(Sophisticated?) Chicken & rice casserole

As the nights become darker and the temperatures colder, I can’t help but crave comfort food. Specifically, my Mother’s recipes of casseroles and “home cooking” dinners.

My Mom is known for being an amazing cook. She is very precise and diligent about everything she makes and each time it is better than the last, but tastes just the same.  While I was in middle school, my single-parent Mother was busy (literally keeping food on the table) working four to six jobs at once (everything from newspaper delivery to cleaning houses to her full-time job), so meals were simple, quick and filling (and usually less-expensive).

With 1,200 miles separating us, said comfort meals are my responsibility.  A few weekends past,  as I struggled to find an easy meal that involves very little prep (since we were moving homes), I scoured my pantry and found the ingredients to make Chicken & Rice casserole, a working-night staple in my childhood home.

I’ve stayed away from making this meal in the past six months due to oh-I-don’t-know, chicken being one of the main taste-drivers of this dish (because we don’t really eat meat).  However, this weekend in our moving fury, I’m working to empty a pantry.

As I looked at the ingredients in front of me, I thought “How can I make this one step better?” (a goal I’m going for in general with life)

I’ll tell you how you make it better – you add drunken mushrooms and caramelized onions, that’s how. Then, you change the Ritz crackers to Panko, throw in two cans of cream of (fill in the blank) instead of one (because you forgot that it only takes one), add in the other goodness and bake.

It was comforting and fantastically foodie all in one. Past life, meet present.

(Sophisticated?) Chicken & rice casserole

1 cup of Minute Rice (uncooked)
8oz of sour cream
1 – 2 cups of mushrooms (quantity depends on your love of mushrooms, type does too)
1/2 tennis ball sized yellow onion
½ cup of cooking white wine or the leftover white wine your Mom didn’t drink last time she visited.
1 can of cream of chicken
1 can of cream of mushroom (but you could easily make this yourself, ya know?)
1 cup of Panko crumbs
1 can of chicken (yes, Travis made me do it)
1 can of chicken stock (I think it is 12-14 oz.)
3 TBS butter
2 TBS olive oil
¼ tsp. dried thyme
2 dashes of Worchestire sauce
Salt and pepper

Mix together the cans of soup and sour cream, slowly incorporate the broth, then the rice and set aside. Slice onions into rings or large chunks for caramelizing (I prefer ¼“ rings) and place in a sauté pan with 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Coat the onions and leave them be. Do not touch them for 5-7 minutes. After this time has passed, stir and toss the onions. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the onions. It is important not to salt the onions until this step to help them relish and sweeten their natural flavor. Think about it – do you want to enhance the raw onion flavor or the sweet cooked flavor? Salting them now helps the flavor to develop and then to sweat them and push them over the caramel cliff. Cook on low until they are a warm, translucent brown-color. Like suede, but better.

Once finished cooking, place in the bottom of the casserole dish you plan to bake this dish in. Spread them out to maximize onion-per-bite potential.

On to the mushrooms – quarter or half the washed mushrooms and sauté in the same (onion) pan with 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to coat and leave them be. We’re looking for browned, crusty edges. I personally quarter mine b/c I’m looking for as much browning-potential real estate as possible. Once the butter/oil is absorbed and things are looking brown (5-10 minutes), add the wine and a pinch of salt. This salt will trigger the mushrooms to open their pores and let the absorbing begin. Cook until all of the wine has been absorbed. Place in the bottom of the baking dish with the fancy onions.

Going back to the creamy rice mixture, add ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme, 2 dashes of worchestire and a generous helping of pepper. Add a pinch of salt while you are at it. And, if your mate desires, add a large can of chicken (or the real-deal stuff cubed). Mix together and pour over the mushrooms and onions.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the onion/mushroom pan. Mix the melted butter with the panko crumbs and spread generously over the casserole.

