I heart brown butter.

Brown butter is one of those delicious things I happened upon by accident… a muffin recipe that called for melted butter and I accidentally browned it when I walked away to change my Pandora station. And then I used it because I really wanted a muffin and had no more butter.

And now, I purposefully brown butter like nobody’s business.
If you don’t know about brown butter, I suggest you make it a priority. Try this recipe – it has oatmeal so it’s (almost) healthy!

Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from TipTopShape

• 1/2c Unsalted Butter
• 1/2c Granulated Sugar
• 1/2c Brown Sugar
• 1 Large Egg
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1c Flour
• 3/4c Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips (mix of dark & mild chocolate)

Directions

Brown yo butter in a small sauce pan. Keep an eye on it or it will burn! Once browned, set aside to cool completely.

In large bowl, Add sugars to cooled butter. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add salt, baking powder, and cinnamon mixing thoroughly. Mix in flour. Mix in Oats. Fold in Chocolate Chips.

Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Try not to eat too much cookie dough while waiting.

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Form dough into 1 1/2 Inch balls and place on prepped baking sheet. Bake 10-14 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned, the middle is set, and your home smells like cinnamon and chocolate.

Hope you enjoy.
Try not to burn your mouth like I did

Erin

Resolutions

I’ve been thinking a LOT about resolution lately. Like, a lot a lot.

And I’m not a big fan on the word resolution. To me, the word resolution is emotionally tied up with all the the declarations I’ve made at the start of every year. And it’s probably only emotional because I’ve failed at so many of those resolutions…

So this year, I’m coming to terms will all my failed resolutions and instead have opted for a goal setting approach. I have a handful of focuses that I’ll be going through this year. First on the docket is my health. I’ve treated my body not so awesome over the years and it’s starting to show (Damn you, body. Why you gotta give up on me?).

So, this goal is not necessarily about the pounds or the pant size. It’s about how you feel.

Do you feel achy and lethargic in the morning?
Do get enough sleep?
Did you eat any vegetables today !?!
Are you always thirsty?
How many drinks did you really have last night?

All things things have left me feeling pretty crummy. So I’ve started with a few things I’d like incorporate into my daily life.

- Walk and/or run 20 minutes/day
- Consume 4 vegetable servings/day
- 3 Workouts/week

8 weeks shouldn’t be too hard.

I mean, aren’t we all supposed to be doing this anyways?
Erin

How did I get here?

All week I’ve been seeing my clothes wear strangely. I’ve been uncomfortable in my pants. I’m easily winded. And I’m always hungry.

So this morning I stepped on the scale.
In disbelief, all I could think was “How did I get here?”

No, it’s not the heaviest I’ve ever been. But that doesn’t matter.

What matters is that this is not where I want to be.

So tomorrow starts my challenge. It’s not a diet. It’s not a short term focus on exercise. It has no pills, shots, or hypnosis.

Tomorrow starts my focus on health.

More deets to follow on my 8 week challenge to create good, sustainable habits.

Erin

My adventures in Curry

Last week I experimented with a tofu coconut rice claypot recipe and ended up with half a can of leftover coconut milk. It was just a can of coconut milk that didn’t cost more than $1.29 at the grocery store but… I hate wasting.

A quick search on All Recipes and low and behold.. a new recipe to try! My first curry!

Curry doesn’t photograph sexy, but it sure is tasty.

Curried Coconut Chicken
Adapted from Allrecipes
Serves 4-6

• 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin and cut into chunks
• Salt & Pepper
• 1-2 tbs vegetable oil
• 2 tbs curry powder
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 red pepper
• 2 gloves garlic, crushed and rough chopped
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1/2 can coconut milk

Heat the oil and curry powder over med-high heat for about 5 mins. You’ll smell when it’s cooked — the curry smell deepens and intensifies. Add the onion, cook to translucent. Add red pepper, garlic, and tomato sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk and 1/2c water. Bring to a simmer.

