asian chicken curried salad

Posted on January 30, 2014 by dallaswoodburn

So, my grandma?

Not only is this woman adorable and funny and kind, she is also a fabulous cook! {Check out her recipes for curried butternut squash & apple soup, apple cake with brown sugar glaze, and vegetable salad with honey-apple vinaigrette.}

Last week she tried out a new recipe for asian chicken salad that was an instant hit in our little household. Grandpap and I both went back for seconds — I think Grandpap may have even gone back for thirds! I took photos because I knew immediately that I wanted to share the recipe with all of you. So here it is:

grandma’s asian chicken salad
– 2-3 cups cubed chicken
– 4 oz can of water chestnuts, drained & sliced
– 1 lb. seedless green grapes, halved
– 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
– 14 oz. can pineapple chunks, drained
– 1 cup toasted almonds
– 1 cup chopped celery

for the dressing:
– 3/4 cup greek yogurt
– 1 tsp. curry powder
– 2 tsp. soy sauce
– 2 tsp. lemon juice
– salt & pepper to taste

1. In a big bowl, combine chicken, water chestnuts, grapes, oranges, pineapple, almonds, and celery.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and whisk until well combined.

3. Toss the chicken mixture with the dressing until everything is well-coated.

4. Chill several hours, or even overnight.

5. Serve on lettuce for a salad, or on a roll as a sandwich.

At first Grandma made different versions with either the pineapple or the oranges, but we decided we liked it best with all the ingredients!

Question of the evening:

What are some of your favorite recipes lately?

5 thoughtful gift ideas for valentine’s day {or any day}

Posted on January 15, 2014 by dallaswoodburn

Today I was browsing Target while waiting for Charley’s routine service appointment to be over, and one thing was very clear: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Yes, people — hard to believe, but it’s officially less than a month away.

I LOVE love and I love Valentine’s Day. I’m single this year, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be celebrating my little heart out. I don’t know about you, but I think the scope of V-day is often presented too narrowly. Why just focus on romantic love? To me, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that celebrates love in all its forms; an excuse to let all of those special people in your life know how very much they mean to you.

So today I’ve rounded up some thoughtful gift ideas for Valentine’s Day — or any day, really!

1. Personalized gifts. Anytime you can personalize something, I think it makes the gift that much more thoughtful. For my cousin Julie’s bridal shower, I ordered this beautiful blanket for her and her husband-to-be from Personal Creations. The company embroidered a corner of the blanket with their names and wedding date. It turned out beautifully and I could tell that the personalized touch made the gift even more special to Julie.

2. Homemade cards. As attested by my massive stash of stationary, it’s obvious that I love browsing stationary and greeting card stores. {I sometimes need to put myself on “probation” from buying anything, my habit gets so out of control!} But, for every adorable Taylor Swift greeting card I have saved up to send to Holly, there’s something to be said for homemade cards. Knowing that you put in extra effort to craft not just the personal message inside, but every aspect of the card, makes it extremely thoughtful.

3. Creative gifts or craft projects. Use your imagination and have fun with it! Pinterest and blogs are a wealth of ideas for homemade gifts and creative scavenger-hunt-type gifts. I discovered this clever poster idea last year on Peanut Butter Fingers and thought it was so cute, thoughtful {and easy to do, even if you don’t consider yourself very craft-savvy!}

4. An experience that you can share together. Try something new like a painting class, wine tasting, disco bowling night, a local concert — any fun new experience that you can share with the recipient is a sweet gift that builds awesome memories.

5. Homemade baked goods. Okay, maybe I just love baking! 🙂 But in my opinion, you can never go wrong with homemade treats. Last year I made red velvet crinkle cookies for the nursing home and they were a big hit. Here are some other recipes you might try:
– peanut butter cup brownies
– white chocolate pretzels
– chocolate-covered popcorn
– strawberry coconut cookies
– carrot cake with coconut cream-cheese frosting
– butterscotch pudding cookies
– classic chocolate chip cookies

Questions for the evening:

What are some of your favorite thoughtful gifts? {That you’ve given or that you’ve received!}
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

goals + cookie recipes for the week of 12/15

Posted on December 15, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

Happy Sunday! I can’t believe it’s the beginning of another week … and that Christmas is only ten days away! I hope that your holiday season has an abundance of joy and laughter, and a minimum of stress.

