tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84814432522889650042024-03-14T06:58:08.844-07:00beansfood.Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-15488877129456335112014-05-06T20:15:00.003-07:002014-05-06T20:18:46.520-07:00I did all the right thingsWe had a stretch of thunderstormy days a week or two ago. April showers. The clouds rolled in and rumbled a bit, and stayed for more than a week. Ditches filled with rain and we stayed indoors for the most part. By Sunday, when the forecast was showing rainclouds next to each of the next five days, most people around here were growing restless, contemplating a move anywhere south of here.
But Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-53228508226709568312014-03-21T09:20:00.004-07:002014-03-21T09:20:49.994-07:00That insatiable hungerIt's happened. Four weeks into marathon training, it has taken hold and I fear it's here to stay. A pit in my stomach that cannot be filled. I am so hungry, all the time.
If you've done any sort of consistent running, you know what I'm talking about: that insatiable hunger that doesn't go away. As the weekly miles get higher, your hunger soars, and it doesn't matter what (or how much) Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-70392562040187658512014-03-12T21:28:00.001-07:002014-03-13T07:33:09.962-07:00Just like thatThree weeks have gone by since I was here last. Hot damn. How have you been?
I wish I could say that I've been up to something, but I really haven't. I seemed to slip into that slow, quiet phase of winter. Worked a little extra, slept in a little longer. Didn't you? At first we were waiting for spring I guess, shut indoors while ice covered every surface outside our condo. In my house, we turnedCarleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-14833069347901732162014-02-16T11:53:00.000-08:002014-02-16T11:58:17.195-08:00Here we go, already
A robin perched on our deck railing yesterday. A fat, fluffy bird with a bright orange belly sprang up out of nowhere, stood on our railing for a bit, and fluttered off. Two tiny indents in the inch of fresh snow linger as evidence.
Which means: spring is coming!
And also: running season is upon us.
This may have been the coldest winter of my adult life and cabin fever is nearing Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-12932033163267470102014-02-12T06:49:00.001-08:002014-02-12T06:49:25.651-08:00I've been distractedI have a lovely salad recipe for you today. An Israeli coucous salad flecked with rosemary, apples and dried cranberries to be specific. I think you'll want to make it for your next potluck, or a brown-bag lunch, or hell! maybe a picnic someday soon, please god please.
And that's where I'll stop talking about the salad.
Because, I've been distracted from here to the Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-68216568651152737432014-02-01T09:38:00.000-08:002014-02-01T09:45:17.767-08:00These stuffed mushrooms will happenDo you have your Superbowl plans figured out yet? Are your avocados ripened, your wings thawed? Have you practiced your touchdown dance?
Check, check and check.
Superbowl Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. I said that to a coworker yesterday, and he said Yeah, well you love food. True! But I was referring to the whole event: the game, the beers, the food (of course), the Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-80799141131582340182014-01-26T15:26:00.001-08:002014-02-01T08:31:36.074-08:00Wait, what?What was I talking about back there? About the bitter cold, the hunkering down inside - about all of that extreme winter cold being a memory. What?
What??
Because right now I'm looking outside at snownadoes, and the air feels like -20.
I guess I was disillusioned last Sunday with our one day of glorious sunshine. The warmth on my cheeks and puddles in parking lots tricked me into Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-47601389968350297682014-01-20T21:09:00.002-08:002014-01-20T21:09:41.100-08:00Call me old fashionedOh, it's a memory now - that bitter cold, that polar vortex. Thankfully. After mostly hunkering down and putzing about* through the coldest of days in early January, we are now finding some days here and there with sunshine; we are out skiing in thermal tops and getting some freckles on our cheeks. Sometimes we are ice skating, too, in the evenings in the dark with light snow falling (and then weCarleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-60162171296524538612014-01-05T19:31:00.001-08:002014-01-31T07:40:27.363-08:00Oh, what magic!Hello frozen world, and happy 2014. I mean it, really: happy 2014. I'm giddy at the thought of it. 2013 was my best year ever in life, and I can't believe I'm rolling into 2014 on the same note. Isn't that something! I hope you have some feelings of excitement and wonder at what lies ahead, too.
