Stripes

I love this picture.  I took it when I was documenting Abby's 13 month mark.  I love the stripes on her shirt.  I love her cute little hands with her fingers spread out.  And I especially love the back of her sweet head.  This view is something I see all the time but I wouldn't normally think, "I need to capture that."  I'm so glad I did. 

Grilled Margherita Pita Pizza

When asked what my favorite food is, I often say pizza.  My preferred pizza includes a thin, crispy crust, and any combination of fresh ingredients.  I love that there are countless possibilities when it comes to toppings.  For instance, caramelized sliced pears are simply divine on pizza in my opinion. 

With that said, nothing really beats the simple, yet tasty margherita pizza.  Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil is just a terrific combination that I adore.  This is a perfect recipe to make with a fresh tomato and basil, so make sure to bookmark this recipe for when you have an abundance of each from your garden at the end of the summer. I've said it before, but I use pitas as my crust all the time for ease.  You can obviously make your own crust to make this even better.  Here is my version of the classic Italian pizza.
 
Grilled Margherita Pita Pizza (makes one pita pizza)

1 flat, round pita
1 tomato, chopped (mine was a roma, so about that size was perfect)
1 clove garlic, minced
olive oil
red pepper flakes
salt
fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into thin slices (enough to cover the pizza)
fresh basil leaves, cut in ribbons

Mix tomato with a splash of olive oil, garlic, salt, and some red pepper flakes.  Grill the mixture until the tomatoes become soft (I made a little foil package for mine like so).

Transfer the mixture back into a bowl and mush it up a little so it becomes more of a sauce, but with little chuncks of tomato still there.  

Drizzle olive oil on both sides of the pita and grill until it becomes golden and a little crispy.  Add tomato mixture and then top with mozzarella mixture.  Put your grill hood on to help the cheese melt (if using an indoor grill like me, place a bowl over your pizza).

  Continue to grill until the cheese is melted.  Top with fresh basil before serving and eat immediately. Enjoy! 

Barbeque Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

This salad is full of great flavors that really work together.  Both Landon and I really thought it was tasty.  I got the idea for the dressing from this blog (at least I'm pretty sure that's where it came from) but changed it up a bit to satisfy my tastes.  With that said, feel free to play around with it so that you love it!  I didn't top ours with crispy bacon but I am certain it would be delicious, so I have included it in my recipe.  Also, a little bit of blue cheese crumbled on top could be great as well.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Barbeque Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Dressing
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
zest of 1 lime
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. honey
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I use mayo with olive oil)
1 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
salt and pepper

Salad

2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 cup corn
2 scallions, chopped
4 cups spinach or other leafy greens
1 chicken breast, baked or grilled, cut, and then smothered with BBQ sauce (I used spicy BBQ sauce)
2 slices of bacon, crumbled (optional)
1/4 cup blue cheese (optional)


Whisk all dressing ingredients together and set aside.  In a small bowl, add tomatoes, corn, and scallions.  Toss the tomato mixture with some of the dressing to coat (a couple Tbs. or so).  
Assemble the salad in a large bowl by layering the greens, tomato mixture, and chicken.  Top with bacon and cheese if using.  Top with extra dressing if desired.  I didn't really think it needed much more, but that's just me.  You can make extra dressing if you plan to serve it on the side.  Serve and enjoy!

#11. Run a Half Marathon

I finally sat down last week and found a half marathon race I plan to run.  I haven't signed up yet because I want to see how the first couple of weeks of training go.  It is on August 13 and the place to catch the bus for the race is right by my house.  It should work perfectly.

I'm so excited.  I'm looking forward to incorporating more speed and endurance training into my workouts (as opposed to just going out to run for 30 minutes).  Training with my baby will be interesting but very doable.  She loves going for runs and if I need to, I can go to the track once she has gone to bed to do speed training since it stays light so long these days.  It seems like the perfect time to do this and I'm crossing my fingers I don't get injured along the way.

I want to see how my training goes, but right now I want to shoot for finishing in right at about 2 hours.  My first and only other half time was 1:51 and some seconds, but I was in pretty good shape and had a while to train for it.  I'm not trying to set a PR (personal record) or anything like that, I just want to have something to shoot for and do well.

