Veggie Table

Lunch Hour & Homebrew

2012-03-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

Conversation via text this afternoon:
Forrest: "Hey....it's time to try batch number two. Can you put a bottle in the fridge when you get home?"
Me: "Sure! Are the new beers in the man cave closet?"
Forrest: "No." (five minutes go by) "They are actually in the bath tub."
Me: "Ohmygyahhhh!"

At least he tried to hide it from me.

Out of control! (Elizabeth, we created a beer-brewing monster, ha!)
I hope none of our guests want to shower when they stay with us.

My lunch hour was sunny and bright today (is it really 85 degrees in March?)

Since giving up bread for Lent, this is how I get in my daily dose of hummus.

Waiting patiently for a shredded carrot.

That should keep him busy for ooohhhh....25 seconds.

Tanning his fur.

"I'm sweating. Someone (and I'm talking to you in the purple shoes) take me inside! Woofienow!"

"I got you wrapped around my little paw! Woofiehaha!"

And then I filled out this March Madness basketball bracket based on the following:

1) recognizable name (who is Loyola? Norfolk St? Lehigh?)

2) how decent of a football team they have (because that makes total sense)

3) team colors / mascots

4) and Baylor because some website told me they have a good team this year

Wish me luck or that I at least beat the husband :)

Wild Wild Westgate

2012-03-14T18:24:00.001-07:00

Once Forrest arrived home from work, we loaded up the Pom and headed to Westgate. It was a gorgeous day so it was no surprise that the trail was covered with runners, walkers, dogs, bikers, strollers, etc.

This is me getting attacked by mosquitoes.

"No time for pictures...we are on a waaallllkkking trail! Woofletsgo!"

Blue skies!

His legs may be short but homeboy can run.

"I smell poop and I want it! Woofie"

Forrest stopped to watch his alma mater play soccer - Sal was more interested in the grass....

and pine straw.....

and dirt.

Batter up!

After an hour haul, Salvador was ready for his pink container of water....

and Forrest was ready for his leftover pinwheels.

Conversations:

Forrest: "Man, these are even delicious the next day."

Me: "Ehhh...I wouldn't know."

Forrest: "I bet a new batch would be good next week too. Yep."

Me: "Ha, I hope you paid attention to the pinwheel tutorial I posted last night."

Forrest: "Red wine goes better with the 'wheels than beer."

Me: (breaking out in song...and maybe a little dance) "Red red wine makes Forrest feels so fine bada daa badaabada bam" <---obviously, I don't know the words.

Step-by-Step-by-Step Prosciutto Pinwheels

2012-03-13T18:46:00.002-07:00

Forrest rarely makes requests for dinner but for the past three weeks he has been fiending for my prosciutto pinwheels (and of course, a bottle of red). Since he's always so ~~happily~~ willing to eat my vegetarian creations, I decided to finally give in and whomp up a few meat rolls.
What you'll need:
1 container Pillsbury Thin Crust Dough
1 package of prosciutto (8 - 10 slices)
1 bundle of fresh basil
1 container crumbled feta cheese
extra virgin olive oil
serrated knife

Get the knife out of your arm pit and finely chop basil into strands.

Combine and mix basil, feta, and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil in a bowl.

Smear the basil/feta mixture onto the rolled out dough and layer with prosciutto.

If you are a veggie head, try to control the gagging.

Add more basil and start rolling.

Gettin' my roll on, boyz.

Pinch the ends and sides to keep all the goodies in.

Cut into 2 inch mini logs and place on a greased baking sheet.

Smash them down a bit with your hands (preferably washed, clean hands).

Bake in a 400 degree oven until golden brown.

Wipe the drool from your husband's mouth....

and enjoy the complete silence for the next few minutes :)

Since I don't have a picture of Salvador tonight, here is a short video of his lunch stretching ritual.....

Must be nice to sleep until noon every day.

Ravioli & Justin April Photography

2012-03-12T18:55:00.001-07:00

If you are a fan of the ole Veggie Table facespace page then you already know we had a little Sunday afternoon photo shoot with the talented Justin April. We met in downtown Dothan and the Pom worked it for the camera (as long as a carrot was involved)....

I'm thinking about putting a portfolio together for Salvador and sending it out to different agencies.

He needs to start earning his keep around here.

Salvador was pimped out in his Papa's tie - does it get any cuter?!

Actually, yes it does...

