Weekend Round-up

nice weekend, over too quickly. Full of friends, food, flowers, food...and some more food.

Friday night I had 2 lovely, lovely girls to my home for dinner. I was one of their Community Group leaders for a long time and have seen them grow into beautiful, mature Christ loving women. All 3 of us have had hard years so we ate good food (basil pesto and pork tenderloin, preceded by Mark Bittman's Rosemary-Lemon White bean dip. It was delicious, healthy and so easy), and talked and lamented and laughed. I loved it.



Saturday started at Pepper Place, my favorite summer activity. It is berry season in Alabama and I bought some big, juicy Blackberries as well as peaches and blueberries. Berry season makes summer in Alabama worth the heat...almost! Spent a few hours working for our One Day Sale, which was not as bad as I thought it would be. How can it be bad when I am surrounded by books?

Saturday night found Amanda and I cooking yet another recipe from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper (highly recommended); Salmon Pan Roast with Garlic Shavings and Basil on Fresh Greens and Warm White Bean Salad with Fragrant Garlic and Rosemary. Oh. My. Goodness. It was delicious. Both having purchased new SLR cameras with our incentive money, we walked to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to practice a bit. It was a humid night when the greens are so green and the colors pop. Took some good shots I think. Finished the night with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream (good despite the fact that the peaches tasted a bit like garlic having been cut on the same cutting board...oops).



Sunday started having brunch with a new friend at my favorite place, Chez Lulu. He and I talked about food and books and Southern culture. Had the brunch special (Ham and Brie cheese Strata beside garlic cheese grits and fresh fruit) and ordered both Blackberry and Blueberry pies. the best in town in my opinion. Go get some quick-the blackberry pie is around for a very limited time. As in, this batch of blackberries and that's it. I may go back this week for more! Spent the rest of the day napping and hanging out.



I should be at church right now, but I am not. I am not sure why I am so reticent to go these days. Maybe the fact that everyone knows me and my story? Lately I find myself yearning for anonymity. The past 3 years have been painful and that is no secret at church, as much of the pain has had to do with the church and it's members. I know that is what happens when you live in Community, but I am not loving it right now. I am hopeful that this is a stage and I will be back soon. I have gone and left so many times recently that I am sure noone is surprised!



well, the first weekend of summer was a success. I hope that yours was as well.

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you

That REO Speedwagon song has been in my head for days. Strange!

Thanks for all of the kind notes and calls and emails the past few days. I didn't realize that post sounded so sad. That was not my intention, but so be it.

Well, I decided it was time for action. This little funk seems to have settled it's happy ass down and decided to stay for a visit. One things i have learned over the past few years is this- "Fake it till you make it". In other words, do things that you used to enjoy and maybe eventually you will enjoy them again. I am not going to go around smiling and denying that I am unhappy, but I am also not going to give in and go to bed.

Last night I cooked dinner for a 2 close friends and enjoyed their company. I tried not to beat myself up that I had not gone to get drinks with other friends who had invited me. Cooking was good for me, as was some gardening and taking photographs. After dinner, we made butter! I have been wanting to do this for a while, so John decided to teach me (it involves a lot of shaking and some dancing and laughing). Let me tell you, homemade butter is awesome. Creamy and light. I had it on toast for breakfast and was happy.

This weekend I am going canoeing again, something that is very life giving to me. The water, the sun, the trees, using my muscles...I love it. I never used to be an 'outdoorsy' person, but this year I am discovering my inner naturalist and athelete! I am also hoping to have another friend for dinner and beer and laughing.

And The Beatles are helping as well. and Wilco. And Feist. Tristan and J Mraz. G Love. Good, happy summertime music. Well, Wilco Sky Blue Sky isn't happy, but comforting.

These things may not make the sadness go away, but at least it will make it bearable. I don't want to have a year pass me by in a grief induced stupor. My life is different now, but it is still my life. Incoporating the grief into my life seems to be the key to survival. Don't deny it, but don't make a bed for it to sleep in either.

I am sure there will be lots of pictures coming up. I have a few of the butter churning that I need to put up. I am not sure making butter has ever been so physical or hysterical!

Sweet Potato Pie and shut my mouth

I think that's how it goes...

