influenza.

I'm starting off this post stating that I have the flu not so anyone will feel sorry for me (although sympathy won't be turned away), rather it's to excuse myself for the amount of TV I've been watching. I've talked about recipes & books a little bit on here, but now I feel like I absolutely need to talk about "The Wire." "The Wire" is an HBO show that started in 2002 & ran until 2008. I was watching HBO programs at this time so I really have no excuse for letting all this time go by without seeing at least one episode. Time & time again I've been told that this show is amazing & that I'll love it, but I never got around to renting it & it was never really something I wanted to purchase for myself...until this Christmas came around. My mom bought me the complete series for Christmas & I'm already on the second season...woops. It's that good. I really can't say much other than it focuses on the criminal underworld as well as the police department in Baltimore & it is epically good. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you like a good drama series (as well as some stone cold foxes, i.e. Dominic West & Idris Elba) watch this show! Now...back to "The Wire." Good night!

Jamaican Me Hungry

Picture it: Christmas Day 2011. I open up one of my gifts & realize it's a cookbook I've been asking for (Perfect One-Dish Dinners by Pam Anderson). So my mother & I are talking as I'm looking through the cookbook & she goes & pulls out her own copy of Anderson's cookbook! I mean, great minds think alike blah blah, but we decided that we had to try out a recipe while I was home. We decided upon Jamaican Jerk Chili, Mango Guacamole & a spinach salad. First, I just want to say I really love this cookbook. Anderson does a good job by pairing main meals, an appetizer & a dessert together by using like ingredients. For instance, anyone who knows me knows how annoyed I get when recipes call for fresh herbs because then I use 2 tablespoons & basically have enough cilantro for 10 more batches of the same meal. Anderson uses cilantro in the main meal, the salad and the guacamole so while there was some left over, it wasn't an obscene amount where I felt pressured to make something with cilantro the very next day. As for the recipes, they were really wonderful & it was time well-spent with my parents. We were talking & joking while making a delicious meal, which then made it even more enjoyable when we were eating it because we could discuss how it came out.

The mango guacamole was really delicious & it was so simple to make. Avocados, mango, cilantro then some spices to taste. We just ate it with tortilla chips, but I think it would be great on tacos or even mixed in with a taco salad. As an appetizer, I'd happily make this on its own.

The Jamaican Chicken Chili was really an interesting dish - it had chili powder & black beans, but at the same time had cinnamon & semisweet chocolate in it. I love when recipes call for ingredients that you wouldn't think go together. This came out really well, but, unfortunately, I was so full from the salad & the guacamole that I couldn't finish the small bowl I took for myself.

Overall, I would definitely recommend buying this cookbook & making this recipe from it!

The Holidays

Wow - I've definitely been slacking on my blogging. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the holidays & forget to blog. I've had a lot of time to reflect during the holidays - about friends, family, life in general - & I have to say I'm truly lucky to be where I am in life. I'm getting my Masters in something I love to do, I have  family & friends that support me & I'm healthy. There's really not much more you could ask for! Haven't been doing a ton, but here's a glimpse at my Christmas season in a few photos.

my dog, Kobe

spent some time on Plum Island with my parents

I'm officially obsessed with "The Wire" - got the full series for Christmas...see you never!

pigeons.

I'm terrified of birds - specifically pigeons & geese. Pigeons are everywhere & seem to have a mind of their own & I swear they fly straight for my head on purpose. Geese, on the other hand, just take over the sidewalk...talk about rude! I'm just trying to get to class or work without an altercation, sir! 

the hunger games

I thought I'd do my first book review post on one of my favorite books (& series), The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I always recommend this series whenever someone asks me for a book recommendation because I think it has something for everyone. The book itself is about a post-apocolyptic world, Panem, where "the Hunger Games" take place. Every year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 & 18 are selected from each of the 12 districts to participate in the Hunger Games, which is a fight to the death (literally). The last "tribute" standing is the winner.  Sounds simple enough? Not really. Our heroine, Katniss Everdeen, steps in for her sister, Prim, & from then on it's a whirlwind of experiences & emotions to the arena.
I'll be perfectly honest & admit that I read the first book in 2 days. I found myself reading as fast as I could just so I could see what would happen next & when the first book finished I got in my car & went out to buy the second book in the series. These books are a great read & are especially great for finicky readers. So buy these for a friend, buy them for a family member, or buy them for yourself & may the odds be ever in your favor!

peppermint patty brownies

As you can probably tell by this being my second post in less than 24 hours about something I've made - I'm off from work until Thursday. So I decided to go from bread to brownies (keeping it in the same letter family...can't go too crazy)! This recipe was also a first for me, but it was delicious! It's the first time I've made my own brownie batter & the first time I've put candy in my brownies. They were so easy to make & fun as well! I definitely plan on experimenting with different candies to see how that turns out. Any suggestions?

Before

After (...except now there's a corner missing)

beer bread: take 1

I usually spend my Sundays reading, catching up on bad TV or sleeping. This Sunday, however, I worked on my recipe book, which is basically a binder full of recipes I've found on the Internet that I someday want to try out. While putting the book together, however, I realized just how many of the recipes I haven't tried yet & vowed to try one that minute. Being too lazy to go to the grocery store for more butter & lacking several ingredients for other recipes, I came across a recipe for beer bread. No yeast. Half a stick of butter. Perfect.

While I have never made bread before, I have to say that the recipe I used was very simple although I did make some changes to it. I used "Magic Hat: Black Lager" for the beer in the bread and used maple syrup instead of honey. I like how the bread turned out & I think it would be fun to play around with different types of beer to see how the tastes differ. I also made the bread in a cupcake pan instead of a loaf because I don't own a loaf pan. All in all, I'd say my first attempt at bread was a success!

thankful.

This Fall has been difficult for myself & my family for a variety of reasons, so when Thanksgiving came around I really felt the need to stop & smell the roses if you know what I mean. So I compiled a list of some of the things I'm thankful for & I really encourage you to do the same. It's so easy to get caught up in things we don't have or things that don't go our way that we often forgot the many blessings that we have. Writing everything out made me realize how very lucky I am as well as showed me how much I have to look forward to in this life!

• my family - the family I was born into & the family I've made for myself
• my job - during this economic recession how many people have a job AND have a job that they truly enjoy being at?
• That I was able to create great memories with my grandmother before she passed away.
• kobe - my dog. the greatest pup in the world.
• second chances
• new beginnings
• books (& lots of them)
• my new found passion for cooking - what an amazing way to make yourself & others so happy!
• being halfway done with my Masters program

There's part of my list - anything you're especially thankful for this holiday season?

my very first blog post!

Well hello everyone (anyone?)! I'm currently a 24 year old living in Boston working on my Masters in Library Science & I figured a blog would be a good way to get things out on the table & keep track of all the great (& not so great) books I read, movies I watch & recipes I try. This will definitely be a work in progress so bear with me!