And if the way we ring the new year is any indication of how the next 12 months will play out, I'm Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-73841099688239608582013-12-16T21:42:00.000-08:002013-12-16T21:42:05.661-08:00Seriously nothingListen, guys. I'm not doing anything lately. Nothing. Not a thing. I have virtually nothing to tell you about.
Everyone I have talked to in the past two weeks is doing everything right now. Getting ready for the holidays - getting ready for a baby - moving to a new house - hustling about with busy children - getting ready for the holidaaaaaays. But not me. I'm doing nothing.
I don't even Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-46566117675259625712013-12-04T08:57:00.001-08:002014-01-03T18:12:26.571-08:00Hey thanks, saladIn the spirit of expressing gratitude this time of year, I'd like to share my appreciation for some late fall vegetables and a zippy horseradish vinaigrette that I tossed together in a bowl last weekend. A particularly nourishing fall salad that cleared the clutter out of my mind and made me feel more awake than I have in weeks.
Hey thanks, salad.
I suppose I should also say thanks, Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-58513488556685978852013-11-23T11:07:00.002-08:002013-11-24T16:38:37.027-08:00And now, for something a little different
We've been almost hibernating this month. Slowing down big time. The dim days have kept us indoors mostly, while our constantly humming gas fireplace heats our living room to unreasonably high temperatures. An 85 degree apartment makes going outside even more painful, of course; like jumping from a hot tub into a cold swimming pool. And so, we've been venturing outside as little as possible Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-90119055067828921542013-11-10T18:57:00.004-08:002013-11-10T20:52:51.931-08:00Hello, dark
I've been thinking about setting off on a week or two of strict, healthy eating. We've had piles of Halloween candy scattered about the office for weeks now, and, well, I've had my hands on it. I've always got room for a mini Salted Nut Roll, or two, or six, when given the chance. Don't we all? Even worse, my running has tapered sharply from 4-5 times a week (this summer) to 1-2 short runs Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-27589046977713957912013-10-28T20:05:00.000-07:002014-02-02T11:21:29.433-08:00To clear my head
I was hoping to dazzle you here today. I've been in the kitchen quite a bit lately, and I'm eager to get some of my new fall favorites into this space. I wanted to relive a cider-braised pork roast last Sunday and capture it for the blog - and oh, that will happen soon. (Did I mention the caramelized onion and apple confit? Oh. You just wait.) But instead of cooking and taking photos, I Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-50303656759912329242013-10-22T09:13:00.002-07:002013-11-04T20:06:17.178-08:00Is that a deal breaker?We are on the hunt for a house, Adam and I. And what you hear about the real estate market is true: the good homes get snatched up in a flash. At least in the Twin Cities, there's not much sitting out there for sale that's of any interest (if it's been on the market for more than a week, it seems, there's probably a reason). So it's mostly new listings that spark our interest at this point.
Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-20238773680696416392013-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:002013-11-04T20:06:27.865-08:00Those lucky bastardsWelcome to Columbus Day, friends. One of my favorite days of the year. A day I've been counting down to since Labor Day, with anticipation just short of creating a paper chain. No, it's not that I love history or Christopher Columbus.
It's because I don't have to work! And everyone else does!
There are few joys in my world simpler and greater than not being at work when it seems like I should Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-63014117809834041132013-10-03T20:36:00.001-07:002013-11-04T20:06:37.707-08:00My apologiesI've got an A+ recipe for you here, buried in a C- blog post.
Because,
1. This recipe is best made in the season we just tip-toed out of*
2. The photos are bad**
3. General lack of ambition was displayed on my part***
Sorry about that!
