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Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thought for Sunday
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
O Holy Night
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
Thought for Sunday
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
Three Thursday Things
These Three Thursday Things posts have helped me focus on little things I am thankful for this holiday season. I am so blessed to be looking forward to spending Christmas with family that everything else is just icing on the cake.
Here's a peek at "my icing" this week:
After weeks of hard work, E and I have finally finished refinishing the hardwood floors in the Sunroom. They are still "curing" but in the meantime, I can't stop sneaking peeks. They are almost too pretty to cover up with a rug and furniture.
We are lucky enough to have family and friends continue to send us Christmas cards year after year even though we don't send any in return. I especially love the photo cards!
Mom and I had a baking day Monday that went over into Tuesday. I can't wait to sink my teeth into these gorgeous homemade sticky buns!
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Here's a peek at "my icing" this week:
After weeks of hard work, E and I have finally finished refinishing the hardwood floors in the Sunroom. They are still "curing" but in the meantime, I can't stop sneaking peeks. They are almost too pretty to cover up with a rug and furniture.
Mom and I had a baking day Monday that went over into Tuesday. I can't wait to sink my teeth into these gorgeous homemade sticky buns!
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Thought for Sunday
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Friday, December 14, 2012
The Weekly Nightcap - A Partridge in a Pear Tree
Pears taste like Christmas to me. My family has enjoyed Harry and David's Royal Riviera Pears
in December for as long as I can remember. When the box is delivered on my doorstep, I feel that Christmas is imminent.
I also try to make them last as long as I can (usually this entails ordering more than one box) and find different ways to use them. My favorite way to enjoy a pear is sliced in half, cored, and with a spoon. Of course they are also good in salads but I thought - why not in a cocktail?
in December for as long as I can remember. When the box is delivered on my doorstep, I feel that Christmas is imminent.
I also try to make them last as long as I can (usually this entails ordering more than one box) and find different ways to use them. My favorite way to enjoy a pear is sliced in half, cored, and with a spoon. Of course they are also good in salads but I thought - why not in a cocktail?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Three Thursday Things
This week, I can't get enough of:
Christmas Decorations
Clementines
My go to wrist stack (at least this week)
african elephant hair bracelet, jcrew pave link bracelet (similar), michael kors watch (similar), loft panther bracelet (similar)
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken
This recipe is one that came together by accident. I used a recipe for slow cooker chicken and E and I just weren't wowed by it. It was just okay. However, I had leftovers and didn't want to waste them. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I added some different ingredients and managed to salvage the recipe.
The second night it was way better. You know what they say, don't ever give up. You never know when a few additional ingredients can completely transform a recipe.
Lesson of the day: don't be afraid to experiment - you just may stumble upon a winner!
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken
serves 6
6 skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup peanut butter
4 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs lime juice
2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp minced ginger
15oz can coconut milk
2 tbs red curry paste
1 tbs curry powder
sliced green onion for garnish, if desired
Place chicken in slow cooker. Stir together everything else and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over rice and top with green onions.
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The second night it was way better. You know what they say, don't ever give up. You never know when a few additional ingredients can completely transform a recipe.
Lesson of the day: don't be afraid to experiment - you just may stumble upon a winner!
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken
serves 6
6 skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup peanut butter
4 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs lime juice
2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp minced ginger
15oz can coconut milk
2 tbs red curry paste
1 tbs curry powder
sliced green onion for garnish, if desired
Place chicken in slow cooker. Stir together everything else and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over rice and top with green onions.
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Sunday, December 9, 2012
Thought for Sunday
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Friday, December 7, 2012
The Weekly Nightcap - The Holiday Party
For the past eight years, E and I have been attending his company holiday party. It has changed over the years for sure. Co-workers have come and gone. The parties have included everything from full dinner, to just cookies, big gift giveaways and hot drunk messes. One thing that never changes? A full bar.
That's pretty much a requirement for corporate parties, right? Perhaps the most fun I ever had was two years ago. The scene had changed from swanky downtown Baltimore hotels, to Aberdeen, and back to Baltimore again. Many of the "young crowd" of employees we were friends with weren't going to be there. We were basically just planning on making an appearance. Say "hi", have a drink or two and then be on our way. Then we run into our friends at the bar and I order an Ameretto. He mentioned if I like whiskey (um, of course!) he recommends Amaretto and Crown Royal instead.
Not only did the party turn out better than we ever expected (low expectations almost always pays off) but I found a new favorite cocktail. This now always reminds me of our friends, the holidays and the grand time we had at what would have been an otherwise forgettable party.
I will mention, don't drink these mindlessly. It may just taste like sweet Amaretto, but it is half Whiskey. I may or may not have had one too many that night and our night may or may not have included a long cab ride back to Hunt Valley:)
Happy Holidays!