Cover and bake 30 minutes or until the side are bubbly and brown. Remove the lid and bake 5-10 minutes or until the Panko crust browns.

Note – to enjoy this best, allow to cool for 15 – 20 minutes. This stuff is hot, hot, hot and the cooler the better, to fully taste everything.

Six month update on healthier eating

1.    Lost 6 pounds in six months. Hey, it’s not awesome to most, but it is to me – someone who constantly gains 5-12 pounds per year. Yeah, you do the math, I’m headed somewhere disastrous.

2.    My triglycerides, HDL, LDL and Cholesterol as a whole are awesome; in fact all of my blood work is awesome with the exception of two tests – blood sugar and C Reactive Protein. After six years of fighting a battle with LDL/HDL/Tri, I finally win.

3.    I don’t miss meat. When I do, I eat it.

4.    I could be better at this healthy eating – less takeout, more vitamins. Less gluten, more water. Less sugar, more creativity.

5.    I’m growing tired and frustrated with our options, which leads to poor decisions.

6.    An appointment with a nutritionist has been scheduled to combat my woes.

7.    Since our move, we’re sleeping more and are generally pretty stoked about life.

8.    I’m proud of us.

A year later

 (The view from the moving truck last November 1)

 Here we are, a year into our cross-country trek from the great state of Oklahoma to the gorgeous abundance of North Carolina.

I can’t specify whether time has flown or slowed. Neither feels appropriate. Moving day in 2011 doesn’t seem like yesterday, but it also doesn’t seem like a light year away. It’s a weird feeling of time.

We’ve done a lot and learned a lot over the past year. It’s been relatively uneventful in the grand scheme of things, yet full of memorable moments. Overall, it's been a growing year of spreading our wings, becoming independent and being still.

Learned:
1.    Who matters to you and who you matter the most to.
2.    That our home for so many years may not be our home, after all. The same can be said for our home of the last year.
3.    How quiet our lives really are and how easily we can be affected by stimuli.
4.    That the people we thought would call all of the time doesn’t. The ones that do are a pleasant surprise.
5.    That what we put into our bodies and surround ourselves with does impact our lives. Everything has a reason and everything can positively or negatively impact you.
6.    That moving across the country for a distraction doesn’t create a baby, but does create an experience to last a lifetime.

The year in recap:
1.    We’ve “vacationed” in Asheville, New York City, Wrightsville, Reidville and Richmond.
2.    Five people have visited us from Oklahoma City and we loved every minute of it.
3.    Things we’ve enjoyed: Farmer’s markets, exploring RDU, watching the planes land/take off, new food hot spots, Thursday night trivia, having sand in the back of our car (from the beach), short flights, patio meals, visits to Duke Chapel and the Gardens, Broadway shows, exploring new towns, trips with friends, embracing the "Southern-way" and learning our way around.
4.    I’ve traveled to the following states this year (with work) – California, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia.

Things I’m looking forward to over the next year:
1.    Moving from what feels like an urban dorm to a “grown-up” place: Yea, we had to do it once in our lives – the urban life of noise, brick and hip, hot spot – but now we’re done with that.  We’re excited to move to a place a bit more like our home in OKC, but with all of the headaches removed (i.e. no long commute).
2.    A concert at the Carolina Theatre: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy
3.    Going to the beach when it is cold. Yea, we’re doing this.
4.    Finding a church, tribe and community.
5.    A large vacation and a few small ones
6.    Travis’s graduation.
7.    Spring time in Durham with the Dogwoods in bloom.

8.    More visitors!

Robbing me blind

Source: clockworklemon.com via Krystal on Pinterest

This foodie is currently not happy. Eventually, I’ll be fired up and challenged, but for now, I’m pissed.

The following items need to be removed from my diet…
-    Caffeine
-    Gluten
-    Dairy
-    Chocolate
-    Red meat (we already don’t really eat meat)
-    Alcohol
-    Sugar and Carbs

Um, how’s that supposed to work? I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the heart. Most of these are basically food groups within our house. This is going to be interesting. You should all start praying for Travis now because Lord knows I’m going to be a mad woman for a bit.

