Thai Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Several weeks ago, I took a trip to Cost Plus World Market, which has quickly become one of my favorite stores to frequent when I’m feeling daring enough to make the journey up to Buckhead, and have some extra money burning a hole in my pocket.  For those of you who have never been, I’d describe it as a combination of Trader Joes and Pier 1.  There is so much to look at; I could easily spend the majority of an afternoon shopping up and down the aisles.  Drew and I did a bit of our Christmas shopping there and I don’t think I’ve ever had to pull him out of a store like that.  I’m able to find spices, sauces and baking ingredients that I can’t pick up at our local Kroger.  They also have a great selection of unique pillows, throws and home décor that I can definitely see us buying once we move into a house.  On my most recent trip I bought coconut milk and yellow curry sauce.  I’d never cooked with them before, but I love Thai food and was determined to try making my own at home.  And after all, I’m supposed to be broadening my culinary horizons, remember?

After finding a recipe online for a butternut squash soup, I adapted it a bit to fit what I had in the pantry and my personal taste preferences.  The soup was cooking in the crockpot all yesterday afternoon and by the time dinner rolled around, I was ready to attack that pot with a giant spoon.  I’d intended to make a big batch and eat it for my lunches at work all this week, but I couldn’t resist sneaking a spoonful before packing it away.  It was absolutely delicious.  I’m pretty proud of this one.  Granted, it’s pretty hard to screw up when you just throw a bunch of ingredients together and let it cook all day, but I’m glad I stepped out of the box and made something completely new to me.  Not sure if Drew would be a fan of this one, even if he is a fan of Thai food; I can just hear him asking, “But where’s the meat?”

It's not the prettiest soup, but I promise it's delicious!

It’s not the prettiest soup, but I promise it’s delicious!

In addition to the soup, I also made another batch of the banana oatmeal raisin “cookies” that I blogged about in this post. This time, however, I just poured the batter into a baking dish and baked it all together like a casserole.  Even though the smells from the soup and casserole weren’t exactly complimentary, the apartment felt warm and cozy, which was very welcoming after a cold morning run with snow flurries.   Now that it’s March, I’m eager for this winter weather to go away and Spring to arrive.  My flip-flops are reading and waiting.

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Thai Curry Butternut Squash Soup
Makes 1 large batch

Ingredients:1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1 can coconut milk
1/3 cup yellow curry sauce/paste
4 cups water
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp sriracha sauce
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 Tbs. ground ginger

Directions:
Add all ingredients in a large crockpot and stir to combine. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours. You can use and immersion blender if you want a smoother, creamier soup but I liked it a bit thicker. Garnish with crushed peanuts and cilantro, or serve over basmati rice, naan or pita bread.

Flix, Films, and Brews

I’m starting to think that Drew and I could get very used to weekends where we don’t have to travel or be anywhere in particular.  We didn’t have a list of “must-do’s” but still managed to have a fun, entertaining weekend.  After hearing from multiple sources how great–and addictive–the new Netflix series House of Cards was, we decided to start watching it.  We spent the majority of Saturday afternoon doing just that.  Six episodes back-to-back if I recall correctly.  It was just that good.  Besides, after going for a run that morning, I didn’t feel too bad about relaxing the rest of the afternoon.

I’ve never been one to closely follow politics, but it becomes a completely different story when you throw Kevin Spacey into the mix.  Even though it’s been over a decade, I will always remember him most as the social studies teacher in Pay It Forward.  Within a few minutes of the first episode, I told Drew that I thought there was an uncanny resemblance between Spacey and the late John Ritter.  I don’t think he saw it.  Anyway, after watching a few more episodes last night, we are now 3 away from the finale.  If you have Netflix, I highly recommend this show.

Does anyone else see the resemblance?

Does anyone else see the resemblance?

By the evening we were ready to move about and do something fun.  We’d been wanting to visit the newest brewery to hit Atlanta, Monday Night Brewing, ever since we’d initially heard about it from our close friend Katie months ago.  The brewery actually has a very cool story; it grew out of a men’s bible study.  That night they were having free tastings and a tour (the tour never happened, unfortunately).  MNB is unlike any other brewery: a full wall of men’s neckties, a shuffleboard, and a giant framed mustache are just some of its charm.  The beer I tried, called Fu Manbrew, wasn’t half bad either.  I’m looking forward to many more trips–Monday nights or not–to the brewery.  And one of these days hopefully I’ll get that tour!

mnb1

Great artwork is all over Monday Night Brewing.

