just as we are

checking in

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:41:00 +0000

*this post has been sitting in my drafts. decided to finish it and roll with the better late than never approach.*

i walk past an aisle at target and glance over to a sea of plastic blue and pink color coated baskets, pastel stripe tin buckets, cars and thomas the train themed felt baskets - i smile. i don't remember exactly what age i was when i realized easter baskets actually meant easter baskets. the easter bunny brought the three kids who lived at the beige house on the corner easter baskets goodies on cookie sheets. the cookie sheets were pulled out of the drawer beneath the stove each year and as we grew, sometimes more and sometimes less depending on who would be joining, then springtime goodies were piled high. i kid not.

thank God for humble pie.

easter sunday :: she is loved, if you can't tell

after back to back weeks of business travel for hunkaroonie followed by our southern california vacation, we welcomed sliding into our own bed sheets this weekend. rain, lightening and thunder rocking us to sleep each night and giving us a reason to extend our stay each morning. i sit at the dining room table overlooking the backyard which has embraced the weekend rain by showing off with the most vibrant green color, a cup of piping hot honey-lemon water sits to my left, the clinking sound of the crock pot lid from the steam is off in the distance while the smell of spicy pork shoulder fills the air.

home is definitely where it's at.

springtime :: egg salad sandwich, thinly sliced onion, arugula

april showers bring may flowers

we are getting back into routine, wiping the dust off my camera (the baseboards too) and hoping to see you back here more often with less random from-the-drafts posts. until then i've got suitcases to unpack, laundry to put away, a house to clean, and company to prepare for.

the thoughtful and heartfelt cards, flowers, and calls about my grandfather's passing have helped restore our hearts. so we thank you.

berry 'n oat smoothie :: 6 whole frozen strawberries, handful of blackberries, cup of plain yogurt, handful of dry oatmeal, heaping tablespoon of wheat germ, cup or so of organic vanilla soymilk, a couple large squeezes of agave

going home

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:08:00 +0000

on a overcast april afternoon during a twenty one gun salute and surrounded by our entire family, my brother, along with the other grandsons, carried my grandfather's casket to where we laid his body to rest.

he was not the typical grandfather one might picture. he wasn't at my basketball games or my cross country meets. he wasn't seated across from me when i blew out my birthday candles each year or present when i received my high school and college diploma. he may not have been present for those things and many others, but what he did for me and my twenty cousins is something we get to see and feel every single day.

he taught his eight boys how to be men, husbands, and fathers.

he taught them about religion, church, and faith. about family and representing the italian american culture. about encouraging your wife to chase her dreams and what true love looks like. he taught them how to cook and work hard. to follow rules and do what is right. he taught them the importance of serving your country, your church, and your community. he taught them family always comes first and how, when needed, to put pride aside. how to provide for your family and to love unconditionally. he taught them it's not how much you have but what you have.

so i may have missed out on having my grandfather present, but in place i got a man in my life who learned how to be an exceptional man, husband, and father from him.

that man is my dad.

last week we buried my grandfather, his soul going home where his true love awaits. we cry. we mourn. we celebrate the life of a very good man whom we love dearly. and as my dad ended his speech in a beautiful mass surrounded by family and friends.

viaggi addio e sicuro

(goodbye, travel safely :: in italian)

march in a nutshell & the arrival of spring

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:25:00 +0000

nestled in a neighborhood with an antique store across the street, planters filled with twigs that could withstand the winter months, a black awning overhead, and weathered wooden benches on each side of a door that is painted the perfect shade of blue sits a charming & quaint little pub. with 12 tables and a bar, quaint describes it best. a chalkboard next to the bar lists the choices of beer on tap and another shows the wine selection. waitresses are manuvering through the tables with baskets of burgers and tots raised above their head with one hand and two cold ones in the other. like a coreographed dance through cramped tables and hungry patrons. executed flawlessly, a perfect ten.

the blue door pub.

hunkaroonie's birthday. burger 'n beer.

i am so glad he was born. i am so glad beef tastes so good.

my angus burger stuffed w garlic and bleu cheese 'n cajun tots along side a blue moon beer

hunkaroonie's angus burger stuffed w cheddar cheese & cowboy'd up (with bbq sauce, onions rings and bacon) 'n fries along side a irish coffee stout beer

while i know the first of january marks a new year giving us a clean slate to make plans, set goals, throw sh*# out (maybe your loser boyfriend or those doc martins sitting in the back of your closet, or perhaps both), prioritize and be mindful of how you book your calendar for the year ahead, start spending less and saving more but for me this time is now- when spring arrives. when the snow has melted and the flowers peek their heads above ground to greet you with a bright green hello after a long winter and when the sun shines brighter and longer, this is when i want to make plans. so it's april that renews me moreso than january.

spring arrived :: the backyard trees bud

birds found their way north, grass awakens from brown to shades of green, trees bud, windows open and the air smells clean. nothing celebrates a clean slate, a renewal, and a fresh start like pastel colors, dyed eggs, coral painted nails, milk chocolate bunnies, tulips and church pews filled with children in biggerthanyoface hats, satin gloves, dresses, and mary janes- the resurrection of jesus. so with april upon us and easter six days away, i'm excited for this season.

sorry janurary it's me, not you.

playing at the park w lilmis during our sleepover weekend

with the car loaded as if they were fleeing the state and yet just the essentials for one week with a two year old, mamasis pulled into the driveway. with instructions like "this week she sleeps with dora and barney in the crib but you never know, maybe she'll want puppy instead" or "see this little mouse, hide it. it winds up and is the macdaddy of meltdown turnarounds," we were now ready. the highlights of the weekend consisted of two walks to the park to play, barney movies, bath time with dinosaurs, reading books, taking her baby on stroller rides, singing the ABC's, and ice cream sundaes. when rita and daddio picked her up for their turn, i gave her a kiss, told her i loved her and had so much fun, she looked at me and said, "thank you birdgie."

but it wouldn't be a weekend with a two year old without at least one meltdown- she didn't see necessary for me to shower while i could just continue playing with her. and while she slept soundly each night, we did not- hard to do with a two year old's knee in your ribcage, foot in your hip bone and an elbow to your face. but when you wake up nose to nose with a "morning birdgie" wake up call, it's very very easy to forget.

and if you think that little girl loves me, her love is tenfold for hunkaroonie.

inlaws weekend visit :: drinks & appetizers when they arrive. fig, proscuitto, arugula, and parmesan flatbread, smoked salmon w cream cheese & lavash

i will leave you with random tidbits ::

we are back to work today as we did not win the mega millions. just as well, i like my life and i've seen how that much money can f you up. but just one million woulda been ok.

i painted my toes this color from essie. they look like easter eggs and i like it.

we saw the movie, the girl with the dragon tattoo. while i love looking at daniel craig for 2 hr 40 min, the movie was just too much.

i am bringing these two dishes to easter :: this & that

blackberry puffed pancake :: so yummy and so fun to make

happy easter week! oxox

glass half full

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:49:00 +0000

i've learned a few things this month and being the month is half over, or half left depending how you see your glass, march is bound to be good. twenty days before spring officially arrives my tonsils decided to swell up and test my endurance for chamomille tea and honey drop halls. seven days. then there is our time away to sin city. while i appreciate every city for their differences and applaud them for their ability to be unique, las vegas i gotta hand it to ya. you were just too much for me. three nights.

it's good to recognize ones own limits.

and with anything in life there are always upsides. nothing is more attractive then seeing your husband come home from work with a gallon of orange juice, cough drops, and takeout when you're sick. especially when he comes in carrying his briefcase in his business suit holding the bag of food. i understand maybe that doesn't make sense. but it's like fabio shirtless with his hair blowing in the wind in the i can't believe it's not butter commercial, it just works. and then there was the incredible dinner at b & b restorante, mario batali's resturant, in vegas. the beet salad with sicilian pistachios and ricotta salada. i earased the walk to the resturant from my mind where hunkaroonie was bombarded with prostitute business cards, where smoke clouds came out of each hotel casino, and the reflection of sequin outfits could blind. i forgot all about that because the salad was.really.that.good.

yeah life's upsides are pretty great.

