Chocolate-Covered Katie Cookies

Chocolate-Covered Katie's Double Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies are the best cookies I have ever had. Seriously. I am posting the recipe and some helpful tips so you can enjoy some, too. Mine didn't turn out very photogenic since I used dark cocoa powder. It makes for chocolatey goodness, but my desserts look like dirt!

One thing I love about this recipe is how flexible it is. You can substitute based on your personal preferences, dietary needs, or the contents of your pantry. I used whole wheat flour, dark cocoa powder, regular sugar, and coconut oil. I thought the milk was definitely needed, and the next time I bake these I am going to try adding an egg white so the dough binds a little better. Although, no egg means you can eat as much raw cookie dough as you want...

It is a very crumbly dough, so you need to be patient while shaping your cookies. I had 21 two-bite cookies in one batch. They were super decadent, so I think the small size worked well. My brownie cookies were a little delicate for the first day or so. Not quite crumbly, but the lack of liquids in the batter left them fragile. However, these tasty treats have improved with age. The coconut oil has kept the cookies from drying out and made them even more moist and sturdy. If you plan on sharing these cookies with other people, you should double the recipe and hide some for yourself. These will go fast! Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about making these at home. Successful substitutions are appreciated as well. Happy baking!

Sarah

Crocheted Headband

Here is one of my homemade Christmas presents! This crocheted headband is simple enough for beginners (me) to make and can be altered for different stitches or yarns. I chose to half double crochet in a bright teal color that is a Simply Soft Caron yarn. I have been drooling over their yarns for weeks, and this project finally gave me an excuse to buy a skein. Plus, I still have tons of leftover yarn to use for future projects. 

I decided that 5 stitches across was the width I wanted for my accessory. I made almost enough rows to complete the headband and then I cut a small piece of elastic and tied it to both ends of the band. I used hot glue to lay the ends flat. The flower was made from a package of felt pieces and a button. This was a free style project, but if you would like more specific measurements or details, please let me know!

*I think smaller elastic would have worked just as well, but I wanted to make sure this was extra secure. Also, no one will see those two inches that are not as attractive.

Tri-Bead Candy Cane Ornaments

These festive candy canes add instant cheer to your holiday decor and couldn't be easier to make!

You will need:
-red, white, and green tri-beads (look for these in the kid's crafting section)
-red, white, or green pipe cleaners
-scissors

Directions:
1. Select your pipe cleaner and fold the tip of one end upwards so your beads don't fall off. Tweezers make this job even easier and allow you to leave the smallest amount of pipe cleaner exposed.
2. Start stringing beads onto the pipe cleaner. I thought alternating red and white or green and white looked the best, but feel free to play around with other combinations and colors.
3. When you have about 4 inches left without beads, gently bend the pipe cleaner to create your candy cane shape. This will help you determine how many more beads you want to add.
4. When you feel like you have the right amount of beads, snip off the unused end of your pipe cleaner. Save about half and inch to fold over and secure your project.

Greek Yogurt Spinach Dip

This week I decided to make spinach dip for book club, so I took to the Internet in search of the perfect recipe. This proved to be a bit difficult. The recipes I found were either too involved or unhealthy. If I am making a snack with spinach, I would like to assume it's fairly healthy so I can munch away guilt-free. I decided to go out on a limb and make last minute deletions and a mayonnaise substitution before the meeting, and it was a hit! I don't think this easy appetizer was missing any flavor.

Simple Spinach Dip:

1 package Knorr vegetable recipe mix
10 oz frozen spinach- cooked, cooled, and drained
16 oz container of fat free, plain Greek yogurt (Chobani is loaded with protein)
8 oz light sour cream

Directions:

Microwave frozen spinach and let cool. Once cooled, squeeze out as much of the extra liquid as possible. Then stir together the vegetable mix, Greek yogurt, sour cream, and spinach. Serve with pretzels, pita triangles, or veggies.

Thanksgiving Take Two

Work kept my husband and I up North for Thanksgiving this year, and we spent our very first holiday away from home. At first we were pretty bummed, but a friend from school invited us over to his family dinner. So on Turkey Day we went to his place for a delicious meal and some excellent travel-themed conversation. The grandparents are taking a cruise to Antarctica! We both had a great time, but a disappointing realization set in the next day... There were no leftovers. One of the most exciting things about Thanksgiving is wandering into the kitchen for the next few days and having an abundance of starchy leftovers to choose from. We decided this gross oversight on our part had to be corrected.

