Hobo y'all

Howdy everyone! I am teaching A LOT this semester (my credit card companies will be happy) so on Mondays and Wednesdays I start my day VERY early. I know many of you are used to early mornings but it's going to take awhile to get accustomed to a 5:30 alarm. Things are still quite hectic so I'll be happier in a couple weeks when I've settled in to everything. I weighed last week, a bit nervous about the results and ended up losing 3 pounds. I couldn't do anything but laugh. My body is so weird. The good thing is that the loss motivated me a bit and I've been pretty successful (other than stretching the rules during dinner on Saturday and Sunday) since the weigh inso I'm hoping for decent results again on Wednesday when I get back on the scale. I have made a small goal for myself. I want to lose 5-1/2 pounds by the morning of September 7th when I go to Denver. Small goals are so important to me right now since I've been struggling.

I wanted to share a foil packet meal that I made. I was inspired by a message I got from my friend Carina who sent me a picture of a foil packet she made. I've always wanted to do it and I'm glad I did. It's super easy, and it's always nice to add the smoky flavor that the grill provides. There are no precise instructions for this because it's so versatile. I used chicken sausage that's already cooked so it didn't take too long on the grill. I took a sheet of foil, added sliced chicken sausage and pieces of zucchini, mushrooms and cut up slices of corn on the cob. I flavored it all with salt, pepper and granulated garlic. Then I added just a tiny bit of oil. I wrapped up the packet and threw it on the grill for about 15 minutes (it probably could have gone about 5-10 more minutes but I'm impatient). When it came out, I added some freshly chopped green onion to the top. My only tip on this would be not to put the packet over direct flames because it got a little scorched in some places. This was a perfect, filling summer meal. I have discovered a new found love for fresh corn on the cob from the grill. I'm not a big fan of it otherwise. This was flavorful and easy. You can add whatever meat/veggies you want, it just may change the time it takes to cook. I highly recommend.

Since I've met Ian, he's gone from someone whose culinary skills were limited to grilled cheese and bowls of Ramen to someone I can rely on to have dinner ready when I get home from busy school days. I'm so impressed and grateful for his efforts to cook (especially since he works every day too). A lot of times, he'll get most of it done and then I'll come home, help finish and dinner will be ready to eat in 10 minutes. He doesn't do anything with vegetables because he doesn't eat them and is afraid he will screw them up, haha. Last week, he got everything done and when I got home I threw zucchini and corn on the grill and we ate a wonderful steak dinner. Since we have moved in together, he's become an expert chicken-griller and taco-maker. What more do you need?

I hope you all have a great week!