tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462004090912119612024-03-05T01:48:39.478-05:00Dr. Princess{sometimes nerdy, sometimes girlie, always up for an adventure}Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-86694182758695816242012-11-12T13:56:00.000-05:002012-11-12T13:56:54.812-05:00Pilgrimage to Potterland<a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-mine-say.html">I mentioned before that my cousin Shannon's trip to Orlando was a rite of passage in our family</a>, as we needed to initiate her into adulthood by drinking with her at Epcot on her 21st birthday. I didn't mention that this vacation held yet another significant trip for us.<br />
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Well, significant is kind of an understatement.<br />
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We were kind of geeking out...<br />
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...a lot.<br />
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Yes, Shannon and Amanda and I went to Universal's Islands of Adventure to visit the new(ish?) Harry Potter attraction! I won't talk about the Hogwarts ride because I don't want to ruin the surprise if you're a fan who hasn't been yet...and if you're not a fan, well, you probably won't care anyway :)<br />
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I will talk about our experience at Three Broomsticks, the restaurant at "Potterland." First of all, the attention to detail was amazing. I'd heard that some of the designers for the Harry Potter attractions were former Disney imagineers who had been laid off, and I have to say the quality of work was up to par.<br />
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I got such a kick out of the fact that Hogshead beer (their own brew) was on tap...next to Miller Lite!<br />
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And yes, butterbeer is as good as they say it is.<br />
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The food was pretty good, too. It's a kind of tavern fare, with drumsticks and roasts and what not. I had the shepherd's pie, and it was full of potatoey cheesy goodness.<br />
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We also might have split some strawberry chocolate thing for dessert. The fact that we didn't order three of these took lots of self control.<br />
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Have any of you Harry Potter fans made the pilgrimage to Orlando yet? What'd you think?Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-83567755101596076162012-11-05T13:00:00.000-05:002012-11-05T17:50:43.462-05:00Apple Pie CupcakesHoly blogging hiatus, Batman! What the heck happened in October?! I even missed out on that awesome photo challenge...improving my photography will have to take a raincheck, I suppose. If there's one thing that can bring me back to blogging, though, it's seasonal semi-homemade sweets.<br />
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We're having a Thanksgiving potluck at work this week, and my colleagues requested that I bring cupcakes. I knew I had to do pumpkin or apple, and I narrowed that down easily once my sister recommended this recipe. They're cheap and easy, though somewhat tedious unless you have an apple peeler/corer (hint, hint, Santa). But they're different, and they taste even better than they look. I promise you'll get nothing but compliments!<br />
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<i><b>Apple Pie Cupcakes</b> (adapted from <a href="http://www.inspiredtaste.net/10117/apple-pie-cupcakes-recipe/">Inspired Taste</a>)</i><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>3/4 c unsalted butter</li>
<li>6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cubed</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</li>
<li>1/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/4 c lemon juice (or the juice of 1 1/2 lemons)</li>
<li>3/4 c all purpose flour</li>
<li>3/4 c + 6 Tbsp packed brown sugar, divided</li>
<li>3/4 c chopped walnuts</li>
<li>3 (12.4 oz) cans of refrigerated cinnamon rolls</li>
<li>whipped cream</li>
<li>caramel syrup</li>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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<li>Preheat oven to 400˚. Spray two muffin tins with cooking spray.</li>
<li>Melt 1/4 c butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add apples and cook for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle cinnamon, salt, and the 6 tablespoons of brown sugar over the apples, then cook for another 5 minutes. Pour lemon juice over apples.</li>
<li>While apples are cooking, mix flour, walnuts, and the rest of the butter and brown sugar with your hands until they form little crumbles. Set aside.</li>
<li>Separate dough into 24 rolls. Push into muffin tins and flatten evenly into cups.</li>
<li>Spoon apple mixture into cinnamon cups, then sprinkle with crumb mixture.</li>
<li>Bake at 400˚ for 10-12 minutes, or until the "streusel" gets a little toasty.</li>
<li>Cool completely, then top with whipped cream and caramel syrup just before serving.</li>
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So, I guess they're not so much cupcakes as they are cinnamon rolls stuffed with apple streusel. Silly technicalities!</div>
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What's your favorite fall-themed dessert?</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-33882088780831678982012-09-20T06:51:00.000-04:002012-09-20T06:51:28.684-04:00Warning: This Post Contains BaconI know I've been posting a lot of healthier recipes lately. It's important to eat healthy...most of the time. It's also important to remember your Southern roots and make some damn comfort food every once in a while! After all...<br />
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{via <a href="http://society6.com/product/As-The-Old-Saying-Goes_Print">society6</a>}</div>
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I had recently made avocado BLTs for dinner one night (it's pretty healthy when you use that awesome nitrate-free reduced-fat bacon from TJ's...that stuff is only 1 WeightWatchers PointsPlus per serving!) and the two of us had enough will power to leave some leftover bacon. I wrapped up the remaining strips and kept them in the front of the fridge, knowing that I'd probably need to cook them in the next day or two. Fortunately, we had a neighborhood potluck cookout thing and I needed to bring a side dish. I contemplated what I could make with my remaining bacon (which was about six or seven strips) that would be somewhat healthy. When I decided on roasted brussel sprouts, my husband quickly turned me down. "No one is going to eat that!" he exclaimed. I sighed, because I knew he was right.<br />
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Once I had prioritized flavor over health-appeal, I decided to go all out. I turned to one of my absolute favorite side dishes:<br />
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<i><b>Bacon Cheddar Biscuits</b> (adapted from <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/side-dish-recipe-bacon-and-che-130211">theKitchn</a>)</i><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<li>6 strips of thick-cut <b>pork</b> bacon (none of this turkey nonsense)</li>
<li>1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</li>
<li>2 Tbsp cornstarch</li>
<li>2 tsp baking powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar</li>
<li>3/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, frozen</li>
<li>1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded</li>
<li>1/4 cup chives, minced</li>
<li>1 cup buttermilk</li>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Lay bacon on the foil, then place in oven. Close the door and turn the temperature to 400˚. Bake for 17-20 minutes (it'll probably finish preheating at some point during that time). Remove cookie sheet from oven. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Once cool, slide the bacon up into small pieces. By the way, this is my absolute <i>favorite</i> way to cook bacon!</li>
<li>Carefully grab both sides of the aluminum foil and fold longways, slightly. Pour bacon grease (again, <i>carefully!</i>) into a small, heat-resistant cup or bowl. Set aside for later. Return aluminum foil to cookie sheet - some grease will remain on foil.</li>
<li>Bring oven temperature up to 450˚.</li>
<li>In a food processer, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Quickly cut frozen stick of butter into eight or so pieces. Add to food processer and pulse until meal is finely ground.</li>
<li>Pour flour and butter mixture into a large bowl. Add bacon, cheese, chives, and buttermilk. Gently hand-stir until completely moistened.</li>
<li>Sprinkle a little flour on your countertop and add some to your hands. Roll out the biscuit dough until it's about 1-inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter (or the rim of a jar or glass) on all the dough. Reform remaining dough, and repeat until you've used it all.</li>
<li>Place biscuits on greasy cookie sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the biscuits with reserved bacon fat. Mmmmm....</li>
<li>Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.</li>
<li>Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack until completely cooled.</li>
</ul>
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Easy, quick, and bacon-y...what's not to love?! What's your favorite bacon-y dish?</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-69830959459801475332012-09-17T20:40:00.000-04:002012-09-17T20:40:20.462-04:00October Photo Challenge at Our Wired Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ourwiredlives.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/October-Photo-Challenge1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ourwiredlives.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/October-Photo-Challenge1.gif" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://ourwiredlives.com/">source</a>}</div>
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I've seen these photography challenges on Pinterest and through blogs that I follow, but frankly, I've never had the guts to participate in one. My DSLR really intimidated me when I first got it, but after a few months of practice, I feel like I'm ready to start sharpening my skills. Just when I was hoping another challenge like this would come along, my friend Nellie at <a href="http://ourwiredlives.com/">Our Wired Lives</a> announced her second annual challenge! Read all about it <a href="http://ourwiredlives.com/2012octphotochallenge/">here</a>, and join me and my camera this October!</div>
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-30952971268581768112012-09-11T07:14:00.000-04:002012-09-11T07:14:07.427-04:00Spicy Chicken Stir FryAs most of you know by now, one of my favorite things to do is <strike>throw a bunch of crap together and pretend it's gourmet</strike> use leftovers to create a new recipe. A takeout box of leftover brown rice inspired my latest endeavor. We always seem to run into this problem: we finish every last ounce of our delicious Thai leftovers, but we can never get through the rice! It's almost like they give you enough for another meal entirely. I mean, it's as though you could whip up a stir fry and...you see where I'm going with this.<br />
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Per usual, I had some chicken breasts lying around. I also had some frozen veggies. If this sounds familiar, that may be because you're a loyal reader (have I mentioned that I love you?) and you might be thinking of my similarly spontaneous <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2011/12/nutty-noodles.html">Nutty Noodles</a>. That dish was a little more sweet,than what I was craving at this particular moment. I wanted the same thing only different...perhaps with some heat!<br />
