New News (Almost!) And Other Things on the Horizon...

Holy moley there are a lot of things going on these days, all while not much is going on.  (For a perfect example, right now I've settled into the lifestyle of my 63 and almost 77 year old parents - waking up early, running errands, going to the gym, making dinner, in bed by 9:30.  It's not a bad life, but it's also good when I can break out and have some social time with people who don't qualify for senior citizen discounts…)

That said, there a life change that is coming (details have to be ironed out before I tell them all, but it's going to be pretty cool, I promise), and because I have some time before that opportunity starts, I've made a few goals to be completed in the interim.

I've got about 100 days to be here, in Lacey, spending time with my parents, and being able to focus on some things that sometimes fall by the wayside when I'm living elsewhere.  These goals are pretty damn optimistic, but that's at least partly why I'm putting them out there on the interwebs.  Group accountability, or peer pressure to not fuck up, as it's also called.

So today is September 10, and 100 days from now is December 18.  By then, I would like to say that I have achieved all these goals, and I do truly believe that if I do, I'll be in a great (and way better) place, mentally, emotionally, and physically to begin the next adventure.  Ready?  Here we go…

By December 18, 2015, I will:

1. Finish the School Nutrition class I am currently enrolled in
2. Begin and finish the Childhood Wellness class that is the second in that certificate program
3. Plan, write, and layout my coffee table book - get everything done except getting it published
4. Post all the pictures that I took from my trip over the summer on facebook
5. Send out the letters and cards that are on my "send these things to people" list
6. Spend 50 hours improving my Irish and old-timey fiddling
7. Spend 50 hours practicing the guitar
8. Complete a 100 day burpee challenge
9. Complete the 100 Happy Days challenge on Instagram
10. Do one thing every day that I have never done before
11. Complete my LinkedIn profile (and make it absolutely kick ass)
12. Write and publish 35 blog posts
13. Write 7 food-based articles/papers
14. Read 5 books of at least 200 pages
15. Sell 100 pieces of Silver Hilltops Designs jewelry
16. Write and send 5 letters to inspirational women in the world
17. Go to the gym 35 times
18. Complete 30 swimming workouts
19. Run 150 miles
20. Master 5 Julia Child recipes

Now these are certainly not going to be easy - definitely some of them, I'm already wondering if I can get them all the way completed in that space of time.  But 100 days isn't nothing - and I'd like to think that if I can stay motivated, I can do all of these things.  (I mean, look at this - already today, I've done 1 burpee, I've gone to the gym, I've written a blog post, I've instagrammed my happy moment, and I've learned something new.)

WHEW!

Let's see how this next 99 days goes….keep me accountable, internet!

-Bethy

Make Your Own Condiments: Balsamic Reduction

It's absolutely no question that working as a sous chef in a corporate kitchen with two badass women for my last year and a half in Boston upped my cooking game.  It also upped my confidence-in-the-kitchen game, and recently, my parents have been reaping the benefits…(but more on that later…)

What I also found is that so many of the condiments that we put on our foods - I'm talking salad dressings, dips, spreads, syrups, etc - are not only extremely easy to make, but are so filled with unnecessary ingredients when they are bought at a store instead of homemade.  There are preservatives to keep them shelf stable, and most condiments are FULL of added sugars.  That is not to say that these foods aren't made with sugar, but making them yourself gives the power to you to sweeten to your desire instead.

Because of all of that, I'm looking forward to posting some blogs about how to make your own condiments.  Trust me, once you see how easy it is, you'll never look twice at bottles of salad dressing at the store ever again.

Balsamic vinegar is the only ingredient in today's recipe.  Wait.  What?!?

Yes.

You'll hear the product that this recipe makes called by two names - balsamic reduction and balsamic glaze.  Now, technically, for something to be a glaze, there has to be sugar involved.  Many recipes on the internet have recipes for balsamic glaze include balsamic vinegar and either honey or sugar.  So since I decided to let the vinegar's natural sweetness speak for itself, it's just a reduction I'm making here.  I'm literally just reducing the vinegar over heat until it's syrup-y and thick and sweet and tangy.

Balsamic Reduction
(makes 1/2 cup)

Ingredients:
1 cup balsamic vinegar

Pour balsamic vinegar into a shallow pan over medium heat.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to boil.  Turn heat down to simmer, continuing to stir every once in a while to make sure the mixture isn't sticking to the bottom.  When it has thickened, and reduced by about half, you are down.  Take your reduction off the stove, wait for it to cool a bit, and then find a bottle to put it in.  I used a small squeeze bottle that makes it really fun to decorate food and/or plates with.


You guys - that's it.  It's just boiling some of the water out of balsamic vinegar.  And anything you're going to find at the store is going to be not only super expensive, but filled with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives, and probably not taste as good as this.  If you do need more sweetness in this, just add some honey or maple syrup and stir it in.  (Of course, then it's officially a glaze, but I digress…)

Try this.  It is super worth your while, I promise.

-Bethy