Tag Archives: cooking

Life as it’s been

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

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Well, hello there! November went by in a hurry. Christmas will be here in a week and a half and our Christmas tree still isn’t up. It won’t be going up either. Nor will Christmas cards make the rounds this year. I know, what the heck right? I’m not sure what it is but the time has just gone in a flash. Ever since the end of October it seems like our household has been busy busy. Me taking on a life at the gym and trying to eat healthier, which means planning more meals and eating at home than just popping by a drive-thru. My husband, well, he’s been working on the hallway (new flooring, trim, doors and painting) and he’s had several overtime weekend days or extended hours during the week. Yup, we’ve been busy!

I made it almost the whole year posting at least once a week for the WordPress Post a Week Challenge and I’ve since bombed. As I said mentioned above everything’s good, nothing horrible happened, to explain for my departure.

At the end of October I met with my nurse practitioner for an appointment and she lit the fire to join a gym. I was hesitant since my previous romps at a gym didn’t last long and locked into a contract for a year the money went down the drain; however, I found a gym and I love the place. ::cough:: I enjoy going! Unlike the few gyms I’ve joined in the past that felt like a warehouse full of equipment, smelling like B.O. and music pumping through the speakers loud enough that you cannot hear myself think. This new place for me is great. I call it the Whole Foods of gyms. I also purchased several sessions with a personal trainer to work on my knee clicking issue, which still hasn’t improved but is only annoying and doesn’t hurt thank goodness. Oh, I didn’t tell you about the knee thing–my left knee doesn’t track well and only if I go up stairs does it click. Or if I do a good, decent squat.

Before I go, I need to pat myself on the back about Thanksgiving. Friends, we had a feast, and it was pretty much a healthy one! Jon’s parents came, my mom and her husband, my brother and then Jon and I were all present. Everything was ready to go, as much that could be prepped ahead of time was done but the morning of the bird was a tad still frosty in the cavity so I had to give it a “water spa”…

turkey_water_bath

I wasn’t happy about setting the turkey in my sink because then I had to decontaminate the sink with bleach, but oh well. It didn’t take long and I was able to finally mix up some softened butter and a variety of herbs where I rubbed it under the skin and all over the top. I started out grossed by the neck and other little organ gifts to pull out, but after that I got to know my turkey. I even made it wave to Jon while I was basting it with butter! <– dork

turkey_in_an_oven

Look at that pretty turkey!

Call me silly, but I was excited to use my new All-Clad roaster I bought for a great deal through CHEFS Catalog. My husband said the pan weighed more than the 19lb bird. Which he’s probably right but oh well, I’ll have this roaster forever.

The Menu:

  • Butter herb roasted turkey
  • Garlic mashed potatoes with pan gravy
  • Roasted veggies: Brussel sprouts, parsnips, carrots, new potatoes and sweet potatoes
  • Sautéed green beans with shallots, garlic and slivered almonds
  • Homemade stuffing with apples and onion
  • Whole wheat rolls

Dessert:

  • Apple pie – Jon’s mom
  • Pumpkin pie – My mom
  • Cheesecake w/ gingersnap crust & macerated cherries for topping – Me

No, the dessert wasn’t low-calorie but I had only a small piece of my cheesecake that day because I.was.exhausted. I have a lot to improve with my cheesecake making skills, but that’s okay, as long as it’s edible I don’t care how it looks right now.

gourds

thanksgiving_table

Note Chester’s tail in the last photo there?

I went with a simple dining table and a centerpiece that didn’t cost a ton. Everyone had a great time and next year I need to plan for some leftover stuffing waffles.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and the holidays have been merry and bright for you as well! So tell me, what’s new? I’m behind with the blogworld.

*All photos taken with cell phone.

The one where I tell you what I’ve been up to + food talk

08 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by in Life

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So it’s just been one of those weeks, but for the past two weeks! 

Last week Jon was gone Monday through Friday for his annual work training.  This left Chester and I to fend for ourselves and I let Chester sleep with me all four nights Jon was gone.  While we have lived in this house for a year and a half now, it still creeps me out to be in a big house all by myself.  Yes, I’m 29 years old and I’m still spooked by the dark now and then and I admit it.

The only true plus side to a week alone means I get to eat things I love without hearing Jon make gagging noises if I suggest it for dinner–like asparagus!  And what better time for a blog post to pop up on my Google Reader featuring the lovely veggie that week than Jenna’s Meyer Lemon Spaghetti and Asparagus recipe.  Let me tell ya, this was so refreshing and for the first time this spring I felt like I was experiencing spring on a plate!

Sorry for the poor camera phone photo but it was 8:15 at night, I was starving and ready to eat.  This was also my first time to blanch a vegetable of any kind, very pretty!

I think next time if I want this as a main meal I may add a little bit of grilled chicken.  But if you want a vegetarian entrée or a light dinner option, I recommend this!  And don’t worry, if you don’t have access to beautiful Californian Meyer lemons or a lemon at all, I didn’t, just use some lemon juice and it’ll be a-okay.

Source : KitchenAid

While Jon was gone I also got around to doing a little bit o’ shopping.  I forewarned him so there weren’t any big surprises, but I ordered the KitchenAid 12-cup Food Processor I’ve wanted for quite some time.  With a 20% off coupon I danced walked into Bed, Bath & Beyond and ordered the gem and a few days ago the appliance arrived on my doorstep.  So why order online?  Because even in a town our size I could not find this particular model anywhere!  I was very specific, I wanted Model KFP750.  This particular model was tested along with numerous other food processors, some that cost almost double what this one did, and Cook’s Illustrated deemed this one top rated.

While out and about I also purchased an oblong tart pan to make a fragipane (fran-gi-pane) tart to take to the in-law’s house on Saturday.  Until I started this baking series class, which ends on the 16th, I never tasted a tart before.  Never.  Now I wonder how in the world I ever made it all these years and never tried a piece.  Thinking back I don’t remember a family member ever making one nor do I remember a tart being an option when I’ve chosen a dessert.  Well that day is over and I plan to make many in my lifetime for the people I love!  The tart for this weekend will have a four fruit preserve in the bottom with the fragipane on top and a lattice crust over that.  Yes, yes it is delicious!

Which reminds me, I’ve thought about posting a few more recipes from the baking class I’m in and wondered what you would like to read about next (those of you reading this on RSS, please pop over to the blog and cast your vote!):

In other news we are still working on the backyard.  We went to a nursery last weekend and found some gorgeous evergreens and deciduous trees that we would love to put in our yard but boy oh boy are the prices steep.  Landscaping is no easy task.  I have to remind myself that owning a home is a labor of love, which I am very thankful we own our home, but now I know why so many people never do jack to their yards!

And lastly, I’m finally on the mend.  Early this week my right wrist was giving me issues and I was popping Ibuprofen like a mad woman.  Either I jammed it somewhere or was experiencing another “overuse issue” like I had last fall due to all the typing I do at work.  My text messaging and laptop usage in the evenings were at a bare minimum all week and I think I’m finally back on the mend.  Great, now I can help Jon with the trench digging in the backyard, woohoo!  <–Sarcasm there for sure.

Have a great weekend everyone!