tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79280883873161739432013-01-01T17:07:52.639-08:00County MeanderingsA sweet Southern Maryland medley of thoughtsKaren Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-3053696055296324472013-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:002013-01-01T15:00:12.849-08:002013-01-01T15:00:12.849-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>New Year, New You</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Person-First Langauge" - An easy addition to your list of New Year's Resolutions</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I was sitting in my living room, wrapping presents and listening to the local news. A story came on that caught my attention, "Fairfax Special Needs Student Left at Bus Stop Alone." Now, to most people this headline and subsequent report would have been just another story but for me, it was something more. As I listened to the story, I couldn't help but hear the repetition of "special needs" and notice how it was placed before every describing characteristic of the subject: "special needs boy," "special needs student," "special needs kindergartener."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, you may be reading this and thinking to yourself, "okay, so what?..." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a linguistic philosophy called "person-first language"which shifts focus from defining people by what they "have" and instead, places emphasis on who they "are." I had a very special professor this past semester who introduced me to this philosophy; she opened my eyes to the detriments that just a simple order of words can have on the way in which we think about people who have disabilities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In our society, language is power; words hold a deeper significance than most of us realize. When we speak in manner which lists a disability or condition before the actual subject, we are placing an unconscious importance over the actual character of a person and consequently defining them by something that is quite irrelevant to their disposition. This simple order of words can devalue a person's capabilities, altering the way in which their potential is viewed by society. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Person-first language" is not a new phenomena yet the vast majority of Americans have never heard of it. Why is that? I've spent a lot time trying to answer this question and I found that the answer lies in the very story I mentioned at the beginning of this post: the media. After seeing this story, I felt compelled to write into this news station and introduce them to this philosophy. Until our media begins to recognize the importance of "person-first language," the stigma that surrounds disabilities will remain the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is my goal in 2013 to make "person-first language" a standard that I speak and write by; I firmly believe that in doing this, we can begin to de-stigmatize people who have disabilities and other various conditions. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgXtSg7HNMQ/UONAqI5SwbI/AAAAAAAAAd4/SYJ8OyrIPbM/s1600/vintique_image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgXtSg7HNMQ/UONAqI5SwbI/AAAAAAAAAd4/SYJ8OyrIPbM/s400/vintique_image.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wrote into the station that broadcasted this story and voiced my concern with the manner in which they conveyed their frustration with how this specific student was treated; in doing so, I made sure to recognize and commend them for highlighting the issue of student safety. Hopefully, my message will be well-received and we will start to see a change in local media. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I challenge all of you to add supporting "person-first language" to your list of New Year's Resolutions. When you hear friends, family, news reporters and even strangers, placing emphasis on disabilities and conditions rather than the spirit of an individual, find a polite way to introduce them to the "person-first" philosophy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Wishes and Happy New Year!</span></div>
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Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-188452508390849462012-12-30T17:10:00.000-08:002012-12-30T17:15:35.655-08:002012-12-30T17:15:35.655-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<q style="font-style: italic;">Good for the body is the work of the body, good for the soul the work of the soul, and good for either the work of the other.</q><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></h4>
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<span style="text-align: right;">-Henry David Thoreau</span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Inexpensive Indulgence</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In an effort to beat the "post-holiday season slump," I decided to treat myself to an afternoon at the spa...right in my very own home! I've been reading an array of recipes about DIY beauty treatments so today I thought I would give a few of them a try. In the process, I came up with a few concoctions of my own. I set up my room with a few candles, some soothing music (yoga workout radio on Pandora!) and I sipped on a glass of homemade "spa water" (water with lemon and orange slices). This afternoon at the spa cost me just under $5.00; that left plenty in my budget to give my beautician a nice tip (hehe).</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wh2w7bVHfpE/UODWSew-H1I/AAAAAAAAAaw/fB1JP4bfESw/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wh2w7bVHfpE/UODWSew-H1I/AAAAAAAAAaw/fB1JP4bfESw/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Here are the treatments I tried:</i></b></span></h4>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Oz's Teeth Whitening Treatment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The "Lemon and Honey" Blackhead Mask</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The "Egg White and Tissue" Tightening and Cleansing Mask</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The "Brownie Batter" Body Scrub (my own creation!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">At-Home Manicure</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The best one, by far, was the "egg white and tissue" mask. Not only did it leave my skin feeling rejuvenated and super clean, but it was actually really fun to do. As it dries, it gets so incredibly tight that you can barely move your face, which I found to be quite entertaining. </span><br />
