Parked in the Kitchen

P.S.

2010-08-24T19:21:00.002-05:00

If you decide to make the tuna casserole...like I did tonight...throw the broiler on when the casserole is done to brown the cheese and make the breadcrumbs crunchy. You'll be glad you did.

For Chris: Our Favorite Tuna Casserole

2010-08-24T14:50:00.001-05:00

We make a lot of meals from two cookbooks, Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry. One of our favorite recipes from Crazy Plates is called "Tickle Me Elbows", a WONDERFUL tuna casserole. I have modified the recipe to suit our tastes. It is great leftover and is perfect to take to work the next day.

I wish I could include pictures, but they're on our old computer, which Chris has with him. Anyway, make this tonight...you'll thank me!

Favorite Tuna Casserole (modified from Crazy Plates, a gift from Erin in 2001)

2 cups (dry) elbow or shell wheat pasta (we prefer Barilla whole grain)
1 can water-packed tuna, drained
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 diced bell pepper (any color)
1/4 cup diced pimento
1 can condensed cream of celery soup OR 1 can organic cream of celery soup
1/2 cup milk (if using condensed soup, omit if using can of organic soup, as it isn't condensed)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for top of casserole
1/2 cup low fat mayonnaise
1/4 tsp black pepper
Handful of whole wheat breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)

Preheat oven to 350.

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. In large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, drained tuna, celery, bell pepper, and pimento. Toss to mix.

www.healthvalley.com

Combine soup and milk (if using condensed soup!) in a small saucepan. Heat soup over medium heat until smooth and warm. Add shredded cheese and continue to cook until cheese is melted. If you're feeling crazy, toss in a little extra cheese! Remove from heat, stir in mayonnaise and black pepper.

Pour sauce over noodle mixture. Mix well. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar and breadcrumbs. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

My current favorite, www.iansnaturalfoods.com.

What is your favorite tuna recipe?

I'm Back

2010-08-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

Parked in the Kitchen has been a little busy. We hit the road in April...and headed west...

To work for a while at a little park in Utah...but the snow was high...so we waited...

It was worth the wait...

We took some road trips during our time in Utah...and enjoyed the dry mountain air...

We thought it was hot in St. George, UT...

Then, I left my other half behind and came back to Oklahoma on Saturday...and realized I am directly over hell...

And, that I miss this guy so much...

Ranger Amy

2010-03-26T16:38:00.000-05:00

Well, I usually try to stay away from work-related topics on this blog, but I can't keep this one quiet...RANGER AMY IS COMING BACK TO OKLAHOMA!!! She's my 2009 Teacher-Ranger-Teacher...and she's bringing her students to Oklahoma's parks for spring break. How cool is that?? I hope you'll follow them on their journey...

Amy's Blog

STAMPS Blog (Students Teaching About Monumental Park Sites)

Ranger Jen and Ranger Amy at Chickasaw in August 2009

Our dear friend, Jen, who is a Ranger in Washington, DC, has been working with Amy to prepare her students for the trip. These two brilliant ladies created the STAMPS program just a few years ago to help connect students to the parks. They are amazing!

I can't wait to share my home park with Amy's students...and have her back as my co-worker!

Weight Watchin'

2010-03-20T17:49:00.000-05:00

I think I mentioned early on in this blog deal that Chris and I were doing Weight Watchers...which might be hard to believe considering how much we like to eat. Well, we originally started the program last summer, in preparation for our wedding. We both lost weight before the big day. I lost about 16 pounds, to be exact. Chris was somewhere around 10 lbs., I believe.

The beauty of WW is that you can eat whatever you want, as it teaches you portion control and how to make better choices. When we left for our wedding and honeymoon, we had been trained. Since that time, we haven't been counting points, but we have kept our good habits. The weight loss has been slower...but I just had to share that, as of this morning, I've lost a total of 24 pounds! And no, I'm not going hungry. We both feel better and are proud of our healthy choices...that allow us to indulge when we want. We'll never go back to our old ways. Thank you, WW!!!!! Has anyone else tried WW with success?

And what's for dinner tonight, you ask? I'm actually taking advantage of some prepared foods. We're having penne pasta and tomato/mozzarella salad.

Saturday Night Penne Pasta

1 teas. olive oil
handful of mushrooms, sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 links of Archer Farms Chicken/Mushroom Sausage (or other lean sausage of your choice) sliced
2 tbs. parmesan cheese
1 jar Newman's Own Marinara

Heat saute pan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Toss in mushroom slices and sausage slices. Saute until mushrooms are soft. Add garlic. Saute until garlic is fragrant. Add jar of marinara and stir in parmesan. When sauce comes to a boil, lower heat and simmer until dinner time. Serve over your favorite penne pasta with parmesan to garnish. Have you tried Barilla Whole Grain or Barilla Plus? We love 'em!

Tomato/Mozzarella Salad

1 large tomato, sliced
4 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced
1 tbs. olive oil
1 teas. balsamic vinegar
Pinch of dried basil (or a few tbs. chopped fresh, if you have it)
kosher salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Layer tomato and mozzarella slices on a plate or shallow dish. Sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic. Enjoy!

Ranger Review: Arizona Edition, Part 3

2010-03-19T22:07:00.001-05:00

We left Flagstaff and headed south...making our way towards Phoenix and my eventual departure back to Oklahoma. But, why take the interstate when you can take the scenic route? We chose Arizona's 89A, deciding that we'd just take the day as it came, without any plans...it turned out to be wonderful!

Our first stop was the Oak Creek Canyon overlook in the Coconino National Forest.

We continued south through the National Forest on 89A towards Sedona, enjoying the beautiful views at every turn as we dropped in elevation.

Most people would've stopped in Sedona, but it seemed pretty touristy...and we were on a mission...I looked at the map and realized we could make it to Tuzigoot National Monument if we kept moving...so on we rolled. We arrived at Tuzigoot with plenty of time to look around.

Ok, remember where I said, "plenty of time"? As much as we both love earning our passport stamps, we just weren't feeling the NPS love at Tuzigoot. We talked to the Ranger inside the very kitschy visitor center and quickly headed out to the ruins to earn our stamp and get the heck out of there! Don't get me wrong, pueblo ruins are beautiful and a WPA-built VC with original exhibits isn't bad either, but it's just kinda funky at Tuzigoot.

We continued on as the sun started to set. The road took us up and down mountains, through hairpin turns, and up into Jerome, Arizona, an historic mining town tucked into the side of a mountain. Incredible. The town has in the process of revitalization with new shops, galleries, and restaurants. There are interesting historic buildings around every corner. It was too late in the day to stay long, but we hope to go back.

The drive was just gorgeous. It was full of surprises behind each curve. 89A is a must-see. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get off of the interstate...without a schedule or a plan.

We headed south and into Phoenix...we knew if we got there by dinner, we could find an In-N-Out Burger. What a way to end a perfect day.

Gobble, Gobble

2010-03-19T20:52:00.000-05:00

We bought ground turkey breast last night and I was eager to get to work with it in the kitchen for tonight's dinner. Usually I buy ground turkey breast at Whole Foods and keep 1 lb. packages of it in the freezer, but we haven't been down there in a LONG TIME, so I bought the standard package at the regular grocery store. After googling turkey burgers, I modified a recipe I found and came up with a delicious result. The burgers were juicy and flavorful. Chris and I actually high-fived at the dinner table! I wish I had more pics to share, but I didn't think of taking them...I didn't know this would be so good. Enjoy!