Justin did such a great job photographing this hyper tasmanian devil dog :)

"Awww man, no more carrots?! Woofiesad!"

And the last stop was one of our favorite bars in downtown - Bullets.

Forrest was finally in his element with a beer in hand.

Don't you worry...there will be plenty more photos once I get the cd from the magician behind the camera.

Thanks so much Justin (and Bonnie!!) for the awesome pictures and fun times. Want to schedule a session or browse more of Mr. April's work? Check it out here, here, and you can follow him on twitter @J_AprilPhoto.

Forrest has been foaming at the mouth for pizza and since he can't have any.....I thought the least I could do was make a dish with marinara sauce for dinner.....

Deconstructed pizza...sort of?!

Forrest says "absolutely not. don't talk." haha! <---he is serious about his meat pies.

I always sneak in some veggies for my main squeeze any time I get the chance.

Red red wine.

I wasn't feeling the pasta and my face wasn't feeling the red sauce so I went with a lettuce bowl topped with hummus and extra virgin olive oil.

Check out this tired guy.....

"Being this cute ain't easy....take it from someone who knows! Woof!"

Weekend of the China Berries

2012-03-11T14:21:00.002-07:00

After a long week, Forrest and I acted like an old married couple and went to sleep around 10:00 pm on Friday night. Besides being tired, we had a good reason for getting our rest before Saturday....china berries. Forrest's friends, Brooks and TR, cut down the tree for us last weekend because apparently the berries will poison the Pom. Saturday was clean up day....

We spent six hours picking up the poison from our backyard - the things we do for this dog is unbelievably ridiculous.

Two bags and a bucket later, we are still not even close to being finished.

We decided to reward our hard work by going out to dinner with the Cosby clan. Before sushi, we stopped by to see our nephew, Bill Cosby....

Forrest wants a large dog.

Billford sitting for a treat from his Mama.

Hide-and-seek.

Best sushi joint in Dothan.

We started with a seaweed salad and I ate most of it.

Vegetarian spring rolls - the sauce was delicious!

Sister inhaled this entire plate...she loves a volcano roll.

Forrest ordered all that jazz in the middle while I went with a cucumber and avocado roll.

My hot date for the night :)

The husband gave me the best present ever this Sunday morning - he let me sleep in until 10:30 am!!!!! That is five hours more than I usually get thanks to a barking Pomeranian - I feel like a new woman, ha! They took an early morning walk around the neighborhood and then I woke up to a tired Salvador wrapped up in this blanket....

"It's about time you wake your lazy head up - let's play! Woofie!"

Thoughts by Salvador

2012-03-08T17:18:00.003-08:00

Hi humans!
You all probably "ooh and aah" and drool on your keyboards nightly when you see my pictures so no real introduction is needed. Since I rarely get a voice on this blog, I thought I would take a moment to let you inside my head. The Mama and Papa took me for a walk this afternoon...those two are a pair of looney tunes. Examples:

Thoughts: Umm you know I'm a dog right?....and not your kid!!?

How is it possible that your legs are that pale?

Why must you always take an adult sippy cup and never share with me?

I'm eating poo and this guy doesn't even know it - score!!

Dude with the sippy cup: my legs are two inches in height, no more walking.

No seriously, these paws are done.

Give me water and a piggy back ride home.

When I don't get my way, I pout and they fall for it every. single. time.

See what I mean?!! Woofiehaha

I'm spoiled rotten and I know it.

After our walk, Aunt Sister stopped by so I sprinkled on her shoes to welcome her into mi casa.

Blondie likes to eat all of our food and rub it in my face about how delicious it is.
I will break that thumb.

Helllllooooo!! I'm right behind you!

How can you ignore my cute self?! Woofienaw!

And that concludes this post. I know it was short but you try typing with paws!

Love and licks,

Salvie

Weekend in Nashville: Part Two

2012-03-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, here is part one.

Now where was I?!?! Ah yes, ranking a beer sampler at Yazoo Brewery....afterwards we headed to lunch.

Decisions, decisions.

Aunt Bev was in the mood for a plain ole brisket sandwich and I was in the mood for half of her fries.

Forrest went with the brisket melt and once again, I went for half of his fries....

and a salad piled high with spicy peppers.

We decided to do more walking / sight seeing / bar hopping after lunch. Geez, there are so many cool places in Nashville - I love it there! Honestly I can't remember the name of any place we hopped into but here are some pictures....