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<b><i>Here are the recipes:</i></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dr. Oz's Teeth Whitening Treatment </span></u></div>
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( taken from http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/natural-teeth-whitening-solution)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h2bu03d2cQc/UODbA1a4fAI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2wQ2grWlz8U/s1600/IMG_0550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h2bu03d2cQc/UODbA1a4fAI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2wQ2grWlz8U/s320/IMG_0550.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 1 teaspoon baking soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: large; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Directions</b></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In a small bowl, mix a little bit of baking soda with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. The mixture should bubble slightly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Using a cotton swab, wipe saliva and excess plaque from your teeth before brushing on the mixture. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Leave the mixture on your teeth for a minute before gently brushing it off with a toothbrush. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Don’t leave the mixture on your teeth for any longer than a minute; the acid can erode tooth enamel.</span></span></li>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMUdi0p_Ylw/UODbHuadP7I/AAAAAAAAAdI/f6vaGoPXKko/s1600/IMG_0564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMUdi0p_Ylw/UODbHuadP7I/AAAAAAAAAdI/f6vaGoPXKko/s320/IMG_0564.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A word of caution, I did this without measuring and my whitening solution turned into what looked like a fifth grade science experiment. Definitely take the time to measure these out. </i></span><br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Lemon and Honey Blackhead Removing Mask</u></span></h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-PnOXhqzJI/UODVjEHiBbI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YVtwv3G44CQ/s1600/IMG_0551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-PnOXhqzJI/UODVjEHiBbI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YVtwv3G44CQ/s320/IMG_0551.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1071_uWsTTk/UODWf2N7oVI/AAAAAAAAAbA/aYscT956Vgk/s1600/IMG_0565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1071_uWsTTk/UODWf2N7oVI/AAAAAAAAAbA/aYscT956Vgk/s320/IMG_0565.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ingredients</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">1/2 lemon</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon of honey</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>Directions</b></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Cut a lemon in half.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Take honey and smear on the open face of the lemon.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Rub the honeyed lemon all over your face and leave on for five minutes.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Rinse the mix off with warm water and a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Egg White and Tissue Cleansing Mask</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">one egg white</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">a splash of milk</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">2 pieces of a two-ply facial tissue</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>Directions</b></span></span></div>
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<ol><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5kVFRiac6k/UODWrn7A9XI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/j73D0TFNImw/s1600/IMG_0572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5kVFRiac6k/UODWrn7A9XI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/j73D0TFNImw/s320/IMG_0572.jpg" width="240" /></span></a>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Take your egg white and splash a bit of milk into a small bowl. This mask is best applied with a small make-up brush, so have one of those on hand.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Peel apart the layers of your tissues and rip them into small rectangles and squares. (This is something I didn't do before attempting this mask and I definitely made a mess!)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Brush the egg and milk mix directly on your skin; it will stick just fine.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">After applying a few layers of egg white, take the squares of tissue and gently stick them to your face. Apply another layer of the egg white mix over top of the tissue.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Let the mask completely dry; the place where I read about this said it would take 15 minutes but mine took more like 30 minutes. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Once you are totally dry, peel the mask off your face and wash with warm water and a gentle cleanser. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Another word of caution, this will make your face extremely tight. The tightness will make you laugh which will be slightly painful. I recommend refraining from looking at yourself while waiting for this to dry; it is really hard not to laugh if you peek. Don't try to peel off the mask until it is completely dry or you will not see the results. If you wait it out, you will see all the dead skin cells on your mask; gross but atleast you know that it worked! </span></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Karen's Brownie Batter Body Scrub</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">1/4 cup of granulated sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">2 tablespoons of brown sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon of cocoa power</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">1 drops of vanilla extract</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">2 tablespoons of honey</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">3 tablespoons of olive or almond oil</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">A few drops of water</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b>Directions</b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">In a small glass bowl, combine all dry ingredients.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Next, pour in the oil, vanilla, honey and a couple drops of water.