Bridget Miller

Warmth

2012-01-12T15:00:00.001-06:00

Christmastime.

a time of warmth.

one's family, loved ones nearby, freshly baked cookies,

twinkling lights, homemade soup, cozy blankets,

finding that perfect gift,

roaring fireplace, new special traditions...

I hope everyone felt their own version of warmth during Christmastime.

I know I did. My heart is full.

My parents have always been exceptional gift givers.

My fossil watch and kitchen gadgets top my list this year!

"santa must be facing outward at all times"

josh and i attending one of the christmas parties

our sweets at home in nevada!

thee cutest little trees. they are all of 1 inch high.

my mom is the best cookie decorator there is.

the peanut blossoms needed a close-up. gorg.

and other sweet options at home to accompany our christmas brunch.

Christy, Katie, and I at our work party.

Tony, Taylor, and Josh joined too.

such a fun night at the Kirkwood Lounge!!

christmas cookie decorating content at work.

chresten, janet, joel and me.

I spent most of my time cuddling handsome three-week-old Henry at the Miller Christmas.

Shelly planned awesome Minute-to-Win-It games too.

this was before I dominated in wii bowling at the Black Townhouse.

i adore him.

if you know me, you know I love paper.

combine paper and christmas and this girl is really happy!

i used old posters (gift from an image stockhouse at work) as gift wrap.

josh's christmas letter slid in and out from under this old page from a book.

im obsessed with this masking tape!

my awesome parents.

they are thee best.

little Maggie

our family christmas celebrated on December 26th.

it was wonderful spending the entire day together.

the day consisted of eating, unwrapping, playing with Maggie, laughing, eating more, and playing cards.

it was a very warm christmas.

tape you'll love

2012-01-11T12:48:00.001-06:00

I grocery shop with a list.
Do you?
And if you do, wouldn't you agree that some of the most fun buys and bites are the ones thrown in along the way that never made the cut to be on your list?

the twix that hopped into your basket? loved them!
the hard cider that fell into your cart? really loved that!
the avocado that inspired the salsa and tortilla chips? yep, downed that.

The same thing happened with this masking tape. it caught my eye and hopped into my bag at the east village shop known as Ephemera.

I used it as part of my Christmas wrapping and plan to make a framed graphic wall hanging with it! Check out all of the fun colors and prints here!

twenty twelve

2012-01-03T21:03:00.000-06:00

You won't find the words 'more' or 'stop' in my resolutions. When those words, or words similar to those, are used in creating personal goals, or in contrast with concepts, they shine negatively. Too negatively. Negativity will not allow room for positivity, growth, or appreciation, so my "resolutions" are written in a different way.

...A handful of them have short additions that I only know of. A rough goal, number, or level to attain. But, overall, I am building a better 2012 based on the strong foundation of 2011...

Building. Adding to. Contributing. Fighting for. And growing.

Which is exactly why there is only room for something positive here.

Spend time in prayer
Reflect in writing
Walk
Find 3 great organizations to support
Bake cinnamon rolls from scratch
Get a skin check
Get Sealed on etsy
Write letters often
Find a good book...or 3
Pay myself first
Take my own lunch to work each day

Salads, extended.

2011-08-01T16:13:00.005-05:00

when it is hot and humid out, cold, fresh and crisp sound best, right?! whether you define that as a good beer or a good salad is up to you.

maybe its both.

try the following additions to your salad for a punch of flavor:

1. fresh torn basil is delicious mixed into your bed of greens

2. black pepper & ricotta are an great duo and serve as your dressing

3. pretzel bits make for a mean crouton substitution

4. brie cheese and crackers accompany any salad perfectly

5. nectarines add a punch of flavor without being too fruity

basic crisp topping

2011-07-19T18:48:00.003-05:00

the basic crisp topping.

thee best crisp topping.

you know.

it's so easy to throw a crisp together when you use the following recipe for the crispy crumble topping over a mixture of any seasonal fruit.

start with 1/3 cup sugar on your fruit. you may have to adjust according to the fruit's natural tartness or sweetness (raspberry (frozen then thawed) and rhubarb, above, needed about 1/2 cup-3/4 cup sugar) then top with the following

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 oatmeal

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 melted butter

smash together with a fork.

bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes (depending on fruit)

Chunky Guac

2011-06-09T09:43:00.002-05:00

Guac meets salsa plus spinach?!

not a clever name... but, oh, the taste!

Roughly chop the following.

1 avacodo

1/2 onion

2 tomatoes

2 cups loose spinach

1 cup loose basil

Squeeze and sprinkle the following

juice of 1 lime

garlic powder

salt

freshly cracked pepper

(all to taste)

Dive in with the following

chips

or fingers.

Fig Balsamic Mushrooms on Hot Pepper Focaccia

2011-05-09T10:12:00.002-05:00

More often than not, I feel like I'm scraping together a "meal."

And more often than not, it tastes like I'm scraping together a "meal."

Tilapia with..... umm.... limp frozen asparagus? just had it.

Guac made with only one avocado? all the time.

Cereal as dessert?? uh huh.

Somehow something went differently this weekend and I was blown away by how perfectly this simple—yet, incredible—meal was! I had just bought hot pepper garlic focaccia bread from the Farmer's Market and found portabella mushrooms in my crisper. Ah hah!

Toasted Fig Balsamic Mushrooms on Hot Pepper Focaccia

- Rub focaccia with olive oil and broil.

- Sautee sliced mushrooms with 1 tsp. spritzed olive oil, 2 T fig balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until slightly wilted and fragrant.

- Top broiled bread with mushrooms and a sprinkle of sharp cheddar.

- Broil until bubbly and golden.

Roasted Veggies

2011-04-14T21:03:00.002-05:00

im sure you can think of an outfit you love, but that you didn't initially buy all of the pieces together for. it just works.

this dinner was just like that great outfit. it just worked.

in different stages I roasted veggies at 425. first the potatoes (sweet + small red) and onions. next, broccoli and tomatoes. and finally, kale. easy and so comforting.

1 small sweet potato

1 small red potato

1/4 small onion, roughly chopped

1 cup broccoli

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

2 cups torn kale
evoo

garlic gold

kosher salt

black pepper

paprika

paremsan

preheat oven to 425. spritz pan with misted evoo. coat potatoes + onion with garlic gold nuggets + kosher salt + black pepper + paprika. roast 10 min and stir. add broccoli + tomatoes. roast 7 minutes and stir. spritz kale with evoo + sprinkle with fresh parm. roast for 5 minutes.

enjoy.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

2011-04-10T16:15:00.004-05:00

Sunday mornings and blueberry muffins go hand in hand, don't you think? Me too... which is why I was anxiously waiting for my banana to over-ripen all week! I grabbed my spotted banana and the rest of the ingredients (all simple staples) this morning and got to work. These muffins come together SO quickly and are healthy too! win win.

tender, slightly sweet, and studded with blue jewels

vegan, too!? impressive.

The recipe is here at DailyGarnish. I followed it exactly!

Kitchen Perfection

2011-04-02T17:10:00.003-05:00

Snitching unbaked cookie dough from my mom's bright orange tupperware bowl used to be one of my favorite things to do! I'd climb our red stool and perch on the hoosier cupboard sneaking bits when she wasn't looking. It all took place in our small kitchen in the house I grew up in until 3rd grade.

Soon after moving into our current house in Nevada, my parents built their dream kitchen to replace the dark L-shaped one we had. Walls were moved, wood floors were put down, and my parents were so pleased with the end results. That kitchen has seen many dance recital dinners with my grandparents and family, a couple graduation open houses, and plenty of incredible meals cooked by my mom and dad.

The kitchen, as you may have guessed, is important to me. Two friends of mine and I moved into a charming new townhouse in the historic part of downtown Des Moines called Sherman Hill. Although our townhouse is new and sports 9 foot ceilings, wide cream wood work, modern fixtures in dark espresso, it is built to look old and definitely holds the charm and coziness of an older home.

The best part? I am completely in love with our kitchen. It's perfect for entertaining. We have gathered many groups around our large island and hope to have many more. The lighted open cabinets are perfect. Living with a chef is perfect.

The kitchen is perfect!

quinoa-stuffed peppers

2011-03-14T18:03:00.003-05:00

I try really hard to eat greens. and vegetables. and fruit. instead of s'mores, girl scout cookies, and golden grahams. some days it's easier than others....

luckily, today was one of those days! this recipe incorporates lots of spinach and plenty of protein and tastes great, too! i used black quinoa so even though it looks burnt... it is not :)

I followed this recipe. give it a try :)

love me some

2011-02-18T19:55:00.008-06:00

It's ironic I am deciding to write this post during the week of Valentine's Day... I've never been a fan. Even years I happen to have a boyfriend. There are too many dollars spent on overpriced red petals, too many disappointed girls with lofty expectations, and I have never been a fan of pink. or hearts. especially pink hearts.

Regardless of the pink hearts and crusty petals that remain from the big day, here are 9 things I happen to love. or shall I say adore.

In no particular order...

Williams-Sonoma Small Silicone Spoonula

They're petite and boy are they cute!

I have a green set (spoon-and-spat-ula) because my mama knows I love green.

The combination of a bright blue-teal and poppy orange.

I used to hate this. Seriously hate. But now I appreciate the complimentary tones and the way they pop! Its so springy. I immediately think of the glassy green sea in Capri and the coral that was everywhere. takes me back :)

chocolate milk.

buy some the next time you're at the grocery store.

I think about chocolate milk (and golden grahams. weird, I know) everyday during my workout at Kosama. sooo good.

Anthropologie's new wedding dress line.

The simplicity and unique embellishments are incredible, but the photo styling is just as wonderful.

Pancakes.

I love breakfast. Usually it's (loaded) oatmeal and usually its at 8am. But last night I made these awesome pancakes and was so close to making them again. Like Madison suggests, best topped with peanut butter!

