lists

Ten Fun Finds and Things

In the good name of procrastination, I’ve complied this post of fun things instead of writing about restaurants.

1. Cooking Wild in Missouri cookbook
Unexpected gifts are the best kind. The other day a friend sent us a copy of Cooking Wild in Missouri, a cookbook focused on using seasonal, local ingredients and meats. Chronicling their adventures of hunting, gathering and scavenging to work their way through all the recipes, they started their own blog, Woods to Food. Read their stories of true woods to table meals.

2. Zoya nail polishes
While scanning the deal headlines in my feed reader, I saw a post advertising a code for two free Zoya nail polishes for the cost of shipping. Normally $8 a piece, I got polishes in Jem and Dea for $6.95, a total savings of $16. I love those bargain blogs.

3. Pinkberry
Torn between feeling crushed and relieved, the nearest Pinkberry is two and a half hours away. I could eat it every day especially after being easily swayed by the numerous so-called health benefits. We had it twice in the same day in New Orleans, it’s that delicious.

4. Appetite for Jackson
On Saturday, January 28 from 2-9 p.m. I’ll be at the Art Garden downtown eating great food, listening to live music and maybe even sipping on a beer. Andrew Zimmerman from the Travel Channel will be there. The proceeds benefit the Craig Noone Miracle League. Can I say awesome?

5. Mississippi Warrior Dash
I was suckered in by the pit of fire and the Nordic helmet. Jackson hosts Mississippi’s Warrior Dash on April 21, and you can find me sinking in a mud pit or hurling myself over a wall.

6. Australian Open
Although there never is a true winter in the South, at least not to this Northern girl, I am excited it’s warming up outside and tennis season is starting up again. And nothing is more motivating to get back on the court than watching a little of the Australian Open.

7. Thirty-One umbrella
One a snowy evening in January many years ago, I arrived in the United States from South Korea and was welcomed into my family. Each year my mom commemorates my “Coming to America” day with a thoughtful gift and this year it was a personalized umbrella. Timing was perfect because it poured the next day.

8. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Please go read this book by Mindy Kaling. She writes likes she’s having a conversation – a hilarious conversation – which is an amazing feat. Her story felt so familiar and I believe we could be friends. You’ll want to be her friend too. (If you’re not convinced, she’s the Indian girl on The Office who writes, produces and acts.)

9. Prima Donna’s Closet
In New Orleans I scored the best find at a consignment store, Prima Donna’s Closet. Hiding among the racks was a Banana Republic black blazer, similar to the one pictured above. An equal original is currently selling for $158, I paid $19.

10. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Everyone needs to read this book. The story is nearly unbelievable except that it’s very much true and Louis Zamperini lives on. Laura Hillenbrand masterfully narrates Zamperini’s childhood, Olympic running aspirations and survival through World War II. I stayed up until 1 a.m. on a work night to finish this book because it is riveting beginning to end.

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How to Host a Cookie Exchange and Ten Cookie Recipes

Santa better get out his stretchy pants.

In the spirit of the holidays, I demanded suggested we have a Christmas Cookie Exchange at my office.

You get to taste a large variety of cookies, take home a plateful for later and pick up a new recipe or two along the way. Some people aren’t experienced or frequent bakers, so I encouraged participation over baking from scratch because I would rather more people join the fun.

Having never organized a cookie exchange before, here are tips I learned:

Cookie Exchange Tips

• Bring a minimum of two dozen cookies to exchange with fellow participants.
• If possible, be creative and bake from scratch. If not, then take them out of the packaging and don’t tell us.
• Bring copies of the recipe to share.
• Label the cookies or place the recipe by them.
• To begin, have everyone take two cookies of each kind, then repeat as necessary.
• Transport your cookies in a container that you can refill with new cookies to take home. Otherwise the host can provide plastic bags or take away containers.
• Consider having a savory snack or vegetable tray to counter the sugar overload.
• It’s extra nice if you have beverages available such as coffee, water or maybe even milk.

My friends were kind enough to humor me, like they often do, and we had a fabulous cookie showcase to behold. Below are listed and pictured the ten cookies, including the recipe used unless otherwise noted.

Ten Recipes From Our Cookie Exchange

1. Amygdalota (Greek Almond Cookies): Elly Says Opa

2. Sweet and Salties
I couldn’t find an exact recipe, but Saltine Cracker Toffee from The Girl Who Ate Everything blog is a close relative.

3. Cranberry Cookies: Cooks.com

4. Sugar Cookies (no recipe given)
This Easy Sugar Cookie recipe from AllRecipes.com has over 2,000 reviews, it’s a safe bet that these are good.

5. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (no recipe given)
Instead of dried cherries, you could substitute raisins in my Chocolate Cherry Heart Smart Cookies.

6. Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies: RecipeLand.com

7. Rolo Pretzel Turtles: Steamy Kitchen

8. Otis Spunkmeyer’s Chocolate Chip Cookies: Food.com

9. Mini Chocolate Whoopie Pies: Eat Drink Pretty
These were my contribution and not only were they adorable, but also very easy to make. Unlike the three day hoopla it took for Cake Balls, these were quite simple and fun. Did I also mention adorable?

10. Chocolate Squares
This recipe was written on an index card (love that), but this Gooey Butter Cake recipe from AllRecipes.com is similar if you use a chocolate cake mix. They arrived after the above photo was taken but are pictured below.

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Ten Food-Centric Gifts that Give Back

The holiday season is here!

And while we’re in the giving mood, consider selecting a gift from one of these ten organizations so your gift can keep on giving. I highlighted the food items for purchase, and in turn part of the proceeds go to support a variety of countless missions throughout the world. If you have a suggestion or something to add to the conversation, please leave a comment below!