rita's january birthday dinner in march :: the cocktail bar, make your own colorado bull dogs

and to help rid the last bit of my cold that is hanging on, i welcome our unusually warm temperature in, what is still technically, our unusually mild winter. the sun shining, the birds chirping, the windows open, the snow melted - it's nature's medicine, her mackdaddy of cough drops. unwrapped in a matter of days served up on a big weekend platter. and i even pulled out my red mocassins because it's that kind of a weekend.

right now we are between bookends that are traveling and hosting company. so i'm finding myself making dinners as if it's the elimination challenge on top chef, where you are to make a fabulous dish using specific ingredients (i.e. whatever is in my fridge and pantry). i'm discovering that peanut butter, pressed garlic, canola oil, honey, rice wine vinegar and soy work beautifully in a sauce over whole wheat spaghetti noodles. top with pan seared tofu and chopped peanuts and then cross your fingers you're safe til the next round.

i'd like to note; hunkaroonie is a pretty easy judge.

wedge salad.

prime rib. i apologize if you don't eat meat or prefer it more done. wait, no i don't.

roasted vegetables (recipe here). dutchess potatoes (pioneer women recipe).

today i will let the sun hit my face and splurge on a starbucks, however it's not because we hit it big in vegas since we only gambled fifteen dollars on slots which definitely doesn't put the odds on our side, i'll splurge and savor to the end of a very busy week and a similar one to come. i threw away my list of to-do's because if i haven't gotten to it after three busy weeks apparently it wasn't all too important that i to-do it. so a clean slate; tomorrow a new week and an empty list of to-do's.

so as for today, the only decision i want to make is; iced latte or hot?

lilmis :: she's just too cute for words.

the green smoothie; my latest creation :: two large handfuls of fresh organic spinach, two tablespoons honey, half cup fresh blueberries, half cup orange juice, two-three frozen overripe bananas (if you don't have frozen bananas then use fresh and add a few ice cubes). defrost bananas just for 30 seconds or so. blend all ingredients and enjoy!

jellyfish at shark aquarium in vegas :: seeing this and eating that salad, that's all i needed

alright homies, now i'm out to let the aforementioned sun hit my face and slurp my starbucks. happy sunday friends.

Side Dish Recipe: Roasted Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:15:00 +0000

it's been awhile since i shared a recipe, so how bout one? these roasted vegetables are a stand by for us in the winter months and they could not be easier.

what you'll need:
1 bag of grown up carrots (or about 6), peeled and cut into finger size pieces
1 large red onion, cut into big chunks
1 large yellow onion, cut into big chunks
1 container button mushroom, large shrooms cut in half
1 container portabella mushrooms, large shrooms cut in half
1 container (or about 15) brussel sprouts, cut off stem, peel first layer, cut in half
1 package of thick cut bacon
1 tablespoon canola oil
salt & pepper

pre oven, pre canola oil, pre salt & pepper

what to do:
preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
fry the bacon in a skillet on the stovetop until nice and crispy. set aside on a plate lined with papertowels. RESERVE 1-2 TABLESPOONS OF THE BACON GREASE.
put your cut veggies onto a cookie sheet, coat with canola oil, and sprinkle with salt & pepper. cook for about 45 min or until almost fork tender. stirring ocassionally.
while the veggies are cooking, cut up your fried bacon into large bite size pieces.
once the veggies are almost fork tender pull them out of the oven. add the reserved bacon grease (start with 1 tablespoon and see if that is enough to coat, if not add the other), then the cut bacon and a little more salt & pepper.
return to oven for another 10 minutes or so.

post oven deliciousness

enjoy these plated next to a piece of bbq chicken on a sunday night in your sweats or serve at a dinner party next to a piece of prime rib in your party dress. either way, they are fabulous. and so are you, so give 'em a try.

and even the brussel sprout haters enjoy this recipe. i mean who doesn't love anything with bacon and bacon grease? well it's hard to find anyone round these parts.

all kinds of love

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:20:00 +0000

in honor of valentine's day this week. i'm embracing love, love of all kinds.

centerpiece: roses in a paint tin

when i was eight i opened my brown paper lunch bag sitting on the cafeteria bench to find a post-it with familiar handwriting tucked next to my PB&J and capri sun. i miss you, love mom. good luck on your spelling test, love dad. see you after school, love mom. be kind to others, love dad. those notes continued through high school, sometimes tucked in my gym bag or slid in my algebra book. good luck at your cross country meet, love mom. you'll do great on your anthropology exam, love dad. we'll be at the finish line tonight, love mom. see you in owatonna after school. your #1 fan, dad.

:: love notes.

appetizers: prosciutto, arugula & fig crostinis, crab stuffed mushroom caps

we were playing an away varsity basketball game in mankato to a sold out crowd. i had started the game prior and had been playing really well in practice, all my hardwork and dedication was paying off. i was 15 and basketball was my life. my parents drove the two+ hours and i remember spotting them in the stands during warmups. the game started i was waiting for the nod from coach. the nod means take off the warmups and pull up the kneepads cause your going in next whistle. starting minutes turned into halftime, then from halftime the game buzzer- no nod. coach decided to mix things up, he did things his own way, on his own terms, when he felt like doing it. when you are a sophmore you are learning how to deal with life's disappointments, about life being unfair. and trying to do so with pose and character while inside really wanting to kick, scream and cry big tears. the bus ride home i put on my headphones and stare out the window at passing exits waiting patiently for ours to arrive. finally at the school parking lot, i get off the bus and into my parent's van. my dad drives us home and i cry big tears the entire way. after all, dealing with life's disappointments does take time. once home, i throw my bag in the entryway and look up. at the top of the stairs my mom was holding a 6 week old golden retriever puppy.

:: to love someone will always trump loving something.

main entree: rosemary & garlic tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms, mashed potatoes & side salad w homemade vinaigrette

it was halloween 2000, after changing out of our costumes we drove to perkins and packed into a corner booth. i slid across the pleather bench and hunkaroonie followed. our friends gathered around milkshakes and fries at two in the morning, exactly what college dreams are made of. then somewhere between do the fries need more salt and could you please pass the vanilla shake, hunkaroonie slid his hand under the table and reached for mine.

:: love that makes my knees weak.

belly laughs

if i make a list of things that matter most to me, food would be on that list. it would of course fall after hunkaroonie but then maybe somewhere before natural and organic products. the smell of sizziling sliced potatoes and onions takes me back to my grandpa's garage, always does. a can of budwieser sits next to the oil filled skillet waiting for fresh fish fillets to be dropped inside. sitting around in lawn chairs hearing about his fishing trip and tasting the rewards of his adventure. that smell, of fried potato and onions, takes me there. and when i miss him that smell comforts. this week hunkaroonie stopped by the grocery store and one thing is his bag when he returned home was coconut water. we twist the top open and while the taste left me wrinkling my nose, i close my eyes and am instantly on a beach- the sound of waves crashing, the smell of banana boat on our tanned skin, holding a fresh coconut garnished with a straw and umbrella in my hands. then i open my eyes and remember i'm in our kitchen on a cold winter night far from the ocean & even that second sip of coconut water is rather unpleasant. coconut water makes me happy because it takes me to mexico celebrating hunkaroonie's birthday, not because i like it. good or bad, to smell or to taste, homemade, farm raised, or drive thru craves, i love the power that food holds, the memories it stores. and so on a night when there was no limit to the amount of money you'd spend on good food- on my birthday in a small hot resturant kitchen eating beautiful farm raised food with the chairs around the table full, i could literally feel my heart swell. food, it's all of these things and more.

:: love through the stomach and into the heart.

(all pictures are from a better homes & garden feature dinner party mamasis hosted in our honor.)

winter thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0000

after our holiday travels were through we needed to recharge, which means we nestled into quiet and unsocial weekends at home. and then after a couple weekends i thought to myself- self, it's time to tackle some house projects. so while our weekends are still quiet and unsocial, things like home depot, nail guns, and paint have since joined. on jan 15 i signed my project request to hunkaroonie, i handed over a sketch with arrows and explainations using words like sorta, about, kinda, and roughly.

my signature meant i couldn't make anymore changes to the design. turns out fig, garlic and rosemary stuffed pork tenderloin in a red wine sauce can change his mind.