So I guess that is my major summer plan!  Anyone else training for anything this summer?

I couldn't find the pictures from my previous half marathon, but here's one from the marathon I did.  Hopefully I will be smiling at the end of my race in August!

Extrusive

My husband and I started doing weekly photo challenges for fun.  We pick a random word out of the dictionary as the theme for the week.  This last week the word was...

Extrusive: relating to or formed by geological extrusion from the earth in a molten state or as volcanic ash

Here is what I came up with.

This is Landon's.

This week the theme is "dispatch."  If you want to join in on the fun, feel free!  Upload your photo here.  You have to be invited to the group in order to post, so let me know if you want an invite.  It doesn't matter to us what type of camera you use or how literal or symbolic your picture is.  This is just meant to be a fun way to do something artsy during the week.

Mussamun Currry

My husband and I love to go out for Thai and Indian food and curries are our favorite dishes to get.  I have made a few curries at home but I'm often intimidated to try something new.  I get worried that the prep will be too long (my meal preparing has to be quick these days with a baby crawling all over the place and into everything), that I won't be able to find the spices and ingredients, and that I'll mess it up somehow.  I promise you, this recipe is really simple and can be easily incorporated into your regular meal routine.

Prepared mussamun curry paste is pretty readily available.  You can likely find it in an Asian market and even regular grocery stores can carry it.  If you can't find it, it looks like Amazon even sells some.

I got the recipe from this book and just made a couple minor changes to healthify it a bit.  Mussamun is traditionally made with beef, but I used chicken.  Feel free to substitute beef if you'd like.  This recipe makes a lot! I made half of the following recipe for the two of us the other night and we had plenty of leftovers, enough for dinner the next night and then some.

Gaeng Mussamun (Mussamun Curry)

1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cups coconut milk (I always use low-fat)
1/4 cup mussamun curry paste
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 
3 medium potatoes, washed and cut in bite-sized chunks (about 2 cups)
1 large onion, large dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 Tbs. fish sauce
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1tsp. lime zest 
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice

In a large saucepan or skillet, bring 1 cup of the coconut milk to a gentle boil over medium heat.  Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.  Add the curry paste  and cook for another few minutes, stirring to incorporate it into the coconut milk.  Add the chicken and cook another 3 minutes, tossing to coat it with the sacuce.

Add the remaining 2 cups of coconut milk, chicken broth, potatoes, onion, fish sauce, brown sugar, and salt and bring to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.  Stir in the peanuts, lime zest and juice.  Serve warm over basmati rice.  Enjoy!

#50. Take Family Pictures (Part II)

Emily posted some of our family photos on her blog and they happen to basically be ones I picked as my favorites.  So instead of posting them here, I'll just direct you to her fun blog!

#50. Take Family Pictures

My brother and his wife stopped by for a visit during their voyage to California this past weekend.  Our time with them was short, but so fun.  We were very lucky to have my wonderful sister-in-law take family pictures for us.  I have had so much fun looking through them and editing a few.  I can't wait to see the ones she edits for us.  But for now, here is one fun one that I edited.  Thanks, Emily!

Watching

My husband took this of our baby girl the day we took her to the park to swing and slide for the very first time.  I think the thing she enjoyed the most was watching all the kids running around and playing with each other.  What a precious expression to capture!  Good job, Landon!

A Peek

 Wanna take a peek at my latest project?  Here it is.

Last night I finished all the squares I need for my project.  These are just two of the squares.  I'm excited with the way it looks.  It is pretty bold, but I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Have I mentioned that Abby sometimes helps me with my photo shoots?

Well, she does.

So I decided to lock her up.

It was just for a minute.  I promise I'm not a horrible mother.

Lo-Fi

My husband and I have been having fun learning how to take pictures.  We are still amateurs, but it is a hobby we enjoy doing together.  My husband's favorite part of it all is the software and post-processing that goes along with digital photography (big surprise there).  If you have looked into photography software (well, photography in general), you know that photography is not a cheap hobby. 

