OK so I was browsing Pinterest over the weekend, looking for something fun to whip up in the kitchen. I'm trying to get us back to eating healthy, low-carb meals that are well planned out in advance. So when I saw a recipe for a cilantro lime salad dressing, I knew I had to try it. Now I haven't always been a big fan of cilantro. There was a while during my teenage years that cilantro made my skin itch. I'm really glad I got over that, because this dressing is SO tasty and so easy! I made a good-sized mason jar worth of dressing last night, and I'm hoping it lasts a whole week of salads at lunch time. Last night I grabbed a big bowl, tossed in two hand-fulls of lettuce, half a chopped up cucumber, a whole cubed avocado, and six or seven halved cherry tomatoes, all drizzled with a little of this dressing. It was so good. I had actually made bacon wrapped scallops for dinner, and ended up tossing most of mine onto Kevin's plate so I could save room for more salad. I threw together the same salad for lunch today, but added some bacon chunks that I cooked last night, along with some sweet corn and a little bit of crumbled feta cheese. I was going to take a hipster-Instagram-type picture of my lunch salad, but I gobbled it up before I remembered to pull out my phone. YUM. Avocado and bacon might be the most underrated couple in the food world. Here's the recipe - it's really quick to put together, and I suspect it would also be good on grilled chicken, brushed on grilled corn instead of butter, or even drizzled over baked fish (which I will be trying tonight):
1 small single-serving container of plain Chobani Greek yogurt
1 or two tablespoons of lime juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 big bunch of cilantro, with most of the stems chopped off
1 teaspoon of salt (sea salt if you're feeling fancy)
1/3-1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Toss everything except the olive oil in a blender, or in a tall container if you're planning on using a hand blender (which I did, and it was so much easier than hauling out the big blender). Blend together all the ingredients, but save the olive oil for last. Add the olive oil as needed to loosen the dressing so it's spoon-able or pour-able. Use within a week.
I'm actually in the middle of reading Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, and know for a fact that he would turn up his coke-sniffing nose at me for using that minced garlic that comes in a jar. Sorry, Anthony. I feel like he'd enjoy the dressing though. Try it for yourself!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Currently: What I'm Reading
If you'll recall, dear reader, some of the new year's resolutions I made for myself at the start of 2013, you should know that I've mostly fallen off the rails with all of them.
I'm happy to say, though, that I have kept my resolution to read more (yay!). I owe this mostly to my sweet husband who bought me a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago, which means I can have a few dozen books tucked neatly into my purse at all times. Looking for something interesting or new to read over the summer? Check out what I've been reading for the past couple of months:
Jane Eyre by Emily Bronte
I have had this book on my shelf for quite some time now, and have always meant to read it, but never quite got around to it. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, I think in part because it starts off in such a bleak and sad setting. Once Jane encounters Mr. Rochester for the first time, however, it's safe to say I was completely hooked. Pride & Prejudice is still safely my favorite piece of fiction from the 1800's, but I feel like it's safe to say that Jane Eyre will be one that I read again over the years.
Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan
This is another one I had been meaning to read for a while. I grabbed it on my Kindle for about $5 or $6, and it was so worth it! It really opened my eyes to the relationship we have with our sweet mutt, Ruby, and some techniques we can be using to change her behavior. I've already tried implementing a few things from the book, but we still have a lot of work to do!
Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
After reading McCullough's bio on John Adams, which I enjoyed immensely, I checked to see if there were any other biographies he'd written. As soon as I saw that he'd written about Roosevelt, it seemed like a natural to be next on my list of books to read. I loved reading about the day-to-day life of the Roosevelt family, the story of how Theodore Roosevelt Sr. met and married Mittle Bulloch of Roswell, Georgia, and the story of Teddy Jr. and Alice. Though not without its fair share of tragedy, sadness, and loss, I so enjoyed getting lost in the story of the Roosevelt clan, their trips to Europe, their forays into politics, and their role in settling the West.
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
I love historical fiction, so as soon as I heard a few things about this book, I looked it up on my Kindle immediately. I tore through it over the course of a few lunch-hours, and loved every minute. It follows the story of Anna, a German woman who survived World War I, the secrets she kept, and the unthinkable things she did to survive. Her daughter Trudy, born in Germany during the war and now living in America with her mother, is a scholar who has taken an interest in hearing the stories of German citizens and their experiences during the war, has buried herself in research, little knowing that her mother has quite the story of her own to tell.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I'm only partway through this, and I definitely picked it up on a lark after seeing one of my student assistants at work reading it. Even though I'm not usually one for self-help type books, this one has definitely caught my attention. I like the practical approach Gretchen Rubin has taken - taking time to self-reflect and figure out what things in life frustrate me has been an eye-opening experience, and I'm definitely considering taking on a year-long Happiness Project of my own.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
I should preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain to begin with. My first encounter with him was watching No Reservations, and after seeing a few episodes, I quickly turned to Netflix to try to watch the whole series. I have always enjoyed the narration pieces he does during his show, just the way he describes his experiences. The way he talks about food is both scathingly irreverent - he definitely takes a very non-pretentious, almost crude view on the food world in general - and beautifully reverent - he has a serious and passionate appreciation for good food in all its forms and genres. I'm only a few chapters in, but already I'm loving it. I feel like he and I would get along if we ever met in person.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
I should preface this by saying that I'm not usually one to pick up books written by celebrities just because they're written by celebrities. I have a genuine appreciation for a good story, and for good writing. I haven't started this one yet, but I'm excited to get into it and will definitely write more when I am done! I've really enjoyed Lauren Graham ever since the beginning of my infatuation with Gilmore Girls, I'm hoping that my enjoyment of this book translates into a general feeling that LG and I could be secret best friends in the future.
