Caramelized Onions

Ok. I am cheating.  This is not really any sort of recipe.  I was just curious.  So I took an thinly-sliced onion, put it in a skillet with some salt, pepper, and olive oil and put the heat on low.  From there, I just took a picture when I started them, and then every ten minutes until I decided they were finished about thirty minutes later.  You start with your eyes watering and end up with DELICIOUS-NESS.

These onions went on a pizza with roasted broccoli (told you we were obsessed), spinach, and cherry tomatoes.  Veggie pizza means it's healthy.....

Roasted Broccoli

I love broccoli. It was probably one of only a few veggies I would eat as a child, and then it became the veggie I made myself in college when I wasn't eating Easy Mac. But then....broccoli and I fell out of touch. All due to the fact that Stud HATES broccoli. I was so confused! But since we both need to eat our veggies, I said goodbye to broccoli and we started eating A LOT of salads.

But recently, I've had enough. Broccoli is delicious and Stud is a grown man. He can deal and learn to love it. Plus, I meal plan so he had very little choice! At first he would eat it only if he could smother it in sauce. But now!! I have discovered a way to make him LOVE broccoli just as much as I do and it is pretty much the easiest thing on earth.

He said, and I quote, "green nuggets of heaven."

There is no real recipe here, just chop however much broccoli you want and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and roast in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes until slightly charred. If you want to be super fancy, top with lemon juice or parmesan cheese when they come out of the oven.

I even toss mine with the olive oil etc on the cookie sheet to save a bowl. SO EASY!!

Vive la France!

This in no way references the Women's World Cup match from yesterday.  I was pulling for USA all the way!!  So excited to see them play Japan in the finals.  I played soccer for one whole year when I was like eight.  But TODAY!  Today is a day for France!  It's Bastille Day!  Basically, it's a day where I can let my francophile-self shine and people don't think it's too weird.  To celebrate, I think I'll make crepes with Nutella and banana.  For you all, here is a listing of some of my French-ish recipes:

French Onion Dip
Brussel Sprouts
French Fries
Potatoes Anna
Gippers Chicken Meaux Moutarde
Mushroom Lasagna
Rosemary Pizza Dough
Figs, Caramelized Onions, Prosciutto, and Arugula
Potato Pizza
Kentucky Cassoulet 
Mussels in a Cream Sauce
Quiche Lorraine
Madeleines

Weekend Fun!

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  Stud and I sure did.  We went and saw Hangover 2 on Friday night, camping on Saturday night, and spent Monday at the track eating crawfish!  It was a little hot, but we maximized our time outside.  

Our camping excursion was into Red River Gorge, our favorite place to hike/camp in Kentucky.  Beau tagged along with us, his first overnight camping experience!  He was a great camper.  We made him carry his own food and he really did not seem to care in the least.  He also got to play in a creek, chase wildlife, bark at hikers, and eat tons of sticks.  I think he is confused as to why we aren’t always hiking.  

We were worried it was going to be packed and we would have trouble finding a camping spot, so we started our hike around 2:30 to make it four miles.  Our favorite trail has a long stretch along some cliffs and we wanted to set up camp on the ridge for a) a breeze, b) the sunset and c) so we would have a short hike out in the morning.  We had plenty of time to get to the ridge, set up camp, and eat before the sunset.  There were some clouds, so I was worried we would miss the sunset.  But I was so wrong.  It was one of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen.  We sat on the ridge for an hour watching the sun go down and enjoying some bourbon we had brought along.  It was so relaxing and so nice to be outside on such a beautiful night.

Boredom.

My brief stint in unemployment comes to an end next week - both sad and awesome all at the same time.  I have enjoyed my time off and it has been nice to have the time to get some things done around the house, and it hasn't been long enough for me to really get desperate.  My main project was turning our guest bedroom from a dark scary sad room into a happy place where I can do some sewing and guests won't feel like we are forcing them to stay in a dungeon.

Before...blah

After yaaaay!

I painted the room using leftover paint from the master bedroom and made big fat yellow stripes.  This room gets very little sunlight and always seemed so dark with the dirty green sea foam blah paint, and now, it feels so much brighter and more welcoming.  Stud hates to paint, so this was a project I tackled start to finish on my own.  Making the stripes totally appealed to my OCPD tendencies - the combination of a laser level and edge-lock painters tape made the job so simple.  The roman shades were added as a last minute project using directions found through my blog stalking using the old mini blinds that were there and some fabric glue.  I think they look great and really finish off the room and I hated those mini plastic blinds almost as much as I hated the paint color.  When I finished this room, it only leaves the den and the hallway with the original paint....since we moved in a year and half ago we've painted the dining room, the office, the kitchen, the basement, the upstairs, two bathrooms and now the guest bedroom.  No wonder Stud says he needs another decade before he will consider another painting project.

