OWR: Books, Uniforms, Saving

Happy Friday! If you find yourself with a desire to read about something less controversial than politics or what members of large TV families have done, or gender changes (none of which I'm touching with a 10 foot pole), welcome, friend! And hey, if you've found something interesting you think I should know about - leave a link in the comments!

Although we developed some serious discipline in order to pay off our house in 2012, Hubs and I have let things slip over the last 3 years - but not any longer! We're back on the budget bandwagon and Jessica @ Life as MOM has a great article about ways to cut your grocery budget: http://lifeasmom.com/2014/06/5-small-ways-to-save-on-food-costs.html

• Favorite Takeaway: "Beans and rice make a great meal. [On this, we totally agree!] Cooking beans from dried instead of buying cans is much cheaper." [Jessica shares how she cooks dried beans at her other blog, Good Cheap Eats]

I've written before about my habit of wearing a uniform [HERE and HERE], and since writing those posts my summer "uniform" has evolved yet again. Still, the idea is one that I can embrace and now, so is Modern Mrs. Darcy: http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2015/06/my-summer-uniform/

• Favorite Takeaway: "This look is easy to put on, easy to wear, and easy to dress up (nicer pants, blazer) or dress down (tank, necklace, sandals). Everything goes with everything else; I could get dressed in the dark." [NOTE: Our tastes are different - the idea is the same.]

Speaking of Modern Mrs. Darcy - Anne recently returned from BookExpo America, which is now on my "Tentative Calendar" for next year, when it's hosted in Chicago. As a blogger, bookworm, and professional book promoter (yeah, the paid job), this looks like something right up my alley. In case there's anyone else out there who might be interested, I thought I'd share: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Home/

• Favorite Takeaway: Well, Anne got me with "free books" [Read about her experience], but I like the idea of learning more - not only as a professional promoter, but also as a self-published author; "BEA Content & Digital Conference featuring fresh sessions where you’ll learn about the latest book trends, developments, and technologies affecting the publishing industry."

While I'm mentioning the whole "self-published" thing, it's been a while since I've done any kind of self-promotion for the book we wrote in 2010. This week a friend from junior high posted a lovely review on her personal Facebook page that reminded me that I should tell you all: Hey, we wrote a book for kids! http://amzn.to/1APkX6L

• Favorite Takeaway: A picture is worth a thousand words, and I hope she doesn't mind that I'm sharing. I did remove last names and full names of her kids "to protect the innocent", but it meant a lot that our book is teaching her boys to read. That's music to my bookworm ears!

If you happen to have a garden (we don't), or you're thinking about starting one (we might be) and aren't sure which tomato plants to select, this article will help you - but only if you plan to make homemade salsa. And if you do, and you don't have ripe tomatoes yet, bookmark this Bon Appétit link and thank me at the end of tomato season! http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/homemade-salsa

• Favorite Takeaway: "Oregano is optional; cilantro is a must (unless you’re one of those folks whose taste buds identify cilantro as soapy tasting [I don't understand you - if this is you!]. In that case, science gives you a pass). But please promise us this: You’ll use fresh, never dried, herbs. Save the jar of dried, flaked herbs for your next soup or stew."

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What are YOU reading online that I should know about?

The Day I Received A Goodie Box from @katflinn

Last November I apparently tweeted or retweeted something that entered me to win a box of goodies from one of my favorite foodie authors, Kathleen Flinn. You may recall that it's Kathleen's fault that I started cooking at all, thanks to being (briefly) unemployed and not-quite-literally devouring her book, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School.

Three years later I still follow her and when I saw an opportunity to win a copy of her newest book, Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good, I retweeted or did something of the sort to enter myself. It's all rather vague, but all I know is that in early December I received a direct message on Twitter from Ms. Flinn informing me that I had won the prize, and could I please send her my mailing address.

For a number of personal reasons December 2014 was a difficult time for me, and in the midst of it all I forgot all about the contest and the book until a BOX showed up at my door just 5 days before Christmas. Talk about a nice surprise!

I have always been a sucker for a surprise box of goodies - I mean, who doesn't like gifts from a friend, or a famous author? I waited until the Hubs came home from work and then after dinner we unpacked what turned out to be a HUGE box of fun. From coasters and napkins to salad dressings and a plethora of mustards and spices, it felt like a Mary Poppins box that never ended. 

I knew right away that I wanted to blog about it, but by the time it arrived I was down with the flu and taking life one day at a time. Blogging was the last thing on my mind, and all I could muster was sharing a picture on my Facebook page and thanking Kathleen on Twitter. 