Smores Pie.

If you know me very well, you know I love smores. and marshmallows. So I am sure you're not surprised that I can't stop dreaming about this pie. Ohh my goodness.

Biaggi's Foccaccia bread.

I contemplate driving to Biaggis just for their bread numerous times each week. I am not exaggerating. I have to remind my self—continually—that bread, no matter how cheap (only $2.75 for a quarter of a pan!!) it is, is not the best dinner option.

aaaand I just realized I just posted 3 food items.

That means I need to stop and think about more things I love.

other than my heated mattress pad. thats dorky.

and this knife I want (err... I want my mom to get). it involved the kitchen and I already posted about the kitchen enough.

Tomato Tomahto

2011-02-01T20:00:00.007-06:00

Iowa winters are cold! and dark! which really affects the way food photography looks... After not posting for nearly a month, I've decided to update a few of my favorite meals for, perhaps, your inspiration and so I remember these great combinations and ideas for future dinners.

Ironically, all of these include fresh tomatoes... and last night as I was making a homemade burrito bowl, I was disappointed at how rarely I have and use fresh tomatoes in the winter. Annnd here I am blogging about 3 recipes that include fresh tomatoes. What?!

first up—Salsa!

Tangy, salty, and spicy! I crave nothing more than mexican during the winter months and this salsa is an easy one to whip up in the evenings. Don't forget the lime juice, cilantro, and beans for added protein!

Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Fresh Tomato sauce

Trader Joe's has the best inexpensive, soft, doughy gnocchi around. Top with cherry tomato+basil+and plenty of spices for a simple and filling dinner. Can't wait to recreate this one soon!

Spaghetti with Mushroom Marinara

Tomato paste has so many health benefits and is packed with flavor! Using it in store bought marinara sauce, along with plenty of sauteed mushrooms+tomatoes+basil is a fast way to pump up your sauce. I loved this dinner!

What types of food have you been missing these winter months??

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T23:22:00.007-06:00

Happy New Year!

hoping your 2011 is the best yet!

Heres to another year of

awesome experiences,

(new job, new loft, new sister-in-law-to-be!)

great people,

continuous blessings,

and great food!

3 things for Winter

2010-11-21T10:47:00.007-06:00

With winter comes stews and soups. And I have a soup for you to try.

pumpkin chili.

there are so many recipes out there... try one! you won't be disappointed.

I loved the silkiness the pumpkin provided and the velvety cannellini beans.

Use plenty of cumin for that smoky flavor and top with greek yogurt for added protein.

With winter comes being more mindful what what we eat.... so we don't feel so bad about eating a dozen holiday cookies, that fourth helping of turkey and taters, and drinking 3 cups of hot chocolate at midnight. Lucky for you, I have an awesome salad you need to try.

Sizzling Shrimp Salad

they make a version of this at work and it is a huge hit.

Its simple and makes a typical salad an awesome dinner you'll look forward to.

start with shrimp. remove the tails and cut each in 3 pieces.

sautee them in olive oil, black pepper, and (lots of) garlic.

while shrimp is sizzling away, combine ranch with milk and whisk.

Pour over a bowl full of spinach, romaine, mushrooms, steamed cold broc, and carrots.

stir to coat and toss in croutons.

enjoy. and then go grab dessert.

With winter, comes root veggies. Less fresh options are available, so it's time to shake up the traditional potatoes.

Roasted veggies

Dice them along with sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts, green beans, etc and lightly coat with evoo and s&p. extra pepper. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. eat them alone or in soup. I know you will be surprised how flavorful and sweet they become after the oven.

Roasted Root Veggie and Kale Soup

2010-11-14T22:15:00.003-06:00

the unseasonably warm weather we've had lately has been wonderful. but, I secretly got a little excited when I saw chillier temps for this weekend. it's about time for soups, stews, and wintry treats!

I had a clump of kale and a handful of potatoes that needed to be eaten so I whipped up this soup. I was surprised how how easy and quickly it came together!

cube root veggies. (I used 4 small red potatoes and 3 large carrots) try sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips, rutabaga, etc!
coat veggies with 1 T olive oil, salt, and lots of pepper. transfer to pan and roast at 400 for 20-40 minutes (depending on the amount of veggies you end up with).
after 20 minutes of roasting... sautee 1 med sweet onion and garlic in olive oil.
add roasted veggies, 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock, and 1.5 tsp cumin. simmer.
pepper again :)
add 1 bunch of kale (torn into small sections and rinsed well) and cook for 10 minutes.
serve. with crusty bread, course :)

the perfect apple crisp

2010-10-27T21:14:00.004-05:00

I can not get enough apple crisp this fall! I found this recipe over at Joy the Baker and have made it at least 3 times a week since I found it.

I think the key to a great apple crisp is not over-sweetening the apples (I only added cinnamon. a lot of cinnamon.) and using equal parts brown sugar and flour (I use whole wheat) with a big chunk of butta. Toss in a little oatmeal and pecans and you've got a killer, and quick, dessert :)

like I said. Lots of cinnamon.

and a perfectly crisp top. YUM.

Pumpkin Yogurt Pancakes

2010-10-24T17:00:00.004-05:00

Pancakes. I love them. I crave them all the time. Here's one of the best I've whipped up lately... try it out.

Recipe adapted from this recipe.

Pumpkin and greek yogurt in the batter?!

Nutella and peanut butter on top?! Even better.

Oats!

2010-10-16T08:29:00.012-05:00

I don't know about you, but I love breakfast. Nothing beats a big brunch with family or sipping on a cafe au lait and pastry. (even better if you're in Rome. I'm sorry, I digress) But even in your own kitchen (or at work!), on a typical weekday morning, you can be treated to a great breakfast. A breakfast, that I have grown quite fond of and truly look forward to!! Let me walk you through the easy steps of an awesome, healthy, and filling breakfast!!

My breakfasts are very similar day to day, but that's because they taste SO good and are so filling. Filling, but not in a 'Im going to pop because I had 2 of those big donuts' kind of way. You know the feeling. ugh.

Start by setting out your dry ingredients the night before. You will save so much time. Sometimes on Sundays I even package 5 little bags up for the week ahead.

Looks like a lot, but it's not. Think health!!

Oats + flax seed + chia seed.

Banana + peanut or almond butter.

Milk (I used almond) + water.

You are truly fueling your body for the day.

On medium heat combine the following:

1/4 cup oats (I use both steel cuts and old-fashioned for a more complex texture)

1 T chia seed

1-2 T ground flax

1/3 cup water

1/3 milk

1/2 sliced banana

Now go get dressed or finish getting your things together. Check back in about 5 minutes and once you see the first simmering bubbles, start stirring and whipping. After a minute of whipping you will have light airy oats with pillows of warm bananas.
Plop half into a tupperware, add 1/2 T nut butter, top with remaining oats, and top with more nut butter.

Now is the time to get creative :)I added peaches and granola here...

Granola, blackberries, and apples here...

and apples and almonds. Kath at Katheats.com does a great tutorial on her whipped oats, which is exactly where I first learned of this great breakfast!

Homemade Whole Wheat Crackers

2010-10-14T20:17:00.002-05:00

I have always felt a bit defeated as I pluck a box of crackers that cost over $3.00 off the shelf and into my basket. I struggle with understanding how a couple handfuls of crackers can cost so much.

erg.

That's where today's recipe jumped in. I made Whole Wheat Crackers based on HowSweetEats recipe. The only change I made was added garlic powder instead of parmesan (because I don't have any).

These were so simple. Maybe 20 minutes from start to completely cleaned up and they only bake for 12 minutes.

Tester square. Needed a little more time to bake.

ahhh... can't get enough of these little guys! I'm eating them with red pepper hummus and spinach tonight.

Pumpkin Nutella Bread

2010-10-11T20:41:00.002-05:00

pumpkin and nutella.

what a combo.

I followed this recipe almost exactly.

I only added 1/2 tsp. ginger... I'm not a big fan.

and would make only one change if I were to make it again.

add more nutella!

4 tablespoons just wasn't enough!

This bread was perfectly spiced and so moist! A perfect way to welcome Fall... enjoy!

Avocado Hummus English Muffin

2010-10-07T20:49:00.003-05:00

I love hard salami sandwiches.

I love a good corn dog.

Oh gosh and I love warm delicious chicken pot pie!

but.

There are so many reasons that I have happily been opting for more vegetarian options almost exclusively. and even vegan choices more than half the time! The 'fullness' I feel is pleasant, cravings (for sweet, salty, unhealthy, more) has been slashed! I am more than satisfied and love knowing I am giving my body all the nutrients it needs throughout the day.

Each morning I start with an awesome bowl of steel cut oats, chia seeds, ground flax seeds and almond butter. I truly look forward to it and crave it! Most importantly—it is the only breakfast option I have found that keeps me full until lunch. how great is that!?

And for dinner— This is one of my 'fallbacks' for dinner. An easy option that is satisfying, yummy, and packed with nutrients!

1—toast 100% whole wheat english muffin

2—smear hummus (I made homemade with garlic, basil and sundried tomato)

3—layer roma tomatoes. avocado. spinach. s&p.

4—enjoy!

I also snacked on green grapes and salsa/wholegrain chips. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Preoccupied

2010-10-04T19:55:00.006-05:00

I've been missing lately...

because I've been busy.

or, just, preoccupied.

Preoccupied celebrating this lovely bride's big day.

It was wonderful. Gorgeous sunshine and awesome friends.

aaand... a $15 dress. I love deals.
I've been preoccupied cooking dinners at night.

broccoli asparagus peanut stirfry w/tofu and brown rice.

and spaghetti with homemade sauce.

unbelievably good. it was packed with meaty mushrooms, basil, and lots of herbs!

I've been preoccupied with baking.