Palo Alto by James Franco
Again with the books by celebrities. This one I picked up on a whim as well because someone I know recommended it as "a quirky read". Good enough for me! And I've always had a soft spot for unusual short stories. I think James Franco, at the very least, is an interesting person who seems to have the same appreciation for good writing as I do.
What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations for a girl who is slowly returning to her roots as a voracious reader? I'd love to hear from you!
I'm happy to say, though, that I have kept my resolution to read more (yay!). I owe this mostly to my sweet husband who bought me a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago, which means I can have a few dozen books tucked neatly into my purse at all times. Looking for something interesting or new to read over the summer? Check out what I've been reading for the past couple of months:
Jane Eyre by Emily Bronte
I have had this book on my shelf for quite some time now, and have always meant to read it, but never quite got around to it. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, I think in part because it starts off in such a bleak and sad setting. Once Jane encounters Mr. Rochester for the first time, however, it's safe to say I was completely hooked. Pride & Prejudice is still safely my favorite piece of fiction from the 1800's, but I feel like it's safe to say that Jane Eyre will be one that I read again over the years.
Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan
This is another one I had been meaning to read for a while. I grabbed it on my Kindle for about $5 or $6, and it was so worth it! It really opened my eyes to the relationship we have with our sweet mutt, Ruby, and some techniques we can be using to change her behavior. I've already tried implementing a few things from the book, but we still have a lot of work to do!
Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
After reading McCullough's bio on John Adams, which I enjoyed immensely, I checked to see if there were any other biographies he'd written. As soon as I saw that he'd written about Roosevelt, it seemed like a natural to be next on my list of books to read. I loved reading about the day-to-day life of the Roosevelt family, the story of how Theodore Roosevelt Sr. met and married Mittle Bulloch of Roswell, Georgia, and the story of Teddy Jr. and Alice. Though not without its fair share of tragedy, sadness, and loss, I so enjoyed getting lost in the story of the Roosevelt clan, their trips to Europe, their forays into politics, and their role in settling the West.
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
I love historical fiction, so as soon as I heard a few things about this book, I looked it up on my Kindle immediately. I tore through it over the course of a few lunch-hours, and loved every minute. It follows the story of Anna, a German woman who survived World War I, the secrets she kept, and the unthinkable things she did to survive. Her daughter Trudy, born in Germany during the war and now living in America with her mother, is a scholar who has taken an interest in hearing the stories of German citizens and their experiences during the war, has buried herself in research, little knowing that her mother has quite the story of her own to tell.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I'm only partway through this, and I definitely picked it up on a lark after seeing one of my student assistants at work reading it. Even though I'm not usually one for self-help type books, this one has definitely caught my attention. I like the practical approach Gretchen Rubin has taken - taking time to self-reflect and figure out what things in life frustrate me has been an eye-opening experience, and I'm definitely considering taking on a year-long Happiness Project of my own.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
I should preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain to begin with. My first encounter with him was watching No Reservations, and after seeing a few episodes, I quickly turned to Netflix to try to watch the whole series. I have always enjoyed the narration pieces he does during his show, just the way he describes his experiences. The way he talks about food is both scathingly irreverent - he definitely takes a very non-pretentious, almost crude view on the food world in general - and beautifully reverent - he has a serious and passionate appreciation for good food in all its forms and genres. I'm only a few chapters in, but already I'm loving it. I feel like he and I would get along if we ever met in person.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
I should preface this by saying that I'm not usually one to pick up books written by celebrities just because they're written by celebrities. I have a genuine appreciation for a good story, and for good writing. I haven't started this one yet, but I'm excited to get into it and will definitely write more when I am done! I've really enjoyed Lauren Graham ever since the beginning of my infatuation with Gilmore Girls, I'm hoping that my enjoyment of this book translates into a general feeling that LG and I could be secret best friends in the future.
Palo Alto by James Franco
Again with the books by celebrities. This one I picked up on a whim as well because someone I know recommended it as "a quirky read". Good enough for me! And I've always had a soft spot for unusual short stories. I think James Franco, at the very least, is an interesting person who seems to have the same appreciation for good writing as I do.
What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations for a girl who is slowly returning to her roots as a voracious reader? I'd love to hear from you!
Monday, May 13, 2013
50 Shades of Pink
Growing up, I never considered myself to be a particularly girly girl. I was way more likely to say my favorite color was blue than pink. Lately, though, I've really been drawn to the color. I think, were I not a fair-skinned auburn-headed gal, I would be really into yellows and golds. Sadly my coloring doesn't lend well to that sunny hue, but I have found a suitable substitute in pink! I just love how I can pair it with just about anything - it really brightens things up. Here are a few of my favorite PINK things! I laugh in the face of those who say that auburn-haired girls can't pull of pink.
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A pink ceramic cup of my favorite pink pens and markers; the big pink (fake) flowers I keep in a pink jar on my desk; my go-to hair-tie; my pink sticky-notes with my favorite pink pen (I love these pens, and hate writing with anything else! I am such a pen snob).
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A pop of pink chevron on my desk; my favorite Old Navy skinny ankle pants, which I'm sure will be a big part of my summer wardrobe; my pink gel manicure this week (love that I can DIY my own gel mani at home with this kit - I had a coupon - and it lasts a couple of weeks - double score!); my favorite shoes - leopard with a hot pink bow!
My favorite lipstick - Maybelline Coral Crush (best part? It's super inexpensive - like $5!)
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