blah blah beans

The recipe I'm about to tell you about is something that I made last Tuesday.  And then I tried to write about it the following Tuesday, but I just couldn't seem to muster up enough enthusiasm.  It took 9 days after eating and 2 days after trying to write about it that I realized the reason I couldn't muster up any enthusiasm was because it was just a so-so dish.  Nothing special or spectacular, just one of those dishes that if you had the staples on hand you wouldn't mind eating it - but nothing that I'll plan again.

So rewind back to almost 2 weeks ago.  Before going to the grocery store, I looked through the "Meatless Mains" chapter of my Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals cookbook and picked out 3 simple but yummy sounding recipes that required me to buy only about half the ingredients since I had the rest on hand. It all started out so well.

Presenting Southwestern Red Beans and Rice
I thought this would be good for a few reasons: the total prep and cook time was 13 minutes, it looked hearty and filling, and it sounded yummy.  Here's the recipe:

Prep: 4 minutes
Cook: 9 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup rice mixture and 1 tortilla)

Cooking spray
1 (8 ounce) package presliced mushrooms
1 (8.8 ounce) package precooked whole-grain brown rice (such as Uncle Ben's Ready Rice)
1 (16 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatos with zesty mild chiles, undrained (such as Del Monte)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 flour tortillas
1/2 cup (2 ounces) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1.  Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray.  Add mushrooms to pan; cook 6 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.  Stir in rice and next 4 ingredients.  Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

2.  While rice mixture cooks, warm tortillas according to package directions.  Sprinkle rice mixture with cheese and cilantro.  Serve immediately with tortillas. 

Nutrition info: calories 319g, fat 7g (sat 2.7g, mono 2.4g, poly 1.5g), protein 14.2g, carb 52.1g, fiber 8.4g, chol 11mg, iron 2.6 mg, sodium 794 mg, calc 144 mg

Doesn't that look appetizing?  No?  You're right.  It looks like regurgitated food.  Oh well.  All in all, it wasn't that bad... but as my mom always says, saying "it's not that bad" instead of "it's pretty good" says more than the words itself.

Note:

- it could have used more spice for sure.  The green chiles definitely help, but so did the cheese and sour cream.

 - the whole "pre-cooked rice in a pan" thing was weird to me and my cook time definitely took longer than stated because a) I'm still not used to these gas burners and b) I don't have a lid for the pan I was using, so I just put a plate on top instead.  It works, but it doesn't exactly create the seal you probably want and need.

- after making it I thought "hey this could be pretty tasty as burrito filling!"  Well, I think it was actually tastier on it's own.  How is that possible?  I have no idea.

- random nutrition info: did you know that rinsing and draining canned beans can reduce the sodium by 40 percent.  I never used to do this because I was lazy and didn't see the point, but I definitely will from now on.

So to sum it up: I probably won't be making this again, unless of course I happen to have rice, light red kidney beans, and diced tomatoes with zesty green chiles on hand.  Oh well.

PS: in an odd way, it feels good to write a not-so-glowing review of a CL recipe.  It's strangely exciting.  Plus now you can 100% certain that I don't secretly work for Cooking Light.  Glad that's out in the open.

hey hey hey beret

Do you remember when I took some pictures of some yarn and said one day it would be a beret?  Although I figured Heather would just hold on to said beret until I got home for Christmas, I got an early surprise when she put it in the mail (and really, with the temperatures I have to look forward to, I'm very glad she felt compelled to do this)!

Heather and Paul are doing a literary themed Christmas (Paul is an English professor!), and this wrapping and bow was just adorable.  I took this picture with my phone in my car in the parking garage at work which should explain the darkness and weirdness about it, but I was just too excited to wait for my camera.

And there she is!  Looking all cute.  PS: how in the world do you photograph a beret? I clearly had no idea.  Anyways, I love her way more than any other winter wear I own.

And there I am, in full morning-Allison-awkwardness, wearing my new beauty.  I love it I love it I love it. (Oh, and the color is more accurate in the first picture - you can thank lighting + flash for the odd change of color).

