Project 365: Week 1

Week 1: killin' it!  Sure, it's only been 6 days, but still, I did it!  Here's what my week looked like:
Jan. 1 - Spent our day off of work hiking up to the top of Flagstaff mountain to have a picnic.

Jan. 2 - Dingo, the astute pupil.

Jan. 3 - Christmas decorations up on Pearl Street while I make my way back to the parking garage at the end of the workday.

Jan. 4 - Even if Austin liked beans, I don't think we could go through this many in a year.

Jan. 5 - Our friend from DC, Matt, came out to visit, so we took him for a hike in the Rockies.  (Picture at the trailhead.)

 Jan. 6 - On our road bike ride, I almost ran into this coyote - he was about 5 feet from my front tire.

Oatmeal Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

7 months ago, Austin and I moved to Colorado.  And here's the thing about moving.  Even though it may be the thing that you've wanted for a long time and even though there can be so many good things about a new place and starting over in a new city, there is also one major drawback to starting over: making new friends.

When you think about it, making friends is a lot like dating.  Since Austin and I started dating our junior year in high school, it's something neither of us are very good at.

When we first got here, I tried Meetup.com.  This is literally just a site for online dating but for totally platonic relationships (usually centering around knitting or hiking or fly fishing).  I'm sure it's great - just not for me, for some reason.

Finally, we had a breakthrough!  We got a puppy.  Yes, that is the secret.  (Probably the secret to meeting a significant other too - just an idea!)

Now, when we walk Dingo around the block or take her out for a longer hike, people stop us and talk to us while they pet her.  It feels a little awkward.  We get a little nervous that we're not making a good impression.  We're never quite sure if we should ask them for their number or wait until they give us theirs.  I told you, it is dating.

So, if you're having a hard time meeting people out there in the dating or friend world, here's my advice: start by adopting a super adorable puppy (maybe a kitten that you walk on a leash every day) and then bake some cookies and hand them out to people on the street.

Ok, probably don't hand them out.  People are paranoid.  They'll think you're weird and trying to poison them.  But maybe after you've lured someone into being your friend/bf/gf with your four-legged friend, then you can really catch them with these cookies!

OATMEAL MILK CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Recipe from Spike Mendelsohn

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips

1 c. oats

2 Tbsp. half-and-half

1.  Beat together butter and sugar.  Add in egg and beat to combine.  Add vanilla.

2.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Slowly add dry ingredients to butter mixture. 

3.  Stir in chocolate chips, oats, and half-and-half.

4.  Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350˚ for 10 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Lentil Soup

Let's talk about new year's resolutions.  Yea or nay?

I, personally, am pro resolutions.  No, I never keep them.  Yes, I forget what they are by the 2nd week of February.  But still, I like to write them out and mull them over, nonetheless.

Of course I have a fitness/health goal (or 2).  Because, you know, you kind of have to.  I have a career goal, and every year, I set a goal to read a certain number of books (30 this year).

This year, I decided to be a little more ambitious and take on a 365 challenge.  Yes, it's only the 2nd, but I have to say, I am doing extremely well!  The challenge is to take a photo every day of the year.  (I will start posting them here once a week, so you can hold me accountable.)  It's a great way to become a better photographer and if you have a hard time keeping a journal, think of this as a photo journal!  So, you should do it too!

And while I'm deciding your resolutions for you, your 2nd resolution should be: cook at home.  I mean, not all the time.  We all like to order pizza and go out to eat sometimes, but most of the time.  If you are reading a food blog, chances are, you like to cook so this doesn't really apply.  But if you don't like to cook or you know someone who doesn't like to cook - it's probably because they don't know how easy it is.

So to get people started cooking, remember: pie is, in fact, easy.  Another thing that's really easy: Soup!

LENTIL SOUP
Recipe from Alton Brown
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 c. chopped carrots
1/2 c. chopped celery
2 tsp. salt
1 lb. lentils, rinsed
1 c. tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2 quarts chicken broth
1/2 tsp. coriander
1/2 tsp. cumin

1.  In a large pot/dutch oven, saute onion, carrots, and celery with salt.  Cook until onions are translucent.

2.  Add the lentils, tomatoes, chicken broth, and spices.  Bring mixture to boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 35-40 minutes (until lentils are tender).

3.  Use an immersion blender, puree mixture to the desired consistency (if you don't have an immersion blender, use a regular blender - pureeing 1-2 cups at a time.

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Two Thousand Twelve

Happy New Year!

Before you start making big plans for 2013, take a second and look over what happened this past year  (this is really easy to do if you have a fancy phone/facebook account).  Last year, I wrote a post about 2011 and until I started looking through all my pictures from the year, I had no idea I had done so much!  2012 was the same way.

Sure, not every day was perfect and not every thing that happened was magnificent and life-altering, but I bet the things that you took pictures of were pretty positive things.  So, let's keep it positive :)

I was so fortunate this past year (I swear, I'm not trying to gloat).  I got to camp and climb with good friends from DC.

