Advent Calendar!

This year I decided to brush up on some of my crafty project skills, break out the scissors, markers and colored paper and create something. I wanted to put together an Advent Calendar like this last year, but somehow ran of out time or creativity or both. With a little bit of determination (and 3 days into December), I finally finished my little craft. And here's the gist of it....

I wanted this to be something I could use for future Christmases, and I also wanted it to be more involved than just the little candy calendars you can pick up in CVS. So, after a little research online, I was able to track down some great Scripture verses to include on each card as well as a daily activity. These can vary based on your preference and child age (although most of mine are family friendly), and the cards can be switched out yearly.



Supplies
(I picked up most of these at Paper Source, my number one favorite paper store. But they can be a little pricey, so just about any variation on these supplies will suffice. Try Michael's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn, etc.).

• #1 Size Envelopes, any color
  (or any tiny envelope)
• Business Card-size Paper (Paper Source)
  (Cardstock trimmed to 2"x3.5")
• Fun, Decorative Paper
  (I used old stationary and wrapping paper.... anything with a pattern you like with work!)
• Number Stencils
  (I drew mine by hand, which adds a little more of a crafty look, but a stencil would work great. OR, you could use number stickers or stamps!)
• Ribbon (to hang the finished envelopes)
• Clothes Pins {25}  (I picked mine up at Walmart for about $5)
• Glue Stick, scissors, markers/pens, other generic crafting stuff 

Now for the fun part! Create a number for each envelope (1 through 25....or all the way through New Year's Eve if you like!) and glue them right on. It's pretty simple. Be creative, have fun with the numbers, use different patterns and colors. They don't really have to match -- that's really what makes it look so cool.






Then, for each inner card, I wrote a Scripture lesson on one side (the readings follow the promise and fulfillment of Christ throughout the Bible); and a daily activity on the other. When each little card is tucked neatly into its envelope, string them up with the clothes pins and hang wherever you have space! I used 3M removable hooks on either side of my mantle, and just looped a knot on each end of the ribbon to hang the strand (plus a little tack in the middle to keep it from sagging too much). It can get a little heavy with the clothes pins so three hanging points is ideal.


And voila! There is my first homemade Advent Calendar. Open up a card per day (I put them back on after reading to avoid an empty string hanging over my fireplace), enjoy the corresponding activity and read the Scripture aloud to anyone who will listen :)

 

Nota Bene: I thought it might be useful to add the site where I found the great Scripture readings for each day of Advent: http://www.jesse-trees.com/calendar.html (I started with Dec 1, rather than Nov 27)

Tidings of Comfort & Joy

I have really been trying to get into the Christmas spirit this year, and remind myself of all the blessings that God has given us. All too often, I allow myself to be bogged down in the tedium of daily burdens -- forgetting that I have a roof over my head, clean clothes on my back (and sometimes even NEW clothes), plenty of food to eat, a loving and supportive family, a strong group of friends.... the list goes on. Most of all, however, I want to remind myself daily (not just during Christmas time) that I am able to enjoy these things--these blessings of comfort and joy--because of the loving mediation of my Savior Jesus Christ. Were it not for his birth, life, death and resurrection, there would be only tidings of pain, loss and sorrow. And so as we celebrate the advent of the Son of God to earth, let us remember not just in this month (or the 25th day of this month), but every day of the year that His perfect life is that by which we are justified, His death is that by which we are forgiven and His resurrection is that by which we are regenerated and able to live our lives filled with His tidings of comfort and joy.

Dinner Party

One of my favorite activities as a 'real housewife' is throwing dinner parties for family and friends. Big family/holiday dinners are few and far between right now (considering home space and distance are not exactly ideal...yet), but I've enjoyed having friends over occasionally throughout the last couple years to test my hostess skills and just enjoy the company. Evening meals truly are a special combination of physical and social satiation. It is a time to feed not only the body but also the soul in the company of good friends or family. My memories of family meals around the dinner table--whether on a week night or the Sunday noon dinner--are precious and will continue to edify as I apply the principles I learned at those meals within my own family.

Last Friday was a particularly special dinner as we sat down with a couple we have not seen in several months. Although they are from Spokane, WA, we met through mutual family friends and have been close since their previous stay in Chicago last summer. They are back in the city now for a brief 3 months before moving back to Portland for the new year! I am very excited to have these friends back in town, and was so happy to have them over for dinner last Friday evening. I spent most of the days leading up to the meal attempting to plan the menu, and here's what we ended up with...

