Need To Do vs. Want To Do... (Rigatoni with Broccoli and Sausage)

I woke up this morning with the birds singing and the sun shining in.  Literally.  The sunshine I enjoyed, but I wanted to throw a shoe at the birds.  I guess I am not related to Cinderella.  But it was all good because it is Spring Forward Day.  Oh how I love today!  Yes, I may "lose an hour" (which I will gain back in nine eight months, so it really isn't losing so much as postponing it...), but know the sun will be up until later tonight.

7:19 to be exact.

Woot-woot!

I was all ambitious this morning.  I had a list of things I needed to accomplish and another I wanted to accomplish.  My "want to-do" list included things like read The Mockingjay, make another batch of what I made yesterday and take beautiful pictures, watch some CSI.

None of those things happened.

Instead, I conquered my "need to-do" list, or at least most of it.  I am still in the process of doing so.  But I have checked off "wash the dishes", "clean the stove", "run errands", "sweep and mop the floor", and "write a card to my grandpa" (although that one belonged on both lists, really).  There are still more things to be done however.  I guess this is one of those days that I will chalk up to "productive" rather than "fun". 

At least I will have a clean kitchen to show for my day.

But we all know how long that lasts...

But I did get to enjoy some of that tasty dish above.  Last night we had it and it was OK.  Well, truth be told I didn't really like but my husband did.  He really really liked it.  So much so that when I said, "Good, I am glad you like it because I have so much leftover you get it for lunch for the next three days," he replied, "Excellent!"  Now, if you know him you would find this odd because the only thing he can eat three days in a row with out complaining about it is either beans and rice or bananas.  Shoot -- he likes to eat beans and rice with bananas.  Another one of those weird things I just mentally mark a tally under "cultural differences".

Leftovers was the lunch plan for today and so I figured I would just eat it again.  Good thing!  This time it had more flavor.  Like a lot more flavor.  I liked it this time around, a lot.  Now I want to include in our "Meals We Want to Eat Again" list.  I will just make it a day or two before we plan on having it. 

Completely off the topic, <insert brilliant segue here> I bought radishes for the first time in my life.  I don't really like radishes, but they were just too pretty to pass up.

See what I mean?  Besides, I am sure they are very healthy for me and blah blah blah... Truthfully though, I believe that.  So I got them.  I have been slicing them very thinly and putting them into our salads.  My husband doesn't like them either so I am getting practice at being a mom --> sneaking in the healthy stuff so that they don't know they are eating it.  Ha!

The time has come for me to get back to my to-do list...

Whatever, I am totally going to catch up on some CSI.

Recipe from Everyday Food by Martha Stewart, March 2012

Rigatoni with Broccoli and Sausage

Yield: 6 Servings          Total Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound rigatoni
• 2 heads broccoli, cut into florets (about 4 cups)
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, plus the juice of one lemon
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage (I used chicken sausage... tastes GREAT)
• Parmesan, grated, for serving

 DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions.  In last 2 minutes of cooking, add broccoli and cook until bright green and crisp-tender.  Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta and broccoli.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.  Add to pasta after pasta is drained, adding pasta water as needed until it forms a light sauce.
3. In separate pan, cook sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through (about 8 to 10 minutes).  Remove from heat and add to pasta.  Toss well and serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

Cost: $10.69                   Cost Per Serving (6) $1.79

Include a small salad on the side, and your meal is just a little over $2.00

Him & Her: The anatomy of a couple

My husband and I are an "us".  And I love that.  Together we are a young couple, enjoying life and sunshine.  We are a family -- a little family, but a family.

But we are also two individuals.  There's him --

and there's me --

Notice how incredibly cool his list is.  Surfer?  Drummer?  These two words scream, 'Not boring!'  (And that stuffed snake around his neck?  It was handed to him by a five year old, and he was very obliging.)

My list, however, is a bit different. 

