Thursday, March 30, 2006
sad.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Let me just say ...
... I love my shuffle. My current playlist is all Josh Groban, Michael Buble and Luciana Micarelli. De-lish.
Monday, March 27, 2006
So, more birthday.
Friday morning I picked Schuyler up from Mar & Dad's before they left for Philly and ran a few errands while KD slept. Then we drove up to Sephora & Crate & Barrel and spent way too much money. We were home before Brian got home from work and he brought me two bouquets of tulips - yellow and purple. Kelly came over and brought me a cake and some presents - a beautiful red glass hurricane and pretty white square platter with yummy stripes on it. After that we got ready to go to our mystery dinner - TEXAS ROADHOUSE of course! Kelly, Craig, Francie, Mike and Connor were there waiting to surprise me :o) We had great food and delicious drinks. Brian & my parents got me my iPod & iTunes giftcard, KD gave me a giftcard to Target and a subscription to Real Simple (my favorite magazine) and Francie & Mike gave me a cute bowl filled with chocolate. After Texas Roadhouse, Brian, KD and I ran to Target so I could get my iPod PowerPack and the newest Michael Buble CD. Then we went to Doc Watson's for their fantastic cherry vodka & cranberry juices.
Saturday we got ice cream sundae fixin's and watched TV in the afternoon .... then that night Kelly & Craig came over for pizza and cards. Annnd ... Sunday we took KD back to her parents and they took us to Olive Garden for dinner. So yeah, lots of eating out this weekend. That's pretty much all we did, actually.
Anyway, a lovely weekend and I'm ready for Mar & Dad to come back so we don't have to sleep with Schuyler tonight. Heehee.
Saturday we got ice cream sundae fixin's and watched TV in the afternoon .... then that night Kelly & Craig came over for pizza and cards. Annnd ... Sunday we took KD back to her parents and they took us to Olive Garden for dinner. So yeah, lots of eating out this weekend. That's pretty much all we did, actually.
Anyway, a lovely weekend and I'm ready for Mar & Dad to come back so we don't have to sleep with Schuyler tonight. Heehee.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Good Food, Good Friends
Just a little update - had a wonderful birthday weekend. I have a wonderful husband and delicious friends who treat me so well! Even though I'm getting a cold, I had such a fun weekend and thank you to all of those who made it so special :o) I'll update more from work this week, including a picture of my new toy.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
I'll be out of the office until Monday. Have a great weekend, everybody!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
KD & Sary Cook!
Thought I'd post a few recipes that KD and I will be trying out this weekend.
Chicken & Mushroom Goulash with Gnocchi
4 servings
2 tb evoo
1 tb butter
1 1/2 lbs ground chickens
1/2 lb white mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 tsp smoked paprika
salt & peppers
1 c. chicken stock
1 c. tomato sauce
1/2 c. sour cream
choppd parsley
1 pkg fresh gnocchi
chopped chives
In deep skillet, heat olive oil & butter over med-high heat. Add chicken and brown. Add mushrooms, garlic, onions and pepper to the center of pan. Cook 5 minutes, then mix with chicken and add paprika, salt and pepper. Stir in stock and tomato sauce and bring to bubble. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 5 minutes. Add in sour cream, turn off heat and add parsley.
Meanwhile, bring medium pot of water to a boil, salt and add gnocchi. Cook til they puff up and float. Drain and add to chicken after adding the sour cream. Garnish with chives.
Pan Seared Salmon with Citrus Vinegar Glaze
4 servings
4 (6 oz) portions salmon fillets
olive oil, for brushing
salt & pepper
1/2 c. dry white wine
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
2 tb orange juice
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tb brown sugar
Preheat cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet over med-high heat. Brush salmon with oil, and season with salt & pepper. Cook salmon until just cooked through, 3 minutes on each side.
While salmon cooks, bring wine, vinegar, citrus juices and brown sugar to a boil over high heat. Reduce glaze 3 or 4 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 tsp black pepper. Drizzle over fillets.
Chicken & Mushroom Goulash with Gnocchi
4 servings
2 tb evoo
1 tb butter
1 1/2 lbs ground chickens
1/2 lb white mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 tsp smoked paprika
salt & peppers
1 c. chicken stock
1 c. tomato sauce
1/2 c. sour cream
choppd parsley
1 pkg fresh gnocchi
chopped chives
In deep skillet, heat olive oil & butter over med-high heat. Add chicken and brown. Add mushrooms, garlic, onions and pepper to the center of pan. Cook 5 minutes, then mix with chicken and add paprika, salt and pepper. Stir in stock and tomato sauce and bring to bubble. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 5 minutes. Add in sour cream, turn off heat and add parsley.
Meanwhile, bring medium pot of water to a boil, salt and add gnocchi. Cook til they puff up and float. Drain and add to chicken after adding the sour cream. Garnish with chives.
Pan Seared Salmon with Citrus Vinegar Glaze
4 servings
4 (6 oz) portions salmon fillets
olive oil, for brushing
salt & pepper
1/2 c. dry white wine
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
2 tb orange juice
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tb brown sugar
Preheat cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet over med-high heat. Brush salmon with oil, and season with salt & pepper. Cook salmon until just cooked through, 3 minutes on each side.
While salmon cooks, bring wine, vinegar, citrus juices and brown sugar to a boil over high heat. Reduce glaze 3 or 4 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 tsp black pepper. Drizzle over fillets.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Last Night's Yummy Supper
Chicken parmigiana (we eat this every week)
Sauteed summer squash and green beans
Grandma's salad with hot bacon/vinegar dressing
Not only was it delicious, but it was beautifully plated, if I do say so myself.
