Male Mail: Week 4

MALE MAIL: WEEK 4

 

I hope everyone's electricity is back up and running to those of you back in the Chicago area or out eastward.  I could not imagine combatting that heat without A/C.  Also, a very Happy Belated 4th of July to all!  

 

Kyle and I spent our 4th of July at home relaxing.  We grabbed a little charcoal grill from the summer camp and Kyle grilled up some burgers and other good eats.  We also walked down to the lake I live on and watched the fireworks.  It was extremely convenient just walking 5 minutes down the road to watch the fireworks.  It was a fantastic relaxing day for us!  

 

Something not so relaxing that we began this past week was our 5k training.  Kyle and I are contemplating running a 5K at the end of August.  Needless to say getting back into running is no fun.  2 miles alone feels like I am running an ultra marathon.  Kyle may think differently but I like to pretend he is just as miserable as me starting out :) 

 

Veering away from the healthy aspect of our lives, let me give you a little info on our restuarant experience of the week.  This week our "once a week eating out meal" was at one of the top BBQ places in the Austin area, The Salt Lick.  OMG.  We went on a busy Friday night and our wait was 45 minutes.  The shocking part is that I was actually bummed our wait wasn't longer.  The waiting area is outside in a large open area with picnic tables and benches through out the area.  There is a small stage and when we were there an amusing guitar player was the entertainment.  The atmosphere was fantastic.  The Salt Lick is a BYOB BBQ joint.  So just imagine a ton of people coming into this open area with coolers and finding a spot to sit and enjoy their beverage with great music.  Ohhhh and not to mention their food was delicious! 

 

The rest of the week was spent either at work or work/job searching.  I spent the week being the only one in our office at work.  I was fairly lonely since the office fits 9 people but I was the only one utilizing it this week.  I'm not gonna lie I spent a bit of the week bribing Kyle to come job search in the office just so I had some form of company.  Kyle has been working hard at job searching.  He is also going to begin the hunt for apartments this upcoming week and hopefully in about 3 weeks he'll have a place and (keeping our fingers crossed) some other form of income.  I am so proud of him and all the work he is putting into creating a life in austin, please keep him in your prayers! 

 

This wraps up a full month of Kyle living in the Austin area.  We're having a fantastic time and are so grateful for all the support back home.  Thank you!  As for the "Male Mail" newsletter.  I am going to switch the newsletter from being a weekly email to being a blog.  SO if you are someone that still wants to get the newsletter via email YOU MUST LET ME KNOW...otherwise you'll have to read the newsletter from the blog.  If you subscribe to the blog you will actually get notifications each time I post a newsletter so that is a great option for those of you that look forward to this newsletter weekly.

 

xx

Madeline

 

Favorite Recipe of the Week:

 

This recipe is too die for!!!  I could not get enough of it this week so get your pie plates out everyone and enjoy!!!!!

 

 

Winter Solstice Chicken Pot Pie

By Patricia Burnside 

 

1 1/2 lbs. of cooked chicken breast cut into bite size pieces

3/4 – 1 cup of chopped fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, green pepper)

10 oz. Philadelphia Italian Cheese & Herb Cooking Crème

10 oz. Philadelphia Original Cheese Cooking Crème

Package of 2 piecrusts (easiest to find is 9 in. but I use them in a 10 in. glass pie plate)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Place the chicken, veggies, and both cooking crèmes in a bowl and mix until all blended.

Place a piecrust in the bottom of your pie plate.

Pour the contents of the bowl into the piecrust.

Place 2^nd piecrust on top and crimp edges.

Place in hot oven and bake for approx. 45 minutes if using the convection setting but check after 30 minutes to see how brown the crust is getting.  If using a standard oven, you will probably bake the pie 30-35 minutes.  Check at least once to see how brown the crust is getting. 

When baked to your satisfaction, take out and cool 10 minutes. Serve!