tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85967562566671379822024-03-05T21:06:47.816-05:00Amateur GastronomistTrials and Tribulations of a Self-Professed FoodieLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-9430455235987934082010-07-04T18:55:00.001-04:002010-07-04T18:55:46.163-04:00Happy 4th of July<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/07/04/2132.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/07/04/s_2132.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Hope everyone is having a great, safe celebration today. I'm currently sitting on the roof-deck enjoying a margarita my sister made for me with freshly squeezed citrus juice. We have a bucket of beer and some snacks to enjoy throughout the night. Then I'll be making some delicious food later... Peach salsa with Brie bruschetta, an American salad with strawberries, blueberries, onions, goat cheese, & candied pecans, and honey-chipotle barbecue chicken sandwiches for dinner. For dessert I made strawberry pretzel squares that are delicious...<br /><br />The real reason for my post is to let you all know that I'll be on a mini posting hiatus. My awesome husband is helping me create my own website and until it's finished I'll be taking a break from posting. I'm hoping my new site will be up and running by next weekend so I can continue sharing all of my new recipes. Until then...<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-22975753148236415392010-07-01T13:58:00.007-04:002010-07-01T15:47:21.176-04:00Nostalgic Weekend in New Hampshire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PpQpjwSLp5S_o6NYjCuYa-BmYhQD_zRwP2E0-6GHJCvOnS5fURVU_hRjJ3KMLC434EEgUuFEoKNoKhr5J9PqaDbMZMPw1R5PCzzP9Y2_h3fPOPhAMMGpqxMycPkT4GNYrHi_rByPpJ4/s1600/IMG_7949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PpQpjwSLp5S_o6NYjCuYa-BmYhQD_zRwP2E0-6GHJCvOnS5fURVU_hRjJ3KMLC434EEgUuFEoKNoKhr5J9PqaDbMZMPw1R5PCzzP9Y2_h3fPOPhAMMGpqxMycPkT4GNYrHi_rByPpJ4/s400/IMG_7949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999462426698818" border="0" /></a><br />I have always had an unhealthy obsession with ice cream but when you add in ice cream cake to the equation I just go crazy. I remember being a kid anxiously waiting the end of the party or the birthday dinner... it was all a means just to get to my precious ice cream cake. I'm not picky. I will eat and enjoy all brands or homemade cakes but I think most of my memories involve Carvel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWW5TdhPd_2Ke1M5iL9QM0QmPvUOkJ70l443_wO9VLtDqX1xrGusfMiqPk7znU3aIpqMX16WMD73mFN4nnFBH0baBIudbKAwwNt0fLE7AKwEa152GlqtogMpsKIR6_5T3m0qWbgEi19HE/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWW5TdhPd_2Ke1M5iL9QM0QmPvUOkJ70l443_wO9VLtDqX1xrGusfMiqPk7znU3aIpqMX16WMD73mFN4nnFBH0baBIudbKAwwNt0fLE7AKwEa152GlqtogMpsKIR6_5T3m0qWbgEi19HE/s400/IMG_7948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999453333327714" border="0" /></a><br />A couple weeks ago my younger sister turned 25 (which means I'm getting old) so we traveled to New Hampshire for a family celebration.<br /><br />I present my sister, Jocelyn, in all her glory... Aruba this year...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHv_JWMgksuR0ttT9vOlcKe7YFK0FrqpWgBkcGm7tuVfY5caYnz4gFT-Y-vj3WQrUCT2-PlFJvGWMR5N8H4OHvDF499kVqmdd8QHVrEoWfFUpLkaSH-JO_b5E3WoIagbLehVLKAp-a-8/s1600/Jocey2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHv_JWMgksuR0ttT9vOlcKe7YFK0FrqpWgBkcGm7tuVfY5caYnz4gFT-Y-vj3WQrUCT2-PlFJvGWMR5N8H4OHvDF499kVqmdd8QHVrEoWfFUpLkaSH-JO_b5E3WoIagbLehVLKAp-a-8/s400/Jocey2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999550642849410" border="0" /></a><br />Being goofy a couple of years ago...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EhMv_47pk35pTJO6ZvOB0f93fkqFTvzwXE1cZ9rdfYwapT7cpiXu66rqa-_kY7-whTev3KS23E0gJAwijLgRa9CouHWM7oI7Xu4_2D0OMNvE6kztDt2xKnfRqapBod7boWGM5VMi-lY/s1600/Jocey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EhMv_47pk35pTJO6ZvOB0f93fkqFTvzwXE1cZ9rdfYwapT7cpiXu66rqa-_kY7-whTev3KS23E0gJAwijLgRa9CouHWM7oI7Xu4_2D0OMNvE6kztDt2xKnfRqapBod7boWGM5VMi-lY/s400/Jocey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999549542198226" border="0" /></a> To be a little nicer to my baby sister, a nice photo of all the ladies in my family from our trip to Aruba... my youngest sister, me, my mom, and Jocelyn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSrGcE4bNW7jEjOz6cFYo9l5GYEizmmO88Nti4kp4tRwNkA8YFN2qIYMFMWdF4shf_b2G-ZeHhW0_ic9syzAFx8xplC90fxr4pX4S-LlnRa3_LbifQ67mVeb9I8-fKM3KrcuJIKkVAj4/s1600/girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSrGcE4bNW7jEjOz6cFYo9l5GYEizmmO88Nti4kp4tRwNkA8YFN2qIYMFMWdF4shf_b2G-ZeHhW0_ic9syzAFx8xplC90fxr4pX4S-LlnRa3_LbifQ67mVeb9I8-fKM3KrcuJIKkVAj4/s400/girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999192249368466" border="0" /></a><br />If my she read this blog she'd hate me... but she doesn't so I think I'm safe. She will never know that I've shared these great pictures!<br /><br />Anyway... back to the ice cream cake... the first night we were at my parent's house the Carvel cake made an appearance. I immediately forgot that it was my sister's birthday, and not mine, and pushed and shoved my family out of the way to get to some of the cold, creamy goodness... then I saw my mom's handy work, "Happy Birthday Jocelyn"... oops!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg674Jlv3W4Gr7PMewRD_fPEtqcnfAccYuWyjGgQRYCxM95YDLv2BsIGGPyotMf6mVIbOuC8M6M9FHy7P72_Dvx2wLzwq6WD0d8rBekTAjMjf0sDGDADK05k-4xpD4F4i6DwzlABoDes30/s1600/IMG_7946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg674Jlv3W4Gr7PMewRD_fPEtqcnfAccYuWyjGgQRYCxM95YDLv2BsIGGPyotMf6mVIbOuC8M6M9FHy7P72_Dvx2wLzwq6WD0d8rBekTAjMjf0sDGDADK05k-4xpD4F4i6DwzlABoDes30/s400/IMG_7946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999213900685570" border="0" /></a><br />In addition to the Carvel cake my sister had picked up a sampling of goodies from a local bakery. My plate featured the heavenly ice cream cake and a taste of carrot cake. Personally I don't think the carrot cake had a chance but it was still tasty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhRo6ZqtJg0f4Z-tCPcSYmcPuf10nCkry7uOFFto0nLvQw7wiOXulbupw6EdBvRSXZvFBJtd65pjuiy7iD976jKQ9Z1PxtjVb1734FSc19miN4YORavSfdzHF1CVCmFdFp7JtD0k06GE/s1600/IMG_7947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhRo6ZqtJg0f4Z-tCPcSYmcPuf10nCkry7uOFFto0nLvQw7wiOXulbupw6EdBvRSXZvFBJtd65pjuiy7iD976jKQ9Z1PxtjVb1734FSc19miN4YORavSfdzHF1CVCmFdFp7JtD0k06GE/s400/IMG_7947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999220408646290" border="0" /></a><br />After a sugar induced night of sleep we all went out to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/strawberry-patch-restaurant-wolfeboro">Strawberry Patch</a> for breakfast. Matt ordered traditional Eggs Benedict which was served with home fries and, of course, a strawberry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sQSmzweJmoN8cb1_hO9IIa-y2N1ljp-zvrTkOahAXiOHY9G2nQtb4dm2cWOCOH-OXS1SMAWqtNoeX3XExlqQLOIPIiyEA-d-mVtziyvhL7MQnM2evjPMjXPvW7g5__OJ3KoxqfXY9mc/s1600/IMG_7950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sQSmzweJmoN8cb1_hO9IIa-y2N1ljp-zvrTkOahAXiOHY9G2nQtb4dm2cWOCOH-OXS1SMAWqtNoeX3XExlqQLOIPIiyEA-d-mVtziyvhL7MQnM2evjPMjXPvW7g5__OJ3KoxqfXY9mc/s400/IMG_7950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999467128758626" border="0" /></a><br />I ordered a cheese and tomatoe omelet with home fries and homemade cinnamon raisin toast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj44pmUhwA99XPb_kHPg4BbJU_UKuGbtqrqFFTGXTev1DiHpQ3cxDaZ-H4Wcf458V-ONt8AMH46P445CoPyLpatkG8TQ-dMFkJBAotvpj1dKVtcgWLaoaYVb8Xl4jyvHJyxbKYiGEqLwU/s1600/IMG_7951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj44pmUhwA99XPb_kHPg4BbJU_UKuGbtqrqFFTGXTev1DiHpQ3cxDaZ-H4Wcf458V-ONt8AMH46P445CoPyLpatkG8TQ-dMFkJBAotvpj1dKVtcgWLaoaYVb8Xl4jyvHJyxbKYiGEqLwU/s400/IMG_7951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488999473688814418" border="0" /></a><br />It was a great weekend reminiscing both with our taste buds and with our stories!<br /><br />Just in case you're actually reading this post... Happy (Belated) Birthday Jocelyn! <span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br />*sorry about the photos!*</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-80621406336496680062010-06-29T20:44:00.016-04:002010-06-30T10:50:44.642-04:00Pork Meatball Banh and Vianne Chocolat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9YRdR9Zq93bApEX32HsKTMCADjGFDjz2U2pC1T79n2zISVWafM4F8xIOD26tMwtjOG1Z6DfUxjNZTLEjDuhG98dQSvj_DbA0WWmxo7CgjG0e-DHTI7FM-wcCJNkuFHN4-Jcm5wwKiu8/s1600/IMG_7936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9YRdR9Zq93bApEX32HsKTMCADjGFDjz2U2pC1T79n2zISVWafM4F8xIOD26tMwtjOG1Z6DfUxjNZTLEjDuhG98dQSvj_DbA0WWmxo7CgjG0e-DHTI7FM-wcCJNkuFHN4-Jcm5wwKiu8/s400/IMG_7936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566138924365250" border="0" /></a><br />I've ruled out a lot of recipes over the years because of ingredients I never thought I would have in my kitchen. One of those ingredients was fish sauce but ever since I read Betsy's <a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/2010/02/bah.html">post</a> on bánh mì xiu mai (her take on Bon Appetit's <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2010/01/pork_meatball_banh_mi">recipe</a>) I've been reconsidering my decision. I decided that a night when we had friends over would be a good time to sneak fish sauce into Matt's dinner... as we all know my husband can't stomach seafood.<br /><br />Our friends Kaleen and Matt ended up being my lucky victims. My husband was too busy tidying the home before our guests arrived to notice me slipping in the secret ingredient...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwGxV7y6BIPWOT328g5Zueu3BgO1-vJP35Dy3wtkqxsdiK5GUGP-1jaYSs8Iex13cdTw5ew7IRCSlXcjiiG7Hh0Re9CqOufosmn3ezVLUko6mP2f1CNECpy8Rk3dvcbcXuLcdRaXk8gM/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwGxV7y6BIPWOT328g5Zueu3BgO1-vJP35Dy3wtkqxsdiK5GUGP-1jaYSs8Iex13cdTw5ew7IRCSlXcjiiG7Hh0Re9CqOufosmn3ezVLUko6mP2f1CNECpy8Rk3dvcbcXuLcdRaXk8gM/s400/IMG_7937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566294546472450" border="0" /></a><br />I served appetizers and beer while I finished making dinner. Trader Joe's edamame hummus with ak-mak crackers is my new favorite snack. I love the crunchy, crispy, wheat and sesame crackers with the flavorful green hummus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR5_A9vvOOjaLMmYWK0mjndov8lC_WvZOTtwxPSZbc71MQPaWPuwhFOfqRNOzFBEvSmcTSQcEvpyC7b_bjxu67UKOOrKrULw0PheOMjdoRpBlDWx93ujLbDp-Pg9pjLZxJBl6NIhnVco/s1600/IMG_7934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR5_A9vvOOjaLMmYWK0mjndov8lC_WvZOTtwxPSZbc71MQPaWPuwhFOfqRNOzFBEvSmcTSQcEvpyC7b_bjxu67UKOOrKrULw0PheOMjdoRpBlDWx93ujLbDp-Pg9pjLZxJBl6NIhnVco/s400/IMG_7934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488385998424442530" border="0" /></a><br />After a couple of drinks and catching up dinner was finally ready. There was a quick assembly of sandwiches and then we all went to the roof deck to enjoy the view and our dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_RuUOovcYcHeUDs25qI8S9zW2uLt9coFVUqCEmFOcXIYjT1N7d7Zx7Z_t7R-_sMcxGszqNSMlYS4iStxu77TWENn0Q0LLc2R8LDjnX62IixjChO40gtwwpgn3MqL-21mDUYcinyaj8c/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_RuUOovcYcHeUDs25qI8S9zW2uLt9coFVUqCEmFOcXIYjT1N7d7Zx7Z_t7R-_sMcxGszqNSMlYS4iStxu77TWENn0Q0LLc2R8LDjnX62IixjChO40gtwwpgn3MqL-21mDUYcinyaj8c/s400/IMG_7935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488386459995340482" border="0" /></a><br />The sandwiches were a hit... even after my husband discovered the secret ingredient. The layers of flavors are perfect together... crunchy, cool and spicy. It's probably the best sandwich I've ever had or made.<br /><br />For a dessert I had another little surprise... a new, Boston-based, local ingredient chocolate company had dropped off some samples and we were all going to participate in the little taste test. I had been drooling over the beautiful package from <a href="http://viannechocolat.com/">Vianne Chocolat</a> all afternoon so I could barely wait to rip into them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW4XDZSmw9rjvoQu-OLaTz5yvUbxmAiOVOoYiiobL823PO_sGT_oYRrv2YaI4P1TjB7TtWJzHwZsCk51ji9ZLmVyb6rNTtngQfW5spfgtn6tmntZ0HQX5T1jB26Nest2tJCwyKkMQxXI/s1600/IMG_7938.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW4XDZSmw9rjvoQu-OLaTz5yvUbxmAiOVOoYiiobL823PO_sGT_oYRrv2YaI4P1TjB7TtWJzHwZsCk51ji9ZLmVyb6rNTtngQfW5spfgtn6tmntZ0HQX5T1jB26Nest2tJCwyKkMQxXI/s400/IMG_7938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566305329582658" border="0" /></a><br />First we split the two dark chocolate raspberry truffles with cocoa and raspberry powder into halves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87N9MANyUvLavuKBb51p0Qow1tUNXa_BlIa99KsP0uLPkDVFGe1U0fbxR-oy4OOh87q9c7lTDHheToz47EfeNJjsWxzEFqD0ysdPqRsAcf-4X0l-wRp9yxqfqvzLkSmsEkAKf2-bc9nI/s1600/IMG_7939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87N9MANyUvLavuKBb51p0Qow1tUNXa_BlIa99KsP0uLPkDVFGe1U0fbxR-oy4OOh87q9c7lTDHheToz47EfeNJjsWxzEFqD0ysdPqRsAcf-4X0l-wRp9yxqfqvzLkSmsEkAKf2-bc9nI/s400/IMG_7939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566572893619298" border="0" /></a><br />After the truffles I carefully cut the five other chocolates into quarters with my good-enough-to-be-surgeon skilled hands. From the below picture starting with the bottom right corner you can see the delightful chocolates; Chambord filled with raspberry powder, lavender, burnt caramel cup, and mint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXXBRLIl8GwiTgoESUNQZNGU7boNy01RN0ml_qQl1udYClpNMfn3msH6kFSx9m-VG_MtOTaycA7GCOqz1UHXuMBf7iuyBZU3btgx8pcPsqo526JpmCtvjNSRsPJ-trP3ZbtymVemPxQ/s1600/IMG_7941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDXXBRLIl8GwiTgoESUNQZNGU7boNy01RN0ml_qQl1udYClpNMfn3msH6kFSx9m-VG_MtOTaycA7GCOqz1UHXuMBf7iuyBZU3btgx8pcPsqo526JpmCtvjNSRsPJ-trP3ZbtymVemPxQ/s400/IMG_7941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566601397521810" border="0" /></a><br />There was one additional chocolate under these four beauties... a rose scented dove. This beautiful little dove was one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the slight hint of rose in the dark chocolate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0ezeox0e6jPuBSrtbkijZHOvFcZvVgcQkIPjbdaJqZDYdLKQaEOzEl0Y1q6Cxm50V7G-NXFZRrw4yj9kdpEhsiffT6ux0DxfKQZhQXnlIVgNLOnTnu_hJB4KpIL_CYDQSyqUCYPsDSo/s1600/IMG_7945.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0ezeox0e6jPuBSrtbkijZHOvFcZvVgcQkIPjbdaJqZDYdLKQaEOzEl0Y1q6Cxm50V7G-NXFZRrw4yj9kdpEhsiffT6ux0DxfKQZhQXnlIVgNLOnTnu_hJB4KpIL_CYDQSyqUCYPsDSo/s400/IMG_7945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488567021592234850" border="0" /></a>All of the chocolates were amazing but my absolute favorite was the burnt caramel cup. I wasn't expecting the liquid center so when I cut into it I frantically shouted for my dinner crew to come quickly... they needed to catch a taste of the caramel before it was all over the plate. I think we all agreed that the caramel was perfect; you can tell that a very talented chocolatier made the perfectly burnt caramel. I may have run my finger through the caramel that was leftover on the plate when no one was looking... maybe...<br /><br />We all felt so privileged to partake in a tasting of these wonderful chocolates!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd92Y8ps7fzBqk9MvVlwH1VaTcOKsTn3TTksP53GbJYhvkajP-TL9BymwFtumnMweHGtZmOTyKGicXEZyxO7mCClpFxHw73L78c8aUgbepSqKl8ZfPx5BW1_lTnWRvJJ7LVYy7rRxqhZA/s1600/IMG_7942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd92Y8ps7fzBqk9MvVlwH1VaTcOKsTn3TTksP53GbJYhvkajP-TL9BymwFtumnMweHGtZmOTyKGicXEZyxO7mCClpFxHw73L78c8aUgbepSqKl8ZfPx5BW1_lTnWRvJJ7LVYy7rRxqhZA/s400/IMG_7942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488566986941766642" border="0" /></a><br />The owner, Valerie, also throws chocolate parties which I'm sure would be a great event, perfect for a bridal or baby shower! If you're interested in trying some of these chocolates or setting up a chocolate party go to the <a href="http://viannechocolat.com/">website</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Pork Meatball Banh Mi</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hot Chili Mayo</span><div class="ingredient-set"><span class="quantity">2/3</span> <span class="unit">cup</span> <span class="name">mayonnaise</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">2</span> <span class="name">green onions, finely chopped</span> <br /><span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="name">hot chili sauce (such as Sriracha)*<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meatballs</span></span></div><div class="ingredient-set"><span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">pound</span> <span class="name">ground pork</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1/4</span> <span class="unit">cup</span> <span class="name">finely chopped fresh basil</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">4</span> <span class="name">garlic cloves, minced</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">3</span> <span class="name">green onions, finely chopped</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">tablespoon fish sauce</span> <span class="name">(such as nam pla or nuoc nam)</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="name">hot chili sauce (such as sriracha)</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="name">sugar</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">2</span> <span class="unit">teaspoons</span> <span class="name">cornstarch</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="name">freshly ground black pepper</span> <br /><span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="name">coarse kosher salt<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandwiches</span></span></div><div class="ingredient-set"><span class="quantity">2</span> <span class="unit">cups</span> <span class="name">coarsely grated carrots</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">2</span> <span class="unit">cups</span> <span class="name">coarsely grated peeled daikon (Japanese white radish)**</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1/4</span> <span class="unit">cup</span> <span class="name">unseasoned rice vinegar</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1/4</span> <span class="unit">cup</span> <span class="name">sugar</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="name">coarse kosher salt</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">1</span> <span class="unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="name">Asian sesame oil</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">4</span> <span class="name">10-inch-long individual baguettes or four 10-inch-long pieces French-bread baguette (cut from 2 baguettes)</span> <br /> <span class="name">Thinly sliced jalapeño chiles</span> <br /> <span class="quantity">16</span> <span class="name">large fresh cilantro sprigs</span> <div class="text">*Available in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets and at Asian markets.</div> **Available at some supermarkets and at Asian markets<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Hot Chili Mayo</span><br />Stir all ingredients in small bowl. Season with salt. <strong>DO AHEAD</strong><em> Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.</em><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span class="name"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meatballs<br /><br /></span></span>Line rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap. Gently mix all ingredients in large bowl. Using moistened hands and scant tablespoonful for each, roll meat mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Arrange on baking sheet. <strong>DO AHEAD</strong><em> Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.</em><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span class="name"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>Toss first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour, tossing occasionally.<br />Preheat oven to 300°F. Heat sesame oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of meatballs. Sauté until brown and cooked through, turning meatballs often and lowering heat if browning too quickly, about 15 minutes. Transfer meatballs to another rimmed baking sheet. Place in oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs.<br /> <span class="name"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sandwiches<br /></span></span><br /> Cut each baguette or baguette piece horizontally in half. Pull out enough bread from each bread half to leave 1/2-inch-thick shell. Spread hot chili mayo over each bread shell. Arrange jalapeños, then cilantro, in bottom halves. Fill each with 1/4 of meatballs. Drain pickled vegetables; place atop meatballs. Press on baguette tops. </div> <div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br /></div>Serves 4<br /><a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/2010/02/bah.html"></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-43324181292274573362010-06-23T13:27:00.010-04:002010-06-23T22:55:45.967-04:00Dinner at the Blue Room, Dessert at Mooo....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsJUm-EtTiUxDcHjZmTAbG_68M-d8SA3HJVTeYqkLMF9nutWXKC4jXBmcb5FVV1-tfaXg0woM0j8yF4mS70UzUQx6thoaxY50MLjUBUNvA_NqPAY2CwkICGbd_pleHH6LBwvBtzi4cQU/s1600/martini.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsJUm-EtTiUxDcHjZmTAbG_68M-d8SA3HJVTeYqkLMF9nutWXKC4jXBmcb5FVV1-tfaXg0woM0j8yF4mS70UzUQx6thoaxY50MLjUBUNvA_NqPAY2CwkICGbd_pleHH6LBwvBtzi4cQU/s400/martini.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486025806937144706" border="0" /></a><br />We recently had a great food night around Boston. Matt had a work dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blue-room-cambridge">The Blue Room</a> in Kendall Square, and I tagged along as his "plus one" along with Betsy (who was on the guest list). As we joined the group that had arrived a few minutes before, my gaze fell upon a dark and very tasty looking beer in front of one of the guests. He noticed my stare and offered me a sip. I dropped all sense of decorum and grabbed the closest chalice I could find...a wine glass. So much for class. When it comes to dark beers, everything I learned from fine dining just seems to be so irrelevant. Here is the photographic evidence of my fall from grace. Hint: The beer is in the left glass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn04Mvvs1GtEd1TaGcpv7YTxbOSHalMupyBMa_YINs_WRkHmEjOsNOtHYddyCdwzSCitgDvUY9oOx30mbXj-SEIcQowkJQ6uRc4MnsKwyXB067c7N_qK4P1Ns2aSuPb76nTQIe_yTGp4A/s1600/beer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn04Mvvs1GtEd1TaGcpv7YTxbOSHalMupyBMa_YINs_WRkHmEjOsNOtHYddyCdwzSCitgDvUY9oOx30mbXj-SEIcQowkJQ6uRc4MnsKwyXB067c7N_qK4P1Ns2aSuPb76nTQIe_yTGp4A/s400/beer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486025535918655602" border="0" /></a><br />While I was enjoying the beer, the server poured a bottle of Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir. It was a bit of an awkward moment when she tried to fill my glass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcNruZgeCSoG46IxDmtXfq7URk0WwHpVIQedTMQSPobJskzRJGtotMc4pXL8LUNe7Hb_OwWxJ4ot5DcsP6-9hzZ3zvN1NinMNoVLF9SXXq8g_Sc76oiESHNB_2HTWJoRNqTVVe_AVsMw/s1600/wine1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcNruZgeCSoG46IxDmtXfq7URk0WwHpVIQedTMQSPobJskzRJGtotMc4pXL8LUNe7Hb_OwWxJ4ot5DcsP6-9hzZ3zvN1NinMNoVLF9SXXq8g_Sc76oiESHNB_2HTWJoRNqTVVe_AVsMw/s400/wine1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486028913986215362" border="0" /></a><br />First up, some snacks. Our side of the table fired off a few orders that ran the gamut of sweet, savory and just plain different.