Caesar Chicken with Pearled Couscous

I started Weight Watchers again today, and they have a really neat feature on their website that helps build recipes. So I made this one! (Online on the WW site here).

Ingredients:

	1 breast(s) Chicken, breast, raw, without skin & bone, cut into bite-sized pieces
	2 serving(s) Near East Pearled Couscous - Basil and Herb
	1 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
	1 serving(s) Newman's Own Light Caesar

Instructions:

1. Cook the couscous according to package directions.
2. While the couscous is cooking, stir fry chicken breast on medium-high heat in a 12-in skillet with Light Caesar dressing. 
3. When chicken is no longer pink, add chopped peppers (and whatever other veggies you would like). 
4. Reduce heat and cover, simmering about 5 minutes.
5. Serve chicken and peppers on couscous, or as a side!

Fashion's a Stranger

This video sums up how I feel about modern fashion. Whatever most youngsters have around here...I don't got it. And I'm getting kind of fed up with wanting it. More to come on this matter.

Spring is for New Arrivals, Like My First Publication!

I'm pleased to introduce everyone to my first published short story "One New Message," which was published by the nice folks over at 322 Review.

Like Printer's Devil Review, 322 Review features both established and new writers in an online format. Though the Spring 2011 issue doesn't center around any particular theme, the magazine itself likes to explore "the paths of human experience," which is probably why they've chosen U.S. Route 322 as both their logo and their name. Founded by graduate students from Rowan University, 322 Review has just published Issue Eight.

Check them out, won't you? And thanks to everyone for your support!

Thoughts from a Reluctant (New) Freelancer

When the temp job that I kept thinking would turn into a perm job abruptly ended in November, my first panicky thought was, "Unemployment again? Crap." Of course, a natural thought for anyone asked to clean out their desk this afternoon. Now, in fact. While your cup of coffee you just poured is still warm. But in the back of my mind I thought, "Hmm. Can I do it without getting another data entry job?"

A few weeks after I rode the T home with a big bag full of random office supplies (my own, I swear), I contacted Patch Somerville at the suggestion of my amazing freelance writer friend, Kristin Offiler and they offered me a story to cover almost immediately. Then, another friend who I met at Diesel, of all places, hooked me up with a social marketing firm. Suddenly this "no full-time job" thing looked like a distinct possibility. 

So since I started playing the freelance do-si-do, mainly coasting on leftover Christmas money at the moment, I've had some random thoughts. Here they are, in no particular order.

• Six cups on the coffee carafe doesn't actually equal six cups, right? Three at the most. It only fills up my mug twice.
• I love Joel and all, but I'm quite sick of him getting gourmet cooked lunch catered to his office every day while I sit at my desk eating cottage cheese.
• I cashed in my coins at a Coinstar a couple of weeks ago and made the best purchase ever: my very own oscillating, remote-control space heater. It's my new best friend.
• Just because I work at home doesn't mean I'm the de-facto housekeeper. But it does mean that I'm around more often to get annoyed with the state of things. I should start charging my roommates.
• I am running out of Pandora hours quicker than Fat Free Half and Half, and every month think harder about giving them their measly $1. 
• Writing corporate Facebook statuses is kind of like talking to a kindergarten class. And what do you think, kids?
• My evening activities are more precious to me than ever. It's writing group night, you say? THANK GOD, GET ME OUT OF HERE.
• Taking a shower by 11AM is early for me.

And finally...

• I don't think I would like to work at an office for 40 hours a week ever again. 20, maybe. 30 at the most. Maybe. If the pay is good.

And what do you think, kids?