What's Cooking Tuesday Tasty Side Dish

This is a good side dish that will go with just about anything, but try a pan roasted 

Red Snapper or an Oven Roasted Whole Chicken!

ROASTED BROCCOLI WITH GARLIC AND RED PEPPER
Adapted from Bon Appétit

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds broccoli
3 large cloves of garlic, finely diced (use 2 cloves for a less garlicky dish)
Dried crushed red pepper (just a pinch if you want a hint of heat or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon if you want a heavy kick)
3 tablespoons oil (I use either olive oil or grapeseed oil)
Salt and Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 F. Separate the broccoli into small, individual florets. The smaller the florets, the crispier they get in the oven. Toss the broccoli well with two tablespoons of oil and spread on a baking sheet. Make sure the broccoli is spread out in one layer as you want each floret to have room to brown. Place the pan in the middle of the oven and roast for 10 minutes.

While broccoli is baking, finely dice your garlic and combine with the remaining tablespoon of oil in a small bowl. Add desired amount of red pepper flakes to the oil and garlic. Set aside.

After broccoli has baked for 10 minutes, remove from oven and add the garlic mixture to the broccoli, stirring well to combine. Make sure the broccoli is again spread out in a single layer and return to the oven for an additional 8 minutes. Stir the broccoli at least once to ensure the garlic roasts and browns evenly. Serve immediately.

Animal Humor

Happy Monday!

These are too cute for words!

 

So how many of you have done the same thing?!

What a face!

Dining Room Remodel

Last week I wrote about my dining room remodel and shared with you the how I reworked the chandelier and hutch. Today I wanted to finish sharing some of my great finds! 

I have had this mirror for years, originally getting it from Michael's. I picked out the frame and had it hung on the diagonal just to be different. Not wanting to get rid of it, but so past the gold frame, I decided to paint it the same hammered metal color as the sewing table bases.

The wall color was a combination of different things. I painted over the old green walls with a dark chocolate color that was in the fabric I found. Once I put it on the walls I knew it was too dark and flat and did not have the look I was going for. I found a Valspar Translucent Iridescent Glaze on sale at Lowes for under $6.00 and thought why not. Adding a hint of a taupe color (the one used on the back of the hutch) to the glaze I found a great combination to add to the chocolate walls. Using and old natural sponge and a stipple brush I had in my paint supplies I applied the glaze with the sponge and quickly went over it with the stipple brush to soften it out. Pictures do not do it justice, when you walk into the room the walls shimmer in the light.

 

Loving the new color of the mirror and how it works with the paint on the walls. I found this file old filing cabinet on one of my Metrolina Antique mall shopping trips. It is from a county court house in Ohio circa 1870. I will admit I did something I normally would not do and splurged on this piece but it was well worth it!

On another Metrolina Antique shopping trip I ran across some old machine part molds and a wooden spoon set. I spent $10.00 on the spoon set and $5.00 on the molds. I knew both would become wall art but was not sure where or how. After some thought I came up with this idea. I bought 2 framed canvases from Michaels for $5.00 and glued some burlap to the frame that I had left over from another project. I attached those to the walls and punched nails through the canvas to place the spoons and molds on. I placed these on either side of the courthouse piece and I am please with how they turned out. Original one of a kind wall art for $10.00 a piece.

At the end of the remodel I spent $20.00 on art for the walls, around $125.00 for all the paint, $25.00 for the hutch, $36.00 for the new chandelier, $45.00 for fabric to cover the chairs and create curtains. I did buy a new rug for $99.00 and traded a old side table for an new side table with my friend Laurie, re-purposed my chairs, old glass table top and old sewing bases. My one splurge cost me $600.00 for the old courthouse cabinet, I do love that piece though! Without that cost I remodeled the whole room with a dramatic new look for under $400.00, not bad considering I have a new dining room table, chairs, china cabinet, side table, wall art, curtains, chandelier and more!

Brazilian Shrimp Soup

I ran across this recipe on Pinterest and thought it sounded good. Since I do not have a kitchen I have not been able to try it, but if all goes well Friday I will be cooking this!

2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup long-grain rice
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree (from one 15-ounce can)
5 cups water
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, shelled and cut in half horizontally
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes. Add the rice, red-pepper flakes, salt, tomatoes, and water to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook until the rice is almost tender, about 10 minutes. Stir the coconut milk into the soup. Bring back to a simmer and then stir in the shrimp. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are just done, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the black pepper, lemon juice, and parsley.

Notes Variation Instead of the shrimp, use one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about three), cut crosswise into quarter-inch strips. Cook for the same amount of time.

Crazy Monday and Kitchen Chaos!