Season chicken with S&P. Once your broth starts to simmer, add chicken. Bring your curry to a low boil. Pop on the lid and simmer at a low-med heat. Stir occasionally and be ready to eat in 45-60 mins!

Can serve over rice, vegetables, or with a side of pita or naan.

Notes:

• Chicken, onion, and red pepper are all sliced into 1×1 inch pieces. By doing this to the onion and pepper, it made ‘em melt in your mouth after cooking!
• This recipe is for a brothy/soupy curry. If you like yours less brothy, you may want to add a thickener.
• This tasted WAY better on the second day. It was also spicier.

Happy curry-ing!
Erin

Human Resources is boooooring!

Who in their right mind would ever choose to get certified in Human Resources?

Umm.. that would be me.

But, Erin human resources is just so… boring.
It’s labor law.
and job descriptions.
and compensation analysis.
and benefit design.
and COBRA.
and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
and pensions.
and SWOT analysis.
and filing papers.
and policies.
and booooooring times infinity.

This is all true.

But Human Resources is also about the development of people. And it’s with the development of people that is required to help make a company great.

Greatness.

So if you’re wondering why I choose this boring ‘ol profession of Human Resources, it’s for the potential of greatness. It’s not for everyone, but I sure am glad that it found me.

Erin

P.S. Check Get certification/ go back to school off the list.
P.P.S. And check Get promoted at work off the list too!

Cookie tower to brighten anyone’s day

I won’t tell you how tall this tower was supposed to be.. and I don’t have to.
I ate the evidence!

If you like fat cookie…
A cookie that doesn’t spread out all crazy thin and crispy..
A cookie that begs to be eaten with a tall glass of milk..
Then this recipe is for you!

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from In the Small Kitchen
(A great book BTW for those that are just starting their cook book collection!)

• 2/3c Granulated Sugar
• 2/3c Dark Brown Sugar
• 1c Unsalted Butter (room temp)
• 1 egg
• 1t Vanilla Extract
• 1t Baking Soda
• 1/2t Salt
• 2 1/4c All-Purpose Flour
• 1c Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 1c Milk Chocolate Chips

Brown 1 stick of butter. Cool. Cream other stick of butter with sugars. Add the cooled browned butter. Add egg and beat until mix is creamy. Add vanilla. Stir in baking soda and salt til combined. Add Flour (careful, no overmixing!). Last of the mixing… add yo chocolate!

Now, cover the bowl and put in the fridge. Let sit for about a hour. I’m not sure as to what this does, but to me it tastes like the cookie flavors meld together during this stage. And it makes it easier to form prior to baking. You can omit this step, if you wish.

Preheat oven o 375degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto the parchment paper. Bake for 6-8 minutes. When you pull them from the oven, pull off the baking sheet and cool on a rack or else your cookies will continue to cook.

I like my cookies super soft so they bake for 6 minutes and then I pull off the sheet immediately. Then I wait approximately 30 seconds to eat a cookie, burn my mouth, and then wait the requisite 5-10 minutes to eat a cool cookie.

Hooray for Cookie Towers!
Erin

My Subconscious

Last night I had the most interesting dream!

In the dream, I had just moved into my new apartment. It’s a cutsie little building in the ever-so-hip Seattle neighborhood of Capital Hill. The building manager was hosting it’s monthly get to know your neighbors party (I know, I know. Apartment buildings don’t do this anymore but wouldn’t it be fun if they did?). At the end of the party, I started talking to the the cutest guy. He was the embodiment  of the all American, athletic, charming boy with a good head of hair that I think I need in my life. He even had super straight, white teeth. You know how much I like nice teeth!

Here he is. I need to watch more Revenge before I go to bed every night!

Anywho… in the dream we talk for hours. He tells funny jokes and makes sure my wine glass is never empty. And at the end of the party, he asks for number so we can hang out. As we’re saying our goodbyes he mentions that he and his girlfriend are super happy that moved into a building with such nice people.

A girlfriend.

Really, self?

A girlfriend? Couldn’t let me have this one, huh?

You’re mean.
Erin