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<b><i>Spicy Chicken Stir Fry</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 Tbsp fat of choice (I used coconut oil because it's my fave...especially in Asian dishes!)</li>
<li>1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes</li>
<li>4-5 medium green onions, chopped</li>
<li>2 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>2 cups sugar snap peas</li>
<li>1 cup broccoli</li>
<li>1 Tbsp fish sauce</li>
<li>1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce</li>
<li>Sriracha, to taste (I used about 1/4 tsp...Dave dumped some more on later)</li>
<li>1/2 c fresh basil, minced</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Directions</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Sauté chicken in oil. Remove from pan.</li>
<li>Cook onions and garlic until fragrant, using the same pan.</li>
<li>Add peas and broccoli to pan, reduce heat and cover. You may need to add a few tablespoons of water so they steam properly. Cook just until crisp and bright green...you don't want to overdo it!</li>
<li>Add sauces and return chicken to pan. Stir well to combine.</li>
<li>Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until flavors meld. Stir in basil.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Just so you know this recipe is only <b>4 WeightWatchers PointsPlus</b> per serving, so go ahead and add that rice! Yay for veggies!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What do you like to include in your stir fry dishes?</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-8319102700260080622012-09-07T06:36:00.003-04:002012-09-07T06:36:50.194-04:00What Does Mine Say?!If you get the reference in this blog post's title, then you must enjoy quoting awesomely bad movies as much as I do.<br />
<br />
Earlier this summer, I went down to Orlando to visit two of my cousins who live there. My cousins and I are very close, so I usually try to get down there a few times a year. This particular occasion was especially exciting because our other cousin, Shannon, was visiting from Seattle. Among us cousins, four of the six of us are on the east coast, but the other two live in Washington. Pretty much any time one of the west coasters comes to our time zone, the rest of us will come to them. Shannon came to Orlando, so my sister and I came to her. Five of the six of us had planned a week full of more antics than usual, as this was no ordinary trip. Shannon hadn't just come to Florida for the heck of it...she was making a pilgrimage to Epcot. You see, it was Shannon's 21st birthday.<br />
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At the Poly the night before...so Shannon could buy a glass (bottle?) of wine at midnight! Why are we all making the same face? Yep, just a normal family photo.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Along with our plans to <strike>drink</strike> celebrate, we also had something significant planned...something that was several years in the making. When our oldest cousin, Mark, passed away in 2005 after a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the rest of us talked about getting tattoos together to honor him. Mark created <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099">Freekware</a>, a clothing company with a message of unity through positivity and individuality (you may have heard me talk about it on here, I don't know, <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/search/label/freeky%20friday">once or twice</a>). The Freekware logo has come to symbolize so much to us cousins. When we decided to get together for Shannon's birthday, we decided to finally get our tattoos...and it was no question that all of us would somehow include the message of Freekware and/or the logo itself.<br />
<br />
I wanted the Freekware symbol, but I wanted it to be <i>incorporated</i> into something else...and I wanted that something else to have some kind of movement to it. While perusing through <a href="http://pinterest.com/drprincessjulia/">Pinterest</a> one day, I became enamored with dandelion tattoos. I know dandelions don't seem to symbolize much...I mean, they're weeds. But that means they're resilient and can take root anywhere. Plus, they always remind me of one of my favorite Disney scenes of all time.<br />
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<a href="http://bethanish.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/belle-beauty-and-the-beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://bethanish.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/belle-beauty-and-the-beast.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{<a href="http://bethanish.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/a-tangled-review/">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Once I had the idea of making the Freekware logo one of the dandelion seeds, it was only a matter of finding the right dandelion to show to the tattoo artist. My favorite ones had the stem in line with the shoulder blade with seeds floating towards the arm...<br />
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<a href="http://bohemianchic.creatorsofdesire.com/media/cache/81/cf/81cf88542a5db9440d025ceb690826a0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://bohemianchic.creatorsofdesire.com/media/cache/81/cf/81cf88542a5db9440d025ceb690826a0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{<a href="http://bohemianchic.creatorsofdesire.com/">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
...but then I found a few examples that had text along the stem.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zhippo.com/AtlantisBodyArtsHOSTED/images/gallery/dandelion-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.zhippo.com/AtlantisBodyArtsHOSTED/images/gallery/dandelion-m.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{<a href="http://zhippo.com/AtlantisBodyArtsHOSTED/Tattoos/tattoos_30548.html">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Since I had also played with the idea of including the Freekware symbol in a verse, I decided to have this verse trace along the stem:<br />
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<a href="http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/box_003/post_13/419328_1767439_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/box_003/post_13/419328_1767439_b.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://society6.com/product/He-has-made-everything-beautiful_Print?tag=typography">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Once I had gathered all of my sources of inspiration, it was time for us to head out to get inked!<br />
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Shannon got a black Freekware symbol on her left shoulder blade.<br />
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Michelle got the words "Stay Positive" over a hibiscus flower. Her husband, an artist, created the design!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MwjK-05ZC0cbEJGVPZ3MMBzGwKqCFmDN6leHyfxx0RVIuWXfVmm5sv7TqmUe21duuCb3PcQoPJ7GlYII4IUidjAr-y04i8sB0xO9TxbxKxYZbvkVRqlkXBSi6ZsXcDFbBpPeGJ2s40w/s1600/DSC_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MwjK-05ZC0cbEJGVPZ3MMBzGwKqCFmDN6leHyfxx0RVIuWXfVmm5sv7TqmUe21duuCb3PcQoPJ7GlYII4IUidjAr-y04i8sB0xO9TxbxKxYZbvkVRqlkXBSi6ZsXcDFbBpPeGJ2s40w/s640/DSC_0398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Jen got a blue Freekware logo on her left hip.</div>
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Amanda got a black Freekware logo on her right shoulder blade.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmOUyP5rBMA6NZal1USJdlmJbP6lOT0lZ0LWE0hO0ERd3fOajiNN_WkhDwpfghGL7qt83FTnZk-Yjrhe43SwyngZeyUDwiVOd5EnaqPy8RxKutOtghtHMBQ_hES7VJhJjIZZR8BOuTnU/s1600/DSC_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmOUyP5rBMA6NZal1USJdlmJbP6lOT0lZ0LWE0hO0ERd3fOajiNN_WkhDwpfghGL7qt83FTnZk-Yjrhe43SwyngZeyUDwiVOd5EnaqPy8RxKutOtghtHMBQ_hES7VJhJjIZZR8BOuTnU/s640/DSC_0447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's how mine turned out!<br />
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Each of us had a different response to the inking process - some of us developed that "ink addiction" and are already talking about a next tattoo. I was <i>not</i> one of those people. It didn't hurt as badly as I thought it would, but it certainly wasn't comfortable. It was more like a nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation for me, and I definitely don't need to do that again! But we had a lot of fun together that day, and now we have a lasting reminder of it. I love how each of us got something slightly different, but they all have the same sentiment behind them.<br />
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Do you have a tattoo? What's the story behind it?Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-31431405083566111512012-09-04T06:26:00.001-04:002012-09-04T06:28:42.223-04:00Grilled Chicken QuesadillasAs I've mentioned <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/08/cranberry-chicken-with-spicy-cream.html">before</a>, I got Dave a new grill for his birthday, so we've been enjoying a lot of outdoor cooking and entertaining this summer. This has challenged my creativity and forced me to come up with more and more ways to make leftover grilled chicken sound fancy. My latest favorite is the quesadilla.<br />
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This dish was extra exciting for us recently because I found some cumin-infused gouda at <a href="http://alons.com/">Alon's</a>, my favorite local specialty grocer. (That place is amazing; they even have their own fromager!) I'll be lucky if I can ever find it there again, but I'm sure grated gouda with a dash of cumin would be almost as good.<br />
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<b><i>Grilled Chicken Quesadillas</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>leftover grilled chicken breasts (about 3 oz per quesadilla)</li>
<li>tortillas of your choice</li>
<li>grated cheese of your choice (we used gouda)</li>
<li>cumin to taste</li>
<li>additional seasoning of your choice - we used fresh cilantro and jalapeños from our garden!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Directions</b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Shred or chop up the chicken, and place in a large bowl. Toss with cheese and spices/herbs.</li>
<li>Tear a piece of aluminum foil about twice the size of your tortilla. Place the tortilla on top of the foil. Spoon desired amount of chicken mixture on top of tortilla.</li>
<li>Fold the foil like you're closing a book so that it folds the tortilla and envelops the chicken. Pinch the edges of the foil so that it "seals."</li>
<li>Place your foil pockets on the grill for 2-5 minutes or until chicken is reheated and cheese melts.</li>
<li>Unwrap your quesadillas and slice with a pizza cutter.</li>
<li>Serve with salsa and/or guacamole.</li>
</ol>
<div>
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<div>
What's your favorite grilling recipe?</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-31104361686508563392012-08-31T22:38:00.001-04:002012-08-31T22:38:35.300-04:00The Most Wonderful Time of the Year<b>Warning: If you are a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida State Seminoles, the Tennessee Volunteers, the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Auburn Tigers or War Eagles or whatever you are, or the Buckeyes of the University of Florida at Ohio, you may want to stop reading </b><b style="font-style: italic;">now.</b> Actually, you may still enjoy this post...just try to see past our differences :)<br />
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{<a href="http://evanhampton.com/">source</a>}</div>
