New Home!

So readers, I'm having some issues with the silly address for my blog.  In order to get rid of the silliness, I've had to create a new home for my posts.  From here forward, please visit www.jobrink512.blogspot.com for my (currently yearly) posts!  So delete this bookmark and add the above address!!  Hopefully see you soon!!

By special request

So, I'm skipping the apologies this time.  We all know my current situation, and my lack of cooking at the moment due to it, and for those of you who don't know what's going on, consider yourself lucky that you're not tied up in it.  But my intentions for this post are not for rantings, it is because I promised a follower a recipe while Up North, and have yet to carry through.  She also called me out on it on her blog.

It was a lemon themed trip this year to Petoskey with Lemon-Poppeyseed "Pound-Cake" Muffins (which may be post worthy at a later date) & Lemon Curd.  This "someone" whom I promised the Lemon Curd recipe to just so happened to be gifted a spectacular little pan at Christmas time to make the most wonderful little puffy pancakes, Ebelskivers.  And I instantly thought "LEMON CURD FILLING!" when she had shown me her new acquisition.

So Lemon Curd it was.  It's a CINCH to make.  Seriously.  I came across my recipe at SmittenKitchen this summer while I had a craving to try my hand at some type of fancy bread.  (And I'm sad to say I don't have any pictures of how much of a success that was, but my friends will tell you that they thought I bought it.  It looked that "professional".)

But I'll give you a condensed version so you don't have to stare at the beautiful bread at the top of SmittenKitchen's blog and salivate all over your keyboards.  Moisture & computers equals not good.  I only have two pieces of advice when it comes to this recipe.  1-DEFINITELY keep whisking the mixture while its thickening.  If you don't, you'll get bits of scrambled eggs in your curd.  It's not a HUGE deal, because you can just siv them out with a fine strainer, but doing so also strains out the lemon zest, and you lose that added lemon oomph. 2-The ingredients are anything obscure, so buy enough lemons to make at LEAST a double batch.  It's that good.

Lemon Curd
Adapted from Gourmet
Makes a little shy of 1/2 cup

Ingredients
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest, finely grated
3 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Whisk together juice, zest, sugar, and egg in a 1-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in butter and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubble appears on surface, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer lemon curd to a bowl and chill, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 1 hour.  Will keep in a sealed container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Horrible me

I've been awful at keeping consistant at posting to my blog. This is another promise to jump back on the wagon. Maybe if I try to just post once a week, I'll do better. Seems like however, after I write this post, I'll feel the need to write soon after about something amazing and spectacular. Pace yourself, Jonelle. Pace.
I just read some wonderful posts about summer lists. Things people want to taste, see and do. Maybe I'll try to gather one up myself sometime. Soon, but not too soon. I do have similar goals as these people for the summer, but I have one enormous, pressing matter to deal wit before that. I can't wait to be living in Bloomington full time!

Who knew....

...that little leather bound books could make a girl so excited!?  I'd like for you all to meet my Moleskin City Journal.  Moleskin City Journal, meet.......ummm, well I'm not for sure who you will all meet here, but meet my blog followers.

You'll have to bear with me folks.  I'm new to using Adam's camera.  This shoot was also a chance for me to play around with it a little.
Any who, my Moleskin is of the one and only CHICAGO!!!

 And to give you a bit of an idea of what exactly you do with a City Journal, I'll show you.  She's filled with maps.  One of the entire Chicago area, as seen here.

And there's even a very helpful one of train routes and stations.  Then, each "burb" of Chicago has their own little blown up map.  And all of the maps are full of open-ness to put whatever you want on them.  You know, like the amazing little bistro, or the movie theater that has $5 matinee, or the art studio that offers classes, then you can write your hearts content out about them further back in the book where blank pages are left for your enjoyment.  Or write about whatever really.  You could keep a log of trips there, for those who only visit the city.

This is the area that Adam and I have become rather familiar with.  This, and the area a little further south.  I mean besides being familiar with Michigan Avenue & Lake Shore Drive.  I mean, who really doesn't know what's located on the latter two.  But this is where we frequent when we visit.  Our friend Tom lives in this area, so we get to see a lot of what there is to do in this area.  Arlington & Clark is what we get to tell the Cab Driver.  (Sometimes, when there's a group of us, with all our junk, it's too cumbersome to take the bus or train).  Let's test everyone's map skills & see if you can locate it...  And now, we have to learn a different intersection, as he just bought a condo (just several block away).  We're helping him move next weekend!

This is what I'm really looking forward to using though.  One of these tabbed sections allows you to have a food journal!!  Gosh, I'm such a foodie.  The only request I have when we visit Chicago, is that we eat at places that aren't available to us normally.  I love going to the local places in Chicago.  Food is sooooo spectacular there, because the city gives you so many options.  Like for instance, in Lincoln Park where Tom lives, with in walking distance from his apartment, you can get el cheapo gigantic burritos, Irish guinness and colcannon, a Five Guys' burger, $15 all you can eat sushi, the most stellar challah french toast, not to mention all the bars and drink specials you could ever imagine.  And these are just a few of the places we've been so far.  Now I can keep track of everything I ever put in my mouth there.  AMAZING!!!

