Meat Crusted Quiche

**If you just want the recipe, skip to the bottom

It seems that part of the Army Wife job description is to be the home chef. Which, I understand. That's usually the job of most women, especially if you're a stay at home mom.

I've never been much of a chef. Not because I can't follow a recipe, but because by the time I get home after a 10-12 hour work day and gym, I just don't give a crap.

Dear Husband often teases me about one of my usual meals "Sausage On A Fork." I don't eat a lot in the first place, it cooks while I'm showering from the gym, and it's no mess. Pan, Fork. That's it. I don't see a problem.

I also try to eat Paleo, which can be difficult when you don't want to spend time cooking, and chicken sausage on a fork is just about the easiest thing to make, aside from my other dinner which was avocado, cucumber, and egg. That ended rather quickly after the avocado pit attacked me with a knife and I lost part of my thumb (thanks Tori for finding and taking me to the hospital btw).

Anyway, we made a deal that I'll cook most of the meals since he is really busy, and that they would be 80% Paleo, and mostly healthy.

This is the first recipe I've made that's simple and really liked. It doesn't need to be heated it up so Dear Husband can eat it in class since there's no lunch break, plus it's low calorie and filling. AND IT'S GOT A CRUST MADE OF MEAT. The only way to make it better would be to criss cross bacon on top.

Here is the original recipe I got from paleomg.com and below is my take on it with my own nutritional facts. I can't live without cheese, I didn't have spinach in the house, I used Turkey Sausage because I think it's a healthier alternative than regular, and I've got a hard on for sweet potatoes. I cut it into 8 slices and consider that to be a "serving."

• 1 pound Turkey Sausage (i squeeze out of the casing)
• 1 large sweet potato, diced
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1oz Feta
• Half a 14oz can of diced, rosemary tomatos
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon ground paprika
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons bacon fat ]

Source: http://paleomg.com/meat-crust-quiche/

Fart Noises: How to Find Friends Part 1

One of the things I've had the most anxiety about becoming an Army Wife is making friends. For years I've been surrounded by a lot of other like minded weirdos, so it's been rather easy for me. Between advertising and Hash House Harriers, we're a relatively young crowd  physically if not mentally--and our humor is of a special sort.

Just look at this group of nut jobs I enjoy hanging around with.

I needed a full proof plan to find people who embrace my wacky ways, and I don't want to waste time on anybody who's easily offended or grossed out. And I found my answer in my last few weeks working in Chicago.

One day when walking by my senior art director's desk I dropped a pen on the ground. As I bent over to pick it up he let out a big, disgusting THHHHHHHPPPPPPPP and everybody around us, including myself, busted into laughter.

And, apparently I'm not the only one who's fallen victim to Mr. S. He preys on anybody who has to bend over to pick things up, and picks out a fart noise that is absolutely the opposite of what he thought would come out of them.

That night, I couldn't help thinking about the magic of the fart noise. When it happens, you have no time to react. You either laugh or you are disgusted, and it's impossible to hide. It's a perfect way to instantly figure out someone's sense of humor. I just need to find the perfect venue to try it out. And no, Dear Husband, I promise not to do it at the Marine Corps Ball, as funny as it would be with everybody dressed to the nines.

It might seem rather crude and un-ladylike, behavior not becoming of an officer's wife, but I'm not looking for friends to sit around at a ball with, sip tea, or gossip with. I'm looking for people who are light hearted, funny, intelligent, adventurous and a good time. Fart noises might not figure all that out, but it'll definitely weed out all the tight-asses.

Hi I'm Jessica, Army Wife....?

I've put off starting this blog because it's supposed to be about my life as an Army Wife- how I perceived it would be, and how it actually is-- but to tell you the truth, I haven't felt like an army wife at all, and I'm having an identity crisis.

In the two weeks I've been married, I have mostly lived in a hotel room with a crap of a gym three hours away from my new husband and cat. I still work in advertising (freelancing). And I still am more rowdy than an Officer's wife should probably be (I really need to work on my Sailor's mouth).

This is not what I envisioned.

I can't say I'm totally sad because a lot of what I pictured had to do with me being shunned and gossiped about by other women, and having virtually no friends.

But, I also saw myself refurnishing furniture and DIY projects, cooking new Paleo dishes, creating cocktails with Joel, training for races, lifting weights, studying to be a personal trainer, and falling asleep by my husband every night--all of which I had been very much looking forward to and what I planned on basing this blog off of.

Instead, I'm half a state away living a totally separate life 4 days a week, and "vacationing" at home for 3. Not super army-wifeish to me, and besides the weekend not much different than living in Chicago. It seemed like there was no point in writing the blog.

Then I was reminded I had never planned on being the typical Army Wife, which was why I had wanted to start this blog in the first place-- I wanted to define myself, not by what my husband's job is, but what I do. It doesn't mean that I don't respect the military and their spouses, or I'm unappreciative and don't think this life isn't tough. I just fear my life revolving around only that.

I never want to be one of those people who writes "Works at U.S. ArmyWife" on Facebook because that feels insignificant. Like my husband and his job are all there is to me.  I want, when I introduce myself, to belong to me.

Hi, I'm Jessica. Crazy writer lady.

Hi, I'm Jessica. The loud girl with the hair.

Hi, I'm Jessica. Amazing trainer that made you lose 10 pounds and toned your butt.

Not...

Hi, I'm Jessica. Wife of the awesome blackhawk pilot.

Though I could deal with

Hi, I'm Jessica. Wife of the dude with the awesome bar with four homebrews on draft.

That I can do. Because I can say "Have you tried the Apfelwein I made? IT'S FREAKING DELISH and 11% alcohol. You wouldn't even know. Careful now, it'll knock you on your ass."

So, it's time to start the blog. No matter where I'm living, or what I'm doing, because this is what an Army Wife is to me- because right now, I big part of who I am is still a Copywriter, a Creative, and an advertiser-- and it's important I remember that.