I Used to Vacation

obsessed: gifts for expecting mamas

2012-01-30T12:00:00.000-06:00

I haven't really used this blog to document my first pregnancy, except for a few posts here and there. However, spending eight months (two to go!) with child is clearly a big life changer, and I'm always thankful for all of the love and support given to Matt and me by our friends and family. Sometimes that love and support comes in the form of awesome gifts. So, today I'd like to share with you some of my favorites. They'd be such thoughtful - and unexpected (see what I did there?) - gifts for the expecting mama in your life.

When she found out I was pregnant, my friend Nikki sent me a "congratulations" gift that included this Bella B. Tummy Honey Butter well before I had to even think about buying maternity jeans. But, I started slathering this on the bump as soon as it sprouted, and I love it. It really does soothe the itching of stretching skin, and (I think, I hope, I pray) so far, so good on the actual marks.

One of the must-haves, of course, for new parents expecting a baby is a baby book. I mean, how else do you make your second kiddo feel inadequate except for filling out the first child's baby book in full and then only sporadically for child number two? I'm, in general, really averse to inordinate amounts of cheese, so I wanted a baby book that was cute but not disgustingly so. I came across the Ruby Love Etsy store via Pinterest, and I recently ordered a white, pink, and green striped book. The Etsy shop owner is a mama herself and a graphic designer, and her books are just my style.

Matt and I have received two really cool nutrition/cookbooks that will definitely help us out when GG moves to solid food. Given that Matt and I are both adventurous eaters, we really need this kid to follow suit. And, as health-conscious eaters, we really need her to love her fruits and veggies. Except for beets. Beets can go to hell. The first book is Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, given to us by Matt's Aunt Mary and Uncle Rusty. After my anger regarding the annual Seinfeld income subsided, I really had a lot of fun perusing this book. I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

The other cookbook that we received was The Petit Appetit by Lisa Barnes, a gift from my cousin Jessica and Aunt Nikki. This one offers organic recipes for babies and toddlers. A couple of my friends (super moms Alice and Shannon) with little ones have really loved making their own baby food - for the nutritional factor and the cost savings - and I hope that I can join the club. Armed with this cookbook and my Cuisinart Smart Stick, I feel up for the challenge.

interested in a food coma?

2012-01-28T10:21:00.003-06:00

Photo by some guy named Dan Goldberg who works for the Huff Post (AKA not me this time)

Two weeks ago, I was sitting in our English office at the high school, thumbing through a People magazine that someone had graciously brought from home to combat the dire effects of too much literature on the brain. I ran across this Stephanie Izard recipe and instantly decided to give it a try.

You guys probably remember Izard as the winner of Top Chef season four, the girl who somehow managed to out-Blais frontrunner, Richard Blais. Or not. Anyhoo, she now owns Chicago's Girl and the Goat, a restaurant I have yet to experience because every time I visit The Windy City, the only reservation slot open is for 11:00 PM or after. So, obviously, Izzard is doing something right.

This pasta combines a ton of ingredients that seemingly don't go together but magically do. I brought leftovers to work on Wednesday and literally couldn't control myself from complimenting its tastiness (and my ability to follow directions) out loud. Then, I immediately went into a food coma and had trouble teaching 7th hour. I blamed it on the pregnancy, but honestly, the energy ran low because of massive quantities of this tasty meal.

The only thing I might do differently next time around is to change to a pasta that will collect more of the sauce, like a shell or penne pasta. My ragu was a little thin, so it was hard to get a forkful of all flavors in one bite.

Pork-Apple Ragu with Pappardelle

-1 teaspoon olive oil
-3/4 lb. ground pork
-2 strips bacon, chopped
-1/2 cup onion, diced
-3 garlic cloves, minced
-2 Honeycrisp apples, cut into 1/4 inch slices
-1/2 cup dry white wine
-1 15 oz. can whole tomatoes, chopped
-1 cup chicken broth
-1 lb. dried pappardelle or fettuccine
-2 tablespoons capers
-2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
-salt
-pepper

1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until it browns, 5 to 7 minutes, breaking into smaller pieces.

2. In a large saucepan, lightly brown bacon. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add apples and wine and simmer 4 minutes, or until wine is almost evaporated.

3. Add tomatoes, broth, and pork. Bring to boil, then reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, until sauce thickens, 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, prepare pappardelle according to package directions. Drain.

5. Add capers and basil to sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over pasta.

i feel so symbolic...

2012-01-24T16:39:00.008-06:00

Sha la la la la la la la.

Last Friday, I hit the 31 week mark on my pregnancy. I spent the vast majority of the weekend doing one of two things: learning about the labor and delivery process and the even scarier plucking of gray hairs out of my scalp.

Since I found out I was pregnant last July, I've noticed that the number of gray hairs on my head has multiplied exponentially. Like, if I take the tweezers to just one, four thousand come to its funeral. I have several theories behind this enemy influx, most of which I am going to boldly share with you now.

Theory A: I am 32 years old. My mother recently told me that the Rice side of the family tends to go gray early. Well, even though that's just a bunch of unfair hooey, I guess I can't control it.

Theory B: Something scientific related to pregnancy hormones...yada yada yada...causes one's hair to actually remain intact during one's time with child. Lord knows my hair was thick enough when I was shedding massive quantities each day during a blow dry. So, maybe I'm simply not losing as many (gray) strands as I was pre-pregnancy? Maybe? (If you want the real scoop about the estrogen, read this.)

Theory C: I'm terrified of the ghost texter that lives in our house. Yes, it's true. Matt and I have recently started hearing a short (yet very ominous!) vibration that sounds like an iPhone receiving a text. In fact, I heard it just this morning as I sat on our stairs, attempting to tie my shoelaces. But, my phone was nowhere near me! I'm so scared by this notion of a paranormal electronic device user that my fear is illustrated via my new hair color. Sounds logical, right?

Tomorrow, I have a hair appointment where my stylist will wash that gray right outta my hair. Or chemically process it away. Whatever. But, I am still concerned with the renewed spirit with which it grows. How can I possibly keep up with its swiftness? I can't afford to have my hair colored more frequently! Yet, how can I face the world, with only three decades and some change of experience under my belt, sporting a crop of rebel grays? As if I'm fifteen years wiser than I actually am? The horror!

Alas, until I find a solution, I suppose there's nothing left to do but find myself a gray guitar and play. And feel so symbolic. Sha la la la la la la la.

obsessed: kitchen accessories

2012-01-17T20:55:00.002-06:00

Williams-Sonoma's Ceramic Pie Weights

For my birthday, my parents gifted me a couple of tools for the kitchen that I'm so glad to have. I thought I'd share my new obsessions with you.

Last summer, I decided it was high time I make a pie. It's just something every grown woman should do. As you probably know, some pie crusts call for blind baking. (Here's a quick little synopsis of blind baking courtesy of Martha Stewart.) But, I quickly started feeling guilty for using dried beans to blind bake my crust and then throwing them in the trash. There are starving kids in America!

So, my mama bought me pie weights. Happy 32nd birthday to me! Seriously.

Here's the link to the ceramic pie weights on Williams-Sonoma, but alas, they aren't available any longer. However, I bet somewhere on the Interwebs another company makes something similar. Or, maybe you fancy yourself a pie chain gal or guy.

Williams-Sonoma's Traditional Flour Sifter

The second kitchen accessory I'm currently thankful to own is my flour sifter. I know this seems a little silly, but trust me when I say that owning a sifter with a crank versus a spring action handle thingy makes the blending of your dry ingredients so. much. easier. Here's the link to the one I have.

And believe it or not, these crank sifters are rather difficult to find in your average Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond. But, your hands will thank you. And then, you'll still have the energy to hand write a letter to your grandma.

junior mint cupcakes

2012-01-15T20:54:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I got a hankerin' for some cupcakes. Once I hit my third trimester, I developed the craziest sweet tooth. (Well, crazy for me considering my entire life, I've been a salt girl.) Good thing these new cravings came after I passed my glucose test with flying colors - no gestational 'betes for me! So, it's really no surprise that took it upon myself to make an inordinate number of cupcakes for Matt and me. The trickiest part of this decision was deciding what to make.

See, tonight (literally, as I type this) we're watching the Golden Globe awards. Matt and I are, unashamedly, huge pop culture nerds. Let's just say we watch a good amount of (only critically acclaimed, we swear!) television, and we love our movies. It's been our tradition for over a decade now to watch the show together. Also, we like the boozed up celebrities.

I wanted to make a theme-y sort of cupcake, and I scoured the Interwebs all day yesterday for something suitable for a red carpet event. I wasn't having any luck until I stopped into Walgreen's last night for mascara and Hot Tamales that I paused to consider the rest of the "movie theater candy." And then, by George, it hit me. Junior Mint cupcakes.

Turns out, there were approximately eighty-two recipes online for such a thing. So, I pulled a few steps from here and there and came up with my own easy recipe. No, they aren't from scratch, but if that's what you're feeling, I'm sure you can figure out a way to make things harder for yourself.

Junior Mint Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
-1 box of Devil's Food cake mix
-3 large eggs
-1 1/3 cups water
-1/2 vegetable oil
-3/4 teaspoon mint extract

Buttercream Frosting:
-1 cup butter, at room temperature
-3 cups powdered sugar
-dash of milk

Decoration:
-green sprinkles
-Junior Mints

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the ingredients for the cupcakes. Place 18 cupcake liners into two cupcake tins and fill each liner two-thirds full.
2. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
3. Let cupcakes cool completely before using a piping bag to frost each cupcake.
4. Sprinkle each cupcake and finish with a Junior Mint.

the best of 2011: recipes

2012-01-09T19:02:00.001-06:00

Ina's lettuce-free Greek salad

Now that I've had nine full days of 2012 to effectively sit down and collect my food-related thoughts, I'm ready to share my favorite recipes from the previous year. (You can also take a peek at my 2010 list or my entire recipe archive.) With the added time suck that is Pinterest, it's easier than ever to find fabulous ideas to get a little crazy in the kitchen. Yet, these are the recipes that wowed me upon first bite and called me back again and again, and they range from easy (three ingredient slow cooker pulled pork, y'all!) to a titch bit more complicated (multi-step, but totally worth it, quiche). But, let's get serious, I would never recommend anything too complicated to you. Because I would never make it myself.

So, here we go! My favorite fifteen recipes of 2011. Most of them have previously been posted on the blog, so follow the links to pictures, recipes, and of course, my very necessary commentary.

And, just so you know, my parents got me an ice cream maker for my recent 32nd birthday. I can't wait to whip up some fro yo in the dead of winter! Stay tuned.

1 Three-Cheese Artichoke Dip [recipe courtesy of Paula Deen]
Anytime my husband says, "That's a keeper!" I know it's a recipe to behold. Those comments don't come easy.

2 Edamame Hummus [recipe courtesy of Clare Robinson]
I bought the beautiful cookbook, 5 Ingredient Fix, last spring, and made the edamame hummus for a girls' night snack. It's a great alternative to chickpea hummus, 'cause if you're like me, at this point, you've eaten enough "regular" hummus to kill a small horse.

3 Antipasto Pasta Salad [recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home]
Take a typical antipasto platter and throw all of those ingredients in a bowl. Duh! What's not to love?

4 Greek Salad [recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa]
The best part of any salad is usually everything but the boring lettuce. I'm glad Ina and I are on the same page.

5 Autumn Chopped Salad [recipe courtesy of Espresso and Cream]
Combining oodles of fall ingredients that I hold so dear to my heart, this salad is a new twist on the familiar.

6 Hot and Sour Soup [recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home]
I love takeout hot and sour soup, but sometimes, I'm not quite sure what I'm eating. Seriously, what's that gooey black stuff? This recipe combats the mystery and provides you with enough servings to last for days.

7 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apples [recipe courtesy of Little Pink Monster]
There's nothing better than some quick and easy roasted veggies. Unless you add bacon and then contrast the saltiness with apple. And this recipe does just that.

8 Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Quiche [recipe courtesy of The Joy of Cooking]
Of course, you can customize any quiche to include the ingredients you prefer, but the caramelized onion and mushroom combo is the bomb, and I don't even say "the bomb" in real life. Only in blog life.

9 Goat Cheese, Pancetta, and Mushroom Risotto
Risotto always seemed a little daunting to me, until I tried this recipe that came highly recommended by my friend, Nikki. It is freakishly good. Promise me you'll try it. Pinkie swear!

-5 cups low sodium chicken broth
-10 ounces cremini mushrooms
-3 tbsp. butter
-1 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 cup pancetta, diced (4 ounces)
-1.5 cups Arborio rice
-1/2 cup dry white wine
-1/2 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
-3/4 cup goat cheese (3 ounces)
-1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
-1/2 tsp. kosher salt
-1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a boil over medium-high heat and keep warm over low heat.
2. In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushrooms and pancetta and cook until the onions are tender but not brown, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes.
4. Add ½ cup of warm stock and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
5. Continue with remaining stock, adding ½ cup at a time, and allowing each addition to be absorbed, until the rice is tender to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 to 25 minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the parmesan, goat cheese, chives, salt and pepper. Allow to sit for a few minutes before serving.

10 Slow Cooker Pulled Pork [recipe courtesy of Tablespoon]
Three ingredients + one crock pot + several hours = delectable pulled pork. It's magic.

11 Grilled Tuna with Pineapple Chipotle Salsa [recipe courtesy of Paula Deen]
So addictive! So healthy! Did I just use those two adjectives to describe the same recipe? Yes, yes I did!

12 Pumpkin Bars [recipe courtesy of Paula Deen]
Topped with cream cheese frosting (my favorite!), Paula's pumpkin bars make me weak in the knees.

13 Rhubarb Cobbler [recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman]
The perfect combination of sweet and tart, this rhubarb cobbler is deceptively easy to make.

14 Pumpkin Pie [recipe courtesy of Paula Deen]
My father-in-law told me that this was the best pumpkin pie he's ever had. So, I'll just leave you with that.

15 Lemon-Mint Cake with Lemon Syrup [recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentis]
The light flavors of the lemon and mint make this cake perfect for spring and summer when chocolate feels like...a little much.

the best of 2011: restaurants

2012-01-02T13:28:00.003-06:00

The Salted Sage at Taste

1 Taste, Saint Louis [website]
After Taste moved spots (from Benton Park to the Central West End), we took our friends, Corey and Caitlin, there for pre-dinner drinks and snacks. Immediately, I fell in love with the huge and heavy wooden door, marking the intimate spot's entrance. The space is dim and cozy, even in the heat of July. Even though I am not particularly adventurous when it comes to cocktails, I was easily able to find some creative concoctions on the menu. The Salted Sage (tequila, salted lime syrup, lime, pineapple, and sage) was light and refreshing. Kind of like a margarita, but immensely better, of course. And the mixologists at Taste are very in touch with their ice. (Get a load of the monster cube in my Salted Sage; they melt more slowly, therefore you have a less watery drink.) We also ordered a bowl of the Pomp and Circumstance punch. Despite the menu's claim that a punch bowl serves 4-6, we had a very difficult time finishing. The pork belly and cheese board sharing plates were a great start to our night. I can't wait to return...when I can consume alcohol once again. 'Cause that's sort of the point of Taste.

2 The Block, Saint Louis [website]
Matt and I moved to Webster Groves in the middle of August, but it took us almost four months to get our butts a mile down the road to eat at The Block, a newish restaurant owned by Marc Del Pietro (Luciano's). After one loooong look at the menu (and another loooong look at the industrial-meets-farmhouse interior), I was kicking my own butt for taking that long. One sure sign I'm going to like a restaurant is if there are just too many delicious-sounding options for me to make a quick meal pick. Of course, the food has to be good, but after all of the rave reviews I'd heard, I was not skeptical. The roasted pear salad (a special that night) was a great start, and my mother-in-law and I split two appetizers: The Potted Pig (the apple and raisin chutney made me swoon) and Roasted Mushrooms and Melted Swiss. My father-in-law's steak was served with the house-made steak sauce, and it was amazing. We asked our server what was in the steak sauce, and he listed about twenty-five ingredients. I can't wait for my return trip to The Block, especially since there's outside seating, perfect for springtime lunches...with a stroller.

Spiced Atlantic Salmon at Herbie's

3 Herbie's, Saint Louis [website]
I had three excellent meals at Herbie's in 2011. But, the first was the most memorable. I celebrated my 31st birthday with my family, and the entire experience was so fun...and tasty. My favorite place to sit at Herbie's is in the bistro section, close to the hustle and bustle of Euclid Avenue. It's warm and cozy (even sitting near the streetside windows), and we were lucky enough to dine during a calm snowfall. After celebrating my in-laws' fortieth wedding anniversary at Herbie's and also entertaining out-of-town friends there, you name it, I tried it this year. BBQ Spiced Atlantic Salmon. Lobster Mac and Cheese. Steak and Frites. Shrimp and Grits. You really can't go wrong.

4 Sidney Street Café, Saint Louis [website]
I think I predicted last year that Sidney Street would make the list again this year. 2011 marked the eleventh year in a row that Matt and I have eaten at Sidney Street with his family, as sort of a kick off to the holiday season and also to celebrate his dad's and his brother-in-law's birthdays. The restaurant has changed over the years, probably imperceptibly to most, but to us, in subtle ways that ultimately affect its charm. The entrée chalkboard menus have been replaced with paper ones. The dishes lean more toward the innovative versus the familiar. The plating is much more minimal and artful. All of this is just fine and dandy, but we can't help but notice Sidney Street's slow crawl from refined comfortableness to "cutting edge." Despite all of this, my meal at the beginning of the month was insanely different from anything I've ever had. I ordered the Smoked Sweet Potato Perogis with a fricassee of Brussels sprouts, black trumpet mushrooms, chestnuts, and pickled ramps, in a brown butter sauce. Let's not forget the three homemade sage marshmallows. No meat, and I didn't miss it.

5 The Shaved Duck, Saint Louis [website]
For a more casual affair - dinner before a show, a quick bite with friends - The Shaved Duck was my choice in 2011. Located in the Tower Grove neighborhood, the restaurant's tagline is "Barbeque, Folk, and Soul." For me, it's the three different flatbreads that are hard to ignore: duck and bleu cheese (with a bourbon glaze), pulled pork (with bacon and apple), and shrimp and andouille (with tomato jam, green peppers, and parmesan). Splurge and order the walnut and brown sugar encrusted bacon (with pears and bleu cheese) for an appetizer. I mean. There's live music every night, and three varieties of gumbo on the menu. A person can live off those two things alone.

Minetta Tavern's neon sign

6 Minetta Tavern, New York [website]
Okay, forget that this place is apparently good for celebrity sightings (Salman Rushdie and Aziz Ansari in one night!), despite it's crazy expensive menu, the food is really, really freaking good. Corey and Caitlin took us to Minetta Tavern during our New York visit last March. Just last night, Matt and I watched a rerun of Anthony Bourdain's new travel show, Layover, and he was knocking the Black Label Burger's $26 price tag while simultaneously singing its delicious praises. Whatever, I fell for it. I ate that $26 burger like my life depended on it (and really, it might have since it was 11:00 PM before we actually ate that night.) After pickle juice martinis and a couple of $18 glasses of red wine (I'm serious, Clark), nothing could have been better. Well, one thing. The roasted bone marrow appetizer. If you're ever in New York, make a reservation at Minetta Tavern.

The few light fixtures at Publican

7 Publican, Chicago [website]
I might not recommend going to Publican with a group of ten. 'Cause then your party can't fit into one of the pig pen booths. And, I might not recommend going with a group of ten if there are vegetarians in said group. But, my January meal at this Chicago restaurant (selfishly) made me a very happy girl, even if paying the bill was harder than that chalkboard proof in Good Will Hunting. The interior is farmhouse- (I still heart the trend, even though it's everywhere) meets-European beer hall, the drink menu is beer-focused, and the food is described as "pristine product, simply prepared." Spicy pork rinds, sweetbreads, oysters, smoked arctic char, ahi tuna crudo, scallops, Brussels sprouts, all family style, all passed about the table. The seafood dishes were my personal favorites.

