Cooking 101 :: Indian

I have decided I want to learn how to cook better.  The problem, as I told my mom tonight, is that I don't really like following the recipe. She laughed and as she's said many times in the last few years "Well, that may be another genetic problem...".  Which I should have realized.  I've been asking her for years for her spaghetti sauce recipe which came from her mom, which is the best spaghetti sauce on the planet.  Everytime I ask she says "well you'll just have to watch and take notes next Christmas... I have no idea what the recipe is."  Alas, I am left with 5 Tupperware containers full in my freezer but still no idea how to make it.  Maybe next year...

So when I cook I decide what I want to do and that's it.  I make it up and if it's good, GREAT, if it's not... well better luck next time.  So last night I made chicken tikka masala.  Which is supposed to look like this....

via

No mine was not pretty like that but it did taste pretty good. So I am going to start a new series called Cooking 101.  This is not for a foodie {well maybe only to laugh at}, this is for other girls like me who are trying to learn how to cook but for whatever reason still aren't fantastic. It's not going to be pretty folks...

The Ingredients... or some at least. And that ginger was my snack.... so....

Don't be deceived... I am only cooking for myself. Clearly I need to learn how to do that in my prep work. Now I realize the chances of any of you using this recipe are slim. But I'm going to write the blog post like you are anyway... humor me.

I used 1 green and 1 red bell pepper, julienne cut carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, and green cabbage but you can pretty much use whatever you want.  I have a love affair with cooked veggies so I always use more than I should.  Most real chicken tikka masala's I found didn't even have veggies in them... snooze... so make it your own.

I use jasmine rice mostly because I like it more than normal rice but also because while you're cooking it it makes your house smell incredible {yes, like jasmine}.

Be warned this is no minute rice. It takes in total 30 minutes to cook so you might want to start it first no matter what you are adding to it. It's worth it!

I kind of forgot to take pictures in between steps here.  Just sauté all of the veggies until al dente, cook the chicken in a separate pan and then dump the veggies, chicken and tikka masala sauce in the sauté pan.  After you mix it up add some jasmine rice to your plate or bowl and then add the veggies and chicken on top of it.

Success! It was actually pretty good.  I'm not going to tell you what I did tonight to make it even better {add more sauce and a dash of almond milk} I feel like most foodies will judge me for it....

This was the fail of the night.  I was using a spatula as a flyswatter....

Luckily that was supposed to be tonights leftovers so no I didn't go hungry. Thanks for your sympathy.

xoxo,

Molly

Resolutions :: Music Festivals

My next resolution is slightly more creative then the last.  I really love music. It's one of those things that I need on a daily basis. It helps me get through bad and sad times and helps make happy times that much better. People say that smells are the biggest connection to memory and although that may be true nothing brings me back to the moment like a song.

I have been saying I want to go to all of these concerts and music fests and never end up doing it.  Something comes up, or I have no one that wants to go with me to the weird indie concert on a Tuesday night. Well, thats done.  On my resolution list {should I be calling this a bucket list for 2013? I think I'm missing the point of a resolution....} is going to 2 of the following three music festivals this year. Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and Austin City Limits in... well duh Austin.

Jazz Fest is the only line up announced so I'm wishing to hear these songs at one or more of the festivals...

*The Lumineers :: Flowers in Your Hair

*Alabama Shakes :: Hold On

*The Black Keys :: Sister

*Two Door Cinema Club :: Someday

*The Shins :: It's Only Life

*The Avett Brothers :: I Never Knew You

*Childish Gambino :: Heartbeat

*Grouplove :: Lovely Cup

*Temper Trap :: Where Do We Go From Here?