Fast forward six months and it's high time that Kathleen received a proper "Thank You" on the Busy Nothings blog! 

Six months out and favorite things from the box include:

• Saucy Mama Dill Mustard - great on hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, and more
• Salad Shotz "My Honey Mustard" - thinner than a typical honey mustard, and flavorful
• Strawberry Huller - totally skeptical in December, totally SOLD in strawberry May

And on a slightly personal note, I'd like to add some food for thought. If you've ever seen something in a store that reminded you of a friend or acquaintance and thought about buying it but held back because they might feel obligated to reciprocate, let me say here and now: do it anyway. Over the last three years I can think of three different, "out of the blue" gifts that I have received from people I have either never met in person or haven't seen since I was a kid, and they all made my day. 

You never know what people are going through or how your simple gesture might make their day a whole lot brighter. Don't consider yourself a good gift giver? Sometimes all you have to do is look on a social account - like Facebook - to see what they like. One online friend sent me a box of Nancy Drew reprints after she saw a blog post I wrote about wanting to find the original 1920's editions. Another friend I haven't seen since high school saw my Facebook posts about all things pumpkin and surprised me with a goodie box of pumpkin scented Yankee Candle gifts. 

Kathleen threw in an assortment of items that were both fun (a preview copy of another foodie's book) and personal (Go Mariners!). I've never met Kathleen Flinn in person, and probably never will, but her box was a bright spot on a dark day, and I'm thankful that for a few minutes this December our paths crossed over from online to real life.

What was in the last goodie box you sent or received?

How @trytheworld Got Me Blogging Again

The last time I sat down and wrote a post it was January, and I was wrapped up in blankets drinking hot tea. Today my windows are open and I'm wearing sandals. Life goes marching on and before you know it, it's been four months since you've blogged about anything and nothing.

So what brought me back? Food. 

Remember when I wrote that post about the hobbies I had that weren't worthy of Pinterest? Remember how the first three things on my list were eating, travel, and culture? Well, today I'm writing to tell you about something that gives me the best of all three worlds - made all the more perfect by the fact that due to numerous reasons, the Hubs and I are currently tied down and unable to travel internationally, as we would like to do.

Meet a brilliant idea called Try The World. 

Someone liked a post on Facebook that mentioned Try The World, and it caught my attention. Food, culture, and something to look forward to in the mail every other month? That was intriguing enough to make me click through and learn more.

With the Hubs 40th birthday coming up this week, I was already on the hunt for something unique to give him, and Try The World seemed to fit the bill.

I've looked at a lot of subscription services over the years, but all of them were too rich for my blood. Not so with Try The World. One box of goodies from a different country, every other month, for $33 a box (including shipping) that I can cancel at any time? I may be cheap, but even my Scotch blood could stomach that deal (sweetened by the fact that when I ordered I was able to score a free BONUS box of food from one of our favorite countries, France).

We  began our journey in Marrakesh, Morocco, and as soon as the first box arrived the Hubs declared it one of the best birthday gifts ever. Coming from someone who is not highly excitable, that's a huge complement!

Over the weekend our bonus box from France arrived, which we unpacked with much glee. I particularly squealed when Hubs pulled out the canister of Fleur de Sel, one of my favorite salts to use in cooking, and the jar of fig jam (if you recall, we fell hard for figs last year). The index card contains information about what is included in the box, while the Culture Guide shares recipes, musical playlists, recommended country-specific films, and more. 

Bottom Line: if you like food, if you like culture, and if you're looking for something fun to do as a couple (or as a family) on a Friday night, we highly recommend investing in the Try The World boxes.

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Full Disclosure: Try The World hasn't given me anything for writing this review, but if you click on any of my TTW links, it IS a referral link. The good news is that if you use my link, you get $15 off your box (and I get $15 off if you click), so it's a win-win situation.

*Note: Fabric, puzzle, and Eiffel Tower not included

Flipping Over Figs

Over the last few years, we have become part-time foodies, fully embracing the French idea that if you don't like it, you just haven't tried it enough times yet. (Want to know more about that? I highly encourage you to read French Kids Eat Everything - whether you have kids, or not.)

Last month, I was cruising around The Fresh Market when I spied a box of fresh figs in the produce department. The thought crossed my mind, "I wonder what you do with those?"

After my Fresh Market encounter, I came across a recipe for "Fig Surprise" from Luca Marchiori - a foodie friend that I connected with earlier this year. After a brief chat over Twitter, he recommended that I try a simple fig salad, for starters, followed by his dessert.

