Ohio Bound

Thing's have been busy the past few days. Tomorrow I'm heading to Ohio - my home-state - to help my Mom move into a new condo!  So, since I'm leaving the hubby here for about five days, I've been trying to get the house in order and make sure he has plenty of food on-hand to get him through the rest of the week and weekend.

With just a couple of things left to do: 1) Pack my suitcase and 2) Go to bed early tonight (as I will be leaving early in the morning), I've successfully cleaned the house and prepped some delicious food for Matt to enjoy while I'm gone.

In an attempt to make my blog a little "sexier" I've decided to add my recipes - my own inspired dishes - to the webpage (please note the new tab towards the bottom of the page entitled Erica's Epicurean Creations). The first recipe I've added is a delicious, hearty portion of turkey chili I made tonight, which will hopefully last Matt through the end of the week (or, dependent upon his appetite, at least through tomorrow).

I'll be away from the blogosphere for a few days, but upon my return I plan to post more updates and more recipes.  Until then, make sure you're all rooting for the Giants on Sunday, and try the chili...it's delicious!

Before and After: Thread Count(ing) Sheep

I love to sleep.  I married a man who loves to sleep.  And considering that we (humans) spend anywhere from 6-10 hours a day sleeping - some more/some less - I feel that the bed in which you do so is a true investment. Additionally, I believe the bedding in which you outfit your mattress is just as crucial.  You can have the most comfortable pillow-top on the market, but if you wrap it in scratchy sheets, a pleasant night's sleep will not be had! 


Thus, when making my bed this past week I noticed (gasp) a hole in the corner of my Pure Beech® modela sheets. And so, on Saturday, Matt and I made the hour-long trip to Springfield for a day of sheet buying at Bed, Bath & Beyond, a stop at Best Buy, and an unforeseen foray into warehouse mercantilism at the local Sam's Club.


Our original plan had just been to get a membership at the club.  We were only going to do a quick survey of the store - in case we wanted to come back at the end of the day and get some produce.  How quickly plans can change.


Following mugshots at the customer service desk, and a tutorial on how to operate the E-Kiosk, we looked at the store around us and all of it's wares. We hadn't even gotten past the fringe of the electronics section when Matt turned to me and asked, "Should we get a cart?"  Looking around at the three acre complex and it's shelves stocked to replicate what I imagine the underbelly of the Titanic looked like on it's maiden voyage, I said, "Yeah, why not...just in case."  


"Just in case" and trunkful of loose, bulk supplies later we left Sam's Club. Although it wasn't a planned shopping trip, we got a lot of useful things for the house, and we shouldn't have to restock for about three months. Still, there is a lesson to be learned from warehouse shopping: ALWAYS have a list, otherwise everything seems like a good deal at the time. And good deals - in mass quantity - amount to a fair sum of money in the end.


We finished our day in town getting the last items on our original list: my super comfortable linens and an Apple® TV - which Matt finally talked me into after some goading, but which I'll admit was well worth the $100.00.


Before leaving Springfield we stopped at Barnes & Noble, just to browse the bookshelves and get a cup of hot chocolate.  We got home around dinner time, noshed on some of the snacks we had bought at Sam's, threw the sheets in the laundry, and then went out for drinks with some friends.  By the time the clock struck midnight Matt and I had returned to the house in our pumpkin, and we're settled in for a long night's sleep; wrapped securely in the loving arms of my new, hole-free, 300 thread count, sateen sheets.

On the Banks of the Roubidoux

The past few days have been busy and very good here in Missouri, despite the rainy weather. Following my trek to the Lake of the Ozarks on Monday, the sun left sometime Tuesday afternoon and hasn't been heard from since. Luckily my latest endeavor - a new membership at the local Anytime Fitness - has saved me from the winter doldrums.

I still haven't heard back from the women's shelter yet, but plan on stopping in sometime tomorrow to see if they've just had a busy week and haven't had the time to review my application. I'm anxious to talk to the manager about how I can help, but until she's ready I suppose I'll bide my time like a patient adult versus the child in me that wants to know "what's going on?!" In the meantime I've been working out, cleaning up, trying my hand at sketching, finishing up the book that's been on my nightstand for a month, and photographing anything and everything I can!