Full bar.

Sight seeing and getting lost in the country music-singing streets was a blast!

Not so much of a hot spot but it was nice to escape the crowd for a few minutes.

Getting guitar tips from a statue I guess??!!

Almost Dr Dog show time!!!

The concert was in the War Memorial Auditorium which was the perfect venue - historic and large enough for me to get my dance on.

Love me some Dr Dog tunes....

and so does the husband :)

Once the show was over, we walked back to our hotel and crashed hard! We woke up on Sunday, packed our suitcases, and drank this adult beverage....

and made it on our plane back to Birmingham....

Thanks so much for the tickets Bev!! And as usual, we had a blast hanging out with you!!

And so our 22 hours in Nashvegas sadly came to an end but we hope to visit again soon. Thank you Brittany (Life of Charmings) for all the awesome music city recommendations - we will definitely have to stay longer next time and try more of your food / hot spot suggestions! :)

Life in lower Alabama is back to normal with the brew master working on the next batch.....

and with reminder # 3 arriving in the mail.....

"I wish you two would leave again soon...I had more fun with my g'parents! Woof!"

and #4...............

Best one yet - envelope full of meat pies.

I'm Published!

2012-03-06T16:23:00.001-08:00

Last year I was asked to cook up some healthy, meatless meals for a spread in the Wiregrass Living Magazine's Good Taste March / April issue and it hit stands today! Here are a few teasers until you buy your own copy which can be found all around Dothan (I found them at Dakota Coffee)....

Pictures by Brian W. McDonald / Wiregrass Living Magazine

You know you want that pasta recipe.

I can't believe that is actually my food - I should work on my camera skillz.

"Make this one for me, Mama!! Woofwoofrightnow!!"

"I'm so proud of you...now feed me! Woofie!"

Thank you Wiregrass Living Magazine (check them out on facebook!) for the write up, gorgeous photos, and the opportunity to share my veggie head love with lower Alabama :) Special thanks to Sister and Amanda for helping me pull it all together and mostly for helping us eat the leftovers :)

P.S. - part two from our weekend in Nashville coming up tomorrow!

Weekend in Nashville: Part One

2012-03-05T18:07:00.001-08:00

What a weekend! So much of a weekend that I'm dividing it up into two parts. Forrest, Aunt Bev, and I originally made plans to meet in Birmingham and fly to Nashville on Friday night (for the Dr Dog concert on Saturday night). I met my sweet parents on the side of the interstate for the furball drop off....

"Thanks for playing with me all weekend Dandy & Lottie! Woofie!"

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and our flight was cancelled; however, we made the most of our night together. We decided to start off with dinner at Sol Y Luna....

Guacamole appetizer, light brews for the girls, and a spicy 'rita for Forrest.

I ordered a veggie salad and it took all I had not to eat that cheesy bread!

The two meat-eaters at the table split a few tapas........

tomatillo lobster soft taco,

iron skillet mussels,

and crabmeat enchiladas (their favorite of the three).

After stuffing ourselves, we walked over to Oasis to hear live music and get our dance on. We asked Forrest to take a picture and as usual, he just started snapping.....

Me: "Forrest, seriously why can't you just count to three?!"

Bev: "Heyyyy, would ya look at that!"

Take 2 and my head is massive.

Love me some Aunt Bev!

We ended up hanging out with my friend, Kasey, who I haven't seen in years!

Before the night was over, I was determined to get my hot pink pants in a picture.

The husband got cropped because he was making a weird face, ha.

We headed home around midnight to get in a good 8 hour snooze before getting on our 11:00 am flight to Nashvegas.

Once again, no counting - just snapping.

Ready for the colder temperatures!

Shout out to Southwest!

We all had an entire row to ourselves....

and a drink ticket.

Before....

and after, ha!

We landed in the music city around noon and hit the pavement.....

Forrest wanted to hit up the Yazoo Brewery so Aunt Bev mapped out a route.

The line at this watering hole was out the door but we managed to find a seat.

Since I'm not a big fan of anything but Michelob Ultras, we decided to all three split this sampler.

We all took a sip and ranked each beer. Obviously my column is the far right because the highest score I gave was a 2 out of 10.

Not her favorite.

Baby sip....

yuck face.

Forrest was loving every minute / gulp of it.

And that concludes our show tonight - tune in tomorrow for more food, brews, and the concert!!!!

