tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36595428282529995142024-03-14T04:52:13.592-05:00Bake it. Create it. Love it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-40946254593871901822014-04-14T15:39:00.000-05:002014-04-14T15:53:31.603-05:00Celebrating Spring with Kirin & Cherry Blossoms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of <a href="http://www.millennialcentral.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">Millennial Central</a> for Kirin. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”</span></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VM-3pYIvYrVyITGczlDAyB6hGBzpx4gzULhMz_tISWi7-LQ0Y5lUGV4zlD4jc7f7gfpBiDeAlQ3NOmVu03-LY1QryyJz2vEP3Bj7d_kshAjQVjaHxLRxBZOSFkyauyobeO_lJ0YZI2w/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VM-3pYIvYrVyITGczlDAyB6hGBzpx4gzULhMz_tISWi7-LQ0Y5lUGV4zlD4jc7f7gfpBiDeAlQ3NOmVu03-LY1QryyJz2vEP3Bj7d_kshAjQVjaHxLRxBZOSFkyauyobeO_lJ0YZI2w/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite things about living in Virginia is our proximity to our nation's capital. Since moving here in early August, we've taken four day trips to DC. Sometimes we do the touristy things and visit monuments and museums. Other times, a trip to DC just means an amazing dinner and a trip to Ikea.<br />
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This past weekend we headed to DC for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 of these beautiful trees to the city as a token of friendship. As a historian, I think <a href="http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/history/">the story of how the trees came to DC</a> is fascinating, but seeing them lining the Tidal Basin was truly spectacular.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSVAJiQFUPpCt6mo2-vM-xWun5EctNwzQ5ShEcqC8eboIrttKxCDYk4l6TR2GjHDRNh5w_daBp7C6gqICNl9SLdo-ywzmYq3o-gNwnDKvkkdIDTiz0hyphenhyphenlWqN_qNCzuLeN8Ugt42nxZ3A/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSVAJiQFUPpCt6mo2-vM-xWun5EctNwzQ5ShEcqC8eboIrttKxCDYk4l6TR2GjHDRNh5w_daBp7C6gqICNl9SLdo-ywzmYq3o-gNwnDKvkkdIDTiz0hyphenhyphenlWqN_qNCzuLeN8Ugt42nxZ3A/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYeuSIMlpWaBr-5OZdr0Pk8XeQXxkrcoTYpQZnpt-EHgny8N9NXw-FstxI9G1bLn67qO43wiWfiM8w4hki-Du7LCUUu6dQyqLMS19dbHAlJWSu1KtfciSWLyumoI1HOohz-qanUMBOmw/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYeuSIMlpWaBr-5OZdr0Pk8XeQXxkrcoTYpQZnpt-EHgny8N9NXw-FstxI9G1bLn67qO43wiWfiM8w4hki-Du7LCUUu6dQyqLMS19dbHAlJWSu1KtfciSWLyumoI1HOohz-qanUMBOmw/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The timing of our day trip to DC coincided perfectly with the request for me to sample beers from Kirin Ichiban. When Millennial Central reached out to me for this campaign, they not only sent beer for us to sample, they also included an informational booklet that contained Japanese recipes from celebrity chef <a href="http://www.candicekumai.com/">Candice Kumai</a> and the tools we would need to make them.<br />
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All of the recipes sounded delicious, but I was the most intrigued by the thought of making my own sushi. I took the recipe in the book and modified it to make a spicy tuna roll. Other than the fact that we used too much rice, we had so much fun making these, and they turned out SO well!<br />
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I had never tried Kirin before, and I was very pleasantly surprised with it. Kirin Ichiban is a 100% malt, first-press beer with rich flavor, a smooth finish and clean aftertaste. They only use the first strain of malt liquid, which means it’s truly beer at its purest. Kirin is known in Japan and all over the world as beer at its purest because of its first-press brewing process and clean taste, and that was something I definitely appreciated. It didn't have an aftertaste, or taste artificial; which is something that I get from a lot of beers. It was simple and clean. We tried both the Kirin Ichiban and the Kirin Light, and I must say, I preferred the Kirin Ichiban. It had a more crisp flavor and a smoother finish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ViyE8Fc7L4h70NFp-CrMfBj1nW1emdZY_vGGfkyKLioBVYEIMWKbl5zrUpnItZVhO_9XyBx9lEA0RM3-7pXTDlZ_jUxwOAVH5jRiqYRolR6N-LILdrhRCJRUz56VvujukAhkQjMLwKs/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ViyE8Fc7L4h70NFp-CrMfBj1nW1emdZY_vGGfkyKLioBVYEIMWKbl5zrUpnItZVhO_9XyBx9lEA0RM3-7pXTDlZ_jUxwOAVH5jRiqYRolR6N-LILdrhRCJRUz56VvujukAhkQjMLwKs/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The Kirin Ichiban was the perfect accompaniment to our dinner. The beer was light and very flavorful. It was exactly what I needed after a long day of traipsing around DC. I also appreciated that it complimented the sushi (and the seaweed salad I served on the side) and didn't take away from those flavors. </div>
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If you've never tried Kirin, I would recommend it. Throughout the year Candice Kumai will share more recipes and pairings, so I also recommend heading over to the official <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KirinUSA">Kirin USA Facebook page</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-76756659021114236322014-04-08T19:26:00.000-05:002014-04-08T19:26:11.505-05:00Recipe: Banana Split Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXGV-lBt2ZhwHCVmIuG1q1ju6Tdw9zO6FLfR3si3CUOrkLaRbO__YC81W6expuXQ6Bnm5JAz6s8LorjqkZ9j4ChIrhMWLUZjnqjTYHCeNDg_DvvPATRU5C3dBYEEcnJVkEJjFvACARHE/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXGV-lBt2ZhwHCVmIuG1q1ju6Tdw9zO6FLfR3si3CUOrkLaRbO__YC81W6expuXQ6Bnm5JAz6s8LorjqkZ9j4ChIrhMWLUZjnqjTYHCeNDg_DvvPATRU5C3dBYEEcnJVkEJjFvACARHE/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Over Labor Day weekend, Graham & I took a <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2013/09/a-little-day-tripping-part-one.html">day trip to DC</a> and we experienced Georgetown Cupcake for the first time. I've never waited in a line like that for a cupcake before... but the banana split cupcake that I ordered was absolutely worth it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1a3aaT4BeKmrgU13ueJNh_ByAUob_AWvYcb8PfAqqA4JH16S7sCNZHugyF96eQ_gYUpRtTRq6eXaQIrzoaLBZzmLDBI7zr6dP8_VPFjOD4h6DGTVNpKHcLWmwP0SaiWWtqtU2L6jDacf/s1600/2013-08-30+19.59.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1a3aaT4BeKmrgU13ueJNh_ByAUob_AWvYcb8PfAqqA4JH16S7sCNZHugyF96eQ_gYUpRtTRq6eXaQIrzoaLBZzmLDBI7zr6dP8_VPFjOD4h6DGTVNpKHcLWmwP0SaiWWtqtU2L6jDacf/s1600/2013-08-30+19.59.11.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">When I got home, I googled and I actually found "<a href="http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/georgetown-cupcake-summer-banana-split-cupcakes">their</a>" recipe. And eventually I made it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">And, to be honest, it was an utter disappointment. The addition of bananas to cake batter instantly turn any cake into a fancy banana bread. Maybe I waited too long to make it, but it tasted nothing like the cupcake that I remembered. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTn6NzHWvLqe-GMAVTjJTaRJc_q_lKvbjqqaKv83F859Pb_AzLx-4QsL4DpX9HFInJhTLliZBWTSpMfrWY98G2B4lV79ELODePcJsI-pjytZvlqgBPBtFC_XwfREEwF6KGIiXDjZ3eBU/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTn6NzHWvLqe-GMAVTjJTaRJc_q_lKvbjqqaKv83F859Pb_AzLx-4QsL4DpX9HFInJhTLliZBWTSpMfrWY98G2B4lV79ELODePcJsI-pjytZvlqgBPBtFC_XwfREEwF6KGIiXDjZ3eBU/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">So, for Graham's birthday, I decided to make them again, using the method that I use for my <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2011/02/banana-pudding-cupcakes.html">banana pudding cupcakes</a>. These were a HUGE hit. Graham's friends and family devoured them, and gave them rave reviews. <br /><br />(If you're against doctored up cake mixes, turn away now. Or just use this as inspiration and make a from scratch version of this delicious cupcake =))</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBvd8KiHOWCNKm1uU0SSTEH6NoPrbXxPQtVMJDjkNRaMaL-oy1Lw27wBmruIF6pLYesLHjKQDjx1uFxmJl1Gi5-O62uT4h5E1A0hhpzooG49E10EYudZpek1PMtoWy2lbt_peCJz1paw/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBvd8KiHOWCNKm1uU0SSTEH6NoPrbXxPQtVMJDjkNRaMaL-oy1Lw27wBmruIF6pLYesLHjKQDjx1uFxmJl1Gi5-O62uT4h5E1A0hhpzooG49E10EYudZpek1PMtoWy2lbt_peCJz1paw/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I also made another change to the original cupcake... A banana split has pineapple, strawberry & chocolate toppings. This was a banana cupcake, filled with hot fudge, and then more fudge drizzle on top. Too much chocolate, and not enough fruit for me. So when I made it again, I filled the cupcake with strawberry jam & then drizzled the chocolate on top. The fruity addition was exactly what this needed!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_c9Kkt-BMVwoQZWpFwVmZzkhABYOyMP4pa84y2MbFddDpaHnEWKS58rqfR6XcQuwwTke6biHPsY0SJd9KbHw79WI6UZXJ4y-BFCbESWXNNP3feUfgoCUpWyi1xBFXfba-W7G_iIdcpE/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_c9Kkt-BMVwoQZWpFwVmZzkhABYOyMP4pa84y2MbFddDpaHnEWKS58rqfR6XcQuwwTke6biHPsY0SJd9KbHw79WI6UZXJ4y-BFCbESWXNNP3feUfgoCUpWyi1xBFXfba-W7G_iIdcpE/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">So, here is a banana split cupcake that I'm in love with, and I hope you enjoy it as well.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Banana Split Cupcakes</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">For the Cake</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Ingredients</i></b>:</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">1 box of yellow cake mix</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">1 3.9 ounce box of instant banana pudding</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">1 cup of vegetable oil</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">1 cup of sour cream</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">1/2 cup of hot water</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">4 eggs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">2 tsp. of vanilla</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">hot fudge</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">sprinkles</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">maraschino cherries </span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Directions</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Mix all ingredients together, except the bananas and the Nilla wafers. Spoon one spoon full of the batter into the lined muffin tins. Place one cookie and then two slices of banana in the batter. Then finish filling all of the tins. The batter should completely cover the bananas.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes (I baked mine for 19 minutes) or until a tester comes out clean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">For the Frosting</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Ingredients</i></b>:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">1 stick of softened, unsalted butter</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">12 oz. of softened cream cheese</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">2 T. of vanilla extract</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">1 lb. of powdered sugar</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;"><b><i>Directions</i></b>:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Beat the cream cheese & butter together. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Slowly add in the powdered sugar. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Add in the vanilla extract. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Mix until combined, scraping the sides as needed. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24.64000129699707px;">Garnish with a drizzle of hot fudge, sprinkles & a maraschino cherry =)</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-92027681282540821572014-04-07T15:15:00.001-05:002014-04-14T14:36:32.152-05:00Let's #fighttoxins with Seventh Generation<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Full Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of<a href="http://savingugreen.com/seventh-generation/www.momcentralconsulting.com" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> Millennial Central </a>for Seventh Generation. I received a promotional item and product samples as a thank you for participating.</span></em><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGIKRR3u6b3Nc0Cs0BnqxEKF7ANGM7KnHBTdAzs2t3uKuDsnssRorFoF4qOTb_gKf0vtULCH3d08BwXLIyfcSsnoevyMx2kMCeoW8Z9mxVp2JZhtZI95dVyUPThhL3dNSWExCUdDE8hc/s1600/seventh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGIKRR3u6b3Nc0Cs0BnqxEKF7ANGM7KnHBTdAzs2t3uKuDsnssRorFoF4qOTb_gKf0vtULCH3d08BwXLIyfcSsnoevyMx2kMCeoW8Z9mxVp2JZhtZI95dVyUPThhL3dNSWExCUdDE8hc/s1600/seventh.png" height="390" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things I wasn't aware of until now:</span></div>
