I Cheated on Chipotle...

 9.24.13

So the other night I stumbled upon a recipe that recreated Chipotle's burrito bowl.  Seeing as I had most of the necessary ingredients, I ran to the store to pick up the remaining items: cilantro, shredded cheese, and corn.

Putting it all together was definitely harder than ordering it at the restaurant, but I have to say it was so satisfying to eat!

Here's what you need:

{the base}
-shredded lettuce
-brown rice
-chopped cilantro
-1/2 lime
-refried or black beans

{the veggies}
-sauteed peppers/onions/corn

{the protein}
-protein of choice (mine was chicken)

{the toppings}
-dollop of Greek yogurt/sour cream
-shredded Mexican Cheese blend
-sliced avocado 

{the kick}
-salsa (Trader Joe's Salsa Authentica is has the BEST flavor)
-hot sauce (Cholula)

To assemble your bowl add desired ingredients.  I made my own cilantro-lime brown rice by making a bag of 3 minute rice, chopping some cilantro and squeezing half a lime.  Then I mixed it all together.  So simple.  Place the rice on top of the lettuce.  Heat up the beans, again in the microwave for ease, and place on top of the rice.  Next, cook the veggies up in some olive oil, salt pepper and add to your bowl.  Add a bit more oil to cook up your protein.  Then pile on the toppings and sauces.  

Take that Chipotle...

One Week

It's crazy to think that I've already been in LA for one week! In some ways I feel like I just got here, but the amount of work accomplished on the apartment makes it seem otherwise.  After spending an extra day in Vegas, we left Nevada and arrived in my new home state:

Prior to arriving in California, the drive from Denver to Vegas was a stunning one.  I had never been to Utah, so my dad and I took the opportunity to stop at some outlooks and take in the views:

Now that I'm closer to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah I will definitely be planning road trips to see some more of these landscapes and sunsets like this:

Though the road trip consisted of many long hours driving in the car, we took advantage of enjoying what each state had to offer, whether it was an original Pony Express station in Nebraska,  great food and entertainment in Vegas, or a night with family friends in Denver.  LA was the end goal, but we certainly enjoyed ourselves along the way!

Road Trip Day One

...and so it begins!  My cross country road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles.  Here are a few highlights:

cute info-graphic near the hand dryers

Crossing the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

We were closing in on Des Moines, Iowa and instead of stopping at the Applebee's or Chili's off the highway, my dad and I decided to search "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" to see if they had been to any restaurant in Iowa's capital.  We were in luck!

Arriving on a Monday night there was about a 20 minute wait, so we figured it had to be worth the wait.  We grabbed an Iowa micro-brew and browsed the menu.  Fong's is actually known for its pizza!  And more specifically their Crab Rangoon pie.  They have other Chinese food inspired pizzas like Beef and Broccoli, "Fongolian" Beef, Shrimp and Pineapple. 

My dad and I went for the Kung Pao Chicken Pizza

loaded with spicy chicken, red and green peppers, a stir fry mix, mozzarella and green onion

We split the 10" size and started with an order of the crispiest egg rolls I had enjoyed in ages

 

What made the pizza even better was the addition of the left of sweet chili sauce, hot mustard and Sriracha!

So if you ever find yourself in Des Moines, I highly recommend trying Fong's Pizza for a fun atmosphere and good food. After our dinner, we continued on the road a couple more hours and spent the night in Lincoln, Nebraska.  We're off to Denver tomorrow!

 

Smoke in the Air

As a final send off before leaving for the west coast, I completed my *first feature film*! 

" the four" Craig (John ), Margo (me), Nate (Max), Jenn (Erica)

And when I say "I" that is a complete understatement... The production team and rest of the cast did quite the unthinkable task of shooting 107 scenes in just 13 days.  For those of you not familiar with the film making process, those 107 scenes are then broken down into different shots.  So a single scene can be seen from as many as 15 different viewpoints.  Ok, that is a bit of an overstatement, but next time you watch your favorite movie try and notice when shot changes from a close up to a wide shot of the actors.  Those would be different takes of the same scene.  But I digress! 

 some of the wonderful crew: Peter (lighting), JP (camera op), Atticus (sound man extraordinaire), Kevin (DP)

Of those 312 hours we were in production I'm guessing there is about 200 hours of footage to sort through and edit before there is a rough cut of the film.  From there sound is tweaked, music is added, title cards are arranged and much more before it is ready for its premiere.  The goal is for Smoke in the Air to be finalized for a film festival in 2014 of the director, Connor Smith's, choice!  

Anyhow, our last day of shooting (4:30pm Monday to just after sunrise Tuesday morning about 6:50am) was quite cinematic in itself.  We were all feeling the effects of little sleep, yet words cannot describe how we all felt when the sun rose and the crew got the final shots.  Here we were, a cast and crew all under 23 and we did something that many people said would be impossible.  

Naturally champagne was popped and toasts were said!

 our director Connor and writer/actor Max

I am so grateful to have worked with such a talented group of hard working people.  AND I can't wait to work with everyone again.  Maybe next time it will be in LA, or back in the Chicago suburbs filming a sequel...

last day of production sunrise

production still with Sam

final night shoot!

how my name will appear in the opening credits

one of the first night shoots at Valley Lo

camera rigged to "Nate's" car 

bedroom set created for Erica's character, Jenn

the best stand ins "like ever!"

JP filming a party close up

and "that's a wrap!"

Moving Forward

north ave beach & an impromptu Nelly concert

I can't believe tomorrow is August 1st!   This summer has flown by faster than most-- and the weird part is I'm not going back to school.  That being said, I am following a pretty routine August move, but it won't involve hauling things back to UNC.  The first move is just in the neighborhood with my family, then the next and most exciting... moving out to LA!  Oh, not to mention before all that happens I'll be shooting my first independent feature film "Smoke in the Air", going to Lolla and attending my first* wedding.  

the Chicago skyline is like no other

back in the states to celebrate one of my favorite holidays!

*so technically it's not my first, but it's the first one where I'll be able to enjoy all the adult-like things that come with a reception party a.k.a. enjoying two (more like 3-4) glasses of bubbly (singing with the band may happen...)