I’m back home with my family for the holidays and it is soooo nice! On Friday night I went with my mom to her office holiday party, and we had a blast. They set up a “casino night” and we spent a large chunk of the evening playing black jack. It was my first time playing black jack, but luckily the dealer was very sweet and gave me hints about what I should do. {Apparently that doesn’t happen in Vegas! Haha.}

I’ve been busy preparing for my cousin Julie’s bridal shower next weekend. Longtime blog readers might be experiencing deja vu: last Christmas I threw a bridal shower for Julie’s sister, my cousin Amanda. That party turned out beautifully and a lot of fun was had by all. This year, it’s Julie’s turn!

The rest of the weekend has been spent running errands, wrapping presents, baking, decorating the house for Christmas, watching made-for-TV holiday movies, and goofing around with Mr. Murdog.

Hope you’re having a productive and/or relaxing weekend! Now, on to goals …

Here’s how I did on my goals for the week of 12/1:
– ~~write 15 pages of new material~~
– ~~prepare for Steinbeck Center reading on Wedsnesday~~
– ~~exercise at least twice~~
– ~~finish reading Girls in White Dresses~~ {this book is aaaamazing!}
– order holiday cards
– ~~publicize Winter Writing Camp~~
– ~~connect with two friends~~

Here are my goals for the week of 12/15:
– write 10 pages of new material
– take cookies & cards to the nursing home
– exercise at least twice
– finish reading The Tea Rose
– order holiday cards
– teach a fantastic Winter Writing Camp
– throw a wonderful bridal shower for my cousin Julie
– connect with two friends

And here are some of my favorite holiday treat recipes!
– aunt elaine’s peanut butter blossoms
– mom’s classic chocolate chip cookies
– eggnog cookies w/buttercream frosting
– gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
– gramps’ favorite lemon bars
– reeses pb cup brownies
– chocolate-covered popcorn
– white chocolate pretzels

Questions for the day:

What are you thankful for this holiday season
What are your favorite holiday cookie recipes?
What are your goals for this upcoming week?

thanksgiving + goals for the week of 12/1

Posted on December 1, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

Happy December, friends! How was your Thanksgiving? I wanted to take a moment to say how thankful I am for all of YOU. Thank you for your kind comments and emails and “likes” and for taking the time to visit my little corner of the blogosphere. It is a privilege and joy to be part of your lives!

Thanksgiving in the Woodburn household was chaotic and wonderful. A bunch of my brother’s friends from business school came home with him for Thanksgiving dinner, so my mom and I made a TON of food to make sure all those boys got their fill. My favorite Thanksgiving dishes are always the sides: sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries … yum! And don’t forget about the pumpkin pie {leftovers of which I have been eating for breakfast the past few days, not gonna lie!} Everyone was so grateful and complimentary and they all definitely left our house with happy bellies. The house feels quiet now without them, and Mr. Mur-dog is exhausted from all the excitement.

Yesterday I headed over to my cousin Amanda‘s new apartment to watch the USC football game. I brought “lucky” rice krispies treats decorated with USC cardinal-and-gold M&Ms … but unfortunately they weren’t so lucky, as our Trojans lost big-time to rival UCLA. Oh well, you can’t win ’em all! And I still had a lovely catch-up visit with my cousins.

Today has been a relaxing Sunday. I had brunch with Erica and her boyfriend and sister … we made pecan cinnamon bun pancakes = aaaamazing! Now I’m planning to curl up on the couch with Jennifer Close’s Girls in White Dresses. But first, goals!

Here’s how I did on my goals from two weeks ago:
– ~~write 15 pages of new material~~
– ~~submit fellowship application~~
– ~~exercise at least twice~~
– ~~finish reading Happier Endings: a meditation on life and death~~
– ~~connect with two friends~~

Here are my goals for the week of 12/1:
– write 15 pages of new material
– prepare for Steinbeck Center reading on Wedsnesday
– exercise at least twice
– finish reading Girls in White Dresses
– order holiday cards
– publicize Winter Writing Camp
– connect with two friends

Questions for the afternoon:

How was your Thanksgiving?
What are you thankful for in your life?
What are your goals for this upcoming week?

eggnog cookies w/buttercream frosting

Posted on November 30, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is officially beginning to feel like the Christmas season! I saw eggnog at the grocery store yesterday. I am not a straight-up eggnog fan … but eggnog frosting is a different story!