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<ul style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 20px 1em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em;">
<li><i>More than 80,000 chemicals available in the US have never been fully tested for their toxic effects on our health & environment. </i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals to many health risks, such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects, and various reproductive problems.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://www.nrdc.org/health/toxics.asp?gclid=CP6boqai8rwCFWUOOgodx1wAFw!">The Toxic Substances Control Act</a> (TSCA) was passed in 1976, and unlike other major environmental laws, has never been updated. As it currently stands, tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals continue to be used in the marketplace since the 1970’s without proper testing and without disclosure by the companies that produce them.</i></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">Over the past few years, I've started to care more and more about the impact I have on the environment, and the impact that my environment has on me. When I became more interested in cooking, I began to care more about the quality of ingredients I cook with. I've switched to organic vegetables. I buy organic, hormone free, antibiotic free meat & meat products. (T<i>he size of a big brand, hormone laden chicken breast in comparison to a hormone free chicken breast is ridiculous. I started thinking... God only knows what they're injecting those poor birds with... Do I really want to ingest whatever it is?</i>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzysdN_RjywK-ioIf9sX8B3zDD74d2Dl75ra_4ZqT0djLHrk4L3nTsXcC1cTwMLBPHnB0JivSGClUICDTiSwBAddJpq65yY18afGYgNsBK8TFcS5kqz4fVzlY2z5Kz_qdx1_L72YFZOuI/s1600/2014-04-07+15.37.20.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">Then I realized how silly it was to spend more money on higher quality meat & produce, and still wash our dishes with chemical filled dish soap. The Seventh Generation dish soap was the first product from that brand I tried, and I absolutely love it. The scent is light and it lathers really well. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwraUIsgVcWJf6N9sMlHAJnXvn81C_pJqMnXpU70t4OYZrMIoUKB8X9utyhyphenhyphenF7e3zgWtk36oLFcE4_aQQCNEXMy7jYI9RCU_sNj5lOMNhJIdnyfnGc4qwMZ-ZEuBY_cBcnV0MNAl2RCzc/s1600/2014-04-07+15.38.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwraUIsgVcWJf6N9sMlHAJnXvn81C_pJqMnXpU70t4OYZrMIoUKB8X9utyhyphenhyphenF7e3zgWtk36oLFcE4_aQQCNEXMy7jYI9RCU_sNj5lOMNhJIdnyfnGc4qwMZ-ZEuBY_cBcnV0MNAl2RCzc/s1600/2014-04-07+15.38.42.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The health of myself & my family is more important to me than anything else. It factors into every decision that I make. And the information I received from Seventh Generation makes it shockingly clear that we need to rid toxins from our daily lives. </span><br />
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The country's main chemical safety law (the TSCA) was passed almost 40 years ago, and is in serious need of reform. Please help Seventh Generation reach their goal of 100,000 signatures on their petition as they seek the reform so desperately needed. Just click on the button below to add your name to the petition. Let's #fighttoxins!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffff66; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://bit.ly/Oz5xM8" title="Fight Toxins"><img src="http://media.go2speed.org/brand/files/momcentral/30/20140408193732-sev_gen_badge.png" style="border: none;" /></a></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-2336477130862020612014-03-24T20:41:00.000-05:002014-03-24T20:41:21.237-05:00That one weekend where I ate way too much cake. And then wrote a blog post with a much too long title.<br />
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Oh well.<br />
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This past weekend, Graham took a few days off and we headed back to Charlotte. He didn't get to go with me two weeks ago, and Friday was his birthday, so we went home to celebrate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBBy1mbq6ePpI-8lnH0swOoLJ898KrSu_OPuR5cmN0cB0Ct-6MD5V__erM0e6qLB0bR4xEXJQTQ3lh6lYYziN9it9p4NBt5d0cqm3_kvpQiPjRK9-DMVyzulgE7Fegyvk0HJqT8Vpog/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBBy1mbq6ePpI-8lnH0swOoLJ898KrSu_OPuR5cmN0cB0Ct-6MD5V__erM0e6qLB0bR4xEXJQTQ3lh6lYYziN9it9p4NBt5d0cqm3_kvpQiPjRK9-DMVyzulgE7Fegyvk0HJqT8Vpog/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
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I baked some banana split cupcakes a few weeks ago, but I didn't love the way they turned out. So, I tweaked the recipe, & used the guests at his party as my guinea pigs. These were a HUGE success. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sbgLoyHLC16V4WI30MD3j4W9y9qOqcLLXzf5CBI7f9A2VgignH4ufytIpjDMc3EtDgj9rTmqHHlYXFfaKDfuxDKW2joJuOPttkTYihzDn4Hym9PBg5MKMxq5VAbYL8vvEF3zW4jcxnk/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sbgLoyHLC16V4WI30MD3j4W9y9qOqcLLXzf5CBI7f9A2VgignH4ufytIpjDMc3EtDgj9rTmqHHlYXFfaKDfuxDKW2joJuOPttkTYihzDn4Hym9PBg5MKMxq5VAbYL8vvEF3zW4jcxnk/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiNQvxln_cDhIrnuL17rX1rUK-13FBIAbJr2iwdfM1f9vM6Xl4HDKaBFBLAaCvKZ5xE9qRUkV0S0TlbcrKO9wrEUqyUzp_p6WayNnphsn3F2gd-fnE_H5dmuIhUfcuMtm_sDlZpPJNso/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiNQvxln_cDhIrnuL17rX1rUK-13FBIAbJr2iwdfM1f9vM6Xl4HDKaBFBLAaCvKZ5xE9qRUkV0S0TlbcrKO9wrEUqyUzp_p6WayNnphsn3F2gd-fnE_H5dmuIhUfcuMtm_sDlZpPJNso/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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He requested a strawberry cake for his birthday, so I made that as well. He teased me about the four layers, and the homemade jam filling. I know he would have been happy with a cake baked in a 9x13 pan and iced... but, I had to get creative somehow! </div>
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As if that wasn't enough cake, my friend Kelly & I attended the <a href="http://www.sweettoothfestival.com/">Sweet Tooth Festival</a> on Sunday. </div>
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Thanks to the power of social media, I found out about this AWESOME event. Tickets were $30, the proceeds went to <a href="http://www.carolinarain.org/">RAIN</a> (an organization that provides support services to HIV+ individuals in the Charlotte area), and you got sample all kinds of delicious stuff from local bakeries and sweet shops. We left with a bakery box full of all kinds of delicious items.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27aljGEZ6HC5majarU2h0395Y0QuwtzvOuy1FfAKsmsgw46_ixKk3ef4jZx75kwr4_B7004Ek2LMiVOO_ZpfVskO5KIqMUebON_CeE6QyDOb7fG30h3Nib_ZEJyQYvXxhMGLALV87SCg/s1600/2014-03-23+15.22.58-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27aljGEZ6HC5majarU2h0395Y0QuwtzvOuy1FfAKsmsgw46_ixKk3ef4jZx75kwr4_B7004Ek2LMiVOO_ZpfVskO5KIqMUebON_CeE6QyDOb7fG30h3Nib_ZEJyQYvXxhMGLALV87SCg/s1600/2014-03-23+15.22.58-2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Most of what we sampled was absolutely wonderful. I had only heard of two of the vendors that were participating; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheCupcrazedCakery">Cupcrazed</a> (a winner of Food Network's Cupcake Wars) & <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GotWhatItCakes">Got What it Cakes</a>, my new favorite Charlotte bakery, so I was excited to try some new places. Here my favorites of everything I got to sample. </div>
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This little bit of deliciousness was called "Gone Wild" from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Elations">Sweet Elations</a>. It had peanut butter and coconut (which reminds me of my beloved Earth Balance peanut butter) and was so good! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2P8akC42F-0SWHJ075MjbeYP16owwHBx8fWCl0z2Lpa7-xTD0ihlc6lcQDeL45M6jNHUlrV_ni_U8splOJja3AiawH4IE_ZJM6fepRo1jaeJ0Pp3KmLYgwSHpEpCwJ0XSQwwsh3SBjs/s1600/2014-03-23+18.48.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2P8akC42F-0SWHJ075MjbeYP16owwHBx8fWCl0z2Lpa7-xTD0ihlc6lcQDeL45M6jNHUlrV_ni_U8splOJja3AiawH4IE_ZJM6fepRo1jaeJ0Pp3KmLYgwSHpEpCwJ0XSQwwsh3SBjs/s1600/2014-03-23+18.48.56.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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These brownie bliss bites from <a href="http://www.mysweetcelebration.com/">My Sweet Celebration</a> were so good. This one had toffee and caramel, and I would have loved about five more. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbrH-1SN6d_z0eMe0nhHfUojegG8lSU7Z67dlkMhJLVIkbo0GLgBWYSNLDXFr9iOQezK-5jAyaQJtdih8TO-j2BVD6tHMj15LMXBuK36FNrtdA1GXtO8u29SnJEk91yNASEgxXYktrjQ/s1600/2014-03-23+18.51.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbrH-1SN6d_z0eMe0nhHfUojegG8lSU7Z67dlkMhJLVIkbo0GLgBWYSNLDXFr9iOQezK-5jAyaQJtdih8TO-j2BVD6tHMj15LMXBuK36FNrtdA1GXtO8u29SnJEk91yNASEgxXYktrjQ/s1600/2014-03-23+18.51.11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Royal Oats Granola was there with something a little healthier. Their blueberry lemon granola was the best granola I've ever had. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu_GqSfxtzLBw24vCIAA3JTIeRk54AsDr8B9QSFedKHQXCZECdLPmX3zIpxJ0QRHCKAqLS1sjqEe1kBNUCtGKovSXha5fte4Z6eBAwvzGFmTGNEhdlo4m-emayYcoEHp0w4lge_VccU/s1600/2014-03-23+18.51.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu_GqSfxtzLBw24vCIAA3JTIeRk54AsDr8B9QSFedKHQXCZECdLPmX3zIpxJ0QRHCKAqLS1sjqEe1kBNUCtGKovSXha5fte4Z6eBAwvzGFmTGNEhdlo4m-emayYcoEHp0w4lge_VccU/s1600/2014-03-23+18.51.23.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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My favorite treat of the day was this lemon bundt cake from <a href="http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/">Nothing Bundt Cakes</a> (and how cute is that name!). The cake was so moist, had tons of flavor, and the perfect amount of lemon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7qg9tvo5aaTwLJM8IN9HRDhC-e2Q8GiyxUUjuA6tSK2tHRrzZ8la-6zXefc3KZZEzMmpd2wR1Y9NplpNxhHh_Mg70jIr3iRjivPPh621uwrxKvu-sGwlRo4OGVLiAj2GMniX-SP6CIw/s1600/2014-03-23+18.53.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7qg9tvo5aaTwLJM8IN9HRDhC-e2Q8GiyxUUjuA6tSK2tHRrzZ8la-6zXefc3KZZEzMmpd2wR1Y9NplpNxhHh_Mg70jIr3iRjivPPh621uwrxKvu-sGwlRo4OGVLiAj2GMniX-SP6CIw/s1600/2014-03-23+18.53.43.