He sent me this link the other day, and I did a download of the 7 day trial.  If you are a beginner and are interested in doing some fun vintage looking post-processing, this program might interest you.  It is extremely simple to use, has quite a few presets for film type, mood, and frames, and... it costs only $30 (which is seriously like a breath of fresh air).  It is not the most amazing thing ever, but for $30, you can have a lot of fun.  Here are some pictures I edited with it.

Architecture

Nature

Portraits

Still-Life

and even Food

Fun, huh?  I haven't purchased it, but am definitely considering it.  Go try it out and play!

Book Giveaway Winner

Thanks for your comments and favorite books.  I loved reading all of them and have added some to my list of books to read.  And many of them are some of my favorites as well.  I love The Alchemist, Pride and Prejudice, and Harry Potter (specifically numbers 3 and 6).  Oh, and yes, Matilda is also on my favorite book list, Jenny.

Okay, the book I'm giving away is...

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

If you haven't read this book, I would definitely recommend it.  It is John Knowles' most popular book, but even still, I don't think it is terribly well-known.  It is popular among my family members though.  When my parents were dating my dad gave my mom a list of books she had to read in order for them to get married.  This one was on that list.  It is also one of my brother's favorites.  And like I said before, Landon loves it as well.

As a man, the narrator visits his old prep school he attended as a teenage boy and tells the story of a terrible event that happened while he was there.  The characters experience a wide range of emotions and feelings, which I think are depicted perfectly.  That is all I'm going to say about it.  I don't want to give too much information.

Okay, on to the winner...

The winner is Annie!

I will get your copy of A Separate Peace to you soon!

St. Patty's

My mom would always make corned beef and potatoes for St. Patrick's Day, served with green milk, of course.  I know it's a traditional meal, but I tend steer clear from it.  I also have somewhat of problem with unnaturally green foods.  I'm okay with green milk (except my mind expects it to taste like mint), but green eggs or green waffles just creep me out.  So if you share my view on St. Patty's Day meals, give these items a try.  Naturally green and healthier than traditional Irish cuisine.

Katherine's Green Drink

Garden Pesto Pasta

Ravioli with Apples & Walnuts (use spinach  and regular ravioli only so it is predominately green)

Arugula Pesto

And for Dessert...

Key Lime Floats

Mint Chocolate Chip Floats

Favorite Books & a Giveaway

The other day I was thinking about some of my all-time favorite books.  Some of these I would like to go back and read again, but there are so many others I need to get to first.

Because I'm in the mood, I want to share one of my favorite books with you.  I guess as a sort of giveaway.  Just for fun.  And just because this book is written fantastically and should be enjoyed.

However, I'm not going to tell you what the book is until I announce the winner.  I know, the suspense will kill you all.  Here are a few clues as to what book it is. 

1. I read it as a sophomore in high school in English and did a group project/presentation with two of my very best friends.
2. Shortly after I met my husband, we discovered that this book was a favorite for both of us.
3. The protagonist is a teenage boy.

To enter, answer the following question in a comment.  If someone referred you to this post, put their name in your comment as well.  I will give the referrer an extra entry.

What is one of your all-time favorite books?

I love getting recommendations and maybe one day I will actually get to read some of them.  That, however, depends on if I ever tackle this beast.  

I'll announce the winner next Friday, so you have until then to enter.

Happy Friday!

Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing

I'm trying to incorporate main dish salads into my weekly meal plans.  I often struggle to get sides on the table, which essentially means the veggies are left out.  I love main courses that incorporate lots of veggies, and obviously, salads do that.  There are so many delicious and satisfying salads out there and I'm excited to find my favorites.  This one was mighty tasty and will become a regular at our house. 

Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing

For the Salad
3 cups napa cabbage, shredded
3 cups baby spinach
1 large carrot, peeled
1 bell pepper, sliced thin
1 cup strawberries, sliced (grapes would be good as well)
1 cup cooked chicken, cubed
1/4 cup cashews, roughly chopped

For the Dressing
3 Tbs. canola oil
2 Tbs. low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbs. rice vinegar
1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated
1/2 tsp. sugar
salt and pepper to taste


Shave the carrot with a vegetable peeler to make long "carrot ribbons."  Prepare chicken in desired way (grill, bake, or use a Rotisserie chicken).  
In a large bowl, toss the cabbage, spinach, bell pepper, carrots, strawberries, chicken, and cashews.
For the dressing, whisk all ingredients until smooth.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  
Toss dressing with the salad, serve, and enjoy!

