spring wreaths

Two new wreaths for spring. I made the one on the left for our front door, and the one on the right for Mom.

These are the 5th and 6th yarn wreaths I've made. I've been making a new one for the door for pretty much every season and/or holiday.

fresh meal for the warm weather!

I made this meal up when it was still warm last year as a great fresh meal to make on the grill. Well, it has been a lot warmer the past two weeks, so it is time to bring back some of our old grilled favorites. This meal is packed full of flavor, is SO quick to prepare, and really isn't too bad for you!

Chorizo from the grocery store will work fine, but if you want the good stuff, you have to get fresh Spanish chorizo. Most chorizo sausages from the regular grocery store are precooked by being smoked. They are also usually Mexican chorizo, which is spicier and also made with fattier cuts of pork. We love Moody Meats' chorizo... not only is it a fresh, less-fattening Spanish chorizo, but is also organic and local!

Chimichurri is Argentinean green sauce, comparable to Italy's pesto. It is really easy to make, and keeps for about 3 weeks in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. If you don't want to make it yourself, Country Mouse City Mouse (available at local farmer's markets) has a great one; their version is what turned me on to making it myself.

chorizo on polenta with chimichurri

served with spinach salad & cilantro-ranch dressing

1/2 lb fresh chorizo sausage

1 roll of polenta, cut in 1/4 - 1/2 inch slices

Chimichurri sauce (recipe below)

• Grill sausages. Place polenta on grill when chorizo is almost done cooking.
• Serve with chimichurri sauce on top, alongside spinach or baby green salad with cilantro-ranch dressing.

SHORTEST RECIPE EVER! :)

chimichurri sauce

adapted from Bon Appetit

1 c. flat leaf parsley

1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/3 c. red wine vinegar

1/2 c. cilantro

3 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. salt

• Combine all ingredients in food processor and puree.

custom iphone case

I've needed a case for my new iPhone for a while, but could never find one I liked very much. Most of the patterns I saw in cases were really generic, or in colors I didn't like, so I just made one for myself! I found a site that will print custom cases of anything you want on it. It even has my name on it! I'm pretty excited about it...

If you want a custom case of your own, contact me here.

available for: 

• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone4
• iPod Touch 2G
• iPod Touch 4G
• Blackberry Bold
• Blackberry Curve
• Samsung Galaxy

french toast muffins

These are delish! I love french toast on the weekends, but don't have time to make it before work during the week. These pack all the same flavors without having to spend time making breakfast.

french toast muffins
makes 12 muffins

1 3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 1/4 c. milk
3/4 c. maple syrup
Powdered sugar to dust

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tin with papers.
• Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. 
• Whisk together eggs, melted butter, and milk. Mix into dry ingredients.
• Fill muffin papers 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes. Muffins are done when a toothpick comes out clean.
• Using a wide skewer, poke 8-10 holes in each muffin top. Spoon 1 tbsp. of maple syrup over each muffin. 
• Dust with powdered sugar.

פלאפל

Huh? What does that say?? 

 

Falafel!

Although considered to have first been made in Egypt, falafel is considered a national dish of Israel. Egyptian Christians claim to have made the dish as a replacement for meat during Lent. We didn't have this for a Lent reason, but if this is something you participate in, try this out during a meatless day. It is a hearty and filling vegetarian meal.

falafel patties

serves 4

1 can garbanzo beans

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 c. onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. cilantro

1/4 c. flat-leaf parsley

3/4 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp coriander

1 tsp salt 

3/4  tsp pepper

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
• Combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until pureed. 
• Form into 1-1/2 inch patties. 
• Bake 14-16 minutes, until firm. 
• Serve in pita pockets baby greens and hummus. (We love Farm to Kitchen's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - fresh, local, and organic!)

israel couscous pilaf

serves 4

1 lb. israeli couscous

1 lemon

1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/2 c. onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

fresh herbs - I used flat-leaf parsley

Salt & Pepper

1/2 c. nuts of your choice - I used almonds

• Cook israeli couscous in salted water.
• Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, onion, and garlic. 
• Pour olive oil mixture over cooked israeli couscous and toss to coat. 
• Mix in fresh herbs, salt, and pepper.
• Serve with nuts on top. Do not mix in because nuts will soften.
• Top with hummus, if desired.

fat tuesday

If you're from Indy, you probably know, and love Yats. If you haven't been, you've absolutely got to go!

“Lines of cheery diners await heaping plates of jambalaya and étouffée at Yats Cajun Creole Restaurant…a celebration of neo-psychedelic paintings, great jazz, and excellent food….the king of this carnival is the owner, Joe Vuskovich, a hyper kinetic former New Orleans restauranteer who works with a complex blend of spices.”  - New York Times Travel Section

One of their most popular recipes is Chili Cheese Étouffée (with Chicken or Crawfish). We absolutely love any of the dishes at Yats, but especially this one. I stumbled upon the recipe a while back, and it was of the very few regular dishes made at our house. The recipe looks long and daunting, but it is actually really easy to make... just has a LOT of ingredients. It is a true New Orleans-style comfort food, and is even packed with 5+ cups of veggies! So maybe a "not-so-fat Tuesday!"

chili cheese étouffée with chicken

6 Servings

1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup green onions
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup bell pepper, diced
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 tsp thyme
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp dried basil
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups shredded aged cheddar
1 cup half and half
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cloves, ground
1/2 tsp Worcestershire 
1/2 tsp RedHot (or your favorite hot sauce)
1 lb cooked chicken - We roast it in the oven with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, then shred it.
Cooked white rice
Dry Sherry, to garnish 

• Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
• Add the green onion, celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and tomatoes and cook until the onions have browned.
• Add thyme, tomato paste, basil, and peppers (black, white, and cayenne).
• Add stock, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer until the mixture becomes thick.
• Add cheese one handful at a time, stirring to incorporate each time.
• Add half & half, chili powder, coriander, cumin, cloves, Worcestershire, and RedHot. Stir until half & half is well blended.
• Gently stir in chicken. 
• Serve on a bed of rice with a drizzle of dry sherry on top, and your favorite hot sauce if you want more heat.

we're getting a puppy!

We can't wait to bring a puppy home to our house! We've got a little over 3 months to wait... the puppies will be born in the middle of April and then we have to wait until he is 8 weeks old to bring him home.

We're getting a German Shorthaired Pointer. Here's a pic of the sire, or dad.

We've got some names picked out, but haven't decided 100%. Anyway, I am SOO EXCITED!!!

More to come later!

what i'm reading...

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

I've been excited to start this one for a while. It is about a minor character from Jackson's first book, Gods in Alabama. I loved that book, and Jackson's other books. 

Editorial Review from Booklist:
Jackson’s absorbing and rewarding fourth novel spotlights Rose Mae Lolly, a minor character from her popular debut, Gods in Alabama (2005). Rose is now living under the thumb of her abusive husband and his domineering father. A Gypsy in an airport who reads her tarot cards turns Rose’s life upside down when she tells Rose that if she doesn’t kill her husband, he will surely kill her. When Rose realizes that the Gypsy is in fact her mother, who abandoned her when Rose was eight and left her with her abusive father, she takes her advice, but accidentally shoots her beloved dog instead. Rose comes to believe that hope lies in finding Jim, the high-school football star who was the only boy who ever treated her well. As her search for Jim morphs into a bid to free herself of her past, Rose goes on a cross-country mission to escape her husband and find herself. Jackson peels back Rose’s hard edges and resignation to reveal a smart, earnest, brave, and surprisingly hopeful young woman who yearns to make a better life for herself. Rose’s salvation, when it comes, is positively breathtaking.