2013 Plans/ Oh, baby!

On the day of our 7-years dating anniversary, let me tell you the story about the past 10 months of my married life with John Paul:

From our first year in DC, 3 years into this journey

It's been wonderful.  I cannot be happier for John Paul to be my husband, to share his last name, to finally legitimize Miss Mia.  He is endlessly sweet and, even when we're both having bad days and dinner was a wreck and neither of us wants to man up to take the cute pup out on a walk in the cold, he makes me smile.  We've gotten better and better together over these last 7 years; I honestly thought life couldn't get much better.
On our honeymoon last March, we looked at each other over margaritas and decided we wouldn't make any major decisions for the rest of the year.  The wedding was a pretty big endeavor, and we wanted to take some time to relax and get used to being a married couple.  In 2013, we would tackle the big stuff and come up with a plan for being grown-ups.
Well, in October, JP was completely jaded by his job prospects in DC, and decided to switch things up.  A job offer in project development came up in Atlanta for early March, so he's done a 180 with his career goals.  And we're moving to Georgia next month.  Two decisions made.

That's our new home!

We thought we would probably rent an apartment for a year in the city, to acclimate ourselves with the neighborhoods before settling down in a larger space.  Now, we've officially bought a home.  Like, a grown-up home.  (It's really cute, and I can't wait to see it come together!)  The reason why follows, but, regardless, third decision done. 
The biggest, most exciting, and somewhat unexpected decision we made came to fruition way sooner than we thought it would:

In late July, we're officially going to be parents!  We're calling it 'The Churro.'  I'm sure you'll hear a lot of that name in the coming months!
It was loosely planned, and we are just totally psyched.  I'm currently in my 12th week, and feeling pretty good.  Still running (just not crazy distance- 4 miles top) and doing light weights, just tired a lot (I hear that's normal...).  John Paul has been an absolute saint, and makes me breakfast each morning (egg sandwich and sometimes a smoothie), hasn't said anything about my hot fudge sundae indulgences (we're dangerously close to a Ben&Jerry's; thank goodness we're moving soon), and says I look better than ever.  What more could a woman ask for?
So much for no big decisions in 2012.  We'll have to use 2013 to get our acts together on that one.

Pineapple Fried Rice and Pork Chops or, "Heaven on Earth"

When I invited my Aunt Nesi over for dinner, I knew I would need something special to serve to her.  I went to her house every Wednesday night while I was in my final semester of college, and she made me incredible meals every time, so I definitely wanted to return the favor.  Thankfully, Publix was having a sale on pork chops, and The Pioneer Woman has this incredible recipe for pork chops with lovely and amazing pan sauce, and pineapple fried rice.  And may I say, I am pretty sure I outdid myself with this one, because it was delish!

The ingredients were pretty standard, but I added a few more veggies just to make it a bit more healthy and colorful.  AND, I got to use my brand new cast iron skillet (a Christmas gift from Abbi), which makes everything better!  You will need the following items: pork chops, 1 chopped onion, frozen peas, 1 red pepper, 1 orange pepper, garlic, eggs, soy sauce, honey, Sriracha (or some other hot sauce), and red wine vinegar.

Oh, and rice.  Because this is a recipe for fried rice.  And pineapple.  Because this is pineapple fried rice.

First and foremost, you'll need to cook your rice, and grill your pineapple.  This is about 3/4 of a cored pineapple, sitting on our lovely new grill.  Grill it over high heat until its got nice little grill marks, then remove, cut into chunks, and set aside.  Cook enough rice to make about 2 cups, then put it in a bowl in the fridge.  Apparently, cold rice soaks up the sauce better when it is being fried up--who knew!?  I used brown rice.

Next, sautee your pork chops in 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tbsp. coconut oil.  Leave those little guys alone until they have nice color and a good crust on the first side, then flip the over and do the same on the other side.  Once the pork chops have good color on each side, add the chopped onion to the pan, and get it down in between the cracks of the chops, so that the onion gets caramelized and soft. 

Once the onions are looking a little wilty and delicious, you'll add the sauce ingredients: 6 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar, and as much Sriracha as you'd like.  I think I ended up adding about 1 tbsp., but could definitely have done with more--I like the heat!  Let that all simmer for a little bit, until the sauce thickens, then remove the pork chops, onions, and sauce to a bowl.  Let them rest--they've been through a lot.

WITHOUT CLEANING OUT THE PAN, add about 3 minced cloves of garlic, and 2 eggs to the pan.  Scramble the eggs around quickly, then add your veggies of choice (in our case, the red and orange peppers, and peas).  Let them sautee for about a minute, then add the rice and a couple splashes of soy sauce.  Flip the rice around every so often to help it fry. When you feel like you've got about a minute left, add the pineapple to warm up.