Ooooh Christmas Tree

(Stud and) I put up most of the Christmas decoations over the weekend and I love Christmas trees...the smell of the tree is probably one of my favorite Christmas things.  This year we went downtown and picked our tree out, a little one that sits on the table behind out couch.  Now when I watch TV, I feel like I am laying under the tree and it's amazing!  Maybe I'll even do some Christmas baking this weekend...

Chuckles!

Please meet my nephew, Baby Chuckles.  I mean, fattest most amazing cheeks ever.

Sick Kid Dinner

Still suffering from the dregs of this head cold.  And last night Stud was on call so I made of my favorite foods that could easily be made for just one without leaving a huge mess to clean up.  I love hot sandwiches, so I made a pesto and mozzarella panini on my Griddler.  Probably the best kitchen appliance ever - especially in college.  Then warmed up some of my favorite creamy tomato soup and you can even get it at Costco!  And it was the perfect warm me up dinner that I needed and it will probably be lunch and dinner today as well.

Obsession.

Another video for you!  The more I watch Glee, the more I absolutely love it and the episode on Tuesday might be one of my favorites ever.  I just finished watching it over my lunch break today.  It is probably the only show on TV where I might cry if I missed an episode.  And I have a Glee Pandora station that I listen to at work - highly recommend it.




Oh yeah, and I wish I could sing.

OCPD

Exhibit A

Stud has diagnosed me with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, which apparently is just short of me going too far and being full blown OCD.  Before we put any of our honeymoon and wedding pictures in albums, I chronologically organized all of them - I think that's totally normal and hours very well spent.

But sometimes, I think I might be OCD.  I blame my parents and no worries, they know this already.  My dad has to have things clean.  This manifests in me in my kitchen and bathroom, so a good thing.  Counter tops and the sink must be clean.  And thank goodness for separate sinks in the bathroom - Stud manages to get toothpaste everywhere, and his sink is covered in that white soapiness and mine, well it gets a wipe down every time I use it.  I'm a huge fan of Lysol wipes. 

And then my mom.  List maker extraordinaire and master planner.  Oh man did I inherit this trait.  I depend on lists and my planner.  It was my list making compulsion that led Stud to my diagnosis of OCP.  Please see exhibit A, my grocery list for this weekend (good food to come!), which looks shockingly similar to the lists my mom makes.  Meals are planned, stores listed with items I need from each store along with quantities.  And the items are arranged in the path I take through the store, so I simply go down my list!  It prevents me from missing anything and keeps me from buying, oh three boxes of Dove ice cream bars.  In my mind, lists make my life easier!  I also have a list of things to do this weekend, this fall, this year; a list of wedding presents, their senders, addresses, if they attended the wedding, and if I have sent their thank you note; a list of recipes to try, when I want to try them, and grouped by meal.  At any moment, I can usually pull 2-5 lists from my purse.  Sometimes it can get out of control...but I love my lists.  What can I say.

The Wedding that Finally Happened

I thought I would do a little recap of what I have been up to since I went on my blog vacation two weeks ago.  As I have already mentioned, Stud and I got married!  Wedding planning came to a peak those last few days before the wedding, but everything went smoothly.  Here are a few happenings from the wedding:

• Weather - it rained.  Not all day, not all night.  Pretty much just during the ceremony.  Oh well.  We still did get to take pictures outside.  And the ceremony turned into a giant cocktail party so things got moving a littttle late.  Please appreciate the ominous black clouds.  And then check out our ride.

• Ceremony - was amazing.  Even though it wasn't outside, I loved the casual laid back feel.  Standing room only, the only people with chairs were parents and grandparents.  And my uncle officiated the ceremony and he kept everyone laughing and dried up Stud's tears.  He broke our pact.  NO TEARS.
• Bridesmaids! - my heroes for the day slash past seven months.  And then they danced with the band.  Amazing moments.