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You guys. I love football season. There's just something magical about the combination of timeless tradition and bittersweet nostalgia surrounding this time of year that makes me feel a familiar warmth. Don't you just feel the excitement swell up in your chest when you hear your fight song? Don't you feel an instant lifelong bond when you see someone else decked out in your team's gear even if you're states away from those wonderful memories? Can't you just smell the grills all fired up on Saturday? Isn't your mouth watering for that frosty cold solo cup full of cheap beer or, if you're from the SEC like I am, bourbon? And if you're a Gator, I'll bet you can't help but grin from ear to ear just thinking about the end of the third when someone stands next to you, wraps their arm around you, and starts to sway.<br />
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College football is so much more than a sport. For those of us who follow it religiously, it's a significant part of our identities. It's our history and our future plans. It's our favorite tradition and our new away game road trip. And here in the South, it's a focal point of our culture.<br />
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I didn't grow up a football fan. I chose to go to the University of Florida because it was the best school that I could go to for free. I was told I should try to get season tickets for football, so I did. I didn't really see what all the fuss was about, but I figured if anything, it would help me make new friends. The second those boys ran on the field at the beginning of that first game my freshman year, something inside me ignited. The thrill was contagious, and I couldn't help falling head-first.<br />
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I attended UF during a particularly exciting era in Gator history. I saw the firing of Ron Zook and witnessed the hope we placed in Urban Meyer. I saw an incoming freshman named Tim Tebow play at the Orange and Blue spring scrimmage game and knew he was going to be someone worth watching. I had season tickets for four years, I traveled to a couple of games outside of The Swamp, and of course, I'll never forget the night my friends and I rallied at a local bar to watch our boys win a national championship in Arizona.<br />
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Obviously, life as a Gator hasn't been so sweet as of late. But I grew up a Red Sox fan, so I know that shining victories only appear so bright after spending some time in the dark. And even if this isn't the year we turn it back around, college football is about <b>more</b>. It's about the years I spent in that stadium.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1655913976"></span><span id="goog_1655913977"></span><br />
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It's about graduating from a place that meant more to me than the town I grew up in.<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/73_556227977531_532_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/73_556227977531_532_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's about a place where I created new lifelong friendships, and gained a deeper bond with old friends who have become more like family.<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/73_556228142201_3930_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/73_556228142201_3930_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's about connecting with fellow alumnae in a far-away place that would someday become home...even if it was in enemy territory.<br />
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It's about celebrating the future of Gator Nation, the accomplishments of our young alumni, and the goals we have yet to achieve.<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/30956_10100398172795341_2782760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/30956_10100398172795341_2782760_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's about the town where I met some guy at a mutual friend's party...<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/36752_10100451706927511_7130972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/36752_10100451706927511_7130972_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://evanhampton.com/">source</a>}</div>
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...with no way of knowing that I'd marry him someday.<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/37388_10100458090275231_7079276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/37388_10100458090275231_7079276_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://evanhampton.com/">source</a>}</div>
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Are you as excited for football season as I am? What traditions are your favorite? What memories do you tie to the game?</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-40283912014445589852012-08-31T07:03:00.000-04:002012-08-31T07:03:39.704-04:00Freeky Friday: Wunderbare Wanderlust<center>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099"><img alt="Freeky Friday" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaq7asyZrZmjOXZoCbekE3PK0cbJacPHTaPN7H5WUCCovaAZpkwLZqDun2Om3PDS9k4ETcNEsJE-QGaLtOojNS2Vav9T-iKvlAL77cAwgjJPqZQ8RetN9rJEChzj4pZa0kz5P6j0t6EU/" /></a></center>
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<a href=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099" target="_blank"><img alt="Freeky Friday" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaq7asyZrZmjOXZoCbekE3PK0cbJacPHTaPN7H5WUCCovaAZpkwLZqDun2Om3PDS9k4ETcNEsJE-QGaLtOojNS2Vav9T-iKvlAL77cAwgjJPqZQ8RetN9rJEChzj4pZa0kz5P6j0t6EU/"/></a></center>
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Welcome back to Freeky Friday! I know I've been inconsistent with this series lately (hopefully you've been following along <a href="http://concretejane.blogspot.com/">here</a> instead!), but I couldn't resist chiming back in for the summer's final prompt. Seriously! It's almost fall! Crazy, huh? Anyway, the final topic of 2012 is:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What are your goals for the upcoming year?</span></span></blockquote>
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In 2011, <a href="http://weddingbee.com/author/lioness">we got married</a>, <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/search/label/house%20hunting">bought a house</a>, started new jobs, and <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2011/09/pursuit-of-happiness-quarter-life.html">moved to the suburbs</a>. It was an incredible year, but it was also an exhausting one. In 2012, we fixed a leaky pipe, and I blogged sometimes. I think I needed a chill year to catch my breath after last year's excitement. But tranquility is not in my nature. I'm best when I'm busy, my mind is most clear when life is chaotic, and I'm most productive when working toward a distant goal. After a year of placid, I'm ready for some plans!<br />
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My most exciting plans of 2013 are several years in the making. You see, Dave and I <i>really</i> wanted to do a big Eurotrip for our honeymoon. Then, we fronted most of the bill for our wedding. We decided to save our travel plans for our first anniversary, but then we bought a house. Life, mostly its financial aspects, kept getting in the way. I was reminded of one of my favorite on-screen couples, and their similar roadblocks.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/currycooqoo/4179321155/" title="Up - Ellie & Carl Married Life 056 by currycooqoo, on Flickr"><img alt="Up - Ellie & Carl Married Life 056" height="359" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2563/4179321155_80ee5678bc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/currycooqoo/with/4179321155/">currycooqoo</a> | yes, I teared up while browsing through "Up" screencaps}</div>
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I refused to let life interrupt our "Paradise Falls plans" any longer. We budgeted carefully, and I'm proud to say that we are officially and definitely going to Germany and Austria in April 2013!</div>
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So far, we've booked tickets to the opera in Vienna (obviously), and we've begun to research our route.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm0bIR-3Gw2vHnyOjsaE74C5bhoVE0d7cBtTCW75paCvYBWCmAtgoCefnH54EoBamAFG9Ol1ylLOUbG4zSV9NkQ8P9m95-YK0A9XQRdQRJLwZeNRZ7H-X0iWvgrvkvYg-ZdRRvH5xBKQ/s1600/map.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm0bIR-3Gw2vHnyOjsaE74C5bhoVE0d7cBtTCW75paCvYBWCmAtgoCefnH54EoBamAFG9Ol1ylLOUbG4zSV9NkQ8P9m95-YK0A9XQRdQRJLwZeNRZ7H-X0iWvgrvkvYg-ZdRRvH5xBKQ/s1600/map.tiff" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google</a>}</div>
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Such a tiny portion of such a breathtaking continent! It makes me lust after all of those other fabulous places that we won't have time for. In the other hand, we'll get to see a lot in our short, 11-day trip. We'll get to see things like this:</div>
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<a href="http://www.monuments.ws/upload/Castle-Neuschwanstein-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://www.monuments.ws/upload/Castle-Neuschwanstein-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://www.monuments.ws/search_results.php?image_title=Neuschwanstein%20Castle">Monuments</a>}</div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgyl8fCpu41qaqpcio1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgyl8fCpu41qaqpcio1_500.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://aliceisbacon.tumblr.com/post/3724575165/austrian-n-library">Sweet Nothings</a>}</div>
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<a href="http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Friburg-market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Friburg-market.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Friburg-market.jpg">Rates to Go</a>}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16RZU7P37bYZuSf_QvPwm2G4tXYE7bi-VTS6qmySxe4BonfSagoVMhQPZl3A1ROxaM_P6olJ19dL1aTCXr8Tgw0cTIPy0MdFnfx8qvGKZfoS3DpP-O3EM-o0w4oiZ08PhmQbjFjf-baE/s1600/Salzburg+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16RZU7P37bYZuSf_QvPwm2G4tXYE7bi-VTS6qmySxe4BonfSagoVMhQPZl3A1ROxaM_P6olJ19dL1aTCXr8Tgw0cTIPy0MdFnfx8qvGKZfoS3DpP-O3EM-o0w4oiZ08PhmQbjFjf-baE/s640/Salzburg+day.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://myashtonville.blogspot.com/2012/07/salzburg-hills-are-alive-with-sound-of.html">My Ashtonville</a>}</div>
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Holy Von Trapp family, Batman! Can we go now?!</div>
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Have any of you been to the Bavarian Alps before? Any must-sees or travel tips? And also, what are <i>you</i> looking forward to in the coming year?</div>
