Small Change

I've decided to change the blog name so you can now find me at the following address:

www.freshbrandee.blogspot.com

Go add it to your bookmarks!

Is it really May?

I can't get over the fact that it is already May. The year has been flying by and I can't get it to slow down! The weather here was rainy all day yesterday with thunderstorms and lightning. I think it was preparing me for the upcoming Monsoon Season. Looks like it is time to start looking for goulashes.

On a different topic, I'm not the kind of person that makes New Year's resolutions because I feel like you can always make an improvement or change whenever you want. Instead, I make goals that I hope to accomplish. I did start out with a list in January of things I hoped to do this year, but I've decided because it's a new month I'll add to that list. I figure that by blogging about my goals, I'm more likely to try and complete them because I may have 2 people reading this and wondering if I can actually do it! (And yes, one person is Rush so maybe my Mom is the second!) So for May, I'm adding to my list running 100 miles. I figure it's a good even number to shoot for so I've added a mileage counter to keep track of how I do. Wish me luck!

Monster Cookies

 

Since the move to Korea, I haven't really been into baking/cooking as much as I normally would. Part of it is because I'm not in the kitchen I'm used to and I don't have very many tools here. No Kitchen Aid mixer, no large bowls, no ocean to look at as I bake. Plus, the ovens here are very small and they don't even fit a normal size cookie sheet! I finally decided it was time to get back in the kitchen and have a little fun. I wanted something that was a little healthy, but still sweet at the same time so I decided to try out monster cookies. Of course, I tried to make them as healthy as possible so I changed some ingredients.

Monster Cookies

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup applesauce (substituted this for butter)
• 1 1/2 cup peanut butter (I used chunky because that is all I had)
• 2 cups instant oatmeal
• 2 cups flour (I know most monster cookies don't contain flour, but I didn't have enough oats)
• 1 cup chocolate chips (1/2 white chips, 1/2 semi-sweet)
• 1 cup M&M's

Instructions: Beat the eggs in a very large bowl. Add sugars, applesauce, vanilla, baking soda, peanut butter and mix well. Next, add the oats and flour until they are mixed in well with the wet ingredients. Hand mix the add ins. Use a large spoon and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 mins or until a little brown.
I was thinking they were going to be too healthy for Rush, but he didn't seem to mind because of all the chocolate involved! Get creative and put in whatever additional chocolate or nuts that you like! Enjoy warm with a glass of milk!

Take me out to the Ballgame...

The ballgame in Korea of course! On Saturday we headed to the Jamsil Olympic Stadium to watch a game between the LG Twins and Kia. We showed up thinking it wouldn't be a problem to get seats, but the game was sold out. People were scalping tickets but it's hard when everything is in Korean and they don't speak English! The tickets were just under $9USD so we figured it didn't matter what happened once we were inside.

The area we purchased the tickets was for general admission. Meaning people had showed up hours early to get a seat! We showed up just after the first inning so people were everywhere...the stairs, the ground! We stood up in the back and watched for about 6 innings but finally the cold weather rolled in and it was back to Itaewon.

Instead of normal ballgame food, they sell dried fish here!

The Stadium

People were sitting everywhere. Don't worry, they bring their own cardboard and take their shoes off before sitting

A visit to North Korea

North Korea in the distance. There is a yellow line you have to stand behind to take pictures so of course you can't see very well.

The Declaration we had to sign. Just in case we were attacked!

Still out the South side, looking North

The North Korean Guard looking at us! We weren't allowed to wave :(

Standing over the line!

Hmm....No service? Are the North Koreans jamming our signal?

The white pickets mark the MDL.

The sign that shows the DMZ. Part of it is in English, the only part is in Korean.

The North Korean Flag...Propaganda Village

The Bridge of No Return

So we can both say we have stepped into North Korea! Here are a few pictures from our visit to the DMZ. It was a really interesting and I'm really excited we able to see it.

A wrong turn = Another hike to Namsan Tower

Now that Spring is finally here (Yeah!!) I have been trying to enjoy being outside as much as possible. I decided to head out for a 6 mile run on Thursday but that turned into another hike up to Namsan Tower and 7 miles total. I really can't complain because the scenery is beautiful and I'm enjoying some warm weather! The cherry blossoms are still in bloom and I can't get enough of them!

Jeju-do

Last week we took a few days off to head South for a quick vacation. Our destination was Jeju-do. It was a military sponsored trip so there a few things we would have changed, but for the price you couldn't beat it!