P.S. - here are two (of many) short videos I took at the Dr Dog show :)

What we can learn from these videos:

1) It appears I'm in the middle of a mosh pit but that's not the case - I'm just short

2) I can't video and dance at the same time - I'm getting nauseated just watching that shakiness

3) Dr Dog loves sunglasses and toboggans

Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sandwich

2012-03-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

Last night, Salvador and I met Forrest over at his parents' house to visit with our sweetie pie niece, Isla. She is growing up so fast and has the funniest little personality <----gets it from her Mama :)

Play date with the cousins and maybe the first documentation of me holding a baby? toddler?

We had fun hanging out with this cute munchkin but we definitely missed Elizabeth & Paul!

Salvador was all up in Isla's princess castle.

Loves her some Uncle Gump.....and plastic corn on the cob :)

We have lots to do before the weekend so I opened up a can of soup and made a salad for dinner.....

Olive Garden style and yes, those are hummus globs once again.

Oh look, Forrest finally decided to change out of the Pink Floyd pants.

My parental units are making their way to Dothan tomorrow so I stocked the pantry, bought a frozen pizza (husband, don't look in the freezer), and made a healthy but sweet treat for them to snack on.....

Yeah, seriously that is it.

Slather on fat free frozen cool whip on one cracker.

Take another graham cracker, smush it on top of the cool whip, and place in freezer over night (or at least for a few hours).

Mom will probably appreciate this healthy version of an ice cream sandwich.

Dad will probably just got buy a pint of Blue Bell.

Skeptical face but ended up loving it.

"How come the big guy always gets to be the taste-tester?!?!?! Woofnotfair!"

Forrest Has Mail & Lunch Scenes

2012-02-29T15:59:00.001-08:00

As you may already know, Forrest gave up pizza for Lent which has been a daily struggle. The other night he tried to convince himself that a calzone was acceptable to eat. I informed him of the definition of calzone: inside-out pizza. Not only has he been falling asleep and dreaming of meat pies, but someone keeps mailing him weekly reminders......

Reminder # 1.

Reminder #2.

Who knew that Herman Cain reads this ole blog and has such a sense of humor.

I'm pretty sure Forrest is on the verge of calling our local Pizza Hut to reserve a booth close to the buffet for our Easter luncheon.

Today was another hot one in lower Alabama so Salvador and I enjoyed my lunch hour outside on the patio while soaking up the sunshine.....

"Oh sunny days I do love you so! Woofie!"

Are flowers supposed to be blooming in February?!

I threw together a quick lettuce bowl topped with three bean salad leftovers, a few globs of my favorite hummus, and extra virgin olive oil.....

I can't stop with the hummus!

Salvador was ticked off that I wouldn't share with him.....

"This is my evil eye and it means FEED ME NOW! Woofnotkiddingaround!"

He settled for licking the cement.

I would say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We finished up our lunch hour by running around in the back yard and then the Pom went on a hunt for some shade....

"Mannnn, this fur coat is killin' me! Woof woof!"

Three Bean Salad

2012-02-28T17:51:00.000-08:00

Guess who is feeling better?! This guy......

"I'm back on top of my game. Laddddies, give me a call! Woofie Woof!"

It was like a summer day in lower Alabama today - blue skies, sandals, short sleeve shirts, and hot temperatures. Forrest and I took the Pom for a walk and played with him in the back yard until he was exhausted (see heavy panting in picture above).

"I'm feeling better Mama - no more cuddle time for you! Woofletmego!"

Since it was such a warm day, I was in the mood for a cool and quick dinner....

Can o' variety beans.

Rinse and drain beans - add chopped cucumbers, red onion, feta cheese crumbles, lime juice, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and salt / pepper. Chill in the fridge for 15 - 30 minutes and get ready to hear your husband laugh when you call this dinner.

Once we covered ourselves in Off! mosquito spray, we dined outside until Salvador decided to annoy us....

"Hey!! Why did you take the plates away?! Woofiesooonotcool!"

Blog Love & More Dancing with the Dog

2012-02-27T17:23:00.002-08:00

First of all, I want to give a shout out to all the new followers and commenters! I have really enjoyed reading all of your comments and adding your blogs to my "must read list" -
Lost & Found
Meme-and-he
The Little Lovebirds
The dirt life
Ash Louise
The Daily Mixtape <----it's my bro-in-law's new blog
Happiness is....
Fashioncandyfloss
B in the Bay
Freaky Friday - Sabrina
Lady K
Monica's Notebook
Henning Love
Bubble My Licorice
I think that is enough for one night - get to reading!! So the Pom isn't feeling like himself and I'm soaking up every minute of his cuddly-self because he never sits still for more than 20 seconds at a time.....

