tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64028708053585347362024-02-08T04:58:44.085-08:00Frolicking AdventuresKasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-72139520021270480342013-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-08T05:30:00.910-07:00Spanish Chickpeas and Spinach with Roasted Garlic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RA46YR1mun0/UTtCgQihOCI/AAAAAAAADeQ/-OGZe7P19Zs/s1600/Photo+Feb+14,+8+59+33+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RA46YR1mun0/UTtCgQihOCI/AAAAAAAADeQ/-OGZe7P19Zs/s1600/Photo+Feb+14,+8+59+33+PM.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Ingredients</b>:<br />
15 cloves garlic (1 head)<br />
1 tbsp coconut oil<br />
1 yellow onion, chopped<br />
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced<br />
1 tsp smoked sweet paprika<br />
1/4 tsp ancho chile powder<br />
1 1/4 cups cooked chickpeas, cooking liquid reserved<br />
1 bunch spinach<br />
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice<br />
2 tsp red wine vinegar<br />
1/4 cup scallions, chopped<br />
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<b>Preparation</b>:<br />
<i>The original recipe says this serves 4--maybe Kevin & I are excessively hungry people but it was just enough for the two of us.</i><br />
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1. Roast the garlic by chopping off the top, sprinkling with oil, salt and pepper. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and roast at 400F for 45 minutes. Set aside to cool when finished.<br />
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2. Chop the onion and bell pepper.<br />
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3. In a medium non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and red pepper and sprinkle with salt. Saute until tender and translucent, around 5-10 minutes.<br />
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4. Stir in the smoked paprika and Ancho chile powder, stirring until fragrant.<br />
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5. Drain chickpeas but save 1/4 cup of bean liquid. Add the chickpeas and bean liquid.<br />
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6. Stir and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes until most of the liquid has disappeared.<br />
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7. Stir in the spinach, adding it in batches, allowing it to wilt.<br />
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8. Once all the spinach has been added, turn off heat.<br />
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9. Stir in the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, scallions and roasted garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.<br />
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This recipe is absolutely delicious. You'll make it once and want to eat it again for the next week of meals!<br />
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<b>Enjoy!</b></div>
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<br />Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-56895009619437127122013-03-09T05:59:00.001-08:002013-03-09T10:58:28.988-08:00Tomatillo SalsaWe've been slightly lame with festive meals the past month--typically repeating some of our ultimate favs (<a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-festive-feast.html" target="_blank">black bean burgers</a>). BUT! Tomatillo Salsa is here and totally delicious! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tomatillo Salsa</b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbrTkV8U5ng/UTs8m42-b_I/AAAAAAAADc0/yA7tLiQU5wI/s1600/Photo+Feb+24,+8+05+19+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbrTkV8U5ng/UTs8m42-b_I/AAAAAAAADc0/yA7tLiQU5wI/s1600/Photo+Feb+24,+8+05+19+PM.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1/2 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and quartered<br />
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped<br />
1 onion, chopped <br />
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped<br />
1/2 cup packed cilantro leaves<br />
heaping 1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
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<b>Preparation:</b><br />
Husk, rinse and dice tomatillos<br />
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Chop jalapeño pepper, onion and garlic clove, set aside 1/2 cup cilantro leaves<br />
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Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse to combine and get juices flowing. (We've tried both methods and found success)<br />
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Blend on low speed until a coarse puree is formed.<br />
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Pour into a dish, taste and add more salt or lime if desired. <br />
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Tomatillo salsa has a very different taste than a tomato based salsa but its delicious and absolutely perfect for tacos or any other mexican style dish you are making.<br />
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Here is a little <a href="http://vine.co/v/bX0QZY1rmz6" target="_blank">vine video</a> of the process, enjoy!</div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-28315630322359490112013-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:002013-02-04T05:30:00.970-08:00A Festive Feast<span style="font-size: small;">New Years Eve <span style="font-size: small;">Kevin and I came across a new bla<span style="font-size: small;">ck<span style="font-size: small;"> bean burger recipe and well <span style="font-size: small;">we <span style="font-size: small;">are<span style="font-size: small;"> now </span>officially obsessed. We have these burgers at least three or four times in th<span style="font-size: small;">e past month and can't seem to <span style="font-size: small;">get enough. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="st"><i>While</i> <em>visions of black bean burgers danced in their heads</em></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>...</i></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<u>Black Bean Burgers</u><br />
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<b>Needed:</b><br />
<div>
1 teaspoon canola oil<br />2 cups black beans, cooked (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)<br />1 egg, beaten<br />1/2 cup quick-cooking oats<br />1/4 cup red onion, diced<br />2 garlic cloves, minced<br />1/2 teaspoon kosher salt<br />1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper<br />2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped<br />2 tablespoons canola oil </div>
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<b>Servings: </b>4 Burgers</div>
