Ithaca, Oneonta, Sandy and Dee's

A lot has been going on in the past few weeks:

Michael and I went to Ithaca to bring Kaa to his new home.  Very successful endeavor. He's already shed and eaten in his new home!

While visiting with Margo and Mike we went to an Oktoberfest of sorts on the Commons.  There were vendors with local beer and wine and food.  We drank a bit from here and there, then walked over to the Bangwagon Pub (http://www.bandwagonbeer.com/index.html) for a late lunch/early dinner.  Their friend Doug joined us too.  We had:  Spanakopita, Ginger-scallion-pork dumplings, Shrimp bisque, Chipotle chicken sandwich and Beer battered catfish.  Two flights of beer and a raspberry-jalapeno beer too.  All was good and company better!

We strolled the Commons afterwards and found a new store:  F. Oliver's (http://folivers.com/). They sell oils and vinegars and none of the stuff that detracts from their products like soap and candles.  Wow!  The people that work there were wonderful.  Helpful, friendly, funny and kind.  They have more than 40 kinds of oils and vinegars and we tried many.  You can sample whatever you like.  We especially loved the Sweet Rich Cherry dark balsamic vinegar and the Fresh Pressed Meyer Lemon extra virgin olive oil.  Most bottles are $15 and there are also gift packages of 4 small bottles for $20.  We will be back!

We left Ithaca after a quick visit from Jesse :) and headed out early Sunday morning to Oneonta to visit with Sarah, Glenn, Eileen, Emily and Rich.  We had brunch at the Autumn Cafe (http://www.autumncafe.com/).  They have a great specials menu on a large blackboard.  We had:  Eggs Benedict, one with spinach and one with Canadian bacon; Blueberry pancakes; Challah french toast; tons of bacon, coffee and hot chocolate.  We had a great time with our closest friends!  We left soon afterwards hoping to avoid the beginning of Hurricane Sandy, and we were successful.

While we were home for the following week during and after Sandy, I cooked:  Chicken Cacciatore and turkey chili on Monday and Tuesday which we shared with Jill and Lenny.  Lamb chops on Wednesday and cutlets on Thursday.  We went out to dinner on Friday with Jill, Lenny and her sister Karen, who Michael referred to as "our sister in law" during introductions to Dee and Arman (very sweet).  We had brick oven pizza (yum), salad, fried calamari and artichoke-spinach dip, rosemary turkey burger, wine and cocktails and a big ass margarita for Michael.  So fun!

Saturday night we had Glenn and Eileen over for dinner.  They have been without electricity since Sandy.  They were so sick of pizza and take out so they were happy to eat:  Prime rib roast; rigatoni with pink sauce and peas and mesclun salad with goat cheese, beets and bacon in a Dijon vinaigrette.  More wine, beer and scotch.  Cherry cheesecake and Pizza Crumb for dessert.  It was a great evening.  The 4 of us rarely spend time together. 

Sunday I made Jill's grandma's Jewish wedding soup.  Last night Michael had leftovers and tonight is chicken and string beans sauteed with soy, garlic and ginger.

And that's all folks!!!

Approaching Holidays

Jesse is home! Holidays are coming! Busy, busy, busy...

Can't say much about cooking lately. Made rosemary lamb chops, papardelle with mushrooms and Greek salad when my mother-in-law came for dinner the other night. Ordered pizza last night :) Tonight's plan (ha ha) is chicken sausage, rice and green beans.

Friday night, however, is a different story. Christmas Eve with the Figliolias and Wisners!!

Our menu is: (If you'd like to be surprised, skip the next paragraphs). Antipasti will include: Cheese board with Manchego, Ciao Angelo and Parmigiano-Reggiano with fig spread, honey, mustard and cornichons. Also, roasted tomatoes, marinated artichokes, olives and baguette and raisin-pumpernickel breads. Along with sauteed shrimp and chorizo.

Dinner is: Turkey lasagna (so all can eat it), Caesar salad, Linguine with white clam sauce, chicken cutlets, foccacia bread and a small baked ziti with no ricotta for Ian. Desert is: Apple and blueberry cobbler with caramel ice cream on the side, along with chocolate chip cookies.

