Good Reads

Have you ever heard of Goodreads? I use it to keep track of all the books I've read. Some people use it for online book clubs, book recommendations, or social networking. This is the book I just finished.
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


View all my reviews >>

Reasons I'm A Bad Blogger

• I work 3 jobs. I average about 40ish hours a week, however there is no rhyme or reason to my schedual. Working till 4AM isn't an abnormal thing for me, yet the guilt of sleeping past noon always seeps in somehow.
  
• I'm doing lots of doing. A quilt is in the works; a gallery application has a deadline; a special surprise is being made; many job applications, and cover letters are being sent; lost of schmoozing at job fairs by yours truly.
  
• Excluding today, the weather has been lovely. I want to play outside; I don't want to be in front of a screen.

Thats all, and I'm sorry. I'll try to be a better blogger.

photo via

Nice Days on Your Weekend

Julie Doiron - Glad to be alive from josh lyon on Vimeo.
Last week it rained on my two days off. This time it is not the case.
I'm heading to Penn Treaty Park via bicycle to check out the Shad Fest. I'm meeting Ellen, and hopefully Ryan will meet up later on.

Another Tuesday Night Dinner

No photos till after the fact. I was a cooking machine today. I started at 1:30 and didn't finish until 8:30. It turned out great and everyone loved it. Tonight's menu included:
Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger-made with homemade vegetable stock
Veggie Curry on a bed of Coconut Rice with Garlic and Raisin Naan
To finish Amelia brought over crystallized yogurt with bananas, chopped nuts, and honey.
Delectable! Before we knew it this is all that was left:

Helmet- Final Chioce

I did some more nosing around the inter-webs to see if I could get a better deal on a helmet. I found one that I liked well enough, and plan on making warm ear pads for winter. My total cost including shipping from EvoGear cost me 38 bucks. Not a bad deal indeed.

Card Catalog Generator: here
I adore it. Can't you just hear my heart pitter patter?

Color Week, Day 2

Today is Purple Tuesday. I took/am taking a majority of my photos outside. This project has encouraged me to spend more time breathing fresh air, and taking our dog, Rudy, out to play. Winter is season that is more conducive to snuggling in bed with a good book and some tea, but not when you have colorful photos to take.


Speaking of purple, I was clicking around YouTube and found this charming girl singing 'Purple Bottle'

ERock

Trader Joe's hires interesting people. One of the most wonderful people working there now is Ellen. She is the sweetest girl, who has so much on her plate and always finds time for others. She is creative, bright, talented, and so hard working.
Yesterday we had some overlapping free time, which is a rarity. She invited me over to her gorgeous apartment. Not only does charisma and adorableness exude from every pore and action, but it also is recognizable in her living space. Take a look:

Goodmorning,

NPR. Ryan and I don't own a TV. I don't miss it a bit, but I do miss listening to the news while I get ready for the day. The NPR Media Player solves this issue for me. The news is concise, and only 5 minutes long. Most of the time I listen to the 24 hour stream, but lately I have been listening to my Pandora Christmas Stream.

Friends of Friends

_MG_1354
Originally uploaded by mcjawn

My new friend, MC, told me about this hip new magazine her friend helped create. Its Phillycentric, up to the minute, and pretty neat. Featured articles include: Bar Bathroom Review, Philly Phashion, Movie Reviews, and much more. I cant wait to see the next issue.





Also, Jin (the co-creator of the Mag), also hosts art shows. Nice.

Shop Girl

Today I finally added some merchandise to my Etsy shop.

Flickr

You can also find me here.

Yes, We Can

Last night I fell asleep to the voice of our new president. Thank You America!

Photo Cred

Makeup Bag

I use a handful of products daily, and until recently I had no idea the toxicity levels that each item held. I found this cosmetic search engine, Skin Deep, from a web news letter I receive. It was scary to see how toxic my daily routine is. I sharpied the "hazard score" on each package to remind me how much junk I am exposing myself to. I know I should toss these products into the garbage can, but I can't talk myself into wasting that much stuff. When its time to replace, and buy new I'll be sure to check Skin Deep before I purchase anything.

















