Friday was a very ambitious day as far as cooking is concerned. With school starting soon, and a dinner party coming up, I was dying to try out a few recipes while I still had so much time on my hands.
I started out making a Mediterranean Couscous Salad which included chickpeas, tomatoes, green onions, and feta. It tasted entirely Mediterranean from the red wine vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil tossed in at the end. After a few bites of that, I fancied myself a very good cook indeed. Even though it was super simple to make, I never would have come up with it on my own, or would have risked trying it if not for previous successes with CL recipes. It will go on my list of school lunch staples.
Next, I made a Roasted Banana Pudding for Wine & Dine on Saturday. It was mentioned in the magazine that it is better the next day when the cookies have softened and soaked up all of the flavors. This recipe I was especially nervous about. I've never made a custard before, and I really wasn't sure how I'd like the banana part of the banana pudding. But the pictures in CL looked amazing, and I love banana bread so I went for it! Plus, Wine & Dine provided me with an audience to test it out on.
From what I understand, the secret to making it "light" is roasting the bananas which makes them sweeter so in turn you can reduce the amount of sugar you add to the recipe. Plus using 2% milk instead of whipping cream, and using fat-free CoolWhip instead of regular. The result was amazing beyond expectation. I waited a few hours before I took my first nervous bite, then exclaimed to Bryann, "Ohmygod you HAVE to try this!" His bite was just as nervous as mine, but he loved it. The entire desert didn't make it all the way to Wine & Dine... We may have eaten a third of it after dinner that night!
Which brings me to dinner. I made Spanish Pork with Apple-Citrus Salsa for Bryann, John, and myself. I had Bryann do some grocery shopping for me on his way home from work so I could make dinner. I asked for green apples thinking he'd bring a couple home. He brought a full 10-lb. bag... Now I'm going to have to make apple pie in order to use them all!
The pork and apple salsa was pretty good. John liked it a little better than I do because he's a green apple fanatic. But the apple paired really well with the pork, so I've been inspired to try thet apple stuffed pork recipe I found. When I served dinner, I made a nice presentation of a slice of pork covered in the apple salsa that ran across the plate, but when Bryann received his dinner he said "This is it? Where's the potatoes? Where's the rice? What about bread?" He's not quite used to low-carb dinners with sensible portions, but he's getting better about recognizing when he's full and not just eating food because it's in front of him. He ate his dinner, made yum sounds while eating, and even left a few bites on his plate (which John gobbled up immediately.)
Then we dug into the banana pudding... we couldn't help ourselves!! It got good reviews from my friends at Wine & Dine, too. I'm looking forward to another occasion/excuse to make it already!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
To the Gym!!
Bryann and I have started going to the gym again. When I say "again," I mean that this is probably the seventeenth time we've resolved to work out regularly. For the past two years that we've been living together, Bryann has complained about his weight, and I've complained about my lack of energy. We get all motivated to get fit and start working out, and we do a pretty good job for about a week or two. Then laziness gets the better of us. We find excuses to not go for a run or head to the gym after work. Our lives get busy during the week, or we're too tired after work. And we slide back into our routine of TV and dinners on the couch.
The other night I asked Bryann what he needed from me to stay motivated and to keep heading to the gym regularly. He told me he needed a buddy system, and that it would help if I would just come to the gym with him. Ugh..... The gym... I don't really care for the gym. I've never had any formal weight training, so I'm pretty lost when it comes to lifting. That, and I'm a wuss and don't appreciate the uncomfortable burn in my muscles it requires to make weight lifting worthwhile. But I can get on the stair climber or the elliptical, put in my ear phones, and zone out for half an hour.