:: the clementines are a piece of heaven right now.

after a few events that occured this week i thought to myself- self, you may need to think about socializing more in february.

the elevator makes its final stop on one, the doors open, i get off and head for the revolving doors. once outside i get in line, second, for the bus. i look up to the electronic metro schedule, DUE 2 MIN flashes in neon yellow. and just like that i see our bus making its way toward our stop, right on time. as the bus is approaching i see a gentleman wearing a pinstripe suit, yellow & blue polka dot bowtie with a slight lean from carrying a leather briefcase walking briskly towards us. just as the bus starts to pull over in the bus lane toward us, the man with the bowtie starts to put his foot down to cross the street. i put my arm in front of him and yell, DUDE WATCH OUT! at the same time, the bus driver swerves and honks his horn. the gentleman looks at the bus driver and gives him a glare and throws my arm off of his chest. he thens walks over to the cross walk and waits for the light to turn. i step onto the bus and swipe my metro card, my heart racing. the bus driver and i note how that could have turned out so differently and ironic how the gentleman reacted. i choose an open seat, sit down and smile. i can't believe i just called him dude. he was definitely a sir.

but i don't get out much so apparently dude seemed appropriate for the situation.

:: they are juicy and sweet.

in january i discovered that time sometimes can be so so cruel.

mamasis picks up lilmis from her crib and asks her what she wants to do. with disheveled hair and sleep in her eye she says, bridgee & casey house please. we've tried to find time to see her and while its only been 2 weeks, with work schedules, nightly obligations and business travel, it just hasn't happened. today that will change.

rita & daddio went to see lilbigbro this week. we were so glad they could see his face and hug his neck. in the 5 months its been since we've seen him all i want is to make him chicken parmesan and a vodka tonic and laugh at his jokes around the dinner table. instead i'll count the days until we meet again. our turn. we are coming. soon.

this week hunkaroonie was out of town on business. and while my evenings were full, when i got home i missed our four-legged creature greeting me. it has been 17 months.

time, while i know you can be rewarding and so perfect, sometimes you are just cruel.

:: i can't get enough of these sweet little rounds of goodness.

the groundhog saw his shadow this week, 6 more weeks of winter are ahead. gives me the perfect amount of time to make more comfort food recipes that are dog eared, saved as a favorite, or hanging on the fridge.

bbq brisket shephard's pie. white chicken chili. italian mac 'n cheese. chicken pot pie. french onion soup. zuppa toscana soup. pasta alla vodka.

happy super bowl day.

2011 christmas & new years hallah

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:40:00 +0000

we packed the pilot with suitcases, corn nuts, nibs, christmas music, and perfectly stacked presents wrapped in bows and headed west for four nights. upon our arrival, there were stockings hung and tequila shots lined up and that only means one thing; christmas 2011 begins now.

there may have been bose noise cancellation headphones, ugg slippers, lulu sweatshirts, sterling silver footed bowl, or a scripture engraved bracelet given as gifts this year, but you know what took the cake? walkie talkies. yeah, walkie talkies purchased at gander mountain in an isle that lined the gun and rifle section. yes, i said walkie talkies were the favorite. we couldn't charge them fast enough and chose code names (bison girl here) before the package seal was even cracked open. and then after a full night of charging, on christmas day, we put them to use. after the sun went down, boys vs girls out on the golf course, it was on. hide and seek. the smiles, excitement and laughter that night could mirror that of 5 year olds at an amusement park. it may have been because it was christmas, maybe because tina came, because everyone was home, or perhaps the italian wine. but i'd like to think it was because we were together.

and i'll raise my glass to that.

all gussied up for christmas eve service. to me there is nothing quite like sitting in a church pew with family members, holding your white candle in the dark singing Oh Holy Night. i get choked up every.single.time.

over the holiday season i was reminded how fortunate we are, how fortunate we are to experience more than one definition of home. we were able to go home for the holidays, back to a sky that is so big yet so very familiar and then at the end of our time away, after memories made & relationships restored, we go home.

coming home and going home. you're right hunkaroonie, we do have more than one.

:: and then we navigate the pilot two hours north for our new years celebration.

we huddle around the kitchen island sipping disaronno over ice and cold lemoncello raising our glasses one last time to 2011. it was the last night of 2011 and the first night we all gathered north to a cottage surrounded by snow covered pines and a frozen lake. it was the first night of many to be spent with family. at my parents. at their cottage in the woods.

with no actual clock hanging on the wall and no television to see the ball drop, 10:35 pm may as well been 12:35 am. so before the clock (we didn't have) struck midnight we all parted ways to our respective areobeds. apparently ice skating on the lake was our first form of excerise since before dec 23, and i should not and will not point out the consumption of beverages and rich holiday meals since then, so we were down right exhausted. you think i may be kidding and i might. but mamasis, she was not.

before we could close the chapter on 2011 we had to take a trip to 1985. i slip on my new glasses to show mamasis and broinlaw. my new glasses, did i say that they are new? because they are. i get rave reviews and mamasis wants to try them on. before she puts them on she reads the inside to see the brand. and there it is in white letters, B.U.M Equipment. i do not know if it was the parade of alcohol i had consumed throughout the day, but i nearly lost my sh*#. the laughter likely echoed across the frozen lake and could have gotten me arrested for disturbing the peace. B.U.M Equipment, that is right there with starter jackets, zubaz, and hypercolor.

a bottle of dom pérignon to ring in the new year. hallah.

yeah homegirls got style. i proudly put on my glasses as if they were Anne Klein or Ralph Lauren, because in the end it's all just the same, and marched my way into a cozy flannel covered areobed and nestled into hunkaroonie's shoulder. my body exhausted from the laughing convulsions i just had in the kitchen and contentment knowing (majority of) the people i love most are within 20 feet of me. a good 'ole fashion 1985 laugh has never felt so good. i closed my eyes. 2011, you've been good.

breakin it down. our favorite picks for 2011.

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year! Once again we wanted to look back and document all the things we loved throughout 2011. It was so much fun to reminisce on the past year with Hunkaroonie.

I'm sure you can guess which ones are my fave and which are Hunakroonie's. Or which may be both. Lists are in no specific order.

Top Movies
Bridemaids
Hangover: Part II
Something Borrowed
The Lincoln Lawyer
Fast Five

Top Albumns
Beautiful Girls
OAR: King
Adele: 21
Ray LaMontage: God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
G Love: Fixin' to Die
Foo Fighters: Wasting Light

Top Shows
Modern Family
Extra Virgin Cooking Show
SOA
Flipping Out
Pioneer Women Cooking Show

Top Times
Riviera Maya vacation
Chicago winter weekend away
My first tattoo
Atheletes & Race Fans Weekend
My birthday dinner
Snowboarding in Whitefish, MT
Our kitchen featured in BHG Magazine
Walkie Talkie Hide & Seek on Christmas
New Years at the cabin
NYC whirlwind business trip
Celebrating Nan's 75th birthday
Getting a new job

Top Recipes
Nutella filled croissants
Basil cheesecake
White Sangria
Puttanesca
BLT's (with garden tomatoes)
Shaved Asparagus Pizza

Top Buys
Electrolux Ultra Bagless 2-in-1 Vacuum
Sony Bloggie Touch
Macbook Pro
Kindle Fire
Shotgun
Snowblower

Top Eats
Parmesan gorgonzola pork chops at Biaggis
Lemon & Rasberry Torte at Cafe Latte
Pollo Champagne (Pan Seared Chicken Breast with Shallots, Sun-dried Tomato & Champagne Cream Sauce) at La Grolla
14 course meal at the chef table at Corner Table
Costini w red pepper jelly, goat cheese & proscuitto at Domacin Wine Bar
Fennel Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper & Smoked Mozzerella Pizza at Black Sheep Pizza
Oysters & costini bread at Mozza Mia
Lemoncello at Mozza Mia
Caramel Rolls at Tobies
Key Lime Pie at McCormick & Schmick's
Smoked Salmon Cheesecake at East 40
Famous Sausage & Cheese Deep Dish Pizza at Gino's East
Caramel Corn at Garrett's
Trout Chowder at Angry Trout Cafe
BBQ Ribs at BLVD
Pickle Dog (pickle wrapped in cream cheese & pastrami) at The Great MN Get Together
Sicilian Iris (bioche filled with ricotta & chocolate chips) at The Purple Pig

