Entertaining Life Daily

A Few of My Favorite Things

2012-01-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

A few of my favorite things...

...can be found in a grocery store located in Green Bay, Wisco.

Nom.

Super Disney?!

2012-01-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

Part of the amazing experience of volunteering for the Super Bowl means the volunteers are given a great opportunity to be part of some great training programs. Yesterday, the NFL hosted the first ever Fans First pep rally. With a friend and two new friends with me, hubs and I headed downtown to be part of this first ever experience.

There was a lot of enthusiasm in the area, from both the staff and volunteers in the area. Blue, the Colt's mascot, was present and taking photos as were the Colt's cheerleaders. A few of the Colt's players were there as well to share some stories and their experiences this past season. But I wasn't there for those reasons. I was there to be part of the experience.

And for the Disney Institute.

My love of Disney has been incorporated into my volunteer experience and I couldn't be happier. We had great conversations on why the Super Bowl experience was special for each one of us, as well as how we could serve the visitors of Indianapolis to showcase the city and entertainment that is being offered, with safety first of course.

Disney has it figured out. Guest service is what it is all about. That includes safety, enthusiasm, experience and memories. It was really a great experience to learn and listen to all of the facilitators present, as well as from my fellow volunteers.

Volunteering for the Super Bowl and having Disney be part of that? I'm one lucky girl.

To make me even luckier? This girl and her hubs are owners of Super Bowl tickets! A good friend helped us out and we are now proud owners of these two tickets to memories!

Happy Super Bowl season!

Super Scarf

2012-01-21T10:27:00.000-05:00

I have no idea how it is mid to late January. Banana chocolate chip bread seems so long ago...where have I been?

Entertaining life daily of course.

This means, I've had meetings and have been all over the place. And when I'm pretty busy, I also get to enjoy more of hubby's cooking. Asian quesadilla buns, Roman chicken full of tomatoes and capers, roasted tomato soup with baby grilled cheese and almond crusted Mahi Mahi with roasted vegetables. We both acknowledge that we needed more veggies in our life, but aren't willing to give up flavor by any means. He took that request seriously and delivered some amazing and healthy food. And if I was a good wife (correction, I am a good wife, this is merely a saying), I would have taken photos of all the delicious food I enjoyed that week without lifting a finger. But alas...no photos for you.

Life isn't about to slow down here either. Nope, not by any means. I have a good friend who is knee deep (probably, more to be honest) with a little thing you may know as the Super Bowl. Yes, the Super Bowl my friends is here in Indianapolis in case you have been living under a rock. And I am one of the lucky volunteers who is part of all the fun!

On Thursday, I picked up my uniform. This of course features the Super Scarf from the scarf program that was a huge success. If you watch The Middle (I don't normally), they even got into the Super spirit.

I'm going to look quite snazzy in this outfit, though I don't really get to strut around in in it too much. The events I am working aren't requesting these uniforms. You see, I get to work some pretty fantastic events.

Super Soiree - an event for the VIPs and CEOs who helped donate the money to make this Super Bowl happen here in Indy (from what I understand). This open house takes place at Lucas Estate. Can't wait to see the amazing house and be part of this event.
NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards Banquet - located at the Scottish Rite, this dinner features all the amazing players from this season. Crossing my fingers I see some of my favorites.
Media Party - just as it sounds, this is a party for the Media at the Indy race track (you know, the 500 race track).

I'm really excited to participate in all of these events. Though I won't be able to take photos, I know the memories will be pretty fantastic!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2012-01-06T09:45:00.002-05:00

We buy a lot of bananas. Hubs takes one to work everyday. I sometimes take them. So when we buy with the thought that we each will take them, but it doesn't happen, we are left with (you guessed it), bananas. And these bananas get ripe. Over ripe. I'm not a fan of ripe bananas, so anything beyond normal ripe is just bad to me.

So what does one do? Freeze them of course. So when you have three over ripe bananas you can make banana bread. That's the thought. Sometimes it takes up to five frozen bananas for you to realize that you need to make banana bread, but that's okay. It happens.

Sometimes you might have extra chocolate chips hanging out in the pantry. Well, this girl likes bananas with chocolate. So why not toss that in too? Nothing like making some bread on a cold winter night!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Note: recipe has been changed up, but original concept was from a recipe I found from Bon Appétit via my Epicurious App. Here's the original, but below is my modified ingredient list.

Ingredients

2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup smashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Lightly grease bread pan with butter and dust with flour. Cream together eggs and sugar in a large bowl until thick and light on high. I used my KitchenAid, but a hand held electric mixer works just as well. Mix in smashed bananas, oil and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat until just blended. No need to over blend here.

Bake in a 325 degree oven until golden brown on top and toothpick comes out clean. This was about one hour for me, maybe 55 minutes. I let it sit in the pan for a few minutes before allowing it to completely cool on rack. Cut, enjoy!

And the Pig Returns...

2012-01-05T10:15:00.015-05:00

Remember the pork enchiladas from last week? Yes, I know I just posted them, but that was last week! I'm trying to catch up - and guess what? I'm caught up!

I digress. You know I had a lot of pork leftover, so I froze it. Earlier this week, I dug out that pork so that we could have some pulled pork sandwiches. Simple. Fast. Easy. Delicious. This is the beauty of freezing items after making large quantities.

I find this especially helpful for the two of us. As much as we love to cook together, sometimes we want dinner fast. Something quick. Something easy. And of course, still delicious. So while I worked out, hubs whipped up a homemade barbecue sauce with ketchup, sugar, horseradish, dijon mustard, Tabasco, garlic and smoked malt from his beer brewing. Oh yes, we like to recycle some of the products of home brewing. Nom.

He also warmed the pork up on the stove with some of the barbecue sauce while I made a coleslaw. Simple coleslaw - I whisked together some mayo, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and sugar before mixing in a shredded carrot and a few cups of shredded cabbage. I then seasoned with salt, pepper, dill and parsley.

Did I mention while this was happening, hubs was baking rolls for the sandwiches? Yup, I'm a lucky girl. Homemade bread that I don't plan on recycling.

My only wish is that I made the coleslaw the day before. Not because of time, but because somethings are just better the next day. I knew that as I was packing my lunch with a little smile. Don't get me wrong, I liked the coleslaw, but I knew the next day it would be that much better. As you read this, know that I'm going to be eating some fantastic coleslaw today.

A quick, easy and delicious dinner on a weekday. Sometimes it is the little things.

Slow Cooker Pork Enchiladas

2012-01-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

While my mom was visiting, we didn't just organize. We spent the morning doing a few cleaning items before having a great lunch together with some shopping. While all this was going on, those poor pups of mine were stuck in the kitchen smelling some delicious pork that was cooking in the slow cooker.

Those poor pups.

Really, life isn't bad for them by any means. They did get a treat when we got home - no worries. But we also received a treat by smelling the amazing pork. With a savory, Southern dish out of the way, I wanted to show my mom something different. So, I settled on enchiladas, pulled pork style. Why pulled pork? Well, I normally prefer chicken, but my mom craves beef. So, I settled on pork as a happy medium. And a happy medium indeed.

This recipe is so simple. A handful of onions here, some cheese there. It all comes together perfectly for a great dinner (and leftover lunch). I didn't add too much spice this time around, though I could have easily kicked it up a notch or two. But the flavors were there and my mom loved every bite (right mom?) At least she said so. And I believe her.

Slow Cooker Pork Enchiladas
Ingredients

Pork shoulder - about 3 or 4 lbs. Trust me, you'll have leftovers, but that's okay. Think more meals = more deliciousness.
Enchilada sauce. Homemade or canned, just make sure it is good. I buy a large can, about 28 oz.
Tortillas - the amount demands on how much you want to make. I used 10 flour taco sized this time around.
Onion, chopped. I used a sweet, but a yellow or white onion would work too.
Garlic, one clove chopped.
Cilantro. A good handful of it (that is, if you like). If you don't like it, omit it. But think a cup's worth.
Black beans, drained and rinsed. Once again, this is optional.
Monterey Jack cheese, shredded - about 8 oz. or 12 oz. I like cheese, so I go the 12 oz. route.

The night before, marinate the pork shoulder in the enchilada sauce. Only use half of the sauce, and cut up the shoulder if you need to. Works best in the plastic bags so it can marinate a little bit better together. Note: when making this, I thought it would be a good idea to use all of the enchilada sauce. I ended up having to make a sauce out of it later, which worked lovely. However, if you aren't a corn starch lover or person who likes to make your own sauce, save half of the enchilada sauce. Trust me.

In the morning, before you go shopping with your momma, put that pork and all the marinate in the slow cooker. This can cook on low for about 8 hours or on high for around 5. The beauty of a slow cooker is that it is okay if it sits longer. Really. As long as you don't let it get crusty and bake a crust when it shouldn't have one (yes - you can make a cake in a slow cooker. I promise, I've done it.), you are good to go.

When you get home, remove the pork and shred it. Now, I divided my pork shoulder into two batches. I froze one batch for a rainy day. The other batch was for the enchiladas. To get the filling started while that pork sits there, saute up some garlic for a few minutes and add the chopped onions. Cook that until fragrant, about 3 minutes. I added a can of black beans, drained and rinsed, at this point because I had them. But if you don't like them or have them, that's okay too. If I had corn,I would have added that too. But alas, no corn. Sad face.

Once all this is mixed together, it is time to make the enchilada rolls. But first, pour about a cup of that enchilada mix into a cake pan. The long pan - the 13x5 or whatever the measurement is - pan. Take a shell, add some cheese (or if you are like me, a little more) and then add about 1/3 cup of your pork mix. Roll it up and place seam side down in a pan. I made 10 of these in one pan and it worked perfectly. I did have some pork mixture leftover, so I decided to freeze it as is and make enchiladas again in the near future.

Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the rolls and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Then bake, covered with aluminum foil, for about 15-20 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes to get the top all melted and slightly browned. Top with sour cream, pico/salsa and more cilantro. Nom.

When Life Gives You Bread...

2012-01-03T21:43:00.000-05:00

New Year Resolutions. I like to refer to these resolutions as goals. I learned that from my friend Mo. I like it. Goals versus resolutions. I personally haven't really vocalized any this year. I made some last year. Here is a recap:

Enjoy friends & family to the fullest. I think I did pretty good on this one. I made my annual trip to Boston to see my dear friends in Massachusetts, had a delightful time with my Indy friends, and missed others like the O's incredibly. It is hard to live people to the fullest when miles separate you. Good thing the phone and interweb were invented. Just sayin'. To all my friends - I love you. To my family - I love you lots too. I'm looking forward to enjoying 2012 with you. But that isn't a resolution - it is an expectation of mine.
Start a new blog. City Nom Noms was born. Check and complete.
Continue living a healthy lifestyle. Well, does 50% count? I did for sometime, but I fell off the wagon. Hard I might add. I tried to get back on a few times, but alas. But here I am, trying again. But this isn't a resolution - because I have a goal in mind. Team captain Ryan knows the goal - it is called the Mudathon. Bring on the mud.

So, no resolutions? Well, I guess not. And for those who decided to eat less carbs, this may not be the post for you. But for those who decided to reuse and recycle, keep on reading. I know I have a friends (hello AK!) that don't like to throw things away. And this is a quick and easy way to create something out of soon to be compost.

Hubs had made some bread for dinner. He's an amazing baker. Just sayin'. Anyway, we had an extra roll and were planning on having salad so I thought, "mmm..croutons." As mentioned, if you have resolved to forgo carbs, stop reading. But croutons are oh so delicious.

All I did was cube up the bread and toss with a little olive oil and some garlic seasoning. Simple. In a single layer on a baking sheet, toss it into the oven at 375 degrees until lightly browned. Flip and repeat. I personally like when croutons still have a little soft texture to them, not crunchy all the way through. This is perfect for a wedge salad, or any other salad you may be having that evening. Use in a day or two though, or they'll go stale.

Don't have a salad and are worried about a loaf of bread going bad? Then make breadcrumbs! Same process, but dry the bread cubes out completely. Then, whip out that food processor and process away. Homemade breadcrumbs are great, because you can season anyway you would like. Throw in some dried herbs, like oregano and basil. Maybe lemon pepper or something else. The bread is your oyster. Have fun with it. Use right away or store until needed.

It is day 3 - how are your resolutions going?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T18:54:00.001-05:00

I had a great NYE with 5 of my closest friends. And to top it off, I spent all of New Years Day with my hubs. Perfect start to 2012. And those 5 friends and I have big plans for 2012. Hope all of you enjoyed it and were able to spend it with people you love!

Pecan Chicken with Whiskey Maple Sauce

2011-12-30T10:05:00.001-05:00

My momma is visiting (say hi mom!) for the week as I have some time off of work to enjoy the holiday season. I love this week. It allows me to do all that fun stuff - and I do mean fun - like cleaning and organizing closets and drawers in our house. I love to organize. I'm wondering if I could be a professional organizer and event planner. I mean, they are similar, aren't they?

Anyway, I digress. My momma is here. She helped me clean out some closets earlier this week, but really, we are operating as normal. Nothing too special besides some quality time with each other, closets, the couch, and a few stores here and there. She loves that I like to cook, so that has stayed the same as well. I keep cooking the same things that I would cook without her here.

She was flipping through a book I received from my mother-in-law over the holidays. It is a Southern Living book called "Off the Beaten Path." A drive through the south with restaurants and recipes along the way. I was walking by and saw a bourbon maple syrup sauce and I thought, "mmm, I could make that tonight." I had bought a few things for some sort of chicken dinner, but hadn't fine tuned my thoughts and this seemed like a step in the right direction.

The chicken turned out tender with a crispy crust. It was savory and matched well with the sauce I had adapted for the chicken. The sauce was sweet with maple but tangy with mustard flavor as well. A rich, salty and smokey taste also came through from the bacon and drippings I had used as the base of the sauce. I could have made mine a little bit thinner, but the sauce had some great flavor it.

Now, this isn't part of the 'eating lighter' motif by any means. But a little goes a long way, so it still isn't too much of a healthy sin. Plus, I had roasted some shallots and Brussels sprouts to go along with the meal. And my mom had given me a healthy dose of her cheesy potatoes from Christmas Day. A perfect side to this Southern inspired dish.

Order of the meal preparation:
1. Roast the veggies
2. Prep and begin cooking chicken
3. Make the sauce, plate the meal!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots
Ingredients: Bag of fresh Brussels Sprouts, two shallots, salt, pepper, olive oil
Remove the outer leaves of the Brussels sprouts, chop them in half, and toss with sliced shallots on a shallow baking sheet. Toss with some olive oil, maybe one or two tablespoons, just enough to cover the veggies. Season with salt and pepper (I also added garlic powder and a few sprinkles of red pepper flakes) and bake at 400 degrees for about 25/30 minutes. By the time I finished everything else, the veggies were ready to go.