I hope I didn't leave anything out...I am sure Michael will take photos for my next post.

I am making Michael's mom's recipe of sweet and sour meatballs for Christmas Day to take to Denise and Joe's along with a tray of Old Bay chicken wings.

Can't wait to celebrate! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Tonight, Tonight...

Tonight I made Frenched lamb chops with rosemary on the grill. Everyone loved them! Also made creamed spinach...likewise...a hit. And with the water that I blanched the spinach in, I made soup.

Now I am doing all of the laundry on Ryan's floor so Margo can function with him tomorrow and finish packing.

PS: Jesse came over for dinner and it was great to see him smile and laugh and eat. He even mentioned that his overly long math class was only on Thursdays and he could deal with it!

Beach this weekend...

Better Late Than Never

The blueberry buttermilk pancakes are from yesterday. Holy Shit, Amazing! Make them now!!! (link to recipe)

The shrimp saganaki is from tonight. Holy Shit, Amazing, Make it now!!! (link to recipe)

The following are past due:
Lamb chops and risotto:

Pork chops with peppers and onions:

Tomorrow night I am ordering pizza. Why, you may ask? It is senior awards night at Forest Hills High School and my boy is receiving an award. Really!!! I am also distributing the Parents Association awards for senior scholarship essays.

Good stuff!

A Few Days Late...

I have no idea where I've been. Please excuse the slacking off :)

Last week there was Risotto Bianco and rosemary lamb chops. Michael has photos he will place here later, but I can't remember the rest of the week. I was busy and stressed.

Yes, me stressed. I took the Department of Education Secretary Test. I drove to Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, actually found a spot on the street. From arrival to conclusion, I was there about 2 hours. I had practiced my steno (actually my very own scribbled version) for 2 weeks prior.

Who dictates letters anymore? It's completely outdated (sounds just like the DOE). Anyway, it's not so easy to listen to someone speak at 70 words per minute, write it all down (no you cannot type it while they speak-would be MUCH easier), then type it back perfectly in business letter format using WordPad (a minor and limited version of Word).

Additionally, I had to copy a Teacher Observation Report (not difficult) and re-type a hand written letter with all corrections made (not difficult either).

Hopefully after the stress (certainly gone now), and the driving to Brooklyn, I can peacefully wait EIGHT weeks to find out if I passed. Then I only need to find a school with openings.

Friday night we went with the Wisners, Spilkes and Judy to Dirty Pierre's. They have very good mussels, and their fries were right on the money. Judy and I had Black Bean Soup and Goat Cheese Salad (Jill too). Lisa had portobello mushrooms with mozzarella, Lenny a burger and Michael had the Jerk Chicken. No idea what Evan had, sorry. My glass of Cabernet was GROSS and they won't make pitchers of Margaritas. But otherwise it was good and fun!

Saturday we opened our cabana at Silverpoint, came home and ordered pizza and salad from D'Angelo's on 108th Street. Yum!

Last night I made Rigatoni with sopressatta, calamata olives and basil in a milled tomato sauce. Michael and I liked it, Jesse did not. Can't win all the time....

Tonight will be pork chops with charred peppers and salad with Green Goddess dressing (who remembers that one)? It was my mom's favorite when we lived in California.

Don't know about Tuesday and Wednesday yet. But Thursday, Jesse and I are driving back to Ithaca so he can make his college advisor appointment on Friday morning. Then we'll drive back afterwards.

And Mother's Day with the Figliolias!

xo

W and TH

Wednesday night dinner was on the table at 7 (as usual). We began with Garlic Soup, then added broiled rosemary frenched lamb chops and creamed spinach. Soup was great! I don't eat lamb (but Michael and Jesse like it very much) and creamed spinach, frozen, from Seaboook Farms is just what you thought it would be :)

Thursday was uneventful, but good, as we had Penne ala Vodka and spinach (fresh this time) with garlic and oil on the side.

Tonight, however, I may be giving Jill a fresh pasta making lesson. We'll see how that turns out :) I am sure wine will be involved, at least making it all humorous.

Have a nice weekend.