Voila!  Put a big huge mound of the rice on a plate, then top with a pork chop, some onions, and the lovely, lovely pan sauce.

It got the seal of approval from Nesi, and I am secretly ecstatic that I have two pork chops leftover!  Would it be weird to have this for breakfast?  

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

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If this book were a movie, it would be a mad-cap, slightly screwball comedy with a large cast of well-known actors circulating around one main woman: Bernadette.  Maria Semple's novel is told through a series of notes, e-mails, fictitious news articles, and journal entries, making it feel incredibly personal and as though the reader is privy to everyone's dirty secrets and thoughts. 

As the story opens, Bernadette's daughter, Bee, is telling her family that she has received straight As on her report card and would like to be rewarded with a trip to Antarctica.  Bernadette and her husband, Elgin, completely agree that they should take a family trip, and plan the vacation.  Things go downhill from there; Bernadette's allergy to Seattle (where they live) and her neighbors (she calls them 'the gnats') intensifies to a point where she cannot be bothered to leave the house to buy groceries or even call restaurants to make Thanksgiving reservations.  She leaves everything up to an online assistant, who does everything from call in prescriptions for anti-psychotic medications to taking care of passport issues (from 'India').  Bernadette's issues with her neighbors, husband, and even Bee become more and more problematic until one day when she just disappears. 
Where did she go?  And more importantly, who is she really?  Bernadette is a mother and best friend to Bee, an opinionated and slightly damaged partner to her husband, an anxiety-ridden mess to her neighbors, and a design genius to architecture nerds.  Each chapter reveals secrets and clues to the real Bernadette, and the relaxed tone and flexible structure of the book makes the pages fly by. 
I can't recommend thi book enough for a dead-of-winter escape.  I tore through the novel with reckless abandon.

How to Sweat It Out

Believe it or not, I am back!  Sorry I was gone for so long, lovelies, but I had A LOT going on these past couple of weeks: a surprise job transfer for Matt (back home--yippee!), Christmas, packing, moving, unpacking.  Oy.  We are making a lot of progress on our new place, and I will definitely share photos in my end-of-the-week photo extravaganza!

In the meantime, though, I'll share this handy little tutorial on how to make a detox bath.  It seems that every time I stay in a hotel, I get a cold about three days later, and this Christmas was no exception; problem was, I was wrapping up my last days at work and trying to pack up our apartment!  I didn't have time for a cold!  As soon as I started feeling it coming on, I put myself on a strict diet of hot toddies and detox baths, and I honestly think it helped shorten my cold.  Either way, who doesn't like a nice, soothing bath every once in a while?

To make a detox bath, you need basically two ingredients, with a bonus if you're feeling brave.  You will need:

Two parts epsom salts

One part baking soda

About one tablespoon of ground ginger

Now, for a normal size tub, you should start with 2 cups of epsom salts, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of ground ginger.  The ginger is the bonus ingredient, because apparently it has properties that really help to heat up your bodyIf you have a bigger tub, or feel like you really need to sweat something out, you could amp up the measurements.  Fill your tub with the hottest water that you can stand (again, the purpose is to sweat), and add all of your ingredients.  Swirl it around so that it all dissolves, and then get in it!

The goal is to stay in the bath for about 40 minutes, to allow your body to get rid of toxins, and soak up the good minerals in the salt and baking soda.  Read a book, watch a show, light some candles and zen out.  Be sure you hydrate before, during, and after your soak, because your body will definitely feel drained and need that replenishment.

Edamame Dumplings

Do you ever get a new cookbook and, after flipping through the pages, get the urge to stay up for three days straight and make everything?  That's how I felt after receiving my copy of Sara Forte's The Sprouted Kitchen from my wonderful Dad and Karen for Christmas.  The photos are absolutely beautiful, and the recipes full of wholesome, tasty ingredients.  Everything I want in my cookbooks!

These dumplings offer a great way to slow down in the kitchen; the filling doesn't take too long to puree, but putting the dumplings together takes a while.  It's not complicated, just soothing and a bit assembly line-ish, so your mind can wander.  The dish is light and healthy; a perfect recipe for January. Just keep in mind that it doesn't reheat wonderfully, so you may want to halve the ingredients if you're only making it for two.  Also, the steaming process is a bit tricky, at least in my experience.  I found it most effective to cover the pan and cook the dumplings for double the time listed in the cookbook, otherwise the wonton wrappers were too doughy.  