Friday Night Turkey Burgers

1 pkg. (1.25 lb.) ground turkey breast (not just ground turkey...the breast is much leaner)
1 egg
1/4 c. whole wheat bread crumbs (I used Ian's Panko)
1/4 c. grated carrot
1/4 c. red bell pepper, finely chopped (any bell pepper would work)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 c. onion, finely chopped
1/8 teas. ground pepper
1/2 teas. kosher salt

Grate carrots and chop peppers, garlic, and onion without cutting off part of the nail on your index finger like I did. Oh, and have you tried the band-aid waterproof fingertip band aids? I had to go to the store after dinner...I think I'll be needing to protect my digit for a while. It only took me two tries to figure out how to wrap it up. Good thing I'm so smart.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and hope you have somone else to touch the meat as you nurse your injury. Luckly, Chris took over from here. Divide mixture into 4 patties. Brush grill pan with olive oil and heat pan over medium heat. Place patties on pan and cook until done (fancy, I know...we didn't time the cooking).

Top with your favorite cheese and allow to melt. Serve on thin buns (we like using the new "sandwich rounds" that you can find at any store) This week, we had Nature's Own on hand. We also like the Oroweat ones. If you haven't tried them, they're in the bread aisle. They are great for sandwiches, homemade garlic bread, and burgers. You'll save a ton of fat a calories and, if you buy the multigrain or wheat ones, you'll get a lot of fiber. Love it! Spread buns with mayo or miracle whip or condiments of your choice. Serve with a salad. We paired our burgers with one of our favorite salads have two burgers left to enjoy another day...

Cranberry Salad for Two

2 big handfuls of mixed greens
1/4 c. crumbled goat cheese
1 pear, chopped into cubes OR handful of grapes, halved
1/4 c. dried cranberries
1/8 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. Newman's Lighten Up Raspberry and Walnut Dressing (this stuff is AMAZING, RIP Paul!)

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Divide into two servings in salad bowls or on plates with your main dish.

And, on an unrelated note, I thought I would leave you with a little something extra because I'm so generous. Behold, the view from our living room/kitchen/dining room the other day. Yes, life is glamorous when you live in a downtown loft in Oklahoma. What a sweet ride.

Do you have any ground turkey breast recipes to share? I also use it for our favorite chili, but I'd love to hear what you have done with it.

Ranger Review: Arizona Edition, Part 2

2010-03-13T15:43:00.000-06:00

This chronicle of our January trip to Arizona is long overdue...and the thing is...there's a Part 3...and maybe a 4...So, I'll do my best to be brief...but I just can't resist sharing...

We arrived in Flagstaff in the evening and checked into our hotel...a brand new Courtyard. We decided to mention our rewards level and were lucky enough to get an upgrade to a suite. It was sweet! We had a large living room with a wet bar, couch, sitting area, and desk. The bedroom was also large with plenty of room to spread out. It was in the corner of the hotel, so we had nice, big windows...and even a little view of the San Francisco peaks. Amy would have LOVED it! We were staying for three nights...just enough time to get Chris setttled in and to find our way around town before we headed to the Phoenix area for the last few days of our trip...and my flight home.

We quickly discovered Macy's, an eclectic coffee shop and cafe close to NAU's campus. We went several times in the few days we were there to enjoy the food and mochas. Chris returned for lunch after I left, too. We find vegetarian restaurants so refreshing...probably the result of living in southern Oklahoma, where you can't find anything fresh or healthy within an hours drive! Macy's rocks our world. The coffee is delicious. The food is divine. One morning we shared a huge bowl of organic yogurt with homemade granola and fresh fruit with a huge mocha. Another day we stopped by for lunch.

Chris' vegetarian BLT.

Homemade vegetarian chili.

Our cousin, Hannah, suggested that we try Brandy's Restaurant in Flagstaff, after hearing that my Uncle John saw a segment about it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. After a little research, we knew we couldn't miss it. Brandy's is locally known for fresh and delicious food. We were so glad that Hannah recommended it, though, because we never would have found it. It's tucked in a strip mall on the north end of town. Brandy's is a must if you are in Flagstaff. It lives up to the hype. In addition to breakfast, Brandy's serves lunch and dinner, which I am sure are amazing.

I might have eaten most of my eggs benedict, with avocado. Heaven.

And a mocha. Delicious.

Chris had a breakfast burrito, with hollandaise sauce. After commenting on its size, he ate it all. Brandy's has that kind of effect on you.

Why have something healthy as your "side dish" when you can have a huge, fluffy pancake. Yes, this came with the breakfast burrito. So good!

After filling our bellies one morning at Brandy's we headed to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument, which are located just north of Flagstaff. I had been to both sites several years ago during work training. But, I was most excited to share the experience with Chris and spend more time at both sites. We spent our whole day between the two parks, which are connected by a park road. It was a long, fun day. The parks are part of the Flagstaff Area Monuments. The third monument is Walnut Canyon, which we didn't have time to visit. Next time...

As you leave Sunset Crater and head towards Wupatki, the landscape changes...

At Wupatki, you find yourself in the past...in amongst the dwellings of prehistoric civilizations. Each "house" is beautiful and interesting. We spent hours exploring and enjoying the beautiful structures and views of the high desert landscape.

Wukoki

Wupatki Pueblo

The "Citadel"

Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos

Annette's Cranberry Chicken

2010-03-06T13:27:00.002-06:00

When I thought of what my wedding would be like, I always wanted to have my wedding shower guests share recipes with me. As my mom was planning my wedding shower (along with the help of Erin and Stephanie, my sister-in-law Melissa, and my cousins Annette and Natalie), she asked Alissa at Mew Paper Arts to design the invitations, complete with a blank recipe card for guests to bring along with them to the shower.

Much to my delight, my guests arrived at my shower last August with recipe cards in tow! The shower was at the Dish Restaurant in my hometown. It was simple and perfect, just as I had always imagined it would be.

My cousin and godmother, Annette, made the trip all the way from Minnesota to share the special day with me. I have always admired Annette. She's beautiful, smart, and witty...and ridiculously stylish. I hate to admit that I am terrible about keeping in touch. Annette, however, has always sent cards and packages for my birthday and Christmas each year. Every year I tell myself I will do better at keeping in touch...it's certainly not because I don't care. We asked Annette to present our wedding rings at our ceremony last August. We were so very glad to have her there that day. She, by the way, looked smashing in a ivory, purple, and brown dress...a perfect compliment to our ivory and brown wedding.

http://www.jakeholtphotography.com/

A while back, I tried one of the recipes that Annette brought to the shower. I loved that she included a note that she had received the same recipe at her own shower. Annette's Cranberry Chicken is delicious! We had it along with some whole wheat stuffing. Next time I make this dish, I think I'll see how it is with little less butter when browning the chicken. Cutting some out has really helped as Chris and I watch our weight. And, I think I'll try dredging the chicken in whole wheat flour, too. But, I went all out and followed the recipe on its maiden voyage. Yum! I hope you'll try this recipe, too. It's comfort food at it's best. With a salad and side dish, it would be the perfect Sunday dinner!

Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and brown in the skillet with butter. As you can see, I cut the chicken into chunks rather than flattening it out. We only had 3 breast halves, so I thought the pieces would strectch it out a bit. The chicken cooks up to a gorgeous golden brown. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

The cranberries, water, brown sugar, and nutmeg are next. Combine them in your hot skillet and drool as you see it blend together.

After the cranberries burst and the sauce looks all bubbly and delicious, add the chicken back to the skillet, baste, then cover. Let the chicken hang out and simmer for about 20 minutes, basting occasionally. This is a great time to prepare your side dishes! I took a shortcut and prepared my Stove Top Whole Wheat Stuffing. It's pretty much against everything I stand for...you know, being processed and artificial and all, but it does pack some fiber and it's pretty darn tasty.