The framed mustache. Next to a chandelier. Sounds silly but it works.

The framed mustache. Next to a chandelier. Sounds silly but it works.

Sunday was another relaxing day in the Hawkins household. I’d entered an Oscars pool at work earlier in the week, so I was interested in seeing who the winners were. Of course, anything that happens to fall on a Sunday night at 9 is no match for our Walking Dead obsession healthy habit, so we flipped back and forth. As it turned out, I guessed 20 of the 24 winners correctly. Considering I’d only seen one of the movies actually up for awards (Django), I was quite proud of myself. The next day at work they announced the winner during our team meeting and I’d won! The prize was, fittingly, two free movie tickets so Drew and I are looking forward to using those soon, although I think most of the Oscar-nominated films are out on DVD or Redbox by now…

The Oscars are by far my favorite awards-type show.  All the events leading up to them (Golden Globes, SAG Awards, etc.) just always seem so dull in comparison.  I think one of the highlights one of the night, which wasn’t even aired, was Jennifer Lawrence’s behind-the-scenes interview with the press after winning the Oscar for Best Actress. I’ve been a fan of hers ever since seeing The Hunger Games, and this video just solidifies that.  She’s also from Kentucky, so that doesn’t hurt either.

Cooking My Way Through Pinterest

If you follow me on Pinterest, you know that I have several pinboards dedicated to food and recipes.  If you don’t, you can click the button over to the right to see what I’m talking about.  Since I joined the site almost a year and a half ago, I’ve pinned close to a thousand recipes for everything from fish tacos to homemade Reese’s cups.  In reality, I’ve only actually made a fraction of those recipes.  Like maybe 10 or 12.  Of course it’s easy to go on an online pinning spree and find countless recipes in one sitting.  Going to the store, buying the ingredients and carving out the time to make them all?  Now that’s a different story.

pinterest meme

Drew and I have a list of 5-10 meals that make up our typical dinner rotation.  They’re all tasty, easy to prepare and relatively inexpensive.  We never seem to get tired of them but I’ve been wanting to expand my culinary horizons for a while now.  I don’t need to prepare 5-course, Zagat-rated dinners; our dinners are way too informal for that: using paper napkins and feeding Theo the occasional frequent table scrap while we watch Big Bang Theory re-runs.  Still, it would be fun to consistently be trying new things and throwing in a new dinner or two to change up the same ol’ same ol’.

So, I plan to start trying at least one new recipe, either from Pinterest or one of the countless cookbooks sadly collecting dust on our kitchen shelf, each week.  It shouldn’t be too hard, and it’ll be nice to finally revisit the recipes I pinned or bookmarked way back when–and most likely forgot about.

With that being said, I have two new recipes to share.  One is from Pinterest, the other is a concoction I just kind of came up with in my head.  I say “concoction” because, well, it doesn’t exactly look all that appealing.  But trust me, it is delicious.  I made these banana oatmeal raisin cookies, and although they’re lot chewier than the typical cookie, I wouldn’t really call them a muffin or a biscuit either.  They instantly reminded me of the oatmeal on-the-go cups that my Mom has been making for her and Dad’s breakfasts.  They were quite tasty.  So good in fact that Drew didn’t even get to try a single one.  He may have no even realized, until reading this post, that I’d even made them.

oatmeal breakfast cookies

Lucky for him, he actually got to try the second recipe.  I made these for our dinner this past Sunday night and they’ll definitely be making a repeat appearance at our dinner table.

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BBQ Chicken-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
2 large sweet potatoes
BBQ sauce (I used a hickory flavored one)
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:
Microwave sweet potatoes for 5-8 minutes or until soft. In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce until it’s completely coated. Cut a slit in the middle of each sweet potato and fill with the chicken mixture. Top with shredded cheese and bake in the oven at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until cheese has melted.

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See? I said they aren't exactly pretty...