• Food - Of course my mother the gourmande planned the entire menu (lets be honest...along with most of the details) and she did, along with the chef, an AMAZING job.  Pates, a delicious cheese spread, fresh bread, sirloins, roasted veggies.  YUM.  I did get to eat some, but I wish I could have hovered over the cheese for a good hour.  Oh how the bride suffers! 
• Reception - It flew by.  Everyone told me it would but I was convinced I would remember every moment.  I have no recollection of who I talked to, what I said or really where I spent all my time.  And I only had a wee bit of champagne! There were so many friends there that I don't get to see all the time and I wish I could have actually held an entire conversation with them.  The biggest surprise - Stud actually danced with me.  In public.  I guess it's a perk of the whole being married together forever thing.  
  
  

Go Deacs!

• Band - They were so much fun!!  I went to a wedding where they were the band last summer, so I knew they were the band I wanted to use because they can get the crowd dancing.  And that they did.

• Late Night - Having chicken fingers served at 11pm was one of the few things I insisted on during the wedding planning.  I have a sick obsession with them and have since I was about two... Fried food, of course I love it.  Stud and I left soon after, it had been a very long day and our flight for the honeymoon left bright and early the next morning!

And a special thanks to all of my friends who took all of these pictures.  Especially Haudge becuase I know he will appreciate the credit.

Legit

So Stud and I are officially married!!!  And back from an amazing honeymoon.  More pictures to come!

Ready for FALL! (pt 2)

Any my list continues....

5. Fires.  Fire pits and fire places.  I love sitting around a fire pit on a cool night enjoying company and making s'mores.  And I love that smell.  And my fire place...very glad it's functioning and can't wait to get it up and running.  And then to lay all the blankets and couch cushions down right in front, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy a nice movie with Stud and Beau.

4. Fall food.  I know I will regret this comment come February, but I am tired of summer foods.  I am ready for some squash and (carmel) apples.  For soups. Gumbo, minestrone, chili.  I am ready to eat some food that warms my tum without also making me start to sweat.  For rich heavy foods I do not regret eating ten minutes into the meal.  For pies and warm desserts made to be eaten by the fire.

3. Fall weather - it's by far my favorite.  As someone who glistens very easily, the drop in humidity and breeze that arrive in the fall make it better than spring.  Things are cool and crisp.  There is that first frost that kills all the mosquito's (my arch nemesis).  I can sleep with the windows open and not feel like I need to wash my face when I wake up.  I like turning off the AC and keeping all the windows open.  I love needing to bring a sweater as a perfect day turns into a cool night. 

2. My wedding!!!  I can't WAIT to see all my friends from college and family that does not leave nearby.  I can't wait to celebrate.  I can't wait for Stud and I to be legit.  For him to have some new bling for his left hand so all those wandering eyes on the nurses at the hospital can get the message - HE'S TAKEN.  That cute one in the scrubs - he's mine.  Not that I am proprietary or anything.

1. My honeymoon.  I need a vacation.  I have learned honeymoons are not to enjoy time as newlyweds.  They are so the bride can unwind after months and months of wedding planning.  And the new hubs comes along for company and foot massages.

Ready for FALL! (pt 1)

I am so ready for fall.  I am done with the humidity.  I am done with the temps hovering in the upper 90s.  It's going to be 94 here today.  It's September.  I'm through with that.  I am ready for a breeze, for cool nights, for fire pits.  I have officially decided that fall is by far my favorite season.  I decided to summarize my excitement for fall into a top ten list:

10. I love that general feeling of everything slowing down.  Taking the time to enjoy things.  Especially after this summer of wedding planning/MBA class/working full time/living it will be nice to unwind, enjoy a glass of wine outside and relax.

9. The change in the leaves and the colors of fall. I love the oranges, yellows, and reds that come with fall. I love the warmth they bring. It always amazes me how bright the colors are on the trees.

8. New clothes. Not new clothes, but all the clothes in my closet that have been resting over the summer. The ones I was sick of last spring. My sweater dresses, my tights, boots, jeans, winter coats.... Can't wait to bring back the wool and coziness. I may have snuck one in over the weekend.

7. Fall activities - Keeneland and Churchill Downs open back up. I can go to Hubers and get a pumpkin. And then carve it. I don't keep up with it, but I can now watch some college football. Go Demon Deacons!

6. Thanksgiving is technically encroaching on winter, but I feel like it epitomizes fall much better than winter. So it's a fall holiday. I love the feeling of Thanksgiving, and it's probably one of my favorite holidays. My family always starts off with Bloody Mary's and eats our "dinner" around 2pm. Gives you just enough time to enjoy a nice long I-ate-way-too-much meal and then still be hungry enough for a second meal, maybe after a nice long walk though the neighborhood. And then we have Stud's family dinner. He has such a huge fun family, it's nice to have my little family lunch and then Stud's large family gathering. And it will also be our first family holiday as marrieds. And there will be a new babe (I will also be an aunt soon - SO EXCITING) in the family so I will get to snuggle a teeny tiny baby.