Another week goes by, and as I'm finishing up my latest food-themed bedtime reading, Eating Up Italy: Voyages on a Vespa by Matthew Fort, I am once again attracted to the stories of fresh figs and fig-based foods that he encountered during his travels.

"You must try figs" I am told by various sources. It seemed like the fig planets were aligning when one night, the Hubs and I hit up a local restaurant which happens to feature an appetizer of fresh figs on French bread, topped with walnuts and honey.

We saw, we ordered, we were smitten.

This week when I saw the figs at Fresh Market, I dropped them in the cart. Then I came home and sent out a tweet to Luca... what do I do with them? "Blue cheese and fig salad" was his reply. "I have no blue cheese in the fridge... would goat cheese work?" "Always good, do you have any honey?"

Knife at the ready, I placed the first fig on the cutting board, turned to my husband and said, "How in the world do I prepare these things? Do I need to peel them? Do they have a pit?" Shrugging his shoulders while madly whipping the hollandaise sauce for Eggs Benedict, his encouragement was, "Try it and see!"

Julia Child is famous for saying, "You must have the courage of your convictions" - a thought that went through my head as I plunged my knife in to the soft, juicy fig. Pulling out two small plates, I crumbled goat cheese over the fig slices, and topped the whole thing off with a generous squeeze from the honey jar.

The next day, I sent a tweet (and this picture) to Luca... "I fell in love with figs last night." I didn't focus on presentation, and I don't claim to be a food photographer, but taste is what really matters in the end. And the taste of this was awesome.

Next up, a suggestion from a friend in Spain: dried figs, sliced and filled with cream cheese... and I can't wait!

What's your favorite recipe involving figs? 

For the Love of Butter

In late April, I had a major gallbladder attack. And when I say "attack" I'm not exaggerating. It felt like my gallbladder was attacking me from the inside with a tiny hatchet. I had barely made it through a dinner with friends when the thing started kicking. I tried to smile and choke down a slice of the homemade cake our guests had brought, but all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and moan. By the time they left, it was all I could to do crawl into the bathroom and lay on the floor... writhing. I have never writhed before, so when Peter walked into the bathroom and saw me, he inquired if I needed to go to the hospital. Since I'd never writhed on the floor out of pain before, I did something else new - I said, "Maybe."

Instead, I got myself into bed and he called my dad and brother (both physicians) who made a special, late night house call. OFF TOPIC: Why in the world did we ever move away from the time when doctors made house calls? I mean, let's be honest, when we feel horrible and really shouldn't be out in public anyway (especially when you sound like you're hacking up a lung), doesn't it make more sense for them to come to you in the comfort of your home? I have never been more attune to this fact as I was the night my literal family doctors came to check me out. It was glorious and I would totally pay for that kind of service.

After my dad noticed I was rubbing my right shoulder every time another spasm  hit, he diagnosed gallstones and recommended I get an ultrasound. The good news was that my family saved me a trip to the ER. The bad news was that the ultrasound confirmed that I did, indeed, have a gallstone mass. Not a big one, but large enough to make its presence known. Surgery was scheduled, and fees were added up. I had another attack... not a gallstone this time, but my wallet and my budget experienced a searing pain when I realized how much it was going to cost us out of pocket. More talk ensued after we realized I could narrow this issue down to one thing: Peter's amazingly delicious butter sauce.

He had been perfecting it since February. A mixture of butter (and lots of it), even more cream, a pan of steak drippings, some shallots, and the occasional dash of red wine - this sauce was "smack yo' mama good" and I gobbled it up, week after week. The first time he made it, I suffered no ill effects. A couple of weeks later, we had friends over and he made it for them - and later that night, I told him I was feeling a little "full", rubbing a spot about half-way down my torso. Two days later, he made it again (more company), and that time I felt the effects for about 24 hours, no pain, just discomfort. I ate a lot of Tums. This went on each time he made the sauce, but I never made a connection until the night when my gallbladder said, "Hey, YOU! I've been trying to talk to you for a while now, but you're clearly dense, so I'll spell it out for you!"

And so, with surgery looming, I had a heart-to-heart with my gallbladder. I expressed sadness that it couldn't make its peace with the butter sauce (for I have cautiously eaten everything else, and experienced no spasms of any kind). I told it that I would rather it stay where it was, if possible, and promised to take it easy on the butter, if it would only behave itself. So far, we have a truce. The surgery was cancelled, the gallbladder remains, the butter sauce hasn't been made again, and I am spasm-free.