Pecan Chicken with Whiskey Maple Sauce
Ingredients: 1 c. pecans, 6 tbsp flour (split), 4 chicken breasts (trimmed and thinly pounded), 4 slices of bacon, two chopped shallots , 3 tbsp. maple syrup, 1/3 c. whiskey (bourbon if available!), 1/3 c. dijon mustard, 8 oz. whipping cream
1. Finely chop pecans and mix with 4 tablespoons of flour. Dredge chicken breasts with the pecan flour mixture, let rest for a minute while prepping oil.
2. Heat 1/4 of an inch of vegetable oil for a shallow fry. Cooking in batches, fry the chicken breasts for a few minutes on each side until done. Set aside and keep warm while working on the sauce (that is, if you don't make them at the same time like I did. I am a multi-tasker by heart).
3. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain the bacon, keep the drippings. Add two chopped shallots to the drippings and saute for two minutes until fragrant and soft.
4. Add two tablespoons of flour and cook until everything is incorporated and brown. Stir constantly to ensure it doesn't burn, and add the maple syrup to the mix.
5. Remove from heat and add whiskey. I'm all about safety which is why I encourage you to remove from flame if applicable. Return to heat after the whiskey is incorporated, and add the mustard to the mix.
6. Continuing to stir, add the whipping cream. Cook until thickened for a sauce to serve over chicken.

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-29T10:15:00.001-05:00

Holidays with the family are amazing. We are fortunate that we are able to spend it with members of both of our families as many of them live in Green Bay. We make the trek (usually with books on CD) and enjoy the limited days with those we love.

Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve with my family. Christmas Eve is special - an evening with my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We had a special guest, my sister-in-law's sister, join as well this year rounding out a quiet party of ten. Drinks followed by a delicious dinner of prime rib and cheesy potatoes is always a highlight. With more drinks in hand, we finish up the evening with cherry cheesecake and opening of gifts. Just a few photos from the holiday celebration at my parents house:

On Christmas Day, hubs and I wake up to the smell of coffee brewing at my parents home. I help my mother create our traditional breakfast of eggs benedict - sorry I overcooked your egg hubs. But the rest was delish as always! We clean up and head to his mother's house to spend time with his siblings, their families (including our nieces and nephews), and his aunts, uncles and cousins. It is always a full house and great to see everyone come together. Over a buffet lunch that his mother spends so much time preparing, we gorge our bellies with the Disney holiday parade in the background. Then, all the kids rip open their gifts as we smile and laugh as they ooo and ahhh over their new toys.

And of course, Christmas Day means Packers vs. Bears. We were fortunate to head to the game and enjoy the evening together with a Packers victory! We had so much fun dancing with other fans, eating brats and kraut with some fried cheese curds and sipping on beer and/or hot chocolate with every touchdown. It was fantastic - congrats Packers on another great game!

And no, we don't know the man in Roger's jersey - talk about timing!

Hope you enjoyed your holiday (if celebrating) - I know we did!

You Got Me What!?

2011-12-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

Fondue. Sure, it may make people think of the 1970's or of shag carpet. It reminds me of friends of delicious cheese and chocolate. We end up dining at The Melting Pot at least a few times a year, particularly around the holidays. I had a love affair with the restaurant a while back. I still enjoy it, but not as much as I used to. But don't get me wrong, still delicious and I look forward to it every time Do You Fondue? I do! rolls around on the advent calendar. Day 20, and we ended a delicious dinner at the MP.

Day 21: Holiday Tree was a night where we would make some dinner together and enjoy under our Christmas tree lights. Unfortunately, I forgot I had a meeting. So, changes happen as mentioned before. Hubs made a great dinner and I was able to enjoy it when I got home.

Holiday gifts were all over the month this year. But our big gifts were given on day 22: Merry Christmas hubby! As we exchanged gifts, hubs received his remote control helicopter that he had been wanting, while I received my beautiful NEW CAMERA! EEK! Isn't it gorgeous?! This beauty is a Canon t3i, everything I wanted in a DSLR. I've been asking for one for quite sometime, and he went all out. Not only did he purchase a camera, but I also received three lenses and a bunch of other great accessories. And of course, every new camera needs a bag, and I got this beauty from Epiphanie. Love. I'm so in love with my holiday gifts - thanks hubby!!!

Not much can top the new camera love, but day 23: I'll Be Home for Christmas is a close one. We drove home to Green Bay that evening with a book on cd and the pups in the back seat. They love nap time.

In preparation for the Christmas Day Packer vs. Bears game, hubs received his final gift. Day 24: A Cold Christmas Eve gave hubs a new winter Packer hat for the game - which the Packers won! It was a great game, and we had a wonderful time! GO PACK GO!

Hope everyone (who was celebrating) had a great Christmas Eve!

Jingle Rails

2011-12-27T20:31:00.000-05:00

Day 17: Western Cold Front found us at the Eiteljorg Museum. Out of all the museums in Indy, hubs and I had never been to the Eiteljorg. I have no idea why. With the exhibit 'Jingle Rails', I decided we needed to make it happen.

The main reason we went was for Jingle Rails, an exhibit full of model trains and models of locations in the Indianapolis area and in the Western part of the country. These exhibits were great - I was so impressed with what was built out of stones, sticks and other natural products. Take a look:

And of course, being an American Indian and Western Art museum, there were a lot of great exhibits about the Native Americans. We even got to built our own tee-pees.

It was a great day ending with a great night at the JW Marriott. We dined at their restaurant, High Velocity, with burgers and fries before relaxing without any plans. It was really great to not have plans and relax with the beautiful skyline behind us.

Perfect for preparing for day 18: Lazy brunch morning. We dined at Granite City to give it a go - caramel rolls and build your own benedict. We had a busy afternoon, so starting our Sunday with lazy was definitely the way to go.

Day 19: Who was an evening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, though we ended up not even watching the movie. Prepping for the holiday weekend, we knew it was going to be a busy week so we had to get a move on with laundry and packing! Stay tuned for the rest of the advent recap (and of course, holiday photos!) this week.

Cccccchanges (David Bowie Style)

2011-12-22T09:50:00.000-05:00

Changes. Mr. Bowie informed us that changes happen. Changes even effect the advent fun of our household. Small change of course, but it happens. Here is a quick recap of what has been happening:

Day 14: Deck the Hall with Globes - the venue where I am a special events coordinator at had their staff holiday party and I was excited to add this to the calendar. Rather than the typical staff party of eating, drinking and being merry with co-workers, we had the opportunity to make something besides memories. Being an art school as well as a great wedding venue, we all participated in glass blowing. Among the eating and (non-alcoholic) drinking - after all, we were literally playing with fire - we all took a turn to make our own holiday ornaments. It is much more difficult than it looks, but is a lot of fun at the same time. Great holiday party for sure, and we walked away with something for our tree.

Day 15: Holiday Murder Mystery - and this is where our change happens. We had a busy week and the upcoming week wasn't looking any slower, so hubs opted to pass on his evening plans of attending a holiday murder mystery dinner at the Propylaeum. This was fine with me because something like this is just more fun with a group, and unfortunately, none of our friends were joining us. So what did we do instead? Well, we each got some gifts. Mine had been coming in from various vendors throughout the week, but I found all of his at Target randomly that day. Perfect timing if you ask me! As mentioned, hubs loves his Rudolph. I couldn't pass up these when I saw them, especially since I have a few of my own (Disney Villian style of course). And to add to my Vinylmation collection, I received (by received, I mean gifted myself or had my hubs buy them for me as I watched) the Jingle Smells collection. I LOVE them!

Day 16: Holiday Gift - we had a busy evening ahead of us with a friend's dinner and comedy club celebration, followed by another friends holiday party. Couldn't really 'plan and execute' anything for the evening, so hubs got a new shirt. He strut it that evening - always good when he likes the clothing I get him versus it sitting on the shelf!

The holidays are in full swing and we continue to be busy with each day. How are your holiday plans coming along? Is your shopping complete?

Gifts for the Holiday

2011-12-14T09:36:00.001-05:00

My hubs is a homebrewer. And not just any kind of homebrewer. He is a fantastically gifted homebrewer. What I'm saying is this guy's hobby is the best hobby for him because he is raging good at it. Right now, he has a variety of beers at home for drinking, including Hefe, cider, and two others.

I mean it. This guy is good.

I like to think of him as a beer connoisseur in his own right. And that made day twelve's gift very easy. Themed beer connoisseur, he received a magazine subscription for Beer Connoisseur magazine. I don't know much about beer magazines. He really wants BYOBrew, but this was a great deal from Sweet Jack that I couldn't pass up.

The funny thing about his brewing, it is a perfect bachelor activity. So when I'm traveling for work or have an evening event, he always lines up a new beer to brew. Another thing he loves about his bachelor time is the random food that he eats. Things that I just don't understand. Like Funyons. I mentioned this last year too - he loves his Funyons for a bachelor evening. Day thirteen was easy on a busy night (which ended up not happening, but he still appreciates the crunch). Themed bachelor food, he (and I'm sure the pups helped) unwrapped a bag of Funyon treats that he could enjoy all to himself.

Sometimes it is the simple things.

Traditions: A Wreath, Gingerbread & Socks

2011-12-13T14:59:00.000-05:00

Traditions. Everyone has them. This past weekend, hubs and I celebrated three different traditions. But this time around, there was something interesting about these traditions. Let me begins with socks.

Tradition 1 - Socks. Hubs steals my socks. My white gym socks that is. To the point that I have no more. Let's ignore the fact that I didn't notice until I started to visit the gym again. Yes, I went on hiatus. A very long hiatus. But that isn't the point here. Day eight, warm & toasty, brought hubs the gift of socks. He has 16 new pairs of socks, so there is no reason for him to steal mine anymore. This is a tradition that I didn't even know that we had until I started to write this post. I always give him socks during his advent calendar. Why? Because he always needs them. This year, we both needed them. That is what happens when your husband steals your socks.

Tradition 2 - Wreath. With warm and toasty toes, he was ready for the next day. Day nine was trimming the door, aka making our annual wreath. We gathered the materials and got sappy while putting it together. With needles everywhere, lots of greens and floral wire, our sappy hands made the best wreath we've ever made. I absolutely adore it! And if you look closely, you'll see Nala saying hello!

Tradition 3 - Gingerbread House. Hubs and I are competitive people. Christmas season isn't excluded from this spirit as our tradition of competing gingerbread houses takes center stage. We always decorate our own side of the house and whoever decorates it the 'best' wins. The prize is nothing more than the self pride of winning. This year, I thought I would switch it up and throw out a variation. Day ten, gingerbread hunt, was an alternative to building. This alternate was a hunt for gingerbread houses in the Arts District (if you live in the area and are interested, research it here). However, hubs wanted to stick to building. Then he threw in his own variation - he wanted to bake rather than buying a kit.

As he said that, I immediately panicked. Little did he know that day eleven was holiday treats meaning we would be baking cookies for the Packer victory (yup, I'm optimistic - and now I know I can tell the future! 13-0 - GO PACK GO!). With that, I clued him in and we decided to combine the two days. We bought some candy to decorate each respective home and got to baking.

As you can see, the icing didn't necessarily want to hold the gingerbread in place. My house of shambles didn't even make it to a photos. What you see here is what is left of hubs masterpiece. I might add, this is a friendly competition between the two of us that we do every year. Since hubs made 'stained glass windows' with sugar and his actually stood much longer then mine, he did win this year. I say by default, but he'd argue he would have won no matter what.

This is all we have left of the gingerbread cookies. They are tasty - we snacked on them throughout the Packer victory on Sunday afternoon.

What are your holiday traditions? Do you ever change them up?

Silver & Gold...Almost

2011-12-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

My hubs loves Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It is his all time favorite holiday movie. However, we have specific circumstances to watch the movie.

It has to be snowing or snow must be on the ground.
No talking is allowed.

It only makes sense that this is his stocking.

Day five was St. Nick's Day. That means this stocking was full of treats, including movies, candy, more popcorn shakers and other items. I wasn't home to fill the stocking as I was still in Vegas (for work), so prior to departing I set up a scavenger hunt for him to find when he arrived home. He searched for his favorite movie, then a board game, and a few other items around the house in search of the stocking.

Maybe this was a reward because the next day, he had to do a little 'work'. He helps out with holiday cards for family and friends by labeling them. So any of you who receive a card, know that hubs helped out on day six, family & friends. And if you haven't picked up cards yet, consider looking at Two Designs. Tara is extremely talented, just sayin'. Yes, a shameless plug for a bestie - it happens.

I would have loved all the labels were stuck when I got home on day seven, themed cuddle time. But alas, we wrapped them up together that evening when I got home. A holiday movie followed with warm and cozy blankets. Even the pups were warm and cozy.

Was it Rudolph? Well, no. The weather wasn't quite right.

Bright Lights & Vegas Delights

2011-12-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

Hubs and I made our way to Las Vegas for a long weekend. We both just needed to 'get away,' and we had a variety of reasons for a vacay.

It was our delayed anniversary trip. When we got married, we promised one another we would always travel for our anniversary, alternating international with national travel. In addition, it had to be somewhere we had never been together.
I had won a two night stay at the Green Valley Ranch from a silent auction, so we had our hotel taken care of.
I had a work conference in Vegas, so we were able to make this happen without me having to add another trip towards the end of the year.

A vacation was the perfect way to kick off hub's Advent calendar as well! Day two brought winning big, an opportunity to walk the strip and gamble a little bit, to see all the hotels and what the strip has to offer. We walked around stores, dropped some money in the casino (and no, we didn't win big), and even sampled a local brewery, Sin City Brewing Company.

Day three - see the talent of Vegas - brought us to see a show on the strip. But first, we started with a day trip to Hoover Dam to take in the sites. We also stopped in at a local brewery, Boulder Dam Brewery. And let me tell you, that day, the 'dam' jokes didn't stop.

That evening, we saw Cirque du Soleil's Mystere show at Treasure Island. It was the first Cirque show in Vegas which is why we picked it versus all the others. The stage was immaculate - amazing how it could change and what it could do to impact the show. Of course, the actors/gymnasts were amazing, their strength is something that words just can't describe.

Unfortunately, hubs couldn't stay with me while I worked, so he found himself flying back to Indy on day four, themed vacation relaxation. When he arrived home, he found a simple gift of popcorn, popcorn shakers (honestly, hubs loves to flavor popcorn) and hot chocolate to help him relax after a weekend of fun in Vegas.

We had a great, unscheduled, relaxing vacation. It is always great to get away and enjoy time with your best friend. Hope everyone else enjoyed the first weekend of the holiday season in December!

Oh Christmas Tree...

2011-12-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

I want to live in a house that has multiple trees.

There. I said it (again.)

This doesn't mean I need a huge house, but I just LOVE the idea of having multiple themed trees. One may ask, why would you want multiple trees? Well, as mentioned, themes! I'm almost to the Disney themed tree that I've been collecting for quite sometime. Here are a few other trees I would like to have:

Classic red and green tree
Silver and blue tree
Family oriented tree - this means all those great ornaments from our parents and grandparents
Travel tree - since hubs and I collect ornaments when we travel, it would be great to have a tree just full of those ornaments
Snowman tree - I like snowman, so I have quite a collection of those ornaments

Really, there are so many more that could be had. And right now, I'm happy to report we've got two. Sure, they aren't straight up themed, but both are pretty close.

Our artificial tree is on the first floor. This is a combination of a snowman and family oriented tree. This tree has seen a good few years, and I think after this holiday, it may be retired to the land of discarded holiday trees.The second tree is our real tree. And if I do say myself, this tree is a pretty great tree. We picked it out in a matter of five minutes, and it is perfect for us. Around 8 feet, it is a great size and has that classic shape. Sitting in our main living area, it lights up our living room every night. And, this tree is almost a full Disney tree. There are a few ornaments regarding travel, or special meaning ornaments between the two of us.