In this vein, I'm pretty sure Matt's getting exhausted by my constant need to photograph our dinner every night.  I've gotten in the habit of telling him dinner's ready and then making him wait an extra 3-5 minutes as I properly plate, situate and photograph the creation. The chef in me thinks I must be doing this subconsciously, allowing time for the food to properly rest (especially in the case of our Steaks w/Red Ribbon Onions that I made the night before last). And, in all actuality, I think he's quite happy I'm using and enjoying the camera so much.

Aside from my food, I've also been getting some nice nature shots of the area as I explore Pulaski County and all of it's "Things To Do." This week I decided to venture to the Roubidoux Spring, which is located in the Roy Laughlin Park near downtown Waynesville.  After photographing the site - marveling at the turquoise hue of the water even in winter - I decided to come home and do a little research, and learned a bit of interesting information in the process.

According to a website I found devoted to Missouri Springs, the Roubidoux Spring - which discharges an average 37 million gallons of water a day (57 cubic feet per second) - is the 16th largest spring in the state of Missouri. During flood conditions the spring reaches 200 cfs.

Like most springs in the state, the Roubidoux Spring originally emerged from a cave opening (which still exists). In fact, in the 1960's the private owner at the time, Don Rimbich, dug the spring and cave open to allow divers to explore the spring and it's cave source.  According to another source (pun intended), the cave has been mapped as 240 feet deep and just over a mile long. And while diving is still allowed today - as long as individuals are qualified/certified cave divers - the spring entrance does not look the same as it did nearly 30 years ago.

(Photo from http://members.socket.net/~joschaper/rubedu.htm)

I can only deduce that the photo above was taken prior to 1974, when the current dam and retention wall were built above the spring in order to stop the road above from being constantly washed out. Having worked for the Corps of Engineers I know how important it is to make sure that infrastructure is safe for the populace. Still, it's interesting to see how the area has - and has not - changed over the past 27 years with the addition of the dam, and thus the constant back-flooding of the stream. I'll leave you with the remaining pictures I took to allow you to do your own comparison of what was "then" and what is "now."

"Allez Cuisine!"

There was much celebration in the Ozarks last night! Well, at least there was in our little home, on our little mountain, following a Giants victory over the 49'ers in the NFC Championship!  Matt and I enjoyed the game, eating bowlfuls of gluten free pasta with bolognese sauce and cheering on "our boys."

As ready as I was for sleep following the overtime win, the howling wind coming through the hills decided I would not sleep easily last night. For me, when I am tired and restless, my sleep always seems to be dotted with bizarre dreams and semi-lucid states as I drift in and out of consciousness. Thus, as I tried to pull myself out of bed this morning - following a night of dreams about being chased by coyotes and remodeling basements - I honestly thought for a moment that someone had broken into my home and sedated me because I could not move my body for the life of me. After a mild panic attack that lasted all of 10 seconds, I realized that  I was not in some state of drug-induced paralysis, just extremely comfortable and not yet fully awake.

The sun making its way through the windows of the house was sporadic all morning, slipping in and around wasps of clouds in the sky. However, by 10:30 a.m. all of the clouds seemed to quickly depart, the temperature reached nearly 50 degrees, and all I wanted to do was get out of the house!

I decided to take a drive up to the Lake of the Ozarks to enjoy the sunny skies, nice roads, and do the weekly grocery shopping at the beautiful Hy-Vee grocery store. I know it sounds funny to call a grocery store beautiful, but there's something about walking through a market that has super-fresh produce, well-lit and clean aisles, the hint of yeast lingering in the air from the fresh bread being made in the bakery, and a real, honest-to-goodness butcher in the meat section who will cut you a crown roast on request (if you so like)! Honestly, as a woman who loves to shop for all things retail, going to a nice grocery store is like going to Bergdorf Goodman.

I had made a list of things to buy, but as always I keep my eyes open for produce, fish, meat and poultry that looks particularly good or is on sale.  I found two bargains at the market today. One was a beautiful fillet of Sockeye Salmon that just looked so beautiful lying in the case, I couldn't pass it by.  The other were two nicely cut New York strip steaks, 8 oz. each, for $5.49 a piece.