Top Blog Posts (most visited)
How I came to be Mrs. Hunkaroonie: Part One
How I came to be Mrs. Hunkaroonie: Part Two
How I came to be Mrs. Hunkaroonie: Part Three
Pineapple Infused Vodka Recipe
Bean Dip Recipe
What makes a house a home

Top Books/Magazines/Websites/iphone apps
Guitar Lessons by Bob Taylor
Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Better Homes & Garden Kitchen + Bath Makeover Magazine (Winter 2011 issue)
eatingwell.com
pinterest.com
soundhound iphone app
movie trailers app
fly delta app

Top Kitchen Items
Popsicle molds
Antique juicer
Jelly roll pans
Squeeze bottles (for oils, vinegars, & sauces)
Le Creuset spatula
Espresso machine

Top Misc Products
Mac no-shine powder
Hempz lip moisturizer
EOS lip balm
OPI nail polish, 'You don't know Jacques'
San Pelligrino, Tangerine
Sun Chips, Salsa flavor (dipped in sour cream!)
The Big Ginger or The Presbetyrian cocktail
Sally Hansen nail polish, Get Diamond Shine
Kettle Potato Chips, Jalepeno flavor

So, these were some of our favorite new things, foods, and activities throughout the year. Hope you enjoyed our look back! Here's to 2012...

and our 2010 breakdown here

It's been real fun 2011....

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000

As the year draws to a close, we look back on 2011 with fond memories. We had change, we traveled to beautiful places, we celebrated, and we grew. We raise our glasses to 2011 and eagerly await all the things in store for 2012.

'twas the week of christmas

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:50:00 +0000

craziness and christmas week go hand in hand, like peanut budda and jelly. but we are choosing to leave the peanut budda out and just enjoy the jelly. it would be a shame not to, i mean it's jesus' birthday week. and round here we celebrate birthdays all week long.

so this week, we raise our mango margaritas and clink the glasses to the holidays, we turn the radio up and sing parumpumpumpum, and we slip the christmas tree shaped peanut butter cup into the cart last minute at checkout.

yeah, we're rebels like that.

if you're happy and you know it :: silly string blast from uncle

in other birthday news :: lilbigbro celebrated his last week. we are so proud of him and miss him dearly. {come home soon} and lilmis turned two. she gone and did it. didn't even ask us if it was ok. that little nugget has so much personality wrapped up in her now, 2 year old, body. i think homegirl is going to give mamasis a run for her money. last week when mamasis pulled out a new skirt from the dresser, gross i don't like it was not the reaction she expected. and if a donut is in the house, sayonara to anything that is not. dooooonut. doooooonut. she loves her some sugar. and lilmis expects everyone in pairs. if i come in the door it's where casey? and the questioning continues all.night.long. he's at a work dinner. there is silence for a couple mintues until where casey? it's only a matter of time and the question is asked. again. and while i love her love for her uncle, our entire evening is usually spent answering her question. like i always say, it's just better when he's around. and apparently lilmis agrees.

she is starting to string together sentences and we can't get enough. it is hilarious and we find ourselves repeating her sentences even when she's not around. like oh no what happen? only a million times. and only when applicable.

or not.

silly string has never been so fun

so let's see with t-minus 2 days until christmas, you've still got time to embrace this birthday week. to make everyday good. good ofcourse being relative. for me a holiday lifetime movie would suffice.

even if your hearts are heavy this holiday season may you dig deep & find reasons to be thankful. and may your christmas be merry & bright.

christmas lights

:: and speaking of heavy hearts, can you do me a favor and add my nan to your prayer list? we would be grateful. oxo

our kickoff to the holidays: chicago

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0000

skating in millenium park

while we waited for our table we sipped on a cocktail. i a red wine from greece and hunkaroonie a dark belgium beer. looking around i'm guessing there was seating for 40 - with not a single seat open - and with about half of the people lingering waiting for their party to be called, the place was packed. no surprise with the rave reviews and interesting menu, this was indeed the place to be.

the purple pig; the perfect place to end our four day getaway in chicago.

:: legand has it that if a pig drinks red wine it will turn purple
:: in 2010, bon appetit named the purple pig one of the 10 best new resturants in america

morning cappuccino & pastries at lavazza

deep dish pizza at lou malnati's

after the hostess showed us to a comfortable table for two, hunkaroonie looks up from the menu to tell me we are going to try things we normally wouldn't. i raise my left brow both excited and nervous. after locating a view to the ladies room, i oblige. with a menu that contained ingredients from nose to nail, we had lots of options to choose from. we took turns ordering from the menu. there was always alittle uncertainty closing the jaw on that first bite but we had the best time.

like steven tyler said, livn' on the edge baby.

roasted bone marrow

proscuitto di parma. roasted bone marrow with herbs. pig's ear with crispy kale, picked cherry peppers and fried egg. mortadella balsamic and pistachio smear. milk braised pork shoulder with mashed potatoes. sicilian iris: bioche filled with ricotta & chocolate chips.

portillo's hot dog

afternoon cappuccino at coco pazzo

the bean

it is best to say that we ate our way through the city. however, we did manage to see the sights of the city. christmas lights & horse drawn carriages up and down michigan avenue never made it feel more like the holidays. there was also a perfect combination of books, naps, & afternoon cappuccinos that allowed the soul to breathe. it was a magical and restful trip, our kickoff to the holidays.

getting our picture taken by the bartender:: we smile. oh, no it didn't work. we smile again. oh, wait push this button. smile again. oh, look through the view finder. we smile again. oh, no that didn't work. we don't smile. that's ok, thanks anyways. click, click, flash. oh it worked... but wait, we didn't smile that time.

i do hope your december has been much the same; joyful and restful.

:: and for my fellow foodies, here is where we ate: gino's east pizza, lou malnati's pizzeria, portillo's hot dogs, lavazza, the purple pig, the corner bakery, wow boa, garrett popcorn, magnolia bakery , coco pazzo

lights. every street. everywhere.

fa la la

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:40:00 +0000

i pour a touch of cream and stir two packets of raw sugar into a piping hot cup of decaf. begrudgingly i follow them outside. i was thinking it was the cosmopolitans and the colorado bull dogs talking, but once we stepped outside it was magical.

impromtu dinners are becoming my favorite.

Rita (4:40pm) where r u
Me (4:41pm) home.
Rita (4:45pm) if u out shopping if u wanted we would go to dinner
Me (4:46pm) meet halfway and we are game. blvd @ 5:00?

:: rita's text are always somewhat, alittle bit, cryptic ::

our first snowfall

the snowflakes were falling at the perfect speed - landing delicately on the gardland wrapped fence that twinkled from the white christmas light so perfectly placed. likely an inch on the ground already as we pull the door open. we get seated in a corner booth by the window. dark wooden blinds open just enough to see snowflakes hitting the window. my parents arrive and we catch up over cocktails for the next hour. then lobster mac 'n cheese, ribs, and turkey burgers to satisfy our hunger and offset the aforementioned cocktails. with clean plates, empty cocktails, and the snow still falling - hunkaroonie was eager to check out the bonfire outside. we ordered a round of decaf coffee and followed hunkaroonie to the fire. in a litte alley with a ceiling of white christmas lights, four adorondeck chairs circled a firepit. with my gloves i wipe snow off the chair and sit down. the smell of birch and oak oozed from the flaming fire, warm coffee filled my insides, and soft snowflakes hit my face. right there in the middle of the city on a december saturday night.

again, impromptu dinners are becoming my favorite.

each night when i get home, even before i take my coat off, i practically sprint up the staircase. turn the christmas tree lights on and place the ipod in the bose station. i press play. album two - christmas albums on shuffle - is filling every corner of the house. then i breathe easier and hang my coat in the closet. i am one amy grant song away from grabbing hunkaroonie and hitting the streets. a two man christmas caroling roadshow. amy grant & vince gill who?

maybe i need to tone down the christmas dial.

or maybe i don't.

tis the season :: fa la la
happy december.

