#3.5 Slow Cooker White Bean Soup

 I wanted to dabble with a little vegan dish here and there on my vegetarian list completion. My first attempt was a complete flop and not even worthy posting about. Somethings should just not be substituted bleck!

The Thursday 5 hour chem class/labs starting at 8am was killing me since last thing I wanted to do after a super long week of class was to cook. I thought it was time to break out the trusty crock pot so I could have a hot meal waiting for me for when I got home. I found this recipe and thought it would be a perfect soup for the chilly nights and something my grandparents would enjoy. As we planned a dinner date together earlier in the week. 

I prepped everything the night before and threw it all together before crossing my fingers and heading off to class. Walking in the door the smells were fantastic but....it was no where near ready. It ended up taking 10 hours total and 3 of them were on high setting. I don't know if it was the crock pot (a bit older but still got it normally) or if I needed to do more with the beans. Mashing was a bit awkward but did change it from a clear broth to a bit heartier thickness. 

Be sure you add salt at the end of cooking and I'll be posting a behind the science behind it soon. It will ruin the dish if you do it in the beginning...trust me!

Overall it was a great soup but did need a bit of something else. Not sure what though cheese, meat something. For round two the next day I did put in bacon chunks and that helped. Definitely broke the vegan/vegetarianism rule, but come on it's bacon I think that should always get a free pass. 

Slow Cooker White Bean Soup

prep time 15 min    Cook time 8 hours (eh maybe)

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil 
• 4 cloves garlic 
• 1 medium yellow onion 
• ½ lb. carrots
• 4 stalks (1/2 sleeve) celery 
• 1 lb. dry navy beans 
• 1 whole bay leaf 
• 1 tsp dried rosemary 
• ½ tsp dried thyme 
• ½ tsp smoked paprika 
• Freshly cracked pepper (15-20 cranks of a mill) 
• 1½ tsp (or more to taste) salt 

Instructions

1. Mince the garlic, dice the onion, slice the celery, and slice the carrots into thin rounds. Add the olive oil, garlic, onion, celery, and carrots to a large (5qt or larger) slow cooker.
2. Sort through the beans and remove any debris or stones. Give them a quick rinse and then add them to the slow cooker, along with the bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, paprika, and some freshly cracked pepper.
3. Add SIX CUPS of water to the slow cooker and stir to combine the ingredients. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. After 8 hours, stir the soup and mash the beans slightly. Starting with just a ½ tsp, add salt to your liking. I used about 2 tsp total, but keep tasting and adding more, ½ tsp at a time, until it reaches the level that you prefer.

Serves: 6-8 (makes 9 cups)                                                  source budget bytes

If you don't want to make it vegan try adding ham hock or turkey leg with other ingredients. 

add veggies to bottom

next add the beans & seasonings

liquids go next

end result pretty tasty

Science Behind....frozen water

ice..ice..baby duh duh dunt dunt duh source: NOAA

Winter is on us full force and there are always a few questions surrounding the topic of ice and it's odd properties. Did you know that about 90% of an iceberg is under the waters surface? That's where the phrase tip of the iceberg comes from because there is so much more under than you can see.

Why does ice float?

You've watched Titanic and seen those beautiful pictures of majestic icebergs weighing more than a building floating along in the ocean. How is that possible?

Usually solids are the more dense than liquids. For a substance to float is has to be less dense (density=mass/volume) than the medium it is in...right but ice is made of water and it's in water so what gives?

Water is unique because it likes to stick together with other water molecules via hydrogen bonds. This is why it has high surface tension and is able to form droplets. 

The molecules that make up water (aka H20) each have opposite charges and when water cools below 4ºC about 39ºF the hydrogen holds the negatively charged oxygen atoms apart from each other creating a crystal lattice formation or more commonly called ice.

Unlike most substances when water cools and freezes into ice it actually expands by 9% and becomes less dense allowing the solid ice chunks to float in water. This is why pipes can burst in the winter time and ice is excellent at weathering large rocks over time as it seeps in to tiny cracks.

Why don't fish freeze to death in the winter?

Ice always freezes from top down if it froze from bottom up fish would die first! You would see tons of dead fish every spring eeww. What happens is the colder water at the top freezes and floats while the heavier (slightly warmer) water sinks to the bottom. It sort of insulates the rest of the lake. If it ice sank it would cause the water from bottom to move up and then the lake would freeze solid. 