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<a href="http://concretejane.blogspot.com/search/label/Freeky%20Friday"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hHOXA86ZtfPeqK5_opVgT6wEzHL8Fwx6HBJbh3b-PVuco5V4tJAbyWTcehzpFyAF9uXiHjs-nO-w1Ftp_SHUrebeTGisggUbjVstxAZMwOa8kBdoBokSF_0sGHGi7MOHj358mWmSzoc/s1600/badge1.jpg" /></a>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-37829105115689680872012-08-28T06:20:00.001-04:002012-08-28T06:22:24.483-04:00Chocolate Dessert Pizza<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm trying to do this thing where I eat a little healthier. This is mostly in an attempt to give myself a little wiggle room before we take a vacation that involves excessive amounts of pretzels, beer, and Viennese pastries...more on that later. Anyway, this lifestyle change has actually come more easily than I had anticipated. I'm enjoying cooking with a lot of whole foods, especially produce, and I haven't really missed the bad-for-you foods...except the sweets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I <i>love</i> to bake, and I don't believe that desserts can truly be enjoyed in moderation (seriously, Seasons52, the only good thing about those dessert "shots" is that I feel like I can eat seven of them...NO SELF CONTROL). I mean, can you imagine baking a fresh batch of rich fudgey brownies, only to allow yourself to have 1/8 of one? Where's the fun in that?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I had this idea: what if I made something that satisfied the chocolate craving, but that filled you up on fruit so that you didn't have so much <i>artificial</i> sugar? Okay, so a dessert pizza still isn't exactly healthy, but it's one of the healthier desserts I've made! And this recipe was just rich enough. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLxc1c21Rn3qO1a_h-YQMgAMsyqcBvYhxTVI77z1-xS6IRdRl7l2LLmyqd8yO1kTz7i8QTgxOdU1qzJCuVFoB7cdkWYHCx34bO_huIxyfT_A6IWlvXdvk4mMw054GtjIpB0mu1W3RY44/s1600/DSC_0551+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLxc1c21Rn3qO1a_h-YQMgAMsyqcBvYhxTVI77z1-xS6IRdRl7l2LLmyqd8yO1kTz7i8QTgxOdU1qzJCuVFoB7cdkWYHCx34bO_huIxyfT_A6IWlvXdvk4mMw054GtjIpB0mu1W3RY44/s640/DSC_0551+copy.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorprincess.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F08%2Fchocolate-dessert-pizza.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-QqUcLikb9RE%2FUDvXL01uyOI%2FAAAAAAAAEQY%2FtfUavwy_fGI%2Fs640%2FDSC_0551%2Bcopy.jpg&description=chocolate%20dessert%20pizza%20%7C%20via%20Dr.%20Princess"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.516666412353516px;"><i><b>Chocolate Dessert Pizza</b> (adapted from <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Olympic-Rings-Fruit-Pizza">Taste of Home</a>)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.516666412353516px;"><br /></span></div>
<ul class="ingredients" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></li>
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<ul><span class="amount" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i>
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<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">butter, softened</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">shortening</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">sugar</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">packed brown sugar</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">1 egg</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3 ounces </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 teaspoon </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">vanilla extract</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 cups </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">all-purpose flour</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">baking cocoa</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/4 teaspoon </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">salt</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 package </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">(8 ounces) cream cheese, softened</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">confectioners' sugar</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 cups </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">whipped topping</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">fresh blueberries</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">fresh blackberries</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">diced fresh strawberries</span></i></li>
<li><span class="amount" style="color: black; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">pineapple tidbits, drained</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="name" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.22em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">1 large kiwifruit, peeled and chopped</span></i></li>
</span></ul>
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<ul class="ingredients" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.22em;"><br /></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.22em;"><b>Directions</b></span></li>
</ul>
<ol><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.22em;"><i>
</i>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">In a bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugars. Beat in the egg, melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">Place waxed paper over a 15-in. x 10-in. baking sheet without sides. Shape dough into a flattened rectangle and place on prepared baking sheet. Cover dough with waxed paper; roll dough to within 1/4 in. of edges of baking sheet. Remove top sheet of waxed paper; invert dough onto another greased baking sheet. Remove remaining waxed paper.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.22em;">Using a 4-1/2-in. diameter plate or bowl and a knife, trace three touching circles along a long side of the dough. Trace two more circles centered below and overlapping upper circles by 1 in. Cut around outer edges of the rings; remove dough around rings and use to make cookies if desired. Bake rings at 350° for 14-16 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.22em;">In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add whipped topping; mix well. Transfer cooled crust to a serving platter. Spread with frosting. Top with fruit and enjoy!</span></li>
</span></ol>
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According to the original baker, this recipe yields 12-16 servings. I got <b>at least </b>30 out of it - great for a party!</span><br />
<ul class="directions" style="line-height: 1.22em; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 7px 17px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-80101247178329984242012-08-08T19:48:00.000-04:002012-08-08T19:48:08.597-04:00Amps are AwesomeA lot of my non-rehab friends have been asking me how I feel about the fact that Oscar Pistorius, a bilateral below-knee amputee, competed in the Olympics. As a physical therapist, I see a lot of patients status post amputation. I don't really do pediatric rehab, so I don't see too many folks with congenital conditions that require amputations early on, like Mr. Pistorius experienced. Most of my peeps needed an amputation because of some sort of trauma or, more likely in the South, they ate too much sugar and lost some circulation. I love working with amputees because it's such a fun challenge. It's neurorehab, because I get to teach them how to adjust their balance and how to trust a new point of weightbearing. It's orthopedic rehab, because I have to help them achieve and/or maintain appropriate strength and flexibility necessary for daily life. And I get to lecture a lot about things like safety, and I like that because it makes me feel smart. The interesting thing I've noticed about my amputee patients is that they all ask the same question: "Will I be able to run?"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yep. Everyone from the young, athletic guys in the motorcycle accidents to the obese old ladies with Type 2 Diabetes. They all ask me that question, and I always ask the same thing in response: "Well, did you run before?" Most of them say no.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A lot of people think that amputation of a limb results in some kind of high-tech replacement, which will ultimately grant them some kind of superhuman ability that they didn't have before.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/a/af/LukeHand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/a/af/LukeHand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cybernetics">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
In reality, that hand belongs to Luke Skywalker and THAT'S NOT REAL LIFE (unfortunately).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, when people ask me if Oscar Pistorius has some kind of advantage over the other athletes, I quickly say no. I know there's all kinds of conflicting data out there saying one way or another, but that's how I feel based on my experience. Now, I understand the push for him to compete in the Paralympic Games instead (after all, they initially began as the "World Wheelchair and Amputee Games"). But in my opinion, those games are for even more significantly adapted sports. Ever heard of quad rugby, otherwise known as murderball?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1W1JxmHxR2w" width="640"></iframe>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
{<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/takepart">source</a>}</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
By the way, I highly recommend that documentary. Even if you don't work in neurorehab with patients with spinal cord injuries, those guys are entertaining and inspiring!<br />
<br />
Anyway, after watching Pistorius run the other day, he really didn't look that different from the other athletes. I don't think his prostheses put him at an advantage or at a disadvantage. The only thing that looked different to me was that he has a bit more hip flexion, but that's probably just a compensatory mechanism he developed in order to achieve enough foot clearance. What do you think?<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uLIlI3VEsJY" width="640"></iframe><br />
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{<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/insidenikerunning">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm glad that Pistorius was able to compete with athletes who don't require adaptations to their sport. I hope that this opens doors for others who hope to do the same.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m895dpXMTQ1rt9jv5o1_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m895dpXMTQ1rt9jv5o1_250.jpg" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m895dpXMTQ1rt9jv5o1_250.jpg">source</a>}</div>
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<br /></div>
If this is a subject you're interested in, I highly recommend <a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/08/06/op-ed-amputee-athlete-oscar-pistorius-runs-talent">this article</a> by triathlete and unilateral above-knee amputee Sarah Reinertsen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/styles/tp_content_wide/public/SarahRunning.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/styles/tp_content_wide/public/SarahRunning.jpeg" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/08/06/op-ed-amputee-athlete-oscar-pistorius-runs-talent">source</a>}</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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What's your opinion on adaptive athletes competing in the Olympics?Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-88498907508816385442012-08-06T21:43:00.000-04:002012-08-06T22:54:44.372-04:00Cranberry Chicken with Spicy CreamI bought Dave a new grill for his birthday (yeah, no idea how I'm going to top that next year), and we've definitely put it to use! Grilling out was one of the activities I was most looking forward to as a new homeowner. It makes it easier to eat healthier food, and it certainly simplifies entertaining. It's also been fun to experiment with converting some old favorites into new grill-ready recipes. We recently tried Dave's favorite Cooking Light recipe on the grill instead of in a cast iron grill pan; the results absolutely exceeded our expectations.<br />
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<i><b>Cranberry Chicken with Spicy Cream</b> (adapted from <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pan-grilled-chicken-with-cranberry-salsa-10000000223253/">Cooking Light</a>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, butterflied and cut in half</li>