 And for all you packrats out there, she's even got a place for you to hoard a few goodies.

Hello Pocket!!!  I have yet to write much in her, as you can see thus far.  I hope to start adding next weekend.  And since she is pocket size, the odds of losing her are higher than say, if she were the size of an atlas, because I mean, come on, who loses an atlas.  But she's uber convenient being that small.  If, by chance, I do misplace her though, there is a place for owner information.

Sorry if I bored anyone with this post, but as I mentioned at the beginning, who knew little leather bound books could get someone so excited!?  I was in awe when I opened up the package and saw this Valentine's Day, and had to share.

Dulces for my Sweet

Yesterday, Adam and I celebrated our Valentine's Day.  Seemed a lot more practical to do it yesterday, than today.  Sundays are a day of relaxation.  But I don't like my evenings to be crammed with much.  That way I don't get all riled up and have issues going to bed.

Any who, we decided this year to make a "fancy" dinner at home.  We ended up making shrimp scampi, roasted fennel and pancetta salad, and creme brulee!  PS- worst job ever would have to be peeling and deveining shrimp.......yuck!!!  It was super delish!!  And despite having agreed to not get eachother gifts, the silly boy got me some spring flowers and a Moleskin City Journal.  If you don't know what that is, it equals amazingness.  I don't want to spend my time just blogging about that today.  So maybe I'll dive into it later this week.

But dinner was a success!  We even got dressed up, as in I wore a dress, and Adam put on a shirt and tie, and pretended we were at a restaurant.  It was great!  And the "restaurant" had a stellar house band.  Thank goodness Dave Brubeck was in the area.  It was great!

And today, I baked!!

These golden treasures would have to be my newest favorite cookie.  It combines all of my favorite things: peanut butter, the texture of oatmeal, and GINGER!!!  Oh yes, that's right, I said GINGER!!!  They get a double dose of it, ground ginger and the ever delightful crystallized ginger.  I found the recipe by chance here.  But instead of being called "Ginger-Touched Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies", it should be Ginger-Kissed.....as in kissed by heaven!!  The pieces of crystallized ginger get all chewy and melty.  One bite, and they just make you smile.  But enough of my rant over my new sin.  You all just need to make them yourselves.  They're best right out of the oven :)  These will be made again.  No doubt about it!!!

Hope everyone has/had a great Valentine's Day with their loved ones!  I know I did!  :D

My 1st COMPLETE Sewing Project!

And it only took me two days to complete it!!  I'm so excited!!  Here's my new tote.  She's a lil bit shallow, so she'd be good to take to the market, and maybe the library.....  Don't think she'll be able to hold too many groceries.

This isn't the greatest picture of her, but it's insanely sunny out (despite the snow) and there's a funky shadow in pretty much every corner of our apartment.  But I have a "twin" to work on next.  'Cept she'll have a blue body with orange reinforcement on the bottom.  By the way, not a big fan of the straps.......like at all.  If I didn't have such a weird o.c.d. about me, I would try putting the straps on from the inside, but since I've already claimed the fact that there will be twins, they'll both have the straps on the outside.....  Guess I'll just keep that tid bit tucked away in back for the next time.  I don't think she turned out too shabby though, especially for a beginner, but lets not test if it's square, nor if my lines are straight :-o  oops!

I should be hopping the shower soon.  Adam and I are heading to Fort Wayne this evening to check out some art and jazz at a Ft. Wayne Downtown Improvement District event.  Should be fun.  It's just a real bummer that we have to travel an hour to get stuff like this.  Goodness, I can't wait 'til we're out of Warsaw.

Another relaxing Saturday

I think I'm becoming a home-body.  And getting spoiled by these weekends of not having any plans.  It's very relaxing.

Adam and I did do a little bit today, but nothing too "productive".  We stopped at this little consignment shop in town.  And of course, we found something neat.

This bowl we found is orange, purple, and like a transparent gold glass.  We have it on our table turned upside down with a string of Christmas lights tucked inside. Makes a nice lamp, with a very warm glow.

Then a stop to the library, a few things at the grocery store, and a trip to LOWERY'S!!!  After checking out quick a few sewing books from the library, I finally found a project that I liked, and was actually going out to get the materials to make it.  BUT, silly me, I got the wrong amount of material :(  So I just adjusted my pattern a little bit.

This is what I got done so far today. It's going to be a re-usable grocery tote!  I got enough two colors of fabric, and will be making two of these things.  They'll just be a squattier shape due to the previous mentioned error.  Oops!!  Oh well.  If I don't like them, I can give them as gifts ;)