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<b>Preparation:</b><br />
1. Chop red onion and garlic, and to pan with 1 teaspoon of oil. Saute over medium heat until softened. Set to the side and let cool.<br />
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3. Combine beans, egg, oats, onion, salt, pepper and chopped
cilantro in a large mixing bowl -- thoroughly mix and mash, leaving a
few whole beans. (<i>We have since added chopped green bell peppers to the mix, yum!</i>)</div>
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4. Divide mixture into 4 equal portions and shape into patties.<br />5. Refrigerate
patties for half an hour--this helps hold the burgers together while cooking.</div>
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6. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in large pan over medium-high heat.<br />7. Add burgers to the pan, cooking 4 minutes on each side until firm.</div>
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8. Garish with some homemade guacamole, onions, and hot sauce on a lettuce wrap.</div>
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<br /><br />As I said earlier it was New Years Eve so we wanted our last festive meal of 2012 to be a feast to remember. That being said we also made a "side" of roasted potatoes and asparagus -- it really could have been a full meal in itself. </div>
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<u>Roasted Potatoes & Asparagus</u></div>
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<b>Needed:</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 bunch fresh asparagus </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3-4 medium potatoes</div>
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olive oil</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 cloves, garlic, sliced </div>
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1 tablespoon dry Italian seasoning</div>
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salt and fresh black pepper</div>
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1-2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Grated Parmesan cheese (<i>the original recipe calls for parmesan but we totally forgot to add it</i>)</div>
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<b>Preparation:</b><br />
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees<br />
2. Chop 3-4 medium potatoes into small/medium pieces<br />
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3. Chop garlic cloves<br />
4. Trim asparagus ends and cut in 1 1/2 – 2 inch pieces<br />
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5. In a large mixing bowl toss
the asparagus, potatoes, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, Italian
seasoning, salt and pepper together.<br />
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6. Mix together until potatoes and asparagus is completely covered in seasonings<br />
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7. Grease a roasting pan, casserole dish or sheet pan or line with
parchment paper.<br />
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8. Roast vegetables about 45 minutes or until potatoes are
tender.<br />
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9. <i>Serve with Parmesan cheese. (Definitely going to try to remember the parmesan next time</i>.) <br />
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<b>Enjoy! </b>Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-35065913983741280332013-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:002013-02-03T05:30:01.514-08:00Lucky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sweetheart-x.tumblr.com/post/42130978280" target="_blank">Source</a></span></div>
<br />
Walking home from the train Wednesday night <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I </span>was hit by a car.<span style="font-size: small;"> Yes, you read that correctly<span style="font-size: small;">, hit by a car. It all happened so fast<span style="font-size: small;">. I was walking <span style="font-size: small;">on the cross walk with <span style="font-size: small;">plenty of<span style="font-size: small;"> time left<span style="font-size: small;"> to reach <span style="font-size: small;">the other side when out of nowhere a car to which I assumed was turning behind me<span style="font-size: small;"> turned <span style="font-size: small;"><i>into</i> me. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Given the entire situation I am <span style="font-size: small;">extremely<span style="font-size: small;"></span> lucky<span style="font-size: small;">, and for many reasons. <span style="font-size: small;">Even though <span style="font-size: small;">a <span style="font-size: small;">T</span>oyota<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">C<span style="font-size: small;">a</span></span>mry had just plowed into me, I wasn't badly injured so I was able to hop up <span style="font-size: small;">in time from being hit by now oncoming traffic. <span style="font-size: small;">The <span style="font-size: small;">man</span> who hit me <span style="font-size: small;">was <span style="font-size: small;">very nice<span style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span>w<span style="font-size: small;">a<span style="font-size: small;">ited around for an hour after the accident to complete a police report <span style="font-size: small;">when he could have</span> easily dodged a bullet and left the scene<span style="font-size: small;">. <i>Please note this an excessive amount of waiting considering</i></span><i> a police station </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;">is </span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>literally </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>catty-corner<span style="font-size: small;"> from where the accident took place.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></i>After a<span style="font-size: small;"> relatively quick hospital visit I <span style="font-size: small;">was okay to go home with some minor <span style="font-size: small;">scrapes and br<span style="font-size: small;">uising. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the days that followed the accident it <span style="font-size: small;">became more and more surreal--<span style="font-size: small;">D</span>id I <i>really</i> get hit by a car? <i>Who</i> gets hit by a car?!<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Well <span style="font-size: small;">apparently I do folks<span style="font-size: small;">; let<span style="font-size: small;">'s just add this to the list of bizarre accidents that have occur<span style="font-size: small;">red in my lifetime. <span style="font-size: small;">But like I said, at the end of the day I was extremely lucky<span style="font-size: small;"> and I could not be happier tha<span style="font-size: small;">t <span style="font-size: small;">I didn't break or <span style="font-size: small;">permanently</span> injur<span style="font-size: small;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> myself<span style="font-size: small;"> in anyway.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Phew, <span style="font-size: small;">I guess 2013 is going to be a <span style="font-size: small;">little crazier than I <span style="font-size: small;">anticipated. Let's hope my next adventure is a little less dramatic and life<span style="font-size: small;"> threatening. </span></span></span></span></span>Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-85625996617343691232013-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-11T05:00:12.933-08:00Cauliflower SoupAs I mentioned before I'm obsessed with soups and this recipe only proves my recent obsession with soup even more. <b>Enjoy!</b> <br />