I put a few scoops of stuffing on our plates and layered the chicken on top. Make sure to spoon on some extra cranberry sauce. It was soooooo good!

Tofu Parmesan

2010-02-19T17:37:00.001-06:00

This one's for you, Ranger Amy! Tofu parmesan has quickly become a favorite in our little household. I found it in the fabulous Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry cookbook. Don't walk, run, to buy this book! While you're at it, you should also buy Crazy Plates, too. Both cookbooks were gifts from Erin and I have used them every week since receiving them. You won't miss calories or fat one bit! I've made some modifications to the Tofu Parmesan to suit our tastes. Even meat eaters are sure to love it. It's really easy and makes pretty good left overs.

Tofu Parmesan

Olive Oil Cooking Spray

1 lb. extra firm tofu

1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1/4 c. + 2 tbs. freshly grated parmesan

1/2 tsp. each dried basil and dried oregano

1/4 tsp. each kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 egg

1 jar of your favorite sauce (or homemade sauce if you're feeling fancy)

1/2 c. freshly shredded mozzarella (ok, let's be honest, we don't measure the mozzarella)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and set aside.

Remove the tofu from the water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the tofu into 8 equal slices. Lay the slices out on paper towels to drain.

To prepare the breading, mix the breadcrumbs, seasoning, and 1/4 c. parmesan in a bowl or breading tray.

Break the egg into a bowl or tray.

To bread the tofu, pat it dry one last time and dip each slice first in the egg and then breadcrumb mixture. Make sure both sides are completely coated. Place breaded tofu slices on prepared baking sheet. Spray the tops of the slices with the olive oil spray. Bake for 8 minutes on each side (yes, that means 16 minutes total). Remove from oven and leave oven on.

Prepare a casserole or deep baking pan by spraying it with olive oil spray and spreading a layer of sauce on the bottom. We use our small, oval Rachel Ray pan (THANK YOU AMY!!).

Layer the slices of tofu on top of the sauce. We usually have two layers of tofu slices. Top with remaining pasta sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. Don't be shy with the cheese! I also sprinkle some of my leftover breading crumbs on top.

Bake for about 15 minutes. To brown the cheese, then turn the broiler on and broil for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

We like to have our tofu parmesan with pasta. I'd suggest preparing the pasta water while the tofu is baking. We typically enjoy this dish with Barilla Whole Grain Angel Hair pasta. Although, we recently had it with regular spaghetti. Either way, it is just perfection!

Ranger Review: Arizona Edition, Part 1

2010-02-14T23:31:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, Chris and I took a road trip to Arizona for him to get settled in to attend the Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program at Northern Arizona University. That didn't turn out quite like we had planned it. But, we sure did have a good time in Arizona and we can't wait to go back!

We entered Arizona late in the afternoon. We were on a mission to make it through Petrified Forest National Park before sunset. Our turbo tour was fabulous...short, but fabulous. The park is beautiful and it provided a great stop on the way to Flagstaff.

We have seen a lot of park entrance signs and they're often a highlight of our park visits...yes, just as exciting as the resources. The Petrified Forest entrance sign didn't disappoint...

I was super excited when we pulled up at the Visitor Center...we were close to our passport stamp. I was met with a huge Mission 66 complex. VERY COOL.

The first views of the park itself were of the Painted Desert. The contrast of the snow and the stone was just beautiful.

We stopped at the Painted Desert Inn, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and functioned as a hotel for many years. Today it is open for visitors to explore and it has a small gift shop staffed by a volunteer. We had a quick look around and kept rolling...we were losing daylight pretty quickly.

We continued on...stopping at the waysides to have a look at the scenery...

We crossed over the former Route 66.

Interstate 40 is visible in the distance. The park road crosses back under the interstate, to the south end of the park.

Let us pause to reflect on a questionable situation in today's National Parks. Look closely folks...that's not one, not two, not three, but FOUR cats in that Chrysler. Huh?

As interesting as that car was, we had to keep moving...we were losing daylight quickly.

The sun was setting...and the park was closing, so we had to go.

We could barely see...

We couldn't miss a stop at the south entrance sign...

And we made our way out of the park through the most badass exit ever...automatic, sliding gates...take that, petrified wood thieves!

Onward to Flagstaff...

Ranger Review: New Mexico Edition

2010-01-30T19:33:00.000-06:00

As some of you may know, we made a road trip to Arizona the first week of January to take Chris to the Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program at Northern Arizona University. Before anyone gets too excited, we must bring it down a notch and tell you that Chris was injured during the first week of training...and was hurt badly enough that he had to come home. Who knew you had cartilage connecting your ribs to your breast bone? FYI: It's in your best interest for that to stay attached! We were devastated by the news and are trying to regroup. He's back at home to rest and heal. Instead of focusing on that sad story here, let's talk about our visit to New Mexico on the way to Flagstaff. I suppose it might not be considered a "visit", as it lasted less than 24 hours, but we managed to goof around a bit.
After spending a night in Albququerque, we headed to Petroglyph National Monument, which is located on the west side of the city. It's interesting because the monument is surrounded by subdivisions and suburbia, which is something that we didn't expect. Our first stop was the visitor center...to get our passport stamp, of course.

The VC had exactly ONE exhibit...why have more when you can have a bigger bookstore?

Wish we had one of these at my park...might keep morale up a bit.

Suburbia

Seriously? Metal clips, people?

After our short hike to see some of the petroglyphs, it was time to hit the road. Our plan was to stop at Petrified Forest National Park before reaching Flagstaff that evening. As we headed west, our stomachs told us we'd have to grab a late lunch before making it to the Arizona state line. We stopped in Grants and took a look around.

Grants, New Mexico is....well...pretty depressing. Wish I could say something nicer, but we all know I'm not always nice. We exited on business 40 so that we could go through town...on Route 66. I immediately thought of Cars and Radiator Springs. It's like someone rolled up the carpet. Most of the buildings were in pretty rough shape and the businesses were closed. One thing that caught our eye was a Blake's Lotaburger. We had seen several across the state. So, I quickly googled it on my phone and discovered it was a New Mexico chain. A sense of urgency set in...we were almost to Arizona...we had to try Blake's before leaving New Mexico! My Blueberry told me that there was a second Blake's location in town, so we motored on...and were there in a jiffy. It's pretty sad how excited we got a the thought of a locally owned burger joint.

I approached the counter and found something unique on the menu...green chilies. Excited, I asked the associate at the counter if they were spicy. She looked at me blankly and said, "not really". Hmmmmm. This is exciting, I thought....can't get green chilies on a cheeseburger in Oklahoma. So, I had her add 'em on. A green chili cheeseburger, fries and drink for me.

Chris ordered a hamburger, onion rings, and drink.

I arrived at our table to report to Chris how excited I was about my green chili cheeseburger. As we got all set up at the table, he just kept looking at me like he didn't quite get what had just happened.

Chris: First of all, why were you asking a local if the green chilies were spicy? Of course she isn't going to think they're spicy. She lives here. You don't DO spicy.

Lauren: I know. I got really excited. I've never seen green chilies on a cheeseburger before. I hope they're okay.

Chris: Should've thought of that before you ordered them.

Chris watched as a labored through my special cheeseburger...every spicy bite...and shook his head. Unfortunately, we both thought the burgers were just average. They didn't have a LOTA...get it, lota?...flavor. The fries and onion rings were also just average. So, next time you are in New Mexico, just don't get too excited about Blake's. We're glad we went local, but may not go back again. Sorry, Blake.

As we got back onto I-40 I mentioned to Chris that my green chili cheese burger might not have been a good idea. I began to wonder when and if it would, well, come back to haunt me. Chris also looked concerned...