The solution is a mid-week Thanksgiving dinner in December. We will be having barbeque pulled pork (because turkey is overrated and I miss bbq), macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, salad with oil and vinegar, rolls, and pumpkin fluff to top off the evening. Now since this is the middle of the week and I have a small kitchen, I will not be trying any complicated recipes. I will be keeping it simple so my husband and I can enjoy our comfort foods with minimal stress.

Sarah

The recipe for Green Bean Casserole on the back of the French's onion container is easy to make and tastes great. It is my husband's favorite. I'm not sure why we only make it once a year!

R & R Taqueria

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Back when I lived at home and had cable, I was lucky enough to catch the occasional program on the Food Network when my sister didn't have control of the TV. How I envied Guy Fieri driving around and visiting all those funky restaurants while enjoying a backstage pass to amazing food. Over the weekend my husband and I decided to take a drive and track down a dive in Elkridge, Maryland called R & R Taqueria. The authentic Mexican food is served up inside a Shell gas station.

At first I thought R & R was going to be a small adjoining structure. I've seen a few gas station/restaurant combos during road trips, but I've never encountered anything quite like this. We drove right past the restaurant and had to turn around! A ledge with bar stools sits beneath each of the windows in the picture above, and a wall of plexiglass separates the restaurant from the gas station's store. The small kitchen is open so you can watch your food being prepared while you perch on a stool.

What this restaurant might lack in ambiance, it makes up for in flavor. We each ordered huaraches and left feeling elated and stuffed. Both tortillas were topped with huge chunks of Oaxaca cheese (yum!) and generous portions of meat. The chili sauce that came with my huarache was out of this world. I highly recommend R & R Taqueria to anyone who is in search of exceptional Mexican food and a little adventure.

PS: I have a new goal to track down all the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in close proximity, so look out for upcoming food posts!

Sarah

Juggling Jobs

So during the times when I am not making food or going on a weekend excursion, I am usually at work. As I have gotten adjusted to the new area, my work schedule has evolved, and I am pretty happy with how it has turned out.

My main title is Reading and Writing Teacher at an after-school learning center. I love what I do here. Children come in excited to read new books, and I function as an editor and writing instructor for kids of all ages. These students may be behind, on par, or ahead of their grade level, but they all want to learn and improve so it makes for a great atmosphere. Recently my center decided to add some weekend workshops on topics we usually don't have time to cover, and I have been placed in charge of creating and leading a series of creative writing workshops. It is a joy and a challenge!

SAT tutor is another one of my titles. When I first moved I taught a class 2 nights a week, way far away, and at late hours. It was good experience working in front of a classroom, but the schedule was not the greatest. A problem with teaching courses like these is that low enrollment can cause a course cancellation a few days before you are set to start teaching. For that reason I have stepped back from that a little and remain available to proctor the occasional weekend practice test or substitute for another tutor.

The lack of SAT time left an opening for something else in my life, so I decided to look in to volunteering. I looked online and found Volunteer Match, a website that lead me to Reading Partners. This organization works with children who are reading below grade level and through a structured curriculum helps students gain reading confidence and competency. I am pleased to have found this program where I can learn firsthand how children acquire reading skills while making a huge difference in individual lives. Sometimes a system can seem hopeless, but helping just a few and seeing change on an individual level brings me hope for a better future. I know I sound sappy, but I have found my passion in promoting literacy.

I just thought I would share a little with everyone about the other activities going on in my life. At some point I may post a few writing exercises for kids that I have developed at my primary job, and now you'll know where they are coming from! I hope all is well in your life, and I encourage you to find a cause you are passionate about.

Sarah

National Gallery of Art

Sometimes I get so bogged down by the humdrum rhythm of everyday life that I forget I live in such a cool city. This weekend my wonderful husband and I hopped onto the metro and zipped over to the Judiciary Square stop so we could take in some culture at the art museum.