This weekend at Pepper place, I spied some beautiful, HUGE sweet potatoes. I have been getting them in my veggie box for about a month now. A girl can only eat so much candied sweet potatoes, so today I am giving you my new favorite sweet potato recipe:

Sweet Potato Pecan Risotto

(from Southernfood.about.com)

I served this as a main dish with a side of green beans, but would also make a great side dish to pork or a juicy steak. Need big flavor to pair with this one.

INGREDIENTS:

* 4 tablespoons butter
* 2 tablespoons minced shallots (I used spring onions)
* 1 medium sweet potato, cut in small dice, about 8 ounces or 2 cups
* 1/3 cup chopped pecans
* 2 to 3 cups vegetable broth ( I used homemade...always better)
* 1 cup Arborio rice (about 6 to 7 ounces)
* salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion tops or fresh parsley

PREPARATION:
Heat 3 cups of vegetable broth to the boiling point; reduce heat to the lowest setting to keep hot.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter; add minced shallot and pecans; cook until shallot is tender. Add rice and cook, stirring, until well blended. Stir in sweet potato. Stir about 3/4 cup of the hot broth into the rice mixture.

Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding liquid, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup at a time, stirring frequently, until the rice and sweet potato are tender (not overly soft). The texture should be creamy a little loose. This will take about 25 minutes and about 2 to 3 cups of broth. Stir in Parmesan cheese and green onion or parsley, then taste and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Serves 3 to 4.



Delicious. As it is Risotto, it is a little labor intensive, but well worth it. I always think of sweet potatoes as a fall food, but this makes it taste perfectly springlike.




Bon Appetit!

Weekend round-up

This weekend round-up is going to be a bit redundant, as I've blogged a bit this weekend.

Friday night, I did what I do almost every Friday night. Not a thing. I came home, ate and took a little nap. Awoke and putzed around the house, showered a read until bed at midnight. This is my little routine on Fridays and I find myself looking forward to it starting every Wednesday.

Saturday I spent the day in Waverly, AL. See last post for more on this.

Sunday was a lovely, lovely day. Breakfast with a dear friend at V Richards. We normally only spend about 45min to an hour, but today it was nearly 2 hours. I sorely needed the encouragement and fellowship. Thanks Charlotte. I came home, grabbed a blanket, book and glass of water and headed outside. I laid on the ground and perused the Times Book Review. After about an hour, I realized that the backs of my knees were sorely sunburned (oops) and I headed inside...to finish my nap. It was a heavenly rest with the breeze and the smell of fresh earth and the birds chirping. Next up was a grocery store bike ride, where I was nearly run over by the many, many, many people in my neighborhood for the Earth Day free admission to the Zoo and festival at the Botanical Gardens. I had planned on strolling over to the gardens later, and promptly decided that was a terrible idea.
I have found that a great way to talk to my neighbors is to park my bike somewhere. Everyone wants to talk about it, or reminisce about the time they rode a similar one, of how badly they want to start riding again. Today it was an older gentleman who told me that he belonged to, and helped start, the Birmingham Bike Club. He described the bike he used to ride (flown in from Japan!) and the good times the club had. He fondly recalled the picture that the inagural group took and described it to me in painstaking detail. It was certainly a refreshing, surprising conversation for a balmy Sunday afternoon.
Went to church and was again delighted at how at home I feel. It is such a gift. Scott K. gave a great sermon and music was, as always, inspiring and worshipful.
Home to cook. Sat down on the kitchen floor, with NPR's The Splendid Table podcast (a Sunday night ritual) playing and cookbooks spread around me. I decided what to cook for dinner (summer squash), and blanched some green beans to make a green bean salad in the morning. I love looking through each cookbook and seeing what strikes my fancy. Today it was Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan as well as Provence: The beautiful cookbook. Both highlight the flavor of vegetables with simple preparation. Planned some meals for the week, ate the one prepared tonight and dreamed of a trip to Italy. Instead of Italy, I opted to do laundry. What an exciting life I lead! Just like those single women on Sex and the City...or the complete opposite.

Well, off to read Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt:The River Run (do you sense a theme in my life?!). I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable weekend. Sweet Dreams.

