distant creations http://www.distantcreations.com/blog the world and more. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:45:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Culinary Adventures of 2012 – Chicken with Lime Sauce and Curried Rice Pilaf http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/22/culinary-adventures-of-2012-chicken-with-lime-sauce-and-curried-rice-pilaf/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/22/culinary-adventures-of-2012-chicken-with-lime-sauce-and-curried-rice-pilaf/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:45:12 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8266 It’s been nice not posting daily photos for the last 3 weeks. I’m glad I decided not to continue that in 2012. However, I don’t want this blog to just sit here, so I’m starting a new post series, but NOT one that I’ll be posting every day.

I intend to cook more this year than I did in 2011, as I enjoy it and would like to get better at it. I definitely won’t have time to cook every single day, but I hope to prepare a solid home cooked dinner at least once a week, focusing largely on recipes I’ve never tried before.

So tonight’s dinner was chicken with lime sauce and curried rice pilaf, both recipes I snagged from allrecipes.com. They turned out great! I substituted chicken cutlets for breasts, as I prefer them, and used panko breadcrumb for extra crunch.

The chicken came out with a rather subtle flavor. I thought the lime sauce would be overpowering but it was smooth and complemented the chicken well. Next time I may use a bit more lime though. Michelle felt the chicken needed a bit more salt, which made sense as I had under-salted it on purpose, thinking the lime sauce would steal the show.

The rice was perfect, as far as I’m concerned. Michelle said she’d prefer it without the golden raisins mixed in. I thought they were an excellent sweet addition, but it’s easy enough to only add them to my portion, as they’re part of the very last step.

Overall – a success! I’m looking forward to eating the leftovers for lunch tomorrow, then embarking on another entirely different culinary adventure for dinner tomorrow night.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/22/culinary-adventures-of-2012-chicken-with-lime-sauce-and-curried-rice-pilaf/feed/ 0 End of the Daily Adventures http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/03/end-of-the-daily-adventures/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/03/end-of-the-daily-adventures/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:07:18 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8259 It was mostly fun to share daily photos of all the adventures I went on throughout 2011 and I know many enjoyed seeing them. But the task that started as a challenge became a chore by the end of the year and while I am happy to have a year’s worth of pictures to look back on, I will not be doing the same in 2012. I still intend to share many photos along the way, but definitely not every day. I’m considering doing 52 Adventures, one each week, but may not even complete that. I won’t let this blog go to waste (again), but the daily thing is all done.

But today I leave you with a Christmas bonus: a Walking Dead zombie action figure posing in front of our Christmas tree. Merry undead Christmas.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2012/01/03/end-of-the-daily-adventures/feed/ 1 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 365 – The Final Adventure http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/31/365-adventures-in-2011-day-365-%e2%80%93-the-final-adventure/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/31/365-adventures-in-2011-day-365-%e2%80%93-the-final-adventure/#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:59:38 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8256 A second story balcony near our house gave me and Michelle our final adventure for the year. We watched the Magic Kingdom’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show from around 15 minutes away from the park, staying away from the crazy crowds and instead enjoying them completely by ourselves. From that vantage point, we not only saw that show, but at least 10 other small local displays from people shooting off fireworks in their yards. It was a great way to end the year and to conclude these 365 Adventures in 2011.

Happy New Year!

And a video of the finale too:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtvCyp7Ouk

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/31/365-adventures-in-2011-day-365-%e2%80%93-the-final-adventure/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 364 – Tron Meon http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/30/365-adventures-in-2011-day-364-%e2%80%93-tron-meon/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/30/365-adventures-in-2011-day-364-%e2%80%93-tron-meon/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:59:04 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8253 Disney really missed a merchandise opportunity with this one. For Christmas, “Santa” got me a Meon picture maker, which is similar to a Light Brite but instead of illuminated pegs, this has glowing colored wires that can be bent and shaped over a picture. And while Disney has licensed their Cars and Princess franchises for Meon kits, they didn’t come out with a Tron one, which seems like an obvious choice for this new toy, and certainly the first thing I thought of when discovering it.

So despite the fact that my kit came with Star Wars backgrounds, I was determined to make it a Tron Meon. I found online a perfect light cycle promotional image for Tron: Legacy, printed it to the correct size, cut it out, and spent a couple hours outlining the red/orange and blue areas with Meon wire. The result is a purely awesome light-up Tron display that I will surely change out for more Tron pictures in the future. But for a while, I’ll enjoy this one.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/30/365-adventures-in-2011-day-364-%e2%80%93-tron-meon/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 363 – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/29/365-adventures-in-2011-day-363-%e2%80%93-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/29/365-adventures-in-2011-day-363-%e2%80%93-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:59:11 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8250 After Michelle had enjoyed both the book and Swedish movie, we saw new American version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” directed by David Fincher. It was a good movie, though the characters were far more interesting than the story itself, which was a bit too predictable. I did enjoy Rooney Mara’s portrayal of the title character and will gladly watch the upcoming two sequels with her, if they are made. Though I will likely watch the two Swedish versions long before that.

