A Time of Renewal

There is something rather invigorating about a starting a new year. Since winter has us all in a tight grasp perhaps this might be just the time to rejuvenate our spirits. We can use these winter months when we are in more than out to try something we have always been wanting to do, try a new recipe, discover a new restaurant or place in the city, reconnect up with old friends, spend more time reading, reorganize a room/drawer/closet, write a note to a friend, help a neighbor and yes...the list can go on and on with all sorts of possibilities. But the biggest challenge always remains finding the time to do it.

To make life a bit easier I have some suggestions and recommends.

The King' Speech, is a superb movie about the life of a reluctant King George The Sixth, who overcame a stuttering problem. He was the father of the present Queen Elizabeth. It was just mesmerizing to watch such a well crafted movie with marvelous actors.

The Fighter is a emotional movie about the boxing saga of the early days of welterweight champion "Irish" Micky Ward. It tells Ward's story and his relationship with the brother who helped train him. The performances are great and even if you are not into the boxing scene the story will captivate you watching the rise of an underdog.

Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs is the fourth novel in the series Friday Night Knitting Club. This book brings back the characters who formed a close friendship meeting each week at a cozy yarn shop on Manhattan's Upper Side Walker and Daughter on Friday nights. In this new installment with the holidays approaching the women have even more reason to celebrate with a special New Year's Day wedding on the horizon.

I was curious after reading all these books in the series if indeed there was a real shop on Upper West Side called Walker and Daughter. So after some GOOGLE sleuthing I find this whole website devoted to Friday Night Knitting Club. Check it out and see for yourself if this shop does indeed exist.

Lastly, I found this interesting recipe made with beer from Cooking Light magazine January/February 2011 issue that was quite tasty. Try and see for yourself

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Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup dark Mexican beer
• 2 TB. lower sodium soy sauce
• 2 TB. fresh lime juice
• 1 TB. canola oil
• 1 TB. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut across grain into 1/2 inch thick strips
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 orange and 1 yellow pepper seeded and sliced
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 8 flour tortillas
• Salsa
• Reduced low fat sour cream
• Fresh cilantro leaves

Directions:

• Combine the first 6 ingredients in a zip-lock bag
• Add 3/4 cup beer to mixture and seal
• Marinate in refrigerator 1 hour turn occasionally
• Add remaining beer to another plastic zip lock bag adding peppers and onions
• Marinate also for an hour in refrigerator
• Remove chicken from bag- discard marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper
• Add chicken to pan and 1 TB oil-cook several minutes on each side -remove from pan and set aside
• Remove onions and peppers from bag and discard marinade cook for about 6 minutes till tender
• Add in chicken and cook till chicken is done and remove all from pan
• Toast tortillas in pan
• Serve with guacamole, sour cream and salsa