Although my moist sweet potato muffins turned out to be dense piles of dough.

They were great. [and completely healthy with chia seed and whole wheat pastry flour!]

I've been preoccupied decorating and loving every minute in my new loft.

Welcome!

living room/dining room/kitchen/seating area.

the doorways lead to our bedrooms, dressing areas and the bathroom.

Thanks for catching up!

2010-09-23T20:00:00.002-05:00

Hope you had a wonderful Thursday. Tomorrow is already Friday. The weekend is almost here... ooh so close, can you feel it?!...

Asparagus Pizza

2010-09-21T10:57:00.003-05:00

Asparagus... peaches... strawberries... tomatoes.... all things that are best in season. In the hottest of summer months peaches are the juiciest and tomatoes complete BLTs perfectly.

Just when the asparagus stocks were about to get a little woody this summer and were on their way out; I whipped up an unusual—and unforgettable—new recipe that you must try. This recipe was inspired by SmittenKitchen's asparagus pizza. If you haven't made your way over to SmittenKitchen, oy, you're in for a treat!

Start by prepping your ingredients. Try anything you like or have in your 'frig! I started with fresh mushrooms and asparagus, of course. I drizzled the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and freshly cracked pepper.

Then chopped up sun-dried tomatoes and grabbed some mozzarella and pepporoni and sprinkled all of my ingredients on a 100% whole wheat thin crust.

Bake according to the crust directions and enjoy.

I completely understand asparagus isn't easily found in one's garden or at the farmer's market currently, SO print it out. bookmark it. anything you have to do, so you remember to try this pizza next summer when the asparagus start sprouting!

Kale chips and my dead ivy.

2010-09-18T11:57:00.014-05:00

kale chip recipe below!

happy saturday :)

how is your day going? mine started just like last saturday.... with a jog that ended at the Des Moines Farmers Market. I found so many goodies. Most markets are open through the end of October (pumpkin, squash, gourds, and apple season is just beginning!); please visit your local farmers market.

There are so many wonderful perks to a local farmers market, but one of my favorites is the amazing organic, or locally-grown, produce. I recently read a very interesting article in Fitness magazine in which it outlined certain veggies and fruit that belong in the 'dirty dozen' group or the 'clean 15'. These are two groups which are notorious for being either highly contaminated with chemicals or being quite clean and pestide-free. The lists are below and I think you'll find it very surprising which veggies/fruit are on each list!

the Dirty Dozen —from worst to best—

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
Nectarines
Bell Peppers
Spinach
Kale
Cherries
Potatoes
Grapes (Imported)

And the Clean 15 —from best to worst—

Onions
Avocado
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Mangoes
Sweet Peas
Asparagus
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potato
Honeydew melon

Knowing this, I picked up 2 of the dirty dozen listmakers at an organically-grown booth at the market. Peaches and Kale! I also picked up organically-grown carrots (carrots didn't appear on the list! hmm) to be made into a Squash Kale Stew later this week :)

If you are like me and wondering what the heck you do with kale... rest assured; I have a recipe for you :)

Who wouldn't love a healthy green veggie that is

very filling
eats like a snack
AND satisfies like a potato chip?!

I know right!? Sign me up! You must try kale chips! I believe Kath started it all. You should definitely make your way over to katheats.com and see her video and read her latest posts. She is wonderful!

Kale Chips

1. wash and tear off clumps of kale from stock

2. scatter kale clumps on pan. try not to bunch them too tightly.
the pan should peek through a little.

3. spray lightly with cooking spray or olive oil spritzer. season with kosher salt, herb mix, garlic, anything your little heart desires.

4. bake for 12 min. at 350

ENJOY.

I enjoyed mine with an avocado and spinach sandwich (with red pepper hummus served on a toasted sandwich thin) and a tomato.

These are so simple and such a yummy way to get your greens in that are essential to being and feeling healthy! I took my leftovers (an entire pan!) to work the next day and they were just as snackable.

Side note. don't they look remarkably similar to my ivy plant at work!? I watered this guy 2 days ago and now he is .... well... dead!? aw bummer.

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Downtown Living

2010-09-14T20:51:00.011-05:00

nothing. nothing. beats a farmers market!

Saturday morning, in the beautiful sunny weather, I walked to the Farmer's Market in downtown Des Moines. It is only 10 or so blocks away from my loft and was bustling with people and produce. I grabbed a coffee at a local coffee shop and started shopping! I purchased almond butter and kale and can't wait to make kale chips later this week! more to come on those :)I sliced up a juicy apple as soon as I got home and dug in to the almond butter. love. If you haven't tried almond butter (or any nut butter!) you must! They go well with so many things (apples, oatmeal, carrot chips, by the spoonful, or used just as peanut butter is!

And for breakfast—a mug of coffee and the best bowl of oatmeal. Kath at katheats.com knows her stuff. I followed her recipe and am now addicted. It's creamy, whipped, packed with healthy grains and seeds, and keeps you full until noon!
1/3 c oats. 1/3 almond milk. 1/3 cup water. 1/2 sliced banana. 1 T chia seeds. 1 T ground flax seed. 1/2 tsp salt. 1 tsp vanilla. all prepared on the stove. topped with Kashi cereal and a big blob of almond butter :) breakfast perfection.

One of the reasons I was drawn to live downtown was being close to work. I can now walk (!!!) to work in less than 15 min. It is a lovely walk.... and definitely beats the 50 min. mundane. boring. interstate. drive I was doing before! Here are some pictures I snapped as I was walking home today.

Des Moines Public Library.

completely copper structure that looks so neat at night because it becomes see-thru!

Beautiful limestone hardscaping with treelined sidewalks.

Looking forward to fall as my walk becomes littered with fall leaves and golden trees!

Below is the east, and probably most unappealing, side of Meredith and our lawn.

I pass a Starbucks twice. daily! eek but have only stopped once so far :) Isn't the building quaint? Right next door to the Des Moines Civic Center and a wonderful Italian restaurant Centro.

a peek at the side of my loft. more to come as we finish decorating and organizing our new home!

Summer Stew

2010-08-04T18:43:00.004-05:00

Although its a scorcher today and it is the beginning of a hot summer month, this creamy fresh vegetable stew absolutely hit the spot!
My—oh—my! My mom outdid herself tonight! She is simply the best. The best baker (buttermilk brownies, anyone?!), the best cook, the best listener, the most supportive, loving, truly fantastic mom. This stew was no different. Just awesome!

Garden green beans, carrots, and hearty potatoes in a creamy and perfectly thick gravy. How does it get any better?
I couldn't wait to dig in to my bowl of soup! First, though, I grabbed a huge pile of green grapes, and a few dippers for red pepper hummus. Cukes, tortilla chips, and carrots work so well with the hummus! You can chomp forever!

Refreshing. Filling. Light.

enjoy!

Summer Sandwich Smearings

2010-08-02T20:41:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't love a BLT with hearty summer tomatoes and a smearing of mayo?

I'm right there with ya.

but there are also many healthier, more flavorful, and more creative options to make your summer sandwiches slide down a little easier!

Here are a few to try this summer.

hummus

1. Toast bread—the key to a great sammich

2. Spread a layer of homemade hummus (mine is always thicker because I don't add tahini)

3. Layer with fresh greens, crunchy cukes, tomatoes, peppers, and carrots.
4. eat a peach. chop down. :)Other smearings for you to try...

guacamole—what about with a grilled portabello mushroom and sundried tomatoes

greek yogurt—plain flavor tastes just like sour cream... why not try it with a sprinkle of dill or blend of basil on a BLT

smashed banana—on a peanut butter sandwich?! yum!

pesto—straight up pesto. it'd definitely pack a punch on a simple tomato sandwich or roast beef and balsy vin reduction drizzle

What are your favorite sandwich toppings, smearings, or any other tips?

New approach to 'pasta' salads!

2010-07-24T08:37:00.005-05:00

I can not get enough of grilled fresh veggies with pastas (as an ingredient! not served side by side!) or grains like brown rice or quinoa.

sooooo good!

Try adding sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, or pesto for some zing! Try black beans or hummus for protein, too!

I'm about to enjoy this smoothie—bing cherries, spinach, almond milk, flax seed, banana, and chia seeds!— and make a peach pie :)

Summery Peach Pie

2010-07-11T14:29:00.006-05:00

Who doesn't love pie?

Especially cool, sweet and yet tart, delicious peach pie?

This recipe is so. very. simple.

Start with lots of peaches. Make sure you have 5... or 6... or 7... The motto less is more certainly doesn't apply here.

2 T milk

1/2 cup oil (a bit less than a full 1/2 cup)

1 1/2 c. flour

2 T sugar

1 tsp salt

Beat milk and oil, then pour into dry ingredients. Press into a pie pan. Bake @ 350 for 15 minutes.

1 pkg sugar-free jello (peach if you're using peaches, strawberry if you're using strawberries. you get it)

2 T cornstarch

1/2 to 1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Cook until thickened and clear. Stir in dry jello.

Slice fruit (6 skinned peaches) and put inside cooled crust. Pour fairly cool jello mixture over fruit and refrigerate.
My family usually eats it naked, but my grandma tops it with whipped cream. Either way you can't go wrong. Enjoy :)

Tomato Basil Pasta

2010-07-05T19:31:00.008-05:00

Aww I'm still working on all of this fresh fruit. I can't imagine a better thing to wake up to besides a bowl full of fruit and cereals!!

This guy is packed! So packed that I took two photos so you can see all of the contents.
1 nectarine + blueberries + 3 strawberries + 1/2 banana + oatmeal squaresoatmeal + chia seeds + almond milk = awesome

Onto dinner!

Saturday Lacey and I spent the entire day in Des Moines and started the day at the Farmers Market. I picked up a coffee from Java Joes, tons of samples of nut butters (I just typed nutter buts) and bread samples from Great Harvest. Sooo good.

