I’m back!

January 16, 2012 at 9:49 pm Leave a comment

After almost a year (53 weeks to be exact), I’m actually blogging again! I’m currently on my psychiatry clerkship which means I have a little bit more time on my hands. One of my new year’s resolutions was to start blogging again, so mission accomplished. Blogging every day isn’t a reality with the craziness of a third year med student’s schedule. I’m going to shoot for once a week and see how that goes. Anyway, on with the blogging.

Another one of my new year resolutions was to cook more often. It’s so easy to just rely on some type of frozen meal that I can just throw in the oven, but we all know how unhealthy that can quickly become. So my goal for 2012 is to try at least two new recipes a week. I can make them in bulk and then eat for the rest of the week!

Recipe #1: Crock-pot fiesta chicken

If I had to pick one kitchen appliance I couldn’t leave without (besides my coffee maker) it would be the crock pot. It’s so easy to just throw the ingredients into the pot and 6 hours later you have a delicious meal!

All the ingredients (sans chicken) in the pot.

Added 1.5 pounds of chicken.

The finished product. I served it over brown rice, added a little cheese and garnished with fresh cilantro. YUM.

Recipe #2: Curried coconut shrimp

After discovering my love for shrimp back in Boston, it has become a staple in my kitchen. I decided to mix it up and try a healthy version of one of my favorite dishes using lite coconut milk and one of the Wegman’s veggie blends. I also added some fresh garlic from Emily’s dad’s garden.

May not look like it, but this smelled delicious.

After adding the coconut milk and shrimp.

Scallions went in next.

Finished product over brown rice.

Another thing I was working on this week was planning a baby shower for my friend Jackie. Jackie, Cynthia and I spent 4 long weeks together during our Ob/Gyn clerkship. Jackie is due in February and Cynthia and I have been talking about planning something for way back when we were spending our nights together on the labor and delivery floor.

For favor, I decided to make little candy bottles on a stick.

This was my first time working with the melted chocolate and the molds, and it definitely took a little while before I got a rhythm down. My Aunt Judy who passed away back when I was in high school used to make these for my brother and I for almost every holiday. I remember them being one of the tastiest candies ever. Making the candies definitely brought back some great memories from my childhood.

Back to the crafting. I quickly realized a brush would make filling the molds way easier.

The melting process

Done! I wrapped them in plastic and used some cute frog and polka dot ribbon.

Throughout the week I also worked on a diaper cake for Jackie. Emily is a pro at these and she helped me with the rolling when she was up for New Years. After several trips to the Hobby Lobby this week, I finally got the cake decorate just right. Everyone who was coming to the shower chipped in a few dollars.

Another diaper cake shot.

On the day of the shower, I made my first quiche. I got this recipe off Allrecipes.com and I highly recommend it. Cooked up some onions, broccoli and mushrooms.

Add it to and egg, milk, cheese, miracle whip combo.

And placed it in a ready made pie crust. Before….

…and After. It came out great and honestly it was that bad for you.

On Sunday, the party guests started arriving. Everyone brought some type of delicious dish to share.

Anna came with her famous truffles and she made melted snowman cookies.

Definitely the cutest food item at the shower!

I borrowed this and a few other picture from my friend Lauren’s facebook page. A little blurry, but Jackie was definitely surprised.

jackie surprised.jpg

Mommy and daddy!

jackie andy.jpg

Cynthia’s awesome cupcakes.

All of the tasty treats.

Caitlyn and Anna enjoying.

anna caitlyn eating.jpg

We had several party games planned, but the best one had to be “Guess the Do-Do” as Cynthia called it. We melted a bunch of different chocolates, stuck them in some diapers and the party guests had to guess what type of chocolate was in each diaper.