I know I have missed a few days but life has been hectic! We are in the middle of a kitchen island makeover and I have been without a sink or counter top for almost a week now. Today we washed dishes in the tub and sink upstairs...not really a fun thing. I keep telling myself its all for the greater good but I am not a person that can handle a disorganized house for too long without going crazy! I promise to get back on track this week...unless the counter top does not get installed soon!

That's so me!

Also, check out our new class schedule and the addition of Yoga starting next week! We have some great new classes and offer something for everyone, classes start at $10.00 a session for Mat, Yoga and Piloxing and go up to $20.00 for all the Equipment classes.

DIY Dinning Room Table and Hutch

There are a few rooms left in my house that have not been 'decorated' yet. I just threw them together with the furniture, etc. that I had either inherited or my husband and I had when we combined homes. When I retired from teaching this May I vowed to 'finish' all those rooms and make them my own. The first room I tackled was my dinning room. I did not have a lot of money to spend so it had to be thrifty and I really wanted to use some of the pieces I already had in the house, but I also wanted a dramatic new look.

With a little paint and hard work I re-decorated the whole room for around $200.00. Below I will share some the things that went into the new decor and will reveal the new room next week!

The room before with a hodge podge of stuff. The green walls were there when we moved in, the table and chairs were inherited from my aunt, and the curtains were re-purposed from my old house.


I knew I wanted a hutch and buffet to hold all my grandmothers china and milk glass pieces but I did not want to spend a fortune. My greatest thrift store find was the hutch top at Habitat for $25.00. It was in excellent shape but missing a glass shelve. The inside light still worked and I loved the detail inside. I already had the buffet base, the piece had been sitting in my entry way. The hutch top fit perfect on top of the base so I painted it a gloss black on the outside and painted the interior a taupe color to match the fabric I was using. I took off the hardware that was a brass finish and spray painted it silver to match the hardware that was on the buffet base. Once the hutch was finished no one could tell the pieces did not come together.

Next I had to decide what to do about the table. In our basement we had two old sewing bases that had belonged to my husband's grandmother. They were a little rusty but in good shape. I found a hammered metal spray paint and painted the bases and added an old glass table top I had bought over 15 years ago at an after market sale. For the cost of 4 bottles of spray paint we had a new dinning room table and I re-purposed 3 items in our house. The chairs had been part of the dinning set my aunt had left me and I painted them black and recovered them with the fabric I had picked out.

Chair before, not really my taste but my aunt did love animal prints!

Next week I will show you my new chandelier that cost under $40.00, my original wall art, and the finished product!

Take a look at what you have, always be on the look out for good finds, and be creative!

Cooking With Salmon

Here is a yummy recipe that my husband loves. I served this the other day with some Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans with Pancetta and Mushrooms. Try to make sure the pieces of Salmon are of equal thickness to ensure even cooking. 

Enjoy!

Salmon Bake With Pecan-Crunch Coating

Ingredients

	* 4 salmon fillets (about 1½ inches thick)
	* ¼ teaspoon salt
	* ⅛ teaspoon pepper
	* 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
	* 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
	* 1½ tablespoons honey
	* ¼ cup soft breadcrumbs
	* ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
	* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper; place, skin down, in a lightly greased 11-x7-x1 1/2-inch or 9-inch square baking dish.

Combine mustard, butter, and honey; brush over salmon. Combine breadcrumbs, pecans, and parsley; spoon evenly across top of salmon. Bake, uncovered, at 450 for 12-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Garnish, if desired.

Happy Monday!

Yes, I have those days!

I'm still working on that one!

Yoga Is Coming To Dancing Moon

Yoga is coming! We are pleased to announce the addition of Cait Klein to our staff. Cait currently teaches at Davidson College and Gotta Yoga, so you may have seen her around town. Classes will start January 28th and will be offered Monday nights at 7:15 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. 

Our new class schedules are coming soon so stay tuned for some other additions as well as class changes. Our goal is to offer a variety of class types to fit everyone's needs and schedules.

Have a great weekend and we hope to see you at the studio soon!

FItness Thursday, Weight Training Injuries in Women

I read a recent article from Women's Health about how weight-training injuries have increased 63 percent for women in recent years.

There are many reasons why, such as improper form, not warming up, lack of direction and guidance from a qualified professional...the list is long. What the article talked about was how to prevent injuries from happening. Here are a few:

1. Make sure you warm up the muscles before starting to go too deep into the workout. "Working cold, stiff muscles can lead to sprains and tears," says Morey Kolber, Ph.D., a professor of physical therapy at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. "Warming up increases circulation and improves range of motion, which preps your muscles and joints for action."