I also bought this great pasta from a local business. Tomato Basil. yum!
Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta
These simple steps and simple ingredients result in an incredible and light pasta dish perfect for any summer night! Chop 1 small onion, 2 zucchini, 1 cup grape tomatoes, and julienne 2 carrots.Thaw about 25 shrimp... enough to nimble on while you cook :)Sautee onions, fresh pesto (Thanks Bob!), and zucchini.Add carrots and tomatoes.And cooked pasta.During the oven time, grill thawed shrimp with salt and pepper.And mix it up! Here it is all plated up. Enjoy!
It was incredible and so so fresh! I appreciate light-feeling-but-filling pasta dishes because usually pasta dishes are creamy and heavy. Sometimes that is great... but its summer! I wanted a fresh dish. This was it!It was that good. :)

Fruit Season

2010-07-04T15:22:00.004-05:00

'Tis fruit season and I am in love! For snacks and breakfasts I have been enjoying one of these bowls and variations alike.... Toss any and all fruit with bran cereals, oats, and greek yogurt for a healthy and protein-packed bowl!Even though you can't see it all, this bowl has all of the following: nectarines, blueberries, raspberries, and bananas with grape nuts, oatmeal, chia seeds, almond slices, and greek yogurt. Happy 4th :)

Blended Coffee mmm mmm!

2010-06-20T09:54:00.003-05:00

When a recipe's first ingredient is 'chilled, strong coffee' you just know its going to be a great one! This recipe definitely held up to that, too! After a quick whirl in the blender you'll have a creamy sweet and strong blended coffee drink. Enjoy!Begin with 2 cups crushed ice. Add 1 cup strongly brewed coffee that has been chilled. I used my french press with Starbucks Espresso blend coffee grounds. Chilled in an ice bath.Pour in 1 cup milk (whole, 2%, soy, whatever trips your trigger)Top it off with 3 tablespoons vanilla pudding powder, 1-2 tablespoons sugar, and a squirt of chocolate syrup! Or... cinnamon, hazelnut syrup, espresso grounds for an extra strong coffee flavor, anything really!Mix it up, pour in a glass or mug, and slurp down. This is fabulous! Sweet and creamy and not $4. Gotta love that!!

Beautiful, just beautiful!

2010-06-08T13:34:00.002-05:00

I love this photo... it makes me happy. Makes me think of the future... I cannot wait!
How beautiful is that?!
It simple and over the top. All at the same time. Love.

What is on your mind? What has been making you smile the last couple days?

Stuffed Peppers

2010-06-04T20:06:00.003-05:00

mm mm mmm! These stuffed peppers were a light side with our porkchops. I just love the chewiness from the rice!
3 peppers.
1 sm onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
shakes of basil
2 carrots, julienned
1 c. peas, frozen or fresh
1 tomato, diced
1/2 c. chopped pecans
3 servins brown rice
olive oil
parmesan cheese, optional

Cook 3 servings of rice. (I used 1 c. water, 1 c. low sodium chicken broth for a little boost of flavor)

Preheat oven to 350. Wash and clean peppers (remove stems, seeds, and membranes). Steam for 4-5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oil in wok or large skillet, add onion and garlic. Sautee 1 min. Add herbs, carrots and peas. Continue to cook 3-5 min or until carrots are tender, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and add tomato, walnuts, and brown rice. Heat through.

Stuff mixture into peppers. Sit upright in baking dish with 1/2 in water in the bottom and bake for 25 minutes. (I added parm cheese with about 5 min left)

Spring Stir Fry

2010-06-03T21:05:00.003-05:00

Happy Thursday :) The weather is hot, but it is gorgeous outside! Aren't these peonies gorgeous too?! simple and sweet... a quick bouquet with hosta leaves!

While I cooked, I snacked on mini marshmallows... :)... Dinner turned out great, so the actual recipe (and photos) are below. Spring and summer are perfect for fresh veggies so throw them all in! I can't wait to get back to the DSM Farmers Mkt to stock up!

In the mix: broccoli, snap peas, asparagus, red pepper, carrots, sun dried tomatoes!, shredded chicken, onion, & garlic. I grabbed these from work. [Love the perks from working near the test kitchen!] and they were a great addition. Flavorful and kind of chewy... in a good way!

First stir fry veggies for about a minute.
Steam veggies.
Sautee onion and garlic.
Add cooked pasta (2 servings) and tomatoes. Heat thoroughly.Add veggies and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
Mix and heat for a bit longer or until the table is set.
aaaand enjoy. Very fresh! very healthy! and lots of leftovers for tomorrow. Let me know how yours turns out!

2010-05-29T13:08:00.004-05:00

Warm, gooey nutella inside a pocket of crispy fried wonton. Oh YUM. These little babies are so tasty, so easy to make, and absolutely decadent!

And one more dessert.... it wasn't great but it was pretty good paired with ice cream!

My photos arent uploading correctly and it takes me a lot of time and is difficult to write so here is one of a few meals that I've been meaning to blog but have put off for... oh about 2 weeks.
Chunky tomato soup with spinach salad & muenster cheese

Now off to MN with my cowboy boots and the Harley!

Grill

2010-05-22T19:46:00.001-05:00

It is grilling weather!!

And I love it! pig, steer, or chicken. Its all good on the grill!

Happy Saturday!

Waffleaffleagus

2010-05-16T12:02:00.001-05:00

We started the morning with oatmeal waffles, lots of fruit, and great coffee. Followed it with a mass that had a weak homily. Disappointing. BUT finally, what I've been waiting for all week..... TEDxDes Moines. I can't wait to participate in Iowa's first TED Talks. More to come.... Have a great Sunday!

Fajitas!!

2010-05-15T16:22:00.007-05:00

Country music, sunshine, fresh air, organizing, great food, my two favorite coffee cups.... all make for a wonderful day. It's just my dad and I at home as my mom is in MN helping my grandma and grandpa sort through things before their big move. Hope it's going well!

I started the morning with a great breakfast. An oatmeal raspberry scone, egg, and a mini bagel with Panera's hazelnut cream cheese and nutella. :)

The nutella put the good in good morning!

creamy, sweet, and perfectly chewy.

Served with fruit and 3 drinks... surprise surprise. A french press of my favorite coffee, milk, and OJ!

After sorting through tons of paper, matboard, and old projects I started lunch. My dad and I were hungry and fajitas sounded great to both of us. This turned out to be a killer lunch! The recipes/directions are below...Marinade: 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/4 cup coffee, 1/3 cup lime and lemon juice, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp brown suga, a shake of red pepper flakes, 1 tsp garlic, and 1/2 tsp cumin. Whisk it all together.

Love you Mom! Check out that perfect heart.

Splash the marinade on the cut chicken (I divided the full breast into 6 parts for maximum soakage-upage)

Next up: Homemade Guacamole!

1 avocado, 1/2 tomato, juice from a lemon, 1/4 onion, s&p
Mash that beautiful avocado....
Add diced tomatoes and onions, along with s&p
and enjoy. This was great! I even got a "this is the best I've ever had" from my dad!

Once the chicken had been marinating for a couple hours I chopped 1/2 a green pepper into small slender pieces, halved mushroom slices, and cut 1/2 an onion.

Toss them with olive oil, pepper, and garlic powder. Onto the grill they went once the chicken was nearly done.

This smelled amazing!! My dad knows how to grill. just awesome!
Slice the chicken and assemble the troops.
How awesome does this look!?
Wrapped and cut. One fantastic lunch. I hope you try this soon! You won't be disappointed.

Even though it's warm out I am enjoying my hot chocolate and blogging. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday :)

Dessert with breakfast

2010-05-14T18:49:00.005-05:00

Its a Friday night... but all I can think of is breakfast! and saturday morning! I can not wait to sleep in tomorrow. eeek!

There are many ingredients in the 'frig and in the pantry that I need to keep working on, so I tried combining them with my breakfast craving!

First up: Flatout wraps. love 'em. simple and better than a wrap but not as heavy and bready as bread.

Second up: Almond Breeze, a type of almond milk. Where have I been!? It seems like everyone but me has tried it and they all love it. Although I do not like it as much as I thought/hoped I would, I am glad I tried it. If it was warmer and I was into making super smoothies I would use it more. Maybe thats on the agenda for tomorrow....

1 egg + 1 white + splash of almond milk + hot pepper flakes.

Scrambled them up. Toss in green pepper and a slice of bacon! oh yum!

To pull it all together I sliced up muenster cheese (it looks like butter doesn't it?!)

I used the cheese as 'glue' to keep the wrap together.

and wrapped it up.

This was delicious! And filling. Definitely a repeater!

I also had fresh pineapple, juicy grapes, bananas, and strawberries. YUM.

Currently, I'm working on a homemade cream puff... kind of like this one that I had two nights ago. Except tonight its double cream puff (w/ ice cream) topped with fresh strawberries & raspberries and warm nutella. Let me repeat.... Nutella. It's going to be a great weekend.

Oatmeal Raspberry Scones - finally!

2010-05-12T21:41:00.007-05:00

First things first. How cute is this butter?!

Land O Lakes now sells half sticks. half sticks! of butter!

too. stinking. cute.

Secondly, the oatmeal raspberry scones recipe that I have been talking about since... oh March!

This is a great recipe for many reasons - freezes well (raw or baked!), its fairly healthy (if you forget about the stick of butter) and it tastes great (raspberries, how I love thee).

Once all of the ingredients are mixed by hand, dough is kneaded, and raspberries are stirred in, press the dough into a 1 1/2 inch blob. Like zis...

Use a ice cream scoop to scoop 12 (or 13 if you want one to eat right away) scones onto your baking sheet.

Action shot of me

Bake for 15 minutes or until perfectly golden brown.

