Risotto Done Right

Risotto is tricky, but done right it is magnifico!
Tonight, a week night, during lent, I have created a beautiful risotto with shrimp, green beans, white wine and Parmesan. My idea of risotto is good arborio rice not overcooked, still a bit chewy and please not too soupy!
Growing up catholic we did not eat meat on Wednesday's and Friday's during Lent. I am still following the path created for me by my parents but I feel like a sinner tonight. Molto bene!

You & Me

at first we love by chance,

as a game, out of curiosity...

for having seen in one glance,

all the possibilities.

A beautiful little French poem. Does anyone know who wrote it? I found it on a piece of jewelry...in french of course!

The Celebration

Glitter batons, birthday hats and Johnny Rockets. I don't think Daniel ever thought he would end his day playing with Barbie's! Daniel was Ken (aka BOB) and each girl played Rapunzel Barbie. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair" OK, now repeat that about 100 times and you have our night in a nutshell. It was a great night!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday
to our niece, AUDREY!
You are growing up fast!
We love you!

Let him eat cake!

A box of chocolate just won't do...My boys like bacon and cupcakes. Heart shaped waffles with apple compote and bacon for breakfast and after dinner tonight, cupcakes!

Happy Valentines Day

I hope today your heart is warm with love.
Happy Valentines Day!
xxx-ooo

Vancouver 2010

How exciting! Don't forget opening ceremonies are tonight!
Get all the information you need here.

WHITE OUT

Knee Socks & Hot Cocoa

Well well another day home and another storm moving in tonight. I feel like I am on a forced vacation; GOD must have read my mind. Boy I needed this break. But wait wasn't I home for a week in December with my leg up? And OH I was home for the 18 inches we had in early December too!
So with all this snow I have been wearing knee socks and drinking hot cocoa but it is getting old.
Today I walked to the post office, a couple of antique stores and then on for some grocery shopping at the Midget (Giant grocery, but its a baby one, hence the name).
I bought more than I thought...as usual; carried it all home and I was hot like Mexico.
So now I have moved on to a juicy vodka drink and flip flops (after a huge glass of water)!
The only time I drink in the afternoon is when I am on vacation.
Did I mention I love the snow?! See what it can do for you! Don't be jealous...

It is almost pointless to go back to work this week!

The Turks and Caicos Islands in May 2009.
Trust me, this is out there!

School's OUT!!

The government just announced they will be closed tomorrow!

Superbowl

Ahhh football. I really don't like it but I love Superbowl Sunday.
Wanna know why? It's the END of the season!!! WOOO HOOOO
I am thrilled to know that I will not hear that theme song again until August.
Oh but wait, it is the ring on Daniel's phone :(
I married a sports guy that's all there is to it. He invited the neighborhood girls over to watch it; they have not showed up. When are guys going to understand that women would rather clean their closet than watch or listen to football? Well maybe not all but the women but I am not one of those.
The NFL in my opinion (remember this) is really full of over paid bullies who should have done their homework. There are a few exceptions (as is with most things) to the rule like Dan Marino. I guess my negativity could apply to all sorts of entertainment, oh well too bad...I don't like the NFL.
Ask me about college football, Navy football...ah ha...
So Superbowl Sunday is a holiday for Daniel and today was a double whammy with the CAPS winning in overtime against the Penguins!! (I do like hockey; just won't admit it, shhhh) I love my guy and the way to make his day just pure perfection is to feed him.
Today's Menu:
Soft scrambled eggs with sharp cheddar, red onion and heirloom tomatoes with a side of bacon, sausage and a half of kaiser roll.

A submarine sandwich on a french baguette. It was elaborate no need to spell it out.
He had a chocolate ice cream snack after this sandwich.

Dinner: Italian sausage and peppers with rosemary garlic potatoes.
Yep Superbowl sausage and peppers! AND the commercials are pretty great!

The morning after

Evening stroll

Our car!

And it just keeps coming

This is our car!
Neighbors made a sleigh out of a laundry basket!


The tree in front of our building

Bleeding Espresso

Thank you Michelle of Bleeding Espresso for the wonderful Banana Nutella brownie recipe! You can find it here.
I made them today to celebrate the end of the 2010 blizzard in Washington DC. My neighbors were thrilled when I was handing out hot brownies in the building we live in.
Delish!
Oh, did I mention it is still snowing?!

Delivery

Yay! Our couch was delivered yesterday morning, well before the snow began to stick! I had my doubts that it would really make it home with the blizzard arriving soon.
We were scheduled for delivery anytime between 11am and 3pm.

I started my day taking Daniel and Kevin (our roommate on Thursday nights, he goes to school with Daniel) to the train and then heading off to the grocery store. You have to have the essentials like Italian sausages for Superbowl Sunday!
OMG- I should have known that when there were no shopping carts outside that I was in for a wild ride. "Attention customers, we now have milk!" That was my que to get the hell outta the dairy section, I almost didn't make it.
So it was 8:15 ish when I arrived at the store and I returned home at 10:00am. The lines looked like I was at Disney World in July!
Worried, but I was home in plenty of time for our new addition.
11:30 am the beauty arrived!
Whew I was tired...maybe I should nap...on the new couch!
Well, of course I didn't do that but look who loves it!
I think he is smiling!

A new couch

It is a big decision, a new couch.
We have been looking for two months or so. To my surprise Daniel had big opinions about our purchase. So we searched and searched visiting too many furniture stores. I wanted something pretty with good design that would last over time. Comfort was important too and good cat defenses since our furry friend will soon stretch himself across the bottom of the couch holding on with his sharp claws not to mention the spring is coming and all that beautiful fur will be everywhere!
Daniel wanted modular something like this...



I wanted something like this...

---

We decided on this!