Is it any surprise that this week's new recipe is also from Rachael Ray? Probably not. Once again, it comes from 365: No Repeats. I have made many recipes from this cookbook. If you don't have a Rachael Ray cookbook and are interested in one, I'd start here. Lots to choose from!
Asian-style Cashew Chicken: I love a good stir-fry. They're quick, easy and often chock full of veggies! We even doubled up on the snow peas here. Well worth it. This recipe had a lot of ingredients but it was very simple. So simple that my sous chef put on the head chef hat and I helped out when I could. I was doing something else at the same time, I forget what. Anyway, this was a great cashew chicken recipe. Give it a shot and pump up the veggies!
p.s. This recipe is a revamped version of the one before it in the book, Park City Cashew Chicken -- click back a few pages to get the master recipe through that link
p.p.s. I numbered wrong. I didn't skip #49. Promise!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Slippers for Ben
A couple months ago, my sister said my nephew Ben could use some slippers (B - stop reading if you don't want to see these, also don't show Ben!) You know, for those cold Texas nights. I followed this Made by Rae Tutorial only I skipped the dragon parts. Too much more effort. Let me tell you something about sewing little fleece slippers. I wished I had a mini sewing machine for smaller sewing spots. But, they turned out okay in the end. I hope they keep Ben's toes toasty warm. I really wanted a bright colored fleece but everything I came across had a large pattern that wouldn't have worked.
The gray fabric on the left is sherpa lined suede. Soft on the inside, non-skid suede on the outside. Then, black fleece for the interior, and a black and red (though it looks like white too) plaid for the exterior.
Slippers are tough to photograph without a child to put them on.
Perhaps this model will do? Sadie loves her Christmas bandanna but wasn't too pleased to add
Slipper Model to her doggie resume.
Anyway, I hope Ben and the other little boy I made a second pair for enjoy them a lot!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Weird Beer
Chocolate Cherry Beer: Dark wheat, O'Fallon
I only have one beer to share today. I've tasted others recently but this one deserves its own post. My apologies for the photo. I was so excited after tasting it I simply could not get a clear shot. This, my friends, is the Cherry Chocolate Beer from O'Fallon Brewery. While everyone else is offering up their Christmas and holiday spirits, O'Fallon is marching to the beat of their own beer vat. It's a dark wheat in variety and yes, it tastes like cherry chocolate. Think liquid cherry cordial. Oh.my.stars! Is this good. Sweet, yes. Chocolate-y, yes. Cherry-y, oh yes. No, it doesn't really taste like beer but really. Did you buy something called Cherry Chocolate beer because you were craving a brew? No, you did not. Check it out if you can find it. Try your local Kroger. That's where we got ours. Cheers!
I only have one beer to share today. I've tasted others recently but this one deserves its own post. My apologies for the photo. I was so excited after tasting it I simply could not get a clear shot. This, my friends, is the Cherry Chocolate Beer from O'Fallon Brewery. While everyone else is offering up their Christmas and holiday spirits, O'Fallon is marching to the beat of their own beer vat. It's a dark wheat in variety and yes, it tastes like cherry chocolate. Think liquid cherry cordial. Oh.my.stars! Is this good. Sweet, yes. Chocolate-y, yes. Cherry-y, oh yes. No, it doesn't really taste like beer but really. Did you buy something called Cherry Chocolate beer because you were craving a brew? No, you did not. Check it out if you can find it. Try your local Kroger. That's where we got ours. Cheers!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Here is the very briefest of synopses for you. Upon turning 11 years old, orphaned Harry Potter learns he is a wizard and is enrolled in Hogwart's, a wizarding school. For the next 6 years, he will learn potions and spells and what it takes to be a part of this life he previously knew nothing about. He quickly hears of evil wizard Voldemort and finds himself involved, along with his wizarding friends, in a race against time to rescue the Sorcerer's Stone from falling into the wrong hands.
Verdict: I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I can see why the world is enraptured by J.K. Rowling's creation. A friend of mine advised that the books get better as the series progresses. I'm looking forward to continuing on with them and hoping, perhaps, to finish all 7 (or 8? I can't remember) by the end of the year. A tall order since I have the Steve Jobs bio to pick up as well. But, I love a good reading challenge and have a lot of time off around the holidays.
Rating: * * * *
Monday, December 5, 2011
Fitness Check In
This is a smidge belated but I wanted to report, I survived Thanksgiving and am now fully back on track with eating and working out. I accomplished two goals over that holiday: 1) No seconds at the Thanksgiving table and dessert at only 1 of the 2 dinners I went to, 2) Don't drink too much. John and I both policed ourselves really well in both regards. That's hard to do when we are back in our hometown for a long weekend. His parents are bad food influences.
Oh, and the most amazing feat, we both got up and ran outside on Thanksgiving! I was super proud of us for that. Even though John wouldn't register to run a turkey trot, we waged our own trot around the streets of A-Town. It sunny but chilly (in the 40's) and I do not like running outside, especially not in those temps. I didn't have any mittens so my hands were cold but I thought I fared pretty well. My time wasn't so hot but I was just going for stamina, and surviving. I only walked one hill, and it was a beast. The sad part about this was that I missed the Newsies performance during the parade. I love Newsies! I need to get to NYC and see it on Broadway. Then on Black Friday, I walked at the malls for a good 5-6 hours and then came home and went on an hour walk with Sadie, her dog friend Dexter and my good friend of 20 years. It was awesome! Though I was exhausted, having gotten up at 5:30 to shop.