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Apply all over body, massaging in small circles. This is used best in a bath tub because it can be quite messy. </span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">This scrub smells just like brownie batter which is amazing! It leaves your skin moisturized and refreshed; I would recommend that if you have acne prone skin, omit the oil and use a little bit of water instead. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9eveUxZR_I/UODaecA93cI/AAAAAAAAAck/bRfmO9C1S-c/s1600/IMG_0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9eveUxZR_I/UODaecA93cI/AAAAAAAAAck/bRfmO9C1S-c/s320/IMG_0592.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">To end my afternoon at the spa, I did a manicure on myself. I used the leftover brownie scrub and throughly scrubbed my hands, then pushed back my cuticles and applied the Orly Base/Top coat. I finished my mani off with a fun glittery design on my ring fingers! </span></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5i96UN4rZc/UODanVbvkDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/NJNY0UKtYIE/s1600/IMG_0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5i96UN4rZc/UODanVbvkDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/NJNY0UKtYIE/s320/IMG_0594.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-30602312883475575002012-12-25T11:05:00.003-08:002012-12-30T17:21:14.895-08:002012-12-30T17:21:14.895-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Momma's Rum Cake</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEPRWLx_Jjk/UNnvECOCe_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/RoIUDqDXWBA/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEPRWLx_Jjk/UNnvECOCe_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/RoIUDqDXWBA/s320/IMG_0523.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The holiday season is all about the sweets in my household. My mom has a fantastic recipe for rum cake that I thought I would share with y'all. I'd consider it "semi-homemade" because it calls for a box mix but you could certainly substitute with a real deal recipe for your favorite yellow or butter flavored cake. This is a super simple and insanely delicious cake!</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_RE4Z9F3EQ/UNnuwOS4DEI/AAAAAAAAAXk/9DfeU0etPC4/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_RE4Z9F3EQ/UNnuwOS4DEI/AAAAAAAAAXk/9DfeU0etPC4/s400/IMG_0505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>There is something so comforting about using a rustic looking recipe card...</i></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What you'll need:</i></span></b></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Cake: </i></span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1 box of butter cake mix (yellow works fine too)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>3 eggs</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1/2 cup of vegetable oil</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1/2 cup of white or golden rum (we use Bacardi Gold)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1/2 cup of water</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1 small box of instant vanilla pudding mix</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1/3 cup of chopped pecans (or walnuts)</i></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Glaze:</i></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1 stick of real sweet cream butter </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1 cup white sugar</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>1/4 cup of rum</i></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Putting it all together:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNYOGbRlA7Q/UNnu206iLzI/AAAAAAAAAX8/IrWD1yjP0ds/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNYOGbRlA7Q/UNnu206iLzI/AAAAAAAAAX8/IrWD1yjP0ds/s320/IMG_0511.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The most important part of this entire recipe is to grease and flour the bundt pan extremely well. Take this from my own experience, your cake will forever rest in your pan if this is missed! This step becomes crucial during the "big reveal" aka the flip at the end of your baking journey. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Next, prepare your dry ingredients just as would make a normal box cake. Don't forget to add the box of pudding mix! It makes the cake incredibly moist; it is definitely the secret weapon of this recipe. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Once your cake batter is all mixed up, take your nuts and sprinkle them evenly around the bottom of the pan. They will form a nice looking crust at the top your cake!</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pour the batter evenly into the pan and place it in the oven at 325 degrees for approximately 50 minutes.</i></span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Creating the <span style="font-size: large;">G</span>laze</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HiIIv32rUbk/UNnu0lZ5HzI/AAAAAAAAAX0/o7FUVuArBjg/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HiIIv32rUbk/UNnu0lZ5HzI/AAAAAAAAAX0/o7FUVuArBjg/s200/IMG_0508.JPG" width="158" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>Important:</u> You want to glaze your cake while it's still hot so you should start making your glaze just as your cake is about 1-2 minutes from being done. The glaze is really simple and it is actually quite versatile too! You could really use this on any cake. </i></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLCHlrS4V8M/UNnu-bJ3nFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/sUAdvw0p4sg/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLCHlrS4V8M/UNnu-bJ3nFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/sUAdvw0p4sg/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My mom and I had a bunch of oranges so we thought it might be nice to
add in some fresh orange zest and a splash of orange extract. You could
easily swap this out for flavors like lemon or almond. The cake tastes