Reader.  Writer.  Photo-taker.  Not quite in the same category as surfer, huh? 

Oh well.  I am cool by my own right.  It just doesn't look like that on paper.  Good thing paper doesn't define me.

At least we have the last one in common.  Being a goofball trumps them all.  And we are so darn good at it!

Sometimes we switch rolls, though.  Like last summer when I  tried, and succeeded, at getting up on the surfboard.  Need proof?

I look I am going fall over, huh?  That's because I did right after this picture was taken.  But I don't care.  I am up.  On a surfboard.  Am I a surfer?  No way.  But I can surf...

This past weekend my husband tried on one of my hats and made some pizza.  Luckily for him the dough was already made by our friend and all he had to do was roll it out and put toppings on it.  Still, he did it!

Is he a cook?  No way.  But he can cook...

Way back when we were first dating, like first dating (maybe 1 week into it) I was in his mom's kitchen making soup with her (BTW, I was staying with his family in Brazil when we started dating.  We joke around that his mom fell in love with me before he did, but I think it really is true...).  I needed some onions to be chopped and so I asked him to come in to do it, and he did.  I didn't think much of it until his mom said, "Eh necessario uma americana para fazer um brasileiro ir para a cozinha."   (It takes an American woman to get a Brazilian man into the kitchen.)  HA!

This time it wasn't an American woman but an American friend that got him in there.  But look at him!  He is like a pro!  Sure, he had some help, but so did I with the surfing.  And I must say, Caleb's dough with Paulo's toppings made a great pizza. 

Looks like we are rubbing off on each other...

Blueberries N' Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, Take 2

A few months back, well, actually like 9 months ago (man, time flies!) I attempted baking.  I say attempted because baking is one of those things that I never do as well as I would like to.  But I have been dabbling in it a little here, a little there, and I am think I am getting better at it.  Here is some blueberry cream cheese coffee cake to prove it!

It turned out beautifully, don't you think?  My belly sure thinks so.  So do my hips and thighs... you seriously do not want to see the calorie count of this little treat.  I am grateful that I do not pay thaaaat  much attention to calories.  Until I am on the treadmill, that is.  Then I run and run and I look at that calorie burner count and I think, "REALLY?!  That's it?"

I have a new diet idea: make people burn the calories before they eat the treat.  Then everybody would give up sugar. 

Whatever.  I will take these calories and enjoy my cake.  Because it is so incredibly delicious and perfect for Spring.

I read somewhere, "Eat as much junk food as you like, as long as you make it yourself."  I like that motto.  Really, it can't be all junk, it has fresh blueberries in it for crying outloud!  And zested lemon peel.  That's got to count for something, right?

See?  Fresh.  Delicious.  And only 50 cents more expensive than the frozen ones.  About five times tastier though, I am sure.

I am off to grab another piece...  don't try to stop me, because it can't be done.

Blueberries N' Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, diced
• 
  TOPPING:
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel. Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk and water. In a bowl, toss blueberries with remaining flour; fold into batter along with cream cheese. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan.
• For topping, combine the flour, sugar and lemon peel in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Yield: 15 servings.

 Note: If using frozen blueberries, use without thawing to avoid discoloring the batter.

(Recipe taken from the Taste of Home cookbook.)

Cost: $10.09                   Cost Per Piece (15) $0.67

What I'm Loving Wednesday -- 3.7.12

HELLLLOOOOO MARCH!

First of all, I am loving...

1} MARCH!  This is my favorite month of the year.  After the rain and dreariness of Jan and Feb, this month holds promise of longer days, brighter sunshine, and lots of fun to be had.  It is the beginning of the best time of the year -- the sunshiny months.  It is full of optimism.

2} that this season of The Bachelor is almost over.  (Oh, The Bachelor, my guilty pleasure.) You know what?  I like Ben, I really do.  He is one of my favorite bachelor's so far.  Buuuuuuut... I just don't care for Courtney and I know how it is going to end up and I stopped watching.  I just read the recaps and then move on.

