What are you up to this week, loves? I’m trying to pace my viewing of House of Cards…but it’s HARD! Haha! How many have you watched? I loved hearing how many episodes my various co-workers got through over the weekend. Who says binge watching eliminates water cooler chats!? Also, I’ve been working on knitting projects and it’s a little bit addictive. Have a wonderful week, and enjoy these links I found just for YOU…
Now that we’ve had the pleasure of “falling back” and the sun is pretty much clocking out at the same time as I am, I’m all about hunkering down at home during the evenings with a warm meal. This Fall I’ve been on a pretty consistent dinner rotation of tomato soup, jacket potatoes and warm sandwiches. In an effort to spice things up a bit, I turned to YouTube for some inspiration. I’m ready to tackle Winter head on! (Is that snow outside? ARRGHH!) When it comes to recipes I want simple, affordable, and quick. I’m usually only cooking for 1 or 2 so I want bigger batch recipes to hold up as great bring-to-work lunch options. So, with Winter on it’s way into town, I bring you 11 recipes to try. Enjoy!
BREAKFAST:
Healthier Banana Bread by Light by Coco. My sister once told me that the best present to take when you’re visiting your significant other’s parents is a loaf of banana bread because that way, as they’re slicing it up the next morning for breakfast, they’ll think about how much they like you. I have no idea where she got that nugget of knowledge from. (Katie?) Anyways, maybe the magic of banana bread works in other ways too. Like if you bake this up for a weekend breakfast you’ll remember how much you love YOURSELF when you have some leftover slices for snacks all week long. Also, great way to use up those over-ripe lingerers.
Overnight Oatmeal (5 Ways) by The Domestic Geek. I’m a fairly recent convert to overnight oats. I eat straight up, hot oats (with various spices and nut butter mixed in) pretty much all the time. In fact, I went 2 whole years where I ate them for breakfast every single day unless I was eating breakfast out. They’re cheap, filling and I just love them. BUTTT, in this Instagram-age, I also enjoy aesthetics. So a meal that gets made right in a Mason jar? I can be game for that. Not to mention, this version of oats is much more portable and is great if you’re running out the door and need to eat breakfast at your desk while you’re checking your e-mails.
LUNCH:
Curried Rice Salad by The One Pot Chef. Maybe because The One Pot Chef is Australian but this definitely looks like something the cast of McLeod’s Daughters would chow down on. Perhaps Meg would whip it up for Terry after surfing for recipes on the web. Or maybe Tess used to make it in the big city and now has Jodi hooked on the stuff. Either way…SULTANAS! A good arvo meal if you ask me, mate. (If you’ve never seen McLeod’s Daughters that’s not my problem. IT IS YOURS.)
Veggie Oriental Noodles with Peanut Sauce by Joanna Soh. I have a bunch of friends who SWEAR by their vegetable spiral slicers…and not just the weird paleo friends. I like that this recipe doesn’t completely substitute veggies for noodles but uses both spiral cut vegetables AND soba noodles. If I was bumming about being at work for 4 more hours, seeing this colorful salad in my lunchbox would definitely cheer me up! Almost as much as listening to Joanna Soh’s Malaysian-British accent!
Broccoli and Arugula Soup by Gwyneth Paltrow. I’ve only tried this soup during my forays into Gwyneth Paltrow cleanses so I have no idea if my perceptions of taste were totally skewed but I thought it was AWESOME. The arugula made it really pepper-y and I always forget how much I like broccoli until I’m forced to eat it. I have a feeling this soup would warm you up and brighten your day…even if you weren’t already starving. I know I’ve mentioned it before but don’t hate on Gwynnie!
DINNER:
Slow Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Coconut Curry by Sarah Fit. I’m a little crock-pot obsessed. And honestly, if you’re a working guy or gal and you’re NOT crock-pot obsessed than you need to get with the program. Fix everything up and leave it on all day while you’re away and dinner is waiting for you! Especially in the Winter, I want to limit my trips out into the cold. Suiting and booting up for Indian take-out? Not necessary. Leave it in the crock and FUHGETTABOUTIT.
