4 Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 9

I'm taking a quick detour in my Secrets in Non-Profit Management Series, since SO many of you have been asking for a Four Favs post!  Visit the most recent one here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2013/03/4-favorite-things-i-love-right-now-part.html

NOTE:  "SO many" means Corinne, but hey -- I aim to please my best readers, people...

1. Mary Kay SatinHands Lotion -- This stuff is the bomb.  It is unscented and really works.  Mary Kay has a whole SatinHands system with scrub and other stuff, but I just love the lotion.  Always keep some on my desk and by the kitchen sink at home.
2. The Junior League of Dallas -- There is not a better organization in Dallas for women.  The JLD provides great support annually to non-profit agencies (Including Community Partners of Dallas -- Yippee!), but I will never cease to be amazed by all of the leaders trained by the league who are changing lives every day in our community.  I am honored to be a member.
3. Keurig K-Cup Brewer -- I know that I'm late to the party on this one and I love it so much that I am pissed at all of you who didn't tell me about how great it is.  Thank goodness that Lauren talked me into buying one for our office.  Truly, I can't wait to get to work each morning for my first cup of coffee.  LOVE it!
4. Moscow Mule -- For some reason, the whole office has been talking about Moscow Mules lately. Now, it may just be because the Back-to-School Drive is inching ever closer at CPD and we're just prepping for the onslaught, but still the subject has come up. And my recipe (adapted from Oprah) is the best:

Paige's Moscow Mule (makes 1)

• 1 ounce vodka (or more -- I use Absolute)
• 1 t simple syrup (I make this by putting 1 C sugar and 1 C water in a sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture is clear, then cool. Keeps in fridge forever.)
• Juice of 1/2 lime (must use fresh)
• 1/2 C ginger beer
• 1 sprig fresh mint

Directions: I make the drink in a measuring cup, stir, then pour over ice. Garnish with mint sprig.  I serve it in a Tervis Tumbler mug since I don't own copper ones.

What are your 4 favs?

4 Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 7

We are nearing the end of January -- where has the time gone?  Since December is the month of giving, January always seems like a bit of a let down, but for someone like me who craves alone time (sitting in front of the TV or with a good book, of course), January is one of my favorite months...

The world moves a little more slowly in January (at least for the first couple of weeks of the month), so I really feel like I have time to think and reflect on the past and the future.  So for the Four Faves this month, I started thinking about some stuff that friends told me about, gifted me, etc.

1. Cucina Coriander and Olive Tree Kitchen Soap -- Lynn McBee gave me this as a gift many years ago and I have never stopped buying it.  The scent is heavenly and you can buy it at Sur la Table or on amazon http://www.amazon.com/CUCINA-Purifying-Hand-Wash-Refill/dp/B00023DIBI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1358970135&sr=1-1&keywords=cucina+kitchen+soap
2. Tervis Tumblers -- Yes, I know that everyone has these insulated modern miracles http://www.amazon.com/Tervis-oz-Big-Clear-Tumbler/dp/B0002MR2WU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1358970395&sr=1-2&keywords=tervis+tumblers, but my friend and co-worker Ann McCurdy gave me one with my name on it for the office and I drink out of it every single day -- I can't live without iced tea in a Tervis Tumbler.  Neither can Ann!
3. May Books -- I have an iPhone, and iPad, and write this blog on a computer or one of the aforementioned devices, but I still like to take notes or make lists with a pen and paper.  That is why when Emily Loper found these darling books, many of us ordered them and started writing!  The one pictured above is my 2013 thought book -- for Community Partners of Dallas stuff, quotes, lists of events, places to visit, etc.  This 2013 one has the checker-board pages, but I think I prefer the dot pages I had for my 2012 book.  No matter what, they are great!  Design your own at:  http://www.maybooks.com/
4. Ina Garten's Oven Risotto -- this is one of my go-to recipes given to me by my friend Ina (like Oprah and Maya Angelou, Ina is my friend -- if only in my mind).  I make a half making about every two weeks and have it for dinner for about 3 nights.  I always keep the stuff to make it, so it can be my dinner pronto.  Here's the recipe:

Ina Garten's Easy Parmesan "Risotto"

1 1/2 cups Arborio rice

5 cups simmering chicken stock, preferably homemade, divided (I use store-bought)

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I do really grate the reggiano myself on my box grater)

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup frozen peas

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the rice and 4 cups of the chicken stock in a Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente. Remove from the oven, add the remaining cup of chicken stock, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, and pepper, and stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and stir until heated through. Serve hot.