There is a really cool Byzantine art exhibit (free!) at the gallery until the beginning of March 2014. Amazingly old and well-preserved mosaics, manuscripts, religious icons, paintings, frescoes, etc. fill the exhibit and are accompanied by information on their specific history and the time period as a whole. Another cool feature I noticed while walking through was a few thick reference books laying on benches for visitors to peruse. A movie in one of the rooms displays Byzantine art that is still standing thousands of miles away. If you hear music, walk towards it to get to the video. No photographs are allowed here since this exhibit is on loan to the museum, but you could pick up a commemorative gift or postcard for yourself at the shop near the exit. If you are in the area, it is well worth the trip!

I can't report on the whole museum just yet since we only made it through a portion of it today, but the permanent collection we saw on the main floor of the West Building was incredible! My art history text book was up on the walls. In person! We saw Impressionist paintings galore. I can't even list them all, but the lady at the information desk informed me that I could plan my next trip online, so here is the link for that. You can search through the museum for artists and individual works all from the comfort of your home. However, the museum also has many comfy couches so you can plop down and marvel at each painting as you move from one room to the next.

The building itself is as amazing as the paintings housed in it and movies, jazz concerts, lectures, tours, and family events offer year-round entertainment. More details later! It is time for bed. This week I start my two new volunteer positions to improve literacy and spread the joy of books. : )

Sarah

Harpers Ferry Hiking

Last weekend my husband and I loaded up the car with our hiking gear and drove to West Virginia! It felt so nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of D.C. especially since we only had to spend an hour in the car getting there. Upon arriving at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, we learned that there was free entry for all to celebrate Veteran's Day. Normally it is $10 per car or $5 for individuals who enter on bike or foot.

The visitor center is small but has some very helpful rangers who are willing to guide you in the right direction. They also have stamps for your parks passport. If you plan on hiking, make sure you ask for a more detailed trail map. You might notice that this park is very spread out, but there are free shuttle buses that will take you from the visitor center to town. The buses were pristine and ran frequently.We were told 10-15 minutes, but when we were heading out around noon, the buses kept coming every 5 minutes.You can walk back to the visitor center from town. It is about 2 miles, and keep in mind the sun sets much earlier now! Also, know that there is more than one visitor center within walking distance. If you see the sign while at Jefferson Rock, that is the Appalachian Trail visitor center that is .7 miles away and not the National Park visitor center. We had no idea until we got right below it; fortunately, a nice lady walking her dog came by and was able to point us in the right direction. (Keep going on the trail and take the left at the fork in the trail and head down the hill. Then you will be back on the road with signs to guide your way.)

Our big hike of the day was the Maryland Heights Trail. This is one of the more strenuous trails offered at Harpers Ferry, but the view is so worth it. The hiking itself wasn't too difficult (unlike the Billy Goat Trail) it just involved a whole lot of up. Those were some steep inclines that did not let up. My husband likes to "get in a workout" on the first half of a hike. I felt like I was going to die as we trekked past everyone. (I survived!) If you take your time though, you should have no problem. There is a stunning overlook at the top where you can see picturesque Harpers Ferry sitting on the river below. The train passed by right when we got up there and topped off the whole experience. I will avoid describing too much and just show some pictures. It is very windy at the top! If you hike this during the fall/winter, you will definitely want a jacket.

There is plenty to explore in town as well. If you are hungry after a day of hiking, Lower Town offers a lot of sandwich/salad type restaurants and tons of ice cream shops. The architect in your group will enjoy the well-preserved buildings, and shoppers will be delighted with the assortment of stores including handmade and local items. We wandered into a "historic candy shop" that dates back candy favorites and their histories to the 1700s. The woman who owns this store will gladly talk to you about the fascinating history of candy, and the best part is you can take some home. Museums are set up in several of the historic buildings around town so you can step inside and learn more about this town's Civil War past. Did you know Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark) stopped through town to get his gear for their famous expedition? There is a cemetery that dates back to the 1800s nearby Jefferson Rock. If you walk a little further down the trail after taking in the view, you will notice some stone steps off to your right. Those lead up to the cemetery; there is a plaque at the top to give you more information about its history. One thing I really enjoyed about this trip was the history lesson. Signs and exhibits all over Harpers Ferry illustrated the town's past in an interesting and engaging way. This is a well-rounded family outing!