Edamame Dumplings (from The Sprouted Kitchen, Sara Forte, 2012)

4 scallions, white and green parts, coarsely chopped2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1/4 c. fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
2 c. shelled edamame, cooked and drained
2 Tbsp. regular or vegan sour cream
Dash of hot sauce
40 wonton wrappers
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 lemongrass stalk
2 Tbsp. mirin (a rice cooking wine; you should be able to find it with the vinegars and olive oils in your grocery store)
2 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

1. Combine the green onions, sesame oil, basil, edamame, sour cream, and hot sauce in a food processor. Process to a puree.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, place a heaping tablespoonful of the edamame filling in the center of a wonton wrapper.
3. Use your finger to wipe a bit of water around the edge of the wrapper, and place another wonton wrapper on top of the filling and press down along the edges to adhere.  Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
4. To make the broth, warm the veggie broth in a pot over medium-low heat.
5. Pound the lemongrass with the back of a heavy knife to release its oils and discard the tough outer layer.  Mince the inner, pale portion of the bottom of the stalk and add it to the broth along with the mirin and soy sauce.
6. Gently simmer for 10 minutes to combine the flavors.
7. Cover and turn the heat to low to keep warm.
8. Add enough of the broth to a saucepan to cover the bottom, about 1 cup, and add a single layer of dumplings (you will probably need to do this in several batches; I could fit 5 at a time in my pan).
9. Cover and steam over medium-low heat until the wontons are warmed, about 4-5 minutes.
10. To serve, divide the dumplings among four shallow bowls and pour about ½ cup of the remaining broth on top, and garnish with a sprinkle of the toasted sesame seeds and serve hot.

Abbi's Holidays and Life in Photos

Welcome to the first life in photos post of 2013!  Things have been exciting around the Diego household, with a lot of travel and plans being made for the new year.  I'll fill you in on more of the details next Friday, but certainly want to catch you up on our wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as the first week of the year.  

On Christmas day, we had a massive paella, made by JP's uncle.  (That's white asparagus on top; yum!)  Then we all stood in front of it to take pictures, like at prom.  It's a Spanish tradition.

JP got a new remote-controlled airplane, which he and his dad built together.  Look at that wingspan!

We also went bowling!  Strikes for everyone!

 After staying in Atlanta for a week, JP, Mia and I drove to the frozen north of Illinois to spend some time with my mom and Brent.  Still fascinated by snow...

 ...but less fascinated after driving through a snowstorm to get there.  We had to stop twice to scrape ice off our headlights!  JP was a very conscientious, safe driver and we arrived in one piece; I, on the other hand, white-knuckled the dashboard and checked the weather incessantly.

 Mia got her own nook up on the second floor!  She loved watching other dogs and squirrels from this vantage point; what a lucky pup.

This is, sadly, the only picture I have of my mom from the trip!  We had to move their old love seat upstairs in preparation for a new couch, and this massive beanbag acted as the main seat in the meantime.  Let's be honest: it was really comfy!

 I got this adorable cardigan for a Christmas gift, and wore it the first day back at work.  Love those cute sheep!  Thanks, Mom!

 I absolutely love this new cookbook, and have already made three recipes out of it (making another for brunch on Sunday!).  Enjoying it with some caramel tea; two great gifts from people I love.  Thanks, Dad, Karen and JP!

 Last weekend, I decided to prove to JP that I can wear an outfit not consisting of jeans and a chunky sweater.  Zara dress, Anthro cardigan and boots, H&M belt, gifted infinity scarf, Madewell socks, Gap tights.  I was quite warm and toasty, and pretty put-together to boot!

We went to this last Sunday.  So fun!  Summer and Luke were our patient dates, and didn't seem to mind while I danced around to "Three is a Magic Number" and "Conjunction Junction."  They're good people.
Coming up next week: edamame dumplings, a great new fiction review, and an update on the Diego plans for 2013!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

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I'm a bit late to the game with this novella, published in 2007.  Mohsin Hamid has written a compelling story of a Pakistani man, Changez, who came to the US to attend Princeton and became enamored with the merit system set up in the country.  He is offered a high-paying consulting job right out of college, which involves him proving himself on a regular basis, wearing well-tailored suits, and speaking in a British accent so his ethnicity does not scare his clients.  Changez also falls in love with Erica, an emotionally unavailable woman mourning the loss of her childhood sweetheart.  He watches her come undone nearly in front of his eyes, and is powerless to help her. 
Changez is in Manila when the World Trade Center buildings are attacked, and watches the towers crumble on TV with a smile.  Although he has received much from his adoptive country, he cannot help by feel satisfied that America has been 'brought to her knees' by an outsider.  It's a powerful image, this man who cannot fake his frustration at being a constant fringe member of society in the US. 
The story is made all the more interesting by the format in which it is told: Changez is sitting with an unidentified American in a Pakistani sidewalk cafe, telling his story as a monologue without any input from his guest.  This man's purpose in Pakistan is never made clear, but Changez is a gifted conversationalist, and the topics never feel stilted.
As much as we call ourselves a 'melting pot,' this book feels especially resonant today with the DREAM Act and constant discussion of immigrant rights in our country.  I can see why a number of colleges and universities are using this book for freshman reading lists, as it is bound to bring up some great discussion.  As soon as I finished my copy, I called up Grandma in North Carolina (my steadfast book recommender) to figure out the ending.  At less than 250 pages, you can get through this in a day and leave the afternoon for devouring reviews and articles about it online.