*Still, I proceed - with all my fingers and toes crossed, in hopes that we'll find a few precious baskets of little tomatoes at the farmer's market this Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-5904831327480139312013-09-24T21:39:00.001-07:002013-11-04T20:07:26.881-08:00Slowly ticking downI've got a half marathon coming up next weekend, guys. A half marathon race, actually; competing against a few friends, girls vs. boys - the team with the best combined time wins. The prize: dinner prepared by the losers. And, infinite glory, of course.
This is the 9-month culmination of an ill-conceived bet made last New Year's Eve. Confidence was at an all time high that night. Every single Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-60490663847053711112013-09-18T13:58:00.003-07:002013-11-04T20:07:51.778-08:00Coming backMy plan here was to tell you next about meatballs, or a pasta sauce of tomatoes baked with bread crumbs. Or maybe, my favorite: a beet and feta tart, where ribbons of red swirl into a pool of pale yellow custard. I've got a few new favorites up my sleeve to tell you about soon; you just wait.
But for now, I'm coming back to this space first to tell about a recent expedition. A few Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-82658464193698430552013-07-01T14:42:00.000-07:002013-11-04T20:08:03.536-08:00The old chuck and bungWell, I've been 29 for a month now, and it seems that the march toward the 30s and that next phase of getting ever lamer (Saturday nights at home in my sweatpants) excitement in the little things seems to be gathering speed.
Take, for instance, this list of things that have brought me moments of true delight lately:
Cleaning out my closet
Changing my car insurance policy (I'm saving big Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-54604632081065389062013-06-11T21:04:00.000-07:002013-06-11T21:04:44.093-07:00Freckled, tousledI'm still here! It's been a while. I'm back. How are you?
My birthday, Memorial Day and Adam's birthday swallowed me up in the past three weeks, so forgive me, it's been busy. We turned the corner to age 29, and to what feels like summer, too. This time of year is inevitably hectic. Both of our birthdays zip through in the span of nine days, and then march us right into the season of Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-15938568851271155832013-05-22T20:51:00.004-07:002013-05-23T08:27:15.366-07:00We get by
Lately, I've had this consuming urge to move out of our condo. Caused partly by our car being towed from our own parking lot without warning (oh, us against the world!!). But even more so because, well, doesn't a gal just want to sprawl out in her own backyard with a vodka lemonade when the weather ticks up into the 80s?
If I could, I would pick a little house somewhere - a place where the Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-7148263771494515972013-05-15T19:58:00.000-07:002013-05-16T06:11:12.282-07:00Really letting my hair down
Hi folks. Just a quick post for you today. Adam has been out of town for a business conference since Monday, and he returns tomorrow afternoon. So I only have a few hours left to drink wine and eat ice cream on the couch without shame. And, erm, tidy up the place a little. Perhaps I'm not the clean roommate I thought I was.
I've had quite the exciting "single lady" week so far, though. ReallyCarleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-37762878985757854802013-05-06T06:18:00.003-07:002014-01-06T19:46:39.180-08:00Balls to the wallI'VE GOT A LOT TO DO THIS WEEK, just so you know.
It's funny; after a few weeks of too much free time, suddenly a busy agenda feels quite dramatic. Lot's to do this week! I keep telling myself. Better get that laundry put way, because there won't be time. Not this week!
And also: better get that blog post done. Truth is, I've been working on this blog post for days, but it's just not Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481443252288965004.post-16324899758329381592013-04-24T20:55:00.001-07:002013-09-18T09:53:15.590-07:00Am I late to the party?Chicken and dumplings. Am I late to the party with this one? Considering we've been going on six months of snow - honestly, guys, six months of snow - and are just now starting to peek our heads out of our burrows with the promise of warmer days this weekend. And I'm just now coming here with a creamy stew that will warm you to your toes?
I can think of so many days this year that would have Carleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790758470993919942noreply@blogger.com