WANTED: Motivation!

Back when we first moved here I did a really good job of working out at least 3-4 times a week. I know that doesn't really seem like a lot, but for someone that HATES working out its a huge deal. I actually lost a few pounds and in April was able to fit into a size 4 Max and Cleo dress (pray it runs small since my BCBG 4 still fits)! Even as recently as August/early September, I was still in smaller sizes. I even bought a wedding dress in a size 2 because it fit perfectly (I'm not 100% convinced it isn't just sized big). This brings me to my issue...

Today I tried on said dress to wear to the NSF Christmas party tomorrow and it doesn't fit. Oh crap! Houston, we have a waistline problem. I've fallen off the exercise wagon and I need help getting back on. There are only 2 women in my neighborhood I'm really good friends with, one is 6 months pregnant and the other is a workout fiend, so neither of them are good choices for a workout buddy. Since I don't have a buddy, I need some motivation. If you have a free second, send me a text, call me, or email me and tell me to get off my butt so it'll fit in my wedding dress!

A Belated Thank You & Birthday Message

So I am long overdue for a post about Veterans' Day and the 236th birthday for the United States Marine Corps, so here goes. I believe that Cynthia Ozick said it best, "We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Before meeting Steve, I was thankful for our military but once I met him I truly understood the magnitude of their service to this nation. Not only to they risk their lives for the very freedoms we sometimes take for granted, they also sacrifice a lot while in the states too. They miss numerous holidays and important events due to deployments, training, and duty. We can start saying thank you now, every hour on the hour, and it will never be enough. So to my own sweet fiance, my uncle, all of my military friends (both past and present), my neighbors, and all of our Marines, soldiers, airmen, and sailors THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

Now on to the Marine Corps Birthday. This year, the few and the proud turned 236...and might I say they're better than ever (okay...maybe I'm a little partial). We had the opportunity to attend two birthday balls in celebration of the USMC and we had a blast at each one. I think my favorite (and the truest) quote about the Marines came from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1945, "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." Happy belated Birthday Marines! Here's to 236 more!

MSC Birthday Ball

New Recipe: Asian Marinated Tuna Steaks

Asian Marinated Tuna Steaks
(Recipe adapted from Gourmet, September 1996)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Sherry or white wine
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely diced
2 scallions, chopped fine
a pinch dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
2-4 tuna steaks, depending on how many you’re feeding

Directions:

Combine everything except for fish in a baking dish. Whisk to combine. Place fish in marinade and let sit at room temp if you’re marinating for less than an hour, in the fridge if you’re marinating over one hour and bring to room temp when you have about an hour left. The reason for this is so your fish won’t be cold in the center when seared. Marinate fish for up to 2 hours total.

Remove fish from marinade and pat dry. Place marinade in a small saucepan and bring to a boil and let cook for a few minutes. Heat a couple tablespoons of oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Sear fish about 1 minute per side for rare tuna.

Spoon a bit of boiled marinade over tuna before serving.

Yield: 2-4 servings, depending how many steaks you cook

Serve With: I served mine with a raman (lame and easy...I know) and some stir fry veggies (I promise I ate more veggies than are on my plate in the photo).

Becoming Betty Crocker

Two weekends ago I got together with Steve's boss's wife. She had never baked a homemade pie and (rightfully) assumed I hadn't either, so Sunday afternoon we set out to learn. Armed with all my ingredients, my yellow Calling All Cooks cookbook, a few helpful hints from Dad, and of course a bottle of wine, I traveled down the mountain to tackle another domestic challenge. Amie and I both made several pies and surprisingly nothing was burnt and the kitchen is still standing. I made an apple pie and 2 pecan pies. I'm a bad southerner and don't like pecan pies, so I let Steve take those to work (although that isn't a good judge of how they taste...Marines will eat anything). However, I kept the apple at our house and it is delicious! I must say I'm quite proud. Enjoy a few pictures of my baking accomplishments!

Apple Pie (before) - I tried to cut a pretty leaf out of the top crust

Apple Pie (after) - the leaf didn't work out so well

Finished Pecan Pies

Recipe Help

Last night I made crispy yogurt chicken. I took some chicken breasts, dipped them in plain yogurt (doctored up with garlic, lemon juice and parsley), then rolled them in panko. They turned out pretty well, just a little on the plain side. Any suggestions on how to spice them up a little?

As for the rest of our week, here's our menu:

Tuesday: Asian Marinated Tuna Steaks with Stir-Fry Veggies and Raman

Wednesday: Chili-Lime Tilapia with Chili Lime Butter served over Rice

Thursday: Lasagna (I'm testing out a new recipe...cross your fingers)