See? I said they aren’t exactly pretty…

Running for Me

Two years ago, I never would have identified myself as a runner.  Sure I was on the girls’ track team back in high school, but I wasn’t very good.  During my college years, I would eke out a few miles on the treadmill at the Preston Center, all the while feeling like I was going to die at any moment.  How ironic that the guy I met during my sophomore year, who would ultimately become my husband, ran cross country and track for WKU.  After getting married and moving to Atlanta, it wasn’t long before I tried taking up running again.  In the spring Drew and I, along with several other couples from our house church, participated in The Color Run.  It was my first race since high school, and my first ever 5K.  Even though I would really consider it a “race”—there was a lot of starting and stopping around the color stations and it wasn’t even timed—I had so much fun.  The atmosphere was unlike anything I had experienced before–thousands of people, covered head to toe in every color of the rainbow, having the time of their lives.  I immediately wanted to find another race to enter.

The Color Run 2012. So much fun!

The Color Run 2012. So much fun!

At the finish line of the Atlanta Beltline 5K. Exhausted but happy.

At the finish line of the Atlanta Beltline 5K. Exhausted but happy.

The Atlanta Beltline Southwest 5K was my next race.  By then I had a regular running routine and had a goal time of less than 27 minutes. As Drew and I crossed the finish line together, the clock read 24:55.  I blew my goal time out of the water!  I ended up finishing 2nd among the women in my age group.  I can’t remember another time I felt both physically exhausted yet emotionally electrified in my entire life.  A few months later I registered for the Beltline’s Eastside 10K on December 1.  It was a pretty big step for me and I felt a mixture of giddiness and nerves as I clicked the registration button.  I would have to increase my training quite a bit but thankfully I had plenty of time to do it.  By September, I was running six miles around our neighborhood easily.  Almost too easily.  I thought if I could run so many miles one day, why not do it the next?  And the day after that?  I barely heard Drew’s warnings that I should have shorter distance days and easy days where I just run a short jaunt through the park for the fun of it, not worrying about mileage or time.  Oh, and the concept of stretching was completely foreign to me (bad Megan).  I went from running 15 miles a week to logging 30, sometimes even more.

Needless to say, it wasn’t long before my right knee started protesting the heavy increase in mileage.  It was the same knee that I experienced problems with during high school.  I vividly remember one track meet in particular where I had to tie pre-wrap around my patella and hobbled miserably through the 400.  Just like that race, I thought I could push through the pain and continue to run.  After all, I had a race to train for and with the registration being nonrefundable, I wasn’t about to give up my bib number.  The first week in October, in the middle of my usual long run, my knee finally put its foot down (well…you know what I mean) and I had to walk/hobble that last mile and a half back to our apartment.  Days later, my knee was still sore and I pretty much had to quit running cold turkey.  As the weeks went by, my hopes that I would be healed in time for the 10K were quickly dwindling.  I couldn’t even complete a mile on the treadmill without feeling that dull ache.  A few days before the race I contacted one of the organizers and asked them to give away my bib number to someone else.  I purposely slept in on the morning of the race so I wouldn’t have to think about where I should have been at that moment.  It was entirely my fault for stubbornly overtraining, not listening to my body, and ignoring the advice of my husband (seriously, it was like I had a live-in running coach…you think I would have listened).

It was late December, almost three months after the knee pain began, before I even entertained the idea of running outside again.  My first few runs back were short and not exactly sweet; the second mile would come and that old familiar ache would start to spread through my knee and along my IT band.  This time I didn’t push myself; I stretched, applied ice, and took things slow.  Patience has never been my strong suit—it’s doubtful whether I possess much at all—so I firmly believe that this temporary setback, while extremely frustrating at times, has been for the best.  I’ve recently gotten several things that have helped make running fun for me again.  Drew gave me a Garmin Forerunner watch for Christmas, which I never leave for a run without.  I also bought myself a pair of Brooks Ghost running shoes after going to a specialty store and having my stride and form evaluated on a treadmill.

My Garmin Forerunner watch...so now I don't have to guesstimate my time or how far I've run.

My Garmin Forerunner watch…so now I don’t have to guesstimate my time or how far I’ve run.

My birthday present to myself--Brooks Ghosts! Of course they had to be pink...