Cooking the heart

It is amazing how much food and cooking go along with life. What I mean is, how cooking a certain meal can make you feel great, or feel gross, or feel guilty, or whatever other feelings you feel while eating. Food invokes emotion. I can't eat a quesadilla without thinking about my Abuelita, or sausage without thinking of dad, and Rice pilaf of Mom and holiday meals. It is nearly impossible to eat a crawfish without reminiscing about childhood crawfish boils (my first memory) and beer and sun in college.
Cooking denotes care as well. Soup when you are sick, a fancy meal for a special occasion, meals for new parents...we do it out of care. To nurture and love. Taking the time to prepare a meal for someone is giving a bit of yourself.
Lately I have turned to cooking as a time to slow down and rest. It has also been a wonderful comfort to me. Last weekend after a long week, Dad met me with a cooler full of crawfish. That night I sat at my table, paper towels nearby, beer in hand, G love playing as the skies dumped rain and the alarms sounded. It felt like home. All felt ok for the moment. The smell of a roasting chicken takes the sting out the phone call from Bed Bad and Beyond inquiring about your registry, and the zillionth email from Martha Stewart Wedding (btw, if you register anywhere they sell your name, so you get every wedding related thing ever. beware). Lunch of homemade risotto makes the windowless cubicle feel a bit more homey.

Such is the case today. I had a lovely day in Waverly at the Old 280 Boogie. I sat in the sun, drank beer, listened to music, hung out with friends and bought some T-shirts. My kind of day. As I was swaying my head to the beat, I saw Scott's brother, Jake and his girlfriend (fiance?) and his cousin. I was genuinely glad to see them so we chatted a bit and hugged a bit and laughed a bit. I told them the story of dancing with Scott in the Print shop last May, and wanting him to ask me on a date so badly. It was a nice surprise.

On the way home, sunburned and exhausted, I began to sadden. Scott and I planned to go to the festival this year, and we had such a fun time last time. At some point, we talked about how that night was the one that made us both really dig each other. The people I saw today were to be my family. So I got home, showered and headed to the kitchen. Dinner was (semi) Homemade spaghetti sauce with buffalo meat. Delicious and filling and comforting. Good, fresh ingredients and a tried and true recipe. It warmed me. My sadness has softened to a dull ache. Thankfully.

I will leave you with a recipe. This has been requested since I posted about it last week. It is a meal that was redemptive for me in so many ways, so seems fitting to post tonight, when I need reminding that God doesn't leave me.

Risotto with Fried Egg
from Apples for Jam

3 tablespoons butter ( I prefer unsalted)
4 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Shallots ( i used a 1/2 cup chopped white onion)
1 and 2/3 cup risotto rice
1/2 cup White Wine (I used White wine vinegar, and it was a bit tart, but the eggs help with that, as well as the cheese)
4 cups hot Vegetable Broth
Freshly grated nutmeg (didn't have so used Herbs deProvence)
Salt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Grana cheese
About 8 fresh sage leaves
4 eggs, at room temperature
Grated Parm cheese to serve
Freshly ground black pepper to serve

Heat half the butter and 2 tbs of oil in a heavy bottomed pan suitable for risotto ( I used a large saucepan). Saute the shallots over low heat until light gold and then stir in the rice with a wooden spoon. Stir for a few minutes to completely coat the rice and let it cook just a bit. Add the wine, and when it has evaporated, add all of the broth. Add a few good grinds of nutmeg and taste for salt (broth is probably seasoned enough). Simmer uncovered over high heat for about 15 minutes, or until the rice has completely absorbed much of the liquid (you will need to stand around stirring it pretty frequently). If it seems it needs a bit more liquid, add some hot water. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter and the Parmesan cheese. Taste for salt, adjusting if necessary. Leave with the lid on so that the steam continues to cook the rice.
Heat the remaining oil in a nonstick frying pan and briefly fry the sage leaves until crisp. Remove with tongs. Gently break the eggs into the pan and sprinkle a bit of salt on the yokes (I must recommend fresh farm eggs...there is really no better tasting, smoother egg). Cook until the edges of the white are a bit golden. Cover the pan with a lid and fry until yokes are just slightly opaque on the surface but still soft on the inside (they are best when the undersides are golden and a bit crisp).
Scoop the rice onto serving plates and top each serving with an egg and couple of sage leaves, being careful not to break the yoke. Serve with a sprinking of Parmesan and a few grinds of black pepper.

