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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Rough weekend, great food

So it was a fabulous weekend until my Dancing with the Stars partner proceeded to drop me and I broke both wrists.  Amazing all the good food my friends have been dropping off today.  Tonight was corn, cauliflower, butternut squash soup from Ruth and Matt.  Thanks, guys!  Love you!


Monday, October 12, 2015

Feast revisited...

One of my favorite lunch spots in Charlottesville is a special little place called Feast.  Love to recreate my favorite sandwich, rosemary ham shaved super thin, goat cheese, arugula, spicy plum chutney on ciabatta bread and toasted....melt in your mouth awesome!  Paired with nice wine...what could be better?



Bon appetit!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Happy birthday, Henry!!!!!!

OK, so today was my brother in law's birthday and he wasn't here to celebrate, so I cooked an awesome meal for him and had Matthew and Ruth over to enjoy in his absence.  Once again, Yotam Ottolenghi pulls out a winner (or two)!  His cookbook, Plenty More, is a vegetarian orgy and the pictures are beautiful enough to make you want to never eat meat again.  Tonight's fare consisted of Tart Apple and Celery Root Salad which had a pungent, sweet-and-sour taste....very crisp and yummy!  Followed by a fabulous main course of Legume Noodle Soup which is an Iranian derivitive of a Persian dish.  It is touted as "the Iranian answer to minestrone", but again I say, "the peasants sure eat well in other countries!"  However, it is interesting to me that something labeled as peasant food requires nothing short of 19 ingredients.  Suffice it to say I went to the store three times during the two day course of making this meal.  It was well worth it and I will definitely be making this again!  Chickpeas, lima beans, split peas, turmeric, spinach, lots of fresh spices, linguine, sour cream, lime.....interesting combinations that all work very well together.  Happy birthday, Henry!  We all had seconds in your honor!  Hugs!!!!!!!




Saturday night southern style

Made a recipe my sister in law, Karla, shared with me years ago.  Pork chops in gravy, sour cream and french fried onions....Southern comfort food that really sticks to your ribs. Roasted new potatoes and wax beans rounded out the meal. Had Jay over to enjoy as his wife is in the middle of a corporate relocation and he hasn't had many home cooked meals in a while.  The air was crisp and the kitchen smelled good.  I so love this time of year and the warm soups and stews, etc.  Life is soooo good!!!!!

Friday night fun!!!

After work drinks with the girls....headed to The Quarter downtown, a Cajun restaurant, and had the spiciest, best Bloody Mary ever!!!!!!!  All future Bloody Marys will certainy pale in comparison, which is the problem once you have had the best!  Glass was rimmed with Old Bay, cayenne pepper, and who knows what else...but my mouth was super happy (and, as a bonus, my sinuses were super clear!).

Then headed to Cafe Asia with Kevin for some rocking awesome sushi and some yummy Pho Soup.  Always good!  Perfect way to end one week and start a weekend!  Cheers!!!!!!



Butternut squash thai soup

Loved this yummy concoction of butternut squash, mushrooms, red peppers, coconut milk, limes.....not what I would have thought to mix together, but very tasty.  Kevin found this recipe in the paper and did the shopping so I was happy to comply.  Sometimes I just need a little inspiration....