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<b>Needed:</b><br />
3 heads garlic<br />
Salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)<br />
3 white onions, peeled and thinly sliced<br />
4 heads cauliflower: 3 cored and thinly sliced, 1 broken into small florets<br />
1 tablespoon chopped thyme<br />
1 cup dry white wine<br />
6 cups veggie stock (plus more to thin, if desired)<br />
2 cups heavy cream (plus more to thin, if desired)<br />
2 1/2 cups (plus 3 tablespoons) finely grated Parmesan cheese<br />
2 tablespoons chopped parsley<br />
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<b>Preparation:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Preheat oven to 325 degrees </li>
<li>Cut off tops of garlic heads</li>
<li>Place each on a piece of parchment-lined aluminum foil </li>
<li>Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil</li>
<li>Wrap tightly in foil, and bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hour</li>
<li>Let cool</li>
<li>Squeeze garlic from
peel; set aside</li>
<li>Increase oven to 350 degrees </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.</li>
<li>Add onions; season with salt and pepper.</li>
<li>Cook, stirring, until soft but not browned. </li>
<li>Stir in sliced cauliflower and wine.</li>
<li>Simmer until wine is reduced by half. </li>
<li>Add stock; bring to a simmer. </li>
<li>Cover and cook for 20 minutes. </li>
<li>Remove cover, and simmer until cauliflower is soft, about 15 minutes. </li>
<li>Remove from heat.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Stir in cream and 2 1/2 cups Parmesan. </li>
<li>Season
with salt and pepper. </li>
<li>Stir in garlic. </li>
<li>Puree in batches until smooth. </li>
<li>Thin with more stock or cream, if desired. </li>
<li>Return to pot; keep warm on
low heat.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over high heat in a saute pan
until almost smoking. </li>
<li>Add cauliflower florets, stirring until browned. </li>
<li>Season with salt and pepper. </li>
<li>Transfer pan to oven and cook until tender,
about 10 minutes. </li>
<li>Stir in thyme, parsley, and remaining 3 tablespoons
Parmesan. </li>
</ul>
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<b> To serve:</b> Ladle soup into bowls, and garnish with cauliflower
florets.<br />
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Kevin had eaten this soup many times before but it was our first attempt to make it ourselves and I must say we did a fabulous job. The soup turned out even better than we expected. I can't wait to try this again or mix things up and do a cheesy-broccoli version! <br />
<ul>
</ul>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-69104779093753387992013-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-10T05:00:02.876-08:00Winter Lake House TripIn late November Kevin and I journeyed back to upstate New York to hang out at his family's lake house for a long weekend. We were celebrating his birthday and taking a little break from the hustle and bustle of city life.<br />
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We arrived with snow flurries in the air, bare trees all around us, and a freezing cold lake to look out to. Even though the weather and surroundings were completely different from our <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/08/lake-house.html" target="_blank">summer</a> trip, meaning less outside adventures, it was still fun and relaxing its own way.<br />
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We spent the weekend cooking up festive recipes, drinking delicious brews, and enjoying the calmness of the lake. Till next time lake house!Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-21327183024467030872013-01-07T05:00:00.001-08:002013-01-07T05:00:05.010-08:00Favorite Moments <div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Favorite Concerts of 2012</u></div>
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After attending 70 concerts 2012, including #100 of my lifetime, it's hard to pick a specific favorite so here are a few that I couldn't imagine not seeing in the past year.</div>
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January 13, 2012 - <b><a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/01/bright-light-social-hour.html" target="_blank">The Bright Light Social Hour</a></b> @ North Star Bar, PA<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uuENB_c-to/UOmXeuBcm-I/AAAAAAAAC5I/TxPYYH3MZpk/s1600/TBLSH-@-North-Star-Bar-1.13.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uuENB_c-to/UOmXeuBcm-I/AAAAAAAAC5I/TxPYYH3MZpk/s1600/TBLSH-@-North-Star-Bar-1.13.12.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source</span> via <a href="http://theswollenfox.com/" target="_blank">The Swollen Fox</a></span> </i></div>
<i>Hands down my favorite music discovery in 2012, <a href="http://www.thebrightlightsocialhour.com/" target="_blank">The Bright Light Social Hour</a> knows how to rock the house and literally brought me to a state of euphoria throughout their set. I hand learned of the band only hours before the concert and became an avid fan by the end of it! </i><br />
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March 30, 2012 - <b>Delta Spirit</b> @ TLA, PA<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source</span> via <a href="http://theswollenfox.com/" target="_blank">The Swollen Fox</a></span> </i></div>
<i>After over a year of listening and obsessing over Delta Spirit I finally got to seem them live in 2012. It ended up being the first of four times seeing them in the year but it was certainly worth the wait. Rocking out to a live version of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADifNNwa1P8" target="_blank">Bushwick Blues</a>" was definitely one of my favorite music moments of the year. </i><br />
