Delay in new post - no internet connection - cruz

Episode 6: "Work first, SLAW later" - Spa enjoys a break, Cruz stares at his salad and Cash directs a photo shoot

Busy day at work, back to back meetings for some.  No SLAW.

Spa and Cash enjoyed a working lunch (sandwiches), I bought a salad with the most bizarre combination and Mr. X had a bowl Potato Soup yum

Spa will do lunch on Thursday. 
I am under a lot of stress re: Tuesday's SLAW ["Thinking: I can't attack them again with Kababs and Garlic"] or Will I???

HINT: Bring some gum....Oh BOY!.

- Cruz

Episode 5: "Mash Potato Mash" Music War, Spa show some moves and Cash Reminisce

Getting right into it Cash kicks it up a notch with a delicious meal.  

He brought (thx to Mrs Cash)
 - Home Made Mash Potato 
 - Wesley Farm Multigrain Loaf & Butter
 - Chicken Piccata (Thx for the comment Cash :) 

Gooood jaaaaaab!!!!

(Editor's Note: Later, I will post a clip of Spa saying Good Job and then grunting loudly which will explain the above)

Spa ate it quickly, Cash and I took our time.  Mr X joined us with his Cottage Cheese tub. 

NOTE:  MR X is a not participating member of Team SLAW, just an honorary team member.

Cash was prepared with a list of topics.

TOPIC 1

What was our first "on the books" job?

Cash - (Editor's note: I can't remember YIKES Here comes a comment from Anonymous ... )

Spa - Worked in an ice cream store on Martha's Vineyard at age 14-15.

Cruz - KB Toys in Queens Center Mall at age 17.

Mr X - Delivered newspaper at age 16. 

TOPIC 2

Recommend one song from the past.

Cash, Spa and Mr X started naming people from 70's and 80's and I got lost. Cash started to explain the story telling songs, Mr. X had a huge smile and Spa showed all of us how to dance the 80's way.

I was certainly the odd man out... not knowing 70's music... they were shocked that I didn't knew most of the artists and I was shocked at how old other SLAW members are! (Not that there is anything wrong with being a teenager in the 70's)

Cash recommended Taxi by Harry Chapin, Mr. X started to dance (started, not actually danced) on Depeche Mode and Spa showed some moves on other 70's classic.

Now thats a good lunch and all in less than an hour.

Week 3: Mission Accomplished and SLAW Continues....

Episode 4: Attack of the Kababs

Cruz here.  It was my turn to feed the hungry and hard working. What else but to start the SLAW experience with come home-made Shammi Kababs.  Little did I remember that they can pack a punch for first time munchers... taste|smell|texture everything...
(Also not sure if its a good punch or bad)

Being very honest, the concept of SLAW is amazing ........ only if its not your day. 

EXPERIENCE: WHATS IT LIKE
Since it was my day today, doing SLAW is a nightmare.  Pure pressure, its like Borat doing Disco Dancing in my stomach.  I recall Spa getting covered in Peanut Butter yesterday... By the time I was done preparing lunch, Chutney was everywhere and my office smelled like Garlic.

Prep: 11:40am - 12:00pm
Lunch: 12:00pm - 12:30pm

I brought:

1. Shammi Kabab Sandwiches (ground beef cooked with Lentils, then pureed and mixed with egg, spices, onion and green peppers, fried)
2. Samosas (from an indian store, fried potato things)
3. Cape Cod Potato Chips
4. Homemade delicious Muffins (Courtesy of Cash's wife)

The Topic
What is the wildest hairdo anyone of us ever had? (From Cash)
Cash - Shoulder length hair ( I am imagining something like Fabio at this point)  
Spa - Really short hair, maybe 5-6 inches ( And all I could think of was Natalie Portman when she shaved her head)  
Mr. X - A Mohawk.  A real 80's Mohawk.  (But no leather pants) 
Cruz - Tried to grow them long (think Fabio) but hair kept going up and up. (Although I am imagining myself as a Gucci model)

EDITOR"S NOTE: IMAGES ONLY REFLECT CRUZ'S IMAGINATION AT A MOMENT IN TIME

Then we got distracted and talked about a million other things including the

infamous Onion Story from 2007.

That I will cover later in the onion blog.

Editor's Note 11.25.10: Mr X shared what his hair actually might have looked like instead of the pink haired girl above that I imagined...

Episode 3: Spa Surprise, Cash Approves & Cruz tries PB&J

The anticipation. The Surprise.

Headed to the SLAW lunch area, anticipating microwaved fish. Minutes later comes Spa with a huge grin holding a plate piled high with sandwiches, a milk container and bags of Cape Cod Chips. YES. 