The Holiday Party
makes 1 drink
1 oz Ameretto
1 oz Crown Royal
Pour over ice and stir to combine. You'll have a happy holiday indeed!
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That's pretty much a requirement for corporate parties, right? Perhaps the most fun I ever had was two years ago. The scene had changed from swanky downtown Baltimore hotels, to Aberdeen, and back to Baltimore again. Many of the "young crowd" of employees we were friends with weren't going to be there. We were basically just planning on making an appearance. Say "hi", have a drink or two and then be on our way. Then we run into our friends at the bar and I order an Ameretto. He mentioned if I like whiskey (um, of course!) he recommends Amaretto and Crown Royal instead.
Not only did the party turn out better than we ever expected (low expectations almost always pays off) but I found a new favorite cocktail. This now always reminds me of our friends, the holidays and the grand time we had at what would have been an otherwise forgettable party.
I will mention, don't drink these mindlessly. It may just taste like sweet Amaretto, but it is half Whiskey. I may or may not have had one too many that night and our night may or may not have included a long cab ride back to Hunt Valley:)
Happy Holidays!
The Holiday Party
makes 1 drink
1 oz Ameretto
1 oz Crown Royal
Pour over ice and stir to combine. You'll have a happy holiday indeed!
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Three Thursday Things
My Thursday Latelies Video fell by the wayside mainly due to the fact that video isn't really my thing (please, don't pretend to be surprised). But I still love the idea of pointing out things I am enjoying or thankful for every week.
Thus "Three Thursday Things" came about and was named mostly because I love alliteration.
It's hard to believe its December already - the most wonderful time of the year. Because Thanksgiving was so early this year, we are left with more than a month to enjoy the Christmas season. Two things I am enjoying this week are all holiday related.
A box of Harry and David pears (a family tradition) ripening on the counter (tastes like Christmas to me)
My favorite candle to burn in December makes the house smell like it's full of freshly cut evergreens (Fresh Balsam - Bath and Body Works)
The final thing is hard earned. The reclaimed wood floors are finally down in our sunroom. Phase one of four is complete. Sanding, polyurethane, and molding still to come as well as the whole rundown of laying the floors.
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Thus "Three Thursday Things" came about and was named mostly because I love alliteration.
It's hard to believe its December already - the most wonderful time of the year. Because Thanksgiving was so early this year, we are left with more than a month to enjoy the Christmas season. Two things I am enjoying this week are all holiday related.
A box of Harry and David pears (a family tradition) ripening on the counter (tastes like Christmas to me)
My favorite candle to burn in December makes the house smell like it's full of freshly cut evergreens (Fresh Balsam - Bath and Body Works)
The final thing is hard earned. The reclaimed wood floors are finally down in our sunroom. Phase one of four is complete. Sanding, polyurethane, and molding still to come as well as the whole rundown of laying the floors.
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Monday, December 3, 2012
Butternut Squash Orzotto
It's no secret that risotto is one of my favorite dishes. There is just something so wonderfully rich and decadent about it.
So what better thing to do it pasta then to make it risotto-like? This orzotto dish has all the wonderfulness of risotto but with orzo pasta instead of arborio rice. I like to use whole wheat orzo because it is heartier and cooks a bit longer than regular orzo.
You don't want the orzo to get mushy, so taste it often to get just to the al dente point. It will cook just a smidge more while you continue to stir it and it sits.
This orzotto is a great holiday dish or even a great use for leftovers. In fact, leftover roasted butternut squash works best. I add just a bit of chicken stock, if needed, when pureeing it in the food processor. You want the butternut squash to be thick, no too thin.
Enjoy!
Butternut Squash Orzotto
(serves 5-6)
2 cups roasted butternut squash, pureed
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs unsalted butter
2 medium shallots, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper
1 cup whole wheat orzo (or regular orzo)
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken stock
dash of ground cayenne, optional
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Bring 3 cups of chicken broth to a simmer in medium sauce pan. Reduce heat to low.
Melt butter and olive oil to deep skillet or dutch oven. Add shallots and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until tender. Add salt and pepper and orzo pasta. Stirring constantly, toast orzo for 1 minute. Add white wine and continue stirring until most liquid has been absorbed. Add chicken stock, one ladle at a time. Continue to stir constantly adding more chicken stock only when previous stock has been mostly absorbed.
Taste orzo when almost all of stock has been used to test for pasta doneness. When pasta is al dente, add butternut squash and salt and pepper to taste if needed. Turn off heat and stir in parmesan cheese and cayenne.
Serve immediately.
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Sunday, December 2, 2012
Thought for Sunday
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
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