Yet.

It’s amazing how a few vacations and conversations over wine can start to change perspectives and reinforce my thoughts.

I can feel life changing within me, like I imagine a caterpillar does when it is in its cocoon. I can’t explain it, but I’m pleased with it. It feels like I’m to a point of grown-up-ness. I’m becoming someone I want to be. 

It’s like tasting a sauce with a distinct taste that you know, you just can’t put your finger on it. Yet.

Vacation Hangover

For months we’ve fretted over what to do for our fourth wedding anniversary getaway. Thoughts of New York City, Washington D.C., the Outer Banks, Baltimore, etc. passed through our minds on multiple occasions. Friends around us can attest to our inability to make a decision regarding this trip – like it was some monumental life-changing decision or something. Sure, you can ask us to move across country and we jump on board immediately, but plan a very short vacation, no way.

The time to finalize our plans stared us in the face and as the decision was made, it felt almost natural, organic if you will. We decided on visiting Richmond and Reedville, Virginia.
Not glamorous, I know, but we had specific reasoning.

Richmond: I wanted to do two things in Richmond and two things only, so a future lengthy trip wasn’t really necessary. The two things – visit Sally Bell’s Kitchen with Travis (I previously visited without him) and Hollywood Cemetery, a historic, gorgeous resting place for three Presidents that overlooks the river.

Reedville: Home of my absolute, all-time favorite Uncle (actually, great Uncle) and Aunt. My childhood memories of Uncle Herb’s business trips to Oklahoma City are some of my favorite. With only 4.5 hours of highways between us, I’m embarrassed to say that it has taken us to long to visit. There is so much that I can share regarding my Uncle and Aunt that I will save it for a separate, dedicated post.

On Thursday, we woke up a bit late after a long night of work and drove the short three hours through the winding highways of North Carolina and Virginia to Sally Bell’s Kitchen. As I mentioned, I visited here previously and haven’t stopped thinking about the macaroni salad since. Since Travis is a lover of mac salad, I knew it was something I had to share with him. The “lunch box” is perfectly portioned with a sandwich (we chose the salty ham), salad (mac, of course), deviled egg, a cheese cracker and a “cupcake”.  The cupcake originally brought me to Sally Bell’s, but the simple, pleasure of a perfectly proportioned box brings me back.

Next up – Hollywood Cemetery. This is a cemetery surrounded by what feels to be a little bit of a shady area. Seriously, houses flank two sides of it, the river another and the highway the last. Driving up to the entrance sort of feels like a lesson in how not to either get shot or how to low-ride. Once you enter the gates, it is like a majestic remote park. Roads winds up and around every bend. Burials are most prevalent from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. The ornate headstones and plots will take your breath away. It is something that everyone should see once.

After our jaunt through Richmond, we opted to stay the night in a local hotel to sleep off our exhaustion. The next morning, we were off to Reedville. It was two days of glorious water views, historic memories, hilarious stories, wakeless sleep, amazing food and good-for-the-heart comfort and love. I’d share more details, but honestly it was such an amazing trip that I’m still emotional to not be there. I don’t know if it was having to leave them or having to leave the technology –free vacation, but tears have run freely and my mind is constantly thinking of ways to return, soon.

I’m calling it a vacation-hangover and I’m happy to get back on the wagon, or off, whichever it is. Turns out that the decision to visit Richmond and Reedville was life-changing.

After glow

I love how a vacation can reset you. The noise and chatter stop while true pleasure and relaxation rises to the top. Life's priorities, whether out of whack or in-line, become more clear. And like a six year old child, the idea of what you want for your life becomes comfortably realized.

More details on our recent vacation to follow, if I can part with the memories.