I drove back home from the grocery store, enjoying the scenery and desperately wishing I would have brought my camera along for the ride.  I made mental notes of many places along the way where I want to return in order to take pictures; abandoned barns, cows lowing in pastures, horses milling about lakes....all of it too pretty to just write about. Perhaps this Wednesday on my weekly exploration I will go back, if the weather permits and the light is right.

I made the Sockeye for dinner, wanting to eat the fish in its freshest state possible. I found a recipe from Foodnetwork.com that was healthy, easy and had received good reviews. Honestly, I already like salmon, but this was so good that I think non-Salmon eaters would like it.  I followed the recipe, Roasted Salmon with Walnut-Pepper Relish, practically to the "T," using pecans instead of walnuts because they were what I had on hand. We made a salad to go alongside, and dressed it with a self-made walnut oil/apple cider vinaigrette. It's definitely a keeper!

It was a pleasant day, followed by an equally lovely night. There seems to be no wind this evening, so I think I will get a full nights sleep this evening, sans rêves.  This makes me very happy!  So, with a bit of wordplay and in homage to the successful culinary show Iron Chef, I will finish tonight's post by saying: "With a [happy] heart and a [full] stomach, I say unto you...: [good night]!"

Still Sunday

The weekend has come and is nearly gone, slipping by all too quickly as usual. We entertained friends for dinner on Friday night, enjoyed a lazy Saturday at home watching old movies, and tonight we have plans to make a Sunday-night Italian dinner and cheer on the Giants in the NFC Championship! It was a nice weekend, and I've been honing my cooking skills throughout.

On Friday I spent the day preparing for the arrival of our guests for dinner.  I tidied up the house, ran a few errands, and started cooking around 2:00 in the afternoon. I had perused my cookbooks and the internet the day prior, looking for something simple and delicious that could be made for 4-6 people.  Even though we were just entertaining another couple, I counted the men for two servings! I came across a simple chicken dinner that is made in a large dutch-oven or skillet, and was accompanied by roasted potatoes and onions.  It was a Giada DeLaurentis recipe, and I must say it turned out quite well.  The Roman-styled chicken was very moist, and the new potatoes with cippolini onions turned out nice and crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside.  If anyone would like to try either recipe, you can find both at: Giada's Day Ahead Dishes.We also served a large mixed salad, and finished up the meal with gluten-free chocolate brownies. Along with consuming a few bottles of wine, by the end of the night we were totally sated and ready for bed!

By the time Saturday morning rolled around, Matt and I were still feeling the drowsing effects of copious amounts of food and wine. We took a brief survey of the weather and conditions outside. Glistening crystals dotting our deck and making a sheen on the road told us there was no need to go anywhere. Needing nothing further to help us make our decision, we hunkered down for the day - cleaning up the kitchen from the night before, and settling on the couch for a day of cuddling and watching old movies on Netflix. Sometimes there's nothing better than doing nothing, and just being with the one you love.

So, today Matt and I find ourselves enjoying the last day of the weekend together, watching football games and eating more food. This coming week I definitely need to find my way to the gym and make some time for a little cardio! I'm also hoping to hear back from the women's shelter, and start my self-tutorial in learning Francais. But that's for Monday and the days following. For now it's still Sunday and my spot is getting cold on the couch. I better get back to the living room for some more cuddling...

Don't Mind the Time

It's 1:30 am and I'm sitting in my living room, eating a banana in my pajamas, and really wishing I could fall asleep...but, alas, I can't.  I have these nights every now and then. I'll start thinking about a series of different things and I just can't turn my brain off!  I desperately want it to be quiet, but when I tell myself: "Think nothing..."...something else pops into my head! For example, I was thinking about some things I need to take to the post office and send off this week, and I had told myself that it was going to be the last thing I thought of before falling to sleep. Then as I turned my brain off and rolled into the crook of Matt's arm and looked at his slack-jaw, dead-to-the world, blissfully sleeping face I remembered: "Post Office...Matt...Passport Renewal. You really need to do that before you go on vacation this summer. Which reminds me, we really need to plan that trip." Ugh! So, since I had all of these thoughts running through my mind, I figured: "Why not put all of this energy to good use? Go blog." So, here I am...