Whole Wheat Honey and Goat Cheese Biscuits

Happy 2013, lovelies!  I hope you're off to a wonderful start this year.  As you may have heard, by other half on this blog will be on a bit of a hiatus for the next couple of weeks while she organizes her new life in South Florida with her handsome fiancee and sweet Layla.  We'll miss her, but I'll do my best to keep you occupied with my usual three posts a week.  Good luck with you new home, Haley; we can't wait to see pictures of it!
Now, let's start things on the right foot, shall we?

Try baking up some of these whole wheat honey and goat cheese biscuits from Joy the Baker.  There is actually only a small amount of butter in them (only 1/2 stick), whole wheat flour (none of that refined nonsense), and honey for sweetness (get out of here, white sugar!).  Indulge a bit without feeling like you're completely back to square one with your resolution to exercise more and eat healthy.

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 c. (1/2 half stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into cubes, plus more for the pan

4 Tbsp. crumbled goat cheese

1 c. buttermilk, cold

2 Tbsp. honey, plus more for topping

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven as it preheats.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With your fingers, quickly incorporate the cold butter and goat cheese until the flour resembled coarse meal. Some of the butter and cheese chunks will be the size of small pebbles, others will be the size of oat flakes. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
3. Whisk together buttermilk and honey. Honey may not completely blend into the buttermilk; that’s okay. Pour the buttermilk into the well of the flour mixture. Use a fork to blend together the wet and dry ingredients. Mix until all of the flour is incorporated and no dry flour remains. Set aside.
4. Remove the hot skillfrom the oven and add 1 tablespoon butter. Swirl the butter around the bottom and sides of the pan until butter is melted and pan is coated.
5. Spoon batter by the 1/4 cupful into the hot skillet. About 6 biscuits will fit into the 10-inch skillet. Biscuits should have about an inch of room separating them, but will bake up to touch one another. That’s great!
6. Place in the oven to bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until golden and tops appear dry and slightly firm. Remove from the oven. Let rest for 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. For a glossy finish, brush the biscuits with slightly warm honey. These biscuits are best served imediately, but will last for up to 3 days, well wrapped, and at room temperature.

Haley's Life in Photos

 It was a little chilly the other morning, so I had mocha coffee with a homemade peppermint marshmallow (from the Farmer's Market) first thing at work.  Nothing like a sugar overdose to get your day going!

I got my nails done for the holiday season!  This glittery nail polish is called "La Rosa Romantica", and it is like a disco ball that I can take with me!  I am just wild over it.  Also, the nail place that we went to  gives you a glass of wine when you get a manicure or pedicure; just what I needed after a long day at work!

 I've been trying to work more on my yoga, and this particular pose is called "Side Crane Pose" (I think).  The problem is, however, that Layla likes to get involved and try to knock me off balance...that sneaky pup.

I helped my friend Noelle make Christmas bags, because she was complaining about wrapping all of her gifts.  How cute is the fabric she chose!?

And I finally finished ALL of my shopping and wrapping of presents!  The sewing machine that I got for Christmas last year (thanks, Mommi!) is worth its weight in gold!

I'm rocking a pompadour at work today.  I figure if it actually IS the end of the world today, at least I'll go out in style!

High of 57 today, and "abundant sunshine"; the perfect kind of weather!  I'm very lucky to have a window at my desk, and this is what I get to see while I'm working!

Wishing all of you lovely, amazing readers a happy, healthy, and exciting holiday season!  We cannot wait to be back with more fun after the first of the year! 

Abbi's Week in Photos

We went to Zoo Lights over the weekend; if you're in DC, you should hit it up!  We had fun, and it was packed on a Saturday night.  Most of the zoo buildings are open, so you can see things like...

...a porcupine eating a banana.  It's pretty cute.

 Crepes crepes crepes.  I'm a pro now.

Mia got some yogurt leftovers- happy camper!

This was the first year JP gave the okay to mail personalized Christmas cards!  Some of you should keep your eye on the mail...

TLP is closing up shop until the first full week of January.  All this crafting and cooking is exhausting us!  Sending you the very best wishes for a wonderful, restful, fun Christmas and New Year's Eve!  xo