With the trees up and ready for gifts (yes, I theme my wrapping paper every year too. This year, purple and green,) that means December is just about here. December 1st means the return of hubs advent calendar. I'll be keeping you posted on all the events as I did last year. It may be delayed though, because hubs and I are celebrating our four year anniversary a tad bit late (yes, September 29th has come and gone this year, I know that. Sometimes new additions delay things.) by taking a trip to LAS VEGAS!

Photo Credit

So...December 1 is "Sparkly Night Lights" meaning our night flight to Las Vegas to the strip lights!

And yes, if you keep track, I may recycle some themes from last year. Don't judge.

We leave today. Bags are packed, pups are at the 'spa', and we are ready to go! If you have advice on things we must do, please share. We have a slight itinerary, but everything is extremely flexible!

Pumpkin Ravioli with Sour Cream Sauce

2011-11-29T13:52:00.000-05:00

Pumpkin never goes out of season. I know this isn't just my opinion. Others clearly think the same. Examples include:

The sheer cry of "OMG, pumpkin spiced lattes are back!" as people enter the stores. Let's be honest though...real fans know the release date...it shouldn't surprise anyone.
Getting upset and vocally saying to a server at Cheesecake Factory "what do you mean you don't have pumpkin cheesecake yet? It is September after all!" Settling for red velvet should never be a crime, but sometimes...
Getting concerned that a pumpkin shortage may strike again.
Having your husband say, "you talk like pumpkins have feelings." when you express how sad you are that some pumpkin don't get to leave the patch.

Clearly, I'm not saying these are prime examples of my behavior, but this gal does love her squash.

Surprising, being November 28, we still have fresh sage in the herb pot on our porch. Yes, we are the ones who haven't dug up the plants, or dried them for future use. We just let the parsley and sage be fall rock stars to say the least. I've utilized the sage on a weekly basis, not wanting to waste anything. But this projected snow may change all of that. It may be time to let go.Until then, I'll continue with the winter sage.

A classic preparation of pumpkin is pasta. Ravioli to be more specific. Normally, I make a brown butter and sage sauce for the rich ravioli, but this time around I tried something a bit different. We had sour cream in the fridge and I thought, "why not?"

Instructions and Ingredients

Grab a pack of wontons or make your own pasta - whatever you are in the mood for. This time around, I grabbed wontons simply because I had them.
Make or buy pumpkin puree. Take about a cup, add some spices (really, this is up to - think a bit of red pepper flakes, a dash of pepper, etc.) and a few fresh sage leaves chopped up. Simple.
Make the ravioli by spooning about a teaspoon of the filling into a wonton wrapper and folding nicely (or messy - really up to you).
Add ravioli to a boiling pot of salted water and cook until done - a few minutes will be perfect.
While the ravioli are cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add 1/2 a cup of sour cream. Add some garlic powder, pepper and a chopped sage leaf and let it all come together to form a sauce. Serve over pasta, and sprinkle with some Parmesan and fried sage leaves if you'd like.

The pasta filling made around 3 dozen for me. We had some that night, freezed the rest (without the sauce) and had them a different night with leftovers for the next day. The sauce above is enough for two servings - about a dozen raviolis. Make to your liking and tweak as you feel is appropriate by all means.

And then raise your fist and say "live on pumpkin. Live on."

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T16:02:00.001-05:00

There are so many things to be thankful for: my wonderful husband, loving family, best friends ever, warm home and food on the table. I am also thankful for all of you - thanks for reading and all the support!

From our family to yours, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

An Inspirational Boat Ride

2011-11-23T08:58:00.000-05:00

Have you ever gone on a trip with high expectations, only to have them exceeded? That is exactly what happened during my trip with the Sigma Kappa Foundation while in Maine. In addition to spending a great morning in Waterville at Colby College, we were able to continue our pilgrimage to Bar Harbor.

Many people vacation in Bar Harbor. The beautiful coast, all the lobster you can eat, and a community of friendly people. But we weren't there just to take in all those great things. We were there to experience the Maine Sea Coast Mission. A not for profit organization that helps the Maine coastal and island communities through a variety of programs, including youth development, medical assistance, and what Sigma Kappas know best, their Christmas program.

We spent the first part of our afternoon on the Sunbeam. Yes, for all the SK ladies out there, THE Sunbeam. Sunbeam 5 to be exact. This glorious boat is more than a boat. It is a sign of hope for communities across the coast. A sign of inspiration to the people on the islands and in the communities. To spend a few hours on this exceptional piece of inspiration was, well, inspiring.

This is your captain speaking...

Well, this is really your captain speaking. Thanks Mike!

I didn't know what to expect out of the boat, but it exceeded any thought I could have had. It was roomy and full of capabilities that could help make lives better. A powerful staff was on board - one full of a desire to help those around. You couldn't help but smile and feel like a part of their family. They were accommodating, welcoming, friendly and energizing. I learned so much about the organization I have supported for the past 11 years (and one that Sigma Kappa Foundation and Sorority have for 100 years!). Thanks isn't enough to show the gratitude I feel for these men and women who serve this community.

And did I mention that one of the staff members, Pat, is an amazing cook? Thanks for allowing me to continue my lobster mission with those fantastic lobster rolls - thanks Pat!

The experience on the Sunbeam is one I will never forget. The staff was amazing, the experience was epic. And knowing all of it is done for a cause that is larger than I thought is a cherry on top. After a few hours we headed back to shore to spend sometime at the headquarters. More to come on this...

(More) Stomping

2011-11-22T16:08:00.001-05:00

A quick photo wasn't all that I would supply you with from my last post. Absolutely not! I took so many photos during my trip to Colby College in Waterville, ME that I did want to share more with you. Photo recap...and go!

These are photos of Coburn dormitory - named after one of SK's founders.

A group of 23 of us wandered our way around the Northeastern university located in Waterville, Maine. We found two dorms named after two of our founders - Mary Low Carver and Louise Helen Coburn. Plaques showcasing a bit of our history adorned buildings, for these women were extraordinary. In the late 1800's, sometimes extraordinary was overshadowed. Prime example, Carver was first in her class but she wasn't allowed to speak at graduation because she was a woman. But this didn't stop these women from excelling.

Photos of Mary Low Carver's dormitory, another SK founder!

When documents are kept on something or someone, you once again know they are extraordinary. We were surprised by visiting the library and discovering all of these great photos and documents showcasing the Alpha chapter and founders. A big thank you to the Sigma Kappa Foundation for working with the archivist at the library and making this possible.

A collage of just a few photos and documents from Colby's library.

I'm not kidding when I say this. The national president and I squealed when we walked into the room. I got goosebumps. I felt water rising in my eyes (though it didn't come out). Words can't describe how honored I am to have experienced this.

These two are my favorites. Why? Because we all know so many photos from that time period were bland. No smiles. No sort of reaction. These photos show sisterhood to me - the finest you can show in that period of time. They look casual, comfortable and laid back. Love it.

And one last photo - my wearing (okay, really holding) an Alpha badge created for Mary Low Carver! If you are a SK, you can geek out now....just sayin'... If not, just know this is pretty fantastic!

All of this is only the beginning. For anyone who is part of the fraternal community, I know I don't have to explain how inspirational and moving it is to experience the roots of your organization. Even as I experience my organization on a daily basis through work and volunteering, I was re-energized and left full of a new appreciation.

And finally, a note for my readers - my apologies for being MIA. A few of you who I know personally have definitely given me a friendly slap for not being around, but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything! If anything, it means that I HAVE been extremely busy...so busy, that blogging has been put on the back burner. But alas, I'm still cooking, traveling and entertaining life daily...I promise. More to come soon!

Stomping Grounds

2011-11-09T10:27:00.000-05:00

I was extremely fortunate enough to make a pilgrimage to Colby College this past weekend. This is an extremely special trip to me because it is where my national sorority was founded. Colby is the stomping grounds of my organization.

In 1874, five extraordinary women came together and from an idea and friendship, formed an organization. I bet they had no idea that someday, over 145,000 women would be part of this 'small' group of theirs. And I know they had absolutely no idea that I would be visiting their university 137 years later.

Happy Founders' Day to all of my Sigma Kappa sisters across the world!

Christmas in Maine

2011-11-07T15:47:00.001-05:00

After spending a few hours on the Sunbeam, the group headed over to the Maine Sea Coast Mission's headquarters. The building took my breath away - a gracious donation to the organization left a historical building that houses amazing work and programs for the coastal communities.

Once a family's home, this three story mansion has amazing architecture and history of family and servants living together. Not to mention, a view. A gorgeous view of the ocean and Maine coastline. Once again, it took my breath away.

The first floor has a variety of rooms with archives, a conference room and kitchen for the staff members. The second, what was once the family bedrooms is now the staff offices. And the third floor - the third floor is something quite special.

What was once the servants bedrooms is now rooms full of items for children, adults, prisoners, and other members of communities the Mission serves. These items are used for the Christmas Program. The Christmas Program brings joy to many people during the holiday season, and our group was more than happy to have the opportunity to help bundle, wrap and label gifts.

It may not seem like much to you, but these few hours were inspiring. I feel the desire to give more, to help more. This is a rewarding program for all the volunteers as well as the recipients.

The whole weekend was a whirlwind of an experience. I met some amazing women that I'm proud to call my sisters. I met a dedicated staff of a great organization and was able to give a little back. And I was filled with with a desire to keep on giving. I am honored to have been given this experience, and I am responsibility for sharing it with my sisters, my friends. Pride doesn't even begin to describe what I feel about my Founders' and all that they have done for my organization.

Apple, Leek & Squash Gratin

2011-11-02T15:16:00.000-04:00

Despite Halloween being over, I'm glad I am still able to indulge in my favorite seasonal tastes. There is something about comfort food in the fall. From gathering a group of friends or enjoying it by yourself on a lazy Saturday. I know I say it often, but fall has the best flavors and makes everything homey and comforting.

I remember reading about a squash gratin a few months ago in Whole Living as I was prepping my palate for the colder weather. I had an butternut squash, some apples and a few leeks in the pantry. I did have red cooking wine, so I knew I could make my own version with some substitutions. Plus, I didn't use as much of the apples or butternut squash and it turned out just fine (actually, quite delicious!)

Ingredients

2 apples, thinly sliced (I used gala, but any baking red variety would work I imagine)
1/2 of a butternut squash, about 1.5 pounds, sliced
2 leek, cleaned and chopped, white part only
Fresh sage leaves
Red Cooking Wine
Parmesan Cheese
Clove of Garlic

Cook the leeks in a few tablespoons of olive oil with some garlic. Once they were tender, add a few leaves of chopped sage and about 1/4 cup of the wine until it is evaporated.

In a baking dish, layer the squash in an even layer. Top with the leeks and layer the apples over the leeks. Next up, grate some Parmesan cheese over it all. Bake this in a preheated 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned. The squash/apples will be done if they are fork tender.

Hubs wasn't feeling it until he took a fork full. He even ate the leftovers the next day, which means this was a successful dish in my opinion. It would be a great side for Turkey Day I'm sure. I may make it for our small gathering. Delicious.

Fall Harvest Dinner

2011-11-01T14:04:00.000-04:00

When you have friends who can cook, you eat. That's the rule. My friends can cook. Every year, Rachel & Josh host a group of friends to enjoy the tastes of fall. A quick history lesson - a group of friends get together on an annual basis to celebrate the flavors of fall. Delicious - my kind of thing for sure. I happily taste as much as I can while I'm there, and this year was no different.

I wanted to share with you a few photos and comment on some of the delicious food.

Wild Mushroom Risotto - creamy, delicious and oh so perfect. I had not one, but two servings. Maybe this is because of my recent risotto kick? Or maybe it was because it was just plain delicious. Kudos Unrue brothers!

Pumpkin soup - when I saw the cans and cans of pumpkin puree, I knew Rachel was serving up her pumpkin soup. Creamy, bursting with pumpkin flavor. And bleu cheese crumbles and bacon don't hurt either.

Sweet potatoes - I can't tell you how much I love these. I was first introduced to this specific recipe a few years ago and ate loads of it. I did so again this time around. Thank you Rachel!

Pork wrapped in pork - you heard me right, pork loin wrapped in pork. I haven't crunched on pork belly like this before. It caramelized so well when it was cooked, that a knife and fork weren't going to cut it, literally. And my dear friends, that is not a complaint by any means. The pork was a little more than medium and extremely tender. Seasoned to perfection, this was a pig I would eat over and over again. My friend Steven, you are nothing less than extremely gifted when it comes to pig!

And to top it all off, hubs supplied some quality ESB and premium bitter beer for the event. It was a different batch from our BrewMile, but same type. Delicious for sure - I'm married to one talented man that is for sure!

Another great Harvest Dinner. My stomach was full and my heart content - good friends, great food and happiness of the season! Thanks dear ones!

Heaven & Hell - Our Halloween Party

2011-10-31T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hubs and I had a great time entertaining friends this past weekend by hosting our annual Halloween party. This year's theme, as you may remember, was Heaven & Hell.

The hosts for the evening!

Our second floor (living room, kitchen, and dining room) was Heaven. Complete with candle light, cloud seating, and heavenly treats. Champagne punch had people sipping sparkles while holy water kept others in high spirits.

You may recognize the nun? Of course, she is my mother! Yup, mom and dad came and surprised us with two of their good friend, Pete & Debbi. When I say surprised us, that means they drove from Wisconsin for the evening! Thanks for coming mom and dad! You definitely surprised us!

Our first floor and garage was hell for the evening. Spicy treats included jalapeno poppers, buffalo dip, spicy shrimp and other hot candies. In addition, hubs home brewed pumpkin ale and my hard cider were flowing. I have to post photos of hubs pumpkin tap later - it is a treat you won't want to miss!

We have some great friends who came out. Sad to see others didn't make it, but a good time was surely had by all those who did!

Happy Halloween!

Stuckey's Apple Farm

2011-10-24T09:10:00.000-04:00

As you probably know by now, Autumn is my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the flavors of the season, the sounds of the leaves crunching beneath my feet, the colors of the leaves and the smell of the fresh air. Everything about the season makes me want to do whatever I can to take it all in. Hubs and I went to an apple orchard, Stuckey Farms, last weekend and tried to pick our pumpkins and apples. Unfortunately, most of the apples had already fallen and the pumpkins had been picked over. But we still had a great time together enjoying the weather and each other.

Beauty & the Beast the Musical

2011-10-19T11:52:00.000-04:00

Hubs is awesome. Why you may ask? Well, lots of reasons. One is because he goes to musicals with me. From 101 Dalmatians to Legally Blonde, he is awesome. But note, he'd be lying to you if he said he didn't like him. He'll admit to liking them - I think.

This past weekend, we went and saw Beauty & the Beast at Clowes Hall. I was really excited for it, but kind of let down. Belle's costume just wasn't right. Both the blue dress and the gold dress, it just wasn't what I expected. And there seemed to be a lot of production in other areas which left me confused. How could you not get a classic dress right, but have an extravagant stage floor?

However, the classic Be Our Guest had me singing along with enthusiasm (and the little girl in front waving enthusiastically) and Lumiere was by far my favorite actor of the evening. So comical and extravagant in his gestures made a human as a candlestick believable. The Beast was a slightly lackluster, more comedic in areas than I expected, but the audience seemed to eat this up. Belle was beautiful and her acting good, as were all the other characters, but nothing that shined over the top for me. But the child who played Chip - adorable.