Last week, my husband asked me if it was worth it... eating the sauce. The pain was pretty bad, and for three or four days after the attack, I was sore - like I'd been kicked in the gut repeatedly. But time makes one forget pain, while the memory of the sauce remains. You know, our 14th wedding anniversary is next week... maybe just a little taste...

Quote from Julia Child, Original Graphic Source

Going for Gold

I grew up eating normal family meals with gold plated flatware. While researching Mother's set for this post, I discovered (much to my dismay) that it is now considered "vintage" and her particular set is rather difficult to find; something that I found humorous since all I wanted as a child was a "normal" set of silver, silverware, like all my friends had.

Mother still pulls it out whenever there is company - like this past Easter - or on the rare occasions when she uses my grandmother's china. However, outside of the floral-handled gold-ware, our family dinners were usually eaten on blue speckled plates that she purchased at a local discount pottery store, or a farm scene set found on clearance at Hill's - in other words, nothing too fancy. But there were always matching place mats and napkins, and Mom was always generous in allowing me to set our table for family meals with whatever accouterments my little heart desired - even if that meant the occasional hamburger on Grandma's china.

As an adult, I grew out of the habit of setting the table for meals. After all, it was just the two of us. Dinner was typically a quick affair, thrown onto a plastic plate, eaten at the kitchen counter, taken downstairs to scarf while watching a movie, or tossed into a bag for tomorrow's lunch. We often laughed that our dining room was only used on the rare occasions that we entertained. And then, in the span of a month, our mindset was made over.

A cross-cultural experience reminded us that every meal, even a simple salad at home, can be an event. We began to understand that the goal of dinner wasn't just to nourish our bodies, but to feed our souls through conversation and connection after a day at work. It was an opportunity to unwind and listen to one another, casually nibbling on bread and sipping the last drops of our after-dinner coffee or tea. It was something to be savored, not rushed.

Although we have no children, I began reading French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon, and our table started to look sad. The next night, I climbed up on a stool and pulled our lightly used place mats and cloth napkins (thoughtfully purchased for us as wedding gifts almost 14 years ago) down from their box on the top shelf. While Peter (who is the gourmet cook in our family) worked on the meal, I went about the task of "dressing" the table.

In the weeks that followed this change, my grandmother's china has stopped collecting dust in my hutch and has been put to work. I've assessed each plate, bowl, cup, and serving piece in my kitchen and cupboards, looking for items with meaning and discarding the ones that were purchased because they had a red clearance sticker on them. A good five nights out of seven, we can now be found sitting at our dining room table, savoring a "leisurely" meal of 30 minutes or more.

I knew real change had come, however, when I grew tired of seeing my everyday silverware with my gold-rimed china. I knew I didn't want the fru-fru gold-ware of my childhood, but being a plain-Jane person, I wasn't sure I would find anything that wasn't scrolled and flowered to death. Not willing to give up the "quest for gold", I was recently taking a virtual stroll around Potterybarn.com and came across a set on clearance that I knew I would be proud to see surrounding my grandparent's plates. With a few clicks of a button, and a nod of approval from the hubby, a third (updated) generation of gold flatware will soon settle in next to our 60+ year old china.

Which also means that if there happen to be any future kiddos setting the table in our home, they will be able to roll their eyes and say, "Mom, why can't we just have plain ol' silverware?" The circle is complete. Somewhere in Heaven, I'm pretty sure my grandmother is laughing.

What about you? Is dinner an event or a survival technique?

Any traditions carried over from childhood?

Things That Make Me Smile

Even though you don't know details (I explained that yesterday), let's just say that for the last few weeks, I would rather have been somewhere else. But I'm not there... I'm here. And life must go on, and bills must be paid, and work must be done, and all in all there are greater things in life to worry about. But even in the midst of all the distractions and family upheaval and shock over me "unplugging" for so long from Facebook (who knew THAT could cause issues?), I've found things to make me smile. Want to know what they are?

Yesterday, I sliced open a digit with a very sharp bread knife... but even as I was compressing my finger with a paper towel and hurrying from the kitchen, I felt a smile spread across my face as I remembered that I now had Jane Austen band-aids. And that made everything better. (Psst... jealous? They're available at Amazon.)