8 Bailey's Range, Saint Louis [website]
Last year's list featured Rooster, in all of its marvelous bloody mary and crepe glory. 2011's list features a new David Bailey endeavor, a riff on an old-fashioned burger-and-fries joint downtown. Except this burger-and-fries joint is special in just about every way. With a selection of sixteen different burgers, I had the same selection difficulties that I recently experienced at The Block. I settled on the PB&J, basically because of two words: tomato jam. The arugula pesto and fresh goat cheese on a house made bun also sort of made my dreams come true. And let's talk about fries. The main reason I ever order fries is because of the ketchup. If it were socially acceptable, I would bathe in a tub of ketchup. At Bailey's Range, it's hard for a ketchup addict like me to pick between all of the flavors: ginger, wasabi, chipotle... Sigh, life is tough for a girl sometimes. However, start your meal off with the cheese curds, and it gets a little easier. Accompany it with a milkshake (Maybe with cinnamon ice cream? Maybe with booze if you fancy?), and suddenly, it's smooth sailing. Top it off with homemade apple cider sorbet? Your food coma is too large and in charge to really complain about much at all.

9 Frankie's 457, Brooklyn [website]
On our last night in New York, Corey and Caitlin took us to Brooklyn for dinner. They were big fans of Frankie's 457, a "sputino," which means "an informal meal" or a "casual Italian eatery." It's owned by two friends, Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli. The interior is carefully, imperfectly restored from an Italian social club to a shabby-eclectic seeming hot spot (based on our host's snobby demeanor, even with our month-long late-night reservation.) There's even a garden out back, flowers and herbs grown in an old converted garage. The four of us shared quite a few dishes, but the one I remember the best (though my red wine haze) was the Sweet Potato and Sage Ravioli. Candles cast dancing shadows on the exposed red brick walls, and the experience gave me that warm, cozy feeling that can only be had during a long dinner with best friends. After our meal, we found a cab, and I slept all the way back to the Upper West Side, content as content can be.

10 DeMun Oyster Bar, Saint Louis [website]
Leave it to us: an oyster bar opens a half mile from our condo in DeMun, and then we move. We get a $100 gift certificate from my parents, and then I get pregnant (read: no oysters, no champagne). But, my few visits to DeMun Oyster Bar at the beginning of 2011 were fun while they lasted. DeMun Oyster Bar is small and quaint (read: great ambiance but you might have trouble finding a seat on a busy night), and most articles/reviews I've read on the place highly regard the intricate, mosaic tile floor, with tiles shipped in from France. Owned by Alan Richman (Sasha's Wine Bar), the restaurant highlights a variety of fresh oysters arriving daily. And if you really aren't sure what you'd like, ask your server for an oyster flight. It's an easy way to sample the bunch and find your favorite. I can't wait to return...and wash it all down with a glass of Rosé Cava.

the best of 2011: music

2011-12-31T11:37:00.001-06:00

1,2,3 at Cicero's | Photo by Katie Guymon

Speakers in Code already dropped its annual list of 100 Best Songs and 50 Best Albums on dat ass, but here are my personal picks for my The Best of 2011 mix. Friends, if you click a couple of buttons, you can listen to these songs yourself and simultaneously save the earth. There are zero physical copies this year - zero! - so, get this while the gettin's good.

DO IT. Download the mix HERE.

1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Morning Thought
2 Née - Absolom
3 Ryan Adams - Dirty Rain
4 Generationals - Ten-Twenty-Ten
5 Smith Westerns - End of the Night
6 The War On Drugs - Baby Missles
7 The Head and the Heart - Rivers and Roads
8 Bon Iver - Holocene
9 Old Lights - Wilder Honey
10 1,2,3 - Work
11 Peter Bjorn and John - Tomorrow Has to Wait
12 Feist - Graveyard
13 GIVERS - Ceiling of Plankton
14 Foster the People - Houdini
15 Cults - You Know What I Mean
16 Bright Eyes - Shell Games
17 The Decemberists - Calamity Song
18 The Blind Eyes - Into the Breach
19 Grouplove - Colours
20 Dawes - Time Spent in Los Angeles
21 The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
22 Cotton Jones - Egg on a Sea
23 Class Actress - Weekend
24 Priory - Lady of Late
25 The Kill Van Kulls - Lost and Found

the weekend in instagram | 12.16 - 12.18

2011-12-19T16:44:00.002-06:00

This weekend was a mash-up of fun holiday celebrations and not-so-fun housework. Matt and I hired some guys who actually know what they're doing for round one of house renovations. Pictures to come... After two weeks of paint fumes (don't worry, I spent some nights on the couch), out-of-place furniture, and a snow white layer of dust over everything kitchen-related, we're finally done! So, a bulk of the weekend was devoted to moving said furniture and cleaning said dust. Whew. Glad to have it done.

On Saturday night, we celebrated Christmas with friends at a party hosted by Pat, Lindsay, and Seth. A smorgasbord of appetizers, a gift exchange, and several rounds of Catchphrase? What's not to love? Catherine ended up with a Slushy Magic and light up ice cubes, which really made the sangria quite festive. Oh, word to the wise. Slushy Magic won't slushify wine. 'Tis a damn shame.

On Sunday, Matt and I hosted my parents, grandma, John, and Abbie for brunch before we went to The Fox to see Christmas with The Rat Pack.

I love The Fox this time of year. Staring up at the ceiling still gives me the heebie jeebies, but watching three men impersonate Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. made it better. Also, GG was kicking like crazy during the entire show, so I planted my dad's hand on my belly, and he got to feel his granddaughter for the first time. Day made.

The final song, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," brought a tear to Jude's eye. I saw! And, of course, I called her out on it.

But, really, who am I to say a word? Just the other day, I cried full-fledged tears while watching this video of a cute kitten doing cute things. I was overwhelmed by its sweetness. Or, I'm nuts.

the weekend in instagram | 12.8 - 12.11

2011-12-11T18:17:00.005-06:00

Last fall, I managed to write one of these "The Weekend in Instagram" posts before the app decided to freak out on me and disallow the pictures I took with my phone to be uploaded to my computer. I randomly checked to see if that was still the case a few days ago, and much to my surprise, Instagram fixed what was broken. So, here you go, folks. Round two of "The Weekend in Instagram." And it was mighty festive.

Remember in college when Thursday night actually started the weekend? Yeah, I do, too. But, this Thursday felt like the beginning of a great weekend, considering I met four of my best friends in Saint Louis at Sasha's on Shaw. It had been awhile since we'd gotten together, and it was so good to catch up. It was the first time I'd seen Courtney since her recent engagement (congrats again, my dear!), and I was so excited to see Alice after her two and a half months of work travel that demanded so much of her time. I drank tea; they drank wine. Soon, soon my day will come again.

On Friday night, my baby brother proposed to his beautiful girlfriend, Abbie! No, I don't have any iPhone shots of this historic event, mind you, but it was the absolute best news of the entire weekend. John is all grown up. I am so thrilled for them. Love them so much!

On Saturday, Jen and Catherine planned an entire "day of Christmas" celebration for a group of girls in town. We went to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Peabody. Okay, so it's obviously more geared for the little ones, but it was fun to see my favorite Christmas show on stage and to hear multitudes of giggles cut through the darkness. The kiddos in the audience were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

After the show, we headed to Jen's for a gift exchange. These fancy boxes held the numbers in which we'd grab a present. Catherine placed a Christmas popper (some of you might know them as crackers) that she bought in London inside each one. Inside the popper was a paper filled with jokes.

Q: Why did the scarecrow win an award?
A: He was outstanding in his field!

Q: What do ghosts dance to?
A: Soul music!

Q: What do you call someone who is scared of Santa?
A: A Claustrophobic!

Oh, those Brits and their humour.

I spent a large amount of time today on the couch because I wasn't feeling so hot, but the couch got infinitely more cozy when Matt came home with firewood. Hurrah for plum pudding - our first fire in the new house! Actually, our first fire ever.

As I listen to the crackles and pops emanating from our fireplace, I'm working on our holiday cards. A girl could really get used to this many warm fuzzies. I hope you're feeling the same way.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

2011-12-05T18:20:00.002-06:00

Benton Park, Saint Louis

Last Saturday, Matt and I celebrated the kickoff to the holiday season with his family - for the 11th year in a row - with a "calories don't matter" meal at one of our favorite Saint Louis restaurants, Sidney Street Café. With its cozy atmosphere (exposed brick, ambient "street lamp" indoor lighting) and its freaking delicious food (Matt's and my Death Row meals both include Sidney Street's veal dumplings), this is the perfect place to toast to family and eat our faces off.

This year, Matt ordered the special, pork belly, and it damn near killed him. Seriously, halfway through his meal, I thought I was going to have to carry him out. Yet, I'm still having dreams about the risotto that came on his plate. I went rogue (i.e. meatless) with my order of "smoked sweet potato perogis." (Hey, I'm Polish, what can I say?) They were heavenly, and let me just say this: my plate featured three homemade sage marshmallows. That is really all you need to know about that.

Sidney Street Café

Sidney Street is so popular this time of year that my father-in-law makes our reservations in September. No joke. Even without my usual red wine-induced warm fuzzies this year, I still felt the familial love, sitting around the table for hours, telling stories, passing around bites of food, and watching grown men try, to varying degrees of success, to make "music" by rubbing their fingers around the rims of wine glasses. In public.

Until next year...

savoring the season

2011-12-01T21:29:00.000-06:00

How in the name of plum pudding is today December 1st? I'm not even one of those eager beavers who plow through November and all but ignore Thanksgiving in an attempt to bring on the holiday season seemingly faster. No, I eat my stuffing and make my pumpkin pies with great relish. But, this November seemed to fly by with even more speed than usual, as if it had no real identity. We hardly knew ye.

So, now the Countdown to Christmas is officially on. It's not my favorite holiday (this is), but, of course, it's up there. I'm no Scrooge. And because playoff baseball took over the entire month of October, I barely had time to watch screaming broads hacked up by machetes. So, I'm making up for lost merrymaking by turning the Christmas volume up to eleven. At least, that is the plan.

The problem is, Christmas always sneaks up before I have the chance to really know what hit me.

This year, it is my solemn vow that 2011 will be different.

I promise to drink massive amounts of hot chocolate. If I can't have red wine, liquid dessert will have to do.

I promise to watch as many Christmas movies as possible, particularly any half hour kids' show involving Claymation.

I promise to light my Yankee Candles (Red Apple Wreath and Sparking Cinnamon!) the moment I get home from work, like the old woman that I am.

Photo by Ginger & Garlic Blog

I promise to sit on the floor, wrap presents, and listen to Jolly Old Soul. "Back Door Santa," anyone?

I promise to quote Christmas Vacation as much as humanly possible, especially the phrase "Bend over, and I'll show you."

I promise to host the hap-hap-happiest Christmas brunch for my family since Bing Crosby danced with Danny effing Kaye (see? I'm quoting Chevy already!) and make a Christmas tree made of fruit. Yup, I'm gonna do it.

I promise to bust open my Charles Dickens anthology and read A Christmas Carol. Okay, maybe. Maybe. Who am I kidding? English teachers don't have time to read. But, I did just find the Disney version on Starz and set my DVR to record on Sunday.

I promise to make Christmas cookies!

I promise to send holiday cards!

I promise to savor this season and make sure my family and friends know that I love them. That makes me feel cozier than any bottomless mug of hot chocolate could, anyway.

So, maybe Christmas is your bag, or perhaps you're a Hanukkah girl or a Winter Solstice guy. Whatever the case, happy holidays, blog friends! I hope December leaves you a few pounds heavier and a gallon of hot toddies happier.

trivial pursuits

2011-11-23T15:09:00.003-06:00

Today marks the end of the seventy-two hour bit of insanity we like to call Turkey Week at my high school. It's a lot like any Homecoming week, except it's shorter, which means more each day is packed with more craziness than usual. We're talking dress up days, hallway decorations, class competitions, turkey bowling, pep assemblies, choir concerts, tug-of-war contests, the list goes on... What we're also talking about is about one hundred of my students who behave like they just ingested all the sugar in the tri-state area, and the world's gonna end tomorrow.

Sure, we get our learn on for the first two days of the week. But, on Wednesday, the last day, I don't fight the feeling anymore. A few years ago, I started a tradition with my 9th graders: Monster Trivia Smackdown. Basically, it's just a structured way to have them use their noodles without realizing it. 'Cause there's competition involved. And bragging rights. And candy if I have any on hand. (So, yeah, I guess I add to the problem.)

The best part about this annual trivia match is the ridiculous answers I've heard over the years. Some of them have literally brought me to my knees in tears of laughter. These brief moments of unintentional comedic genius make me so very happy to be a teacher, even if they don't always showcase these kiddos in their - ahem - best light.

Without further ado, my favorite Monster Trivia Smackdown answers from over the years...

Q: Who plays Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?
A1: Betty White
A2: Your mom
A3: The black version or the white version?

Q: Where is bile stored after it leaves the liver?
A: In the refrigerator

Q: What does Oscar de la Renta do for a living?
A1: Boxer
A2: Accountant
A3: Oooh, is that that fish from Shark Tale?

Q: Approximately how many hairs, on average, are on a human's scalp?
A: Around 6,000, but it's hard to say; we're all unique.

Q: What breed of dog is Lassie?
A: Chinchilla

Q: Who is the lead singer of Coldplay?
A: Steve Martin

Q: What does it mean if a talking mirror says that you look "feo?"
A: You're the fairest of them all!

Q: What is Calvin Broadus's rap name?
A: Iced Tea

Q: In the Beatles' song, "A Hard Day's Night," what animal have the boys been working like?
A1: Cheetahs
A2: Beavers
A3: Donkeys

Q: What is the name of Paul Bunyan's blue ox?
A: I don't know no blue ox.

Q: What part of the turkey is snapped in two for good luck?
A: Mrs. Guymon, we don't know what white people call it, but black people call it the wishbone...

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all.

a rainy sunday menu

2011-11-20T20:18:00.006-06:00

Today was a stay inside and sit on the couch kinda day. Which calls for stay inside and eat on the couch kinda food. A "stick to your bones" meal, if you will. Minus Matt's weekend trip to the office and his wild goose chase for this new kitchen light (Woo hoo! They are going like hotcakes, and we nabbed one!), and minus my brief outing with my girlfriends to see Like Crazy (it had me feeling emotions!), stay inside we did today.

Apple Bread [adapted from allrecipes.com]
-3 cups all-purpose flour
-1 cup white sugar
-1 cup brown sugar
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup applesauce
-2 eggs, beaten
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
-2 cups apples, cored, peeled, and chopped

1. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In separate mixing bowl, place applesauce, sugar, eggs, vanilla and apples. Stir into flour mixture.
3. Divide mixture between two greased 8"x 4" bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until bread test done. Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack before removing from pan.

Note: My batter was too thick, so I added about 3/4 cups of milk so all of the dry ingredients would combine with the wet. I also made one loaf in a 10" loaf pan, so I baked the bread for almost an hour.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast [courtesy of Shannon Aimone]

-2.5 lbs. boneless chuck roast

-1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

-1 packet dry onion soup mix

-2 cups beef broth

-1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

-1/4 cup red wine vinegar

-1 teaspoon minced garlic

-2 yellow onions, chopped into 1" pieces

-3 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1" pieces

1. Add mushroom soup, onion soup mix, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and garlic to slow cooker. Mix well.

2. Add the beef, potatoes, and onions to mixture and coat well.

3. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Brussels Sprouts w/ Bacon & Apples [adapted from Little Pink Monster]
-1 lb. Brussels sprouts, halved
-1 apple, chopped into 1" pieces
-4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1" pieces
-olive oil
-kosher salt
-pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place bacon pieces on a roasting pan and bake for 8-10 minutes, until browned.
2. Meanwhile, mix Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add to the roasting pan with the bacon, and at this point, loosen the bacon to make sure it's not sticking to the pan. Roast for 10-15 until Brussels sprouts begin to brown.
3. Add the apple pieces to the pan and roast until soft, approximately five minutes.

second time around

2011-11-15T19:45:00.000-06:00

Oh, what a difference a year makes! I shot the S. family for the first time last year, and when they invited me back for another go 'round this year in City Garden, I jumped at the chance. The girls, Tierney and Harper, have grown so much. But, they still like to run and play versus pose for the camera. I was exhausted after running after them for an hour. Thanks, girls, for my workout! I guess I better get used to it with my own little girl on the way.

Enjoy my favorite photos from my recent family shoot with the S. family.

it's a...

2011-11-08T19:55:00.001-06:00

Matt and I found out the sex of Baby G today! Yes, it is time for that already. My friend and fellow teacher Melissa asked me today, "You're about three months, right?" Uh, where have you been, Melissa, while I've been complaining to you about constant exhaustion and groin aches? I'm halfway done with this thing called pregnancy.

So, since I first found out I was pregnant back in July, I've felt like this baby was a boy. I accidentally found myself using masculine pronouns when referencing my bun in the oven, and I wondered why those choices came so naturally. I chalked it up to my very well-developed mother's intuition.

Several weeks ago, my Uncle Harvey told me that if my Grandma Ree were alive, she'd have me down on the floor, holding her wedding ring on a chain above my navel. Up until that point, I had avoided really looking into any of the old wives tales about how to determine the sex of one's unborn child, but since I miss my Grandma Ree like crazy, I agreed that my Uncle Harv should perform this ritual for fun. You know, it's what she would want. So, everyone in the room had to take a turn, and we ended up with varied results: two boys and one girl.

Since March, four of my best college friends have delivered little boys: Connor, Ryne, Kellan, and Beckett. And Vanessa is expecting a little boy in November. And Robyn and Joe just had a little boy, Rory. All that testosterone definitely solidified my inkling that we were having a boy. I mean, I swear I understand how probability works, but man...that's a lot of little boys.

So, we had our appointment today. We asked the woman performing our ultrasound to write the sex on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. Then, we had a big reveal party on our dinner date for two at Milagro. Before Matt's celebratory margarita even arrived, he ripped into the envelope.

He asked me (with a crazy excited grin on his face), "Okay, what do you think it is, again?"

I shouted, "A boy! Duh!"

Then he revealed a picture of our baby girl's very telling anatomy, and my jaw dropped to the table and hung there for five minutes.

Wow. A baby girl. We are so thrilled, thrilled beyond belief. Little Baby Girl Guymon, or GG, as I've already taken to calling her, and Matt has already begun opposing.

And also, I probably need to develop some sort of mother's intuition before March because I was just plain wrong. Not only was I wrong, but I was so steadfast in my wrongness that I was slightly arrogant about my gender predicting skillz.

After we got home, I went upstairs to put on my favorite pregnant lady outfit (this lovely ensemble always involves a Charlotte Hornets sweatshirt I've had since 1992 or so), and when I came down, Matt was on the laptop.

I asked, "What are you doing?"

He replied calmly, "Buying a gun."

Oh Lord, here begins a lifetime of worry for Matt and his little girl.

But, it's rather adorable. Okay, really adorable.

the tradition continues...

2011-10-28T15:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight, Matt and I are headed to Game 7 of the World Series. In 1982, I went with my parents when my mom was pregnant with my brother, John. See above picture. The tradition continues...we're gonna bring home a winner!

this fair lady

2011-10-26T15:38:00.002-05:00

Oops! I totally forgot to share my favorite pictures from my summer shoot with Miss Eliza. Want to know why? Well, one hour before I met her family at Tower Grove Park for our mini-session, I found out I was pregnant. Truth. I was a mess of nerves, and the following weeks were a total whirlwind. So, needless to say, I had thoughts on my brain other than blogging.

But, better late than never.

Eliza is the chillest babe that ever was. Probably because her parents are so laidback. It's in the DNA. (I must remember that. It should become my mantra.)

Together, the three of them are one happy family. Mellow and cute as all get out.

look out, ladies

2011-10-24T13:58:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I did a photo shoot with the M. family, particularly their three adorable kiddos: William, Charlie, and newborn Teddy. Could these little guys be any cuter? Those dark curls, those baby blues, those pink cheeks... Each boy is handsome in his own way and oh-so photogenic. Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the shoot.

pumpkin pancakes

2011-10-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, after a long work week filled with parent-teacher conferences, I traveled to my parents' house for two days of sitting and doing a lot of nothing. And, oh yeah, eating. Lots of eating.

My friend Nikki passed this Martha Stewart recipe for pumpkin pancakes on to me at the beginning of October, and all I had to do was give my mom a couple of "pretty pleases" so she'd make them for me. Nikki warned that we'd have to up the ante on the pumpkin puree if we wanted a noticeable pumpkin flavor, so the recipe below is exactly how Jude made the pancakes last Sunday.

They make me so very happy. I'm so glad they came into my life.

Pumpkin Pancakes [adapted from Martha Stewart]

-1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-2 tablespoons sugar
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
-pinch of ground cloves
-1 cup milk
-10-12 tablespoons pumpkin puree (depending on your personal love of pumpkin)
-2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 egg

1. Whisk first eight ingredients together in a large bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients.

3. Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients.

4. Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat. Use 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3-4 minutes per side until batter is cooked through.

meet buttercup (aka figaro)

2011-10-16T11:33:00.007-05:00

World (aka the ten of you who read this blog), meet Buttercup. Buttercup joined the Cook farm back in June, but it took me a few months before I felt comfortable putting a picture of her on the Interwebs. She's a rescue kitty (literally - out of a ditch), and when my mom and dad first brought her home, she was skinny scrawny and missing a lot of fur on her head. She's finally coming into her own.

No offense to my mom, but Buttercup is not the right name for this cat. However, Jude is well aware that her animal naming system is heavily based in the Disney school of thought (Belle) and the world of adult entertainment (Roxy). It's one or the other.

For my entire life, all thirty-one years, I have wanted to name a black and white cat Figaro just like the little guy from Pinocchio. And, it's Disney, for cryin' out loud. Jude dashed my dreams with her instant appointment of Buttercup. I mean, it's been done before. Why don't we just name her Tiger?

Buttercup aka Figaro made herself at home in the already well-established Kingdom of the Dog without any help from fellow feline, Ivy. In fact, Ivy and Buttercup still despise each other; there is no camaraderie between the whiskered ones. Ivy sticks to the garage. Buttercup alternates between the front porch and the back porch.

Yeah, everyone knows not to mess with Buttercup. You mess with the 'Cup, you get the fangs.

Welcome to the brood.

our second anniversary

2011-10-10T19:15:00.001-05:00

Last October 10th, Matt and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. As math tells me, today, we are celebrating our second (with a Cardinals playoff game and Chinese food, no less).

It's somewhat hard to believe that our relationship has now spanned a decade. When we met, we were just twenty-one years old, living it up as seniors at the University of Illinois.

Even harder to believe... How much our lives have changed in the last year, or to be more exact, in the last three months. We bought a house, found out I was pregnant, moved, and just today, we both heard Baby G's heartbeat together for the first time. Wowza. Slash yikes.

Here's to my hilarious, loving, and sometimes infuriating husband. He keeps me on my toes. I love him dearly.

it's the great pumpkin (bars)!

2011-10-09T17:07:00.008-05:00

Matt and I had a little housewarming gathering yesterday, our first time entertaining in the new digs. How I managed to forget what a tremendous about of work throwing a par-tay is escapes me, but I was reminded today while scrubbing smashed chocolate chips off my kitchen floor. Oh well, it was worth it to see so many friendly faces all in the same place. That rhymes. Sort of.

Plus, it was a good excuse to celebrate my favorite season - and month - in true autumnal style: pumpkins, mums, fire pits, the works.

I made Paula Deen's pumpkin bars as a dessert, and they were a hit. The recipe is easy, and the cake itself is not too sweet. The cream cheese frosting gives it the sweetness it needs. I say YUM. Heck, I'll say it again. YUM.

Pumpkin Bars [recipe from Paula Deen]

Bars:
-4 eggs
-1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
-1 cup vegetable oil
-15-ounce can pumpkin
-2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:
-8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
-1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
-2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.

3. Spread the batter into a greased 13 x 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

4. To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

slow cooker pulled pork

2011-09-19T19:52:00.003-05:00

Are you ready for the easiest recipe ever?

Behold.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

-2 lb. pork tenderloin

-18 ounces BBQ sauce (pick your fave; I used Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet 'n' Spicy)

-1 can of rootbeer

-buns

1. Put everything in a crock pot on low for six hours.

2. Shred, baby, shred!

autumn chopped salad

2011-09-18T18:17:00.004-05:00

Who cares about the calendar? In my eyes, fall is in full swing. And that means that the crispy air that Mother Nature has so generously brought to Saint Louis has given me full permission to put out Halloween decorations (What of it? Don't judge. It's my favorite holiday.) and begin busting out my favorite fall recipes. Yes, I've got freshly made pumpkin bread on the kitchen counter and pulled pork slow cooking in my crock pot as I type, but it's really this autumn chopped salad that I'm pretty excited about.

Why? Well, it's virtually no-cook (minus fryin' up some bacon), and it combines a multitude of my favorite foods (including bacon).

I got the recipe from my not-so-new obsession, Pinterest. And, it's going on ~~the kitchen table~~ the coffee table tonight just in time for hours of mindless Emmy watching.

Autumn Chopped Salad [via Espresso and Cream]

-6 to 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
-2 medium pears, chopped
-1 cup dried cranberries
-1 cup chopped pecans
-8 slices thick-cut bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
-4 to 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
-Poppy seed salad dressing
-Balsamic vinaigrette

1. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese.

2. Drizzle generously with poppy seed dressing, followed by some of the balsamic vinaigrette. Toss well.

the weekend in instagram | 9.9 - 9.11

2011-09-12T19:45:00.005-05:00

So, I've gotten rather lazy about toting my big camera around everywhere. But, luckily, I always have my trusty iPhone. And, while, apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic are probably becoming clichés at this stage of the game, well, to put it bluntly: I don't care.

In what will likely be a semi-regular feature on I Used to Vacation (depending on how boring/exciting my weekend is), I present to you for the first time: The Weekend in Instagram. Volume 1. Or something.

On Friday, I met my parents, brother John, and my Uncle Terry and Aunt Joette at Broadway Oyster Bar. Terry and Joette were visiting from Florida, and they were all on their way to the rainy Cards game. We sat outside, and while I was (lovingly, I'm sure) dripped on, I got to enjoy one of my favorite soups in all of the world: the crawfish bisque. It's so good.

Later that night, Matt and I met up with friends at The Firebird for the first night of An Under Cover Weekend. Pictured below is one of my favorite local bands, Dots Not Feathers. They took on Stevie Wonder, and their set was so much fun. Although they would have welcomed my tap dancing with open arms, I decided it was for the best just to hang back in the audience and let them do their thang.

Saturday was pretty low key. Our friends Corey and Caitlin were visiting from New York, and Matt and I just hung around the new digs most of the day, trying to make it look presentable for our first house guests. And napping.

Now that we're (sort of) back in the neighborhood, I've been crazy excited to order Chinese take-out from Yong China. Six or seven years ago, I lived alone in an apartment about a mile from our new house, and I ordered Yong China all of the time because a) they delivered and b) I had a much higher metabolism then.

I've never been crazy about chicken in general, and when I discovered that I could order "chicken with garlic sauce" but replace the chicken with pineapple (instead of getting all those gross extra veggies like baby corn as a consequence of ordering meatless), I knew that I had found a friend in Yong China. Apparently, I was the only person ordering this way because as soon as I'd tell them my order, the guy on the phone would giggle at me, and I wouldn't even need to tell them my address. They just knew.

So, cut back to last Saturday night. I gave Yong China a call. I ordered Matt's beef chow mein, and our communal crab rangoon, and I purposely saved my order for last. The moment I uttered the words, "chicken with garlic sauce without the chicken with pineapple," my old friend started laughing and said, "I know who you are." That's love.

Finally, three words for you: pumpkin spice latte. I had two this weekend. They were both marvelous. Sooo glad they are back!

shelf life

2011-08-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

Matt and I moved into our new house almost two weeks ago. While we're no longer up to our ears in unpacked boxes, we do have a to-do list (more like a wishlist) three and a half miles long. With due time. We'll get there.

Yet, on only our second day in the house, I took on a project that didn't cost any money: decorating - or should I get fancy and say styling? - our built-in bookshelves in the living room. With only the guidance of the August edition of Real Simple magazine and stuff I already owned in my arsenal, I think our shelves turned out to be pretty darn cute.

Here's what Real Simple says about the art of arranging bookshelves: "Break up a sea of books with interesting objects and art, and you turn the space into a sort of shadow box - an intimate world that draws people in."

1. A careful edit of books (favorites, compatible colors) and items guarantees cohesive results.

2. Horizontal and vertical stacks move the eye around, create more surfaces for tchotchkes (I don't think I've ever typed that word before), and showcase titles to add spirit and meaning.

3. Ample space around objects makes each piece look comfortable, relaxed, and happy as if it belongs there.

Armed with the magazine's advice, I arranged our some of our favorite items on the four shelves next to the fireplace.

Here are the top three shelves. Scattered throughout are framed pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days. We had these on display at our wedding, and I've been dying for room to display them as a collection.

Also sprinkled here and there are our collections of wine corks and our lucky buckeyes. I also used pieces from a multi-piece platter my cousin Jessica bought for us in Turkey last year. I love the pops of red. Finally, my final favorite piece is a black and white photo of a car parked outside the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. That spot is near and dear to my heart.

loufest lunch

2011-08-28T10:18:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, my friends and I celebrated the dawning of LouFest II with a little pre-music festival lunch. Of course, I picked a Barefoot Contessa recipe to bring to the par-tay because, really, Ina's never done me wrong. It was the first time I've really used the kitchen in our new house, and it was the first time that I've put my camera together in a long, long while. It felt good to make something yummy and then creepily take 15 million pictures of the finished product. I'm back, baby!

I think this lettuce-free Greek salad is a fantastic late summer recipe. All the veggies are ripe and tasty, and it's about the most colorful salad I've ever seen. (Please notice that the color black is missing from the above picture in the form of black olives. I forgot to buy them at the grocery store.) I think next time around, I'll have to add some pepperoncini. It would only be right.

Greek Salad

For the salad:
-1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
-1 red bell pepper, large-diced
-1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced
-1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
-1/2 red onion, sliced in half-rounds
-1/2 pound feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)
-1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted

For the vinaigrette:
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 teaspoon dried oregano
-1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
-1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
-1 teaspoon kosher salt
-1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-1/2 cup good olive oil

1. Place the cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.

2. For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta and olives and toss lightly.

3. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

movin' on up

2011-08-18T13:06:00.001-05:00

Oh my word, it's been way longer than a hot second since I've written for I Used to Vacation. Soooo not like me. But, you see, the reason for my lengthy absence is partially due to the fact that Matt and I bought a house. Like, for real. We got the keys yesterday. We will be 100% out of our condo by tomorrow because we have a renter moving in Saturday. Yes, a renter! Just call me Mrs. Roper.

As we pack up our belongings and begin to move them from Point A to Point B, I realize that I will in fact miss our condo quite a bit. It has a lot of things going for it. A backyard isn't one of them, but hey. Matt and I had some great times in that condo. We got engaged and married. Well, not actually in the condo. That wouldn't be very romantic, would it? But, we were living there when we reached those milestones. We saw a couple of ghosts (maybe...not sure...but probably). And yes, in the condo. We had a couple of parties (Hel-lo! Who doesn't remember the Halloween rager of 2009?) But, now it's time to move forward into hopefully greener pastures. And by greener pastures, I mean a yard full of clover with no actual grass.

But, we are excited. Stressed and overwhelmed...but excited. I started back to teaching this week (great timing, of course), and Matt's job is always a little cray cray, but we're making it work. Hopefully you will see us sometime before October. My guess is that you can find Matt at Home Depot. He likes to wander the aisles and not actually buy anything.

So, stay tuned! There will be pictures to come as soon as the boxes are cleared and our internet is up and running.

PS - YES. I am still in the middle of The Corrections. Other hobbies have suffered besides blogging. But, in my defense, I read about a million young adult novels in the month of July to get reading to teach those 9th graders. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, anyone?

southern dinner party

2011-07-22T13:16:00.004-05:00

Sunflowers composed the table's centerpiece for our southern dinner.

Two nights ago, I hosted a southern dinner party for five of my girlfriends. This was an item on my summer vacation to-do list, so I am so thankful that we were all able to get together. The only thing missing was a bell to call them all to dinner. Not to toot my own horn, but toot! toot! The food was delicious, and if my leftover intake is any indication, you will probably like it, too.

My mom and I canned homemade strawberry jam, and I labeled the jars to use as place settings for my friends.

Here is the menu (with recipes!) for a southern dinner party.

Hard Lemonade [recipe courtesy of Sunny Anderson]
What's more southern than a frosty glass of lemonade spiked with vodka? I doubled the batch and used some Minute Maid lemonade to supplement the freshly squeezed juice. A girl can only juice so many lemons, y'all.

Crab Dip [recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman]
Catherine was kind enough to bring over this delicious crab dip for an appetizer on Wednesday night. And, she kept with the southern theme! But, I'm not surprised. Girl knows how to work a theme.

Barbequed Shrimp [recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse]
The first time I ever tasted these shrimp was at a Viking Cooking School class. Let me tell you, this recipe is not good for you, but it is heavenly. I went to Bob's Seafood for the first time to buy the biggest shrimp I could find. Although I'm not a huge fan of peeling and deveining, it is so worth it to get the 20 count shrimp versus the little guys at your local grocery store.

Goat Cheese Grits
Okay, this recipe isn't really good for you either, but hey, special occasions are always diet-defiant. If you are a grit girl (or boy) like I am, this is dedicated to you.

-3 cups whole milk
-3/4 cup stone-ground grits
-1/4 cup heavy cream
-1 4-5 ounce log fresh chervre
-1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
-salt and black pepper, to taste

1. Heat milk in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat; bring to bil. Whisk in the grits and reduce the heat to a low simmer.

2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the grits are soft and cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.

3. Stir in cream, goat cheese, thyme, salt and pepper. Add more milk if grits are too thick. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Fresh Corn Salad [recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa]
I've written about this Barefoot Contessa recipe before. It is seriously the stuff that corny dreams are made of. Now that basil is in abundance, it's the perfect time to make this salad.

Marinated Asparagus [recipe courtesy of Paula Deen]
My mom and I discovered this recipe when we were in a "We heart asparagus, but what else can do with it?" phase. This preparation is perfect. It's easy. It's served cold. It's made the night before. And it's really very tasty.

Honey Cornbread Muffins [recipe courtesy of The Neelys]
Cornbread from scratch. Yum, yum, gimme some. And that's all I have to say about that.

Rhubarb Cobbler [recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman]
I had never made this exact recipe before, but since I've been on such a rhubarb kick this summer, I wanted to try it. The only step I did differently was to swap out the lemon and add freshly squeezed orange juice. As my friend Courtney described it, "It's the perfect combination of sweet and tart." I completely agree. Top it with some homemade whip cream, and it's perfect.

(my) parents say the darndest things

2011-07-07T11:15:00.002-05:00

Let me just preface this post with the following statement: my mother is really smart.

I mean, she's been an emergency room nurse for over thirty years. She once held a man's brains in after he suffered a gun shot wound to the head. I'm not going to try to explain where the intelligence lies in that experience, but to me, it's obvious. My mom has brains. Bad pun totally intended.

But, we're also talking about the woman who is famous for saying: "Hindsight is 50/50."

Remember that Jessica Simpson/Nick Lachey reality TV show? I always said that if cameras followed me around for a week at a time, then cut that week down to 22 minutes with the help of skilled editors, I'd look like an idiot, too.

I mean. The sticker on Matt's old Forerunner passenger window read, "Stereo will not work if removed." When I first noticed that, I was just beside myself. I looked at him in awe and kept repeating, "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME...if I take this sticker off...your stereo will stop working?!?"

This happened in our first few months of dating. Matt knew that I was a business major at the University of Illinois. He knew that I was likely going to graduate with honors. He knew I'd had a couple of job offers that I'd, in fact, declined. He must have taken all that into account (even though the look on his face indicated his questioning of just how brightly my candle burned, or if it did at all) because he married me. I must not be a moron, after all.

We all say dumb things from time to time. Right?

So, yesterday, when my mother retold a conversation that she had with my Grandma Bena that centered around the TV program Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? I knew I was in for something good. My grandma kept a laundry list of facts that she had recently learned from the show such as:

1. It's zero degrees at the equator. But, Bena wasn't sure if that was Fahrenheit or Celsius.
2. The roman numeral for one million is M.

My mom knew that Bena really meant latitude of zero degrees... But, she was unsure of the roman numeral for one million. As she sorted this conundrum out in front of me, she said, "Wait, I don't think they'd have a string of, you know, 25 numbers to make one million. You know how sometimes they do, like, XIII to mean thirteen, well, they wouldn't do that many for one million. I've never seen that. Did they even have a million back then? Did they have a million of anything? What, maybe a million stars?"

The longer she talked, the more open my dad's and my gaping mouths widened. Eventually, my dad interrupted and asked, "Judy, do you hear what you're saying right now?"

The three of us just laughed and laughed.

Then my dad said, "Judy? You're hilarious. You're like a fine wine. You just get older with age."

a taste of taste

2011-07-05T19:19:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, our friends Corey and Caitlin came to visit from New York City. They returned the favor that Matt and I paid them last March when the two of us ate our way through the Big Apple (dorky pun intended). One of the places that we wanted to take them was Taste in the Central West End for a few pre-dinner cocktails. Matt and I hadn't been to Taste since it moved locations, and we were eager to see what the reinvention looked like.

With its massive wooden entry door, Taste immediately seems cozy and inviting, even in the 100 degree heat that was Saturday night. It's intimately lit, a purposely dark space perfect for close conversation with friends. White subway tile (which I adore in general) is used throughout, and there are vintage features mixed in, like the typeface on the menu and some of the serving ware (i.e. the bowl used for our Pomp and Circumstance punch - but, more about that later).

I started with the Salted Sage, a sort of upscale take on a margarita with pineapple juice, lime, and yes, of course, sage. We ordered a cheese plate and the pork belly (on a recommendation from one of Matt's co-workers) to share, and both were amazing. The cheese plate came with a rhubarb chutney, and I was excited to see the veggie somewhere other than a pie.

For our second round, instead of ordering individual cocktails, we were drawn to the pitchers and punches list. Although tempted by the Pickle Pitcher, we ultimately went with the Pomp and Circumstance punch which included cucumbers, bitters, champagne, and a bunch of other delicious stuff. While the menu says that any order of punch is good for 4-6 servings, we found ourselves refreshing our cups way more often than that. That ladle had to work, y'all.

Corey loved the idea of the punch bowl - how very retro of us! - and noted that he hadn't even seen the idea in New York. It gave me lots of inspiration to break out the one my sister-in-law got me for Christmas last year. (And yes, I did tell her I wanted one; it wasn't just a random, "Here have a punch bowl!" kind of gift.)

I'm looking forward to going back to Taste soon. And next time, I will order the Pigwiches (swine-shaped cookie sandwiches filled with bacon butter cream). Oink, oink!

a summer lunch

2011-06-26T20:38:00.004-05:00

Blueberry Chicken Salad

This weekend, I decided it was time to make some summery lunch items. It had been awhile since I'd made a mess in the kitchen, so I kinda went nuts. I wish I could tell you that I took my chicken salad and rhubarb-strawberry pie on a picnic with friends or something equally Lands' End catalog-y, but no. It was storming. So, Matt and I enjoyed the food in front of the television during an episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Yes, my life is that exciting.

Enjoy, friends. And go on a picnic or something, okay?

Blueberry Chicken Salad
Are you ready to have your chicken salad world rocked? Seriously. This is the best chicken salad I've ever had in my entire life. I thank God in heaven Nikki gave the recipe to me. Matt even tells me it's his favorite dish I make - yes, out of all of them! - which is really saying something ~~about my kitchen skills~~ considering there is no heat or anything resembling actual cooking involved in this recipe. It's just a lot of chopping and stirring.

Warning: if you eat mayo by the gallon, this recipe is not for you.

-2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
-2 tablespoons minced shallot
-2 tablespoons honey
-3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-1 tablespoon minced, fresh rosemary
-1/4 cup olive oil
-3 packages Tyson precooked chicken, torn into bite-sized pieces
-1 large Granny Smith apple, diced
-1 1/2 cup red grapes
-1 1/2 cup blueberries
-1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped (or, any nuts you have in the house like pecans or walnuts)
-1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

1. In small bowl, whisk together: mustard, shallot, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Slowly whisk in oil to make emulsion.

2. In large bowl, combine: chicken, apples, grapes, blueberries, hazelnuts, and blue cheese. Toss well.

3. Pour dressing over the salad and coat thoroughly.

Rhubarb-Strawberry Lattice Pie [recipe from Martha Stewart Living]

Rhubarb-Strawberry Lattice Pie

Confession: this was the first pie that I've ever made. If you count buying Pillsbury pie crusts as "making" a pie. Which, considering my attempt at fancy-looking lattice work, I do. But, despite my adventurous nature in the realm of criss cross crusts, I realize that my mine ended up looking more than a little janky. I've got some practice ahead of me before I master the art of the pie crust. But, I promise you that this pie actually tastes delicious. There's more rhubarb than strawberry so it's extra tart, and the addition of orange zest and juice is probably my favorite thing about this recipe.

Also, it's important to know that when I update my Facebook status as "My first ever pie is in the oven," that does not mean that I am with child. Matt got some congratulatory text messages from a friend who confused "pie" with "bun."