<br /><br />The brown sugar, cayenne spiced nuts put out the right combination of sweet and spice. Never would have guessed that based on what the name of the snack was... but I have to put something in between these photos...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPLPuzx4F_kEDax-kM5S5cUAn5UU4OtxZaYokiA0SPdz8hwWS7pv0ItGuStGAN9UWgLFTXq03ss5_3aq1XS_aTg-ce4hLlLLiPs-hp6JqpQ8mTlLsec7r4qgNOSsSrAN_shHc__syePw/s1600/nuts.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPLPuzx4F_kEDax-kM5S5cUAn5UU4OtxZaYokiA0SPdz8hwWS7pv0ItGuStGAN9UWgLFTXq03ss5_3aq1XS_aTg-ce4hLlLLiPs-hp6JqpQ8mTlLsec7r4qgNOSsSrAN_shHc__syePw/s400/nuts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486026138937987682" border="0" /></a><br />I loved the texture and taste of the real, homemade chickpea dip with crispy flatbread.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDez2AyuXO52cAuURKeeUb-wIagLeJZED3GE59xekz8-WzWZoYEQ8XAImg9Ii0CIqkA3mUz8X0MLIiG7gp4cIBkzd2EsN-bBDjKvuX2sXnJli-3a8AmT7g7gOSzSTFG1eHcwcyRkOal0/s1600/chickpea.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDez2AyuXO52cAuURKeeUb-wIagLeJZED3GE59xekz8-WzWZoYEQ8XAImg9Ii0CIqkA3mUz8X0MLIiG7gp4cIBkzd2EsN-bBDjKvuX2sXnJli-3a8AmT7g7gOSzSTFG1eHcwcyRkOal0/s400/chickpea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486025783061473282" border="0" /></a><br />The best of the bunch by far were dates stuffed with ricotta and pistachios; a bite sized snack with a lot going on. The creamy ricotta blended perfectly with the date and pistachios, with a hint of honey. I can't wait to try to recreate these at home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAX7hz69ky1DJUygwSC3W0Mkh-UpSqAs6L1Vcbon_s6zTUpFif0AKJfht42wuQLNgy26_DuWttTOuA25RooHG8uv8CpNM1WwH2htpmulMjWA0IRQVbBsJXySyH5ZIXsUqikcHJR4dMnU/s1600/dates.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAX7hz69ky1DJUygwSC3W0Mkh-UpSqAs6L1Vcbon_s6zTUpFif0AKJfht42wuQLNgy26_DuWttTOuA25RooHG8uv8CpNM1WwH2htpmulMjWA0IRQVbBsJXySyH5ZIXsUqikcHJR4dMnU/s400/dates.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486025798039684754" border="0" /></a><br />Snacks in the belly. Time for more wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V6PXkwd7H48PPYuhUmonJw4yUJIbg01ypC88fn8wqU-sFKG61xfjhAGswf2p9E6gtYOAQThXM1B39JcJhQbQrNVc7p8CyHNUBfRLTFFjLPl3os98aLIyH8dVWPv0tsvoelsUcQXs0O8/s1600/wine2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V6PXkwd7H48PPYuhUmonJw4yUJIbg01ypC88fn8wqU-sFKG61xfjhAGswf2p9E6gtYOAQThXM1B39JcJhQbQrNVc7p8CyHNUBfRLTFFjLPl3os98aLIyH8dVWPv0tsvoelsUcQXs0O8/s400/wine2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486028920026452562" border="0" /></a><br />No, this is not a prop bottle from "The Great Gatsby," but rather a very earthy Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California. I am not an earthy wine fan, but in this case it did not overpower the big, juicy flavor of the wine. <br /><br />For the main, I opted to combine two appetizer dishes; the pasta special and a Vietnamese steak salad.<br /><br />The pasta was orecchiette with pea tendrils, lemon, and ricotta. It was a light pasta dish which was perfect for the warm night.<br /><h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEkwyzM3Bf42LoLJKnkmLYjWTcfwAmUQqb25roygQzREDDzt5WmwrhRroFEURzH6DYrJIa_w6liq3WyGnERxtAqPcgNXjk6G3wiroeibJrmpbpn1KK9ie1YOfkwHhIDXxvGZvv4qpe5g/s1600/pasta.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEkwyzM3Bf42LoLJKnkmLYjWTcfwAmUQqb25roygQzREDDzt5WmwrhRroFEURzH6DYrJIa_w6liq3WyGnERxtAqPcgNXjk6G3wiroeibJrmpbpn1KK9ie1YOfkwHhIDXxvGZvv4qpe5g/s400/pasta.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486026145857921154" border="0" /></a></h2>Next up was the Vietnamese beef salad with green papaya, fermented black beans, lime, mint, and chili oil. I was initially put off by the fact that the beef was served cold, however it fit nicely with the rest of the salad and the flavor profile complimented the other ingredients perfectly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeWmNc2S45bcSQIw5BnJSIL8yY-fnSpgUyWwrZtNiMtWmKVYeHCm81eXYn0bjuPbWLlzeLzzECiec28PZumibYw_YpmQi6UeSuINXbeNpZNgkK-81FeDtjzoFN2Vn6zNHEABVUHgeIX0/s1600/steak.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeWmNc2S45bcSQIw5BnJSIL8yY-fnSpgUyWwrZtNiMtWmKVYeHCm81eXYn0bjuPbWLlzeLzzECiec28PZumibYw_YpmQi6UeSuINXbeNpZNgkK-81FeDtjzoFN2Vn6zNHEABVUHgeIX0/s400/steak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486028908173681666" border="0" /></a><br />Later, the three of us headed across the river into Boston to what we like to call "our living room" <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/mooo-boston">(Mooo....</a>) for a nightcap and maybe... a look at the dessert menu.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K9gQtSw6a3BgWaeasR1-2EOvwa-a3sAvoq_pTdErD5QFuCakYmJ1mFLcvBsrBN4l7UBnqpCsHZwmcWADSGqY4ILTHcPMA2svGqZV3dg4mWROeCAAsVF3LRN5QYbJI_mhGEjSj9oI3qI/s1600/mooo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K9gQtSw6a3BgWaeasR1-2EOvwa-a3sAvoq_pTdErD5QFuCakYmJ1mFLcvBsrBN4l7UBnqpCsHZwmcWADSGqY4ILTHcPMA2svGqZV3dg4mWROeCAAsVF3LRN5QYbJI_mhGEjSj9oI3qI/s400/mooo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486026133455991634" border="0" /></a><br />The ladies decided to go against the stereotype and we ordered...the... Lady's Martini. Ok, not really against the stereotype, but with Lilet blonde infused with fresh lemon, hibiscus syrup and a champagne chaser, it became too tempting to pass over. The martini was full of fantastic flavor but I'm not sure it could be really classified as a martini. Very sweet, not much alcohol... or so it seemed... not bad for a night cap.... not good if it is your first drink of the night because these go down like a Capri Sun and would end your night before you even knew what was happening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRtCsluWARvcE1OzNEwHKQpC-fz7W0tQpG9AX9Ned3j8ZTuwXjyHkn4OHxtPlJei9a5BpGPbgtGrazRisHSwH0w40cB3tzEbi0hl_jEvx8vmo-XyT89T5CYOTNT-89DRISXqx7lup9JE/s1600/martini2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRtCsluWARvcE1OzNEwHKQpC-fz7W0tQpG9AX9Ned3j8ZTuwXjyHkn4OHxtPlJei9a5BpGPbgtGrazRisHSwH0w40cB3tzEbi0hl_jEvx8vmo-XyT89T5CYOTNT-89DRISXqx7lup9JE/s400/martini2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486026123745178834" border="0" /></a><br />For some reason, the dessert menu taunted us with a very intriguing dark chocolate stout cake. Now I'm not a huge chocolate fan but I do enjoy the "health benefits" of dark chocolate and a good stout. The cake was wonderful and really well done. Thank God Betsy and Matt were there or I might just have developed a real passion for chocolate... and by that I mean I would have eaten the whole thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xs4Mb3EyjSeiNU09DwfU03JJLWYsrj3gefFCPzsChnO8yROV0JZLqpIrY1rr-MZEOtAwvpSIHguVKGBcn79vQlGD48yW2kh0ufKkRK_dHlI-gkrXNXNqsHEz-KFaFCmHiMswsTtcsnI/s1600/cake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xs4Mb3EyjSeiNU09DwfU03JJLWYsrj3gefFCPzsChnO8yROV0JZLqpIrY1rr-MZEOtAwvpSIHguVKGBcn79vQlGD48yW2kh0ufKkRK_dHlI-gkrXNXNqsHEz-KFaFCmHiMswsTtcsnI/s400/cake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486025539596421186" border="0" /></a><br />Overall, this unscripted rambling back and forth across the river was a culinary and viticultural success. You can see Betsy's perspective <a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/2010/06/blue-room-and-moo.html">here</a>. Our photos are almost identical. We were snapping dueling pictures so much that Matt had compared us to the most flash happy crowd in Boston in a <a href="http://twitter.com/mattwickert">tweet:</a><br /><br />"<a href="http://twitter.com/upwitholives">@upwitholives</a> & <a href="http://twitter.com/amateurgastro">@amateurgastro</a> take pics of food like Asian tourists take pics of the Cheers facade #canon #Boston."<br /><br />Give these ladies a <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=19210">camera</a><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=19210"> that fits in a pocket</a> and combine that with a love of food, and what do you expect? I'll post my pictures of the Cheers facade in another post ;)Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-67925934525495423122010-06-20T14:33:00.003-04:002010-06-20T14:41:13.731-04:00Foodless PostThis has nothing to do with food but I just had to share a couple of pictures that I took last week. The view from our roof deck of the Boston skyline at sunset after a storm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAoSCQvWNXUihgoT5h_Tm6b2DrRZ1rnyBcOeC-3Ml89VIW-hYd8W03xXh7QwtDcqqOc7j-NL4Bf7ttXD6RHp9MVJe4-Z3lxhaMXJ3mM9-SlyJ9ira1dgQgIADhZ4cdiS64dAs7sJhOoM/s1600/IMG_7912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAoSCQvWNXUihgoT5h_Tm6b2DrRZ1rnyBcOeC-3Ml89VIW-hYd8W03xXh7QwtDcqqOc7j-NL4Bf7ttXD6RHp9MVJe4-Z3lxhaMXJ3mM9-SlyJ9ira1dgQgIADhZ4cdiS64dAs7sJhOoM/s400/IMG_7912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484927482922406866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfRsR7GFunSL_5nEPCdM2yL1YuwolTNE9EX3Ag-2ndF8ECdILpGF9RPwLCIF-P52lKbFSqYOzEOgkcHHhrjiBdpvPVV-wDLSNiJ_np-35nX801i74nz8wNQx1aejWUIuihPTt05QLS5A/s1600/IMG_7911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfRsR7GFunSL_5nEPCdM2yL1YuwolTNE9EX3Ag-2ndF8ECdILpGF9RPwLCIF-P52lKbFSqYOzEOgkcHHhrjiBdpvPVV-wDLSNiJ_np-35nX801i74nz8wNQx1aejWUIuihPTt05QLS5A/s400/IMG_7911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484927464118537906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO21chorqkEk5Qkisp4EouiCpv50eaKe0FLiUleAfzuuMwyJY0WFTsm8IAIsSJ00Jh_yBtR5iqUPDT-1xEHdf_Cs81dUrDQs9Noq5TqwlsD299d_9nofSQy6GcaoveIY1CNCRmng6J1cA/s1600/IMG_7910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO21chorqkEk5Qkisp4EouiCpv50eaKe0FLiUleAfzuuMwyJY0WFTsm8IAIsSJ00Jh_yBtR5iqUPDT-1xEHdf_Cs81dUrDQs9Noq5TqwlsD299d_9nofSQy6GcaoveIY1CNCRmng6J1cA/s400/IMG_7910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484927443425351762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLcygEhIatha0dsqHs_f6EvQMWvTXZEw9BJN8tmCKMXgQfVjvJjulxCZtFguZFKSQq2APdXiN2V1GPuIF4od7H_Ge7R7W7kw_M9xOThseUAZVhNK7JyK7bGa00NIZi6ULbQjtt-SMKE8/s1600/IMG_7909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLcygEhIatha0dsqHs_f6EvQMWvTXZEw9BJN8tmCKMXgQfVjvJjulxCZtFguZFKSQq2APdXiN2V1GPuIF4od7H_Ge7R7W7kw_M9xOThseUAZVhNK7JyK7bGa00NIZi6ULbQjtt-SMKE8/s400/IMG_7909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484927417845376258" border="0" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-80759346290701232932010-06-15T22:00:00.019-04:002010-06-20T13:37:31.305-04:00A Baby Shower Weekend in Chicago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgxlHS8pds8JZ_tH263Trhfz9RBfxrG8DArc3H5oYv_PIA55RBwqjESeV9yeSTnmEkLWtWY94hIGug7MuHqiCqOMw9p6ncYZe28BJ_iPd9OyJSLBHRx3pY2Jx5zmepzlXr24yhyiuUZo/s1600/BS8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgxlHS8pds8JZ_tH263Trhfz9RBfxrG8DArc3H5oYv_PIA55RBwqjESeV9yeSTnmEkLWtWY94hIGug7MuHqiCqOMw9p6ncYZe28BJ_iPd9OyJSLBHRx3pY2Jx5zmepzlXr24yhyiuUZo/s400/BS8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186350593532914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We arrived in Chicago Saturday morning leaving us plenty of time for food throughout the day. On our way to my sister-in-law's home we stopped and picked up sandwiches from <a href="http://www.potbelly.com/Home/Default.aspx">Potbelly</a> for lunch. When we got to their home all the ladies of the family, and Dave (the dad-to-be), were reunited for the first time since Christmas 2008. The baby of the family, Alleigh, has been doing good deeds all over the country, working in Americorps. We were lucky that her break fell during the week of the shower. It would have been great if Matt and his dad could have been there but the two New England men had to stay behind to run the bed and breakfast.<br /><br />After our little reunion we left to head downtown to meet up with some important Michiganders at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-iberico-chicago">Cafe Iberico</a> for dinner. There is nothing better than pitchers of sangria and tapas galore! It was so nice to catch up with the extended family over a fantastic meal. Dinner was over early so a group of us walked over to the Hotel Felix to have drinks in their swanky restaurant, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/elate-chicago">Elate</a>. Of course I forgot to take any photos on Saturday but Alleigh got a shot of her Blueberry Lemonade drink at Elate. I had the cucumber collins which was delicious but I think the table's favorite was the ginger-basil mojito.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X1bz2ZTbjXyjouA5dAu8PcPfPoxxkcUW_xlUEIDk1OVra4YMhLwti1llCbIYVuYU-CnjywGbYxphoQrX4YnMvmm_CwpLHJAMaE9VotNJhbOk7kSG1tFzTAlD0qFWE12QapwzfCXv1cg/s1600/drink"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X1bz2ZTbjXyjouA5dAu8PcPfPoxxkcUW_xlUEIDk1OVra4YMhLwti1llCbIYVuYU-CnjywGbYxphoQrX4YnMvmm_CwpLHJAMaE9VotNJhbOk7kSG1tFzTAlD0qFWE12QapwzfCXv1cg/s400/drink" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484583681807494770" border="0" /></a><br />Later on that night Alleigh and I met up with one of my best friends who moved from Boston to Chicago a couple years ago. We all caught up over a couple of beers at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bad-apple-chicago">The Bad Apple</a>. It wasn't nearly enough time but we all had to get up in early in the morning.<br /><br />Sunday morning, after a quick run along the Lake, we headed to the suburbs for the baby shower!! The shower was held where Carrie and Dave got married almost two years ago, the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/riverside-reception-geneva">Riverside Reception</a>. It was a beautiful day for a perfect baby shower!<br /><br />Here are some photos of the room and the view<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcCFkflFSyLpThCW8wfgZLU7nE7WGRP6j5QK3vvy1D5TOx5tH1kxWsac0hmuZ6mTElwOQzSvSJiu4h7whDwSA0VZrwLXWH33U3ZG2TECheuHrPj2L5AsfY-15TFgG6BZuJLEXtn9Fpw/s1600/BS1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcCFkflFSyLpThCW8wfgZLU7nE7WGRP6j5QK3vvy1D5TOx5tH1kxWsac0hmuZ6mTElwOQzSvSJiu4h7whDwSA0VZrwLXWH33U3ZG2TECheuHrPj2L5AsfY-15TFgG6BZuJLEXtn9Fpw/s400/BS1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483185978982537378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8paNP4uIKA9PhLxOcppsPSV2wBMpmc_p0Py4R2lfI2CQYs3uHmindYfVW9JHnVw_3hoGsB3yEyMyihZ2T68HgcGXtugFvGxmjCDkViP4jB_8Ttnc8vplkclznGV-ZHNI1KeoceH_HkA/s1600/BS2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8paNP4uIKA9PhLxOcppsPSV2wBMpmc_p0Py4R2lfI2CQYs3uHmindYfVW9JHnVw_3hoGsB3yEyMyihZ2T68HgcGXtugFvGxmjCDkViP4jB_8Ttnc8vplkclznGV-ZHNI1KeoceH_HkA/s400/BS2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483185988025361938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO3EBiMUp9huDenqytsrvDnlkmfjtrM4PYZa2vtLuxv1R6Lv4O-SoGTF7Fin4dzHLCXLcReVewBucDpBug_-BVoimHLPZIpyfIWkDpX8Z-ui6FlNfqykbbrfB05RI6-0WZHaJuKNgHys/s1600/BS5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO3EBiMUp9huDenqytsrvDnlkmfjtrM4PYZa2vtLuxv1R6Lv4O-SoGTF7Fin4dzHLCXLcReVewBucDpBug_-BVoimHLPZIpyfIWkDpX8Z-ui6FlNfqykbbrfB05RI6-0WZHaJuKNgHys/s400/BS5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186002047921890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcuTnaiVJSu12hJeaw-KGuMwIAGHhOCjWFhi0sk7lhlWK0pStZR8H_MB3sHSVIMHcl6mQyc4UuFeXTTj92ox62DTEwJ_SojY2mdQfP9F_nPUdR7tmUin42RhiUAII6hWkg-HLpZhgm7E/s1600/BS3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcuTnaiVJSu12hJeaw-KGuMwIAGHhOCjWFhi0sk7lhlWK0pStZR8H_MB3sHSVIMHcl6mQyc4UuFeXTTj92ox62DTEwJ_SojY2mdQfP9F_nPUdR7tmUin42RhiUAII6hWkg-HLpZhgm7E/s400/BS3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483185989181871778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8Uj0n8FQHWJtswn4Itdu7WE2tqv_m4E1YKIXB_Sn5LKe86JYtvSVtlytOUMy8Hyi2yBIjhEoHFXEhzfZkEkd1mhMwsoXucNc2our7FhwOevmVj7-5_4JIImgZ1tciZPPyU8GyKPY1_o/s1600/BS6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8Uj0n8FQHWJtswn4Itdu7WE2tqv_m4E1YKIXB_Sn5LKe86JYtvSVtlytOUMy8Hyi2yBIjhEoHFXEhzfZkEkd1mhMwsoXucNc2our7FhwOevmVj7-5_4JIImgZ1tciZPPyU8GyKPY1_o/s400/BS6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186336912825250" border="0" /></a><br />A little sweet favor<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kbPMvPLVr8Fug7l9ijKl4T8XHxDKCkqZf5iA-t0L1XPOGxAQJ4i0VeID4WpzY7B4jaRPbtarmmAwERAniFgQlX6hJGEigjvlUEUoWAOuwOAxxgUWBXOd1S2uIv2XzNd-NtnpuREFVbg/s1600/BS4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kbPMvPLVr8Fug7l9ijKl4T8XHxDKCkqZf5iA-t0L1XPOGxAQJ4i0VeID4WpzY7B4jaRPbtarmmAwERAniFgQlX6hJGEigjvlUEUoWAOuwOAxxgUWBXOd1S2uIv2XzNd-NtnpuREFVbg/s400/BS4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483185999710925618" border="0" /></a><br />My mother-in-law made the most beautiful diaper bag for Carrie. For the rest of the weekend everyone referred to her as Linda Bradley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCKs4yxL3HqGa7CCZPM_HbAMNF0R1BhTHgsvrODa3Fll1XqxaaoEUF_mh8xP6WzgiQI8V_X3FWPVrPw-fXhpeDSgKGz_R8LAmMT3E5JdZPiGNk0M5CPwpaCi4lj9UgeHHM8f6AN1jVkk/s1600/BS13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCKs4yxL3HqGa7CCZPM_HbAMNF0R1BhTHgsvrODa3Fll1XqxaaoEUF_mh8xP6WzgiQI8V_X3FWPVrPw-fXhpeDSgKGz_R8LAmMT3E5JdZPiGNk0M5CPwpaCi4lj9UgeHHM8f6AN1jVkk/s400/BS13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186707361765922" border="0" /></a><br />Our gift came from a little boutique in Boston, Red Wagon. I loved how they wrapped the gift in a small pizza box. Too cute!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad1ZgbwRcJpnNBojt_zpD09XFlm0EAgPzfo5zZ72Je4iC8LfW-g35T9SSQI9fBhGh_xkfrz2NLesk_QdTRXv4lpDGlxQ5iTKGj_ay5Z26VYlNoqs0ozVDXxt8F1NBFH8ehO1CyJh1lp4/s1600/BS12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad1ZgbwRcJpnNBojt_zpD09XFlm0EAgPzfo5zZ72Je4iC8LfW-g35T9SSQI9fBhGh_xkfrz2NLesk_QdTRXv4lpDGlxQ5iTKGj_ay5Z26VYlNoqs0ozVDXxt8F1NBFH8ehO1CyJh1lp4/s400/BS12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186700900899266" border="0" /></a><br />All of the food was fantastic!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Cu3dW9qXQk4pO4xDhLCy2dDnsM14BWVWDLAjl_X0AclJVUZxjsTtxLb5LcEvw9o6fF4npzsaggALRvBaea5kPniqrKGU_Ppz-pOnIqdZXRcZINfiYMvBYYsAfHeg_YvGgp_KZihOMJQ/s1600/BS9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Cu3dW9qXQk4pO4xDhLCy2dDnsM14BWVWDLAjl_X0AclJVUZxjsTtxLb5LcEvw9o6fF4npzsaggALRvBaea5kPniqrKGU_Ppz-pOnIqdZXRcZINfiYMvBYYsAfHeg_YvGgp_KZihOMJQ/s400/BS9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186359902003490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGLOG_yZA57ek-rV3JlR3vVFxJUgZfGv1n0926_HHpJ2H1fP_o0IkRIJMu1YqLU_GPLHzszR2v2J9YieT3mvQmf0no89-dZS5fcZxY6iz070wKrnYrLhW2C-NfOkcguhQWlCQuCq41Ro/s1600/BS10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGLOG_yZA57ek-rV3JlR3vVFxJUgZfGv1n0926_HHpJ2H1fP_o0IkRIJMu1YqLU_GPLHzszR2v2J9YieT3mvQmf0no89-dZS5fcZxY6iz070wKrnYrLhW2C-NfOkcguhQWlCQuCq41Ro/s400/BS10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186368867749218" border="0" /></a><br />After our big lunch there were two desserts, cake and ice cream! The beautiful cake was a chocolate sponge cake with a cherry filling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkqIo13Wt7FhHmUngWOgOkqstNheeELTkibdT_TRfSgpls2bgptG62sQMRIXSgljTAM3uViSWHUt9-5AflhvSB1tGw7n84Qk9rFEvNp5p5L0tIJHDUvDnnDkh3qrrEEbXT2Owvb31w3E/s1600/BS7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkqIo13Wt7FhHmUngWOgOkqstNheeELTkibdT_TRfSgpls2bgptG62sQMRIXSgljTAM3uViSWHUt9-5AflhvSB1tGw7n84Qk9rFEvNp5p5L0tIJHDUvDnnDkh3qrrEEbXT2Owvb31w3E/s400/BS7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186347831366802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsxw0mbGB5TpknohuEVSKDSAgo___2F7GVD_0CXn7JmDTYFka8v3TkpxFCKoVnavwoDBOpTj0qpaqjPb0FtFxeJLHoBXaZPH-EYOgs_POSSEGMIZyeE0RMW4oSSHS5byplTurHmTks3E/s1600/BS11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsxw0mbGB5TpknohuEVSKDSAgo___2F7GVD_0CXn7JmDTYFka8v3TkpxFCKoVnavwoDBOpTj0qpaqjPb0FtFxeJLHoBXaZPH-EYOgs_POSSEGMIZyeE0RMW4oSSHS5byplTurHmTks3E/s400/BS11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186695357983762" border="0" /></a><br />We were so full that we couldn't even imagine eating dinner.<br /><br />Here I am with Matt's beautiful twin cousins. Before Saturday, I hadn't seen them since my <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2009/11/rest-of-week-recap.html">trip</a> to Michigan in October.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdeW7o_2zyUwRPEcJfSEEDHMksuAG_pKGhdQln3RYUu1ZdwtQCJbsKLRNtzlNOW3-5Flji_W0sHVq5dloR7fFO0pyPpV_1-U9ueM6Z-amdkNKUlJyUtGooL4_wmFE-jozlXuj0nHifas/s1600/BS14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdeW7o_2zyUwRPEcJfSEEDHMksuAG_pKGhdQln3RYUu1ZdwtQCJbsKLRNtzlNOW3-5Flji_W0sHVq5dloR7fFO0pyPpV_1-U9ueM6Z-amdkNKUlJyUtGooL4_wmFE-jozlXuj0nHifas/s400/BS14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484591424669276066" border="0" /></a><br />Here I am with my two gorgeous sister-in-laws getting ready to open all the gifts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOAAfhI1zADBViFvAeOfDfJKNk320GYKpppH1rKZU4nZpEHRlXGNX0E1kJQaOCzp5-ViJFVQ5rHazl7L7zvZ7lulxxFqd6ktCUMhpA8_OeFHiEuD5xeWZbQuKqRF4EKZXR0vIEHvf-ts/s1600/sisters"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOAAfhI1zADBViFvAeOfDfJKNk320GYKpppH1rKZU4nZpEHRlXGNX0E1kJQaOCzp5-ViJFVQ5rHazl7L7zvZ7lulxxFqd6ktCUMhpA8_OeFHiEuD5xeWZbQuKqRF4EKZXR0vIEHvf-ts/s400/sisters" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484591966135258674" border="0" /></a><br />When we were finally back in Chicago and had made room for dinner, we enjoyed pizza and a salad while we watched the season premier of Drop Dead Diva. We love the talented Brooke Elliot! She's a college friend of Carrie's and we're all so proud of her! It's been so much fun watching her on her show. Here is my favorite photo of Brooke with Matt at Carrie and Dave's wedding.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYyn-sIh7NgCO2kz1JUlWmpMJuPEntBomVoaaEvO0XyYbf9t5vsMoKCAR_cnabXNvl4bEKp4OasikOg0SsS2YZchjKlxlkCd4CvESnaHs3aj7U8CogAjt0q8ikbXoTjK_3xopGnclz6w/s1600/BE+and+MW"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYyn-sIh7NgCO2kz1JUlWmpMJuPEntBomVoaaEvO0XyYbf9t5vsMoKCAR_cnabXNvl4bEKp4OasikOg0SsS2YZchjKlxlkCd4CvESnaHs3aj7U8CogAjt0q8ikbXoTjK_3xopGnclz6w/s400/BE+and+MW" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484605853441585922" border="0" /></a><br />I love spending my weekends in Chicago but it doesn't happen as often as I would like and when it does happen it's always over too quickly. Before we knew it Alleigh, mom, and I were getting ready to leave for the O'Hare airport Monday morning. Before we left we wanted to get one last photo of all of us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLkzq-QSgMTa0OxTp_AHP6uN9Ia_HmhYKFpEl8oKFhRR-EURbyGcXCNTKlpajX6Tyw_0iHikhHnnd8GC-45jKDaw1sRSkUKo_77I57-os-TVoSlGzUCcHh7NPUovEgfQjQUSEr6UcHU0/s1600/BS16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLkzq-QSgMTa0OxTp_AHP6uN9Ia_HmhYKFpEl8oKFhRR-EURbyGcXCNTKlpajX6Tyw_0iHikhHnnd8GC-45jKDaw1sRSkUKo_77I57-os-TVoSlGzUCcHh7NPUovEgfQjQUSEr6UcHU0/s400/BS16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483187004399338594" border="0" /></a>Then I took another one just for good measure. You can see we're all laughing because Duncan, their chocolate lab, was very confused as to why we were all standing there so he started to bark at us. Silly Duncan!