When I saw this recipe on Sweat Pea’s Kitchen for eggnog cookies, I immediately printed it out. Don’t let the cookie-and-frosting combo fool you: these cookies look fancy, but they are super easy to make. And I was blown away by how good they are! Even though I do not consider myself an eggnog drinker, I do now admit to being an eggnog consumer — in cookie form! 🙂

eggnog cookies {yields one dozen}

for the cookies:
1 & 1/8 cups whole-wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tbsp unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup eggnog
1-2 tablespoons rum {optional}

for the eggnog buttercream frosting:

1/8 cup softened butter
1/4 cup eggnog {I used pumpkin flavored eggnog}
1 & 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1-2 teaspoons rum {optional}

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice.

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat well. Finally, add the eggnog. Batter will be fairly thin.

4. Add the dry ingredients in increments and mix until well-combined.

5. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between the cookies. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes.

6. Allow to cool on the sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling racks to cool completely before frosting.

7. While cookies are baking, make the frosting: butter, eggnog, cinnamon, nutmet and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add more eggnog if needed to reach the desired consistency.

8. After cookies are completely cool, ice them with a small spatula or butter knife and sprinkle with ground nutmeg if desired.

These cookies are the perfect holiday treat!

you might also enjoy these holiday cookie recipes:
– two-ingredient pumpkin spice cookies
– aunt elaine’s peanut butter blossoms
– mom’s classic chocolate-chip cookies

the USC game yesterday!! also, goals + meal plan for the week of 11/17

Posted on November 17, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

WOW. The USC game yesterday was one of the most thrilling football games I’ve ever watched! It was so amazing to be there, cheering on my alma mater alongside my family and friends. My parents and I spent the afternoon tailgating on campus with a bunch of my brother’s business school friends. It was great to meet them!

The game itself was a nail-biter and came down to the wire, but ultimately USC pulled out a victory over Stanford with a long field goal. WOO!! We were all jumping up and down and screaming with joy. It was so much fun! I hadn’t been back to a football game in the Coliseum since I graduated, and I forgot how amazing it is to be there. I love all the traditions: Traveler running down the sidelines, the marching band and spirit leaders and song girls, lighting the torch at the beginning of the fourth quarter… And I love how you become friends with the people sitting around you as all of you go crazy cheering on your team! We had a blast.

We drove home from the game last night and arrived back at the house just in time to watch Lady Gaga host SNL … what did you guys think? I was pretty impressed. Lady Gaga isn’t in this skit, but I randomly loved Kenan’s character Mr. Senior … his “special report” telling people to STOP with early Christmas and enjoy Thanksgiving had me cracking up: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-mr-senior/n43347/

All in all, it’s been a whirlwind weekend! I can’t believe I’m already headed back up to the Bay tomorrow. Today has been a peaceful, quiet Sunday at home … went to church this morning, grocery shopped with my mom, and now we’re watching football while waiting for my Gramps to come over to dinner soon. My mom is spoiling me and making my favorite stuffed chicken breasts! YUM.

Here’s how I did on my goals from this past week:
– ~~write 15 pages of new material~~
– ~~send out my novel chapters for Dec. fellows workshop~~
– submit fellowship application
– ~~exercise at least twice~~
– finish reading Happier Endings: a meditation on life and death
– ~~connect with two friends~~

Here are my goals for the week of 11/17:
– write 15 pages of new material
– submit fellowship application
– exercise at least twice
– finish reading Happier Endings: a meditation on life and death
– connect with two friends

And here are some recipes I’m planning to try out: {if you can’t tell, I’ve already got Thanksgiving on the brain!}
– healthy green bean casserole via The Lean Green Bean
– sweet-filled acorn squash bowl via It’s Progression
– greek yogurt biscuits and mini pumpkin cinnamon rolls via Two Peas & Their Pod
– pumpkin and kale stew via The Pajama Chef

Questions of the day:

What were the highlights of your weekend?
What are your goals and menu plans for this upcoming week?

grandpap’s favorite cherry-cheese pie

Posted on November 12, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

For my Grandpap’s birthday this past weekend, we made him his favorite dessert: cherry-cheese pie! It was a big hit with my family, and I was surprised at how simple it was to make. This would be a great holiday dessert alternative to pumpkin or pecan pie!

grandpap’s favorite cherry-cheese pie
– 2 eggs
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 2 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 & 1/2 cups sour cream
– 2 packages {8 oz each} cream cheese, softened {I used one regular package and one package of reduced-fat}
– 2 tbsp melted butter
– graham cracker crumb crust
– 1 can {21 oz} cherry pie filling

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Beat together eggs, sugar, vanilla, and sour cream.

