24 December 2008
Miss Independent
So tonight, rather than wallow, I am going to indulge in another tradition that my brother and I share: watching A Christmas Story over and over and over again. And there may be a mug of hot chocolate in there somewhere too.
23 December 2008
Christmastime is Here
Today is my last day in the office for the week. Unfortunately I am not traveling home for Christmas. Not to worry, dear family, I have had several invitations here in the Durham area. One of my staff members has invited me to Christmas Eve service at their church and I've been invited to Christmas dinner at my boss's house. On the flip side - we have no snow here in North Carolina. I do not envy you northerners all the shoveling you've had to do this past week. In honor of Christmas, here is Linus, to share what Christmas is all about.
21 December 2008
Thursday Recipe (on Sunday)
1 can artichoke hearts
1/2 cup parmesan/romano grated cheese
4oz shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 tsp minced garlic
Dash black pepper
1. Drain artichokes well, then mash.
2. Add mayo, garlic, pepper, cheeses.
3. Lightly spray casserole dish with cooking spray.
4. Add mixture to dish, patting down firmly.
5. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Broil last minute to brown completely
Serve with pita, bagel chips, or crackers.
**Note - I don't broil the top and I don't notice a difference
15 December 2008
For the Love of Hugh Jackman
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD
Also of note...Liev Schreiber is in the movie too! *swoon*
12 December 2008
Cute Overload
11 December 2008
Thursday Recipe
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
1. Set the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
3. In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla and beat just until blended.
4. Mix in the dry ingredients.
5. Remove the bowl from the mixer stand. With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips or chunks and nuts, if using.
6. Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
7. Bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Rotate the sheets halfway through baking to ensure even baking. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Adapted from "Too Busy to Cook?" Volume Two
** notes ** I find this recipe easier to make in the stand mixer than by hand or with the a hand mixer, with the exception of adding the chocolate chips in the end. I also omit the nuts. While I generally love all variety of nuts, I don't care for them in my cookies.
06 December 2008
The New Apartment
Here are some pics...
Can I just say, I forgot how glorious it is to have a dishwasher! It makes cooking and baking so much easier. I used to hate scrubbing the pots and pans after making a batch of cookies.
On to the bathroom...
Yes indeed my friends, that is a garden tub. Being a tall girl, this was a huge bonus for me.
And the living room with my comfy new couch...
Jack and Kate have already settled down for a long winter's nap in the bedroom closet...they like it a lot in there.
04 December 2008
New Goal: 5k
In the meantime...my new complex has a fitness center. This fitness center has a couple of treadmills. I had started running when I worked at Bentley, which seems like ages ago now. I hit the treadmill for the first time in many moons this morning and it felt good. My new goal is to run a 5k in June. Raleigh hosts the Race for the Cure 5k in June and I want to run. Not run/walk, run. Seeing as how it's been years and I am woefully out of shape, I needed to start at the beginning. Fortunately Cool Running has a great Couch to 5k program. I am at week one. It's a nine week program so by early Spring I should be just about there. Which gives me time to then get to 5k outside. It is very different to run outside than it is on the treadmill.
My thought was if I have a goal, I'll keep at it. My other goal is Michaela's wedding. My best friend of 15 years is getting married in June and I am bridesmaid in the wedding. And I want to look good. Not just for her and all the wedding pictures, but for me too. I've known Michaela since I was in 4th grade and she was in my Girl Scout troop. Her mom was the cookie mom (she had all of the boxes of cookies delivered to her and she then packaged the orders and gave them back to the scouts - by all accounts Mrs. Cadden hated being the cookie mom and I don't blame her).
I also have another wedding in August. My friend Matt is getting married! I've known him since my sophomore year of college. We met through NEACURH (stories for another time) and have been friends ever since. He's been like a younger brother, except he's about 8 inches taller than me. I am so happy that he's found the right girl and is getting married. It's in Minneapolis, so maybe when I am in town I'll be able to swing a bit of time and visit with Melinda and Jorma and the ever adorable baby Elsa.
So yes - many reasons to get back in shape and stay on course. Most importantly I'm doing it for me. I like how running makes me feel and I want to be fit and healthy. What better reasons are there?