafood! Good luck with all your training!
haha the internet went out at work yesterday so my boss told me to call our internet provider. I could not, for the life of me, figure out where to get their phone number without looking online. Its amazing how important the internet has become eh?
I love your top ten list. We dont have liquor sold in grocery stores in Canada. Its one of the most exciting things about going to the States. Whenever Im down there, I always hit up Target to buy wine just because I can.
What a lovely pasta and yay for TJs! Hope you settle in soon 🙂
Those all sound like great things!
Change is hard.
But those sound like some pretty darn good reasons to like Columbus!!
Any place with Coldstone can’t be that bad right?