Curry Chicken Stuffed Peppers

I recently added a new recipe to my list of favorite: Curry Chicken stuffed Peppers. This healthier take on the traditional beef stuffed peppers is really tasty. The original recipe can be found here, but below is Sean and my take with slight modifications (no raisins, no almonds, red instead of green peppers, and a little extra curry).

Ingredients

6 med. "orange" peppers (about 2 lbs.)
Vegetable cooking spray
1 c. peeled and chopped cooking apple
1 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated skim milk
2 c. chopped cooked chicken, cooked without salt
1 1/2 c. cooked jasmine rice
1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1/8 tsp. coconut extract
3 tsp. curry powder

Cut off tops of peppers and remove seeds. Wash peppers and set aside.

Coat a skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add apple, celery, and onion; saute until crisp-tender. Dissolve cornstarch in milk; add to vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in chicken, rice, salt, white pepper, coconut extract, and curry. Spoon 3/4 c. mixture into each pepper; top with almonds.


Place each pepper into casserrole dish; bake at 400 degrees for 30-60 minutes.

DIY: 2012 Calendars

For one of my Secret Santa gifts at work, I decided to make a calendar with scrapbook materials I had on hand in a bowtie theme. Here was the project progression:

It's true...I have a secret love for scrapbook paper, glue dots, and washi tape. 

welcome, 2012!

As is my nature, I am running a little behind. I have so much to share with regards to October festivities, what Thanksgiving means to me, Christmastime cheer, and new years resolutions! I have been better with punctuality this year in general, but when I sink back into old habits, I have to rationalize by saying it's just in my nature. Even my birth date was delayed! I could've been a New Year's Eve baby, but when contemplating 1982 vs 1983, I went with being fashionably late in 1983 and wasn't the first baby that day either. It's just who I am. Nonetheless, I still feel special. :)

Last year's resolutions were again a success. While I didn't accomplish or succeed at all of them, I kept them in mind throughout the year and enjoyed 2011.

I took more photographs thanks to my camera phone. I finished a few books: The Housekeeper and the Professor, The Time Traveler's Wife. I did not get to take a mother-daughter trip this year, but I did get to spend time with my parents in Townsend, for breakfasts, perusing used bookstores, and taking walks in the neighborhood. I did not learn to play the piano yet, but I have gotten really great at playing the invisible piano on my steering wheel as I drive. I took a trip somewhere new to Seattle and Portland with Sean, and I would love to go back. I've tried new recipes and enjoyed them: blueberry pancakes from scratch, broccoli quinoa with chicken, gouda stuffed chicken breasts with potatoes au gratin, homemade pizzas, etc. We've had celebrations at our house this year with bonfires and bridal showers. We've had girls' nights and craft nights and nights to watch The Bachelor. I finished one piece of artwork from my long list of pending projects (and I use the word finish lightly because I'd like to go back and tweak it still). I was more organized. I purged belongings and made trips throughout the year to the Goodwill dropoff. I recycled more. I did not donate blood or find a service organization. I stayed healthy on the whole and excersized more with yoga. I slept better. I did blog more than the previous year, with the end of 2011 being the exception. I did seem to put myself out there more and met new people. I have been studying more and have kept a more positive outlook on life. I feel it affected me most in that I felt more observant of the little things around me and the people who needed help. I felt more outward than inward and that was probably the greatest success of the year.

Here’s my modified carryover list from last year's New Year’s “resolutions”:

1. Take more photographs.
2. Read more often. Currently on the list: Rules of Civility, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, World War Z, The Language of Flowers, The Help, The Time Traveler's Wife
3. Plan a special mother-daughter event. Would still love to do a trip to Chicago...
4. Take my dad out to breakfast each month.
5  Take a trip somewhere new. This year I’m thinking of possibly going to Savannah or Charlston with the roommates.

6.  Support Jackie Chapman on her journey.

7.  Help organize social events: maybe a book trade party, dinner party, girls' night/craft night

8.  Try a new recipe each week. I have three new cookbooks to choose from: Home Made, Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen, and Apples for Jam.
9.  Finish art projects: a wedding portrait for Charles and Jen, a portrait for Angela of she and her dad, a painting for Sean and one for his parents' house, clay nativity set, oval sihouette paintings, wedding day painting of my mom, etc.

