Lunch Bunch - Sept. 9

Mmmm, time for Lunch Bunch again! I don't know about you, but we talk about it all week. All. Week. This time it was Jean's turn to cook, and we were all drooling over the picture of Mulligatawny we saw in a Weight Watchers cookbook. The smell of curry wafting down the hallway completely distracted me....it smelled soooooo good! Jean wouldn't let us peek while she plated it up, but I went in anyway and could barely contain myself.

We decided it was worth it to add the extra toppings at the end to really round out the meal. Sometimes the smallest detail makes the biggest impact.

Mulligatawny
weightwatchers.com 5 points

Cooking Spray
1 8 oz. pkg refrigerated prechopped celery, onion, and bell pepper mix
1 1/4 c. chopped peeled Granny Smith apple
1 tbs. minced peeled fresh ginger
3 c. fat-free less-sodium chicken broth
1 13.5 oz can light coconut milk
1 1/4 c. chopped tomato (~1 large)
3 c. pulled cooked chicken breast
1 tbs. red curry powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbs. fresh lime juice
1 8.5 oz pkg precooked jasmine rice
6 lime wedges

1.) Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add celery mix, apple, and ginger; saute 4 min. or until tender. Add chicken broth and coconut milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; stir in tomato and next 3 ingredients. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in lime juice.
2.) While soup cooks, microwave rice according to package directions. Spoon rice evenly into 6 bowls. Ladle soup over rice, and serve with lime wedges.

serving: 1 1/2 c soup, 1/4 c rice, 1 lime wedge.

Optional toppings: plain yogurt, chopped fresh mint, sliced toasted almonds, and mango chutney.

This recipe is something I would make again, especially with the autumn and winter months coming up.

Badges, who needs badges....we do!

When Rachel sent out an email, asking if anyone wanted to help her with a jewelry project involving Girl Scouts, I answered so fast my keyboard smoked. I was only a Girl Scout for a short while, but I firmly believe in doing whatever you can to empower young girls. On Aug 21, I was able to help Rachel Taliaferro of Rachel Taliaferro Art Jewelry as she taught some wonderful York County Girl Scouts the art of making jewelry to obtain their jewelry badges. We started off with some jewelry history, how to craft jewelry ourselves, materials (AKA, borrow Dad's tools), and how we can use vintage and found items in jewelry. Then, Rachel taught them how to make paper beads, and while we waited for the beads to dry enough to string, everyone decoupaged some jewelry boxes. Who doesn't love Mod Podge?!?

I know I can speak for Rachel in saying that we had a great time spending the morning with the girls, and moms. Thank you so much for letting us share our knowledge (and love!) of jewelry with you!

Here are a few pics.


Materials




Beads Drying


Et Voila! Art!




intenyears. display

Rachel Taliaferro Art Jewelry display

Tuesday's Lunch Bunch

Mmmm. This week's Lunch Bunch is here. Those of you who are wondering what this has to do with jewelry, I work for www.agrainofsand.com ,an online retailer of unique vintage & contemporary beads & findings. I'll wait a second for your wave of envy to pass. Not only do I design my own jewelry, I play with beads all day, AND get to share yummy recipes. Again, I'll pause here a second for you to pull yourself together.

What is Lunch Bunch? Once a week, Suzanne, Jean, and I cook one of these recipes and bring it in to share.

This week was Suzanne's day to cook. She brought in Pasta Salad with Apples and Chicken.

Pasta Salad with Apple and Chicken

Serves 4
6 points each
1/3 cup orange juice
3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
3 cups cooked whole-wheat pasta
1 cup diced cooled chicken breast
¼ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 small Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 5-ounce bag baby arugula

Method:
To make dressing, whisk together the juice, vinegar, mustard, and maple syrup in a large bowl.
Add pasta, chicken, pecans, apple, and shallot to the dressing, toss to cop
Divide the arugula evenly among 4 plates. Spoon the pasta salad evenly on top.
Per serving (1 cup arugula and 1 ¼ cups pasta salad): 315 cal, 8 grams Fat, 284 Sodium, 46 Carb, 5gr Fiber, 19 gr Prot

www.weightwatchers.com

Ladies who Lunch

For the past few weeks, a few of us at work have started to take turns bringing in a healthy lunch one day a week. The rules are:
1)new recipe
2)Weight Watchers (or know the points!)
3)be food-obsessed

I don't follow WW, but I follow good food. I'm always looking for ways to eat *more* good food. I keep thinking "I should blog about this".....so tonight I am stopping the procrastination and just posting.

Tomorrow is our next Ladies' Lunch, and hopefully, I will not forget photos and share the food-p*.rn love.

But...until then, here is the yummy yummy recipe we had today, an 'unofficial' lunch day.

Baked Pasta with Butternut Squash and Ricotta.

Overall impression was yum! Definitely a recipe that makes you look forward to autumn.

Hanging by a Thread

Photo: Amazon.com

Rachel Taliaferro of Rachel Taliaferro Art Jewelry will lead our next Make-Out session, "Hanging by a Thread" on Aug. 26 at 7:30PM.

Taking a cue from kinetic sculptor Alexander Calder, Rachel will show you how to make grown-up mobiles out of wire, string, origami, paper and/or found objects. If you want a special color of fishing line or string, bring that with you along with any special papers or found objects to make yours unique! As always, Crown Town Handmade will have some supplies. Bring your inspiration, and...BYOB/W for $5/pack/bottle. We wouldn't turn our noses up at a donation, either....

Our last book binding Make-Out was our highest attended ever, so help spread the word so that this fun event keeps growing in our community!



Homesick

This link was on my Twitter feed today, and makes me wish I was back home in NY so I could get to participate in these cool events. If you are in the area, you should totally take advantage of having Etsy headquarters nearby.

Etsy Craft Night at South St. Seaport.

Holiday Plans

The All Arts Market is returning to the Neighborhood Theatre, and intenyears. will be there! Thanks to all of the great customers who voted us one of the Top Ten Favorite Vendors for the June All Arts Market! If you are in town for Labor Day weekend, stop by and say hi. Free admission, and its gallery crawl weekend as well.