The Monday Workout

This is a good tip that has benefited  me as well as clients I have worked with.

Never skip your Monday workout.

By doing a workout on Monday, I think it sets your whole week up for success.  It helps me to make exercise and eating well a priority for the whole week.  It is so easy to make excuses not to workout on any day, but I feel like as the week progresses,  more things tend to pop up and often replace a workout.  If you get your Monday workout out of the way, you are one step ahead and can say you got in at least one workout for the week.

With that said... make sure you get your workout in today!

#5. Make Abby a Dress

I bought some fabric yesterday, which is one of my guilty pleasures lately.  I just couldn't pass this one up.

  

I love the colors.  I love the flowers.  I think it will make a stinking cute dress for Abby, which is one of my goals (so I'm justified in buying it, right?).

Abby's birthday falls on Easter this year, so I think it will make a great birthday/Easter dress.  I'm thinking this style will be cute since the fabric is retro inspired.

What do you think?

Also, I have had several people ask me to do a tutorial for my mini wallet.  I'm so flattered and plan to have one up next week.  Thanks for all of the compliments!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Funny Face

I haven't shared my favorite photos in a while because I have been working on transferring a bunch of stuff to our new network hard drive.  My hard drive was basically completely full, so it is taken me a while to get things back into gear.  But I wanted to share this hilarious picture of my baby girl.  This is from her 10 month shoot I did last week.  This face isn't her most flattering look, but she does it all the time and it cracks us up.  I'm glad I have a way to remember it even if it embarrasses her when she's older.  

Good Morning

What did you have for breakfast today?

When I worked as a wellness/fitness counselor my clients were always asking for ideas for healthy meals and snacks that were also easy to prepare.  If you are looking for a healthy breakfast, lunch, snack, or even dessert, this one is great.  It is tasty and sweet, yet full of vitamins, fiber, and protein.  You can do many variations of this but here is what I like to do.

Layer Kashi Go Lean Crunch! cereal, plain yogurt (without added sugar), and berries (fresh or frozen).

That's it.  Easy peasy.

Of course, you could always use granola or any variety of fruit.  Try it out!  I know you will love it.

Orzo Stuffed Peppers

Yesterday, this blog posted a recipe for Orzo Stuffed Peppers.  Their photos almost always make me salivate, and this one was no exception. I had to make it as soon as possible.  I didn't have all the ingredients the recipe called for and I really didn't want to go to the store, so I just did what I could with what I had on hand.  I think they turned out fabulous! 

The point I want to make here is that we often feel like we have to follow recipes exactly as they are written.  You don't.  Especially with general cooking, breads and things like that may be a different story.  Be creative and don't be afraid to add your own flair to a recipe. 

Here is the recipe I ended up doing.  But make sure you check out the inspiration, which I'm sure is amazing as well. 

Orzo Stuffed Peppers

1/2 of a small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
drizzle of olive oil
3 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth)
1 cup orzo pasta
1- 14 oz can of diced tomatoes (Italian style could be good)
3/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, shredded
3 bell peppers (yellow, red, and orange are definitely the prettiest and taste best, but green could be fine)
1/4 cup fresh basil or 1tsp. dried
salt a pepper

Cook the orzo in broth for about 5 minutes or until partially cooked.  It will finish cooking as it bakes.  Save the broth in the baking dish you plan to use for the peppers.
Saute the onion with olive oil and salt and pepper until tender.  Add the garlic and cook for one minute more.  When it is done, add the mixture to bowl.  Add the tomatoes, orzo, cheese and basil and stir to combine.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cut off the tops of the peppers and remove the membranes inside.  Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the pepper so it will stand up on its own (don't cut so much that you make a hole).  Spoon the mixture into the bell peppers so they are very full.  
Place the filled peppers in the baking dish with the broth.  Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  At that time, top them with extra cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until a nice golden crust forms on top.  Enjoy!