Recipes that test my patience: Chapter 1

Risotto.

Mmm. The word just makes my mouth water. I love risotto. I really do. I love ordering it out, and I love eating it at home.

It's just SUCH. A. Labor. Of. Love.

One of my favorite risotto recipes is a kale and butternut squash version. It's up my alley, though. Total shortcutter. You end up popping the pot into the oven and it bakes to a finish. Piece of cake.

The asparagus risotto recipe I tried the other night was of the traditional stir-wait-stir-wait-wait-wait-stir variety.

It was worth the effort, but I am not sure I'll make it again. I love being in the kitchen, but I love it and leave it, and when making risotto, you just can't leave it till it's done.

 

Pie in the sky

It's not too much work to make pizza at home, and two of my favorites are Sweet Potato with Mascarpone & Rosemary Ham and Barbecue Chicken with Pineapple. Sometimes I use pre-made whole wheat crusts like Boboli, but most of the time I use a dough like Trader Joe's or something similar. 

For the sweet potato pizza, I used the garlic and herb crust, spread almost a whole container of mascarpone for the "sauce," and drizzled some olive oil on top of that. I sprinkled dried rosemary and thyme across the crust, topped with rosemary sliced ham (also a TJ's favorite) and thinly sliced sweet potatoes. 

And, for the barbecue chicken pizza, I used the whole wheat dough and spread a whole bottle of barebcue sauce on top. Then, I took a shortcut and used a can of chicken instead of taking the time to prepare chicken. I also chopped and sprinkled one red onion along with some cilantro across the whole pizza. Taylor loves pineapple, but I do not, so that's why it's on just half of the pie.:)

Two pizzas for two people is more than enough for dinner and lunch at work the next day. Mmm.

Note: A food photographer I am not! 

Pizza 1.

Pizza 2.

March Madness in the PDX

Even though Taylor's been pretty bogged down with Tax Season, I'd say we've been pretty lucky with the events we've made it to during the month of March.

NCAA Regionals at the Rose Garden? Yes, please!

Tyrone Wells show at the Aladdin? I'll take it!

An unbelievable fly-fishing trip?! Who am I fooling? I didn't partake, but it sounded like quite the day!  

This is a shot of the VCU band's leader. It's kind of blurry. He was outrageous. YouTube him.

Tyrone Wells. Great show with good friends.

Split personality no more

Not sure if I've mentioned, but I have a writing mentor at work, which is just plain awesome. Awe-some. I meet with her once a month, and we discuss whatever I'm working on outside of work. On work time. I'm super serious. It's just one of the many perks of my job.

You know what I've been working on for...hmmm...well I guess it's been about a year-and-a-half now?! My book. It's back. Yes, it's back with a vengeance, thanks to this monthly meeting. I'm all about the deadline, people.

As part of this resurgence of working on The Busy Girls Cook, I'm trying to merge blogs so I'll have one singular outlet for writing about my life, learning, inspiration, inspirational friends, and of course, cooking and baking. Right now, those aspects of my life sit here. Maybe I should say sat here since I haven't done much to add to this since November. No-vem-ber. Talk about embarrassing.

I've been cooking up a storm, especially this tax season, so I'd love to get back in the habit of documenting. My girlfriend Allison and I, and also my sis and I, have done some satellite cooking, too, where we'll choose the same recipe for the same night, cook with our own spins, and then chat about the outcome.

In related news, I've also become the self-proclaimed queen of meal planning...and now even outfit planning. With a long commute and marathon training thrown into the work week mix, I have gotten to the point where I don't want to worry about what I'm cooking for dinner or what I'm wearing to work. It pans out quite nicely because I only end up going to the store once (let's get real here, I go to several stores one day a week, just to make sure I have all the necessities, and as much as I adore TJ's, we all know they don't have some of the weekly must-haves...and we also know about my love of grocery stores, especially of the health foodie variety).

I'm really rambling. And it's my lunch break. And I think it's time to get back to work.

The whole point of this post was to see if anybody out there (so, I guess this goes out to the five people who read my blog) knows how to merge blogs. One is WordPress and this, obviously, is Blogger. Holler if you can help!

SAG sisters on the loose

My favorite SAG sisters and I met up for brunch last weekend at Comune Accanto. These ladies are such a hoot. There's never a lull in conversation or a lack of laughs when we get together. We'll have to try for a more flattering group shot next time we meet up.

D-horn (who looks fantastic in red pants, I might add) and her buckwheat crepes.

Yours truly likes eggs Benedict when out for brunch, and this Dungeness crab Benedict certainly did not disappoint! 

Sorry, Kathy, Lake, Michelle, and Katy...I guess my 1-2-3 wasn't enough preparation for this pic. It's all about the memory, though. 

Shabby Schady

I've been wanting to blog for a few weeks now about the outstanding transformation of an old secretary desk (hand-me-down from T & D) thanks to the fabulous Leslee Schader.

Schady lady is the master of Shabby Chic-ing, and just check out what she did to this bad boy for my birthday! Sadly, I don't have a photo of the before, and at the time of this photo I hadn't added the drawer handles, but you get the idea. She's amazing. Total Super Mom. Don't know how she has the time to do it all.