My birthday present to myself–Brooks Ghosts! Of course they had to be pink…

It’s now February and beside this year’s upcoming Color Run—it wasn’t even a question whether or not we would run it—I have no real intentions of signing up for a “real” race anytime soon.  I still love my morning runs; there’s nothing quite like waking up before the rest of Midtown, running in the dark through Piedmont Park, with the only other souls I encounter being fellow runners.  Through our heavy breathing, and the occasional snot bubble in this cold winter weather, we wave or simply nod a silent but understood creed only runners seem to truly understand.  Running is the only time I can completely turn off the thoughts that consume my mind the other 23 hours of the day.  It’s cheaper than therapy, healthier than other vices and oddly spiritual.  While I like having goals, training for that 10K took the fun and joy out of running.  It’s taken me years to actually enjoy the act of running; I’m not about to spoil that with a reoccurring, and completely avoidable, injury.  For now, I’m completely content with running for me.

Superbowl XLVII

As an avid pro football fan, Sunday afternoons during the months September through February are some of my favorites out of the entire year.  As a loyal Bengals fan, they can also be downright maddening.  Not too surprisingly, the Bengals didn’t make it very far this year, albeit they did play better than the year before.  At this rate, they’ll make it to the Superbowl by the time my 80th birthday rolls around.  Thanks to my husband, at least I’ll have an awesome jersey to wear for when that day comes.

My wonderful birthday present from Drew. Who Dey!

My wonderful birthday present from Drew. Who Dey!

All that being said, I was still very much looking forward to this year’s Superbowl.  Besides March Madness, it is my favorite sporting event to watch.  The good eats, fantastically creative commercials and time spent with friends doesn’t hurt either.  This year more than a dozen of us gathered at our friends Lance and Shelly’s apartment for the festivities.  My mind still wasn’t made up as to who to cheer for, but I figured San Francisco was a safe bet.  It didn’t take long to realize that I’d be the only person in a room of 16 cheering for the men in red.  Fair enough.  At least I hate plenty of salsa and guacamole to hide behind.  And Drew’s infamous homemade garlic buttered rolls.  We’ve quickly learned in our circle of friends, if ever we need to bring a side dish or snack, we better have several dozen of those rolls in tow.

food

Drew’s famous garlic rolls and football pumpkin whoopie pies. We’re ready for some football!

Since we had predominantly Packers and Falcons fans in the house, the game itself wasn’t the main focus of the night.  Instead we had more fun filling out a bracket where we had to guess things like “how many times would Psy be featured in a commercial” (only once, thank heavens) or “would Alicia Keys forget a word while singing the National Anthem.”  As someone who works in the advertising industry, I always pay special attention to the commercials.  It was a tough call, but I think my favorite ad of the night was Budweiser’s “Brotherhood” spot.  I’m usually easily won over by the shamelessly funny or ridiculously awkward commercials but the Clydesdale stole my heart this year.

Of course I have to mention the stadium blackout that happened soon into the second half.  Years ago I think we all would have been much more bothered by the pause in the game, and may have even switched the channel.  Or just flocked to the kitchen and loaded up on a third plate of food. Last night, the majority of us took to our smartphones and began scrolling through our Twitter feeds.  Not surprisingly, in freakishly fast social media fashion, a Twitter account @superbowllights was created and had over 15,000 followers within minutes.  Even more notable was a tweet from @Oreo:

superbowl

Drew and I, the arguably biggest social media enthusiasts in the room (and not just because it’s our livelihood), weren’t the only ones talking about it.  I think the entire room was impressed, not to mention wanted a tall glass of milk and a handful of America’s favorite cookie.  Advertisers pay several million dollars for a 30-second spot in the Superbowl commercial lineup; Oreo paid nothing for that tweet and got just arguably as much, if not more, exposure.

With another football season come and gone, it’s time to get ready for March Madness in the Hawkins household.  Unfortunately, I think it’s safe to say that Drew and I won’t be making a repeat appearance to see our Wildcats play in the Elite Eight, but stranger things have happened.  And with a guy rocking a flat top ala Fresh Prince or Bel Air on your team, all bets are off.

It’s Been a While…

Before I began writing this, I scrolled to see when the last time I posted here was. Wow, needless to say, this blog post is long overdue.  I don’t know what exactly caused me to stop blogging regularly, or if it can really be pinpointed to one thing in particular.  And it seemed that the longer the lapse grew, the easier it was to keep putting it off, saying I can always just start writing again tomorrow.  Or the next day.  Or even the day after that.  My blog, my rules.  The rest of 2012 came and went and still no sign of life on The I Do Diaries.  I don’t like making New Year resolutions, but I do want 2013 to be the year I get my blogger butt back in gear.