awesome regardless!</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<ol><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J6vr_337aG8/UNnu5bemVwI/AAAAAAAAAYE/1LdjNeHShSI/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J6vr_337aG8/UNnu5bemVwI/AAAAAAAAAYE/1LdjNeHShSI/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>In a sauce pan on medium heat, drop in your stick of butter, 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of rum. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bring the butter, sugar and rum mix to boil and stir continuously for two minutes (no more, no less- this is just how it is!). The mix will bubble and steam so don't be alarmed! </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Once you have boiled and stirred for two minutes, pour the glaze first around the edges of the cake in the pan, working your way toward the center. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>After the cake has settled and cooled for twenty minutes, it will be time to do the "big reveal" aka the flip!</i></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aakV93g6OlM/UNnu7Y1lopI/AAAAAAAAAYM/VIWppzDjDd8/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aakV93g6OlM/UNnu7Y1lopI/AAAAAAAAAYM/VIWppzDjDd8/s400/IMG_0516.JPG" width="241" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Drum roll please... </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXoUmglUhPs/UNn2qQ7d7OI/AAAAAAAAAY8/UmU7tUPCk7E/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXoUmglUhPs/UNn2qQ7d7OI/AAAAAAAAAY8/UmU7tUPCk7E/s320/IMG_0521.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>TAAADAAA!</i></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> The final produc<span style="font-size: large;">t! <span style="font-size: large;">I must say, this cake is equally as <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">delicious<span style="font-size: large;"></span> served straight from the oven as it is the next morning with a <span style="font-size: large;">warm cup of coffee<span style="font-size: large;">. Br<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">eakfast</span> of cham<span style="font-size: large;">pions, my friends!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-14985861356760237392012-12-01T21:38:00.002-08:002012-12-02T09:14:05.369-08:002012-12-02T09:14:05.369-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Community</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes in life, we find inspiration in the most unexpected places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was watching the local news a few days ago and
saw this story </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(</span><a href="http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/230769/189/Adam-Lumpkins-Of-Maryland-Has-Cancer-And-One-Month-To-Live" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Adam Lumpkins Story</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> about a little boy in need of a miracle. Adam, a precious five year old fighting a form of leukemia, is in urgent need of a bone marrow
transplant. His loving and admirable family arranged a bone marrow drive in our
area in hopes of finding a donor. I felt compelled, as a healthy twenty one
year old, to register to be a marrow donor. It is my sincere hope that this
event has found a match and will fulfill the greatest Christmas wish of all for
this wonderful family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Driving up to the firehouse, I was incredibly
pleased to see the parking lot overflowing with cars. I was left speechless
when I opened the door and saw hundreds of people waiting in line to register
and get tested. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have never felt more at home in a room full of
‘strangers’ than I did today. Standing in line, I fought back the urge to cry;
I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of what I was witnessing. As I looked around
the room, I couldn’t help but feel the love of <i>each and every</i> person in that
firehouse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines community
as “a group of people with common interests living in a particular area.” Today, I learned that the true definition of community reaches far beyond this. Community
is taking time to remember that you are not alone in this world. Community is
treating strangers as friends. Community is faith through unity. <b>Community is a
solid foundation built upon the generosity and love of neighbors</b>. Community is a bond that cannot be broken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I felt the power of community today and that
power has inspired me to take more time to<u> give back</u> to those who have given so much to me. The great Martin Luther King once said, “<i>You don't have to
have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb
agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato or Aristotle to serve. You
don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to
know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart
full of grace and a soul generated by love.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I not only saw but I <b>felt </b>the
“heart full of grace” and “soul generated by love” of Southern Maryland today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have always been incredibly proud to call this place my home and this experience
has renewed my appreciation for the community that has shaped who I am. Today, I have discovered that my life has been built on a solid foundation of generosity and love of my neighbors; a feeling of extreme warmth and comfort accompanies this discovery. I will
rest easy tonight knowing that I am a part of something so indescribably
powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I would encourage each and every one of you who
may come across this post to register to become a bone marrow donor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can
find more information about registering here: <span style="color: #0e3461; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.dkmsamericas.org/">http://www.dkmsamericas.org/</a></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfy_2muviDM/ULttR2iMFLI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/3L3EN8kzf5c/s1600/pic.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfy_2muviDM/ULttR2iMFLI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/3L3EN8kzf5c/s320/pic.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I leave you with a great song by John Mellencamp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thanks for reading! </i></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-72074112124512937302012-10-20T12:54:00.001-07:002012-12-26T07:00:33.259-08:002012-12-26T07:00:33.259-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-large;">Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A Southern Maryland Saturday Adventure</i></span></div>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It's days like these that make me thank my lucky stars that I come from a thrifty family. Today, my Momma and I set out on a bargain hunting adventure and returned home with some awesome finds. I got fifteen items for $35.00! Here is a picture of all my goodies:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRQRHVNu1LQ/UILvTNBphvI/AAAAAAAAAQo/pABYo6Y3ALc/s1600/IMG_0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRQRHVNu1LQ/UILvTNBphvI/AAAAAAAAAQo/pABYo6Y3ALc/s640/IMG_0098.