Infinity Scarf for Beginning Crochet

Finished Product!! I love the color so much and this scarf keeps me toasty. The large hook makes this a quick project, too!
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I know. I know. I haven't finished the last scarf, but I have learned an important lesson. Make that two.

1. Always buy 2 skeins of yarn if you have a scarf in mind. The beautiful variegated yarn I used for my scarf was purchased well over a year ago- before I even started crocheting. The colors jumped out at me and made me want to learn, so I took 1 skein of yarn home with me. When I finally started working on my project, I didn't even consider the possibility that my yarn might be out of stock. It had always been at the craft store which brings me to lesson number two.

2. If you don't buy enough yarn to finish your project, at least save the wrapper that came with the yarn. All the information you need to track it down is on that piece of paper. These wrappers can easily get lost or discarded over time because, frankly, they are annoying. It's like trying to keep up with your receipts: a fabulous idea until  you find bits of paper everywhere you look and want to burn them all. Maybe that's just me...

I would suggest finding a way to stash all of your yarn wrappings in a safe and contained location. A decorative box or project binder might work well. Then, if an emergency yarn situation should occur, you could take to the internet with all the information you need to track your yarn to a hoarder on ravelry who might be willing to haggle with you. The search for my yarn will continue, but in the meantime, I am itching to start and finish a scarf.

This wonderfully informative video walks you through an infinity scarf project step by step. Plus, this pattern calls for super bulky yarn and a large look, so the whole project can be completed in just a few hours. Yes! I am using Wool-Ease Chunky yarn by Lion Brand Yarn in a gorgeous spice color.

Easy Beef Stew with Barley

That's right. Barley. How often do you get to cook with barley? I can say it was a first for me. I was feeling pretty legit until I couldn't find the barley after scouring the supermarket. Any guesses on where it was hiding? It was in the Hispanic foods aisle (Goya brand). So, be patient and thorough in your search, or just ask a friendly staff member where this particular grain is stashed in your grocery store.

This recipe is in either from my Crock-Pot or Betty Crocker cookbook. I need to make an easy reference chart with all my favorite recipes and the books they are in. Is this a problem for anyone else? Fortunately, I've memorized this recipe now and eliminated the problem of finding it each time.

P.S. This meal goes great with a loaf of freshly baked bread.

Beef & Barley Stew

Ingredients:

-2 pounds of beef stew meat
-2 cans of diced tomatoes
-1 8oz can of tomato sauce
-2 cans (or 3 cups) of beef broth
-1 1/2 cups of water
-2/3 cup barley
-1 diced onion
-1 cup frozen green beans (we added a whole bag and it turned out great)
-1 cup frozen corn
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
-1/4 tsp pepper
-optional: serve with freshly grated Parmesan on top

Directions:
(There are several ways to cook this meal and each number below presents a different option.)

1. Dice onion, open cans and packages, and throw everything into the crock-pot at once. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. This method works well if you are going to be gone all day. Some of the barley will probably get stuck to the bottom if you are not home to stir. We didn't find that this affected taste or anything. Just try not to scrape the bottom of the crock-pot when you serve up stew. 

2. Put the beef in the crock-pot with all of the liquid ingredients and seasonings. Cook on high for an hour or two. Then add vegetables and barley and turn heat to low. Serve stew when beef and barley are cooked through. If you woke up late on the weekend and are trying to make sure your dinner is ready on time, this works well. You shave at least an hour or two off of your cook time.

3. This is a Crock-Pot recipe, but you could easily modify this for the stove top by cooking the beef and barley separately and then adding them to a large stock pot with everything else to simmer.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It had become a new fall favorite around here. 

Pumpkin Fluff

This is my obligatory pumpkin post for pumpkin season; however, I am pleased to report that this is now one of my absolute favorite chocolate-free desserts. I am so glad my friend brought this dish over for book club and introduced me to a new fall standard!

Pumpkin Fluff

Ingredients:

- 1 tub of Cool Whip
- 1 can of pumpkin puree
- cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 1 box of cinnamon graham crackers

Directions:

Stir together as much Cool Whip and pumpkin as desired. Sprinkle on cinnamon. Serve with graham crackers. Voila! This recipe works best if you taste as you go. It really is this simple. 

Fun Writing Aids

In the spirit of National Novel Writing Month, here are some fun ideas and websites that can aid you in your writing!