Besides the show, we did learn that Clowes (which is on Butler's campus) now has these ingenious sippy cups for adults.

You can take your drink into the theatre and sip your beer or wine throughout the show. Lovely, just lovely.

Lots of hugs to hubs - you are the best!

Butternut Squash Risotto

2011-10-14T08:21:00.000-04:00

I think I'm on a risotto kick. I made a spring like risotto last week, a pumpkin risotto the week before, and now a butternut squash risotto. They have all been very different to say the least, but still, risotto.

The pumpkin risotto was roasted pumpkin served on top of the risotto. My spring type risotto was made with barley and had some shrimp. But this risotto, I decided to change it up a bit by having my broth be where I add the squash. I had made a gratin with half of the squash this past Sunday (post to come soon), so I had half of it left. With a little bit of rice, I added squash risotto to the menu as our vegetarian dish for the week (kind of - you'll see why). I was very pleased with the results. Maybe the best risotto I've made yet (I thought my mushroom risotto was good, but this one tops it) - creamy, earthy, and delicious.

Ingredients

Arborio rice, about 1/2 cup
Chicken broth, about 5-6 cups
Butternut squash, cubed (about 2 cups, half of a squash)
Small onion, finely chopped
Garlic clove, finely chopped
White wine, about 1/2 a cup
Sage, 4-6 fresh leaves
Olive oil
Few slices of cooked bacon (optional of course)

Begin by prepping your broth. Whether you use homemade, the bouilon paste (like I do if I don't have homemade on hand), or the boxed/canned, it all works pending on how you want to get it. I always watch out for lower sodium though, things can get too salty if you don't. Once you get your broth into a pan, add the cubed squash and allow it to come to a boil. I cooked the squash in the broth hoping to give it even more flavor for about 15 minutes or until the squash was fork tender.

Remove from heat and grab that hand held blender of yours. What, you don't have one? Well, no worries, a regular blender works just as fine. Blend until the squash is incorporated into the broth, giving you a very attractive orange liquid that is a bit thicker than what the broth would normally be. Put it back on the stove and simmer (do not boil) as you prepare the rice. Be careful not to burn yourself as you blend, no matter which way you blend.

Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a large pan. Saute the onion and garlic until fragrant and the onion is translucent in color. Add the rice and saute a bit for some color, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn't burn. Once you have a little color, add the white wine and stir until all the white wine is dissolved and cooked into the rice.

At this point, start adding your simmering broth. Add one cup to the rice mixture and stir until the liquid is completely dissolved. Then, add some more and repeat. Keep stirring and you'll notice as you work through the liquid, for about 20 minutes, your rice will release all the starches and becoming creamy. That is what you are looking for my friends, creamy and delicious rice. Nom.

When the rice is done taking in liquid and you are just about done with your broth (you may or may not use all of it, I think I had about 1/2 a cup left out of the 4 or 5 cups I started with), you'll have a creamy rice dish you'll be dying to eat. How do you know if it is done? Well, try it. If the rice isn't crunch, it is done.

Remember that sage? Chop that up and add at this point. But wait, add a little cheese if you have it too. I had some parmigiano reggiano on hand and I grated about 1/4 of cup into the rice. Stirred that together and plated.

And of course, bacon. I had made some bacon as we were also going to have BLT sandwiches (we didn't end up having them I might add). As I took a bite of the risotto, I turned to hubs and said, "mmm, wouldn't pork just be great with this?" Well, hello bacon that was sitting on the counter. How convenient. I crunched that up and put it on top - sorry for the lack of photo - but you get the idea. Delish, and optional for my veggie friends.

I may be completely wrong here, but I don't think risotto should be intimidating to anyone in the kitchen. As long as you have a little patience, you'll be rewarded. Enjoy!

'Fun'draising for a Cause

2011-10-13T10:26:00.001-04:00

I think volunteering and giving back are important things to do. For the past 11 years, I've participated in fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. As you saw from my BrewMile event, not only do I fundraise, but I 'fun'draise. I like to have a good time while making people aware of the cause we are supporting, the disease we are fighting.

At work, it is no different. We are all closely linked to the Association because nationally, it is a philanthropic endeavor of ours. So, we've had a variety of events that helped us raise over $1,000 for our Walk to End Alzheimer's team as a staff. Here is a breakdown of the events with a few photos:

Casual for a Cause - staff donate so they can dress down at work. Once a week, it is a popular event.

Silent Auction - with donations from staff and local business, this is always a great way to raise some money for any cause.

Bucks for Bagels, Dollars for Donuts, Loot for Latte, Pennies for Pie - all food themed events, staff members donate for breakfast delivered to their desk, a morning latte in the office, or for a pizza luncheon. With my deep love (some say obsession) with all things pumpkin, you know that I had a pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese, a pumpkin donut, and a pumpkin latte. Just sayin'...

Brain Activities - trying to keep the mind healthy, we had a variety of brain activities including MENGO (mind bingo), Memory (in shape of the Alz. logo), and SK Survivor. 'Survivor' was the most intense as staff members had to race through the office, memorize a picture, then race back to recreate the shapes in the correct order. We have some intense competition in this office.

Fall Festival - this is our community event, where we invite other Greek organizations to come out for the afternoon and have some fun. We had a bake-off, corn hole tournament, pie a staff member event, change collection competition, and sold some baked goods. Leftover baked goods that didn't sell or weren't taken home by the contenders were donated to a local assisted living facility that has an Alzheimer's wing. We had great weather and everyone seemed to have a good time as we raised over $350 towards our cause.

If you'd like to donate, would love the support. I am personally working towards a goal of $1,000 for myself and I'm still a little shy. Every dollar counts - if you can give, I would appreciate it! Visit my page here and help me fight Alzheimer's so that one day, I won't have to fight anymore!

Just a note, these opinions are all my own not of my company. And thank you to Bri for her assistance throughout this whole process. Couldn't have done it without her!

Barley & Shrimp Risotto

2011-10-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

I have regressed back to Spring. You see, I made risotto for dinner. Not saying risotto is a Spring dish by any means, but ingredients can definitely define the season. I'm all about eating within the season, but this dinner was a Spring accident. Delicious, but an accident. All because of what I had on hand (or maybe I was thinking Spring because of the gorgeous flowers we had on the table, compliments of the wedding we were at this past weekend.)

I knew I had some shrimp on hand that we ended up not boilingin beer for our BrewMile, so I thought I would add that to the mix. Grabbed a lemon for some brightness and the bottle of pinot grigio that we just bought. This would all work out just fine.

But this seemed awfully Spring like to me, especially after I added peas to the mix (note, they were frozen, but alas.) Then, I saw we didn't have much rice left (maybe from the mushroom risotto I had previously made?) which meant that this risotto idea may be delayed. I pushed the bag aside and saw quick cooking barley.

Autumn redemption.

I remembered reading somewhere that pearl barley was a great rice substitute. But, I had quick cooking pearl barley. Only a slight difference from the regular pearl barley, right? I shrugged my shoulders and thought, "why not?" and put on my I'mdeterminedtomakerisotto face. Let's do this barley.

I sauteed up an onion with garlic until fragrant and translucent. I added the barley and crossed my fingers. I was looking for it to toast up, soak up all that oil from sauteeing. Well, it soaked up the oil, but I got a little impatient waiting for it to toast. So, I turned to the bottle. Not in an alcoholic sense, though I did pour myself a glass. I added about 1/2 a cup to the pan so the barley could take it all in.

All while this was happening, I had some chicken broth simmering away. I began adding that to the pan, one cup at a time, until the barley took it all in. Then, I added more broth and stirred the pot some more. A few rounds of this until I had a creamy barley mix. I added the shrimp and maybe 1/2 a cup of peas (if you remember, I don't like peas, but I find that I keep trying anyway). Once the shrimp was pink, I threw in a handful of Parmesan and finished it off with a squeeze of lemon and lemon zest.

Though I made way too much, the risotto was delish, light and refreshing. Perfect for this random 80 degree October day we are having here in Indy. I enjoyed the twist of citrus at the end, it worked well with the shrimp and peas that were part of the dish. And I was really happy with how creamy the barley became - barley truly is a great risotto substitute!

I love risotto. It is so easy to transform by adding things here and there. Are you a risotto lover? What are your favorite ingredients to add into the rice (or barley) dish?

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. McFerron

2011-10-03T10:53:00.000-04:00

Weddings. The season has about one month left in it, and I was happy to share in one this past weekend as a guest rather than the planner. Two great friends, Brian & Nancy, became hubby and wife at Meridian Hills Country Club. A great venue, perfect place to celebrate the beginning of this chapter together.

Brian and Nancy - they are both good people. The kind of people that make you smile for being genuine and funny at the same time. She was stunning, he was handsome, and the room smelled of roses and hydrangeas. Beautiful florals - I can't explain how they were utterly amazing and impacted the whole event. I couldn't be happier to take one home at the end of the night, thanks to the bride encouraging local residents to take them!

A few photos:

How was your weekend?

BrewMile: Recap of Movin' & Brewin'

2011-09-23T08:50:00.000-04:00

We had a great time last Friday at our BrewMile event! It was a bit cooler than I would have liked, but we had a successful event!

Friends, new and seasoned, all joined us around 6:30 to register, receiving a white or purple bracelet to signify that they were ready to run and drink. Once the gang was there, we worked our way over to the Monon for a quick one mile run/walk event! Congratulations to Ryan and Jess for being the first man and woman to cross the finish line in around 7 minutes (yes, my stopwatch stopped working just when I needed it the most!)

After everyone got their fitness in, we worked our arms by sipping on several brews. Everyone was given a commemorative drinking glass and pretzel necklace to start the festivities. As mentioned, hubs had two and we also had Flat 12 available. In addition, guests could bring craft beer to share - we had quite a variety from local breweries, including Sun King, Granite City and a few others. The drinks were flowing and people were chatting about beer or whatever struck them through the evening.

Of course, we can't forget the beer inspired food. People, and pups, were snacking on the (and of course, I don't mind - if anything, I encouraged!)

Hamburgers and brats from a beer bath were eaten, while people dipped beer bread into the beer cheese dip. There were also stout brownies - a lot of brownies. Some people were lucky enough to walk away with these rich treats.

We raised approximately $400 for the cause - couldn't have done it without the support of our Indy friends, new and seasoned! Who knew playing some beer toss could result in finances?

Thanks to my dear sparkle monster friend, Mal, for passing the photos my way. I was clearly a slacker of the evening having too much fun with friends! Hope everyone had a great time!

Weren't able to join us? If you are still wanting to support my fundraising efforts, I would really appreciate it! I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Every dollar counts - I couldn't help fight this disease without the support of my friends and family!

Sage Chicken Pasta

2011-09-22T13:43:00.000-04:00

'Tis the end of the summer season, and all the herbs are gone.

Well, almost. All but sage.

I'm not complaining. I mean, you don't buy and plant a herb that you don't like. And I like sage. But it is one of the herbs that a little goes a long way. When you have a lot, expect a long way to be, well, much longer.

Good thing autumn is just about here. Officially, tomorrow! I can't wait. Because sage goes so well with pumpkin. And other things, like this chicken sage pasta I threw together.

This is one of the infamous pantry cooking nights. Scrounging the pantry and fridge, looking for something insanely simple for din din. This is what we came up with after staring at the monstrous sage plant.

I guess I should have taken a photo of this sage plant.

Back to the recipe. Super simple, trust me!

Cook some noodles - whatever you have in your pantry
Saute up some chicken and season however you like (I believe I sauteed in garlic, added some all Greek type seasoning - stuff like that)
Once the chicken is done, remove and add a tablespoon or so of oil to the pan drippings. Add panko (maybe 1/4 of cup - really depends on how much pasta you make) and sage. Cook together until fragrant and the panko is brown and crisp.
Drain pasta, top with juicy chicken and sprinkle the top with your panko topping.
Enjoy!

Then stop yourself as your eating and think to yourself "Didn't we make this about a month ago?" Well, close, not the same - but I guess that is what happens when you clean out your pantry huh? Or maybe I wasn't craving cheese? Um, that's weird...but we have been eating mounds of beer cheese dip leftover from BrewMile - I'll post that soon and recap that event. Be patient my friends.

Super simple. Plus, comfort food - perfect for autumn. I know I'm a fan of cleaning out the pantry (but really, it never gets messy...so I'm not sure how that works) and so are a few of you. Make anything fun lately?

BrewMile: Movin' & Brewin' for a Cause

2011-09-14T08:39:00.001-04:00

Every year, I walk. I walk for a purpose, with my Sorority sisters and friends across the country. I walk to end Alzheimer's, and this year is no different. Well, kind of.

This year, I decided to amp up my fundraising. I started think of the ways I could increase my fundraising. I struggle with the emails - I see who opens them and who doesn't. And ::sigh::, it can be disheartening. My local alumnae chapter does some great events (like the Giving Dinner), and I also promote fundraising on within our staff too. But I wanted to do something for my personal fundraising. And it had to be something fun. The brain wheels began.

Remember when I ran my first (so far, only official race) 5K? It made me wish I could run one the Beer Belly run in Wisconsin. And it got me thinking some more. Why don't we host one?! I proposed the idea to hubs, since he would be the one brewing the beer, and he was immediately on board. I mean, this guy can brew some great beer, and since he loves doing it, why not? And we have so many friends who lead healthy life styles, but also like craft brew, that this just made sense.

Thank you Bri for the artwork!

This Friday is our fundraising event, BrewMile! We'll be movin' and brewin' for a cause with friends at our place. For a $25 donation, participants will run one mile in hopes for a prize from a local brewery (Flat12 Bierwerks) and then spend the evening drinking several home brews. Beer that is currently on the roster includes:

Bitter End - hub's ESB
Banyan - hub's premium bitter
Upside Down Blonde - Flat12's hybrid pilsner/wheat

If participants bring a local craft beer to share (or any microbeer - minimum is a growler), they'll receive a $5 discount. In addition, we'll have a 50/50 raffle and some door prizes donated by the Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Of course, you know me, there will be food - all beer themed! The menus includes beer cheese dip, beer bread, brats/hamburgers in a beer bath and stout brownies. Nom. We'll have the nifty pretzel necklaces too.

Interested in attending? Shoot me an email (angieahrens@gmail.com) if you live in the area. It is currently a facebook event, but I'm happy to provide further details. The more the merrier!

Can't make it? Consider donating to my fundraising. Every dollar counts - I'd appreciate any and all your support. Shout out to Michelle, Myky and my mom for starting the fund! Always - if you know anyone else who would be interested in donating, please spread the word!

Cheers!

Quinoa Dumplings & Heirloom Tomato Salad

2011-09-08T11:43:00.000-04:00

Remember the quinoa stuffed peppers? Well, I had so many leftovers of the stuffing I just couldn't get rid of it. I quickly looked in the pantry to see what else I could do with them. Remember, we were avoiding the grocery store and only utilizing what we had in our pantry/fridge/freezer and the wonderfully fresh veggies from our friends CSA. (And yes, I know this post is delayed - my apologies!)

We didn't have much. But, we always have flour since we make a lot of our own bread and pasta.