"Why oh why did I eat all that sand at the beach this weekend?! Woof!"

I'll leave you with a little video from our weekend in Florida when Salvador was in party mode (and I was being taped without knowing it - ummm, thanks boog.)

It's a good thing I got thirsty before our dancing got out of hand.

Weekend Scenes from the Beach

2012-02-26T06:08:00.000-08:00

We spent our weekend at the beach and it was the perfect combination of food, fun, and relaxation.

We love The Terrace <---like them on facebook, check out the photos, and prepare to get your drool on)

Obsessed with the lamb pops.

We sat at the bar and ordered off the tapas menu just like our last visit.

The Terrace is a family owned and operated restaurant with delicious food and drinks.

Chef Thom is a culinary genius and we enjoyed getting to know his wife and daughter.

This place is a must-eat if you ever find yourself in Panama City Beach, FL.

Salvador enjoyed licking the lamb leftovers off of Forrest's face.

Thinks we popped this corn for him.

Saturday scenes.....

So long beach - we'll see you again soon!

Girls Night In: Drive By Edition

2012-02-23T18:13:00.002-08:00

Salvador's Aunt Sister was around the neighborhood and decided to stop by for a few minutes to visit her favorite ~~bro in law~~ ~~sister~~ nephew. The Pom welcomed her in with his big bad chirp and then misted her shoes with puppy spray while I cleaned up behind him.

He loves it the most.

"Ohhh you are choking me sooo good! Woofiecan'tbreathe!"

Sister and I caught up with each other over a tub of hummus and veggies. It's always a good time when she is around and I feel so lucky to live close to her, Dave, and Bill Cosby. Thanks for stopping by, spilling a bag of pretzels in the floor for Sal to inhale, eating all my hummus, and most of all making me laugh! We love your face!!!

While we were focused on girl talk, the husband ignored us by playing his guitar......

Live entertainment.
Have a great weekend!

Tempeh & Broccoli Slaw Stir Fry

2012-02-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

During lunch I put my new hummus dippers to work.....

Definitely not the same as warm pita bread but it works for now.

As usual, Salvador munched on a few weeds for lunch.

I've had a rectangle of tempeh in the fridge for way too long so I created a surprisingly tasty dish for tonight's dinner.

Tahini, broccoli slaw, tempeh, sriracha sauce, and unpictured chickpeas/sesame seeds/peas.

Check out those protein stats!

In a pan, crumble the tempeh and saute in extra virgin olive oil, one tablespoon tahini, small amount of water, and as much sriracha as your face can handle.

Toss in 1/3 can of drained and rinsed chickpeas and some frozen peas. Cook for as long as you want (ha! after a year and a half you would think I would have started measuring and timing this stuff). Drizzle in more extra virgin olive oil and throw in a hand full of broccoli slaw. Stir the mixture around until the slaw is semi-tender and prepare to hear your husband say "What is this ish??!!"

Garnish with raw slaw (<----ummm, that just made me laugh more than it should have?!?!) and sesame seeds.

Sit back, wait for your husband to take his first bite, and prepare to hear (from a mouth full of food)

"Hmm, this is some really good ish!!"

Every bite was perfectly crunchy, veggie, and spiiiiicy!

We cooled our throats down with fresh strawberries.

Attention to all of Salvador's grandparents/fur friends/aunts/uncles/secret admirers who may want to buy him a gift in the future: we have finally found one that he can't eat a hole in after the first hour....

Stuff-less animals.

"It's only because Pepe the skunk is my best friend since you threw all my other toys in the trash! Woof woof!!!!"

Fresh Fridge & No Pizza for 40 Days!

2012-02-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (which is tomorrow) and lasts until Easter. Forrest and I have been thinking about something we will miss but can realistically give up - pizza for him, breads for me. Obviously if you read this blog, you know how much meat pie the husband eats but you might be thinking "but you don't eat bread?!" Oh but I do! I don't take pictures of everything I eat because you would get super bored of seeing me munch on pita bread and hummus, wheat bread with hot sauce, baguette dipped in extra virgin olive oil, etc. The first thing I do when I get home from work is dip pita triangles in hummus and I'm usually gnawin' on a baguette while I cook every night.
With my 40 days without bread in mind, I stopped by Publix to stock the fridge.....