PS: I had a bit of adventure picking her up.  I forgot to tell Heather that I moved recently so she sent it Fed Ex to my old address.  I showed up the day it was suppose to arrive and didn't see a note on the door or a package on the porch, so instead of bursting into tears like I fully expected to do if this happened, I took a shot and knocked on the door.  Turns out, the sweetest little family has moved in already and in all my rambling and trying to explain why I was randomly knocking on her door and asking if she had a package for me, little momma of the house interrupted and said, "Allison?!  It arrived yesterday!"  What a sweetheart.  And Heather too.  So many sweethearts.

christmas time is here

A few weeks before Christmas Will and I were at Wal-Mart (unfortunately) and I told him I don't like decorating for Christmas.  By the look he gave me, I wouldn't have been 100% surprised if he broke up with me on the spot.  He looked heartbroken.  Then I told him that what I don't like is having to unpack things, pack up normal decor things, put Christmas stuff out, and then in 3 and a half weeks pack it all up again only to have to get your normal stuff out again.  I partially blame my mom for this feeling because she too feels this way and has left more and more holiday decorations in the attic each year.  In her defense, we have some very crafty family members so each year my mom was given more and more decorations and the amount she accumulated is pretty overwhelming.

Anyhoo, surprise of all surprises, when Will and I got back from Thanksgiving I couldn't wait to break into my Christmas box.  I'm pretty sure I was excited because it meant that our plain we're-only-living-here-for-3-months-so-why-bother-decorating apartment was going to look a little more home-y.  So, here's what I managed to do with an Italian styled apartment, no mantle, and little money:

The book case

Some of these vases were out already, but I went to Michael's and picked up some fake flowers to add some holiday color and picked up the Christmas candle from Target.  Coolest thing about the candle: it has a wooden wick so when it burns you can hear it crackle.  The first time I lit the candle all I could think was "Chestnuts roasting over an open fire."

The coffee table

I didn't do much here partly because I never got around to doing this pop-up book art Christmas scene that Kara Paslay shared on her blog and partly because I just didn't want much on the coffee table.  So it's simple, but I do love that gold glitter candle.  Oh, and in my defense, at one time the other votive (that is now on the bookcase) was also on the table and there was another white candle exactly like the one above, but it found it's way to the trash can because it now looks like this:

The "mantle"

Cheap-o stockings from Target with glitter paint yessss.  Classy.  Oh and Tom's medals he's won in races he's done because those are always out and I wasn't going to be mean and take them down. This was about all I could do because our mantle actually consists of 5 spaced out, protruding stones:

Cool huh?

The fire place

Next year I definitely want a life-size real tree, but I do have a special fondness for baby tree.  It's sitting on a bar stool that I wrapped in a paper table cloth from Target.  Oh, and only 4 of these presents are for Will and I (the rest are for our parents!). My NC Christmas ornament found a new home with my UNC snow man that my mom sent me last year on the fire place gate.

The kitchen doorway

Another thing I took from my mom: taping up Christmas cards on the doors (or in my case, marble walls).  Most of these are for last year, but I'll be adding this year's as they come.  Cards are the best.

The dinner table

And finally, the table cloth, plate, santa mug, and napkins that my mom gave me last year.  Please ignore my almost bad bananas - those are going in a smoothie tomorrow morning - and my veggie and coozie bowls (and don't worry, that weird pumpkin bowl that's holding the coozies does not belong to me).  Oh, and that plate should have cookies on it, but I postponed baking until tomorrow.

So maybe it's pieced together and a bit cheap, but I'm okay with that this year.  Besides, nothing will ever top this:

This picture is actually missing 2 stockings because I took this on July 27 (yes, it stayed up that long because we loved it that much) and they had already moved out.  Sorry Beth and Kelsey!

PS: I just compared my current stocking with this stocking and realized that the next time I break out the glitter pens, I need to get a little more creative.

kate's take on christmas songs

My friend Kate wrote a hilarious take on the top 5 "most awesomely terrible" Christmas songs.  She brings up points that I had never considered before, such as does my favorite Christmas song condone date rape?  Hmm.  Very interesting.

Check it out (along with the rest of her blog)!