With a little water and flour, I knew I could have a quick dough for some dumplings. I hesitated because of the starchy quinoa mix being stuffed in more starch. But, the quinoa is the only ingredient in the mix (there is also meat and veggies) so I shrug my shoulders and give it a go. I mix 2 cups of flour with just a bit of water to make a dough, then I kneed it until it is perfect consistency. I let it sit while I mix up the salad dressing.

I was keeping the dressing simple. Red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, salt and pepper were whisked together before streaming olive oil into the mix. That's it. Maybe two tablespoons of vinegar, one of mustard and a few tablespoons of olive oil gave me a slightly zesty dressing. Perfect for the heirloom tomatoes and greens from the CSA.

After making the dumplings, I cooked the dumplings in some boiling, salted water until done. And viola, a quick dinner utilizing leftovers, basic pantry items and fresh veggies. It was quite simple and delish with a little hoisin sauce to taste.

Who else loves to clean out the pantry, get creative in the kitchen, and end up with a great meal?

Guest Blog Post: Feta Grilled Corn

2011-09-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

Over at Nosh with Nina, I was asked to guest post a few weeks ago. We 'met' via twitter, and it just took me a while to find the time among the travel schedule of mine.

Well, it is now posted (yay for me getting it done!) Go check it out for a quick (and ridiculously easy) recipe for that corn you bought from the Farmers Market! Grilled feta corn is always a delight!

Oh, and the reference to the state food - the link was forgotten (my bad) - check out this poll from SoGoodBlog (found via wibia). What are your thoughts?

Enjoy!

Happy Dance is in Order!

2011-09-06T13:51:00.000-04:00

Remember the conference I attended in Orlando 7 weeks and 3 days ago?

Why do I specifically remember the days? Well my friends, that is because that is the date I took the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam. I like to compare it to the GRE or other long, professional tests. Three hours of multiple choice questions - a professional exam that left me anxiously awaiting the results for 7 weeks and 3 days. It could have been 8 weeks (that is what they reported), so I'm glad to say they saved me the 5 days.

And good news, I passed!

The CMP is the highest designation in the meeting profession, and I am happy to report that I have joined the ranks! I'm very proud of myself in this moment - I think everyone can say that a few times in their life - it took a lot of studying (though I could have done more) and and preparation to take this test.

Thank you everyone for your support and all the congratulatory wishes on facebook and twitter. Had plans to cook tacos tonight, but I may need to alter that for some celebratory drinks and dinner!

Halloween Theme...It is Here!

2011-09-04T14:10:00.000-04:00

I began this blog back in the day to showcase cooking, events and entertaining myself through every day events. I think every day is a celebration, so when there really is a holiday or celebration, I love to celebrate it a bit more.

Halloween is one of my favorites.

Last year, we had a Tim Burton inspired get together. I personally loved decorating the house with each room having its own movie theme. Hubs and I dressed up as Alice and the Mad Hatter. The year before was a Clue theme, complete with a murder-mystery game. Mr. Green and Mrs. Peacock were our characters that year.

You see, the theme isn't just a theme, it is also the costume.

This year, after going back and forth on a variety of options, hubs and I finally landed on our theme.

Heaven and Hell. The classic battle between good and evil, angels and demons. Evil villians, angelic princesses (of course, my Disney reference of the day) or anything in between. The options for costumes are endless. And I know hubs and I will have a great time transforming our house into a classic heaven vs. hell venue.

Let the fun begin!

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

2011-08-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago (I know, delayed posting huh?), hubs and I didn't really go grocery shopping. I like to make a mission out of these weeks. The ones where life gets too busy on the weekend, so the grocery store just doesn't happen. Since we don't really eat frozen food or have a lot of pantry items (I love the challenge of shopping only from the outer aisles at the grocery store - thus meaning things have a shelf life), this can sometimes lead to a challenge.

However, that particular week had a minor exception. Our friends were out of town and asked us to pick up their CSA box for the week. As many of you know, hubs and I participated in a Spring CSA and loved it. We don't partake in the summer due to Farmers' Markets, but absolutely love when we have the opportunity to help a friend (and our stomachs) to the fresh CSA. We knew one thing, we had some fresh veggies coming our way. The question was, and usually is with CSA, what will those fresh veggies be?

Okay, let me just say, opening a CSA is like getting a Christmas present. There is a lot of excitement I feel when I open the box. It is almost like my personal mystery box (like Chopped or Masterchef) that I can develop the weekly menu from. To my delight, we had some red peppers, basil, parsley, lettuce, leeks, beets and heirloom tomatoes.

A quick peek into the fridge and I noticed we had some ground beef. Huh...how did we not use that? Oh right, hubs didn't end up using it when he made his fantastic red sauce last week. A quick look in the pantry and I saw we had some quinoa left - just hanging out. Well, it is about time I used that. Wondering how it would work as a rice substitute for stuffed peppers, I decided to give it a try.

Quite simply, I sauteed garlic and onions before adding the ground beef. Once that was cooked, I removed it and added the quinoa. Sauteed that briefly, added some broth for my liquid and let it cook. Once it was done, added the beef back into the mix and some fresh herbs. I loaded the cleaned red peppers up with the mix and baked for about 30 minutes. I had a little Parmesan left in the fridge, so I sprinkled that on top, let it broil, topped it with hubs red sauce and dug into the deliciousness.

It was a successful first meal of no groceries. Plus, plenty of leftovers. Next up, I had to think of what to do with all the extra quinoa and beef filling that I had...

The Dogs Can Enjoy Beer too!

2011-08-22T08:48:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, hubs is a homebrewer. I personally think he is quite good at what he does - and no, this isn't because I'm biased! I'm not too involved in the process, I do a lot of watching. Once in a while, I may pick up the paddle and stir, other times I may watch the timer while he does something else, add some hops here and there. But really, my involvement usually comes when it is in a glass and ready to be consumed.

We had been talking for quite a bit about the grain that he expends at the end of the process. Sure, it is great for flower beds and all that jazz, but when you live in a townhome, flower beds aren't always an option. I began to do some research because I thought, "why can't we eat it?" And wouldn't you know, there are quite some recipes out there, from pizza crust to bread, people 'reuse' this grain. And if they do, why can't I?

During my research, I found that one can use grain for dog biscuits. Now, a big red flag here people, dogs are deathly allergic to hops. So ensure any yeast you use for your pooch is hop free. I found a variety of recipes, but most were pretty basic with four ingredients: grain, eggs, flour and peanut butter. I decided to welcome our new pup (and of course to keep our current pup, Nala, happy - doesn't she look happy in her Packer scarf?) and make some.

Brew Dog Biscuits
Ingredients

4 cups spent grain (I mixed two different kinds)
2 cups flour
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs

Mix all of these ingredients together.

Spread into a baking pan. Score the dough - I used some cookie cutters as well as making straight lines. Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes.

Take these out of the oven, and break them up according to the score lines you made earlier. Spread them out on a baking sheet and bake again at 250 degrees for about 4-5 hours. The key here is to make sure they are completely dry. If not, they can grow mold and that is a no go for the pups in the house. So dehydrate if you have one, or just leave them in the oven until you are sure they are dry.

Our New Addition: Remy!

2011-08-17T13:57:00.000-04:00

For those of you who follow me on twitter or facebook, you may have already seen our new family addition. On Sunday, a pup names Remy came home with us and is happy to be in our home (well, we think so at least!)

We had been discussing getting a second pup for quite sometime. As many of you may know, Nala, is a ball full of energy. We wanted her to have a playmate, so we began our quest. I was all about getting a rescue dog or a pup from the humane society, so we kept our eyes pealed. Fortunately, it all worked out!

We made our way to the Tri-State Shiba Rescue in Ohio this past Sunday. We learned that Remy (who was then being called Nelly) had been found wandering the streets by the dog warden. The pound had her for a few weeks, but Remy kept escaping. By escaping, this means she was jumping 7 foot fences. Yup, we have a climber on our hands. They couldn't keep utilizing their resources for the same dog, so they asked the rescue to take her (rather than the sad alternative). Once the rescue posted her photos, we called immediately and within 24-hours, Remy was on her way to her new home.

Something you may not know, her full name. Nala's full name is Nala Alice De Vil. Yup, like Nala from Lion King, Alice from Alice in Wonderland and of course (my fave), Cruella from 101 Dalmations.

I'm sure you guessed already that Remy is named after Disney as well...Good guess, cause you are right. Her full name is Remy Kanga Malificent. Remy from Ratatouille, Kanga from Winnie the Pooh, and Malificent from Sleeping Beauty. I'm a villain lover, so villains had to be part of the name.

Nala is getting used to her (slowly), but Remy has embraced home and all the love she is being showered with. We affectionately call our house 'the circus' now, as I'm sure walking two Shiba's down the street can look quite amusing.

Disney Photo Recap

2011-08-12T15:30:00.000-04:00

As previously mentioned, I was in Orlando for a conference. However, I also was able to indulge in a little 'me & Mouse' time while I was there. But not my typical time. I really did a lot of things that I never do when I'm on Disney property. The one day that I really spent in the parks, I spent by myself.

I always though, what would it be like to spend a day in a park by myself. Well, now I 'kind of' know. I say kind of, because it was so incredibly hot, that I think I would have modified my plan quite a bit. This time around, I...

1. Only rode two rides the entire visit. Yup, only two - the Great Movie Ride and Toy Story Mania. Everything else was a show or attraction. For instance, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. A 30 minute broadway type show - I was impressed and couldn't believe I hadn't seen it before!

2. I didn't snack on my normal food. I had a banana and iced coffee for breakfast at Starring Rolls cafe (which is where these deliciously looking cupcakes were), ate some pizza at Pizza Planet (with a side of Caesar salad), had Moroccan sliders in Morocco and snacked at a few other places. No Dole whips, no Mickey bars. All new foods for this gal!

3. Enjoying the beach - I have to admit, I've never been to a resort pool before. AND I had never walked around the Polynesian Resort. I did both this time around (and got a great tan doing so!)

4. Watching all the country videos in Epcot. I've seen all of these at one point in time, but I normally skip these as I am usually drinking or eating my way around the world. However, the air conditioned theaters allowed me a break from the heat, plus another opportunity to see things I hadn't been able to see in quite sometime.

5. Took in the artwork. I've always known there are great shops with fantastic artwork, but I really took my time taking it all in. What I would do for a shopping spree in some of these stores - I just love all of it. Some day, when I have my Disney themed room (yup, hubs knows about this already) I'll decorate to my hearts content!

6. Cried. Well, this isn't the first time I've cried at Disney, but I walked around Walt's Dream and just took it all in. How could one man bring so much joy to all these people? Utterly amazing. And I found my new motto to live each day with:

One day, I'll only search for hidden Mickey's. Just sayin'...

Thanks for allowing me to share! And Stacy, thanks again for a great time!

When Life Hands You Lemons, Bake Some Pasta

2011-08-10T14:01:00.001-04:00

Someone stole hub's car yesterday. Yup, you heard me correctly. From our driveway. Woke up in the morning only to discover it was gone.

That is some sort of lemon throwing.

Nothing valuable was taken, a few odds and ends in the car. A garage opener being one of them - so of course, we changed all the codes. We just did what we had to do to move forward. Of course, this little hiccup makes us a one car household for now, but we have some really great friends and neighbors all offering to help us out (thank you everyone!)

After a day of filing a police report and all the other jazz that comes along with car theft, one may wonder what one has for dinner on a day like this. At least this hungry girls does.

Well, when life throws you lemons, bake some pasta. That is, only if you are craving baked pasta. And this girl definitely was.

I looked outside to the porch (which is over where the now empty car spot is) to see our pot of fresh herbs that is growing like a mad man (what does that phrase mean?) With all of the sage that we have, I opted to make something that was sage focused. Of course, chicken goes great with sage, so why not create a chicken sage pasta bake? I assessed the pantry (found some panko), the fridge (cheese and chicken), the freezer (peas) for basics and then add-ins. Done and done - hubs made some fantastic garlic breadsticks to go with it (honestly, my husband is a fantastic baker) while I began the pasta dish.

It turned out quite good - I even put peas in it (my dear friend Rachel over at Fall Creek Eclectic is surely clamping her hands with enthusiasm) and it still turned out good. Here is a breakdown:

Chicken and Sage Pasta Bake
Ingredients (I'd like to note that I actually put measurements despite me not measuring anything - I'm all about approximating but I know some people want more 'exact' measurements. )

Bacon, 5-6 Slices
Large chicken breast, cubed into bite sized pieces
Green Onions, 6, roughly chopped
Flour, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons
Milk, 2 cups
Cheese, 2 cups shredded (I shredded a combo of Monterey Jack and Mozzarella)
Butter, 2 tablespoons divided
Peas, frozen, 1 cup
Sage, 6 fresh leaves
Breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup
Pasta, 6 ounces
Salt & pepper to taste.
I also threw in some garlic powder last minute for more flavor - maybe 1 tablespoon

Cook pasta al dente while prepping the sauce
In a large pan, fry bacon until crisp. Remove, crumble and set aside. Keep bacon drippings.
Add to bacon drippings, 1 tablespoon butter and the cubed chicken. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes (pending size)
Add onions and cook for one minute. Add flour and stir until incorporated into the dish.
Add milk, slowly, and cook/soft boil until thickened.
Add cheese and stir to incorporate
Add crumbled bacon, chopped sage and peas. Stir to incorporate, add drained pasta. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder (if using).
Once everything is combined, pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9x9 pan. Top with breadcrumbs (I use panko) and drizzle with remaining tablespoon of butter, melted.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until you have a nice brown topping

Yes, if it isn't brown after 30 minutes, I wouldn't frown on putting on the broiler to get that brown topping you crave.

And if you'd like, make some lemonade (though a glass of wine worked really well for us!)

Scallops & Zucchini Ribbon Pasta

2011-08-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

Hubs and I had ordered some scallops from a groupon we had purchased a while back. These work perfectly for a planned out recipe or a thrown together dish (like the bok choy stir fry I had guest blogged on with Messy Aprons). I guess I normally lean towards thrown together dishes, so hubs and I started doing our thing.

While he warmed up the grill and prepped the scallops with some salt and pepper, I put on a pot of water for some angel hair pasta and prepped some zucchini we had from the farmers market. I simply used a vegetable peeler to make long pieces of zucchini into beautiful ribbons to mesh with the pasta.

For a sauce, I added some extra virgin olive oil to a pan and added some garlic and red pepper flakes. At the market I had also picked up some cherry tomatoes, so I cut those in half and added them to the mix to get some more juice to be part of the sauce. I added the zucchini so that it would slightly cook, but only for a minute. A bit of pasta water with the pasta, and there was a good dish happening.

Hubs had grilled up the scallops and they turned out perfectly. Adding them on top of the pasta with some fresh basil from our herb garden, we had a delicious and healthy dinner.

Frozen meets fresh - sounds like an easy dinner option to me.

Where Have I Been?!

2011-08-04T10:38:00.000-04:00

If you didn't know already, here's a hint...

Yup, I made my way to Orlando once again this year. But, this time it was both professionally and personally. I attended the Meeting Professional International World Education Conference - I know, a mouthful, which is why it is lovingly abbreviated MPI WEC. I began by taking my Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam which was a huge weight off my shoulders. The studying had taken over my life for the past few months and it was great to finally be able to wash my hands of it. I don't hear results for 8 weeks, so I can't really tell you how I did quite yet. More to come on that - cross your fingers for me!