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July 20-22, 2012 - <b>XPoNential Music Festival</b> @ Wiggins Park, NJ<br />
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<i>This might be slightly cheating since it was a festival but <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/07/xponential-festival.html" target="_blank">XPoNential</a>'s lineup was exceptional this year! Including performances from Wilco, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Dawes, The Lumineers, Delta Spirit, Kaki King, Kathleen Edwards, Delta Rae, JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound, and J.D. McPherson...See! I wasn't kidding when I said their line-up was stacked. </i><br />
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August 17, 2012 - <b>My Morning Jacket</b> @ The Mann Center, PA<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source</span> via <a href="http://theswollenfox.com/" target="_blank">The Swollen Fox</a></span> </i></div>
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<i>Can anything top hearing My Morning Jacket cover "Rocket Man" as the skies open up to an epic downpour? I don't think so. This was my third time seeing MMJ and they once again did not disappoint. </i></div>
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<u>Favorite Trips </u></div>
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2012 was full of big and small trips in and out of the country. Here's a look back at some of my favorite frolicking adventures. </div>
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After realizing there isn't much to do in Cleveland besides the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame Museum we headed to <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/02/adventure-continues.html" target="_blank">Pittsburgh</a> to explore a much more exciting city. Fries on their sandwiches, Cathedrals that could be mistaken for Hogwarts, a jokester named Andy Warhol, gorgeous skylines, and fun ice cream games I must say this city is pretty awesome. </div>
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<a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/06/bonna-roo-2012.html" target="_blank">Bonnaroo</a> is more than a music festival, it is truly an all around experience. From the 14 hour drive down to Tennessee to the camping, endless music, silent disco dance parties, and the epic stories that come out of the four day festival exceed your expectations every year. </div>
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My epic two week adventure with my twinnie Elizabeth was unforgettable but I have to say <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/09/portugal-land-of-jokesters.html" target="_blank">Portugal</a> is my favorite place we visited. Portugal it's the hidden treasure of Europe; A rich history, beautiful culture, and some of the most hospitable locals I've ever encountered, it's impossible not to instantly fall in love with the country. </div>
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Tanning, Swimming, Kayaking, Music and of course craft-brews it was a great way to spend one of the <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/08/lake-house.html" target="_blank">last weekends</a> of Summer. </div>
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<u>Favorite Festive Recipes</u></div>
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<a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/11/vegetarian-chilli.html" target="_blank"><b>Vegetarian Chilli</b></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/12/spaghetti-squash.html" target="_blank">Spaghetti Squash </a></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2010/06/ultimate-vegan-ice-cream.html" target="_blank"><b>Vegan Ice Cream</b></a></div>
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<b>Black Bean Burgers </b>[recipe forthcoming]</div>
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<u>Favorite Random Moments </u></div>
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2013 Adventures Coming Soon!</div>
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Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-38154165140775211002013-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-05T05:00:02.612-08:002012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://tea-time-for-sylvielou.tumblr.com/post/39434383335/adventure" target="_blank">Tea Time for Sylvie-Lou!</a></span></div>
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2012 was certainly a year <b>full</b> of adventures. Some planned and enjoyed to the fullest. Others eye-opening and difficult to swallow. Yet all of them were unforgettable learning experiences, allowing me to realize so much about myself and where I want to be in 2013. <br />
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Due to a hectic end of the year (<i>weren't you preparing for the end of the world too?!</i>) I have a bunch of festive-recipes to catch up on AND my first adventure in 2013 is not only planned but it's <i>next weekend</i>!<br />
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That's right folks, in a few days I'll be heading south to visit my best-friend in Miami. I haven't been down to visit her in too long to count so let's just say I'm beyond excited to get away from the bitter-cold weather of Philadelphia and reunite with my soul-mate for FOUR whole days in the sunshine state.<br />
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Keep an eye out for epic frolicking adventures and of course lots of yummy recipes!<br />
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So here's to a fabulous 2013 for all of us jokestaaaaas ツ</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://tea-time-for-sylvielou.tumblr.com/post/39434383335/adventure" target="_blank">Tea Time for Sylvie-Lou!</a> </span></div>
<br />Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-71753920577165544442012-12-07T19:44:00.000-08:002012-12-07T19:44:00.419-08:00Black Bean Tortilla SoupPerhaps it's the cold weather or maybe I have an unrealized obsession with soups (I do find myself eating soup even on the hottest days of summer), but I noticed I have been pinning a lot of soup recipes on pinterest lately. In an effort to actually make the things I pinned, Kevin and I decided to try out a <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/11/black-bean-tortilla-soup.html" target="_blank">Black Bean Tortilla Soup</a> recipe--though it turned out to be more of a Spicy Black Bean Soup! <br />
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<b>Needed: </b><br />
3-4 tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 yellow onion <br />
1 avocado (for garnis) <br />
1 green bell
pepper<br />
2 cuban peppers<br />
3 <span class="st">jalapeño</span> peppers<br />
3 cups veggie stock<br />
3 cans black beans<br />
