New York Theater Weekend

Last weekend was yet another successful Broadway break!  When I heard the announced cast of the 2014 production of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men included James Franco and Chris O'Dowd, I bought tickets the day they went on sale without hesitation because I knew it was going to be a good show, and there was no way I was going to miss it!  And while most of the fans in the audience were looking forward to seeing Franco, I actually was excited to see Chris O'Dowd portray Lennie - a much more challenging role, especially for someone more known for his comedic characters.

As a bonus, several other fantastic actors were added to the supporting cast, including Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Jim Parrak (True Blood), and they didn't disappoint.

At the end of the show, it happened to be James Franco's birthday, so Chris O'Dowd led the whole theater in the singing of "Happy Birthday" and gave him a stuffed rabbit as a joke.

Of course, after the show there was the giant crowd at the stage door waiting for the actors to come out - sadly many of whom didn't even see the show but were just there for the celebrities.  Somehow, I was lucky and got a spot on the barrier rail.  This was where you wanted to be because then you are pretty much guaranteed a Playbill autograph and a photo.  I've waited at a lot of stage doors, and the ones with big name celebrities tend to get a little crazy, but I think that, fortunately, Broadway has finally figured out stage door crowd control.

While Of Mice and Men occupied my Saturday night, I had to find other shows to fill in the rest of the weekend.  Another obvious choice was the production of The Realistic Joneses, starring Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Tracy Letts (Homeland), and Marissa Tomei.  I thought the play was very entertaining.  There was a goofy similarity and comedic timing between Michael C. Hall's character, John Jones, and his blood splatter expert portion of his character in Dexter.  Having just binge watched that whole series in December/January, it was fresh in my brain.  All of the other actors played their parts perfectly as well.  

The final show for the week was the 2013 Tony award winner for Best Musical Revival: Pippin.  I'm not sure what I was expecting.  Maybe a little Cirque du Soleil type show with singing?  I have to say that I was surprisingly underwhelmed.

Add in some shopping in SoHo, brunch at my favorite place in Gramercy Park - Friend of a Farmer, and drinks around midtown, and that pretty much sums up a whirlwind NYC weekend!

Until the next quick trip up north....

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Reducing the Reading Pile

Must Read

Mercy Snow by Tiffany Baker

I discovered Tiffany Baker's book simply because it was on a list of e-books on sale.  I'm not sure why it needed to be discounted because the story was worth full price.  It's a book of the haves and the have nots, and what happens when the haves misbehave and think they have the power to push blame onto the have nots.  It's also a book about the resilience of a girl who has nothing but her family and her drive to set things right, even if it puts her at risk.

Lazy Weekend

The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Orphan Train is a story that embraces true events of orphans from New York City being sent against their wishes to the midwest to be placed with families - some good but mostly bad.  The plot oscillates between the past and present day, where a troubled foster kid, Molly, is trying to make it through the last few months of the system by helping Vivian, a local elderly woman who, she discovers, also had a rough childhood as part of the orphan train system.  Digging through her attic mementos, Vivian tells her story and finds the closure she had always sought with Molly's help, while also changing Molly's life forever.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Have you ever written an email to a coworker, who was also a friend, using your company email? What about instant messaging non-work related conversations?  I know I do it all the time!! Imagine that all of those communications were being flagged and a night worker in the IT department had the job of reading all of the emails and IMs to review and report to management. Now imagine this solo worker on the night shift is so engrossed in the exchange between two friends that he hides their infraction just so he can continue hearing their story, to the point where he is so emotionally invested that he develops feelings for one of the friends....

The Rose Gardner Mystery Series by Denise Grover Swank

I read the first book in this series, Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes, because I wanted a little light reading and it was something I had bought randomly off of iBooks a while ago.  I was hooked after the first book, and ended up devouring the entire first 4 books in the series in about 3 days. The 5th book comes out in June 2014, and I already have it pre-ordered.  This series reminds me a lot of the style of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series - a female character with the worst luck who ends up in deep trouble all the time, a strong male in law enforcement that wants to protect her, a crazy sidekick (this time a dog instead of Lula), and a second male to compete for the female's affection.