Appetizer:
Herbed Chevre Goat Cheese topped with Apricot Preserves
{served with pita chips & water crackers} // Sweet Pickled Okra

Entree:
Grilled New York Strip Steak
(a la DH the grillmaster)

Sweet-Roasted Rosemary Acorn Squash (squash from the local Farmer's Market!)

Sauteed Garlic Kale (a new favorite!)

Four-Cheese Risotto (last-minute add on since I forgot rolls.... so it was from a box)

 
Dessert:
Semi-Homemade Rum Bundt Cake with Glaze
This was a quick & easy recipe for a dessert I have never tried. The result was good enough to try completely made-from-scratch next time!




Overall, I'd say the dinner was a great success. Good food, good wine and good conversation was had by all (including some very good laughs!)

What is your favorite recipe (appetizer? entree? dessert?) to serve guests?

What's for Dinner?

I love cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables from the Farmer's Market. I feel especially cool when I pick up something new or unusual and manage to use it in a tasty dish. It has been a while since I've used kale in my cooking (if ever), and when I saw a bunch of its bright green curly leaves at the market last weekend, I couldn't resist picking up a big bunch. It served me well! Along with a perfect little spaghetti squash, I prepared what I'd call a perfect fall recipe....


Spaghetti Squash with Sausage & Kale
(I found the original recipe here, but adapted it to my ingredients)

Serves 2. Prep time + cooking time ~ 40 min.

Ingredients:

• 1 smallish spaghetti squash (about 1 1/2 pounds), halved lengthwise
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup chicken stock
• 2 links Italian sausage (the kind we had in the freezer had cheese in it, too!)
• 1 bunch fresh kale, stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Place the squash halves, cut side down, in a large, microwavable dish. Add 1/3 cup water and microwave until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Scoop out the seeds. Using a fork, comb the squash into strands into a bowl. Toss with the parmesan and season with black pepper.
   
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink, about 6 minutes (I cooked ours on a George Foreman grill). Remove the sausage and toss in the garlic, cooking until tender but not browned. Add kale and chicken stock and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, checking occasionally so it doesn't burn! Remove cover and cook until liquid is evaporated. Season with salt and black pepper (if necessary, the stock kept ours pretty salty). Serve sausage and kale on top of the squash.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   YUM!

Apples and Pumpkins and Squash.... oh my!

My trip to the open-air Farmers' Market this morning was quite fruitful (pardon the pun)! I picked up a bunch of fresh apples in heirloom varieties (I can't remember all the names, but I'm looking forward to tasting each one!) Spaghetti and Acorn squash are some of my favorites, and I'm looking forward to cooking with the two I picked up this morning. I'll be sure to post the recipes!

Back from my outdoor shopping trip, I enjoyed a ciabatta roll topped with raw milk cheese spread and fresh Bartlett pears. YUM. I would have taken a photo but it was gone before I could say "cheese". I just love Fall and all the wonderful changes it brings!

What are you favorite memories of the Autumn season?

Things I like, #2

Dunkin' Donuts

No, they can't spell, but they do make good coffee. I've been a fan of the French Vanilla flavored ground coffee from DD for a while, and I am just now beginning to make a foray into their prepared drinks. Having a coupon* always helps, so I stopped in this morning (after dropping off DH at work... not a normal occurence, mind you) for a "Dunkaccino". Now, I don't want to know how many calories were in this sucker, but it sure did taste good. Plus, you really can't be good coffee for 99 cents.

*[Speaking of shopping with coupons.... that's another thing on my "Like List" these days]

Amazon.com

You may or may not realize that I have a slight problem with online shopping... or rather e-window shopping. I don't always buy... but at almost any given point during the day, you might find me perusing products from the myriad online stores available to me through the interwebs. I make wishlists, fill shopping carts, and imagine how chic I will look in those fab suede Steve Madden pumps. Yes, it's true. And it's a problem. :\ But, when I actually need to buy something (say, a book for our couple book club), Amazon.com always comes in handy for buying used copies on the cheap! Offering everything from DVDs and MP3 albums to designers shoes and clothing, Amazon offers just about anything you could want in new or used condition (for those discontinued items you never thought you'd find again!) It's also my personal favorite for creating birthday/holiday wishlists for myself.... or perusing those of others to buy from. So, if you expect a gift from me any time soon, it wouldn't hurt to set up a handy-dandy little list at (you guessed it) Amazon!