So we've recommitted ourselves to going to the gym. This time we've broken it down into baby goals. Goal #1 - work out three times a week. So far, so good. Goal #2 - stick to working out for longer than two weeks. (haha)
I have other motivations for working out right now. Next weekend, I'll be heading up to Rainier with the gang for a 4-day backpacking trip, and I don't want to embarrass myself. I'm a pretty good little hiker though. I've gone on backpacking trips with Nate before, worried that I was completely out of shape, but still managing to do 15 mile hikes fairly easily. I just don't want to be at the back of the group the entire time, gasping for air, begging for rest breaks.
So the stair climber is my new best friend for the next week. After the trip, we'll see. School will have started, and we've planned to head to the gym right after work. Hopefully this time, we'll motivate each other a little better and the new routine will stick.
The other night I asked Bryann what he needed from me to stay motivated and to keep heading to the gym regularly. He told me he needed a buddy system, and that it would help if I would just come to the gym with him. Ugh..... The gym... I don't really care for the gym. I've never had any formal weight training, so I'm pretty lost when it comes to lifting. That, and I'm a wuss and don't appreciate the uncomfortable burn in my muscles it requires to make weight lifting worthwhile. But I can get on the stair climber or the elliptical, put in my ear phones, and zone out for half an hour.
So we've recommitted ourselves to going to the gym. This time we've broken it down into baby goals. Goal #1 - work out three times a week. So far, so good. Goal #2 - stick to working out for longer than two weeks. (haha)
I have other motivations for working out right now. Next weekend, I'll be heading up to Rainier with the gang for a 4-day backpacking trip, and I don't want to embarrass myself. I'm a pretty good little hiker though. I've gone on backpacking trips with Nate before, worried that I was completely out of shape, but still managing to do 15 mile hikes fairly easily. I just don't want to be at the back of the group the entire time, gasping for air, begging for rest breaks.
So the stair climber is my new best friend for the next week. After the trip, we'll see. School will have started, and we've planned to head to the gym right after work. Hopefully this time, we'll motivate each other a little better and the new routine will stick.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dish-of-the-Day: Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos
Tamara and Rian came over the other night for a double date night that we had to schedule a month in advance. I know, I know... too many friends, too many things to do, and my diamond shoes are too tight! But seriously... we have to schedule time to see our friends weeks in advance during the summer because we're all so busy! Our summer weekends filled up before summer even started.
Anyway......
Bryann has been begging for fish tacos ever since I made the sauteed tilapia tacos with grilled bell peppers and onions a few weeks ago. Initially, I wanted to just BBQ the hamburgers and chicken sausages we had on hand, but I got my September issue of CL that afternoon and couldn't resist trying out a new recipe. I made Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos and they were a huge hit! I made the spice mixture and onion cream ahead of time and put the cream in the fridge until we were ready to eat. I omitted the jalapenos since spicy foods make my mouth want to fall off my face, and used some flour tortillas we had on hand instead of corn. Bryann and Rian took to the BBQ with the fish and spices, while Tamara and I opened a bottle of Tres Pinos Cuvee - means Three Pines, not Three Pinots like I'd originally guessed, and is a delicious white table wine from Trader Joe's.
Everyone gushed over how delicious the tacos were, what an extraordinary onion cream sauce it was, how the fresh avocado and lime squeeze really made the taco amazing, and what an awesome cook I am! And even though Bryann doesn't really like sour cream or raw onion, he tried it anyway. Not surprisingly, he didn't really like the onion cream, but he loved the fish.
They all knew it was a recipe from CL, and I reiterated that fact as I was being complimented. But as Tamara is the most considerate and complimentary person I know, she pointed out that I found the recipe and I prepared everything perfectly, and I went to the trouble to get fresh fish, herbs, and veggies, and squeeze fresh lime juice, so I should get credit!
I suppose that's true. I am now a true believer in the power of fresh herbs and veggies. I always squeeze fresh lime juice or lemon juice, and chop up fresh herbs when it's called for. I've even begun to regularly purchase the items I know I'll need most often.