Grapes, plums, apples, strawberries, yellow bell pepper, celery, and broccoli <---alternative hummus dippers.

No pizza, no pita.

When Forrest arrived home from work it was still fairly warm outside so we took the Pom for a walk....

Salvador's favorite part of the stroll is sniffing and eating straw, dirt, weeds, trash, basically anything on the ground - weirdo.

"You look ridiculous in that hot scarf! Woofiejustsayin'!!"

Forrest had already decided what he was having for dinner - he had to go out with a bang......

Dante's Pizza - this restaurant is owned by a first generation Italian family and it's the home of Forrest's favorite pie in town.

Besides snacking on pita/hummus and some of the husband's crust, I made myself a salad bowl piled high with arugula, baby spinach, broccoli, yellow bell pepper, spicy black bean burger, peas, feta crumbles, more hummus, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

So long pizza pie - Forrest and Salvador will miss you!

Salvador's One Year Checkup & Veg Couscous

2012-02-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

I've been dreading this day since we received the vet's reminder in the mail for Salvie's one year checkup. I left work a little early to get the Pom - he was so pumped to be riding in the car....

"Wooo hoo, are we going to see my friends at Petite Poodle? Woofie!"

And then we got closer to the same place where his manly nuggets were removed six months ago and the fear set in....

"Ruh roh, I don't like the looks of this! Woofienaw!"

I barely got him through the door - he clinged to my shirt and I wanted to walk out but I put on a brave face. After a few minutes, all the exams and shots were done and the vet said Salvador looked great except one thing - he's overweight, ha! The good news is that he can still eat carrots...just less dog food. I had to ease my pain, so we stopped by Pet Supermarket to pick out a toy.....

Of course, this fat fur went straight for the food.

"Allllllright, I'll settle for another stuffless animal! Woof"

"Pepe le pew...I love you!"

"I got my Mama wrapped around my paw! Woofiehaha!"

Since I arrived home later than usual, I decided to whomp up a quick veg couscous.....

Saute broccoli, celery, red onion, carrots, and frozen peas in extra virgin olive until semi-tender (you still want to a bit of crunch to the veggies). Follow directions on couscous - I used the whole wheat roasted garlic kind and it was delicious!

Combine and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Not bad for a meal under ten minutes!

Time to go spoil the rotten a little more......

"Leave me alone - my bum is sore. Woof!"

Weekend Roundup and Oak & Olive

2012-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a rainy, windy weekend in lower Alabama but we tried to make the most of it. Friday night our friends, Jeremy and Kristen, came over for brews and pizza.

Forrest spent a few minutes trying to decide on which piece had the most meat.

"Hey guys, I want some pizza! Woofieplease!!"

After hanging out for a while, we meet a few friends at Audrey's Cigar & Wine Bar and continued the party.

Sister times.

Amanda found Salvador a girlfriend.

We had a blast hanging out with our favorite people and finally called it a night to go home and snuggle with the fluff puff.

Saturday was all rain and no play - at least not outside. We threw the tennis ball inside with Salvador until his legs couldn't take it any longer....

"Please let me lay down and nap now! Woof!"

Since we were cooped up in the house all day long, Forrest and I went out for a date night dinner at Oak & Olive. We have heard amazing things about the food, drinks, and atmosphere and it definitely didn't disappoint. Warning: the next few pictures are horrible and do the meal no justice but I couldn't bring myself to bust out the flash....

Tuna tartar with pita and avocado eggrolls.

Stuffed peppers wrapped in bacon.

Hats off to the chef - the presentation and taste of the food is like nothing else you'll find in Dothan. Delicious!!!

I highly recommend the avocado eggrolls. The combination of fresh avocado, shredded cabbage, and sun dried tomatoes works so well together.

We love the idea of ordering multiple small plates and being able to eat a little bit of everything. For more photos, check out their facebook page where the talented Justin April worked his camera-magic before O & O's grand opening a few weeks ago. Hope you all had a fun weekend and have a great Presidents' Day if you are lucky enough to be off work :)

Forrest's Fav Black Bean Soup & My Best Friend

2012-02-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

Last night I decided to hang out with the boys and take a break from the ole blog. I was hungry and tired so Forrest grilled veggie burgers while I sat in a chair on the porch doing nothing - it was great.