Things I LIKE Right Now...

Flats
The time for flip flops is quickly drawing to a close, and I am enjoying breaking out the cute and comfortable shoes I haven't really worn all summer! I love the pop of color these
red loafers add to just about any outfit.


Scarves and other cool-weather accessories
As the temperatures gradually drop, I enjoy finding ways to layer clothing into outfits that are both stylish and warm! This multi-colored scarf (a recent New York & Co. purchase) goes with a lot of different pieces in my fall wardrobe and just throwing it on over a plain tee spruces up my look.

More to come....

Evolution of a Dining Room

Well, last weekend's closet "makeover" was a quickie. We were in and out of that one in a matter of hours. This next project has been a long time coming. I spend at least a couple of hours each week envisioning how I could improve the appearance of our living space... whether it be new linens for the master bedroom, a clean rug for the bathroom, or just a re-arrangement of furniture to freshen things up.

The dining room table we used since we got married was one DH has had since college, a great Kmart pick-up by my wonderful MiL (aka mother-in-law; and "DH" is for dear husband, for those who don't know). It's worked pretty well for the past several years, but I've been yearning to fill the dining space we acquired ever since moving into a new apartment in 2009. Here is what it looked like for pretty much the first 1 1/2 years of living here...

Around the beginning of this summer, I decided it was time to spruce things up a bit, even if we could make major changes (like painting). I did put some paint samples on the wall for a couple weeks, but DH was adamantly against it (even though he wouldn't be the one painting). But there were certainly other things I could do.... shifting the furniture and a few great purchases made all the difference.


The rug, from World Market, was a steal coming in at $35! The other new purchases include the two throw pillow on the chairs ($7 apiece), some fake apples (in the bowl on the green hutch), and a few other knick knacks. The mirror and candle-holders (un-hung in this photo) were pieces we already owned that were sitting around elsewhere. So the room sat like this for a little while... until today! We are regular World Market shoppers and during our closet-makeover shopping trip last weekend, we happened to stop in for a little look-see. There we saw a dining set that fit our various specifications (style, size, color, wood-grain, etc.) and was 50% off! Well, we didn't buy it that day (you can never be too hasty about an investment like this), but we had been considering a new dining set for a while so it wasn't a discussion we hadn't had before. That being said, after a week of consideration.... we decided to go for it! And here are the lovely results:

DH was not so happy about getting this thing home from the store and assembled from the six very heavy boxes it came in, but it only took about 4 hours start to finish (with a lunch break in between) and I think the results are pretty perfect. It's a set that will last us a lifetime, and I really think it fits our dining space well. It seats 6 (or even up to 8) in this setting, but it also came with extensions for each end that would seat up to 10! And did you notice that the hideous old hanging lighting is gone? I just wasn't feeling the stained glass lanterns, so the building engineer was kind enough to replace those with a less obtrusive fixture.

So, all I have to say now is... dinner party at our house, anyone?

Everything in its place...

I don't consider myself a "type A" person (although I can't vouch for the opinions of anyone else who knows me) and I can certainly be messy in my own right..... but I do occasionally feel the urge to organize and deep clean. This weekend happened to be one of those magical times. I'm sure it had something to do with the changing seasons and the need to start switching out my Summer shorts for Fall cardigans (yes, I switch out my clothes every 6 months; a habit probably acquired from owning two sets of clothing separated by my time in college going between Georgia and Michigan climates...you really don't need too many heavy coats during a GA winter). So, this weekend, I undertook the task of cleaning/organizing the closet I share with DH and making the wardrobe switch-a-roo.

Here's some before shots (it's bad, I know....but necessary for the sake of the post):


I knew this project would require more organizational helpers (boxes, etc.) than I had hanging around the house, so I gave myself a $100 budget to work with. With that and some measurements of my available space and a prepared wishlist from their online store, I headed to our local Container Store. [I pre-shopped online because I wanted to know the exact measurements of the products beforehand.... measuring in the store doesn't always work so well]. I came out armed with plastic and canvas containers to rein in my clothing nightmare:
If you're looking for a cheap solution, I would not recommend Container Store, they can be a tad pricey. I usually prefer to keep my costs low, but in the interest of a quick fix I was OK with the price-tag for these items.... this time. I did manage to stay within my budget, though, topping out at $99.09!