I served this with a side of asparagus and a few pieces of bacon. It was wonderful. Sweet, tart, salty, creamy. The Asparagus shined and the bacon was a wonderful, sweet counter to the tart risotto. Enjoy!

I need a little place in the sun sometimes

A visual of my little garden stoop:




Come summer, I will have so many tomatoes, greens, lemons and beans that I may set up a stand on the side of the road. Or invite friends over to share in my bounty, eating tomatoes over bread, drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil. Beans steamed immediately off the vine, with a dash of fresh lemon vinaigrette and accompanied by a glass of wine and conversation. Dessert of sweet strawberries and whipped cream. A taste of heaven. A respite from the brokenness of this life.

Lovely

Weekend round-up

This weekend round-up is belated due to exhaustion. I was too tired from the very weekend I was attempting to write about. After 2 rambling, incoherent attempts (I know, I know...how is that different from every other post? it was, somehow), I gave up and decided to wait until I had an ounce of energy. So, here we go.

Friday I eagerly anticipated the arrival of family. Unfortunately, their 12 hour drive had snowstorms, car accidents (not theirs) and traffic, so I did not get to see them. However, I spent the evening grocery shopping, cleaning out bookshelves...I got rid of over 40(!) and worrying about the impending holiday...the one where I had decided to have 9 people to my tiny apartment for Easter supper.

Saturday was re-no day. My mom and I painted my bedroom (2 coats) and arranged furniture. This took all. day. Carrie and her mom stopped by for the mom's to meet. My mom cried when she saw Carrie and thanked her for taking good care of me after Scott's death. It was a touching moment. An unexpected trip to the paint shop (no-VOC paint is wonderful, I used Harmony by Sherwin Williams and there no fumes at all...however, it takes a bit more paint than the normal, chemical filled kind. Just so you know )and a lunch at O'Carrs, and then just 1 more hour of painting and we were done! Then I relaxed by going to V.I.P night at the new restaurant in town, Fire and Ice. It was lovely. Complete with free food, not free beer, flirting waiters, delish meals and way too much laughter. We spoke of the thermostat as though it were a person! And we weren't even intoxicated! We were also shushed by a bitter fellow outside. I may or may not have said something along the lines of 'if his wife were half as loud as we were, he would probably be a happier man'...or something like that. Went home, where more family came into town and we finished up the apartment prep for...
EASTER! Woke up early and went and had coffee with my little sis, Ashley. It is so nice to see her. She moved to Wisconsin in Dec., and this is the farthest we have ever lived apart. She is one of my best friends and it is nice to have her staying with me for most of the week. Lots of sitting on the bed late at night talking about life. ANYWAY, then the madness began. We straightened, mopped, did food prep...the works. Mom came over and real work began. I did not have foil for the ham (who knew you needed foil?), nor did I have enough potatoes...thank God for the Western's Easter hours. Everything was scheduled for 2...so at 1:45 they all started rolling in. We had been counting on those last 15 minutes to get a lot done, so the moment the cars pulled up was a flurry of last minute activity ("Quick, grab my handbag, hide this mirror we never got around to hanging, move the coffee table, Ashley, go stall...er, help them out of their cars!").
The next 4 hours passed in a haze of cooking, talking, playing baseball in the backyard with my 5 year old brother and good memories of Scott. Oh, didn't I mention? To honor Scott and do something that I knew he would love, I invited his paternal Aunt and Uncle and Grandmother. They got along just swimmingly with everyone, and I think everyone fell in love with everyone else. Lots of laughing and politics talk (what is it with people over 65 talking loudly about politics?) and remembering holidays past. Stories were told, glasses were lifted, friends were made. It was a very redemptive meal for me. Here in my apartment, inviting everyone to my table and preparing food. Breaking bread with one another, knowing the sadness that had past and feeling the new life that Easter and Spring bring with them.
The house emptied at 6:45 and I sat down exhausted. Shed some tears over the sadness of doing this by alone and missing Scott. He would have loved it. Every second of it. He would have been in the kitchen, cooking and out back, playing baseball, pouring wine for the older folks and telling stories with Sue Ellen.
At 8:30 I was in bed, asleep by 9:30. Whew.