2. Experts agree that proper form is the single most important factor in injury prevention. Standing straight, core muscles tight, and knees in line with your second toe, will all help to keep you in the proper form. Work with someone that has been trained professionally to help you understand how to create that posture and help you "feel" where you truly should be in space.

3. Watch your shoulders,  make sure they are not taking the brunt of the weight. Keeping the shoulders loose and letting other muscle groups take over is key to a healthy shoulder.

4. Do not neglect opposing muscle groups. Many women have imbalances from day to day living

which can make them more prone to injury, So if you work the chest or front of the body be sure to work the back as well, if you work the bicep make sure you also work the tricep, etc.

5. Above all slow down, take time to set up the proper form and really feel the internal muscle groups working hard. Don't do too much too soon, which can stress out the joint, ligaments, muscles, etc. Also remember if it does not 'feel right' for your body do not do it, even if you are being told to do it. Talk with your teacher, trainer, etc and let them know what's going on in your body.

Wednesday DIY from the House of 34 blog

I found this Pottery Barn knock off DIY on my friend Laurie's blog. It just shows you can have some fun with the left over wood you may accumulate from other projects!

Pottery Barn Knock-Off Wall Art

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Laurie

I love Pottery Barn.  I don’t always love the prices.  While flipping through the recent catalog I saw this rustic wood wall art.  A whooping $399.00!  Knowing I have a pile of scrap wood in the garage, I just about did the happy dance at the project I knew I was going to tackle.  I love power tools.  I love wood!

I bought a 2x 4 foot piece of plywood, a few extra pieces of wood, a couple of sample size paint jars, and some tacks.  It only cost around $40.00!  Everything else I had… a lot of wood pieces, glue and leftover paint.  Most of the wood I used is considered “craft” wood.  It comes in short lengths and is thinner than regular wood.  I did combine it with “regular” wood though.  It gives the piece some dimension.

My Pottery Barn Knock-off version.

Pottery Barn $399.00.   Laurie $40.00!

The design was not planned.  I cut each piece as I went along.  HINT:  When you have the layout you want, take a picture of it.  Just in case you mess up the design later on while you are painting the wood pieces.  You don’t want to spend HOURS and HOURS trying to put the thing back together, only to remember you DO have a picture you could have looked at.  By that point, bad words may have been said, drinks may have been drunk, and your family may be afraid to be in the same room as you.  Just saying it could happen.  

The next step was paint.

I applied the paint with a cut up old t-shirt.  That way I could rub the paint on like a stain allowing the wood grain to show through.

Each piece was glued down to a 2 x 4 sheet of plywood board with Tite Bond Wood Glue.  Blue tape is always handy for extra support.

The Vodka is for weight, not for drinking. At least not in that moment anyway. After all the pieces were glued down, I distressed each piece with sand paper to lighten the paint colors and to give it a worn out look.

I found these tacks at Lowes.

I lightly sanded the tack heads so they looked distress as well.

I’m not sure where I’m going to hang it yet.  I may add some trim around the edges.  This was a FUN project.  Although I used a power saw to cut the pieces, it can be done with a simple miter box.

This Pottery Barn knock-off project was a great way to use up most of the scrap pieces of wood I had accumulated.  And my garage is a little bit cleaner now! :)

 

http://odetomyabode.com/2012/07/24/pottery-barn-knock-off-wall-art/ 

Welcome To Let's Get Cooking Tuesday!

Since it is winter (even though it's going to be 70 degrees this weekend) I thought a soup recipe would be a good one to start with. Growing up one of my favorite comfort foods  was always a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup. As an adult I still love the meal but prefer a more "grown up" version of the soup. This delicious recipe requires a slow cooker. Enjoy! 

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup in the  Slow Cooker

Makes about 2 quarts (about 8 servings)
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed 
 (or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

1.  Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large 
slow cooker.

2.  Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

3.  About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and 
add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper.  Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don’t be afraid to always season to taste at the end).
 
4.  Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.

New Year, New Goals

Welcome to 2013! 

Like everyone else I have thought long and hard about what I would like to do differently this year. One of my 'goals' is to make this blog useful and entertaining for our clients as well as anyone else that passes through our site. My friend Laurie has inspired me in many ways, so I dedicate this post to her!

Starting this week I will be posting different things everyday. 
The line up will look like this:

Happy Monday's
Let's Get Cooking Tuesday's
DIY Wednesday's
Fun N' Fit Thursday's
What's Happening Friday's

So look for humor, inspiration, fitness tips, and new's/events coming your way every week. Please let me know what you think, good or bad! And above all else keep finding your inspiration and complete your goals for the year!