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Seasonings: Cumin, Salt/Pepper, and Hot Sauce (if you like it spicy)</div>
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Finely chop onion and peppers, mix together in a large pot with 3-4 tablespoons olive oil and season with cumin and salt/pepper. <br />
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Add some hot sauce for some additional spice. </div>
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Drain/Rise black beans and add to onion/pepper saute with 3 cups vegetable-stock. </div>
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Stir contents frequently and continue to cook until comes to a simmer. </div>
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Cut avocado and serve on top of finished soup. </div>
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I absolutely loved this recipe! Even though it doesn't look exactly like the original and it was probably a little pepper heavy, I thoroughly enjoyed the extra spice. Kevin did not have the same opinion so I think we will have to make some alternations for our next attempt, i.e. limiting the number of peppers and possibly rice for more depth. One of my favorite Festive-Friday recipes so far! Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-68893137584671862362012-12-05T05:30:00.000-08:002012-12-05T05:30:05.110-08:00Spaghetti SquashSince the recent acceptance of my gluten-allergy I have been attempting to eat gluten-free (beer doesn't count right?), though it can be extremely challenging at times. My Madre has been amazing and is constantly making me gluten-free versions of my favorite foods (because she knows I'm too stubborn to do it myself). Long story short, pasta used to be one of my favorite foods so my Madre bought me a squash to try out spaghetti squash--a recipe I had been dying to try. <br />
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It's probably the most simple recipe I've ever tried, with cutting the squash in half being the most difficult part, ha! <br />
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Once you chop that bad boy in half preheat the oven for 375-400 degrees (different recipes gave varying temperatures), place the squash on a baking sheet and let it bake for about an hour. <br />
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I didn't really have the time or resources to make my own spaghetti sauce from scratch so a store-bought jar would have to do. I did however throw some chopped zucchini and carrots into the mix to <i>make it my own</i>.<br />
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After about an hour in the oven you should be ready to go.</div>
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Scrap the insides of the squash with a fork--it will begin to take the shape of regular spaghetti.</div>
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It's like magic!</div>
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Throw some sauce on those "noodles" and you are good to go. </div>
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I'm so happy I finally gave this recipe a try. It was easy, delicious and best of all I didn't have to deal with any gluten-reactions. Win-win-win my friends! Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-52550255137724333462012-12-03T05:00:00.000-08:002012-12-03T05:00:04.882-08:00Black Bean and Potato SoupBeing gluten-free can be extremely tough at times, especially when you are craving a substantial carb to fill you up. It's when I get these cravings that I turn to potatoes--the perfectly filling gluten-free carb. And so <i>black bean and potato soup</i> became our next festive friday challenge.<br />
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<b>Needed:</b><br />
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1 red onion<br />
1 green bell pepper<br />
6 cloves garlic, minced</div>
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3 cans cooked black beans</div>
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced<br />
Seasonings: Salt/Pepper, Cumin, Oregano<br />
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Sauté chopped onion, bell peppers, and garlic in pan with 1 cup water over medium heat 2-3 minutes, or until vegetables
soften. <br />
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Place half of vegetables in blender and purée until smooth. Add 3 cups beans and 6 to 7
cups water; puree until mixture is consistency of thick soup.<br />
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I think we may have blended our vegetables/beans a little too much, so I would suggest watching the consistency very closely.<br />
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Place the vegetable/beans puree and the remaining beans and sauteed vegetables to a large pot with chopped potatoes,
cumin, oregano, and salt/pepper. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to
medium-low, and cook for 20 minutes covered or until potatoes are soft.<br />
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The soup was good but slightly bland so perhaps our next attempt will include some cilantro or other powerful seasoning to spice things up a bit. </div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-24302687728150895112012-11-30T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-30T05:30:01.216-08:00Spicy Baked Black Beans with VegetablesA couple weeks ago my amazing friend <a href="http://pyreofsovietkitsch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie</a> visited Philadelphia so we of course had to incorporate a Festive-Friday (or two) into our weekend of adventures. We turned to pinterest one night and decided upon <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/09/spicy-baked-black-beans-with-vegetables.html" target="_blank">Spicy Baked Black Beans with Vegetables</a>. Our version didn't turn out exactly how the photos lead us to believe it would but it was still pretty tasty despite missing a step somewhere. <br />
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<b>Needed:</b> <br />
2 large cans of black beans<br />
2 cups vegetables, diced (frozen artichoke hearts, chopped carrots, broccoli, red bell pepper and sliced potatoes)<br />
1/2 c water<br />
Seasonings: Salt/Pepper, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes, minced Garlic, Worcestershire Sauce<br />
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Perhaps we weren't supposed to drain/rinse the beans. Or maybe we needed to add more sauces (Blackstrap Molasses or Maple Syrup) to prevent the vegetables from drying out. <br />
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We did, however, add ample amount of Worcestershire Sauce (a new favorite sauce) but it never seemed to get as saucy (or spicy) as the <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/beans-6.jpg" target="_blank">we had hoped</a>.<br />