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Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Sometimes I wonder how books get on the bestseller and recommended lists. I've seen this on Target's bookshelves for months as a top recommendation, so I finally broke down.  The story centers on a young girl who adores her uncle, a famous artist.  When her uncle dies of AIDS, she discovers he had a secret - his long-time domestic partner.  Against her family's wishes, she gets to know her uncle's partner better and they are able to provide each other with support as they cope with their mutual loss.  I just found I wasn't moved by the implied level of intensity of their coping struggles -- perhaps because this story was set in the early period of AIDS research when there was a great deal of ignorance on the disease and that to read about the, then, irrational prejudice towards people with AIDS or who were HIV positive is so far from today's reality to make one less empathetic?  Ultimately, the book got really repetitive and boring once all of the facts were established, and let's not forget the easily predictable of the fate of her uncle's lover...

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Dill and Cheddar Beer Bread

A friend of mine sent me a present from Colorado that was a large beer bottle filled with a mix for beer bread - just add the beer.  This concept of beer bread had me intrigued, so I did a little exploring on the internet and decided I would try out a recipe from Farm Girl Fare.  After many years of my friends trying to get me away from Bud Light, I have finally figured out that my craft beer of choice when going out tends to be an IPA, so I thought I'd use one of the bottles I had in my fridge.  IPA is a very bitter beer, and while I think it's good to drink, my IPA-based beer bread came out a little bitter as well and didn't translate as well to food. A good salty butter, though, improved the taste.  I think the next time I make this recipe, I will try it with something richer like a nut brown ale or maybe even a lager, so there's less beer taste.  Overall, not bad and the recipe for this homemade bread could not be any easier.



Dill and Cheddar Cheese Beer Bread 

Ingredients

• 3 cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder (make sure it's fresh!)
• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 2 teaspoons dried)
• 1 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 12 ounces beer

Glaze: 1 egg & 2 teaspoons water, beaten

1. Heat the oven to 375°F
2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, dill, and cheddar in a large mixing bowl. 
3. Slowly stir in the beer and mix just until combined. The batter will be thick.
4. Spread in a greased 8-inch loaf pan, brush with the egg glaze and bake until golden brown and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
5. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool 10 more minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Crockpot Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Always searching for the easiest way to make dinner, I had some frozen chicken breasts I needed to use, so I went searching for a crockpot recipe solution.  In the ingredients list, I did not heed the warning to be generous with the seasoning, especially with the salt, and I found my end result needed some post-cooking added salt.  Overall, a light and healthy dinner choice!

Crockpot Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Ingredients

• 5-8 boneless chicken breasts
• 30-40 cloves of garlic, mashed  (that's not a typo, it's a lot of garlic)
• 2 lemons, sliced with rind
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper - use more salt than you think because slow cooking removes some of the salt
• 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary

1. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
2. Cook on Low for 8 -10 hours, serve over lentils or veggies, or with your side dish of choice.

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Peeps Cookies

For the cookie decorating novice, I give you these super cute Peeps cookies!!  Wilton produced Peeps themed baking items this year, and I found mine at a Michael's store.  In the same display, there was a convenient selection of pastel colored sanding sugar.

The cookies were baked using my standard sugar cookie recipe, and the decoration was classic flooding of the cookie surface with colored royal icing which was quickly covered with the matching color sanding sugar.  A great tip for the sanding sugar: place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet with a rimed edge, then put the cookie on the paper, dump sugar on top, tap the excess sugar back onto the parchment paper, remove the cookie, lift the paper and bring the side edges together to easily pour the sugar back into the container.  The cookies were left to dry overnight, then the dark brown eye and nose accents were added.  Easy to make, yummy to eat!

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Gluten Free Chocolate Coconut Almond Bars

I don't know why I think of coconut when I think of Spring.  Maybe it's a teaser for the warmth of summer or the joy of a tropical beach?  I saw these coconut almond bars on a great Austin-based lifestyles blog I follow, Camille Styles.  You should check the site out when you get a free moment.  I had been searching for a play off of traditional macaroons to satiate my coconut craving, and with my recent success with the salted caramel peanut nougat bars in March, I've kind of been on a bar kick - not the alcoholic kind, the sugary and yummy kind!  I liked these bars because they are refrigerated, so you can keep them around longer or easily freeze for an upcoming event.  Also, for the gluten conscious, this recipe calls for almond flour, so eat away without worries!  Of course, it's definitely not sugar free!