Fish are cold blooded so their metabolism depends on the temperature. The gradual change of temperature allows their body to adjust and survive through the cold temperatures. If the lake is large enough there will be a layer of liquid water at a constant temperature always at the bottom allowing the fish to survive.  One other key things is that cold water holds more oxygen in it's solution so there is more oxygen available for the fish to use that are under a layer of ice. 

There are many more things colder than ice if you want to study them look into the field of: Cryogenics: The branches of physics and engineering that involve the study of very low temperatures, how to produce them, and how materials behave at those temperatures.

My favorite cryogenic activity is to make liquid nitrogen ice cream... but that is a don't try it home experiment. Instead with careful adult supervision you can make dry ice ice-cream. I found this to be my favorite recipe.  It's a very unusual texture and is almost fizzy! Be sure to mash your dry ice into a dust and use protective clothes as it is very cold and can burn skin easily if touched or swallowed in large chunks. 

Want to explore more about ice and cold? Try out this cool experiment (not just for kids). It was one of the first ones I ever taught and study teaching but love to use it over and over. Lots of fun and easy to do! Great for all sorts of investigation and questioning experiments extensions. Plus it just looks really cool.

ICE BALLS
materials: water balloon, freezer (or very cold weather) water, food color, flashlight, pie pan, salt

Freeze water balloons a few days ahead of time. You want to fill them up to be big enough to cup in both hands or smaller. Unwrap balloon and discard, place in pan to catch drips and begin to observe in a dark room with a flash light

Each balloon is unique! 

Pour salt over ice and watch it melt you can experiment with other things like sugar and flour with out telling kids what the substances are. Add food coloring to follow the trails of melt. 

Holiday Jokes

As many of you know I like to post on FB cheesy one liner jokes to count down the holidays. It started first as a joke last year, but I found that people really liked it and were asking for more so I kept going. I guess when I hear enough is enough I'll stop.

Many people have told me they like to share them with others so I thought it might be nice to have a collection of jokes for you to pass on. Enjoy!

 Christmas Jokes

Thanksgiving Jokes

Halloween Jokes

this should be enough to get you started and there is more to come!

St Patrick's Day Jokes

#3.12 Spinach Tomato Orzo Soup

So looking at my recipes I realized there is almost spinach in all my dishes. Why stop now so here is another one!

This dish is super quick and easy to throw together. While you could add mini meatballs or sausage this is a great vegetarian option as it stands. It reminds me of an Italian Wedding Soup. It has just the right amount of heartiness and spice to fill you up on a chilly winter night.

Spinach Tomato Orzo Soup

Time: less than 30 min Prep: less than 5
Serves 6 (easily double ingredients for larger serving sizes)

Ingredients:

1 medium onion (chopped)

2-3 cloves garlic (chopped)

1 can (14.5 oz) Diced tomatoes with basil & oregano

4 cups (32 oz box) of chicken broth

4 cups water

1/2 lb or 8 oz spinach (chopped frozen)

1 cup Orzo pasta

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp rosemary

1 tsp oregano or Italian seasoning blend

1/4 tsp chili peppers flakes

Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Parmesan cheese (optional)

In a large soup pot drizzle oil and heat. Add onions and cook till soft. Add garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add water, chicken broth, thawed & drained spinach, spices and whole can of diced tomatoes. Bring a boil. After reaching a boiling add orzo, turn heat down to medium and cook pasta for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

recipe adapted from babble.com

*if using low sodium/fat broth be sure to add some salt otherwise it comes out EXTREMELY bland..I made that mistake blech! Though I'd rather add my own salt than have too much to start with, so in the end it turned out great.

Yum the orzo does soak up liquid so if having left overs might want to add more water!

Holiday (adult) Beverage Roundup

Happy Holidays! It's that time of year that family is around, the calender is completely filled up with work parties, holiday baking, travels, and shopping becomes a contact sport. 

Phew a drink sounds great right about now! Here is a list of festive drinks to relax with in the evening or serve at a party. Cheers!

Cranberry Margaritas  via ezrapoundcake

Spicy Ginger Man  via singlemindedwomen 
(be sure to check out the other 12 days of Christmas Cocktails drinks)

Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate no recipe needed just add schnapps and garnish with whipped cream and peppermint bits

so simple but cute!

Reindeer Bubbles via hgtv

Champagne and raspberries with out syrup would be so easy and a great adaptation too!

nice and refreshing

Pomegranate and Lime White Wine Spritzers via nutmegnanny

this might turn into my new go to drink..
 bourbon yes please!