3. Cut cream cheese into small pieces. Gradually add the cream cheese to the sour-cream mixture, beating well.

4. Beat in melted butter.

5. Pour cheese mixture into 9-inch graham cracker crust. Bake for 35 minutes, or until set in center. Will firm up as it cools.

6. Top with cherry pie filling; chill cherry cheesecake pie thoroughly before serving.

Hope you enjoy as much as Grandpap did! 🙂

you might also enjoy these recipes:
– perfect pumpkin pie
– blueberry pie
– gluten-free apple pie bites

goals + meal-plan for the week of 11/10

Posted on November 10, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

Happy Sunday, friends! Hope your weekend has been lovely!

I’m so excited for this upcoming week … today we’re celebrating my Grandpap’s birthday, on Wednesday I’m getting together with my friend Dana, and on Thursday I’m headed home to Ventura for a long weekend! The USC Homecoming Football Game is on Saturday and I’m tailgating with my brother and then meeting up with my dear friend Ben who is coming all the way from NYC for the game!

Ben and I met at freshman orientation, when we were the last two people left in the test-taking room for the Spanish placement exam. {I knew my slow test-taking skills would one day pay off, haha} We’ve been friends ever since. I haven’t seen him in over a year and I cannot wait to give him the biggest hug and catch up in between cheering on our football team. 🙂

I’m also bursting with excitement to seeing my parents and my Gramps and of course Mr. Murdog! And Erica and I are planning to have one of our epic Simone’s chai latte dates — one of my favorite things on the planet. It should be a busy and wonderful week!

Here’s how I did on my goals from this past week:
– write 25 pages of new material {with my cold I didn’t quite get this many pages done … but I did still write every day, so that’s something!}
– ~~submit second Ph.D. application~~
– ~~exercise at least three times~~
– ~~finish reading Stay Up With Me~~
– ~~connect with two friends~~

Here are my goals for the week of 11/10:
– write 15 pages of new material
– send out my novel chapters for Dec. fellows workshop
– submit fellowship application
– exercise at least twice
– finish reading Happier Endings: a meditation on life and death
– connect with two friends

And here are some recipes I’m hoping to try out this week:
– sweet korean bbq beef via Chew Out Loud
– skinny southwest chicken dip via The Pajama Chef
– pumpkin toffee chocolate chip muffins via Two Peas & Their Pod
– pumpkin spice steel-cut oats via Wellness Today

This post is linked up to Menu-Plan Monday!

Questions for the morning:

What are your goals and meal plans for the week?
What are you looking forward to this week?

goals + meal-plan for the week of 11/3

Posted on November 3, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

I feel like I say this every Sunday, but dang … this weekend is going by so fast! A good kind of fast, though — time is flying because I’m having fun. 🙂 On Friday I met up with a … Continue reading →

oven-roasted pumpkin seeds

Posted on October 29, 2013 by dallaswoodburn

Happy Tuesday! As promised in an earlier post, I have a quick & easy recipe to share with you today: oven-roasted pumpkin seeds. If you are someone like me who does not like to waste anything, this is a great way to get the most bang for your buck out of your carved Halloween pumpkins!

After you’ve scooped out all those slimy pumpkin guts, why not roast up the pumpkin seeds for a healthy and delicious snack or salad-topper? Pumpkin seeds are a terrific source of zinc, vitamin e, and a wealth of antioxidants!

oven-roasted pumpkin seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Rinse the seeds clean of all pumpkin goop.

3. Dry the seeds on a paper towel.

4. In a small bowl, stir 2 tbsp butter or coconut oil with the seeds until they are well-greased.

5. Spread out the seeds in one layer on the baking sheet. {We had enough pumpkin seeds to do two separate batches.}

6. Season however your heart desires! We did one sweet batch {pumpkin pie spice + cinnamon} and one savory batch {garlic salt + ground pepper.}

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until seeds begin to turn golden brown at edges. Be careful not to overcook the seeds, because they burn quickly! Roasting pumpkin seeds reminded me a lot of cooking popcorn, where things can go from delicious –> disastrous in a very short time frame.

ENJOY! 🙂

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