For her birthday, on the 14th, I tried to surprise her with some cake balls, but they turned out more like cake blobs because I started them at 10:30 the night before, and I didn't have the time to refrigerate the dough. In theory, they're pretty simple to whip out, but not when you're lacking time and patience. I tried to dress 'em up with sprinkles and decos. The little flag banner was a hold-over from the cake Katie made me for my birthday. God bless crafty friends!

Big-time birthday love

I didn't really want to celebrate my birthday this year, but that didn't stop the most wonderful friends across the globe from showering me with LOVE all weekend long. 

Walking into work Friday...thanks, gals!

Blondie had Le Cookie Monkey deliver these scrumptious treats to my desk! Such a spoiler!

Working through the decos.

Hopefully one of these days I'll figure out this camera. Podnah's Pit with the couples who made it happen for T and me! Allison and Andy and Mike and Kat. 

And a totally awkward non-slimming angle...

How stinkin' cute? Katie made one for me and one for Mariel, my bday sister...as you may recall, her special day is just one before mine. 

Kate Paul (soon-to-be-Williamson) showcasing the pool table at Ringo's, one of Beaverton's finest establishments and the first stop on our tour o' Beaverton bars.

T scoping out the tunes on the juke.

More terrible camera etiquette on my end...Mike, Drew, Greg, and Katie.

T, me, and the Paul sisters. Great face, Kate.

Cute cape, M! Oh, I should mention, we're at Broadway Saloon, which is surprisingly a totally cute bar.

Adorbs!

Taylor helping some random lady try to spend like $20 at Icabod's...our last stop of the night.

What's everyone doing on their phones? Talking to Suri? Group texting without me?

GORGEOUS bouquet from Kevyn and Josh delivered on my day!

The Lady prepared an Asian FEAST by request...I wish I would have taken pics of the decor...the cute little take-out boxes, rice candy, fortune cookies. Man oh man. My mom went ALL OUT. Oh, and of course we had ice cream cake. Yahoo!

Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes throughout the day yesterday. I am such a lucky, lucky lady to have the most outrageously thoughtful friends. From Sweden to Texas and all across the west coast...I received calls, texts, cards, a reconstructed dresser (pics to follow), gift cards and generous certificates, food gifts (mmm), emails, a telegram (just kidding), a tae bo and coffee date with my boot camp bestie, a 17-mile training run and a scrumptious brunch with some of the most lovely couples in our lives...and to cap it all off, our first Sunday family dinner just so happened to coincide with my birthday. It was so special having my favorite people together and being able to Skype in both sisters and their families. Y'all really know how to make a girl feel loved. THANK YOU! Here's to 27 being the best year yet.  

A toast to Kevyn and Josh

My dear friend Kevyn and boyfriend of nearly four years, Josh, tied the knot on February 25 in Austin. Of course I'd jump at any chance to travel back to my second home, but I really leaped for this one.

I was so touched Kevyn asked me to be a part of her special day and to stand beside her while she and Josh joined lives. I'll never forget meeting Kevyn on her first few days of her internship at News 8. She was the sweetest, most bubbly blonde girl with the best cackle of a laugh. I knew we'd hit it off after just a few weeks of reading her emails out to our co-workers and listening to her interactions with the other "newsdesk monkeys."

Kevyn is a shining example of something from nothing, and she is an inspiration to anyone she comes in contact with. Often she tells me how she feels like I try to squeeze every bit out of life, but I think that's even truer for her. She's always giving. Giving until it hurts. I think that's a quote from Mother Teresa, and it describes her to a T. One would never know all Kevyn's gone through in her 25 years of life, and most probably would never believe it if she told them.

Josh is just a rock. I've always enjoyed his company, his humor, and the way he always cares about what I'm up to and how I'm doing. We used to have some serious cooking challenges when I was living in Austin, and even when I came back for a visit. I'm so thankful Kevyn and Josh made it through the ups and downs and landed in the land of love forever.

Cheers to this outstanding couple, a glowing example of true, unconditional love. Thank you for the wonderful weekend celebrating you!

Captions and more pics from post-wedding fun to follow!

February in a flash

February--with its extra day and all--just sailed on by. Some super highlights included a trip to Albany for Taylor's mom's birthday and just a few days later, the big day for the main man himself, Taylor! We celebrated early with friends Rob and Erin at the "annual" fly-fishing film tour and then the next weekend with friends Leslee and Troy at the Mat Kearney concert. I'd suggest penciling in Matty K. if he ever comes to a venue near you. Every song he played was better than the last. We loved it!

Let me start by saying I still haven't figured out the settings on my new camera...that's my goal for March. This is a pic of Lisa (Taylor's mom), Gloria (Taylor's Nanny), and Whitney (Taylor's sister). Three generations of lovely ladies. We are at a super cute wine bar in Albany following a quick trip around the adorable Albany house boutiques and a successful stroll through Emma's, which has to be one of the most comprehensive shops dedicated to all things wonderful from housewares to clothes and plenty of gifts. 

Mat Kearney at the Roseland, Feb. 17.