These are chewy from the oatmeal, tart from the raspberries, and subtly sweet. Very very good. Everyone loved them! I plan on making another batch this weekend, along with fresh rhubarb cobbler. Have a great rainy Thursday!

ISU Graduation

2010-05-09T18:02:00.017-05:00

I've spent a lot of time in this classroom and other classrooms like this one over the past 4 years. So many graphic studios, critiques, lectures, slide shows, etc.... and I loved every second of it. I really don't think there is another major that is better suited for me.

This weekend was wonderful. Here's a recap :)

My grandparents from Minnesota arrived Friday night and we started the graduation festivities Saturday morning with this great breakfast!

Homemade oatmeal raspberry scones (recipe to come. these were awesome!), scrambled eggs (gotta have a little salt and protein!), fresh fruit(!!), aaaand donut holes. All served with milk and coffee. Breakfast perfection!

We all drove to Ames and celebrated graduation at the design college. It was so fun!! Wonderful speakers, all of my friends and their families there, and a huge hug from my dad as I walked off the stage after I received my diploma. Then a quick, errr long, bite to eat at Jimmy Johns. 8" to be exact. After that we headed to Hilton for the big grad ceremony.

The auditorium was packed. Luckily, though, things went off without a hitch and speeches were kept short so we were out around 4pm. It feels so good to be done and it was such a great day with my family all there supporting :)
I just noticed the 4 of us coordinated... green pinkish/purple. oh how fab. ha

Jake, my mom Jill, me, and my daddio Glen

We rushed home, grabbed a fast dinner, and I left to get back to Ames to CELEBRATE!!

Justin, Cameron, Lace, me, Matt, and Lindsey

my grandparents and me

Gianni 7 + Angela

Favorite part of the evening!? dancing to PYT with all of the girls :)

I can't wait to post some of the great meals we had... including those scones! I'm heading out to watch Hurt Locker. Have a great night!

2010-05-07T19:14:00.003-05:00

a preview for you...

remember these guys from March? I made them last night, froze them, and will bring them out for a quick breakfast before graduation tomorrow morning!! More to come.... for now, I'm off to celebrate.

Rhubarb dessert

2010-04-29T10:09:00.004-05:00

It's officially spring and in about 3 days it will be my summer. :) This calls for one thing, one simple thing; Rhubarb, of course!!

This is a family recipe that is gooey, sweet but tart, and so so delicious. I made it last weekend and it's gone now.... just in time for rhubarb jam from Minnesota. Thanks Grandma!

4 cups of beautiful rhubarb

Baked to a golden brown...

It is somewhat custardy on top with a shortbread crust. Yummmm

Perked Up Tacos

2010-04-27T21:16:00.007-05:00

Who doesn't love a perfectly grilled steak? or a thick and juicy Iowa chop? I know I do! Heck, even a corn dog and brats do me in. I'm crazy about them!

However, I'm not so crazy about loose prepared beef like taco meat. It is so high in sodium and drips continually with orange grease. yuck. I do love tacos though, so what's a girl to do!? With no chicken or black beans to be found, I came up with this. Give it a try, it was great!!

Wilt spinach and sautee fresh mushrooms

with about 1/3 cup prepared taco beef.

It was so good!

Top with cheese and tomatoes.

and enjoy... a couple of them :)

for dessert?

multigrain cheerios.

naturally.

Milo & Diem

2010-04-27T09:21:00.005-05:00

One thing I may miss most about 'college' is meeting with Lacey at Cafe Milo or Cafe Diem to study. We always joke that we just know how to study with each other. We can talk and talk and talk and then tell each other to stop talking and not be offended, we treat each other to cookies, remind each other of deals or, like last week, turn each other onto the BEST entrees!

Tomato Bisque with Toasted Bread.

The best entree at Cafe Milo. It is so delicious! Spicy and yet creamy, tomato-ey, and yet peppery. Absolutely my favorite.

Tying with Cafe Milo's entree is Cafe Diem's incredible Black Bean Burger!! You know how I feel about black bean burgers.....
I think we are headed to Milo today and I truly can't wait! 2 oclock needs to hurry! After that, one presentation (last big assignment of my college career!) and class. :) Have a great Tuesday!

MultiGrain Cheerios

2010-04-26T06:23:00.002-05:00

I cheated. This picture is from yesterday morning [The sun isn't out yet today] These little things are my absolute favorite. Im so glad I broke my cereal rule because these were completely worth 350 cents. yu uh uh uh uuuum!!

Granola

2010-04-25T11:37:00.010-05:00

Who doesn't love granola? ..... especially homemade granola??

This recipe has become a staple recipe for us. My mom and I just love it! I made a batch this morning because our supply is getting low, and thought I'd share. Enjoy!

Ingredients
have you ever noticed that nuts and grains are commonly packaged in red?
reds make ya hungry! think McDonalds and KFC

3 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sunflower kernals

Mix in a bowl like zis!

Love this. grains grains nuts and grains

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

In a small saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, and oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring until sugar melts and mixture is completely heated. Remove from heat; add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until well blended.

Drizzle over oat mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread mixture in greased 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 275 oven for 60 minutes, be sure to stir every 20 minutes!!

Keep fluffing this every couple minutes once it is out of the oven.
It will 'steam' and not become crunchy if you don't.

Yuuuum. Can't wait to try this batch!

Peaches & Pears & Peppers

2010-04-24T22:33:00.005-05:00

Peaches are my favorite fresh fruit, but I'll take these gorgeous pears until the peaches are ready!

I love Target. I love looking around Target. and recently I love trying new healthy snacks..... that's where this guy comes in. I was perusing the grocery side of Super Target last wk and found this to-go container of red pepper hummus with pretzels. I decided to give it a whirl, and man it was good!!

I just picked up 2 more of these today! One for me and one for my professor Troy. He commented on how good it looked in class and he will be graduating and moving to VT in a couple weeks. Hope he likes it!

Sabra - only $1.89

Hummus on the bottom and pretzels on the top

Ooooooh yeah

2010-04-20T23:45:00.008-05:00

Oooooooooh yeah -- imagine it like this song! :)

I think my little experiment worked because these were my frozen cookies from a couple months ago. They turned out fabulous! Good to know..... I will be making an extra batch and freezing them from now on.

My dad has been working on my car for so many nights now, so I thought I'd have these waiting for him when he came in from the garage. I think he liked them :) Thanks Dad!! I owe you!!

so so good!

Ya know what else I'm excited for!? Grilling. summer. steak. brats. hot dogs. chicken. grilled veggies. shish kabobs. anything. done. on. the. the grill.

I grilled this steak late last night, made a bit more quinoa, and gobbled. This was perfect.

Peppery and perfectly grilled.
bad picture, my apologies.

2010-04-17T18:05:00.005-05:00

My brother and I used to eat mushrooms right out of the can. Those were the only type of mushrooms I liked. well. I'm a bit classier now. I can't get enough mushrooms! I love portabella burgers, shitakes in pasta dishes in Italy, and fresh mushrooms on pizzas like this one.

so. flavorful!

We use 'Mama Mary's Gourmet Pizza Crusts,' top with olive oil, pizza sauce, a few pepperoni slices, green peppers, fresh mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, and red pepper flakes. Bake at 425 for 12 minutes. pizza perfection.

Second time around

2010-04-17T15:37:00.005-05:00

This meal was wonderful!!

grilled chicken
b. e. a. uuutiful!
this had so much smokey flavor. just deelish!

brussel sprouts
fresh this time!

AND
(drum roll please......)
Quinoa (keen-wa)!!
I have been wanted to try this for months.
We added sauteed celery, carrots, and onions and toasted almonds.
Quinoa is a complete protein grain. Very nutritious and tasty! Love it!

Leftovers from that great meal went into my lunch. I don't usually crave salads, but today was different. I think the combination of the gorgeous warm weather and knowing we have spinach and romaine made me want one. This did not disappoint!! Spinach, romaine, fresh mushrooms, black beans, leftover quinoa, and a tid bit of ranch. SO good.
Last night was VEISHEA and I'm off to celebrate another night! Happy Saturday!

Drowning...

2010-04-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

At the moment, I feel a little swamped. like I'm drowning. It's not a good feeling.

slowly, and I hope by the end of the day, I'll feel like I'm treading water.

And by next Thursday, I'll be ready for a margarita and my chicken taco.

I am very ready for next Thursday, April 22nd to be over. I will have accomplished a lot by then.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

The way to my heart...

2010-04-12T11:11:00.008-05:00

They say the way to a man's heart is through their stomach... The same could be said for me, because I'm in love with Tommy!

Spring Break was all Austin TX for me and I picked this up at one of my favorite spots in ATX; Whole Foods Headquarters. ohhh my! where to begin..... fruit so colorful it felt like we had walked into a candy shop, fresh grind-your-own-nut butter (my favorite was almond!), lots of fresh samples in the bakery!, amazingly unique products that are difficult to find in Iowa like kale chips and gfree options...

Chips and salsa are definitely the way to my heart! When I saw Tommy giving samples and selling his new salsa at Whole Foods I knew I had to buy some. He had just received his first shelf space -- how exciting! :)

After we all dipped in to several of his different types, I chose the Fire Roasted Corn & Black Bean salsa. I love black beans and this was nice and smoky.

I gave it a try last night with my cheap bag of Santitas- gotta love 'em. It was indeed smokey, but not very tomato-ey. I liked it a lot, but I do think I'll try adding crushed tomatoes next time to add extra flavor and stretch it out a bit.

This would be awesome used on blackened chicken or maybe on top of rice?! I'm glad I picked it up! Have a great Monday!

Homemade croutons

2010-04-10T11:37:00.011-05:00

I remember posting this a few months ago while in Roma. My absolute favorite way to start the day was with a cioccolata cornetto and a cappuccino from Bar Del Cappuccino. yum. In the states, however, I want my day to start with this. Every day. Ooo wouldn't that be nice?!