a very thankful thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

i am thankful for contentment. for not wanting more than we deserve.

broinlaw :: lilmis :: mamasis

i am thankful for my sister who never stops dreaming. and encourages me to dream too; head in the clouds kind of dream. and she never pulls at my ankles for me to come back down.

hunkaroonie

i am thankful for my husband and the way he loves me.
i am thankful for sunsets and the promise of a new day.
i am thankful for selfless parents. whos sacrifices changed our lives.

rita :: daddio

i am thankful for my home. build on love and filled with imperfections but our one place in this big big universe that we call own own.

i am thankful for my sister(inlaw) who sees the good in everyone.

lilmis pigtails

i am thankful for my niece. who will always be what brought us back together.
i am thankful for our careers and being brave enough to take chances.

i am thankful for grandparents. for being the foundation of who we are.
i am thankful for never having to know what it feels like to go without life's necessities.

turkey :: italian stuffing :: cranberries :: cream corn :: sweet potato w marshmallow top :: green bean casserole :: mashed taters :: gravy

i am thankful for friends near & far. i assure you, you are always close. in my heart.

i am thankful for my brother who is our switzerland.
i am thankful for our health and modern medicine.

me :: hunkaroonie

i am thankful for true love. because true love is a really big deal.
i am thankful for a loving god who always gives us second chances.

i am thankful.

let the games begin

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:10:00 +0000

as went enter downtown, i power off my kindle and tuck it safely in my bag. i'm sitting by the window and gaze up to see the tall buildings lit up in the dark morning sky, this city still amazes me. someone pulls the yellow cord and the stop requested sign lights up. a girl is standing at the corner; with fingerless gloves she holds coffee in one hand, a toblerone in the other. now that's the way to start what i will call the opening ceremonies to the holiday season.

light the torch baby because the holidays are here.

homeade cinnamon & sugar donuts :: refrigerated biscuits. use a cookie cutter to cut out the middle. put in hot canola oil (not completely submerged, oil only about half way up the donut). flip when it begins to brown. each side only takes a couple minutes. then immediately dip in cinnamon & sugar mixture. don't forget to use the donut holes too. yum.

however, if you told me it is november 23, i wouldn't believe you. in response you'd likely swipe your finger across your iphone and then turn for me to see november 23 displayed on the screen. fine, so it is. a month that is more than half over and one that is meant to count our blessings. or in my case, november blessings which have yet to be counted. the past 23 days we've had year end doctor, dentist, and eye appointments. deadlines for 2012 benefit enrollment. year end reviews. hunkaroonie putting in very long hours at work. and for me, exams to take (and pass) for my new job. fear not, there is truth in turning lemons into lemonade. i'll squeeze some lemonade out of november such i'm grateful for health insurance and for jobs in this unsettling ecomony.

kisses at nan's 75th birthday party, photo credit uncle scott

regardless that november has been down right exhausting, the torch is now lit. it's the holiday season, a time to give. on sunday the rim around our windows were fogged from the warm heat on cool glass. we had just received our first blanket of snow the night prior. i declared a perfect day to stay in sweats and stay inside. i made paula's caramel apple cheesecake bars, pulled pork and famous dave's mac 'n cheese. hunkaroonie has spent these few days leading up to thanksgiving with his family at the farm so i sent the food with him. not sure why i didn't sent the bars too, but i didn't. hunkaroonie and i split a bar on sunday night, the rest of the pan sits in the fridge.

last night i cut up the bars, place them on a white dinner plate and tie a big orange ribbon like you would a present. slip on my uggs and walk through the snow to our neighbors. ding dong. the lights are off. the dog is barking. knock knock. blast, they are not home. i walk back home across the lawn with my ribbon wrapped plate full of bars. i slip off my uggs and sit at our kitchen island with the plate in front of me. i unwrap the bow and eat two bars.

dinner, check.

peek at holiday decorations :: simple & rustic this year

tomorrow we will go to mamasis' to celebrate thanksgiving. i will bring appetizers. mamasis will make a side dish and a pie. rita will be taking care of everything important. and i will be spending the remaining 7 days of the month counting my blessings and being grateful. because i am certainly aware that the things to be grateful for are bountiful.

let the games begin :: happy thanksgiving. oxox

the tides are turning

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:50:00 +0000

monday morning greeted with a reality slap on the face. hardly the ideal way to start the week. so i did what anyone else would have :: extra concealer & unlimited coffee. just as i applied my second layer of concealer under eye, hunkaroonie yelled for me to "come, come quick." his pointer finger was directed to a tree in our backyard. an owl was sitting in perfect view from the window. even in the dark morning sky, you could see the owl as clear as day. after discussing how big they really are and wondering how long it would stick around, i receeded back to the bathroom and, hello, back to my concealer.

later on the bus ride into downtown, multiple layers of concealer later, i wondered if owls represent anything. now i don't typically believe in signs. i don't believe in ghosts (sorry julie). but that owl, that owl had me wondering. seeing it perched on the tree limb, looking as if it was protecting our house all big and strong. it had me curious. so i google "what is an owl a sign of?" and this is what it said::

"Owls, and other birds, are messengers. Owls see well and hunt in the dark. They remind you to be aware of those things around you that may not be readily apparent. That is why owls are thought of as being wise---they see what others can't see."

the owl hasn't returned. maybe his wise little self did indeed deliver a message. he came, he saw, he conquered. or maybe he liked our wooded backyard and caught some zzz's after hunting through the night.

hoot hoot

either way, i'm watching for you mr. owl. thanks for stopping by.

fall nature walk

nature walk :: watch your step

i will have no regrets about not enjoying the beauties that fall brings. it sure delivered. i soaked up every speck of red, orange, and yellow i could find. enjoyed late nights on the deck next to the fire with hot apple cider and a blanket. nights watching the bats flying overhead eating up all the mosquitos that have survived the colder temperature. filled a folder on our macbook titled fall 2011 with hundreds of pictures. many of the subjects including; foliage, shadows, nature walks, and the likes. i've spent more on honey crisp apples than i care to add up. i've baked breads and canned sauces. i've made pies and roasted squash. i've gone through many a cans of pumpkin puree (i even think hunkaroonie hid my last couple cans). i've sucked fall dry. if there was a question on jeapordy "what is bridgette's favorite season?" it would be under the Current Events category. maybe Current Events for $400. so if you are on jeapordy and get that question, i hope you'd know to answer "what is fall."

and when you get there, can you please tell alex that my dad loves his show.

but back to fall. the tides are turning and winter is coming. like coming today. we are told we may see a dusting of snow tonight. but listening to the weather man is a complete gamble. it's 50:50, a crap shoot. but if i tell you that my ugg boots & north face parka are out and the snow blower has gas in it, would that tell you how much i don't trust the weather man?

i don't.

and what if i tell you that sometimes hunkaroonie tells me i'm dramatic.

i am.

cigar shadow

autumn leaves :: big blue sky

the next few weeks will be likely our last that contain any sort of balance :: the holidays are quickly approaching. i am reminded every night when i get home and lift the mailbox open. holiday magazines stacked high and holiday store coupons slipped between the bills. every cooking magazine cover with pictures of gingerbread men, sugar cookies shaped & decorated like ornaments, egg nog with nutmeg dusting, and standing rib roasts. tis the season.

i can smell it already, can you?

every year hunkaroonie hangs our christmas lights on the coldest day of the year. it's a habit that i'm happy to say in 2011 he was able to break. on a mild fall day, specifically nov. 5th, he was on the ladder going at his own leisurely pace hanging the lights. he was not scraping ice off of in order to hang the clips and he was actually able to feel his finger tips.

as he was hanging the lights our neighbors came out to wish us happy holidays.

and yes soon. in just a few short week it will indeed be the holidays. until then we'll enjoy weeks that contain some balance, trees that still have some leaves, the last two cans of pumpkin puree (if i can find them) and we'll continue to marvel at our already hung christmas lights. ready to be flipped on november 25th. not a day too soon.