But, we motored on...Petrified Forest was just down the road.

Luckily, my tummy liked the green chilies.

My driver was pretty happy about that.

Guest Blog: Erin and Stephanie

2010-01-18T22:13:00.004-06:00

Erin and Stephanie are also from Valpo. They graduated from high school a year before me. Although we had mutual friends in high school, we didn't hang out. We reconnected at Purdue and spent two school years living in an apartment together...acting crazy, cooking, laughing, and having fun. I don't remember what life was like before the girls were in it. They are my best friends and they stood beside Chris and I at our wedding as our Maid and Matron of Honor. I love these girls. (photos by Jake Holt)

Erin...

Stephanie...

They spent this past weekend together, missing me I'm sure. Erin sent this blog entry about their weekend:

Stephanie made the 5 hour trip from Evansville to visit Erin in Mishawaka. When Stephanie arrived, the apartment smelled of cake baking in the oven & Erin was preparing the spinach artichoke dip.

Together, they prepared Brian Botano’s Tomato & Garlic Crouton Salad, only adding the olives to Erin’s bowl.

Erin & Stephanie ate dinner while watching four wonderful episodes of the World Series of Pop Culture VH1 that Erin DVR’ed for this special occasion. After each devouring two bowls of salad, dip with crackers & raspberry lemonade, it was time to make the whip cream frosting for the chocolate cake.

This is the cake that Erin requests as her birthday cake every year, but instead of making homemade cake like mom, Erin used a Pillsbury box mix. The best part about the cake is that it also makes a delicious breakfast treat. We enjoyed our cake and coffee while watching a new show on comedy central that we found by accident, Human Giant.

We played Just Dance on the Wii, which amounted to 30-45 minutes of aerobic activity. After a shower, it was time for dinner.

While the rice was cooking, Stephanie shredded the cheese and cut the peppers and onions for our fajitas. Stephanie reminded Erin of the time at Purdue that we were having enchiladas & she was going to make rice pilaf to go with the dinner. Silly Stephanie! Erin cooked the steak & veggies in a grill pan on the stove. Topped with shredded cheese, salsa & sour cream, the fajitas were delicious! We could only eat a couple bites of the rice since we made the fajitas so large! We ate the fajitas and enjoyed the Christmas episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The only thing missing from this fun weekend of friendship, fun & TV, was Stephanie & Erin’s dear friend Lauren. They both wish Lauren would have been there to complain about the TV shows they both enjoyed watching, laughing hysterically! Also, Lauren probably wouldn’t have gotten a piece of cake, because there was only enough for each of us to have 4 large pieces, not exactly enough to share.

Aunt Cindy's Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

2010-01-16T15:06:00.000-06:00

We received a wonderful package from Aunt Cindy, Uncle John, and Hannah for Christmas. In addition to Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake Mix (can't wait to try!!!!!), the package included a mason jar filled with the dry ingredients for Aunt Cindy's Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies.

We decided to bake the cookies on New Years Eve....and they were delicious! I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of cranberries (although I have recently discovered how good they are on salads) or white chocolate, but these cookies are such a wonderful combination of flavors. These cookies are soooo good! Hope you'll try them today and think of my lovely aunt from Georgia.

I used my Doughmakers cookie sheet. I have had it for several years and just love it. These wonderful pans are made in the US by a company in Indiana. I know my mom and Chris' sister, Amy, have also used them. Although they're not non-stick, everything slides right off.

Aren't they beautiful? We shared some with our neighbors, packaged some for our trip to Arizona (more on that later), and put a few in the freezer for later. Yum! I'd love to hear what you think after you try them! Thank you Aunt Cindy!

Ranger Review: Seattle, WA Edition, Part 2

2010-01-16T14:28:00.001-06:00

Hello! Better late than never...this is the final installment of our honeymoon trip report. I know the scores of blog readers will be disappointed!

Mount Rainier National Park
We decided to escape the city to Mount Rainier for the day. Because we were around in the off-season, only a small portion of the southwest side of the park was open to the public. We had a wonderful time exploring, walking, and enjoying the scenery. We entered in the southwest corner and made our way a total of 19 miles into the park to the Paradise area. It was spectacular! Of course, these rangers LOVED it. Too bad we could only see a small part...but that leaves a lot to see when we go back!

So excited to be there...

Longmire Museum...why go into the park when you can press strange buttons...

Longmire Area...a National Historic Landmark...

Hiking under the giant trees...

Look! A mountain!

The road was marked for snow removal...

On our way back to Seattle...

Pagliacci Pizza

Has anyone noticed that we only eat gourmet food? Chris LOVES pizza. When I say love, I mean that he would eat it every single day if he could...or at least alternate between that and peanut butter sandwiches. So, we ordered pizza in the hotel room one night. Fancy, romantic honeymoon dining. Pagliacci is a Seattle chain. Not sure what the locals would say, but we loved it. It definitely gets Chris' seal of approval.

Salumi
This gem was recommended to us by the concierge at the Alexis Hotel. Salumi is owned by Mario Batali's family. They create cured meats and other Italian foods in-house.

We made our way over to the Pioneer Square neighborhood, which was within walking distance from the hotel. Salumi would be easy to miss...it's barely wider than a doorway. When we finally found it, we stepped inside and joined a line. Along the wall to our left was a chalk board with the menu. They have a set menu with daily specials. Several things were already gone for the day, as we were a bit on the late side and Salumi is incredibly busy.

Just inside the door...

These lovely ladies...

Made us beautiful Salumi salami sandwiches...salami with provolone, olive oil/garlic smear, and peppers...

All of the tables were taken in the back of the restaurant, which was tiny and crowded. We were VERY lucky to score the only two stools near the front window and front door. So, we wedged ourselves in and enjoyed...

If you go to Seattle and you don't go to Salumi, you are crazy. It is absolutely charming, unique, and delicious. Our salami sandwiches were the best we've ever had. This tiny place is crowded for a reason. It's worth the wait and the cramped spaces. You must go to Salumi!

Matt's in the Market
Our last dinner was spent at this beautiful restaurant, which is tucked above the Pike Place Market. It wasn't a planned stop...we just went up to look at the menu. We're so glad we decided to have our dinner there. It's such a charming place. The kitchen is open to the dining area and the windows overlook the Market. It's incredibly charming and the food is absolutely delicious. We decided to share soup, salad, and our entree. We each enjoyed a glass of wine.

We sat along a low wall, next to the kitchen...

The perfect end to our dinner came in the form of coffee in a french press...one of our absolute favorite things. If you still make your coffee in a coffee maker, you are missing out! We enjoyed our coffe...and Chris tried to hold his cup...but the handle was smaller than the one on my cup. He managed somehow...

After dinner we stepped outside and looked up to see Matt's on the top floor...and wanted to go back inside to the beautiful little restaurant...

But, it was time to head back to the Alexis and pack up for our flight the next day. So, we took one last look at the Market...

Unfortunately, we had to head back to reality in Oklahoma. We loved our time on Whidbey Island, San Juan Island, and in Seattle. We can't wait to go back and explore again soon.

Ranger Review: Seattle, WA Edition, Part 1

2009-12-27T22:45:00.000-06:00

We were SO excited to head to Seattle for the second part of our honeymoon trip. Thanks to Big Dave, we stayed at the beautiful Alexis Hotel and enjoyed being in the city. We didn't over-do it...we relaxed by the fire in our room and ate wonderful meals. Our only big road trip was out to Mt. Ranier for the day. Yep, we climbed all the way to the top and made it back for dinner. Remember, we're park rangers.