Attending a conference for meeting planners organized by meeting professionals, you know it is going to be amazing. The opening reception was at Epcot - unbelievable. My favorite place in the world closes for me?! Amazing. Yes, I understand it wasn't for just me but I can pretend. The theme was Epcot Alive!, which focused on sustainability, the earth and all that it encompasses. Three areas were utilized - The Seas pavilion, The Land pavilion and Innoventions. Each area had food and drinks that were themed around the area, as well as cast members who were performing within the theme as well. Amazing - best opening reception I think I will ever attend. Here are some photos for The Seas:

The Land pavilion I think was the most amazing to me. The whole area was decked out in green - live trees, live plants, you name it. No line for Soarin', and we walked right onto the boat for the Living the Land attraction. Amazing. Here is a short video of a performance - a cast member was portraying a tree through the seasons. I hate that I only got the end, but you can imagine...

Crowd control was perfect, directing people between all three in the beginning to allow for a good crowd flow. So our last stop to Innoventions wasn't very busy.

Amazing music - I saw these musicians a few times while I was in the parks, but I love the costumes this time around!

And of course, it ended with IllumniNations - a firework spectacular (yes, I did get engaged at this park during this show, so I'm partial!)

The conference was full of programming and great networking opportunities. I saw Kelly Cutrone from People's Revolution speak twice - an open honest conversation that would inspire anyone to really move forward professionally. Speaker Simon Sinek was one of the best professional speakers I have ever seen. He had a great presentation on the 'why' of what we do - I encourage you to youtube him or visit the WEC website for details. Amazing. Though the food at the banquet was not very good, they even had an Iron Chef competition at a banquet. St. Louis, the next host city for 2012, had a luncheon as well where we enjoyed comedian Kathleen Madigan - hilarious!

After all the educational sessions, the conference ended with a closing reception at Universal Studio's City Walk and the Hard Rock Cafe. Once again, a great event full of food and drinks and a lot of entertainment!

Next up - how I unwound after the exam and conference - a vacay at Disney of course!

Then & Now

2011-07-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

Where have I been? Well, I've been around. Cooking, working, entertaining life daily with a busy schedule.

Sometimes, life happens.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time to write to all of you. I hope you don't hold this against me.

Today I took a test. The Certified Meeting Professional exam. I didn't get to study as much as I would have liked, but enough that it became my life for the month of July. But, I think it went well - thank you to all those who sent well wishes!

So, that is where I've been.

And where am I now? Orlando - yes, again. For a conference followed by play time. So I'll be out of commission blog wise for another week or so. But don't worry (that is, if you are), I'll be back soon.

Be prepared for more Disney love, delicious food and events! We still have a lot planned for this summer!

James Brown Entertainment

2011-07-15T14:41:00.000-04:00

Short and sweet. I found this and just had to share on a Friday for all of you....

Pierre - Good One...

2011-07-08T10:54:00.000-04:00

Road trips. Some people love them, others just don't like to drive. But when you put me in a car with two of my closest friends, I know I'll have a good time.Especially when you listen to this a few times...

And try to name all the state capitals...

Try it. Pierre may surprise you...

Anyway, from Indy to Eagle River, Wisconsin we drove. I was happy to spend time in the big W for the holiday weekend once again, but this time with friends in tow. Once we arrived, there was plenty of lake, beverages, cheese, brats and more cheese to be had (have you ever dipped a Cheese-It into Ron's Cream Cheese? If not, you are missing the high life my friend.) Of course, we bought ice cream from the lake ice cream vendor. Delicious Choco Taco!

I even introduced the non-Wisconsinites to the concept of a Supper Club. Sipped Capital Brewing for the first time - even included a brew named Supper Club. And of course, New Glarus brewing company is always top of my list in Wisconsin...

Mom and dad were absolutely fantastic - thank you everything; I loved seeing you and spending time with you! Here are a few more photos:

Hope everyone enjoyed their Independence Day. And now, it is just about time for the weekend - enjoy yourself again!

Rhubarb Streusel Pie

2011-07-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

Did you know corn and rhubarb can have a relationship?

I didn't either.

But, the corn stand at the Farmer's Market was selling rhubarb as the corn isn't quite ready yet. You know, have to reserve a spot at the Market to ensure you have it and all. So, put up the corn sign but sell rhubarb. Sounds like a plan, so people like me can reminisce about rhubarb.

It reminds me of home. My mom used to grow it behind the shed in the backyard and would make rhubarb cakes, pies and all the jazz. When I was younger, I wasn't a huge fan of it, but it has definitely grown on me throughout the years.

Corn = rhubarb = memories.

I grabbed a frozen crust I had in the freezer (leftover from the anticipation onion tart) and got to work by prepping the rhubarb. I had about 7 stalks I chopped up. I then added around 3/4 a cup of sugar, about a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a few tablespoons of butter. I filled the pie dish with the filling and got to work on the streusel topping.

A cup of flour, 1/4 cup of brown sugar and too much cinnamon were thrown together. Two finely chopped tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts were then added. I mixed this up until it was crumbly before sprinkling around the edge of the pie.

About 20 minutes later in a 350 degree oven, we had a pie. And it was delicious. I may have let it bake just a little too long (when you are making a green tomato blt, you can get distracted) but it made for a great dessert throughout the week.

Fried Green Tomato BLT

2011-07-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

After a morning at the Carmel Farmer's Market, I always come home with a few veggies for the week. At the beginning of summer, green tomatoes are abundant and make it into the bag frequently.

I know, a tomato is a fruit.

You say tomato...

It started to ripen awfully fast (you can see this in the photos), but alas, it was almost all green.

Either way, I knew exactly what I wanted when I saw that big fat tomato - a BLT. And nothing celebrates the beginning of summer like a fried (almost) green tomato. Hubs began by frying up some bacon while I prepped the tomato.

A quick dredge in some flour (seasoned with black pepper and salt), egg and sriracha mixture, then some corn meal and we were ready to go. Rather than just frying it up in oil, I had hubs reserve the bacon drippings and crisped them up in that. Insert your "oh gosh, so unhealthy" lines here, but it was delicious.

While I (unsuccessfully) searched the pantry for mayo, hubs toasted up the french bread we had. As we discovered no mayo, we opted to use ranch dressing instead. Best. Decision. Ever.

The sandwiches were filling and perfect for the summer night. They were even delicious the next day for lunch, assembly required. Sometimes, improvising can be just plain delicious!

Glee Live! (and yes, I acted like a 12 year old girl...)

2011-06-28T09:19:00.000-04:00

At the beginning of June, bestie and I made our way downtown to Conseco to see Glee Live! I think the television show is just amusing and the people are extremely talented in both dance and song. I didn't really know what to anticipate with the show, but it really was concert. I haven't really been to a 'pop' show before, but I can imagine this is as close as I will get, screaming girl fans and all that jazz. It was a great girls night - really an amazing show - here are a few photos and videos for your enjoyment.

I know they are slightly younger than me (and yes, I mean slightly!), but these boys still make me (and the twelve year old girls) swooon...

I have to admit, I 'gleeked' out like a 12 year old girl when the Warblers surprised the audience. Fantastic.

Hope you enjoyed!

Coconut French Toast with Grilled Pineapple

2011-06-21T08:43:00.000-04:00

I love having breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, bacon (mmm...popovers), eggs - I love it all anytime of the day. I was flipping through the June issue of Cooking Light and came across the Coconut French Toast with Grilled Pineapple. Well, we had just a bought a pineapple! Hubs loves pineapple, and he is a coconut fan too, so I thought we'd give it try.

Ingredients

1 c. light coconut milk
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. skim milk
3 large eggs
French bread, sliced (about 1/2 inch thick, though it says 1/4)
Pineapple, sliced
1/2 c. sweetened coconut (I omitted this - didn't have any on hand)

The recipe was quite simple, one of those, "I should have thought of that!" type of easy recipes. I began by whisking together the coconut milk, sugar, milk, and eggs. I soaked the French bread slices and then browned on a griddle until done.

While I was doing that, hubs sliced up the pineapple and grilled it until it had some great marks. I plated the French toast while hubs cut up the pineapple to top them. Since we didn't have any coconut, I couldn't flake this on top. Another great idea would be to add some toasted almonds on top, giving it a nutty crunch.

The French toast was great, subtly sweet with a nice crust. A light but extremely flavorful dish, a serving was only 394 calories (serving is three slices). This would also be a great brunch idea for the summer - outside on the patio - nom!

A Meal of Bacon

2011-06-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

I had been craving a popover since my friend's wedding back in February. Okay, you may ask yourself, how does someone just start craving a popover at a wedding? Well, this is because Maggie and Paul had their first date at Judie's in Amherst, and Judie's is locally famous for their popovers. So when I think of their history, Judie's is part of that history.

I, like many omnivores, love bacon. Salty and crispy, with a salad or a dessert, bacon can be used in just about anything. We were making a spinach and hot bacon salad for dinner (a different version than this, I reverted back to my original style) and I thought...bacon popovers! I knew I couldn't make them Judie style - large and abundant, but I could make a smaller version quite easily.

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 cup milk (I used skim)
1 tbls. vegetable oil
1 c. flour (all purpose)
salt
bacon

A basic popover is quite easy to make, then you can jazz it up anyway you like. I mixed up the eggs, milk and oil before beating in the flour and a dash of salt. I poured the simple batter into a greased muffin pan (to ensure they all bake evenly, I filled the empty spots with water) and then sprinkled crumbled bacon top. These baked for about 20 minutes in the oven (set at 400 degrees), maybe a little less, but right around the time they are golden brown and puffed up.

Hubs hadn't had a popover before, and he gobbled multiple popover 'muffins' up that evening. I love the texture, almost spongy but extremely airy. And the bacon gave them the perfect salty and savory flavor I was looking for.

Any other thoughts on how to dress up a popover?

A Wedding in Elmhurst

2011-06-15T10:05:00.000-04:00

One of my best friends (who was also one of my bridesmaids) married her the love of her life at the beautiful and historical Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst, Illinois. It couldn't have been a better day - beautiful, bright, sunny and full of love.

The mansion was gorgeous, full of nooks that had beautiful character. One room was perfect for the personalized ceremony as the couple became Mr. & Mrs., another perfect for the couple's first dance and delicious cake cutting, another for appetizers and mimosa's. A room for every perfect touch of the perfect day. And when you add a beautiful bride, a glowing groom, friends and family, the mansion becomes complete.

I couldn't be more happy for Desiree and Jordan - they both were glowing with affection for one another. It was one of those weddings where you know the couple is perfect together. You know they'll grow old together, loving each other more and more as the years go by.

Congratulations Desiree & Jordan. Honored to be part of your day and celebrate your love!

A (Fresh) Mexican Fiesta

2011-06-14T09:11:00.000-04:00

I've been craving Mexican. Maybe it is the weather warming up and the thought of chips and salsa on the balcony with a margarita in hand. I love the spicy flavors that are cooled with guacamole and citrus. Fresh Mexican food - amazing.

Rather than a meatless Monday, we opted for Mexican Monday. I, like my friend Michelle over at Fun & Fearless, had found a quick and easy recipe for roasted salsa in Everyday Food (visit Michelle's site for a step-by-step, or check out the June issue!) I gathered the ingredients and whipped it together - fresh, amazing and quick. I spiced it up a bit more and added a bit more garlic, but it really was amazing. I'll definitely make it again.

Our main item was going to be chicken taquitos. Hubs seasoned some broth and poached a few chicken tenderloins. Once they were poached, we shredded it with forks and then added some of the salsa I made. Cumin and Monterey Jack cheese were mixed in before being rolled in corn tortillas. We baked them in the oven while we finished the grilled corn and black bean salad.

The salad was a creation of our own - just threw some things together. I sauteed up an onion with garlic and added the black beans. While I was doing that, hubs had grilled a few cobs of corn that he stripped down and added to the mix. A tomato and some cilantro, this cooled down in the fridge while everything else came together.

It was a light and refreshing meal. I love summer and all the fresh ingredients that make meals like this satisfying!

Disney World Continued...

2011-06-13T13:51:00.000-04:00

This post is extremely delayed. As I mentioned, work is extremely busy right now. Sometimes life gets busy. It just happens. With work, I've been working at home in the evenings as well to ensure all is set for our upcoming event. That means, not as much time for blogging. But alas, I'm slowly getting back into it (though I can guarantee I'll be better in July).

Just wanted to share a few more photos from Disney. We really had a great time with our close friends Sean and Melinda. We visited Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach and, my favorite, Epcot. Lots of great food (which you can ready about over at City Nom Noms), entertaining rides and amusing shows - building on memories and making new ones. I love Disney, I can't help it, it is the happiest place on earth after all!

We also went to Universal Studios for some Harry Potter love.

It was really hard to come back - I'm still having withdrawals. For some reason, it was really hard to come back. Not the normal "I don't want vacation to end" but different - like what's next? I guess we'll see...

The Zoo: A Break in the Life of a Busy Person

2011-06-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

Yup, I've been very busy at work. My big event is coming up and I've been working day and night. I love it though - I really love what I do.

And because I've been working so much, I'm hoping you can help me and a friend enjoy a night off. We have entered a competition to win tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo's annual event - Zoobilation. It is an eating frenzy, full of Indy's best food, complimentary drinks and entertainment. A black-tie gala, everyone dresses up only to wear flip flops with their outfit (you are walking around the zoo people...)

That's me in 2009 at Zoobilation with a delish Red Velvet cupcake, compliments of The Flying Cupcake

To help out, I just need you to 'like' our comment (look for Melinda Mettler) and Qdoba Indy's Facebook page. That is it - no donation, nothing. Just a simple click of the finger! If you aren't a social media happy person (or if you want to pass this around to friends who aren't - please do so, pimp us out!), here are some basic instructions:

Visit www.facebook.com/qdobaindy. (If you are not logged into Facebook, it will ask you to do so at this time.)
At the top of the page, click the "Like" button next to Qdoba Central Indiana.
This will take you to the page for Qdoba Central Indiana.
On the left hand side of the screen, click on the "Wall" button.
Find MELINDA STARBUCK METTLER's comment on the wall (it may be near the top or farther down the page, depending on how many people keep posting).
Click "Like" underneath my comment.

That's it - nothing more! I would appreciate any and all of your help! Pass the word - we are currently in third place. Contest ends tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:00 a.m. eastern standard time.

Thank your help - hopefully we get to attend and I can recap all the food love for you!

Disney's International Flower & Garden Festival - Part 2

2011-06-02T08:48:00.000-04:00

Future world had some great flowers, but I really loved all the flowers from the World Showcase - the characters matched the country so it made it a little bit more fun to me. Here they are:

Outside of Norway - fun troll!

Panda's in China

The Lion King characters in the 'South African' region

Snow White and the infamous 7 in Germany

Not made out of flowers, but Tangled was represented during the festival in Germany as well

Lady & the Tramp - Italy


Aladdin in Morocco

Beauty, Belle & the Crew in France

The princesses were between France and the United Kingdom. All were beautiful - was happy to see them!

Guest Blog Post: Messy Aprons!