GF Chocolate Coconut Almond Bars

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups almond flour or meal
• 1 ½ cups finely shredded coconut
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cups unsalted butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup whole raw almonds
• 1 (14 ounce can) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 ½ cups flaked coconut
• 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
• fleur de sel, to taste
  
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit
2. Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil and generously coat with cooking spray
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine almond flour, finely shredded coconut, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon
4. Pour melted butter into the bowl and mix until the butter is completely incorporated with the dry ingredients
5. Place the contents of the bowl into the 13x9 pan and press into the bottom
6. On the next layer, sprinkle whole almonds (I actually lightly chopped them in a food processor, but that was my preference) and flaked coconut
7. Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the top (I found that the condensed milk was a little thick, and wished I had poured it into a microwave safe measuring cup to warm it up a bit before pouring - consider doing this!)
8. Top with the chocolate chips and fleur de sel
9. Bake 20-25 minutes until lightly browned
10. Cool in the pan, cut into squares or bars, and refrigerate before serving

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5 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Wow!  It's been four months since my last favorite things post, the holiday gift guide to be exact. How time flies, right?  I've been overwhelmed with a busy travel season, skiing as much as possible, and filling in the other days with (based on my posts these past months) lots of baking. So while I've not been stumbling upon a lot of new favorite things as frequently as I seemed to be able to before, there are a few that I wanted to share with this update.  I hope you like them too!

1. Penhaligon's Elizabethan Rose Eau du Toilette and Artemisia Eau de Parfum - I discovered Penhaligon's on my trip to London in January.  This is the best rose scent I have ever smelled!  I not only put it on for the day, but I confess to sometimes also spraying some on before bed.  The Artemisia is a bit stronger, but it's has a pleasant, yet still complex scent.

2. Fun rings from Erica Sara Designs - I like this "Run" ring, but she also has ones that say "love" and "Badass."  She has other inspirational designs in necklaces, charms, and bracelets as well.

3. Jimmy John's sandwiches - This is an oldie but a goodie!  A sandwich from Jimmy John's reminds me of my days back in college because it was a big hit on college campuses, especially in the midwest because JJ was established in Illinois.  The bread is my favorite part.  And now that the franchise is expanding their store count, I'm seeing them pop up everywhere - which is a good and bad thing because I find myself craving a JJ Turkey Tom at least once a week....uh oh...shoot...and now I want one.  By the way, if you've never been to a Jimmy John's, make sure to take notice of the decor on the walls (and on the bathroom floor).

4. U.S. Global Entry Program - Considering how much I've been traveling, it definitely took me longer than one would think to jump on the bandwagon of becoming a trusted traveler.  The process was very easy.  I looked at both the TSA Precheck program and the Global Entry program, and decided that for just a little more money, you get the convenience of zipping through customs on landing (nothing better after a long flight) and the TSA Precheck benefits as well - separate lane, don't have to take off your shoes, don't have to take out computers and liquids, etc.  The cost was a $100 application fee, and you have to go into a Global Entry local office for an interview, photograph, and fingerprinting once your application is approved.

5. Veronica Mars is back!  I was a huge fan of this T.V. show years ago, and was sad when the network decided to cancel it after only three seasons.  The writing was great, and Kristin Bell was the perfect casting for the teenaged private detective.  There was a great deal of support from fans of the show and from the actors themselves to find a way to give everyone some closure after the abrupt cancellation. In April 2013, the show's creator, Rob Thomas, and several actors went on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.com to see if fans were willing to help raise the money to get a movie into theaters.  With a goal of only $2 million, fans united and broke records for the fastest project to reach $2 million, third highest funded kickstarter project, and most backers in Kickstarter history.  In the end, with the help of 91,585 people, over $5.7 million was raised.  The movie was released on March 14, 11 months later, both in theaters and through iTunes.  I opted for the iTunes route and stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to watch it.  Let me say, I was not disappointed at all.  The snarky comments, the number of original main and supporting cast members that came back, the cameos from...well, I won't spoil it.  Unfortunately, even with the success of the movie, my gut is thinking that this won't bring more new VM material because a lot of loose ends were tied in the film.  Good thing there are movie nights to host and box sets to watch!