My veg burger was saved by the five second rule.

The husband requested his favorite soup for dinner tonight and I was happy to whomp it because it takes all of seven minutes from start to finish.

Saute green bell pepper and red onion in extra virgin olive oil until tender.

Toss in a chopped tomato, lots of cilantro, and a sprinkle of cumin.

Open a can of reduced sodium black beans and dump into the pot (don't drain).

Mix in 1/2 packet of taco seasonings, 1/2 can of water, and 1/3 cup shredded cheese. Stir until soup is hot and cheese is melted. Serve warm with tortilla chips, more cheese, red onion, and cilantro.

Forrest ate his as an actual bowl of soup with crushed chips...

I ate mine over a pile of leafers....

and as usual, Salvador ate carrot sticks.

Since dinner, I've been on a cleaning rampage......

Forrest walked in as I was taking this photo and said "Besides Salvie, that Dyson is your best friend."

You know what, he's actually right for once :)

Lemon Blueberry Muffcakes

2012-02-14T17:22:00.001-08:00

So the husband and I don't really give each other Valentine's Day gifts and I like it that way - why?
1) I've always thought flowers were a waste of money
2) I don't really like chocolate
3) We did get Salvador last year around V'day and he's the gift that keeps on giving (pssshhh!)
4) We know we love each other
5) I hate shopping
6) Forrest says "I make you feel like it's Valentines every day!" <---his words, not mine. haha, jokes - it's somewhat true depending on what day you ask.
I did get a card from him and it's absolutely perfect.....

"I'm the best gift you'll ever receive. Woofieyeahh"

Trying to eat my new heart socks from Momma J & Dr Jack (thanks! I love them and the pjs!)

My gift to Salvie was to let him lick my face for two seconds.

The card had writing all over it and talked about loving me and beer - like I said before, it was perfect! This was the final sentence on the back of the card and I agree except I would definitely find something else to buy with a giant pile of money. (thanks boog!)

Since holidays are all about splurging, I decided to whomp up a sweet treat - lazy girl style.

Blueberry muffin mix, sliced almonds, cream cheese frosting, lemon, raspberries, and blueberries.

Follow directions on the muffin mix and add the juice of one lemon, 1 tablespoon frosting, extra blueberries, a few sliced almonds....

and lemon zest.

Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes and let cool.

Frost your muffcake, add more lemon zest (this is key because it cuts the sweetness), and serve with a few fresh berries.

In my head, I was pretending to be on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." And yes, of course I won :)

Is it Valentine's Day or the 4th of July??!!

Loves it the most.

Valentine's Day Edition

2012-02-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Boogie,

Thanks for not making a big deal out of Valentine's Day,

"I love you so" is really all you have to say.

Flowers I can not stand,

I would rather dance around the living room listening to our favorite band.

Chocolate makes my face break out,

Your hugs and kisses are better without a doubt.

It's a lot of fun being your wife,

And spending together this entire life.

I'm lucky to call you my husband and best friend,

I'll love your sweet self until the end.

Snugs,

Woofie Woof!

Thanks for throwing the ball with me,

And letting me out when I need to go pee.

I like when you let me lick your face,

and unknowingly let me eat your shoe lace.

It's fun to wrestle with you in the floor,

Unlike Mama, you are never a bore.

I like when we watch football and do guy stuff,

Makes me feel big, bad, and real tough!

Now give me a treat,

Preferably one with some meat.

Love & Licks,

Salvador

Most Awkward Pom Photo Ever & Yogi Organic Tea

2012-02-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, I talked tender-bones Jackson into braving the cold weather and playing football with us in the backyard. He put on wool socks up to his knees, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, two jackets, and a pair of my sunglasses......

My boys and their pink football.

If you have ever asked Forrest to take a picture with your camera then you know he likes to just start snapping, without warning, multiple times, over and over and over. Normally this habit of his drives me crazy because I end up deleting a ton of photos in order to make room on the memory card. This time was different - he captured the most awkward pic of Salvador ever.....

This should win some sort of award.

Shall we take a closer look?

What the what?!?! I have no "Salvador caption" for this photo - if you do, leave it in the comment section.

"Let me have the football - no girls allowed! Woofienow!"

"You aren't tricking me - I can smell it in your hand! Woof"

Major air.

So yes, the weather has been cooler in lower Alabama and it's a nice change (at least for me - Forrest doesn't agree). I made hot tea to celebrate.....

