Favorite Cookbooks

I have a bit of a problem. Just ask my husband...or look above my china cabinet. I love cookbooks!

Those are all cookbooks or cooking magazines.

Seeing as I would like to eventually share some of the recipes I've come up with, I figure I should share my favorite cookbooks so that ya'll can see where my inspirations come from. That and I have no idea how long it will take me to write a recipe...I don't usually measure, so it could take awhile.

One of my favorite basic cookbooks is The Taste of Home Cookbook. For my wedding shower my aunt gave me a subscription to their magazine. I quickly fell in love and ordered their cookbook. What I like about this franchise is that its made for home cooks. It shares basic recipes with basic ingredients. It is very accessible. I use Taste of Home for everything from Eggs Benedict to scalloped potatoes to Christmas cookies.

Another amazing cookbook is The Pioneer Woman Cooks. My girlfriend and I both swear by this book. I have cooked recipes from both her book and her website. Like Taste of Home, because the author lives on a remote ranch, the food is also easily accessible. Between my friend and I, everything of hers that we have made has been a hit! It is a staple in both of our kitchens. She has a wide range of recipes including pico de gallo, red velvet cake and pasta dishes. Her recipes are inspired from both her time in the city and her current life in the country.

When it comes to canning, I can not thank my sister in law enough for recommending Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. When I wanted to start canning she insisted the first thing I do was buy this book. And I now know why. In addition to its wide variety of canning recipes, this book also the VERY important safety information to can correctly and make safe food. So, I will second my sister in law's rule and tell you all to buy this book before starting to can!

There are two cookbooks I have that I am looking forward to exploring. The first is Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook. Lets be honest, what busy twenty-something doesn't like her slow cooker? However, I want to make a wider variety of stuff then soups and stews. As soon as I saw this cookbook I was interested. The variety is amazing: veal, chili, cake, wings and seafood are all included in this cookbook. The second cookbook I want to explore is The Chicago Diner Cookbook. This cookbook shares recipes from the vegetarian and vegan restaurant on Chicago's North side. While I am far from a vegetarian, I LOVED the food I had there and look forward to the experimentation and variety it will bring to my kitchen.

Now to be fair, I have been cooking for less then three years. Seeing as I am FAR from an expert, I polled my friends on Facebook and Twitter and asked them to share some of their favorite cookbooks. Here are the results:

1. Forever Summer
2. Earth to Table
3. Canning for a New Generation
4. Food for Friends: Simply Delicious Menus For Easy Entertaining
5. Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
6. The Joy of Cooking
7. The Pillsbury Cookbook
8. anything by Gordon Ramsey
9. anything by Alton Brown
10. anything by Rick Bayless
11. and family cookbooks

If there are any you want to add, please comment and we can try to make a comprehensive list of good cookbooks for home cooks!

Veggies!

Pickle, cherry tomatoes, plum tomato, cucumber, yellow squash and green onion! Yay for fresh, free food!

Columbia's Muddy Buddy 2011

I have a dear friend who I like to call my "adventure buddy." New Year's Day 2010, we jumped in Lake Michigan for the Polar Bear Plunge. While this Plunge was not affiliated with any charities (there is one later in the year that supports the Special Olympics) it was definitely a great time!

Deciding that it was time for another adventure, we decided to sign up for the Columbia Muddy Buddy! The Muddy Buddy is a race you complete with a partner, one person runs and the other rides a bike, you arrive at an obstacle and then switch (the runner bikes and the biker runs). Its approximately a 6 mile course (ours was 5.7 miles), and then at the end you and your buddy crawl through a mud pit together!

The heat certainly was not on our side. I had to walk instead of run. The asthma and the heat were just not having it. So, I am disappointed with that aspect of my performance. The obstacles were a fun challenge. For some of the more challenging ones people worked together to get everyone through. There was a nice sense of team effort in that respect.  The hurdles...which I didn't know about until the week of the event...were not nearly as complicated as I was expecting! Another weak spot I had...the last obstacle of the course was scaling an eight foot wall. By the time we got to it, it was covered in slippery mud and my fear of heights got the best of me. Well, not fear of heights, fear of falling from heights.