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlX4TkzOgAtPfhGZcnw8SN_L8ifT0ZdJq_jX6B9_0DZe0G8PTku8BQfiKKNdPYfuwCBnNInUuUAWyPz4J5iHdKb0KzrJMZFfEz6LPwDnod0qn8S830Aj2qv0qOlbDrCBqItHrk1da18E/s1600/BS17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlX4TkzOgAtPfhGZcnw8SN_L8ifT0ZdJq_jX6B9_0DZe0G8PTku8BQfiKKNdPYfuwCBnNInUuUAWyPz4J5iHdKb0KzrJMZFfEz6LPwDnod0qn8S830Aj2qv0qOlbDrCBqItHrk1da18E/s400/BS17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483187011048474130" border="0" /></a><br />After reuniting with the hardworking men back in Boston we went to dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/scollay-square-boston">Scollay Square</a>. I started with one of my favorite salads in Boston, the roasted pear salad, and a Blue Moon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHxMfxNmGIyGKa0ScogcypVyXpfmcfkthK6jUaJXVpAucl_DcXZ4Z92uRqhWpBqmO8UR4LLOoSm6IPAOI9sM0jrHN89jWHOKjBLBSfqAXs9kQqHp68lcUCnexjUG3kBFhsBjSVeCMNkI/s1600/SS1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHxMfxNmGIyGKa0ScogcypVyXpfmcfkthK6jUaJXVpAucl_DcXZ4Z92uRqhWpBqmO8UR4LLOoSm6IPAOI9sM0jrHN89jWHOKjBLBSfqAXs9kQqHp68lcUCnexjUG3kBFhsBjSVeCMNkI/s400/SS1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483187021014929122" border="0" /></a><br />Then Matt and I shared the buffalo chicken mac and cheese. We feel better about eating this heavenly, fatty dish if we share it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsQriSfB9FIMTdMcjT5aBBmwyYyawT6J8QjQ97Eryp4_Cy-IMtNwJPre5H9SpLVfhEneQSGn5w7YGlWYTZoVRPP3Znc3dQ3_OUZq5fWO74w9uCC8XueHvz3dBSY7YB6JdCDpf47fyJpE/s1600/SS2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsQriSfB9FIMTdMcjT5aBBmwyYyawT6J8QjQ97Eryp4_Cy-IMtNwJPre5H9SpLVfhEneQSGn5w7YGlWYTZoVRPP3Znc3dQ3_OUZq5fWO74w9uCC8XueHvz3dBSY7YB6JdCDpf47fyJpE/s400/SS2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483187026603399186" border="0" /></a><br />It was a great long weekend and I can't wait to meet the newest member of the family!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-72851892570750239172010-06-15T10:30:00.010-04:002010-06-17T15:31:05.992-04:00Date Night at MarketI felt like a little giddy school girl the night of our last date. All I knew about the evening was our meeting place... Boston Common at 6PM. From there we took a little walk down the street to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/w-hotel-boston">W Hotel</a>. The plan was drinks at the lobby bar then dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/market-by-jean-georges-boston">Market by Jean-George</a>. When we got to the hotel we discovered that they were filming a movie at the lobby bar so we walked right past the doors into the hotel and ended up at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/avila-restaurant-boston">Avila</a> for our pre-dinner drinks.<br /><br />We sat down at the bar and ordered our drinks. A slightly dirty Grey Goose martini for Matt and a Hendricks martini with a twist for me. I forgot how potent gin martinis are and had to leave half of my gin in the glass. I knew that if I had finished my martini I would not have enjoyed (remembered) much of dinner. We really liked Avila and I made a mental note to come back for dinner some time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CL4DMmTt8vC2T8nNt0INtmRnf9Qlb8PPJ4StLzrrEX9rLaRJ3xnxkMu_V11TLXbqH2ZE5RM0Lr-xg_2GH_Q-EC9eQLdFTGETRnrJjWywG3JYAEd_yZE5MKfUPMP-hRkJDVMCOTaeYpc/s1600/drinks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CL4DMmTt8vC2T8nNt0INtmRnf9Qlb8PPJ4StLzrrEX9rLaRJ3xnxkMu_V11TLXbqH2ZE5RM0Lr-xg_2GH_Q-EC9eQLdFTGETRnrJjWywG3JYAEd_yZE5MKfUPMP-hRkJDVMCOTaeYpc/s400/drinks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022671596219330" border="0" /></a><br />On to Market! We felt so special walking into the restaurant; walking through velvet ropes to get to the lobby, having our names checked off on a list and passing through the movie set to get to our table. From our table you could see some of the film equipment outside the restaurant windows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlmGXfNZsI7ZsVn7y1BjDAeJ6cO_YuQ6WA6sQUTsO56m2oznKQffPAE0ERYJPKc2GQXYoFLqEfgZkDhbnWOv77T-mShb8mBVK3GoS25gAKbQXbm8cxOWv16pgi4aotdYkN-WxVH8DvrI/s1600/Market2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlmGXfNZsI7ZsVn7y1BjDAeJ6cO_YuQ6WA6sQUTsO56m2oznKQffPAE0ERYJPKc2GQXYoFLqEfgZkDhbnWOv77T-mShb8mBVK3GoS25gAKbQXbm8cxOWv16pgi4aotdYkN-WxVH8DvrI/s400/Market2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022682550436338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRPEEmBt59NP36kUSdWatqy4nHu_D1f1CABKjE3efl0vUvj3cU_APuhgFYkIDJkuocLuqtxaTxctqKjWQQa95V23b4SGYMyXfnJVw5Se-TgAtne59yw4XTPOKBjv3Zzwt3mutT4nwHjc/s1600/market1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRPEEmBt59NP36kUSdWatqy4nHu_D1f1CABKjE3efl0vUvj3cU_APuhgFYkIDJkuocLuqtxaTxctqKjWQQa95V23b4SGYMyXfnJVw5Se-TgAtne59yw4XTPOKBjv3Zzwt3mutT4nwHjc/s400/market1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022660919287858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv6Y2yW9G9ITX6AdFcK3oys3CoTTFkswWe2LIa4H24-BbC1F4x-8bkIfg5jeGuQRWeLgg9RhAxPa7WrFK6-ErdLa0_rqUGDXZtLf72AZF_rVYsxdbkvRK-3ctDZjppCYD0FH2EVX_1vU/s1600/market3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv6Y2yW9G9ITX6AdFcK3oys3CoTTFkswWe2LIa4H24-BbC1F4x-8bkIfg5jeGuQRWeLgg9RhAxPa7WrFK6-ErdLa0_rqUGDXZtLf72AZF_rVYsxdbkvRK-3ctDZjppCYD0FH2EVX_1vU/s400/market3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022685836272818" border="0" /></a><br />The restaurant was beautiful. I loved how the table was set with different dimensions and textures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjJqyiuVXjMMLKIluz9shKr_zDp3HKNOKt6OENQ0vu7xOmSm5VLvG9sF6-sqGZ1KRZeyFnckCFZGyJWeMK40T_45y68hLFVXmr9ir6b_GyxR8pO2oSmeNmSguneptO7CdiC1dm1gmn0U/s1600/market4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjJqyiuVXjMMLKIluz9shKr_zDp3HKNOKt6OENQ0vu7xOmSm5VLvG9sF6-sqGZ1KRZeyFnckCFZGyJWeMK40T_45y68hLFVXmr9ir6b_GyxR8pO2oSmeNmSguneptO7CdiC1dm1gmn0U/s400/market4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022695749607554" border="0" /></a><br />We ordered a bottle of Barbaresco for dinner. It was a very young wine that needed to open a bit so we decanted the bottle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLxiUkX8VG0dsMDMldI9ynQqyUWfKdNRGR6CEiZbCDUlVAhsemwLA-iR3zsnuUAEBupcAJLYdAbu0D-49D6H8vXKdTLxOanZSWXdhtIixKSudqoCS05MwiHcgrI9d2GkNSkD8qWTBGxs/s1600/market5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLxiUkX8VG0dsMDMldI9ynQqyUWfKdNRGR6CEiZbCDUlVAhsemwLA-iR3zsnuUAEBupcAJLYdAbu0D-49D6H8vXKdTLxOanZSWXdhtIixKSudqoCS05MwiHcgrI9d2GkNSkD8qWTBGxs/s400/market5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022960748524194" border="0" /></a><br />After a short perusal of the menu we figured out what we wanted to order.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4sYMdzGA-kBmnfCOGGC22fzyPr6ppXr-EpMLRoLvVa8N4D-vLYql776Ar0NErRVAGQC2NEo231lPMGKcQJiLr3D8hi3DcgTJWOwqHUy_i7XUriPdzyGq3SYl-eDDy4el_jO7g_BA1f8/s1600/MarketMenu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4sYMdzGA-kBmnfCOGGC22fzyPr6ppXr-EpMLRoLvVa8N4D-vLYql776Ar0NErRVAGQC2NEo231lPMGKcQJiLr3D8hi3DcgTJWOwqHUy_i7XUriPdzyGq3SYl-eDDy4el_jO7g_BA1f8/s400/MarketMenu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483023235377552994" border="0" /></a><br />We started with the arugula and Boston lettuce salad with a mustard vinaigrette and fine herbs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCdTuXkvELjiY1_GgGLZvYpsxYqGZrR4NgbmeCdgbDfJPQx_wnkJejnmJoGBtGMX_2gjWwfnK9FSBFYvmc8TSFjFyeWOdTWUjlzyY1aKB-sw7XAa5ic0Op0-dvpsKEJqtPvOamcjR5UY/s1600/market6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCdTuXkvELjiY1_GgGLZvYpsxYqGZrR4NgbmeCdgbDfJPQx_wnkJejnmJoGBtGMX_2gjWwfnK9FSBFYvmc8TSFjFyeWOdTWUjlzyY1aKB-sw7XAa5ic0Op0-dvpsKEJqtPvOamcjR5UY/s400/market6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483052139388406754" border="0" /></a><br />For my dinner I ordered an appetizer; rice cracker crusted tuna with a citrus-chili emulsion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9Phd3hjf0ROt0rZkUBX_G6o3bCmAKw6fXB_ospi49KHDJHtqEAx_Qq2cQpsYz_Yp2nnuSksc2N4LUNYqaSn1HYQjYLCAv9Lu06GjUzJ_I-BmDIPXU98bnbymy5E0Z_fVt1srRUUN5nk/s1600/market8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9Phd3hjf0ROt0rZkUBX_G6o3bCmAKw6fXB_ospi49KHDJHtqEAx_Qq2cQpsYz_Yp2nnuSksc2N4LUNYqaSn1HYQjYLCAv9Lu06GjUzJ_I-BmDIPXU98bnbymy5E0Z_fVt1srRUUN5nk/s400/market8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022985005973954" border="0" /></a><br />To make my dinner a little bit more robust I also ordered the fine herb and Comte fritters. They were the most delicate, mouthwatering cheese fritters I have ever had! I definitely didn't want to share but after much bickering I finally let Matt have one or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWKQ1itXjcX8aS_H3OAUGIXOCr1fVQX4veZ9tHP_ltpS8_IpOX2l9o-ylVbMxVvd6UL6MLe3aQHG78CwT9spj5ccDTjS2_RzAjgHo6u_rKEGvZTJimtUDhgGJOwRP7SHH9gP-QsuItiM/s1600/market9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWKQ1itXjcX8aS_H3OAUGIXOCr1fVQX4veZ9tHP_ltpS8_IpOX2l9o-ylVbMxVvd6UL6MLe3aQHG78CwT9spj5ccDTjS2_RzAjgHo6u_rKEGvZTJimtUDhgGJOwRP7SHH9gP-QsuItiM/s400/market9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022993736927714" border="0" /></a><br />Matt ordered the Parmesan crusted organic chicken with white asparagus and a lemon-basil butter. It was really good but it was basic enough that I think I can recreate this dish at home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KXzth_cwNtKL9mN9Z5VS5yNUzcpnsT6PwISgaGFahv7tKeWRajh7XEos1GNkCiWav_gpj8Ikj3c__5VIbTAtgcxG3OBeC9jjkdFHX3BaEaalZHGkDNp3HXtLCGC8OTstgL1Mu7DaeLU/s1600/market7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KXzth_cwNtKL9mN9Z5VS5yNUzcpnsT6PwISgaGFahv7tKeWRajh7XEos1GNkCiWav_gpj8Ikj3c__5VIbTAtgcxG3OBeC9jjkdFHX3BaEaalZHGkDNp3HXtLCGC8OTstgL1Mu7DaeLU/s400/market7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483022980105112098" border="0" /></a><br />My man's dish was lacking a little bit of substance so he also ordered a side of mashed potatoes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEsd2X3qxhRR6-f-mawPTWSrx72FW4E_O_NrncW3E7X004usWZc3gf3wCBPp-f7dfWmtNaM0Y9or0Nb-ubGnffDLILBRW6BK16XKisPjHd95X3eVaHTwZ6E06n4xnyojDCJtSrdPPklo/s1600/market10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEsd2X3qxhRR6-f-mawPTWSrx72FW4E_O_NrncW3E7X004usWZc3gf3wCBPp-f7dfWmtNaM0Y9or0Nb-ubGnffDLILBRW6BK16XKisPjHd95X3eVaHTwZ6E06n4xnyojDCJtSrdPPklo/s400/market10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483023223964778322" border="0" /></a><br />Dessert was the most amazing part of our meal; caramelized banana cake with a praline crunch and salted caramel ice cream. Words can't even begin to describe how much we enjoyed this dessert!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpwozWhQ3pBN0C0jzlTiYutrh9knGvh9U7qbTa4uaFbKZP4caHw5sNRfZ29FYa3yXbwRN19ze2XTpomaOveNva2Ec0N3wRYBVWmcyDWpzjPZ2yQlYvaBpiyShMas8XhUlGpTSkZbiNYU/s1600/market11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpwozWhQ3pBN0C0jzlTiYutrh9knGvh9U7qbTa4uaFbKZP4caHw5sNRfZ29FYa3yXbwRN19ze2XTpomaOveNva2Ec0N3wRYBVWmcyDWpzjPZ2yQlYvaBpiyShMas8XhUlGpTSkZbiNYU/s400/market11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483023233819668194" border="0" /></a><br />Our date was so much fun and delicious. I can't wait until Matt plans our next one... sometime in July!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-78211541176448835452010-06-10T22:34:00.020-04:002010-06-14T10:41:19.202-04:00A Week or Two of RecipesAs I mentioned previously, the last couple of weeks were very chaotic. Aside from my trip to Chicago, most days were a blur of good food. Thank goodness there was a long weekend to break it all up! After our shopping trip on Memorial Day it was time to try my Aunt Joan's Chicken Marsala recipe. It definitely earned a spot in my recipe box. It's a great staple recipe; easy to make and full of flavor. I love the process of deglazing the pan with the Marsala wine and watching it slowly reduce to a sauce. The hypnotic motion of scraping the pan while tasting the sauce to determine if anything is missing just makes you feel like you know what you are supposed to be doing (see the recipe at the end of the post).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgnpGX43D6fShUZFrf2V4d-2VpOMOJ0HuOfzCKGCI9tbpmTfus5UkhpYnV4300oJ5y9zwYnd6a4Lds0O-7Xg_X5WvW9xIXVBFjT1nP9yXqmlBWrXmqiq9uRzKDORbRrzyJWw7y3jsvrE/s1600/marsala.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgnpGX43D6fShUZFrf2V4d-2VpOMOJ0HuOfzCKGCI9tbpmTfus5UkhpYnV4300oJ5y9zwYnd6a4Lds0O-7Xg_X5WvW9xIXVBFjT1nP9yXqmlBWrXmqiq9uRzKDORbRrzyJWw7y3jsvrE/s400/marsala.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481343554628649986" border="0" /></a><br />Tuesday after work I made <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/garlic-chive-chicken/detail.aspx">Garlic Chive Chicken</a> from my Allrecipes recipe box. I have a slight obsession with garlic so this recipe touched my heart. Along with the garlic obsession, I realized that Matt and I consistently enjoy chicken on pasta dishes. It was no surprise that we awarded this meal a sacred spot in the Longaberger recipe box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgnehlNtZN9dHDC1_btrOpD1b2551T-2pq0n1XbIChWGqxflTfr24qd9VihZwHGrG5x9Xju1VNJ_bFD2KO8PrkJUw8KUvwPlpqy_szIArW0AsMjK4OIdSE154P16cMgmtZeuBjit5Qew/s1600/garlicChix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgnehlNtZN9dHDC1_btrOpD1b2551T-2pq0n1XbIChWGqxflTfr24qd9VihZwHGrG5x9Xju1VNJ_bFD2KO8PrkJUw8KUvwPlpqy_szIArW0AsMjK4OIdSE154P16cMgmtZeuBjit5Qew/s400/garlicChix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481343544908097698" border="0" /></a><br />Wednesday was date night. Matt planned a romantic night out with drinks at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/avila-restaurant-boston">Avila</a> followed by dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/market-by-jean-georges-boston">Market by Jean-Georges</a>. It was a great night; special enough that it will get it's own future blog post.<br /><br />Thursday I made <a href="http://recipes.rodale.com/Recipe/pork-medallions-with-cherries.aspx">Pork Medallions with Cherries</a> from an old Women's Health magazine recipe. I tried to get a cool shot of the cherry sauce reducing but I couldn't quite capture the steam. It ended up looking just foggy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4w5YMLkPTdio51fZbRYZDljRoENvOoU0F-auEkljWX5R44R-VmFuqauDAHCOx5I2X4Rp4Lqc7knVFuGJiqwtvhyphenhyphennn7UzEQwI4P-2RdmzZAEoAS7aU9KNKs7BbEuj3Or_0u3YUJzbFQU/s1600/pork1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4w5YMLkPTdio51fZbRYZDljRoENvOoU0F-auEkljWX5R44R-VmFuqauDAHCOx5I2X4Rp4Lqc7knVFuGJiqwtvhyphenhyphennn7UzEQwI4P-2RdmzZAEoAS7aU9KNKs7BbEuj3Or_0u3YUJzbFQU/s400/pork1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481343557644500130" border="0" /></a><br />I served the finished dish over brown rice. It was fantastic but the cherries were slightly overwhelming. I would recommend using less cherries than the recipe calls for, however it is still a keeper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExQugruLE9QfwZEdH9Qb5BZl0t0ZNHxNVW4Ld_aX03md_L11xhWg5EVr-B3VmXgFHqzp-yYtEXDbINfZQ9b7cuXPdB-ZEscZzdRUjdVoMkFpg5carTyKPTVJe86ZJ9OoqYsS1vQzHpWM/s1600/pork2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExQugruLE9QfwZEdH9Qb5BZl0t0ZNHxNVW4Ld_aX03md_L11xhWg5EVr-B3VmXgFHqzp-yYtEXDbINfZQ9b7cuXPdB-ZEscZzdRUjdVoMkFpg5carTyKPTVJe86ZJ9OoqYsS1vQzHpWM/s400/pork2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481343564541838674" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday we left work a little early to pick up Matt's mom from the train station to bring her to Winthrop. She was visiting friends for the evening before meeting me at the airport in the morning for our trip to Chi-town. After dropping his mom off, Matt & Bailey headed north to Maine to help run the B&B for the weekend. Since I was home alone Friday night I decided to make seafood. These seafood recipes are reserved for nights when Matt is not around (he cannot stomach seafood, much to his dismay). I picked <a href="http://www.coastalliving.com/food/dinner-in-a-breeze/hazelnut-crusted-scallops-00400000001815/">hazelnut-crusted scallops</a> from Coastal Living. I enjoyed the scallops on a bed of whole wheat spaghetti with a glass of sauvignon blanc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Va9z0AUlXiD7rkBYGDf4lPAVsbDQzT7YabhEFFm6A-4G32On7PbkgX5IEzArblN7Ff-ndv47KHAaA2bgqbc6pc4w8ob7lFzxxc0Y7rYEchpaLEGilsyUPspnKNMRes2_5HRQafwK44Q/s1600/scallops1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Va9z0AUlXiD7rkBYGDf4lPAVsbDQzT7YabhEFFm6A-4G32On7PbkgX5IEzArblN7Ff-ndv47KHAaA2bgqbc6pc4w8ob7lFzxxc0Y7rYEchpaLEGilsyUPspnKNMRes2_5HRQafwK44Q/s400/scallops1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481343574376459682" border="0" /></a><br />Two things I don't have very often, white wine and seafood. It was weird not having one of my two boys home with me but my meal was good enough that I forgot they weren't here while I ate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z8qgclKchEiW7DK19n-ujhPl8jVyhKXJe3ofv7SIppc5KdlfUk_g6DzNCYPamq5Kvo1l0ddvhyphenhyphenekFHgC_kF6SaU9VJLojCgPQ3QE8i-h8horYmlVykdWQ0BZbj0pN0pMwG3-TTb69rQ/s1600/scallops2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z8qgclKchEiW7DK19n-ujhPl8jVyhKXJe3ofv7SIppc5KdlfUk_g6DzNCYPamq5Kvo1l0ddvhyphenhyphenekFHgC_kF6SaU9VJLojCgPQ3QE8i-h8horYmlVykdWQ0BZbj0pN0pMwG3-TTb69rQ/s400/scallops2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481350322899601458" border="0" /></a><br />My fun weekend in Chicago will be detailed in another post.<br /><br />The Chicago trip extended through Monday, so my weekly planning of meals was disrupted. Tuesday night I stopped and picked up a whole wheat pizza shell for a mindless dinner. It bought me another night to figure out what we were going to eat. Last Thursday was the first night I got to cook at home. High off of my recent seafood excursion, I decided to make a twofer. <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Candied-Salmon/Detail.aspx">Candied Salmon</a> from my Allrecipes collection for me, and <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Balsamic-Glazed-Pork-Chops-233982">Balsamic-Glazed Pork Chops</a>, for Matt, courtesy of Epicurious. The candy-shell-esque topping on the salmon reminded me of a taffy brittle with onions. I even convinced Matt to take a bite... and for a moment, he forgot he was eating fish... and then he made that gagging sound again... baby.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5U9qXp87aNA69_hBm-iB19clu5XQrdDgsdQiUtpVfIjSDzIyHSwbBY9YOffT6oSXZxKY9tFly3j6PKE6Q1xhx2W7K2WJ-NTKqFIGoGFEjCVlb-0W4ZjLSuZr4fEflDe0-lrhP-a2jZw/s1600/salmon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5U9qXp87aNA69_hBm-iB19clu5XQrdDgsdQiUtpVfIjSDzIyHSwbBY9YOffT6oSXZxKY9tFly3j6PKE6Q1xhx2W7K2WJ-NTKqFIGoGFEjCVlb-0W4ZjLSuZr4fEflDe0-lrhP-a2jZw/s400/salmon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482455465497189490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Matt enjoyed the pork, but commented that the <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/01/recipe-box.html">Maple-Balsamic Glazed Pork Medallion</a> should remain as the top spot of the "P" tab in the Longeberger box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihotdz6OncFhyphenhyphenVuOnFgktRzOpXmgN1_8eX6nCol0wbdF9iL6Yt5PXEXPiFH0fX-8QXp1pexh20reEACVVd9-vQfXgp7ijWa3unW9QxGC10MRbjqc1dnf4j5UFTyRWebwORnz2Nbpy3OQM/s1600/pork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihotdz6OncFhyphenhyphenVuOnFgktRzOpXmgN1_8eX6nCol0wbdF9iL6Yt5PXEXPiFH0fX-8QXp1pexh20reEACVVd9-vQfXgp7ijWa3unW9QxGC10MRbjqc1dnf4j5UFTyRWebwORnz2Nbpy3OQM/s400/pork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482455449274072146" border="0" /></a><br />All in all we had an assortment of recipes for a less than planned out couple of weeks. I would say the highlight was eating fish twice, even once within mere feet of my husband...<br /><br />Here are the recipes:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br />Aunt Joan's Chicken Marsala<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Ingredients<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span>4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves<br />1/4 c all-purpose flour<br />1/4 t salt</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span>1/4 t </span><span>pepper </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />1/2 t dried basil<br />3 T butter<br />3 T olive oil<br /><span>6-8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms<br />1/2 c marsala wine<br /><br />Pound chicken to 1/4" thickness between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Combine flour, salt, pepper, basil, mix well. Heat oil and butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Dredge chicken in flour mixture. Cook chicken until lightly browned on first side (2 minutes). Turn chicken and add mushrooms around chicken. Cook about 2 minutes more until lightly browned; stir. Add marsala wine to pan. If you like more sauce, you can add chicken broth and more marsala (to taste). Serve over fresh linguine with a nice loaf of Italian bread. ENJOY! </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span>Serves 4<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Garlic Chive Chicken</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;"> 1 head garlic<br /> 1 (8 ounce) package egg noodles<br /> 1 cup chicken broth<br /> 1 lemon, zested and juiced<br /> 1/4 teaspoon salt<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br /> 2 teaspoons olive oil<br /> 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves<br /> 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour<br /> 4 tablespoons butter<br /> 1/3 cup chopped fresh chives </div><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"><br />Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Wrap the garlic head in foil, and bake 30 minutes, until cloves are soft. Remove from heat, and cool enough to handle. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Slice off the top of the garlic head, and squeeze the softened cloves into a medium bowl. Mix in the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Lightly coat the chicken breast halves with flour, and cook in the skillet about 10 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Set chicken aside, retaining skillet juices. Stir in the garlic mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and return chicken to the skillet. Continue cooking the chicken about 5 minutes on each side, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove chicken, and arrange on plates over the egg noodles. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Mix the butter into the garlic sauce mixture in the skillet until melted, and stir in the chives. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and egg noodles to serve. </span><br /><br />Serves 4<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Pork Medallions with Cherries<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Ingredients<br /><br /></span> 1 lb pork tenderloin, sliced into half-inch-thick medallions<br />1/2 C finely chopped red onion<br />16 oz bag frozen dark sweet cherries, defrosted slightly in microwave and drained of juice<br />1/2 C reduced-sodium chicken broth<br />2 tbsp honey<br />3 tsp olive oil<br />1 tbsp balsamic vinegar<br />1 tsp dried thyme<a href="javascript:void(0);" id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptIngredients_ctl07_aIng" style="cursor: pointer;" onmouseover="return showHideAddToCart('ctl01_rFinderContent_rptIngredients_ctl07_liIng', 1);" onmouseout="return showHideAddToCart('ctl01_rFinderContent_rptIngredients_ctl07_liIng', 0);" onclick="fnAddToShoppingList('ctl01_rFinderContent_rptIngredients_ctl07_liIng','ctl01_rFinderContent_rptIngredients_ctl07_hdnIngDetails');return false;" class="ingr"> </a><br /><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl00_lblNumber" class="rfDirections"><br /></span><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl00_lblDirections" class="rfDirections">Season medallions with salt and pepper to taste.</span> <br /><div id="dvDirections"><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl01_lblNumber" class="rfDirections"></span><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl01_lblDirections" class="rfDirections">Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook pork until light pink in the center (2 to 3 minutes per side). Transfer to plate and cover with foil.</span> <br /><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl02_lblNumber" class="rfDirections"></span><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl02_lblDirections" class="rfDirections">Add remaining oil to skillet. Add onion and saute until soft (about 3 minutes).</span> <br /><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl03_lblNumber" class="rfDirections"></span><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl03_lblDirections" class="rfDirections">Stir in cherries, broth, honey, vinegar, and thyme. Simmer until sauce thickens (5 to 8 minutes).</span> <br /><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl04_lblNumber" class="rfDirections"></span><span id="ctl01_rFinderContent_rptDirections_ctl04_lblDirections" class="rfDirections">Divide medallions evenly onto four plates and top each dish with 2 tablespoons cherry sauce.<br /><br />Serves 4<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hazlenut-crusted Scallops</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br /></span>5 tablespoons butter, divided<br />½ cup dry white wine<br />¼ cup heavy whipping cream<br />1 teaspoon fresh thyme<br />¼ teaspoon salt<br />¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg<br />1 pound sea or bay scallops, drained<br />¼ cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)<br />¼ cup finely chopped hazelnuts<br />Hot cooked pasta<br /><br /><p>Preheat oven to 375°.<br />Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a cast-iron or ovenproof skillet. Stir in wine and next 5 ingredients. Add scallops, turning to coat. Remove from heat. </p> <p>Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small bowl in the microwave, and stir in panko and nuts. Sprinkle mixture over scallops. Bake at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Serve with hot cooked pasta. Garnish, if desired. Makes 2 servings. </p> <p><b><span class="V884400Bold12px">SERVE</span></b> *This is a great go-to salad dressing*<br /><b>Mixed Greens with Honey-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette</b><br />Whisk together ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated onion, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons poppy seeds, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over fresh salad greens. </p> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Candied Salmon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br /> 1/4 cup butter<br /> 1 clove garlic, minced<br /> 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets<br /> 3 large onions, thinly sliced<br /> 1 cup white vinegar<br /> 1 cup brown sugar<br /><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and grease the foil with cooking spray. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Combine the onions, vinegar and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to caramelize, about 15 minutes. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Melt butter with garlic in a small skillet over medium heat. Lay salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet, and brush with garlic butter. Pour the onion mixture over the fillets. </span><br /><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the fish flakes easily. Cooking time may vary with the thickness of your fillets.<br /><br />Serves 6<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Balsamic-Glazed Pork Chops</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /></span><br />4 (3/4-inch-thick) center-cut pork chops (about 2 lb total)<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />1/2 teaspoon black pepper<br />2 tablespoons olive oil<br />6 oz small shallots (about 8), quartered and peeled, leaving root ends intact<br />2/3 cup balsamic vinegar<br />1 1/2 teaspoons sugar<div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br /></div><br /><p class="instructions"> Pat pork dry and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. </p> <p class="instructions"> Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook pork (in 2 batches if necessary) along with shallots, turning pork over once and stirring shallots occasionally, until pork is browned and shallots are golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes total. Transfer pork with tongs to a plate and add vinegar, sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to shallots in skillet. Cook, stirring until sugar is dissolved and liquid is thickened slightly, about 1 minute. </p> <p class="instructions"> Reduce heat to moderate, then return pork along with any juices accumulated on plate to skillet and turn 2 or 3 times to coat with sauce. Cook, turning over once, until pork is just cooked through, about 3 minutes total. Transfer pork to a platter and boil sauce until thickened and syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour sauce over pork. </p> <div style="width: 100%;"> <div style="width: 95%; float: left;"> Serves 4<br /></div> </div> </div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-76125169729809940892010-06-09T14:53:00.004-04:002010-06-09T15:19:01.001-04:00Where Have I Been?!I am SO far behind in my blog posts! Last week I was getting home late from work and eating dinner at 9:30 which didn't leave any time to blog. Then this weekend I flew out to Chicago for my sister-in-law's baby shower. A weekend full of family and fun didn't leave any time to post. Last night the Celtics were playing and they're more important than writing. Tonight I'm going out to dinner and won't be home until bedtime. It looks as though tomorrow is when I'm going to be able to sit down to start writing. In the meantime, I wanted to share last week's meals and my plan for this weeks recipes.<br /><br />Last week we enjoyed Garlic Chive Chicken from my <a href="http://allrecipes.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Allrecipes</span></a> collection, my Aunt Joan's Chicken Marsala, Pork Medallions with Cherries from <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/">Women's Health</a>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hazelnut</span>-crusted Scallops from <a href="http://www.coastalliving.com/">Coastal Living</a>. In addition to last week's four recipes I also have a second date night to summarize and a weekend in Chicago. Once I'm all caught up from last week I'll share my reviews on the recipes that I picked for this week. Tomorrow night I'll be having Candied Salmon from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Allrecipes</span> while Matt enjoys Balsamic-Glazed Pork Chops from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Epicurious</span></a>. Friday night we have twp of our friends coming over for dinner so I'm going to try to make Pork Meatball <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Banh</span> Mi from <a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">StraightUpWithOlives</span></a>.<br /><br />It'll take me some time but I hope to catch up soon! I don't like being so behind in my posts! Until then, good eats and fun reads!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-55036611124194990572010-06-01T21:17:00.008-04:002010-06-02T13:01:04.813-04:00Memorial Day WeekendIt was lunch on Friday that began my holiday weekend. We went to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sidneys-grille-cambridge">Sidney's Grille</a> for a department lunch to initiate a new hire into our crazy clan. I ordered the mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato, and pesto panini. There was one unexpected flaw: too much prosciutto! I never thought I would consider that a flaw, but for some reason, it just felt like overkill. As I made my way through the sandwich, I decided to sacrifice one of the slices of bread in exchange for a handful of fries. Munching through the sandwich something kept making me pause, there was something about the taste that just seemed "off." After poking, prodding, tasting, and smelling I finally discovered the source. The trademark green color of the pesto was from <span style="font-style: italic;">spinach</span>. Now don't get me wrong, I like my spinach like any other girl, but when the menu promises "pesto" is it too much to ask that they actually use basil? If they had said "spinach pesto" on the menu, I would not have even considered it. Thank God for the fries and pickle. Nothing like the accouterments to compensate for a misstep in my judgment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVif65tPIwWa_yAfjlEqWbWZOkJYpV6Vs-mOcFrUGubDcePRBiavc5dt3q-s6Xv4kKNHs1uDBFQyOMMq99ovrT7m6QP7WFA7c10wj8N96KGzku6ML-c_3Uw_UCBTFjldzvBbBI9_Jee8/s1600/FriLunch.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVif65tPIwWa_yAfjlEqWbWZOkJYpV6Vs-mOcFrUGubDcePRBiavc5dt3q-s6Xv4kKNHs1uDBFQyOMMq99ovrT7m6QP7WFA7c10wj8N96KGzku6ML-c_3Uw_UCBTFjldzvBbBI9_Jee8/s400/FriLunch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477979724711842098" border="0" /></a><br />As we left work for the day, Matt and I stopped at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/central-bottle-wine-provisions-cambridge">Central Bottle Wine & Provisions</a> to, well, to do exactly what the shop's name implies. We had only been here once before on a very busy Thursday night. The atmosphere was cool, but the abundance of Cambridgians in relation to the available square footage was a bit too much for us. The Friday before Memorial Day, however, was the perfect time to engage the "slow browse." This shop is fantastic! The selection of cheese, wine, beer, bread, chocolate, etc. is amazing! We ended up leaving with a growler of Berkshire Brewing Company's Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, a 6-pack of Troeg's Dream Weaver Wheat Beer, a 4-pack of Harpoon's Leviathan Imperial IPA, and a bottle of Barbaresco for a friend's recent law school graduation. This place will most definitely become our regular check-in to the world of new and interesting wine, beer and the occasional pigs hoof (right next to the register, by the way).<br /><br />The rest of the evening included takeout from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/zen-japanese-grill-and-sushi-bar-boston">Zen</a> on the roofdeck, watching the Celtics win the playoff series against Orlando with friends, and stopping in to that graduation party to (reluctantly) offload the Barbaresco.<br /><br />Saturday "morning" we loaded up the Swagger Wagon (our Ford Edge) and headed off to Maine for the night. Once the car was parked and the dog safe with grandma and grandpa, we headed off to imbibe with some friends at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/frills-ogunquit">Frills </a>(famous for their "Thirsty Traveler" a rum punch-inspired concoction). Later, we enjoyed great pizza and salads from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-prego-ogunquit">Caffe Prego</a> while relaxing with Matt's parents and some Spanish red wine on the front porch. After dinner we met back up with our friend's at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/maxwells-pub-ogunquit">Maxwells Pub </a>for a few beers and some terrible (and that is not nearly a strong enough word) karaoke. I admire the guts it takes to get up there, but I consider myself smart enough to know that the only people who want to hear me sing are the ones stuck with me in my 430 square foot condo and they have no choice.<br /><br />Sunday started with the 16 Beach Street "test kitchen." This is where Matt's mom tries out new B&B breakfast recipes on us. This morning it was almond-crusted challah french toast. It was as good as it sounds (and looks!). The toasted almonds made a crunchy and lightly salted crust that blended perfectly with the sweetness of the challah bread. What a wonderful way to begin a beautiful day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTYAftQzQ67Xu9fjb5hLdl9gJnZJwnj3R_404fWNVuwxWx_9PFHBnLy4ScLOcE5_02onD4C_-wrn2Q88pp9pCh5DnBsrEyNQnNPXUH66X8SuwcPBUqeTvxYTnaBEuhuKY7gi6sSUonTA/s1600/france+toastie+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTYAftQzQ67Xu9fjb5hLdl9gJnZJwnj3R_404fWNVuwxWx_9PFHBnLy4ScLOcE5_02onD4C_-wrn2Q88pp9pCh5DnBsrEyNQnNPXUH66X8SuwcPBUqeTvxYTnaBEuhuKY7gi6sSUonTA/s400/france+toastie+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477992646913941394" border="0" /></a><br />After breakfast Matt and I headed to the beach for a little R&R with our friends from the night before. The weather was great, the water was wonderful. Sometimes, you forget you are in Maine. Then you wade into the water and realize that the pain in your feet is actually early-onset frost bite. Regardless, I'll take a day at the beach over any other day! Dinner Sunday night was take-out from the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-front-porch-restaurant-ogunquit">Front Porch</a>, our favorite restaurant in Ogunquit. Matt and I split a pepperoni flatbread and a chicken mozzarella sandwich. Both of these entrees were new for us, and we enjoyed them both. The flatbread had thick, real slices of pepperoni with dollops of creamy ricotta cheese and perfectly caramelized, roasted cloves of garlic. Apparently, Matt is not a huge fan of ricotta on pizza. This became evident when there was a piece left and he was all to eager to let me take it. The chicken sandwich reminded me of a chicken bruschetta with divine mozzarella on top. The bread roll fell a little flat compared to the other vibrant flavors in the sandwich, but hey, it's just bread, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kxj5Tb3SDSi0nZpTLY29wWTn9b1IQ7LWPTsto_wxXpM6wfqEf7tRV3xk-tnUjiXzg3YmKQmFl29L-wquTRZ8k7mEW1rRkcK3zYFWgOrQvgKs_abyohWsX1aISxaKzRjRqA6pQ3oRRx0/s1600/SunDinner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kxj5Tb3SDSi0nZpTLY29wWTn9b1IQ7LWPTsto_wxXpM6wfqEf7tRV3xk-tnUjiXzg3YmKQmFl29L-wquTRZ8k7mEW1rRkcK3zYFWgOrQvgKs_abyohWsX1aISxaKzRjRqA6pQ3oRRx0/s400/SunDinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477979729462755986" border="0" /></a><br />Matt's dad knows that I am a sucker for ice cream so he surprised me with a Kahlua brownie ice cream from a local creamery. He served it with Linda's fantastic oatmeal cookies. Great culinary ending to a great beach day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdUgf4tNhHCBHT_R65L6XoXffYrdF7Ci9RVdyYlbyoRX18NjTu1F7larB7JfXXoWwHQCb1VTTbUIDPVED98bAaZ0CSxgGb0B9whEX6Jy06UU5XVUIKXGdwZdiCM8HExv_0VizsnFHo2g/s1600/sunicecream2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdUgf4tNhHCBHT_R65L6XoXffYrdF7Ci9RVdyYlbyoRX18NjTu1F7larB7JfXXoWwHQCb1VTTbUIDPVED98bAaZ0CSxgGb0B9whEX6Jy06UU5XVUIKXGdwZdiCM8HExv_0VizsnFHo2g/s400/sunicecream2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477980122578859266" border="0" /></a><br />These series of photos are from the "it will have to do for now" iPhone camera.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd48pgtblYa1vVvVEAJaF87PlTT7BRz_8Y-pioKsA9eML-jnp-wgnt2im_yAsWeSUl0zAsn4bydbm4uazNh5qqRx9Vka5pPhEa4MyGxbDrvv-KMoe0MIk3QbuFvRKfdLeA1bCgPtxsGk/s1600/sunicecream.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd48pgtblYa1vVvVEAJaF87PlTT7BRz_8Y-pioKsA9eML-jnp-wgnt2im_yAsWeSUl0zAsn4bydbm4uazNh5qqRx9Vka5pPhEa4MyGxbDrvv-KMoe0MIk3QbuFvRKfdLeA1bCgPtxsGk/s400/sunicecream.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477980115948419394" border="0" /></a><br />After the great meal, we headed back to Boston. Monday morning Matt made breakfast (probably in an attempt to avoid taking the dog out, but the end result was worth the hassle). An Eggo whole wheat waffle with bananas and an over easy egg. I always love it when he makes breakfast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-i6en0BJfq_wmr48dM6F3Xf1rnXAr9UvALLx-KrpHzKIKyIoQdV8MtU3iCauWkZxPxXFUC7abK3Z9w4lLXHuIyGS_PYfjsyLTUXlWsnINtgFjiRrfgucqRPDNmZ-jvlBaWhP_usF7bI/s1600/banana+waffles.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-i6en0BJfq_wmr48dM6F3Xf1rnXAr9UvALLx-KrpHzKIKyIoQdV8MtU3iCauWkZxPxXFUC7abK3Z9w4lLXHuIyGS_PYfjsyLTUXlWsnINtgFjiRrfgucqRPDNmZ-jvlBaWhP_usF7bI/s400/banana+waffles.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477979709902812914" border="0" /></a><br />He also had a decadent surprise for me. My favorite vanilla creme donut from Dunkin Donuts. This is such a treat because not only are they hard to find (not all of the DnDs carry them) but I am now sadly aware of my caloric intake. "Fortunately" he split the donut with me so I didn't have to beat myself up all day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLrO3TY3DbWHB2EEo6uJ8vOUaMV0X5bNSUyMiTNbi1gmNX1c51msOl8hS90JzT3M1b98npvDk2UikVK5VpEbEKGpvfJbB0NaqObg0IVBsTwkypUzNhoTP_aeLA3rfCmPLxZ3Y0NK3Dp8/s1600/creamdonut.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLrO3TY3DbWHB2EEo6uJ8vOUaMV0X5bNSUyMiTNbi1gmNX1c51msOl8hS90JzT3M1b98npvDk2UikVK5VpEbEKGpvfJbB0NaqObg0IVBsTwkypUzNhoTP_aeLA3rfCmPLxZ3Y0NK3Dp8/s400/creamdonut.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477979723262081858" border="0" /></a><br />After breakfast we headed out to the Natick Collection to take advantage of some bittersweet deals. The Calvin Klein store is closing, and everything was 50% off. We also hit up Martin + Osa as they prepare to close the brand... sad, but GREAT deals! On our way back from our errands we got this smokey view of Boston. I don't know if you can tell from my iPhone photo but the city is covered in smoke from the Quebec wildfires. It was crazy! It was hazy and it smelled like a campfire in the city!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZwB5XUMnYK81qyiYOJIJLDaLt6G4Msx9VPxmWJzDBOZ80imVTw7W4tmZGXFmiEHjDjqW0QzglFq0ukRGCdGaZbsH9H-O4SyMYgRtC-HMKJt0xG32J2AYH7fgE0cepL-XlUIZaU11GIQ/s1600/Boston.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZwB5XUMnYK81qyiYOJIJLDaLt6G4Msx9VPxmWJzDBOZ80imVTw7W4tmZGXFmiEHjDjqW0QzglFq0ukRGCdGaZbsH9H-O4SyMYgRtC-HMKJt0xG32J2AYH7fgE0cepL-XlUIZaU11GIQ/s400/Boston.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477979715054007922" border="0" /></a><br />The rest of the night was a typical end of the weekend routine... dinner (recipe post to come) and getting geared up to head back to work after a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-6515597059626170562010-06-01T11:29:00.009-04:002010-06-01T15:15:30.480-04:00Superfast KofteWednesday I left work a little early so that I could join my friend Ian for two classes at his gym. I knew before I left that it was a bad idea. I knew that I was going to fall in love with his gym, <a href="http://www.equinox.com/">Equinox</a>. And I knew that I would be heartbroken when I remembered that I can't pay $150 a month for a gym membership, let alone $300 if I could convince Matt joined with me. But I went anyway. *If you have time click on this <a href="http://www.equinox.com/clubs/ClubTour.aspx?clubID=147">link </a>and explore the gym and the photos. You'll understand why I fell in love.*<br /><br />Ian and I took Centergy, which is a "fusion of Yoga, Pilates, Dance and traditional exercise done to amazing music". After Centergy we took Power Yoga Flow with his new favorite yoga instructor. Both classes were amazing! So much fun and so much pain! Good pain.<br /><br />After showering with the <a href="http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/home/index.aspx">Kiehl's</a> products that are stocked in the beautiful locker rooms we walked towards my home hoping to find some food on the way. When we got to the Boston Garden we decided to stop for a little pre-dinner dessert at the Frosty ice cream truck. We both got a kiddie cup of vanilla soft serve with rainbow sprinkles. Sorry the photo is blurry. I had to take an iPhone photo while walking. Doing two things at once is not my strong suit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KuJ-It_sSelVHcBMOUD2tvVdXvoNH79oGYEHuJawuBOQCYKx69KxJSzVXRghr-6hmwpHlw8rY8hEyL-Wo5drSAEFyf-7Ij6EYswNN8QiLIvjYUYZW-NmKda_hO5q6OntunpUWvgZ9fA/s1600/WedDinner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KuJ-It_sSelVHcBMOUD2tvVdXvoNH79oGYEHuJawuBOQCYKx69KxJSzVXRghr-6hmwpHlw8rY8hEyL-Wo5drSAEFyf-7Ij6EYswNN8QiLIvjYUYZW-NmKda_hO5q6OntunpUWvgZ9fA/s400/WedDinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477832181103487234" border="0" /></a><br />By the time we had walked a block I had finished my ice cream and we were standing in front of <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/boloco-boston-14">Boloco</a>. After my sweet first course I was ready for dinner. My chicken terriyaki bowl was very satisfying with chicken, carrots, brocoli, and brown rice. Yum!<br /><br />Ian and I had such a great night catching up on his trip to Africa, exercising, and eating! It couldn't have been any better. Regarding Equinox, I feel this quote summarizes my experience with this amazing gym, it's "better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". Maybe someday we'll find our way back to each other?! I just need to bring home a bigger paycheck first.<br /><br />Thursday night after work I picked my copy of the <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1591043">Superfast Koft</a><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1591043">e</a> (Turkish meatballs) recipe from Cooking Light, March 2007. A colleague of mine is Turkish so she was more than excited to give me tips and tricks regarding kofte Thursday afternoon. When I went home I was more than prepared to make dinner! Taking the advice of my colleague I added a little minced garlic and sea salt to my yogurt which was an amazing addition to the recipe!! Dinner was delicious! I brought in the leftovers the next day for my colleague to try and she said I did great! Traditionally, kofte does not have mint or cinnamon however she enjoyed the addition of the mint but would leave the cinnamon out. She also suggested that next time I put the onion in the food processor so that it is more minced than chopped. Also, my "chopped" onions are HUGE. I think I'm going to take a knife skills course very soon!<br /><br />Matt's review: I loved it! He even had seconds!<br />Lauren's review: This is great. Next time I make this recipe I'm going to use ground turkey instead of beef, mince the onion, will definitely keep the yogurt with the garlic and salt addition, but will also keep both the cinnamon and the mint because I liked both of the flavors in the dish.<br />Final decision: Keeper!