whose woods these are i think i know

and while hunkaroonie was hanging those christmas lights, lilmis was snoring like an old man in the bedroom. we have developed a special relationship with her over the past couple months. yes, we've rocked her to sleep, given her bottles, changed diapers, read bedtime stories, and strolled up and down the block. but that was mainly one sided. but somewhere between "where is she" and "you'll like it bridgette made it", it became a relationship. a real relationship :: two sides. and every time she leaves i grab her little face, look her in the eyes and tell her i love her. while she just stares at me i believe you are never too young, or too old, to be told how much you're loved. and that little girl is loved.

and while we were doing mamasis a favor for watching her, it is in giving that you receive.

sleepover w lilmis :: park adventures

it's almost wednesday and i'm thankful for bank holidays :: short week and long weekend.

catch you on the other side.

falling into fall

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:40:00 +0000

the first frost came this month. the temperature shifted, a little later than normal this year. we teetered for many weeks between hot and sunny, bare feet on green grass and windows wide open to grey skies, falling leaves, slippers and the thermastat moved to heat on. there is an element of relief in just moving on to the next thing. you all know how i feel about being in the middle. so, we welcomed the frost and we welcome fall.

backyard trees in october

dear fall, i'll take you with a grande pumpkin spice latte and a side of black bean pumpkin soup.

fall means many things to me and one of them is preserving produce from our summer garden. roasting cherry tomatoes with a drizzle of honey & a touch of sugar, then watching them burst and carmelize in all their juices. blanching, peeling, and boiling tomatoes to make a rich flavorful sauce. roasting and pureeing jalapenos for a kick of heat to warm you in the cooler months ahead.

we took down the garden last weekend and i give it kudos for holding on as long as it did. what a fighter. it still looked like a rock star on oct. 22. and i was able to get one more bag full of tomatoes and peppers. looks like i have another day of sauce-making in my future.

jalapeno sauce:: roast japapenos on cookie sheet. oven @ 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. turning at the halfway point. let cool. pull stems off and drop in your food processor. drizzle in evoo, a little salt, & pulse until you have the consistency you desire. we kept the seeds in and ours is Spicy with a captial s. but if you prefer less heat, by all means, remove the seeds. this will be great on scrambled eggs or egg hash, smeared on a fish fillet or a thick cut steak for a nice spicy crust, a spoonful in your chili... the options are endless. keeps in your fridge for up to 6 months.

speaking of oct. 22, i enjoyed a wonderful anniversary with my hunkaroonie. many changes and years later, my heart is still so full. i owe that to him. and while it may look like we took a trip to venice to celebrate, we did not. we found our little piece of italy closer to home. giovanni did not even charge extra to saranade with italian love songs. romantic + cheesy is a perfect combination for a memory to last forever. check and check.

meet giovanni

things to note so i do not forget. 1:hunkaroonie was recruited to work on the gondala with giovanni. 2:giovanni sung so loud and so out of pitch but we did not laugh. instead, we bit our cheeks. 3:dinner at the fabulously foodie, small 13 table and 400+ wine selection domacin restaurant & winebar. 4:we did not exchange cards because everything we want, could, and should say or write to one another we do throughout the year. 5:we did however give gifts. gifts are good. 6:we ended the night with hot tea and our tradition of predictions for the coming year.

food talk:: it's fall so clearly that means pumpkin. incase you didnt' know, pumpkin recipes are mandatory for october and november. they. just. are. here are ones that we've enjoyed this month: pumpkin cinnamon rolls. pumpkin oatmeal. black bean pumpkin soup. pumpkin turnovers with cream cheese icing. pumpkin bread. pumpkin spice creamer (staple in our house this time of year).

backyard trees in october

here are the recipes i plan to make in next month: pumpkin risotto. pumpkin cheesecake bites. pasta with creamy pumpkin sauce.

note: i use 100% pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling.

and to get us through the midweek slump, mamasis & lilmis came up for dinner on wednesday. sharing squash lasagna and pumpkin cut out cookies was just the fuel we needed to get us to friday. and now here we are, it's friday. happy weekending.

on news stands now

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0000

we are so excited to tell you that our kitchen is featured in the winter 2011 edition of the better homes & garden kitchen + bath makeover magazine.

and it's on shelves now through December 11.

the night we found out we went in our p.j.'s to barnes & noble. perhaps an overly dramatic pose for the iPhone picture above.

our kitchen page 94-99

you can see the transformation of the kitchen in this post.

(although i need to update the 'after' pictures in that post, don't i?)

you can see pictures of the photoshoot here.

september :: one post for september.

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:30:00 +0000

knock knock. anyone still here? tap. tap. am i talking to myself? i understand, a month is a long time to be away. funny how life just - happens. well those who are still here, welcome to fall. aren't you excited? (big nod) for those who are new 'round here, fall is my favorite. my fave. i've enjoyed the brisk mornings walking downtown click-clack of high heels on the sidewalk, adele playing on my ipod, to-go coffee mug filled with the perfect ratio of coffee::pumpkin spice creamer, while the millions of black suits brush by. i've pretty much adjusted to working downtown. one month down. we've got our new schedule and routines down just as if we've been doing it for years. i am grateful for the easy transition. (hunkaroonie, you rock)

with the departure of summer we have been enjoying all of our produce from the garden before colder temperature arrives. we've been eating blt's like they are going out of style. yes still into october. hunkaroonie wanted to eat blt's this summer until he couldn't stand the sight. i am here to report, we are still going stong. and i know why - they are just so:darn:good. i've added the addition of jalapeños from our garden into the sandwich; jalapeño mayonaise. in your food processor: add one jalapeño (seeded if you don't like the heat but want the flavor) and a little evoo and pulse. then add in a big spoonful of mayonaise. lastly salt & pepper. pulse until it's a beautiful light green color and itty bits of jalapeño. smear on both sides of your toasted bread. then start stacking the blt!

blt's with jalapeño mayo

stacked and ready

...and it's gone

in the spirit of catching you up, last month we spent most of our weekends with out of town family. getting in as much time as we can before the holidays arrive and schedules quickly fill up. my motherinlaw & i attended junk bonanza and loved it. if shopping 100+ vendors wasn't enough, the bloody mary's were amazeballs. while we girls shopped our hubbies played a round of golf and then we met back at our house for cocktails & dinner on the deck. luckily hunkaroonie snapped some food pictures because they would end up being the only ones to document the weekend.

spicy lump meat crab in avocado boats

on september 12 we remembered our puppy girl. thought about her all day. opened my jewelery box, reached into the very back and pulled out a black velvet bag. loosened the drawstring and dropped a shiny silver round pendent & chain into my hand. inscribed with a cursive D. a gift from rita on that horrible week (that actually feels like years ago). i had tucked it away. not quite real, not quite healed, not quite ready. but last month, on the one year anniversary i slipped it on realizing you never quite fully heal. the thought of her does make me happy. and that is real. and i love it.

then it was onto more family time :: we took a trip to visit hunkaroonie's cousin and family. ate squeeky cheese and consumed maybe, perhaps, one too many cocktails. then we were lucky enough to have two family bbq's while my lilbigbro was in town (for his friend's wedding). september just flew in & out. before we knew it october arrived. and now, here we are :: consider yourself in-the-know. you are up-to-date.

signs of fall

now that brings us to today. finally we can talk about fall and about how we spent our first october weekend. packed a picnic basket filled with honey crisp apples, expensive cheese, crackers, and cider wine. sprawled a wool checkered blanket onto crunchy orange & red leaves. afternoon sun pearing through the trees. dressed head-to-toe in lands end canvas with my head resting on hunkaroonie's chest while reading a book. nah, not really. but it was a perfect fall weekend nonetheless. friday night homecoming football game. shared a delicous pot of stew with my family for dinner on saturday. and on sunday baked with the windows open, cider on the stovetop, and pumpkin candles glowing. oh i love me some fall, but you already knew that.

fresh cherry slab pie

banana bars

oh, and remember this post? i've got deets for you! totally bananas. hang tight...