Fumes

There’s a reason for breaks in the school year. It’s needed, natural and (I’m convinced) necessary to survive. We are taught as children that it is okay to not work continuously to not learn more than we need to each year. It’s the reason you don’t learn multiplication in kindergarten – the brain can only handle so much.

After a particularly grueling month, I need a brain break – a refresh, because I can no longer rebound or be myself. My tunnel vision is stuck on the stressful, rather than the relax. My battery has run out of juice and I’m on fumes.  Seventy-two hours of sleep with intermittent food and wine breaks sounds just about perfect.

For now, I’ll settle for a massage and a quiet Saturday.

Life in Durham: The first nine months

Our life now, nine months into this new adventure, has become one that is slower paced and faster at the same time.

Work is faster paced with more travel and responsibilities, but also more fulfilling. Sure, on some days, I let the stress take over and want to curl up in the fetal position. Other days are like a swift pat on the back. I’m learning to leverage each of these to my benefit. Travis’ job is rewarding and testing his skills around every bend.

Life is slower paced allowing for us to see things differently (peas into pesto, listening to records, enjoying leisure Saturday afternoon of Cheerwine and Fullsteam). We’re quickly realizing that the life our younger selves imagined can be better, rewritten to suit us best.

Over the next three or four months, we will focus on ironing out the wrinkles and feeling more settled. It’s going to be a whirlwind, in the best way possible.

Taking our time, popcorn

In a world of hustle and bustle, we deliberately chose to not have a microwave, the greatest convenience kitchen appliance of all time. It seemed like a good-enough challenge at first and now it just seems odd that we would have one, honestly.

Recently, I've become obsessed with popcorn, but not just any popcorn. Popcorn with butter and truffle salt. Have you tried it? It is just the right balance of comfort meets foodie with the woodsy notes of truffle coming through the warm, unsalted butter. Fun fact: I've had the same very small container of truffle salt for at least two years (pictured above). A little goes a long way.

Like listening to vinyls on the record player and writing letters to friends and family, popping popcorn from scratch takes time, but something about it feels so novel, so slow in a good way.

Tips for popping your own corn:
1. We prefer Pop Secret yellow popcorn. It pops up lighter and fluffier than the cheap stuff.
2. Melt and place your butter in the bottom of a bowl, then toss the popcorn in it to avoid getting things too soggy.
3. Keep a vented lid on the pan to shield from popping oil & to maximize popping.
4. Remove from heat about 10 seconds after popping begins to keep from burning and to allow for some of those half-popped pieces.

Off-center

Source: vi.sualize.us via Lucy on Pinterest

Ever had one of those weeks that the weekend can’t come soon enough? A weekend you are looking forward to like it’s a vacation or holiday? While we have nothing planned, I could not be more ready for 5pm today. 

I’ve been off this week – forgetting things, thinking I did things that I didn’t, sleepy, moody, anxious. It’s been an odd one for sure that requires a reboot.  My usual planner self would make plans to clean, organize, cook fabulous meals, enjoy a new Durham adventure and sleeping in followed by brunch. My current self just wants to not have to think about or focus on anything – not even baking. Besides, the house is already clean and organized – my controlling, calming/coping mechanism.

Maybe I just need a few good belly laughs to get back to normal?

Summer weekends

Last weekend, as seen above, was a deliberate, mostly-planned weekend that goes down in the books as one of the best yet. It's helping my aversion to summer. It's helping me ease into Instagram more.

This weekend is less planned - a trip to the grocery store, back to RDU's park, brunch, a movie and a wedding. Okay, so now that I write it down, it seems like another well-planned weekend is ahead with (hopefully) a few spontaneous fun moments sprinkled in.

Twenty-four hours of Asheville: Sunny Pointe's garden

Sunny Point Cafe, a wonderful restaurant in Asheville, sources many of their vegetables from a garden just steps from the restaurant. The community garden is one of the most beautiful exhibits of raised beds that I've ever seen.