PS: she's not kidding about programming all of the stations in her car to ones playing Christmas music as soon as possible.  I've been there - and I've been amazed at her quickness.

let's start a fire

Up until recently, I have had a strong aversion to candles.  Sure I think they're pretty when they're lit and sometimes they're even pretty when they aren't lit, but the candle experience was ruined for me when I was younger. One year my mom decided to tell people that I really liked candles and people just couldn't stop themselves from giving me more and more candles.  I hand candles on my dresser, on my bed side table, on my desk, lined on the shelves in my closet - SO many candles.  I even turned a little pyro for a while and burned candles for 10 hours a day just to try and get rid of them (so what if I also melted pen lids and other plastic things in the baby flames?).  So since 10th grade or so, I have not wanted candles in my bedroom/dorm room/kitchen/living room/any room.  Well, there was the summer and winter I worked at Bath and Body Works and got sucked back into candles, but that was just one weak moment.

But ever since I did a little extra Christmas shopping at Target and walked away with not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, but 6 whole candles, I have been a candle-burning fiend.  I have already gone through 2 votives and just about one whole pillar candle.  I just can't stop myself.  So in the spirit of candles, here are some snazzy ones I wouldn't mind having around:

First up, pretty candles in pretty glass holders.  I want lots of these Sydney Hale Co. candles because there are so many scents that sound just delightful.  And the holder on the right is meant to be hung, so just picture how pretty that could be.

1) Terrain: Vintage Cordial Candle

2) Sydney Hale Company: Mint + Geranium

3) CB2: Whirly Hanging Chandelier

Next, we have pretty candles in tins/ceramic/mercury glass "jars."  I love all of these a whole lot.  In fact, I'll probably be driving to Anthropologie this weekend to check and see if the collared candle is there because it's backordered online - and it's on sale, which is always my favorite.  PS: that first candle is just a candle that someone melted into an old jello mold.  I wish I was cool enough to come up with things like that.

1) Etsy: Vintage Jello Mold Candle in Lemon Verbena

2) Anthropologie: Days Gone By Candles

3) Anthropologie: Haberdasher's Collar Candle, Two Sons

4) Anthropologie: Scintillating Basin Candle

If you thought you were getting out of this without a mention of an elephant, clearly you haven't been following along.  But also, a candle that has a beautiful vintage feeling print combined with a scent called "tea leaf" pretty much screams my name.  And this set of three Oceanic pillar candles are so darn sassy I can't help but smile when I look at them.

1) Skeem: 3-Wick, Migration, Tea Leaf

2) CSN: Blissliving Home Elephant Candle in Metallic Silver

3) Skeem: Pillars, Oceanic

Is there a part of me that hopes I get a candle or two for Christmas?  Maybe.  Is there a part of me that's terrified of getting seven candles for Christmas?  Definitely.  But I think I'm ready to face that fear head on.  Next fear on the list: the dark (which oddly enough, I just realized candles would really help that one out!  Funny how things work out).

pizza with a twist

I think for Christmas I should get a chef's hat because I'm starting to feel like a real pro in the kitchen.  I've been pretty lucky recently and haven't had any duds (knock on wood), but I'll be baking cookies this weekend so that streak might be in jeopardy.  For those of you that didn't have to eat my sugar cookies last year, be greatful, and for those of you that did, I'm very sorry.  No worries, that recipe is not making a comeback.

Tonight I made Mini White Pizzas with Vegetables.  Before my big grocery shopping trip yesterday, I picked out some simple but comfort food-ish recipes from my Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals cookbook.  Yeah yeah, Cooking Light again.  They have great recipes what can I say. 

I can't find this recipe on line, so here goes:

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 9 minutes

4 (6-inch) whole weat pitas
Olive-oil flavored cooking spray
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, separated into rings
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light garlic-and-herbs spreadable cheese (such as Alouette Light)
6 tablespoons shredded Asiago cheese

1.  Preheat broiler.
2.  Place pitas on a baking sheet; broil 3 minutes.
3.  Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray.  Add zucchini, onion, pepper, and salt; saute 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
4.  Remove pitas from oven and spread 2 tablespoons garlic-and-herbs spreadable cheese over each pita.  Top evenly with vegetables and Asiago cheese.  Broil 3 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cheese melts.  Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pizza).

Nutrition info: 272 calories, 8.7g fat (sat 4.6 g, mono 1g, poly 1g), 11.9g protein, 40.2g carbs, 5.5g fiber, 24mg cholesterol, 2.2mg iron, 505mg sodium, 137mg calcium

Even Will agreed that my pizza looked very similar to the picture in the cookbook, if only a little less crispy.

