And the Nominees Are...

After we voted this morning, Dylan went biking and I watched the Oscar nominations. I wait with great anticipation for this day of the year which begins my annual tradition of dashing to the theaters trying to see every movie up for Best Picture. This year the Academy threw me for a loop, however, and nominated 10 movies instead of 5...  and I have a lot of work to do. I have 7 movies to see in less than 5 weeks. Wish me luck on my Oscar journey. (and anyone local who's in for a movie... call me!!)--S

• Avatar*
• Blind Side
• District 9
• An Education
• The Hurt Locker
• Inglorious Basterds
• Precious*
• A Serious Man
• Up
• Up in the Air*

* = movies I have seen

Ribs!

Pork Ribs

Thanks to Claudette for the recipe!

Rack of ribs

Salt, Pepper

One bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Flour

Sprinkle salt and pepper over ribs. Dust ribs with flour. Cover with BBQ sauce, and coat the pan with remaining sauce (add water if necessary). Cover with aluminum foil, and cook at 350 for 2 hours until tender. Check every 30-45 minutes to make sure sauce isn't burning. I uncovered it for the last 15 minutes.

Easy and delicious!---S

this blog was fine as it was

so i will continue my contextless photo blogging as if nothing unusual has happened;)

A new twist on an old blog

Since Dylan posts his vast array of outdoor hobbies, I've decided to post my indoor hobbies. And since no one probably wants to read about my studying, sleeping, reading a book, or taking a bath, cooking it is! I will post the new recipes we try and maybe you can enjoy them in your homes, as well. Bon Appetit!

Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Thanks to Nicole (and Oprah.com) for this recipe.

Dylan gives this an A+!

Filling:

1 tbsp. olive oil                      
1/4 cup flour                  
1/2 cup frozen peas

1 tbsp. unsalted butter            
2 cups chicken stock        
1 potato, diced and boiled

1 medium onion, chopped        
2 cups roasted chicken    
2 stalks celery, chopped

1 1/2 cup chopped, cooked carrots

1/2 tsp. salt                            
Cracked pepper to taste  
Dash of Tabasco sauce

Crust:

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal      3/4 cup flour        1 tbsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tbsp. sugar                1/2 tsp. salt          3/4 cup milk

1 large egg                        2 tbsp. canola oil

Directions:

To make filling: Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil and unsalted butter together. Add onion and saute until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add flour until blended. Slowly stir in 2 cups of heated chicken stock, whisking well. Cook mixture over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, potato, carrots, celery, salt, pepper, and Tabasco. Pour into the casserole dish and spread mixture evenly.

To make crust: Preheat oven to 400. In a bowl, stir cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Stir milk, egg and canola oil until well combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Spoon the batter evenly on the filling. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Girls weekend in Santa Fe

Tara, Jamie, Becky, Artemis, and I had a great first annual girls' trip to Santa Fe. We ate well, shopped for turquoise, went to a heavenly spa outdoors, showed our musical talent at a piano bar, got sketchy mani/pedis, and drank amazing margaritas. Thanks for a great trip, ladies!

simpler times

winter hike