Kale
Kale is cool to put in my Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup! I should make a post with photos and the recipe next time because its really good! (Italian sausage + bacon + cream, can’t go wrong there!)
Inside My Bathroom Drawer
Some of the essentials for Diane’s daily routine.
Breaking Down the Wall
Contractors came in today to break down the wall and put up french doors to connect our two offices. It was really loud and noisy at times and i even saw sparks flying at certain points! The door is up now, just have to get a photo of it once its all finished with framing. They guys are laughing in the photo, saying it better not end up on YouTube. Apparently, they dont know anything about YouTube as this a photo not a video! So no worries guys, you aren’t on YouTube. Just my lonely blog.
Henrietta Sleeps
Lara pointed out that Henry is actually a girl… so may i present to you… Henrietta. Her usual routine is to come visit us in the morning then be on her way, but today she hung around all day. At around 2 in the afternoon she took a really long nap and i had to wake her up and kick her out of the office to lock up! She found Lara’s chair to be exceptionally comfy.
Patti Visits
Patti came and visited us today! She lives, and has been living, down in San Diego for over a year now with her husband Chris. She comes back up here every month for her Army Reserve work. She made the time to see us even though her visit was short. Shout out to Patti! She reads our blog. Though… does not comment… err… We still love you. =)
Taking the Last Bite
Tried something new for dinner tonight — portobello mushrooms with balsamic vinegar. On the side, mashed potatoes with loads of butter and green beans and bacon! What a treat. Usually when Jeff and i sit down to eat a meal, Jeff eats twice as fast as me — when he is done with his meal, i am half way done. But tonight for whatever reason, when i checked how far along he was while we were eating, i noticed we both had exactly the same amount of bites left. Two green beans, a piece of mushroom and a dollop of potatoes. A rare moment! I know, exciting stuff.
Pan-Seared Portobello Mushrooms
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup of beef broth or water
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp sherry
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp dried basil (or handful fresh leaves, chopped)
2 portobello mushrooms, bottoms removed
a little sea salt (sprinkle on the mushrooms)
Directions:
1. You’ll need a skillet that can hold both mushrooms side-by-side
2. Line your fryer with a thin layer of the broth
3. Saute shallot and onion for 2 minutes, high heat
4. Once boiling, add vinegar, sherry and spices; reduce to medium
5. Add another 1/4 cup of broth and bring to a boil
6. Add mushrooms, cover and cook 5 minutes
7. Flip mushrooms over, add more broth if needed, cook 5 more minutes
8. Repeat if necessary; cook until mushrooms are soft/tender
9. Remove mushrooms from skillet (plate them)
10. Add remaining brother and boil
11. Use liquid as a glaze/gravy; pour overtop mushrooms
A messy stove when we cook! The end product look pretty gross but tastes super savory!
PB & J Toast
I’ve recently migrated from a daily bowl of high-fiber cereal and soymilk to a peanut butter and jelly toast for breakfast ever since winter came and blueberries were hard to come by. I just couldn’t enjoy eating a bowl of cereal without the yummy tart berries swimming amongst the clusters of grain. Also, i’ve been waking up a lot later than normal and eating a piece of toast in the car is a lot easier than slurping cereal from a bowl when i am making my morning commute to San Juan Bautista. I use whole wheat bread toppped with reduced fat Jif peanut butter and Safeway’s Organic Raspberry jam.
Orzo Lunch
Made and packed some Orzo-Radicchio Pasta for lunches for the rest of the week. Mmmm, good. Though kinda leaves your breath stinky. Has raw garlic in it!
Butters and the Chip Bag
Butters like to eat chips, just like his owner. Though he has to go to farther lengths to get some. Risks include being forever trapped inside an empty chip bag.
Junk Mail Fun
Junk mail sux. Yes, i let my subscription to “Real Simple” expire. No, I don’t need a bajillion notices to renew.
Somehow this seems like an empty threat… i am sure you WILL notify me again sometime.