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Luckily we were already making <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fresh-corn-risotto" target="_blank"><i>Corn Risotto</i></a> (substitute with vegetable stock) as a side dish by the time we realized the Spicy Baked Black Bean recipe was falling short of our expectations. Oh well, you live and you learn. Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-76385429825328528742012-11-28T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-28T05:30:00.692-08:00Vegetarian ChilliAs the brisk-fall weather becomes an every day occurrence what is better than a hearty bowl of vegetarian chili? We took some liberties for our version but it's loosely based on the <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/10/chili-3-ways.html" target="_blank"><i>A Beautiful Mess - Curry Chili</i></a> recipe. <br />
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<b>Needed: </b><br />
2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
2 tablespoons minced garlic<br />
2 Green Chile Peppers<br />
2 tomatoes<br />
1 yellow onion <br />
1 red bell pepper <br />
1 zucchini <br />
1 can pinto beans<br />
1 can black beans<br />
Season with cumin, salt and pepper<br />
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In a medium/large pot heat the oil over low heat. Dice onion and saute until onion begins to soften. Add chopped bell
pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, green chile peppers, mince garlic and seasonings. Turn the heat up to medium and cook for 2-3 minutes. <br />
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Drain/rinse the black and pinto beans and add to the pot. Cook until everything is
warmed through or until juices come to a boil.<br />
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Serve with cheese and corn chips. </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-70585913798144138482012-11-26T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-26T05:30:06.995-08:00Veggie Hodge-Podge & SalmonWhen I'm feeling too lazy to get fancy with my cooking I turn to the always delicious, never failing <i>Hodge-podge</i>. This ever changing dinner usually consists of various vegetables and possibly beans. After stumbling upon a weekly farmer's market near my work I was excited at the endless possibilities for the next Festive-Friday meal. <br />
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1 Zucchini • 2 Tomatoes • 1 Onions • 3 Green Chile Peppers </div>
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Instead of following a specific recipe Kevin and I decided to just wing it with Salmon & a Veggie Hodge-Podge dish. </div>
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Chop the assortment of veggies and place in pan on med-high to high until tomato juices start to form a sauce (approximately 15-20 minutes). Season with Cumin and Salt/Pepper to your liking. </div>
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Preheat the oven for 400 degrees and place two pieces of frozen salmon on a baking sheet. Season with salt/pepper and some kind of juicy fruit. Usually we make the salmon with lemon or lime juice but since we had some extra tomatoes we decided to give tomatoes a try. </div>
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If you are as big of an onion fan as we are, load up the salmon!</div>
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Cook Salmon for about 15 minutes or until it is cooked all the way
through. Check on the salmon around minute 12 and on to make sure it doesn't dry
out. </div>
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Even though we didn't have much of a plan for this meal it turned out to be delicious. The vegetable hodge-podge was the perfect balance between juicy tomatoes and spicy peppers. Since this meal I've made similar veggie hodge-podge concoctions and can honestly say I'm obsessed. The tomato-salmon was surprisingly good as well--a good addition to the salmon topping rotation. If you are feeling adventurous give this or a variation of this recipe a try. Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-53067241930325263862012-11-14T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-14T05:30:04.487-08:00October: The Craziest Month of My LifePhew! This past October was definitely one of the busiest months of my life. Between the 14 concerts I attended (including #100), being swamped at my new job, birthday celebrations, Orioles playoff runs, family occasions and visits from far-away friends I can honestly say October kicked my butt! I finally finished posting about Europe from this summer (ha) and can get back to all the festive Friday recipes that have been stuck in my draft folder and perhaps more current frolicking adventures.<br />
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<b>October Gram-Moments</b></div>
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1. Concert #100</div>
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2. New phone!</div>
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3. Festive Friday</div>
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4. Birthday celebrations</div>
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5. Orioles playoff run</div>
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6. Bloctoberfest</div>
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7. Toy Soldiers </div>
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8. Historic Philadelphia</div>
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9. Fall</div>
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10. The perfect shot</div>
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11. Spoken word</div>
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12. The <a href="http://www.beringer.com/2010-Beringer-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Knights-Valley" target="_blank">best</a> bottle of wine with <a href="http://pyreofsovietkitsch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Steph</a></div>
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13. Tequila Shots</div>
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14. Poe's House</div>
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15. Hurricane Sandy</div>
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16. Halloween</div>
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I'm telling ya, October was packed to the brim with various engagements and though I had a blast I am looking forward to a semi relaxed couple of weeks before the holiday madness starts up. </div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-54378066544792028142012-11-13T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-13T05:30:05.046-08:00Until Next Time EspañaAnd so it came, my very last day in Spain. Half of which was spent completely exhausted and slightly hungover from the most <a href="http://kasandobosco.blogspot.com/2012/11/pamplona.html" target="_blank">epic</a> night of my life and the other half trying to celebrate my last night with Elizabeth after such an amazing adventure together.<br />