Photos do not do this garden justice. You'll just have to visit and see for yourself.

Before you go, check out the following articles:
White on Rice - a daily favorite for me visits Asheville
She who eats - an Asheville food blog
Southern Living's take on visiting Asheville

Durham: RDU Observation Deck; A match made in controlled heaven

Photo details:
1. RDU entrance
2. A cloudy day at Observation Park.
3. History in aviation - information on all of the planes created & flown at RDU
4. The observation deck
5. Entertainment for the kiddos
6. Planes lining up for take-off
7. United arrives
8. Delta departs

 During my childhood, many of my relatives would travel to Oklahoma City to visit. While I loved their visits, I loved picking them up from the airport and hearing about their travel more. My parents would always allow additional time to take me into the air tower or to sit at the chairs in the terminals, facing the runways.  I loved watching the planes take off and land. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d answer “I want to ride on planes” (when I wasn’t selling M&M’s door-to-door, but that’s another story).

Aside from a long few months of crazy, I’ve always loved all things related to air travel. I love the planning of every last detail, the grandness of flying high in the skies, the smell of jet fuel, the personal space that is mine for the duration of the flight, seeing the world from another perspective, the calculated drink service, the control of passengers and mostly, the nostalgic, comfort of airports.

While sitting on the runway during our first visit to Durham, I noticed an area where people were standing to watch the airplanes. While I’ve traveled a lot during my time in Durham, the exact location of this observation area was still a mystery. That is, until one fateful trip to Asheville required a rental car, parking garage, new areas (to us) of RDU and a bumpy bus ride.

On Saturday, we woke up early, grabbed some coffee & bagels and drove to RDU to sit in silent excitement at the RDU observation park. While it is mostly geared to and attended by families with children, it is a unique example of entertainment and forethought.  You can just feel the love that the planners and builders have for aviation and maybe, their own childhood memories.

There’s something so peaceful about the landing and taking off of planes. It’s almost like seeing a big, burly, scary man being sensitive and gentle with nature or a child. It’s an unexpected calm, with a guarded, precise control.  It's how I imagine I'd like to be thought of - calming, reserved control with an underlying, unexpected, excited chaos.

This revitalizing, peaceful outing is another new tradition we look forward to having each weekend, maybe every other.  It just fits with us and our weekend routine - it just fits with us.

Twenty-four hours of Asheville

An apple a day is just what the doctor ordered. A day away with dear friends, in the mountains is just what I ordered!

Travis and I were fortunate enough to spend a glorious day with our dear friends, Brandy and Josh, from Oklahoma City (who now live in St. Louis, via Portland).

The trip was food for my soul – friends who really know and get you, a small town full of mountains and food that makes this foodie’s heart stop.

Thank you, sweet friends and hubs for making this summer just a bit more bearable.

(caution: photo dump and dark photos ahead)


The Westward drive across I-40, into Asheville. 

Aerial photo of Asheville - population 83,000-ish

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Lisa on Pinterest

A flight of local-only brews from The Lab 


 Brandy's amazing, healthy strawberry salad 

 
My less-healthy pretzels that stopped time briefly. You'll want these over and over. 

 
 A quaint little wine bar, 5 Walnut Wine Bar

 
 A whisky bar with an amazing roof top deck, Sazerac.

 
 Imagine walking in and smelling Apothia candles, listening to Jack White and drinking in the sultry atmosphere...

 
A perfect brunch spot, Sunny Point Cafe. 

 
"angel biscuits"

 
 The MGD: A mighty good breakfast built with two free range eggs, local nitrate free sausage from Snow Creek, herb tossed spuds and an angel biscuit.

 
Breakfast burrito: Eggs scrambled with serranos, peppers, onions, and cheddar. Wrap it all in a warm flour tortilla and top with warm roasted tomato chipotle salsa and cilantro crema. Served with grits.

 
Part of the out-back, sourced garden, saved for another post...