getting my groove back

April is a strange month.  One day it is 80 degrees and you curse the fact that your high-rise apartment building still has the heat on full blast and it is almost impossible to sleep because it is hot and stuffy.  The next day, you are getting caught in a downpour while waiting for the bus, with only a rain coat and no umbrella so that by the time the bus finally makes it to your stop, you are wet down to the lining of your dress pants and maybe even your underwear (TMI perhaps, but it totally happened).

pickling

I have a bit of a confession to make. Even though my recipe index implies otherwise, I really prefer salty over sweet. For a while my “dessert” after dinner,would be a bowl full of salt and vinegar Lays (SOOO addicting and SOOO bad for you) rather than a couple of scoops out of a Ben and Jerry’s Pint. However, recently I have found a new way to get my salty-fix: jar pickles. Specifically, pickled sugar snap peas and spicy pickled carrots.

the generosity of friends

This past weekend, I threw a party at my apartment and asked my friends to donate money as “cover” to my ACS Solider Field 10 mile page.  Really, it was just a great excuse to have some great friends over to unwind before finals (and Bar Review-gag) start.  After running 6 miles (my longest yet!) in the morning, I came home to get ready for the party.  Throughout the day the donations trickled in and I was quickly over my $400 goal.  A BIG THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends that donated.  I can’t thank you enough for your generosity, especially as a time when we are all graduating and most of us without a clear income in sight.  

A Super Dip

I have one of my best friends to thank for this dip (Hey Ashley!!). During college when we were both living in the sorority house, we spent a Friday night in, chopping and stirring away, making a big bowl of this dip. Then sitting on her floor (she was President at the time so she got her own room), with tortilla chips or even a fork and eating away.

Since moving to Chicago, I have made this dip for every Superbowl party and it has not disappointed. The beans, avocado and corn is a nice change from all the other greasy, fried goodness on the table.

Last night my friends Brian and Julia had us over to watch the game and prepare WAY too much food that could be reasonably consumed by 4-6 people. I brought the Dip (recipe below) and made Bakerella’s famous Cake Balls by request (had to use yellow cake mix because red velvet was unavailable at two stores and I was too busy this weekend to make it from scratch). I also tried to class up queso by using Homesick Texan’s method. It was tasty but I wish I could have found “Longhorn Cheddar” because I think I used a little too much Monterrey Jack. It was reminiscent of PW’s Spicy Mac and Cheese, which of course is not a bad thing.

But the Dip is really something special. I wish I could have gotten this posted before the Super Bowl but it really is great for any party, picnic or potluck. It is sure to impress.

Ashley’s Famous Dip

1 can black beans-drained (rinse and drain well-you don’t want to turn the whole dip black)
2 cans of shoepeg white corn-drained (or yellow if that is all that you can find)
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes and chiles) drained
1/4 to 1/2 purple onion-diced
1 bunch cilantro-chopped
3-4 Avocadoes-chopped
Juice of 2-3 limes
Fajita seasoning to taste
Kosher salt to taste.

Mix everything together. Don’t stir too hard so that the avocado stays somewhat in pieces.

Serve chilled with tortilla chips. Or even just a fork.

The last bit of pumpkin…SEEDS!

While I haven’t always been the biggest fan of pumpkin…I have always been a big fan of pumpkin seeds.  Carving pumpkins is already a treat, and then you get to make a snack out of the orange goo that you dig out…amazing!  Making a batch of pumpkin seeds is super easy but if you need some instructions you can hit up a very entertaining site. I decided to toss the seeds with some Chesapeake Bay Seasoning that I bought at the Spice House with no recipe in mind. Man were they tasty!

I might have to buy a big pumpkin to carve before Halloween just to that a I can make a big batch of these seeds! Don’t think we will get many trick-or-treaters living on the 15th floor of a Chicago high-rise though. Dang. Do city kids get to o trick-or-treating? I’ve never thought about that until now.

drizzle with some olive oil

sprinkle some seasonings

this stuff rocks...I need to think of more uses...Ideas?

Salty, crunchy, and homemade...what more could you want?