10.  Stay consistent with excersize (yoga) and consider a running program or strength training class.

11.  Blog/write/think/pray

12.  Try to stay positive (be less critical, stressed, or overwhelmed).

13.  Eliminate debt by year end 2012. With my planning, I think I can accomplish this by September!

This list feels a little more inward-focused than last, but I guess I'm feeling a little desperate to accomplish as much as I can in the last year of my 20s and enjoy as much as I can. I'm reminded much too often that life is short, NOT that I'm too old, and I don't want to miss an opportunity.

thankfulness

Reflecting on this past year, I have so much to be thankful for. One reason I love how November turns to December is bringing that spirit of Thanksgiving into the Christmas holiday and finding ways to give back!

blessings

Last week's girls' night was refreshing. Instead of venting about the stresses and realities of how things are (because we all need to vent at some level to release that situation that happened at work, that unbelievable thing he/she said, or how stressed we are in general), we instead focused around things that would encourage and inspire each other and shared what we had done throughout the week that we could be proud of. It is always a nice reminder that we are where we are in life for a reason, and to have an impact on someone else, however small, gives our life meaning.


Two things that I like to remember: God positions people in our lives who can uniquely speak blessings over us (Numbers 6:24-26) and God Himself has spoken a blessing over us (Ephesians 1:3). 

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

The true blessing, though, is in being able to bless and encourage others. I guess the joy in blessing others is because in those moments we can feel more Christlike. I love that reminder. So that said, a blessing for you...

Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)  

²⁴ ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.

²⁵ May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. 

²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

prayer

What do you do when you are faced with a conflict in life?


These last few weeks, my heart has been heavy with prayer.The heartaches around me range from prenatal complications, adoption journeys, and health complications to needs for financial and emotional well-being. My initial response is usually overwrought with fear and anxiety, worry and concern, and a loss for words, but what I've come to rely on is a simple, "I can pray about it." When faced with something outside our control, it makes personal experiences feel very real and the need for God even more real. I think that faith, at least, makes our struggles a little less scary. To pray and trust that our needs are met or will be met takes an overwhelming amount of faith. 


It's not particularly enjoyable to wake up at 2 am or 4am, but it's not as bad when there's so much on my mind to pray about. It's also key for me to remember that if I don't take advantage of these moments when it's typically quiet (at night and when I'm getting ready for work), I'll tend to forget. Being able to release these worrisome thoughts of difficult situations that others' are experiencing right now and instead place confidence in Christ is a relief in so many ways. It brings security and comfort, and is for me, the exact opposite of my initial response. 


I don't kneel or talk outloud usually; it's more of a conversation in my head, just not with myself. As humans, I believe we crave connections. We weren't created to be alone. Having the chance to even approach God with our thoughts and concerns, however minute, is unfathomable when you consider all that is going on in the world at a given moment. That said, I don't doubt that my prayers are heard. When I pray, I feel uniquely connected with His heart, character, and purpose.  

The other day, as I was responding to a group text message requesting prayer (unknowingly responding to the entire group), I received a response back from someone saying, "Thank you! Who is this?" It turned out that that same exact morning they were in the same situation needing prayer and comfort. When I feel like there's no way to help, God always shows Himself in one miraculous way or another, bringing people together in unique ways, giving us hope when we're hopeless, and providing answers.  

Oh, October

Go he said,

Until rock gives way to sea, gives ways to

Salt and air and the elements all–

Until feet touch land that creaks, melts and sighs.

Rippling, crashing, splitting beneath you,

Its tired arms open to the cold of night–

Everything frozen, everything hushed.

And then, with eyes at rest, look closely.

Closer.

Closer still,

And in that moment, you will find me–

Indeed you will see.

(Anthropologie)

There are many reasons why October is my favorite month. I love that it's no longer uncomfortably hot outside. I love that my hair will stay curled for more than a minute without humidity. I love the smells. I love pumpkin pies and apple pies, caramel apples, hot soups, and smores around the bonfire. I love the change of colors as the leaves start to fall. I love sweaters and boots. I love the energy that surges as the year starts to wrap up. The holidays are coming, and that means remembering how thankful I am for family and friendships. October, specifically, is just before it starts to get hectic, but yet still, is usually packed with fun activities. On the list for this month is a hike to somewhere undecided, a pumpkin patch a little more outside of Nashville this year, a birthday party, a wedding, a family birthday, a likely addition to the family this month as I gain another neice, and a fall festival. I'd love to fit in a movie at a drive-in theater, a bonfire, a few extra walks and visits to the dog park with Easton, and maybe a few last cookouts. I'm thrilled that Sean is as much a fan of October as I am, and even more thrilled that it's his favorite! We got to start our month off with a spooky thriller as is his tradition. He also doesn't oppose to me filling the schedule with all sorts of outdoor events. Instead we share an enthusiasm for just getting out and going, experiencing as much as possible, and sharing it with someone we care about.