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm not a 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure this amazing chocolate mousse cake (with a rum soaked cherry =)) was from Neet's Sweets (if it wasn't, please correct me). The cake was delicious, but what's even better is what the shop does for women who are victims of sexual trafficking and exploitation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuBaIY3k7oaGuPVrd_VCDLK7EqAFUcxAqfxXzJg9aV_-U9SzvF8cqk9gkHubswDckOSf8lY0ud7J-byI6HHzfgdQIYfY3QW60zITbMDoAcrdJ52kgT8b5UyCI3jECAYdLK3haH87rHKQ/s1600/2014-03-23+18.54.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuBaIY3k7oaGuPVrd_VCDLK7EqAFUcxAqfxXzJg9aV_-U9SzvF8cqk9gkHubswDckOSf8lY0ud7J-byI6HHzfgdQIYfY3QW60zITbMDoAcrdJ52kgT8b5UyCI3jECAYdLK3haH87rHKQ/s1600/2014-03-23+18.54.15.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSecretChocolatier">The Secret Chocolatier</a> was giving out amazing truffles and chocolates. I had a chocolate sea salt butter toffee and a violet truffle. Both were amazing, but the toffee absolutely knocked my socks off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoQZJix53DYWHs8iYLjRgk9_yWxljdy0jxt-9FO9aaEONfS87sRRgeOxijmptbXF3ZBU4Z44o1D-5a4gteId_50tNsP757U0yIsR3m7EVsvsyrPOSwSxMrBUlDhxC9vjhMR_mc69B5j4/s1600/2014-03-23+18.56.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoQZJix53DYWHs8iYLjRgk9_yWxljdy0jxt-9FO9aaEONfS87sRRgeOxijmptbXF3ZBU4Z44o1D-5a4gteId_50tNsP757U0yIsR3m7EVsvsyrPOSwSxMrBUlDhxC9vjhMR_mc69B5j4/s1600/2014-03-23+18.56.23.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm honestly not a huge peanut butter fan, but this slice of chocolate cake with a PB filling from Got What It Cakes was wonderful. And they were definitely the most generous with their serving size =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yVArVhFWRntu7dhXDBq9R4kbUuZwi2HDDSu3Cgt2HGTWzuAhbENVRHXYW_NUT8b7sO70miPWfYSSRqhBzn5kbJ5MCPQdKbB7oY3nCwXFHB7nLUKTonksX49LD9ZHPX2PjVRVsbKg5Oo/s1600/2014-03-23+18.57.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yVArVhFWRntu7dhXDBq9R4kbUuZwi2HDDSu3Cgt2HGTWzuAhbENVRHXYW_NUT8b7sO70miPWfYSSRqhBzn5kbJ5MCPQdKbB7oY3nCwXFHB7nLUKTonksX49LD9ZHPX2PjVRVsbKg5Oo/s1600/2014-03-23+18.57.19.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Sweet Tooth Festival is an annual event, so if you're in the Charlotte area you should check it out. The money raised goes to a great cause, it's a great way to learn about awesome local businesses, and you leave with a box full of cake. =)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-16408360688486119602014-03-13T18:06:00.002-05:002014-03-13T18:07:19.362-05:00Accent walls, FTW. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When Graham's away, I paint stuff. </div>
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During his deployments over the past few years, I pretty much painted our entire house. And, since we're in an apartment, I'm not wanting to spend the time creating an <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2011/06/big-news.html">amazing quatrefoil wall</a> or <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2011/10/diy-painting-striped-walls.html">painting stripes</a>, I can't keep myself from painting accent walls very, <i>very </i>bold colors. </div>
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Like this wall. I'm so.freaking.tired. of this wall. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyj3EtT5KWFbkgTDGgPiHEQ3ILuvxZLmK3AZ_rNpO7UJBXGy2h7uMZURQRiut2BsamvzVo2ez8xSYgJ25vQZS2jEQw_H_0XFwjWuraB3P9se5WwWeSMrHyr3YXbI7m1DfxbcwRmhGOW-U/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyj3EtT5KWFbkgTDGgPiHEQ3ILuvxZLmK3AZ_rNpO7UJBXGy2h7uMZURQRiut2BsamvzVo2ez8xSYgJ25vQZS2jEQw_H_0XFwjWuraB3P9se5WwWeSMrHyr3YXbI7m1DfxbcwRmhGOW-U/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnBQwQyEzUL_Gm3d6fAPyBALQHlG4noksA25JVOH7jo9ZAw5nXyPxa8Jwzv07_Plw8OTYKEuzwVzqHjmEVwMzOcpJq-ZavFKDWE662LWbejkmiemij7ullJyYZGN2oR2FSEnG5-VyVKQ/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnBQwQyEzUL_Gm3d6fAPyBALQHlG4noksA25JVOH7jo9ZAw5nXyPxa8Jwzv07_Plw8OTYKEuzwVzqHjmEVwMzOcpJq-ZavFKDWE662LWbejkmiemij7ullJyYZGN2oR2FSEnG5-VyVKQ/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The day Graham left for Germany, I bought an Expedit shelving unit from Ikea. It was already assembled and a great price. Unfortunately, I was driving my Civic. </div>
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That day, I learned a very valuable lesson: an assembled 5ish foot tall shelving unit will NOT fit into a Civic. Since it was on sale, I couldn't return it. So what's a girl to do? Go inside, get some tools and sit down on the floor to disassemble it. </div>
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On the way home, I was texting Graham and asked him to pick a color: pink or purple. And the image started together in my head. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiwex77vucHVervvo5jqWbiatvv2Z-MFmeLZV7UaUBmUrnj7tLUG93mpCFCqeghWVmb2uFGcBJyKOPvbLtGBznh0QnGSHCHqGwCG32IGMJ-IMWm6Epd8Bd0EP4LlMluICZZLxavTnbLo/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiwex77vucHVervvo5jqWbiatvv2Z-MFmeLZV7UaUBmUrnj7tLUG93mpCFCqeghWVmb2uFGcBJyKOPvbLtGBznh0QnGSHCHqGwCG32IGMJ-IMWm6Epd8Bd0EP4LlMluICZZLxavTnbLo/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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This wall HAD to be painted. Had to. Putting a while shelf in front of an off white wall was just more boring on top of boring. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1sVsPf3Uvl0W4deaCAiwNvNK2D0Eixttn79fOUH5lkYybbde5JWKngWRayMXY6rIfLGPB9rmY0jkPT4iLdd9cSSn8VR2bnXk3UP2u5PZekV6UUolu3x2ccOLQwVkIOlcpfS8idbaOnU/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1sVsPf3Uvl0W4deaCAiwNvNK2D0Eixttn79fOUH5lkYybbde5JWKngWRayMXY6rIfLGPB9rmY0jkPT4iLdd9cSSn8VR2bnXk3UP2u5PZekV6UUolu3x2ccOLQwVkIOlcpfS8idbaOnU/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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So, I went to Home Depot, and picked a bold & bright shade of purple. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_c40YIRSR7LEOgAjpfPEiURt4dTbq-tI1DFufyV4P7SFGZ6stwcep6yIIBoBTAi1HCUFUBRWIk1DWzNLXGW9Rq-CDttWVioi17NZgjK1NzYinooxDqRu40kkYUERoNMgy5qlJ49W-T4/s1600/2014-03-04+15.03.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_c40YIRSR7LEOgAjpfPEiURt4dTbq-tI1DFufyV4P7SFGZ6stwcep6yIIBoBTAi1HCUFUBRWIk1DWzNLXGW9Rq-CDttWVioi17NZgjK1NzYinooxDqRu40kkYUERoNMgy5qlJ49W-T4/s1600/2014-03-04+15.03.13.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PtQGfPDYtrEI-JnRwO70gl_xQkykP5jSddWFyKcFZjJgPvoLCpP4EkLhm0hP-Ciykg6rXwmlG9BEVleKFY3ZgiBkbXHIUL0Hu0zTegfKD07CQk52Wo0Dkzmk8upS9VAnbpV8wCLQUGU/s1600/2014-03-04+17.37.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PtQGfPDYtrEI-JnRwO70gl_xQkykP5jSddWFyKcFZjJgPvoLCpP4EkLhm0hP-Ciykg6rXwmlG9BEVleKFY3ZgiBkbXHIUL0Hu0zTegfKD07CQk52Wo0Dkzmk8upS9VAnbpV8wCLQUGU/s1600/2014-03-04+17.37.28.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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And ta-da! I am SO thrilled with how it turned out! The bold purple is really pretty with every tone in the room. I love the way it looks against the dark cabinets, the off white walls, the dark gray couch, the recycled glass countertops, etc. Its a bit brighter than the navy I usually use, and I love it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ooRA89QD4fH9caInY7pedONu3LITouWXjn0wpAKW5n2J09GlJk2YnnLh_hYmQodFV2jxp1dyxitCi_M0qVmtSMoHoum23GmVPqcGfh7Giw0kFqCJtEPFLeOC53jZ5GZ4qmi0q9FdLxE/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ooRA89QD4fH9caInY7pedONu3LITouWXjn0wpAKW5n2J09GlJk2YnnLh_hYmQodFV2jxp1dyxitCi_M0qVmtSMoHoum23GmVPqcGfh7Giw0kFqCJtEPFLeOC53jZ5GZ4qmi0q9FdLxE/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QF22VD8syK-5yKxU6idfjgMHeP1kEAwpQsHSKGpEH4KDAvvq4T9TtCYoDKwrTG2CfEMek1GmnBXvpJnf8jV9lcfcPwjpPesOuz_aa69IyfwPDGF8Ep7YlSRaGX1JnmWR2gYre4hi2lQ/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QF22VD8syK-5yKxU6idfjgMHeP1kEAwpQsHSKGpEH4KDAvvq4T9TtCYoDKwrTG2CfEMek1GmnBXvpJnf8jV9lcfcPwjpPesOuz_aa69IyfwPDGF8Ep7YlSRaGX1JnmWR2gYre4hi2lQ/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Accessorizing my book case was challenging... I need more hardcover books with brightly colored spines. Too bad you can't sort books on Amazon based on spine color....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkLCqIUXsWuc65tNnIiY7jjOlbYgumWAxd7e776Gzs9VVhBpUnz98a3lRRd2eGzqJQGpG82Hs7UaPfHqnNIgUhsrODEod_1d7nfcGhvaLLYLJHofr1zvHIEc7meJMI9R9fhIjBRWuo4Q/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkLCqIUXsWuc65tNnIiY7jjOlbYgumWAxd7e776Gzs9VVhBpUnz98a3lRRd2eGzqJQGpG82Hs7UaPfHqnNIgUhsrODEod_1d7nfcGhvaLLYLJHofr1zvHIEc7meJMI9R9fhIjBRWuo4Q/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ES51NBDLTAdG2r_3sOagnveDbHrYhXJUSrQrW3UktSNfxexlX21DRSaUeXmqrQF3C2CWqJMf26rEVT8H72Roa2RA7sANpBS3mV5-9Sc2leMS6lErtu-skNW1h1bRJDofplpUHZQELbU/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ES51NBDLTAdG2r_3sOagnveDbHrYhXJUSrQrW3UktSNfxexlX21DRSaUeXmqrQF3C2CWqJMf26rEVT8H72Roa2RA7sANpBS3mV5-9Sc2leMS6lErtu-skNW1h1bRJDofplpUHZQELbU/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The only thing left do do: take care of the bar stool situation. A certain puppy I know and love chewed these up during her chewing stage. I'm thinking something like <a href="http://www.honeybearlane.com/2013/03/gold-dipped-bar-stools.html">this</a>, but in cream & gold. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy3_FNPLkAPr9msqPCWELrZG1X0_JSFwFX3iMM9zPEs7xnmW8xr88u6SB-Fsk_SZtBBA5aVTq1hXfAsLpaZr5PmY6HvRMjoC_eS9N0YVUuZYiAMoxWsmMirgPBa1FeRoA7MZb17HoS0A/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy3_FNPLkAPr9msqPCWELrZG1X0_JSFwFX3iMM9zPEs7xnmW8xr88u6SB-Fsk_SZtBBA5aVTq1hXfAsLpaZr5PmY6HvRMjoC_eS9N0YVUuZYiAMoxWsmMirgPBa1FeRoA7MZb17HoS0A/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I know that painting walls in an apartment isn't everyone's cup of tea. Some apartments don't allow it, and other people don't think that painting is worth it when you have to repaint when you move. But here's the thing- even though you don't own the apartment, it's your home for a specific amount of time. We're going to be in our apartment until next February. So, I want to make it feel like home while we're here. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-42574773808453269332014-03-09T19:16:00.000-05:002014-03-09T19:59:49.732-05:00Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxC-I7t4p_aJkSOVULW2A3BJjMNP9g-2djYtU8AZG7POt-OxXjiK2pgW5fQc4fLTVCd7h_KMVsu9Ddi88WxGW5nIWB9f6drr66p703Q1UaM6z5ICB6XH1zJf_q74UgHm1FQQwCjsa2Do/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxC-I7t4p_aJkSOVULW2A3BJjMNP9g-2djYtU8AZG7POt-OxXjiK2pgW5fQc4fLTVCd7h_KMVsu9Ddi88WxGW5nIWB9f6drr66p703Q1UaM6z5ICB6XH1zJf_q74UgHm1FQQwCjsa2Do/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been trying to cook some of the original recipes I posted on this blog, and re-photograph them with a higher quality camera.<br />
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This one just needed to be photographed, period. I know soup isn't the easiest thing to take a picture of, but what was I thinking posting a recipe with no picture?<br />
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Anyways, this soup is a favorite in my house. It is spicy, hearty and delicious and so easy to make.<br />
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<b>Chicken Tortilla Soup</b><br />
<b><i>Ingredients</i></b>:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 10 oz cans of Rotel w/ green chili's</li>
<li>2 tablespoons of olive oil.</li>
<li>1 14.5 oz can of black beans, drained & rinsed</li>
<li>1 14.5 oz can of corn, drained & rinsed</li>
<li>6 cups of chicken stock </li>
<li>2 bell peppers; chopped</li>
<li>1 onion; chopped</li>
<li>1 jalapeno; finely diced</li>
<li>1 lb. of chicken; chopped into bite sized pieces</li>