The entire process of shopping, organizing, etc., took me an entire afternoon.... so about 5 hours. But it was a fun time! I put some music on and enjoyed the process of going through my clothes, sorting into three piles: "Keep", "Give Away", "Throw Away". DH even joined in to help! We ended up with three full bags of clothing/shoes, etc. to donate. I know that economizing my wardrobe will make putting together outfits a little easier (not so many options!), and it keeps me aware of what I own so I don't buy something similar to what I already have. Here are some more great tips from one of my favorite blogs if you're interested in culling your clothing: Young House Love.

So, after all that, here's the end result!

It may be a tad difficult to see the difference since framing the shots in such a tiny space was a project in and of itself! But I'm enamored with the end results. Everything feels much more contained and organized. I especially love the canvas bins. They are labeled according to the contents and (currently) everything in them is nice, neat and folded. But, if I end up throwing things in a little messy at least they'll be hidden from view! I even managed to give DH some more space for his shoes (although my collection is clearly larger), after freeing up some shelf space. The upper shelf on the left contains bins of out-of-season clothing and extra bedding. There's even a little room left for future accumulations on the other upper shelf! Imagine that.

So, there it is. One-day closet makeover! Let's hope it stays nice and neat from now on. :)

Indian Food: Fast & Cheap!

Last night we had a friend over for dinner and I was in the mood for Indian.... Ordering out can be fun (and delicious), but also more expensive than we want to pay sometimes. So, last night I prepared a full Indian meal with some helpers from Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Not quite from scratch, as you'll see, but still delicious and even somewhat healthy (I'm not saying very, just somewhat)!

I was in a hurry to get this meal ready last night, since I worked a little late and didn't start prepping until 6:30 for a 7:15 meal--which doesn't seem bad, but it definitely would have taken at least an hour without my shortcuts!

First of all, I did use fresh chicken (boneless, skinless breasts), green onions and cauliflower. I broke up the cauliflower, spritzed with a little oil, sprinkled with cumin and popped it in the oven at about 400 degrees to start roasting. Then, I diced up the chicken into about 1" cubes and sauteed with some chopped green onion and a little olive oil.

Next I covered it with about half a jar of Tiger Tiger Bombay Simmer Sauce + 1 cup of water as the jar suggests (I think this cuts down on the heat). Then, I just let this baby simmer. Once it had thickened up a bit, I threw in the cauliflower that had been roasting. Let it simmer for another few minutes and it was ready to serve!

Next on the list were sides. Using a few pre-made dishes from Trader Joe's, these were a cinch! The frozen rice mix (Trader Joe's Fat Free, Vegetarian Biryani) includes red peppers and peas so while it's mainly a carb dish, at least there's a little color in there. It is a very quick fix: just melt a little butter in a saucepan, then heat the rice for 6-8 minutes till tender. The lentils (Trader Joe's 'Indian Fare' Madras Lentils) were easy too: just dump them in a dish and microwave for about 3 minutes!

Our final side was the classic Indian naan bread that is used to sop up all the sauces that cover nearly every dish. Again, I used a pre-made frozen version from Trader Joe's -- pop it in the oven for 2 minutes at 400 degrees and done!

Now, don't get me wrong, I know this meal is fairly starchy and sauce-heavy... but it's definitely not the sort of thing we eat every night and I'm of the mind that it's still a little better for us simply because we didn't spend the money on take-out! And, if you don't know about Trader Joe's, most of the stuff there is either organic or doesn't use preservatives and/or chemical stuff so I feel a little better about eating it and feeding it to my husband and guest(s). All in all, it was a delicious meal! Paired with a light Reisling wine and a little Port for dessert. YUM.

I'd say, overall, this meal cost us about $18 and it fed 4 (3 last night and I'm finishing it for lunch!) So that's $4.50 per serving....Not a bad deal!

What's your favorite "semi-homemade" dish(es) to fix for a group?

Recent Paintings

I have been keeping up my painting off and on since graduating with a degree in Fine Art in 2008, but it's been hard to maintain a regular studio schedule what with work and the other extracurriculars of a young housewife. But recently I've been able to finish a few new paintings thanks, in part, to a studio class I took at Palette & Chisel academy with incredible artist Michael Van Zeyl (more on his work later -- beautiful & inspiration stuff). The class was a short 5-week session, but the culminating "Small Show" coming up this weekend (Aug 28) has been my inspiration to finish the still life I started in the class and complete a second one. All the paintings in this show must be 12"x16" or smaller, and must be priced under $250. So, here's the finished works (signed and in frames, no less!)

