Resolution quarterly report

It's been just about three months since I made my list of 19 resolutions. I've added four to the completed list (cook with five new ingredients; enter and complete a 5K; have tulips or lilies in my garden and apply for a fellowship.) The 5K was fun and I can't wait to do another one. The tulips were short lived, but I have the bulbs drying outside with hopes that I will be able to plant them for next year. I cooked with five different ingredients with Swiss chard being on of the best of the bunch and quinoa being the worst. And I got the news about a month ago that I didn't get the fellowship, but at least I tried.

As for the rest of the resolutions, I have started on some of them, such as eating at five new restaurants this year. I tried Rosy's at the Beach, Pluto's and Village Bistro, so I just have two more to go. I've also read three books, including Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness," Audrey Niffenegger's "Her Fearful Symmetry," and Nick Hornby's "Juliet, Naked." I've got a few other books on the to-read list, including one by an author I met last week, Tim Z. Hernandez.

For some resolutions, I've started to lay the groundwork. Two weekends ago, I planted basil and a variety of tomatoes that will be used this summer to make my homemade pasta sauce. Unfortunately, a recent storm may have hurt the young transplants so I may need to replace them this weekend. I am determined to use as many of my homegrown tomatoes in the sauce as I can.

I have also booked a flight to somewhere other than Indianapolis for a short vacation. I will be stopping in Denver for a few days on my way home Indianapolis and it costs the same as flying straight home. Some people have asked me why Denver and all I can say is maple bacon cupcakes. Or at least that is the reason a friend told me to go there. Also, I know someone who lives there who has offered me a place to crash and to be my tour guide for a few days.

And with some of the resolutions, I have to admit, I haven't started at all. I keep meaning to add a few Oscar best picture winners to the netflix queue, but I'm on a "Criminal Minds" kick and trying to catch up on all the old episodes. I'm still on season one. I have also not started working on a short story since spending most of my week reporting and writing (and blogging) makes me not really want to write in my spare time. I've got some ideas kicking around in my mind, but just need to find the time.

I just keep reminding myself I still have nine months to go, plenty of time to finish the other 15 resolutions.

Tomatoes finally flourish

When I moved to the house I live in now on Birdsong Street the thing I was looking forward to most was a backyard that gets full sun. Since I turned 15, I've lived in townhomes, dorm rooms or apartments with nothing more than patios overshawdowed by other buildings. I futiley tried container gardening, but as anyone who knows me knows, I don't really have a green thumb.

I figured when we moved to our new place, where we've been for two and a half years now that the large amount of sunlight might be enough to make things flourish. The first summer at the house I tried to grow a variety of vegetables from seedlings and then transplant them in the yard. They all died, but it was still early enough in the season to buy some transplants at local nurseries. We had our fill of early girl and cherry tomatoes for the summer. That year I discovered a couple of recipes that have become regular favorites - like one with freshly chopped tomatoes and shredded basil tossed in bowtie pasta with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. It's delicious and perfect for hot summer nights when we don't want to do too much cooking.

Last summer bruschetta was the hit. We made it half a dozen times and I got requests for it from friends who wanted me to bring it for parties.

This summer, our plants got a slow start due to the mild temperatures early in the summer. It is just in the last couple weeks that we've started to get a good batch off our plants. Luckily the farmers market in Hollister is just through the alley from my office on Wednesdays so I've been able to get beefsteaks and heirlooms to boost our supply. Last weekend I tried out a gazpacho recipe, a Spanish dish that is made with pureed tomatoes and vegetables. Since it is chilled, it's also a great summer meal. For the recipe, visit the Weekend Pinnacle life section.

Photo by Melissa Flores

Gazpacho is made with pureed tomatoes, chipotle and corn.