And then there was the fact that my husband pointed me towards TuneIn, which I've been playing the life out of Paris Café on JazzRadio.com. It's not all accordion playing (though the rendition of "I Did It My Way" on accordion made me snort), it's just nice coffee-house music, occasionally with people singing songs in French (which I can't understand, but it doesn't mean I don't like them). Oh, and it's FREE. {Happy Dance} 

And my blog post was shared yesterday. And kind words were said. And at the end of the day, let's just be honest, it's really nice when other people promote your stuff instead of you saying over and over, "read my post, visit my blog, I'm not crazy!" What? You don't do that? Oh, never mind. Well, because I'm grateful for those who promoted me, let me encourage you to follow The Strategic Learner on Facebook (especially if you are interested in leadership blogs and articles), and add @CBechervaise to your Twitter lists.

I started reading a book back in February and finally finished it earlier this month. It didn't take that long because it failed to hold my attention, rather that I kept getting busy with other things. Anyway, if you're interested in art or history or art history, The Monuments Men is a MUST READ, and is a definite page turner. I haven't seen the movie (when it comes to Redbox and I can rent it for $1, I might consider it), but you'll want to buy the book before they change the cover to some image of George Clooney rather than the real Monuments Men heros of WWII. 

And... snails. They make me happy. Even happier? Snails in mushroom caps, slathered in melted butter and garlic. Happiest? A husband who loves to cook and isn't afraid of trying more exotic cooking in our very own little kitchen. Now that's a continual staycation with style! 

What's making YOU happy?

My {5} :: Kitchen Edition

{1}

As I've discovered a new love of cooking, I've found there are a few kitchen items that I think are either worth the splurge or are really helpful for making life easier in the kitchen. Top on the list is a quality knife set - one that will last a lifetime if properly cared for. When I got all "I like to cook" in May, Peter suggested that we replace our Target knives (wedding gift) with a really quality set of knives for our 12th anniversary. Best.Gift.Ever. 

{Find out more HERE or purchase HERE}

{2}

I adore my Jelli Boards from Crate & Barrel. While I have the original boards with rubber feet on the bottom, the new boards have been given an update that allows them to maintain their non-slip status while also being reversible. I have both the larger and the smaller boards (the smaller are perfect for early morning lunch prep).  

{3}

We stopped at a Williams-Sonoma outlet in Georgia last year, which is where we picked up two of these Silicone Spoons. They quickly became our favorites for mixing, stirring, and cooking as they didn't scratch the pans and they were easy to clean.

{4}

Another "must have" from Williams-Sonoma are the Flexible Nylon Spatulas. I have three that I have taken all over the world and almost worn out, but I love them. Whether you're flipping pancakes, scrambling eggs, or scraping cookies and biscuits off baking pans, these are perfect for the job. I love them because they are light and easy to handle...and because they come in colors, which makes me smile.

{5}

Although there are several other kitchen items that have made my life easier (look for another list in the future), #5 has to be my Silicone Rolling Pin (which William-Sonoma informs me, is no longer available - look in stores or try Amazon). It's heavy enough to flatten dough easily, has ball bearings for easy rolling (LOVE that!), and is extremely easy to clean. If you do any baking (pizzas, biscuits, cookies), I highly recommend looking around for a rolling pin like this.

What makes YOUR "must have" kitchen list?

Finding My Inner Child...Julia, That Is

For the majority of my married life, I have be an avowed hater of cooking. I have declared (sometimes proudly, sometimes not-so-proudly) that "I don't like to cook" or that "Peter had to teach me how to cook" when we got married. The bottom line is that I truly believed that I could not cook.

Oh sure, I had the staple recipes that I could pull out if we were having people over. My "tried and true" lasagna (a slightly altered version of my mother's recipe), the standard pots of chili and chicken noodle soup, or the never-fail Cranberry Chicken in the Crockpot. I found a comfort zone and I stayed there. Guests complimented my meals, but rave reviews were rare.

Once we moved overseas, I was forced to think outside the recipe box when it came to food. I managed to keep lasagna on the menu, but for the first time in my life, I had to make things like pizza, bread, and any desserts we wanted, from scratch. I got pretty good at loaves of bread, but I'll never forget the first no topping pizzas or the hamburger buns that didn't rise. It solidified in my mind that I couldn't cook, and highlighted my lack of desire to learn. Besides, I knew we wouldn't be overseas forever, and once we were back in America - why make it when you can buy it?

Those were supposed to be hamburger buns {Sentani, Papua, Indonesia}

When we moved back to the States, I came home toting a few new recipes (including one for a scrumptious Chicken Tortilla Soup), and a newly acquired taste for Indian curry. In the world of food, my vision was broadening. Still, I easily fell back into the old groove of fixing the same things, over and over again - until we were completely sick of them.