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEtnH-17DN09Nb8XcdOwz2riZbzLxP4hR3jjFsH707_Oz44M_NPlYgD6uPjORof-tdQu84Fsbu44i57cz1DkMdr0qxSLMDdZ85zP8iZjBrAGlyaB84zO3n0U1Iau-5XN8RW5TKqbxZv0/s1600/kofte.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEtnH-17DN09Nb8XcdOwz2riZbzLxP4hR3jjFsH707_Oz44M_NPlYgD6uPjORof-tdQu84Fsbu44i57cz1DkMdr0qxSLMDdZ85zP8iZjBrAGlyaB84zO3n0U1Iau-5XN8RW5TKqbxZv0/s400/kofte.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477832069373177202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Superfast Kofte</span><br /><div class="rcpdetail" id="ingredients"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />1/2 cup prechopped white onion<br /> 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs<br /> 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint<br /> 2 tablespoons tomato paste<br /> 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic<br /> 1/2 teaspoon salt<br /> 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper<br /> 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice<br /> 1 pound lean ground round<br /> 1 large egg white, lightly beaten<br /> Cooking spray<br /> 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices plum tomato (about 2 tomatoes)<br /> 4 (6-inch) pitas, split<br /> 1/4 cup plain yogurt *To make garlic yogurt add minced jarred garlic and salt to taste. I think I did a 1/2 t of garlic and a dash of sea salt.*<br /></div><p>Preheat broiler.</p><p>Combine first 12 ingredients in a large bowl; stir until just combined. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions; shape each portion into a (2-inch) patty. Place patties on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Place 1 tomato slice and 1 patty in each pita half; top each half with 1 1/2 teaspoons yogurt.</p><p>Serves 4.<br /></p>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-48051783650617335972010-05-31T21:39:00.011-04:002010-06-01T13:23:37.524-04:00Date NightTuesday night Matt and I had our first "date night" as a married couple. We recently realized that the only time we go out is with friends. Although we're always having fun, whether it be at home or with our friends out and about New England, we decided that we should go out with just the two of us every week. Last Tuesday was our first date night and I decided I would plan the evening. Dinner and a movie! We went to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-47-boston">Cafe 47</a> for dinner and then strolled down Newbury Street stopping at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/jp-licks-boston">JP Licks </a>for an ice cream before ending at the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/loews-theatre-boston-common-boston">movie theatre</a> to see Iron Man 2.<br /><br />It was cute. Matt kept confusing the night with our first date. "Not knowing" how to start conversations or if he could hold my hand. I quickly reminded him that we've been married for almost 5 years and this was just our first date NIGHT not our first date. Anyway, we got past the confusion shortly after we left our building so the rest of the night was just fun. It was so nice to get out of the house, away from life stress and just enjoy each other and living in the city.<br /><br />I bought a <a href="http://www.groupon.com/boston">Groupon</a> a couple weeks ago for Cafe 47. I have been wanting to try this new restaurant for awhile and finally had a reason to get out of our neighborhood to try it. I'm glad we did! It was such a cute little restaurant. The restaurant is warm and inviting with exposed brick and an open bar kitchen. The jazz duo that was playing was fantastic. We loved every minute of our dinner.<br /><br />I started with a house salad while Matt enjoyed the wedge salad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-UAW4O3OOxS583k388yPj5OUOETz7XGEivFAxMSyxCNuenLzEH17cCobTXCxpoLgq_VziEeHNH0JcH30EZBDqM-dK-fLKjgV-0gEZOgNai7GI45tthfSIFzg8mFDk9as143tR5DbhRA/s1600/tues4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-UAW4O3OOxS583k388yPj5OUOETz7XGEivFAxMSyxCNuenLzEH17cCobTXCxpoLgq_VziEeHNH0JcH30EZBDqM-dK-fLKjgV-0gEZOgNai7GI45tthfSIFzg8mFDk9as143tR5DbhRA/s400/tues4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477624398293831554" border="0" /></a><br />I really wanted to try their pizza because with a short detour they can be on our way home from work. So I figured they may be a good place for an after work take out. Matt and I decided to split a slice of pepperoni pizza as an appetizer. It was good and filled my need for pizza but it doesn't replace our favorite pizza place, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/figs-boston">Figs</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9A1MynZ_lapjnkH249DpBMhPE3r8S-k_-UjQtewP19NnfZE0z7CHk5Ry8IKOVeNpF5AdIsiujNBz1Nqnv7lANs2s1yxhiFtgbR1fpqTX480SjqCPQfCxGo3ZRc293FBA2qbI_-YcVvjk/s1600/tues3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9A1MynZ_lapjnkH249DpBMhPE3r8S-k_-UjQtewP19NnfZE0z7CHk5Ry8IKOVeNpF5AdIsiujNBz1Nqnv7lANs2s1yxhiFtgbR1fpqTX480SjqCPQfCxGo3ZRc293FBA2qbI_-YcVvjk/s400/tues3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477624389270937058" border="0" /></a><br />I got the Atlantic Salmon for my entree. It came with a roasted red pepper sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach and vegetable risotto. The salmon was cooked well-done, which is just the way I like it. The risotto was perfect. It included vegetables that I would not have thought to put into risotto, such as carrots and peas, but it was delicious!! Last but not least the spinach was perfectly sauteed with massive amounts of garlic and olive oil. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ffV4FJ1ah6lKNtDjQ7vH-O0LsRZEbwd9zf6mbqxMD5kENXcJgKCuQceVRL-0hpjeuHns25KDoorvmgLACmTlB929TrSYpd0abZmJE0w32pl3kpn4oYlSxtBTYDIUcfj7wfVZpJpMV8/s1600/tues2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ffV4FJ1ah6lKNtDjQ7vH-O0LsRZEbwd9zf6mbqxMD5kENXcJgKCuQceVRL-0hpjeuHns25KDoorvmgLACmTlB929TrSYpd0abZmJE0w32pl3kpn4oYlSxtBTYDIUcfj7wfVZpJpMV8/s400/tues2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477624110674679890" border="0" /></a><br />Matt really enjoyed his entree as well! He got the grilled chicken kebab that came with the vegetable risotto as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69mxSBT4lObqPqG9nYoJYaW-wylIA4Ko0g5UeuJ72JoY0_TeF_MneWmwBR5c-g53VQKZIsomKdOdvLfBCj-f2S3pbBPx-aj3OK6XJBh8MPzP_oaBZAh5mcKISmP3oxlb6Wr3Xw5rShiw/s1600/Tues1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69mxSBT4lObqPqG9nYoJYaW-wylIA4Ko0g5UeuJ72JoY0_TeF_MneWmwBR5c-g53VQKZIsomKdOdvLfBCj-f2S3pbBPx-aj3OK6XJBh8MPzP_oaBZAh5mcKISmP3oxlb6Wr3Xw5rShiw/s400/Tues1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477624106308060882" border="0" /></a><br />Dinner was great and I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. If we ever find ourselves near Cafe 47 around a meal time we will definitely come back!<br /><br />After dinner Matt and I walked down Newbury street so that we could get dessert. We stopped at our favorite ice cream shop, JP Licks. I got a small coconut chocolate chip yogurt with rainbow jimmies in a cone. YUM! (Matt took this photo with his iPhone app, Hipstamatic, which is why it looks vintage)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vtjEgOYDowdhhBSLhIGYRcOT0XR7u9Cm95d0hE0BstvtuyVq4m66XjoZMmp8CwalVRzALGgM_fb8ouv6e5Pn74oEweQvbj5LPLFdb4asuVHHzp8n-BIoNs9MypnBQjlw6uR3KmxXVUY/s1600/ice+cream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vtjEgOYDowdhhBSLhIGYRcOT0XR7u9Cm95d0hE0BstvtuyVq4m66XjoZMmp8CwalVRzALGgM_fb8ouv6e5Pn74oEweQvbj5LPLFdb4asuVHHzp8n-BIoNs9MypnBQjlw6uR3KmxXVUY/s400/ice+cream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477626778288710706" border="0" /></a><br />It was a beautiful spring night for ice cream and a walk to the movie theatre! Matt and I loved Iron Man 2 but we pretty much love anything with Robert Downey Jr. It was the perfect first date night.<br /><br />I can't wait to see what Matt plans for next week! It's his turn!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-4475758614553869012010-05-29T12:56:00.000-04:002010-05-29T12:57:01.704-04:00Memorial Day Weekend<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/29/1041.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/29/s_1041.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Matt and I are on our way to Maine for a couple of days this weekend! When I get back Monday night I'll finish blogging about my week which includes a great date night with my hubby, a trip to an expensive gym, and a delicious Turkish meatball recipe! Enjoy the wonderful 3-day weekend!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-18935397621061716942010-05-27T15:26:00.007-04:002010-05-28T09:53:03.103-04:00Chicken Fajita Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing<span style="font-size:100%;">Monday after work I decided that we were going to try a recipe that I had got in my work mailbox from our "LivingWell" group at my company. The recipe was for <a href="http://www.lowfatlifestyle.com/salads/saladrecipes/chickenfajitasalad.htm">Chicken Fajita Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing</a> originally from the LowFatLifestyle <a href="http://www.lowfatlifestyle.com/">website</a>. It was quick and easy to make. For the chicken I used up the rest of the frozen kebab chicken from my mom's graduation <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-moms-weekend-graduation-celebration.html">party</a>. The seasonings of the kebab tasted very similar to fajita seasoning so it was perfect.</span> You can see all of the yummy garlic and the caramelization.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7LH5IZD42Y6tAA-PJsyEyoPjjGC1tH3t6giwq2Zs303EKuVIc_N-uL_Q9inaT4j0GGzPvVePfNkT8wHypdF5XLEs84YcNkjr47sUbxP-IMq2L60Rk-mtAtcP71_vazzJwGEKw_VYqK4/s1600/MonChix.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7LH5IZD42Y6tAA-PJsyEyoPjjGC1tH3t6giwq2Zs303EKuVIc_N-uL_Q9inaT4j0GGzPvVePfNkT8wHypdF5XLEs84YcNkjr47sUbxP-IMq2L60Rk-mtAtcP71_vazzJwGEKw_VYqK4/s400/MonChix.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311598309126930" border="0" /></a><br />While the chicken was cooking I assembled the salad. I decided to add some jalapenos to the salad for an extra kick. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWIOK59a-IFGwRnsKPczYnpDdZldXvltdYH0bLRm6i9o7avfObYlCV2OgShqQtY8F8I7OE4dt0UVvKFtf1r-VnCKohXjIRLcNSirNEk9kaqIDyud_9uju_QPQvfL7_99lWd5vFcBWzq0/s1600/salad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWIOK59a-IFGwRnsKPczYnpDdZldXvltdYH0bLRm6i9o7avfObYlCV2OgShqQtY8F8I7OE4dt0UVvKFtf1r-VnCKohXjIRLcNSirNEk9kaqIDyud_9uju_QPQvfL7_99lWd5vFcBWzq0/s400/salad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311778362367602" border="0" /></a><br />This is the salad after the chicken and the dressing was added.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShXOXeC47lDr367t9NwOZH5dKb2hxVBKeoAD4RZ6ELnOz-VznnVyOVh5k-YfPanMQjL0Nx8oHKkuxdYvqCkgA5K8-ETyzVVHkT1l1z6EkZSulb2i2e76OXSl1KFy0reM19ensZXcBqRw/s1600/salad2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShXOXeC47lDr367t9NwOZH5dKb2hxVBKeoAD4RZ6ELnOz-VznnVyOVh5k-YfPanMQjL0Nx8oHKkuxdYvqCkgA5K8-ETyzVVHkT1l1z6EkZSulb2i2e76OXSl1KFy0reM19ensZXcBqRw/s400/salad2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311787025733458" border="0" /></a><br />Matt's review of dinner: "It's good!" He helped himself to seconds too!<br />Lauren's review: Easy to make. Lots of good, healthy ingredients. The only reason to keep the recipe would be for the dressing recipe but the dressing was just okay in my opinion. Too much of a sour cream taste for my liking.<br />Final decision: Not a keeper<br /><br />After dinner Matt and I took Bailey for a walk down the hill to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-podima-boston">Cafe Podima</a> for some frozen yogurt. I ordered vanilla yogurt with Reese's Pieces mixed in. What I got was vanilla with Reese's Pieces, coconut, a little Oreo, and even a piece or two of pineapple. They apparently didn't clean their mixing machine very well before mixing my dessert. It was good but a little strange. Matt had malted vanilla yogurt with Heath Bar. His came out perfect so I made sure to have a bite or two to make sure it really was perfect. It was.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYSgy8AUiBvwPfZSNtVqT-JiPSrpSGReqRrj4cmS-rkmTtafD-rUgCR0pTAbzurF0SeF-9610LVNsMKFRmVeaY_ih5iCYI1v6CdyHnOrVnDAZdmJK1mmhZ16zcdRVM5U6PhdCf2Tt5Wo/s1600/podima.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYSgy8AUiBvwPfZSNtVqT-JiPSrpSGReqRrj4cmS-rkmTtafD-rUgCR0pTAbzurF0SeF-9610LVNsMKFRmVeaY_ih5iCYI1v6CdyHnOrVnDAZdmJK1mmhZ16zcdRVM5U6PhdCf2Tt5Wo/s400/podima.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311608719338322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Chicken Fajita Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1 pound skinned, boned chicken breast tenders - cut into thin strips<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Cooking oil spray </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1 tablespoon lime juice</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >dash of salt and fresh ground pepper to taste</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br />6 to 8 cups shredded romaine lettuce </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1/2 cup sliced green bell pepper</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > 1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br />1 small red onion, sliced into rings </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded fat free cheddar cheese </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans - rinsed and drained (optional)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >1 medium tomato - diced</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > <br /><br /> <b>Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing: </b></span> <p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro<br />1/2 cup low fat or fat-free sour cream<br />1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">1 teaspoon granulated sugar<br />1/4 teaspoon ground cumin<br />1/4 teaspoon chili powder</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">To Make Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing: Combine all ingredients, and stir well with a whisk. Cover dressing and chill.</span></p> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat until hot. Add chicken and sauté 8 minutes or until chicken is done and no longer pink inside and browned on the outside. Sprinkle with 1-tablespoon lime juice, dash of salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro. Set aside.<br /><br /> Combine lettuce, peppers, cheddar cheese, tomato and beans and toss with chicken. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing and serve with baked tortilla chips and your favorite salsa or pico de gallo.<br /><br />Serves 4<br /></span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-83744560405996285042010-05-27T13:39:00.007-04:002010-05-27T14:32:11.338-04:00Funday SundayEven though last Sunday flew by it was fantastic. It all started with breakfast. I made scrambled eggs and heated up a couple of Eggo waffles while Matt contributed Dunkin Donuts coffee and a donut. While we ate breakfast we started the Grey's Anatomy season finale. WOW is all I have to say! The finale was incredible! I think I cried the entire two hours. Once my eyes dried off and my face was back to normal I decided to go for a run.<br /><br />Saturday I had tried to go for a run along the <a href="http://www.esplanadeassociation.org/">Esplanade </a>only to discover a big <a href="http://www.myradio929.com/EarthFest.aspx">festival </a>along the river so my run turned into a slow "high intensity interval session", stopping and going around Boston. I was hoping Sunday's run would make up for Saturday's. For those of you who don't know I am not a runner but last year decided I wanted to be so I started training for a half marathon last year. My longest run ended up being 5 miles. I have always had issues with my knees but during my 5 mile run I bent down to itch my knee and felt a snap which was followed by a lot of pain. I shouldn't have but I pushed through the last half mile after the pop and I think I really hurt myself. I went in to my doctors office to see about a brace, exercise recommendations or to get a "prescription" to a physical therapist. What my doctor ended up telling me was that "some people just aren't built for running" and there was nothing I could do but stop running or hurt myself further. I went home and cried. The race I had signed up for came and went. I was still not running and was very bummed about it. After the encouragement of fellow blog runners, <a href="http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/">Caitlin </a>and <a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/">Betsy</a>, found a physical therapist and set up appointments back in April. After seeing my therapist at <a href="http://www.marathonphysicaltherapy.com/">Marathon Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine </a>twice a week for almost 7 weeks I have been able to run pain-free. Sunday my beautiful run took me the farthest I have been since my injury, 3.5 miles! I know it's not a lot but it was a huge accomplishment for me. I was so happy! I know it has nothing to do with food but I had to share!<br /><br />I took a quick shower after my run then headed down to Whole Foods to grab some essentials for our Lost series finale party that I was having with me, myself, and Matt. Dinner was a homemade pepperoni, jalapeno, and red pepper pizza. Then after the first two hour special we took a break and had dessert before starting the finale. I decided we should have something tropically inspired so I made a sorbet sundae. Mango sorbet with strawberries, kiwi, and coconut. Perfect for our little Lost party!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJFWFtuF7e2_hoha9ELV_RIw_K5BoyHfIINlWfedTeB_Zsfj27z_k_xz_bv7N_BV235WiZ_M8SXvQ6Oucvt6MJ8u4w9pGkSap2s-cxl8lucUbiof9yQcCY_MFLHAWy_tMhJHY5cLkO9Q/s1600/LOSTdessert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJFWFtuF7e2_hoha9ELV_RIw_K5BoyHfIINlWfedTeB_Zsfj27z_k_xz_bv7N_BV235WiZ_M8SXvQ6Oucvt6MJ8u4w9pGkSap2s-cxl8lucUbiof9yQcCY_MFLHAWy_tMhJHY5cLkO9Q/s400/LOSTdessert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476008826986828610" border="0" /></a><br />Regarding the Lost finale... was anyone else slightly disappointed with it!? I thought everything was going great until probably the last 30 minutes then it all went downhill. I expected more from these great writers! I may have thrown a little temper tantrum. Oh well...<br /><br />I couldn't have asked for a better Sunday!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-31125398839215236832010-05-26T16:09:00.004-04:002010-05-27T11:38:59.732-04:00Flank Steak with Coffee-Peppercorn Marinade & Dark Chocolate Oatmeal CookiesLast Saturday night we finally got together with our friends Julia and Chris. We haven't seen them since our <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2009/12/disappearing-act.html">trip to the Bahamas</a> in December! They've been busy buying a home so we traveled North to visit their new, beautiful place! Here's the cute couple in front of their new, huge home with a fantastic backyard (that you can't see) for all of our puppies to run around in!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjnCWdyoUaEj3Tzqc_4YrYc-TIX2H3mXAMeMPxHYMG02rv-ULQHQ9H6et4tr9EGYRPmJR3pvNBLWyQv1MuyUlOIALGfOGMFcWXIbYumxfxOaS0huE3KGPqBBAs_lzspVh9LUY-VUlqC0/s1600/JNC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjnCWdyoUaEj3Tzqc_4YrYc-TIX2H3mXAMeMPxHYMG02rv-ULQHQ9H6et4tr9EGYRPmJR3pvNBLWyQv1MuyUlOIALGfOGMFcWXIbYumxfxOaS0huE3KGPqBBAs_lzspVh9LUY-VUlqC0/s400/JNC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475967108022024290" border="0" /></a><br />To celebrate Matt and I brought part of dinner, a marinated flank steak to cook on their grill and dessert. The entree was<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eating-well/flank-steak-with-coffee-peppercorn-marinade-recipe/index.html"> Flank Steak with Coffee-Peppercorn Marinade</a>, one of my saved recipes from the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/">FoodNetwork</a>. For dessert I tried to make <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Dark-Chocolate-Oatmeal-Cookies-109497">Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies</a> from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/">Epicurious</a>.<br /><br />With Julia's additions to my steak we ended up with a fantastic, well balanced dinner. Grilled marinated zucchini and summer squash with a delicious spinach and strawberry salad. We have very nice friends. They insisted that the steak was good. However, I finally got the truth out of Matt on the ride home. He agreed with my opinion of the recipe. Aside from flank steak not being the greatest cut of beef, the marinade sort of fell flat. There wasn't as much flavor as I would have liked. The two of us decided that it didn't earn a spot in our recipe box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnTHBrzpJHeK6S8IfkBboRjNrUWM9N4crJ2Nt1w1yzgfvXbbc-l-Pqblh30uTgVcdnT0RkCkBLf-lzAVjpv4cXJwIkbCiJ3xgjoU_ts92VcwWBCp8QKqO0RcJ6y-2L_qcxvSMQF2rtOs/s1600/SatDinner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnTHBrzpJHeK6S8IfkBboRjNrUWM9N4crJ2Nt1w1yzgfvXbbc-l-Pqblh30uTgVcdnT0RkCkBLf-lzAVjpv4cXJwIkbCiJ3xgjoU_ts92VcwWBCp8QKqO0RcJ6y-2L_qcxvSMQF2rtOs/s400/SatDinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475673969411880098" border="0" /></a><br />On to dessert.... unfortunately, I tried to bake the cookies " until center is slightly firm and top is cracked" per the recipe instructions. This resulted in the first batch of cookies to be cooked for another 6 minutes which is when I saw cracking. Then by the time they cooled they were burnt chocolate hockey pucks. I only had four cookies left to bake. This time I baked them for only the suggested time, 12 minutes, and they were still a little too crispy for my liking. I forgot to take a picture of the final product because I was in scramble mode trying to figure out how to fix my disaster. But here is a picture of the dough balls before they were pressed and baked.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogeHSZDiV4klIInOPbEHdUkgUjN-K9PHtwydrNlP7t7L4lbuhKkYM8FimHB1LZjpxoACFuDoGeznnG8-5PWccAUq3VEjTP2mAa46Tro3XNK8EfLqG_OPTqpkKRywZMB0W8zQSbigPN6A/s1600/cookies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogeHSZDiV4klIInOPbEHdUkgUjN-K9PHtwydrNlP7t7L4lbuhKkYM8FimHB1LZjpxoACFuDoGeznnG8-5PWccAUq3VEjTP2mAa46Tro3XNK8EfLqG_OPTqpkKRywZMB0W8zQSbigPN6A/s400/cookies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475673962535583042" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks goodness for Matt being my logical, calm side of my brain because he reminded me that we had half of the delicious sorbet still available from the night before. He saved the day! We all ended up having one crispy chocolate cookie and a scoop of sorbet for dessert. Matt and I decided that the chocolate cookie recipe wasn't a keeper but dessert reaffirmed our decision to keep the sorbet recipe!<br /><br />Even though my two planned recipes weren't very good we all still had a wonderful time at dinner! It was so nice to catch up and see the big project that they've been working on since we saw them in December. We also got to see the Celtics win game 3 in the NBA playoffs against the Orlando Magic over dinner and drinks.! It was a great night!