Real Food Quiche by Lisa Leake. I know I talk about breakfast for dinner a lot but YOU SHOULD HAVE BREAKFAST FOR DINNER. Once a week. Make it a thing. Rituals are awesome. Ok, ok, broken record over here. Quiche is a really easy meal to have in your repertoire and is a great excuse to turn that oven on for some extra warmth in your kitchen. Full disclosure: I’m WAY too lazy to make my own crust and typically just go the store-bought route but this video DOES make it look pretty easy to DIY. Maybe because a TINY CHILD MAKES IT! Oh, Lisa Leake you tricky trickster. We get it! Cooking is easy!
Vegan Chili by She’s So Mickey. I definitely crave big bowls of chili served with cornbread in the winter. While normally I would go the slow cooker route, this vegan chili is so simple the YouTuber explains how to make it in 60 seconds! Great for all my vegan sistahs out there…but really for anyone. Also, if you have a super hectic week this Winter and money is tight, may I recommend She’s So Mickey’s 21 Meals for $40 Part 1 OR Part 2. These would be super helpful for my babes in college or grad school.
Chocolate Souffle by Lo Bosworth. Did you ever think when you were binge watching The Hills (for the second time) that Lo would go to culinary school in New York? I certainly didn’t. While her cohort L.C. has made quite the fame-fame name for herself in the ~*~Lifestyle~*~ world, I kinda prefer Lo’s IDGAF video tutorial approach. These souffles would be the perfect addition to an at-home date night. Pair with super full glasses of red wine, a cozy throw blanket and your worn copy of “When Harry Met Sally.”
Pumpkin Pie by Leanne Brown. Maybe it’s because I’m an October baby but pumpkin pie is one of my all time favorite desserts! And BONUS it is pretty easy to make. Here, my cooking on the cheaps guru shows us how it’s done. Don’t you just love her???
Alright y’all, I hope you’re inspired to cook at home this Winter…or at least to sit in your pj’s and watch tons and tons of cooking tutorials on YouTube! What’s your favorite dish to make in the Winter? Do you have a go-to YouTube channel for yummy recipes? Let me know in the comments below!
So, here’s a totally random post because it’s Friday and I want to talk about some of my favorite things!
1) Bagel upgrades.
A bagel from Great Bagel. Hit it with any or all of the following: bacon, spinach, turkey, mustard, swiss, muenster, grilled onions, sriracha… I will be a happy girl. I’ve talked about creating food rituals at home before but this is my most tried and true “eating out” ritual. I typically order up one of these bad boys from the Good Foods Co-op every Monday aka Bagel Day.
2) Binge watching newly discovered YouTubers.
I can’t stop watching the YouTube channel ViviannaDoesMakeup and I really have no idea why. Well, maybe I have somewhat of an idea…I LOVE HER ACCENT. She mostly does makeup videos (tutorials, hauls, etc) which I haven’t really been watching. But I’m totally obsessed with her vlog videos and her very adorable British life. Isn’t she the cutest? Most days, I get home from work at approximately twenty to 11 pm (crazy, right?) and I’ve found that I just can’t pay attention to whole TV shows that late at night but I still want to watch SOMETHING to unwind in the midst of checking my sites. Lifestyle YouTube videos have been fitting the bill nicely as of late.
3) Revisiting my youth by way of the library.
Remember this book??? I picked it up at the library the other day (along with this book of accompanying short stories–more on that later) and it has been so fun to leaf through. Writing stories based on the mysterious pictures was one of my favorite elementary school activities. No wonder so many of us grew up to love conspiracy theories!
4) Putting cranberry sauce on everything.
