Recent Reads: Unaccustomed Earth

So... I actually didn't really like this book. I received this book as part of book club holiday book swap. (I swapped The Art of Racing in the Rain which is an unexpectedly amazing read and a real tear jerker.)

I didn't dislike reading the Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - it was well written and enjoyable to get through. But I guess I found it lacking a real plot line. The book tells eight different stories of Bengali families. I kept expecting the plot lines to intersect and for the reader to suddenly realize that all of the stories were connected but it didn't and left me feeling slightly disappointed. I also expected the author to revisit each of the stories later on in the book to give some closure to the tale but she didn't.

(Starting the book in Logan Airport on my flight home for Christmas... that gives you an idea of how long it took me to get through.)

Maybe I missed the point to this book? Maybe it just went over my head? As I got towards the end of the book and realized there wasn't going to be any grand revelation, I frankly just wanted it to end and found myself rushing through the last few pages just to be done with it.

At least I finished it?

Rowing Life Lessons: #1 People Matter Most

Rowing has taught me so much. From the obvious of how to steer a boat and the nuances of the stroke, to the less obvious lessons that I talked about here. But some of the lessons have gone even further than that and have truly shaped me as a person.

(4 whole years)

One of those lessons is that people matter most. Sometimes, when I look back at my collegiate rowing career I think to myself Why did I do that for so long? That was miserable. And there were moments of it that truly were: early mornings; long, cold hours spent on the water; missing out on tailgates and Friday nights at the bar; the criticism and scrutiny; the stress of always needing to the best; the personality clashes and screaming matches; the tears and disappointment - none of it seems very fun.

Cross Country Skiing

As I mentioned before, we decided to end our long Galentine's Weekend with a spontaneous day trip to Weston's Ski Track just 15 minutes outside of Boston. I have never been on any sort of skis before and was a little nervous that I would just be doing the splits the entire time. But after a few small falls in the beginning, I sort of got the hang of it.

(Such a winter wonderland)

XC Skiing is an awesome work out. Just like pretty much everything I do, I tried to compare the activity and the motion to rowing and I think it had some definite similarities. The majority of the motion comes from your legs, but you're also engaging a lot of other muscle groups such as your abs, back, butt, and even arms for stability, support, and balance.

Fresh Bruschetta

Who doesn't love appetizers? Most times at a restaurant it's the first thing my eyes go to on the menu. One of my personal favorites is some fresh bruschetta and I think I've gotten pretty good at making it myself.

I've used this recipe a handful of times to bring as an app to dinner parties or sometimes just as dinner  for myself. I've also gotten creative with it and topped tilapia with it for a more complete meal. I think the best part of bruschetta is how quick and easy it is to make, all it involves is a little bit of chopping!

(This photo is from the bruschetta tilapia dinner I made a few years ago. So good and fresh with a glass of white wine!)

Ingredients
4 medium sized tomatoes
1/2 red onion
A handful of fresh basil leaves
1 cup of balsamic
1/3 cup oil (+ a small amount more to drizzle over the bread)
A pinch of salt
A loaf of crust bread
Grated parmesan cheese

1. Start by chopping up the onion, tomatoes and basil into small pieces and combine in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the balsamic, olive oil and a pinch of salt and mix thoroughly.
3. Slice bread into about 1/2 in thick slices. Add a swipe of olive oil to the top and bake for about 5 minutes at a low heat.
4. Remove the bread from the oven, top with about a tablespoon of the bruschetta mixture and sprinkle some parmesan on top.
5. Enjoy!

The other great thing about bruschetta is none of the proportions need to be exact. I rarely measure or time anything when I'm making it and its so easy to modify to your own taste!

Galentine's Weekend

Sometimes usually spontaneous weekends are the best. Midweek last week, Alyse and I both texted each other at the same time to see what the other was up to for the upcoming long weekend. A few texts later and we had a weekend trip in Boston planned!