<li>1/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/4 tsp pepper</li>
<li>1/3 cup green onions, minced</li>
<li>1 Tbsp fresh jalapeño, minced</li>
<li>2 tsp balsamic vinegar</li>
<li>1 (12-oz) can of cranberry sauce</li>
<li>1 Tbsp orange juice</li>
<li>2 Tbsp cilantro, divided</li>
<li>1 1/2 Tbsp lime juice, divided</li>
<li>2 Tbsp reduced fat cream cheese</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Directions</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken breast halves. Throw them on the grill.</li>
<li>Combine onions, jalapeños, vinegar, cranberry sauce, and orange juice in a small bowl. Stir in 1 Tbsp cilantro and 1 Tbsp lime juice. Set aside.</li>
<li>Stir remaining cilantro and lime juice into the cream cheese. Set aside.</li>
<li>Place grilled chicken breast on top of cranberry mixture and top with a dollop of cream cheese mixture. Serve immediately.</li>
</ol>
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<div>
What's your favorite grilling recipe?</div>
</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-34025715883159638312012-08-01T20:29:00.002-04:002012-08-01T20:30:40.011-04:00Cooking for Gringas: FajitasAs I mentioned in <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/07/coffee-for-cause.html">my previous post,</a> I've been super busy this summer with many fun projects...including trying lots of great food! Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite, which I do believe I've perfected. (Well, it's the best I've ever made it!)<br />
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I know this sounds a bit odd, but one of my favorite gifts I've ever received was a good cast iron skillet. I remember that upon receiving this present, I immediately made cornbread just as a good Southern girl should. But then I got to thinking...maybe I could expand my cast iron horizons. Maybe I could venture even further south.<br />
<br />
I know I usually focus on Caribbean cuisine in this series, but I whipped up some fajitas in my new skillet that were too good not to share! In the past, I've marinated my fajita steak at least overnight. This time, I added alcohol to my usual marinade, allowing it to tenderize the meat during cooking. I love when my experiments allow me to be <strike>impatient</strike> efficient!<br />
<br />
<i>Ingredients:</i><br />
<br />
1/4 cup tequila<br />
1/4 cup sweetened lime juice<br />
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped<br />
2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 teaspoon cumin<br />
1/2 teaspoon black pepper<br />
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes<br />
2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 pound skirt steak, trimmed, not yet cut!<br />
1 green bell pepper, julienned<br />
1 medium yellow onion, julienned<br />
<br />
<i>Directions:</i><br />
<br />
Combine all ingredients through olive oil in a large bowl. You may be wondering what I mean by sweetened lime juice. I suppose you could just use regular lime juice, but the sweetness mixed with the tequila and the spices made for a killer combination. I recommend something like Rose's...<br />
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Once all of your "marinade" ingredients are combined, throw the steak in there and toss a few times until fully coated.<br />
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Heat cast iron skillet on medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles off of it. Add steak and half of the remaining "marinade." If you use thin cuts like I do, you won't need to cook it for long...I did about 2-3 minutes on each side. Once brown, remove from pan.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
Pour remaining "marinade" into the pan. Add veggies to the pan and toss to coat. Cook until onions are soft.<br />
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Slice the cooked steak into strips. Slicing it <b>against the grain</b> and <b>on the bias</b> will help to make it more tender. Reduce heat to low, and add steak to the skillet. Stir everything together until evenly combined.<br />
<br />
Serve immediately with tortillas (white corn tortillas pair nicely with this recipe), cheese (I used sharp white cheddar, which was AMAZING) and guacamole.<br />
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What's your favorite Mexican dish? Do you have any delicious fajita variations to share?</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-5453892828091994022012-07-30T18:51:00.000-04:002012-07-30T18:51:11.917-04:00Coffee for a Cause[tap tap tap]...is this thing on? Why hello! It's been a while. I promise my recent absence is only due to having my hands tied with lots of fun things that I absolutely plan to share with you soon (like a whole bunch of stuff around the house, the beginning stages of putting together a trip to Europe, and, of course, noms).<br />
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I needed to get back to blogging because I have something very important to share with you. My dear friend <a href="http://jasondominy.tumblr.com/">Jason Dominy</a> is planning a trip to Africa. You might remember Jason from <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/search?q=batdorf&x=0&y=0">some of my previous posts</a>. Jason Domi<span style="font-family: inherit;">ny is <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Batdorf & Bronson's Head of Bean Knowledgy (yes, that's a real word) and all-around coffee enthusiast. No, "enthusiast" seems like a bit of an understatement. This dude has a tattoo of a coffee bean; I think it's safe to say he pretty much lives and breathes it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">He's so passionate about coffee, that he's dedicated his life not only to the bean itself, but to the farmers who bring us this marvelous crop. He and his wife April have served an organization called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bloodwatermission">Blood:Water Mission</a> for nearly a decade. Blood:Water Mission is a grassroots program that takes on important issues facing African farmers, such as a lack of clean water and HIV/AIDS. This organization's work creates healthier farmers, which not only brings better coffee, but a brighter future for the farmers' children.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">As I mentioned, Jason has a unique opportunity to accompany this organization to Uganda on a service trip. He'll visit a center for people living with HIV/AIDS, which Blood:Water built in 2010. He'll visit villages that are re-establishing themselves after decades of war. And you can help get him there!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">My friends over at <a href="http://atlanta-culinary-tours.com/batdorf-bronson-coffee-roastery-tour/">Atlanta Culinary Tours</a> have generously decided to donate all of the proceeds of one of their Coffee 101 tours with Jason. <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2011/07/atlanta-culinary-tour-batdorf-bronson.html">I've personally attended this particular tour</a>, and it's one of my favorites! After just two hours, you'll be able to answer these questions:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="line-height: 19px;">How does a coffee's origin influence flavor?</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19px;">What's involved in the roasting process?</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19px;">Okay, I feel like I should know this but seriously...what does "fair trade" mean exactly?!</span></li>
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This tour for a cause will be held <b>Monday, August 20th at 7pm.</b> Please <a href="http://atlanta-culinary-tours.com/batdorf-bronson-coffee-roastery-tour/">visit Atlanta Culinary Tours' website to purchase tickets</a>, and hurry because space is limited! If you're unable to attend, don't worry! You can still <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/bwmuganda/fundraiser/jasondominy">donate to Jason through his Crowdrise page</a>. So whatdya say? Will I see you there?</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-24000187275443487852012-06-29T06:38:00.001-04:002012-07-30T17:59:51.790-04:00Freeky Friday: Alter Ego<center>
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Welcome to another Freeky Friday! Today's topic:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who is your pop culture alter ego?</span></span></blockquote>
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Okay, so this topic is a little silly...but think about it. We all know that friend who reminds you of a character on <i>Friends</i>, and I definitely have more than one Elle Woods in my life! I can probably name pop culture alter egos for most of my loved ones, but choosing one for myself took a little more thought. Obviously, it had to be Disney. But who in the world is actually like a Disney character?</div>
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Answer: when that Disney character is a satyrical caricature of the typical Disney heroine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkQ9VgHv1pHkngavuIZdza4jXT0_xnoq7y9qqTNJd_D4ahz9gt8nu-jjMxzJUyGmqM9XdnLPbSGgfdjpKMzFnR8iDPTLL6cVwP0PNJTApe7OIzcXdCiJo_yzfHZG2OqqL4loeuQZIt2k/s1600/Enchanted_0122.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkQ9VgHv1pHkngavuIZdza4jXT0_xnoq7y9qqTNJd_D4ahz9gt8nu-jjMxzJUyGmqM9XdnLPbSGgfdjpKMzFnR8iDPTLL6cVwP0PNJTApe7OIzcXdCiJo_yzfHZG2OqqL4loeuQZIt2k/s640/Enchanted_0122.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://www.leavemethewhite.com/">source</a>}</div>
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Disney's <i>Enchanted</i> is about a wannabe princess from a fictional, animated, Disneyesque village called Andalasia, who becomes trapped in the New York City we know and love. What follows is ninety minutes of comedy designed purely for the true Disney fan. You know how <i>Shrek</i> spoofs the Disney Fairy Tale? <i>Enchanted </i>basically does that without fart jokes and while maintaining that warm and fuzzy feeling that Disney films are intended to convey. You might say I'm a fan.</div>
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Our heroine, the wannabe princess, is a maiden named Giselle. First of all, I love that name because it reminds me of one of my favorite ballets...though its plot is a bit darker than the average Disney film. This Giselle faces the challenge of adjusting to a non-animated world, in which her usual habits and mannerisms aren't socially acceptable.<br />
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{<a href="http://www.leavemethewhite.com/">source</a>}</div>
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Yeah...it's not exactly a cute woodland creature when you're in New York.</div>
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Here's what I love about her though: while adjusting to this new and crazy world, she manages to be herself. Sure, she tones it down a little bit, but that doesn't stop her from singing and dancing in the middle of Central Park...</div>
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{<a href="http://www.leavemethewhite.com/">source</a>}</div>
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...something I am known to do myself:</div>
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<a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/283_732335052541_8802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/283_732335052541_8802_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I know what you're thinking. "Well, Julia, you can be a little bit ridiculous at times, but you're hardly a misplaced wannabe princess! Why is this your pop culture alter ego?" Because of the grumpy lawyer whom her cheesy antics eventually win over:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb8sXRIp05oSMFi-jqTuiCtHnIYyTjfXspBQIum6XvpPaEyzUcu1FMPrK2T9hdtAFDb_lqIGd3Jb4D_KTWXY2jVguedmKghad4xWsqPp_HJOZocrnos9q3ABtaYdSw78rMz-Hx8tVDLM/s1600/Enchanted_0561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb8sXRIp05oSMFi-jqTuiCtHnIYyTjfXspBQIum6XvpPaEyzUcu1FMPrK2T9hdtAFDb_lqIGd3Jb4D_KTWXY2jVguedmKghad4xWsqPp_HJOZocrnos9q3ABtaYdSw78rMz-Hx8tVDLM/s640/Enchanted_0561.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
