Sunday, November 30, 2008

O Christmas Tree

One of my favorite days of the year
is the day where I get to decorate the Christmas Tree.

And each year I purchase a new ornament.
This year it was the green pigeon (shown above).
I bought three of them to place on my tree.
I am so in love with them.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Now a Tradation



I do believe that this is now a tradition.
Not only for our Sunday Game Nights with the Smith's....
but for family holidays as well.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Day Four

On the fourth day of Thanksgiving
my family and I had.....


The traditional Thanksgiving brunch
with the traditional family "Tea Ring".....


then a traditional Thanksgiving Turkey dinner
(it was a 22lb'er)....

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Day Three

On the third day of Thanksgiving
my family and I had...


a birthday party for Jericho.
Happy 3 years!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Day Two

On the second day of Thanksgiving
my family and I made....


Alfredo Pasta with Lobster
Burschetta
Salad


I don't have the recipe because Tiffany and Marlene made it.
But I can tell you that it was amazing.


Jericho


Then we played a family favorite....
Hand and Foot

Monday, November 24, 2008

Day One

On the first day of Thanksgiving
my family and I made.......


Pot Roast with Button Mushrooms

Ingredients

1 (3 to 4-pound) boneless chuck roast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion wedges
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 bay leaves
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup red wine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup beef broth

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the salt and pepper to a small bowl. Rub seasoning into the roast on both sides. Heat oil in a large skillet and brown the roast, searing it on both sides. Place the meat in a roaster pan. Add onions and garlic to skillet for 1 to 2 minutes to absorb leftover roast juice. Place into roaster pan with meat and bay leaves.

Combine the mushroom soup, wine, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth into a bowl.
Pour over the roast.

Cover pan with foil and bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until tender.
Add the button mushrooms about 1 hour before the roast is done.



Thursday, November 20, 2008

Hey Jude

More reasons
why
I love
photography.







These photos were take by Jude McConkey.
I absolutely love her haunting style.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Lost

Lately I have been somewhat lost.
Lost in wondering why the Fall seemed to fly by so quickly.
But with my days being swept up by the stresses of work
and the preparations for Thanksgiving,
I have been able to....

almost finish this book....
















dream of living on a houseboat...
(is this not the most wonderful living space ever?
I found it via her blog)




















cook meatloaf for the first time
(which made my husband very happy).....

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck)
2 cups cooked stuffing, roughly chopped
1 large egg, beaten
Kosher salt and black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 deg.
Combine beef, stuffing ,egg, and seasoings.
Bake for 45 minutes.



be introduced to the most wonderful snack ever.....






and have a much needed date night with Micah
(guess where we went to hang out).

Saturday, November 8, 2008

3 Days


I started this book on Wednesday......
And finished it on Friday.

That should tell you how good it is.

Thus, today I had to make a run to the bookstore to buy book #2 of this series.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Ersy find

If you have never been to the online shop Etsy,
then you really need to check it out.
Just think of Ebay, but 100x's better.

I found the artist:
Tina Tarnoff
selling her work on the etsy site.

Here are a few of my favorites...





I just think her work is so beautiful.

Wassenaar 01

If you are in the mood to check out
some captivating photography,
go to this link:

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I have a confession to make... I am obsessed with Giada.
You know, the Italian chef that has a bizzilion cookbooks
and about a dozen TV shows on the Food Network.
Well, Micah bought me one of her cookbooks last year....
and that is when the obsession started.
I love almost everything she makes.

So here is a recipe that I cooked last night.

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

40 degrees with a Coffee in my Hand.













So the weather this week has made a turn for the worst?
No....for the better!

So here are a few of my ultimate favorite Coffee recipes
that can be enjoyed on cold days like this.


Creme Brulee
:
12 oz of steamed milk
1 oz of white chocolate sauce
1/2 oz of Italian eggnog syrup (Torani syrup)
1/2 oz of Caramel syrup
1 shot of espresso

Caramel Coconut:
12 oz steamed milk
1 oz caramel sauce
1/2 oz coconut syrup
1 shot of espresso

Divinity:
12 oz steamed milk
1/2 oz of hazelnut syurp
1/2 oz of almond syrup
1 shot of espresso


Now you can go to your local coffee shop
and enjoy a hot cup on a cold day.


* picture was taken on my previous pictures day with Kath.


Monday, November 3, 2008

Dreamy Drawings

Once again I was just surfing the blogging waves
when I came across this artist:

Ordinary Forest









They remind me of paper dolls that I use to play with as a kid.

Are you board......

and in need of some amusement?
then go check out this blog.....
go fug yourself

it's just pure entertainment.