3} that I have been getting into my gym routine again.  After two months of stuff that prevented it (a cold, trips, another cold, and so on and so forth) I am happy to say I have worked out three times -- AKA my goal -- in the past week.  Woot-woot!



{source}

 4} the time change scheduled for Sunday.  I am so excited to have the sun go down later.  I feel so ALIVE when I have lots of daylight left in my day after work.  Alive and PRODUCTIVE.

5} Last week I was excited to have Catching Fire on my desk, this week I am excited because this bad boy should be showing up today or tomorrow (depending on if this particular former student of mine remembers to bring it): 

I am ready to see how Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire, finishes her journey.

6} Speaking of Katniss, I am super loving that the movie will be coming out soon.  We rarely go to the movies (something about neither of us wanting to spend $20+ when we can wait a bit and get it for a buck at the RedBox), but there are some things you must see in the theater.  I had convinced my husband that I needed to see Titanic on the big screen as I was not allowed to do so when it came out the first time.  (My parents were not too keen on their 15 year-old daughter seeing nudity on the big screen.)  But then I saw the Hunger Games were coming out right before that and I knew that I needed  to see that, too.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Babe, you wanna see The Hunger Games with me when it comes out?

Him:  Another movie?

Me:  Here, look at the trailer... you will love this movie, I promise.

Him: I don't know... the Avengers are coming out at the same time and I thought we were going to see that...

Me:  If you see The Hunger Games with me I won't make you see Titanic.

Him: DONE!  Let's watch it.

Poor Kate and Leo, I may never see you on the big screen.  But Katniss, I will be there to cheer you on.  You have my full support!  :)

Back to things I am loving...

6} Greek Style Baked Eggs.  I saw this on Pinterest last Friday and immediately told my husband to run to the grocery store for Feta.  I have had these three times since.  They are just too good.



{source}

 7} Other great recipes that must make their way into my belly:
 

Zucchini Wrapped Feta and Kalamata Olives
{Source}

 

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 8} the countdown to Brazil has begun!  It has been 15 months since our last trip and I am looking forward to many things.  Seeing family and friends, of course... but also Brazilian pizza and pastel and sugar cane juice and grilled cheese (not the sandwich, but actual cheese that is grilled) on the beach and churrasco and... I really could go on and on. 

9} our Brazil Smile Box is almost full!  I asked the students at my school to help sponsor 24 kids at an orphanage in Brazil so we can take the stuff down there, and we have received almost everything we have asked for.  That means 24 children will each receive a brand new shirt, pair of pajamas, socks, underwear, school supplies, and a toy.  I can't wait to pass these bags out!!!

10} my new shoes.  I was looking for a pair of nude pumps and cute summer sandals to wear anywhere.  I found both.

From Payless:

 From Forever 21:

And, of course, my man!  He is my biggest encourager, even with my crazy ideas like the "Not Barefoot in the Kitchen" section I started.  It is because of him and the support he gives that I have the courage to try new things.  Another reason I love him!

Happy Wednesday, Folks!


OLDER POSTS:

{February 29, 2012}
{February 22, 2012}
{February 15, 2012}
{February 8, 2012}
{February 2, 2012}
{January 25, 2012}
{January 18, 2012}

Not Barefoot in the Kitchen -- Salami Roll-Ups

I am excited to share with you a new part of my blog: my Not Barefoot in the Kitchen section!

As we have all discovered, I have learned to love to cook within the last couple of years.  That would be evident by this blog, right?  But another thing I have learned to love is fashion.  It was not too long ago that a friend told, in love of course, "Tiffany, you need to spice it up.  You always look like the girl next door."  (This was before the movie The Girl Next Door, btw, so no, not that one.)  My reply?  "But I am the girl next door!"  Which for me meant cute, sweet, and that was it.  I would admire the girls in college who were bold enough to try a new look from the safety of my shirts, jeans, flip-flops, and ponytail.  Maybeeee some make-up.  Maybe.  But that was it.  I would admire them, think something along the lines of, "Wow, they look nice..." and then be on my way.  Because I couldn't do that, right?

