Month: January 2012

Crafting is for Babies

SadieLeave a comment

So my one of my best friends is pregnant and she’s about to pop any day now.  At this point she is by far my closest friend who is going to have a child.  I could not be more excited!  When I’m bored I just think of presents I can send her, or browse through the baby department in Target.  That’s normal, right?

I was in Michael’s the other day to buy yarn for my crocheting habit, and I got an idea.  Tie dyed onesies!   Michael’s sells tie dye kits, as well as packages of plain white onesies.  Perfect!

I love tie dye but I don’t think I’ve ever tied dyed anything on my own initiative or by myself.  It turns out it’s really easy.  I decided to try a bunch of the different suggested folding methods.  Take a look!

The onesies are tied and dyed

I don’t think I’ve perfected my technique yet, but they’re totally cute.  Plus tie dye isn’t supposed to perfect, right?  Next time I’m going to make sure I use a little more dye on the fabric so it seeps through to the folded layers.  I’m putting them in the mail as soon as she gives birth!

(she's expecting a boy)

Next item to go in the care package: a home made lullaby CD.

A trip to Morocco without leaving the house…

CarrieLeave a comment

If anyone has ever been on WeightWatchers, you know the key to success is changing up your meals and making them new and exciting.  It’s easy to get off track when you eat the same meals everyday.  I decided to go on to the WeightWatchers website and explore the recipe archive.  I came across this recipe and look what I was able to make.  It doesn’t even look like it’s a WeightWatchers meal.  I have tried many WeightWatchers’ recipes and have no made anything as delicious as this dish.

I altered the WeightWatchers recipe only slightly to allow for 6 servings instead.  I only added more butternut squash, chicken stock, and chicken so the point value will not increase much at all.  WeightWatchers gave the meal a 9 point value.

Ingredients that you might not have on hand

2 lbs. chicken, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 large vidalia onion (chopped), 2 cups butternut squash (peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes), 3/4 cup rice, 16 dried apricots (chopped), 2 cups chicken broth, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Season chicken with salt and pepper.

3. Coat a large dutch oven with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil and heat until it begins to shimmer. Add cumin, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Cook about 30 seconds.  Add the chicken to the pot and cook until lightly browned on both sides for about 2 minutes per side.  Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.

4. Add onion and squash to the pot, scraping down sides to incorporate pan drippings. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions start to turn translucent. Add rice and apricots. Place browned chicken on top and pour in broth.

5. Cover pot and bake in oven for about 40 minutes.  Check halfway through to see if more broth is needed.  Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.  Yields about two cups (including a piece of chicken) per serving.

Even if you are not dieting, you need to try this recipe.  You will feel like you crossed the Atlantic for the night and are opening the aromatic pleasures of an authentic tagine!

Five Things

SadieLeave a comment

I miss about college:

1. Sunday brunch at the cafeteria (and the cafeteria in general).  A dress code of sweats and pajamas, an unbelievable brunch spread, people watching, and epic recaps of the previous night’s activities.  Need I say more?

2. Living with, next door, or within short walking distance of all of my friends.  Friendship in college is a singular experience.  Spontaneous hang out sessions cannot be beat. I certainly still value my friendships, but the effort required to coordinate schedules and locations is not great.

3. Built in activity options.  Between the parties, sports games, and concerts, college made it so easy to fill your schedule with fun things to do when you weren’t in class.  Even though I went to school in the middle of no where Pennsylvania, my college was still pulled some great concerts, and could throw a frat party with the best of them.

4. Water Polo practice.  I played varsity water polo in college and even though we had some grueling practice schedules, I miss it.  I miss the early wake-ups, the built-in work out, the outlet for my aggression, and most of all: the team camaraderie.  I made some of the best friends of my life on that team.

5.  Having minimal “real life” problems.   Although life in college always seemed to be on a budget, it still seems cush compared to what life is like today.  I didn’t have to worry about utility bills, health insurance, commuting to work, budgeting vacation days, I could go on…

This list is in celebration of the fact that my five year reunion is rapidly approaching this summer!  I’m driving back to Virginia today to start the second half of my first year of business school.  Alas, it is not the same as college.  I will, however, be reunited with the cord that connects my camera to my computer, so there are plenty more colorful posts on the horizon.