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Flank Steak with Coffee-Peppercorn Marinade</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />3 tablespoons strong brewed coffee<br />1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar<br />1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil<br />1 tablespoon brown sugar<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, crushed<br />1/2 teaspoon salt<br />1 pound flank steak, trimmed of fat<br /><br /><p> Whisk coffee, vinegar, oil, sugar, garlic, peppercorns and salt in a glass dish large enough for meat to lie flat. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.</p> <p>Heat grill to high.</p> <p>Remove steak from marinade (discard marinade). Lightly oil grill rack (see Tip). Place steak on grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice thinly across the grain and serve.</p> <p>To oil a grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.</p><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />3/4 cup all purpose flour<br />1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />2 tablespoons steel-cut oats<br />1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips<br /><br /><p class="instructions"> Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter large rimmed baking sheet. Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture and beat until moist clumps form. Mix in oats with spatula until evenly distributed (dough will be very firm). Add chocolate chips and knead gently to blend. </p> <p class="instructions"> Using moistened palms, shape 1 generous tablespoon dough into ball. Place on prepared sheet; flatten to 2-inch round. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing rounds about 2 inches apart. </p> <p class="instructions"> Bake cookies until center is slightly firm and top is cracked, about 14 minutes. Cool on sheet. </p><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" id="TixyyLink">Makes a dozen cookies.<br /></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-85394664812362062462010-05-25T16:16:00.003-04:002010-05-26T13:53:32.733-04:00Whipped Feta and Pepper Dip, Chicken Mojito with Mint and Lime over Couscous & Strawberry Margarita SorbetLast Friday night we had a couple of friends over for dinner. It was a beautiful warm, spring night in Boston so I kept that in mind while I planned our meal. I ended up picking <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/whipped-feta-and-pepper-dip">Whipped Feta and Pepper Dip</a> from Martha Stewart's Blueprint, March/April 2007 (I wish they still published that magazine!), <a href="http://superspark.wordpress.com/2007/05/18/mojito-chicken-with-mint-and-lime/">Chicken Mojito with Mint and Lime over Couscous</a> from Women's Health, and <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1197181">Strawberry Margarita Sorbet</a> from Cooking Light, June 2006. I picked our appetizer because it had a little heat to match the day's temperature which helped me pick the entree and dessert recipes. There is nothing better than a mojito or a margarita on a warm day! It was a great menu and a great dinner party!<br /><br />I served the dip with <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1197181">Kashi's TLC Crackers, Original 7 Grain</a>. I unfortunately couldn't find peppadew's at any of my grocery stores so after doing some googling I decided to use my hot cherry peppers and a couple slices of jarred jalapenos. I made this dip the night before which let the flavors intensify while it chilled. Everyone thought the dip was great! It was such a huge success that I didn't remember to take a picture until the bowl was empty. An empty bowl is always a good sign though. The recipe is a keeper!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1A8hCzr7mzFbdPcOQI1bWG_F2R6ZgDpEIJyNuNzmtQMMHn3PSAGg29SIee_ygF8FFjJA6lppdPFaPWxmailfLTVC7g88UX-5qSaleF8G9Vl2hQzfcUZ24ANfVEB0XFDzsfW9grZ32ZQ/s1600/FriDinner2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1A8hCzr7mzFbdPcOQI1bWG_F2R6ZgDpEIJyNuNzmtQMMHn3PSAGg29SIee_ygF8FFjJA6lppdPFaPWxmailfLTVC7g88UX-5qSaleF8G9Vl2hQzfcUZ24ANfVEB0XFDzsfW9grZ32ZQ/s400/FriDinner2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475304363246260290" border="0" /></a><br />I made dinner right after we polished off the dip. It didn't take very long and was easy enough for me to read the recipe, cook, and talk with our friends which is usually a difficult task for me to do. I thought the flavors were great. The only flaw with the dish was how I prepared the couscous. I used the leftover chicken stock for the fluid, which gave it great flavor, but I let it sit longer than the box recommended so we ended up with overcooked, clumpy couscous. In the end everyone thought the dish was delicious except for Matt. He thought it was good but apparently doesn't like couscous. He told me that when I picked the recipe but I thought he must have had couscous confused with something else. Who doesn't like couscous?! I was wrong. I decided I'm going to keep the recipe and see if he likes the dinner better over brown rice the next time I make it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcST66c9yc0y3BCH6TE9Dru70Xb30vifLUJaf4duOHD1j0MAz0rxn8D5rOaPbjj9W1QHSBOQp9mbq4xPTeRWZPpf-omCReFwhUIYZquPllqo_fQlacpcrAfsAu6HrBPGwWeOIY6LLPts/s1600/FriDinner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcST66c9yc0y3BCH6TE9Dru70Xb30vifLUJaf4duOHD1j0MAz0rxn8D5rOaPbjj9W1QHSBOQp9mbq4xPTeRWZPpf-omCReFwhUIYZquPllqo_fQlacpcrAfsAu6HrBPGwWeOIY6LLPts/s400/FriDinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475304354411244898" border="0" /></a><br />Last but definitely not least was the Strawberry Margarita Sorbet. It was delicious! A perfect summer sorbet! For some reason I forgot to take a picture of this beautiful dessert?! Probably because I made Matt serve it while I sat back and relaxed. Everyone loved this dessert. It definitely earned a spot in the recipe box! Just be aware that the sorbet recipe takes awhile to make. I started making the dessert Thursday night at 9:00PM and I wasn't going to get to put the mix into the ice cream mixer until 12:30AM. I quickly decided to take Matt's advice and leave it in the fridge overnight and put it in my mixer first thing in the morning so that I could go to bed. Also, after it mixes it needs to be in the freezer for 8 hours. Definitely need to keep the timing in mind next time I make any ice cream or sorbet!<br /><br />Enjoy the recipes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Whipped Feta and Pepper Dip</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />4 ounces cream cheese<br />6 ounces feta cheese<br />10 small (or 5 large, about 1 1/4 ounces) peppadew peppers, removed from brine<br />1 teaspoon brine from peppers<br />1/2 teaspoon hot smoked paprika<br />1/2 teaspoon coarse salt<br />1 tablespoon water<br /><br /><span>Combine the cream cheese, half of the feta, half of the peppers, and all of the remaining ingredients in a food processor. Blend them until smooth. Add the rest of the feta cheese and peppers and pulse until chunky. Chill.<br /><br />Makes 1.25 cups<br /></span><p><strong style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Chicken Mojito with Mint and Lime over Couscous</strong></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> 1 cup couscous<br />24 spears asparagus<br />1 tsp garlic powder<br />salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />2 tsp olive oil<br />1/2 cup chopped red onion<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 tbsp sugar<br />4 chicken breasts (or one per person), cut into 1-inch pieces<br />1/2 cup light rum<br />1/2 cup chicken broth<br />2 tbsp fresh lime juice<br />1/4 cup chopped fresh mint</p>Cook couscous according to package directions.<br />Preheat oven to 400. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Chop asparagus into bite-sized pieces, arrange on cooking sheet, and coat with cooking spray (we used olive oil in a diffuser bottle). Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast 15 minutes, until tender.<br /><strong></strong>Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and sugar. Saute about 3 minutes.<br />Add chicken and saute 3-5 minutes until golden brown on all sides. Add rum and broth and simmer 5 minutes.<br />Remove from heat and stir in lime juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper.<br />Put a bed of couscous on each plate, top with chicken mixture and asparagus. Garnish with mint. <br /><br />Serves 4<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Strawberry Margarita Sorbet</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />1 cup sugar<br /> 2 cups water<br /> 1 teaspoon grated lime rind<br /> 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)<br /> 1/2 cup tequila<br /> 1 teaspoon grated orange rind<br /> 1/3 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)<br /> 2 cups hulled strawberries<br /><br /><p>Combine 1 cup sugar and water in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves; bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes. Pour sugar mixture into a medium bowl; stir in lime rind and next 4 ingredients (through orange juice).</p><p>Place strawberries in a food processor; process until smooth. Add strawberry puree to sugar mixture; stir well. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until chilled.</p><p>Pour strawberry mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spoon the mixture into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze for 8 hours or until almost firm.</p><p>Makes 4 cups<br /></p>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-86195961906276781132010-05-24T11:18:00.003-04:002010-05-24T11:38:11.788-04:00LeftoversWednesday and Thursday ended up being leftover nights. Wednesday night I used some leftover chicken kebabs from my mom's graduation <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-moms-weekend-graduation-celebration.html">party</a>. I cooked up the chicken and added it to whole wheat pasta, marinara, zucchini, and pecorino cheese. Matt found the perfect words that described how we felt about this dinner. It was a pre-blog Lauren dinner. Good but nothing special. Sustenance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0EjGg36hI5HvSrSi_tZabwen7LUi51xZTpJDx2sgVQVBl8jX1qPVD1nsxBlVu1pkA-Z1qCAmw073xPy6kRpRF6KnZG9GmufjQSpwsNCxbEA40cbzK6_3hn0UFNM8ryV4vBHfZfPnQQ0/s1600/dinner1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0EjGg36hI5HvSrSi_tZabwen7LUi51xZTpJDx2sgVQVBl8jX1qPVD1nsxBlVu1pkA-Z1qCAmw073xPy6kRpRF6KnZG9GmufjQSpwsNCxbEA40cbzK6_3hn0UFNM8ryV4vBHfZfPnQQ0/s400/dinner1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474856482770967122" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday was another pre-blog Lauren dinner. Leftover meatloaf sandwiches which are delicious and nutritious. I toasted deli flats, re-heated the meatloaf, placed the meatloaf on top of one side of the deli flat then topped it with marinara and mozzarella, finally I put it under the broiler until the cheese melted. It's a great way to use the leftovers from my meatloaf <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/ciao-to-chopping-meatloaf.html">recipe </a>and it's perfect for a busy night because it takes 5 minutes to assemble dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9zSfW4jfr5H0eCpEYyAtPLgUVVx4Cyqb4SL184OOsknHdhrLw9tEddfifqrbu7g11gmn1Vo6SJAhE_YF-d0xNAZ79lUjVRYaZevdnKqc-7ZQlHATXCKcYpob5xqcSpxByJ4mwtSxZrY/s1600/dinner2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9zSfW4jfr5H0eCpEYyAtPLgUVVx4Cyqb4SL184OOsknHdhrLw9tEddfifqrbu7g11gmn1Vo6SJAhE_YF-d0xNAZ79lUjVRYaZevdnKqc-7ZQlHATXCKcYpob5xqcSpxByJ4mwtSxZrY/s400/dinner2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474856486270627794" border="0" /></a><br />Friday morning I brought in the <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-love-boston-organics.html">basil plant</a> that I was previously so excited about to give it to a <a href="http://www.straightupwitholives.com/">friend</a>. I thought maybe her place would get more sunlight than our condo. After showing my poor plant to my co-workers they informed me that my droopy looking basil plant was beyond repair. I killed it. It was a sad morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGDesDfWoFaUXo6IeF6hCX9UCc79ImZ55pTB1KfnPd21_prEcOw_mdNOiJ6NsLndqCqdEkJ6vJgCNEs59dh0wBfiGuyJDmBCsu_FZTRoQIDaUr_8-mJLbFQPst1ob5oXlWXDi-6GqbAQ/s1600/deadbasil.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGDesDfWoFaUXo6IeF6hCX9UCc79ImZ55pTB1KfnPd21_prEcOw_mdNOiJ6NsLndqCqdEkJ6vJgCNEs59dh0wBfiGuyJDmBCsu_FZTRoQIDaUr_8-mJLbFQPst1ob5oXlWXDi-6GqbAQ/s400/deadbasil.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474856476858396178" border="0" /></a><br />My morning was quickly improved when Matt decided we were going to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/four-burgers-cambridge">Four Burgers</a> for lunch! Lunch was just what I needed! I had a turkey burger with cranberry chutney and pepper jack cheese for lunch, shared a side of sweet potato fries with Matt and our friend, <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/03/sean-patrick-ds-birthday-on-st-pattys.html">Sean</a>. Then for dessert I shared a chocolate frappe with Matt. All better! My Friday was saved by a delicious lunch!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh6QxYZzJWKRwMYtUVoz_XEFJjBS15HAD4aXJaLu3nQVnIWkGEWrFjSImbEHkFEnONwD2wXHgmkyINKs2_6VGZi0xd4kJXIOKfRWotJV4yr8SZZktRKJiK1cBrVa0K1DKdKoSLG7kmyE/s1600/4burgers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh6QxYZzJWKRwMYtUVoz_XEFJjBS15HAD4aXJaLu3nQVnIWkGEWrFjSImbEHkFEnONwD2wXHgmkyINKs2_6VGZi0xd4kJXIOKfRWotJV4yr8SZZktRKJiK1cBrVa0K1DKdKoSLG7kmyE/s400/4burgers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474856470902428690" border="0" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-61377146185469277892010-05-19T14:03:00.003-04:002010-05-19T14:20:08.886-04:00Ciao to Chopping MeatloafA long, long time ago... in January... I made the decision to purge all of the recipes that I had collected over the years. I challenged myself to try a new recipe a day. This <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/01/recipe-box.html">post </a>laid out the challenge and explained how I was starting. An empty recipe box with the exception of 5 recipes that I knew were good enough for a place in the box. Well, last night I decided that I had to make one of those recipes. I figured my little group of readers may enjoy this recipe and I had all of the ingredients in the house. I made my version of the Women's Health Ciao to Chopping Meatloaf. Unfortunately, you can't find this recipe on their website probably because this was from one of their first magazines. This recipe was one of my first "reliables" that I probably made at least once every other week. I've even served this dinner to the majority of our friends throughout the last couple of years.<br /><br />Last night dinner was no exception, it was fantastic. You can tell by the green and orange that you can see in the photo that I use a little more than the recommended amount of zucchini and carrots. I served the meatloaf with a side of roasted beets. I washed, peeled, and cut the beets into chunks. Then drizzled them with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. They went into the oven at 375 for ten minutes, then flipped them and put them back in for another ten minutes. Delicious! <br /><br />Matt and I both recommend this recipe so the recipe was quickly put back into my recipe box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lfYmFQ2iMsj147M0JMwoqadCDzL1xExSd-z2e3NJjN_IR8stG0n1iwpeaXyvnDmkNVyLxDhOE7vCrrUocdk3qIzssR7y4N99_h9lrnUqRy2srN8kC7HnOCfi2szwRpHBjayQ5AVs6ac/s1600/Tues.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lfYmFQ2iMsj147M0JMwoqadCDzL1xExSd-z2e3NJjN_IR8stG0n1iwpeaXyvnDmkNVyLxDhOE7vCrrUocdk3qIzssR7y4N99_h9lrnUqRy2srN8kC7HnOCfi2szwRpHBjayQ5AVs6ac/s400/Tues.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473045444304771810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Ciao to Chopping Meatloaf</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Serves 4<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients:<br /><br /></span>1 pound (lb.) extra-lean ground turkey<br />1 egg (or 2 egg whites)<br />1/2 c. whole wheat panko bread crumbs (or any plain bread crumbs)<br />1/2 c. grated carrots<br />1/4 c. grated zucchini (I typically put 1 whole zucchini in the food processor and use it all)<br />1 T. Worcestershire sauce<br />1 t. dried sweet basil<br />1 t. dried oregano<br />1 t. Italian seasoning<br />1 t. garlic powder<br />1 t. salt<br />olive oil spray<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375F. Spray nonstick loaf pan with olive oil spray. Mix all ingredients. Press into pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until there is no pink.</span> *40 minutes was a little too long last night. I recommend checking it after 35 to ensure it doesn't get too dry*Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-21537131909753142322010-05-18T15:59:00.013-04:002010-05-18T17:06:00.163-04:00My Mom's Weekend - Graduation CelebrationFriday night Matt and I made it up to my parent's house in time to have dinner with family! My sister was kind enough to wait for us along with my aunt and cousin who had just arrived before us from New Jersey. I didn't take any photos but there was ham, macaroni salad, and Matt made me make the pear salad again. It was a great dinner! The rest of the family (mom, dad, graya, and poppy) kept us company while we ate so we could all catch up.<br /><br />Friday was an early night because Saturday was an early morning. We all had to leave the home at 9AM to get to the graduation site to ensure we got the best seats in the house, thanks to my mom's mandate. Her graduation was great even though it was freezing! The graduation took place in an outdoor music venue and Saturday morning was cold. Brrr!<br /><br />So proud of my mom! Her gold tassel was because she earned honors. She was so happy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBANEfAmcjpa00cH0o_CnZ3kOQSh6FNqX8ZjB6PDa2W59FYyIbD95GGL22ineqHaKNvZCAR_8uCh1SZ14ARRSrkIHOad4uMY5Ry7Grtzqs8qPfGjy23vREOcAaBXkuuUIYssDnzzKu1g/s1600/mom1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBANEfAmcjpa00cH0o_CnZ3kOQSh6FNqX8ZjB6PDa2W59FYyIbD95GGL22ineqHaKNvZCAR_8uCh1SZ14ARRSrkIHOad4uMY5Ry7Grtzqs8qPfGjy23vREOcAaBXkuuUIYssDnzzKu1g/s400/mom1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705935607588674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvgSl0Xu_YPm4JNuAmYxg5Q3c6jbrKw9Z4WTphZVtcvJYEVAVSVFbMg6iM5pWQPxfzY00y0LaB7kvtNB1RO5EVc6ZDQh8aOyr_w-Y-ZHuoBworBSHyxRlHyo2HK4yI84iWnzKXnDdslU/s1600/mom2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvgSl0Xu_YPm4JNuAmYxg5Q3c6jbrKw9Z4WTphZVtcvJYEVAVSVFbMg6iM5pWQPxfzY00y0LaB7kvtNB1RO5EVc6ZDQh8aOyr_w-Y-ZHuoBworBSHyxRlHyo2HK4yI84iWnzKXnDdslU/s400/mom2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705944408111602" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't she look pretty in blue and gold?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7S4n-q7uLhscM7ts6Yc15N4fEErTrnmuiIqljPpAo57s4J2ahEjrR2KbJYzGBaL9NFD3kgv9VIPQh6mebDA9XGe8eAJpUQRm9Q25tX__6iaa2FJEz4Z_0lc0fRkGHGCs_DyKH5MaJLM/s1600/mom3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7S4n-q7uLhscM7ts6Yc15N4fEErTrnmuiIqljPpAo57s4J2ahEjrR2KbJYzGBaL9NFD3kgv9VIPQh6mebDA9XGe8eAJpUQRm9Q25tX__6iaa2FJEz4Z_0lc0fRkGHGCs_DyKH5MaJLM/s400/mom3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705947918409074" border="0" /></a><br />After graduation my sister, Joce, and I went get a quick manicure and pedicure. It had been the first time that I have been to the nail salon in about a year. It was such a nice treat. After getting our nails done we walked over to my favorite ice cream shop, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/baileys-bubble-wolfeboro">Bailey's Bubble</a>, so I could get a kids vanilla soft serve in a cone with sprinkles. I ending up feeding three-quarters of it to the fish in the lake because we realized that we were running late for our combined celebration lunch. My cousin turned 9 years old on Saturday so it was a day of celebrating!<br /><br />Here's the birthday girl<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c6UvKN5IVT9Xiv-nrODZl4-nrkkLwFik_xBNkzXgVgi69KYSu9z8Mi3hWPhvF9Ob1oQs3f4T018x8kSJkoiAigT1NZaHyFuOHn_MoUSidJ6EGpVIR8pMCMu1Avdk9CDR8eHF7yRZYlo/s1600/courtney.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c6UvKN5IVT9Xiv-nrODZl4-nrkkLwFik_xBNkzXgVgi69KYSu9z8Mi3hWPhvF9Ob1oQs3f4T018x8kSJkoiAigT1NZaHyFuOHn_MoUSidJ6EGpVIR8pMCMu1Avdk9CDR8eHF7yRZYlo/s400/courtney.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703712567043842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb9s3f2bxXu4vZ704a_l-YM84khPY_vvM8VVug7s62TouDh01zayoOr0q_mFbzWpria49NOf8C39eE07zsOuLYCY_nX5NkmvGaKiCC73GJohFT-Aios5h2SSOgnXNF61N0fJ_j4KcRp8/s1600/courtney2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb9s3f2bxXu4vZ704a_l-YM84khPY_vvM8VVug7s62TouDh01zayoOr0q_mFbzWpria49NOf8C39eE07zsOuLYCY_nX5NkmvGaKiCC73GJohFT-Aios5h2SSOgnXNF61N0fJ_j4KcRp8/s400/courtney2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472704087078759794" border="0" /></a><br />Lunch was pretty good but no one in the family can remember the name of the restaurant. Anyway here are some food.<br /><br />Appetizers: pepperoni dip and fried green beans<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnE8VbhXjFVF6O-9CQGdLZ17WmXavQYlWoDsUvoiqKr5pi0h8hNlZj70iUuwN7t5VYOPmk-etrgiLkRhIutdC2i1H5pWMV_j0TUZe74VBpC2NV9rYl4bvj1w4YlR-MKDDXUseaIABWVg/s1600/apps.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnE8VbhXjFVF6O-9CQGdLZ17WmXavQYlWoDsUvoiqKr5pi0h8hNlZj70iUuwN7t5VYOPmk-etrgiLkRhIutdC2i1H5pWMV_j0TUZe74VBpC2NV9rYl4bvj1w4YlR-MKDDXUseaIABWVg/s400/apps.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703020500248194" border="0" /></a><br />My garden salad and Tuckerman's beer<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhDPtI2UNnII5-tvbzW-0FwM1b31DIhe3aXyugeVhVSSrqnnNGlzA1sFTpMMniWRM3A_qMzG4PZxvUnJNleO3iT_Sty2WhzU-Cn2HPwtLdNXhJdEpnNeaN23qQHRMflDfrBavBdAhCo/s1600/salad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhDPtI2UNnII5-tvbzW-0FwM1b31DIhe3aXyugeVhVSSrqnnNGlzA1sFTpMMniWRM3A_qMzG4PZxvUnJNleO3iT_Sty2WhzU-Cn2HPwtLdNXhJdEpnNeaN23qQHRMflDfrBavBdAhCo/s400/salad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472709298149033314" border="0" /></a><br />Another cool shot of my beer and Matt's Guinness<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHBCaGmD7O9lQbdWedXbNj4xm67QhWwAm0NCuxwuSFyS4D61xGFuo8id-Gxaw-cMeFOvGt8U-VIreTJIytMZw3rhpOHTHed37dV_GJ5-2A9pSXFme5lO31Q0fMBZurgoYYAKqr7kdmoY/s1600/beer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHBCaGmD7O9lQbdWedXbNj4xm67QhWwAm0NCuxwuSFyS4D61xGFuo8id-Gxaw-cMeFOvGt8U-VIreTJIytMZw3rhpOHTHed37dV_GJ5-2A9pSXFme5lO31Q0fMBZurgoYYAKqr7kdmoY/s400/beer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703697510184114" border="0" /></a><br />The cheese steak that I shared with my sister. I didn't even touch the fries. Way too much food. Oh, and Matt was experimenting with a faux white background, light box, with a napkin. I think it looks silly. We're going to have to try this again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPXZ91vc0-1gW_EVLZ8RSxUQMnqKzuQhL0DAo-0RchB4RfFGVJvuHO-y5TwbPCjZxLmT4Y8gYqHI5Ebxnf9LSoPUmbw1272eMntcAMATUr3210ZoURWVu0HkRxiaHpsZ5DWg7ZWau0gg/s1600/cheesesteak.