1. When you can't figure out just the right word for your sentence, type elephant (or another word that will stand out) and carry on. After completing your piece or reaching a good stopping point, you can search through your document and find each elephant and replace with a more appropriate word. I am excited to try this in my own writing. It will save time and allow me to use the best descriptors possible.

2. If you have a serious procrastination problem and need a new form of motivation, check out Write or Die. This worked surprisingly well for me. I wrote about 350 word in a little over 5 minutes. I felt the same urgency to write as I do the night before a paper is due because I didn't want any of my work to be deleted. If you enjoy editing, but have troubles writing something in the first place, this might be the perfect tool for you!

3. This site seems especially cool for kids who want to craft an interactive choose your own adventure story or creative writers looking to explore multiple plot lines. I haven't done too much with this site yet, but I did come up with a silly intro that would work really well for a children's story/ picture book.

 I will continue to post more cool things as I find them. I hope you try out something new and have fun writing!

Sarah

NaNoWriMo 2013

Is anyone else gearing up for National Novel Writing Month? For the past few years I have been telling myself, "Oh, I will definitely sign up for that next November." Mhmm. I am pleased to say that I have finally made an account and plan on trying the 50,000 word challenge starting this Friday! I am toying with a few potential story ideas and am interested to see which one I will run with. Wish me luck. : ) Hopefully, having to write a consistent amount each day will help me break down my deeply entrenched habit of procrastination.

Sarah

Back from Vacation and Wedding Celebrations

What a wonderful time we had in Alabama! My husband and I were married in D.C. at the end of August and went home for fall break to celebrate with our families and friends. The two receptions were much more enjoyable for us than a large, blowout wedding would have been. Since our families live in the same state but several hours away, we used our extended vacation to have a party and some quality family time at each end of the state. This eliminated a long drive time for most of our guests and gave both sides of the family a chance to enjoy a party without worrying about hosting. I am busy filling out a stack of thank you cards now; my kitchen is full of wonderful new gadgets!

My suggestions for other brides:

• At your wedding reception have someone prepare a box of food for you and stash it for later. You probably won't have time to eat until everyone goes home. 
• If you don't want to spend a ton of money on your wedding dress, get creative. Look at stores that aren't specifically wedding stores. I found my dress at Macy's for under $200.
• Order invitations online to cut costs, and look/wait for sales before you purchase. I saw a link on Facebook at the last minute and saved 70% on the cost of my invitations. They turned out beautifully.
• Stay away from Pinterest. Unless you have an endless wedding budget, all those gorgeous pictures are filling your head with unnecessary ideas. Your wedding day will be special no matter what your cake toppers and decorations look like. The important things cannot be bought or made or bedazzled. 

I might add on to this list later, but the best thing we did was elope. That made the day truly our own and we didn't have to worry about anything else.

MIA- Food Posts

I will be back to blogging on a regular basis soon. My husband and I are on a 10 day vacation to celebrate our marriage with family and friends back home.In the meantime, here are two great recipes I've been making lately.

Parmesan & Spinach Orzo: a great side!

Thai Drunken Noodles: super spicy

Enjoy!

Sarah

Weekly Meal Planning

This is a short post to share my weekly meal planning method with you in case your kitchen or fridge needs more organization.

On Saturday or Sunday I sit down with my sweetie and discuss food for the upcoming week since the weekend is the best time for us to go shopping. I scroll through Pinterest, flip through cookbooks, and rack my brain for tasty recipes that are healthy and/or easy to prepare and am aided by some helpful input from my husband. We then order our dinners according to who will be home what evenings and can cook what. The most important part of this plan is that we stick with the schedule once it is set in place. There is usually a built in day for leftovers, so if changes arise, we can push things up or back a day, but overall we make everything we plan to cook that week.

This has worked really well for our schedules and has helped us use all the fresh food we buy. I hate throwing away food because I forgot about it or never got around to making anything with it. The index card on the fridge helps keep us organized and well-fed. At the end of the week, I take it down and replace it with a new menu card. I have a designated drawer where I am stashing all the old note cards, so we can review those for recipes we enjoyed and would like to make again.

Let me know your meal-planning strategies!

