Yup, this it. This is our life right now with two months until the big move. This is our "staging area," and our smuggled box storage room. What was once an (albeit messy) guest room has become a room you don't come in late at night for fear of being off balance and starting an avalanche. We have been collecting boxes from every place we can think of: liquor stores, our friends and family (thanks Kate and Aunt Karen!), the sociology department, and my favorite: our recycling room at our apartment complex. I'm pretty sure Mike thinks I'm crazy when I go pick through the boxes in that room, but there are so many good ones! Anyway.. this is our life. Pretty soon, we will start the real packing. I don't want to do it too early because we still have to live here, but within the next month things will really be picking up.
We have the U-Haul truck all lined up for the move, hotels along the way booked and our moral support has made plans to come in. This includes my parents, who will graciously be driving the U-Haul which will be towing my car, and Mike's parents, who are coming in from Texas to hang out with us for that crazy weekend. My goal is to be unpacked and up and moving that weekend-- we will see!
We also bought our first major appliances together-- we bought a washer and dryer.. finally!! We took the plunge last week and cannot wait to get our hands on those babies. We have been waiting so long (so long) to be able to do laundry on the same floor as our apartment, and the time has finally come-- well, in two months when they get delivered, anyway. We could not be more excited.
In other news, Mike is defending his dissertation a week from today-- YAY!! Another big thing that feels like it has taken forever will soon be here, and I couldn't be more proud of him. I've seen how hard he's worked for so long, and soon, this awful beast called the dissertation will just be a stepping stone and a memory. Then, he can start at LSU with a clear mind and not be trying to tie up loose ends.
I also started teaching my first online course this week-- so far it is a really enjoyable experience. I'm sure at some point some catastrophe will happen, but my students are wonderful and they seem to be really thinking about the issues I'm raising. Maybe I should have hope for our generation after all.
In honor of our two month, pre-moversary (to quote the wonderful Liz Joyce), I want to share a recipe we have been absolutely in love with recently. Coincidentally it is also my first Cajun recipe, so it is the perfect dish for us right now!
Now, before we get to the good stuff, let me just say I am a sucker for magazines and gum in the check-out line at grocery stores. I am the person they are trying to reel in. I don't always bite, but this time I am so glad I did. This recipe comes from an a-mazing impulse buy at Price Chopper while we were grocery shopping-- it comes from a Weight Watchers magazine called "Five ingredient 15 minute chicken recipes." It should be on the stands until May 31 and I highly recommend it. All of the recipes look easy and delicious and each one we've made has been super tasty. Anyway, onto the good stuff!
Creole Chicken Thighs & Dirty Rice
Serves: 4
Creole Chicken Thighs
1/2 tsp Creole seasoning
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs (I always get ours at Trader Joe's!)
2 tsp canola oil
1/2 c. frozen cut okra
1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (I have been using ground)
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1. Rub creole seasoning evenly over chicken (we also like more than the recipe calls for-- our seasoning is "Slap ya Mama" Creole seasoning and it isn't too spicy.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skilled over m-h heat. Add chicken; cook 2 minutes. Turn chicken over. Stir in okra, thyme and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 10 minutes. Uncover and cook 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. (Serving size: about 2 chicken thighs and 1/3 c. tomato mixture)
Dirty Rice
1 (8.8 oz) pouch microwavable precooked long-grain rice with herbs
Cooking Spray
1/2 c. mixture of celery, onion and green bell pepper
4 oz andouille chicken sausage, chopped (I used al Fresco)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp chopped fresh parsely
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground red pepper (I usually add a little more)
1. Microwave rice according to package directions.
2. Heat a large saucepan over m-h heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add celery mixture, sausage and garlic. Saute 5 minutes or until sausage is browned and veggies are tender (You want a good char on the sausage). Remove from heat, stir in rice, parsely, salt and red pepper. (Serving size: 1/2 c.)
Enjoy!! I will be back with another delicious and healthy recipe soon!
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