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPXZ91vc0-1gW_EVLZ8RSxUQMnqKzuQhL0DAo-0RchB4RfFGVJvuHO-y5TwbPCjZxLmT4Y8gYqHI5Ebxnf9LSoPUmbw1272eMntcAMATUr3210ZoURWVu0HkRxiaHpsZ5DWg7ZWau0gg/s400/cheesesteak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703703179332114" border="0" /></a><br />Matt's steak tip salad which was delicious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWMR3apId_lkEvfjZBjE0albwT5oT0k3KY44_h8AMAw47nBWZyBEfTWiFE3ZoaLDdHDjL9FoMlJNZxNQHxtwmqMacCqguPLEPKPdTHhvUc2AbkB5vnxe4xF_CSrAPh2I3IZZMAmMmC9U/s1600/steaksalad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWMR3apId_lkEvfjZBjE0albwT5oT0k3KY44_h8AMAw47nBWZyBEfTWiFE3ZoaLDdHDjL9FoMlJNZxNQHxtwmqMacCqguPLEPKPdTHhvUc2AbkB5vnxe4xF_CSrAPh2I3IZZMAmMmC9U/s400/steaksalad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472709307802057474" border="0" /></a><br />The view from the restaurant's porch<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWKRsXjPEEdu4EK3fRWLoOOwbPhyc2FWmNhHsMfH3XUnLtCYDAhlrtpoyEFW_NO3IoDNUy57A21EdBlJjuQ2V0Gr8WIYQlJ1iNLtbTpyxTvBGCHRkOFs5ilQTtSPHU39TjIk-2nliLCo/s1600/view2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWKRsXjPEEdu4EK3fRWLoOOwbPhyc2FWmNhHsMfH3XUnLtCYDAhlrtpoyEFW_NO3IoDNUy57A21EdBlJjuQ2V0Gr8WIYQlJ1iNLtbTpyxTvBGCHRkOFs5ilQTtSPHU39TjIk-2nliLCo/s400/view2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472709596178177778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zi71kLx9QmdEPbhFeFUq2jeL5TCFd6KigN0UNK-2cKT-RhKI2MyCPwlx9mtomJfaIkQtdfII5Ao0WbMHh1dNdI9-daXKkQ-78x-kZtIpyvXSHn1y5OuAJ6DexdhPRvOh6_407ddku30/s1600/view.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zi71kLx9QmdEPbhFeFUq2jeL5TCFd6KigN0UNK-2cKT-RhKI2MyCPwlx9mtomJfaIkQtdfII5Ao0WbMHh1dNdI9-daXKkQ-78x-kZtIpyvXSHn1y5OuAJ6DexdhPRvOh6_407ddku30/s400/view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472709588725276082" border="0" /></a><br />Again we had to get up early, Sunday morning, to say good bye to the family and then to help set up for my mom's BIG party!<br /><br />It was the perfect day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGHz4MrE9iUybSKcgyFF0CYjF3lPtSZeAC9jtGma0VGAjXnz9JfFdfGyL2JGXagYbxT3ouI5Bqf5P63hB66uOgFc66X1aVI2HoJVhvAJ3iLeS1y7ecSpyXOY56xl8fwLb_keDm6KfuJg/s1600/party1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGHz4MrE9iUybSKcgyFF0CYjF3lPtSZeAC9jtGma0VGAjXnz9JfFdfGyL2JGXagYbxT3ouI5Bqf5P63hB66uOgFc66X1aVI2HoJVhvAJ3iLeS1y7ecSpyXOY56xl8fwLb_keDm6KfuJg/s400/party1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472705958550236466" border="0" /></a><br />Getting ready<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3QPmGKKH8CwawOncnLTbeBQUvxy-TWq-94gyYpyf8gabGp7Q2uFSAgDczd8SmkZwkMYiiz4kmem-7snILO3jpjdZ0KpQiopdqM8BbSETCoFVt10VASAdL_YrXZLi4KdwbUrOLn_8SKA/s1600/party3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3QPmGKKH8CwawOncnLTbeBQUvxy-TWq-94gyYpyf8gabGp7Q2uFSAgDczd8SmkZwkMYiiz4kmem-7snILO3jpjdZ0KpQiopdqM8BbSETCoFVt10VASAdL_YrXZLi4KdwbUrOLn_8SKA/s400/party3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472707437375253090" border="0" /></a><br />The dogs not-so-patiently waiting at the door (left to right, Bailey, Dudley, and Molly)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3cYjnRo-GngpCbUN9_TxS4dnAREuuZMBB627seF90WZ1LWs2kXIwMOWDM0ZF3rF0DC7nLWblmst6Gno6Dd01-odg_rInpIQfVK1d4QOp_F4CGynmoSyzp-Iutbq8RVRarkqI4IpEusg/s1600/puppies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3cYjnRo-GngpCbUN9_TxS4dnAREuuZMBB627seF90WZ1LWs2kXIwMOWDM0ZF3rF0DC7nLWblmst6Gno6Dd01-odg_rInpIQfVK1d4QOp_F4CGynmoSyzp-Iutbq8RVRarkqI4IpEusg/s400/puppies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472709288346662498" border="0" /></a><br />My mom got beautiful table arrangements<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxuo0QYyuD-Ci5qB9Aez8GWhb3XmMVTgIm1zfkuKoATakvFr8aIQql82hmjJvpsQ23n1tYuglEbm7jSAcyvi7p2LpN5XStYBMsG9bxdv8BJuq3AU4bUEnn7Q1TjoqGFFMms7ZYh62L3M/s1600/party2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxuo0QYyuD-Ci5qB9Aez8GWhb3XmMVTgIm1zfkuKoATakvFr8aIQql82hmjJvpsQ23n1tYuglEbm7jSAcyvi7p2LpN5XStYBMsG9bxdv8BJuq3AU4bUEnn7Q1TjoqGFFMms7ZYh62L3M/s400/party2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472707199428234818" border="0" /></a><br />My dad hard at work, beer in hand, cooking up the food for the party<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlcd6I0uzn1T9Dq9X2F5wDLkjCf15DWY8DJEs_BHf3OOnaalhk9NUwVNaGPmqiI-T0ss1dMf7Ko9dIS6nZiPgkVgPMQK9Xmnv-xENcs5FAoupjWEHGttlJh7T6VkzAOIMB2EmGU9WD_o/s1600/party+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlcd6I0uzn1T9Dq9X2F5wDLkjCf15DWY8DJEs_BHf3OOnaalhk9NUwVNaGPmqiI-T0ss1dMf7Ko9dIS6nZiPgkVgPMQK9Xmnv-xENcs5FAoupjWEHGttlJh7T6VkzAOIMB2EmGU9WD_o/s400/party+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472707447483456322" border="0" /></a><br />It wouldn't be a party with out a margarita and strawberry daiquiri maker! I forgot to take a picture of the SnoCone machine which was right next to this machine. My family likes to go all out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0BGZ5yeEYpBCKO65A3_8gxVv531tM0H5hNmXNRme5o5gWAjO8t-euZRlePEl_IjUcPHcLEXVO9R_xplQatpVUfd2L7J4fzDvbGbC19r0NSCt6J3waL4lzP1I3q3Nyx2DHziK6BK8kLI/s1600/party5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0BGZ5yeEYpBCKO65A3_8gxVv531tM0H5hNmXNRme5o5gWAjO8t-euZRlePEl_IjUcPHcLEXVO9R_xplQatpVUfd2L7J4fzDvbGbC19r0NSCt6J3waL4lzP1I3q3Nyx2DHziK6BK8kLI/s400/party5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708091602522338" border="0" /></a><br />Or lots and lots of alcohol.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFLOp_H6CKp2NRAMsq1sLZ2CGXllRADUhYqDi3l726DBmiqz4BY74Qox7TqKw2ADk6M1fFlVPKm_Pfxyoi6alJw3-UqgU3aFiJvqHxLqhlfBvc2RHHEiJGvx5Kl32OEcY37DUBqYVMe4/s1600/party+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFLOp_H6CKp2NRAMsq1sLZ2CGXllRADUhYqDi3l726DBmiqz4BY74Qox7TqKw2ADk6M1fFlVPKm_Pfxyoi6alJw3-UqgU3aFiJvqHxLqhlfBvc2RHHEiJGvx5Kl32OEcY37DUBqYVMe4/s400/party+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708101437631314" border="0" /></a><br />The food:<br /><br />Chicken wings<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUt8pjzF6VXVh-sGW966eMhPGyOWJl6bvolLQyjkofpjLfs_7vz7mLVcUcH74bdfdcwd55KXkSGyk_HNxTU0qjutjQiOhZTzmOS4k10WJYICC9khHEvbkXpEMrHJsGgHdkto70R0pIE4/s1600/party10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUt8pjzF6VXVh-sGW966eMhPGyOWJl6bvolLQyjkofpjLfs_7vz7mLVcUcH74bdfdcwd55KXkSGyk_HNxTU0qjutjQiOhZTzmOS4k10WJYICC9khHEvbkXpEMrHJsGgHdkto70R0pIE4/s400/party10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708912551467218" border="0" /></a><br />Kabobs. There was beef, lamb, and chicken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTAwcRjcJOcMCQ003mglgPKwpDqk4IxtpTJ74ym3mAfSi3OIAyT-gC9Xzh6q7ugfldmXsuiK_RqYKFHKjOhSeFvs2QFWpA1B9pdlDhVoc27aulu6bqSRMhuY2frgpJ2EMggFgZ6QGnno/s1600/party9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTAwcRjcJOcMCQ003mglgPKwpDqk4IxtpTJ74ym3mAfSi3OIAyT-gC9Xzh6q7ugfldmXsuiK_RqYKFHKjOhSeFvs2QFWpA1B9pdlDhVoc27aulu6bqSRMhuY2frgpJ2EMggFgZ6QGnno/s400/party9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708904592878530" border="0" /></a><br />Cheese and crackers<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC2X6sktytgVnaNmQFh2J10_ek1jSwINCzUpmK4DLqXqNhDkZSxTWbHXptQakWb4ODJW7hx2xOXooFpn441j1MCfAgVXRnHdXPxJGOSJMK5TouFMYXvTPOY4e4dasjH0Evc6IkbtzGQ4/s1600/party7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC2X6sktytgVnaNmQFh2J10_ek1jSwINCzUpmK4DLqXqNhDkZSxTWbHXptQakWb4ODJW7hx2xOXooFpn441j1MCfAgVXRnHdXPxJGOSJMK5TouFMYXvTPOY4e4dasjH0Evc6IkbtzGQ4/s400/party7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708102362842930" border="0" /></a><br />Shrimp cocktail<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptZ1y2M5Aeoqe6umnB6L3atqWTQJqXjVt9_lqOnXZAraD3WDQPizZX2AcasJqWCao07ZqyFG4HC9yNmivVpRtxlYZ6Zpsu6N0J0fmyFHQqi8pVJrwFMvTtLTAynlKsyS4RoQAfgif4lQ/s1600/party8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptZ1y2M5Aeoqe6umnB6L3atqWTQJqXjVt9_lqOnXZAraD3WDQPizZX2AcasJqWCao07ZqyFG4HC9yNmivVpRtxlYZ6Zpsu6N0J0fmyFHQqi8pVJrwFMvTtLTAynlKsyS4RoQAfgif4lQ/s400/party8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472708890906069330" border="0" /></a><br />There was a lot more food too! Macaroni salad, potato salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french bread with a pesto anchovy spread, salad, chocolate cake, rugalach, and cannolis. My family probably had about 50 people stop by throughout the day.<br /><br />The middle-aged adults (which was an age range of 23 - 33 years old) snuck out to our boat for a quick spin around the lake. We didn't make it too far. It was very windy which meant their were white capped, large waves which resulted in a very wet boat!<br /><br />The lake<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0lB7uFnGrEXYjwzhYgIR0kLdLOLxXuOE9xelLN6PIWmam243OSYEHEdoG28IObrprLC9hop9UB5V-GEyr6z5d5ImB_k-9QHl1b07tRLI8WBjgYxbxdvONSbX8duE3ML_BfHSPOHdJCc/s1600/lake1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0lB7uFnGrEXYjwzhYgIR0kLdLOLxXuOE9xelLN6PIWmam243OSYEHEdoG28IObrprLC9hop9UB5V-GEyr6z5d5ImB_k-9QHl1b07tRLI8WBjgYxbxdvONSbX8duE3ML_BfHSPOHdJCc/s400/lake1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472704091689116290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN1nvZq9dx_pGSBnGLDL6filvzPH4mTInNs8nNda2qfqbvDWSLc3KoXIz_IcfTYvhHPfh66QLDcITOgrGrOyhufXkYb5UrFFeU2K1R1ZCskF66kSFjV5vStjKeT8LhrOeS6IVnWRHMKw/s1600/lake2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN1nvZq9dx_pGSBnGLDL6filvzPH4mTInNs8nNda2qfqbvDWSLc3KoXIz_IcfTYvhHPfh66QLDcITOgrGrOyhufXkYb5UrFFeU2K1R1ZCskF66kSFjV5vStjKeT8LhrOeS6IVnWRHMKw/s400/lake2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472704102324022002" border="0" /></a><br />My sister and her friend braving it at the front of the boat<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71Yb3hNxNpl_H2tFqTtDf9XeyxoeYNojct95othruzm_gl15nSOZZfuKlG6KUjhJgHwLp950s5TAug8F6W23gOLnZKTm9IyYjWC9yusIpVsJgARnt_F_8NBZe3RySX7rzjQ2oet8dhy4/s1600/lake3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71Yb3hNxNpl_H2tFqTtDf9XeyxoeYNojct95othruzm_gl15nSOZZfuKlG6KUjhJgHwLp950s5TAug8F6W23gOLnZKTm9IyYjWC9yusIpVsJgARnt_F_8NBZe3RySX7rzjQ2oet8dhy4/s400/lake3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472704114235864002" border="0" /></a><br />After our boat trip we went back to Bailey's Bubble for my fourth (shh!) ice cream of the weekend. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTgd15iV9fh2IEEoY4H_gHzABsMBUS5vh6Tce3AuD71zlks-wMa4OOwnqZOPFDhp5wAW2XxzE92Zi3MUHACugfvuRCxZhx7Bh5KMxDT4uO8wHG2PJtKvlQdPw2aKM5wcF8ntDEdsKRqE/s1600/Baileys2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTgd15iV9fh2IEEoY4H_gHzABsMBUS5vh6Tce3AuD71zlks-wMa4OOwnqZOPFDhp5wAW2XxzE92Zi3MUHACugfvuRCxZhx7Bh5KMxDT4uO8wHG2PJtKvlQdPw2aKM5wcF8ntDEdsKRqE/s400/Baileys2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703339249781666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2goqZTTASPH9BVYdKPvf9kxtA88uMa0WT_2IO92WuUVZF5_jrTjF2C8vdOV_OnmD8RlsNLe1SkBpYm4qePPXzk7HbyVodnsdhB2xjXUQhwrYxLUowUFnytG3pmiV-gijYgD0nnkXVxX8/s1600/Baileys1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2goqZTTASPH9BVYdKPvf9kxtA88uMa0WT_2IO92WuUVZF5_jrTjF2C8vdOV_OnmD8RlsNLe1SkBpYm4qePPXzk7HbyVodnsdhB2xjXUQhwrYxLUowUFnytG3pmiV-gijYgD0nnkXVxX8/s400/Baileys1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472703334655238402" border="0" /></a><br />It was a great weekend! Lots of fun but too much food! I did get one run in with my sister but it was after an ice cream trip (or two) so it was very slow and painful. I won't be making that mistake again. If I'm going to get ice cream I'm just going to be lazy for the rest of the day!<br /><br />Hope you all had a fantastic weekend like I did! Matt and I took Monday off again so we have another short week. Hope it's not as busy as it was last week!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-22386998589526323732010-05-18T10:45:00.003-04:002010-05-18T11:19:32.485-04:00A Week in ReviewBetween taking Monday off to finish our home renovation <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/home-project-weekend.html">project </a>and all of the plans that we had for the rest of the week, last week flew by! I didn't even cook once! Crazy! This will just be a quick recap of our week.<br /><br />Tuesday night we got together with our friend, Ian, who was leaving for Tanzania to train the locals how to test for and teach prevention tips for AIDS. I admire him! We hadn't seen Ian since February when we had him over for one of my first meal <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/02/chicken-and-asparagus-in-white-wine.html">posts</a>. So Tuesday was a great, late night of catching up over some home-cooked food. Ian made us a fantastic salad to start with spinach, candied pecans, dried cherries, pear, grated parmesan cheese and a balsamic dressing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDAf47hV17M810D1QddeRwyv5ZBXfUsMW2y0VxPN3wQtl4zHhX400Z-9ApVoWrGKU7uIYGTHwet4xLK193UyVpO9YryDMhteR-Yq1fzp0K1XRVucITJU1YAqOIr1iDW_zc_Vj2UUnEGE/s1600/TuesSalad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDAf47hV17M810D1QddeRwyv5ZBXfUsMW2y0VxPN3wQtl4zHhX400Z-9ApVoWrGKU7uIYGTHwet4xLK193UyVpO9YryDMhteR-Yq1fzp0K1XRVucITJU1YAqOIr1iDW_zc_Vj2UUnEGE/s400/TuesSalad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472621913817193890" border="0" /></a><br />Then he made a home made pizza with soy and almond milk cheese, fresh tomatoes, basil, orange peppers, and marinara. It was the first time we had ever had non-dairy cheese and we both thought it was a great substitute! We didn't even notice a taste difference. Ian had to point it out halfway through our first slice. Yum! It was a week for firsts, first time to have <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/home-project-weekend.html">almond butter</a> and first time to have non-dairy cheese. So adventurous!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B8Kp_2vFYMz1XwzDB1Bo6qvxbzUo1knveA_i5HA4f78CU_haLnsc_bMupbCaBFCXwGth8hlonE7GNUdwDYhmYUx7wMiWebxBboXFtJOa8UL8nNNAODJ2WZcYdvQfV76FYO8i4rN4BWTJ/s1600/TuesPizza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B8Kp_2vFYMz1XwzDB1Bo6qvxbzUo1knveA_i5HA4f78CU_haLnsc_bMupbCaBFCXwGth8hlonE7GNUdwDYhmYUx7wMiWebxBboXFtJOa8UL8nNNAODJ2WZcYdvQfV76FYO8i4rN4BWTJ/s400/TuesPizza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472621906519686834" border="0" /></a><br />For dessert Ian had made chocolate, white chocolate chip cookies and plated it with some beautiful <a href="http://www.deandeluca.com/bakery-shop.aspx">Dean & Deluca</a> sugar cookies that he had received for his recent birthday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_7m3OUa6QzFiTMUt4CfVOxyPALF9XHyGHB3ktpWzJWuZwyWAk2oudPvrsyOhnKdzixPwB6XwLyQuM64GNJYj5HMxP68dYu5AMPy7OF36_likDTg1NrllUjZKvnchLenDgNuDbMd08s8/s1600/TuesDessert1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_7m3OUa6QzFiTMUt4CfVOxyPALF9XHyGHB3ktpWzJWuZwyWAk2oudPvrsyOhnKdzixPwB6XwLyQuM64GNJYj5HMxP68dYu5AMPy7OF36_likDTg1NrllUjZKvnchLenDgNuDbMd08s8/s400/TuesDessert1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472621892950112386" border="0" /></a><br />I had also brought the ingredients to assemble a mock strawberry shortcake: macerated strawberries, pound cake, and vanilla ice cream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5-f7N8COeeE1tDWu_UxI3L3tdhhgIq9c7AXw8mYHHRM7OSv8sfdQcx2E9a0z-xBLW1MOfjmPsnXal6JBBWJoxUgBZTw3zvq0L15u2hwIByolN2mtrhL3t_a2dEvzf5irj2dyCy6fCus/s1600/TuesDessert2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5-f7N8COeeE1tDWu_UxI3L3tdhhgIq9c7AXw8mYHHRM7OSv8sfdQcx2E9a0z-xBLW1MOfjmPsnXal6JBBWJoxUgBZTw3zvq0L15u2hwIByolN2mtrhL3t_a2dEvzf5irj2dyCy6fCus/s400/TuesDessert2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472621897970299618" border="0" /></a><br />It was a nice, long, indulgent dinner accompanied by great wine and fantastic conversation! We decided we need to get together more often than our current every three month rotation.<br /><br />Wednesday after work neither of us were very hungry so we decided to just have a salad for dinner. Matt insisted that I recreate Ian's salad because he loved it so much! I had almost all of the ingredients except for the parmesan cheese and candied pecans. My replacements were regular pecans and blue cheese. I also made my own dressing with garlic, honey, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil. It was just what we needed!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsh5P9u8mZGkwqH5FKy7zFyAWzlaqg5FSyDD3WBNl5kztGjtJfiqDioAEHGFjBsvPGF1P3Yf9AMJw7KjB_QXuynHcNDWNkU5JegxKdZxr7dobn1bEJtFKqVTeSM5Th4YUKB3RNV1CSSk/s1600/WedSalad.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsh5P9u8mZGkwqH5FKy7zFyAWzlaqg5FSyDD3WBNl5kztGjtJfiqDioAEHGFjBsvPGF1P3Yf9AMJw7KjB_QXuynHcNDWNkU5JegxKdZxr7dobn1bEJtFKqVTeSM5Th4YUKB3RNV1CSSk/s400/WedSalad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472621919917949202" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday night Matt had a guy's night out so I was on my own. We have some Boca burgers in our freezer so I decided I should just make myself a quick and easy dinner. I heated up the veggie burger, put it on a toasted deli thin with a thin layer of Trader Joe's Edamame Hummus (which is another first and amazing!) and a couple dashes of hot sauce. It was a very satisfying dinner. However, I realized later that night that I should have made myself one of my fish recipes instead of a frozen veggie burger. Oh well, maybe next time.<br /><br />Friday after work Matt and I headed up to New Hampshire for my mom's graduation celebration weekend but more on that later...Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-13157256733869017602010-05-14T14:55:00.013-04:002010-05-14T21:31:50.522-04:00Home Project WeekendLast Saturday Matt and I had a lazy morning while we figured out our strategy for the bedroom project. After running a couple more errands to get some necessities for the painting we began our arduous task around 5PM. There was no time for dinner so we grabbed takeout from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/zen-japanese-grill-and-sushi-bar-boston">Zen</a>. Matt got his usual, Chicken Katsu, and I decided to try Taki Soba with Chicken. Thank goodness we live in the city! Dinner is a breeze and always satisfying! After our quick little break we got right back to work and didn't stop until 5AM. Don't ask me what we were thinking because I have no idea?! Sunday morning we started right back into the project around 11AM. We did take another quick break for dinner which was Domino's pizza and beer. After dinner we got right back to work but around 1:30AM we realized that we weren't going to be able to finish our project before the end of the weekend so we decided to take a sick day from work to finish. After sending our colleagues and managers emails we went back to work and didn't stop until 3AM. Ugh. Monday was another full day of work which was at least met with a satisfying result at 1:30AM. So much earlier! Woohoo!<br /><br />Have you seen the show <a href="http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/index.jsp">Hoarders</a>?! Well that's what I felt like all weekend. I don't know how I didn't have a panic attack. We had to move all of the bedroom furniture into the family room/kitchen. Please do not judge but this is what our little house looked like all weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpwYypwWsN-P5Pdt5B9nv28roTtlGSsTyFF9T8hYbFSTO9uNcZrZd_94BApSJKmXFIEsgI7fvqerh2wDhy45t0kpSceNOhzoKvPnCOxcnxNmW_svnHh7Ou1XdD3S5wuGMFwuroDiQR98/s1600/HP1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471203835508370450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpwYypwWsN-P5Pdt5B9nv28roTtlGSsTyFF9T8hYbFSTO9uNcZrZd_94BApSJKmXFIEsgI7fvqerh2wDhy45t0kpSceNOhzoKvPnCOxcnxNmW_svnHh7Ou1XdD3S5wuGMFwuroDiQR98/s400/HP1.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupzIgolJg5rivf6psYEX6Y9fJ0TQgP6ohWVBqL1HSJ7vWy53Hlwlkmz9LNv174ooWdVJDx8xU0vE4S8-s6ezOyLawRMiCXqmuVQfLYV49n-TXdNXdwYLPLBV0psX0A5WsX7CFWy1_Xt0/s1600/HP2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471204946163722914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupzIgolJg5rivf6psYEX6Y9fJ0TQgP6ohWVBqL1HSJ7vWy53Hlwlkmz9LNv174ooWdVJDx8xU0vE4S8-s6ezOyLawRMiCXqmuVQfLYV49n-TXdNXdwYLPLBV0psX0A5WsX7CFWy1_Xt0/s400/HP2.jpg" /></a><br />I had the tiniest counter space which allowed me to make some <a href="http://barneybutter.com/">Barney Butter</a> sandwiches. Speaking of Barney Butter, this was the first time I bought almond butter and I LOVED it! It was delicious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Upm2XDhKYnJG1l3JEPIHmIhgvG9ElwjGBRMwGp9HHEkcpBLn6iqjl1gPGvz1I9f5kVeb_PBINqc7aBcqottQhz9grbbp581NKtwKCttpVkv9LwV1Hx_zMad2B9rDYnBCtM_g-XdYGJ8/s1600/HP9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205131681482610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Upm2XDhKYnJG1l3JEPIHmIhgvG9ElwjGBRMwGp9HHEkcpBLn6iqjl1gPGvz1I9f5kVeb_PBINqc7aBcqottQhz9grbbp581NKtwKCttpVkv9LwV1Hx_zMad2B9rDYnBCtM_g-XdYGJ8/s400/HP9.jpg" /></a><br />I also had enough room to fit right in front of the sink to at least get a load of dishes done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJfvUHFixujF1NycrpgAi3Z2I676u0Fa2Fd4rzHZBzfOnUzpBOrDnq119YguSYqkL1Y_UQ9sAJHwSGSVezYK_n4wFIHD5Zqr6vK3lUco-p2dkv-fDzBnigiACKhAIVWRNdczQuDsFUVg/s1600/HP8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205129876599922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJfvUHFixujF1NycrpgAi3Z2I676u0Fa2Fd4rzHZBzfOnUzpBOrDnq119YguSYqkL1Y_UQ9sAJHwSGSVezYK_n4wFIHD5Zqr6vK3lUco-p2dkv-fDzBnigiACKhAIVWRNdczQuDsFUVg/s400/HP8.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAr3QFZW6G0KOoORJwKhboj6POFqoBMuqAgYhyBAxw3l2S-JY92krI6f7j9W8Mn8ThYp2AFrkLiJlxq_-bPyUC-q8M3PJ1SRzmo1ABu_bKYAFImQwG9QW2ZWRi4GUdIalfP9dCNlPdGo/s1600/HP7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471204972651036738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAr3QFZW6G0KOoORJwKhboj6POFqoBMuqAgYhyBAxw3l2S-JY92krI6f7j9W8Mn8ThYp2AFrkLiJlxq_-bPyUC-q8M3PJ1SRzmo1ABu_bKYAFImQwG9QW2ZWRi4GUdIalfP9dCNlPdGo/s400/HP7.jpg" /></a><br />Poor Bailey. He was such a good boy all weekend. You can't see it but he could get to his bed which is where he spent almost the whole weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxJQhyF7J_xq9lr-CbyI2tuFZldrbMVd0sv3XgA1mA8ULiP5O7ZiA83KLkl0bZEWkekEmPOFgz2YgG0nXa_zE6dYKVb2Qhqw2wUdED0B7OhnQK454xdY-hcSU1v6-r6M349IsvgYAL24/s1600/HP6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471204967265419714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxJQhyF7J_xq9lr-CbyI2tuFZldrbMVd0sv3XgA1mA8ULiP5O7ZiA83KLkl0bZEWkekEmPOFgz2YgG0nXa_zE6dYKVb2Qhqw2wUdED0B7OhnQK454xdY-hcSU1v6-r6M349IsvgYAL24/s400/HP6.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCTiud8kbv0kc_cQOXRGNQkvjkaumlXcwBBQODeKqO8LgTtOIscl0ScpL6q-dfWUrSdksMXl-NlNgFpQygYwaA_Er_N_gPH1lR5U6da5gHF1TUM0HaaaVhIfF_r6H-LNcpVQVFbS7A9w/s1600/HP4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471204952731620274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCTiud8kbv0kc_cQOXRGNQkvjkaumlXcwBBQODeKqO8LgTtOIscl0ScpL6q-dfWUrSdksMXl-NlNgFpQygYwaA_Er_N_gPH1lR5U6da5gHF1TUM0HaaaVhIfF_r6H-LNcpVQVFbS7A9w/s400/HP4.jpg" /></a><br />Ahhh... I'm getting stressed just looking at these photos!!<br /><br /><br />Saturday night's dinner, Soba noodles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFmrqNqffoxNku_GPoLan4pMU9X_HOlg7rosX4duNnDXV8B5AC0vZNycryx9xv6SFcWRinMo29Vctf1ck6NvM2y5hBx6WgH8ZQVnvYvVuw5N1IsTimHH4r4dKfuQjVhQ5NHI6z5OEoXg/s1600/soba.