Chocolate Chip Bagel and Hazelnut cream cheese from Panera!
Paired with a perfect Cinnamon Sticky Buns french press coffee. deeelish!

After a great Friday at work I came home to an awesome dinner. My mom made these homemade croutons. oh yeah. She's good. :) These were very crunchy and very good! Not to mention, she put them in one of my favorite dishes. I have a thing for dishware.

They were a great addition to thiiis salad :)

um hello?! so colorful! so delicious!

Fresh, Real Food

2010-04-08T09:17:00.006-05:00

This breakfast was the perfect start to my day! I am loving the combination of frozen raspberries (no sugar added!) and banana on Total or Special K or Crispix. It is so great -- a must try!

Sometimes it's George Strait, sometimes its Norah Jones. or Lady Antebellum. Lately it's been a lot of Straight No Chaser's Man That Can't be Moved. A little Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Vince Gill, Bon Iver, Matt Wertz.... anything goes really. My little bose speakers are always playing some sort of music in our kitchen.

I feel like I could cook and bake, cut and chop, for hoooours when I'm listening to music. Last night I did just that.... I grabbed a lot of the veggies in our frig and started chopping.

Fresh, real, healthy food makes me so happy.

I sauteed onions, minced garlic, s&p, cumin, green and orange peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, black beans, and wilted spinach right at the end.
I served this mix with brown rice pilaf. It was pretty good! Not that flavorful... but really good. I think I liked it even more because I know its so good for me. Is that weird!?

Nicobella

2010-04-05T13:45:00.003-05:00

Truffles are always pretty.

Their dainty decorations make most girls swoon.

And their decadent fillings... oh, that's another story.

These truffles, however, are absolutely. stunning.

oh. my. goooodness. They are perfect! Each one is vegan and they come in the most creative flavors (how yummy does a Pumpkin Chai Truffle sound?!)

Please visit nicobellaorganics.com and read about them.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T19:10:00.013-05:00

Happy Easter!! I'm stuffed. :) such a good feeling! Now Im sipping on a french press and blogging!

Instead of waking up to cinnamon rolls like a few weeks ago... I woke up to potatoes baking in the oven. Since about 9am I've been cooking! Its been a busy day but it paid off. Here are the goods--
Cornish Game Hens
My dad seasoned the little guys with s&p on the inside and Famous Daves Rib Rub on the outside (with a little butter to make it stick) and popped them onto the Weber for about an hour and 20 min at about 350.

These were DELICIOUS.

Next up-- Brussel Sprouts.

I know..... gross, right? WRONG. I have been reading about roasted brussel sprouts on my two favorite blogs (iowagirleats.com and katheats.com) for the past year or so and finally decided to give them a try. I am so glad I did! They were great! Even my brother and my dad who reminded me many times how they were not thrilled about them, said they really liked them! Score.

(these were frozen so prep may change a bit but it will be similar)

wash.

cut off stem. remove raggy leaves on the outside.

slice in half lengthwise. toss with olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper then bake at 425 for 27-30 minutes.

And... Spinach and strawberry salad with homemade poppy seed dressing by my mom! It was so fresh!
Also... twice baked potatoes and french bread.

for dessert.... Special K bars. Half the pan is already gone... I give my dad until tomorrow morning to polish the rest of the pan off :)

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T16:28:00.005-05:00

This is one cute post by Joy the Baker (remember those gorgeous raspberry scones?! those were hers!) After reading the entire post, I happen to agree. Entirely.

I am still working on a post from last Sunday's Gianni 7 Reunion. It's taking me way too long... In the meantime, I'll share these beauties!

How great do these look!? I found this display of caramel apples (plus cookies chocolate nutes sprinkles sugar frosting etc etc etc) in Whole Foods (an incredible grocery store that was first opened in Austin TX specializing in organic, healthy, and whole foods). I wanted to get one so badly, but did you catch how much they were!? Nearly 8 bucks each! whoa ho ho Noooo.

they are pretty cute though :)

Happy Easter everyone! OOOOO

those little guys above are, of course, little easter eggs.

Rome Reunion

2010-04-01T13:04:00.031-05:00

Oh my goodness... Romesickness.

Certain things... the smell of fresh basil, the first couple notes of PYT by Michael Jackson, my great copper sandals from Dublin, checking my morning messages, the thought of skype, hearing or replying with Ciao bella!, oh my... so many things flood me with thoughts of Rome and my time abroad.

Last fall was an incredible semester. With 6 incredible girls.
We have had plenty of family dinners.... whether it was in our dining room on Circonvallazione Gianicolense

I think this was the dinner Bethany and I made, if I remember correctly.

Or in a hostel in the middle of Venice :)

oh. my. what a night :/

And even though we were in the heart of the city with the most incredible food... we still managed to eat plenty of Chinese.

When our semester ended, we vowed to do Gianni 7 things together hopefully weekly, and if not weekly, then every couple weeks! So, at the end of March all of the PYTs came over for a little family reunion :)

On the menu

wine. wine. wine.
Two types of lasagna (one for the glutard and veg, one for the rest of us)
A colorful salad
Garlic Bread
& for dessert, a fresh lemon tart (channeling a little Sorrento)

The Lemon Tree Restaurant in the heart of Sorrento, Italy

My mom and I started zested, juicing, stirring, straining, and baking the lemon tarts Saturday morning. It was kind of a long process but completely paid off. It was fun to try such a unique dessert with such a bold flavor!!

zeeeest

straining numerous times to achieve that silky texture

lots. of. yolks. hello cholesterol!

After making the tart and whipping up the first lasagna, we took a lunch break.
I grabbed this loaf of bread that I brought home from the test kitchens at work and made a quick egg sandwich.

Wow. Can't beat those ingredients and nutritional facts!

This bread was Dense. But tasted great toasted. Served with an apple and peanut butter. YUM!
Next up was the gfree/vegetarian Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna. This baby turned out gooood. I'll post the actual recipe soon, girls!

the goods

sauteeing the homemade sauce

and finishing up the sauce.

I put the lasagna in the oven and started prepping the salad. which took forever! gr.

Salad ingredients

After the salad was together, the food was ready to go. A few last minute prep items... and things were in place!
Around 5 o'clock the girls arrived!
It was a fun evening! We listened to MJ and watched our vid eos haha and reminisced. Can't wait to do it again!

fresh lemon tart with raspberry sauce

Whirley Pop

2010-03-23T21:27:00.008-05:00

I completely realize its only March...... which makes Christmas about 9 months away from Thursday....... but it's never too early to start a wish list :) ha... says the girl that keeps a year-long running Christmas for her family and close friends so she can get juuuust the right thing.
I am adding a Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper to my list!! Adding it early ensures I'll get it right!? haha I kid I kid. I bring it up because it worked last year....... my brownie pan post from Oct 31!

Alright. Start with 2 Tbsp of olive oil and 1/2 cup popcorn in your whirley pop.
Whirl your handle for about 5 minutes and voila. Awesome, perfectly popped popcorn. And of course, I add melted butter. Just a bit- maybe 2 tablespoons. This fills a huge bowl and is enough to feed 3 or 4 or 5 or 6.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2010-03-22T18:23:00.004-05:00

I can't believe I forget to name off chicken noodle soup every time someone asks me what my favorite food is...... I LOVE IT!!

I was craaaving meat after my week in Texas because we lived with 2 vegetarians and most of our meals were veggies, so I texted my mom on the way home and asked for chicken noodle soup. This soup has turned into our traditional Christmas Eve dinner because its that good. But why not have it in the middle of March too!?

We cooked our chicken at 350 for about 90 minutes...
Sauteed our celery, carrots, and onions. Added water, low sodium chicken broth, s&p, and then homemade noodles. They're lumpy and chewy and so sooo good. And right as my corn bread muffins came out of the oven we plopped our hot chopped chicken in the soup.

Deeeelish.

raspberry scones

2010-03-11T13:22:00.005-06:00

It used to be facebook, but now I think I've found something a little more worthy to waste my time on...

like finding these raspberry scones on Joy the Baker!

grated chilled butter?! too fun. and the pop of bright raspberry red? ah. perfection.

These will be made promptly when I get back from Austin. I wish I had time to do it before but it just won't be happening.

Speeeaking of Austin.......
I am thrilled that I will be seeing this lovely lady :) haha this picture cracks me up. This was us nearly 2 or 3 years ago at my uncle's wedding clearly having a lot of fun! Carmen and Jason will be coming up from Houston to do dinner Friday night. I. can't. wait. to. see. them!!

mm mm

2010-03-07T19:51:00.004-06:00

I'm eating this as I type... and I'm not getting anywhere because I don't want to put the spoon down!! This is a must-try combination!

pomegranate blueberry yogurt and chia seeds, topped with a banana, homemade granola, sliced almonds, and fresh raspberries and blackberries! .... there are definite perks about working in and around the test kitchen!! I brought home tons of raspberries and blackberries and awesome brownies on friday :)

I had a great weekend and truly can't wait for next weekend and then my trip to Austin TX :)

I sipped on this pomegranate cosmo at Old Chicago before heading to the Corral last night

Tinted Mint Tape

2010-03-04T14:35:00.003-06:00

Oh, I'm in love. Yesss, its tape...but not just any tape.... it is gorgeous, perfectly tinted, eco-friendly(?!) tape in the most beautiful modern boxes. I wish Christmas was closer. or my birthday. either would be just fine.

oatmeal overflow

2010-03-03T20:10:00.000-06:00

Bare with me... this photo isn't pretty. I forgot to put my banana slices on first so they are just plopped on top... and the color... and the fact that I wasn't watching close enough so my oatmeal boiled over and is stuck to the sides of my bowl...

Into the mix-- oatmeal, chia seeds, milk, water and to top it off a banana, slivered almonds, and brown sugar. This was pretty good but next time I'd like to add vanilla and/or peanut butter for a little extra flavor!