<li>2 T. chili powder</li>
<li>2 T. cumin, </li>
<li>salt & pepper to taste</li>
<li>Jalapenos, avocado, sour cream or any toppings you like as a garnish</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Directions</i></b>:</div>
<ol>
<li>Heat oil over medium heat and add peppers & onions. Saute until tender; about 8-10 minutes. </li>
<li>When peppers & onions are tender, add the stock, tomatoes, corn, black beans & seasonings. </li>
<li>Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add chicken and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.</li>
<li>Top with any toppings you desire. </li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9zPFq-8eP4QtrC-w6gFCScjC-HbAQLT267ebfUJAQ4ZdNeruk9oQiyxgERXvnJxsWKjvNfHeUDI2rghZSK2l-PIA_QYAmkS3caZyNtPH2AGM9UMEXwXA_Atdxyl5bX8uh-Tav2GjG4E/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9zPFq-8eP4QtrC-w6gFCScjC-HbAQLT267ebfUJAQ4ZdNeruk9oQiyxgERXvnJxsWKjvNfHeUDI2rghZSK2l-PIA_QYAmkS3caZyNtPH2AGM9UMEXwXA_Atdxyl5bX8uh-Tav2GjG4E/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-29981000817618480422014-03-04T12:55:00.002-06:002014-03-04T12:55:40.216-06:00Recipe: Chicken Gumbo SoupI made this soup a few days ago when Graham left for Germany, but I thought I'd wait and share it today in honor of Mardi Gras.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyk8VCy-aDiyV5eHsVUNf6EyumXWt6znj5cJwLKjf_3zkO87PH7D2yDPs3pfoiTKLVLkjN7_toEAlS63V0k1g29beog_BDKp8uFHQC8YhXkro0V88GAz4j1Z0ZZe-OUXocKh-F-zMV00/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyk8VCy-aDiyV5eHsVUNf6EyumXWt6znj5cJwLKjf_3zkO87PH7D2yDPs3pfoiTKLVLkjN7_toEAlS63V0k1g29beog_BDKp8uFHQC8YhXkro0V88GAz4j1Z0ZZe-OUXocKh-F-zMV00/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every time Graham leaves for a trip, I make soup. Why? It's simple. I like making soup. It comforts me. And I'm one of those weirdos who will happily sit down with a bowl of soup & a grilled cheese when it's a hundred degrees outside. I also hate doing dishes... so this way, I only have one pot to wash, and can just throw the bowl & spoon in the dishwasher every night.<br />
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Lucky for me, I don't mind eating leftovers. Because the soups I make always make a ton.<br />
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This one was no exception. My 5.5 quart dutch oven was filled nearly to the brim. Luckily the soup was delicious. The only change I'll make for the next time is adding half the rice. Like the orzo in the <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2012/05/italian-wedding-soup-with-turkey.html">Italian Wedding Soup</a>, the rice kept sucking up the liquid and the next day it was more of a stew.<br />
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After looking at about a 1,000 gumbo & gumbo soup recipes, I've decided that going to the <a href="http://www.tabasco.com/avery-island/south-louisiana-festivals/gumbo-cookoff/">World Championship Gumbo Cook-off</a> in Louisiana is now on my bucket list. There are so many different ways that people make gumbo, and I'm dying to try them all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_o2CGPibJmmyllPvMULo69sd2zf48USpnpLi1Z1B3vZt6o9snvf9kspFWa29av-InORguPsjFaqsTzddfwGviEKV1NpUCb7DRSugGH9em4_zO1sRWUKfqAyYGBdONLEJBEuiMx7B6Vw/s1600/IMG_1044+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_o2CGPibJmmyllPvMULo69sd2zf48USpnpLi1Z1B3vZt6o9snvf9kspFWa29av-InORguPsjFaqsTzddfwGviEKV1NpUCb7DRSugGH9em4_zO1sRWUKfqAyYGBdONLEJBEuiMx7B6Vw/s1600/IMG_1044+%25282%2529.JPG" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyways. Regardless of liquid sucking grains, this was delicious. I'm glad... because I'm having leftovers again tonight =)<br />
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<b>Chicken Gumbo Soup</b><br />
(Recipe Inspired by <a href="http://kosherscene.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/chicken-gumbo-soup/">this one</a>.)<br />
<br />
<b><i>Ingredients</i></b>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; chopped into bite sized pieces</li>
<li>1 yellow onion; finely chopped</li>
<li>1 green bell pepper; seeds & membranes removed and finely chopped</li>
<li>5 celery stalks; thinly sliced in half moons</li>
<li>2 C. of chopped okra (frozen or fresh)</li>
<li>2 cloves of garlic; mined</li>
<li>1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes </li>
<li>1 T. of tomato paste</li>
<li>2 T. of creole seasoning</li>
<li>2 T. of Tabasco (or any other hot sauce)</li>
<li>1/4 C. of all purpose flour</li>
<li>olive oil</li>
<li>2 quarts of chicken stock (8 cups)</li>
<li>1 C. of rice (<i>I'm only going to use 1/2 C. next time</i>)</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<div>
<b><i>Directions</i></b>:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Heat olive oil in the bottom of a large dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chopped vegetables and cook until tender (about 10 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. </li>
<li>Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. </li>
<li>Whisk in the chicken stock slowly, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Then add the tomatoes, the tomato paste, the seasonings, the hot sauce, the chicken and the rice. Raise the heat and bring the soup to a boil. The reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. </li>
<li>You can either cook the chicken in the soup, or cook it separately and add it at the end. I let mine cook with the soup, but I know some people feel weird about that. </li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZYEg_RWSvKJfkuaNUgw3YKFbcUC5YHrZ_e2ywB-ENfEEP_DK_Q45C42uOQ3kkSkA3yhfX_5LLNG0HCZ-H_7KNWn5PsQNrrxF6qfcWBCvBCjkRrKAwzjloPmBNjoxfzoJ7SzeOrIP6w/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZYEg_RWSvKJfkuaNUgw3YKFbcUC5YHrZ_e2ywB-ENfEEP_DK_Q45C42uOQ3kkSkA3yhfX_5LLNG0HCZ-H_7KNWn5PsQNrrxF6qfcWBCvBCjkRrKAwzjloPmBNjoxfzoJ7SzeOrIP6w/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-46724750217569799002014-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-26T06:00:07.460-06:00What I'm Loving Wednesday: Monograms<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/eb/bf/55/ebbf55929be9e79ee8721dfd9c6e7f54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/eb/bf/55/ebbf55929be9e79ee8721dfd9c6e7f54.jpg" height="400" width="387" /></a></div>
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Like almost every southern woman, I love monograms. If I could, I would have an embroidery machine and I would monogram everything Graham & and I own. </div>
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One day I will have an embroidery machine (I should probably learn to use a sewing machine first...), but for now I'll just pin all kinds of fabulous monogrammed things and give Etsy shops way too much of my money. </div>
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Here are some of the monogrammed things I'm <i>really</i> loving right now. </div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f4/23/1e/f4231e96430aab7814a85d956288b7ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f4/23/1e/f4231e96430aab7814a85d956288b7ea.jpg" height="640" width="568" /></a></div>
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Monogrammed J. Crew chino shorts. So cute. </div>
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(<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/209628557629248973/">source</a>)</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/de/6b/8c/de6b8cf9be2631b8cd9bdf6759a19567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/de/6b/8c/de6b8cf9be2631b8cd9bdf6759a19567.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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I'm not nearly in shape enough to wear this, but I adore it. </div>
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(<a href="http://rahrahdesigns.com/collections/all-swimwear">source</a>)</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d9/db/1f/d9db1f9b0dda715954fe072027ee2b86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d9/db/1f/d9db1f9b0dda715954fe072027ee2b86.jpg" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
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I need the duffel. With pink script, please. </div>
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(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/180530515/monogram-navy-trim-canvas-weekend-duffle?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest">source</a>)</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6e/ed/dd/6eeddd24d48588479ffe4688bbfff683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6e/ed/dd/6eeddd24d48588479ffe4688bbfff683.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></div>
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How cute is this monogrammed stationary? </div>
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(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/166734431/monogram-chevron-notecards?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest">source</a>)</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/40/b0/c240b0f4e8ec5d47b1cbe321a7bb25eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/40/b0/c240b0f4e8ec5d47b1cbe321a7bb25eb.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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Graham is being stubborn, but this pillow is eventually going to find its way onto our bed. </div>
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(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/161142286/monogrammed-pillow-decorative-throw?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest">source</a>)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-48366302270427046062014-02-25T13:28:00.000-06:002014-03-04T12:56:02.210-06:00Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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*** I first blogged this recipe almost two years ago. Over the past two years, my skills in the kitchen have gotten better, and with my recent camera purchase, so have the pictures. One thing that hasn't changed is how delicious this soup is! ***</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQVbWkYH3c8uQhk5zDDoi06hCBLq4gkgqW0uSvReoH_L_FQwTFPdWOsX8KjGubL7CDER0oDMUbKv501LiOuXhHAnEw2c0xFKF8WvusjORh1sK2yGqzazbAx1lS6Gy7Q30HnAZsdOke2U/s1600/2014-02-23+07.16.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQVbWkYH3c8uQhk5zDDoi06hCBLq4gkgqW0uSvReoH_L_FQwTFPdWOsX8KjGubL7CDER0oDMUbKv501LiOuXhHAnEw2c0xFKF8WvusjORh1sK2yGqzazbAx1lS6Gy7Q30HnAZsdOke2U/s1600/2014-02-23+07.16.23.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs & Orzo</b><br />
(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/italian-wedding-soup-172100354.html">this one</a>.)<br />
<br />
<i><b>Ingredients:</b></i>
<br />
<ul>
<li>
1 lb. ground turkey
</li>
<li>1 egg</li>
<li>
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
</li>
<li>
3 T. Parmesan cheese, grated
</li>
<li>
3 quarts chicken broth
</li>
<li>
1 10 oz. box of frozen spinach, thawed and liquid squeezed out. </li>
<li>3 carrots, peeled and chopped<br />
</li>
<li>
1 yellow onion, diced
</li>
<li>
3 stalks of celery, chopped</li>
<li>
2 cups orzo pasta
</li>
<li>
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
</li>
<li>1 t. of red pepper flakes</li>
<li>
Salt and Pepper to taste </li>
</ul>
<br />
<i><b>Directions:</b></i>
<br />
<ol>
<li>
Saute carrots, onion and celery in oil until soft and starting to brown.
</li>
<li>
While veggies cook, make the meatballs: mix turkeys, eggs, breadcrumbs,
parmesan, salt and pepper in a separate mixing bowl. Form into ½ <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3659542828252999514" name="_GoBack" rel="nofollow"></a>inch balls, and set on a baking sheet.
