Vicki and I found a few things we liked

I picked up this body wash. Funky looking but great smelling.

Vicki also got this adorable top from J Crew for her welcome back party next week.

Post zumba lunch of grilled cheese and minestrone soup

Later in the afternoon (after another trip to the apple store because of another small problem with Vicki’s computer) we started prepping for dinner.

We grilled chicken breasts and portobello mushrooms that had been marinated in balsamic vinegar.

I also started prepping for my favorite butternut squash bisque.

Onions

Carrots and squash

I used the low sodium chicken broth. Next time I think I’ll go back to full sodium. I’m not all that concerned with my salt intake and I ended up adding a ton of salt to flavor it anyway.

Cooking the soup

Blending the soup

The ingredient that adds the most to the bisque flavor. I only add 1/2 cup to the whole thing.

Portobello, chicken, tomato and cheese sandwich and greens.

Finished soup

After a wonderful weekend, Vicki had to head back on Sunday morning. I didn’t want to see her go because I love spending time with her. She’s one of my closest and oldest friends. It also meant I had to return to reality. Classes start tomorrow. Luckily they are easing us in with a 9:50 lecture as opposed to an 8:40. Unfortunately, I also have an afternoon lab. It’s going to be a long day and I have a ton of stuff in my planner. I’ve enjoyed the past 2 weeks, and I wish they could last a little longer.

One of these things is this week’s dance marathon. Anna and I braved the snow this afternoon to contact more local businesses about donating prizes for our raffle. We had some success, and it was good to get out of the apartment for a while. Armory square was actually really pretty covered in snow:)

With a good as new computer, we went back to the apartment and each got on the treadmill for a while. I tested out a new workout that involved a lot of speed walking up hill. I didn’t think I would feel it as much as a run, but it was actually quite challenging.

Afterwards, I was pretty hungry, and we decided on pizza for dinner!

My new basil plant. It smells amazing.

Added some of Emeril’s Italian Essence to the sauce.

Along with lots of fresh basil and garlic.

We also decided to take the easy way out with the dough situation, and used a Boboli crust.

Hmmm pizza!

Needed some veggies…thus the salad.

Also added feta cheese, cranberries and sliced almonds.

I also whipped up some of my Brie Bites. Starting off with a package of Pillsbury Grands, I separated each of the biscuits into thirds and placed each one on a mini muffin pan.

Using a tart press, I pushed each piece of dough in forming a cup. A little flour helps with the stickiness.

Next, I filled the dough with a little brie cheese and some raspberry jam.

They went in the oven for 10 minutes and you have Brie Bites!

Vicki and I spent the rest of the night watching Glee and chatting. When a friend leaves the country for 9 months, there’s definitely a whole lot of necessary catching up and it often involves venn diagrams

Anyway, I’ve made several resolutions for 2010:

1. Run in my first half marathon. I have about 6 months to kick my butt into shape. It’s going to involve a lot of getting up early to work out and a lot of healthy eating. Hopefully I’m up for the challenge.

2. Refocus at school. Even though I spend most of my time studying, I really want to make better use of that time. When I’m working, I want to be 100% into what I’m reading and reviewing. I don’t want to get distracted. By being a little more efficient, hopefully I’ll save more time overall.

3. Blog. I blog for family and friends, but I have a little secret. I also do this whole blogging thing for me. It’s the best study break out there! I can sit down, do something completely unrelated to school, and still feel productive.

4. Stay in better contact with friends. I sometimes feel like med school sucks up all my time, and I’m in my own little med school bubble. I don’t want to let myself get totally wrapped up in all of this craziness and let the rest of my life pass me by.

In other exciting news, I had a wonderful new year’s eve and day. Vicki came up to rock in the new year for the whole weekend, and Mike also stopped by for drinks a little later on in the evening.

Vicki on my mac (her’s was not working )

We started our end of 2009 feast with some bread and oil.

We mixed fresh basil with garlic, olive oil, and an italian blend of spices.

Yum!

I also mixed a ton of basil and garlic into the sauce we were making…

…for our pasta bake.

Finished product!

Sugar cookies for dessert.

We also used Emily’s recipe for “Melting Snowman Punch” and I got to use my new punch bowl!

Rum, gingerale, and Italian ice.

Cheers!

Besides punch, we also had some wine throughout the evening!

Even though it was one of my more low key new year celebrations, I still had an amazing time. What’s better than fuzzy pants, friends, and wine!?!

Happy 2010 everyone!!!

