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Adventures_in_cooking....zip (3.6 MB)

Cooking isn't really my thing, but I've finally decided to give it a shot. I just recently had a blood test done through the Lexington Medical Center Community Outreach Program at work and found out my cholesterol is borderline high...a little more motivation to cook and eat healthier. Tonight's experiment: southwest chicken with spinach and Mexicorn salad. Lucky for me, I came across this handy sauce kit to season the chicken with barbecue ranch salad dressing. The final product turned out edible! Go me.

What you'll need:
1. Thinly sliced chicken breasts.
2. Seasonings. Make your own or buy the kit like I did.
3. Olive oil.
4. Spinach.
5. Mexicorn.
6. I also added almonds, edamame, and Parmesan cheese because I had them and I like them.
7. Aluminum foil.
8. A pan.

How to make it:
1. Preheat oven to 435 degrees.
2. Tear off a square of aluminum foil about a foot long.
3. Place chicken breast on aluminum foil.
4. Pour a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper on the chicken breast.
5. Add your seasoning of choice. I used the seasoning from the kit, sprinkled a few almonds, Parmesan cheese and some spinach.
6. Fold corners of foil in over chicken breast and scrunch the foil.
7. Place chicken wrapped in foil in pan for 25 minutes.
8. Check to make sure it's done by cutting the center and checking to make sure there is no pink. You should have very moist, white chicken.
9. Put Mexicorn in microwave and top spinach with it.
10. Add dressing and any other toppings to salad.
11. Eat the chicken with the salad or on top.

Here's where I got my instructions to bake the chicken breast in foil. I went with the max amount of time and added 10 degrees. You don't want to mess with undercooked meat, especially if you're new at this! http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenrecipes/a/howtocookchixbr_2.htm

So, I'm no Martha Stewart, but it's a step in the right direction...

Since residency has taken my boyfriend hostage, I had to mow the grass for the first time yesterday. It was so comical, I had multiple neighbors stop to help and move things out of the way and show me what to do. Since I'm highly allergic to everything that naturally occurs in the environment (my co-worker Kim calls me Thomas J), I loaded up on allergy meds and rinses before and after. My eyes are still swollen shut, but it sure was fun and I think my neighbors got a good laugh! Thanks to neighbor Rodney for showing me how to start the lawnmower and empty the grass -- and to neighbor Phil for showing me how to make it stop and turn after watching me fight to pull it backwards while it was plowing forward into the fence.

From: "University President Harris Pastides"
Date: October 12, 2010 5:22:31 PM EDT
To: "mengram@columbiaauthority.com"
Subject: Share the Gamecock Pride
Reply-To: president@sc.edu

Dear Friends: This weekend, "Gamecock Nation" took on new meaning. The force of positive, supportive good will and pride took over the campus as our football team defeated Alabama in what ended up being the greatest story to be told in college football this year, so far; I know you share my pride. Walking through the Houston and Atlanta Airports during the days after game, while wearing my garnet jacket, demonstrated to me how much the University of South Carolina is recognized and respected. No matter what happens as our season progresses, we will always remember 2010 as the year we achieved something few schools have ever done: we defeated the number one ranked teams in basketball, baseball and football. Let it be known that "Carolina is in the house." The victories on the fields and courts add recognition to your degrees. But, I want you to know that the value of your degree is further communicated by a major achievement earned by the University of South Carolina a short time ago. The National Research Council posted the results of an extensive study of the strongest graduate programs in the country. This report shows that USC is home to some of the South's best doctoral programs in engineering and arts and sciences, with several programs earning national recognition including: electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering, geography, chemistry, comparative literature, English, pharmacy, and public health. This off-the-field academic score completes the "grand slam" of achievements in the past few weeks. This year, students have come to USC in record numbers, and we have managed the increased size very nicely. Soon, thousands will join your ranks as alumni and friends of our great University. "Gamecock Nation" is a source of energy for me in my leadership of USC. I want to thank you for sharing in the joy of our recent achievements, and I ask that you not keep this pride "under your hats." Help us in sharing your support broadly and in ensuring that the nation and world knows what a University of South Carolina degree represents. Best wishes and Go Gamecocks! For Carolina, Harris Pastides President, University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina Alumni Association
1600 Hampton Street
Annex, Suite 305
Columbia, SC 29208

Can someone make an announcement or tweet along word at #POSSCON to check in to Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (not to be confused with Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau) on Foursquare for Foursquare Day today to help unlock the swarm badge?

Bonus: Use the hashtag #4sqday to unlock the official Foursquare Day badge when you check in!

If you're not at #POSSCON and want to try to help us try to unlock the swarm badge, come check in and take the public art tour at the Convention Center.

http://foursquare.com/venue/487853

Here's the presentation I did with Lee Deas at the Twitter Lab during the 2010 South Carolina Governor's Conference on Tourism & Travel, along with some social media resources from the conference.

Social Media Resources:
http://www.scprt.com/our-partners/socialmediatools.aspx