Maple Cranberry Bourbon Martini via family fresh cooking

Hot Caramel Apple Cider via cooking-in-college

or try it cold on the rocks!

Polar Express(o)
(totally made up this name but it works I think)

Bailey's, vanilla vodka & coffee ice cubes 

# 25 & 29 Rock Climbing Class

I really like to try adventure sports. I've been zip lining through West Virginia and Costa Rica, ocean kayaking, cayoneering (rapeling down water falls), hiking, and climbed a mountain on a snowmobile just to name a few.

My all time favorite though is white water rafting. I took a class in college fell in love and try to go every couple of years! This was a trip where we went "surfing".  I actually managed to stay in the boat.

Kendall Cliffs

I wanted to try something new and spotted this rock gym near where I was living earlier in the year. I had been once when I was in middle school and had a blast so thought it might be fun to try again.  So headed out for a study break and met up with W for an adventure date night.

W and I took the Rock 101 course and got certified to belay so now we don't have to worry about finding someone to do it at the gym. Sweet! plus bonus another item off the list...go to a fun class!

another item completed

Rock Climbing was a great trust building date. You really have to believe your partner is there for you if you fall (which I did). You also have to support each other and solve problems together. I do think it's funny how I claim I'm not afraid of heights, yet every time I'm strapped into a harness and about 20 feet off the ground have that fleeting immobilizing fear until someone snaps me out of it. Thanks W for all the encouragement! It was nice to work together and step out of a comfort zone, plus it gave us some good memories to laugh at later together. We will definitely be going back soon...well after our muscles soreness wears off.

lots of walls to choose from

 Kendall cliffs is attached to Appalachian Back Packers store. Kendall Cliffs is the only professionally-designed and built rock gym in Ohio. The  gym has a combination of textured plywood and “natural” rock surfaces with 7,000 square feet of climbing surface with a peak height of 35 feet. The staff/instructors were super nice and it is a great facility! Lots of walls, automatic belay machines & bouldering cave. We went at 5 pm nice and slow by 7 pm the place was jam packed! There hours vary by season so check out the website for open times. 

Here are a few of the weekly specials: 
Monday Ladies Night 

Tuesday: College/Safety Forces/Active Duty Night 

Thursday: $10.00 Thursdays 

Friday: Family Night

#9 Catching Fire

 My original list item was to go to a midnight movie premier which surprisingly I've never done.  After a grueling 2 weeks of traveling to 2 grad school interviews, 6 exams, 40 hours of work and 25+ hours of class I thought this movie would be the perfect motivation and celebration of surviving it all.

Midnight wasn't the 1st showing option so I went to the non curfew breaking 8pm Thursday night showing of the Catching Fire.  Not as exciting as other movie premiers I've heard of, but it was fun to be in a full theater to see every ones reactions. There only were a few people dressed up as tributes, but the movie more than made up for lack of enthusiasm in the line.

waiting in line with all the tweens

Don't worry I won't have any spoilers in this post so fear not and read on. Catching Fire is my favorite book in the series and I've read it over 4 times. I love how the characters evolve in this story and more insight to their world is developed. I only hoped that this movie would capture the intense emotions and  the simmering agitation of the population as well as in the book.

I was a bit disappointed with the first movie. I felt it lacked some depth of Katniss without hearing her inner monologue and it focused way to much on forcing a love triangle. Plus their entrance costumes were really lame. Not everything can be as great as what you imagine from the book I guess.

Catching Fire glowing embers entrance costume..much better!

I was not disappointed with this movie at all and I would even venture to say it's better than the first one. It seemed like all aspects from actors, costumes and script were really hitting their stride with this movie. If you haven't seen the first one watch it first, there is just too much to know before watching this one.

I love all of these!

The costume designer Trish Summerville totally nailed it! The costumes were one of my favorite parts.  They were beautifully done and really intricate. Effie Trinket is wearing Alexander McQueen from Autumn/Winter 2012 in the above purple dress. The Monarch dress was awesome, and all her shoes don't get me started!

Those are hand painted feathers. McQueen Spring 2011

My other favorite part about this movie is that the characters all seemed to have matured and grown into thier parts. The new characters they introduced were spot on and returning characters seemed a lot more comfortable in their roles. I have know doubt that Woody Allen is the best Haymitch and President Snow I can finally detest, he was just too nice in the last one for me.

This movie follows the book very closely with a few additions like the last movie. It's mainly more development behind the scenes of game creation with President Snow and Plutarch Heavensbee. I think this addition really helps tie the story together more from an overall story line view.