Tonight I had AWESOME beef stew with thee. most. tender. beef I've had probably since last summer (and crescent rolls! yeah!). I didn't grab a picture because I was too hungry, but look at this gorgeous salad I had a two nights ago. mm mmm!

chia seeds on my salad too

It was awesome and happened to compliment the hot wings I had perfectly.

Alright, enough salad talk. I may have to make these this weekend! If Puppy Chow and Cookies had a baby this is what she'd look like. oh yum!

Oh Canada!

2010-03-02T08:49:00.000-06:00

Just because the Olympics are done doesn't mean we still can't enjoy them! Carrie, one of Spenser's good friends, cracked me up with these photos -- take a look!

Are you surprised that evan lysacek and scott moir don't appear on this page?
I'm not. Those guys couldn't look bad if they tried. mm mmm

A Fabulous Start

2010-02-28T16:22:00.000-06:00

a fabulous way to start the day.

The orange zest in the icing was such a great addition to these semi-homemade cinnamon rolls. Awesome breakfast. now off to church.

They fell short...

2010-02-27T17:42:00.000-06:00

Oh yummm our Seafood Fettucine dinner turned out great last night! We served it with fresh steamed broccoli... I'm thinking it would be nice with double the mushrooms and broccoli in the mix... next tiiiime.

My mom and I spotted a little girl eating a shortbread cookie as we were eating lunch at Panera and we haven't been able to stop thinking about them since! Panera has the best shortbread cookies. oh my gosh so good! sooooo when I got home I decided to try making a batch of my own!butta.

I can't believe shortbread has only 3 ingredients! Cream 1 c. butter and 1/2 cup sugar and 2 1/2 cups of flour. It mixed together quickly and went into the frig for an hour. As my dough chilled I drank hot chocolate. I can't get enough of this stuff... I think this is our 3rd batch this winter! Yikes
Back to the shortbread-- I pressed, cut, and pricked my dough, popped it into the oven and then waited... a loooong time! These took 15 more minutes than they were supposed to. [convection oven? larger pan? why didn't it work out like the recipe!?]
And the result?! ..........eh decent. They taste great, maybe a bit too sweet for traditional shortbread, but my one problem?! They are ugly! I want my desserts and dishes to look good and hopefully appetizing! These, however, look a bit sketchy.
Bummer. I have some ideas for next time.... arrivederci!

ch ch chia

2010-02-25T08:41:00.001-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I have the best job. I just love it! Yesterday (and tomorrow) we are working on a photo shoot at the gorgeous Salisbury House, which is a local castle/museum in downtown Des Moines. Here's there site -- Salisbury House. We're working on a Halloween photo shoot which is turning out beautifully. Yesterday when I was sent out to find different olives for our martinis I stopped by Gateway Market. I love that place! I found my olives at the olive bar aaaaand I also found something I have been looking for for a while...

Chia Seeds!! Nearly all of the food blogs I read use these tiny seeds in some way or another and I've been so excited to try them!
-they are the same seed used for chia pets
-these little power houses have been used for centuries by south west Indians and Mexicans.
-known as "running food" as they are a high energy endurance food
-when combined with water they create a gel (from its high soluble fiber content)
-this same gel-forming phenomen takes place inside the stomach by creating a physical barrier between carbohydrates and digestive enzymes which slows the conversion of carbs to sugar
-prolongs hydration
-and the list goes on and on and on.... I sprinkled 1/2 tbsp of chia seeds on my peach yogurt this morning and topped it with a sliced banana, sliced almonds (my favorite!) and some fresh pineapple. It was awesome!

The chia seeds added a little crunch/pop, kind of like poppy seeds, and little flavor. I'm so glad I found them!
A few quick things--

TLC Mediterranean Bruschetta crackers are awesome. They taste great and they are healthy crackers with lots of whole grain. give 'em a try!
I picked up a Larabar yesterday at Gateway Market, too! IGE loves her larabars and I have been wanting to try them! and lemon bar flavored?? yummm!
Check out the ingredient list... lots of healthy fats.
Have a great day! It's almost Friday :)

Guac

2010-02-16T18:02:00.000-06:00

I am loving guacamole lately... This recipe is so easy!

Mash on avocado, add 1/4 cup onion, 1/4 cup tomatoes, juice from 1 lemon or lime, and a bit of black pepper. I love black beans and have been adding those in too.

I finished my book project for ArtGr 482 last night and boy does it feel good to be done!
Now its time to start refining my portfolio and applying for jobs!!

Pizza and greek yogurt

2010-02-08T10:57:00.000-06:00

I just realized I didn't photograph the brownies I made. Delicious! (Smitten Kitchen's cocoa brownies) or the lemon bars I made. Preeetty good. (an old recipe my Mom had) Bummer! ... oh well guess that means I'll have to make them again!
Last night, after working on projects all day, I made such a great dinner. so good that I am recreating it today for lunch!
green & red pepper, fresh mushrooms, one crumbled black bean & veggie burger, lotsa basil, garlic powder, and thin slices of muenster cheese. All on top of a FlatOut Flat Bread and pizza sauce!

Try it! You'll love it!

A quick breakfast this morning...

oatmeal with almond slices sprinkled with Kashi Blueberry cluster cereal and blueberries

and a quick snack...
pumpkin??.... I've been inspired by reading so many blogs about the addition of pumpkin to yogurt, as well as the use of greek yogurt. It is very high in protein (a whopping 15 grams!) and low in fat. 0 grams of fat in fact!
I mixed in about 1/3 cup pumpin and stirred until it was almost completely incooperated. I'm particular and like the variation in color, so I do not stir it completely.
After toasting slivered almonds
I added a bit of homemade granola, and brown sugar.looks great!!.... tasted.... um... like sour cream. bummer. I had to add more sugar and after about half of the dish I couldn't finish it. I added honey and oatmeal. a little overnight oats anyone!? :) I love IGE and she has inspired me to try overnight oats. Check out her recipe and creations at Iowa Girl Eats.

Aunt Helen's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-01-26T12:13:00.000-06:00

Cookies cookies cookies... love 'em. After making banana cake w/ cream cheese frosting Sunday I decided to take a day off from making sweets. I whipped up my aunt Helen's chocolate chip cookie recipe, and surprise surprise, it turned out perfectly. Such a staple recipe!
I am trying one new thing... I baked 2 pans and am going to freeze the rest. I made dollop cookies and will freeze them until I decide to bake them later. I hope they turn out well and don't dry out or get freezer burn!

Black Bean Spinach Turkey & Rice

2010-01-26T12:07:00.000-06:00

Because my big batch of Black Bean Veggie Burgers make nearly 10 patties I decided to make a dinner out of them... It was easy peasy and completely different than the patties.

Steam brown rice and sautee 2 veggie burgers, evoo, s&p, cumin, garlic powder, 1 big glug of salsa, and a few strips of roasted turkey. Heat until sizzling. Add your veggie and turkey mixture to your rice and melt a little cheese on top. I will definitely be making this again!

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

2010-01-26T11:54:00.000-06:00

I can't get enough of these burgers!!

They are so healthy and still pretty savory tasting. After whipping up a burger last week with leftovers I made a full batch and perfected my recipe... its a great way to use up random things in your 'frig!
Cut and puree 4 large carrots, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 onion. Sautee and add s&p, cumin, and garlic powder. Mix veggies with 1 box of frozen spinach and a can of mashed kidney beans. Stir in one whipped egg and form 'patties.'

Put on the griddle with a little evoo

Flip after they are browned (the middles should dry out a bit)
I 'toast' a Pepperidge Farm Deli Flat on the griddle and serve provolone cheese on top. ENJOY!

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

2010-01-20T12:02:00.000-06:00

Its been a while... ciao!

I whipped up a great dinner last night in an effort to use up a few things that were just sitting in the fridge....

black beans, spinach, corn, sauteed green peppers and mushrooms, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper and an egg...... grilled and served on a toasted bun. yum! I'll have to remember this recipe!

monday

2009-12-07T13:13:00.000-06:00

Some things on my mind....

-should I make my last box of brownies tonight?? will I want them more later in the week? oh but they sound so so good!
-my professors are being SO understanding about being sick last week... I am quite blessed.
-I just put in a load of clothes... I am hoping they are dry by the time I have to leave next week!
-I'm going to miss my room mates... they are the best group of girls.
-I can't wait to live at home. I am 22 and am probably too excited about this haha
-I'm looking forward to my leftover tuna noodle casserole for lunch tomorrow
-I LEAVE NEXT WEEK! ooooooo I can't wait!
-should I buy boots or not.... the budgets tight ooo I want them!
-my pinkies are cold, thats weird
-I can't wait to give everyone's Christmas gifts to them... still have to get a couple!
-moooore snow at home!? eeeks Im glad Im here!
-I can't wait to make homemade marshmallows with my mom
-okay finish this project up so you can cross it off the list!

blog a blog

2009-12-06T08:04:00.000-06:00

By far, one of the most beautiful, wish-I-could-pluck-that-piece-of-pie-from-the-screen, and wonderfully-written food blogs I read is Smitten Kitchen. She photo-styles so uniquely and so well the food seems to have a life of its own and the colors are incredible. There are three -or four or five or six!!- recipes I can not wait to whip up when I get home.

Take a look at Smitten Kitchen.... you will not be disappointed!

Look at the ones I can't wait to dive into:
Coffee Toffee
Sweet Potato Buttercream Pie
Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats
Nectarine Galette

never thought id say this...

2009-12-04T12:15:00.001-06:00

I can't eat pasta another day.
whether its with tomatoes. or pesto. zucchini. garlic. or all combined in different ways....

blah. I am CRAVING moist tender turkey, moist chicken with crispy skin, a Culvers burger with fries (hello!), a great steak sandwich (ala my parents), baked rice, a loaded baked potato, a BLT, yogurt pie, homemade popcorn, mm and Christmas cookies!