-1 3/4 pounds rhubarb, cut into 3/4 inch pieces (6 cups)
-6 ounces strawberries, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
-1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
-1/4 cup cornstarch
-1/4 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
-1 tablespoon orange juice
-1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
-2 Pillsbury pie crusts
-1 egg
-2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
-sanding sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Make the filling by mixing the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, zest, juice, and salt.

2. Roll out crust to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Pour in filling; dot top with butter.

3. Roll remaining crust to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into at least fifteen 1/2-inch strips. Lay 8 strips across pie. Fold back every other strip, and lay a horizontal strip across the center of the pie. Unfold folded strips, then fold back remaining strips. Lay another horizontal strip across pie. Repeat folding and unfolding strips to weave a lattice pattern.

4. Trim bottom and top crusts to 1-inch overhang using kitchen shears, and press together to seal around edges. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

5. Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle generously with sanding sugar. Bake pie on middle rack, with a foil-lined baking sheet on bottom rack to catch juices, until vigorously bubbling in center and bottom crust is golden, about 1 1/2 hours. (Loosely tent with foil after 1 hour if crust is browning too quickly.) Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool for at least 2 hours (preferably longer) before serving.

ad nauseum

2011-06-23T22:58:00.006-05:00

We are back from our vacation. Due to storms in Florida that spontaneously exploded approximately fifteen minutes before our boarding time, we were pushed back several hours but managed to make it home ~~last night~~ this morning around 1:30 AM.

The vacation with my in-laws was just lovely, but nothing is worse than hours upon hours of waiting and jumping through hoops just to arrive home to your own pillow. I know, I know...there are worse problems to have.

Oh! I've got one: the intense nausea I get during the slightest bit of airplane turbulence.

I am seriously turning into my mother. Yes, I'm talking about the woman who can't even put her booty in a playground swing without losing control of her stomach. The older I get, the more a rough landing puts me over the edge. I sweat. I lurch. I freak.

Last night, in the middle of p. 82 of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections, our plane started to dip and shake. Of course, I immediately put the book face down on my open tray. I cannot look at words when I'm nauseous, let alone study pages with words prepped to spill over their paper borders, on the verge of escaping intimidatingly almost, non-existent margins. Incidentally, I spent a lot of time with the back cover of that book.

Of course, it is filled with praise for The Corrections, calling the work "genius" and suggesting it is the first great novel of the 21st century. Below all of the accolades, there is a black and white picture of Jonathan Franzen himself, smiling smugly at me from underneath a perfectly angled shadow running perpendicular to his nose.

I squinted my eyes in an attempt to shut out the gathering ball of saliva in my throat, but I kept sneaking peaks at Mr. Franzen. He just looked so pompous, so, "Hey, I wrote this super awesome book, and you're the girl about to puke on that elderly lady's Kindle!"

And, I don't know much about Jonathan Franzen. Sure, he was raised in Saint Louis, and from what I understand, some thought that he snubbed his Webster Groves upbringing when he came to town to promote Freedom last fall. But, really, now I will just forever associate his taunting face with my burgeoning vomit. I'm sure his novel is fantastic, but today, still feeling quite skittish, I couldn't even pick it up.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll be able to tolerate the cut of his jib in order to continue on with The Lamberts' story. But, tonight... Tonight I need some reality television, courtesy of Bravo.

what a difference some paint makes

2011-06-17T16:29:00.003-05:00

I haven't written at all about Matt's and my (rather unsuccessful) house hunting escapades, mostly because ~~I don't want to sound whiny~~ I don't want to jinx our pursuit of a new home. But, after a few months of our hopes rising and falling, and a good year of just accepting our condo "as is," I've decided to no longer tolerate the random mish mosh of furniture and decor that is our living room.

Yet, just in case we find a new house sooner than later, it doesn't make much sense to buy new furniture...even though I desperately want to replace the very bachelor, black leather couch that sprawls across our living area. It's seriously the Jabba the Hut of sectionals. No, I thought whatever I decided to change should come with us to a potential new house, or at least be pretty inexpensive.

So, a couple of newly framed prints dictated a the color scheme. Against our camel colored walls, we have pops of brick red and a "dusty aqua" (Crate and Barrel calls it "teal," but I'm not buying it) here and there. I then decided that our coffee table needed a makeover. My good ol' dad came to Saint Louis this week with the sole intention to paint our (rather beat up) wooden coffee table a beautiful new shade of Bordeaux. My favorite part of the entire thing is the new vintage-y, aqua knob I purchased from Anthropologie.

It still looks a little beat up, but dare I say that the wear and tear almost looks intentional at this point?

kerri + kc's baby shower

2011-06-14T15:25:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, I visited Chicago for my best friend Kerri's baby shower. Kerri and her husband KC are expecting their first, a little boy, in August. Her shower decor was simple and understated but made perfect use of different shades of blue. ~~Unfortunately~~, little Baby S will end up a huge Cubs fan, so it was doubly appropriate!

The cupcake display was absolutely incredible. While the aqua cupcakes really pop, my favorite was the red velvet with the cinnamon frosting. Cream gerber daisies in cobalt wine bottles-turned-vases made a great centerpiece for each guest table. Kerri also requested a storybook at each table so friends and family could impart their well wishes and pieces of wisdom to Baby Boy S.

It is truly incredible to watch Kerri and KC enter this next stage of their lives. They are excited beyond belief, and so are the rest of us. I'm already a proud pseudo-aunt to Norah and Charlie, and I can't wait to add another kiddo to my growing list of those I absolutely adore.

Here's a picture of the happy mommy-to-be, her mom Jacquie, and her sister, Amy.

cocktails + snacks

2011-06-09T15:19:00.002-05:00

Spicy Citrus Mozzarella Bites

Last week, I tried out my first two recipes from my new cookbook purchase, Claire Robinson's 5 Ingredient Fix. My girlfriends got together for - what else? wine - and so, I made a couple of cocktail-y type snacks. Both were easy, both were tasty.

Up first...

Spicy Citrus Mozzarella Bites
These, to me, are better the longer they marinate. They definitely have a unique flavor!

-8 ounces of fresh cherry-size (ciliegine) mozzarella balls, drained
-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
-zest of one 1 lemon
-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
-sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and serve immediately or chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Edamame Hummus
Please, please promise me you will find frozen shelled edamame. It took me longer to shell two cups worth than to actually make the hummus. Never again!

-2 cups frozen shelled edamame
-1 garlic clove
-juice of 1 lemon
-1/3 cup tahini
-1/2 teaspoon coriander
-kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
-1/4 to 1/2 cup cooking water
-fresh vegetable crudités or toasted pita points, for serving

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the edamame and garlic clove, and cook to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and strain. Note: I actually used a full cup of cooking water.

2. Put the edamame and garlic into a food processor along with lemon juice, tahini, coriander, and salt and pepper. Puree until smooth and, with the motor running, drizzle in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid to reach desired consistency.

3. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary. Hint: thanks to a recommendation via Twitter, I added just a touch of honey to the hummus at this point.

4. Serve with crudités or pita points.

duck tales, oo-oo!

2011-06-07T18:11:00.003-05:00

Over a month ago, my dad called me up one night, giddy with excitement. He told me with great enthusiasm, like a grandpa-to-be, that a mallard duck couple had made my parents' pond their home and had proceeded to build a nest right outside their bedroom window. Given that my parents lead a pretty routine lifestyle (and, yes, that's the way they like it), this interruption in the daily routine was very exciting. In total, mama mallard laid twelve eggs.

My dad started conducting extensive internet research pertaining to ducks and eggs and nests. He thought that they'd have ducklings in just about a week, but somehow his calculations were off because right before I visited over Memorial Day weekend, they still had zero. And even fewer eggs, as their dog, Molly (who really, truly is sweet as pie) got into the nest and was overly friendly with a couple of them.

However, when I pulled into the driveway that weekend, my dad met me when I parked and told me, "We've got two baby duckies!" I went and looked at the nest, and this is what I saw:

One cracked egg, but sure enough, two baby duckies! When my mom heard the news, she literally gasped. And from that moment, my parents became overly proud grandparents of Huey and Dewey, or Dewey and Louie, or what have you. At first when daddy mallard went missing for a few hours, my mother tolerated his absence with the theory, "Oh, he's just visiting with family, passing out cigars." And when she had decided that he'd been away too long, Jude started to criticize him. "Well, sure, just leave mama all alone with those babies. Women do all the work!"

But, I have proof that daddy mallard is quite protective of his new children. I tried to get close enough to the ducks while they were in the water to produce a decent picture. But, after twenty minutes of following them to whatever shore they swam toward (to escape me, let's face it), daddy mallard decided to take matters into his own hands. Have you ever been threatened by a diving bombing duck? To be quacked at is altogether different than to be quietly hovered over. I heard his warning loud and clear, and I retreated.

The next day, when daddy mallard was once again out, probably passing out more cigars, I went back to the pond and snapped this shot. It was the best I could do, but darnit if they aren't too cute.

Interestingly, mama mallard never went back to her nest, so the rest of the eggs never hatched. But, my parents did add two more animals to their growing farm, and soon enough, they'll have enough to open a zoo.

our new weekly ritual

2011-06-02T12:44:00.004-05:00

Last night, Matt and I made our first trek down Wydown to get some frozen yogurt at Chill. Now, it's no Dairy Queen or Tropical Sno, but I have to say... My pink lemonade sorbet with fresh diced kiwi was delicious.

I'm thinking we just found our new weekly ritual: a three-mile walk with a frozen yogurt intermission.

twirling batons and casting spells at home depot

2011-06-01T16:34:00.005-05:00

Summer vacation means home repairs. I know Matt doesn't want to believe this, but really, I am the handiest half of this marriage. Now, that is not to say that I've completed mega-DIY projects or anything. But, when it simply comes to picking up a hammer and a nail, ninety-nine percent of the time, it's me hanging that new picture frame. Plus, I watch an inordinate amount of HGTV, so I know things. Things like one must to cut tile with a wet saw so it doesn't shatter. The fact that I have never cut tile doesn't even really matter.

So, obviously, marking a few items off this to-do list means a few trips to my local Home Depot. Despite the fact that I'm the Guymon who frequents the ginormous warehouse devoted to home improvement needs the most, I have started to preemptively dread each trip because of the raging sexism I encounter every time I step through the automatic doors and breathe in the sweet smell of sawdust.

Last summer, I walked inside with my bathroom vanity cabinet door in hand because it was literally splitting in two. I knew I needed some glue. And some clamps. And maybe some other stuff. So, I walked up to an elderly gentleman with a gruff voice. I told him what my deal was. He helped me find the supplies I needed, and for about fifteen minutes, I thought I was going to make it out of the store completely unscathed. But, then he asked if I had a husband. Or a dad. Someone with a penis to whom I could convey his ~~complicated~~ ridiculously simple instructions on how to fix the cabinet door.

I rolled my eyes and mentally logged his step-by-step instructions with full intentions to fix the door myself. And you know what? Almost a year later, that glue is still holding that wood together. Yes siree, Bob.

Yesterday, I went to the Home Depot for something quite simple. A plastic piece on our bedroom blinds' tilt wand had broken off, and I needed to replace it. Now, it probably didn't bode well for me that while I patiently waited for help, I twirled said tilt wand like a baton. But, come on. I was bored, and the store was playing Matchbox 20.

Once I got the piece I needed, I asked where I could find door stops. You see, I broke one of ours in two while vacuuming. Half of it is still in the wall. As Mr. Home Depot guy walked me to aisle 18 to find door stops, he asked what I did for a living. I told him I was a teacher who taught high school English, and for a split second, I thought he was impressed with me. He must have thought I was tough and independent to handle all of those teenagers on regular basis. He must have thought that I was one of those gals who had a job, who was goin' to school, who didn't need nobody to help me handle my business.

But, then, I asked the wrong question: What is the best way to get the old door stopper out of my wall?

And, he looked at me quite seriously and inquired: Do you have any tools at all at home?

Sigh. I walked out with my tail between my legs.

But not before I cast an angry spell on the entire store with my soon-to-be-functioning tilt wand. Slash baton.

strawberry shortcake, blueberry pie, v-i-c-t-o-r-y!

2011-05-30T11:10:00.002-05:00

No other dessert reminds me of a holiday weekend quite like my Grandma Bena's strawberry shortcake. Never mind the fact that she dug the Cool Whip out of the cavernous dungeon that is her refrigerator with a past-due expiration date in blatant view. I ate, I survived. I will live to (hopefully) celebrate another three-day weekend with the glory that is perfectly browned pie crust, carefully sweetened strawberries, and two-months-too old topping.

I hope that you are eating something equally as comforting, cool, and potentially life-threatening on this Memorial Day.

cream cheese: a real utility man in the kitchen

2011-05-24T23:06:00.001-05:00

Roasted Red Pepper and Artichoke Dip

You know what's awesome? Cream cheese. I bet you guessed I was gonna say that.

I mean, it's just so versatile. It's like a 2001 John Mabry sitting in the dairy section of your local grocery store. Am I right, or am I right?

Last week, Catherine and I put together a little celebration for our friends Alice, Jen, and Courtney, who were all celebrating May birthdays within a week of each other. We started at my house with adult beverages and appetizers before trying out the new(ish) Water Street Cafe in Maplewood.

First, a shot of Alice and Jen, two-thirds of our birthday trifecta. Aren't my friends so cute? (The answer is yes.)

Okay, back to the lecture at hand, "Cream Cheese and Its Protean Nature."

I do find that many of my favorite go-to appetizers feature cream cheese as the star of the show. So, without further ado, here are some quick 'n' easy dips and the like that really get the party started.

Roasted Red Pepper and Artichoke Dip
My mother-in-law Marilyn just made this recipe for the first time on Easter, and I've craved it ever since.

-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-1 package of dry Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
-2 roasted red peppers, diced
-1 six ounce can of quartered artichokes, diced
-3 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
-crackers or pita chips

1. Mix the cream cheese and ranch dressing mix with a hand blender. Spread evenly into the bottom of a pie plate.
2. Add the chopped roasted red peppers, artichokes, and parsley evenly on top of the cream cheese.
3. Serve with pita chips or crackers.

Cape Cod Dip
For when you wanna get a little East Coast without killing your own lobster or something...

-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-1 can condensed New England clam chowder
-1 medium clove garlic, minced
-1/2 teaspoon of Worchestershire sauce

1. Combine all ingredients and beat with electric mixer until smooth.
2. Chill, then serve with cracks or chips.

Crab Dip
For when you wanna get a little Red Lobster without actually going to Red Lobster...

-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-1 jar of cocktail sauce
-1 package of lump crab meat, chopped into small pieces
-crackers

1. Spread cream cheese into a round, shallow dish (like a pie plate). Spread cocktail sauce evenly over cream cheese. Spread crab over the cocktail sauce.
2. Serve with crackers.

Jude's Cheeseball
I don't really know what else to call this recipe, so I just named it after my mom. She's been making it forever, and I could eat the whole thing in one sitting. I'm only half ashamed I just admitted that.

-2 8 ounce packages of cream cheese
-1/4 cup onion, chopped
-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
-1 tablespoon hot sauce
-crackers

1. Mix all ingredients together and form into a ball.
2. Roll in chopped pecans or parsley.
3. Serve with crackers.

Ham Roll-Ups
I know that this recipe sounds so...hoosier. But, hand to God, these things are crazy addicting. They are like crack to me.

-1 package of deli meat ham
-2 8 ounce packages of spreadable cream cheese
-1 jar of dill pickle spears
-toothpicks

1. Dry ham and pickles on paper towels to remove excess liquid. Allow cream cheese to sit for 15-30 minutes before beginning.
2. Spread cream cheese on ham. Place pickle on edge of ham and roll.
3. Insert toothpicks into ham and pickle, about one inch apart, or 4-5 toothpicks per roll.
4. Slice and serve.

tonight

2011-05-18T21:44:00.005-05:00

Tonight. You guys, tonight made me very happy.

I'm not gonna lie. The majority of my school year felt relatively easygoing and mellow, with only the occasional dose of illness or out-of-the-ordinary stress. But, the month of May (of course, the last one, the one in which I probably needed to keep my shit together the most), my wheels sort of fell off. I ran out of gas.

I'm a big proponent of sopping up all the possible joy I can get out of very simple things in life. Just last week, I asked my ninth graders to make a list of things that bring them great happiness, and they were really lovely. Sleeping when it's raining. A grandparent's clothesline. The perfect song on the radio at the exact right moment.

But, it wasn't until tonight that all those brilliant comments my kids made really seeped in, penetrated my shroud of total exhaustion (mixed with titch bit of toxicity) and found a gazillion (okay, maybe, ten) different things to bring me joy on this boring ol' Wednesday night.

I went to a funny movie with my husband. Bridesmaids. We laughed. A lot.

I bought a beautiful new cookbook at Anthropologie. Claire Robinson's 5 Ingredient Fix.

Right when I got in the car to leave the mall, "Hey Jude" was on the radio. It was already on the really good part, you know the "na, na, na, nana, na na" part. I rolled down the windows and turned the volume up really high. I thought of my mom.

The air outside smelled sweet and fresh.

I only got stopped by one red light on the way home. When Paul was done singing, I flipped the station and found Arcade Fire's "No Cars Go."

I got a parking space right in front, and that will probably save me a good two minutes in the morning.

Somewhere in between The Galleria and my house, I cried. It was totally out of contentment. But maybe also because it had been awhile since I've let myself be happy from such simple things.

When I walked in the door, Matt was watching 127 Hours, a movie I've avoided for months. As I type this blog post from the bedroom, I can hear James Franco hacking away at his arm. But, that's okay. I will not let the sound of breaking bone bring me down.

Yup, tonight was pretty great.

a mother's day brunch

2011-05-15T22:37:00.000-05:00

[No, you aren't crazy. This isn't a new post. This post was originally published last Tuesday, but Blogger decided to go haywire and delete it permanently. So, here is my second version. This is how you know these recipes are worth making!]

On Mother's Day, Matt and I hosted a brunch for my side of the family. While I spent the better portion of my weekend prepping for the occasion, the fruits of my labor paid off after learning that my mom and grandma both had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the food.

Usually, it's Judy who works her little fingers to the bone for these types of celebrations, so it was really nice to switch things up and let her be the guest of honor for once. Well, twice. We actually started this tradition last year.

Enjoy the recipes from our brunch!

Tri-berry Muffins [from Barefoot Contessa at Home]

-3 cups flour
-1 tablespoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
-1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 1/4 cup milk
-2 extra large eggs, lightly beaten
-2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
-1 cup blueberries
-1/2 cup raspberries
-1/2 cup diced strawberries
-1 1/2 cup sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl, mix the milk, eggs and melted butter. Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture, then pour the wet mixture into the well and stir until just combined. Don't overmix the batter! Add the blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and the sugar and stir gently to combine.
4. Using a scoop, spoon the batter into the muffin cups to fill the liners. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean and the tops are nicely browned.

Potato Casserole
-4 cups frozen hash browns
-1 (7.6-ounce) package butter and herb mashed potato mix
-1 stick butter, softened
-4 ounces cream cheese, softened
-1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon pepper
-2 cups boiling water
-2 cups prepared French-fried onion rings

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring a pot of water to the boil and add the hash browns. Cook for 5 minutes and drain.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the cooked hash browns, mashed potato mix, butter, cream cheese, jack cheese, sour cream, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Stir in the boiling water.
4. Place in a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
5. Sprinkle the onion rings over the casserole and bake for about 5 to 8 minutes longer until onions are golden brown.

Strawberry Poppers

-30 medium-sized strawberries, hulled
-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-fresh rosemary, minced
-1 tablespoon honey
-1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped
-salt and pepper to taste

1. Hull the strawberries.
2. Blend the cream cheese, rosemary, honey, and walnuts together with a hand mixer. Add the salt and pepper.
3. Stuff the mixture into a Ziploc bag and snip off one corner. Pipe the mixture into the hulled strawberries. Refrigerate for up to five hours or serve immediately.

Breakfast Kebabs with Apple-Cinnamon Barbecue Sauce

-6 pieces thick-sliced bacon
-12 pork sausage links, cut into 1 inch pieces
-1 cup barbecue sauce
-3 tablespoons apple jelly
-1/4 teaspoon ground cinammon

1. Heat the barbecue sauce, apple jelly, and ground cinnamon in a small sauce pan until the jelly is melted.
2. Loosely thread the bacon and sausage pieces onto 10 inch skewers.
3. Heat the over to 350 degrees. Cover a roasting pan with foil and place a cooling rack on top. Spray the cooling rack with non-stick spray.
4. Place the skewers on top of the cooling rack and baste with the barbecue sauce.
5. Bake for 45-40 minutes until the meat is browned and cooked through. Baste with the barbecue sauce every ten minutes.