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471207819405119474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFmrqNqffoxNku_GPoLan4pMU9X_HOlg7rosX4duNnDXV8B5AC0vZNycryx9xv6SFcWRinMo29Vctf1ck6NvM2y5hBx6WgH8ZQVnvYvVuw5N1IsTimHH4r4dKfuQjVhQ5NHI6z5OEoXg/s400/soba.JPG" /></a><br />Sunday night's dinner was <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dominos-pizza-boston-2">Domino</a>'s pizza and beer which is the perfect painting dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatR0FHL9DzW7E7_68jiWfyt473PLqTZ4YtI5wcdp9wgokpY_aMurYZO6e6js1l5UGVhMS8bO_h8wmo4ml1_fwYNedl5huHAbK8SdPFhJh1UKPv35OmdOKIPFjcFueHSB03_U5-g0PLoM/s1600/Dominos.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471203827181360530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatR0FHL9DzW7E7_68jiWfyt473PLqTZ4YtI5wcdp9wgokpY_aMurYZO6e6js1l5UGVhMS8bO_h8wmo4ml1_fwYNedl5huHAbK8SdPFhJh1UKPv35OmdOKIPFjcFueHSB03_U5-g0PLoM/s400/Dominos.jpg" /></a><br />Chicago beer, <a href="http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/312_urban_wheat/16.php">312 Urban Wheat</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdwIDdcluEDk2pgC7NWWi7vk4wrrciBaTBZuLCMMJs-Wd5YXhlaAYZuH8GzfkfvC-ExnX2F56HtL7Xx4yE0rnyzI0xmqZNcPY-A3o6HEjk12dEiyNsoRobaiE8Zgd69jb-B4UylxmxD0/s1600/beer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471203816039339874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdwIDdcluEDk2pgC7NWWi7vk4wrrciBaTBZuLCMMJs-Wd5YXhlaAYZuH8GzfkfvC-ExnX2F56HtL7Xx4yE0rnyzI0xmqZNcPY-A3o6HEjk12dEiyNsoRobaiE8Zgd69jb-B4UylxmxD0/s400/beer.jpg" /></a><br />Monday night dinner was <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/boloco-boston-18">Bolocco</a>'s Buffalo Chicken Burrito Bowl (sorry the photo is so blurry).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7CFBnaXjnheWOv7ug58Mxl1htQnreSx9GcriB2uVrwOWPZYoywXScqo_6EvJCU3AQeaUemL8YuqrAxfOWmAyqReG7pZhjMVtPkevNBB73fvkDAl3XKzLPZNivQ0fKHFv-3DxFb9F9sk/s1600/Bolocco.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471203822575241362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7CFBnaXjnheWOv7ug58Mxl1htQnreSx9GcriB2uVrwOWPZYoywXScqo_6EvJCU3AQeaUemL8YuqrAxfOWmAyqReG7pZhjMVtPkevNBB73fvkDAl3XKzLPZNivQ0fKHFv-3DxFb9F9sk/s400/Bolocco.JPG" /></a><br />While we were out and about running errands throughout the weekend we saw our future home and I had to share. Isn't it beautiful?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwV9WPFJT48XR6ZVQYE_d28TJq4_vnyKby5ttJpwLI2fWRuyu9QMfskj5ydaUa7JbLl8sHj38zpnYdR2J2rLhisUDlC8Dgz-HQO1MkBAYRXAAnEicY2CqqfPn1b9tYF6GK2Hkj2PX5Pw/s1600/futurehome.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471203830374718114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwV9WPFJT48XR6ZVQYE_d28TJq4_vnyKby5ttJpwLI2fWRuyu9QMfskj5ydaUa7JbLl8sHj38zpnYdR2J2rLhisUDlC8Dgz-HQO1MkBAYRXAAnEicY2CqqfPn1b9tYF6GK2Hkj2PX5Pw/s400/futurehome.JPG" /></a><br />Back to reality... the bedroom before we painted walls, trim, furniture, or sanded furniture and the mirror, or brass cleaning the door knobs. Notice the dark wood, dark walls, and clutter above & under the bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zt_K8M01au0rgLhsNk0_eTTdzQAFtwRxko8wNuuYd1Q41evUTS2FrmNniLjqGjqiIUy9ECdX_UXSr7R9KY0fVIMzWZQaiSffCNnSrV6pgE7BRR3z070GA4a1-jogAPDw_4mnxM2VqBw/s1600/before4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209693195080850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zt_K8M01au0rgLhsNk0_eTTdzQAFtwRxko8wNuuYd1Q41evUTS2FrmNniLjqGjqiIUy9ECdX_UXSr7R9KY0fVIMzWZQaiSffCNnSrV6pgE7BRR3z070GA4a1-jogAPDw_4mnxM2VqBw/s400/before4.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R5YRztAE_NFzPYEMqc0RblOshL_E6PGD1ZeI5RnqZtZ8gsovbHEK15esa0etRVm6JCZbn0Ql4zY7sM0qFWGXuZzCP_ZxDDlNLGxRcOyHmAMm9eT-t8vjbLYbfumyAYXGsvaO5sNRrLA/s1600/before3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209683148176226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R5YRztAE_NFzPYEMqc0RblOshL_E6PGD1ZeI5RnqZtZ8gsovbHEK15esa0etRVm6JCZbn0Ql4zY7sM0qFWGXuZzCP_ZxDDlNLGxRcOyHmAMm9eT-t8vjbLYbfumyAYXGsvaO5sNRrLA/s400/before3.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw4K_2jJfNxI9XabEhh5NdfoYYIpdHZoPvDLW00xm_L-LwB6tYrJiEjy7Ej_M6Oqo8PPVV3ZKErJlUVHgAwW7RDSJOECU6PwxEJP40SVw3NaDOptWE71Jw60ChhJKgi-_3pk8h75UL7s/s1600/before2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209677545372034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw4K_2jJfNxI9XabEhh5NdfoYYIpdHZoPvDLW00xm_L-LwB6tYrJiEjy7Ej_M6Oqo8PPVV3ZKErJlUVHgAwW7RDSJOECU6PwxEJP40SVw3NaDOptWE71Jw60ChhJKgi-_3pk8h75UL7s/s400/before2.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p1DdL1-ztvG-V_Fxf6hIFusER3_UAQ-yG5gP_YI9ovXiRNy0ZyPaujwZxsUF-mbg07fptH-HJe6MUL1ITFqr5bR125Z0CsoRrNKYg9qZhWzd9yeN4hgEBeuqgttdttdYrwNlcLkqFJU/s1600/before1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209674052040818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p1DdL1-ztvG-V_Fxf6hIFusER3_UAQ-yG5gP_YI9ovXiRNy0ZyPaujwZxsUF-mbg07fptH-HJe6MUL1ITFqr5bR125Z0CsoRrNKYg9qZhWzd9yeN4hgEBeuqgttdttdYrwNlcLkqFJU/s400/before1.jpg" /></a><br />Drum roll please...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHoP8FZN9RF3XrnaDiloyKcH9eOrIKMDhVK9GFxjbQabiV9JpVanaUIJPwE8n7Z56r3YKyZ1OmWxn4qsmTqbmxE_NVFeM9aLOwolp0v6p_oFocaZgq1jjHxM1RdJOYjXFdvADkHWbmrQ/s1600/after5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209571828020354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHoP8FZN9RF3XrnaDiloyKcH9eOrIKMDhVK9GFxjbQabiV9JpVanaUIJPwE8n7Z56r3YKyZ1OmWxn4qsmTqbmxE_NVFeM9aLOwolp0v6p_oFocaZgq1jjHxM1RdJOYjXFdvADkHWbmrQ/s400/after5.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQlkWLnSrcqb0PhYGzObMjEbA8ZwrT0R7HdUndTfgDNzOkYf_xLD4Qm4mTC5Dn3_fCA8zmqI06prQBORFr3jF0LZQHtzlmrYNmdFQyl7vLuKsm140VdZXlLYv5Bw9XjcZaeQag6Lpm1A/s1600/after4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209567613168162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQlkWLnSrcqb0PhYGzObMjEbA8ZwrT0R7HdUndTfgDNzOkYf_xLD4Qm4mTC5Dn3_fCA8zmqI06prQBORFr3jF0LZQHtzlmrYNmdFQyl7vLuKsm140VdZXlLYv5Bw9XjcZaeQag6Lpm1A/s400/after4.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sHiQGeyKpkNmlE8VxKfzTRLr-uZOSO-9ALM2ZlJauih_Mfp8sVXGbjUnbcFH4NRlzfK3erzUyhUthaXmrT1ftkA05hhRXiQOwUFG7TnI5FyNY42FGGpCog_TAWTnbG3_TbprB0CrVSI/s1600/after3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209563059718546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sHiQGeyKpkNmlE8VxKfzTRLr-uZOSO-9ALM2ZlJauih_Mfp8sVXGbjUnbcFH4NRlzfK3erzUyhUthaXmrT1ftkA05hhRXiQOwUFG7TnI5FyNY42FGGpCog_TAWTnbG3_TbprB0CrVSI/s400/after3.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzWgUnM0g4emimVAj6Oc8rwSkEd4giQLeGPL-zoliSCwIr2fIqSuzPtPapBCGBRAyGQSQYOm70AgcUf3JVIKFDYDf-gOP79aAtqwDH1ZfTk6cs_mSEE8XxFIRlqeVQrA-IGzKBDHL62A/s1600/after2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209559684987538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzWgUnM0g4emimVAj6Oc8rwSkEd4giQLeGPL-zoliSCwIr2fIqSuzPtPapBCGBRAyGQSQYOm70AgcUf3JVIKFDYDf-gOP79aAtqwDH1ZfTk6cs_mSEE8XxFIRlqeVQrA-IGzKBDHL62A/s400/after2.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgBDlH9rAxCNLw5BD2n1buLWTkXTHAKy4Vy-gLdEc1s76Wr_GU5xaUx9xysfi-Vy6PbobQbiou8ZzPMRGqWEwJrJKpw8MYWsncDOXCE-EYrp75KJmwlZSqDXPly5hCTZko0CtYeXnx00/s1600/after6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209668912499074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgBDlH9rAxCNLw5BD2n1buLWTkXTHAKy4Vy-gLdEc1s76Wr_GU5xaUx9xysfi-Vy6PbobQbiou8ZzPMRGqWEwJrJKpw8MYWsncDOXCE-EYrp75KJmwlZSqDXPly5hCTZko0CtYeXnx00/s400/after6.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjT-aXpoX1DU40kJb_vS3Vt1TRh192f0HBCAmgwUEqEY8xl9ie5OL71rajSt6UurS0P9gmLStLG2E8pggxdcMLVxGfUZuSm8NeygYUl-SbewUNkZ3WfxQvMCYhw1qMxNQ0vGvvORhlWU/s1600/after1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471209556958346194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjT-aXpoX1DU40kJb_vS3Vt1TRh192f0HBCAmgwUEqEY8xl9ie5OL71rajSt6UurS0P9gmLStLG2E8pggxdcMLVxGfUZuSm8NeygYUl-SbewUNkZ3WfxQvMCYhw1qMxNQ0vGvvORhlWU/s400/after1.jpg" /></a><br />Our room is almost 100% done. We still have to change the fan to this one that is on it's way to our home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXVF9PSKygXbWyu2jSmLtYOUXIszXqLFxRmqnEIPNPW-AC8EnCtNQ_wVM2fygsl5uhczCaq37GUYv0EzEwcyhNE81Nu66oPj4xgwi639FKMk12L72CICmKK7J2WHu-mjxHP359JcVxmc/s1600/fan.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471211091505307506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXVF9PSKygXbWyu2jSmLtYOUXIszXqLFxRmqnEIPNPW-AC8EnCtNQ_wVM2fygsl5uhczCaq37GUYv0EzEwcyhNE81Nu66oPj4xgwi639FKMk12L72CICmKK7J2WHu-mjxHP359JcVxmc/s400/fan.jpg" /></a><br />We are also waiting on this duvet cover<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsMU_uOQdqSmHKZzzBwvm_OslfT443RpX5eZVKfb1oCxqewSUs7HsiHA5LkGeR8ISTleqEWOivx8OwWUIt_NE9m03qzWUtYPa2B9eXtbScUbDTGb2fJCCvM7v38CkgMPT1L4zrY7EuH0/s1600/duvet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 344px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471211483552690738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsMU_uOQdqSmHKZzzBwvm_OslfT443RpX5eZVKfb1oCxqewSUs7HsiHA5LkGeR8ISTleqEWOivx8OwWUIt_NE9m03qzWUtYPa2B9eXtbScUbDTGb2fJCCvM7v38CkgMPT1L4zrY7EuH0/s400/duvet.jpg" /></a><br />We will eventually be getting this bed skirt<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJx13UfAZNk2Pegy4CAIsxMUBpNPizP02r9zcigreHVRVs-o2K5Vrhea0qOnYPPKOl5DXpKmqlj-IfIHxaZz8zR5VRDoA5zQ32Xr7AJpX67uPaCifEx-WdR0h5pbahkCiWfEUaQl4ZTOM/s1600/skirt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 344px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471211720886157010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJx13UfAZNk2Pegy4CAIsxMUBpNPizP02r9zcigreHVRVs-o2K5Vrhea0qOnYPPKOl5DXpKmqlj-IfIHxaZz8zR5VRDoA5zQ32Xr7AJpX67uPaCifEx-WdR0h5pbahkCiWfEUaQl4ZTOM/s400/skirt.jpg" /></a><br />Then we have to figure out what art to put on the walls. What do you think!? I hope you like it because there was a lot of blood, sweat, unhealthy eating, and tears that went into this little room!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-76004443353666210382010-05-12T22:48:00.004-04:002010-05-12T23:36:19.358-04:00Wingless Buffalo Chicken PizzaLast Friday Matt and I went to our company's beer hour for one drink before rushing to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/charles-street-supply-co-and-hardware-boston">Charles Street Hardware</a> to pick up the paint for our bedroom project! Thanks to our<a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/weekend-of-organization.html"> headboard project </a>and our good friend <a href="http://www.patriciamcdonagh.com/">Tricia</a> a weekend project was born! After picking up our paint Matt dropped me off at home to make dinner while he ran to Home Depot to get supplies. Dinner for the evening was <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/wingless-buffalo-chicken-pizza-recipe/index.html">Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza</a> one of my <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/">Food Network</a> saved recipes from Rachel Ray. I have made this a couple of times before for friends and has been a hit but I still wanted to make it again so I could share on my blog. I used the other pizza shell that I had in my freezer from my last pizza <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/04/baby-celebration-at-upstairs-on-square.html">dinner</a> from the <a href="http://www.topthispizzacrusts.com/">Top This!</a> pizza crust company.<br /><br />Dinner was delicious but by the time we ate I gave up on starting our project that night. We were going to get up early on Saturday to start. Matt and I thought that the project would be quick and easy... boy were we wrong... but more on that later...<br /><br />Lauren's review: I love this recipe! I would recommend taking half of the sauce and spreading it on the pizza before adding the chicken to the sauce. It's a little difficult to spread the sauce and the chicken.<br />Matt's review: This gets a thumbs up! *my man of many words*<br />Final decision: It goes back into my recipe box!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIbAfBlaJ-k7IfyZ7bygSp11CADzlOq4qROTPb8WaKF4-srfmFC0G8D_bEjAjTq6SbqdohyVf4cB08-NA_i01dFfDvfFmNLLNkSv4JIbq31NVgoRtR3W_cPvsRO_zgZTgXjfEVDgu7F8/s1600/pizza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIbAfBlaJ-k7IfyZ7bygSp11CADzlOq4qROTPb8WaKF4-srfmFC0G8D_bEjAjTq6SbqdohyVf4cB08-NA_i01dFfDvfFmNLLNkSv4JIbq31NVgoRtR3W_cPvsRO_zgZTgXjfEVDgu7F8/s400/pizza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470586822988641762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Ingredients</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br />3/4 pound chicken breast cutlets<br />Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling<br />2 teaspoons grill seasoning, (recommended: McCormick Montreal Seasoning) eyeball it<br />1 pizza dough <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>, store bought or from your favorite pizzeria<br />Cornmeal or flour, to handle dough<br />2 tablespoons butter<br />1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it<br />2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce, medium to spicy heat<br />1/2 cup tomato sauce<br />1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, a few generous handfuls<br />1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles<br />3 scallions, thinly sliced<br /><br /><div class="instructions"> <p> Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Preheat grill pan to high.</p> <p>Place chicken on a plate and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the chicken then season with grill seasoning. When grill is hot, add chicken and cook about 3 minutes on each side.</p> <p> </p> <p>Stretch dough to form pizza using cornmeal or flour to help you handle it. If you let it rest and warm up a few minutes it will handle even easier. Set pizza on pizza pan to the side and clean board. </p> <p>In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter and stir in Worcestershire, hot sauce, and tomato sauce. </p> <p>Remove the chicken from grill and thinly slice it. Add chicken to sauce and coat. Cover the pizza dough with the saucy Buffalo chicken, cheeses, and scallions. Bake 18 minutes or until crisp. </p> </div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-86746434744080276212010-05-12T22:06:00.004-04:002010-05-12T23:04:39.413-04:00Cranberry-Glazed Pork Loin and Strawberry Ice CreamA couple of weeks ago Matt and I attended a wine dinner at the Taj with our friends Zach and Jen (original post <a href="http://amateur-gastronomist.blogspot.com/2010/04/birthday-celebration-1-stephen-ross.html">here</a>). At this dinner the four of us decided to split a case of wine that Matt and I just picked up last week from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/charles-street-liquors-boston">Charles Street Liquors</a>. Jen and Zach decided that they should pick up their 6 bottles, probably before we could drink them, last Thursday so we made a dinner party out of the event. This ensured that we at least had great wine to drink but I also tried to plan a beautiful dinner to compliment the amazing wine! The final dinner menu included <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=768555">Cranberry-Glazed Pork Loin</a> which was originally from Cooking Light, November 2004, but was a recipe my manager recommended I try a couple of months ago. I also steamed two heads of Boston Organic's broccoli as our side. As the finale I made <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Perfect-No-Cook-Strawberry-Ice-Cream-354503">Perfect No-Cook Strawberry Ice Cream</a> which was of my saved recipes from Epicurious, originally from Gourmet's August 2009 edition. Matt and I have had our ice cream maker for about two years and, aside from a disastrous surprise attempt from Matt, we haven't had a chance to use it. Learning from Matt's first attempt we knew that the ice cream container needed to be in the freezer for at least a day and that the ice cream was supposed to be transferred to another container and kept in the freezer at least over night. It was a good start! It meant that I knew I had to make my dessert Wednesday night.<br /><br />Jen brought a beautiful selection of cheese and prosciutto from the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-end-formaggio-boston">South End Formaggio</a>. Zach had got stuck in traffic with a dead phone, typical man (sorry!), so they arrived a little late. Needless to say all of the cheese and prosciutto was gone by the end of dinner. It tasted fantastic with our <a href="http://www.stephenrosswine.com/">Stephen Ross</a> zinfandel and pinot noir!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL-C3Vac147hyAyNL9z-DfwQeazJVcnHnxc_YmZiE0afXua7PBNcQK-fGWix3y-vrlnChwGKfn7nquSZ__zgtf7e9vH7eCw0nsrCZ5QKNvh2zE0vptkQuQsoIIGrIDHC7U8Ry0cc7sjE/s1600/cheese1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL-C3Vac147hyAyNL9z-DfwQeazJVcnHnxc_YmZiE0afXua7PBNcQK-fGWix3y-vrlnChwGKfn7nquSZ__zgtf7e9vH7eCw0nsrCZ5QKNvh2zE0vptkQuQsoIIGrIDHC7U8Ry0cc7sjE/s400/cheese1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470576806317655106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a_t_ALYEuHgCZerIYK9e1mFTbizBhMegXrcKHOfC9fGxKgCVgNbg_4Hp50d80zbXKyqxKouplr_04bUAsj3NqSjTgXq2-o9icyG_ruBfslaR7m44PsgbVetoJ6dhSY5o7KsS1pnKTlE/s1600/cheese.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a_t_ALYEuHgCZerIYK9e1mFTbizBhMegXrcKHOfC9fGxKgCVgNbg_4Hp50d80zbXKyqxKouplr_04bUAsj3NqSjTgXq2-o9icyG_ruBfslaR7m44PsgbVetoJ6dhSY5o7KsS1pnKTlE/s400/cheese.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470576802075818658" border="0" /></a><br />After we ate half of our cheese platter I served dinner. Now, Zach was kind enough to take the blame for my super dry pork but it was all my fault. I haven't quite figured out how to cook pork. The dinner was delicious just dry. Everyone was kind enough to say that they loved it which I appreciated. In addition to the pork being over cooked I didn't make enough for the 4 of us. The two slabs of pork tenderloin that I picked for our dinner looked like enough but I think they shrank in the oven. Oh well, you live and learn. Luckily there was plenty of cheese, prosciutto, broccoli, and ice cream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUNKjJ046WUKAmL_KFi98e49w29esom3wMFzNiL9bgUvinRd0rPAHfzJaZn8eK5Zg-cf-k8y8OXCgKjRnWkaBCP46OGpjeLBh453k0XJv0fnOFYR33e1c6pvgVEmDRy3Pmg-ZzgR1z6Y/s1600/pork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUNKjJ046WUKAmL_KFi98e49w29esom3wMFzNiL9bgUvinRd0rPAHfzJaZn8eK5Zg-cf-k8y8OXCgKjRnWkaBCP46OGpjeLBh453k0XJv0fnOFYR33e1c6pvgVEmDRy3Pmg-ZzgR1z6Y/s400/pork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470576814921131474" border="0" /></a><br />After a short break from eating I dug into dessert. I turned into my mom serving the ice cream and gave everyone more than enough, a whole bowl full. Maybe I was compensating for my small dinner portions? Again, everyone really enjoyed the recipe. It was very rich and creamy! Definitely a great first attempt at ice cream. I can't wait to try another ice cream recipe!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJmgoDD62uQCo1bE_RSjKMF4DEV4Yk_Ixy4yO_5JKzctVLprpNU6DS89Wj1R4gDvyKNzCYUExicfPOFH8uQw-X9iTUipOAco_JZ5Rz4w4NAxAk6bayY4Hspfn3pKdH1vGvwd7UiZmrww/s1600/ice+cream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJmgoDD62uQCo1bE_RSjKMF4DEV4Yk_Ixy4yO_5JKzctVLprpNU6DS89Wj1R4gDvyKNzCYUExicfPOFH8uQw-X9iTUipOAco_JZ5Rz4w4NAxAk6bayY4Hspfn3pKdH1vGvwd7UiZmrww/s400/ice+cream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470576809250582642" border="0" /></a><br />Final reviews of both recipes from my dinner party was that they were both keepers! So they have made it into my recipe box.<br /><br />One last picture from the evening. Bailey loves to sneak onto the couch and right into Jen's lap whenever she comes over to visit. It would be sneaky if he wasn't almost 85 pounds. Jen is kind enough to cuddle with our giant sized baby!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGC_ah_aH1OGfvoDZbRNehcC-UnOng2B49gvI0tLNtzTMf-akjLsLffFlLC5Un23vrgKaXX1Gpvi8S4uMCk1E2QNQXfb9MJH4ehL_uZ2ECxagVTOtnXPRXXTJ-j5fyeWAJYIsdhKl9lDU/s1600/bailey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGC_ah_aH1OGfvoDZbRNehcC-UnOng2B49gvI0tLNtzTMf-akjLsLffFlLC5Un23vrgKaXX1Gpvi8S4uMCk1E2QNQXfb9MJH4ehL_uZ2ECxagVTOtnXPRXXTJ-j5fyeWAJYIsdhKl9lDU/s400/bailey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470576783670944706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Cranberry-Glazed Pork Loin</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br /> 1 (8.5-ounce) jar cranberry chutney *I used Stonewall Kitchen's Apple Cranberry Chutney*<br /> 1 cup apple jelly *I used a little less than a cup because my chutney had apple in it too*<br /> 1 tablespoon Creole mustard<br /> 1 cup chicken broth<br /> 2 garlic cloves, pressed<br /> 2 tablespoons fresh or 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves<br /> 1 teaspoon salt<br /> 1 teaspoon pepper<br /> 1 (4 1/2-pound) center-cut boneless pork loin roast<br /> Garnishes: Granny Smith apple slices, fresh thyme sprigs<br /><br /><p>Stir together chutney and next 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.</p><p>Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly on pork roast; place roast in an aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Pour chutney mixture evenly over pork.</p><p>Bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 160°, basting every 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish, if desired.</p><p>Serves 8-10</p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Perfect No-Cook Strawberry Ice</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Cream</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ingredients</span><br /><br />1 pound strawberries, trimmed, halved if large<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice<br />1/8 teaspoon salt<br />2 cups heavy cream<br /><br />Equipment: an ice cream maker <br /><br /><p class="instructions"> Coarsely mash strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, and salt using a potato masher in a large bowl. Let stand, stirring and mashing occasionally, 10 minutes. </p> <p class="instructions"> Transfer half of strawberry mixture to a blender and purée with cream until smooth. Return strawberry cream to bowl with remaining strawberries and chill, stirring occasionally, until very cold, 3 to 6 hours. </p> <p class="instructions"> Freeze mixture in ice cream maker. Transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to firm up. </p><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" id="TixyyLink">Makes 1.5 quarts.<br /><br />*When planning your menu with this recipe keep in mind that this recipe needs to be made about a day in advance. There are a lot of time consuming steps*<br /></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8596756256667137982.post-37281110761292598792010-05-12T21:22:00.000-04:002010-05-12T21:23:07.817-04:00I love Boston OrganicsI came home today to my biweekly Boston Organics delivery tonight and was so excited to see a potted basil plant! Now I just need to figure out how to keep it alive in a Boston apartment that receives very little sunlight. Any and all suggestions are welcomed! <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/12/1627.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/05/12/s_1627.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09596595278948091145noreply@blogger.com1