Perhaps I'm hyped up from all of the fresh air I got yesterday.  Who knows?  I did go out and do a bit of exploring on Wednesday, and took some pictures of the abundant Ozark scenery.  I will say, this area of Missouri is really pretty.  Unfortunately, in the winter-time, no matter how pleasant the vista, it all starts looking the same around here.  I took a lot of pictures.  I got shots of the flowing rivers, the rolling hills, dramatic cliff faces, and the abundant farms.  However, when there are no leaves on the trees, the sky is clear but tinted with the hue of winter gray, and all of the animals are hibernating, everything looks a little bit like oatmeal; pleasant and warm, but brown.

I had decided that I would make Wednesday my "Erica the Explorer" day, and took a cue from a Pulaski County website and it's "Things to Do" page. There are roughly 60 items/places of interest on the webpage which one can visit.  I figure, every week I'll pick a place or two, go venture to the location, take pictures of the site and explore the surrounding area.  This way I hone my photographic skills, while also getting more acquainted with Pulaski County, MO, pop. 52,274.

My first stop was the confluence of the Roubidoux and Gasconade Rivers.  You may wonder what made me chose this locale as my first spot; a few things. First off, I was a Geography major, and physical geography is very important in the shaping of cultures. For all we know, the Roubidoux and the Gasconade could have been 18th century demarcations of land ownership. Thus, when the two rivers combined, did this muddy the proverbial (and literal) water as to what parcels of land belonged to whom?  Methinks land wars could have erupted between settlers, or perhaps even the local Osage Indian population!  Secondly, having seen other awe-inspiring water mergers in my life (the three rivers in Pittsburgh, the joining of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway in upstate New York, the Hudson meeting the Atlantic at the tip of Manhattan), I've always enjoyed a good confluence. Finally - and most importantly - it was the closest one to my house...only 1.5 miles away (walking distance in the spring and summer)! And even though the Roubidoux and the Gasconade can't really compare to the Allegheny and the Monongahela joining to make the Ohio River, it was nice and picturesque.

Following my exploits along the rivers, I made my way into town and ran some errands, and then finished my day at the local shelter for abused women and children. I filled out an application and will be meeting with the shelter manager next week to discuss working with the residents and completing some mandatory training.  I'm going to start by volunteering two days a week, focusing primarily on tutoring children, assisting with adult education, and leading discussion groups. I'm sure after next week I'll have a better idea of what I'll truly be doing. No matter what it is, I'm pretty optimistic that it will be a good experience for us all.

The Trouble with Tuesdays

Yesterday, I woke up and started the day with another Yoga workout.  This time I opted for a practice in Ashtanga (Power) Yoga.  I'm definitely feeling the muscle ache this morning; which - though masochistic - is always a nice feeling. Just need to stay on this routine!

Despite my good start to the day, yesterday was just one of those weird days.  You know, the kind where you feel like everything is kind of off, and you just can't seem to do anything right?

It all started when I decided to try knitting.  Now, I have knitting needles, and had learned how to knit a couple of years ago.  However, aside from my month-long endeavor back in 2009, I haven't touched the needles & yarn in quite a while.  As such, I needed a refresher on how to cast on, create my first row, transition to the second row of knit, transition to purl, etc.  Well, needless to say, I didn't have any problems with casting on - which is really just getting the first needle stitched - but after that I must have watched 6 different YouTube videos and re-read the section on transitions in my "I Taught Myself to Knit" book more times than I care to mention.  I would think I had it, then the stitch would get to tight, I couldn't get my other needle in the loop, I accidentally grabbed two stitches versus one....the list of all the things I did wrong kept growing.  Needless to say, after almost two hours of video watching, frustrated grumbles (and other choice words), and a series of pulling the yarn off the needles and starting all over, the only thing I had knitted myself was a headache.  Thus, I was grumpy, frustrated that I couldn't re-teach myself something that I had already learned, and irritated that I had wasted two hours of the day.

I started putzing around the house, picking things up here and there and re-feng shue'ing different rooms. I put together a little memory box of some of our wedding items in a beautiful Pottery Barn piece that one of my best friend's had gifted us.  Before I knew it, it was 4:15 pm and I wasn't really sure what I had accomplished that day.

I had received a text earlier in the day from Matt.  He said he would be getting home around 5:30.  I had been soaking black beans all day, and realized I probably needed to go start the dinner I had been planning to make that night.  When I looked at the recipe again, I realized I was missing wine and chicken broth, and so - at 4:30 - I ran out to the grocery store to pick up the last minute items.