Easter had new meaning for me this year. Life after death. Celebration after Mourning. Feasting after fasting. Yes.

*pictures to come soon*

Termites and crack...or Elisa's First day of Spring

Yesterday was a good day. Got a ton done at work, although never as much as I hope. My friend let me borrow his car as mine is still in the shop, the sun was shining. Scott's family came for a little visit and brought me the rest of my new bedroom furniture (before and after pics soon), and I planned to have CJ over for a new recipe (a rendition of Urban Standard's Orzo pasta salad) and a beer to celebrate Spring the start of Kitchn: The Cure, which we are both participating it. And, she and I signed up for a veggie CSA with Grow Alabama. All good things to celebrate!

I get home and start to cook. Tender Orzo boiling on the stove, beer freshly opened, when I notice a little bug. I thought "Well, that's what you get when you cook with the door open" and killed it. Then I noticed another...and another. I determined that they were coming from the water heater closet. I opened it up to find TERMITES! EVERYWHERE! There was a crazy swarm of them. I instantly freaked out and started doing an insane "get the hell away from me" dance and armed myself with the only chemical left in my house: bleach. I sprayed them as though they were out to kill, yelling things like I hope this burns your soft, soft underbellies (what!?)and You will not ruin my Easter!!. About this time CJ came in. Witnessing my meltdown, she quickly decided we must go out to eat. On our way to a Mexican joint for Guac, we saw Nabeels...and quickly pulled in.
It was wonderful. We feasted on stuffed grape leaves and feta, Taramasalata dip (the aptly named 'crack' dish of caviar and greek yogurt) and fried potatoes. Accompanied by wine of course. My termite problems were soon forgotten in an hour long conversation about food (seriously, we talked food for an hour). We dissected the flavors and nuances of each item and their pairings and potential. It was refreshing. It was also decided that we now must start a tradition of Greek food on the First Day of Spring. After literally eating the dip with our fingers after running out of crudites, we decided it might be time to go home....to the TERMITES.
they had all perished in a chemical induced frenzy and lay waste on my kitchen floor. A quick run with the vaccuum and the evidence was gone.
This easily could have been my undoing. I am just starting to like the apartment, and this incident could have turned me off of my kitchen and my home completely. But it didn't. I cleaned up, drank and beer and laughed about it. After Ant Wars 2008, termites are a breeze.
When I got to work today and told my 'cellmate' about it, a coworker from a few cubes away piped up "When are you going to call someone about getting your hex removed". I need to get on that...

A visual of the horror:

Tales of a dissatisfied apartment dweller...and her semi-famous dinner

Check me out on Apartment Therapy.com! Look here to see my dinner fixins. (I am elisaruth under Good Links). I am participating in The Cure, an 8 week apartment overhaul and re-do. This weeks assignments were (are) long and laborious. They are: Clean kitchen top to bottom, cook one homemade meal (see pic), clean out pantry and fridge, buy fresh flowers, make an outboz and clear one horizontal space. Oh yeah, and run your hands over every wall in the house, moving the furniture and all. The author has very interesting ideas for why all of these things are important, and so far they are actually making a difference. You can check out the book on Amazon. It is different from most decorating/organizing books in that you focus on doable goals and only do what you can afford and want.

So far I have: cooked, cleaned out pantry and fridge and 1/2 of the kitchen. Tonight I am tackling the oven and plan to try out an all natural cleaner of baking soda and water. Week one had me buying fresh flowers, scrubbing the floors, and replacing with all natural cleaners. Lucky for me I went all natural a year ago.

This program is intended to kick start you into living in and loving your apartment. That is more difficult than it seems because they are often so temporary and big changes are impossible. You have to work with what you have. I am re-doing the bedroom, painting it next week and getting some more new (free!) furniture tomorrow.

As I have said, the part of my house I love the most is the kitchen that leads out to the back door. The breeze comes through and natural light shines right onto the island I pull out. Plus, my homegrown herbs and compost pile are a step away.

What is your favorite part of your home? Why?