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Crockpot Turkey Chili

It seems like this winter just will not end, which is a little odd for the Washington D.C. region where it tends to not get real extreme or long-durations of seasonal weather.  So, to adapt I've been looking for a way to warm up while also trying to stick to a healthier diet.  Of course, the recipe I was searching for would also have to be friendly for bad chefs like myself - good baker, bad cook!  Anything that involves a crockpot, I'm on board with, so I found a great turkey chili recipe for a slow cooker from Two Peas and a Pod that I modified slightly to suit my tastes.  It was delicious, low calorie, and filling!  No muss, no fuss preparation and clean up.  Plus, it makes a TON of chili.  I had enough to freeze for the future and to eat for the next few days!!

Crockpot Turkey Chili

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (15 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
• 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 (15 oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup canned or frozen corn
• 1 package McCormick's Chili Seasoning 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional for extra flavors and spice:

• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 (16 oz) jar deli-sliced tamed jalapeño peppers, drained
• Additional chili powder

Optional toppings:

• Green onions
• Shredded cheese
• Avocado
• Sour cream
• Greek yogurt
• Fritos!!

1. In a skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium heat

2. Brown the turkey in the skillet until cooked, then pour the turkey into the bottom of the crockpot

3. Pour all of the desired remaining ingredients in the crockpot and stir to combine

4. Cover and cook in the crockpot on high for 4 hours, adding salt and pepper to taste based on your preferences

5. Serve with optional toppings

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Reducing the Reading Pile

Must Read

Waiting on You by Kristan Higgins

Kristan Higgins can do no wrong, in my book, when it comes to delivering good reads. Every story is realistic, fun, and gives you the happy ending one desires.

Lazy Weekend

The Chase by Janet Evanovich

This is the second book in the new Janet Evanovich series.  It's basically a similar premise to the USA T.V. series "White Collar."  An FBI agent has been chasing a con man.  She finally nabs him (in the first book) and he begins to secretly work for the FBI to take down other white collar criminals.  It's a fun weekend read!


Skip This

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

I honestly don't know what my problem is because I know so many people who love David Sedaris. This is my second book of his that I've read, and the humor just isn't reaching me.  I wouldn't say to not read the book, necessarily, because others love it and Sedaris' other books.  It's just not enough for me to try again with a third book.

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

When I was in England in January, I saw this book all over the shelves of book retailers.  I had not read a mystery in awhile, so I picked it up.  The first chapter sets you up with a current day courtroom scene.  When the book moves into the chronological back story, it is sadly a one way trip to boredom-ville!

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Monthly Crafting - Whimseybox (March 2014)

My final new monthly subscription box I am trying is WhimseyBox.  (UPDATE:  It appears as if WhimseyBox has gone out of business.  Do NOT subscribe.) Each month, for $15, you will be mailed a complete kit for a crafting project.  The kit includes all of the supplies, an inventory list, and detailed instructions with photos.  The March project was DIY Lemon Honey bath scrub and cream.  I was really happy with the choice and couldn't wait to put it all together.

The kit came with almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, beewax, honey, sugar, cold pressed lemon essential oil, jars for your finished products, and pre-designed labels for the jars.  It took me probably 45 minutes to make both jars.  The scrub was the easiest because you just combined half of the almond oil, half of the honey, and all of the sugar.  The lotion took a little longer because you had to melt the beeswax and shea butter slowly.  I may have cheated and had some intervals with the microwave.  The final product smells delicious!  I'm debating on giving them away as a gift or keeping them to myself - leaning toward myself...

I'm looking forward to next month's surprise project.  And perhaps in the meantime, I may purchase one of the kits from a prior month's box...

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