The hubby made it home before I did - around 5:15 - and was scouring the cupboards and fridge for a snack before dinner.  It's so different being married and cooking for two now.  His appetite is far superior to mine, and when he's hungry, he wants food in his stomach, time meow.

I had intended on having dinner already on the stove and simmering by the time I started prepping all the food (chopping up pork roast, onions, peppers, tomatillos, garlic, etc.) at 5:30, and I realized quickly that I hadn't really thought the meal out as well as I should have.  Luckily, I have a saint for a husband, who helped with the dicing and the slicing. However, when I realized dinner wouldn't be ready until 7:30, I became extremely irritated. I felt like I had wasted three hours of the day due to knitting and running to the grocery store in the nth hour.  I kept apologizing for the food being late, and felt like I was rushing to complete the meal - which I HATE doing.  The soup turned out pretty well, all-in-all.  But after dinner when the glass of red wine - which was grazed by a passing hand - fell off the side table and onto my cream colored carpet, that's when I totally lost it and just started crying.  Matt made me leave the room while he cleaned up the carpet, and I finished cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen - slamming doors and acting like a 6 year old having a bad day. After my rant I went to my bedroom and looked at myself in the mirror, realizing I was reacting poorly.  By the end of the night, after a few assuring hugs and a kiss from the hubby, I felt better.

This morning I awoke to a beautiful day in the country; frost on the trees and a happy orange sun in the sky. After my exploits yesterday, I realized that I really need to create a schedule for myself each day. I've been so used to going to a job every day and having something to occupy my time, that when left with a full day to just do whatever, I don't maximize the time.  So, here's to developing a schedule, and resolving to never have another Tuesday like that ever again!

Yoga Zen

When you get out of touch with being physically fit, the first time you get back to the grind is always hard; especially after the holidays and excessive amounts of eating! I'll admit, I've noticed how the littlest things  - like running up and down the stairs - have slightly winded me as of late, and I HATE that feeling.

Yesterday I got back into the groove of physical maintenance by doing a 30 minutes Hatha Yoga sequence.  Hatha is nice because it really focuses on postures (asanas) and breathing (pranayama) and - if you desire - meditation. It's gentle and helps you get your body and mind really relaxed and focused.  Although Hatha is only one style of Yoga, it is the primary type with which people most commonly associate the practice. And Yoga is a practice.

I've been practicing Yoga for nearly a decade now, and it's truly a wonderful outlet and input - all at the same time.  Whether you practice alone or with a group,  there is always something to be taken away from a session.  Alone you can truly appreciate the way your body feels, the way it stretches and moves, the way your breath allows you to clear your mind and just "be."  With a group, the energy of the room creates a warmth that is hard to describe, unless you've ever practiced yoga with a group of people who are truly focused on the art of your body taking a pose, versus a group of people trying to out-pose and compete with others.  Now, this is not to say that I don't love competition, but I like to leave those moments for sports fields and arenas!  But what I love about Yoga is that you never feel like you're trying to be anything more than what you are, what you can do, and what you feel....at least that's what you should be trying to feel.

I've had friends who don't like the practice because they feel like they're not doing the poses correctly or perfectly. I've told them, the emphasis is not on "how perfectly you pose", it's on "how perfectly you pose."  I mean, what's "perfect" anyway?  According to Dictionary.com it is: "conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type." Who is to tell you if you are perfect or not, except you?  Obviously each person's "ideal" is different.  Thus each person's Yoga practice is different.

But, I digress.  The point is, for me, Yoga is wonderful. My Monday was calm and relaxing because I filled my day with quiet, peaceful thoughts and a quiet, peaceful body, relaxed from Yoga.  I think I will extend Yoga to more than just one day a week. Perhaps the practice will lead me to enlightenment and my search for what to do...