Tonights meal I tried to down...

Don't get me wrong.... there is wonderful pasta here. WONDERFUL. And my special salads still make me swoon and how I love the pizza... I just cant do anymore traditional pasta dishes. Bring on the soups e panne (bread)
Excuse the horrible pictures; but its Christmas in Italy too and we are celebrating!! We decked our tree out in pasta garland -how appropriate- and some of the cutest paper snowflakes that the girls made. I am sooooooooooo O O O ready for Christmas!!

wish I could rewind....

2009-11-29T11:51:00.000-06:00

oh what a week! I had such a great time with Eric and Mary Ann! They left this morning around 4:30 and are probably arriving home right about now..... Thanks for visiting. I absolutely loved having you both here! It was wonderful to see and shop Florence again; tromp up the 441 stairs to the top of the duomo's campanile;
spy Pisa's white leaning tower against the black sky from around the corner;
hear Eric order McDonald's in Italian; and count 20 prostitutes on the way to McDonalds; enjoy 4 bottles of wine, grappa shots, aaand limoncello with Eric and Mary Ann;
take in several of Bernini and Michelangelo's most incredible sculputures like the David, Apollo & Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, as well as Caravaggio's incredible work;

absolutely incredible. simply stunning and life like.

listen to Mary Ann nearly die of an anxiety attack as Eric drove back to Rome on the Italian autostrade;

listen to lots of snoring :); enjoy croissant after croissant after croissant;
take the completely wrong bus and be an hour late meeting Mary Ann in St. Peter's Square; see Eric's face as he saw the Roman Forum for the first time, drink even more vino; enjoy conversation and stories over great food with great people;
show Eric my studio and apartment and to finally introduce him to my room mates, eat several FANTASTIC meals like this one
going through St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums, including the Pieta and the Sistene Chapel;
watching Eric be a beggar for a couple minutes; taking 3 different trams getting home trying not to get caught riding illegally; first joking about leaning like the tower for our photo and then tripping on the rope and actually falling..... before, after the fall, still trying to recover;

looking out across Florence from Piazza Michelangelo;
and, finally, throwing my coin into Trevi so I can return to Rome one day.
The week was such a great way to end an incredible semester in Italy! 2.5 weeks to go... lots of projects and a bit more shopping.... then home to hot chocolate, family, friends, Christmas, cozy blankets, mexican food, etc etc etc! I can not wait!!

Paaaastrami

2009-11-21T14:17:00.000-06:00

I'd like you to meet thee best sandwich in the world. oh yeah... the woooorld. He is a pastrami sandwich and grew up in Bar del Cappucino, a small and oh-so-traditional Italian Cafe just around the corner from my studio in the heart of Rome.Fresh chewy toasted bread, a smear of mustard and mayo, freshly (right in front of you!) sliced tomatoes and lettuce and freshly shaved pastrami. Drizzled with a bit of lemon juice and wrapped porta via! [to go!]

I had my first pastrami yesterday and had to have one today! I am not much of a sandwich person but this one has won me over! Absolutely delicious! .... I should mention that it doesn't hurt that a young hot Italian guy serves these up!

Today was kind of an odd day. I spent the entire day at studio writing an art history paper on the Cosmatesque mosaics from the 12th century AD that are found in so many Roman churches... yay. thrilling. blah. Its done. Buuuut on the other hand, it was a great and exciting day! I skyped with Eric one last time before he headed to the airport and he is flying from Des Moines to Chicago as I type this! After a short layover in Chicago he will leave tonight (US time) and arrive in Munich tomorrow around noon (my time) and finally in Rome tomorrow at 4:40. Travelling for more than 24 hours and adjusting to a 7hr time change is going to be tricky... I hope he and his aunt aren't too tired and can still enjoy the day tomorrow!

I. can. not. wait!

It hasn't quite hit me yet.... but it slowly is. As I was packing earlier I realized that I will actually get to see him tomorrow! no more skype! Woot woot! :) I need to finish up a couple projects as I won't be back in Rome until Wednesday (we will be in Florence!). Ciao!

a week in review

2009-11-19T12:28:00.000-06:00

This last week has been a whirlwind! I have been trying to complete projects before Eric and Mary Ann get here and still fit in a few things that I have been wanting to do here! A quick list of things I have seen and enjoyed in the past week.

Melissa, a friend and student who is also in graphic, and I joined her former priest from Rochester for an awesome tour around Rome. We walked for 5-6 hours and saw soooo many basilicas/cathedrals and learned SO much. Fr. Bob was spewing with information, quizzing us about different facts/catholic things/history, all while cracking us up with jokes and stories. It was awesome! We are hoping to fit in another tour before we head home and he leaves for home for the holidays.

Saint John in Lateran
[named after Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist]
the cathedral of Rome and the Papal residence during the 13th century
this cathedral had unique friezes above the main apse's arches. on the left side were stories from the old testament, and on the right were the corresponding stories from the new testament.

The Pope at the time (... I can't remember his name...) had a vision that St. John would rebuild the church. After being told of the Pope's dream John quickly started building churches and soon realized this was not what the Pope had meant; but more of a spiritual rebirth and growth. He was later known as Saint John the Evangelist. This sculpture, viewed at the right angle shows Saint John holding up the church. very neat :)
Saint Helen, Constantine's mother, traveled to Jerusalem several times during her life. On one occasion, she brought the stair case from Pilate's palace in which Jesus walked. They are now covered with wooden planks and now can not be walked on. One must kneel their entire way up. It was a unique experience... one very humbling, full of prayer, and quiet. Saint Helen also brought soil from Jerusalem. This is now in the Capuchin Crypt beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. Mary Ann, Eric, and I will go there next week.

Next: Mass in the Pantheon. QUITE AMAZING!

The Pantheon is a large space! Right before 10:30 everyone that wasn't attending mass was kicked out, so there were maaaaybe 50 of us. It was kind of an odd mass, but between the flood of natural light from the oculus, the music resonating around the room, and the strong smell of incense, it felt very intimate and special.

Best dinner of the week: Homemade Spinach and Artichoke dip!

1. Thaw/heat frozen artichoke hearts and spinach

2. Chop garlic, onions, and pecorino romano cheese
3. Sautee olive oil, garlic, and onions, add strained spinach and artichoke, add cheese, and a tub of cream cheese

4. Stir.

5. Transfer to glass pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until you can't stand it anymore because you can't wait to dig inEnjoy!
This was sooo delicious. We served it with tortilla chips but a couple weeks ago Bethany baked tortilla for thicker tortilla crisps.

Yesterday morning: Art History walk

LOVE these!

We walked 5.5 miles yesterday on our walk. We were kind of tired after it haha, but it was fun to see the north side of Rome and the contemporary side of Italian architecture.

Parca del Musica
cork tree

cooooooork

This was used to make olive oil.
grind our little olives around the circle and the oil will drain from the two drains at the front.

This complex was so neat... these are photos of the actual Parca de Musica. The Renzo Piano Building Workshop (an Italain architecture firm) was commissioned for this design in the late 90s because of their specialization in acoustics.
This steel sheath was is like a shell above the wooden and brick building. The

One last picture of the music complex. There are 4 buildings in all; one being this outside amphitheater. The largest is for 2200 people, which is the largest size buildings can be made before the acoustics are effected.

oooo time is ticking! Eric leaves for Europe tomorrow afternoon and arrives at 4:40 Sunday afternoon. I can not wait!!

almonds

2009-11-17T15:17:00.000-06:00

WOOOOO found a new favorite today!!

I bought almonds at the grocery store earlier tonight and just chopped them up and sprinkled them over bran cereal. Along with the cold creamy milk and a very light sprinkle of brown sugar... it was awesome.

Thankful

2009-11-16T12:05:00.000-06:00

a few things I'm thankful for...

family dinners (I had a great night last night)
driers (we wash our clothes here and we hang them up. and then we wait daaaaaays weeeeeeks)
chips and salsa (I love chips and salsa and Ive had them a lot in the last few days and I love them even more now!)
my little french press and coffees with my mom
Harleys (I can't wait for next spring already...)
Visitors (I loved having my parents come and I am soooooo excited for Eric and Mary Ann to get here)
Marco (and his fruits and veggies)
Lacey (I like her. a lot. She pushes me and our friendship has continued to grow even though we are worlds apart)
warm weather (sitting on the terrace today during class was pure perfection)
wireless internet
family (I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone)
feeling so safe here (I realized today that I have only felt legitimately unsafe less than a handful of times this entire semester)
creativity (I love my major and am so thankful I get to work on this type of homework and get to be creative each day)
country music
hot chocolate mix I'm hoping Bethany is feeling generous enough to give me some tonight)

I can hear homework calling my name.
herrumph.

Stuffed Peppers

2009-11-14T06:33:00.000-06:00

Its becoming kind of a challenge for myself to see what types of meals I can make that are flavorful, inexpensive (especially if it lasts me 3 meals like my tuna noodle casserole did!), but are still packed with nutrition, too. I love the challenge!

After visiting Marco at the market I had the perfect ingredients to make stuffed peppers (that weren't stuffed, after all).
-a HUGE red pepper for 80 cents (I only used half)
-pack of mushroom rice 1.40 euro
-3/4 cup of peas (from a bag that was about 1.20)
-onions and a couple slices of peperocino cheese (entire block was 90 cents)
I boiled the peppers, made the rice/onion/pea blend, smothered the chunks of peppers with rice, topped with cheese and baked for about 10 min. It was a great meal and I still have a plate this size left for dinner tonight!
I am heading out with Melissa and her priest (from her home parish in Rochester who is now living here) to tour a few popular/famous churches here. Melissa's priest has lived and studied here for many years and is very knowledgeable about Rome's Christian history... can't wait!!