1. I have a lot of training to do before I can finish the half marathon in June
2. I was HUNGRY

I busted out my other cali bowl and starting cutting up veggies to make my chunky guacamole.

Finishing up mashing the guac.

For dinner I mixed a few tortilla chips, with romaine lettuce, leftover veggie chili, and some extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Super filling. Just wished I heated up the chili before I put it on the salad. It was a little too cold

And now I’m settling in for an excellent night watching the newest Real World taking place in DC. I realize I’m now too old to participate in the show, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t enjoy all the craziness. The cast seems interesting, and hopefully it will be another entertaining season!

Excellent opportunity to enjoy the new TV. 21 inch upgrade from my last one! I officially caught up on my DVR.

“Santa” (aka Mom and Dad) also made sure my wine rack was fully stocked. Haven’t had a glass yet, but I plan on opening up a bottle with dinner.

When it’s cold outside, I always crave hot foods. I was super hungry for lunch and didn’t feel like cooking something that would take a long time. Veggie chili it was.

I had a seasoning packet from Whole Foods in the pantry.

Although the recipe didn’t call for onions, I tend to put them in everything.

Mixing up the sauce in one of my new Cali bowls.

Added a 28 oz of diced tomatoes, a can of chickpeas, and a can of kidney beans. The recipe suggested 2 cans of kidney beans but I LOVE chickpeas.

Finished product. The chickpeas and onions totally made the chili. It gave it a little different taste, texture and color.

Yum!

Balanced the hot and spicy with a mini whole wheat pita.

For dessert, I had my last pomegran plus waffle.

Instead of syrup, flavored the waffle with cashew butter and strawberry jam. Best decision all afternoon!

The happy couple

Jackie’s on Rt 29. Excellent place for brunch.

Another pic of Jason and Kelly

I somehow managed to get through the entire meal without taking a single picture of my food. Oops! Must have been all the excitement

Emily got a little misty with all the wedding talk

Congratulations Kelly! I’m so happy for you and Jason. Love you guys!!!

Christmas day in the Fryc house was a little different from usual. We held off on having the big Christmas celebration with the grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins until the following Sunday. Instead we had a small celebration at home, and then went to my cousin Wendy’s house for some tasty food and drinks at night.

For Christmas lunch we started things off with a salad chuck full of chickpeas (my fave bean).

I also had a piece of dad’s lasagna. Mmmm… He even made an extra one for me to take back to Syracuse

Look who decided to get friendly during lunch. Bella is quite the little chow hound

Jeff taking a post-meal nap with Bella.

Bella napping with my dad.

God, she can be so cute!

My mom enjoying her new snuggie. Bella got one too!

My mom got Bella a new Christmas t-shirt, and I got her the elf ears. She wasn’t a big fan of that hat. It only lasted for about 5 minutes.

Didn’t get many pictures over at Wendy’s (battery went dead), but here’s one of my brother in his new hat. The boy sure loves his eggnog.

All and all, we had an excellent Christmas day. It’s always great to spend time with the family, and even if I’m 25 years old, I still love presents

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The day after Christmas has become some what of an annual shopping trip for Emily and I. Emily is always super organized (she had her Christmas 2010 spreadsheet done weeks before Christmas and she’s just about done with NEXT year’s shopping). I, on the other hand, was not quite as prepared as years past. This year Emily’s mom and Merilee joined us for shopping at Hallmark, Walmart and Joanne’s to stock up on holiday cards and wrapping materials. I did very well at the Hallmark store (as you’ll see in future posts) . We finished the day off with a lovely lunch at the Recovery Room. I love shopping, and I love friends!

Mer and I. I was looking pretty sleepy after all the shopping.

Emily and Mer

“Wigilia (pronounced: vee-GHEE-lee-uh) is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24. The term is also often extended to the whole day of the Christmas Eve, extending further into the midnight Mass held at Roman Catholic churches all over Poland and large Polish comunities worldwide at midnight preceding the Christmas Day.”

Jeff having a beer before dinner.

Grandma Fryc relaxing in the living room.

First we exchanged opaltek. According to wikipedia:

“Family members begin the celebration with a prayer and breaking of the Christmas wafer (opłatek – symbolizing the bread eaten daily — our day-to-day common life) and wishing each other good fortune in the upcoming new year. (After the prayer, usually done by the man of the house, the opłatek is broken and pieces are given to everyone attending the table. From there, everyone breaks off a piece of their opłatek, and shares it with everyone else, wishing luck and joy in the upcoming year, for Christ has been born. This wish is usually finalized by a kiss on the cheek.)”