{<a href="http://www.leavemethewhite.com/">source</a>}</div>
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Use your imagination! Who's your pop culture alter ego?</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In case you forgot, </span><b style="background-color: white;"><i>anyone can get Freeky on Fridays</i></b><span style="background-color: white;">! You can participate in three different ways:</span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Tweet your answer using the tag #FreekyFriday</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">"Like" the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099">Freekware Facebook page</a>, then comment on there with your answer</li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span">Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. Today is your last chance for the month so get on it!</span></b><br />
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Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!<br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-74a0ad2">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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Come on back next Friday, July 6th, and answer this prompt:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What's your favorite summer tradition of all time? It could be something from your past or something you still do to this day!</span><br />
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</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-72957213205179282402012-06-15T06:45:00.002-04:002012-06-15T06:45:24.794-04:00Freeky Friday: Devoting Full Time to Floating<br />
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Welcome to another Freeky Friday! We're getting local with today's topic:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What's the best thing about summer in your neck of the woods? Any fun local activities or traditions?</span></div>
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Atlanta is a wonderful place to be during the summertime. It's festival season, so it seems like there's always a special event every weekend. The Braves are in full swing (wow...that was awful), so that's always a fun way to spend the day. And of course, I'm excited to make some new traditions in our new suburban surroundings. My favorite local tradition is actually just a bit outside of Atlanta...believe it or not, it's in Athens.<br />
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My favorite summer tradition takes place in Athens at a little place called the <a href="http://www.thesandbarbroadriver.com/">Sandbar</a>. The Sandbar is a kayak rental facility on the Broad River, just about an hour and a half east of Atlanta.<br />
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<a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/294698_10150347281413115_3371070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/294698_10150347281413115_3371070_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/broadriver">The Sandbar</a>}</div>
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A couple of years ago, my husband and I kayaked down the river with some couple friends. We had so much fun, we decided to invite a few more friends. We took our third trip down the river last weekend, so I think it's officially a tradition now!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QXFurrpnXFfpRWCrUm7zFuOMlrThOlqtax_aXeIHKOu0h0SBeLI2mbIUD33cxlS1F4IxqY6TEgVmQcU6RoQf4uXvD38P-xaWQzIW3pXvNW9usW9A1mC5IgGHSOBOKEI-3Bvmg0dD9qA/s1600/22230004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QXFurrpnXFfpRWCrUm7zFuOMlrThOlqtax_aXeIHKOu0h0SBeLI2mbIUD33cxlS1F4IxqY6TEgVmQcU6RoQf4uXvD38P-xaWQzIW3pXvNW9usW9A1mC5IgGHSOBOKEI-3Bvmg0dD9qA/s640/22230004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Believe it or not, I wasn't always outdoorsy. Outdoor adventures in South Florida are great when there's a beach involved, but otherwise it's just a lot of humidity and love bugs. Besides, I'm Irish and therefore it's ingrained in my DNA to be afraid of the sun! I couldn't help but get caught up in nature once I moved here, though. The beach isn't too far away, but mountains and trails and rivers and lakes are much closer, and I've enjoyed exploring those environments. Kayaking has become one of my new favorite hobbies, and I look forward to this particular trip every year!<br />
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What's your favorite local tradition?<br />
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In case you forgot, <b><i>anyone can get Freeky on Fridays</i></b>! You can participate in three different ways:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Tweet your answer using the tag #FreekyFriday</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">"Like" the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099">Freekware Facebook page</a>, then comment on there with your answer</li>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span">Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are four more Fridays in June, so you can be entered to win up to twelve times!</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b><br />
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!<br />
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Come on back next Friday, June 22nd, and answer this prompt:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What's on your positivity playlist this summer? Share your favorite feel-good songs!</span><br />
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<a href="http://concretejane.blogspot.com/search/label/Freeky%20Friday"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hHOXA86ZtfPeqK5_opVgT6wEzHL8Fwx6HBJbh3b-PVuco5V4tJAbyWTcehzpFyAF9uXiHjs-nO-w1Ftp_SHUrebeTGisggUbjVstxAZMwOa8kBdoBokSF_0sGHGi7MOHj358mWmSzoc/s1600/badge1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-26951561937091126562012-06-13T19:00:00.001-04:002012-06-13T19:00:02.956-04:00Cooking for Gringas: ¡Bebamos!In my previous post, I shared a recipe that included some fresh mint from our new garden. I think it's pretty obvious what the next minty post is...need I remind y'all that I live in a Cuban household?!<br />
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<a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/search/label/gringa"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUhmVTOp1rlJkG0dq_HEApaBrZ00h0qTH5-oLedHbt2TIAIJj9Inp-rYkcSxkodc5jQWh39hz9whMWt-pC_NyCfCzQaML4KE2N7E-NVGJptYEWkFwdsQxRUjaVm-F72W_KeeBXjET0muE/s640/banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mojitos are one of my favorite cocktails, and I believe that would be true even if I hadn't married into it. There's something about the mint and lime combination that is just oh so refreshing. The trouble with mojitos, though, is that it's really hard to make them correctly. My bar isn't always stocked with <a href="http://www.rosesmixers.com/">Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice</a>, and sometimes it's hard to find sugar cane. But at the same time, you don't wanna make a rookie mistake and substitute with something like Sprite! This recipe is my version of the mojito with stuff that I always have around.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4XA4GVm0Fl7sFpfM9rwGLTJysW9T5M9ifL1pMLAWi0ZnWPpISwxO_Dv3wgR_2WIyCkcDetu4eh9Ya2HsSXkp78gGnIgGKM2JBNHMTGwTu8OYuFiLFEFT4EyN32y4pvj4fjFKZr9obMs/s1600/mojitos1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4XA4GVm0Fl7sFpfM9rwGLTJysW9T5M9ifL1pMLAWi0ZnWPpISwxO_Dv3wgR_2WIyCkcDetu4eh9Ya2HsSXkp78gGnIgGKM2JBNHMTGwTu8OYuFiLFEFT4EyN32y4pvj4fjFKZr9obMs/s640/mojitos1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Mojitos Gringos</i></b><br />
{makes 4 mojitos}<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>8 oz white rum</li>
<li>2 limes, each cut into 8 wedges</li>
<li>1/2 cup mint</li>
<li>4 tsp sugar</li>
<li>4 tsp lime juice</li>
<li>1 L sparkling water</li>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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Muddle together in a <i>plastic</i> pitcher<i>. </i>Place 5 ice cubes in a highball glass (a frosty one, if available) and enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printrecipe.php?recipeID%5B%5D=6wNDK3VmBE" target="_blank">Print Recipe</a> | <a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printgrocerylist.php?recipeID%5B%5D=6wNDK3VmBE" target="_blank">Printable grocery list</a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-89262020315692319202012-06-11T09:12:00.000-04:002012-06-11T09:12:50.634-04:00Summer Salads: Watermelon Heirloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The final summer salad in this series is one of my favorite recipes. Something you should know about me is that I'm completely obsessed with feta cheese. I love it on pizza, in salads, in any kind of combination with tomatoes...but the marriage of creamy feta with juicy summer watermelon is just heaven. Some people use basil in a watermelon heirloom salad, but I prefer it with mint. This was also rather convenient for me, since the mint <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-kind-of-diy.html">in our very own garden</a> was begging to be eaten (that stuff GROWS). With freshly harvested herbs, this was the first dish we made with an ingredient we grew! I'm looking forward to many more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONj5RHV_4YfHqVKk8gZPXRjyPqmEY1BXn4O8hFzc2_-nBH6IBmQgIjXFLLnT1iGdyQo92YxivV3MllhBy49-CkcxaH8enXi3Nf4dCI09SYhkiSInf8Iw1NaPZ_UOc-7nG1CwGzd8SPOE/s1600/salad5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONj5RHV_4YfHqVKk8gZPXRjyPqmEY1BXn4O8hFzc2_-nBH6IBmQgIjXFLLnT1iGdyQo92YxivV3MllhBy49-CkcxaH8enXi3Nf4dCI09SYhkiSInf8Iw1NaPZ_UOc-7nG1CwGzd8SPOE/s640/salad5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Watermelon Heirloom Salad</i></b><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>1 quart watermelon, cubed</li>
<li>3 heirloom tomatoes (I used one green, one yellow, and one purple...the more colorful the better!), cubed</li>
<li>1/4 cup feta, crumbled</li>
<li>1/4 cup mint, minced</li>
<li>2 tsp red onion, minced</li>
<li>balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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Toss together watermelon, tomatoes, feta, mint, and onions. Drizzle oil and vinegar, and sprinkle on some salt and pepper.<br />
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<a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printrecipe.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0XorW1hFiX" target="_blank">Print Recipe</a> | <a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printgrocerylist.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0XorW1hFiX" target="_blank">Printable grocery list</a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-74734925326597869242012-06-08T07:12:00.000-04:002012-06-08T07:12:09.650-04:00Freeky Friday: An Ankle Update<center><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099"><img alt="Freeky Friday" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaq7asyZrZmjOXZoCbekE3PK0cbJacPHTaPN7H5WUCCovaAZpkwLZqDun2Om3PDS9k4ETcNEsJE-QGaLtOojNS2Vav9T-iKvlAL77cAwgjJPqZQ8RetN9rJEChzj4pZa0kz5P6j0t6EU/" /></a></center><br />
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<textarea cols="20" rows="6"><center><a href=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099" target="_blank"><img alt="Freeky Friday" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaq7asyZrZmjOXZoCbekE3PK0cbJacPHTaPN7H5WUCCovaAZpkwLZqDun2Om3PDS9k4ETcNEsJE-QGaLtOojNS2Vav9T-iKvlAL77cAwgjJPqZQ8RetN9rJEChzj4pZa0kz5P6j0t6EU/"/></a></center></textarea><br />