"Three Nectarines" 11x14. Oil on Canvas.

"Bittersweet" 11x14. Oil on Canvas.
(If you're curious, the title of this one is a tad obscure but there is an explanation: The book in the still life is actually The Secret Garden (didn't have time to finish the details/title), which is one of my favorites of childhood reading material, and therefore a sweet memory to me. The lemons are, of course, bitter -- and with that explanation, I hope the oxymoronic title seems more apt.)

The paintings will exhibited and for sale at the Palette & Chisel Small Show this Saturday for $125 and $150 respectively. If they don't sell there, I'll be offering them to anyone with the best offer. :)

P.S. Bonus Question: Care to take a guess which one was painted in the artist-supervised class?

Music for All

I'm not always a fan of the mainstream Christian music that is played on the radio -- I'd rather listen to something more indie, good ol' classical music or hymns (I can make some recommendations if you're interested). But sometimes, a band will really hit the right note (no pun intended). The other day while driving out to the suburbs for work, I happened to have on The Message station on XM. Their playlist is really hit or miss, but all of the sudden a song caught my attention.... by the end of it, I was tearing up. It's a must listen: Tears of The Saints by Leeland

It may not be your style--I'm not as moved by most of the band's other music--but it's worth hearing what is being produced nowadays. I'm not the type of person to think that a single song will revive the world (solid, Bible-based preaching is a much better remedy), but it can certainly go a long way towards awakening. I'll try to post more updates every once in a while about emerging Christian musicians. What you listen to can have a lot to do with what goes on in your head.... and subsequently your actions.

What's for Dinner?

It's really one of my least favorite questions. And I remember it being one of my mother's least favorites as well.... Now I understand her reasoning on a whole new level. My favorite answer to this untimely question? "Food." Or, a squinty glare (the so-called "hairy eyeball) that speaks volumes.

Yep, it'll be food. Probably edible. And you will eat it. That's my policy (ages 0 to 110+)

It's hard enough to spend an entire day working (albeit from home, but it's not like I sit around eating bonbons), but by 6:30 at night I have to know what I'm cooking for dinner, how I'm cooking it and whether or not I have the ingredients I need to cook it properly (not necessarily in that order). AND make sure the kitchen is clean enough to cook in!

My planning skills in this department are mediocre at best; about once a month I sit down and try to plan meals for the week, but something always gets in the way: Tuesday night oil painting class, Wednesday night Bible study, Thursday night work social.... Let alone carving out an hour to shop for groceries! By the time the weekend arrives, just about all I can do is dial up a delivery from the Chinese place down the street.

But that's the behavior of a young wife living in the bustling city of Chicago, right? I get a pass for now, I hope. It's still a goal of mine to integrate weekly trips to the grocery, a 7-day meal plan, and plenty of fruits and vegetables into our dining regimen. But... it's a process.

Until then, I will settle for the 2-3 nights a week I get things right. So, What's For Dinner?

Thai Red Curry Pork

There is no set recipe for this little winner, but I have a penchant for curries and they are fairly easy and healthy to whip up.

This was a red curry base (you can pick up all types of curry pastes at your local grocery: golden, green, red, etc.) that includes curry paste, coconut milk, chicken stock, fish sauce and a bit of brown sugar to tone down the heat. There are so many varieties on this sauce, it's worth testing out the recipe several times to find your own preference of heat and flavor.

I sauteed my veggies first (red pepper, carrots, red onion, garlic), then added in the pork for a nice sear, then put that whole bunch in a separate bowl to the side. Next [using the same pan to save time on dishes later] I set up my curry sauce and gave it a good simmer before adding back in the veggies/meat. I let that simmer on low for about 15 minutes (to finish cooking the meat, and let everything absorb the flavors of the curry sauce). With about 5 minutes to go, I added some frozen cut green beans for extra color and nutritional value (somewhat). A few minutes more of simmering and the curry is ready to go!

While the curry was cooking, I also soaked and boiled some rice noodles on the side. I love rice noodles for their texture (like angel hair pasta) and low caloric value! They don't have a ton of nutritional value (I have yet to find *brown* rice noodles), but they are a great "carrier" for curries and other sauces.

All in all, this meal took me about 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish. I won't evaluate the economic value... but I'm thinking it was nowhere near as expensive as ordering out from the Thai place! So, for ease of preparation and nutritional value, Thai curries are the way to go for dinner....if not once a week, at least twice a month. :)

Fall Fashions

I am loving the new looks from Ann Taylor Loft for the upcoming season. Fall is one of my favorites and the absolute best time to invest in new pieces that will last through the winter, and possibly into spring. These color combos seem just right. A classic neutral-toned piece plus a pop of color and a fun accessory (and great shoes) = great outfit!