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just like most women in their early twenties, I love to shop but hate to spend money. Thrifting is so enticing because you honestly never know what you may stumble upon. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping <b>anywhere</b>; but there is just something so different about finding a bargain at a thrift store or yard sale. Buying a pair of shoes that have already been slightly broken in or a pair of jeans that have been worn a few times makes them fit in an unexplainably comfortable way. It is something that you just have to experience in order to understand. I love when someone compliments something I'm wearing and asks "where did you get that?" (that makes everyone feel good!). What I love even more is the look on their faces when I say "the thrift store!" I have never understood the negative stigma that thrift stores have- I guess to each his own; some people can't find the beauty in the hunt. There ain't nothin' I'd like to brag about more than a bargain! Anyway, I digress... let me share with you my Saturday finds!</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Caffeinated and determined, we began our trip at the SoMD Fashion Flea Market in Leonardtown. This was the first time I have attended an event like this in Southern Maryland and it was a blast. There was a nice mix of second hand clothes, shoes, and accessories, along with various other vendors like Wildtree, Mark, Avon, Tastefully Simple, etc. I walked away with some really cute stuff and spent less than $20.00! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I bought two shirts and a ring from the fashion flea market. </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think my favorite item I got was the houndstooth chiffon top (H&M) pictured below. This was the most expensive thing I bought today but the style was so cute, I could not pass it up. I paid $10.00 for it. I also picked up a navy blue Ralph Lauren slim-fit polo which I needed for an organization I volunteer with so that was a win-win (I paid $4.00 for it). I also picked up a Mark ring for $2.00 which I thought was kinda fun! </i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Our next stop was the St. Andrew's Church Annual Yard Sale. This parish does a huge yard sale every year and they always have a fantastic variety. I didn't buy anything from the yard sale but St. Andrew's Church actually has a really nice thrift store, which I got a few things from. My cheapest and best bargain of the day were a pair of almost brand new dress pants from The Limited. I also got a really pretty vintage silk blouse, a green 80's style sweater and a pair of brown flats. My total spent here was $7.00. The pants and green sweater were on a clearance rack and I got them for 50 cents each! The flat's were $3.00 and so was the silk blouse.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>After St. Andrews, we set off to find a thrift store down in the 7th district that neither of us had been to. This store is located in a church hall on a quaint little farm. Here, I found a bunch of jewelry and a dressy jacket/shirt to wear to work. The jewelry ranged from $0.50 to $2.00; I got a necklace and four bracelets. The jacket cost $2.50. I spent $8.00 here. </i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our final stop was at a small yard sale right at the top of Leonardtown in front of the Shanti Building. Here, I got a $1.00 picture frame that I am going turn into a jewelry holder. I saw this idea on Pinterest and let's all pray I don't have to post it on Pinstrosity. If you haven't checked out their blog, I would highly recommend it! Anyways, I also got a pair of brand new black patent flats for $2.00! The lady was so nice, she threw in a free AC/DC "Greatest Hits" album for my Mom. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here are a few of the pictures I snapped on our adventure today. There are few things in life that love more than Southern Maryland. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>These pictures capture the <b>beauty in the</b> <b>simplicity</b> of this area.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ended our adventure with a sushi lunch at Oga's (my favorite chinese spot in Leonardtown); I loved my fortune.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> If anyone who happens to come across this blog would like to join me in a thrifting adventure then certainly leave a comment and we shall scavenger SoMar!</i></span></div>
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Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-11721881714744203562012-07-14T14:26:00.003-07:002012-07-14T14:28:41.420-07:002012-07-14T14:28:41.420-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I may be biased, but nothing tastes as good as a summertime heirloom tomato grown in your very own backyard. There is something so incredibly satisfying about eating a freshly picked tomato right out of the garden. This tomato craving inspired me to make a batch of bruschetta this afternoon!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ingredients:</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3-5 large heirloom or plum tomatoes</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 bunch of fresh basil</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 sweet vidalia onion</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 large cloves of garlic (or more like 4 if your a garlic lover like me!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few dashes of balsamic vinegar</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A couple pinches of granulated sugar (or splenda/truvia)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sea Salt</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Directions:</i></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rinse all veggies in cold water and be sure to remove all stems from the fresh basil.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mince the garlic, finely chop the basil and dice up the onion and tomatoes. If you want a drier bruschetta, I would recommend removing the seeds from the tomatoes as you dice them up.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Combine tomatoes, garlic, onion and basil in a small mixing bowl. Add balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enjoy over a fresh baked baguette!