And it has been glorious. I thought I was going to be very depressed by not going home for Christmas, but it has actually been amazingly relaxing. Here are my top 5 reasons why I have had the most relaxing Christmas ever.
1) The Skype family Christmas. I spent about 3 hours chatting to my family and watching my nephew open presents, and then was able to turn it off. I love my family, but who wouldn't like an off button sometimes?
2) I spent the week between Christmas and New Year working, but I think I received all of one email and maybe one phone call. I was productive, but also was able to take long breaks without feeling guilty about it or trying to hide the fact that I spent the entire afternoon surfing the web.
3) Christmas dinner was popcorn, pick n mix, and chex mix. It was supposed to be roast chicken, but after all of that junk, we didn't feel like making the chicken, and since there was no one else around, we didn't care.
4) Movies and Wii. The couch and I have always been close, but this last two weeks, we have bonded on new levels. My husband finally broke down and bought a Wii (a present for me for him), so we had the Christmas everyone else did 2 years ago enjoying Mario Kart and Wii Sports games, as well as a respectable Christmas movie marathon including some of my favorites-Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and Love Actually.
5) Spending the last two weeks of the year hanging out with my husband. Most of the year our time together is after work for a few hours, and maybe a bit of time on the weekend, but we had a few solid days of just lounging. I felt more chilled out than I have in a long time.
All in all, I have to say, it's been an lovely and relaxing holiday. It will be the only year we are ever able to spend the holidays just the two of us, and it was worth it. Here's to 2010 and all of the surprises and fun it will bring.
Recipe of the day: Black Bean and Chorizo Soup
(Make this to your taste. These are all approximations)
1 can black beans
1/2 c stock (chicken or vegetable)
1 clove garlic (chopped)
1 thick slice white onion (chopped)
about 1/4 c of chorizo, cut into small pieces
A slug of olive oil
Heat the oil in a pan over med heat. Add the onions and sweat, then add the garlic and fry until it becomes fragrant. Add the chorizo and cook until it starts to release the oils. Add the stock and beans (with the can juices). Give it a stir and let simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. With a hand blender (or carefully in a regular blender), blend slightly until about half of the beans and chorizo have been liquified. Served with crusty bread.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Let it Snow
Dear Londoners-
Can we please not panic and create mass hysteria every time some snow falls from the sky? It rains enough here, you would think that a few frozen flakes would be a piece of cake, but no. Being anywhere near the road is treacherous and any tube with an outdoor track will be massively delayed if even a light layer sticks to the tracks (I'm talking about you Circle and District lines!). Does it not snow here at least once or twice per year? Should we not be prepared for this? Are there not many major cities in the world that do not fall into a code red situation whenever the white stuff is even a possibility? Cold plus an environment conducive to mass amounts of precipitation = snow. How have you not figured this out yet?
I agree my perception is slightly skewed. I grew up in upstate NY, and in college, there was hardly a day when snow did not fall between December and March. Hell, it snowed on my graduation on May 18. But still-snow is pretty and festive for Christmas. Let's enjoy instead of freaking out.
And that's how Sarah C's it.
Recipe of the Day-Mexican Lasagne (Courtesy of Me)
Ingredients
500g (1/2 - 3/4 lb) mince (I like to use turkey, but you can also use beef or pork)
2 bell peppers (red and yellow), chopped
1 small to medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
Choice: 1 jar enchilada sauce, or 1 packet fajita or taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water
1 package corn or flour tortillas
1 package mexican style shredded cheese
1 avocado, chopped, or guacamole to top
Preheat the over to about 350F (180C).
Drizzle some oil or spray a frying pan with cooking spray. When the pan is at a medium heat, saute the onions until they start to sweat. Add the garlic and sauté until it becomes fragrant. Add the peppers and cooke for about 4 or 5 minutes, until they start to soften. Now add the meat and brown. When the meat is almost browned (about 8-10 minutes) add the sauce/seasoning an cook for an addition 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a square pan, scoop some of the sauce from the meat mixture and spread on the bottom of the pan. Layer in a tortilla, top with some of the meat and then cheese. Repeat for at east 3 layers. Finish with a hefty layer of cheese. Place in the oven, uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese begins to brown. Top with avocado/guacamole and/or sour cream.
Can we please not panic and create mass hysteria every time some snow falls from the sky? It rains enough here, you would think that a few frozen flakes would be a piece of cake, but no. Being anywhere near the road is treacherous and any tube with an outdoor track will be massively delayed if even a light layer sticks to the tracks (I'm talking about you Circle and District lines!). Does it not snow here at least once or twice per year? Should we not be prepared for this? Are there not many major cities in the world that do not fall into a code red situation whenever the white stuff is even a possibility? Cold plus an environment conducive to mass amounts of precipitation = snow. How have you not figured this out yet?