My make up bag scores are:

L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer - Hazard Score 2 out of 10

Cover Girl Remarkable Mascara- Hazard Score 7 out of 10
Lumene Blemish Treatment Stick- Hazard Score 5 out of 10
L'Oreal Paris Wear Infinite Eyeshadow- Hazard Score 7 out of 10
Olay Regenerist Daily Cleanser- Hazard Score 6 out of 10
Target Brand Facial Moisturizer- Hazard Score 4 out of 10

In the future I'd like to keep my scores below a 3, but until then I'll be here using up my toxic products. Yikes!

Amazing Costumes

Every year for Halloween a family friend, Mrs. C, would sew her 4 children's, her own, and her husband's costumes. Each costume was elaborate and themed. One year they were Grimm's Fairytales characters, another year they were knites and princesses.

While blogging around the blogisphere I stumbled upon this blogger who gives pretty dresses away. This week shes giving away a costume that looks much like a costume Mrs. C would make.




via Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Tuna Melt

Tuna melts are consumed by many-an old person in many-a greasy diners, but this sandwich will knock your socks off. Ryan tore this recipe out of an Esquire magazine before he met me, and has been talking about it since we started getting serious about moving in together. (Ok, so what if us talking seriously about moving in together was only a couple weeks after we met...)
We adapted this recipe slightly. We switched out the multi-grain bread for rye bread from the framers market, and used 1 little pack of Italian tuna in oil, and 1 little pack of lite tuna in water. The results were delicious, and the sandwiches were easy as can be to make.

ravelry

I know my sister would love ravelry. I'll be doing some nosing* around too!

*by nosing I mean becoming a member, and visiting the site daily.

via SouleMama

Asparagus Risotto

Whole Foods has a great recipe collection. This asparagus risotto recipe was followed to a t. Delicious.

Ryan had some turkey sausage with a yummy glaze. It was so good he gobbled it up before I could snap a picture.

I really have to credit Ryan for this meal. He sired this till the cows came home and then some, but boy, was it worth it! Yum!

Eggplants with Shallots and Ginger

I first got this recipe from a cookbook I borrowed from the library. After making this dish once I was hooked. Its eggplant season, and I don't know a cook who wouldn't want another delicious eggplant recipe to add to their collection. My mom grows eggplant in her garden, and is up to her earlobes in this purple veggie. I raved to her about this dish, and of course she wanted it. Being the smart woman I am I decided to search the internet before I typed the whole recipe by hand. I found it here, on Mark Bittman's food blog hosted by the New York Times.

The recipe calls for chicken, but I omitted it- I'm a vegetarian. I did make chicken though- along side in another pan for my meat eating boyfriend. Below is the recipe I used with a few adaptations from the original.

Ingredients

• 6 large shallots
  
• 1/4 cup grape seed oil
  
• 1 to 1 1/4 pounds eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes (skin on)
  
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 chicken breast
  
• 1/4 cup or more minced fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Peel shallots, and cut in half. Place oil in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium high. Add shallots cook until they start browning. Add eggplant, salt and pepper, and lower heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant softens, about 15 minutes. Preheat broiler to lo.
   
2. When eggplant begins to brown, add half the ginger, and cook 3 minutes or so more, until eggplant is very tender and the mixture fragrant. The eggplant will not be crisp, this is a comfort dish- go with the soft texture.
   
3. Meanwhile, rub chicken breast with salt, pepper and remaining ginger. Broil about 5 inches from the heat source for 3 minutes a side or until done.
4. Stir half the cilantro into eggplant mixture. Serve chicken breasts on a bed of eggplant. Garnish with remaining cilantro.

We also made a side of couscous, it was delicious.

Adventures in Cooking

This week I plan to share a few recipes Ryan and I have made since we moved in together. Our taste palate is relatively similar- if not spot on, and we are both willing to experiment.

This is Zucchini Bread IV. I
modified the recipe a little, I took out nuts and cut down on sugar and oil. Here's what I did.

Jen's Zucchini Bread
a modified recipe from here.

Equipment

• Oven
• Whisk
• 2 Large Bowls
• 1 9X5 inch Loaf Pan
  

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
  
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups grated zucchini (skin removed)
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. Beat eggs until frothy. Add Oil applesauce and sugar. Mix in zucchini and vanilla. In another bowl whisk all dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, and salt. Add to eggy mixture in three parts. Mix until just combined.
3. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick come out clean.