Potage Parmentier

Doesn't everything sound better in French? Tonight I made Potage Parmentier for dinner (aka Potato & Leek Soup) - straight from Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

I was a bit skeptical of the recipe - it was just potatoes, leeks, water and salt -- once everything is softened, you add butter and/or cream and herbs. I had some leftover heavy cream & whole milk from another recipe, so I added these along with a tablespoon of butter. I didn't have fresh herbs, so I added some dried parsley. I was thoroughly impressed - for such a simple recipe, the soup tasted wonderful!

I also tried out a recipe for Vinegar Biscuits - very simple and so good! And, for a healthy dessert I had an orange - so refreshing!

Impromptou Chiliquiles

This morning, I putzed around doing laundry and other chores and by the time I actually got around to making some breakfast it was nearly lunchtime -- so, I figured, I'd have brunch instead!

I had lots of random leftover ingredients to use up, so ended up making some chiliquiles (combining leftover tiny pieces of tortilla chips, salsa, tomato juice, and sambal olek). I topped the chiliquiles with a scrambled egg & sour cream. On the side, I had some leftover stuffed pepper filling and some chips & salsa.

Sometimes the most random & impromptu meals are the best! And I'm laughing at how random this picture is, too! - for some reason, I can't get it to rotate, so I'll just have to look at it upside down! :)

It's Raining Men!

Anyone that knows me well knows that I don't date much. It's not that I don't want to be in a relationship, but rather that I enjoy my lifestyle, the company of my friends and my own company so much that unless I meet someone great... I'd rather be single.

One of my NYR's this year is to be more open -- and included in that is to be more open to dating, even if the guy is not "perfect" (from my own personal and biased opinion based on first impressions). I know that I'm far from perfect, so I definitely don't think I should expect to meet the perfect guy. It's time to just have some fun!

Well, this new found open-mindedness must be written across my forehead --- because I've already had two men ask me on a date this year! I met one guy at work -- we'll call him Harvard dude and another guy I met at a Mingler back in December -- we'll call him Documentary dude.

I'm going out with Harvard dude on Tuesday for after-work drinks -- and am pretty excited to see how it goes. He's really funny, charming and I'm sure we'll have a great time. I still have to get back to Documentary dude, but I think we'll try to catch a movie sometime next weekend (yes, most likely a documentary. :)

Soup-er Duper Evening

Last Sunday evening was fabulous for three main reasons: toasty fire, freshly-made soup and a page-turning book.

A nice warm mug of Navy Bean & Ham Soup and a glass of Reisling. Yum!

A view of my nice, toasty fire from my comfy spot on the couch.

An excellent page-turning thriller from Dan Brown. I've only got about 150 pages left and can't wait to pick it up again!

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Last Sunday, I decided to make stuffed peppers for lunch - it's a really simple recipe that includes rice, onion, corn, black beans and cheese for the filling. The filling is placed into softened peppers, topped with some more cheese and then baked for 15 minutes.

I had some of Matt & Katie's homemade salsa on the side with some whole-grain tortilla chips. And, I figured since I was having a Mexican dish AND since it was Sunday -- I most definitely needed to have a spicy bloody mary. It was excellent (and so was the stuffed pepper!)

My NYR's

Here are my resolutions for the new year (still a running list as of this moment.....)

1. Be more open/don't pre-judge
2. Run the Shamrock Shuffle (and actually do it this year!)
3. Stick with book club and also read an additional book per month
4. Cook something new each week
5. Swear less
6. Keep in better touch with old friends
7. Read more about Chicago history and explore the many wonderful neighborhoods
8. Take a daily multi-vitamin
9. Break at least one resolution

Let's Call it a "New Year's Resolution"

I absolutely love Otis Redding and thought of this song as we begin a new year.

New Year's Resolution

[O:] I hope it's not too late
Just to say that I'm sorry, honey
All I want to do
Is just finish what we started, baby

[O + C:] Let's turn over a new leave
And baby let's make promises
That we can keep
And call it a new year's resolution, hmmm

[C:] Oh, I'm a woman
And woman makes mistakes too
But will you, will you forget the changes
That I put you through

[O + C:] Oh, let's try it again
Just you and me
And, baby, let's see how happy honey, yeah
That we can be
And call it a new year's resolution, yeah, yeah, yeah

[O:] Many times we had our ups and downs

[C:] And times you needed me I couldn't be found

[O:] I'm sorry

[C:] And I'm sorry too

[O:] I'll never, never do it again, no, no, no
So baby before we fall out
Let's fall on in, yeah, yeah

[C:] Oh, and we're gonna try harder
Not to hurt each other again, oh

[O + C:] Love me baby, huh
Week after week
And baby let's make promises
That we can keep
And call it a new year's resolution, yeah, oh

[O:] I know we can do it Carla

[C:] I'm gonna keep my promises

[O:] I'm gonna hold on that we can do it, baby

[C:] Oh, it's not too late

[O:] You're gonna love me
Nobody else

[C:] Oh Otis let's finish what we started

[O:] Talk no mean...