The Happy Woman Store

Okay, I admit it. I’m fed up with the snow. I know it’s not the most positive way to view the situation, but I’ve been shoveling since November 15th and I’m sick of it. I’ve been taking the garbage out by sled dog since November 15th and I’m sick of it. I’ve been staring at this pile of snow on my back deck that has been threatening to engulf the house for a week and I’m sick of it. Sick, sick, sick of it. Our street is piled so high that there is no place for the plows to put the snow, so they’ve just kind of given up and are now plowing only one lane, which causes a bit of a cluster-you-know-what when two cars decide to travel down the road at the same time. Which doesn’t happen very often, but still. And, it’s not just the snow. Temperatures below 20 degrees for about 1000 days…at least. And, sunshine once a month..at the most. Listen, I’ve tried everything in my arsenal. I’ve looked at the white stuff and thought about its pristine beauty. I’ve marveled at its texture. I’ve reminded myself that it can’t last forever. I’ve attempted ‘winter fun’ (an oxymoron in my book) by participating (begrudgingly) in outdoor activities. I’ve participated in conversations wherein we all applaud the likelihood of rising lake levels. And still when I wake up and see the requisite 3 inches from the night before, I sigh. I moan. I kick something. I long for spring in the worst way.

On Monday, I spent some time at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. They have a beautiful conservatory there which is filled with tropical plants and, on Monday, some exquisite orchids. I’m not lying when I tell you that I literally sat on a bench for about 20 minutes and just soaked it all in: the green, the smell of dirt, the colors of the orchids. I wasn’t alone, either, although I was the youngest person by about 20 years. I’m hoping that blast of plants will get me through the next few weeks, until my vacation in Florida. And, yes, I’m really lucky to be taking a trip there. Well, actually, I’m lucky that I have parents who live there and don’t mind a freeloader or two. In the meantime, I’m going to stare at these pictures for awhile. It can’t hurt.

I’m in love with the idea of being in love with cooking, but the reality is that I really just love to eat. So, most of the recipes that I go to again and again are simple and I’m actually finding that simple food can be very tasty. The other night, I made one of my favorite chicken dishes and served it with brown rice and a salad dressed with a simple lemon & olive oil dressing. Here are the recipes:

Apricot Blackberry Chicken Divine

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup white flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 c apricot preserves
1/2 c blackberry jelly
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup non fat plain yogurt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put the flour, salt, and chicken breasts in a plastic bag and shake to coat chicken. Put the olive oil in the bottom of a glass baking dish and place the chicken breasts on top. Bake for 25 minutes. Mix the apricot preserves, blackberry jelly, mustard, and yogurt together. Spread on top of the chicken and bake for 30 minutes more.

Olive Oil and Lemon Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic gloves, minced
salt and black pepper to taste.

Put everything in a jar and shake well.

Steve and I saw this movie on Sunday afternoon at the State Theatre in downtown Traverse City. How was I to know that in a few short hours this film would win 4 Golden Globes, including Best Dramatic Picture and Best Director?

I enjoyed it so much that I’m going to tell you about it anyway. So, here goes. It’s the story of a Indian boy from the Mumbai slums who winds up on India’s version of ‘Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’. The story is laced with flashbacks from his tough past; in fact his ability to answer each of the questions on the show relates to an experience that he had when he was growing up. And, these aren’t pleasant experiences for the most part. Interwoven throughout is a love story between Jamal (the main character) and Latika (an orphan girl that he meets early on).

I remember thinking throughout: this is what a movie should be like. The story unfolds gradually keeping you engrossed in it the whole while and who doesn’t like a good love story? The truest test? I was sorry when it was over.