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Welcome to another great summer of Freeky Friday! We're kicking off this year with this lovely topic:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What's the best thing that's happened to you over the last year? Get creative with your answer! It can be something you experienced, something you witnessed, something you participated in, something you realized...the possibilities are endless!</span></div>
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A lot has happened since we last did Freeky Friday. I've been very blessed over the last year. My husband and I both started new (better!) jobs, and now I truly feel that I'm treating patients I'm interested in and doing what I love. We bought our first house, and it's been a challenging but incredible adventure. We were fortunate enough to celebrate our first wedding anniversary together. All of these wonderful and positive experiences have made us thirsty for what's ahead on the horizon. We've started planning a trip to Europe, we discussed both near and distant future house projects, and, frankly, we discussed the future of our family.</div>
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Then, <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/05/long-and-whiney-tale.html">my ankle</a> got all jacked up.</div>
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I was really mopey about it for a long time. I'm still mopey at times; for example, I can't watch "So You Think You Can Dance" without feeling sorry for myself. I first went to the orthopedic surgeon on March 26th. I had my MRI done on April 9th, and then I saw a different orthopedist (you know, the one who put me in <a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/2012/05/pathetic-lament-splint.html">The Splint</a>) for a second opinion on April 30th.</div>
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I saw this orthopedic surgeon again on May 25th to have him determine whether or not the splint was working. He had warned me that only 30% of the patient population with chronic ankle sprains see improvement with conservative management like splinting and rehab...and I had looked up and read the article to make sure he was right. I was not optimistic. I stepped into that clinic that day expecting to leave with a scheduled surgery. Surgery meant being non-weightbearing for six weeks (which for a physical therapist means at least two months off of work), but it also meant a potential solution. I told myself that I had accepted this option. In reality, I was praying for that option. A surgery just seemed so final, so absolute. My ankle still hurt, so how in the world could The Splint be declared a success? Surgery sounded crappy, but it was an answer. Regardless of whether The Splint was a success or not, I was hoping there would be some kind of a final decision that day. I just kept begging to God, the universe, whoever, to not make me wear that damned thing anymore. I told myself that if he asked me to keep wearing it, I would refuse. It either worked or it didn't and I was determined to get rid of it that day.</div>
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When he took a look at my ankle, he seemed completely shocked. I asked him what was going on and he said that the definitive test was negative. "First of all," he said. "I'm surprised that you were compliant with the splint. Most clinicians make horrible patients. Secondly, I'm surprised you're actually in that 30%." Immediately, my hopes of surgery were transformed and it was absolutely no longer my wish. Then he said, "You're going to hate this." And I knew what was coming next: I needed to wear The Splint for three more weeks <i>just to make sure</i>.</div>
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You'd think this would have made me throw a hissy fit, right? I thought I would have thrown a hissy fit! Instead, I smiled, sighed, and agreed. Somehow I just <b>knew</b> that this was what was supposed to happen. Maybe it was his demeanor; he just seemed so thrilled, and so optimistic that surgery wouldn't be necessary. For a <i>surgeon</i> to be that happy about <i>not</i> doing surgery, I knew we were onto something.</div>
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So here I am, almost three more weeks into the second cycle of The Splint. Don't get me wrong, it still sucks. But maybe I'm just used to it or it's more broken in or something, but it's not holding me back as much anymore. Some days I'm still not walking well with it. Other days it's absolutely aching by the end of the day. Then other days, I go to the gym and do the sitting down machines instead of free weights, and even though this isn't my preference, I'm just happy to be active again.</div>
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I told the doctor about this, too. I knew that I needed to wear The Splint 24/7, but I was headed to the beach that weekend and refused to let it hold me back. He laughed, and said that as long as I had it on, I'd be sticking with the plan that was apparently working so well. Walking through sand in that stupid thing was difficult, but stepping into the Gulf of Mexico with it was worth it. </div>
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Don't worry, I asked the nurse for a second one, so now I have a "land" splint and a "water" splint...because I'm going kayaking tomorrow!</div>
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With all of the good that's come out of the last year, this horrible ankle injury was one of the best and one of the worst all at the same time. It's taught me to be humble, and not to take the wonderful parts of life for granted. It's taught me to ask for help when I need it, and it's taught me to forgive myself. Most of all, it's taught me to slow down. I'm always several steps ahead of myself and it's so easy for me to get caught up in future plans; this injury has taught me to embrace the present and take things one day at a time.</div>
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I'm a little nervous about my next appointment on Monday, but I'm just trying to remember that it's happening the way it's supposed to, even if it's not according to my plans.</div>
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What's the best thing that happened to <i>you</i> this year?<br />
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In case you forgot, <b><i>anyone can get Freeky on Fridays</i></b>! You can participate in three different ways:<br />
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Tweet your answer using the tag #FreekyFriday</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">"Like" the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099">Freekware Facebook page</a>, then comment on there with your answer</li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span">Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are four more Fridays in June, so you can be entered to win up to twelve times!</span></b><br />
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Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!<br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-74a0ad2">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Come on back next Friday, June 15th (ahem, my husband's birthday), and answer this prompt:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What's the best thing about summer in your neck of the woods? Any fun local activities or traditions?</span><br />
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<a href="http://concretejane.blogspot.com/search/label/Freeky%20Friday"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hHOXA86ZtfPeqK5_opVgT6wEzHL8Fwx6HBJbh3b-PVuco5V4tJAbyWTcehzpFyAF9uXiHjs-nO-w1Ftp_SHUrebeTGisggUbjVstxAZMwOa8kBdoBokSF_0sGHGi7MOHj358mWmSzoc/s1600/badge1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-79727178837332339062012-06-06T19:00:00.000-04:002012-06-06T19:12:28.589-04:00A New Kind of DIYI'm as new to yard work as I am to home ownership. Growing up, I had no interest in helping my mom in the garden, and I sure as hell wasn't helping my dad mow the lawn. As an adult, gardening peaked my interest. I like being outdoors, and I <strike>love to eat</strike> like to cook. It seemed like an obvious choice once we had a yard of our own.<br />
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The problem with our yard is that we have a lot of shade. It was difficult finding a spot that got enough consistent sun to effectively grow a vegetable garden. We also wanted to use an area that the dog wouldn't get into (she really likes tomatoes). There was one area in our yard that met both of these criteria, but it definitely wasn't the most convenient spot.<br />
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<a href="http://thumbs.trulia-cdn.com/pictures/thumbs_4/ps.28/8/2/a/e/picture-uh=bf13d0d4f6ae658f82a4ba4d6ee631d-ps=82aec96f62795dfa7f42b1643f6086fd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://thumbs.trulia-cdn.com/pictures/thumbs_4/ps.28/8/2/a/e/picture-uh=bf13d0d4f6ae658f82a4ba4d6ee631d-ps=82aec96f62795dfa7f42b1643f6086fd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{via <a href="http://trulia.com/">Trulia</a>}</div>
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I forgot to take a "before picture," so I had to use one from the old real estate listing! Do you see that nice little brick retaining wall to the right of the playset? It's isolated, it's sunny, and it's covered in vegetation. I figured two out of three wasn't too bad, so I grabbed a shovel and a rake and got to work. It turned out that this "vegetation" was a giant and deeply rooted azalea bush (as well as a shit ton of poison ivy, but that's another story for another day). I also discovered that the land behind this retaining wall was pretty hilly. So, not only did I have to clear the area, I had to grade the land.<br />
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Look at all that junk I got to throw away! What a mess.<br />
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Once all of that was over with, I lined the back side of the garden area with some cinder blocks that we had lying around. Then, I planted rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, basil, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and bell peppers in the ground. I planted the lavender in the cinder blocks to give it a nice border. I planted the mint in a pot and then dug the pot into the ground. I had read that mint tends to take over gardens, so I hoped this strategy would help to contain the roots. Finally, I used some stones that we had lying around to create a path between my rows of crops.<br />