Weeds sprout through, dark green enough to be blue

Random thoughts on a sleepy night.
I should be at The Spots show. I have been looking forward to it for a long time. Yet, here I am, in my PJs in front of my computer. Many reasons for this. I am exhausted (today was the first 'this is what your job is going to look like after the downsizing', and it is busy). I also attended a wedding today! My dear friend Wesley was married to Deanna today on St. Patricks day, which we lovingly refer to as "Wesley's Valentines Day". It was lovely. Only about 25 of us and Wes, in his green shirt and tie, smiling like a Cheshire cat and Deanna giggling and looking beautiful. It was not as hard as I imagined a wedding would be, but it wasn't easy. I kept thinking things like "Oh, that is what I was planning" and "I want this".
The Spots were the band that I was planning on having play at my wedding. I didn't realize how that affected my decision not to go until now, as I sit here with tears streaming down my face. Not necessarily bad tears, just tears of loss. They are much less frequent, but still there. sigh. I plan to make it to their next show, as they are my favorite live show. Fantastic and fun and intimate, no matter how many people are in the room. They create a great vibe. It was probably just the vibe I need tonight! ;)

On another note, check out this blog: Spitball Army. CJ introduced me to it after he wrote a post about Bicycling. I am hooked. It is funny and smart and intelligent (those are two different things) and very sharp. Also quite informative. You can tell that he is interested in a lot and appreciates many things. Not to mention that he is now (along with BTM and JN and CJ) one of the people I want standing next to me as I buy a new cd. His love and knowledge of music is contagious and oozes out of most everything he writes. Go there. Now. Don't even finish this post...it is just as rambly as the last 50!

I have noticed that I have visitors from all over the country looking at the blog. That is strange to me. Do I know you? How do you find this? I guess the same way that I find random blogs...it is different when it is just my little blog.

I am in the midst of an apartment overhaul. This is all an attempt to create a sense of home here. I realized last week that this is the only apartment that I have ever had that did not have a boy attached to it somehow. This one is all me. I like that. No one to consider when decorating, no memories attached to painting, or hanging drapes. Only the memories of my community coming together to get me settled in my new home when nothing else was settled. Truly. Anna organized the kitchen, David and John hung pictures, Chris hung my drapes, CJ helped me decide if the color organized bookshelves were a good idea, Carrie helped me throw away spoons that needed to be tossed (long story). Everyone helped me with trucks and muscles with all 3 of my moves (3!). Now it is me and I am really starting to like it. i love that my kitchen has a back door, so everyday I cook with the door open and a neighborhood cat, Rascal, comes and sits on the patio and lounges in the sun. 2 dogs come by every day to sniff what is cookin. I have a compost pile and 2 garden that are open canvases for my imagination. This is home and I like it. Despite the circumstances that brought me here, I like it. One day I really think I will love it.

Weekend round-up

I really enjoy these weekend round ups. They make me slow down and realize why I enjoy weekends. This was the end of Feb and the start of March. In Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady it says
"In February, if thou hearest thunder, thou shalt see a summer wonder".

This summer is going to be pretty wonderful if that is the case.

Back to my weekend:

Friday night, after a long week of moving, having the flu, packing Scott's things, etc...I was ready for a pretty calm night. My friend Carla came over for beer and pesto and we gossiped, talked, ranted about politics and generally had a great time. Later, Carrie and John came over and we did more of the aforementioned talking. Good times.

Saturday I awoke to the sun streaming in my bedroom. Oh Happy Spring Day! Put on jeans and a Tshirt. Went outside, turned around and changed into a skirt. It was starting out wonderfully! I sat outside at Starbucks and enjoyed the sun and cappuccino (I have recently begun a love affair with foam). Afterwards, I went and had a massage by Matthew (at Richard Joseph Salon Spa). I am new to massages, but I can tell you that Matthew is wonderful. I felt better instantly. Relaxed and mellow, I thought I would do some gardening. Thus began Ant Wars 2008. My feet are covered in ant bites, and I have poisoned the ground so that no one in Birmingham should drink the water...but I have no more ants! There was lots of cursing and dancing to get rid of the ants that were climbing my legs and arms...the ground was literally teeming with the bastards when I pulled up a rotten plant. yuck. Plant shopping and bookstore reading followed, as well as my introductions to Flight of the Concords. Anyone seen this? It is funny in a weird way, but i enjoyed it. To bed early. Good day.