Alyse arrived late Saturday morning. She was just in time for brunch before Boston's 4th blizzard started, so the two of us plus Karl and Kevin headed over to Lulu's.

I know I've mentioned Lulu's before on here, but it's definitely one of my favorite spots especially in Allston. I mean how could you say no to this menu? Plus its a literal 8 minute walk from my apartment and has a really great vibe and beers on tap. I had so much trouble deciding what to order (a problem I often run into at brunch) but ended up picking the Hipster Eggs Benedict. Karl had the S'mores Pancakes, Alyse the White Trash Hash and Kevin the Breakfast Sandwich plus a bucket of mimosas for the table. I loved the way they served the mimosas - a bucket with champagne on ice and three small glasses of juice, orange, mango, and grapefruit, so you could mix and match and create your own drink.

(Photo courtesy of Kevin)

Delicious

Inside Out S'mores Bars

If cooking gives me anxiety, then baking is like a full blown panic attack. Baking is just too precise of a process for me - all of the timing and measuring, no thanks. But, I'm a total sucker for baked goods (cookies and brownies in particular). I probably ask my roommates at least 3x a week to make brownies.

I'm also a total sucker for scrolling through Pinterest to see all of the fabulous baked goods people make. I usually look at the picture, instantly want it, click to look at the recipe, get overwhelmed with the number of ingredients or steps, close the link and settle for some store bought cookies.

However, the other day I came across a recipe for Inside Out S'mores Bars and read the directions 5x before I believed that the delicious concoction on my screen was that simple to make.

This was a great recipe. If you can follow the directions on the back of a box of brownies you can make these. Seriously. You just follow the directions of the back of the box - mix, eggs, water, oil (fun fact: you can substitute oil for applesauce for a healthier version and you'll never know the difference) - then you pour half of the mix into a large rectangular pan (smooth it out so it's evenly distributed), add a layer of graham crackers, cover with marshmallows and then top with the rest of the brownie batter. Bake for about 25-30 min and voila!

I loved the fact that I only used one bowl to make them in so the clean up was simple but the dish still felt a little more complex than your basic box brownie mix. I definitely suggest letting them cool awhile before digging in since the marshmallows make them extra ooey gooey.

Now, if only all baking was this easy...

Pretend Gourmet Cooking: White Chicken Chili Soup

I am not much of a cook. It's not that I dislike cooking per say, it more has to do with the fact that I dislike creating/cleaning up a big mess in the kitchen and committing the time to make a really good meal. Plus, when I do commit to trying a recipe, afterwards I find myself with a ton of random ingredients that I probably won't use again (or won't use before they go bad). And, I also get this weird anxiety about using too many cooking utensils - the fewer pots, pans, spoons, bowls, etc. that I have to use the better - so when a recipe has too many steps I instantly get anxiety about all the things I will need to make the dish.

That's why, when I come across a simple and delicious recipe it's like a godsend. I cam across this recipe for White Chicken Chili Soup and let me tell you it was one of the easiest/most delicious things I have ever made. I love it because it only requires 5 ingredients - all of which you completely use up while making the dish - and it only requires one thing to cook it in, a crockpot!

(This soup was so fresh and light! It was a nice change on so many soups that can be too heavy.)

I discovered after returning from the grocery store that I actually didn't have cumin so I substituted it with chili powder which I think tasted just as good. I topped my soup with some fresh avocado (my favorite!), cilantro, green onions, shredded white cheddar cheese and a few tortilla chips.

The recipe made enough for me to enjoy the soup for lunch or dinner for the better part of a week and about halfway through the week I had the ingenious idea of adding some cooked white rice to the soup which made it a little more filling.

The one thing I will say is make sure you have a big enough crockpot. My roommate's crockpot is a little on the small size and it was literally filled to the brim by the time I added all of the ingredients which made it difficult to stir.

I'm hoping to find a few more recipes that require minimal ingredients and just one pot or pan to cook in!