I was surprised to see a giant version of the somewhat revealing poster for the film in such an obvious spot outside the AMC Altamonte Springs theater though. It doesn’t offend me in the slightest and I applaud AMC for ignoring the ultra-conservatives and displaying this poster so prominently. It’s not the most revealing version of the poster, but that version would never fly in public in the United States, as it actually has (gasp!) partial nudity on it.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/29/365-adventures-in-2011-day-363-%e2%80%93-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 362 – The Pumpkin King http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/28/365-adventures-in-2011-day-362-%e2%80%93-the-pumpkin-king/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/28/365-adventures-in-2011-day-362-%e2%80%93-the-pumpkin-king/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:59:40 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8247 Christmas may be over, but while enjoying our Christmas tree I spotted one particularly well-lit ornament hanging out on the side. It’s none other than the Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington, offering a few season’s screamings. This ornament is part of a 6-piece set from the Disney Store, new this year. And they look great when illuminated by the tree lights.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/28/365-adventures-in-2011-day-362-%e2%80%93-the-pumpkin-king/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 361 – Valentine’s Day Already? http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/27/365-adventures-in-2011-day-361-%e2%80%93-valentines-day-already/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/27/365-adventures-in-2011-day-361-%e2%80%93-valentines-day-already/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:59:22 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8242 We went to Toys R Us two days after Christmas, and I emphasize two days after Christmas, to return/exchange a few items and just inside the entrance was a display of Valentine’s Day items. I seem to remember Valentine’s Day being on February 14, not December 27. They couldn’t at least wait until 2012?

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/27/365-adventures-in-2011-day-361-%e2%80%93-valentines-day-already/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 360 – LEGO Darth Vader http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/26/365-adventures-in-2011-day-360-%e2%80%93-lego-darth-vader/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/26/365-adventures-in-2011-day-360-%e2%80%93-lego-darth-vader/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:59:52 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8239 My favorite present of the year was a surprise from Michelle: an oversized LEGO Darth Vader store display from Target. There were only 200 of these produced and they were not for sale, intended only as displays to be destroyed/discarded after a certain amount of time. But some weren’t destroyed and ended up on eBay instead, where Michelle nabbed one for me after I had told her repeatedly that I wish I could have one, every time we saw one in the store. And now I do!

It arrived with two red/black pairs of wires hanging out of the back. In the store, it was part of a larger display with lots of LED lights, a plexiglass front, and a battery pack holding 16 D batteries. So I had to figure out on my own how to power this thing. After wire cutting, splicing, electrical taping, and testing, I determined only 4 D batteries were truly needed to make it work.

So off to Radio Shack I went, the day after Christmas, in search of a solution. I came home with a project enclosure box, battery pack designed to hold 4 D batteries, and a toggle switch. After a couple hours of cutting, drilling, twisting, splicing, twisting (and scraping my hand with a drill bit meant for concrete), I assembled a perfect little battery box with a handy switch on top that turns on both the red light saber as well as the head/arm movement. But that wasn’t enough.

I also grabbed a Darth Vader breathing sound effect box I had previously purchased at Party City a couple months earlier, rewired its switch to allow it to toggle the sound loop on and off, and placed the whole thing in the back of the display. And in the end, it moves, it breaths, it lights up, and it’s awesome.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/26/365-adventures-in-2011-day-360-%e2%80%93-lego-darth-vader/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 359 – Christmas is here http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/25/365-adventures-in-2011-day-359-%e2%80%93-christmas-is-here/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/25/365-adventures-in-2011-day-359-%e2%80%93-christmas-is-here/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:59:09 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8236 Merry Christmas! Michelle and I always go overboard – WAY overboard – with giving each other gifts for Christmas. Of course, we essentially stop buying things for ourselves throughout the months of November and December, instead handing desired items in stores to “Santa” for later enjoyment. It works out well, as we often forget what we wanted weeks prior and are surprised/reminded when opening them on Christmas day. And then there are lots of other toys, games, and other goodies too. We are both, at heart, perpetually kids and most of the presents we give each other are intended for ages 6 and up.

This year, I received bunches of action figures, a couple video games, K’NEX Mario Kit building/racing kits, some artwork, electronics, plushes, LEGO stuff, Disney stuff, and more. I gave Michelle lots of Harry Potter stuff, Monster High stuff, lots of Disney artwork and collectibles, and a bunch more. We both came out happy – and puzzled as to exactly where we’re going to put all this stuff. But that’s an adventure for 2012.

Oh, and the mystery present from the FedEx adventure was Tiana’s Palace artwork from The Princess and The Frog, printed and stretched on canvas. Love it.

]]> http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/25/365-adventures-in-2011-day-359-%e2%80%93-christmas-is-here/feed/ 0 365 Adventures in 2011: Day 358 – Christmas Eve Fire http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/24/365-adventures-in-2011-day-358-%e2%80%93-christmas-eve-fire/ http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/2011/12/24/365-adventures-in-2011-day-358-%e2%80%93-christmas-eve-fire/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:59:22 +0000 Ricky http://www.distantcreations.com/blog/?p=8232 We had Michelle’s parents and my mom over to our house for dinner and present-exchanging on Christmas Eve. Michelle’s parents, with the aid of my mom’s SUV, brought me something I’ve been wanting ever since we moved into this house around 7 years ago: a fire pit! Sure we live in Florida where it’s rarely cold, but even on a tropical day (like Christmas Eve ended up being), it’s still quite cozy to sit outside by a fire… and some palm trees… and our pool with a small waterfall. I plan to use this a LOT. Great present!

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