Sunday: MORE SUNSHINE! Hopped out of bed, threw on a skirt, shirt and helmet and took off on the cruiser back to Starbucks. My community of friends seem to all congregate there on Sunday mornings, so it was nice and usual and comfortable. Rode home, stopped by the grocery store...I fit 4 bags of groceries in the basket and hanging of the handlebars...very wobbly, scary ride home. In a skirt.
Went to the garden, where I proceeded to spend 2.5 hours pulling weeds, raking, hand tilling, ant annihilating and herb planting. I am sunburned and exhausted. Exactly as I had hoped. Cooked a yummy fresh veggie meal, read some and now am finishing off my Teen Book Sunday read "Kind Dork" (highly recommended). About as good a Sunday as I can ask for right now.

Whew...I need to get to bed early. Keeping my finders cross for an insomnia free night. Those of you with the gift of sleep, say a little thank you tonight to God. those of you who don't ...call me, I am sure I will be up.
If you made it to the end of this insanely detailed post, thanks. Was your weekend good? I hope next weekend is as lovely as this was. And less ant-bitten! To Spring!!! And sleep!

Weekend round-up

I just finished my first entire weekend in my new home. It was unexpectedly lovely, for so many reasons. Here is a run down (because I am sure you are just dying to know my weekend details...)

Friday night I said goodbye to Angelica, an unexpected friend from China. She is so brave and fun. She also dresses like Slash sometimes! I also had refreshing, authentic conversations with RMC friends. Went home and went to bed early.

Saturday I started the day with a coffee cupping at Primavera with C.J, a friend who went from a blogger friend to a 'real' friend. I had the best Mocha that I have found in town so far (the very best mocha is from Mocha in downtown Milwaukee...a wonderful mix of dark chocolate, milk, caramel, foam...mmm). The cupping was wonderful and introduced me to their fresh roasted Brazilian blend, which I promptly bought. Then on to The Summit, where I found out that poppies grow in Alabama! Picked up a packet of those and the Smith and Hawken catalog, a dreaming gardeners, well, dream! Next stop, Williams Sonoma. Again, more dreaming and buying. Grapeseed oil in a tin, biscuit cutters...
I digress.
Stopped by Starbucks to have coffee and spend time with a friend I hadn't seen in a while and friends I see often. Kidnapped far-away friend for bike buying excursion. 1 hour later, I was the proud owner of a cool cruiser. Said cruiser has been described by a friend as 'the mac of bikes, sleek and black and white". sigh. It's true. I rode it to a bookshop and grocery store, wearing a skirt and checkered Vans, feeling like a million bucks!!
The day also included lunch and beer at The Garage, and cooking dinner for friends mentioned above. It ended at Bottletree for a Dance Party where I shook my ass with about 100 hipsters, decked out in spandex, dreads, and fanny packs. What a day. The best one I have had in quite some time.
Today (Sunday) I have read my Teen book (An Abundance of Katherines). Thanks Tillman3x's for the rec and the borrowed copy. Also worked on my pesto recipe. Recipe to be shared soon, once it is tweaked a bit more. Modifications include arugula and sprouts. Also successfully tried Red Velvet cake balls from Bakerella.

All in all a very lovely weekend, full of friends, food and other feel good things. God really knows exactly how to make me feel at home here in my new little nest. It's funny how He shows up just when I am sure that he has forgotten me and reminds me that He knows me best and can speak intimately to my deepest fears and pains and longings.

Times have changed and times are strange

I spent my first weekend at my new home. I want to call it my new house or new apartment, because it doesn't yet feel like home, but I am hopeful it soon will.

Moving was bittersweet. I thought that I was done getting one bedroom apartments and living in them alone. As great as this place is, I resent it a little. It is a reminder of all I have lost as of late. However, it is a lovely little apartment and I think I will grow to love it. It is cozy and is beginning to feel safe. That's a start.

I also cooked my first meal here. First, I walked to the grocery store in the beautiful, dusk-y evening and looked around, trying not to feel like a stranger. It really is lovely, the neighborhood I now call home. I bought lots of fresh veggies and pasta (I am slowly trying to build up a respectable pantry), and headed home. There I cooked a delicious pasta dish with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic, with a side of Parmesan green beans.
I do really like my new kitchen. It has a little window sill that makes me very happy. My friend John brought me some flowers, so it is just adorable. I also have a little 'coffee cove' that is homey and caffeinated, sharing a space with my beautiful cookbooks. I love to drink coffee and peruse them for promising recipes and inspiring pictures. Apples For Jam is an especially beautiful one.
So, after a hot bath and a good book, I am settling down for night 2. Maybe tonight I won't need to leave a lamp on in the living room!