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Quiche
Sunday was my first ever try at a quiche, and I must say, it was a success. And definitely not as complicated as I first perceived. I actually made the mushroom and onion mixture the day before and kept in the fridge until I was ready to bake the quiche. Most importantly, this recipe makes for great leftovers. My belly was happy during Monday's lunch.

-1 Pillsbury premade pie crust
-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
-1 cup thinly sliced red onion
-10 ounces thinly sliced button mushrooms
-2 teaspoons fresh thyme
-1 teaspoon minced garlic
-1 teaspoons salt, plus 1/4 teaspoon
-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
-1/2 cup heavy cream
-6 large eggs
-1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
-1 1/2 ounces grated Gruyere, plus 1 1/2 ounces

1. Bake premade pie crust according to the package instructions.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat, and add the butter and olive oil. Once the butter is melted, add the yellow and red onions to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms, thyme, and garlic to the pan and season with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper. Cook the onions and mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until most of the moisture has cooked out of the mushrooms and they are caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes before placing in the pie crust.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the heavy cream, eggs, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg and whisk until just combined. Stir 1 1/2 ounces of the grated cheese, then pour the cream mixture over the onion mixture, and sprinkle the remaining cheese over top.
5. Place the pie dish on a sheet pan and place in the oven. Bake until golden brown, and the custard has set, 35 to 40 minutes.

Smoked Salmon Crostini

-8 ounces smoked salmon
-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-small jar of capers
-fresh chives, finely chopped
-1 mini loaf of bread

1. Slice the bread into 1/2 inch pieces. Broil in the oven until lightly toasted on both sides.
2. Spread cream cheese onto each slice and top with capers, smoked salmon pieces, and chives.

chasing bubbles

2011-05-09T15:27:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, Matt and I had the privilege of celebrating Mother's Day not once, but twice, with our lovely mothers and mothers-in-law. To start the day, we hosted a brunch at our house for my parents, brother, and grandma (recipes to come!), and we finished the day in Waterloo, at the home of our nephew, Jack, and his parents, Erin and Dirk.

Let me just say: sitting outside, getting a little scorched by the late afternoon sun, was just what my pale skin needed. I got to rest after a long weekend of cooking and cleaning, drink a glass of white wine (you know it's seriously hot outside if I've gone white over red!), and watch the cutest little two year old in the world run around and play.

This is Jack's tractor. He definitely scoots around his yard with ease in his very own John Deere, hauling pebbles he finds along the way. (Can't you tell he's a landscape architect's son?)

By the by, he is obsessed with all things vehicular, and he particularly loves the easy-on-the-ears song of the firetruck. We heard sirens in the distance, and he immediately grinned from ear to ear, announcing to me, "Firetruck, Tee! Firetruck, Tee!"

Here's Jack wearing his daddy's sunglasses, which as you can see, are super duper cool. Jack preferred to wear them on his tummy.

And seriously, is there anything better than bubbles?!

They are insanely fun to chase.

Uncle Matt had just as much fun playing with the bubbles as Jack did. Matt's not going to be a good dad or anything.

After chasing after bubbles for awhile, Jack wore himself out and decided to "crash" on the ground over and over again.

Woo-wee, he had a lot of steam yesterday. And, he had the dog poo stains on his little khaki shorts to prove it. He's the happiest little man I've ever seen. And the most energetic.

happy birthday, rick ultra!

2011-05-02T11:46:00.000-05:00

My brother and I have many, many nicknames for our father. The newest one, a pun on his drink of choice and the title of this post, makes us giggle to the point of tears, as if we were still ten and seven years old, laughing about bodily functions or famous lines from Stand By Me ("I don't shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you, I throw up... And then your mother comes around the corner, and she licks it up.")

Perhaps my most creative nickname for my dad is "Rictor Goose-Egg-A-Debe," a play on the former Illini basketball player, Victor Chukwudebe. Goose Egg, or Goose for short, is another. That arose from a hilarity-filled family lunch at Ozzie's in Westport, sometime during my high school years. I think it was a reference to my dad's fading hairline, but I can't really be sure anymore.

The point is, these nicknames have stuck, and while they sound awfully teasing in nature, they really are terms of endearment at this point. John and I use them with the absolute most affection we possibly can.

Today, I am sending big, fat birthday hugs and kisses to my dad. He is the best man I know.

Over the weekend, I went to my hometown in Southern Illinois to celebrate his 58th with him. He told us a story about how he was a premie, and his grandpa said he looked like a dead rabbit when he was born. For the first few months of his life, he slept in a shoebox inside a dresser drawer (pulled out, mind you), and he wore doll clothes. Exhibit A is sitting on top of his head in the above picture.

My Grandpa Wally and my Grandma Ree didn't have a lot, but they raised him with a combination of stringency and love. He grew big and strong on TV dinners, and he followed the guidance of his father-in-law, my Papa John, to become an educator. He's spent his adult life working tirelessly for kids in public education, and he is the best example of someone who is in that field for the right reasons. He is the reason I had the stones to change careers at age twenty-five, take out thousands and thousands of dollars in loans, and become a high school teacher.

He is also the reason I do ~~crazy~~ things like dust the vacuum cleaner (hello, Danny Tanner - that's another nickname), listen to Three Dog Night, and avoid pork 'n' beans like the plague. And work. And work. And work.

Last weekend, when I pulled into the driveway, after the two hour trip from Saint Louis to Mulkeytown, my dad greeted me in the yard, literally (and forgive me, dad, for including this detail) chanting my name and trying his version of cheerleading moves because he was so excited to see me. I rolled my eyes and laughed and probably made fun of him, but deep down, I loved it. How awesome is it that he's so carefree and giving with his love?

I know I don't show it in quite the same, silly way, but I would do backflips and basket tosses for my dad, if I could.

So, happy birthday, Rick Ultra. We all love you so much.

slang-a-dang-ding-dong

2011-04-24T22:28:00.001-05:00

Friday marked the end of a rather difficult week in the classroom. I spent the week ~~torturing~~ preparing my sophomores for their Missouri End of Course exam in the form of repeat grammar practice items, literary terms review, and reading comprehension questions. Every day, I hammered home confusing concepts like misplaced modifiers, author's tone, and the ever pesky parallelism. I'm exhausted!

However, the one interesting component of this EOC review is our study of non-standard English. For the majority of the year, I teach the kids about the kind of English that'll a) open university doors and b) prevent admissions officers from judging their intelligence too harshly. You know, the English that rich, old, white guys said was the stuff a long, long time ago. But, this week, we focused on "non-standard" English in the form of slang, jargon, idioms, and dialect.

First of all (and I realize that there is not an ounce of eloquence infused into the following statement): I just think words are so fascinating. This video proves that. Thanks, Court, for the recommendation.

I am particularly enthralled with today's teen culture's slang. Granted, I do not attempt to use any of these words as my own. I understand that slang is meant to make non-users feel like outsiders, but I would rather feel like an outsider than a big, fat dork who attempts to talk like a sixteen year old.

As you know, popular slang is pretty short-lived. Last year, kids who scored well on tests beasted them. This year, students go ham on their final exams. According to Urban Dictionary...

beast: to completely dominate, usually in a very physical and violent manner
As in, "Aaron beasted his pole vaulting competition."

ham: going ballistic on someone or something
As in, "Damn, you went ham on those chicken wings."

Now, it is important to note that ham is an acronym for "hard as a motherf*cker" which really, just makes me feel embarrassed for these kids who use it on a regular basis. They tell me the term comes from a Jay-Z song, and seriously, that doesn't make it any better.

Another term I recently learned was drove.

drove: empty headed, absentminded
As in, "That girl be acting so drove. She put her shirt on inside out and didn't even notice. Drove."

Interestingly, Urban Dictionary says that drove originated in north Saint Louis county.

My favorite slang term of all time is janky. If any word has crept into my vocabulary over the years, it's this one.

janky: inferior quality; held in low social regard
As in, "This janky coffee maker takes forever to work."

Another particular favorite of mine is not merely a term but a phrase.

front street: to reveal someone's secret; to embarrass someone publicly
As in, "I will put you on front street if you don't pay me $500."

Luckily, I gave my students an assignment that asks them to ~~Google~~ research various examples of slang, jargon, idioms, and dialect, but clearly, most will offer up the slang terms they normally use. I am guessing that their answers will result in a sequel to this post so I can share my new knowledge with you all.

Until then, I'm going to go ham on my Sunday night's sleep so I can teach the children well all over again tomorrow.

bless me!

2011-04-19T21:47:00.003-05:00

Today I silenced an entire room of giggly 9th graders with my sneezing. No, this wasn't an allergy attack. This was a single, violent sneeze.

The room went quiet.

Mouths gaped.

Eyeballs bulged.

You see, this crop of students hasn't endured the spring allergy season with me yet. Come May, they will be completely used to the fact that their teacher sneezes like a pachyderm. Today was merely the introduction.

Now, I fully admit that my ferocious sneezes are contradictory to my general demeanor. I'm usually rather soft-spoken (or I mumble, if you ask Matt). But, if you saw me sneeze, you'd think I was aggressive, perhaps looking for a fight. I inherited this genetic curiosity from my mother, who can also be quite demure, despite her pugnacious sneezing.

Last night, I let out such an explosive achoo that I startled Matt from his iPhone trance. These instances are always followed with various usages of the Lord's name in vain and comebacks such as, "Can't you muffle that a little bit?"

The answer is no. I can't muffle that a little bit. It's an act of convulsively expelling air from both my nasal passages and mouth. (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

This stuff comes from my soul. And, if I can't beat it, I might as well be proud of it.

tuna two ways

2011-04-17T21:23:00.000-05:00

Meet Mr. Tuna Steak, my new BFF.

The last two Sundays have felt marvelously like summer. Couple that with the fact that my husband decided to give up red meat for Lent (don't ask me why, it's not like he was eating a cow a day or anything), that means that it's time to break out some seafood recipes, meant for the warmer months of the year. So far, tuna steaks have been my go-to protein for the onset of grilling season. Yes, tuna and I are good friends.

I wish I had pretty pictures of these dishes to show you. Alas, it was too dark in my kitchen to really get a good shot by the time dinner was finally served. So, just use your imaginations, okay?

Grilled Tuna with Pineapple Chipotle Salsa [Food Network link]

This is hands-down one of my favorite summertime recipes. It's a Paula Deen recipe that's actually healthy, y'all.

PS - I could eat the salsa by itself. And I have. And I will again.

Chipotle Salsa
-1 cup diced pineapple, preferably fresh
-1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
-3 tablespoons finely chopped scallions (white and light green parts)
-1 lime, juiced
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Grilled Tuna
-4 (8-ounce) tuna steaks
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-salt
-pepper
-garlic powder

1. In a small bowl, mix all the salsa ingredients together. Cover and let stand at room temperature until ready to serve.

2. Light the grill or preheat the broiler.

3. Coat the tuna steaks with the oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Transfer the steaks to a baking sheet, if broiling, or put them on the grill. Broil or grill the fish until cooked to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter and serve topped with the salsa.

Grilled Tuna Rolls [Food Network link]

I tried this recipe for the first time tonight after watching Ina make it on Barefoot Contessa earlier this week, and Matt and I were both pleasantly surprised with how good these rolls taste! I was particularly inspired by our recent trip to New York; our first meal in the city was at Luke's, home of the famous lobster roll.

Matt was on his way back from Chicago when I started dinner, so I just quickly grilled the tuna steaks on the stove in a grill pan. I'm sure he was happy not to be put to work immediately after the long drive.

-olive oil
-1 pound very fresh tuna steak, 1-inch thick
-Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
-1 lime, zest grated
-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
-1 teaspoon soy sauce
-5 dashes Tabasco
-1 firm, ripe Hass avocado, medium-diced
-1/4 red onion, chopped
-1 tablespoon minced scallion, white and green parts
-1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
-hot dog rolls, grilled or toasted

1. Heat a charcoal grill with hot coals. Brush the grill with oil.

2. Brush both sides of the tuna with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Cook the tuna over the hot coals for about 2 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate. The tuna should be seared on the outside and raw inside. Allow to cool and cut into cubes.

(If you don't want to heat a grill, you can sear the tuna in a dry saute pan over high heat. Heat the pan for 2 minutes, add the tuna steaks and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side until seared on the outside and still raw inside.)

3. For the dressing, whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the lime zest, lime juice, wasabi powder, soy sauce, hot sauce, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Toss the avocado in the dressing and then add the tuna, red onion, scallion, and sesame seeds.

4. Lightly toast the rolls under the broiler for a few minutes and then fill with the mixture to serve.

i interrupt this regular scheduled program with a healthy dose of preciousness

2011-04-14T17:22:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I just had to do it. I know it's not fair. I fully realize that the amount of preciousness emanating from your computer screen is enough to knock you down flat (and, if you're anything like me, make your ovaries twitch a little).

But, my nephew Jack is just too cute not to share with you all. And boy, was he really happy about his Diego bike.

Okay. Go back to your regularly scheduled program.

(sushi) rollin' with my homies

2011-04-11T21:13:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday, Seth and Lindsay had us over for homemade sushi. Neither Matt nor I had ever participated in such an Iron Chef (original Japanese version, of course) endeavor before. Seth and Lindsay really pulled out all the stops and set us up for success. We didn't have to order a pizza! In my book, that is success. Plus, the food tasted really good.

We started out by munching on edamame while Seth put the finishing touches on all the ingredients we'd later use in our rolls.

Please notice the authentic garnishes of wasabi and pickled ginger on our waiting plates. PS, you do not want to see how pickled ginger is packaged. It is gross.

However, this Japanese beer is actually really good. However, our sake tasted like Cheerios. I was not a fan.

Seth sauteed scallops in butter, cut them in half horizontally, and piled them on some rice for our nigiri. Yum.

We all took turns making the rolls while the others ate. My first was pretty standard: cucumber, avocado, tuna, and cream cheese. My second was weird: crunchy thingies, sauteed mushrooms, Sriracha, and tuna. Hey, you can't win 'em all.

While all of our rolls weren't what you call symmetrical, or even beautiful, we had a blast making them. Seth and Lindsay both attempted the triple axel of sushi rolling, the inside-out roll. You know, the ones with the rice on the outside. Fancy!

So, while I am nowhere near an expert, really, making sushi was not that complicated. I think you should all try this at home. You know, if you like sushi.

here's to 35!

2011-04-10T10:52:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday, we celebrated my parents' 35th wedding anniversary with a Cardinals ballgame. Matt and I, along with my brother John and his girlfriend, sat in the bleachers with Rick and Jude. I can't think of a better way to spend a sunny Saturday. And, while it might not be very fancy, I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate my parents' long and happy marriage. The history of their relationship includes an uncountable number of Redbird games, whether that means driving to Saint Louis on a whim when the baseball mood strikes or simply listening to Shannon on the radio while sitting outside with a beer (or in Jude's case, a glass of Chardonnay).

I love this picture of them. My dad has that teasing twinkle in his eyes that he always gets when he's being silly. My mom seems equal parts amused and weirded out, which is usually how it goes.

They're lucky. And because of that, we're lucky.

Here's to 35 more! At that point, as my dad often says, I'll be pushing him in a wheelchair to his seat in Busch Stadium.

I can definitely do that.

spring breakin' in nyc (day four)

2011-04-06T22:49:00.033-05:00

Our last day in New York was really just a few leisurely hours spent wandering Corey and Caitlin's neighborhood before heading in a cab to La Guardia. We booked a late flight out, so we had the morning and most of the afternoon to ~~explore~~ eat our faces off one last time.

Believe it or not, I almost left my camera at the apartment because I, truth be told, was tired of carrying it. I thought, "We're just going to be out for a few hours...I don't really need to capture anything, right?" Wrong. I got some of my favorite shots of the four day trip just strolling up and down Columbus.

Like a book stand. One that, in fact, prominently features an Ernest Hemingway work. How nice.

Or, two party planners walking proudly with a balloon bouquet. I literally sprinted to take this picture because it made me feel particularly warm and fuzzy inside.

Or a beautiful latte from Joe. And I mean, beautiful latte. I told the barista to impress me, and my, did he rise to the occasion.

Or, two lovely (and huge ass) pieces of pizza for the road.

Or a fruit stand on the street. Not to toot my own horn, but toot! toot! I love this picture. It reminds me of a Ryan Adams lyric: "I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York and maybe as strange."

Or the cutest little globe outdoor sconce that you've ever seen.

So, all in all, New York was fabulous. There were many happiness-inducing sights to behold. And, not surprisingly, we had a grand ol' time. Thanks to Corey and Caitlin for showing us their favorite spots...and most importantly, being great friends.

spring breakin' in nyc (day three)

2011-04-03T11:44:00.005-05:00

We got kind of a late start on our Saturday morning in New York City. That is largely due to the fact that we had kind of a late night on Friday. Also, it's because I like to sleep for eighteen hours a night whenever possible. By the by, that is never possible.

Our day started off with brunch at Taralluci E Vino on the Upper West Side. It was a wonderful place. I present to you Exhibit A, their collection of yummy pastries on display.

Do you see that custard-filled donut on the bottom left? Yeah, that one was mine. All mine. Well, half of it was all mine. The other half was Matt's.

The lattes were muy delicioso, too.

Matt had ham and eggs (with polenta!) for brunch, while I had a red and yellow pepper quiche (with onions and mushrooms). Corey was the big winner with the marscapone French toast.

After brunch, we decided to semi-wander. We had a destination in mind, but we leisurely walked to Midtown without a time table.

After my last visit to Manhattan, I decided that one of my very favorite things about the city was the flower stands on every other corner. I am pretty much obsessed with having fresh flowers (yes, I know they just die) in our home (and we almost never have them). But, if I lived in New York, I would invariably have a perfect arrangement in my studio apartment.

As we were walking, we passed by the Ed Sullivan Theater, the site where my celebrity dad, Dave Letterman, earns a paycheck. I've taken a picture of this marquee every time I've visited New York, but this was the first time with a D-SLR. It needed to happen. Plus, he's my celebrity dad! Oh, how I love him so.

We stopped at Rockefeller Center to admire the Zamboni resurfacing the ice and contemplate paying $25 to head to The Top of the Rock. I took the below picture mainly because it reminds me of the opening of every 30 Rock episode.

Okay, instead of heading up to the Top of the Rock for fantastic panoramic views of the entire island of Manhattan, here is what I opted to spend $25 on: a Bloody Mary. That's right. A Bloody Mary.

Our final stop was the King Cole Bar inside the St. Regis. That, my friends, is the site where the Bloody Mary (as you and I know it today) was first concocted. It used to be called a Red Snapper, by the by.

There were six different versions from which to pick. I enjoyed a standard version with horseradish, but Matt opted for one with beef broth.

We were completely out of our element. Most of the patrons at the King Cole Bar were either wearing fur coats or bow ties. But, it was fun to take part in an exciting little piece of history, even it was just to pay homage to my favorite Sunday brunch alcoholic beverage.

Later that evening, back at Corey and Caitlin's apartment, we celebrated our last night in New York with some champagne and college basketball.

Here's where the pictures stop. I didn't want to take my camera to Brooklyn with us because, quite frankly, my neck was getting a little tired from wearing that darn thing virtually 24/7. But, as you can see, Matt and Corey look all spiffy for a night out.

We took the subway to Brooklyn and enjoyed time at Prime Meats before our dinner at Frankie's 457. Yummy California cabernet, oysters, and pickled veggies became our new best friends while we (patiently) waited for an open table next door at Frankie's (they don't take reservations). Frankie's is this cute little Italian place that serves fresh pasta family style. My favorite was the sweet potato ravioli. Yum.

Day four comin' at you soon!

spring breakin' in nyc (day two)

2011-03-31T20:26:00.005-05:00

Okay, moving on to day two of our whirlwind of a weekend in Manhattan. Matt and I were on our own Friday during the day while Corey and Caitlin were at work. We had plans to relax and enjoy a very leisurely morning and afternoon in the city. The first order of the day, of course, was coffee.

This is me. This is me drinking my much needed morning cup of coffee from New York mini-chain, Joe. Any questions?

This is my requisite bagel with lox from the so very real-deal, Zabar's. I think the bagel needs no introduction. However. Reader, meet the best fresh-squeezed orange juice I've ever had. Best fresh-squeezed orange juice I've ever had, meet the reader.