When I first started this blog just a few weeks into Drew’s and my marriage, I long contemplated the name “The I Do Diaries.”  Obviously married life and the role of wife were completely foreign to me, so I wanted to capture it as best, and authentically, as I could. Admittedly it seemed a little self-absorbed and egotistical, but as my Dad told me over the phone just a few days ago when I told him I was planning to get back into blogging, “What blog isn’t?”  Fair enough.  Still, I’m so glad that for the first year of our marriage, I kept a pretty thorough documentary of our new life together.  I like to think of it as a sort of virtual diary, from which I’ll be able to look back on and remember some of the greatest moments and “firsts” we shared together.  This thought is ultimately what has brought me back to the world of blogging.

So even though, by society’s standards, Drew and I are no longer considered newlyweds, and it might not be as poignant to blog about our experiences and man and wife, there are still many, many firsts that we have yet to encounter.  Buying a house.  Moving.  Starting a family.  Rescuing another animal from a kill shelter. Inevitable job shifts and career changes.  Traveling the world.  Not simply entertaining the idea of starting my own small baking business, but actually doing it.  Sculpting a life-size model of Bob Ross made completely out of cheese.  (That last one is a joke, but I’m sure Drew would be a willing party).  The fact of the matter is, every morning when our alarm clock goes off at 6 A.M., we are making a conscious choice to say “I Do.”  As a married gal of a year and a half, I can say without a doubt that it’s the easiest decision I get to make every day.  Everyone calls the first year or two the “honeymoon” phase but as Drew and I talk about the big life events looming ever closer, I am convinced that the best years are still to come.

I don’t want to end this post by saying that I’ll blog about “such and such” and reach a certain quote each week.  It doesn’t seem authentic, and I don’t want to put myself in a box.  That would completely take the fun out of blogging for me.  Besides, to be honest, we don’t lead that exciting of lives.  I could spent the next several posts catching up on what has happened in the past 5 months, but that just seems like a waste of time.  If you do need a refresher, stalk me on Facebook.  Or Twitter.  Or Instagram.  For a self-proclaimed shy, introverted person, I sure do have a lot to say.

We’ve Been Married a Year!

 

Two days ago, Drew and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary.  A part of me is still astounded at just how fast our first year of marriage went, while another part of me is equally amazed at just how many amazing experiences and adventures we’ve had in those 12 months! From climbing a mountain, getting our first pet, running two 5K’s, attending three weddings, and taking several trips, we’ve had quite a year.

Monday morning Drew surprised me with one of the most thoughtful gifts he’s ever given me: a canvas photo collage that captures memories of our married life thus far.  It’s a beautiful print and I’m instantly flooded with the good memories associated with all the pictures whenever I pass by it hanging in our hall.  That night, when we both got home from work, I gave Drew his gift: a 10-pack of beers from around the world.  I had planned on giving him a bottle of wine (bonus if I could find the same kind that was served at our wedding) but while out shopping, this immediately caught my eye.  It seemed fun, unique, and right up Drew’s alley.

Drew posing happily with his “Beers of the World” kit.

We’d received several Facebook messages, texts and cards throughout the day from friends and family wishing us well.  We also received a package from Drew’s parents.  Inside were two mugs that looked black and first glance.  April had included a note to say “Fill them with a hot drink and see what happens.” Curious, we poured warm water into one of the mugs and it instantly came to life with a photo collage of our cruise we took last March.  What a fun gift, thank you both very much!

For dinner we headed to Top Flr, a restaurant just a block away from our apartment, where we celebrated Valentine’s Day.  As Mia Francesca was our go-to place for celebrating in Chicago, it looks like Top Flr has become that place in Atlanta.  Dinner was as delicious as we remembered and we talked for long after we’d finished eating.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for their anniversary gift to us which covered the check :)  P.S., today is my Dad’s birthday so here is a special shout-out to you, Dad!

 

One anniversary is in the books, with many, many more to come.  I can only imagine what God has in store for us next.  The best part of traveling down the unknown road of life is that I have my best friend holding my hand all the way.