I'm starting to feel more confident in my cooking abilities. I'm really excited about this month's CL issue, and I'm looking forward to branching out and trying new flavors. I will keep Bryann at the BBQ, but I'm happy doing all of the slicing, dicing, mixing, and cooking in the kitchen.
Anyway......
Bryann has been begging for fish tacos ever since I made the sauteed tilapia tacos with grilled bell peppers and onions a few weeks ago. Initially, I wanted to just BBQ the hamburgers and chicken sausages we had on hand, but I got my September issue of CL that afternoon and couldn't resist trying out a new recipe. I made Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos and they were a huge hit! I made the spice mixture and onion cream ahead of time and put the cream in the fridge until we were ready to eat. I omitted the jalapenos since spicy foods make my mouth want to fall off my face, and used some flour tortillas we had on hand instead of corn. Bryann and Rian took to the BBQ with the fish and spices, while Tamara and I opened a bottle of Tres Pinos Cuvee - means Three Pines, not Three Pinots like I'd originally guessed, and is a delicious white table wine from Trader Joe's.
Everyone gushed over how delicious the tacos were, what an extraordinary onion cream sauce it was, how the fresh avocado and lime squeeze really made the taco amazing, and what an awesome cook I am! And even though Bryann doesn't really like sour cream or raw onion, he tried it anyway. Not surprisingly, he didn't really like the onion cream, but he loved the fish.
I forgot to take a photo of the finished product... this shot came from the website.
They all knew it was a recipe from CL, and I reiterated that fact as I was being complimented. But as Tamara is the most considerate and complimentary person I know, she pointed out that I found the recipe and I prepared everything perfectly, and I went to the trouble to get fresh fish, herbs, and veggies, and squeeze fresh lime juice, so I should get credit!
I suppose that's true. I am now a true believer in the power of fresh herbs and veggies. I always squeeze fresh lime juice or lemon juice, and chop up fresh herbs when it's called for. I've even begun to regularly purchase the items I know I'll need most often.
Red onions, avocados, and lime
Now I always have fresh basil and cilantro on hand
I'm starting to feel more confident in my cooking abilities. I'm really excited about this month's CL issue, and I'm looking forward to branching out and trying new flavors. I will keep Bryann at the BBQ, but I'm happy doing all of the slicing, dicing, mixing, and cooking in the kitchen.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Dish-of-the-Day: Grilled Chicken with Pineapple, Corn, and Bell Pepper Relish
While I was home today, wasting away my time on the internet and chatting with Bryann while he was at work, he asked me what was for dinner. Oh yeah! I'm supposed to be learning to cook!
The last few weeks have been filled with Softball tournaments, trips out of town, and dates with friends, so the cooking project has been put on the back burner. We've been subsisting on nothing but fast food and frozen pizzas. But two weeks and 5 lbs later, I've decided it's time to get back to my normal pants size and get this household back into some healthy-eating habits.
I opened up my CL magazine and rifled through to a few recipes I'd dogeared. To Bryann, I suggested BBQ chicken with a relish from my magazine. "Relish.....?" he says. "Like the pickle grossness?" (that's a direct quote from our chat, btw.)
"No," I say, "like corn and bell pepper relish."
"Yummy!" He was probably sold at the mention of corn.
Since this requires some grilling, I mixed up the seasonings (cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper) and left Bryann in charge of the barbecue while I chopped the veggies and made the relish (pineapple, red onion, corn, red bell pepper, cider vinegar, and basil.) This recipe is SUPER easy and is very forgiving. Instead of cutting up fresh pineapple, I used a can of crushed pineapple I'd found in the depths of our pantry, frozen corn instead of cutting it fresh from the ear, and dried basil instead of fresh. You get the picture...
The result was a party in my mouth. I was nervous about Bryann's reaction, so I piled the salsa on his chicken before he could be nit-picky about it. Bryann gobbled it up and didn't even ask where the rice or potatoes were. I'm looking forward to making it again with fresh basil - my new favorite seasoning. I never would have guessed that garlic and cumin went so well with pineapple. But I guess that's why I'm learning to cook. So I learn these things. And so I can be more creative on my own with whatever we have on hand.