Some of the details on one of the wafers.

Mom and Jeff.

Jeff and I. Turns out, its hard to break off the oplatek and and take a picture.

The best part of the the night (besides presents) is always the food! Dad did an amazing job and made the entire meal. I don’t think Poland is known for it’s fantastic cuisine, but you would be surprised. I’m a big fan of all the traditional dishes served on Christmas eve.

The first course was a mushroom soup.

The mushroom soup is always my second favorite part of dinner…

…because the pierogi is always my favorite! None of that Mrs. T’s fake stuff. Only homemade pockets of awesome are served on Christmas eve

Serving fish is also part of Wigilia dinner (no meat because of Catholic tradition). Dad made Pacific cod. I’m not a huge fish lover, but this actually tasted pretty good.

Kapusta (or cabbage).

Potatoes served with onions. YUM.

My full plate. Let’s just say I was a very full Sarah afterwards.

For dessert, I had a slice of babka bread (sweet yeast cake).

After a lovely carbolicious meal, I am so full I can barely move! Time to watch a movie with mom

Candy Canes

Jeff helping me out with the chopping and crushing.

Almost finished…

Still working…

Whisking flour and salt

Mixing the butter. I love my mom’s Kitchen Aid Mixer!

I spooned out the dough before spreading it. Actually worked out quite well.

Chocolate in the melting stage…

Almost finished…

YUM. I LOVE white chocolate.

Finished and all packaged to head over to Richard’s!

The cookies took a little longer than expected to cool, and I got a late start heading over to Richard’s. When I finally got to Rome (1.5 hours later than I originally thought), I was so so so excited to finally see him. We spent the day catching up and eating super tasty food. I completely forgot to take pictures of just about everything I ate, but Richard’s mom made some of the best Pepperoni bread I’ve ever head for lunch. She even prepared some without pepperoni for me which was excellent. I’m not a big fan of beef (haven’t had it since I was 16), and I always appreciate when people are awesome about the whole not adding meat thing. For dinner we headed over to one of my favorite central NY restaurants, Teddy’s. I may or may not have had one of the GIANT onion rings and then a tasty “Vermont Country” salad with chicken fresh lettuce, grilled asparagus, beets, goat cheese and candied pecans, topped with balsamic dressing.

I missed Richard!

The one, the only, THE AMERICAN FLAG BLANKET!!! One of my favorite parts of the old apartment at 58 Perry.

Richard and I spent part of the afternoon playing with his old school NES and having a glass or two of wine. The perfect combo! We both were HUGE SMB fans back in the day. Although we disagree on our favorites (he’s a #2 guy and I prefer #3), we both have a special spot in our heart devoted to the memories of playing this system way back in the early 90’s. I was so surprised how easily it all came back to me. Maybe the wine helped jog my memory:)

All and all, it was an amazing day. Richard’s family was so welcoming, and Richard was an excellent host. Although it’s not nearly as fun as living with him, our Richard-Sarah reunions are always awesome. I miss you already Beau Beau

And what better way to spend a rest day then doing some last minute shopping at the mall! If you can’t tell, there was a whole lot of sarcasm behind that statement. I know the mall 4 days before Christmas actually sounds pretty terrible. I’m not a big fan of getting my shopping done at the last minute. I hate the crowds and dealing with the super long lines, but over the past few weeks, I haven’t had much time to be thinking about presents. To make the trip to the mall much more bearable, I invited some friends along

Merilee and Josh joined me for the hectic day. We started off with lunch at P.F. Chang’s before getting our shop on.

The not so special sauce

After lunch, we hit up the mall. Fortunately it wasn’t too crazy, and we managed to get to all the stores we wanted to within a few hours. I’m about 75% done with my Christmas shopping, and I’m hoping to finish tomorrow when I go to see Richard in Rome (Yaaaaay ). I haven’t seen Richard since Nicola’s wedding…far too long! Richard and I used to be roommates at Colgate and during my first two post college years in Boston. He has since moved to LA to pursue a doctorate at UCLA, and therefore I don’t get to see him as much as I would like. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, which should be a fun filled day of snuggling, gossiping and snacking…3 of my favorite things to do with my Beau Beau

Love this silly picture of Richard and I from back in the day. I was attempting to give him a kiss on the cheek. Also love the second pic which is from the same night at Cornwall’s in Kenmore Square. It’s also our go to engagement photo if we ever need one