</li>
<li>
Cook meatballs on the baking sheet in 375F degree oven for 12-15 minutes.
</li>
<li>
Add chicken stock to veggies and then stir in the thawed spinach and add the red pepper flakes.
</li>
<li>
Let the mixture reduce on high heat.
</li>
<li>
Add pasta to soup to cook.
</li>
<li>
When meatballs are cooked, add them to the soup.
</li>
<li>
Boil 5 minutes and season with salt and pepper. </li>
</ol>
This was SUPER delicious. Really. Hardcore delicious. Graham and I both LOVED this soup, and it made a TON. The only problem? The orzo keeps sucking up the chicken stock. And the next day it had turned from soup to pasta salad. Completely different texture, but still really good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3hKXC-2NVbrvLMGos5S2_Y-Q_ZLOnAe8_Xfxp6fNl28WRYUsdMo7vfoF75vrZC3TmXyo2Ckpo3gwzx_sPDsmZ7l6dfewYPKFn3EeoNIDYhNoE01zPrU75m3kkNeOiVdNy5GBfM8zwLo/s1600/2014-02-24+00.54.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3hKXC-2NVbrvLMGos5S2_Y-Q_ZLOnAe8_Xfxp6fNl28WRYUsdMo7vfoF75vrZC3TmXyo2Ckpo3gwzx_sPDsmZ7l6dfewYPKFn3EeoNIDYhNoE01zPrU75m3kkNeOiVdNy5GBfM8zwLo/s1600/2014-02-24+00.54.24.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-85078690576920667642014-02-20T18:19:00.001-06:002014-02-20T18:19:41.161-06:00Operation: Get on that! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've lived in our apartment now for six months, and this past weekend we finally got off our butts and took care of some decorating projects around here. </div>
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We've had a HUGE stack of framed photos in our guestroom this whole time, and a stack of things that needed to be matted & framed in a closet. We recently renewed our lease for a year, so since we still have a good bit of time here, I wanted to make it into a home. </div>
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I don't understand people who live in a rental property, but don't make it their own. When we move we'll have holes to spackle and some repainting to do, but it'll be worth it to have it look like we live here for the next 11 months. </div>
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Our bathroom is pretty big, and very blah. So, this plain little wall was jazzed up a little with more <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/07/sharing-some-love-and-some-art/">free printables</a> from Young House Love, some Ikea Ribba frames I bought last time we were in Charlotte and had Graham cut some navy blue mats for them. The wall is so much more pleasant & cheerful to look at while I'm relaxing in the tub every night. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL3REsDNBSclfRC_6NJUAC8gSov5Sv0XDvyNUPWXsSE7eGergf3haQy_Y4kuwhAKANM-3OLmBQ7K08xO9uWUBsgBk-UOtrpzscjWAo7nRb1F8tEh8Jv0knpJhxOc6750-6gCduufchwo/s1600/IMG_0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL3REsDNBSclfRC_6NJUAC8gSov5Sv0XDvyNUPWXsSE7eGergf3haQy_Y4kuwhAKANM-3OLmBQ7K08xO9uWUBsgBk-UOtrpzscjWAo7nRb1F8tEh8Jv0knpJhxOc6750-6gCduufchwo/s1600/IMG_0879.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA9XCpe4TzBQfbVjPykxo2aHTJLyP7hobJggNnGtssSPEusvX_foURj6T4_UhwhgITnlfax8qOc_R5J0hhNP_Ak9Y9ub6h2Aln8Q69WPxPC9sBLEcQ7YJPRnSuHytW1ZEHtHxZE2_VEk/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA9XCpe4TzBQfbVjPykxo2aHTJLyP7hobJggNnGtssSPEusvX_foURj6T4_UhwhgITnlfax8qOc_R5J0hhNP_Ak9Y9ub6h2Aln8Q69WPxPC9sBLEcQ7YJPRnSuHytW1ZEHtHxZE2_VEk/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
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My mom bought me this framed print of my alma matter (UNC-Charlotte) in 2004 for Christmas when I decided to go back to school. In Arkansas, and in Charlotte, it's home was on top of a bookcase with my degree. We sold those cheap bookcases before moving to Virginia. This little wall was the perfect new home for this frame!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7kPrwQOw0Fyng124-_CWOzaCJa90Ff8HuwSXmENyCKEX8jEuwmTb6nePbUB2vRgTBAIZIbdParHjtjsJqkpifRwT90lDHYfhzlpvmi4cqSTlR-9uRC-kwM7x8xQ0KFY-VetMJkzakRE/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7kPrwQOw0Fyng124-_CWOzaCJa90Ff8HuwSXmENyCKEX8jEuwmTb6nePbUB2vRgTBAIZIbdParHjtjsJqkpifRwT90lDHYfhzlpvmi4cqSTlR-9uRC-kwM7x8xQ0KFY-VetMJkzakRE/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdnTl9ijDROiqK2yhbU3ez_VMXtecfKYXudP0pcsI5co09iZ2-OQlr33buHj1Zv9MTFqaJeBtaw-dSef3IjbuFyKTT9yLf5hIubpMLAdMVUrHetDE-xKTf7wMzyLR-tVNhke_sZuWAgk/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdnTl9ijDROiqK2yhbU3ez_VMXtecfKYXudP0pcsI5co09iZ2-OQlr33buHj1Zv9MTFqaJeBtaw-dSef3IjbuFyKTT9yLf5hIubpMLAdMVUrHetDE-xKTf7wMzyLR-tVNhke_sZuWAgk/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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These colorful framed prints were about to be rehomed to a box in the garage. They were perfect on top of our hutch in Arkansas, but the hutch is also in our garage. It won't fit in the apartment =(<br />
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I had planned to hang them with my giant fork & spoon, but I just couldn't make it work.<br />
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I refused to give up on them, did some re-arranging on top of the cabinets, and found homes for them there. It isn't ideal, but I'm happy to have them out & not boxed up someplace.<br />
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We also hung these four frames I painted last year in our guest room... And while I'm happy to have them off the floor, I miss the way they looked in our old house. The dark gray walls are so much more appealing than the soul sucking beige. Seeing these gold frames on the blah walls makes me want to paint...</div>
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We definitely worked on our gallery wall.We bought a few prints while on vacation in New England that needed to be framed and matted, we framed and matted the print Graham got me for Valentines Day and hung a small sentiment Brittany gave me for Christmas. Michael's has their frames 'buy one, get one free' this week, and the first part of the week they were an additional 25% off. So, I bought a few more frames, now I'm just waiting on the prints to come in. <br />
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This little wall in the bedroom got the biggest make over. If you remember our last house, I had decorated each room with bold paint colors. I've held off on painting here, because I knew we'd have to repaint and the ceilings here are REALLY high, which makes painting a little more work. Such a huge difference though. I am such an advocate of painting. I've always said that nothing changes a room faster than a fresh coat of paint, and it's one of the cheapest things you can do. I spent $20 on paint and I have over half a gallon left.<br />
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And a picture of my painting partner for old times sake =)<br />
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The only problem? Now I want to paint everything!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-44696809336202732882014-02-18T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-18T06:00:09.766-06:00Restaurant Review: Kero SushiGraham and I love sushi. It's always been one of my top choices for a date night. When we moved to Virginia last summer, we had a few mediocre dinners out, so I was scared to try any of the sushi places I had bookmarked.<br />
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We got good news last week, so to celebrate we decided to go out for dinner, and Graham suggested sushi. I picked Kero Sushi. It had excellent reviews on Urbanspoon & it was close by. When we arrived, there was a short wait. The restaurant is on the small side, and the only open spots were at the bar.<br />
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Once seated, we ordered drinks and were brought complimentary soup or salad. Graham had the soup, which was delicious. The salad was okay. We ordered the Gyoza for an appetizer, and they were awful. They weren't fresh, and when they were steamed, there wasn't enough liquid. The tops were hard, while the bottoms were soft. They had no flavor, and to be honest we were a little worried about the quality of the sushi.<br />
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We ordered four rolls, the Lovers Roll, the Independent Roll, the Rainbow Roll & the Dynamite Roll. All four were absolutely fabulous. </div>
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The Independent was Graham's favorite. It had a decent sized piece of fresh jalapeno inside and definitely had a kick to it. My favorite was the Rainbow, of course =) Instead of having a slice of avocado on top, there was a huge chunk inside, and a significant amount of cucumber. It tasted fresh & so delicious. The Lover's Roll was delicious, and the fact that is was heart shaped was just absolutely adorable. I thought it was *almost* too pretty to eat!</div>
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The Dynamite Roll was not what either of us were expecting, but I guess neither of us read the menu description close enough. It was delicious though. The baked fish on top was excellent, and the roll itself was pretty standard. They went together perfectly. </div>
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Kero is definitely our go-to sushi spot at the moment. Just do yourself a favor & skip the warm appetizers. Order an extra roll or some edamame if you're extra hungry. </div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/35/1463779/restaurant/Hampton-Roads/York-Poquoson/Kero-Sushi-Yorktown"><img alt="Kero Sushi on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1463779/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-67914630918259748292014-02-17T17:57:00.003-06:002014-02-17T17:57:59.466-06:00Happy Valentine's Day =)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Ours was wonderful. The weekend started off with a great Valentine's Day, and even extended an extra day since we were both off for President's Day. </div>
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Friday, I met Graham for lunch at Chipotle. Every day should start with a steak burrito bowl, just saying. </div>
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He came home from work with flowers and presents, always a good thing =) I told Graham not to order flowers for me this year. He brings home flowers frequently these days, and those bouquets make me just as happy as the ones he spends $60-$70 dollars for on V-day and our anniversary. So, instead I got a gorgeous bouquet from Trader Joe's, a Frasier t-shirt I've been coveting for months, and an Etsy print I pinned a while back. <br />
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I hate having dinner out on Valentine's Day. Restaurants are crowded and it just feels so much more intimate to have dinner at home. We had a simple, but delicious dinner of purple mashed potatoes, asparagus, and crab stuffed salmon. We started with shrimp cocktail and ended with a chocolate cake & champagne.</div>
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How cool is this? When you boil purple potatoes, the water turns blue!<br />
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Ready to eat... Charlotte obviously didn't care that the table was set for US that night, and it wasn't just another play area for her & Buddy. </div>
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I'm not going to lie, the chocolate cake is from Harris Teeter. I was disappointed in the banana split cupcakes I made for our dessert. I had Graham take those to work with him, an I went & bought my favorite chocolate cake in the world. I was excited that it was small enough I could finally use my little cake stand from Sur La Table =)<br />
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We spent the rest of the weekend running errands and doing things around the apartment. I have one more (pretty big) thing I'm going to try to finish tomorrow. I can't wait to share pics later this week!<br />
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So, Valentine's Day... Stay in or go out?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-27835954469175916392014-02-09T22:22:00.001-06:002014-02-09T22:22:20.821-06:00I love weekends. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I saw <a href="http://myfirstlittleplace.blogspot.fr/2013/05/calm-life.html">this image</a> on Pinterest the other day, and it made me happy. </div>
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As much as I love social media, I can understand how it can cause depression in some people. I follow people with amazing social lives & the coolest careers known to mankind. I don't have either of those things. For the most part I'm good with that, but I'm human and every so often I wish I had tons of friends and a job that sparked envy in strangers. </div>
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This little image made me realize it's okay not to have an exciting life, as long as I'm happy with the one I have. And I am. I love my life, and even though Graham & I aren't the most exciting couple in the world, I wouldn't change it for anything. </div>
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You guys know what's crazy? As much as I love sushi, we had our first sushi dinner in Virginia on Friday night. We moved here the last week of July... It's going to take time to discover restaurants we love as much as we loved our spots in Little Rock, and I think I'm so scared of being disappointed by a restaurant, I'd rather not give them a chance. We chose <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/35/1463779/restaurant/Hampton-Roads/York-Poquoson/Kero-Sushi-Yorktown">Kero Sushi</a> in Yorktown, and the sushi was excellent. More on that later. </div>
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Graham is testing for a promotion on Wednesday, so he's been studying non-stop lately. While he studied, I spent my Friday night drinking wine and working on a puzzle of Boston. </div>
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Saturday, we headed to the Home & Garden show in Richmond so I could FINALLY meet John & Sherry from <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">Young House Love</a>! They didn't come to Little Rock during their book tour last year. The closest they got was Dallas, which was six hours away! So, I was definitely going to make the hour drive to Richmond to meet my fantasy BFF's & get my copy of their book signed =)</div>
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We arrived in Richmond early and stopped by Homegoods, Hobby Lobby & Whole Foods before going to the convention center. Stopping in Whole Foods of course means getting some macaroni & cheese from their hot bar. Speaking of Whole Foods, I found out the other day that one is opening 1.8 miles from my apartment in Spring 2015. We will have this stuff for dinner every night... And vegan chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I'm not vegan, but those cookies are amazing!</div>