Well, along with growing up and learning that I actually could cook, I grew up and learned that I actually could try something fun and new.  I am definitely no fashionista, but I am not the girl next door anymore.  Not that there was anything wrong with that...

So this new column or whatever it is called will be a place where I can put these two together: my new found love for cooking and my new found love for style -- affordable style.

I would like to give a shout-out to Britt at The Magnolia Pair for being bold enough to start a style column on her page.  Her confidence gave me confidence.  (And, FYI Britt, yes our outfits are strikingly similar... I think we were inspired by the same Pinterest pin originally, and then you helped me find out where to get the pants I wanted :)  Man, first What I Love Wednesday and now this... this lady has been an inspiration to me!

Today my recipe is for salami roll-ups.  You know how much I love Trader Joe's, right?  Well, this was a sample one day.  Fell in love.  Immediately.  And the good thing about Trader Joe's is that there are all kinds of salami there, not just pork... you can get beef or veggie, whatever you prefer.  Love that place.  And you have to admit, when you look at these pants you think "salami".  At least I do, anyway.

Three basic steps and you are there:  Spread cream cheese over lavash bread.  Place your toppings.  Roll and cut.  Ta-da!

We like to put it in the fridge when we are done.  They taste good room temperature, but they taste amazing when the cream cheese is cold. 

As you can tell from above, most of this outfit is from Forever 21.  Sometimes I see their stuff and want to gag myself.  But this Spring collection is incredible.  I had to practice some real self-restraint.  The pants were $24.80 and the top was a whopping $11.80.  The shoes I found at Payless (yes, Payless -- I have found their high heels to be really decent and cute) for $29.99.  And since nude can go with anything, I will definitely be sporting these a lot!

Salami Roll-Ups

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pack lavash bread
• 1 tub cream cheese
• 1 pack salami
• fresh basil leaves

Cost: $9.27                   Cost Per Piece (24) $0.39

And the sun came out... (Arugula Salad with Oranges and Beets)

Remember when I quoted those ever-wise words of Annie?  Well, it happened.  The sun came out, both literally and figuratively.  There is sunshine everywhere today, including my soul. 

It started this morning.  I woke up with the ability to breathe again.  Yes!

Yesterday I was thinking how we so often say things like, "I will never take the ability to breathe for granted again!"  For example: I used to live on this little (and by little I mean teeny-tiny, 1/4 of a square mile in size TOTAL) island with about 15,000 people living on it.  Yes, it was a little claustrophobic at times.  But that was OK.  I am incredibly sanguine, so that didn't bother me that much.  But the showers, oh the showers...  Not only were they cold, but they were salt-water.  And sometimes, when the power went out, which really was more than "sometimes" and instead like half of the time, we had to go get buckets of said cold, salt water out of a well.  That had cockroaches crawling all over it.  In this dark basement room.  (No, I am not making this up, and no, I did not walk to school barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways.)  During these moments I would hear myself saying, "I will never take clean and warm running water for granted again!"  But then I returned to the States.  Sure, the first few days I was in awe at the beauty of the faucet.  It didn't take long, however, for me to forget how wonderful that actually is and now I totally take it for granted -- unless the water heater breaks.  Then I find myself remembering my little island and how this used to be the norm and I think, "HOW IN THE WORLD DID I SURVIVE COLD SHOWERS ALL THE TIME?!" 

The point is this:  I can breathe again, and I know I am going to take that for granted.  Shoot -- five hours into and I already do.  And that is OK.  I am ready to take that for granted again.  That cold is over and I can fully live again.