I agree my perception is slightly skewed. I grew up in upstate NY, and in college, there was hardly a day when snow did not fall between December and March. Hell, it snowed on my graduation on May 18. But still-snow is pretty and festive for Christmas. Let's enjoy instead of freaking out.
And that's how Sarah C's it.
Recipe of the Day-Mexican Lasagne (Courtesy of Me)
Ingredients
500g (1/2 - 3/4 lb) mince (I like to use turkey, but you can also use beef or pork)
2 bell peppers (red and yellow), chopped
1 small to medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
Choice: 1 jar enchilada sauce, or 1 packet fajita or taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water
1 package corn or flour tortillas
1 package mexican style shredded cheese
1 avocado, chopped, or guacamole to top
Preheat the over to about 350F (180C).
Drizzle some oil or spray a frying pan with cooking spray. When the pan is at a medium heat, saute the onions until they start to sweat. Add the garlic and sauté until it becomes fragrant. Add the peppers and cooke for about 4 or 5 minutes, until they start to soften. Now add the meat and brown. When the meat is almost browned (about 8-10 minutes) add the sauce/seasoning an cook for an addition 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a square pan, scoop some of the sauce from the meat mixture and spread on the bottom of the pan. Layer in a tortilla, top with some of the meat and then cheese. Repeat for at east 3 layers. Finish with a hefty layer of cheese. Place in the oven, uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese begins to brown. Top with avocado/guacamole and/or sour cream.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Cookie
December so often flies by full of festive parties, shopping, and family time. This is the first December in a long time I have actually had time to just sit and be. Since Mr. D and I are not going home for the holiday's, I am looking forward to the the first holiday I can remember to just be home, watching movies and clearing out the DVR.
There are still a few things that I must have every Christmas. Stockings with chocolate, at least 4 different kinds of cookies, a tree, and copious amounts of food (even if there will only be two of us this year-there will still be food for an army).
Two of these are currently finished. I have my kitted out tree, and yesterday began my annual cookie bake-off. It started with a trip to the local American Food store (great small place near Holland Park) to pick up the peanut butter, marshmallows and as always a People magazine. Then I baked- traditional sugar cookie cut outs and peanut butter blossoms. (Chocolate Chip and some Rice Krispie treats to come!) I took them to a dinner party last night and was given the comment-"You are so American." What is so "American" about baking cookies? I thought it was just festive. I do have to say that cookies are a much better tradition that Christmas pudding, which most people do not like, but make anyway, and mince pies which while tasty, are not things you can continually sneak into your mouth all day long and not feel minced out.
And now back to today's awesomely bad entertainment-High School Musical 3. (It's not Glee, but it is satisfying my need for entertainment that spontaneously breaks into song.)
And that's how Sarah C's it.
Recipe of the Day (courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens)
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Bake-10 minutes per batch Oven-350 F (180 C)
Makes-about 50 cookies
Ingredients
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 c all purpose flour
1/4 c granulated sugar
Milk chocolate kisses or stars
1. Beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer until blended. Add 1/2 c granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping sides. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Beat in as much flour as you can, stirring in any remaining.
2. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the remaining granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on an cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or ungreased until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of the cookie. Transfer to a wire rack and cool.
There are still a few things that I must have every Christmas. Stockings with chocolate, at least 4 different kinds of cookies, a tree, and copious amounts of food (even if there will only be two of us this year-there will still be food for an army).
Two of these are currently finished. I have my kitted out tree, and yesterday began my annual cookie bake-off. It started with a trip to the local American Food store (great small place near Holland Park) to pick up the peanut butter, marshmallows and as always a People magazine. Then I baked- traditional sugar cookie cut outs and peanut butter blossoms. (Chocolate Chip and some Rice Krispie treats to come!) I took them to a dinner party last night and was given the comment-"You are so American." What is so "American" about baking cookies? I thought it was just festive. I do have to say that cookies are a much better tradition that Christmas pudding, which most people do not like, but make anyway, and mince pies which while tasty, are not things you can continually sneak into your mouth all day long and not feel minced out.
And now back to today's awesomely bad entertainment-High School Musical 3. (It's not Glee, but it is satisfying my need for entertainment that spontaneously breaks into song.)
And that's how Sarah C's it.
Recipe of the Day (courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens)
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Bake-10 minutes per batch Oven-350 F (180 C)
Makes-about 50 cookies
Ingredients
1/2 c shortening
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 c all purpose flour
1/4 c granulated sugar
Milk chocolate kisses or stars
1. Beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer until blended. Add 1/2 c granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping sides. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Beat in as much flour as you can, stirring in any remaining.
2. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the remaining granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on an cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or ungreased until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of the cookie. Transfer to a wire rack and cool.
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