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We got to the home show, and while the show itself was disappointing, John & Sherry were every bit as adorable and charming as I was expecting. Graham kept noticing similarities between us and them. It totally sealed my belief that we should be friends with them. And Hermione should be friends with Burger.</div>
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So excited to meet them! I went completely star struck and forgot how to talk. Graham was very cool though. He complemented them on the <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/02/top-o-the-built-in-to-ya/">built-in's in their new nursery</a> while I stammered and blushed. </div>
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All throughout Virginia, they have these cute LOVE signs at rest stops. We've passed this one a few times, and finally stopped for a picture. Luckily there was a nice lady there taking photos of it, and she took a few for us. </div>
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We got home that night, and Graham went back to his studying, and I returned to my puzzle. A 1,000 piece puzzle, and when we finished we were missing three pieces. I wanted to curl up into a ball & cry. </div>
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And for dinner we had epic homemade tomato soup & pesto grilled cheese sandwiches.</div>
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We had leftovers for dinner tonight. I took my sandwich to the next level by adding slices of tomato. I used to love adding tomato to my grilled cheeses when I was a kid, and this was so, SO good! The sandwich had a Caprese salad feel to it, with the mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto.</div>
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Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-34861336666023732452014-02-06T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-06T06:00:00.892-06:00Epic Road Trip Day 7:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, I'm nearing the end of my recaps of our epic road trip. On day seven, we ventured up to Maine for horsebacking riding, lobster rolls & stalking the Bush compound. It was such a wonderful day, even the horseback riding. I have never been on a horse and I was a mix of scared & excited. I wasn't scared of falling off the horse & getting hurt... I was honestly more scared of falling up and landing in one of the huge piles of horse excrement. </div>
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Graham did some googling and found a place to ride called <a href="http://chfmaine.com/">Carousel Horse Farm.</a> It was pricey, but it was enjoyable. The scenery was gorgeous and my horse was well behaved & gentle. The guide for our trip had worked at the farm for a while and was knowledgeable about the area and enjoyable to talk to. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off we go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We survived!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My horse & I. </td></tr>
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After horseback riding, we started heading back south and stopped in Kennebunkport. I had already had lobster while we were in Rhode Island, but we decided to hold off on ordering lobster rolls until we were in Maine. Because, when you're in Maine, you eat lobster.<br />
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We stopped for lunch as soon as we arrived in Kennebunkport. Two friends of mine recommended Alisson's, so that's where we chose. We started with an order of fried shrimp, and both of us ordered their signature lobster roll. These were pricey, but they were huge and filled with a massive amount of lobster meat. Not crummy little pieces of lobster either. Huge chunks of quality lobster meat. These were tossed in a very light mayo and served in a perfectly toasted, buttery bun. I had potato salad with mine, and it was delicious as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/259/1181395/restaurant/Portland/Alissons-Restaurant-Kennebunkport"><img alt="Alisson's Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1181395/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
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After lunch, we burned a few calories walking around the town. Lots of cute shops & pretty scenery.<br />
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I read that the Bush family had a compound here, and I wanted to find it. We were driving around and just stumbled upon it. Obviously you can't get very close to it, but the view of it from the cliffs was breathtaking. We parked the car and walked along the rocks for a while, just admiring the beauty.<br />
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After walking along the cliffs, we decided to stop for ice cream before heading back. We stopped at Rococo Artisian Ice Cream and were blown away. They had some pretty exotic flavors and a few normal flavors, but it was all amazing. Graham had goat cheese with honey, whiskey & figs. I went the more traditional route and ordered apple crisp. Both were phenomenal. The apple crisp had HUGE chunks of apple and pastry throughout.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/259/1771823/restaurant/Portland/Rococo-Artisan-Ice-Cream-Kennebunkport"><img alt="Rococo Artisan Ice Cream on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1771823/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
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We walked around a little bit more to sight see & finish our ice cream. I'm so glad we went on this trip when we did. The foliage was so beautiful.<br />
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And our wonderful day ended with this amazing sunset that happened on the drive back to Boston. This picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-60732176004917593182014-02-05T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-05T06:00:06.112-06:00Recipe: The Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Pot Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQiVvm8SmBwQS2d8DpfgPUsqflc8j6SW-9jq4BBXRiaQ9DlbquHn_OxhtLTryYZPy92XfYQjYg4_hCUkC_uIpQ51kKJa1pKllwL9-QQCRK8VElU5SPHnzJiu5b5yE1tlCmCowJgMqSpQ/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQiVvm8SmBwQS2d8DpfgPUsqflc8j6SW-9jq4BBXRiaQ9DlbquHn_OxhtLTryYZPy92XfYQjYg4_hCUkC_uIpQ51kKJa1pKllwL9-QQCRK8VElU5SPHnzJiu5b5yE1tlCmCowJgMqSpQ/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've always loved chicken pot pie. I've loved the little individual ones you can buy in the freezer section of the grocery store. I've loved the version my mom made, with a fluffy Bisquick crust. I've loved Paula Deen's version with a puff pastry top. But this one... this is the ultimate chicken pot pie. Everything about this was epic. Even the store bought pie crust... </div>
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This recipe appeared a little daunting originally. It calls for a homemade crust, and honestly I'm not good at pie crusts and I didn't have enough butter, so I decided to take out the scariest step and just use a pre-made Pillsbury pie crust leftover from Thanksgiving. It worked perfectly. Other than the crust, this was super easy to make. It took a little bit of time, but there was nothing complicated about it. And the flavor was insane. I'm not going to lie, once the sauce was finished, I ate more than a few spoonfuls of it...</div>
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<b>Chicken Pot Pie</b></div>
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(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-pot-pie-recipe.html">this one</a>.)</div>
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<i><b>Ingredients</b>:</i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">4-6 C. of cooked chicken (you can use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or cook 6 chicken breasts).</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">3 T. olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Kosher
salt & </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">pepper to taste</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">5 C. chicken stock</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2
chicken bouillon cubes or 2 t. of chicken base</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1 1/2 sticks (12 T.) unsalted butter</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2 yellow onions; chopped</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">3/4
C. all-purpose flour</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1/4
C. heavy cream</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2 cups
medium-diced carrots (about 5-6 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1 10 oz. package frozen peas </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1 1/2
C. frozen corn</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 Pillsbury pie crust</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 large egg </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 T. of water</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Directions</i></b>:</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Remove pie crust from freezer. Make sure it is thawed before you attempt to unroll it. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Cook chicken breasts or remove meat from a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Set aside. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">In a
small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the
stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over
medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook
over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to
the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 1
teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken,
carrots, peas and corn.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Place one of your ramekins on the pie crust and cut out a piece of crust to fit the top, making it 1/2" larger than the top of the bowl. I was able to cut three out of the pie crust, then made the remnants into a ball and rolled it out to get my 4th piece of crust. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Combine the egg & the tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Divide
the filling equally among 4 ovenproof bowls. Brush the outside edges of each bowl
with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Crimp the dough to fold over the side,
pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in
the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and
bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling
hot.</span></li>
</ol>
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The only problem with this recipe? The serving size is totally out of whack. Or Ina's ramekins are a heck of a lot bigger than mine. I only had four ramekins, so I made four servings of this and froze the rest of the filling. Once we had eaten the pot pies I made, I made four more full sized ones, and three mini ones, and threw out enough filling for at least one more mini one. So, at least 10 servings total. I don't know of anyone who has that many small, oven proof bowls, so you might want to make this in a large casserole dish. Everything is cooked before it goes into the oven, so as soon as the crust is golden brown, it's finished. Or you could make four of them, and freeze the rest of the filling, and have another night's dinner down the road. I froze the leftover filling in a freezer bag, thawed it in the fridge for the most part, and then heated it up in a large sauce pan, stirring it constantly, until it was smooth & creamy again.<br />
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The second time I made it, I went with Bisquick topping. This topping is just as easy. I used two cups of Bisquick & 1 cup of skim milk. I spooned the topping on & baked at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Obviously, I filled the ramekins too full, but they were still just as delicious as they were the first time!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-27909555863173926452014-02-03T19:01:00.001-06:002014-02-03T19:01:48.966-06:00Watercolors, anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the best things about smart phones is finding cool new apps to play around with. Today, I found a good one: it turns your photos into watercolors. It's called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waterlogue/id764925064?mt=8">Waterlogue</a> and it's awesome!</div>
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I was browsing <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/100275529177571677/">Pinterest</a> and I saw a blog post about this app. I was intrigued, so I downloaded it. Then about ten minutes later I saw a <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/gadgets/waterlogue-instagram-app?src=spr_TWITTER&spr_id=1451_42791190">tweet from House Beautiful</a> about the same app. I then spent the rest of the afternoon playing with it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSGOY_zEz6bH3auG1wYy3PKqYkOpzhyz3_U1w7BrFTABgZ7w6xBsCPaA9RUBlvfXMwFgqkjnes0tfo600UYHeSADwOrEIRfeOlD4iDzkyltklWUHOGU6qu1Rrw9G9uQviPtFVpLVGtpQ/s1600/2014-02-03+19.52.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSGOY_zEz6bH3auG1wYy3PKqYkOpzhyz3_U1w7BrFTABgZ7w6xBsCPaA9RUBlvfXMwFgqkjnes0tfo600UYHeSADwOrEIRfeOlD4iDzkyltklWUHOGU6qu1Rrw9G9uQviPtFVpLVGtpQ/s1600/2014-02-03+19.52.29.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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At $2.99, it's more than I typically spend on apps, but I seriously love it! Now I just have to go through all of my pictures and find some awesome ones to play with!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-44001079707837981212014-02-02T21:11:00.002-06:002014-02-02T21:11:59.447-06:00Hermione's Snow Day (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We got more snow this past week. A lot of snow. Well, maybe not a lot compared to my northern friends, but to a southern girl, 6-8 inches is a lot. Graham had to work late all week, and didn't get to enjoy it with Hermione. Luckily, he got off early on Friday, and we took advantage of the warm day and took the dog to Yorktown. Our normal spot was closed, so we took her to the battlefield, which turned out perfect. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our brilliant dog was scared of the snowman....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham amused himself by throwing snowballs at her. </td></tr>
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Once we finished walking around the battlefield, we walked around the town. I'm still in love with it, and some of my favorite houses are even more beautiful when covered in snow. </div>