These were super yummy.  I made 2 because I planned on having one for lunch tomorrow, but then I remembered I agreed to go out to lunch tomorrow (something I rarely do) so I guess it will just be dinner again.  I had snacked on some turkey pepperoni and string cheese when I came home so one of these guys filled me up, but tomorrow I'll probably try to throw a spinach salad in there to make it a little fancier.

Notes:

- I would say prep time is more like 10 minutes instead of 5, but that could just be because anytime I put a kinfe near an onion I start crying uncontrollably

- I didn't follow the whole "1/4 cup red onion" - since I was making 2, I just eyeballed how much I would want/need

- I didn't find the Alouette Light spreadable cheese they mentioned, but I did find another brand that was also light and garlic and herbs so alls well that ends well (found in the special cheese section in the produce department)

- Every single time I see Asiago cheese in a recipe, I go straight for the Sargento 4-cheese reduced fat Italian shredded cheese (and bonus, asiago is one of the 4 cheeses)

-  You could totally sub any other veggies you wanted, but I was a big fan of this veggie combo and the fact that zucchini was involved because that's one of my favorite things

To sum it up: Easy peasy.  So yummy.  Cooking Light obsessed.  Happy and full.

tgif

One of my favorite things about living in the dorms was getting a note in my mail box that said "You have a package!"  It was the most exciting feeling. 

Now that I have a PO box for a few months, I get to experience that excitement all over again!  I mean getting a surprise package is great no matter what, but when you have to wait in line, there's a chance for anticipation to build and questions for what it can be fill your head and basically a general feeling of giddiness takes over.

Lucky me got to finish off my Friday with that wonderful feeling!

I got this card in the mail from bff Kelcey:

I immediately starting laughing because Kelcey was there when I hit my first squirrel (I mentioned that little incident here).  I'm not 100% sure if I've hit another squirrel since, but I do remember one running in front of my car when I was on an entrance ramp not to long ago.

Anyways, there was also a package!  Let me tell you, Kelcey wrapped this thing up good and tight.  It took me way longer than I would have liked to get into the thing and I more or less destroyed the brown paper, box, tissue paper, other wrapping paper, and other box the gift was in.

Finally, I got to this ornament, which Kelcey sent me because she knew how much I've been missing NC (19 days til I'm home!!!!!).

The first ornament on my baby tree!  So much happiness for a Friday evening.  Now Will and I are off to try out a new restaurant that we've been eyeing since June.  Happy weekend yall!!

there's an elephant in the room

Remember this guy?

Remember when I talked about wanting to do my own painting just like this?  Well guess what:

Yes yes yes!  While I did make a few changes and while my elephant isn't perfect (I freehanded it), I am very happy with the first painting I've completed since my freshman year of college.  Although I must admit it was pretty darn simple:

1) I dry brushed white acryllic paint on the canvas, just enough to cover the whole canvas.  Once it dried (which happened quickly since there wasn't much paint), I dry brushed/streaked some black over the white - not a lot and trust me, it didn't look pretty at this step.  When that dried, I used my painting knife to build up the white to add texture and make the canvas look a little worn or antiqued instead of it just having weird streaks of black.  (The lighting in a basement apartment isn't great, so just believe me when I say you can see said texture and worn-ness).

2) Next step was doing the yellow bits.  Again, I just took the painting knife, got just a bit of yellow, and scraped away.  I added the red because I wanted them to stand out a bit more.  But then I got a little knife paint happy, so I ended up painting over 3 bits with white and redoing the yellow lines again.  No biggie.

3) Then I just looked at the original as a guide and free-handed the elephant lightly in pencil.

4) Then came the watercolors!  FYI, painting knives and watercolors are some of my favorite things to work with.  I ended up doing 2 coats of watercolor on the elephant (and I'm still debating doing a third to make the elephant darker and changing it a bit around the mouth).

5) Lastly, I very lightly free-handed the words, mixed up the blue, and carefully painted away.

And there you have it!  Now I just need to figure out what's getting painted next.  Muahaha.

PS: Over Thanksgiving I read Water for Elephants.  Obsession overload.