A KY Weekend

This weekend, Stud and I decided to take advantage of the below 95 degree heat and one of his few remaining free weekends. On Saturday, we packed up a day pack and drove the two hours to hike in Red River Gorge. It’s part of the Clifty Wilderness. It’s pretty amazing. So off we went to spend the day with nature. We hiked about nine miles with Beau and our hike included getting lost, being mauled by a spider, some cliff climbing, and some views. You can see the "trail" we were on while lost below.  It was a little tight.  Every time we go, we do one trail, and then always end with a four mile hike that takes you to Courthouse Rock and back. It’s always where we sit, relax, eat some snacks, and become one with the trees and all that woodsy nature-y stuff. We are tree people.  And I am now proudly sporting some massive blisters.  And chigger bites.

And then we spent Saturday night on the river. Forecastle Festival was this past weekend on the waterfront, and we were lucky enough to cruise down and appreciate some of the music from the River. For free! Days like these, I can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else.

And I spent Sunday by the pool - gooood weekend!

Wizards are the Shizzzz

CAN'T WAIT!

Guess it's time to start re-reading the entire series. I'm a dork, it's fine.

TOMS Update!

I just got this in my inbox...!!!!

I Heart KY

One of my favorite drives in the state... US-60 in Lexington.

TOMS

I love when I can use charity as an excuse to go shopping. Enter TOMS. I have a pair of coral polka dot TOMS that I love.

For their look, they are surprisingly slipper-like yet add quite a bit of pizazz to my outfit. I got several compliments on them when I wore them to the office on casual Friday. My dad on the other hand never fails to tell me he thinks they look stupid. Even if my father had the go to fashion sense and my shoes were in fact stupid, then I would still buy TOMS.

The company was started in 2006 and had the idea to start a show company where every pair of shoes sold was matched with a pair donated to children in need. It has now taken on the name One for One Movement. When I buy myself a pair of TOMS, I know my love of shoes is benefiting a child who otherwise would not have shoes to wear. Makes me think I should just keep on buying. If only I could write my shoes off as a donation on my taxes.....

So, while oogling the newest TOMS designs, I stumbled across something amazing. In June, TOMS is releasing a new shoe design. Which happens to be a style for which I have been looking for quite some time. TOMS is releasing a canvas wedge. Now I am not one to wear heels on a regular basis, but from my itty bit of experience, I know wedges > stilettos. And I can wear them to the office. And they are reasonably priced. So you can bet I signed up for the email informing me of the release date and when I can buy myself a pair. And I will rest easy knowing I gave a pair of shoes to a child in need as well.

I love TOMS and you should too. They have men's TOMS. And if you buy some, it makes you a better person.

Zingy Zangy Tangy!

OK so now that we have covered mint juleps, we can really focus on the beverage which I can't refuse. A Bloody Mary. Seeing as I will be lounging at the beach next week, I feel most certain that there will be ample opportunity for a Bloody Mary or nineteen. 

Now I understand that some people have some issues with the savory-ness of a Bloody, but I think it makes it all the better. Dehydrates you even more! No but really. I love them. I love that they are salty. I love that they are like a meal in an alcoholic beverage. I love that I can use the excuse about getting a serving of vegetables from drinking one. I bet you do by the way. Chock full of tomatoey goodness. I love that they are spicy! And for all you other Bloody Mary lovers out there (ahem Noe), there is nothing better than Zing Zangs Bloody Mary Mix. I remember Christmas 2008 and all people could talk about was Zing Zangs. My fam has this amazing brunch on Christmas morning and my uncle just kept asking "Do you have enough Zing Zangs?? I can bring some!" My mother of course was well stocked, but he brought some anyways. It's spicy, peppery, thick...YUM. It has become a staple at my house, along with my parents, and we go through embarrassing amounts on holidays where drinking before noon is acceptable. Don't be fooled my the lameness of their website. It's delicious! And you MUST put olives in a Bloody Mary. They are a little present at the bottom of the glass! OH and I was talking to the bartender last week at my company track party (as in Churchill Downs party) about the amazing-ness of Bloody Mary's. Not only does she like to add a few olives - but also a shrimp on the cocktail sword! I must try this. We became fast friends. 

If you like Bloody Mary's and have not experienced Zing Zangs, you must get some tonight.  It is totally acceptable to drink Bloodys in the evening.  Trust me, it's fiiiine.