The last few weeks have been filled with Softball tournaments, trips out of town, and dates with friends, so the cooking project has been put on the back burner. We've been subsisting on nothing but fast food and frozen pizzas. But two weeks and 5 lbs later, I've decided it's time to get back to my normal pants size and get this household back into some healthy-eating habits.
I opened up my CL magazine and rifled through to a few recipes I'd dogeared. To Bryann, I suggested BBQ chicken with a relish from my magazine. "Relish.....?" he says. "Like the pickle grossness?" (that's a direct quote from our chat, btw.)
"No," I say, "like corn and bell pepper relish."
"Yummy!" He was probably sold at the mention of corn.
Since this requires some grilling, I mixed up the seasonings (cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper) and left Bryann in charge of the barbecue while I chopped the veggies and made the relish (pineapple, red onion, corn, red bell pepper, cider vinegar, and basil.) This recipe is SUPER easy and is very forgiving. Instead of cutting up fresh pineapple, I used a can of crushed pineapple I'd found in the depths of our pantry, frozen corn instead of cutting it fresh from the ear, and dried basil instead of fresh. You get the picture...
The result was a party in my mouth. I was nervous about Bryann's reaction, so I piled the salsa on his chicken before he could be nit-picky about it. Bryann gobbled it up and didn't even ask where the rice or potatoes were. I'm looking forward to making it again with fresh basil - my new favorite seasoning. I never would have guessed that garlic and cumin went so well with pineapple. But I guess that's why I'm learning to cook. So I learn these things. And so I can be more creative on my own with whatever we have on hand.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Reunions and Anniversaries
This weekend, Bryann and I are heading down to Klamath Falls for my 10-year High School Reunion. I think I'm the only one of my college friends to attend their 10-year reunion. Most of my friends grew up in other states, but lucky for me, Klamath Falls is only a few hours drive south!
I'm excited to go. The 10-year reunion is a spectacle about which movies are made! People either dread them or look forward to them. I've been looking forward to mine and I'm glad it's happening. I was trying to explain to Bryann why I was excited to go - he showed no interest in going to his (if it happens) and was wondering why I wanted to go to mine. I had a fairly difficult time in high school. I didn't have a good sense of who I was or where I belonged. I think I had a different group of friends every semester. I tried on a lot of hats. The only constants for me in high school were Charissa Howard and choir. I joyfully left high school behind and most of the people I knew with it.
Since then, I've run into random people in Portland. I've gotten back in touch with a few on Facebook. And everyone I run into, whether we got along in high school or not, has been really nice and genuinely friendly. Everyone seems to have grown up, and grown into themselves. I'm looking forward to coming back together with my classmates as adults, and swapping stories about the last 10 years.
This August also marks the 10-year anniversary of when I met some of my very best friends. On August 23rd, 2001, I moved into Belknap 2nd at Willamette University. Nate Trenholme had just returned from soccer try-outs and was setting up his oscillating fan. Lucas Melcon came to visit me that evening and introduced himself as my bed-buddy (he had lived in my room and slept in my bed the year before...) Later that week, Paul Garrett and John Boyer and I walked to Subway to get some lunch, and Jeff Nickerson helped us discovered Muchas Gracias. Anna-Lisa joined our misfit gang shortly thereafter. Various adventures and shenanigans ensued for the next 10 years.
 |
| Road Trip to Senior Year of College |
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Wedding Photos
Our wedding photos came in yesterday and I'm in love! They are gorgeous, and we look just as happy and in love as we felt. Our friends and family look amazing, the lighting is wonderful, the colors are brilliant. The photos reflect our wedding day perfectly!
