Today G and I stopped off at Cafe Frida for an afternoon margarita and discovered the bartender freaking out, trying to make a virgin mojito for a pregnant woman. That's like asking for a virgin hotdog! At one point he took a sip of his concoction and cried "Aye chihuahua!" and dumped the whole thing out and started over. He was making it in a blender, so it looked like guacamole slush. After about 5 or 6 tries he finally nailed it, and he let us try the result. I've never had a mojito because I don't like rum, and I'm not fond of minty drinks, but I gave this one a try and was pleasantly surprised: the mint was really fresh and it was nice and icy cold. Really refreshing. Seems like fresh mint is the key. As you all surely know, you don't make a classic mojito in a blender. This recipe for "Frozen Mojito Slushes" sounds like what the bartender was aiming for. I'm not a big fan of adding frozen aides or sorbets to drinks, however - they are too sugary and artificial tasting. I'm sure some nice fresh-squeezed lime juice and plain old ice would work well in this recipe instead.

I've been so bad at posting lately! Ug. I'm terribly preoccupied with work lately, which is one reason. Another reason is I've realized I have a rotating menu of the four same boring lunches: Annies with broccoli/peas/tofu dog; Amy's non-dairy burrito with a spinach salad; peanut butter and jelly with Bearitos nacho chips; and soup from Hale and Hearty soups. Looks like this guy never ran out of motivation to document his eating habits, however.

Popped into Smith & Vine for a wine tasting a couple weeks ago and they were also serving watermelon cubes soaked in balsamic and topped with a basil puree. I was hoping I would like this strange concoction, but no luck. It was gross. I think the room-temperature watermelon was to blame. I feel like it would have been better if it was cold.

And now it's confession time. I've been popping the odd piece of meat here and there over the last year: a taste of turkey at Thanksgiving, a slice of pepperoni pizza, two tiny pieces of chicken from a barbeque skewer. A vegetarian for nearly 15 years, these carnivorous actions have been met with more guilt, shame, and visions of an angry Morrissey than one person should ever have to handle.

But last night I really turned a corner. I went to a cute little wine bar in Jersey City (yes, JC!) called Bar Majestic, ordered the cheese and meat plate with my dining companion, and before I knew it I had indulged in two tiny rounds of sopressata. The salt, the black pepper, the tang....an all-out taste explosion like none I have experienced in quite some time, and dammit it was good! Now if I can just get that image of Morrissey in his "Don't Eat Your Friends" t-shirt out of my head...