2011-05-31T17:37:00.000-04:00

The gals over at Messy Aprons had asked if I would be a guest blogger. A kitchen pantry recipe developed especially for their site. Get the recipe for this Scallop & Bok Choy Stir Fry!

Mmmm....thanks ladies for allowing me to be part of your blog!

Disney's International Flower & Garden Festival - Part I

2011-05-26T11:22:00.001-04:00

On the first day of our vacay, hubs and I made our way to Epcot to see the International Flower & Garden Festival. I've never been to the event, so was happy to make it for the first time.

For those who haven't been to Epcot, there are essentially two different areas - Future World and the World Showcase. Future World has the rides that focus on space and technology - the image of the future (or the image of what we thought the future would be like back in the day!) Here is a recap of some of the floral artwork in Future World!

Onion Tart with Mache & Walnut Dressing

2011-05-24T08:31:00.000-04:00

When hubs and I were anticipating our pending Disney trip, I was busy with anticipation cooking. The Sunday before we left, I woke up wanting a casual and slow in the kitchen. I love lazy Sunday's, and being casual in the kitchen is part of that. I had some chives, green onions and mache that I thought would work perfectly with Citricos' Onion Tart that I saw in my Disney cookbook. Citrocos is a upscale restaurant at the beautiful Grand Floridian Resort - gorgeous. It is on my bucket list to stay there for a Disney trip. While thinking of the sunny and beautiful location spot, I put on a pot of coffee and got to work.

Here is the basic recipe and steps for the tart. I did change it up a little and made notations as applicable:

olive oil
large onion (I used four small)
bay leaf (I used two)
2 eggs (modified to three since I was making one large tart, not four small)
2 tbls. heavy cream (probably 3 on my end)
2 tbls. milk (I used skim, about 3 tbls.)
1 minced garlic clove (2)
salt and pepper to taste
refrigerated pie dough
1/2 cup blue cheese

While the oven preheated, I sauteed onions with the bay leaves in some olive oil until they were soft and lightly browned, but not caramelized to be overly sweet. While this was cooking, I prepped the crust by laying the pie dough into a tart pan. I pricked the dough (so that it wouldn't rise when pre-baking) and baked it in a 375 degree oven for about 5 minutes. When the tart was done baking, I removed the bay leaves from the onion mixture and spread it in the crust.

For the egg mixture, I whisked together the heavy cream, milk, eggs and garlic. I also decided to add the chives from our weekly CSA to the mix before adding salt and pepper to taste. This was poured over the onion mixture in the tart pan. I then sprinkled bleu cheese crumbles on top and placed it into a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes.

While it was baking, I mixed up the walnut dressing that was going to drizzle over the top. The recipe calls for:

1/2 c. sherry vinegar (I used red wine vinegar)
1/2 teas. Dijon mustard
1 tbls. chopped walnuts
1 shallot, minced (I used our CSA green onion base)
1 c. olive oil (I used about 3/4 c.)
salt and pepper to taste

This was all blended together and then drizzled over the top of the tart. I also topped the tart with the mache from our CSA to freshen it up a bit more. Overall, the tart was sweet from the onions but sharp with the bleu cheese. It was filling but not heavy. Which is good when you are planning on going on vacation in a warm place!

I'm Having Withdrawals...

2011-05-23T11:33:00.000-04:00

You know, the kind of withdrawals that you get when you arrive home from a vacation.

Vacation Withdrawals.

Hubs and I had a great time in Orlando with two of our closest friends. We took in all that Walt Disney World had to offer (thanks to our wonderful friend, Stacy!), said hello to our friend Harry (as in Harry Potter) and soaked in the sun while not thinking about work and the normal, daily routine.

Will be posting photos for a recap, but until then, here is a great post I saw when I opened up my google reader (eek, despite me not blogging, I see that all of you have!) regarding one of my favorite places in Epcot, Japan.

Read all about it here at A World's View if you would like or just enjoy the photo of hubs and I on our engagement rock. Hard to imagine that five years ago (this October!) hubs asked me to spend the rest of my life with him under the fireworks. Love that guy and everything about that day.

More to come!

Me & the Mouse

2011-05-14T09:45:00.000-04:00

It is time! Tim and I are off to Orlando with two of our besties, Melinda and Sean, for the week! I've been waiting (and cooking) for weeks in anticipation!

I've also asked on my other blog, City Nom Noms, if there are any food suggestions that you want me to try out (that I haven't!) to let me know. Anything other 'tips' or suggestions from the readers?

Melinda, myself & Mallory during our trip in July 2010

Like the last visit, I'll post some recaps of Disney and Universal (for Harry Potter of course). Until then, have a great week and we'll touch base when I return!

It's a Family Affair

2011-05-11T08:48:00.001-04:00

As mentioned, I was in Green Bay this past weekend for not only a wedding, but also to celebrate my father's birthday (Happy Birthday again dad!) and Mother's Day (love you mom!)

The immediate family got together for a cookout on Saturday night just to relax and see each other. I played chess with both my niece and nephew (and yes, I won), drank wine with my mom & sister-in-law, played with my brother's dog (her name is Malibu) and ate some great steaks from dad. Oh, and of course, we placed a friendly wager on the Kentucky Derby. I of course picked the one Disney reference, Animal Kingdom. Once again, I won....not to brag or anything.

Yup, lots of steak, which also meant leftovers. We also had fresh fruit, potato salad, corn, cheesy brocolli, foccacia and a berry tiramisu for dessert. Lots of wine too - did I mention that?

Love them. Hugs to my family!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Vanden Avond

2011-05-10T14:16:00.002-04:00

My dear friend, Mykael, married the love of his life, Stephanie, this past weekend in Green Bay. You may remember him from another wedding recap. Before I show you all of the fun, a few things to note about Mr. Mykael.

The true spelling of his name is Michael. A long time ago, he decided Myk was a better fit, and so that is how he is referenced by not only himself, but everyone else. I have always called him Michael, and I refuse to change that. Thus, I've amended Michael to Mykael to satisfy his i vs. y thing he has going on.
We have known each other since prior to birth. Our parents are besties (they met because our father's are in the same industry), thus we grew up together and have always been close due to our age (which is exactly 9 months apart, he is July 17, whereas I am April 17). We have spent countless summers camping with our families growing up - we even used to waterski together. Matching hoodies were also part of history.
He's a fire fighter. All buff and like, he saves lives. Awesome guy.
I love him to pieces like a brother. We used to tell people we were half siblings and everyone believed us. It did take a while for people to understand that we weren't once high school graduation occurred and everything (we went to different high schools). Not to mention the different parent thing.

When he met Stephanie and I finally had the chance to meet her, I knew she was perfect for him. She's adorable, friendly and love him with all of her heart. I was honored to read and be part of their special day as they became Mr. & Mrs. A small photo recap:

Some of the old camping crew!

Love my hubs

My adorable parents

And my adorable brother and sister-in-law

Beautiful bride!

With dear friend Matthew, Mykael's brother

LOVE these kids!

The groom with his wonderful parents!

::sigh:: I just love weddings.

How was your weekend?

Quinoa & Black Bean Salad

2011-05-05T10:52:00.000-04:00

I've had this in my back pocket for quite sometime (okay really, I just forgot to post it and found it sitting there...waiting patiently.) With all of the mache we've received from our CSA, hubs and I made fish tacos the first time around. And when hubs said he wanted fish tacos, I happily agreed and quickly thought how great a black bean side would be as an accompaniment. Had some quinoa in the pantry and decided to mix up with the two ingredients.

I sauteed some finely chopped white onion with about 4 cloves of garlic. Once the onions were translucent, I added about 3/4 cup of quinoa. Then, some cumin and cayenne pepper to the mix. One this was all mixed up, I added about 2 cups of vegetable stock and let it come to a boil. Then, the simmering began.

I was thinking maybe 15 minutes for this, but the quinoa was just tough for some reason. I don't cook with quinoa very often, so I may have had the texture wrong, but I knew that I wanted it to be cooked a bit more. It was soaking up the liquid like a rock star, so I kept adding 1/4 cup here, a 1/4 cup there until it was the texture I was looking for. This lasted for about 30 minutes total, but it wasn't a big deal because I started it much earlier than everything else. I guess my mind knew something it wasn't really telling me during the cooking process.

Once it was a good texture, I added two cans of rinsed black beans and cooked until everything was hot. Added some cilantro (what was left - so only about a tablespoon, though it could have had more) and wild chives.

It made a lot of salad, let me tell you. Plus, it was extremely filling. All good things in my book. There was enough for me to make a meal out of it the next day. And to jazz it up, I added the leftover grilled nectarine salsa we had from our fish tacos the next day - it was delicious (and just as filling!)

A Delicious Spring Progressive

2011-05-02T08:57:00.000-04:00

Steven has done it again! Another wonderful meal at Tastings that included not only great dishes, but some great wines as well. For all those who didn't show up, I have to say thank you because our portions were a bit larger, which left my stomach very happy!

Aperitif - Cherry Blossom Cocktail
Pink in color, I sipped and was immediately reminded of cherry 7-up. The fizz, the flavors, it all was light and refreshing with that slight imitation flavor you sometimes get when using flavored products. It was made of vodka, sake and Nuvo - a good sipping beverage.

First Course - 2009 Folonari Soave served with Asparagus Crostini
The wine was clean and crisp, perfect for the crostini that we were served. A lightly toasted baguette had the perfect crunch, and was topped with a homemade ricotta of TPC whole milk and goat cheese. The creamy cheese was the perfect accompaniment to the thinly shaved asparagus. The perfect spring vegetable was dressed in lemon-mint vinaigrette. I loved the sweetness of added honey with the asparagus. Simple, refreshing, perfect.

Second Course - 2009 Dom. Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier served with Salmon Nicoise
I loved the bottle - it had braille on it which we learned was for a family member of the winery. Sharp, berry smelling and tasting, it was paired with cured Atlantic salmon. A dijon mustard-cured salmon was slightly salty, but creamy on the palate. Served with deeply roasted green beans and gold potatoes. The earthy potatoes were paired perfectly with a subtly salty olive vinaigrette and shaved manchego cheese.

Third Course - 2009 Renato Ratti 'Ochetti' Nebbiolo d'Alba served with Basil Crusted Duck
What my friend Rachel dubbed as a 'friendly' bottle, this was a sweeter red that both red-wine lovers and non-lovers alike could share. The duck fat was rendered before being finished in the oven to a perfect medium rare. Crunchy panko was mixed with basil and covered the duck for a perfect crunch and smooth texture. This was served on a creamy sunchoke puree. Sunchokes are similar to the sweet taste of a parsnip, which was great with the chanterelle jus, rich in rosemary flavors. Even my friend Melinda, who had never eaten duck before, finished her dish wanting more.

Final Course - 2009 Dom. de margui 'Vin De Pays Du Var' Rose served with Rainbow Sorbet
The wine wasn't memorable, but the kumquat sorbet was. We were served three different sorbets: lime, kumquat and raspberry. The raspberry was sweet, the lime tart, and the kumquat just right. Perfectly cleansing, I really enjoyed the flavors. These were served with shards of an almond-sugar cookie, both crunchy but soft, thick with the almond extract flavor.

A great evening with many flavors. I loved the variety: some cheese, seafood, protein and a dessert. Everything was light - exactly how Spring should be in dishes. Thank you again for a wonderful evening Steven and all the staff at Tastings!

More Greens

2011-05-01T11:49:00.000-04:00

Week four of our CSA has given us more greens. The cooler was full, lots of things to use for this week - which is short due to a trip to Green Bay (one of my best friends is getting married!) so we'll need to be creative this week. We have...

baby romaine
spinach
mache
red and green lettuce
chives
green onions
our own sage plant

So, a few repeats. Well, a lot of repeats. I wish we were getting a few different things, like asparagus and other spring vegetables. But leafy greens it is! I already have plans for most of it, but if anyone has any suggestions, don't hesitate!

Spoodles in the Kitchen

2011-04-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit

More anticipation for our pending Disney trip, I found myself making a dish from Spoodles. Spoodles was a restaurant located on Disney's BoardWalk. I never had the opportunity to dine there, and won't have a chance since it closed in 2009. However, I never really heard anything great about the restaurant, so I don't feel like I missed out on too much.

What drove me to make a dish from a closed restaurant that I never dined at, I can't say. But I was still inspired by the fried polenta with sauteed mushrooms and wilted greens. I had spinach from our week 3 CSA and a cluster of shitake, oyster and baby bella mushrooms. Why not?

To save time, I grabbed already made polenta. I wasn't confident in it until hubs and I actually sat down to eat dinner because through the process it was breaking and just didn't taste right to me. I guess that is what happens when you don't make your own, but it worked out in the end!

The mushrooms were sauteed and then cooked in a red wine/broth reduction for a few minutes. The wilted greens were spinach, sauteed with just a bit of water and butter. I lightly fried the polenta in some olive oil, and then drizzled a balsamic vinaigrette with chopped basil over it all.

I wasn't anticipating it being so filling, but it was. A light meal, inspired by Disney once again!

Vacation Anticipation in the Kitchen

2011-04-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

I love getting excited for vacations. I especially love the anticipation of a Walt Disney World vacation. I'm a Disney brat - love everything about the place.

I'm not kidding - I really do.

I expressed my love in my first blog post. I've had great vacations and have made many memories with friends and family. My love (maybe an obsession, I'm willing to admit this) got stronger after hubs proposed to me under the Disney fireworks in 2006 - our engagements story was published in a Disney newsletter too. And for the record, Alice is my favorite (which is apparent from this past Halloween party) with the villains, especially Cruella, following her very closely after.

I can't help it. I love it. If you are my friend, you know I love Disney. Even if you are a virtual friend of mine and read this blog, you know I'm a Disney fan from my many random Disney ramblings throughout the blog. There is always happiness streaming out of my pores. Happiness = love. Disney = love.

See this little girl? She was probably just waiting for mom and dad to get in the car and take her to the Happiest Place on Earth. No kidding.

So when hubs and I decided to use our timeshare in Orlando this May, we invited some friends and arranged for our Disney travels. I say Disney, others say Florida (it is all one happy place to me.) My anticipation has officially leeked into the kitchen. I'm a fan of buying cookbooks on my travels, and of course, there is a Disney cookbook in the library. So, we are cooking up Disney for the next few weeks to continue the anticipation build.

This week - we had the Kona salad from the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort. Yum - it is a citrus based vinaigrette that is lightly dressed over some great ingredients. We used the little gen romaine from our CSA as the base and topped it with bleu cheese, walnuts (versus the almonds that are in the original recipe), red onions and anjou pears. Plus, hubs cooked up a chicken breast with simple seasoning and we split that on top.

Simple, and delish. Plus, made me crave Disney a bit more!

We plan on having a few more Disney inspired dishes this week and in the weeks to come as we prepare for our vacation. It will be fun incorporating our CSA veggies into these recipes too.

How do you build up your excitement for a vacation?

Not so sure about these kale chips...

2011-04-26T08:15:00.000-04:00

We had our kale from week 2 and week 3 of our CSA to use, so I decided to bake up some kale chips. To be honest, I'm getting a little tired of kale despite really only cooking it once so far from our CSA mission. So I was hoping this use would brighten up my current dislove of the veggie.

I knew it would be a simple process, just didn't know how it would turn out. I began by cutting the kale from the the stems into bite sized pieces. I washed them and made sure they were really dry before tossing them with some olive oil. Then, in a single layer, I put them onto a baking sheet.

