Thursday, February 23, 2012

Easy Salmon Puttensca Pasta


So, I'm the girl who has NO idea how to take a picture of food so that it looks appetizing.  Hence, the weird crop job here. 

Either way, I made what ended up being a really good meat-less recipe on the fly last night.  Since cohabiting with my man, I've been cooking probably 6 nights a week and I think if I could take a decent photo, I'd throw a lot more recipes on here.  Either way, here we go!

1 tin anchovies in oil
Minced garlic to taste
1/3 c. white wine
1/3-1/2 jar green olives with pimento, sliced
Few good shakes Italian seasoning
One pouch boneless Salmon, like this one
1/3-1/2 jar tomato sauce [or 1 can crushed tomatoes, etc...Improvise accordingly]
2 and 2/3 c. pasta

This makes about 3-4 servings



Set your salted water to boil.  You can pretty much complete the recipe in the time between adding the pasta to the water and draining it.  I used some tri-mixture of penne, mini shells and rotini.
 

SAUCE | Begin by emptying the anchovies into a large skillet in about half of their oil.  Push them around as they start to dissolve.  Add garlic. 
Add the wine and the shakes of seasoning.  Use the back of a fork to help them break down. 
Next add the olives and let them simmer for about a minute.  Next add the pouch of salmon and break apart slightly with a fork. 
Add the tomatoes, or jarred sauce.  I let this all simmer for about 5-7 minutes (you could add more wine or some pasta water if its looking too dry. 
Drain the pasta and throw it into the sauce pan, folding the sauce over the top.

Any fresh herbs would be very welcome here as would the addition of capers.  This was really good as is though.



Bon appetite!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Currently....

Currently:
• Enjoying my morning Quick Check coffee & Nature Valley Oats n Honey bar.  How long will I continue to eat this breakfast?  There's no telling! 

Relieved that I have a haircut later.  It *currently* looks like sticks coming out of my head.

• Listening to: The Kills- Midnight BoomRock on.  Check out track 10, Alphabet Pony.  Yes.

• Looking forward to getting my livingsocial deal from mypix2canvas.com  Bringin some art up in the apt for like $60!

 • Highly endorsing this product70 Hot Tamale is helping keep me from looking too much like a corpse as we coast through these NJ winter months. Do I need to point out the obvious that of course I am not getting paid by these ppl.  Ha!

Later on I will post a portion of an ongoing project.... 

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Out West

Personal image.  Estes Park. I'd love to have this printed on a canvas.

I guess this post is really about pioneerism.  
Back in June, I was lucky enough to take a trip to Denver for a week.  I've spent time in every state on the east coast, but this was my first time going west.  

While I'm not a huge 'outdoorsy' type, I have a very strong sense of pioneerism.  I loved it and could not get over the absolute natural beauty.  

In high school, I visited Paris and London.  I live mere miles from New York City.  I've seen some of the most amazing art and architecture that the U.S. and Europe have to offer*, but there was just something special about the beauty found in the untouched [and 'virtually untouched'] land.  Something more inspiring, to me.  I think I felt much more present out there at 12,000 ft among pine trees and a snow covered ground, than I ever have in a museum or cathedral or city streets.  Gosh, its so true what they say about all the sounds and signage everywhere today.  Take it all away, and you will be amazed at how much more you feel and sense and remember.  Everything becomes more noticeable.  The smallest details can leave you with the most lasting impressions.

Personal image.  Rocky Mountain National Park


By going there, I feel that I've seen some of the beauty that makes our country unique.  I feel like I'm doing my patriotic part.  I cannot wait to get back out there again.  There is not enough time in this life to see all the beauty that can be found there.
Oh, and two links for you.  First, If I had to sum up the trip with one song, this would be it.  This song IS Colorado to me.  Not to mention, seeing this live would be one of most amazing 10:36 of my life! 
Deerhunter: He Would Have Laughed

Second is a poem by Walt Whitman.  This recording of it is so good, but so is reading it yourself. :)

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

 

*I am by no means trying to underplay the value of visiting Europe or highly cultured cities, or my experiences there.

 

xoxo


Friday, February 10, 2012

The Office, a journey.

The Office, up until now:






The Office, now: 


Monday, February 6, 2012

Sh'yea Okay....

While food shopping during the Superbowl was awesome because the store was empty, I stumbled on something truly crazy.


That's right folks!!  This completely generic, solid white, over embellished, clear-plastic-column-stacked, 1980's looking wedding cake is sold right at your local Shop Rite store for...... TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS!!!

In-sane.  I know wedding things are overpriced, but there is NO way I would spend $250 on that. 

Friday, February 3, 2012

What in the???

What the hell happened on The Office this week???
TERRIBLE.  Don't think I cracked a smile.  Gosh, I miss Steve Carell.....
I miss old Dwight.  I miss...  office humor.
Sighhhhh
I heard Dwights getting a spin off.  Ugh.

Things that are not a logo....

Not to go into too much detail, but I work in a fun industry which revolves around a ton of really creative people with awesome design sense. 

Let me show you!  Here are two examples of "logos" i've been given recently:

Exhibit A.
Note the weird Pixar-esque look of this picture.  Note the lack of company name and text of any kind. 




And here is an email snippet for Exhibit B.  Of course I blurred some info to protect... well, me.  I'm sorry, but that doesn't count either.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

29 things making me happy this Leap Year.


I wanted to get this post out on 2.1.12 but, shoot.  Didn't happen.  Here it is one day late.  29 things that rock my world this Leap Year month...

• Cream of Wheat: Maple Brown Sugar.  Seriously, the best. 
• PreCana coming up: One day and one evening and we're one step closer to tying the knot.
• Get togethers with friends: A few things on tap over Feb.  Looking forward to them!
• Velentine's Day: Guaranteed happy day. 
• Chia Herb Garden: Gonna get that baby going then, fresh herbs!
• Store credit to Delia*s:  Thank god because I want some new clothes and my wallet is le empty.
• SIRIUS- Honestly, the only thing that gets me through my commute = Ch.35.
• Pinterest: Yeah been around a while now, but makes me happy on a daily basis. 
• 'Switch to the new look X': This refers to that little alert in the bottom of my gmail that means that I'm not being forced to convert to the awful redesign yet!!
• A brand new Wii. 
• Quick Checks Raspberry Cookie Crumble coffee
• Fresh flowers from my sister-in-law
• My space heater for my cubicle: There are no words.
• Continued Slow Cooker success
• Low lighting at work.  :o]
• Renting CD's and DVD's from the library for FREE.
• Oats n Honey Nature Valley Bars
• Going out with my man on a Wednesday night to break up the week. 
• My awesome calendar art this month.  Bright.  Cheerful.
• Having a Michaels so close to work.  Perfect lunch break jaunt.
• Those random [read: seldom!] but perfect car rides where every car gets out of my way
• Thinking about our honeymoon and [probably] seeing the Grand Canyon. 
• Laughing my butt off at an :18s youtube clip from the muppets
• Taking a walk on my lunch hour in temps over 55 degrees
• My amazing 27" mac @ work.  My most prized possession that isn't technically "mine". 
• Home made tortilla chips
• Adobe Suite. Seriously- an overdue thank you.
• Candles that make the whole house smell good.
• The best family & friends anyone could have.