The Fourth

Enjoyed a very laid back and very relaxing Fourth of July this year. Spent the day out and about, just the two of us, running a few errands and having a nice lunch. It was nice to be out and just relish the lovely weather.

Later that evening we hung out on the deck...

...enjoyed some grilled burgers and some sweet summer cherries....

...and a few beers. Summer done right.

When it got dark, we wandered across the street to watch the neighbors little firework show...

Just a lovely day, spent with perfect company.

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

Day 2: Me So Hungry!

Seriously.

I. Want. Food.

Real food.

Baby food was amusing the first day, but the novelty has worn off quickly. And I'm soooo done with mashed potatoes. My sister-in-law was kind enough to bring me some Campbells Chicken and Stars soup, my idea being that the little stars wouldn't require much chewing. And I was right, they didn't. Though the little stars are the perfect size to get lodged in my open sockets. Brilliant.

So it's back to the apple sauce, pudding and the like. I was able to mix up a rather mushy batch of Stove Top stuffing, more or less the consistency of mashed potatoes. It's not bad and at least it's something different. Any other time I'd be happy to have all the ice cream and vanilla pudding I want, but as I can have nothing else all I want is something else. Go figure.

Still, I shouldn't complain. My pain and swelling is still very minimal, mostly I am just really tired. Between naps I've been able to catch up on movies and get some stitching done. I've finished two more embroidery projects that turned out so great! I'd love to post some photos, but they're to be a gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'll be posting some as soon as the gift is revealed.

So ends another day. Now I'm off to rinse with the worlds worst tasting mouth wash.

A Grand Day Out

If you're having Tums for breakfast, does it mean it was a good night? Or a bad one?

Actually, yesterday was a really lovely day! We started the morning with our traditional anniversary breakfast at Ruth's Diner. We always insist on being seated on the patio, despite the chilly September temperatures (part of the fun for us is bundling up in a cozy sweater and sipping hot chocolate and tea in the brisk morning air). There was really no need for the sweater this year, however, as it was a delightfully warm morning and we sipped our tea and coffee in perfect comfort.

After breakfast, we had some time to kill before our afternoon movie so we took a little jaunt through Emigration Canyon. The colors are just starting to change and we're anticipating in a few weeks they will be vibrant. *sigh* Fall is here!

After the movie (we saw Igor, which was less awesome than I anticipated but still cute and entertaining), we headed to Jason's Deli for lunch. As we were enjoying our club sandwich and salad, we saw Mark Hamill's face pop up on the television with the caption "Happy 57th Birthday" appearing beneath it.

Wait, we were married on Mark Hamill's birthday?

Wait, Mark Hamill is 57? He could be my dad! Trippy. But the fact that we were unknowingly wed on Luke Skywalker's birthday brought up an entire conversation about the missed opportunities to "nerd up" our wedding, including reciting vows in either Wookie or in the style of Yoda ("as my lawful wife, take this woman I do"). There's always our 10th anniversary, I suppose.

Our evening came to a perfect end with dinner at Cafe' Molise. What an absolutely delightful establishment. A bit on the pricey side, but delicious food and a perfect ambiance for a relaxing and intimate meal. We dined outdoors in the cool night air, amongst the trees and the lights that adorn the patio. *sigh* Lovely.

Steak And A Cupcake...

And a beer....

My husband has his priorities straight. And really, I can't think of a better alliance of food than the great American steak and a frosted cupcake. The beer just goes without saying.

Eat Your Heart Out

Nick made dinner tonight! Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin. It was de-li-cious! And have a gander at that colorful pile of greens there. This is one healthy meal made by one handsome guy!

Nick actually did the meal planning and grocery shopping for the week as well as prepared really yummy dinners the past two nights. Did I mention he does dishes? The man is a god.

I tried to snap a photo of the chef in action, but, as usual, he wasn't very cooperative. I told him I was going to get a picture of him smiling on my blog if it was the last thing I ever did.

His response was that it would be. Smart ass.

Love you!

How To Win Friends And Influence People

The "experts" out there will have you believe that their rules and books and step-by-step programs are what it takes to excel at winning people over. But there really is no need for all that. This, my friends, is your golden ticket to winning anyone over.

Olive cheese bread (recipe courtesy of the Pioneer Woman). It's food-gasmic. Food-vana. It's just damn good. You will shine at your next office picnic or pot-luck gathering and those who experience this divine creation will sing your praises. And who couldn't use a bit more of that?

I have been considering this dish for an upcoming event I am hosting and decided to take it on a test run at a small gathering of friends this evening. I didn't need to win these people over, they already love me! They were my unwitting test subjects from whom I was hoping to gain valuable feedback. There were no leftovers.

As I sat down to create my shopping list, I grabbed the first magazine handy to have something smooth and firm to write on. What an ironic choice. I guarantee this bread will do nothing for your waist line except expand it. But trust me, you won't care.

The ingredients are fairly simple. Two kinds of olives (black and those green ones with the pimentos in), green onions, butter, mayonnaise, a loaf of French bread and, the shinning star of the piece, shredded Monterey Jack cheese. An essential tool for the success of any recipe in this house is the purple squirt bottle filled with water, which keeps cat fur from infiltrating the process.

The completed mixture in my most favorite mixing bowl. I love this bowl in it's bright, sun-shiny yellowness. The most difficult part of this step was not eating every last bite of this mixture with a spoon. Because I easily could have.

Okay, I had a few bites. But I was able to successfully get the majority of the mixture onto the French bread, which was really the whole point of this endeavor.

While the bread is baking, take care to leave the dirty dishes for someone else to clean up, like a husband, for example, and go watch a favorite TV program or do some Yoga or something.

Actually, I did the clean-up myself. The husband was busy on an important project. I didn't mind.

Fresh out of the oven in all it's gooey, cheesy deliciousness.


Slice and serve to those who will be your eternal admirers. Or just keep it all for yourself. I won't judge.