Sarah

Scarf 101 (Crochet)

I finally started work on a scarf. Over the past few months, I have mastered crocheted potholders and dishtowels but have been hesitant to graduate to scarves. Through ravelry (an online community for knitters and crocheters) I found the easiest pattern possible and have begun my preparations for fall!

I love these colors, and this yarn is so soft.

This scarf is a little different because you chain stitch the length of the scarf and add on rows to create width instead of the other way around where you build on length. For some reason I found this concept less frightening. Another plus about this pattern is you really don't have to count/measure stitches. I made an incredibly long chain stitch and began counting to see if I had reached my 120 stitch mark. When I got to 40, I said screw it. I carefully examined my strand of yarn and decided it was scarf length, so I turned it around and began single crocheting in each stitch. In this pattern you can build on tassels/fringe while you crochet, but I decided to add those at the end. I am taking the most lackadaisical approach to this scarf as possible to trick my brain into completing this project. Follow-through is my biggest craft obstacle to overcome, but I am working at it. :)

Here is my progress so far:

Billy Goat Trail A

perfect weather for hiking

What a fun day! This hike is what my husband and I were looking for on our first trip to Great Falls National Park. At the time, we had no idea that there were two separate entrances- one on each side of the Potomac. This entrance (on the Maryland side) did not have a line of cars when we showed up in the middle of the day, although many people were out enjoying the park. If you are in the military, you are eligible for an annual park pass which covers admission and parking (for free).

The visitor center is housed in an old tavern and has several different maps and stamps for your National Parks Passport. Other neat things at this location include: an $8 boat ride down the canal, free bicycle borrowing at the park, access to a loooong walking trail along the canal, scenic overlooks, a food hut, and decent restrooms. *This is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park but is referred to as Great Falls.

Boat rides on the canal are offered 3 times a day.

To get to the Billy Goat Trail cross over the bridge at the visitor center and walk along the canal until you see a white covered bridge. Entrance A to the trail is off to your right (before you cross under the bridge). The start of this trail is similar to the River Trail I described from our previous trip. You have to maneuver around rocks on the trail and hop over some, but it is no big deal. When you get further in, everything changes. The rocks become huge and you have no choice but to climb up onto them, jumping and scrambling from one boulder to the next. I must say, I have never felt more like a mountain goat in my life. This trail is aptly named. Be sure you bring plenty of water. Once you get into a rhythm and begin conquering boulders it is easy to forget about time and how hard your body is working.

There are 3 separate trails of varying difficulty.

There are tons of places where you can take a break to enjoy the view or refuel. One smart couple brought a blanket and had a picnic on one of the rocks. If you are unsure about continuing, you can always turn around or take the exit trail that is further in. There is a 40 foot climb up a rock wall (not pictured here) that you have to make in order to continue on the trail. It seems intimidating, but there are plenty of places to grab onto, and it is at an incline so you are not climbing straight up.

The arms on the far right give you an idea of where the "trail" is. 

This is a very popular hike in the D.C. area, so it is crowded on weekends. If you are looking for a quiet walk through nature, this is not the trip for you; although, I would imagine it is much less crowded during the week. If you have a fear of heights, poor balance, or limited mobility, you should carefully assess the risks and decide whether or not you are up for this trek. That being said, this is an absolutely gorgeous hike that leads through the woods, along the river, over rocky cliffs, and by the beach.

We found some extra rocks to climb.

So many people have recommended this trail to us, and now I know why. It is challenging, fun, and exhilarating. The only time I tripped over anything was when we were walking back on the flat ground. Go figure. I was a little apprehensive about this hike/climb, but I had a great time and would love to visit again!

Crayon Art

I think it's safe to say that any Pinterest user who has checked out the craft boards has seen Crayola canvas art at one point of another. And while the rainbow of streaming wax down the canvas does look pretty awesome, this approach allows for more a little more creativity and you can use your crayons again! And if you mess up, you can easily cover that section with another color.


What you'll need:
-hairdryer
-box of crayons
-canvas paper 
-some newspaper

What to do:

1. First, cover your work station with newspaper for easy cleanup. Melted wax is pretty easy to clean off a table. It is probably not as easy to get out of carpet, so be careful where you point that hairdryer!

2. Next, select the colors you would like to use. They can blend together or contrast; it is all up to you! I went with a "water" theme.