off the grid 2011

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:30:00 +0000

i turn my phone on after four days of no signal. no service - and just like that, we're back on the grid. cocooned in my sleeping bag each night; songs of crickets, the smell of fading camp fire, the tip of my nose reflecting the dropping temperature, and a sky so dark showing no resemblance of the one we see in the city. making you question if it really is the same one? the nylon tent; the only thing separating us from the great outdoors. the outdoors holding out a mirror to remind you that you are small and it is big. we were indeed off the grid. thoughts of how i can be a better me filled the tent that night. in the morning the sun came up just as it does everyday and life would resume. and i grudgingly admit, over french press coffee by the lake, that the smell of camp fire in my hair i actually kind of liked. and secure by the idea that a vacation for us could mean packing all the necessities needed for four days into our vehicle and driving 6 hours north.

driving up the gunflint trail

trout chowder at the angry trout restaurant

at the shore of our campsite upon arrival

i've been enjoying days without routine, coffee deep into the morning, and afternoon adventures changing with the day. but as 4:00 approaches each day i'm in the kitchen making new recipes (and even desserts) for hunkaroonie when he returns from work. so, as you can see, while i have time to sit and update my blog, you'll understand while i'm enjoying being unplugged. soon enough i'll be back to structure and routine. but not now.

morning reflection off of gunflint lake

clouds over gunflint lake

before i sign off, enjoy some pictures at sunset. man, mother nature sure knows how to bring it.

each morning and each night. what a show off she is.

booya

sunset

independence day

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:19:00 +0000

hunkaroonie's iPhone tells me it is partly cloudy, 0 mph wind, 63% humidity, and 66 degrees. i tipped over a neatly stacked pile of folded tank tops in my closet as i reached for a long sleeve hoodie that was tucked way in the back. i'm sitting on the deck with a piping hot cup of coffee and a wrinkled hoodie. something tells me that fall is on its way (maybe my cold toes?). although the sun rose at 6:22am this morning, says the aforementioned iPhone, the neighborhood is still calm two hours later. i turned the music down (on the laptop) and i listen to the songs the birds are singing instead. sometimes those birds make you want to find the nearest rock but not today. not this morning.

new macbook pro

celebatory shooters with the inlaws

friday morning as i woke up to my final day at the office hunkaroonie whispered in my ear, "happy independence day." it was a day of mixed emotion but in the end so incredibly liberating. my final day lasted a short 2.5 hours. tears running down my cheeks as i drive toward home tells me they meant something to me and i to them. grateful for the professional journey and life lessons i was given the past five years. humbled. at home i pull into our garage, get out, shut the car door, push the button to close the garage and smile. i'm ready for what's next. bring it.

later that evening my parents hosted a dinner to celebrate. and since mamasis wasn't there the bottle of champagne was pretty much mine. of course rita prepared quite the spread :: starting with my favorite chicken wings and a bleu cheese torte topped w arugula, roasted beets and balsamic vinegar. then onto grilled corn on the cob & beef kabobs. and ended with homeade biscotti's and espresso gelato topped w homeade whip cream. i mean really. we sat out on the verada and had a splendid evening. can't think of a better way to kick off a ~~vacation between jobs~~ weekend.

cast iron grilling :: shrimp, cherry tomatoes, white beans, capers

summer fire

the past couple weeks, and what will likely be the reminder of the summer, we have been hooked on white sangrias. it's tyler florence's original recipe. the perfect summer cocktail if you ask me. here's my version, i tweaked his a bit. in a clear glass pitcher :: combine 1 bottle sauvignon blanc, 1 cup cointreu (or any orange liqueur), 1 liter club soda, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 bunch seedless green grapes, 2 peaches (sliced), 2 oranges (sliced), 3 kiwi (sliced). i combined everything and then at the end added the club soda (so it doesn't fizz everywhere). let sit in the fridge about one hour so the liquor gets cold and the flavors blend. then pour into a glass about half full (to save room for the fruit) and spoon fruit into each glass. YUM. you will not be disappointed.

white sangria

now off to start the day. oxox

this ones for you

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:25:00 +0000

i started a garden journal this year. the first page is a rough sketch of what is planted & where. when i say rough sketch i mean that literally. while i'd like to think of myself as creative, drawing is not my strong suit. getting an A in Intro to Drawing took equal parts: batting eyelashes & laughing at my professors (ahem, lame) jokes. drawing the magnificant north dakota sunset in my spare time was just enough tip the scale. to secure that A. to this day when hunkaroonie sees a sunset he'll stop and ask me if i want to draw it. but that was then. this is now. well sort of. i still like to get what i want.

:: now back to the garden journal. it always suprises me to see where those little plants started. my journal records the date each were planted, the location in the garden, where i purchased them, and a description of their progress every few weeks. things like "slow out of the gate," "potential for best in show" and "producing largest quantity" appear in the notes section. then at the end of the season i can decide which are keepers and which are not. deciding which is more important; quality or quantity. there is nothing worse then wheeling the cart down the isle at the garden center only to see twenty types of tomato plants. in that moment the names all sound familiar. and with my luck, i'd settle on the ones that i nurtured and watered the prior year only for them to come up empty. so far this year we have some over achievers who are really producing. but we'll see how it ends in the coming months. and i'll remember next year because my journal will tell me.

afternoon sunlight on the garden

let's talk about the middle. the past few weeks my career has been in the middle. in the middle of knowing where i've been and that of where i am going. the middle sucks. so much soul searching, so much cliff jumping, so much self reflection, so much leap of faith, so much we control our own destiny. so much thinking. i like to think big decisions through. pros and cons. consider "what might be." folks, i could talk myself out of a million dollars if it seemed logical. but sometimes it's ok to just jump. even if we don't know how it'll feel when we land. and so i did.

i accepted a new job. and i'm happy. and i'm happy to say i'm still married. (for hunkaroonie this job offer seemed like a no brainer. and it was. it just took me awhile to talk it through. make sure it was logical. and while i talked, he listened. every day. and every night.)

and so i'm no longer in the middle. and that feels good. while i don't know how it'll feel once i get there at least i know where i'm going.

:: sorry if that got deep. but this blog is real life. onward.

view from the garden looking up

banana pepper

this week has been a celebration of the aforementioned new job. with the neighbors. with my sisterinlaw. and last night with mamasis. we arrived home from work last night to mamasis & lilmis working it in our kitchen. pots simmering on the stove. champagne chilled in the fridge. lilmis all dressed up. nothing like making homegirl feel all loved and everything. (side note: mamasis made a dessert that will certainly make our top recipes of 2011 blog list.) tomorrow my inlaws are coming to town and with the 12pack of redbull hunkaroonie purchased i'm guessing jag bombs will continue through the weekend. and there is nothing that can cure your recent self reflections of am i capable and what do i want to be when i grow up like that of a jag bomb. or so i'm told.

now as i embark on my final days at the office i will take the good. and i will leave the bad. and i will ride off into the sunset. and then maybe i'll draw it.

or not.

tomato plant

clearing trees. making room for the shed.

raise your hand if you can't believe it's august. well you're right it is. but hopefully that doesn't mean summer is over. because i'm just getting use to the aroma of mint and basil when i step out on the deck. so let me be.

mojitos w mint from the garden

i wish you a peaceful, not stuck in the middle, weekend.

catching you up

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:54:00 +0000

this summer has been hot & humid. only negatives; shiny foreheads and melty ice cream. but in the blustery cold month of february we will be regretting even noticing those negatives. so i embrace the melty almond pistachio ice cream that drips down the cone onto my hand. it's summer baby and i love it.

july humidity on the patio door

in anticipation for visitors i, like always, spent the days prior in a state of to-do. cleaning toliets. chopping watermelon. strategically stacking food in the fridge. dusting & sweeping. squeezing 34 lemon halves by hand for a new recipe (thanks crystal). removing lilmis fingerprints from the patio door. placing vases of fresh cut flowers in the bathroom. and beer in the fridge. fresh fruit placed on the cake pedestal. writing on the chalkboard "Welcome Athletes & Race Fans." clean sheets on the beds. handwritten welcome cards on the pillowcases. flank steak & shrimp marinating. :: like i said, it's a state of mind. hunkaroonie thinks i (although he helps) always try to outdo myself. and i do.

but as the visitors arrive and the house starts to fill up, i never regret it. signature drinks start to flow and bellies get full. their is laughter and love. and comfort. and it's all so worth it.

hunkaroonie & cousin. mud pit & barb wire.

stop right there. stay away. please no hugs.

kind of, sort of, dirty

looking around sunday evening at the state of the house, it's safe to say we all enjoyed ourselves :: success.

this week started as busy as last week ended. hunkaroonie was off on a business trip and i tried to keep the momentum moving at home with things like trips to the dry cleaner & goodwill, laundry, and cleaning. i did however reward myself with ben & jerry's pistachio pistachio ice cream and monday's episode of the bachelorette. i feel good knowing hunkaroonie won't arrive home to dirty dishes piled high or stanky overflowing garage not taken to the curb.

however the momentum stopped. the to-do list empty.

