Weekend plans

Oct 30, 2009 by Rochelle

It’s Halloween weekend and that means there’s going to be some festivities.

First off, tonight I’m going to rush home and get ready for the annual Matthies Halloween party. Last year was a ton of fun, and I’m expecting the same this year. Like I said in an earlier post, I’m going to be Cleopatra. I’m really looking forward to this costume. Hopefully, I can get the head piece worked out.

Then on Halloween itself, I get to stick around home and relax. Since last weekend didn’t feel much like a weekend all, but instead felt like work, I look forward to just bumming around and doing whatever. Hopefully, I won’t be totally lazy.

Then, at the stroke of midnight, I can begin writing my novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I’ve been waiting to participate in this all year, and I’m so excited. The gist, is that you have to write a 50,000 word (150 page) fictional novel between November 1 and November 30. You would be surprised how many people participate in this. There are at least 780 people in Boulder doing it alone. So I’m super psyched!

The work itself is going to be a mystery. I’ve never written mystery before, but I’ve read plenty. It’s going to be called “The Four Mansions on Lambert Bay” and it will have a female tow historian/librarian protagonist that solves it all.

Before it’s all said and done, I’m going to make some calzones on Sunday. Thanks Amanda for the recipe tip!

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Oct 17 2009: In the Kitchen

Oct 17, 2009 by Rochelle

Today wasn’t quite the relaxing day I hoped for, but truthfully, I was also hoping for a productive day. After a little bit of breakfast and consulting some recipes for ingredients, I went to the grocery store. Once home, I started to immediately put together a big pot of chili for the crock pot. In went all the ingredients and then it sat around for several hours to cook up and get tasty.

In the afternoon, Brian and his fiancee brought over my old desk that Brian didn’t need anymore. I was definitely nervous to meet his fiancee, but it turned out all right. She was really nice and they seemed quite happy together. We sat around for about an hour and they looked through my London photos. It was all them and not me, I promise! I am so sick of those things, that it was painful when he was clicking through them so slowly. I’m glad that we can be so friendly. It’s a relief in a way.

After they left, I went back into the kitchen and made some Rock Bottom beer bread. This stuff is super delicious and accompanies chili really well. It also makes the house smell great.

Oct 17 2009: In the Kitchen

And as if that wasn’t enough, I also made up some homemade chocolate chip walnut cookies. What can I say? I was in the mood to cook! Perhaps it was after looking at some really cool food blogs like this one or this one. Or perhaps it was all the inspiration I got from my friend Amanda who made a weekly meal chart and is doing some kick ass budgeting.

So I have to say that these little cookies (little on purpose), turned out perfect. I usually don’t put nuts in, but I had some left over from some banana nut bread I made last month. These were super tasy!

Oct 17 2009: In the Kitchen

So all in all, the meal turned out great! I only wished it had been a little cooler out today.
Oct 17 2009: In the Kitchen

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Oct 07 2009: Mexican Food

Oct 7, 2009 by Rochelle

I love Mexican food so much, and I went seven whole days without it! Ok, that’s not exactly true. We did get some rather nasty nachos at The Swan. The salsa was like ketchup. So anyway, I finally got a little taste of my addiction on Wednesday when I got some take out. Delicious! But trust me, it won’t be long until I miss pub food.

Oct 07 2009: Mexican Food

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food

Sep 19 2009: Sandwiches

Sep 19, 2009 by Rochelle

Yesterday at work, I had a solid block of meetings from 9 – 2. Thankfully, at the final meeting (12-2), they served us lunch. I’m not that into sandwiches, but for whatever reason, the roast beef sandwich they provided from Paradise Bakery was like the best thing I had ever had. So it gave me the sandwich bug, and I’m making my own this weekend. Which is perfect for college football and for making plans for my trip. The Buffs actually won today, which was great by the way!

Roast beef and cheddar on sourdough

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Farmer’s Market Peach Pie

Aug 9, 2009 by Rochelle

Yesterday I picked up some peaches at the farmer’s market, which I didn’t intentionally go to, but happened to be at the right place at the right time. So last evening I made a peach pie, which is my favorite of all the fruit pies. I’m not a big fruit pie person, but I do love peach pie. It turned out divine. Here’s the recipe I used:

Ingredients:

pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie
5 cups fresh peaches, sliced (six peaches for me)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Stir together flour, 1 cup sugar, and cinnamon and set aside.
Wash, peel, and slice fresh peaches.
Mix together peaches with the combined dry ingredients.
Turn into pastry-lined pie pan and dot with butter.
Cover with top crust, cut slits in it, seal the edges.
Sprinkle top with 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Cover the edges with foil to prevent over browning; remove foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits in the crust.

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