Getting Started

Inspired by watching Julie & Julia the other night, I decided to start my endeavors on Sunday afternoon/evening by making Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon.  I didn't really have to change the recipe much to make it gluten free/healthy.  Indeed all of the ingredients are quite Paleo-friendly and good for you.  The biggest change I made was using gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill) and organic beef broth instead of beef stock. I still used butter and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but if you want to make it TRULY Paleo, you can use Coconut Flour and Oil. Otherwise I followed the recipe from Julia Child's, Simone Beck's and Louis Bertholle's, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," to the tee - to include the addition of the pearl onions and mushrooms. If you would like to try it at home, the recipe can be found at: http://knopfdoubleday.com/marketing/cooking/BoeufBourguignon.pdf

The hubby was quite pleased with the outcome.  However, my hands were not as pleased at the end of the three and a half hour process!  I suffered a cut on my left, middle finger, which my knife confused with the carrot I was slicing.  Feeling slighted, my right hand decided to get in on the action, my ring finger slipping through the crack of my folded towel as I reached into the oven to grab the dutch oven - creating a slight blistering effect on the tip. These are the things which Julia did not caveat in her book!  So, please, mind your fingers when cooking!  I'm sure you already know this.  I was aware.  Still, it seems the best of us get slighted sometimes. 

Regardless, the meal still turned out quite well, and no blood was served as an accompaniment!

The Plan

There are a multitude of things I've been "meaning to do" for the past couple of years:

1) Learn a new language - French
2) Play my piano more - Learn newer, more contemporary pieces.
3) Develop my love for art - I would like to learn how to draw, sketch and photograph. The hubby recently bought me a Nikon DX3100, so I think the latter option is the first I shall tackle.
4) Continue my yoga practice - At home and potentially at a class nearby.
5) Try new and unique recipes that are focused on healthy living - I LOVE to cook. I would like to try and develop some of my own recipes that are flavorful, delicious and healthy, which also eliminate excessive amounts of gluten and dairy - due to diet considerations and allergies.
6) Study for the GRE
7) Tackle all of the books I've been buying for the past few years, and which I've been meaning to read!

I think if I focus on one of these a day, I can start developing a routine out here, while also moving towards my goal of figuring out what truly inspires me.

Life Changes

I've recently gone through quite a few significant milestones in my life.

In October, after nearly a dozen years of wearing a uniform for the Army of the United States, I ended my time in service to this country. In November I got married to my best-friend and long-term/long-distance fiance. And in December we made a move, halfway across the country, to our new home. It's mid-January now, and finally we're all settled! All of the boxes have been delivered and emptied. Furniture, decor, books, and all other manners of items have all found a new spot in our new home. Heretofore my days have been filled with cleaning the house, breaking down boxes, and putting everything away.  Now I find myself with a lot of time on my hands, wondering what to do.

I've always worked at something my whole life.  When I was young I worked hard in school because I wanted to go to a good college.  I worked hard in college so that I could be successful in my career. And for the past 7.5 years I've worked hard at my job because I felt my Soldiers deserved the best from me.  However, as much as I loved my career in the Army, I didn't love it as much as my husband.

Life and love cannot always be measured by the success of one's job.  Indeed, in my seven and a half years of service, I never got to truly "be" with the man I loved for more than a week at a time - and that was only when we were both able to schedule leave for a span of several days.  Otherwise we spent time on long-weekends, traveling to where the other person was stationed.  We saw one another about 5 times a year.  I spent my twenties developing relationships with my Soldiers every-day, face-to-face, but was relegated to develop my love and my relationship with my boyfriend, lover and later fiance over the telephone.  In many ways it forced us to truly communicate and therefore really get to know one another on a completely different level.  Still, it was hard and trying, and like all relationships, had it's ups and downs.  Indeed, in just the past five years we spent three deployments away from one another (each averaging a year in length), never knowing when we would be able to talk the next time, and never knowing - truly - what the other one was going through.

I made a decision to get out of the Army because I knew our relationship could not take another year apart. Loving someone is a commitment, and my commitment at this point in my life is to having/developing a family, not fostering my potential life-long career in the military. It's hard to be a dual-miltary couple, and I take my hat off to those that stay-in and serve together, while raising a family; it's - perhaps - one of the hardest jobs out there.  

So, here I am.  Just Married - Just Moved - Just Me.  There are so many things I want to try, so many things I've been meaning to do, so many things I want to be.  I have a year here at our new duty station.  There's nothing holding me back to try anything and everything in the world in figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.  But what is that? With all of the time in the world and nothing holding me back from doing whatever I want to do, what do I do?