lighter stuffed jalapeno poppers

I don't eat fast food very often, but when I do, it's usually Jack in the Box. (Are you picturing the Dos Equis spokesman as you read that?) As a kid, I loved the spicy chicken sandwich, and to go with it, Mom and I would often split an order of the potato wedges or the jalapeno poppers. These days my tastes are a bit broader, but no matter what main menu item I choose, it's usually still accompanied by a few jalapeno poppers. What can I say? The cheesy/spicy combination is hard to resist.

clam and chive dip

So a very cool thing happened to me just before I went home for Christmas. I was sitting in my office -- which is cold and crowded with boxes of paperwork that don't have a home -- and I was feeling terribly glum, as it seems there is no aspect of my job anymore that makes use of my creative gifts. Payroll, tax preparation, meeting organization -- this is not the job I moved across the country for, and not the job I was promised. The economy is in the can and I work in a specialized industry anyway, so finding a new position has proven extremely difficult. Woe is me.

meatballs in almond sauce

When was the last time you stumbled across a blog that sucked away your afternoon? One that was so witty and entertaining that it caused those three loads of laundry you swore you were going to get through to remain in a crumpled heap on the floor two days later (and counting...)? My friend Hannah recently suggested that I visit The Pioneer Woman. (Yes, I gave you the link, but don't blame me if you click on it and then fail to accomplish even half of what you had planned to do today. You have been warned.) Hannah thought I would particularly like reading The Pioneer Woman's love story, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, so that's where I started.

feta salsa

My family has a tradition of taking in a seasonally themed performing arts event just before Christmas each year. For many years, this meant a trip to see the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's holiday pops concert at Powell Symphony Hall. This was always a treat (especially for a music lover like me), but scheduling conflicts in recent years have forced us to seek out other options. One year this meant attending a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert at the Savvis Center. This was an interesting alternative, but I think my tolerance of insane electronic guitar riffs is maxed out at one hour, not two, and arena shows are, by nature, rather impersonal. This year Dad purchased tickets to a production of White Christmas at the Fox Theatre. The costumes and dance numbers were outstanding, and who wouldn't be moved into the holiday spirit by listening to those classic songs penned by Irving Berlin? Next year I hope we can make it back to the Symphony, but if not, I wouldn't be disappointed to spend another evening at the Fox. With its grand architecture and festively decorated lobbies, our annual holiday outing seemed extra special!

crostini with goat cheese, beefsteak tomatoes, & red onion

I've been apartment hunting lately. My lease is up at the end of the month, so as a self-confessed apartment committmentaphobe, I've been scouring Seattle-area neighborhoods for something that suits me better. Sure, I have a perfectly nice apartment now -- ample space, a garage, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen -- but I can't help but wonder, could I do better? Could I live someplace with all of these amenities AND a view? I desperately want an apartment overlooking Lake Washington and the mountains. After all, I'll only be here for a few years and they sure don't have this sort of landscape in the Midwest, so I might as well enjoy it while I can, right? I think so, too, but unfortunately the view I'm after (unobstructed, of course) commands a high price out here -- a minimum of $300 more per month than what I pay now, and with far fewer amenities. I think the view would be worth it, but my inner perfectionist is holding out for that perfect combination of spacious, updated apartment and glorious, panoramic view at a price I can afford. And until then? I think I'll make month-to-month the name of the game....

guacamole

So I joined a new gym recently. The first gym I joined out here was a dirty, run-down dump, and after seven months of dreading my workouts, I decided it was time for a change. The new place is much more my style -- bright, clean, and full of functional equipment. My first trip there, however, was an eye-opening experience. As I was standing in the locker room, I realized that I had no idea how to work the digital locks on the lockers. Not wanting to accidentally lock up my things with no way to retrieve them, I thought the most prudent course of action would be to simply ask one of the other women in the room for instructions. Good idea, right? Mmm...maybe, but my thought process was apparently flawed. I turned to my left to ask the woman nearest me, only to realize that she was completely naked -- not even holding a towel or in the process of dressing. I could only imagine the awkwardness that would ensue if I asked a naked person a question, so I rounded the corner to look for someone else. Apparently naked woman #1 had friends because no one on that side of the room was clothed either. Perhaps it's a Midwest thing, or maybe it's just peculiar to my own experience, but locker room nudity was a rare occurrence at all of the gyms I went to back home. I don't have a problem with it, but it will sure take some getting used to.... [If you're looking for an end to this story, eventually someone -- fully dressed, thankfully -- walked into the room and was kind enough to help me.]

sun-dried tomato dip & herb pita chips

Christmas Eve is my absolute favorite day of the year. I love Christmastime in general, and Christmas Eve includes a little of all of my favorite holiday activities. Last-minute presents are wrapped while listening to Gene Autry croon classic Christmas tunes, food for the annual Christmas Eve party is prepared, and family and friends attend the children's program at church and then gather at our house for a party.