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We always see a massive amount of deer whenever we're in Yorktown and that day was no exception. We saw a group of them crossing the street and then hanging out in the cemetery. Such beautiful animals.</div>
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We ended the day with a walk along the beach. It was odd & beautiful seeing snow covering the sand. I'm so glad Graham was able to leave work early so we could have this wonderful day. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-18789347952899409682014-02-01T13:12:00.000-06:002014-02-12T11:40:04.287-06:00Versona Accessories Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Update: LK107 is the winner! Hope you find some awesome things!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkArA0HyHN_BliHHtaMsV_AgHoOZDgnEbSbx-IRPZ4DtfmAAJx_qLjFawTiUJxRVxBQdCU4ARD2YjpuITQMnLASEZpqEtSRIwn8EBH7BhM1zh2knJHFBf_F66j4oeU1ik3NWksn93U8DA/s1600/2014-02-07+13.59.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkArA0HyHN_BliHHtaMsV_AgHoOZDgnEbSbx-IRPZ4DtfmAAJx_qLjFawTiUJxRVxBQdCU4ARD2YjpuITQMnLASEZpqEtSRIwn8EBH7BhM1zh2knJHFBf_F66j4oeU1ik3NWksn93U8DA/s1600/2014-02-07+13.59.13.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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A couple of weeks ago I was contacted about the grand opening of Versona Accessories location in Newport News, Virginia. I was super excited about this opportunity for a few reasons:</div>
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1) This necklace I saw on their website. </div>
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2) The past few years I really haven't cared much about fashion. This year I've found myself caring a little bit more, so the timing of this opportunity was perfect. </div>
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3) The chain is based out of Charlotte. Charlotte = Love. </div>
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They had their grand opening today. I've been housebound for a couple of days due to the snow, so I was excited to escape for a little bit and see what they had to offer. It turns out they have a lot to offer, and all at very budget friendly prices. The store reminded me a little of Charming Charlie's. Everything was organized by color, the styles were trendy, but not overly youthful. I think that any woman, despite her age, could find something on their well stocked racks to suit their style & personality. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z3tBM2Ld7VeD-NtdQdVvyRSG5wYwjdkNl6satDXGqX-4ZD3A6wFE07GGfsufyIcKjDsAhTgABpcICNGowmHzu8DBWyiRHloizN8qSkchO9V5ZMlEk6wC7CHe07cKr7bw1mc7DXtRhDc/s1600/2014-01-25+13.21.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z3tBM2Ld7VeD-NtdQdVvyRSG5wYwjdkNl6satDXGqX-4ZD3A6wFE07GGfsufyIcKjDsAhTgABpcICNGowmHzu8DBWyiRHloizN8qSkchO9V5ZMlEk6wC7CHe07cKr7bw1mc7DXtRhDc/s1600/2014-01-25+13.21.58.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm not at all trendy, but the moment I walked in the store, I found quite a few things I loved. </div>
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This dress for example. It's in my signature color, it's a respectable length for a 30 year old woman, and it was inexpensive. I didn't love the way it was styled... I feel like it had one too many necklaces and I hated the belt, but the dress itself was super cute. </div>
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The quatrefoil necklace... This came home with me (the navy blue one). At $11.99, I'll probably go back and get the white one too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxopT1kB0MUgL-kRbJwX7nDU-ptj-acmtwGCqwiAH2O2QsE4YG5PnsXvZGxN4xvkucIxFwke19rLG09nYWKAl0iup9MGtYEtIXvg-S4xlsFjG-1HDspqepVsc3JNJAE6gcz5SGk6mP_E/s1600/2014-01-30+11.00.46+HDR-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxopT1kB0MUgL-kRbJwX7nDU-ptj-acmtwGCqwiAH2O2QsE4YG5PnsXvZGxN4xvkucIxFwke19rLG09nYWKAl0iup9MGtYEtIXvg-S4xlsFjG-1HDspqepVsc3JNJAE6gcz5SGk6mP_E/s1600/2014-01-30+11.00.46+HDR-1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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This wall of scarves was so cheerful. I love scarves. LOVE them. I was excited to see so many summery styles. They had multiple sections like this set up throughout the store, all sorted by color. No matter what color you're looking for, you will have no trouble finding something appropriate. </div>
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These anchor cardigans were adorable, and so perfect for spring. They were light weight and came in a variety of cheerful colors. If these bright colors aren't your style, they also had them in more neutral colors in another section of the store.<br />
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These initial necklaces were adorable (and only $9.99)! I love the style of the necklace. From a distance, it looks like a proper monogram.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrrbdZ7bdq_9LcZSH3w5L3laQD_T2gBHWipBY-vNep9F98XHFNGxXx4RYurzHogy01NItxYe2bnyVdMQqJmqEC0hUqh0M2Uyf2pisoTdTWyTtDMO_Y__rkisGQSvbRxDCH5C_A0mAEo4/s1600/2014-01-30+11.11.27+HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrrbdZ7bdq_9LcZSH3w5L3laQD_T2gBHWipBY-vNep9F98XHFNGxXx4RYurzHogy01NItxYe2bnyVdMQqJmqEC0hUqh0M2Uyf2pisoTdTWyTtDMO_Y__rkisGQSvbRxDCH5C_A0mAEo4/s1600/2014-01-30+11.11.27+HDR.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I came home with these three pieces, all for about $32. I'm super excited about each of them!<br />
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These stores are popping up all over the country, and if there is one in your area, I have a great giveaway for you! I was given a $25 gift card to give away to one of my readers!<br />
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<b>Want to win? Here's what you can do (two chances to win):</b><br />
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1) Leave a comment here telling me about what accessories you're coveting for the spring.<br />
2) Tweet about the giveaway (leave a comment here with the link to your tweet).<br />
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All entries must be received by 2/6/2014 at 11:59pm (EST). A winner will be randomly selected on Friday, 2/7/2014.<br />
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<i>The fine print: I was compensated with a promotional item for hosting this giveaway, but all opinions are my own.</i> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-11510590015237766892014-01-31T17:56:00.001-06:002014-01-31T18:05:21.104-06:00Recipe: Pretzel Rolls & Bread Bowls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvIBHf6riWz6-7tk4P4Hi7jUtD-KImGTBCYtt2LkPXPmr6ak77kYb9xf6OokeXKf-cOgJeZ0gimbb0iy4CtbpphTBQ9lLA9ESgcjMC1zvDAtsfFvnhLQy34mS1TVYK6l8HMb3UjoSkKU/s1600/2014-01-28+19.12.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvIBHf6riWz6-7tk4P4Hi7jUtD-KImGTBCYtt2LkPXPmr6ak77kYb9xf6OokeXKf-cOgJeZ0gimbb0iy4CtbpphTBQ9lLA9ESgcjMC1zvDAtsfFvnhLQy34mS1TVYK6l8HMb3UjoSkKU/s1600/2014-01-28+19.12.13.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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During our snow day this week, I decided to make bread bowls for our homemade broccoli & cheese soup. These were so good, and really easy to make. They were time consuming, but super simple. </div>
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The only problem? </div>
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They're pretty small. They held about one ladle of soup. Soup is one of my favorite things, and I like a lot of it. However, they're too big for rolls. So I think next time I'll divide them into 10 balls and make pretzel rolls next time we have burgers. </div>
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Size issues aside, these were so, SO good. They're absolutely amazing right out of the oven, and two days later, they're still delicious. </div>
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I'm really happy with how my bread baking is coming along. I used to have to throw out the ingredients about 90% of the time because I could never get the yeast to rise. I've stopped buying the jars of yeast, and now just buy the packets when I need it. So, make sure your yeast is good & make these =) </div>
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<b>Homemade Pretzel Bowls (Rolls)</b></div>
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(Original recipe found <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/10/homemade-pretzel-bread-bowls.html">here</a>.)</div>
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<b><i>Ingredients:</i></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>6 C. of all-purpose flour</li>
<li>1 packet (2 1/4 t.) of dry active yeast</li>
<li>1 T. of brown sugar</li>
<li>2 C. of hot water</li>
<li>3 T. of butter</li>
<li>2 t. of salt</li>
<li>8-10 C. of water</li>
<li>1/3 C. of baking soda</li>
<li>2 T. of melted butter</li>
<li>2 T. of coarse sea salt</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Directions:</i></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the 3 T. of butter, brown sugar and hot water. Stir to dissolve the sugar & melt the butter. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let proof (foam) for about 5 minutes.</li>
<li>Add 1/2 of the flour & 2 t. of salt to the wet ingredients, and combine using the dough hook attachment. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the rest of the flour. Mix until a dough ball forms and knead until the dough has become elastic, about 5 minutes. </li>
<li>Turn onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Move the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise for one hour. (If your kitchen is cool, heat your oven at a very low temperature while you prepare the dough. Turn the oven off, but don't open the door. Place the covered bowl in the warm oven.)</li>
<li>After an hour, punch the dough down and place on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 pieces & roll into evenly shaped balls. Place on a parchment/silpat lined baking sheet, cover & let rest for 20 minutes. </li>
<li>Preheat oven to 400 degrees.</li>
<li>In a large pot, heat the water until just boiling. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and boil each ball of dough for 45 seconds, turning each one halfway through. Place each dough ball back on the baking sheet. Cut a small "x" in the middle of each ball, and brush each one with melted butter & sprinkle on the sea salt. </li>
<li>Bake for 15-18 minutes (I baked mine for the full 18) until browned all over.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4mJCw4JiO8wGAkG7b82x1XDdKQq5H9FVMN-eAfM2AQA2kRs7Y3baOdmAQ3A-SWjpmAt1TQ7J8ZmIRKnXFAjZ7SgxGaVIC8LfeCuJn2YmHoF_5wC8kh81LP39jCtnuTSnNu3DB_DO5aA/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4mJCw4JiO8wGAkG7b82x1XDdKQq5H9FVMN-eAfM2AQA2kRs7Y3baOdmAQ3A-SWjpmAt1TQ7J8ZmIRKnXFAjZ7SgxGaVIC8LfeCuJn2YmHoF_5wC8kh81LP39jCtnuTSnNu3DB_DO5aA/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-57434023003927647962014-01-29T17:05:00.002-06:002014-01-29T17:05:33.345-06:00Recipe: Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPm5DCkmQhtrtv6Bj_-Q5Z1qSFUsxhmP9NBw_hkt2JGdEohGfGtVGQFmUNOmsXyg-hyQFmfSLmcN0ZBZ8DRP75-vAUOMDM6Wsh4p2Jf4kQUmRlutfOM117UlKOpnBQml_gYRYRZQ6sGc/s1600/1512383_10101159235764397_737297342_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPm5DCkmQhtrtv6Bj_-Q5Z1qSFUsxhmP9NBw_hkt2JGdEohGfGtVGQFmUNOmsXyg-hyQFmfSLmcN0ZBZ8DRP75-vAUOMDM6Wsh4p2Jf4kQUmRlutfOM117UlKOpnBQml_gYRYRZQ6sGc/s1600/1512383_10101159235764397_737297342_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I can't believe I haven't blogged this recipe yet, especially since it's frequently in our dinner rotation. This is a chicken dish that is not only healthy, but also insanely quick and easy. Every componet of this is delicious. The chicken is cooked on its own, and then warmed & finished off in the delicious sauce. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: start;">(I doubt what type of beer you use matters. I don't drink much beer, so I use whatever Graham has in the fridge, which is usually Shiner Bock or Yeungling.)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span>
<b>Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce</b><br />
(Adapted from <a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/quick-easy-chicken-recipes-00400000001025/page29.html">Cooking Light</a>.)<br />
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<b><i>Ingredients</i></b>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Olive oil</li>
<li>salt & pepper</li>
<li>4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts</li>
<li>1 onion; thinly sliced</li>
<li>2 cloves of garlic, minced</li>
<li>1/2 C. of beer </li>
<li>2 T. of low sodium soy sauce</li>
<li>1 T. of Dijon mustard</li>
<li>1 T. of honey</li>
<li>Parsley (optional)</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Directions</i></b>:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken with salt & pepper and add to pan when oil is heated. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and cover with foil to keep warm. </li>
<li>Add onions to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.</li>
<li>Combine beer, soy sauce, honey & Dijon in a small bowl (or measuring cup) and whisk together. Add mixture to pan with onions & garlic and bring to a boil, scraping the pan to loosen the browned bits. </li>
<li>Cook for about 3 minutes, or until liquid has reduced to about 1/2 a cup. </li>
<li>Return chicken to the pan. Turn to coat evenly in sauce and heat for a minute. </li>
<li>Serve with some of the cooked onions & sauce on top. </li>
</ol>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-70181727144222384232014-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-24T06:00:11.765-06:00Recipe: Jambalaya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">One of my Christmas gifts this year from my in-laws was a </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307464873/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307464873&linkCode=as2&tag=clasampfabu-20" style="text-align: left;">Barefoot Contessa cookbook</a><span style="text-align: left;">. I immediately </span><span style="text-align: left;">marked a ton of recipes I wanted to make, including this Jambalaya recipe</span></div>
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There was a lot going on in this dish, and everything came together perfectly. This made a ton! We had leftovers for dinner a couple of nights later, and Graham & I have been eating it for lunch all week. It made so much, that I feel I should warn you that you need a pretty big pot to cook this in. I have a 6 quart dutch oven and it was filled pretty much to capacity!</div>
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<br />