1. Equal Exchange | coffee, tea, chocolate, almonds, olive oil
Close to my heart is Atonement Lutheran Church, my home church, where I was welcomed into the choir despite questionable vocal abilities and cultivated a love for the hand bells. In addition to being musically forgiving, they have a large focus on outreach including selling Equal Exchange fair trade items in between worship services. These sustainable products help support small scale farmers in developing countries and many are organic.

2. FEED | bags galore, accessories, t-shirts
For a more in-depth explanation of FEED read my previous post, but basically FEED works to feed hungry children. They have a slew of items to choose from, so now would be the perfect time to purchase a gift or bag for the holiday season, which in turns goes to help support their mission.

3. Heifer International | an ark of animals such as sheep, goats, camels and honeybees
Heifer is one of my favorite charitable organizations because they help people to to help themselves. By providing livestock and training to struggling people, it empowers them to use the gift to support and feed their families, as well as passing on animal offspring which strengthens the community. If you purchase an animal in honor of someone, you can print customizable cards in recognition of the gift.

4. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | hot chocolate, cookies, various other items
As quoted from the website, all profits from these products go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a facility on the forefront of treating children with life-threatening and terminal cancer.

5. Oxfam International | manure, worms, crabs, etc.
Similar to Heifer, Oxfam enables you to buy a gift for someone in need and a card for the honoree. For the person who has everything, consider planting 50 trees or a vegetable garden in their name.

6. Project 7 | coffee, gum, mints, water
Project 7 exists to give. When you buy any of their products, they give back in one of seven areas of need. It sounds complex but is truly simple, they do a better job of explaining than I do so please visit the website.

7. Compartes Chocolatier | organic, gourmet chocolate
I have a deep weakness for chocolate. No reason is necessary for me to consume it on a daily basis, but having the proceeds to go Relief International in Darfur is a fabulous extra benefit.

8. Ten Thousand Villages | tabletop items, place mats, napkins
Reflective of the name, Ten Thousand Villages offers goods from disadvantaged artisans around the world in fair trade partnerships. They don’t have animals or food products, but you can stylishly outfit your kitchen or dining area while simultaneously supporting struggling artisans in impoverished countries.

9. No Kid Hungry: Share Our Strength | holiday gift tags
Working to end childhood hunger in America, Share Our Strength also aims to educate and provide ways for children to have access to nutritious food. Read more about the four key components on their website. It’s the gift giving season, so make them extra meaningful with these tags.

10. Greyston Bakery | brownies
I’ve never met a brownie I didn’t like, but these go far above and beyond fixing my sweet tooth. Greyston Bakery was created to assist people to self-sufficiency and in turn, supports local community renewal. Check out their story and just see if you aren’t tempted by those brownies.

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Ten Reasons Why Christmas Rocked

Christmas detox is in full swing.

Over the holidays we spent three and a half days in my hometown of Kansas City.

Decorations have been taken down, suitcases unpacked and there’s no more holiday music on the radio. To recap before December slips into January, these are the top ten reasons why Christmas in KC rocked:

1. An endless supply of cookies
To prepare for our visit my mom baked two batches of cookies, chocolate chip and snickerdoodle. She is also a teacher which means she received many homemade gifts and a large cookie tray at school. There was a mass quantity of cookies at my disposal and I am a cookie monster.

2. Being lazier than a cat
We had been in the habit of waking up at 6 a.m. to workout in Jackson, but didn’t roll out of bed before 9:30 a.m. while in KC. Pajamas were standard. I only ran once.

3. Freezing, sub-zero weather
In the Midwest nature cycles through all four seasons at regularly scheduled intervals. Spring time is balmy, summer is blazing hot, the humidity disappears in fall and it usually snows during winter. Kansas is cold in December and that’s how it should be at Christmas.

4. Smooth air travel
Flying is a crap shoot. Trips can be as smooth as glass or spiral into despairing mayhem like Snowgate ’10. We were lucky this time, unscathed by delays and cancellations. The opposite of the spectrum was witnessed while sitting in Midway, as weary East Coasters formed long lines at airline counters desperately trying to get home.

5. The fine art of film
Watching Tron at the IMAX in 3-D was a superior viewing experience (Avatar wouldn’t have been nearly as cool without it either). I had no idea what was going on during some parts of the movie, but having gigantic magic motorcycle wands fly at my face was awesome. And following tradition, we also saw Christmas Vacation and Elf which are hilarious every time.

6. Christmas booty
No, that’s not what you think it is. Gifts don’t make the holiday, but they sure are fun to receive once a year. Among many things my family spoiled us with Omaha steaks, an assortment of Penzy Spices, gourmet hot chocolate, and four months of Harry and David fruit.

7. Men in tights
My little brother scored us tickets for the Chiefs/Titans football game at Arrowhead on Sunday. We sat at the 40 yard line 20 rows up. Bundled up in four layers of clothes and sitting outside in 20 degree weather while faint snow flurries fall is football as it was meant to be. Dome schmome.

8. Good eats
We ate our way through Christmas starting with a meal at Brio, then Christmas Eve snacking, Christmas morning brunch, a Christmas dinner feast, Bo Lings and First Watch. In between we consumed cheese, sweets, dips, Garrett’s popcorn, barbecue, and more cookies.

9. The reason for the season
As cheesy as that saying is, every year I enjoy going to the candle light Christmas Eve service at church to sing, reflect, and bask in the peace.

10. Good people
Separated by distance and busy schedules makes it harder and harder to catch up with people. I enjoyed every moment hanging out with my family and friends. We shared Christmas dinner with my brother’s future in-laws and friends, the more the merrier.

Top that David Letterman!