Sauteed summer squash and green beans
Grandma's salad with hot bacon/vinegar dressing
Not only was it delicious, but it was beautifully plated, if I do say so myself.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
And a very happy 1st birthday to a special little guy - Joey D.
And a very happy 1st birthday to a special little guy - Joey D.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
sleepyhead.
i took 2 muscle relaxers last night and went to bed at 9 ... slept til 7. i feel like our bed is so much more comfortable now that it's in the other room and we have like 3 duvets. so cosy.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A Prairie Home Companion
Monday, March 13, 2006
BLEH.
i was out of commission most of the weekend, because i had an incident with my back while at work on friday. i'm still in pain, especially when i'm sitting, but i'm here with lots of work to do.
i didn't feel like cooking or anything over the weekend, so brian took kd and i to biaggi's for a late supper on saturday night. we had a really good time and ate lots of great food - brian had penne sardi, which is penne with grilled chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms and a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. kd had the four-cheese ravioli which included bleu cheese, with cream & marinara sauces and topped with pesto. i had osso buco with gnocchi, which was awesome - very tender. we had a lovely warm apple crostada for dessert - YUM.
anyway, good times with kd :o)
i didn't feel like cooking or anything over the weekend, so brian took kd and i to biaggi's for a late supper on saturday night. we had a really good time and ate lots of great food - brian had penne sardi, which is penne with grilled chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms and a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. kd had the four-cheese ravioli which included bleu cheese, with cream & marinara sauces and topped with pesto. i had osso buco with gnocchi, which was awesome - very tender. we had a lovely warm apple crostada for dessert - YUM.
anyway, good times with kd :o)
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Busy like a bee.
I took yesterday off work to do some things around the house. I got a lot of errands done, started the trim in our bedroom - we are switching bedrooms and started painting the other night - "prairie brush" on the walls, "blue skylight" (with tiny sparkles) for the ceiling, white trim & crown moulding. So I started the trim in the bedroom, and primed and painted a few cupboard doors and the big window in the kitchen. Did laundry, organized. I still have so much to do and hardly any time to do it before this weekend. KD is coming tomorrow and tomorrow night is my Pampered Chef party!
Left on my to-do list for Thursday & Friday:
Finish bedroom
Arrange guestroom
Finish painting cupboards
Hang curtains
Shop for flowers & groceries
Take Zaney to vet for shots
I have a ton of stuff to do here at work, including calling about -230579126 realtors. Time to go.
Left on my to-do list for Thursday & Friday:
Finish bedroom
Arrange guestroom
Finish painting cupboards
Hang curtains
Shop for flowers & groceries
Take Zaney to vet for shots
I have a ton of stuff to do here at work, including calling about -230579126 realtors. Time to go.
Monday, March 06, 2006
weekend.
i could not have asked for a more leisurely weekend! hope everyone had a great one.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Saturday Lunch
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Yields: 6 servings
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 c. diced onion
1 29 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce (or juice)
1 14 oz can chicken broth
dried thyme & sage
1 c. white rice
In large pot brown meat. Drain fat and add pepper and onion. Cook just until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, sauce, broth, herbs & season with salt & pepper. Cover & simmer for 30 minutes. Cook rice in separate pan, add to soup.
Serve with slices (or even better, chunks) of crusty bread with butter.
Perfect on a rainy day!
Yields: 6 servings
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 c. diced onion
1 29 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce (or juice)
1 14 oz can chicken broth
dried thyme & sage
1 c. white rice
In large pot brown meat. Drain fat and add pepper and onion. Cook just until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, sauce, broth, herbs & season with salt & pepper. Cover & simmer for 30 minutes. Cook rice in separate pan, add to soup.
Serve with slices (or even better, chunks) of crusty bread with butter.
Perfect on a rainy day!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
March ...
Oops, sowwy - Pooh's Heffawump.
The title has nothing to do with my post ... just something cute my nephew says.
While I did enjoy P&P (late) last night, I had also purchased Walk the Line for Hubbs. He loves his Johnny Cash and we've been meaning to see the film. Yes, I bought before seeing it, but after the reviews and the Oscar nods - and the fact that we both love Joaquin and Reese - I decided we might as well get it. So I think we'll be watching that tonight, or perhaps tomorrow when Mar & Dad can come over. At any rate, we're excited to see it.
Progress is being made in the kitchen! Finally! It's so much brighter & lighter with Cream Cake on the cupboards and Cream Delight on the walls. It's really looking fabulous. I've got a world-class painter living right under my roof, people. If anyone needs help painting, call my man.
Side note : What was up with Lane & Zack getting engaged on Gilmore Girls last night? Have I missed something? It seemed totally out of the blue and off-track from the rest of the show.
While I did enjoy P&P (late) last night, I had also purchased Walk the Line for Hubbs. He loves his Johnny Cash and we've been meaning to see the film. Yes, I bought before seeing it, but after the reviews and the Oscar nods - and the fact that we both love Joaquin and Reese - I decided we might as well get it. So I think we'll be watching that tonight, or perhaps tomorrow when Mar & Dad can come over. At any rate, we're excited to see it.
Progress is being made in the kitchen! Finally! It's so much brighter & lighter with Cream Cake on the cupboards and Cream Delight on the walls. It's really looking fabulous. I've got a world-class painter living right under my roof, people. If anyone needs help painting, call my man.
Side note : What was up with Lane & Zack getting engaged on Gilmore Girls last night? Have I missed something? It seemed totally out of the blue and off-track from the rest of the show.
oo.