3. Lay out your canvas paper and set your crayons nearby. You are ready to begin. This canvas paper cost $3-4 at Hobby Lobby for 10 pages. If you mess up, you can easily tear out another page and start again. It will take a little bit of practice to see how your hairdryer moves the melted wax, so start low to the page at a slightly tilted angle (using low speed). I think it is the straight on approach that causes the splatter effect.

What works best is unwrapping part of your crayon, placing the tip of it on the canvas paper and pointing the hairdryer at that end. When it starts to melt move the tip of your crayon around creating a small puddle of melted wax. Then use the hairdryer to blow that across the page. When you get into your grove, you can make several puddles at once all over the canvas to speed things along and minimize the time you spend holding onto a hot crayon.

4. Have fun! This is such a neat project, and everyone's work turns out differently. The canvas paper is also easy to frame and can make some interesting abstract art if your walls are in need of accent pieces. Experiment and see just what your crayons can do!
 

~Sarah

Easy Pesto Pasta

I am a fan of easy, healthy dinners especially when everything fits in one bowl. This pasta dish tastes amazing and is so simple to throw together. It hardly counts as a recipe, but we'll pretend it's one anyway.

Easy Pesto Pasta with Vegetables

Ingredients:

olive oil
2 packets of Knorr pesto sauce
1 box of noodles, your choice
1-2 squash
1-2 zucchini
frozen broccoli florets
*chicken breasts (optional)
Parmesan and/or Feta cheese to top

I <3 Cheese

Directions:

1. Prepare chicken if desired. We like buying the thin sliced breasts and cooking them on the George Foreman Grill. Boil noodles. Start cooking pesto sauce according to packet directions (basically, whisk with olive oil).

2. Quarter squash and zucchini and cut into slices. In a large stock pot (if you want to conserve dishes) or deep pan, pour 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil and saute veggies. Microwave frozen broccoli florets and add to the pot. Vegetable amounts vary based on individual preferences, so add as much as you would like.

3. When chicken is cooked, cut into bite-sized pieces and add to veggie mixture. Drain noodles when they finish and add to large stockpot as well. Lastly, pour pesto sauce over everything and toss thoroughly.

4. Serve and top with Feta or Parmesan cheese.

Santa Fe Soup

The season of soup, sweaters, and scarves is upon us.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. It has all the best holidays and there is a cozy feeling in the air. I also get to wear my most stylish outfits when it's cool out. Bonus: the same clothes work for winter- just with more layers. This year I am actually going to read the pin I saved on how to tie scarves. Switching gears, this recipe is great for fall dinners. It makes a lot of leftovers and is a delicious vegetarian meal option.

Santa Fe Soup

Ingredients:
1 large onion
(optional 1 lb ground beef)
1 can of black beans
1 can of pinto beans
1 can of kidney beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can green chiles
1 can corn (or 1+ cup frozen)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch mix
3 cups water

Toppings:
shredded cheese
tortilla chips
sour cream
green onions

Directions:
1. Dice one large onion and saute in a tall stockpot (cook ground beef with onion if desired).
2. Open black, pinto, and kidney beans. Rinse beans before adding to pot. Add tomatoes, green chiles, corn, and 3 cups of water. Stir mixture and add in taco seasoning and ranch mix. 
3. Bring soup to a boil and then simmer on low for up to two hours.
4. Garnish with shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, sour cream, and green onions.

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

Potato Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

This evening I was craving something starchy and delicious to go with steak. Scrolling through my Pinterest for some inspiration, I saw cheesy goodness that was baked in a casserole dish. Perfect! Upon reading, I realized this recipe would be easy to whip together and also used the remaining spaghetti squash I had on hand. I love it when things work out.

Here is the original recipe.


Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash (bigger squash will give you more to work with)
2 Tbsps olive oil
1 small onion, diced fine
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsps red pepper flakes
1 tsp thyme (calls for fresh, but dry turned out fine)
1/2 cup sour cream (you can use a little less)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp = amazing) 

Directions: 

1. You can start the spaghetti squash cooking a few hours earlier in the Crock-Pot, or if you can find a dish that fits in the microwave, try out this awesome method by Dandy Dishes. "Cut the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds.  Place in a covered dish with a ¼ inch of water and microwave for 10 -12 minutes."