I don’t know where this idea came from but lately I’ve been really into grilling fish (salmon, cod, tilapia) on my Foreman and somehow I got it in my head that cranberry sauce would be a really delish addition. So I picked up a jar of this R.W. Knudsen cranberry sauce from the grocery and gave it a try. OMG, it is the perfect finish for a really simple meal of meat, vegetables and rice…tangy and sweet and you just need one little dollop.
5) My new capsule wardrobe.
So, if you don’t know, I have a really weird obsession with capsule wardrobes (I talked about my love of minimalism ogling here). In addition to my “one in, one out” rule (which I’ve been really good about! Just the other day I took a whole Trader’s Joe bag full of clothes and accessories to donate when I was initially just looking to get rid of a one skirt and one necklace) I’ve been trying to streamline my wardrobe. I finally solidified a late summer/early fall capsule wardrobe that I’m really happy with. Outfit #1 from the capsule is pictured above! Longer post to follow, I’m sure. ; )
Now, tell me a few of YOUR favorite things? I wanna know what is making you happy and giddy this Friday! Spill!
(Top image comprised of a photo from The Sound of Music and an illustration by Tyler Feder)
Around the same time I came out to the World Wide Web at large as a “blogger,” I noticed that one of my very talented friends, Richard Heyne, was diving into a new and exciting project of his own. And yes, this spoken-word artist, writer and educator is making quite the splash. Dick Does Poetry brings weekly videos of Richard’s self-written poems to your computer screen in a social media blitzkrieg.
I was intrigued by this project from the beginning–I’ve been a huge fan of slam and spoken-word poetry for years but have always felt a little shy about the process. I’d much rather hide behind the words on the page in the hopes that if an audience hears their own voice, as well as mine, in what I write, they won’t…well….hate it. Dick Does Poetry completely turns this fear on it’s head by taking the internet oath to bring you new content each week. The poems themselves are diverse and vulnerable, they aren’t always perfect. But, as Richard points out, that’s the point. Desensitizing us to the grittiness and honesty of a quick turnaround poem could do a lot to encourage the masses to share their art, too. Richard’s project also attempts to ameliorate writer’s block for his audience. A unique twist in a genre that can sometimes come off as a little self-aggrandizing. And Dick Does Poetry offers this new, accessible approach to poetry and community all through the power of YouTube…
Eager to learn more about Dick Does Poetry, I set up a chat with the Dick behind the poetry…Check it out!
First things first, give us a rundown of your project.
Okay, so basically, Dick Does Poetry is a YouTube channel that celebrates the spoken word. Every week I upload at least one new poem. One element that makes this project unique is the video description for each of these videos includes the prompt that I used to write whatever poem people are listening to. This was inspired by the fact that no one is really out there doing what I’m doing right now. YouTube is such an awesome resource for performance artists. Yet, when you try to find spoken word (or any poetry for that matter) you get a lot of performances in coffee shops or poetry slams. While these are awesome, the video quality is usually so bad that you can’t fully enjoy the poetry. I’m hoping that my channel will inspire others to follow suit–start their own channels and share their own poetry. The prompts are there to help keep them inspired and writing.That being said, my project is also for anyone who just wants to enjoy some poetry. It is nice to have a source that is constantly adding new material. So, I want to provide that as well.
You mentioned that you share the method (prompt, inspiration, etc) that informed each of your poems in the “About” section of their video. Where did that idea come from?
Well, I don’t want this to be something only I do. Right now the project is growing and starting to pick up steam. I’m hoping as it becomes more established, similar channels will emerge. People will use those prompts and write their own poems. Maybe post video responses to my original video. I mean, wouldn’t it be cool to have all these different channels where everyone is just writing and sharing and providing feedback? I’m a dreamer. I love poetry. I think this can happen.
How did you initially stumble upon the spoken word community?