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<a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/403423_10102224470684731_2005510_87094664_1219732550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/403423_10102224470684731_2005510_87094664_1219732550_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's now been about a month since I began my gardening adventure. We've enjoyed two red bell peppers (yay for fajitas!), countless herbs, and we've almost got a jalapeño! Some days it looks better than others...it's definitely been a lesson in patience! I'm still learning when to water, when not to water, when to prune, and when to just let it be. It's been quite an experience so far, and I'm excited to see how much I can get out of it during Year One!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-86910390563702341652012-06-04T12:23:00.003-04:002012-06-04T12:23:36.652-04:00Freeky Friday: How It Works<span style="font-family: inherit;">Those of you who have been reading this little blog for a while may remember a series called "Freeky Friday" that </span><a href="http://concretejane.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">my sister blog</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and I did last summer. This series aims to celebrate and promote the message of </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099" style="font-family: inherit;">Freekware</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, a clothing company that's all about positivity and individuality. Freekware is very near and dear to my heart, as it's my cousin Mark's legacy. His sister's took over the company when he passed away in 2005, and it continues to expand to this day. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Best of all, the proceeds benefit the </span><a href="http://lls.org/" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Leukemia and Lymphoma Society</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">, in order to help other courageous badasses like Mark.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Freekware is about more than my family (those lovely people pictured above), and it's way more than just a clothing line...it's a lifestyle. Spread the Soul. Share the Strength. Embrace who you are and be proud to be a Freek!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you wanna join the Freeks? Just share some positivity every Friday by answering the prompt that we provide. Your first mission:</span></div>
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If you do not have a blog, you can still participate via Facebook and/or Twitter! The weekly prompt will be posted on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekware/128889363837099">Freekware Facebook page</a> every Friday. Simply "like" Freekware and comment on the prompt! Or, you can briefly answer the prompt via Twitter with the tag #FreekyFriday. If you can't decide between a blog post, Facebook, or Twitter, feel free to do all three! Additionally, once a month our topic will be "visual," meaning you get to play on Pinterest instead! Be sure to record your participation in the widget below on Friday or it will not count:</div>
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That same widget will appear on each Freeky Friday post, so you'll have plenty of chances to show how you participated! Oh, and you're probably wondering <i>why</i> you need to record your participation. Did I mention that Freeky Friday is a <i>giveaway?!</i> Each month, one lucky winner will receive a special prize, as well as a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in their name. So go ahead and rack up as many points as you can in that widget...each point counts as an entry!<br />
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I can't wait to read all of your blog posts this Friday!<br />
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<a href="http://doctorprincess.blogspot.com/search/label/freeky%20friday"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hHOXA86ZtfPeqK5_opVgT6wEzHL8Fwx6HBJbh3b-PVuco5V4tJAbyWTcehzpFyAF9uXiHjs-nO-w1Ftp_SHUrebeTGisggUbjVstxAZMwOa8kBdoBokSF_0sGHGi7MOHj358mWmSzoc/s1600/badge1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-6903477003667484512012-05-31T22:29:00.000-04:002012-05-31T22:29:23.573-04:00It's baaaack!Round 2 starts next Friday, June 8th.<br />
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Details to come next week!</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-35646632882010102882012-05-30T19:00:00.000-04:002012-05-30T19:00:02.434-04:00Summer Salads: Broccoli Slaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't stand coleslaw. Or potato salad, for that matter. I know, I know - they're an absolute staple when it comes to summertime cookouts. They're just always swamped with mayonaise! I was psyched when I came across this sweet, smokey, very green side dish. Best of all, this broccoli slaw has very little mayo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzmLJ0pOC8FGUD0emJgQMGXeaf4kbvh6Yvn75vgD28Ox4usODZeSw2dUhJHZ0rxfxSFUj4l_cbzN0tOntuI1jHpoK1X-nLaxjmuKXYqFU6Y5Z-EGH-9nNUMyHph1yLxPyhJQuICBiOH0/s1600/salad4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzmLJ0pOC8FGUD0emJgQMGXeaf4kbvh6Yvn75vgD28Ox4usODZeSw2dUhJHZ0rxfxSFUj4l_cbzN0tOntuI1jHpoK1X-nLaxjmuKXYqFU6Y5Z-EGH-9nNUMyHph1yLxPyhJQuICBiOH0/s640/salad4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Broccoli Slaw</b> (adapted from <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/">The Kitchn</a>)</i><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>2 heads broccoli</li>
<li>1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp dried cherries</li>
<li>1/2 cup red onion, minced</li>
<li>3/4 cup slivered almonds</li>
<li>1/4 cup bacon bits</li>
<li>1/4 cup mayonaise</li>
<li>3 Tbsp lemon juice</li>
<li>2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar</li>
<li>1 Tbsp sugar</li>
<li>Salt and pepper, to taste</li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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Grate the raw broccoli with a food processor. In a large bowl, combine shredded broccoli, dried cherries, red onion, almonds, and bacon.</div>
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In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Toss over broccoli mixture.</div>
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Allow to chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printrecipe.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0gd9dYYlg3" target="_blank">Print Recipe</a> | <a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printgrocerylist.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0gd9dYYlg3" target="_blank">Printable grocery list</a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-77173083237368682642012-05-28T19:00:00.000-04:002012-05-28T19:00:03.761-04:00Summer Salads: Avocado Chicken Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another one of my favorite summer salads is the chicken salad. The protein makes it filling enough, yet it's still a cool, refreshing dish for a hot day. After reading <a href="http://becomingbetty.blogspot.com/2011/09/avocado-chicken-salad.html">this post</a>, I was inspired to experiment with substituting avocado for mayonaise. That's right, <b>this chicken salad is mayo-free</b>! The result of my experimenting was a bit bland at first, so I added ranges in the ingredients to encourage you to experiment with your flavoring, as well. I like a lot of cilantro, and I can never have enough cumin. Start small and add to your liking!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmU1LW8aYbddu4D6Z_o-IM4e1gxMydloTtRs2fp1AUGVMi0VzZqiLyNhjZAVHPZ5WJ9neJEkl3hci8OkUL58VHVuRUKAGFLNvKaFJ3tHpnXkaDMLNpTf4J8FEz3bg8z1kXt3T-WG-1Zc/s1600/salad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmU1LW8aYbddu4D6Z_o-IM4e1gxMydloTtRs2fp1AUGVMi0VzZqiLyNhjZAVHPZ5WJ9neJEkl3hci8OkUL58VHVuRUKAGFLNvKaFJ3tHpnXkaDMLNpTf4J8FEz3bg8z1kXt3T-WG-1Zc/s640/salad3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Avocado Chicken Salad</i></b><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>3 grilled chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds), chilled</li>
<li>2 ripe avocados, diced</li>
<li>1/4 - 3/4 cup lime juice</li>
<li>1/4 - 1/2 cup cilantro, minced</li>
<li>4 green onions, sliced</li>
<li>2 Tbsp cumin</li>
<li>Salt and pepper, to taste</li>
<li>Sriracha garlic chili paste, on the side</li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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Shred chicken, or use a food processor. If you're processing, add the avocados and pulse til smooth. If you're shredding, use a potato masher to combine the avocados with the chicken.</div>
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Add lime juice until no longer dry.</div>
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Stir in remaining spices.</div>
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Serve with Sriracha at the table...the heat goes great with this dish, but your guests will undoubtedly have a variety of tastes when it comes to the spicy stuff!<br />
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<a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printrecipe.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0vkwikZs8k" target="_blank">Print Recipe</a> | <a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printgrocerylist.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0vkwikZs8k" target="_blank">Printable grocery list</a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546200409091211961.post-53367914827238800802012-05-23T19:00:00.000-04:002012-05-23T22:11:51.549-04:00Summer Salads: Caprese Pasta Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer is quickly approaching, as evident by the high of 84˚ today in Atlanta. We're so excited to start entertaining on our deck with our new patio furniture...the only problem is that we don't yet have a working grill. I decided to take a stab at this problem recently by collecting a few flameless recipes. They were such a big hit with our guests, we didn't even miss the grill! I decided that these dishes were too good not to share, so it's my pleasure to introduce you to a new mini-series on my little blog: <b>Summer Salads</b>!</div>
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First up, we've got a fresh spin on a summer classic. I love pasta salad, but it's hard to find a good recipe that isn't too heavy. When I stumbled upon this recipe, I was thrilled to find something light and refreshing. Plus, it's colorful and therefore beautiful:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K3_isq4YrE7Ar7MTuLZURZ4rRWT62JDtVzutGctklcKbTUaeH8I3Y0d_mRLDbdIQNntBcrcrpKidLmhD2qyvHbHcuwTFiBW8KS_4ZzVtWvvkDR4LfDlUBxMDM6WU0YJfFfagpYWIr1c/s1600/salad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K3_isq4YrE7Ar7MTuLZURZ4rRWT62JDtVzutGctklcKbTUaeH8I3Y0d_mRLDbdIQNntBcrcrpKidLmhD2qyvHbHcuwTFiBW8KS_4ZzVtWvvkDR4LfDlUBxMDM6WU0YJfFfagpYWIr1c/s640/salad1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkHJe8IjP2BBjApi_452x2gKTh2AkLHe40Hx87g4QMRhwRR_4828_p8l9h1K1sIwkVoNdig6rTcM0yGK9LdMrpKS6rAIAD9btOWw7sVczpaaEsm2su-USln5d_oBD-ImdYSYXWzrVXJ8/s1600/salad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkHJe8IjP2BBjApi_452x2gKTh2AkLHe40Hx87g4QMRhwRR_4828_p8l9h1K1sIwkVoNdig6rTcM0yGK9LdMrpKS6rAIAD9btOWw7sVczpaaEsm2su-USln5d_oBD-ImdYSYXWzrVXJ8/s640/salad2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Caprese Pasta Salad</i> <i>(adapted from <a href="http://hellonewlywedlife.blogspot.com/">Hello Newlywed Life</a>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 pound whole wheat pasta (like shells or penne), cooked according to package directions and chilled</li>
<li>1/4 cup olive oil</li>
<li>3 Tbsp lemon juice</li>
<li>2 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes (I like the baby heirlooms from TJ's because they're so pretty!), sliced in half</li>
<li>16 oz fresh mozzarella, cubed</li>
<li>1/4 - 1/2 cup fresh basil, hand torn</li>
<li>Salt and pepper, to taste</li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
<div>
Mix oil, lemon juice, and garlic in a small bowl. Toss into pasta.</div>
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Gently stir in tomatoes, cheese, and basil. Add salt and pepper as desired.</div>
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Chill for at least an hour in the refrigerator.<br />
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<a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printrecipe.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0ANCZ4dFOn" target="_blank">Print Recipe</a> | <a href="http://www.saymmm.com/printgrocerylist.php?recipeID%5B%5D=0ANCZ4dFOn" target="_blank">Printable grocery list</a>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450398854946945867noreply@blogger.com4