Last year, while I was working at the pharmacy, we started going out to eat a lot more often. In many ways, I'm thankful for that experience, however, because it caused me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Because of our weekly treks to a local restaurant, I discovered that fish, when cooked correctly, can be delectable, and eggplant, when lightly fried, is nothing to be afraid of. But I think my personal breakthrough moment came when I finally decided to try my hand at cooking a childhood nemesis: Brussels sprouts - low and behold, they were delish!

I had read Julia Child's memoir, My Life in France, and followed that up with Kathleen Flinn's first book, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry - both of which raised my interest in cooking and caused me to add Mastering the Art of French Cooking to my Christmas wish list. However, I knew that even if I found the set under the tree, I would look through them once, and then stick them on the shelf with the rest of my unused cookbook collection. It was too hard, the recipes would be too complicated, and we were trying to eat healthy, for goodness sake!

{For Sale via UUPP on Etsy}

Last month, a friend told me that Flinn had written a new book that I might be interested in, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School (which I may have mentioned a few times on the blog - ahem). I ordered a used copy and, being newly unemployed, I devoured it upon it's arrival. I'm not sure what it was about The Kitchen Counter, but as Peter has since said, "It's like it opened your cooking floodgates - you had all this desire just waiting to be unleashed."

Flinn took the complicated and made it understandable to the lay person. She de-mystified the kitchen. She brought the world of a French cooking school to the average Josephine, and she taught "regular" women how to cook. She taught me how to cook.

I started by trying one of the recipes in her book - it wasn't even a recipe, really. She was just describing a portion of the class where she taught her students how to cook a chicken breast with goat cheese and basil. Something in my head said, "That sounds easy" - and the next thing you know, I was at my local Fresh Market, requesting bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts and buying a log of goat cheese. I was planting basil in my backyard and learning about the different tastes of salt. It was like experiencing Disney World for cooks - it was magical.

I was so excited when the meal that I fixed, looked like the photo in the cookbook - and got rave reviews from Peter!

My cookbooks aren't dusty anymore.

Are yours?

{Next up: How I've Changed My Grocery Shopping Habits}

My {5} :: Restaurant Edition

It has been a while since I've done a My {5} post, so today I thought I would share five of my favorite sit-down restaurants, including local establishments and national chains. 

{1} 

Sahib's Fine Indian Cuisine

One thing I can say about Sahib is that you don't go there for the atmosphere, but the food is outstanding (at least in my somewhat limited experience with Indian food outside of India). I feel very fortunate to have a place to chow down on some Cholle Bhatura, a bowl of Chicken Saag Wala with garlic naan, and a decent Mango Lassi.

{2}

Carrabba's Italian Grill

It's no secret that we are fans of the folks who work at our local Carrabba's. The food is never disappointing, and their ever-changing menu means that there's always something new to try. Carrabba's was the first place I ever found eggplant that I liked, discovered that cooked broccoli didn't have to be slathered in sub-par cheese sauce to be edible, and fell in love with fish.

{3}

Tomy Thai

If you're a fan of Thai food, Tomy Thai will not disappoint. We discovered this local joint through the recommendation of a co-worker, and once we went, we had to go back. If you order it "Thai Hot", expect to sweat! The portion sizes are large enough that I get two meals out of one, though the atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but the food is fantastic and the prices are decent.

{4}

Outback Steakhouse

This is another one of our "go to" chains (owned by the same parent company as Carrabba's). Their steaks are good, they offer baked sweet potatoes (South Beach Stage 2 approved), and their dark brown bread is always a hit. One recent addition to their menu that has us going back for more is the Chicken Artichoke Flatbread appetizer. If you haven't tried it, you should. It's healthier than the Bloomin' Onion (though those are hard to resist), and we like it enough to order it every time we go. 

{5}

Cootie Browns

Another local favorite, Cooties isn't much to look at, but they have outstanding wood-fired pizzas, huge sandwiches, great salads, addictive black bean Nachos Grande, and an out-of-this-world Key Lime pie. For those of you who don't live close enough to try it - you truly have my sympathy.  In fact, it's probably their fault that I chose to highlight five of my favorite restaurants today, because I'm eating some leftover Wood Burner pizza as I write this ... Mmmm!

Do YOU have a favorite local (or national) spot?

I Scream, You Scream...