"This is awesome"



Mile High Pile

Spa brought

1. Chunky Peanut Butter & Sarabeth's Strawberry Rasberry sandwiches

2. Cape Cod Potato Chips

3. Cupcakes

4. Hudson Valley Fresh Milk with Cocoa Powder 

I announced our new blog.  Cash and Spa liked their blog names and gave me one. 
Cash approves PROJECT SLAW. (I Think)
 

MIX, SHAKE & EAT

Salty chips to munch on, filling chunky peanut butter sandwiches to chew on and chocolate milk to drink.

TOPICS OF THE DAY:

1.  What we were doing in 1985?

- Cruz was just getting into 2nd grade.

- Spa and Cash were in highschool.
- Mr. X had finished school and starting work.

 (Stop Guessing Our Age, Mr X is Not a SLAW member, yet)

2.  If we are on death row, what meal will we select as out last?
- Cruz picked Fillet Mignon and French Fries
- Spa picked Lobster 
- Cash picked his mom's Macaroni & Cheese.
- Mr. X picked Schnitzel/Spaetzle

ONLY THE BEST STUFF $ CAN BUY



Episode 2: Do we have to do this again?

Week 2 is already here and no one has thrown in the towel. Sharing lunch - Not easy. What was I thinking when I signed up for this...

Monday 11.15.10:

Spa was still not feeling well so no home made lunch but she did a wonderful job putting together a last minute meal for the hungry boys (Another hint: Azi and Cash)

 - Cucumber/Cherry Tomato/Olive Oil Salad.
 - Fresh Mozzarella 
 - Chicken Breast (flat - forgot what it was called)
 - Dean & Deluca Chocolate with Caramel filling

Tuesday 11.16.10:

Cruz brought

 - Rice with peas
 - Keema Aloo (Minced Meat with Potato)
 - A side of Raita (Yogurt, Cucumber, Cayenne Pepper Dressing)
 - Walker Butter Cookies

Wednesday 11.21.10:
Cash brought
 - Meat loaf
 - Rice with pasta
 - Home made Brownies

Episode 1: Love and smell of good food in the air...

We started our work lunch group on 11.08.10; here is a summary of week 1.

Monday 11.08.10: 
Spa was not well over the weekend so she bought a wonderful meal which included 

• Cheese & Curry Chicken sandwiches from Dean & Deluca
• Side of Salad with mangoes
• Assorted Cookies from William Greenberg Jr Desserts

Tuesday 11.09.10:

Cruz brought home made...

• Bombay Chicken Biryani, a traditional Pakistani spicy rice dish with potatoes
• A side of Raita (yogurt/cucumber/Cayenne Pepper dressing)

PS: Azi's mom gets full credit for meal prep

Wednesday 11.10.10:

Cash brought home made

• Pasta e Fagioli
• Fresh shredded Mozzarella
• Sliced Italian Bread from Whole foods & Butter
• Home made Chocolate Chip Cookies

PS: Cash's mother in law/wife gets credit for meal prep

The SLAW Idea! What, How, Who, Why, When, Where.

WHAT?

Project SLAW is the brainchild of one of my colleague/boss, Cash the Architect.  

Idea is simple, fun & delicious.

HOW IT WORKS?

  a. Formed an office lunch group.  
  b. Assign a Tuesday to each member.  
  c. If its your day, you are responsible for 
       - Bringing lunch with dessert preferably fruits.
       - Setup and cleanup. e.g. 3 Tuesdays in a month, I just walk in, sit down, eat, laugh and walk away.
       - Bringing an interesting topic for conversation.


WHO IS PART OF THE EXPERIMENT?
We are Cruz (thats me), Cash, Spa and Mr X.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS TO OURSELVES?

  a. Save Money (I guess)
  b. Motivate each other to eat healthy (even if we fail 80% of the time, idea is to keep smart eating alive)
  c. Discover different cuisines across cultures
  d. Make work lunches a bit more fun and exciting (have themed lunches like Flash from the Past where we brought our childhood pics to share, Bring a topic to lunch day, Beatles, 80's movies quiz etc)

WHERE WILL WE MEET FOR THE WORK LUNCH GROUP?

Meet in Cash's office (since he has a nice round meeting table.  Lunch starts 12:00pm promptly and normally ends around 12:50pm.


HEALTH INITIATIVE STARTED APRIL 2011
  1. WALK:On a non-SLAW day, plan a quick lunch (20 min) & then go out for a walk (35 Min).
  2. EAT SMART: Replace desserts with fruits.  Less Carbs.
  3. MOTIVATE: each other to eat better and live better.
Revised 4.18.11