And thanks to Pantone's Fashion Palettes for 2010, it's so much easier to expand or re-mix your wardrobe based on a set of fresh & fashionable colors. You can see from my addition to the images above how well these new Pantone colors fit into the Ann Taylor line up! Somebody did their homework...

Any one of these colors in a fun new piece (blouse, jacket, skirt) would be enough to spruce up any old outfit!

My favorites right now are the Golden Glow and the Lagoon: bright stand-out colors that can be toned warm or cool depending on the outfit. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to start shopping for Fall!

In the Kitchen...

One of my goals this year is to be more creative and economic in the kitchen.

I am still learning how to balance what I have in my pantry/refrigerator and the gourmet recipes I find online or in magazines, but the process is slowly making a dent in my cooking styles. In a recent mail batch, Bon Appetit sent me a package (encouraging me to subscribe... sorry not this time) with a set of mini recipe cards, including a yummy-looking zucchini white pizza. This week was a perfect time to attempt this recipe even though our fridge has become perilously empty and our schedules are running tight.


The final product?















I tweaked the recipe quite a bit, using a homemade crust recipe (rather than store-bought refrigerated dough -- no purchased items!); leftover ground buffalo meat; and a bottled Garlic Alfredo sauce rather than the called-for soft cheese spread. Granted, the recipe could have been even more made-from-scratch, but remember: I was working with what I had!

It turned out well and definitely worth trying again. My only qualm was the flavor of the crust... it left something to be desired. I'm still seeking the perfect pizza crust recipe -- cheaper than delivery, and so much more fun!

Any suggestions for recipes?

Books

CURRENTLY READING:

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart
Beth Pattilo

Mindless pleasure reading for those few moments between work and more work (e.g. from paid job to housewifely duties). I generally really dislike "fan fiction" in the vein of Jane Austen, but this one caught my attention (I always judge a book by its cover), and while the writing is still sub-par, the storyline is still fairly enjoyable. And, like I said, it's mindless pleasure reading.

Villette
Charlotte Bronte

I am an undying fan of turn-of-the-century novels by female authors with a predilection for governess stories and unlikely romances in tragedy-turned-idyllic settings. I suppose everyone has a weakness. Well, this is one of the few Bronte books that I have never read and so far... extremely enjoyable. My only disappointing is my own lack of ability to translate the French conversation intermittent throughout the storyline.

Freelance Design in Practice
Cathy Fishel

Intensely interesting and infinitely useful for the freelancer in question (yours truly).

And even more to come as we (DH and I) have recently joined a Book Club (gasp!). What is on your current reading list?

Recipe FAIL

I wouldn't call myself a gourmet chef, and I don't really make up recipes off the top of my head... so I generally spend a little time each week perusing my small collection of cookbooks, or cooking websites for recipes that I can use for dinner. My most recent exciting discovery is The Nest website (sequel to "The Knot" for brides-to-be, prequel to "The Bump" for moms-to-be and so on... they seriously have you set up for life) filled with articles and information for newly-weds from decorating to cooking for two or buying a new home. I've had some fun searching through their recipes database and decided to try this one out last night for dinner:

Meatballs and Snowpeas

Unfortunately, it didn't work out as expected. It could have been that I'm recovering from a cold and my sense of smell (therefore, taste) is still a little off... or it could just be the recipe, but DH and I were both a little put off. I didn't even finish mine! His first comment was "Tastes like ketchup...." (and I had left the ketchup out of the recipe). I was really hoping it would be as delectable as it looks in the photo, but it was definitely a recipe FAIL. Perhaps it needs some tweaking? I'd be willing to try again with suggestions.... any takers?

Cook in the Kitchen

Our freezer is more than stocked with plenty of meat and fish from the holidays -- thank goodness for Omaha Steak and generous family members! But here's the dilemma: I don't want to cook plain ol' steak for the next two months, and I really don't have a ton of fish recipes to make use of. So...any special recipes or suggestions?

One of my New Year's resolutions is to be proactive about weekly meal-planning... didn't quite start on cue this week, but I am sitting down this morning to set out a plan for the next four evenings (weekends are freebies, except Sunday dinner). I'll keep you posted as to how things go!