Alexis Hotel, Seattle, WA
We loved our stay at the Alexis. Our room was bigger than our apartment, with a fireplace, living room, dining area, separate bedroom, and nice bathroom. The entryway alone was huge. The decor was really modern, but there were still touches from the historic building that the hotel is in. The service was great and our room was kept spotless. It was located just blocks from the Pike Place Market and we really liked being able to walk down the street for coffee or dinner. We'd definitely stay at the Alexis again!

Lobby...

Author's Suite Entryway...

Bar Area...and door to bedroom (on right)...

Fireplace in Living Room...

Rumor has it, Maya Angelou stayed in our room just days before (seriously!). It is, afterall, the Author's Suite...

Can't get your own ice around here...

Bedroom...

Postcards at Wine Hour...

What do you think about that?

Cherry Street Coffee, Seattle, WA

We found the 1st Street location of Cherry Street Coffee just two blocks from our hotel...and we were in love. They just have a few locations in Seattle and it had a neighborhood feel. We were shocked when they were out of bagels one "morning", only to realize that it was 1:00 pm. We had no idea what time it was...that's what honeymoon's are for. Chris' favorite Cherry Street drink was the Milky Way, while I could not get enough of their mochas. They were incredibly delicious...even with non fat milk! That justified the whipped cream! We loved Cherry Street and highly recommend a visit!

Cherry St. Coffee, 1st & Seneca...

Milky Way...

Mocha deliciousness...

The Pink Door, Seattle, WA
We had our first Seattle dinner at the Pink Door. It's a quaint, quirky Italian restaurant. We were seated in the bar, as there weren't any seats available in the regular dining room. We shared the Antipasto of the House and the Paglia e Fieno (fresh white and green fetuccine with exotic mushrooms). It was delicious, but honestly not the best we've ever had. What the Pink Door has is atmosphere. It's funky and fun. While we were having our dinner, we found out that Saturday nights were cabaret and burlesque night. Yes, you read that right. After much debate, we decided to return later to grab a table for the show. We didn't know what to expect...would it be sleazy or neat? Fun or weird? The show started at 11:00 pm...late night out for us old folks. We enjoyed a few drinks and waited for the show to start. According to Wikipedia (this is the FIRST and ONLY time I will ever refer to wiki!), "burlesque is a humorous theatrical entertainment involving parody and sometimes grotesque exaggeration. In 20th century America, the form became associated with a variety show in which striptease is the chief attraction." That's exactly it...it was fun, funny, exaggerated, a bit grody, but also classy. Yes, classy. Don't judge. It's almost hard to put it into words. It was wonderful. We loved it! If you're ever in Seattle, you should go...it's good to get out of that comfort zone every once in a while. Just catch dinner somewhere else beforehand...Pink Door is very good, but just not great in our book.

This guy is ready for some entertainment...

Dick's Hamburgers, Seattle, WA
Oh golly, who doesn't like a good, cheap hamburger? There are several Dick's locations in the Seattle area. Don't go with your Gold Card...they're cash only. We picked up our Dick's burgers and fries and took them back to our beautiful hotel room one night. Yes, we're classy people. And we LOVED it.

Gourmet Dining...

So wrong, but so very right...

The Market Grill, Seattle, WA
This fantastic grill is located in the Pike Place Market. We enjoyed an incredibly fresh and delicious lunch at the counter one afternoon. We shared clam chowder and a salmon sandwich, which was grilled for us while we watched. It was wonderful. You must go to this little gem. We were lucky, we were there on a Sunday and got seats right away. Rumor has it, it's impossible to get a seat during the week...for good reason!

The Crumpet Shop, Seattle, WA

What's a crumpet, you ask? We didn't know either. As it turns out, it's not like an english muffin. It's much cakier (is that a word?). The toppings are placed on top, rather than inside the sliced crumpet. They are delicious. We went back to the Market (didn't care if we seemed like tourists!) for breakfast one morning and shared two crumpets...one sweet and one savory. They were delicious! Too bad no one in Oklahoma knows what the heck they are!

Egg, ham, and cream cheese/Maple butter, cream cheese, and walnuts...

Stay tuned for Part 2...

Chris and Dave's Banana Nut Bread

2009-12-24T21:09:00.000-06:00

Chris and my dad have a long history of dates at Starbuck's filled with long conversations over mochas and banana nut bread. They talk about life, love, and eachother's good looks. Over the summer I picked up a recipe card for Banana Nut Bread at Starbuck's and tucked it away in my recipe box. This afternoon I stumbled upon it and decided to give it a shot.

I hope you can read the recipe below. The spoon is covering up 3 bananas in the upper right. It calls for 1/2 cup vegetable oil. To trim a bit of fat, I used 1/4 cup canola oil and 1/4 unsweetened applesauce instead. I do the same thing with my pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and no one knows! I wasn't paying attention and accidentally added all of the walnuts into the batter rather than sprinkling some on top and it was just fine, so I think you can do that either way...

Batter with walnuts...

Ready to bake...

Out of the oven...I blame the odd shape on top on my loaf pan...must not be big enough. It's a Pyrex. That also meant I had to bake it over 60 minutes to get the toothpick to come out clean, so watch out for that...

Perfect Christmas Eve Dessert. Coffee in the French Press and Chris and Dave's Banana Nut Bread...

Chris reported that the bread tasted just like the real thing! You should try this one, you won't be disappointed!

Blizzard of 2009...We're Not Kidding, Folks!

2009-12-24T13:10:00.000-06:00

So, we're pretty sure that the world might be coming to an end. We have a blizzard warning here in South-Central Oklahoma! You see, this doesn't happen here. It was warm yesterday and we had thunderstorms overnight. Big, booming thunderstorms with LOTS of rain. We don't do snow here...these people just aren't hardy like natives of Northwest Indiana....and it just doesn't happen often...a few inches here and there, but no blizzards.

Oklahoma City news stations have been reporting live all day...all hell is breaking loose...highways are closed and there are total white-out conditions in northern and western Oklahoma. They are reporting that emergency responders CAN NOT get to all of the accidents and stranded motorists out there. Even OK State Troopers are stranded! The weathermen are reporting that it's the worst weather they have seen in years. It's coming our way...

Chris has already been to Wal-Marts (no, that isn't a typo, that's Okie for Wal-Mart) and we're ready for Christmas dinner. Can't go hungry in the Parked in the Kitchen control room! Tomorrow's dinner for two will bring spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, a little ham, homemade au gratin potatoes, green beans, hawaiian rolls, and dessert (to be determined).

You think we'll survive the Christmas Blizzard of 2009???

Be careful what you ask for...we wanted snow...and now it'll be blowing around at 30-50 mph!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Oops, I Did it Again!

2009-12-23T21:44:00.000-06:00

Someone in the Parked in the Kitchen control room loves the "publish post" button...especially before the post is posted. Disregard!

New posts coming soon!

You Won't Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta

2009-12-20T21:32:00.001-06:00

Lauren is the one that cooks 99% of the time, where I do the clean up. However, tonight the wind of change blew in and I made dinner!! The below recipe was the very first meal I made for Lauren when I lived in Valparaiso, IN and she was working at Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore. She lived with her dad but stayed with me most of the time.

I was not single for long after this!!!!

I started dinner before she got home from work but when she arrived we had to take some pictures. This is a shout out to Vicki (my second mom) for getting my own personal apron!

This is a very simple pasta dish to make.

Me in action!!

After the heavy cream was added!! Don't you want to drink it?

And here it is!!

The Details!

You Won't Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta

(Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 shallots, minced (I did not have shallots, I used 1/4 cup chopped onion)

1 cup vodka

1 cup of chicken stock

1 can crushed tomatoes (32 oz)

Coarse salt and pepper

16 oz pasta (I used 13 oz), such as penne rigate (I recommend whole wheat pasta)

1/2 cup heavy cream

20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Directions

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer.

Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it).

Stir in cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, romove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves.

ENJOY!

Thank you Amy and Mark!

2009-12-20T19:22:00.000-06:00

We received a Christmas package from Amy and Mark last week. It was filled with goodies from Crate & Barrel. They must know how much we like to make homemade pizza! We can't wait to use the personal pizza pans and make the flatbread crust. It only took me 5 minutes to figure out how the tomato/mozzarella cutter works, so we'll be good to go! Actually, Chris had to take it and show me how it works. I would've been here all night. The pizza cookbook is wonderful, too!

Check it out...

THANK YOU, AMY AND MARK!!!!

Oops!

2009-12-19T19:20:00.002-06:00

For those of you who received an email with my most recent post....it wasn't supposed to happen! There was an error in the Parked in the Kitchen control room! Disregard!

Ranger Review: San Juan Island, WA Edition, Part 2

2009-12-17T14:15:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned before, we explored most of San Juan Island...despite cool weather, gray skies, and rain.

Late one afternoon, we made our way to the far end of the island to find the Roche Harbor Resort. Think Dirty Dancing...you know where Baby stayed with her parents? Roche Harbor is the San Juan Islands version...well, without the hot dance hall.

Too bad we didn't find Roche Harbor earlier...or look into staying there. It was a bit of a ghost town (off-season again!), but such a beautiful place. It's the former site of what was the largest limestone processing operation west of the Mississippi. In the late 1800's, the harbor was a booming company town, complete with a hotel and general store. Families were housed in cottages that dot the resort today...they've been restored and you can stay in them. It is a truly beautiful place...we'd love to go back and stay there!

Lime Kiln...

The Harbor...

Historic Hotel De Haro...

Company Store...

Halfway down the dock, we came upon this tiny US Customs building. We were curious about what they did there, so we started looking around...

And we met Officer Jim. Yes, you want to click on it...and learn all about him...and listen to a speical song written about him (if you're over 18). Seriously, you'll be glad you did. He's a very nice , professional man, who told us about this busy little harbor and how US Customs protects the boats coming in and makes sure their passengers aren't bringing in anything illegal from Canada.

Officer Jim offered to take our picture. Yes, he's that nice. Excuse my hair...sometimes I think my bald companion is pretty lucky...

Did you notice that coffee cup? Chris nursed it all the way to Roche Harbor. When I say, "all the way", it's relative. San Juan Island isn't big. But, that coffee cup was an important part of our stay in the island. See, he had discovered Friday Harbor Espresso. He decided that they made the "best mocha in the entire world"...at least until we went to Seattle. The mochas were good, it's true. And we even enjoyed a croissant sandwich there one afternoon. That would be after the honeymoon-ending camera crisis was resloved.

It was time to eat again and drink another mocha. They're good for the soul...

We woke the next morning and it was time to go. So we headed to the ferry to start our journey to Seattle for the rest of our trip.

Then we saw the captain...and wanted to stay a little longer so we could have a ride in his van...

But, the ferry was ready to go...

We enjoyed blue skies and awesome views of the islands...

We decided we wanted to move here...

Then the pesky gray skies came back...

But we didn't care, we arrived in Anacortes and were on our way to Seattle...

Barackin Our World

2009-12-16T21:09:00.000-06:00

Did I mention how happy the President and his amazing wife are that we tied the knot in October? I knew we voted for him for a reason.

Ranger Review: San Juan Island, WA Edition, Part 1

2009-12-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

We spent three days on San Juan Island. We had originally hoped to at least make a day trip via ferry to Orcas Island, but it was cold, rainy, and gray, so we stayed put. We explored every inch of San Juan Island and, like Whidbey, seemed to have it to ourselves. We stayed at a comfortable b&b, ate great meals, and explored San Juan Island National Historical Park.

The park is beautiful, occupying a portion of the southwest part of the island. It's split into two areas: American Camp and English Camp. You see, we nearly went to war with Great Britian over a pig on San Juan Island. The two camps existed for years and the soldiers on both sides were an important part of the island culture. We loved having the opportunity to explore the park!

We saw the sun for approx. 30 seconds...

For our Ranger Amy...

American Camp...

We took a hike...

To a bluff overlooking the water...

Then we had a little camera crisis. We thought the battery was dead. So, we moped back up the hill and discussed what to do next. How could we go to lunch if we didn't have the camera? How could we eat lunch if we went back to the b&b to charge the battery? So, we huffed and we puffed back up the hill and discussed what to do next. How could we continue without pictures? How could we continue without full bellies? Then...EUREKA!!!! We took the battery out, put the battery back in...and the honeymoon was back on!

Time to get our passport stamps...

And give a shout out to our favorite Ranger...

On to Other Adventures...

Lime Kiln State Park...

Give us a break, we're on our honeymoon...

Trumpeter Inn, San Juan Island, WA
We were the only couple at the inn for the first two of our three nights there. We had a cozy room with a little gas fireplace on the first floor. Each morning we woke to a wonderful breakfast. Our favorite was the stuffed french toast. Overall, we'd recommend the Trumpeter. It's just outside of Friday Harbor and convenient to everything on the island. We loved the fresh baked cookies on two of our afternoons...they forgot them the other day. Boo!

Backdoor Kitchen, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA

We went to the Backdoor Kitchen on a cold, rainy night after exploring the island all day. It was strange to find...it's literally behind a wearhouse. We stepped in a found a beautiful, sophisticated candlelit restaurant. We sat in the little bar area and had an awesome dinner, complete with wine and dessert. Backdoor Kitchen sources fresh and, when available, local food. We HIGHLY recommend this fabulous gem!

Pork chops with apple/horseradish and spatzle. Amazing!

Wish we could tell you about the homemade silky chocolate pie...

Duck Soup Inn, San Juan Island, WA
This beautiful little restaurant came highly recommended. Our b&b made a reservation for us and we headed out into the country on a chilly, rainy night (sound familiar?). As it turns out, we were dining at Duck Soup Inn on the last night of the 2009 season. We were seated in a huge booth with a view of the dining room. The restaurant was filled with locals celebrating special occasions. We ordered shrimp risotto and duck. We both enjoyed a cup of mushroom soup and eagerly awaited our meals. The shrimp risotto came and was delicious. The duck arrived...with chives sprinkled all over it. For the average diner, this would be good right? For one of us (might be bald), this is worst case scenario. If it's related to an onion and it's not cooked, call in reinforcements! The duck was sent back and we waited...and waited...and waited. The duck arrived...much later. Although it was good, it killed the experience. We'd recommend this place, but would go to Backdoor Kitchen instead, if we had to choose.

Shrimp Risotto...

"I'm really glad I'm finally getting to eat my dinner. Duck, duck."

Ranger Review: Whidbey Island, WA Edition

2009-12-13T22:30:00.000-06:00

We spent less than 24 hours on Whidbey Island...and we're cheating by telling you about a place we visited before we even got on the Whidbey Ferry, but hey, it's an excuse to shamelessly share honeymoon photos. While normal couples spend a week on the beach on a tropical island, we decided to explore a place we had never been...Seattle and San Juan Island. We arrived in Seattle late in the evening and we made our way to Mikulteo, WA, where we spent the night before taking the ferry to Whidbey Island for the day. We had a wonderful time exploring the island and Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve.

