Displaced Beachbums

A Dining Out is army speak for a formal dinner which includes spouses (or girlfriends/boyfriends). A Dining In refers to a formal dinner which excludes spouses/girlfriends/boyfirends. The University of GUam ROTC cadets put on a very nice Dining Out this past Friday. Since I’m usually the one planning events, FM kept warning me that the evening might be a little clunky since it was the first time for most of the cadets to organize a formal event. There were a couple of minor hiccups but, on the whole, it was a really great evening. 

Since this was only my second formal here and, no one at this dinner had seen any of my dresses, I wasn’t worried about what I was going to wear. At about three on the day of the event, I tried on the three formal dresses I was thinking about wearing. Uh oh, two of them were decidedly SNUG!  A not so subtle clue that I’m going to have to put a stop to eating the “cupcakes” we’ve been buying at the commissary bakery.

Speaking of cupcakes, I made some for the gift shop volunteers last Tuesday. Unfortunately, I ended up eating 5, yes FIVE, of the leftover cupcakes in one day. Is it any wonder I’ve got a few extra inches on the hips 🙂  I was responsible for the side dish at the gift shop today and took in a VERY healthy dish. I got lots of compliments on it and several requests for the recipe. Here it is if you’d like to give it a try:

Brown Rice Italian Medley (from Mahatma Rice Recipes):

• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 8 oz of asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup each, red and yellow pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• salt and pepper ( a pinch each)
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded (optional)

Prepare rice according to package directions. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes or until crisp but tender. Stir in pine nuts and cooked rice. Heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Top with Parmesan cheese (optional). Very yummy.

Enjoy!