After breakfast, Matt and I meandered our off-course way through Central Park. The weather was brisk, but it was bright and sunny. Hey, I'll take it. It was getting ready to snow in Saint Louis, after all. One touristy item that both of us needed to mark off our New York City to-do list was to visit The Met.

Now, it works out well that Matt and I both have museum ADD. The picture below perfectly represents our malady. And our marriage. (Later on, we wanted to do a whole photo session with Matt's head inappropriately near a very large Buddha's bottom, complete with a laundry list of pooing puns, but we figured that was just in poor taste.)

Okay, next stop: lunch at Eataly. Two months ago, I read about this mammoth Little Italy Indoors that was recently launched by Oscar Farinetti, Mario Batalli, and others. Eataly is a market, several restaurants, wine bar, and cookware shop rolled into one.

We bellied up to a high top table smack dab in the middle of the marketplace (conveniently close to the wine tasting counter) that features a fixed menu of cheese and meat plates but also specials from the various restaurants inside. We enjoyed a fabulous spread of diver sea scallops with caperberries and tangerine olive oil, various cheeses with honey and berry chutney, and a conglomeration Italian meats.

After lunch, we strolled by the dessert counters. They were all so beautiful, like little works of art. I don't even have a sweet tooth, and I wanted to gorge myself on all of them. Get a load of this watercolor painting - oops, I mean this layered berry cake thing.

After we left Eataly, Matt and I wandered up Broadway to Times Square where Corey's GQ office is. Our brief visit consisted mostly of the boys talking about GQ stuff while I pretended Jude Law was going to enter the room at any moment.

After that, we hopped on the subway to get ready for dinner. I snapped this picture of Matt and Corey that I happen to like very much. Don't worry, they weren't trying to look super cool. I just made them that way.

Corey lives right by The Dakota, where John Lennon was killed. Right across Central Park West is Strawberry Fields and one of my favorite sights in New York City.

Later that night, after drinks at Wilfie & Nell (including a round of potent pickle martinis), we headed to Minetta Tavern (one of Corey's favorite restaurants) for our 10:30 reservation. Throwing caution to the wind (or taking heed to the pickle martinis), I ordered a (really good, thankfully) $17 glass of Cabernet and a $35 burger. When in Rome, I suppose... Oh, also, Aziz Ansari and Salman Rushdie were also dining, mere tables away.

Really, the best thing about the meal was the bone marrow. Served in a bone. Let's all just take a moment to contemplate that.

And, there you go. A condensed version of day two in Manhattan. The good news is that we still have two days to go!

spring breakin' in nyc (day one)

2011-03-29T20:17:00.002-05:00

Last week marked the seven days that simultaneously scream "Winter is over!" (despite the subsequent snowfall that did not scream, "Winter is over!") and "The end is near!" Yes, folks, last week, I celebrated the one, the only: Spring Break 2011. Makes me feel like a kid again.

I spent the beginning of my break absolutely freaking out about my NCAA tourney bracket. I spent the middle part of my break frantically writing some band bio stuff for the LouFest line-up (which was just announced today, and I'm psyched to the gills). I spent the last half of my break in New York City, visiting our dear friends Corey and Caitlin with Matt.

Since Matt and I have had the luxury of traveling to Manhattan a time or two before, we wanted this trip to really be as non-touristy as possible. We asked Corey, a Chicago (via Southern Illinois) transplant, to take us to all of his favorite neighborhood spots. We wanted to eat. We wanted to drink. We wanted to gain at least fourteen pounds.

We arrived at Corey and Caitlin's apartment on the Upper West Side in the early evening hours, and we were soon after hustled just a few blocks away to a very small little restaurant called Luke's, home of the famous lobster roll. The only one that's "traceable from the sea floor to your plate." I had the crab roll, but I bet it's the same sentiment. If I had to guess. Otherwise, I want my money back.

From Luke's, we went to Dive 75, which was festive with Christmas lights and college basketball. We grabbed a leather couch in a cozy seating area, flanked with a tall bookshelf filled with old school board games.

From Dive 75, we stopped at Columbus Tavern. Cider. Oysters. Motown. Friends. Can't beat it with a stick.

And, because we had committed to behaving like absolute piglets, we went to get a slice of pizza before heading home for the night.

I'll continue to post about our Adventures in Eating throughout the week. Check back soon!

i had the madness, now i'm cured

2011-03-21T14:02:00.001-05:00

Yes, I picked Syracuse to win the whole thing. Go big or go home.

"Madness in great ones must not unwatched go."

No, that's not a Yoda saying. That's Polonius. From this play you might have heard of called Hamlet.

From Thursday of last week until just last night, I had the madness. The March Madness. And, I was a great one. It was intense.

But, alas, it is gone. No need to watch out for me anymore.

I filled out a bracket this year, the lone teacher in a pool of tenth graders. I was fully prepared to dominate. I mean, I have sixteen more years of NCAA Tourney experience under my belt. Until last Sunday, one of these kids had never heard of Chris Webber's inopportune time out in the 1993 championship game against North Carolina until he watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, The Fab Five, that night. Never heard of the time out! That is a sin against college sports fandom, I don't care how old (or young) you are.

So, yeah, I wanted to show these kiddos what's up.

On Thursday and Friday, I had ESPN's scoreboard minimized on my desktop for convenient game checking in between lessons on Works Cited pages and semicolons. I had my highlighter handy, ready to mark my winning picks. I kept a blue pen nearby just in case I chose incorrectly. I talked to myself. I stayed at work, for much longer than necessary, just watching the scores change online, points by points, because I didn't want to be in the car (of all places!) when a game was ultimately decided. I rooted for teams I normally hate, like Duke and Kansas, because I knew their wins were sure ways to get yet another yellow highlighter fix. I was 26 for 32 in the opening round.

On Saturday, I watched all of the games (for ten hours straight) with my friends, and I found myself living and dying with the likes of San Diego State and Richmond, yelling mantras at the television with my friend Vanessa, like "Do something!" or "Make a basket!" You know, really inspiring stuff. I endured some pretty big losses, like Pitt's and Gonzaga's, with grace and dignity.

After all, my predicted champions, the Syracuse Orange Men, were still dancing.

Last night, my dreams were dashed when Marquette beat Syracuse, ending my 2011 run at complete and total bracket domination. So, I turned to my alma mater, the other (and most important) orange men in my life, The Fighting Illini. But, they, too, fell. Although they gave Kansas a run for its money, in the end, balls were not falling through nets very often, and that, friends, is how you score points in a basketball game. Balls through nets.

So, it's all over now, baby orange. The thrill is gone. My heart is rather broken, and I am still refusing to give any interviews at this point in time. Please respect my wish for privacy.

The only benefit of being cured of the Madness is that now I can do things like write blog posts about the Madness. Until next year...

holy guacamole

2011-03-16T06:54:00.002-05:00

A few summers ago, I decided it was high time that I create a signature guacamole recipe. I mean, who doesn't have one? This process required me thumbing through a ton of other guacamole recipes, picking and choosing the ingredients I liked, and then figuring out the best proportions.

There are obviously a million ways to make The Big Green Condiment, but here is the recipe, after lots of experimenting, I've decided I like the best.

Guymon Guacamole [serves 8]

-4 ripe avocados, peeled, seeded, and diced
-1 lime
-1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
-1 tablespoon garlic, minced (roasted garlic is nice, too)
-1 large tomato, seeded and diced
-1/2 large white or red onion, diced
-1 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
-1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)

How to prep your avocados:
1. Use a knife to halve the avocado. Twist the two halves of the avocado until the fruit is open.

2. Use the knife to "chop" into the seed with one swift motion. Only go about 1/4 of an inch into the seed. Twist the knife until the seed comes out.

3. Very carefully, use a paper towel to remove the seed from the knife blade.

4. Dice into small pieces.

How to make the guacamole:
1. In a medium mixing bowl, squeeze the juice from both halves of a lime onto the diced avocados. Add the garlic and salt.

2a. For chunkier guacamole, use a fork (or other utensil) to mash the avocados to just above the preferred consistency. Add the remaining ingredients and do a little more mashing.

2b. For a smoother guacamole, add the remaining ingredients and use a Smart Stick or food processor to blend. You can do more rough chops on the ingredients if you go this route. I like the Smart Stick for easier clean up.

3. Wear a sombrero and drink a Corona or five.

4. Also, eat the guacamole with your favorite tortilla chips.

a saint patrick's day feast

2011-03-14T13:23:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday, we celebrated unofficial Saint Patty's Day with an "Irish Feast" at Seth's house. Seth is quite the talented cook. Once he made a caramelized onion and mushroom quiche that sort of made me want to binge and then die happy. Anyway.

He made a hearty Guinness stew and some absolutely delish rarebit. I was in charge of dessert. Neither Matt nor I have much of a sweet tooth, so I am not so confident when it comes to the baked goods. My first (and quite inspired) thought was to simply make some out-of-the-box cupcakes, frost them with green icing, and sprinkle some Lucky Charms on top. But, I decided to take the opportunity to get adventurous and make a cake from scratch. For the first time ever. I had to, like, whip egg whites into stiff peaks and stuff.

I did not take this picture. But, do you see that crust?!

So, I'm sharing Giada's lemon-mint cake recipe with you. My first successful cake made from scratch. And, clearly, my selection is not remotely Irish, but I rationalized this choice because it contains fresh mint. And fresh mint is green.

Overall, the cake is quite tasty, but you have to really like lemons. You have to want to marry the lemon. However, I will also offer some suggestions on how to tone down the lemon flavor, if that is your desire.

Here we go.

Lemon-Mint Cake with Lemon Syrup [Food Network link]

-butter, for greasing
-flour, for dusting

Cake:
-3 eggs, separated, at room temperature
-1 cup sugar, divided
-1/4 cup vegetable oil
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-8 mint sprigs, leaves chopped
-2 tablespoons lemon juice
-1 tablespoon lemon zest
-1 cup all-purpose flour

Syrup:
-1 cup sugar
-1/4 cup water
-1/4 cup lemon juice
-1 tablespoon lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.

I used a 9-inch round cake pan and baked my cake for 40 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks.

3. In a separate large bowl, beat the vegetable oil, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Add the egg yolks, one at a time. Add the chopped mint, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Set aside.

4. Add 1/2 of the egg white mixture into the oil mixture and beat until combined. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold in the remaining egg white mixture. Spread the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a cutting board and allow to cool before slicing.

The top of your cake should should develop a flaky "crust." I did not realize this phenomenon while baking, so I thought my cake was going to be extremely dry when I pulled it out of the oven and saw this "crunchy" looking layer. Then, my toothpick came out very clean, and I thought I'd just wasted two hours making a concrete frisbee. Turns out, it was fine. Confidence, Katie!

5. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes.

I'm not sure if I've decided if the lemon simple syrup was a good idea or just overkill. But, here is where you can really limit the amount of lemon flava, if you prefer. Instead of adding more lemon to the simple syrup, I'd recommend just leaving out the zest and juice for a plain (but sweet) cake glaze. I poked a few holes in the top of the cake and drizzled the syrup on before serving.

6. To serve, spoon some of the syrup onto each small plate or shallow bowl and lay a slice of cake on top. Drizzle the cake with additional syrup and garnish with a small sprig of mint.

I placed the cake in a shallow serving bowl, then poked a few holes in the top and drizzled the syrup on top and at the bottom of the bowl before serving.

spring is nigh

2011-03-12T11:46:00.001-06:00

One of the best indicators of spring's coming is the arrival of the tulips at the grocery stores. Right?

Earlier this week, I bought two bunches of pale pink cuties, and they are still standing tall and purty in their vase, opening (very slowly) each day.

These are not those.

I really do have a thang for all flowers, but tulips, in particular, make me smile. It has something to do with their bulging bottoms, their rotund blooms. I liken it to a kitty belly; when I see a fat cat, I just want to bury my face in its jiggle.

I know there are at least a few people who regularly read my blog who also share my same affinity for the feline, so they will tell me that I am not crazy. And, I'm hoping to find some people who find tulips just as adorable as I.

All these tulip shots are from last spring, but I eagerly await the day when I can spend a leisurely few hours at the Missouri Botanical Garden (one of my favorite places on earth), snapping shots of brand new tulips, the cutest fortune tellers you've just ever seen.

Yes, indeed, spring is nigh.

to call in, or not to call in?

2011-03-02T20:15:00.005-06:00

That was my question last night when I came home from parent-teacher conferences with a 101 temp. I was faced with the age-old conundrum: do I take a sick day?

It's quite surprising to me that my gut reaction to this dilemma is always one emotion, simple and pure: GUILT.

I go through a laundry list of steps before I actually make a decision. I poll everyone in my near(ish) vicinity, posing this question: Okay, what would you do if you were me? I literally sit and stare at my computer for hours, debating if I should open up an e-mail and start writing lesson plans for a sub. I mentally make a list of pros and cons in an attempt to make the right call.

Pro: If I stay home and sleep, I will get the rest I clearly need.

Con: If I stay home and sleep, Maggie won't get the make-up work I promised her on the exact day I promised it.

Yes, you can see my priorities are really skewed.

It's funny to me that actually having the flu doesn't factor into my decision making process. Nor does the fact that my students and co-workers probably don't want to be around me whatsoever. All that really matters is my perceived level of wimpiness.

You see, my parents have done this to me. My dad is a superintendent of schools, and my mom is an emergency room RN. All of my life, I've been taught that staying home from school should only be a last resort option. I've also been taught that seeing a doctor is sort of a last resort option, too. I think that's why my mom always gave me my shots in our kitchen. I think that's why I had a broken arm for a week (a week that included a family bowling outing) before I actually got my (hot pink) cast. I think that's why I found out I broke my coccyx three years after my actual fall.

I promise you do not need to issue a retroactive call to DCFS.

It's just that in the Cook household, we were made to be tough. You don't miss school, and you don't miss work. Period.

So, I was quite surprised last night to hear my parents' responses when I posed that question to them: should I call in or not? They both said yes. I was stunned. They are turning soft on me!

But, today, I did take their advice. Even though I am still in denial that I am sick (again), and I am fully resisting the fact that my immune system apparently sucks, I stayed home. I rested. I slept. A lot.

And, I'm guessing that the world didn't end in my absence from school. It'll all be there, waiting for me tomorrow.

my (vacation) home away from home

2011-02-27T21:53:00.001-06:00

So, it's not a secret that last week, sorta, well, really sucked for me. It was just a weird combination of stress and unexpected work and headaches and sleepless nights. At the end of the work week (for me, three o'clock on Fridays) I was especially thankful that I had already planned to visit my parents in Southern Illinois for the entire weekend. You see, Rick and Jude really roll out the red carpet for their only daughter, and I know that when I visit, I'm not going to lift a finger. It's always a great mini-vacation from everyday craziness.

When I pulled into the driveway on Friday evening, my dad literally ran out of the garage to greet me. Literally. I parked myself on the couch for the rest of the night, only getting up to fill a plate with one of my favorite foods on earth, my hometown's own, DiMaggio's pizza. Goodfellas was on AMC, and I stared rather dazedly at the television screen for three hours. Then, I went to bed and slept - and, I'm rather ashamed to admit this - for eleven hours. Eleven hours?!?

Obviously, I was tired.

A full believer in the healing powers of animal cuddling, I got my fair share of love from the family dog, Pugsley. He even licked my right foot clean.

And Ivy slept on my stomach for a good two hours, just purring away. Severe kitty allergies, be damned.

I went out with my entire family for my Grandma Bena's 87th birthday celebration. Guess what? I ordered lobster. That's what.

(PS - my brother, John, took the below picture. I was too busy acting the fool at a fancy restaurant to get many shots. Sometimes being as silly as you wanna be is enough to make the stress disappear. Especially when you polish off the night with another eleven hours of sleep. Which I did.)

Also, I worked out. Twice. Now, I realize that exercising is just a mundane detail in most of your lives, but I find it extremely difficult to work up a sweat in the wintertime, mostly due to the fact that I am cold and lack the will to move. I gotta say, I am becoming a miler machine. Yeah, that's right. If I could revert back to my junior high trackster days, I would kill it in the 1600.

But, more importantly than the sweating and the calorie burning and the heart strengthening, I ran outside and heard signs of life! Birds were chirping, frogs were croaking, and turtles were swimming in dirty creek water. Spring is nigh, friends.

So, I feel rested. I feel ready to face the work week, parent-teacher conferences and all. I feel energized, like I could (maybe) run three whole miles. Okay, maybe two.

Monday, bring it.

that's it, i'm wearing my knockoff lady gaga meat dress tomorrow

2011-02-24T16:51:00.004-06:00

It's been awhile, hasn't it, friends? That is because my high school English teacher identity has taken all of my other identities hostage. Music Blogging Katie, Photo Taking Katie, Food Cooking Katie, Good Mood Having Katie...they are all tied to metal folding chairs in a dingy warehouse somewhere while Denzel Washington (or, is it Samuel L. Jackson?) tries to negotiate with Knowledge Dropping Katie.

Teaching high school absolutely never feels stress-free or what one might describe as easy. It's always nineteen kinds of crazy, and there is always approximately 42 million items on my to-do list. But, it's all relative. Some weeks want to send me to the psych ward more so than others. Today, I'm all but flaunting a chic little straight jacket number.

The rain pouring down from the sky (and subsequently running down my face from my sopping hair) feels symbolic on this particular day. See, I'm drowning in my work and all. That was the really significant connection, in case you didn't get that.

I did manage to crack a smile last night, however. Matt was not handling his remote control duties very responsibly, so I told him, "Stop! You're just making my bad mood worse!" Except it came out as, "Stop! You're just making my bad word moose!" Then, he launched into his sweet Anderson Cooper cackle, and I just had to laugh at myself.

But, everyone in general (including me) just feels a bit needier this week. Wasn't there some hot commodity of a celebrity that once said, "Everyone wants a piece of me?" Well, that's how I feel. I might as well wear my knockoff Lady Gaga meat dress to school tomorrow. (Although, I'm pretty confident that wasn't the point she was making. I think it had something to do with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Or, animal rights. Or, her incessant need for attention.) It's really hard having so many people depend on me.

That was a joke. Sort of.

So, I recognize that this blog post is really just a lot of moaning and groaning, and there's definitely zero point to what I've written. I just wanted you folks to know where I'm at.

And to feel sorry for me.

And to petition your government for higher teacher salaries.

my new favorite soup

2011-02-15T15:25:00.003-06:00

I love making soup. Seriously, there is something so calming about standing over a Dutch oven, slowly adding ingredients, casually adjusting spices, intermittently stirring a big simmering pot of yum. Add some music and a glass of wine... Well, that is just a perfect evening for me, folks.

My best friend, Nikki, e-mailed me this soup recipe just a few days ago, and I already jumped on the chance to make it. It's no joke: Nikki and I have the exact same taste buds. She's the only girl I know who will down some tomato juice and then head straight to the pepperoncinis without skipping a beat (or getting heartburn). Well, the only girl except for me. So, when Nikki recommends a recipe, pretty much, I know I'm going to like it.

I honestly think it took me longer to photograph this soup than it did to make it. I just couldn't figure out the best way to capture all its brothy goodness. The pesto floats to the top while the hearty cannellini beans sink to the bottom. But, just trust me, give it a good stir, and every bite is something to behold.

Before we hop to the recipe, I thought I'd pass along a tip from my friends at Food Network Magazine. To remove the smell of garlic from your hands, rub toothpaste all over them and then rinse with water. Granted, I've been too lazy to try that, but lemme know if it works.

Pesto Bean Soup

-5 garlic cloves

-pinch of red pepper flakes

-2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (My Google machine told me these are also called Northern White beans).

-1 cup of water

-3 tablespoons of pesto (I used three heaping tablespoons).

-2 tablespoons parmesan, grated

-3 cups chicken stock

-1 cup celery, chopped

-1/2 cup chopped olives (I left them out because it didn't specify green or black, and I freaked).

-1/2 cup roasted red peppers, roughly chopped

1. Saute five sliced garlic cloves and red pepper flakes in a pan (or Dutch oven, if you have one) with olive oil.

2. Add cannellini beans and water; simmer until thick, 8 minutes.

3. Stir in pesto and Parmesan.

4. Add chicken stock and celery; cook 15 minutes.

5. Stir in olives (honestly, I didn't miss them) and red peppers.

6. Top with a bit more Parmesan to serve.

thoroughly adorable milly

2011-02-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting baby Milly. Her mama is one of my best friends in Saint Louis, and believe it or not, she trusted me with the job of newborn photographs. Only six days old, Milly was the perfect model. For starters, she's absolutely beautiful!