"Ebey’s Landing is the nation’s first historical reserve, created in 1978 to protect a rural working landscape community on Central Whidbey Island. The reserve contains 17,500 acres, 18 working farms, 400 historical structures, native prairies, two state parks, miles of shoreline, a network of trails and the second oldest town in Washington. The Reserve is managed by a 9-member Trust Board ". (thank you, NPS.GOV)

With espresso stands, cards, and cafes on every darn corner the Seattle area is a coffe lover's dream. We took advantage of the ridiculous number of cafes by drinking it early and often. Our first stop in Mikulteo was the Red Cup Cafe.

Who wouldn't want to marry this guy?

On to Coupeville, Whidbey Island for our Passport Stamp!

Knead & Feed, Coupeville, WA

This charming waterside cafe was a perfect stop for lunch. We were visiting in the off season, so the only other diners were locals. We ordered one Front Street Lunch and one bowl of soup with bread. This wasn't just any bread, it was incredible homemade bread to dunk in our homemade soup and chowder.

We didn't have room for the slice of homemade pecan pie that we planned to share, so we packed that up for later. We might have shared it with a milk in a Walgreen's parking lot later that day, but we can't confirm that.

Whidbey Island was beautiful. Despite travelling in the off season, we loved the gray skies (seriously.) and cool weather. We felt like we had the island...and the views of the Olympic Mountains....to ourselves.

At the north end of the island, we stopped at Deception Pass State Park...

We crossed the bridge...

And boarded ferry #2. San Juan Island, here we come...

Ranger Review: Austin, TX Edition

2009-12-13T21:30:00.001-06:00

As we planned our October 2009 wedding we made several trips from Oklahoma down to Austin, Texas, where we got married. While most of our trips were "all business", we did fit in some great meals in Austin and on the way there. Austin is a really cool city, with a little of something for everyone...and plenty of locally sourced food to go around!

Papa Rollo's Pizza, Waco, TX
We found this gem on our first trip down to Austin in the summer of 2008. We stayed in Waco on the way and asked the hotel clerk where we could get some local pizza. No, they didn't recommend Papa Rollo's, but we passed it on the way to the other place. Always up for a hole-in-the-wall, we couldn't resist. We got to stop a second time this summer for the perfect pizza.

Yes, it's that good.

Terra Burger, Austin, TX
The best of both worlds...burgers and fries and natural and organic foods. We loved Terra Burger so much that we returned our wedding weekend. One of the locations is drive-thru only and the other is near UT. We went to the drive through during the hell that is an OK/TX summer. It was so hot that we ate in the Civic. We pretended we were young again and ate at UT on our second visit. You just have to try it....and order a Mexican Coke. Heaven. Even the packaging is green...we dig it.

Hill Country Hickory Burger...

Thousand Island Burger...

So wrong, but so very right.

Primize Osteria, Austin, TX
We chose Primizie for our rehearsal lunch the day before our wedding. It was very important to find an Austin restaurant that sources local ingredients and that wasn't a chain. We had an AMAZING family-style meal for 25 at Primize. It is sophisticated and comfortable, modern and sleek. It will always be a special place for us to return to.

PARKEDINTHEKITCHEN

2009-12-08T20:30:00.001-06:00

The title of this blog is a play on my occupation as a Park Ranger. As it turns out, Chris has also taken a turn to the dark side and become a Park Ranger himself. So, we're just one big, green and gray, happy family! When I'm not at work, I am often home, parked in the kitchen. Back when I lived with Erin and Stephanie at Purdue I escaped to our tiny kitchen when I had big papers or projects due. I'd rearrange everything in the cabinets or I'd cook a big meal. Although she might deny it, Erin wasn't too far behind me. I remember her sitting at our table shredding piles and piles of carrots for homemade carrot cake. Now Chris and I like trying new recipes and enjoying our tried and true favorites...all of which has led me back into the kitchen. I'd like to pretend it's a big room all to its own. But, we live in a small loft apartment. So, the kitchen is essentially the dining and living room, too. Somehow we manage...thanks to tons of cabinetry and great appliances.

Where the magic happens...

On the day of our wedding rehearsal, we had an incredible lunch at Primizie Osteria in Austin. That afternoon Chris' sister, Amy, and her family, including Chris' niece, Kalyn, presented us with a wonderful wedding gift. The bag was filled with super cool utensils and two aprons. These were not just our average, run-of-the-mill aprons. They were custom PARKED IN THE KITCHEN aprons! Yep, that's right, my little blog has better aprons than your blog! You see, Amy was kind enough to provide aprons to Kalyn, who happens to be in the Air Force in Germany. Kalyn had decided she wanted to learn to silkscreen and used our aprons as a project. They turned out fabulous! Not only are they silkscreened, they have funky embroidery between the letters.

Check 'em out...

Thanks, Kalyn! Your Aunt Lauren and Uncle Chris look pretty cool in the kitchen.

My Little Pumpkin

2009-12-07T21:39:00.000-06:00

When Chris and I were discussing what we wanted to do for our wedding favors, we quickly decided that it should be something unique and, hopefully, homemade. It wasn't long before we agreed on one of our favorite things in the whole world...my "famous" pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. Problem was that we were planning a wedding in Austin, Texas, almost 5 hours from our apartment kitchen in Oklahoma. We were leaving for our Sunday wedding on a Thursday and we (ok, really just me) didn't want to be worried about baking the week of the wedding. Another problem was the fact that most hotel rooms (where we planned on staying in Austin)don't have a full kitchen. I consulted my mom and Aunt Cindy, who quickly came up with a solution...Aunt Cindy and my cousin, Hannah, would bake the muffins on-site in Austin. So, I worked away to find a suitable place to stay where we could make these precious muffins. We settled on the Hancock Guest Cottage/Hancock Guest Nest, where we could be close to my mom and our bridesmaids, Erin and Stephanie....and where we'd have an oven.

It was important to find containers for our treats that were earth-friendly. We were, afterall, getting married at the only certified organic events venue in the country! I decided on recycled, biodegradable, food-safe containers. I purchased food-safe wax tissue to line them and ribbons to tie on the outside. Alissa at Mew Paper Arts, who created our invitations, made sweet little stickers for an added touch.

Aunt Cindy and Hannah arrived at the cottage READY TO WORK! Soon, they had quite a production going in the kitchen.

Muffins were prepped to bake...

And muffins were cooling...

The muffins were packed with care, all snug in their boxes...ready to share with our guests, who made the long journey to Austin...

It was a fun afternoon, filled with sweet smells and laughter. I can't thank Aunt Cindy and Hannah enough for helping us have these special treats on our wedding day...

{jakeholtblog.com}

The muffins were a lesson learned...stick to what you want on your wedding day. Find ways to create personal touches and to have an event that represents who you are. Sure, they're just muffins...but, they're also a big part of our story. My friend Erin and I have been baking them for years and sharing them with the people we love. It was important to share them on our wedding day. These pumpkin chocolate chip muffins make anyone your little pumpkin...I guarantee it.

So, folks, isn't this where the dedicated blogger shares the recipe for the best muffins you will ever have in. your. entire. life? I was about to, really I was...when my husband said, "WHAT? THEN THEY WON'T BE SO SPECIAL ANYMORE!" Ok, the voice of reason HAD to step in. For those of you interested, I'd be glad to share...just drop me a note.

Can't wait to hear from Jonny T....this one's for you, friend...

Back in Action

2009-11-24T11:13:00.021-06:00

My initial attempt at keeping up with this blog was short lived, wasn't it. By the end of the summer, Chris and I were neck deep in wedding planning and preparation. The big day finally came on October 25th and we're now happily married!

This time, I'm serious about the blog...can't you see the look on my face?

Although I'm usually the cook, Chris is right behind me...enjoying every last bite...and keeping the kitchen tidy...he's my sous chef. So, we're going to re-start this blog together...

