Growing up, my mom was great at cooking us healthy, balanced meals, complete with a protein, veggie and starch. Most days I try to emulate that in my cooking, though instead of putting together three separate components, I like trying to combine two or all of them into a single step. This super easy chicken curry does that deliciously, with help from one pre-made ingredient. Continue reading
When you’re working full time, it can be tough to fit in workouts, much less ones longer than 30 minutes. Since I started working from home, I’ve definitely been working out more in general—I’ve gone from 4 days a week on average to closer to 6. And while most of my workouts, apart from when I’m teaching Zumba, tend to stay around that 30-minute mark, the exception most weeks is a DVD I have a serious love-hate relationship with: Body by Simone. Continue reading
Tamale pie is a US-born, casserole-like dish meant to mimic the flavors of a tamale—the cornmeal wrapper, the Mexican spices, the meat and veggie filling—without the more difficult steps involved in making one. This recipe, which we got from Jeff’s mom, takes the simplicity one step further with the use of packaged cornbread mix and tomato soup. Continue reading
Over the weekend, we took our first trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We went to the American Museum of Natural History in New York quite a few times while living up there, so I was eager to see how this one compared. My verdict: The Smithsonian museum seemed a little smaller, but also a little more technologically advanced than the one in New York, making it a little less overwhelming and a bit easier to enjoy. Continue reading
Once you get to a certain age, a bottle of wine or alcohol becomes a go-to gift, whether as a housewarming, a congratulations or something else. A couple years ago, High West released a limited edition whiskey called A Midwinter Night’s Dram, after the popular Shakespeare comedy. I bought a bottle for Jeff as a Christmas/Hanukkah present, and when we were finished drinking it, we couldn’t bring ourselves to get rid of the bottle. Continue reading
I don’t think I knew what a “burrito bowl” was before I walked into my first Chipotle nearly 10 years ago—was it even a thing before Chipotle made it one? But now, the burrito bowl is as ubiquitous as its wrapped namesake, and in recent years burrito bowls have replaced taco night in our house. This is how we make ours, though every ingredient and topping can be changed to suit your tastes and cravings! Continue reading
This weekend, Jeff and I went on our first adventure outside of the Washington D.C./Montgomery County area, to Frederick, MD and the Flying Dog Brewery. If you’re ever looking for a fun weekend activity, that will even be a little educational, I strongly suggest doing some research into the craft breweries and distilleries in your area. Continue reading
I picked up this book, the latest from the prolific Chilean author Isabel Allende, because I absolutely adored her last book, The Japanese Lover. It was one of the most enjoyable novels I’ve read in the last two years, and I still highly recommend it. When I first read the book jacket on In the Midst of Winter, I wasn’t sure if I would like it. To be completely honest, I purchased it because my local bookstore had signed copies, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have an Allende-signed book, so I decided to give it a read. There were aspects that I enjoyed, and some that I didn’t. Continue reading
I never liked the cold. Though I prefer sweaters and boots to shorts and tank tops, I’d much rather be sweating than shivering. Nevertheless, five years ago I fell in love with someone whose happy place is on a snowboard on the slopes. So in 2013, I made my first trip to Park City, Utah and stood up on a snowboard for the first time. We’ve returned to Park City every winter since, and each trip has been a delight. Continue reading
When I sit down to watch an episode of a TV show I’ve recorded, or of one on Netflix or Hulu in a series I’ve started from the beginning, I only do so if I know I have time to watch the entire episode. I guess it’s the nostalgic part of me that’s trying to preserve the experience of watching television pre-DVR and streaming—it’s the same reason I like to take at least a couple days after I finish a season to let it sink in before I start the next one. Mini or limited series work well for this, since it means I only have to find 6 or 7 hours to finish a series instead of 40 or 50, and it was one of the reasons we decided to watch HBO’s Mosaic. Continue reading
Lyss on Life 