I spent a weekend with my BFF forever in New York!  (This is our engagement photo...awkardly far apart, btw.)

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen (including time well spent making this coffee cake)!

Austin and I were able to make some pretty major life changes and move back to the mountains and closer to family.

We camped, we climbed, we mountain biked, we hiked.  If it was available outside, we did it.

I read some books (not as many as my sister's 53 this year though!).

I traveled to New Jersey, Indiana, and California for family weddings in 2012.

And probably the biggest change for me this year, was adopting The Dingo!

Before you start making resolutions for next year, and thinking about all of the weight you want to lose, or the yoga classes you want to take, or the miles you want to run, take a minute and notice all of the things that you are grateful for from this past year.  Plus, it gives you an excuse to stalk yourself on facebook.

Happy New Year!  I hope 2013 is even better than you could imagine!

xoxo
Sarah

Eggnog Monte Cristos

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!  My trip home was too short, as always and I'm finding it really hard to readjust to regular life.  So, I think for the next few days I'm going to just keep pretending that it's not over.  Is that cool with you?  No?  Well, too bad!

I can't let Bing Crosby's smooth voice just fade away until next year!  I also can't let all that eggnog that I stocked up on, go bad in the fridge.

Since I drive home to my parents' house for Christmas, I don't get the luxury of leftovers.  Not to mention, our Christmas has become a little non-traditional to accommodate everyone's work schedules.  But if you have pounds of leftover turkey and ham and bowls full of cranberry sauce that you don't know what to do with, make this sandwich.  Or give it to homeless people.  Both options would be nice.

EGGNOG MONTE CRISTOS (makes 12 mini sandwiches)
Recipe from Food Network Magazine

Dijon Mustard
Mayonnaise
9 slices Sandwich Bread
6 slices Gouda Cheese
Turkey
Ham
1/2 c. Eggnog
Freshly Grated Nutmeg
Butter (for greasing the pan)
Cranberry Sauce (for dipping)

1.  Layer your sandwiches in this order: bread, mustard, mayo, cheese, turkey, ham, bread, cheese, turkey, ham, mustard, mayo, bread.

2.  Cut off crusts and wrap tightly in plastic wrap (to keep the sandwiches compact).  Refrigerate 30+ minutes.

3.  Mix together eggnog and nutmeg.  Dip sandwiches in eggnog, then place in skillet with melted butter.  Cook over medium low heat until browned, flip and cook other side.  Remove from heat.  Cut into quarters.

4.  Serve with cranberry sauce for dipping.

Eggnog

I used to be one of those people that hated eggnog.  I've found that eggnog is a pretty polarizing beverage. You either love it or you hate it.  There is literally no in between.  You'll never meet anyone who is like, "yeah, eggnog - it's ok."

Well, a few years ago, I decided to give it another try and found out that I had completely switched camps.  However, I still am not a huge fan of the alcoholic version.  So when I found this recipe called "Amazingly Good Eggnog," I thought it actually said, "Surprisingly Good Eggnog."  Which, I admit, is not a very good name for a recipe, but it did pique my interest.

I made it, bottled it up and brought it to an ugly sweater party.  We didn't really know anyone at this party, but coming in with a bottle of this stuff in your hand is guaranteed to make you some new friends.  Seriously, it works.

EGGNOG
Recipe from Safeway
4 c. milk
5 whole cloves
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. light rum
4 c. light cream (2 c. half & half + 2 c. heavy cream)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg (fresh if you have it)

1.  Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and cinnamon in saucepan.  Over low heat, bring to a boil.  (do not scald milk)

2.  In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until light yellow in color.  Slowly, whisk hot milk mixture into eggs.  Pour mixture into saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3 minutes).  Strain and let cool for 1 hour.

3.  Stir in rum, cream, vanilla and nutmeg.  Refrigerate overnight.

Pecan Fingers

Christmas Cookies!!!  There's really nothing better than Christmas cookies, right?  Really all of them have something valuable to bring to the table, but cookies aren't like kids, you can totally choose favorites.

These are my favorites.  I'm going to let these cookies get away with more than the sugar cookies.  They're allowed to be a little misshapen.  They can break when I put them into my bag.  Because really these cookies will never be bad.

At my house, we make way too many cookies.  Sure, we give them away to the neighbors and friends, but still there are too many.  Somehow, between my dad and me, there never seem to be too many of these though.  (A good reason for doubling the recipe!)

PECAN FINGERS
Recipe from Great-Grandma
1/2 lb. butter
4 heaping Tbsp. powdered sugar
1 tsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 c. chopped pecans
powdered sugar to roll cookies in

1.  Beat together butter, powdered sugar, water, vanilla, and flour.  Stir in pecans.

2.  Shape into small oblongs (fingers).  Bake at 325˚ for 25 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

3.  Once cool, roll in powdered sugar.