Blow the dust off…

So.. have I mentioned I’m really bad at updating this blog?

I don’t really have excuses. Yes, I have been traveling. Yes, work has been busier lately. Yes, it WAS summer in Chicago (for like a day). But alas, this poor blog has been neglected.

Here are a few nuggets from the past year:

Lincoln Memorial at night, July 2014

Glymurfoss, Iceland, June 2014

Horses, Iceland, June 2014

Arenal, Costa Rice, April 2014

Chicken coop, Slagel Farm, Fairbury, IL, October 2013

I definitely did a lot more than that, but I don’t want to bore you. 🙂

So.. I’m not exactly back

I lied. I’m not exactly back back. This holiday season was a bit crazy, a bit exciting, and a bit laziness.

First, Prague and Berlin were amazing. I would go back to Berlin in a heartbeat. There’s so much history there, but not only that, it’s a working, live city. Not one of those touristy-people-don’t-actually-live-there city. But a city with amazing bike lanes, culture, fun activities, shopping, night life, and food.

This was haunting and beautiful at the same time.

Second, I got a new job working for a start-up in River North, and so far so good. I ended my last contract mid-December, and started here after the new year. While I will miss the people I worked with, I do not miss the financial industry AT ALL.

Third, my big brother got engaged during the holidays!! To a wonderful girl who doesn’t put up with his crap, is caring and thoughtful, and I’m very excited for the two of them.

I’m baaaaaack!

I have been COMPLETELY MIA. I don’t have any real excuses. I’ve just been lazy. Not that it really matters since I have one reader, but nevertheless. I haven’t been shooting or cooking or knitting anything.

BUT I did just get back from a trip to Prague and Berlin AND I finally went grocery shopping for the first time over a month or longer. So LOTS of pictures of course, and tonight’s meal!

I’m actually processing the pictures right now while eating, I’m so excited that I’m cooking again. I got the recipes off of Serious Eats.  I love that site. It’s a great website, not only for the recipes, but they have great reviews on restaurants and products as well.

I won’t bore you with one long post; I’ll post later about my trip. Enjoy!

Five Minute Miso-Glazed Salmon

Stir-Fried Snap Peas and Mushrooms – I didn’t have the right peas or mushrooms, but the theme is the same and it still tasted delicious.

Next

Amazing food. I whittled down 200 pictures to only 56. Yes I was THAT person in the restaurant.

Poof!

Two favorite new recipes:

Puffy

Bite size

The first is from the Joy of Baking website.  I really need to utilize that site more, some great recipes on there. I have memories of my mom and I making something similar when I was a kid.  This time I only had butterscotch pudding instead no vanilla, but it still was delicious.

The second is from two peas & their pod. The original recipe is Bobby Flay’s and oh so good! I unfortunately didn’t have cheese to make cheese sauce, but I did have some spicy mustard for dipping.