Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Getting dirty at the Museum of Arts and Design

Today I headed into NYC to check out the exhibit Swept Away: Dust, Ashes, and Dirt in Contemporary Art and Design at the Museum of Arts and Design.  This is one of my favorite museums because they really strive to explore the use of unusual materials and techniques in contemporary art.  This exhibit had everything from life size dirt sculptures to quilts made out of dryer lint.  The works addressed the topics of memory, loss and the waste created by human existence.

The Persistence of Modernism by James Croak.
Ritual Accumulations by Julie Parker.
My personal favorite!  Flora by Phoebe Cummings.
 What are some of your favorite artworks?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Try this! Chicken 'n' biscuits

We are all guilty of seeing a cookbook at the store or a book sale and unrealistically believing that we can master all the recipes.  I don't think I'll ever understand why I thought that I would want to master gluten-free Mexican food.  Inevitably, these impulse buys are put at the back of the cabinet to gather dust.

However, one of my best and most used purchases is Guilt Free Cooking by Taste of Home.  I use this cookbook constantly because it includes everyday meals with slight adjustments that make them healthier without diminishing the taste.

Tonight I made the chicken 'n' biscuits and it was one of the best pot pie-esque creations I've ever had.  The chicken and veggies were so flavorful from the Worcestershire sauce.  This combined with their warmth and heartiness made it a perfect comfort food.  The biscuits were dense and provided a different texture, which added complexity to the dish.  It was so simple to make and one serving was only 246 calories!

I combined flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, fat-free milk, canola oil and parsley for the biscuits.

Onion, flour, basil, thyme, pepper, fat-free milk, Worcestershire sauce, carrots, peas, corn, chicken and Parmesan cheese made up the base of the dish.

After baking at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the biscuits are browned you have a delicious, comforting meal.

What's your favorite cookbook?

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Time to catch up

I spent the past week in Virginia visiting my boyfriend, Ryan, and didn't have enough time to blog about our daily activities.  He really took the initiative to plan a bunch of dates to compensate for our usual lack, which made it a fun and busy time.  I learned how to golf, saw some amazing Fourth of July fireworks and went roller skating for the first time.  It was a really fun week despite the 100 degrees and above temperatures and I look forward to visiting again soon.

I was very proud of myself for only falling once.  For the record, roller skating is nothing like ice skating.
What new activities have you tried this summer?