As the weather warms up and our thoughts turn to bathing suits and diets, I thought I would once again share a simple recipe for South Beach friendly ice cream that we've been using for the past two years. I honestly don't remember where I first found this recipe, but it's not original to me, so I can't take the credit. However, it's so easy and super good, so give it a try!

**I originally posted this as a note on my Facebook page, in case it looks familiar**

My parents gave us a Sunbeam (no ice or salt required) ice cream maker for our 10th anniversary and it has been one of the best gifts ever. The ice cream maker came with a small book of recipes, but I searched the Internet for an easy recipe that would work with our South Beach Diet, and the Internet being the amazing wealth of information that it is - I found one! Are you ready for this?

You will need:

1 - 1.4 oz. box Sugar Free Jello Instant Pudding
1 - 12 oz. can Fat Free Evaporated Milk
1 C. Low Fat Milk
1/4 C. Splenda

That's it. You mix the Jello (any flavor - the chocolate is good and the white chocolate was amazing!) and Splenda, then add the milk and evaporated milk. Stir it well to make sure the lumps are all broken up and then pour into the (pre-frozen) ice cream bucket. Turn the machine on, and in about 20-30 minutes you have delicious, diet-friendly ice cream.

The ice cream maker was $20 at Target - well worth the money.

 

First taste test of the white chocolate ice cream - it passed the test!

Ready to be dished out ...

 

Ready to eat (with a little low-fat Reddiwip on top)!

Oh yeah, bring on the ice cream!!

St. Patrick's Day: Brought to You By Pinterest

This is what I made (and what we ate) for St. Patrick's Day this year. With the exception of the fruit tray in the colors of Ireland (totally my own idea), everything else was done with the help of Pinterest ideas. I've read all the arguments for copyright infringement and the threats of lawsuits, but let me just say once and for all - I love finding these ideas on Pinterest and (as much as possible) I try to give credit to the original source.

If people are honest, they should recognize the fact that anything on the Internet is up for grabs. Personally, I'm grateful to all the creative people out there who freely shared their holiday ideas that made our St. Patrick's Day that much more fun. Special thanks go to the folks at the Celebrating Holidays website (inspiring the shamrock-shaped rolls), Stephanie and Bobbi from How Does She? (the amazingly yummy recipe for the Pot O' Gold salsa and the tortilla chips), and the Plain Chicken (inspiration for the shamrock-shaped cinnamon rolls with green icing). Thanks to these lovely ladies for sharing their creativity with the world, and to Pinterest, for giving me a central location where I could find them!

Besides creating an Irish-themed fruit plate, the only other original idea that I added this year was dying the butter green. It didn't mix up quite as well as I was hoping, but it was fun never-the-less.

How did you celebrate St. Paddy's Day?

The Sprouts From Brussels

For the first 29 years of my life, I turned my nose up at those little green mini-cabbage-look-alike that claimed to come from Brussels. In fact, I literally gagged on one while attempting to be polite at an elderly couple's dining room table (you know, take a little of everything, even if you don't like it) - when I was 25. As a married woman, I was passing my Sprouts under the table to my husband so that he could eat them and I wouldn't look ungrateful! The point is, I declared my total loathing of Brussels Sprouts and swore that they would never enter my home nor grace my table.

I recently had to eat those words, along with some Brussels Sprouts.

A year ago my sister brought her dinner to the table (she cooks her own food for all meals as she has Celiac Disease and a host of other food allergies) and I was drawn to the amazing smell of something on her plate. In answer to my inquiry, I was told that they were Brussels Sprouts. How could this be? Brussels Sprouts are nasty little balls of ickiness that I hate! The smell that I was enjoying couldn't possibly be the same thing that I gagged on a mere 4 years earlier.

Wrong-o!

After the unthinkable happened - I tried a bite and didn't gag - I asked for the recipe. I didn't think about it again until almost a year later when I stumbled upon a bag of fresh Sprouts on clearance for $0.99 at my local grocery. After a year of discovering that I actually liked fish (when correctly prepared and de-boned), mussels, and mushrooms, I figured - why not? If I hated them, I knew Peter would eat them and even if he didn't, I would only be out a buck.

In the end, I only wished I had purchased more than one bag.

So what happened? I once again learned that it's all in how you prepare the food. When I fell in love with the Trout Wolf at Carrabba's earlier this year, I discovered that not all fish has to taste like frozen Fillet 'O Fish, and if it's prepared well, the sky is the limit on what I'd be willing to eat (or at least, try). Believe me, 2011 was a banner year for trying new cuisine. While living overseas helped broaden my palate, it has only been in the last twelve months that I have truly stepped outside my taste buds comfort zone and discovered my inner Julia Child. I blame it on the roux from the Chicken Andouille Soup - but that's a whole other story.