So, now that we're a week post-Thanksgiving, I'm allowed to weigh myself again. A month or so ago, I promised myself I would cut back on carbs and incorporate more fruits and veggies instead. I'm happy to say that too is going swimmingly. I'm also loving my new Zumba toning class on Mondays. I traded a normal zumba day for treadmill speed work. If you don't have a plan of attack with eating and fitness heading into the holidays, you're sunk. Fortunately, I have plans for both and so I am swimming!
Oh, and the most amazing feat, we both got up and ran outside on Thanksgiving! I was super proud of us for that. Even though John wouldn't register to run a turkey trot, we waged our own trot around the streets of A-Town. It sunny but chilly (in the 40's) and I do not like running outside, especially not in those temps. I didn't have any mittens so my hands were cold but I thought I fared pretty well. My time wasn't so hot but I was just going for stamina, and surviving. I only walked one hill, and it was a beast. The sad part about this was that I missed the Newsies performance during the parade. I love Newsies! I need to get to NYC and see it on Broadway. Then on Black Friday, I walked at the malls for a good 5-6 hours and then came home and went on an hour walk with Sadie, her dog friend Dexter and my good friend of 20 years. It was awesome! Though I was exhausted, having gotten up at 5:30 to shop.
So, now that we're a week post-Thanksgiving, I'm allowed to weigh myself again. A month or so ago, I promised myself I would cut back on carbs and incorporate more fruits and veggies instead. I'm happy to say that too is going swimmingly. I'm also loving my new Zumba toning class on Mondays. I traded a normal zumba day for treadmill speed work. If you don't have a plan of attack with eating and fitness heading into the holidays, you're sunk. Fortunately, I have plans for both and so I am swimming!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Recipe Re-blog #48
We are in the home stretch, my friends. Only 1 month of new recipes to go.
Ginger Chicken Noodle Bowl: This recipe comes from the enigmatic Rachael Ray and can be found in her cookbook, 365 Recipes: No Repeats. I was craving Asian and while I really wanted Sweet & Sour Chicken, preferably of the fried variety, I was trying to healthify dinner a bit. This recipe has lots of ingredients and I didn't skimp on any of them! That never happens. Did you people know that you don't have to buy that entire chunk of fresh ginger in the grocery store? You can break off a piece to your liking and purchase just that instead. My ginger only cost me 12 cents and was so much more vibrant that ground ginger. I'm never turning back again! I couldn't find a legit link on her site but the link above is to a reprint of the recipe. I really liked this one! It was delicious and healthy. A suped up chicken noodle soup, much thicker and flavorful. Plus, garlic and ginger have naturally healthy qualities. Winner winner chicken noodle bowl dinner!
Ginger Chicken Noodle Bowl: This recipe comes from the enigmatic Rachael Ray and can be found in her cookbook, 365 Recipes: No Repeats. I was craving Asian and while I really wanted Sweet & Sour Chicken, preferably of the fried variety, I was trying to healthify dinner a bit. This recipe has lots of ingredients and I didn't skimp on any of them! That never happens. Did you people know that you don't have to buy that entire chunk of fresh ginger in the grocery store? You can break off a piece to your liking and purchase just that instead. My ginger only cost me 12 cents and was so much more vibrant that ground ginger. I'm never turning back again! I couldn't find a legit link on her site but the link above is to a reprint of the recipe. I really liked this one! It was delicious and healthy. A suped up chicken noodle soup, much thicker and flavorful. Plus, garlic and ginger have naturally healthy qualities. Winner winner chicken noodle bowl dinner!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
To E-read, or Not to E-read....
As you are likely aware, I love to read. If you didn't know that, then you haven't been paying very close attention to my blog. I love books. I love my library. I love book stores. But, my friends, I am at a literary crossroads. Do I want an e-reader? Since the advent of the Kindle, Nook, etc., I have been staunchly against them. Never do I want to see my bookstores and libraries suffer any further due to technology as they certainly already have. But, the other day on my library's website I discovered that I can download books for free to a Kindle. So really, I'm still supporting the library's circulation and getting my read on. Right?
Then, there's this other little matter. I am constantly waiting on the Hold list for books. Some of these lists take me months to move to the numero uno spot and it's very frustrating. I read relatively quickly and yet the books that I'm waiting for never seem to be ready for me. My fellow library patrons must be slow-poke readers. If I could download all the new releases in addition to the classics and other older books, I could read even faster! But, I do so love to hold a book in my hands and crack open its spine for the first time. If I could get over wanting to hold the book, this is a vote for yes, yes?
Here's another little peccadillo. I heard the other day that smart phones and other gadgets can impede sleep because they slow down the release of melatonin into your body. If you are using these devices near bedtime, your brain does not have enough time to properly relax before bed. I already have trouble sleeping and reading can often calm my busy thoughts. Do I really want to calm down while staring at a screen? And would this really be as cute behind the glow of a screen?
Then, there's this other little matter. I am constantly waiting on the Hold list for books. Some of these lists take me months to move to the numero uno spot and it's very frustrating. I read relatively quickly and yet the books that I'm waiting for never seem to be ready for me. My fellow library patrons must be slow-poke readers. If I could download all the new releases in addition to the classics and other older books, I could read even faster! But, I do so love to hold a book in my hands and crack open its spine for the first time. If I could get over wanting to hold the book, this is a vote for yes, yes?
Here's another little peccadillo. I heard the other day that smart phones and other gadgets can impede sleep because they slow down the release of melatonin into your body. If you are using these devices near bedtime, your brain does not have enough time to properly relax before bed. I already have trouble sleeping and reading can often calm my busy thoughts. Do I really want to calm down while staring at a screen? And would this really be as cute behind the glow of a screen?
You can surely see my dilemma. Do you have an e-reader? PLEASE WEIGH IN!
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