First round, they were in the oven for about 10 minutes - 350 degrees. They were very crisp, and turned a little brown. I thought it may have been due to the size of the kale, so for the second round, I used only the larger pieces.

The chips were crisp, light and airy. I personally wasn't a fan of the chips - but I could see why people would love this nutritious treat. Hubs ate them up very quickly despite his initial hesitation when he saw me tossing the kale with olive oil.

I'd be interested in making them again, but jazzing it up with something other than just sea salt. Maybe garlic salt? Or a little spice?

What are your thoughts for next time?

Eating Organic for Earth Day

2011-04-25T08:42:00.000-04:00

Celebrating Earth Day can be done in so many ways. From shopping with your own bags to cleaning a highway, there are ways for all of us to pitch in and remember that we need to take care of our surroundings. One celebration I was looking forward to was eating and sipping at Tastings. Yes, eating and sipping organically counts as well. We had a variety of organic wines and ate some great courses, 90% that was organic. Here is just a taste of what you missed:

Apertif - 2008 Perlage "Altana' Rosato Frizzante

2nd Course - 2008 Domaine Eugene Meyer Pinot Blanc served with Citrus Ceviche
The ceviche was Ahi tuna, turbot and bay scallops, blood orange & Meyer lemon dressing, honey-chamomile goat cheese served with sesame crisps.

3rd Course - 2006 Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir served with Veal Ragout
The ragout was a free-range veal, crimini mushrooms, striped eggplant, San Marzano tomatoes and sweet yam and sage polenta. Just a note, this veal ragout was one of the best Italian dishes I've had in a very long time. Hubs direct quote, "If I had an Italian grandmother, she would make this." Classic Italian, rich in flavor from the veal and roasted eggplant that was seasoned with thyme and sage. Subtle back heat finished this dish - delish.

4th Course - 2009 Caligiore 'Reserve' Malbec served with Muscovado Pork
Muscovado & chipotle marinated pork tenderloin, served with a pancetta-black eyed pea stew and a crispy onion. Perfectly cooked pork that was tender and clean tasting, served with a rich stew. Took me a few bites (I'm not a huge black eyed pea fan), but I really loved all the flavors as they worked together - I was licking my fork by the end of it.

2007 Lange Twins 'Proprietary' Cabernet Sauvignon served with a cheese tasting
Lightly-fried Hungarian Kashkaval and American Pecorino Romano with French plum and cherry chutney. Salty cheese paired with a sweet chutney. One word sums this up...nom.

If you haven't had the opportunity to dine with Steven, I think you have to make it a priority. He is extremely talented, always fine tuning his dishes and thinking about the flavors that he is pairing with the wines. And the wines that Tastings offer, especially with this tasting, were fresh and bold. Always a great experience, I'm looking forward to this upcoming Wednesday - a Spring Progressive.

Hoppy Green Easter!

2011-04-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

This Easter, hubs and I really took time to enjoy ourselves with one another. We kicked off the weekend on Saturday by picking up our week three CSA.

We are enjoying...

Little Gem Romaine
Spinach
Kale
Mache

Yup, more kale, spinach and mache. I guess we'll have to continue to be creative with the greens!

Happy Easter - let the cooking continue!

Sunday Morning Ritual with a Splash of Pesto

2011-04-22T10:38:00.000-04:00

I like grocery shopping. I know most people don't, but there is something that I genuinely enjoy about it. I make our weekly menu on Sunday morning over a cup of coffee, pack up our reusable bags and then head to the store with hubs. We always begin with veggie picking and then work our way to the meat and dairy. It's a Sunday ritual I really enjoy - like brunch and reading the paper with my coffee.

I think we didn't go this past week because it was my birthDAY (opposed to week, weekend or month.) Not that it is a reason to not go, but we were busy and just didn't make it. When we don't go to the store, we are always left with two options during the week:

1.) Go to the store - just do the trip on Monday or Tuesday - during the week.
2.) Get creative with the pantry and fridge.

Sometimes option one is difficult with our schedules. I'm a busy lady, I know this, and sometimes it is a battle to get everything into the week. But option two can be difficult as well because we don't stock up on items in the pantry. We like to buy a lot of things fresh, so we don't freeze a lot either. We don't have frozen pizza on hand and we don't really do boxed meals.

But this week, we decided on option 2 - let's make it work. We had some fresh veggies from our second week of CSA so that dramatically makes it easier. With a little inspiration from Jessica over at The Novice Chef, I decided to use the spinach and make a pesto of my own. I had never used spinach in a pesto, and without basil, I knew it would be interesting (our basil seeds are not giving us any love quite yet, but they will! Hubs has a green thumb for sure.)

I pulled out my mini chopper (I'm in desperate need of a full-sized food processor. If anyone would like to contribute, I'm taking donations) and began by pulsing some spinach. I added maybe a cup of leftover ricotta cheese, about 4 cloves of garlic, a few handfuls of Parmesan cheese and seasoned it with salt and pepper.

I added it to the cooked macaroni noodles we had on hand and tossed with about a cup of raw spinach leaves. A little dusting of grated Parmesan on top, served with a simple red and green leaf lettuce salad.

So, veggie box update:

~~Spinach~~
~~Red and Green leaf lettuce~~
Mache (which we used last week to make fish tacos)
Wild chives
Green onions
Kale

Unfortunately, our mache is looking a little gloom. But I do plan on using it before it all goes down hill. I'll sneak the wild chives and onions in somewhere, and the kale, we'll figure it out sometime. Time just seems to not be on my side this week...

Happy Earth Day!

Brew Bracket - A Craft Beer Tourney

2011-04-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

Hubs and I joined up with our friend Steven and a few others to participate in the IPA tourney of craft brews - Brew Bracket. I wasn't entirely sure how the event was going to work, but was excited for this portion of the birthDAY celebration. We happily made our way to the Indiana State Fairgrounds and arrived a few minutes early. A few minutes early that day in the beer community was a lot early, so we sat around and waited for the festivities to begin.

As we looked around I saw there were four different areas: North, South, East and West. Later on when we learned how the tourney would work, we were informed how the first round was split into two, narrowing the 16 entries down to 8. The third round down to four, and so on until it was two against two in the finals. Two plastic cups - one silver and one orange - were the vehicles to taste the beer blindly. Then, you cast your vote in a paint bucket and hoped for the best.

It was intense. Each round was 30 minutes so you had to make sure you left yourself enough time to try all the beers, especially in the first round. It was also intense because it was a blind tasting. Though you would normally cheer on your favorites, you really couldn't tell if you cheering them on or not. I have to be honest: some beers I wouldn't have tried because I had bad experiences with others from that particular brewery. Unless they were 'free' samples, I wouldn't spend my money on them. But I would easily try a brew from a brewery that I've loved in the past. It was intense, a little nerve racking. I truly wanted everyone to do well, and I found myself crossing my fingers sometimes as I dropped a ticket into the bucket.

There were some not so good beers and then there were some great beers. Oh, and there was raffle. I did not win one of the coveted growlers. ::enter sad birthday face::

Here is a video of the bracket announcements:

And for those who didn't want to watch it - the finalists were Rock Bottom College Park (Liz) and Rock Bottom Downtown (Jerry). I have a confession - I knew Liz's brew was in the mix. I guessed it and I was right. But I was surprised by Jerry's IPA - I had never tried it before and it was delish as well. But for both RB's to be in the mix? No one was expecting such a close family battle at the end (well, I like to think no one was...)

I'm sure you were wondering who the winner was...I know I was...

The winner was announced, and Rock Bottom Downtown brewer, Jerry Sutherlin's IPA brew was liked a little bit more by the taste buds of the room as he brought home the coveted tap handle.

A BIG congratulations to all of the brewers who participated, and of course to Jerry for a great win. Thank you to the coordinators of the event - we really had a great time. Heard some rumors of an Oktoberfest tourney in the works. Now, that sounds like another perfect way to spend my birthday...

Birthday Celebrations

2011-04-20T08:40:00.000-04:00


Birthday flowers from SIL, BIL & godson!

If you know me, you know that I am a birthday brat. Plain and simple - I can't help it. I love celebrating my birthday (I mean, most people do right?) The countdown to the birthday month begins St. Paddy's Day - exactly one month before the day of birth. Then, April 1 comes and the birthday celebrations begin.

You may ask, "Angie, why do you feel the need to celebrate all month long?"

Let me explain. David and Chris, my brothers, both celebrate their birthday's in April (1st and 16th respectively) so legit, it always seemed like a month of birthdays. Plus, I had (and still have) many friends who celebrate their birth in April. Prime example - 9 out of about 30 people have an April birthday at my work. Nine.

I guess I never stopped celebrating the whole month - and my hope is that I will continue to do so for a very long time. I'm uber fortunate to have a husband who indulges this celebration and allows me to be the birthday brat I am for the month. And of course, my besties are also very good about it. I like to think of it as being endearing. Just sayin'.

So here we are in birthday week. My actual birthday was Sunday and it began with a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict - my favorite. I love the creamy hollandaise and how the egg yolk pours perfectly over the crisp hash browns and English muffins. My favorite kind of eggs benedict is crab benedict. I order it ever single time I see it on the menu. But something is a little bit more loving when your wonderful hubs makes it for you. No questions of "what would you like?" because he already knows. I gobbled up my breakfast and then we were lazy before heading to Brew Bracket (which I'll be posting a recap very soon) for the afternoon.

Next up, birthday sushi from Naked Tchopstix - for a review, head over to my other blog, City Nom Noms. And to wrap it up, drinks with some great friends.

It was a good birthday, low key but still busy. A good way to end the weekend (which really, wasn't the end since I took Monday off. I'm a firm believer everyone should have their birthday off. And if it falls on the weekend - take off the Monday) and begin the 2nd birthday week.

Yes, I said 2nd. Since birthDAY was on a weekend, I decided to grant myself two weeks.

Birthday. Brat. I know this.

Little celebrations here and there aren't bad. Things like me being able to pick out the movie on Tuesday night or decide where to go out to lunch on Monday. They are all little things - and nothing is wrong with entertaining life daily.

CSA Week 2

2011-04-19T09:11:00.000-04:00

Another Saturday means another CSA! Last week, we had greens and this week is no different. The line-up includes:

Spinach
Red and Green leaf lettuce
Mache (which we used last week to make fish tacos)
Wild chives
Green onions
Kale (plan on not keeping it so simple this week!)

Some thoughts for this week's menu includes a mixed Spring salad and potentially a gratin. We'll need to use our greens earlier than last time since we don't want any wilting to happen!

Any ideas for the ingredients we have?

Sauteed Kale & Mushrooms

2011-04-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

Quick & simple post, I had to update you on the last item from our first week of CSA. The kale! I knew immediately that I wanted a simple side of kale and mushrooms. I had it when I was in Boston and my friend Denise cooked for me, so it was an easy side dish to some grilled chicken and spring vegetables.

Pretty easy:

Saute about 3 or 4 garlic cloves.
Add mushrooms - cook until softened.
Add kale until it wilts, just a few minutes.

Simple & done. Earthy kale helped make this meal a bit more healthy and fresh. Afterward, hubby looks at me and says "kale is pretty earthy huh?" Yes, why yes it is.

Fish Tacos with Mache & Grilled Nectarine Salsa

2011-04-16T18:14:00.002-04:00

With our first CSA in hand, hubs had decided to make some fish tacos using our chives, mache and cilantro. I was pleasantly surprised by this as he usually doesn't enjoy fish tacos, but I adore them. We bought a large trout filet at the grocery and took it home for some corn tortilla tacos.

Hubs prepped all of the ingredients, so really, I just mixed and seasoned while he was grilling the nectarines I needed for the salsa. We had about half a cup each of red onions and green bell peppers, a few tablespoons of mache and a few tablespoons of cilantro. Mache is a mild, lettuce like ingredient. I've also heard it called lamb lettuce, so if you have too, well, that is what we were using.

I threw in the grilled, diced nectarines (we used two total), some cayenne and red pepper flakes, lime juice (fresh from one lime), salt and pepper to taste. And of course, the wild chives we had to give it a little something else.

This was probably the freshest tasting salsa we've had in a long time. Maybe it was the beautiful evening we were enjoying on the patio while indulging in these fish tacos, but it was refreshingly and guilt free. Crisp in flavors, it worked perfectly with the grilled trout we had.

So far, this week's CSA:

~~Cilantro~~
~~Wild Chives~~
~~Mache~~
Romaine (Nothing will be posted on this - it got slimy and wilted after a few days. Insert sad face.)
Kale
Spinach (won't post this either - we had plans to make a pasta, but time ran out on us and it ended up as a lunch salad.)

Made anything recently that was completely guilt free, but made you feel like you were indulging?

Supporting Local Food & Farmers

2011-04-15T10:05:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, the IndySpectator published an article about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Ever since our friends Mallory & Ryan had signed up for a CSA last year, I've been bugging hubs to get in on it so we could have a veggie box of our own. And after the article came out, it reminded me that I still wanted one. Thus, the Ahrens' purchased their very own CSA for the spring.

You may ask, what is a CSA? I'm a huge fan of farmer's markets, and this is another way that you can support your local farmer's and the community of food producers. Essentially, you purchase a "share" of a local farmer's produce and for that price, receive a bounty of fruit, veggies, herbs and other local items. Programs can vary by weeks (ours is 7 for the Spring) and by price points, as well as items offered. These bountiful boxes can be delivered directly to your door or you can pick them up at the farm or a local shop.

After some research, I settled on a local farm in Zionville, IN called Valentine Hill Farm. This particular CSA worked for us because of the price point (around $17 a week) and because of the pick-up location, which is at the delicious Trader's Point Creamery (go there for brunch if you haven't - delish). Another reason we picked it was because of the options. They had four:

Small share (for two people)
Small share (for two people) including bread
Large share (for four people)
Large share (for four people) including bread

I was extremely interested in the bread, because you could get freshly made loaves of bread, English muffins, homemade pasta or pies. Delicious, but not necessary for us. Since we enjoy making our own pasta and hubs is one fantastic baker, we decided to stick to the small share sans carbs. I signed us up, and our first weekend pickup was this past Saturday. I was in Chicago for work and a friend's bridal shower, and hubs was working, so bestie Mel came to the rescue and picked up the veg box for us. Plus, she sent me this photo to get me all excited for Sunday menu planning (a ritual in the Ahrens' household). And can I just note it came in a Charles Shaw wine box? Veggies in a wine box? My kind of veggies!

What was in the lovely veg box? Spinach, mache, baby Little Gem romaine lettuce, kale, wild chives, and cilantro. I love not knowing what we'll get - it is all fresh and in season which makes the pending weekend menu planning that much more fun to me. And Valentine Farm sends a newsletter with 3-4 recipes that you can try with your new produce. Honestly, what is there not to love?

We are still in debate if we'll continue through the summer. You may wonder, "Why Angie, you love your CSA veg box!?" but it is because we also love to frequent the farmer's markets. Taking a quick bike ride down the Monon to the Carmel Farmers Market is one of our favorite summer activities. And we are still getting fresh and local ingredients, all while supporting the local community. So, I guess we'll see...

Stay tuned for all the great cooking we get from this new adventure. Not to mention, future photos of veggie box excitement. Can you tell I'm excited? I hope you are too!