So, if you're curious about how I cook my sprouts, then you will need:

• 1 bag Brussels Sprouts (NOT frozen - totally unacceptable to use frozen - and cut them into quarters)
• 1/2 lb. - 1 lb. bacon (I used turkey bacon to keep it South Beach friendly)
• 1/2 - 1 onion (white, yellow, red - it really doesn't matter, sliced and diced)
• Minced garlic (I used the minced garlic in a jar - I know, and I'm snobby about frozen sprouts!)
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• 1 apple (my sister put apples in hers, but I haven't done that yet)

Slice and dice the uncooked bacon and throw it in a pan (big enough and deep enough to cook the whole mixture in later on). Cook bacon until crispy, then add olive oil, diced onions, and garlic (you can add the Brussels Sprouts at this point if you want, or you can wait - I've made it both ways) and cook until onions are translucent. While that mixture is cooking, I cut off the bases of all the sprouts and then cut them into quarters (top to bottom - twice). If you haven't already done so, toss the Brussels Sprouts in with the onions/garlic/bacon mix and add more olive oil (as needed). You're looking for a slightly crisp sprout in the end - cooked through, but not mushy at all. After 3 minutes or so, I add Balsamic vinegar to the mix (no measurements, but probably somewhere around 1-2 tablespoons - go with your gut). Cook until the Brussels Sprouts are starting to show a little brown crisp on them and you're done!

NOTE: If you want to add the apple chunks, my sister does that close to the end. You might also consider adding some Craisins, but I haven't tried that yet.

Bon Appétit!

The Stockings Were Hung :: Favorite Recipes

One of the things that I love about the holidays, including poor little Thanksgiving that gets skipped right over, are the favorite family recipes that get pulled out and used. Since I'm one of those people who believes that recipes are meant to be shared, not selfishly hoarded, today I'm sharing a few of my favorite recipes that have been handed down to me.

My great-grandmother's recipe for Butter Cookies was one of the things that I had to take with us when we went overseas. It just wouldn't have felt like Christmas without decorated butter cookies. As you can see in the photos, I might have been drenched in sweat in Indonesia, but I found a way to bring a little Christmas to the tropics! I didn't have any cookie cutters with me, so I free-hand cut all the shapes and then decorated them with a home-made icing bag. It was so hot, the icing melted rather quickly, but the general idea was still there. As the Nester is always saying, it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!

  

Carrot Souffle is one of those recipes that has been in the family forever, but when people first hear the name or look at the mashed carrots, they (sometimes not-so) politely turn their noses up at it. However, if you can get the skeptics to at least try a "no thank you" helping, nine times out of ten they will be back up at the buffet getting a much larger second helping. Be prepared to have the recipe on hand, because people will ask for it. As the child who wanted nothing to do with any cooked vegetable, Carrot Souffle was the huge exception to my self-imposed rule. I wish I had a beautiful photo of it freshly out of the oven, but I never think to take one, so what you're left with is the leftover picture - literally.

I really, really wish I could show you pictures of the Oatmeal Pudding Cookies, but there really wouldn't be any point to it. They don't look like anything special, but the texture and taste are out of this world. If faced with a container of these cookies, I could easily eat all 5 dozen in one sitting. They are that good. Once upon a time, we were leaving on a jet plane for the other side of the world and my mother handed me a Ziploc bag of these cookies and a bag of the Ranch Oyster Crackers (recipe below) to take with us. Needless to say, I spent the next 30+ hours of travel wiping away tears and consoling myself with some oatmeal goodness and oyster cracker yumminess - WAY better than airline food. 

One more for the road? Every year on New Years Day, my mom always made Black Eyed Peas and Topping. Mom never believed in luck - good or bad - so I'm quite sure we didn't eat them to bring good luck into the new year (apparently a Southern tradition), but however it started in our family, it's another one of those traditions that has stuck. It took me a long time to finally warm up to the idea of pouring a juicy topping over my black eyed peas, but once I started, I never went back.

I could go on and on with recipes that my family begs my mom to make each year - her Cinnamon Rolls are out of this world good - but I'll stop here because I think you get the idea. What about you? Do you have any "secret" family recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next? Do you ever share your recipes or do you like to keep them as something special to your family? If you're up for sharing, how about a little recipe swap?! {wink}

If you missed the first three posts of this eight week series, you can find the others by clicking HERE.