Anyways this movie really is about all of the characters, not just Katniss. It was entertaining and if you liked the book I"m sure you'll love the movie. It's a bit more violent and darker than the first one so I don't think it's best to take the little ones to this. I am curious to see how the other two movies will play out.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet take a peek

DIY Wedding Gifts- Ring Holder

*super easy to make*

I know...I know this wedding season is pretty much over, but the holiday will fly by and next thing you know weddings will be right around the corner. So get ready!

For wedding gifts I try to stick to the registry. Why else would couples spend the time making one and who really needs 5 of the same kitchen gadgets right?  But for all those other occasions surrounding the wedding celebration I like to put my own personal touch on the gifts. 

 I was perusing magazines and saw a picture of a DIY own ring holder but no directions. I thought I can make this! So off I went to Hobby Lobby to find supplies. 

This is a great little bridal shower or engagement gift. I like to send it to the bride right before the wedding as part of "the big day is almost here" package. This project is quick and easy and won't break the bank!


Supplies: small picture frame (2"X3" works well), spray adhesive, corsage pins, scissors, 3mm craft foam, fabric-satin or anything you like

   * Hobby Lobby has a great selection of very elegant small frames. The frames are often on sale or there is a single item coupon you can show on your smart phone from their website. 

  *3mm foam is best otherwise it's too flimsy or too thick and back won't close

Step 1: Disassemble your frame, you won't need the glass at all for the project. Use the paper insert as a template for your foam shape and fabric. 

*Hint I usually cut fabric a bit larger just so I know it fully covers and trim it later. 

Step 2: attach fabric to foam using spray adhesive  This stuff is super tacky and a little goes a long way. Be aware of where you spray it, anything that comes in contact it will be sticky for a long time. Currently I have a thumb covered in fabric fuzz ugh. Smooth out any bubbles or creases and trim fabric. 

   * This step is optional but I've noticed if you don't tack down fabric it can bubble a bit after putting it in frame and may not be the look you are going for. 

Step 3: Put foam into frame and secure backing. Bend corsage pin near the top 1/3 into a 45 degree angle.

Step 4: Decide if you want frame to be vertical or horizontal and slide pin through fabric/foam layer leaving enough room at the top for the ring to rest comfortably.

Voila you are done!

World Date-Italiano Stye

So the man was a little blue because his whole family took a trip to Italy and due to classes could not go with them. So to cheer him up I decided to take him to Italy for a day....

First via email he was invited to a day filled with Renaissance culture, Italian cuisine, and a foreign film. To make it a bit more realistic I sent him a plane ticket. You can create your own here!

There will be more world traveling dates in our future so I printed out a passport to keep record of our adventures here.

Before the date I stopped by the library and picked up a bunch of different Italian inspired music CD's.  It made it really fun to pop in a different CD throughout the date and set the mood for our Italian adventure!

testing out Bernoulli principles

 For Renaissance culture I planned to visit one of our favorite things: a museum. Since DaVinci, Galileo and other well known scientists are from Italy I thought why not head to the Science center! We saw the Hidden Universe Omnimax movie and had a great time exploring the museum and acting like kids.

 I made picnic for us to enjoy filled with yummy Italian treats. I packed a spread of cold cuts: capicola, salami, prosciutto, an antipasto sampler, herb infused olive dipping oil with tuscan bread and some Italian sodas. I had planned for a picnic overlooking the harbor but the weather made other plans and we had to improvise with a picnic in the car.  

typical Cleveland: weather changes every 15 minutes

After lunch we weren't quite finished exploring the culture part and since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was right next door we headed over there. 

All that exploring left us famished. Luckily I was prepared with all the supplies to make our own calzones. I was a bit neverous attempting to make the dough from scratch but it was fantastic. If you want the recipe check out my previous post #3.3 homemade veggie calzones. 

Ta da!

For dessert I made a peach crisp. I wish I had thought of it at the time but I would have ended the meal with gelato or made tiramisu, but he didn't seem to mind the crisp.

annihilated!

After dinner we watched an Italian foreign film. I gave W choices between Italian Job, Under Tuscan Sun, or Moonstruck. Can you guess what he picked??? There are ton more movies to pick from, these where just what I had on hand.

I also had an artwork creation  and build/race mini gondolas at the beach planned but we never got to it...we just had too much fun at the museums!

Even though we couldn't go to the real Italy this date was a lot of fun and great memory! Dating divas (I just love their site) helped inspire this date. Check out their bella notte date if you want some more ideas.