Movie night

Went to see "Burlesque" last night

with Chloe.

We both really enjoyed it.

Dinner last night

Roasted asparagus, steamed potatoes

with butter, garlic and salt & pepper,

and oven roasted turkey breast.
*

A little red wine.

* 100 days of school glasses.

Pierre Bell Pe-pear - bonjour!

Chloe getting silly with the top of the
bell pepper we picked from our garden.

Look what's brewing...

Homemade Vanilla extract!

We were given a BIG bottle of Vodka

as a x-mas gift - I decided to put

some of it to good use.

Will post more info. after it

steeps in it's vodka bath for

a few weeks.

Cookie jar envy

I just l.o.v.e. this orange

owl cookie jar from Anthropologie.

I think he would look perfect sitting
on my china cabinet - perhaps standing
next to my cookbooks. I have a bit of
a thing for cookie jars. I love
that delicious, tasty treats
are secretly hiding inside...mmmm!
You are a little pricey for me right now,
my orange beauty,
but I added you to my wish list!
Hope to bring you home some day soon.

Dinner last night

Made a delicious pasta dish last night.

I had planned on making grilled chicken

to go with it....but ran out of steam.

Made cheese crisps for Logan and Chloe

and I enjoyed the pasta with a glass

of wine.

~

Orecchiette with mushrooms,

radicchio, and gorgonzola

(serves 6)

~

Coarse salt

1/2 lb. orecchiette pasta

2 Tbl. extra-virgin olive oil,

plus more for drizzling

1 med. shallot, minced

(about 1/4 cup)

1/4 tsp. red-pepper flakes

8 oz. assorted mushrooms,

cremini, shiitake, etc. sliced.

(I used just cremini)

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 Tbl. fresh thyme

3 Tbl. chopped fresh italian

parsley

1/4 tsp. grated lemon zest

3 Tbl. fresh lemon juice

1/2 head radicchio, sliced

into thin strips

2 oz. crumbled gorgonzola cheese

~

Bring a pot of water to boil, add

salt. Add pasta and cook til al dente.

Drain, and then drizzle with just enough

olive oil to coat. Spread on a baking sheet,

and refrigerate for about 10 min.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over

medium heat. Add shallot and red pepper

flakes, and cook til shallot has softened,

about 4 min. Add mushrooms, and cook til

softened, about 5 min. Add wine, and cook

til reduced by three-quarters, 2-3 min.

Remove from heat. Add herbs, lemon zest,

and lemon juice, and radicchio and toss

to wilt the radicchio a bit. Add pasta,

gorgonzola, salt and pepper; toss.

Serve at room temp.

**Note: I added toasted pine nuts, about 1/4 cup,

I liked the crunch. I think toasted walnuts

would have been good too.

Restaurant to try

Can't wait to try this restaurant

St. Francis
Large wood-fired oven where they cook all

their meats and local, seasonal vegetables,

and delicious bread - YUM!

Menu sounds great and atmosphere looks

warm and welcoming.

Movie night

Went to the dollar theater with

Logan and Chloe to see

"Megamind"

It was really cute & very funny.

We all loved it.

I highly recommend it.

Happy Friday

The wine is ready and waiting...

Happy Friday!

Breakfast

Breakfast this morning - mmmmm

A big pot of chicken stock is bubbling on

the stove and the house smells good.

A bottle of vino

Busy day at work.

Quiet evening at home last night

with a bottle of red and a movie.

Wine was a x-mas gift,

pretty tasty.

Music I'm enjoying

I think I am a bit behind in discovering this

CD, but.. totally enjoying it.

Happy Friday!

~

Refresh and renew

I've spent all day cleaning.

My room, my desk, going through bills - ugh,

laundry, dishes, floors, etc. I got a lot done.

It felt good.

I really feel like cleaning every nook

and cranny - just to start fresh and new.

We'll see how far I get...

Now it's time to pick up Logan from school,

gotta go.

Happy 7th. Birthday!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Logan requested a Indiana Jones cake
this year. So, we got busy while he was
at school.
*

I think he was pleased with the outcome.

Me too!

*

Dad packaged up his gift.

The table was set for dinner.
Birthday boy's dinner request...
Steak, baked potato and broccoli - nice!
No pizza and mac & cheese for this big boy.
We marinated the steaks in 1/4 cup soy sauce,
1/4 cup red wine, 1/4 cup worcestershire,
1/2 cup veg. oil, and three cloves of garlic,

then grilled them up - delicious!
*
Make a wish!

What does a 7yr. old wish for...?

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year!!

I am sooo glad 2010 is over!

We made it - phew...!

I am excited for all the possibilities that

the new year has in store for us.

2010 had some highlights..(trip to Costa Rica,

Kevin & Brittney's wedding in San Diego,

sister trip to S.F. and Napa), but for the most

part, it has been a very challenging year.

Would like to put all of that behind me and move

forward with positive thoughts

and renewed commitment.

New Years resolution - REBUILD!
*

Cheese tray from New Year's Eve. Spent the

evening with friends Chris & Alicia.

New Year's dessert - delicious!
Hello 2011 !!

Great Grandma's coffee cake

This coffee cake recipe is my great

grandmother's.

*

I can remember my mom making this for us
when I was little.
*

Best eaten warm from the oven.

Grandma Kennedy's

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare topping.

Topping:

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 c. melted butter

1/4 c. sugar

1/3 c. brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

Cake batter:

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/2 c. soft butter

1 c. sour cream

Grease bundt pan. Combine dry ingred.

Cream butter, add eggs, sugar, vanilla

and sour cream. Combine flour with wet

ingred. 1/2 at a time. Mix well.

Spoon 1/2 of the mixture into the pan.

Spoon in the topping and then cover

with the other 1/2 of the batter.

Bake 45-50 min.

Let cool for 10 min. before eating.

Enjoy!

~