UPDATE: No lamp needed. However, narcotics were...but at least I was in a bed and not on a couch!

Let me into your pantry

As the faithful followers now know, I am a not yet bourgeoning cook of sorts. As I contemplate this change, I am attempting to get my pantry in order. Which leads me to the topic of today's post: What are the essentials in your pantry? I want to know what things to stock my pantry with and the elements that you just can't live without. These may be items that you find yourself reaching for on a daily basis or the things that you only use once in a while, but are treasures to keep on hand.

Open up people! Who cares that you only cook 2 casseroles...I want to know what you stock! I NEED to know. I have started a running list, but am sure I have left things off. Plus, what better way to get to know people than to see what they can't live without? So, I lay my culinary life in your hands.

Tired little bird

I am feeling nesty right now. I want to cook and garden and sew and care for people. I simultaneously feel too tired to even boil pasta or water a plant. How is that? What is that? I guess it is just 'where I am' ( I put that in quotes b/c it seems to be a Christian catch-phrase these days). I dream of cooking delicious, seasonal meals, but I end up eating Chic Fil A twice a day. I would love to sew some curtains, yet I can't make myself dust my blinds.
Some of it is (probably) cultural. As a hip, single woman it is expected that I do yoga and have a little urban garden and drink wine and eat tapas in my perfectly appointed apartment at least once a week. That is exhausting. On top of the booming career and flawless relationship I have cultivated. Not to mention my toned and tanned body. I am tired just typing it!
What I really want is a home, a place that feels comfortable and stable and safe. Someone to love on and kids to teach and cherish. People for whom to cook my crawfish etouffe and banana bread. Someone who makes me want to clean the house and keep fresh flowers on the bedside table.

Maybe I can start with a pie. And not sleeping on a couch.

Culinary Awakenings

As you know from my last post, I love the idea of cooking. However, I have yet to make this a reality for more than a month at a time. There are many reasons for this: cooking for one is hard, no time, no money, etc. Well, I can cook for more than one and have people for dinner, make time (because right now, rest and restful things, as cooking feels to me, are good), and I am (finally!) making more money than I have to pay every month. All in all, I think a food discovery is on the horizon. Now I must get the troops together, i.e get some cooking stuff. Ok, this is not totally necessary, I realize. Things like a kitchen aid mixer. Oh the things I could make with that. Creme Fraiche, breads, pasta, pestos. yummy. I am coveting one pretty badly. I searched ebay and am hoping that I win one soon. And things like muffin pans. Yes, that is correct, I do not have a muffin pan. I used to have one, but one too many turning-the-oven-on-without-looking-to-see-what-I-may-have-crammed-in-there have made it a black mess.
I cannot wait to go to the store and buy flour and sugar and natural vanilla extract and honey and cinnamon and buttermilk and fresh parsley (Or, an herb garden! yes! In the backyard of my new apartment!), And the joys of finding my very own cooking soundtrack...I am thinking Bela Fleck and Wilco and Feist and Green Day and NPR's classical. The look of my flour and grease splotched aprons (that I have already started to make). Being able to entertain friends and not worry about transferring the store bought food to a serving tray. The joy of breaking (homemade) bread with friends and sharing wine and laughter.
I am smiling just thinking of it.

I don't cook, but I read about it on my computer

Today I made the most wonderful world wide web discovery...Orangette. It is a beautiful and beautifully written blog about all things epicurean. A feast for the eyes and soul. I want to jump into all of her pictures and eat my way out. After reading this, I again realize the beauty of cooking and preparing food. I want to go a farmers market and fill my arms full of dirty vegetables and red apples and homegrown honey. I want to milk a cow just to make the cheese, and raise chickens in my backyard. Get up on a sunday and whip up some orange nutmeg muffins and greet the day, coffee in hand, apartment smelling of baked goodness and a book on the horizon.
It is a culinary delight which reads like a good fiction novel. To sum it up: I love it.