Yogi Organic Tea

Aww, thanks for the well wishes Yogi.

No cooking tonight - Forrest is still working on the leftover ziti and I'm whompin' up a few dishes for a small catering gig on Tuesday morning :)

Weekend (mostly) at Home

2012-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

This weekend was both productive and relaxing which is exactly what we needed since Forrest was out of town for work most of the week. The husband arrived home on Friday night to an excited Pom and a home cooked meal......

"Don't ever leave me again, do you understand?! Woofie!"

Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables

ziti pasta

tomato pasta sauce

veggies (I used broccoli, red and green bell peppers, onion, and zucchini)

extra virgin olive oil

shredded cheese (I used Publix brand six cheese italian)

panko bread crumbs

italian seasoning

salt / pepper

Chop veggies into equal bite-sized pieces, toss in olive oil, and roast in a 400 degree oven until tender.

Follow directions on pasta package.

Once the ziti is al dente, drain and mix in red sauce and roasted vegetables.

In a casserole dish, spoon in more pasta sauce on the bottom of the dish then half ziti/veg mixture, shredded cheese, the rest of the ziti, and finally sprinkle with panko, italian seasoning, and more cheese.

Broil on low until cheese is melted (and slightly burnt - oopsie)

Pair with a side salad.....

red wine, and more olive oil.

Forrest ended up in an Italian coma, loved it, and said he should stay out of town more often.

Later that night, the beer master decided to taste his home brew one week early just to test it out.

Pour it.

Look at it.

Sniff it.

Look at it again.

Taste it.

Make your wife taste it.

The verdict - it's surprisingly delicious already!

One more week and it should be perfect!

"Hey now! What about me?! I want a lick! Woof!"

Salvador was depressed the rest of the night since Forrest didn't share the liquid goodness with him.

Our productive Saturday started off by cleaning out both cars, swiffering fur balls off our floor, and then we went shopping downtown for a bedroom dresser (which we finally found - yay!).....

One of Dothan's many downtown murals....

and peanut statues.

We decided to try out a new restaurant for a late afternoon lunch / early dinner - Cactus Flower Cafe

The salsa had cilantro so we loved it the most.

Forrest ordered an IPA to wash down the chips.

Fresh and chunky guacamole - this was my favorite part of the meal.

The husband loves mahi tacos and thought the fish was cooked perfectly; however, he wasn't the biggest fan of the sauce.

I ordered the vegetarian Mexican salad with California lime dressing on the side.

Overall we really loved our dining experience and the food at Cactus Flower Cafe (<----"like" them on facebook) and we will definitely go back soon. Both our meals were super flavorful and filling without leaving us with that "I'm so full I need to unbutton my pants. I'm never eating Mexican food again!!!" feeling.

Today looks like this so far: barking alarm went off at 5:30 am, church, blog, jamming to Dr Dog's new album, and now I'm working on two recipes for an online project <----more on that later :)

Salvador Skypes & Beet Hummus

2012-02-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

Forrest was out of town last night and the Pom was missing him like crazy. We decided to introduce him to the world of technology.....

Does anyone actually like their voice on camera? Even though I sound like a sleepy dork (it was past my 9:00 bed time), Sal's expressions were too cute not to post.

PS - before you call dog services, Salvador doesn't drink beer (ok, maybe he licks the top of the bottles sometimes). Forrest talks about it so often that now Sal recognizes the word.

So tonight I finally figured out the trick to extra smooth hummus - boil the drained chickpeas in water for three minutes and peel them! Yes, each one by hand.

Sabra - I know your secret now!

With my skinless chick peas in tow, I decided to incorporate two left over beets and make a hummus/spread....

Spray beets with extra virgin olive oil and wrap in tin foil.

Roast in a 425 degree oven for 40 minutes. Peel off the outside layer and toss them in a blender with chick peas, juice of half a lemon, extra virigin olive oil, 1 - 2 tablespoons of tahini, garlic, and salt / pepper.

Happy (early) Valentine's Day, husband!

What a lucky guy, haha!

I went on a hot pink dipping spree - bread, cucumbers, carrots, gluten-free pretzels, broccoli, and....

kale chips!

So there you have it ladies......the perfect pink dip to show your sweetie how much you love him on Valentine's Day.

Note to yourself: if you are not head-over-heels in love with beets, do not make this.