It's Recipe Day! Apricot Recipe Day!

I just recently discovered that this month is National Apricot Month, and today is National Apricot Day.

Do you know where apricots were discovered? They were discovered in China over 4,000 years ago and made their way to the Mediterranean. Spanish missionaries brought them to the "New World." The first commercial orchard started in California in 1792. Today, ninety-seven percent of all apricots grown here in the United States are from California orchards.

So in honor of apricots, I thought I'd share a yummy recipe with you.

Apricot Couscous Pilaf

Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (16-ounce) can apricot halves, drained and diced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 1/2 cups cooked instant couscous or white or brown rice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Process:
Melt butter with oil over medium-high heat in large saucepan. Stir in onions, bell pepper and cumin. Saute 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add diced apricot, salt and pepper; cook 1 minute. Stir in cooked couscous or rice until all ingredients are well combined; cook, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro. (I also either add slivered almonds in the saute process or I garnish with them.)

Serve with grilled or roasted poultry, meat or seafood. Use as stuffing for poultry or peppers. Perfect as a light entree with tossed salad and bread.

Makes 8 servings

*Recipe courtesy of California Apricot Advisory Board

If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Hugs,
Jenni

Getting Organized in the New Year

Every year I set out to get organized. I start strong and then I slowly spiral into complete disarray. This year I have decided to start small. I'm going to begin in one room and get it completely organized. If all goes well I will then proceed to another room of my house. My hope is that by the end of the year I will have organized some of the spaces in my house and kept them that way.

Do you have any goals for organization this year? If so, I'd love to hear about them. If not, maybe you are organizing other aspects of your life. Either way I wish you all the best in your journey.

Photo: Hipstamatic (Lens: Jane, Film: Blanko, no flash)

Hugs,
Jenni

Introducing... Christopher Burgan

Today I finally got around to taking down Christmas decorations. While I was busy working I put on my husband's music. He is one of the most talented musicians and singer/songwriters I have ever come across. (I'm not just saying that because we are married either!)

We originally met because I was looking to take guitar lessons. After one lesson, Christopher asked me out. Yeah!!! I was so excited I forgot to pay for the lesson. That was 15 years ago next month. We are still very much in love, but I am such a huge fan of his talents that I will never stop praising him to others. Check out a video he recorded with one of the bands he is currently in, The Tannins. He is the guitar player. To find out more beyond the video: http://www.chrisburgan.com.



Hugs,
Jenni

Seizing Opportunities

So, my trip to Solvang this weekend created an opportunity to stop into Santa Barbara and see one of my favorite "sisters." Julie and I met through Sisters on the Fly. We rarely get to see each other, unless we are at an event together. Passing by her house at a time when she was actually available was perfect. Not only did I get to see her adorable house for the first time, but I got to meet her entire family. We talk about them all the time and I feel like I already know them. Today was a memory I will not soon forget. It just reminded me that we need to seize every opportunity to visit with people we love. (Love you Jewels!)

This photograph was taken in her quaint backyard. (This is where she also has incredibly cool chickens! Real, live chickens!) Although I'm normally a fan of the film used, the lens comes across as a washed out image, almost like an aged photograph. Hipstamatic: (Lens: Bettie XL, Film: Ina's 1935, no flash)

Hugs,
Jenni

The Familiar Tourist

My husband and I decided to get out of town and head to Solvang for an overnight trip. Chris has a cousin who lives and works in Solvang, so we have been here many times. It is always strange to come into town and be familiar with where everything is, and yet, we still feel like tourists.

A stop at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a peanut butter ice cream brought about this shot. I thought we would have a little fun with this lens due to being in a Scandinavian town. I like the effect of the black film frame, but the lighting of the lens seemed a little bright. It definitely did not need a flash in the bright, warm sun. Don't you think it has a 1970's film look about it?Hipstamatic (Lens: Helga Viking, Film: Pistil, no flash)

Hugs from the road,
Jenni

Comforts of Home: Day 4 Ultimate Blog Challenge

It is rare to find a "fast food" restaurant that provides the comforts of home. How many times have you wished that dinner was made for you while you got to snuggle in your jammies by a toasty fire? Tonight my husband, Christopher, and my mom, Yvonne, went to Round Table Pizza. It is your average pizza joint, but the pizza sure is tasty. In this particular pizza parlor there is a large fireplace surrounded by a table. We got lucky and it was open. We got to sit around the fire eating pizza while talking and laughing. Although I didn't get to sit around in my jammies, the fire created such an inviting environment that we stayed for 3 hours. Yikes!

On my Hipstamatic journey, we of course documented the evening with a photograph. Here I am all smiles for the camera, but secretly wishing I could finish my blog on my iPad. My mother is permanently connected to her phone. Rather than smile for the camera, she is busy telling my brother that she "is" in fact listening to him. (Lens: Jimmy, Film: Ina's 1969, no flash).

Do you have a favorite restaurant that provides some of the comforts of home? I'd love to hear about it.

Hugs,
Jenni

Running Toward Healthy: Day 3 Ultimate Blog Challenge

Well, I've made it to Day 3 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge, and I'm still going strong. I signed up for the 20th Anniversary Camp Pendleton Mud Run this morning. Then I got my lazy butt out of the house and went for a run. It felt good. I find that after 5 months of running, I actually crave it! When I miss a run I am depressed and moody. No one would want to be around someone like that, so I get out and happy by running. Today I thought I'd share another film and lens set up in Hipstamatic. The awesome photograph of my running shoes was taken after my run this morning. (Lens: John S, Film: Kodot XGrizzled, no flash)

My challenge to you today: do something that makes you happy.

Hugs,
Jenni