Let's take a trip back in time so that we can indulge ourselves in the most exciting weekend of our lives. Why not get things rolling with some teaser pics from our wedding photographer, Jake Holt. All pictures should be credited to Jake Holt Photography.

There were some great meals leading up to the wedding (of course)...and lots of food that weekend in Austin. Promise to share that soon. Stay tuned, folks. I'm back in action!

Old Salt

2009-08-11T22:06:00.003-05:00

When I returned from California, my generous friend, co-worker, and Teacher-Ranger-Teacher, Amy, gave me a wonderful new cookbook called Cooking Yourself Thin. Amy has been working with me at the park for almost two months. She has heard all about how Chris and I have been doing weight watchers for almost two months and have really tried to improve what we're eating at home. After some adjustments, we have found that it's really not that hard to still have good food...it's all about moderation! I was SO excited to try out my new cookbook.

Amy dropped a hint that she really wanted to try the peanut butter chocolate bars in the new cookbook. So, I went to work in the kitchen. As each layer was added, even I got excited (I usually think peanut butter only belongs on bread!). Each layer had to be refridgerated and the recipe took a bit of patience. But, I was rewarded with a tasty-looking treat...

I eagerly shared a square with Chris, who was practically drooling at the sight of my creation. Then, he took a bite, made a face, and pinched his lips. They were WAY too salty! I promptly deconstructed the bars and determined the source of the excessive salt was the peanut butter/cream cheese layer right in the middle. It called for salt, I added the salt, end of story. I don't recommend it! Sadly, I threw them out before I could share them with Amy, who has certainly earned herself a sweet treat.

BUT....I made them again this week without the salt. Chris and Amy liked them. I love me a pb sandwich, but put that with chocolate and I'm not interested, so I shared all of them. Here's to you, pb lovers Amy and Chris!

Here is the recipe from the book, sans salt:

Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Serves 8

1/2 cup low calorie thin chocolate wafers, finely ground in a food processor (I used 100 calorie packs of oreos)

1/2 cup oats

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

3 tbs. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I suggest using Skippy Natural)

1 1/2 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature

2 teas. pure vanilla extract

2 tbs. semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on the sides

2. Combine the ground wafers, oats, and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in the butter until everything is evenly moistened. Stir in 1 tbs. of the peanut butter. Mixture will form large clumps. Transfer to lined loaf pan, press into an even layer. Refrigerate until firm, about 10 minutes.

3. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 min. Add vanilla, remaining 3 tbs. of peanut butter, and beat on medium speed until pale and nearly doubled in volume, about 7 min. Transfer to loaf pan, spread in even layer over crust. Freeze until firm, at least 10 min.

4. Spread melted chocolate in a thin, even layer over the chilled peanut butter layer. Refrigerate until firm, about 10 min.

You can lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut and serve cold. Enjoy!

Blast From the Past

2009-07-27T21:26:00.002-05:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had lived in the SF bay area while working at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. I had the opportunity this month to return to beautiful Marin County for a family event. I can't even begin to express how beautiful Marin County is. It it situated just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and is filled with scenic vistas and quaint communities. I lived in Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Marin Headlands when I first arrived for my job out there. I then moved to Mill Valley, where I had an apartment with a co-worker.

It was fun to spend our time visiting some of my old haunts and sampling California cuisine. I wish so badly that we could have fresh, local, and organic food here in Oklahoma...Marin County certainly has it figured out. Chris and I certainly won't turn down a good meal! We ate our way through a four day weekend and soaked up the views! We had our new baby, a Canon EOS Rebel XS, to keep us company. It's clear we still need to read the manual, but it was so much fun to click away...

Our ride for the weekend.

Anyone Care for a Banger?

2009-07-27T20:55:00.000-05:00

Our first stop in California was In 'n Out Burger. Oh goodness! My tastebuds have missed that special sauce! After our lunch, we made our way into Marin County. Our first top was the Marin Headlands, where I lived in government housing for a few months. It's just north of San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge. Much to our delight, it was quite chilly...and just as beautiful as we remembered.

I should mention that we stayed at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach. It's an "English" inn, complete with english pub fare and quaint rooms. We slept with the windows open and loved every minute of it! We enjoyed a dinner in the pub the first night and woke to a complete english breakfast each morning. We ate eggs, toast, bangers, and roasted tomatoes. We loved it all on morning #1. Then, the same breakfast appeared on mornings #2 and #3. Suffice to say that if Chris and I never have another banger, we'll be pretty set. I think I'll stick to my American breakfast of cereal and yogurt, if I'm lucky. Please, please, hold the bangers!

mmmmmmm. bangers.

happy girl in marin county.

A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action

2009-07-21T21:51:00.005-05:00

So this is supposed to be a "food blog"...it must be thematic, or so Jonny T and Amy say. I haven't done much real cooking this week for some reason. Don't get me wrong, Chris and I aren't starving. I just haven't had the make from scratch itch. Never fear, loyal readers, I promise I will fill these pages with great recipes soon!

In more exciting news, Chris and I have just purchased a new camera that will be along for my new kitchen adventures...and a few mini vacations away from Oklahoma in the near future. Everyone join Amy in a leg kick for the new camera! It will even be documenting our trip this weekend...

We are leaving tomorrow night to start our journey to OKC to fly to the San Francisco Bay area for a long weekend trip on Thursday morning. The remarriage of a parent is the occasion. While Chris and I can't say that we're too excited about the event itself, we are pumped about the culinary treats that await us. I lived in Mill Valley five years ago while working at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There I discovered a world of fresh, organic, and incredibly sophisticated food....and In 'n Out Burger.

Oh, the humanity, it's soooo good! We'll arrive in Oakland at noon on Thursday. There's no doubt where we'll be within the hour! What I love most is the secret menu (well, everyone else might already know about it, but I'm still cool). I'll be getting a protein pack myself...

One Hot Tamale

2009-07-19T21:18:00.005-05:00

Tonight after work Chris and I headed north to Eric's house. He is my counterpart at work and, often, my partner in crime. Eric's lovely wife, Liz, is a master of many things...sewing, cooking, volutneering. Not owning a sewing machine, I contacted Liz recently to see if she could help me with some dress alterations. When we arrived tonight, their house smelled yummy. After I paraded around in a dress on top of my ranger pants and boots and Liz pinned me, we were set to head home. But before we could leave, Liz opened the lid on a pot on the stove to reveal the source of the divine smell in the house...and I saw what was cooking. It was a big pot of homemade tamales. Chris and I left their house with 6 tamales in a little tupperware container. I spent the drive home with the tamales on my lap, thinking about how good they were going to be. When I arrived home, I quickly prepared our plates, complete with a sprinkle of cheese and sour cream...and we were in tamale heaven! Thank you, Liz!

These Veggies are the Bomb!

2009-07-19T13:15:00.007-05:00

I'd love to brag that I prepare delicious, healthy, and homemade lunches to take to work. There is an occasional leftover from our favorite dinners...tuna casserole, turkey chili...but Chris and I have discovered the wonders of Amy's frozen dinners They're portable, suprisingly delicious, and healthy. They even fit into our Weight Watcher's plan. Today I enjoyed the Veggie Loaf. Try 'em, you won't miss the meat! photo courtesy of amys.com

Hello Bloggy World!

2009-07-19T00:08:00.003-05:00

Against my better judgement...and thanks to the Trenkle kids, I am starting a blog. My recipe for life includes cooking, baking, adventure, and a dash of humor. Every day is a comedy of errors. My life as a Park Ranger has taken me (and now my fiance, Chris) across the country...and here to Oklahoma. Join me as I drive way too far in search of real, organic food...and plan my Austin, TX wedding...