*Matt Costa :: Can You Tell Me

*The Killers :: The Way It Was

*Spoon :: You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

*Bruce Springsteen :: Save My Love

*Maroon 5 :: Sunday Morning {side note for judgers... I already know Maroon 5 is playing at Jazz Fest and again you can judge all you want but I will forever love them. I'm hopeful for some songs from "Songs About Jane"}

xoxo,

Molly

Resolutions :: #4 & #5... Health

I think I've gotten the first ten days of 2013 off to a great start. Minus a little "trouble" with Resolution #1... Let's just say I am on wedding #2 in less then a year of bringing a girl instead of an actual date next weekend.  I have made a few steps toward the other 2. Yes I am aware that is basically nothing. Rosetta Stone is in my ownership (thanks to SB) and I have started searching for a class to join.

I actually had a wonderful NYE's which so far is all that matters.

Why yes that is a gold sequin bow headband in my hair. And yes I did steal borrow it from my 5 year old niece Anna.

Anyway, resolutions #4 and 5 are all about health.  I let working out completely fall to the waist-side in 2012.  I plan to pick back up starting next week on my fitness.  This means, yoga, and joining a sand volleyball team this spring/summer. (that is if one of the 2 people who invited me to join their teams were serious... otherwise, who wants to join my team?)

Resolution #5 is to eat healthier.  Not healthy all the time. That would be awful, boring, and make me a mean person. Healthier in day to day life though. Also, that juicer I thought was needed last Christmas, that will be put to way more use! My goal for 2013 is to do a 3 day juice cleanse at least once every two months.  Think I can do it? Well I guess we will find out.

I realize these are both generic and boring but the next few I promise will be more unique.

xoxo,

Molly

Resolutions :: #2 & #3... Travel & Language

The final hours of 2012 are coming to an end and let me be the first to say I couldn't be happier. I am ready for 2013... it's really going to be my year.

This next resolution actually expands into 2014 but oh well.  I already have a lot of travel plans for 2013... Nashville in February, Denver in June and April, and hopefully another trip to DC sometime before the year is up to see my brother again! {Not to mention New York 5 times, Atlanta 4 times, Las Vegas twice, and New Orleans a few times thrown in for fun.. and work.}

While these are fun and I am extremely excited for them, I have finally decided to start saving for a trip to Paris. I've always wanted to go, even through pictures it's completely magical and breathtaking. So, sometime in 2014 I will be taking a week off and heading to France.  I have decided that whether I go alone or if someone wants to come with me this is happening {any takers?}. 

Besides this trip I also want to make it more of a habit. Once my credit cards and other large bills are paid off I am going to keep a savings account just for traveling {hopefully mostly abroad}. 

This brings me to my next resolution, learn French.  I have talked about this for years now and have had a lot of people tell me that that's a waste of my money and time.  Well, haters be gone, I do not have any interest in learning Spanish {call me naive}, so in 2013 I am going to take a French class and hopefully I will learn enough to get through my week long jaunt.

xoxo,

Molly

Resolution :: #1... Trouble

I am going to start a new series through January.  I feel as if 2012 was a VERY enlightening year for me so I have quite a few resolutions to kick off 2013.  These are in no particular order, just the order I blog about them. To start out I will let Taylor Swift explain the first one...

I spent most of 2012 single. Which, I have to admit was very fun.  The few guys I did "date" were jerks, commitment phobes, or let's just say most of them were trouble.  While I am not dating the hipster, tattooed guy with long hair such as she seems to be dating in the video {mine are more preppy khaki wearing guys} I feel for her.  It's possible that's why this song brought me from being iffy on T-Swift to blasting and singing this song too loudly.

Enough of that, my point is resolution #1 is to only date the nice guy.  That's it. There's not much to it. When I realize a guy is trouble I will not stick around to see what happens. I will stop talking to him and move on the the next guy who appears to be one of the nice guys.

My resolution is NOT to find a boyfriend in 2013, don't be confused. My resolution is to stop wasting my time on trouble, if this means I stay single until 2025, so be it. You should probably take this advice as well. The world would be a better place.

It sounds simple enough, however apparently it took me having an epiphany to reach this conclusion. Which means, it's important enough to add to the list.

xoxo,

Molly