:: those toliets will just have to wait.

sisterinlaw & fatherinlaw. half iron man finishers. please ignore their shirts.

on the home front :: our garden is bursting with produce. the tomato plants have already outgrown their space and are climbing high. it is so rewarding to slice into a tomato to the brightest bright red color you have ever seen inside. or to rinse a red pepper, slice, and enjoy just as it is. the garden may not sustain a family like the duggars nor does it pay for itself (as least not yet) but it's my hobby. i love it. and hunkaroonie loves the end result.

and if i may tell you, those blt's are pretty much worth having a garden for. them right there pictured below there. :: crunchy, juicy, drip down your hands, salty, sweet, mayo smeared on each slice, barely fit in your mouth, heavy on the tomato & bacon-light on the lettuce, kind of deliciousness.

need one. want one.

BLT with tomatos from our garden

have the best, to-do free, weekend. oxox

oh and incase you're curious.
:: Hunkaroonie, Fatherinlaw, and Cousin ran the Warrior Dash.
:: Fatherinlaw & Sisterinlaw swam/biked/ran the Half Iron Man.
:: Motherinlaw, Cousin, and I ate/drank/cheered.

*burp* excuse me. you can see why i might feel worthless. i'm going for a run.

eat, drink, and be farmy.

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Every week I make a list. Sometimes it's on the back of a Wells Fargo ATM transaction receipt and other times on my Lotta Jansdotter notes & to-do paper. The list always contains two things; the weeks menu and a grocery list to accompany. But each Sunday as I'm strolling through the grocery store I tend to divert because as I walk by the produce section, the smell of peaches luring. Screaming "peach pie a la mode." Kale so vibrant green. Perfectly stacked in the crate under the timed mist. Sitting at my finger tips. Summer squash and zucchini. Each one with flawless shiny skin and with size that reminds you it is indeed summer. "They'd be perfect for Wednesday's dinner. Sliced, drizzled with olive oil, and thrown on the grill."
You see not anywhere would you find peaches, kale, summer squash or zucchini on my list. But I placed them in clear produce bags, twisted the top and tied a loose knot in each bag. In the cart they went. Rules are broken. Plans change.

And that's why I love the vision, the mission, of The Corner Table.

Food that is farm driven. Not chef driven.

"Corner Table is a restaurant that listens to the fields, farms, pastures, and seasons that surround us."

:: My heart just skipped a beat.

As mentioned, Hunkaroonie made reservations on my birthday. At the chef table.

The chef table "is a gastronomic feast of gluttonous enjoyment accompanied by beer and wine pairings." (chef Scott Pampuch)

A night where I wore a full face of makeup and a new party dress we pushed the swinging door and walked single file into the kitchen. A table with 7 chairs perfectly placed to view the apron wearing, tattoo covered, gnocchi tossing, uber engaging chefs.

They popped a bottle of champagne to start the evening. We toasted (again). And the evening followed with 14 courses. All amazing, delicious, and fresh. Each in their own way. Each paired with wine and/or beer. All with artful presentation. Every one delivered by the chef himself. With thoughtful explaination of what it was and how it was composed. The passion in each explaination would have anyone sitting at the table turn into a foodie. Right then and there.

That is, if you weren't already.

The night was pure perfection ::

The atmosphere. The food. The people seated around the table.

Course 1 :: roasted beet w grey salt

Course 2 :: shaved asparagus w lemon creme fraiche & sprouts

wine pairing made from grapes that were harvested near the ocean. listen, can you hear the ocean?

Course 3 :: radish stuffed w homeade salted butter (champagne & wine were setting in. excuse the horrible picture.)

Course 4 :: strawberry & goat cheese over arugula w basil vinegarette

Course 5 :: homeade sausage, bread n butter pickles, crouton slice over lemon aoili

local beer pairing

Course 6 :: panzanella salad w the first batch of summer tomatos

Course 7 :: shocked sugar snap peas in ginger sauce

Course 8 :: scrambled farm eggs topped with kimchi & chives over toasted bread slice

Course 9 :: dumplings in a soy broth w boc choy

Course 10 :: pouched egg in asparagus soup drizzled with olive oil

Course 11 :: pork shoulder on a petite biscuit w gravy

Course 12 :: braised rabbit leg, french beans and homeade gnocchi

Course 13 :: pana cotta w shaved chocolate, mint and masorated strawberries

Course 14 :: carmelized brown sugar, sweet potato, topped w salted chocolate ganache

signing the kitchen wall

This birthday, this experience, was unforgettable. So, go. Eat, drink & be farmy.

Namaste.

and so we celebrated

noreply@blogger.com (About Us:) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:20:00 +0000

on my 13th birthday my mom and i pulled into our driveway in our gray & silver astro van. yeah homegirl drove in style. she reached over to the passenger seat visor and pushed the garage door opener. just as the door rose high enough and in perfect going-through-puberty unison, SURPRISE rang out the garage & all through the neighborhood. my family, friends, and neighbor kids were piling out of the garage toward me. it took all of me not to climb underneath the bench seat in the van and pretend i didn't see them. instead i took deep breathes. i smiled, hugged, and tried not to faint.

later i thoroughly enjoyed my 13th birthday party. a little dance party in the garage bouncing to shoop by salt-n-pepa, the sign by ace of bace, and whoop! (there it is) by tag team. surrounded by my peeps. my scrunchie wearing posse. i felt very loved.

but i think it was a defining moment, the realization :: surprises ain't for me.

so it is every year when my birthday rolls around that i remind my family and hunkaroonie that i don't want any surprises. i'll take dance parties in the garage (perhaps to better selection of music). but just no surprises.

lilbigbro

they didn't listen. but that's ok. he was a pretty fun surprise.

hunkaroonie & mamasis had the most lovely birthday weekend planned. i could & should tell you about every event planned with every detail executed because it was so special and so wonderful. but that would take awhile. so, i'll recap.

thursday :: hunkaroonie takes me shopping for a new dress for saturday. he threw in a new coach purse too. oxo he always spoils me.

friday :: my brother, the aforementioned surprise, flew in. mamasis threw a 'farmers market finds' dinner party that evening. all of my favorite things were on the menu. all of which can be found at our favorite farmers market. it did not disappoint. redonk.

beverages: cold beer, fresh squeezed lemonade

grilled corn on the cob, jalepeno brats with sauted peppers & onions, kettle chips, cinnamon & sugar almonds, veggie cups w bleu cheese dressing

my favorite cake. special ordered. lemon & rasberry torte. note: does not come with 18month old finger inserted.

saturday :: brunch at my favorite spot then some shopping. naps to prepare for the night out. later we popped a bottle of champagne to enjoy while we got fancy for the evening.

5 o'clock :: surprise. stretch limo arrives with family inside. we share some celebatory shots & more bubbly and crank the music. no idea where we were going but i felt beautiful & loved and so it didn't matter.

6 o'clock :: we arrive at our destination. dinner reservations @ the corner table. the chef's table. in the kitchen. this was heaven for me and the experience deserves a post all to itself. and it will.

midnight :: limo drops us off. tired. stomach full. tired. heart full. tired. nighty night.

sunday :: at the lake majority of the day. floating on the water. recovering. mamasis hosted a pizza party that evening (pizza always has me at hello) and then we turned in very early.

w my love.

dad & rita

w mamasis & broinlaw

best resturant.

tattoo sisters. best friends.

so here's the thing about surprises :: they require thought & planning, they are full of love, and they really aren't that bad.

i have surrounded myself with incredible people, both family & friends, and i certianly do not take that for granted. so, i thank you. oxox

and i thank you for hanging in there for a long, yet recapped, birthday weekend post.