Milly also slept for ninety percent of our shoot which made the process particularly easy. I loved catching her mid-yawn.

Okay, back up the cute baby bus, because this is flippin' cute. We put Milly on an antique baby scale with her favorite quilt as a backdrop. Miss Milly weighs seven pounds!

Milly's mom wanted to capture her in this rocking chair, which was a gift from a family friend. Doesn't she look like she's at a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum? She's so teeny.

Every once in a while, she'd open up her big blue eyes and say hi. Milly, it was so nice to meet you. I can't wait to watch you grow up.

ain't no cure for the wintertime blues

2011-02-10T21:54:00.001-06:00

Let me tell you a story. There was a girl. Last night, that girl was so cold, inside her own home, that she took a frivilously long, steaming shower to warm up her tootsies and bring circulation back to her hands. Ladies and gentlemen, that girl was me. And that shower didn't work.

(Please don't shame me regarding my wasteful water usage. I'm sure I skipped enough showers in college to make up for the one last night).

It is winter. My feet have been frozen for months now. I half expect to see sixteen tiny sled dogs traversing over the Alaskan landscape of my numb appendages each time I encounter my bare feet. Which isn't often. Usually I'm wearing two pairs of socks.

What's perhaps worse than my evolution into a frigid shell of a human is my complete loss of ambition to participate in activities such as working out. Or moving.

Basically, I'm really into sleeping these days. Yeah, sleeping is good. I pretty much can't get enough.

And even though this lethargy rears its drowsy head virtually every year, I am always surprised when I succumb in full to a case of The Blergs. I mean, I've always been a homebody. But, this February makes me want to take up a new residence...in my bed.

Thankfully, I have the weather forecast in my favor. Granted, that doesn't mean a gosh darn thing in Saint Louis. But, I'm seeing that a high of fifty degrees is in my near future.

Maybe then, I can go back to only one shower a day. And working out. And functioning hands.

super bowl snacking

2011-02-07T20:58:00.005-06:00

So, it's the Monday after the Super Bowl, and despite the fact that I'm feeling quite disgusting after eating my weight in food yesterday, I'm here to share a few recipes from the little get together Matt and I hosted.

Our friends and I had engaged in general merrymaking, and for us, that included (but was not limited to): pulling up pictures of Fergie as proof of the unfortunate time she wet her pants onstage, whimpering over the cuteness of puppies, and drinking beer. Good times had by all.

These are the adorable cookies that Alice brought over the day before the game. They are from Clayton's Bakery and Deli in Saint Louis, the place Alice swears is the best for frosted cookies. Good to know. (Although, I have ordered cookies through the same gal who did my wedding cupcakes, and they were pretty spectacular. Just had to give a shout out).

Antipasto Pasta Salad [recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home]

I had my eye on this recipe from the Cuisine at Home magazine ever since I saw it at the beginning of football season last fall. It contains approximately one million ingredients, and all of them are individually fantastic. But, put 'em all together, and that's when the magic really happens.

For the Vinaigrette:
-1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained
-2 teaspoons anchovy paste
-2 teaspoons minced garlic
-1/4 cup red wine vinaigrette
-1 teaspoon dried oregano
-6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-salt and black pepper to taste

For the Salad:
-8 ounces dry tri-color rotini pasta
-2 cups seeded and half-moon sliced cucumbers
-1 cup diced smoked mozzarella
-1 cup diced Italian salami
-1 cup thinly sliced red onion
-3/4 cup pitted and chopped kalamata olives
-1/2 cup pepperoncini, rinsed and stemmed
-1/2 cup sliced roasted red peppers
-1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, quartered
-2 tablespoons capers, drained

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, according to package directions. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
2. Purée capers, anchovy paste, and garlic for the vinaigrette in a food processor. Add vinegar and oregano; pulse to combine. Slowly drizzle in oil, and bled until emulsified. Season vinaigrette with salt and black pepper.
3. Mix together cooked pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, onion, olives, pepperoncini, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, and capers for the salad in a large bowl. Toss the salad with vinaigrette to coat.
4. Refrigerate salad overnight.

Italian Beef
The hardest part of this recipe is the required shredding of the meat after all the cooking is done. All you need is a fork, some elbow grease, and some patience. The easiest part of this recipe is the joyful eating of the meat after the shredding is done.

-4 lbs. boneless sirloin
-1 package of dry Italian dressing mix
-1 package of au jus gravy mix
-5-6 pepperoncini and juice
-6-8 fresh garlic cloves
-hoagie rolls

1. Place all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. (I usually cut in the meat in half after four hours to check on doneness).
2. Shred, baby, shred.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
Holy Lord, this dip is my Kryptonite. Courtney brought it over yesterday, but I think my recipe is exactly the same as hers. Luckily, most people serve it with celery sticks, so it's, at least, got something healthy going for it.

-8 ounces Frank's Red Hot buffalo wing sauce
-12 ounces cream cheese, softened
-8 ounces Marie's Blue Cheese salad dressing
-2-4 cups cooked chicken (can use Tyson's precooked grill strips and chop into smaller pieces)
-2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Mix first four ingredients, spread into a baking dish, and top with cheddar.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.
3. Serve with tortilla chips and celery.

brunch at brasserie

2011-02-05T19:20:00.000-06:00

Over the past three weekends, I've been to, hmmm, let me count, three brunches. It's no secret that I am an avid fan of the brunch. If anything is going to get me out of bed before 10 AM on a weekend, it is the promise of something delicious like a crepe or a stack of waffles or a side of bacon, as Matt and I opted for today.

This morning, we decided to try the relatively new brunch at Brasserie with our friends Lindsay and Seth for the first time. I raved about Brasserie's dinner in my Best Meals of 2010 post (I still crave those mussels and fries), so I was pretty darn excited to see what's doing with brunch.

What's doing is awesomeness. I ordered one of the specials of the morning, a quiche with roasted chicken, caramelized onions, spinach, potato, and gruyere. I mean, let's let the picture speak for itself.

In case you can't hear what that picture is saying, here is a summary: "I am quiche, and I rule the world."

And you know that any brunch in my book just wouldn't be complete without the addition of one - or two - of these guys. (Schlafly and Sauce Magazine, you are welcome for the free advertising to the sixty readers of my blog).

After a leisurely brunch, Matt and I both came home to our couch that lured us to sleep. It was (one part of) a pretty nice little Saturday, indeed.

my etsy store is open for business

2011-02-01T13:40:00.001-06:00

The Tulips Are Excitable

Dear readers of this blog, I realize it's been a bit since I've written. I've taken the last week to really focus on (finally!) opening my Etsy store. This idea has been in the works since early November, and I was very excited when all of the necessary elements (shipping policies, artwork, watermarks, etc.) converged to actually make this happen.

So, my Etsy store focuses on my photography. I'm currently selling 5x7 and 8x10 prints, along with blank greeting cards that also feature my shots. I gifted many of my favorite gals with similar greeting card sets for Christmas, and my impromptu focus group was overwhelmingly positive (er, unless my friends are just lying to me). I'm very excited about the greeting card aspect of this Etsy store, especially because sometimes the Walgreen's selection makes me want to bang my head against the rows and rows of crappy stationery).

Pier Into the Distance

I will keep adding photos and options to the mix, but right now, I have twenty items listed. I hope that you find something you like. In March, I'm going to be featured on the lovely blog, A Little Etsy Love, where I'll be doing a giveaway! Extra special thanks to Sarah Struttmann for the fun and whimsical logo she designed for me (I adore paisley) and to Diversified Lab, the photo lab I'm using to print all product.

Without further ado, take a look at Katie Guymon Photography on Etsy!

midnight snowfall

2011-01-20T17:24:00.001-06:00

Today, I enjoyed a second snow day. In anticipation of another random day off work, I stayed up late drinking Avalon Cabernet and reading Go Fug Yourself. I also put on my husband's work shoes and stepped onto our balcony to snap some pictures of the beautiful snowstorm that granted my street approximately eight inches of snow. Or something close to that. I didn't measure.

how i overcame my fear of fancy kitchen machinery

2011-01-18T18:45:00.001-06:00

You guys. I just started reading The Pioneer Woman obsessively. This is no good. I could spend hours scouring through her recipes and checking out her photographs. Hours that I should be grading papers or reviewing some band's album or getting on the treadmill.

But, I have to say, The Pioneer Woman, bless her heart, pushed me out of my comfort zone yesterday. See, she posted a recipe for restaurant-style salsa, and the end result looked so good (I mean, not to toot my own horn, but the picture above is Exhibit A. Aren't those two tortilla chips so artfully placed?) that I had to try it. The biggest problem was that I had never used my food processor before. Yes, the food processor that ~~Matt and~~ I ~~were~~ was gifted at my bridal shower in August of 2010. That machine sat in my cupboard for well over twelve months...until yesterday.

See, I am intimidated of what I don't know how to do. Hey, that's just me. After Matt bought me the best birthday present ever (my DSLR), it sat untouched until I had the guts to sit down with my copy of The Nikon D90 For Dummies and start putting two and two together. The learning curve can be a little...too much. My mother has admonished me on several occasions for leaving the Cuisinart untouched in the cabinet, but now, there's not a darn thing she can say. 'Sup now, Jude?

Granted, there was some leaking involved. And a loose blade. But, nothing a husband can't fix after some good, old fashioned cursing from his wife.

PS - I made the salsa by following the recipe exactly. It only called for one jalapeño, but next time, I'd probably use two. And, I think I would get rid of some of the liquid from the can of tomatoes. The salsa is a titch too liquid-y for my personal taste. However, this salsa is really so very yummy, and it's a great alternative in the winter when lovely, ripe tomatoes simply do not exist.

PPS - I did not intend for I Used to Vacation to morph into a food blog. I'll try to do some other exciting things and write about them. Maybe.

and the dinner is...

2011-01-17T20:25:00.005-06:00

On this lovely three-day weekend, I got really sick. I saw Ms. Lauryn Hill at The Pageant. I hosted a two-person viewing party of The Golden Globes.

Here are the two dishes I made in honor of Ricky Gervais's absolute shredding of the Hollywood elite.

Hot and Sour Soup [recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home]

You know how some take-out hot and sour soups tend to be a little on the, well, mucous-y side? This recipe does not produce one of those soups. Instead, it's brothy and spicy, and, I've gotta believe, healthy. I turned up the heat by ~~doubling~~ tripling the amount of Sriracha. That made the soup a little too much for Matt; he'd rather avoid the "wicked heartburn." Well, more for me!

-8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
-2 tablespoons light brown sugar
-2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
-2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
-1 tablespoon minced garlic
-1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
-4 cups shredded Napa cabbage
-2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
-1 cup small-diced extra-firm tofu
-1/2 cup minced red bell pepper
-1 8 oz. can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
-1/4 cup rice vinegar
-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
-1 tablespoon cornstarch
-1/2 cup bias-sliced scallions

1. Combine broth, brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, garlic, and Sriracha in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.

2. Add cabbage, mushrooms, tofu, bell pepper, and bamboo shoots; simmer 5 minutes.

3. Whisk together vinegar, lime juice, and cornstarch in a small bowl for the slurry to thicken the soup. Return soup to a boil and stir in slurry. Boil soup until it's slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes.

4. Garnish soup with scallions.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Stir Fry

My best friend Britt gave me this recipe, and this is the second time I've made it. You know if it goes into the Guymon rotation, it's gotta be good. I adore this dish because it contains all of my favorite foods. The wondrous pineapple. The amazing tomato. The splendiferous snow pea. Anyway, just make it, okay?

-4 cups hot cooked rice
-1/3 cup ketchup
-3 tablespoons soy sauce (reduced sodium)
-2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
-1 tablespoons white vinegar
-4 teaspoons cornstarch
-1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
-8 oz fresh snow pea pods, trimmed, cut diagonally in half (2 cups)
-2 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
-2 teaspoons vegetable oil
-2 garlic cloves, pressed
-12 oz. medium peeled and deveined shrimp

1. Prepare rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, combine ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch; whisk until blended.

2. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Measure 1/2 c. reserved pineapple juice; add to ketchup mixture and set aside. Discard any remaining juice.

3. Trim pea pods and cut diagonally in half. Cut tomatoes into wedges.

4. Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add pea pods and garlic pressed into skillet. Stir fry 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Stir ketchup mixture and add to skillet. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 1 minute until thickened. Add pineapple and shrimp to skillet; cook shrimp for 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Gently stir in tomatoes. Serve over rice.

sick sucks

2011-01-15T22:06:00.002-06:00

You guys, I am whiny. Granted, it's a silent, internal kinda whiny. Because I am home alone. On my sixth day of being sick.

I woke up this morning with liquid pouring out of every orifice in my head. Tears, snot, drool, all of it. My cold decided to kick it into high gear, and now I'm just left in the fetal position on my couch, yearning for my mama. I'm pretty sure she could make it better. My husband, God love him, is a crazy germaphobe, so he opts not to show me any paternal instincts that might be lying dormant under his ~~pasty~~ Swedish skin. Not that I want my husband to be my father. You know what I mean, right?

So, I've spent over twelve hours on the couch today. I've learned from HGTV the difference between hardscaping and softscaping one's living room. I've learned that Greek yogurt is my new favorite food. I've learned that Valentine's Day is a horrid, horrid movie. I've learned that Matt's favorite book, The Razor's Edge, is tough to start. I've learned that I really, really despise grading vocab quizzes.

At one point today, I did start to feel like a blob of weakening muscle, so I did some squats and lifted some five pound weights until I felt like I might faint. That was, like, after five minutes.

All I know is this: all of my friends are probably out on the town, having a glorious night, and I need a pacifier to go along with my big baby status. I hate being sick.

Sick sucks.

ode to the snow day

2011-01-11T20:13:00.005-06:00

I know the title of this here blog references the fact that I don't have a lot of down time (totally self-inflicted, for the most part), but today was a total vacation. It was the first snow day of the school year. An ever lovin' snow day. I think I'll be fifty-five years old, still waking up at 3 o'clock in the morning to observe the (hopefully intense) precipitation, sleeping with my phone on my nightstand to see if I'm gonna get a random day off work. Ah, a snow day.

Today I felt very under the weather (no pun intended), having (finally) caught the nasty cold Matt had all last week. That took the pressure off me to be productive by any definition of the word. Instead, I slept in. I sat on the couch. I drank a huge cup of coffee. I blogged for Speakers in Code. I went outside for about five minutes (that was enough for me!) and took the above picture. I stayed in my pajamas until 3 PM. That's when I showered and put on a new pair of pajamas. I browsed all the furniture catalogs I've been collecting. I made the world's best chicken salad.

Blueberry Chicken Salad
Usually snow days call for a large pot of homemade soup, but I think Matt is currently a little souped out right now. Being married to me can do that. Plus, soup would have required me to actually leave the house to shop for necessary ingredients. This chicken salad recipe (passed to me by my best friend, Nikki) is my absolute favorite. It's seriously so good; I crave it. It's rather healthy, as well. No mayonnaise and lots of fruit! And, it doesn't really work so well on bread, so no extra carbs. Promise me you'll make it soon.

Dressing:
-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
-2 tablespoons minced shallot
-2 tablespoons honey
-3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
-1/4 cup olive oil

Salad:
-3 packages Tyson precooked chicken, torn into bite-sized pieces (can also shred a rotisserie chicken)
-1 large Granny Smith apple, diced
-1 1/2 cup red grapes, sliced
-1 1/2 cup blueberries
-1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped
-1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

1. In small bowl, whisk together: mustard, shallot, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Slowly whisk in oil to make emulsion.

2. In large bowl, combine: chicken, apples, grapes, blueberries, hazelnuts and blue cheese. Toss well.

3. Pour dressing over the salad and coat thoroughly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to three days.

I'll be back at it tomorrow: vocabulary, poetry, To Kill a Mockingbird, oh my! But, today...today was absolutely blissful. Much needed. Thank you, snow day.

the diet begins...

2011-01-09T20:33:00.003-06:00

My week of eating like my life depends on it is over. So, tonight's dinner was as healthy as possible. Enjoy these three recipes (and the leftovers you'll probably have).

Turkey-Avocado Clubs [via Food Network magazine]
-1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
-8 slices turkey bacon
-1 Hass avocado, halved and pitted
-1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
-Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
-8 slices whole-grain bread, lightly toasted
-8 small leaves romaine lettuce
-1 tomato, cut into 8 slices
-12 ounces sliced low-sodium deli turkey breast
-1/ small English cucumber, sliced

1. Toss the onion with the vinegar and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Let stand for 15 minutes, then drain. Meanwhile, cook the turkey bacon as the label directs until crisp.

2. Mash the avocado with the yogurt in another small bowl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Lay 4 slices of bread on a cutting board and spread with half of the avocado-yogurt mixture. Top with the lettuce and tomato and season with salt and pepper. Add a layer of turkey breast, bacon, cucumber, and red onion. Spread the remaining avocado mixture on the remaining 4 bread slices and place spread-side down on top of the sandwiches. Cut each sandwich in half to serve.

Barbeque Pasta Salad [recipe]
Note: I subbed in Greek yogurt for mayo in this recipe, and it was great.

Green Bean Salad [recipe]

once, twice, three times a birthday dinner

2011-01-08T17:06:00.005-06:00

I am a lucky gal. This week has proven that to be true many times over. My birthday was on Tuesday, but I actually celebrated the day I was born not once, not twice, but three times. As I wrote last Monday on the eve of my big day, I don't usually feel comfortable letting people spoil me for my birthday, as it falls during a weird time of the year. For my 31st, I surrendered to the inevitability of kind gestures and doting words. I also ate, and ate, and ate.

Birthday Dinner #1
Matt took me to Acero in Maplewood. It was the first time dining there for the both of us. Matt had recently attended an event where Joe Bonwich, the food critic for the Post-Dispatch, claimed that this restaurant boasted the best Italian in the city. That's a pretty bold statement, considering The Hill is typically where pasta lovers tend to go when they want "authentic Italian" food in Saint Louis.

Gnudi with tomato and pistachio

We both opted for the four course tasting menu, and Acero was very generous with its portion sizes. I started with the bruschetta: blue cheese, caramelized onions, and honey. My second course was the gnudi with tomato and pistachio. Third, I tried the yellowfin tuna on a bed of sunchoke and mushroom. I finished with caramel panna cotta, drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with sea salt. I have to say, I think this meal might be in the running for the Best Meals of 2011 list that I'll do again at the end of the year.

Birthday Dinner #2
Courtney, Alice, Jen, and Catherine, my four best friends in Saint Louis, planned a fabulous birthday celebration for me on Wednesday. We all went to 1111 Mississippi, a restaurant in Lafayette Square (dubbed as a "wine country bistro") that I had not frequented for many, many years. I was excited to return.

Cupcakes from Sweet Art Bakery

I ordered the wild boar ravioli with a tomato-vodka cream sauce, although I honestly wanted to try about forty-two different menu items. We split a bottle of Zinfandel (minus Alice, the mama-to-be) and lots of laughs. We went back to Jen's after dinner for champagne and cupcakes from Sweet Art Bakery. My lemon and raspberry cupcake was yum. Most importantly, my friends are great.

Birthday Dinner #3
Last night, I completed the birthday dinner trifecta with my parents, Matt, and brother at Herbie's in the Central West End. I had only been to Herbie's once before, when Matt and I stopped by for a drink and an appetizer before our first wedding anniversary dinner.

We made a reservation in the bistro section of Herbie's which is a little more casual. We were sat in a front section with a full wall of windows, which allowed us a fantastic view of the Euclid bustle and the snow flurries falling from the sky. As my nephew Jack would say, "Comfy cozy." It is my new favorite restaurant in terms of atmosphere, that is for sure.

Our shared bottle of Monarch Merlot at Herbie's

Our appetizers included blue point oysters on the half shell (of course, right?) and the cheese plate featuring aged cheddar and rosemary-encrusted manchego. I ordered the barbeque atlantic salmon with julienned veggies. My brother and dad ordered the Balaburger, which they both loved, and I can vouch that the fries that came with were some of the best I've ever had.

Most importantly, I earned a new nickname at dinner: Katertots. Also, Herbie's played my second favorite song from Jane Fonda's Workout (don't worry, my mom has it on vinyl): "Stomp" by The Brothers Johnson. A complimentary dessert of bananas foster topped off the meal before we moved to Dressel's for a post-dinner drink.

Now the diet starts...