To be honest, I was nervous about the photos. Our photographer offered to do our wedding at 30% of her normal costs. I'm not sure if it was because I asked in the most humble way, I booked over a year in advance, or if she's just an awesome vendor who cares about giving every couple the photos they deserve. Either way, we got an amazing deal on the photography. I was nervous because we got such an amazing deal. I was nervous that she wouldn't put the same time into the editing that she would for a full-priced package. But the photos are beautiful, and I really couldn't have asked for any better!
Now the trouble is picking out the photos we're going to frame! What a tough life I lead. :-P
Check the rest of them out at kristinelaine.shutterfly.com
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Table is Like New! (thanks to the glories of the internet!)
John Boyer was over a few weeks ago, hanging out and helping me bake some cranberry-oatmeal bars (post on that to come...) I looked up a few things on the internet, in my usual fashion, and some made a remark along the lines of "Look at you, all internet savvy. Queen of Google!"
I do look up a lot of things online. I usually just type in a question and VOILA! There are pages and pages of blogs and forums discussing exactly what I wanted to know! Yesterday, I looked up "how do I get rid of the white spot on my table" and I came across some really awesome tricks!
Some background information first - Bryann and I bought this gorgeous dining set at a yard sale on the day we moved in... for $75!! En route with a truck full of our stuff to our new home on Moving Day, Bryann spotted the table at a yard sale and texted me to go check it out. We'd been scouring Craigslist for weeks looking for a dining set and had only found overpriced crap. We were even ready to buy a brand new set from Ikea or one of the furniture liquidation stores. When I got the text from Bryann, I was dubious to be sure, but when I saw the table in person, I wondered why they were selling it for only $100. And if they were dumb enough to sell it for so little, maybe I could get it for even less! I got it for $75 and moved it into our brand new living room 5 minutes later!
A few potlucks, two Wine & Dine parties, and a Superbowl party later, our beautiful table had acquired several hideous white heat marks. I didn't think about trying to get rid of them until yesterday when, on a whim, I googled my question. There were some stories about remedies involving baking soda paste, ashes, toothpaste, and even leaving mayo on it over night. I tried the baking soda one, but that didn't work very well.
Another blog suggested laying a towel down, and then using an iron on medium heat with the steamer on. I was really nervous about that one, since heat caused the marks in the first place, but I tried it anyway. The white marks came right off! It was pretty amazing, and I'm still not sure how or why it works. I'm just glad to have our table back to gorgeous again!
I do look up a lot of things online. I usually just type in a question and VOILA! There are pages and pages of blogs and forums discussing exactly what I wanted to know! Yesterday, I looked up "how do I get rid of the white spot on my table" and I came across some really awesome tricks!
Some background information first - Bryann and I bought this gorgeous dining set at a yard sale on the day we moved in... for $75!! En route with a truck full of our stuff to our new home on Moving Day, Bryann spotted the table at a yard sale and texted me to go check it out. We'd been scouring Craigslist for weeks looking for a dining set and had only found overpriced crap. We were even ready to buy a brand new set from Ikea or one of the furniture liquidation stores. When I got the text from Bryann, I was dubious to be sure, but when I saw the table in person, I wondered why they were selling it for only $100. And if they were dumb enough to sell it for so little, maybe I could get it for even less! I got it for $75 and moved it into our brand new living room 5 minutes later!
A few potlucks, two Wine & Dine parties, and a Superbowl party later, our beautiful table had acquired several hideous white heat marks. I didn't think about trying to get rid of them until yesterday when, on a whim, I googled my question. There were some stories about remedies involving baking soda paste, ashes, toothpaste, and even leaving mayo on it over night. I tried the baking soda one, but that didn't work very well.
Another blog suggested laying a towel down, and then using an iron on medium heat with the steamer on. I was really nervous about that one, since heat caused the marks in the first place, but I tried it anyway. The white marks came right off! It was pretty amazing, and I'm still not sure how or why it works. I'm just glad to have our table back to gorgeous again!
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