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After a minor break down due to my debit card being eaten by a foreign ATM we found a cute little Peruvian restaurant for dinner and shared a delicious bottle of wine. <br />
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After dinner we took one last stroll around Madrid, stopped for one last scoop of Gelato, and took one last photo...</div>
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What a lovely trip! From start to finish I was completely blown away the history, culture, and mouthwatering food throughout Spain and Portugal. I can't wait to start planning my next big adventure. Where will my frolicking take me in 2013!? Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-74139496133660261762012-11-12T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-12T05:30:04.810-08:00Pamplona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Elizabeth and I left the last three days of our trip open for us to decide what to do with once we were in Spain. Once we realized we were in Spain at the same time the running of the bulls were happening in Pamplona we knew we just <i>had</i> to go! So off we went by train to Northern Spain for the craziest 24 hours of our lives.</div>
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As soon as we hopped off the train we grabbed some red and white running of the bulls gear and jumped right into all the festivities.<br />
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Crazy enough another friend of Elizabeth was also in Spain and met up with us in Pamplona for an epic night of dancing, drinking, street music and just all around unforgettable moments at this insane tradition.<br />
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People and booze were everywhere you looked. We literally ran into this parade that turned out to be one giant musical bar-hop where drinking in the streets very much encouraged. America get on Europe's level when it comes to alcohol. <br />
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The whole night was full of so much happiness, it could possibly be one of the best nights of life: great people, unforgettable memories, live music, dance-offs <i>and</i> dance-parties. We some how managed to stay up the whole night (to avoid needing to pay for any where to stay, ha!) and grabbed our front row spot for THE running of the bulls.<br />
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Everyone was extremely tired as we patiently awaited the running, which took about all of two minutes to watch. There are two sets of gates, the first being the actual barrier between the bulls and runners and the second being where people could start lining up to watch. The gap in between is used for press and emergency medics when the drunk runners get hurt..SMH<br />
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I nearly ran with the bulls myself but was convinced by a local that it was more than dangerous, it would be stupid to participate in the actual running. He himself had lived in Pamplona for over 35 years and never ran it because it's more than just the bulls you have to worry about, the biggest issue is avoiding all the drunk careless fools who are also running. No matter what it was an amazing night that I won't ever forget. Plus, it was the first all-nighter ever! Bucket List, <i>Check</i> <i>Check</i><br />
<br />Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-41723833357889675442012-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-10T05:30:02.790-08:00Back to MadridOnce we returned to Madrid we met up with Elizabeth's friend from college, Kathy, and had a wild couple of days. The three of us finally managed to find semi-traditional bar that served tapas. The drinks were huge, the food was plentiful and there were fun times all night long.<br />
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The three of us were quite the trio which only made our next adventure that much better...<i>Pamplona </i>for the running of the bulls! </div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-6950549865010836552012-11-09T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-09T05:30:00.377-08:00Getting Lost in LisbonBefore heading to the airport to go back to Spain, Elizabeth and I tried to squeeze one last adventure in: Jardim do Ultramar - Lisbon's tropical gardens. We searched high and low, asked multiple people, and went in circle for quite some time before coming across a small park that we thought (more likely hoped) it was the Jardim do Ultramar.<br />
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It was in fact <i>not</i> the tropical garden we were looking for but for our own sanity we like to think we found the tropical garden that day and enjoyed the quite beauty of the small park.<br />
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Even though we didn't find the tropical garden we did run into another jokester. There was a man dressed in a very nice suit passed out on a park bench who was woken up by a police officer passing by--who was already rounding up the homeless people. It was quite a scene: A very well dressed man, clearly hungover, had quite the night (possibly kicked out of his girlfriends house) prior and was struggling that morning as we watched from afar. Nothing like a bunch of Portuguese jokesters to brighten your day. Moral of the story: you don't need to see a tropical garden in Portugal, any park will do and Portugal is full of jokesters you are certain to run into at least one no matter what the situation may be. Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-21985309181417145782012-11-08T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-08T05:30:03.575-08:00Last Night in PortugalAfter a perfect day of sightseeing Elizabeth and I closed out our Portugal trip with traditional Fado music-dinner performance. Fado music is traditional Portuguese ballad songs, often tragic love songs performed at local restaurants. Though more expensive than a typical dinner because of the performance it was totally worth it. <br />
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There was one more thing Elizabeth and I knew we had to try before we left Portugal...<i>Jinja </i>a Portuguese dessert port/wine. <br />