31 years ago, my mother couldn't see her feet

2011-01-03T17:07:00.004-06:00

That line always begins the story my dad tells me each year on the eve of my birthday. Yup, tomorrow is my big day. Thirty-one years ago, my parents were anxiously awaiting my arrival. I kept everyone in the family guessing for quite some time. Well, hours, at least. Long enough for my dad to order a scrumptious Hardee's breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Long enough for my mother to ~~utter~~ scream words that had never before crossed her lips. I finally appeared at 4:09 AM. Stubbornness has always been my strong suit.

I was named Katherine Marie. Marie was the easy part. My middle name comes from my Grandma Ree, my dad's mom, my beloved grandmother who died eleven years ago today. Eleven years seems like an eternal second ago.

My first name was not so easy. Up until two weeks before I came into the world, I was going to be Kristen. Then, a little patient named Katie showed up in my mom's ER. I don't know if it's a sweet or just plain weird idea to name one's child after a sick, stranger child. I'm going with weirdly sweet. Anything is better than Mariah, which was my mother's first selection. I am so not a Mariah.

There are many disadvantages to having a birthday only nine days after Christmas. I mean, where's the summer pool party been all my life? School (and now work) starts back up on January 4th every. single. year. And at this point, everyone is so sick of gift shopping, and sweets indulging, and plans making. Or, maybe that's just me. Either way, I almost feel guilty making people celebrate with me. I'm sure they just want to hop on their individual diet horses and ride off into the sunset.

But, the one great advantage of having a January 4th birthday is that it coincides with the new year. The change in the calendar feels doubly fresh. I can make resolutions that reflect not only a symbolic change in time but in my personal attitude and age. This year, I have two resolutions of note.

1. Just say no.
Okay, I don't have a drug problem or anything like that. But, this I can tell you: I'm not volunteering to head your committee any time soon. Or to be on your committee. I'm not coaching a sport. I'm not redesigning any websites. I'm not reviewing your album. I'm not adopting a foster animal. And, I'm not allowing myself to concoct new projects that quickly become mundane chores because I didn't say no to myself. I'm maxed out. No means no.

2. Let it be.
Although undiagnosed, I'm pretty sure I've got a touch of OCD. This means that it takes me an admitted ridiculous amount of time to fold laundry due to my strict, no-wrinkle philosophy. This means that a cluttered kitchen counter keeps me up at night. This means that an unsightly baseboard can stop me in my tracks. Ugh, it's not pretty, folks.

You know how we, as a society, have been inaccurately trained to believe that romance and marriage should exist in real life just as it does in the movies? Well, screw that. I've been led to believe that the inside of my house should look exactly as it does in a freakin' Nancy Meyers flick. I have to learn to rest easy despite the disorder in my husband's closet. I'm not Diane Keaton, after all.

Fortunately for me and all the people who love me, I've already let go of the birthday reins this year. Instead of being a big Scrooge about it, I'm just going with the flow. And turns out, the flow in 2011 consists of multiple birthday dinners out with friends and family. So, I'm shoving off the diet for another week to celebrate the first birthday - a prime number, at that - in a decade over which I haven't lost my shit.

I'm older, I'm happy, and I'm gonna get happier.

the best of 2010: food

2010-12-30T00:31:00.007-06:00

I am a self-proclaimed "wannabe foodie." I'm not sure what it is I have to do to be an actual foodie. The label just sounds too fancy to really describe plain old me. But, what I do know is this: crappy metabolism aside, I love going out to eat, and I love to cook. These are my favorite ten meals and recipes of 2010.

Best Meals

1 The Purple Pig, Chicago [website]
This newish Chicago spot was recommended to me by my friend, Darren. I visited the city over the summer for Pitchfork, and I hit up The Purple Pig with four of my girlfriends. We sat outside on a gorgeous (and non-humid!) July night and enjoyed a seemingly never-ending selection of porky small plates. And wine, of course. Voted one of the best new restaurants by Bon Appétit this year, The Purple Pig was created by four big name Chicago chefs, including Top Chef Master, Tony Mantuano. Apparently, the spot's name comes from the legend that if a pig drinks a lot of wine, it turns purple. Two of my favorite dishes were the prosciutto bread balls and the fried pig's ear.

2 Paseo's, Seattle [website]

My friend Joe took me to Paseo's the first day I was in Seattle, and it was as glorious as he told me it would be. Caramelized onions. Jalapeños. Cilantro. Aioli. I mean, how many of my favorite ingredients can the Paseo peeps fit into one single sandwich? We got our Grilled Pork (the #1) and Cuban Roast (the #2) from the brightly-painted food stand and then ate at a picnic table by the water. Not bad, not bad at all.

3 Maya Cafe, St. Louis [website]

I cannot get enough of the tortilla soup at this Pan-Latin Maplewood restaurant. My God, this soup is seriously so different than anything I've ever tasted. The sour cream and cilantro garnishes on top make me so very happy. The last time I visited Maya Cafe was in October for a fun dinner with my best friends, Vanessa and Nikki. Nikki, a fellow (wannabe) foodie, concurred: this soup is the bomb-dot-com-backslash-it's-awesome. Plus, our waiter liked us enough to let us try the otherwise forbidden-to-patrons salsa verde the chef often whips up for the wait staff who dares to try it. Truth be told, it wasn't that hot. But, I have a crazy tolerance for heat. Besides, that's what the margaritas are for.

4 Serious Pie, Seattle [website]

When Joe and I were roommates, you could often find us on the couch, drinking wine, eating cheese, and watching shows like Top Chef, Iron Chef, No Reservations...you get the picture. Tom Douglas, a former judge on Top Chef, is the chef/restauranteur in Seattle that locals know by name. He has several spots in downtown Seattle, but we opted for Serious Pie. After a two hour wait (the restaurant seats fewer than one hundred people), we sat down to an amazing dinner of Seattle lager and good ol' pizza pie. The menu is ever-changing with options that reflect in-season ingredients. My springtime pie included dandelion greens and crème fraiche. Yum.

5 The Blue Door Pub, St. Paul [website]
Matt and I met our friend Lindsay here for lunch while we were visiting Minnesota for a college friend's wedding. Not totally sure where to eat, The Blue Door Pub was a risk that paid off. It's divey, and Otis Redding was playing when we walked in. So, it scored major points with me before I even looked at a menu. The spot is known for Juicy Blucys, hamburgers with the cheese stuffed inside the patty. Also, more importantly, tater tots come with. After we tried the infamous appetizer of Spam Bites (yes, you read that right - it's deep-fried cream cheese, pickle, and Spam), I opted for the Bangkok Blucy. The mozzarella was marinated in coconut milk before stuffed inside the patty and grilled. It was topped with pickled carrots, cucumbers, red onions, and ginger. It was served with a side of curry for dunking. It was spectacular.

6 Herbie's, St. Louis [website]

Matt and I feted our first anniversary on October 10th with a dinner at Chez Leon. But, we started the night with a drink and an appetizer at Herbie's. Located in the Central West End, Herbie's is dark and cozy, just the way I prefer a date night restaurant to be. For me, 2010 was the Year of the Oyster, and we ordered a half dozen on the half shell at Herbie's with a glass of champagne. They were served with the standard horseradish and cocktail sauce, but the champagne mignonette was absolutely lovely. It was a fabulous way to start our celebratory night.

7 Rooster, St. Louis [website]

I went through a crazy brunch phase last summer. Sure, I like breakfast as much or more than the average person, but my real mission was to determine what restaurant in St. Louis serves the best bloody mary. You see, I am borderline obsessed with them. Good news for me, the bloody mary menu at Rooster is slightly out of control. (There are eleven different kinds). After much research, I have to say, Rooster is the realest of deals. Even though you leave the restaurant smelling like a crepe, this spot wasn't picked by Food Network Magazine as the best breakfast in Missouri for nothin'.

8 Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis [website]
If I made this list every year for a decade, Sidney Street would undoubtedly show up every time. I've been going to this Benton Park restaurant annually for the last ten years with Matt and his family, always at the onset of the holiday season. Each year, my father-in-law has to make our reservation a little earlier. I'm talking in August or September. That's how popular Sidney Street is. If I were on death row and had to pick a final appetizer, it would be Sidney Street's veal dumpling. No question. The blue cheese tart is also amazing. As is the lobster turnover.

9 Brasserie, St. Louis [website]
Gerard Craft, a 2008 Food & Wine Best New Chef, is the talk of the town these days, right? I've eaten at Niche, I've sipped at Taste, but Brasserie blessed me with one of my favorite meals of 2010. I'm a sucker for french fries. I mean, who doesn't like a massive pile of fried carbohydrates? More specifically, who doesn't like them stacked right next to a mountain of mussels blanketed with white wine, herbs, and crème fraiche? Sure, French food is heavy, but I've never been happier to leave a restaurant with a new food baby to call my own.

10 Rainforest Hideaway, St. Lucia [website]
This is hands-down the most beautiful restaurant I've ever seen. Located in Marigot Bay, the only way to actually get to Rainforest Hideaway is by boat. Matt and I were seated at a table at the end of a pier jutting out over turquoise water so clear that we could watch the fish scurry about. And this was at night. I distinctly remember my scallops with a lime-coconut sauce as one of the best seafood dishes I've ever had. This was more than a meal; it was an experience. I would recommend Rainforest Hideaway again and again and again... It was definitely a highlight of our honeymoon.

Best Recipes
The following ten were definitely my go-to recipes this year. I've made all of them multiple times. I even have several of them memorized at this point.

PS - I purposely picked recipes that did not appear in my blog post about my favorite fall dishes. But, if you're in want of another batch of tried and true yumminess, click thisaway.

1 Crab Rangoon Dip with Won Ton Chips [recipe]
2 Sun-Dried Tomato Dip [recipe]
3 Creamy Red Pepper Soup [recipe]
4 Beef, Watercress, and Peach Salad [recipe]
5 Roasted Artichoke Salad [recipe]
6 Baked Shrimp Scampi [recipe]
7 Old Fashioned Meat Loaf [recipe]
8 Fresh Corn Salad [recipe]
9 Mac and Cheese [recipe]
10 Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries [recipe]

the best of 2010: music

2010-12-29T12:27:00.001-06:00

In an effort to be green and further cushion my free time, my Best of 2010 mix is now available for download (unless you have already received the rare physical copy).

I helped corral the list of Speakers in Code's Top 100 Songs and Top 50 Albums of 2010 already, but these, my friends, are my personal favorites.

You have seven days to download the mix. Seven days, MacGruber!

Side A [download]

1 Beach House - Used To Be

2 April Smith and the Great Picture Show - Colors

3 Cotton Jones - Somehow To Keep It Going

4 Local Natives - World News

5 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

6 The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

7 Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill

8 Futurebirds - Yur Not Ded

9 Common Prayer - Sara G

10 The Mynabirds - Numbers Don't Lie

Side B [download]

11 Mimicking Birds - Burning Stars

12 Peter Wolf Crier - Crutch & Cane

13 Future Islands - Tin Man

14 First Aid Kit - Tangerine

15 The Black Keys - Everlasting Light

16 Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

17 Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

18 Dr. Dog - Shadow People

19 LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean

playing board games with an octogenarian

2010-12-26T13:32:00.003-06:00

Over the years, my family's holiday traditions have drastically changed. That's mostly because I decided to go and get hitched, therefore inheriting a whole new family with whom to celebrate special days, most of which center somehow around Jesus.

Yet, despite the evolving dates, locations, and times of festive gatherings, one thing is for sure: we will play board games. Oh yes, we will play board games.

Now, we have to be very careful when we open ourselves up to the terrifying world that is family competition. Whether or not a friendly game of Pictionary or Scattergories turns venomous hinges on one very important question: how much wine have we consumed? Last year, a seemingly auspicious round of Catchphrase resulted in someone (not to be named) breaking down in tears after that same someone (again, not to be named) deduced that no one wanted to be on his/her team. Also, I think the word "asshole" was used.

The other critical factor, well, person, we have to watch out for is my eighty-six year old grandmother. When the mood strikes her, by George, she wants to play board games. If it were up to her, we'd conduct a rousing round of Rummy or join in for a game or two of Skip-Bo (which for some reason she incorrectly pronounces as "Skiboo"). But, we usually subject her to a more modern cast of characters: Taboo, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium...

So, yesterday, we played Apples to Apples for the first time together. Matt and are used to playing to the judges, gunning for laughs instead of opting for common sense, picking the most ironic or ridiculous cards to throw down. Of course, "Walter Cronkite" is the best card I can play for "angelic." For sure, "gas station bathroom" is the most appropriate card for "sparkling." This type of thinking often works well among our group of caustically witted friends.

Last night, we had to rethink our strategy for my more literal-minded family members (who, in their defense, were also newbies to the game). It made sense to play "underdogs" for "phenomenal" when my brother, John, was the judge. It also made sense to play "Barry Manilow" for "therapeutic" when my mom, Jude, was making the call. However, the mystery of my grandma's (non-existent) strategy quickly became apparent.

For instance, why in the world would Bena overlook "piano lessons" for "serene?" She was the biggest fan of my impromptu (and completely forced) after-dinner recitals. She begged me not to give up the piano when I got to high school and more important extracurriculars called my name. My music provided her hours upon hours of peace and calm! Do you know what she instead picked for "serene?" THE DARK AGES. Yup.

The funniest part of playing Apples to Apples with Bena is hearing her talk through her choices as judge. Mumbling under her breath, she wholeheartedly tried to make sense of Tokyo's dependability and the tambourine's effervescence. She whispered phrases to herself such as, "Well, I know it's not this one" and "It just can't be that" as if there's a solution, a definitively right answer. God love her.

And, cut to my last turn as judge. The word: "yummy." My most favorite thing my husband's ever done: lay down the card "octogenarian." I laughed, and I laughed, and I laughed until tears of utter delight ran down my cheeks. Matt had to leave the room because of his uncontrollable cackling.

It was not-so-private jesting (and, by that, I mean everyone except Bena caught on) that solidified the 2010 Christmas Board Games would end not in disaster but in something much better: the collective appreciation of my grandmother's willingness to play along and unknowingly be the butt of a warmhearted joke.

bienvenido a miami

2010-12-16T22:35:00.005-06:00

Last weekend, my family packed its bags and headed to sunny Miami for my cousin Dara's wedding. It was a welcome relief from the tremendous cold that Saint Louis experienced that weekend. We enjoyed 80 degree weather while having lunch (and many Coronas) right near the water. Saint Louis ~~enjoyed~~ suffered lows in the single digits and its first real snow storm.

This was our view of Biscayne Bay. Not too shabby, eh? What made it even more satisfying was knowing my poor, frantic students were sitting in a classroom creating study guides for final exams.

While the sunshine was absolutely fantastic on my baboon heart, of course, the real reason we were in town was to celebrate Dara and her new husband, Craig.

The Friday night rehearsal dinner was held at her father's house. Yummy sangria, delicious paella, and without a doubt, hands down the best key lime pie I've ever had were on the menu. Guests mingled around the pool, and as predicted by everyone near the beginning of the event, it claimed a victim before the night was over: my little five year old cousin, Sophia.

The wedding on Saturday was held at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, and the backdrop was absolutely stunning. A small lake reflected palm trees that stood proudly on the bank. The weather could not have been more perfect. Dara herself was a stunning bride, and Craig was very handsome, but really, who can resist my freakin' adorable little cousins?

Olivia and Maddie...

Miss Sophia...

Maddie and Emily...

Miss Olivia...

The reception was gorgeous, decorated with peacock feathers and candlelight. Our dancing was non-stop, and I give major props to Dara and Craig for playing a little Billy Ocean. It was great to spend quality time with my parents, brother, grandma, husband, cousins, aunts, and uncles in Miami. But, all good things must come to an end.

I intelligently wore flats without socks on the plane ride home. Obviously, I was also winter coat-less. Let's just say arriving back in Saint Louis was a rude awakening. As soon as I walked through the door at home, I took my computer to the bedroom and began writing a final exam. Work, work, work...

So, all I really have left of our brief Miami trip is fond memories and exactly one zillion no-see-um bites. But, it was so fun while it lasted.

christmas crafting

2010-12-07T21:48:00.003-06:00

It's not an exaggeration that I nerd out in dramatic fashion once Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season officially begins. And, I've noticed, as I grow older, the time I spend tying the perfect bow, testing new cookie recipes, and handcrafting home decor increases exponentially. I think there's a mathematical function involved somewhere. I'm sure of it.

So, it's freezing outside, have you noticed? As if I don't hibernate at my homestead on weeknights as it is, the frigid temperatures pretty guarantee a leather indentation in my couch (noticeably shaped like my derrière). I keep myself busy indoors, music blogging, grading papers, or watching The Real Housewives of Friggin' Timbuktu. However, tonight called for experimentation on the crafting front.

I took a stab at a (who else?) Martha Stewart craft project: Holiday Card Wreaths. I found the idea in this year's December edition of Martha Stewart Living (yes, I bought it, don't judge me).

Since I never really know how to appropriately display the holiday cards we receive each year (besides putting them in a basket), I think these wreaths are a great way to make seasons greetings part of our traditional Christmas decorations. And, we also get to look at the happy faces of our friends and family all throughout the day. Bonus.

I decided to expand the project and make multiple holiday card wreaths to take up space on an otherwise blank(ish) patch of wall.

Holiday Card Wreaths

What you need:
1. A variety of different sized wooden embroidery hoops
2. Wood/craft glue
3. Miniature clothespins
4. Ribbon
5. Hot glue gun
6. Tape measure

Steps:
1. Use a tape measure to mark off 1" segments around the circumference of each hoop.

2. Undo the embroidery ring and thread your cut ribbon through.

3. Fold each end about 1/4" and hot glue down to create a smooth edge. Then, hot glue the ends together, one overlapping the other. Tighten the screw of the hoop.

4. Decide at what intervals you'd like to glue your clothespins. For my 12" hoop, I glued them every two inches.

5. Squeeze out a tiny dot of glue at every interval you'd like a clothespin. Carefully put a clothespin in each dot, and be sure to alternate the way the pin faces. That way, your holiday cards can be displayed both inside and outside the hoop.

6. Let the glue dry overnight for the best results.

7. To hang, use a nail through only one side of the ribbon.

Now I just need to get a few more cards in the mail to really make this display full. Hint, hint!

sandwich hugs

2010-12-02T19:03:00.001-06:00

A few weekends ago, I took pictures of this gorgeous and oh-so sweet family. Mom and dad, Jane and David, and their two little girls, Tierney and Harper, melted my heart with their sandwich hugs (one of my own dad's personal favorite loving gestures), group sing-a-longs, and constant kisses.

Tierney provided me a vast variety of facial expressions, but I really like this shy look.

I loved catching this adorable moment: Harper and her daddy holding hands.

I am confident that someday, Tierney will be famous for her big smile.

Harper found the prime real estate in the corner of her house, and then gave us a look of "You can't get me!"

The best part of shooting Mom, Dad, and the girls was that I got a big hug from Tierney after we finished. I had a blast!

gobble, gobble!

2010-11-30T22:50:00.001-06:00

Now that I'm finally out of persuasive research paper rough draft hell, I had to show you these pictures of the adorable cookies I made with my mom and Abbie the night before Thanksgiving. I think we've found a new tradition to replace the former escapades of Wacky Wednesday. I am thirty (almost thirty-one!) after all.

I found the original recipe on Betty Crocker online, but we went ahead and used our favorite sugar cookie recipe. The other ingredients include chocolate spreadable icing, candy corn, green M&Ms, and black icing gel.

And below is what happens when my silly mother lets loose with the cookie decorating. I think it has something to do with Jude being left handed. Anyway, my dad dubbed this turkey "The Cosmo Kramer."

Save the recipe for next year, folks. Even though they appear startled (and what turkey wouldn't be on Thanksgiving?), they are almost too cute to be eaten.

baby andrew

2010-11-21T10:55:00.002-06:00

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of taking pictures of baby Andrew. Only ten days old, Andrew was wide-eyed and wrinkly, the perfect little newborn. Mom and dad are, of course, smitten, and they are quickly learning about what makes baby Andrew happy (and not so happy).

So, he prefers lying on his side to lying on his tummy. We worked around his demands! And now, I'm excited to show you five of my favorites from the day.

These are little Andrew's oh-so cute feet in dad's hands.

Of course, we had to photograph him on his favorite quilt, a gift from a special family member.

Andrew's nursery was filled with bright, stimulating colors.

This blanket made me want one of my own; it was ridiculously soft and cozy. We bundled Andrew up and made sure to get a shot of his name embroidered on the front.

I told you he was wide-eyed! Andrew's huge eyes are the loveliest color of blue.

Thanks to baby Andrew for enduring my paparazzi lens, mere inches from his face for an entire hour! Mom and dad are very blessed to have this sweet little guy in their lives.