Sunshine.
Then, on the way to work, the sun was actually shining, and shining brightly.  It wasn't warm, but it was bright.  I slid open the sunroof, turned up my music, and tapped my toes along with the beat. 

Sunshine.

So I bring to you today a sunny side dish.  A little salad, to be exact.  The beets and oranges, when cooked, release some of their juice which is used a little olive oil and salt to create the dressing.  The arugula has its own wonderful (albeit slightly bitter) flavor.  Mix it all together and you get something light and yum.

By the way, if you don't like beets, try this anyway.  I used to think beets tasted like the ground.  Actually, I still do... but it doesn't taste bad to me anymore.  And these beets you see up there in the picture are awesome because they are already steamed and peeled and you just have to heat them up for this recipe, although they are also great cold.  This little box has six or so beets in it.  Much easier than peeling, steaming, and then cooking with the oranges.  You could also use regular beets, of course.  Either way though, use them!  They are some of nature's wonders.  And remember, it is March.  The time of sunshine is near... yesssss!

Salad from Real Simple, October 2011

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 45m (or 30 minutes if using the TJ's beets)

 

Ingredients

• 1 pound beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 oranges, cut into large chunks
• 6 cups baby arugula (5 ounces)

Directions

Heat oven to 450° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the beets with 3 tablespoons of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast until beginning to soften, 13 to 15 minutes. Add the oranges to the baking sheet and roast, tossing once, until the beets and oranges are tender, 15 to 17 minutes more. Add the arugula and toss to combine.

Cost: $4.74                   Cost Per Serving (4): $1.19

What I'm Loving Wednesday -- 2.29.12

Happy Leap Day!  I love that I got to put 2.29 on the date today.  So rare, you know?  I love experiencing rare things.

Today, I am loving:

1} DayQuil.  No joke.  Without it I would straight up miserable.  But it is allowing me to function.  Remember that cold I had last week?  Well, I shared it with my husband.  And then he so kindly shared it back with me.  I mean, I know scientifically that doesn't make sense, but anyway, that's what happened -- or something like that.

2} K-Love Radio.  I really appreciate having something positive and uplifting to listen to.  It can turn a bad mood into a good one, or a moment of stress into a moment of peace.  It helps me put everything into perspective.  (Listen to it online HERE.)

3} that I have this book on my desk.  One of my former students dropped it off to me today.  So happy!  (Thanks, Leanne!)

4} Tomorrow is March!  I love March.  It is the beginning of the sunshiny time of the year.  It always seems so full of hope and promise.

And being March my finds for this week are things that to me scream LIFE.  (Remember to click on the pictures if you want to be taken to their sources.)





5} these wardrobe pieces

6} quick and easy pasta sauce guide by Rachael Ray.

7} this Spring like center piece from Better Homes & Gardens.  It is fake flowers glue-gunned to branches.  Brilliant!

8} We are having a Mario Kart Tournament in class this afternoon.  Remember that marble jar I mentioned before?  Well, they filled it up. 

9} that it is music time.  I love my kids (students), but I love my music break every Wednesday!

10} two very cool bloggy things: (1) The night I posted about the baked eggs in chunky tomato sauce a friend (actually, my boss, but I consider her a friend, too) sent me a text showing that she made my recipe.  How wonderful!  Best form of a compliment I can get.  (2) This:

I know for many people out there this little 6,000+ for Feb. count is low, but for me it is beautiful.  See that upward trend?  That's because of YOU!  Thank you for reading my words, commenting and sharing your encouragement/thoughts/questions, and for following my cooking-slash-life journey with me.  I am happy to have all of you here!!!

And last, but definitely not least, I am loving my husband.  He is always so sweet to me, but especially when I am not feeling well.  He goes above and beyond what I could hope for. 

Happy Wednesday, Folks!


OLDER POSTS:

{February 22, 2012}
{February 15, 2012}
{February 8, 2012}
{February 2, 2012}
{January 25, 2012}
{January 18, 2012}