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A little sweeter than expected, Jinja was still a perfect nightcap for our last night in Portugal. Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-47044336075347436462012-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:002012-11-07T05:00:16.116-08:001,000 Ways To Cook CodWhen we first arrived in Portugal our cab driver told us that Portugal had over a thousand ways to cook cod-fish, and he was not kidding. I tried as many cod-dishes as I could throughout our stay in Lisbon and was not disappointed at all... <br />
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So many cod dishes not enough meals to try them all! </div>
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<br />Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-90031466477738191182012-11-06T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-06T05:30:01.740-08:00CacaisAfter a great tour by Annibal Elizabeth and I took a train out to a
beach town, Cacais, for a nice stroll and a little bit of sun.<br />
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It was a total tourist area with a ton of hilarious British-themed restaurants, but coastline views were totally worth the train ride. <br />
<br />Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-75170169199433020192012-11-05T05:30:00.000-08:002012-11-05T05:30:00.625-08:00Sidecar TourOn our last full day in Portugal Elizabeth and I went on a sidecar tour around Lisbon and a small neighboring town, Belem. We happened to see someone else enjoying a sidecar tour earlier in our stay and knew we couldn't leave Portugal without trying it ourselves!<br />
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We woke up bright and early drove around the gorgeous cobblestone streets of Lisbon with our amazing and adorable tour guide Annibal. <br />
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First Annibal took us to a very old church that was affected by an earthquake in the 1700s. The earthquake unfortunately hit while mass was going on so many of the members did not make it out alive. There is a monument outside of the church in remembrance of the people who died from the earthquake.<br />
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Down the road from the church is the <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94p54fpZoiU/UGJYsToovFI/AAAAAAAABqE/lNmi7INf4Rw/s1600/DSC_3050.JPG" target="_blank">Santa Justa Lift</a>, which happened to be designed by the same man who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. At the top of the lift you can see beautiful views of the lower/newer areas of the city of Lisbon. The Tagus River used to cover most of where Lisbon's main squares are located today, but after the earthquake the Portuguese were forced to rebuild the city and decided to extend it's land by putting wooden stilts into the ground and building new squares over top. It's crazy to think that more than a quarter of the city is built on top of wooden stilts! <br />
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We made a quick stop at the oldest coffee shop in Lisbon--<i>A Brasileira</i>--over 125 years old and still contains all of the original architecture, signs, etc. <br />
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Belem, is a small town right outside of Lisbon, is most known for the Tower of Belem monument and it's delicious <i>Pastry de Belem</i>. We were lucky enough to grab a seat at the Paseis de Belem which makes more than 23,000 of it's famous Pastry de Belem pastries each DAY! <br />
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I'm usually not a big pastry person, but I must say the Pastry de Belem is <i>the</i> perfect pastry. <br />
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A flaky pastry with creme filling and topped with cinnamon and powder sugar, the pastry de belem is probably my favorite pastry in the world! The Pastry de Belem is a top secret recipe; only three pastry chefs know the family recipe at one time. They work in shifts and cannot ever hang out with each other just in case some kind of natural disaster or poisoning were to occur. Ten or so years ago someone figured out the recipe and tried to start selling knock off versions of the pastry which of course made the owners extremely angry and they quickly got that shut down. We ended up eating two, because the Portuguese always eat two ;) <br />
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After a delightful mid-morning snack we roamed around Belem to see the Tower de Belem and other monuments.<br />
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This is just a portion of a giant monastery that was built after Portugal acquired a new colony. Let's just say Portugal used to make it rain way back in the day.<br />
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We eventually made it back to Lisbon where Annibal showed us his favorite place in the city. A small lookout with gorgeous views overlooking the entire city. Lisbon is one of the most breathtaking cities I have ever been to. The skies are always a cloudless perfect blue contrasting perfectly with the white buildings and clay roofs. <br />
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What an incredible tour. I highly recommend doing the same if you happen to visit Lisbon any time soon--you definitely won't regret it! Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-67560375591091206382012-10-02T04:00:00.000-07:002012-10-02T04:00:10.013-07:00Portuguese Beaches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a morning full of castles Elizabeth and I ventured to a small beach town on the coast to
soak up some rays and stare out into the endless Atlantic Ocean. The beach was far from crowded but absolutely gorgeous none the less. Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6402870805358534736.post-87285270694878866932012-10-01T04:00:00.000-07:002012-10-01T04:00:00.790-07:00Sintra: The #1 Manufacturer of CastlesSintra must have some kind of record for most castles within city limits. Elizabeth and I ventured through two castles during our day-trip to Sintra (and saw another from afar) but there were at least three other castles we could have visited!<br />
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The Moors Castle is believed to date back to the 9th century and was used as a military fortress. <br />
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Parque Pena Castle: A 19th Century Portuguese Romantic Castle with Spanish & Arabic influences<br />
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The town of Sintra was a small little town with cute little trinket shops, windy roads, and no trespassing areas that of course we just had to explore ;)<br />
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America, step up your game and start building castles!</div>
Kasando Boscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539352853377960068noreply@blogger.com0