2. Saute onions with red pepper flakes, thyme, and olive oil. Add garlic towards the end when onions look translucent.

3. Scrape spaghetti strands into baking dish. Add in onion mixture, sour cream, and some cheese. Save a little of your shredded cheese to go on top of the squash. 

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-20 minutes. Go with the longer time if you are after a golden brown bubbly crust. If you just want to start eating, 12 is good. : )

Note: If you are clumsy in the kitchen and have problems handling knives, I would strongly recommend cooking the squash in the Crock-Pot. The microwave method worked really well, but it is difficult to cut the squash in half when it is uncooked. After a frightening attempt or two, I delegated that task.   

Also, If you want to mix all your ingredients in the serving dish to prevent dirtying extra dishes, remember to wipe around the edges of the baking dish with a paper towel when you have finished stirring. This is a simple step that helps with presentation.

Lemon Orzo with Asparagus and Tomatoes

**Since this original recipe is so well-written, I am just going to post here and add some tips.

Lemon Orzo Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes
12 oz. orzo
1 bunch fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 lemon, zested and juiced
4 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbs. fresh parsley, minced
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Bring 2 large pots of water to boil.  Add a big pinch of salt in each.
To one pot, add asparagus and blanch, about 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus.  Place blanched asparagus in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep them green.
To the second pot, add the orzo.  Cook per package instructions.  When tender, drain and place in a large bowl.  Add blanched asparagus and tomato halves.
Mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.  

Stir into orzo and vegetables.  Stir in parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.
  

Thanks to A Big Mouthful! This has become one of my favorite side dishes. It is so colorful and easy to bring to events since it can be served at room temperature; it also tastes the best this way. If you are standing by the fridge with a fork in hand, the orzo tastes good then, too. The flavors are not quite right when this is warm. The strong lemon flavor seems to settle after you put this dish in the fridge, so if you taste it when you finish mixing everything together and are overpowered by lemon, perfect! That is just the right amount, and the orzo will taste amazing when you serve it later.

I just realized this recipe calls for parsley. I never noticed it was missing. Feta cheese makes a nice addition and so does chicken if you would like to bump this up to dinner status. Enjoy!

Kayaking on the Potomac

This weekend my husband and I went back to the Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove and rented a kayak for two! We stumbled upon this gem a few weeks ago while walking the Capital Crescent Trail, and I am so glad we returned. Getting into the place is a bit of a challenge since the driveway is an impossibly sharp turn off a busy highway. Hope you are coming towards the driveway head-on, and if you are not, it might be worth it to drive a few extra miles and turn around for a better angle of entrance.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Once you tackle that challenge, you are in the clear! Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and revel in the sunshine. There are some really clean bathrooms by the parking lot, so that's a plus. The Abner Cloud House is also right there (built in 1801). This area is part of a large National Park. For those of you collecting stamps, there is not a stamp at this particular location. Great Falls National Park in Virginia has several different stamps for sites in the nearby area. Cross over the canal bridge to get to the boat rentals, or follow the driveway down to get to the parking lot on the other side. There are several picnic tables and even some grills in the area. Keep in mind this is a trash-free park, so you will need to carry out all the food wrappers and leftovers from your picnic.

Abner Cloud House, 1801

While enjoying a quick snack before heading out on the water, we met a really cool guy named Gabe who is training for a marathon! Last summer he decided to get off the couch and start running. In the past year he has gone from not running at all to marathon-ready. So impressive. He has made a great transformation and is incredibly humble about it. It was a pleasure talking with him and a great reminder to be more dedicated about my running goals. Good luck, Gabe!

Glimpse of the Potomac

The weather was perfect this weekend, and we had a great time out on the water. The views along the Potomac are absolutely gorgeous. We encountered some jumping fish and ducks who swam alongside our kayak. Paddling upstream (right) when exiting the dock led to a really quiet stretch of water. There were far fewer boats because most people were headed the opposite direction towards Georgetown. After a while we paddled our boat that direction, too. It was really neat seeing that area from a completely different perspective. The crowd surrounding a Georgetown kayak/canoe rental location was one more reason to rent went with the Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove. It is $45 to rent a kayak for the day, and for $25 a day you can rent a rowboat. We plan on going back to try that before the season ends.