So, while I am not completely happy with my performance, I did have a wonderful time and was proud of myself for finishing! Best of all, when I got home and logged on to see our time, the Mud-diving Mischief Makers (our amazing team!) did not finish last! Our time was

1:34:09.4. While we were F A R from first place, we were more than a half hour ahead of the last place. Overall it was a success! Our goal was to finish the race, which we successfully did! We are considering racing again next year!

Gardening Success!

From my co-garden: tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green pepper and pickle.

Why I Do This

I write this blog for several reasons. First, sometimes I just have to get that creative energy out. Second, it helps document what it means to live my life. And third, people often feel alone. I'm not ready to share my struggles here, I'm not sure if I ever will be (I have a friend who does so brilliantly). It is important for me to get this message out there: whether you are going through something wonderful or difficult, you are never alone. There are other people experiencing what you are going through and there is strength in numbers. If you have a joy, share it. If you need a friend, do not be afraid to ask for one.

A Blogging Paradise

Computer, novel, journal, Kindle, cook book, calendar, magazine, cat and remote...besides a cup of coffee what else could a girl need?

Balcony Gardening

Living in an apartment doesn't leave many options for gardening, thankfully we have a balcony so I can container garden. We are growing tomatoes, onions and herbs on the balcony.

This year we are doing things a little differently. We are digging up part of my mother's yard to expand her garden so that she and I are going to co-garden there. Here we are planning on growing zucchini, summer squash, cucumber, pickling cucumber, more tomatoes and onions, and peppers. The plan is to can pickles and tomatos so we have enough to get us through next year!

People Who Inspire Me: Part 1

Elizabeth Gilbert-
She is the woman who wrote the novel  Eat Pray Love. Her book is about her self discovery after a divorce. She spent a year traveling to devolp different parts of her self. She went to Italy to discover the enjoyments of life, India to develop her spirituality and Bali to find a balance between worldly and spirtual blessings. What I admire about her is she knew what she needed and she knew how to get it.I'm still trying to figure out what is missing in my life...and I hope that if/when I figure it out I have the means and ability to go and get it as well. Until then I guess I will be reading her book to brainstorm and travel with her across the world.

The Pioneer Woman-
This woman is just plain awesome. I'll be honest...I'm a little jealous. She is a blogger (food, photography, homeschooling, etc), and author AND soon to be Food Network Star. She is always a fun a read and all her food looks amazing. I think she has the best job in the world. She gets to be creative while staying at home and taking care of her family. I can't wait to watch her show on the Food Network and learn more recipes from her!

Grandma-
My Grandma was the inspiration for my Bucket List. She was such an adventure seeker and did this while remaining devoted to her family. She was a traveler, learned how to fly a plane and a painter/crafter. She was also a devoted Catholic who prayed the Rosary every night. I admire her devotion to God, her family and her adventurous spirit. I hope to adequately incorporate these three things into my life.

AFSP Out of the Darkness Overnight, NYC 2011

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a cause close to my heart. I have, and know, many people who struggle with depression or similar troubles. Every year they do what is called "The Overnight" and people walk from sundown to sun up. It isn't reasonable for me to raise the money required to walk, so instead I show my support by volunteering to help the run the event.

Two years ago my friends Josh, Heidi, Mary and I volunteered and ran Rest Stop 1, which later converted to Rest Stop 3. The 2009 Overnight was in Chicago. We had a great time helping out and meeting people who understood this taboo topic. It was one of the best nights of my life and I felt like I truly belonged to something great.

I knew I had to be a part of the AFSP Overnight again. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to Boston in 2010, but this year the Hubs and I made it to New York City and helped run Rest Stop 3. It was aonther amazing and touching night. I was grateful to, for the first time, be able to share something so important with my husband.

Next year's walk is in San Francisco. I hope to be volunteering with my husband and good friend Katie. Please take some time to look at the AFSP's website and consider supporting them. Thanks!

Flash Mob!

Every now and then a girl needs some adventure. So when my friend told me about a flash mob that was going to be in our area I HAD to join her! I even got a friend to join us too! It was grueling  practicing in an un-air conditioned room. But bursting out dancing in the middle of the street was great! Looking around the crowd all you could see is people with their camera phones recording. It was a pretty cool experience.

And because I know you want to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eh0LTdyh0E&feature=youtube_gdata_player