Merry Christmas!

Christmas dinner with my family was such a delight. Everyone brought something to the table and, since the majority of my family members are vegetarian, it was all meatless. I made wild rice stuffing, one of my favorite holiday dishes. My family transitioned away from bread-based stuffing a long time ago when we found out my dad can't eat wheat. Thank god for that, because I never would have known how fantastic rice stuffing is if we didn't have to give up the bread. Mmm mmm!

Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries and Pecans
(adapted from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Wild-Rice-Stuffing-with-Hazelnuts-and-Dried-Cranberries-102482)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
6 3/4 cups low sodium organic vegetable broth
4 cups Lundberg Wild Blend rice (this stuff is fantastic but other wild rice will do if you must)
2 cups dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

Melt the butter in a big stock pot, then toss in the onions and garlic and saute for a few minutes until the onions are starting to get translucent. Add vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Add rice, stir, add a little salt (maybe a pinch or two), then cover and simmer for 40-45 minutes.

When most of the liquid has been absorbed, mix in the cranberries, pecans, and fresh thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn the whole mixture out into a baking dish and cover with buttered foil. At this point you can stick it in the fridge if you're making it ahead. About an hour before serving, remove from the fridge and put the dish and foil into a 350 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes or until warmed through. Serve and enjoy!

It begins...again

I got an email yesterday from the teachers of my chemistry course for next semester. I'm filled with more than a little dread at the prospect of starting that class again. I know I need the credits to finish my degree but last semester was a pretty stressful experience and I'm not looking forward to repeating it. On top of that, last semester I only pulled a B and this time I really really want to get an A.

I know...no pressure :)

One thing I'm struggling with lately is taking ownership of my choices. So much of the time I feel like I'm making decisions based on what I think the world thinks I should do rather than what I genuinely want to do. It really makes life feel like an effort sometimes, like I'm constantly trying to maintain this facade of what I think people want to see from me. I'm not entirely sure how to break out of that mentality, but I'm trying to at least notice when I'm doing it. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Holidays!
xo,
C

The downside of contentedness

This morning I got out of bed, walked down the street and had breakfast and a latte and now I'm snug in my apartment with the gas fireplace on and jazz radio playing softly in the background. God, I love living here. Sometimes I think I love it a little too much, to the point where even if some fantastic gentleman came along and swept me off my feet, I wouldn't want to move, and I probably wouldn't want to have to share this space either. So I don't know. Being so contented here worries me. :)

This reminds me of my brother's situation, where he has to work a day job he hates but he's a filmmaker and a writer at heart. He stays with the crappy day job instead of finding something that would content him more because the dissatisfaction of his daily situation keeps him working on the writing and film. I totally get that.

Hopefully my contentedness will be a good thing, relationshipwise. If I was dissatisfied with my living situation it might cause me to jump into something I will regret with someone who isn't worth it. So my kick-ass apartment and neighborhood will help me keep my standards high. I hope.

I hope you're all having lovely weekends.

xo,
C