I first started doing spoken word in 10th grade, and competed in my first slam that same year. My Speech & Debate coach (Travis Kiger) was somewhat of a spoken word guru and took me under his wing. He took a group of us to go compete in this slam at the Write Side Café in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I wish I had filmed this whole process. It was for sure a little comical. There were like eight students from my school competing and maybe ten other poets who actually knew what they were doing. The slam was set up to find members for the Ft. Lauderdale Brave New Voices team. (Brave New Voices is the largest high school slam in the world). Well, this slam was somewhat of a train wreck. We weren’t memorized. We were shy. It just didn’t go well.To make the team you had to finish top four. I managed to get 5th after performing a poem about breaking up with God that was received really well. I got a perfect 30, and it gave me just enough of a bump to almost make the team. But, alas, you needed to get top four.However! Team Jacksonville was at that slam, scoping out the competition. Long story short, they liked me. They reached out to me. I went to Brave New Voices with them. Out of the 50 teams there from around the world, we made it to the final stage.I performed for over three thousand people, and I’ve pretty much been hooked since.
Web-based projects like yours are awesome because they make art so wonderfully accessible but they can also act as educational tools. What new knowledge do you think Dick Does Poetry followers can take away from your project?
The biggest takeaway from this project is there is nothing to fear with sharing your poetry. That is easily everyone’s greatest fear, and I suspect the reason why this kind of project doesn’t exist. Yes, I have gotten some really mean comments. Yes, people send me feedback that is helpful, but also hurtful. Hell, I recently got my first dislike! That sucked! But, that is just part of what we do. Poets are special because they know how to capture beauty and vulnerability and things that normal people only feel, but don’t understand. We are the interpreters of life. Unfortunately, we’re also a closeted bunch. Sure, the prompts are fun. The poetry is pretty decent and getting better. But, when I have a poet message me and say they started writing again because of this channel, or they think they’re ready to do their first poetry reading because of what I’m doing… THAT’S what I want to teach. Screw the haters. They’re going to exist in your life, regardless of what you’re doing. So why not do something beautiful? Enough people will be there to love and support you.
Were you nervous about starting such a visible project?
YES! I was scared as hell starting this thing. I’ve had this idea since my sophomore year in college. I’m a second semester senior and I’m just now starting it. Understand a lot of these poems I’m writing the week before. It is very Trey Parker and Matt Stone of me. I write on Saturday, revise Sunday and Monday, film Tuesday, edit Wednesday, record the outro and upload to YouTube on Thursday. A lot of poetry we see has gone through workshops, several rounds of revision, performance work, memorization, etc. I’m kind of just winging it. It’s scary. I stumble in the videos. I make odd inflections with my voice. But, that is what this channel is all about. Making mistakes. Learning. Growing.
We’re always in pursuit of lifelong learning here on the ol’ blog, I’d love to know–what resources would you recommend for readers who would like to delve deeper?
Okay, with these questions, people like to leave a laundry list of things. I’ve always found that overwhelming. Anyone who wants to delve deeper, go on Amazon and buy The Monkey and The Wrench edited by Mary Biddinger and John Gallaher. You can get it for like fifteen dollars and it will change your entire outlook on poetry. I’ve read it like eight times.
Finally, who do you write FOR?
I write for who I used to be. For who “we” used to be. So much of poetry, and life for that matter, is based on reflecting upon what has happened up until this point. I’m constantly trying to evolve, and take a lot of pride in each step I take forward. In that process, we lose pieces of ourselves. One of the most heartbreaking facts of life is no one will ever be the same forever. I want to capture every version of myself in a time capsule- type fashion. I write for the homophobic middle school Richard. I write for the awkward high school Richard. I write for yesterday’s Richard who I’m still trying to figure out. Hopefully along the way I write a lot of truth. Hopefully people take something from that. Hopefully it lasts for a lot of lifetimes. The quotation I live by is from my favorite author Chuck Palahniuk: “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”
Now, scoot on over to Richard’s channel and watch some poetry videos! Make today the day you write a poem! If you’re feeling newly inspired and brave…record it, upload it to YouTube and share it with Dick Does Poetry! There is no stopping a community of words, a community of voices bound together. And as Richard would say…
Finding delight. 