<b>Amelia's Jambalaya</b><br />
(Original recipe found <a href="http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=897&S=0">here</a>.)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Ingredients:</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Olive oil</li>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 1.100000023841858px; line-height: 24px;">1½</span> lbs. of andouille sausage, sliced diagonally about 1/2" thick</li>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 1.100000023841858px; line-height: 24px;">1½ </span>lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs</li>
<li>1 lb. of jumbo shrimp; peeled & deveined</li>
<li>1 large onion; chopped</li>
<li>2 red bell peppers; chopped</li>
<li>4 stalks of celery; sliced in half moons</li>
<li>2 jalapenos; finely chopped (seeds & membranes removed)</li>
<li>1 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes; drained & roughly chopped</li>
<li>3 cloves of garlic; minced</li>
<li>2 T. of tomato paste</li>
<li>2 t. of dried oregano</li>
<li>1 t. of dried thyme</li>
<li>1 t. of cayenne pepper</li>
<li>2 T. of Creole seasoning (I like <a href="http://shop.tonychachere.com/original-creole-seasoning-8-oz-p-21714.html">this</a> brand)</li>
<li>3 bay leaves</li>
<li>1 C. of dry white wine (I used Pinot Grigio)</li>
<li>5 C. of chicken stock</li>
<li>3 C. of white rice</li>
<li>Salt & pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Directions:</i></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Heat about 2 T. of oil over medium-high heat and brown sausage until browned on both sides (about 8-10 minutes). Remove the sausage to a plate and add the chicken to the dutch oven. Brown on both sides, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove to the plate and set aside. </li>
<li>Add more oil to the dutch oven. Then add the peppers, onions & celery to the pot and saute for about 10 minutes, or until tender. </li>
<li>Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, thyme, oregano, cayenne, creole seasoning & 1 teaspoon of salt, and cook for another 2 minutes. </li>
<li>Add the white wine & deglaze the pan. Then add the stock, the rice & the browned meat back to the pan. Bring contents to a boil, and then cover & reduce heat to low & simmer for 20 minutes. </li>
<li>Stir in the shrimp, re-cover and simmer for 10 more minutes. </li>
<li>Before serving, discard the bay leaves and add additional creole seasoning if you need more heat. </li>
</ol>
</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-64646106758919957502014-01-23T16:44:00.001-06:002014-01-23T16:44:18.509-06:00Hermione's Snow Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-58976309073587363542014-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-23T06:00:02.012-06:00Chicken & Dumpling Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There is actually snow on the ground in Virginia. Tuesday the weather forecasters were calling for 2-5" of snow overnight. The city started shutting down at about 1:00pm. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen. I mean, they were already calling off school for the next day, night classes at universities were cancelled, even the military bases were closing early. All at the threat of snow. Only in the south, right?</div>
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Well, when we woke up yesterday morning, there <i>was</i> a good bit of snow on the ground. Maybe right at 2". Enough for Hermione to play in, and enough for a pot of homemade soup to be a necessity. I love <a href="http://www.bakecreatelove.com/2011/03/chicken-buttermilk-dumplings-day-13.html">chicken and dumplings</a>, and remembered that I used to order chicken & dumpling soup all the time at Atlanta Bread Company (anyone else remember that place?). </div>
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<br />
This soup was so good. It tasted just like my usual chicken & dumplings, but the lighter broth was just what I was looking for tonight. I bought a whole chicken to cook, instead of just using chopped chicken breasts, just so I could make homemade stock. The broth was perfect. It had so much flavor and I had exactly enough to make the soup. It was also super easy to make. I just let the chicken & stock simmer while I tidied around the apartment. I usually make dumplings from scratch, but Graham prefers dumplings made from canned biscuits, so this time I just used those.<br />
<br />
This soup was so good, and I'm glad it made a ton, so I have plenty leftover. The snow may be melting, but it's still pretty cold outside =)<br />
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<b>Chicken & Dumpling Soup</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.aspicyperspective.com/2013/06/chicken-and-dumplings-soup-recipe.html">this one</a>.)</div>
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<b><i>Ingredients:</i></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>1 whole chicken (about 4ish lbs); or just 1 lb. of boneless chicken breasts</li>
<li>4 T. of butter (or olive oil)</li>
<li>1 medium onion; chopped. </li>
<li>5 carrots; peeled and thinly sliced</li>
<li>5 stalks of celery; thinly sliced</li>
<li>3 cloves of garlic; minced</li>
<li>8 cups of chicken stock</li>
<li>1 7.5 oz can of biscuits (NOT the flaky ones); chopped into 1/2" pieces</li>
<li>1 bay leaf</li>
<li>pinch of turmeric (for color)</li>
<li>salt & pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Directions:</i></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>If you're making your own stock, put the chicken in a large stock pot & add enough water to cover the chicken. To flavor the stock, add ingredients & bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for an hour. Remove the chicken & let cool, strain the stock to remove the solids & set aside. Chop the chicken into bite sized pieces once cooled. </li>
<ul>
<li>1 T. of kosher salt</li>
<li>1 carrot, chopped in half</li>
<li>2 stalks of celery, chopped in half</li>
<li>1 onion, quartered</li>
<li>1 head of garlic, chopped sliced in half</li>
</ul>
<li>Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium heat. When butter is completely melted, add the carrots, celery, onion & garlic, and cook until tender; about 10 minutes. </li>
<li>Add the chicken stock, bay leaf & turmeric. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. </li>
<li>Stir in the chopped chicken & the chopped biscuits (I cut each biscuit into four strips, and then cut each strip into 4 pieces). Cover and let simmer; about 10 minutes, or until the "dumplings" have firmed up. </li>
</ol>
</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-83593519190313010672014-01-21T06:00:00.000-06:002014-01-21T06:00:04.137-06:00Recipe: Spicy Pork & Kale Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://foxeslovelemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Bon-Appetit-January-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://foxeslovelemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Bon-Appetit-January-2014.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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I don't remember subscribing to Bon Appetit magazine, but i'm so glad I did. As soon as I got the January issue in the mail & saw the cover soup, I knew I had to make it. This was absolutely delicious. It wasn't overly spicy, the heat was a slow building heat, and the addition of the extra vegetables made it a little heartier. </div>
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But the best part of this soup was the broth. I went to three stores and couldn't find sichuan peppercorns, so I substituted some chili garlic sauce. But in addition to the heat from the chili sauce, there was also red pepper flakes and cumin seed. The soy sauce & fish sauce also added depth to the broth. The broth was so good, this would have been delicious without the pork, noodles & vegetables. </div>
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The recipe originally called for mustard greens, but I had a ton of leftover kale so I used that. The recipe says you could also try it with turnip greens & beet greens. </div>
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<b>Spicy Pork & Kale Soup</b></div>
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(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/spicy-pork-and-mustard-green-soup">this one</a>.)</div>
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<b><i>Ingredients:</i></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>1 lb. of ground pork</li>
<li>3 cloves of garlic; minced</li>
<li>2" piece of ginger; peeled & finely grated</li>
<li>3 t. of crushed red pepper flakes</li>
<li>1 t. of cumin seeds; coarsely chopped</li>
<li>3 T. of chili garlic sauce</li>
<li>1 T. of vegetable oil</li>
<li>1 medium onion; chopped</li>
<li>3 carrots; peeled & diced</li>
<li>6 cups of chopped kale</li>
<li>6 cups of chicken stock</li>
<li>3 T. of soy sauce</li>
<li>2 t. of fish sauce</li>
<li>8 oz. of wide rice noodles </li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Directions:</i></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Mix pork, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, cumin, and salt & pepper in a large bowl. </li>
<li>Saute onions & carrots in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, and remove with a slotted spoon.</li>
<li>Add pork mixture to the pot and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until browned. Stir constantly & break up with a spoon while it is cooking. </li>
<li>Add veggies and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the greens, soy sauce and fish sauce and cook for about 5 minutes, or until greens are tender. </li>
<li>Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain, and set aside. </li>
<li>To serve: Divide the noodles among the soup bowls and ladle soup over. </li>
</ol>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3659542828252999514.post-29596754697938681152014-01-20T15:17:00.000-06:002014-01-20T15:17:54.158-06:00Restaurant Review: Zaytinya (Washington, DC)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For our second "second" anniversary, we took a short trip to DC. We had a great day exploring one of my favorite cities and ended the evening with an amazing dinner at Zaytinya. </div>
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We had reservations for 7:45 and we arrived a few minutes early. They couldn't sit us yet, so we had a drink at the bar. I had a delicious <a href="http://www.snooth.com/wine/thymiopoulos-vineyards-malagouzia-boarding-pass-2012-17/">glass of wine</a> & Graham had an interesting cocktail. It was called the Olympic Torch. It had Greek brandy, Cocchi Americano, cardamom syrup, lemon juice, flamed orange... and an egg white. The egg white made us both a little concerned, but the drink was absolutely delicious, and the egg white gave it really nice body.</div>
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Once we were seated, our waitress brought out amazing pita bread with Greek olive oil & pomegranate vinegar for dipping. I had also mentioned that it was our anniversary when I made the reservation, so she also brought us complimentary glasses of champagne to toast with. The bread was amazing, and the pomegranate vinegar was a very pleasant surprise. It was tart & delicious with the oil & warm bread.<br />
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We asked our waitress about the sizes of the portions, and she said that most couples order 5-7 items. We started with five but as the waitress was walking away, I added on an order of the Elies Tis Elledas (marinated olives). I love olives. I could live on olives. These were wonderful. </div>
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The Piyaz (imported warm giant beans, kale, oven roasted tomato & garlic) was delicious. I actually tried to recreate this as soon as we were back in Virginia. It wasn't nearly as good as what we had at Zaytinya. Theirs was creamy & delicious, and packed with flavor.<br />
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The mushroom couscous was phenomenal. I've never has couscous like this before. The couscous was huge, and the dish was rich and hearty. The Brussels sprouts leaves didn't offer as much flavor as I hoped, but the mushrooms were delicious. This was my favorite of the side dishes that we ordered. I even liked the garlic toum. </div>
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I didn't like that they brought all of the side dishes out first, and all of the meat out at the end, but whatever. The scallops were my favorite thing we ordered that night. The scallops were served in a harissa-carrot puree, orange sections & radishes. This was amazing. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and all of the flavors tied together really well. The carrot puree was <i>so</i> good. I was worried it would be overly sweet, but it was amazing.<br />
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The octopus Santorini (grilled Mediterranean octopus, marinated onions, capers, & yellow split pea puree) was Graham's favorite. This was fantastic. The octopus had a slightly smokey taste and was super tender.<br />
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And last, we had the ufra biftek (grilled hanger steak, arugula tabbouleh & roasted hazelnuts). Oh my gosh, this was good. Everything about this was perfect. The steak was perfectly cooked and so flavorful. The arugula tabbouleh was delicious, and the pomegranate seeds were the perfect tart & sweet surprise.<br />
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Even though we were full, ordering dessert is a must on an anniversary dinner. We couldn't decide which one to share, so we ordered small portions of the two we were torn between. I had the chocolate rose (rose<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ice cream, chocolate custard, spiced berry puree) & Graham had the Galatopita (semolina<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>custard<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>espuma, apples, crispy phyllo, almonds, honey crisp apple sorbet). Both were completely amazing & the perfect end to our dinner.<br />
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This was a completely amazing dinner. I read a lot of "Best of DC" lists trying to decide where to have dinner, and I'm so glad that so many of them mentioned Zaytinya. This was one of the best dinners I've ever had. If you have the opportunity, make a reservation (you're definitely going to want a reservation) and get yourself there. You will not regret it!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/107114/restaurant/DC/Chinatown/Zaytinya-Washington"><img alt="Zaytinya on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/107114/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801695854640612128noreply@blogger.com0