</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Light. Fresh. Fast.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-32421369100421449532012-04-01T17:30:00.002-07:002012-05-07T15:02:11.539-07:002012-05-07T15:02:11.539-07:00<div style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Crunchy Kale Chips</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOhYsNBYYG4/T3jv5rwz8TI/AAAAAAAAAOI/pCxDRteH4hI/s1600/IMG_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOhYsNBYYG4/T3jv5rwz8TI/AAAAAAAAAOI/pCxDRteH4hI/s320/IMG_0233.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">It's that time of year! Spring has sprung which means it's time to tear up all the kale out of the garden and start planting all the wonderful summer veggies. I've been reading about kale chips in a few places and decided to make my own batch today. I must say, they were pretty good! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ingredients: </i></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Approximately 2 fist fulls of kale (Yes, I measure in fist fulls)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> 1/2 tsp Sea Salt</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Butter flavored non-stick baking spray</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 tsp of Ms. Dash</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 tsp of crushed red pepper (optional) </span></li>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">Directions: </span></i></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Rinse kale under cold water and pat dry.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Lightly spray baking sheet with non-stick spray and lay kale flat (try not to overlap the leaves).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Spray the kale leaves with butter flavored non-stick spray and sprinkle on the salt and seasoning. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Place in the oven for 10 minutes, turning once. Be sure to watch the leaves on the outside of pan, the edges can get burnt really quickly! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Serve immediately and enjoy! </span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-7773394055802359052012-04-01T17:10:00.002-07:002012-05-07T15:01:19.603-07:002012-05-07T15:01:19.603-07:00<div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Vegetarian Lasagna Cupcakes Recipe</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Here's a low-fat, super easy recipe for lasagna cupcakes! </i></span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">Ingredients: </span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">24 won-ton wrappers (approx. 1/2 package)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 cup of low fat mozzarella cheese</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 cup of low fat cottage cheese</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 1/2 cups of Morning Star Soy Crumbles</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1/2 sweet onion</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">2 cloves garlic</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1/2 cup baby bella mushrooms</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 cup of cooked spinach (fresh or frozen)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1 tbsp grape seed or olive oil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">2 tbsp of Italian seasoning</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Few leaves of fresh basil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Dash of salt and pepper</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">Directions: </span></b><br />
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<ol><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaBj8_FbSSY/T3jsDGt2YZI/AAAAAAAAANw/UPhmhmT0bOw/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaBj8_FbSSY/T3jsDGt2YZI/AAAAAAAAANw/UPhmhmT0bOw/s200/IMG_0227.jpg" width="149" /></span></a>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Over medium heat, combine olive oil, onion, garlic, spinach and mushrooms in a sauté pan. Once the onions begin to become translucent, add the soy crumbles. Add salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to taste. Cook the mix for approximately 7 minutes. Once finished cooking, transfer to a small bowl and set aside.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Add 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning to low-fat cottage cheese.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Coat your cupcake pan with non-stick cooking spray. Take one won-ton wrapper and place in each of the holes. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Place one teaspoon full of cottage cheese mixture in each wrapper. Then, top with a spoonful of sauce, soy crumbles, spinach, more sauce and sprinkle small amount of low fat mozzarella cheese in each cup. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Take another wrapper and place over the top of your cupcake, you may need to trim the wrapper (depending on which brand you use). </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Spoon a little bit of sauce on top of each wrapper, then sprinkle with a bit more cheese. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Place in the oven for 12-15 minutes. The cheese should be nice and bubbly when they are done.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Garnish with fresh basil and serve! </span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Yield: 12 cupcakes</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUn-Ibf75Mg/T3jtmkYzraI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3_eV7H0JfxA/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUn-Ibf75Mg/T3jtmkYzraI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3_eV7H0JfxA/s320/IMG_0232.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928088387316173943.post-58337134322807344952012-01-11T10:20:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:20:05.774-08:002012-01-11T10:20:05.774-08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This post will officially kick off my first blog! I am less than a week shy of beginning a new life as a full-time college student, so I decided it would be a great idea to start a blog to follow my challenges, interests, and triumphs in the coming years. I intend for this blog space to be a place where I will babble about my crazy life and share my quirks with the world! I hope that you all enjoy following my interests- expect a lot of food and thrift store finds :-) </span></span>Karen Wathenhttps://plus.google.com/117636184220935458297noreply@blogger.com0