Thanksgiving 2010

Jason and I have so much to be thankful for this year. Good jobs, supportive family, each other, and not to be forgotten, Maddie. We are also abundantly thankful for a visit from Jason's brother Kurt and his girlfriend Kasia for the Thanksgiving 2010 holiday. Kurt and Kasia live in Chicago so it's a great treat when we get the opportunity to spend time together.


They arrived in Flagstaff Thanksgiving day (sneaking in just behind a snow fall) and we enjoyed a traditional home cooked feast - turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, carrots, cranberry sauce, polished off with yummy red wine and a homemade sweet potato pie. Everyone seemed to have a great time and Maddie made a new best friend in Kasia:


The bird:


Sweet potato pie with a meringue topping. It was delicious (if I do say so myself)! Find Paula Dean's old fashioned sweet potato pie recipe on Foodnetwork.com. I followed it pretty closely, but used Splenda for the pie filling
(real sugar in the meringue). I also forgot to add the butter (I found it melted in the microwave the next morning -- haha) and I think it turned out even better than the recipe with butter.


I hope everyone had a fulfilling Thanksgiving Holiday. Jason and I continue to be thankful for each of you throughout the year!

Details in the next post about our post-Thanksgiving road trip to Southern Arizona...

New Guitar

Jason finally spent his birthday money on a new Seagull acoustic guitar. As you can see, it's a beautiful guitar and makes really nice sound. Looking forward to our Hemmer jam sessions!

Baaah-ston

Jason had to work much of the weekend in Boston, but I had plenty of fun for the two of us! My good friend and former coworker at Clemson, Maria, met me Friday evening and I had some dinner and drinks with her and a few other former coworkers. I also got to talk to a few of my former students for a few moments on Friday night and after their game on Saturday. The outcome to the contest vs. Boston College could have been a bit better, but it was really great to see Maria and the boys. I miss them and it's great to be able to keep in touch.


Saturday night we took the T downtown to Faneuil Hall and the North End Italian District. Maria and I outside the Ames Plow Tavern:


We tried to go to my FAVORITE restaurant of all time, Neptune Oyster, but the wait was almost 2 hours:( Luckily Jason and I will be back in Boston December 23rd, and I will be getting their delicious buttered lobster roll for lunch.

The leaves were beautiful in Boston. A little past their peak, but some very gorgeous red, orange and yellow leaves on trees, in the street, and blowing in the wind. This picture is from Boston College's campus, a line of bright red trees.

Beers in the Bathtub

Jason got a Mr. Beer brewing kit from Richard for his 30th birthday so we have 12 giant plastic beers fermenting in our spare bathroom. Now all we need is some ice...

The dedicated scientist he is, Jason started a beer brewing log book to track his beer's progress. This batch (his first) should be ready for taste testing at Thanksgiving -- perfect timing!

Jason heads to Boston on Friday for a conference and (on an impulse) I've decided to join him! My friend Maria (also on an impulse) is joining me and we are going to the Clemson v. BC game on Saturday. Boston is my absolute favorite city in the world and I cannot wait for some lobster, lager, fall leaves and football! Jason stays until Wednesday, but I (unfortunately) will come home on Sunday. It is a short trip, but I plan on maximizing my 40 hours in the City on the Hill!

Have a great weekend and a Happy Halloween!
xoxo

Running Update

Took this picture on Saturday in Buffalo Park (hence the giant Buffalo). As mentioned earlier, Jason and I are training for a 5K December 12th in Phoenix. Minor case of shin-splints aside the training is moving along. I love running in Buffalo Park because it's a dirt trail instead of paved and you get great panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks. We are up to alternating 8 minute jog with 5 minute walk, making progress every week.

The 5K we plan to participate in supports Toys for Tots and has a Christmas theme. Bearing in mind this is Phoenix in December (average temp. of 66 degrees), any suggestions for some Christmas themed running outfits?

Mini-Vaca

Last Friday - Tuesday we were in Fort Myers, Florida. Jason flew in from Spain and we met my parents and Richard. We saw Tim for a few moments after his two soccer games. I didn't get any pictures with the stud himself, but took this at Stetson University, outside of Orlando, Fl.



Other than leaving for soccer games we relaxed on the beautiful beach and walked for fresh seafood. The "town" area of Fort Myers Beach was horrible, but we were in a more isolated region of the beach that was clean, quiet and very relaxing.


We ate oysters, shrimp, squid, fish and just about any other seafood we could get our hands on. Outside the "Fish House" after lunch.


Ahhh...


Jason left on Monday morning for a few days in Canada and I came back to Arizona on Tuesday. He came home Thursday night and Maddie and I were SO glad to see him!

Enjoying a relaxing weekend around home-- xoxo

Food and Fall

Anyone who knows Jason and I knows we love food!! Homemade, restaurant, slow food, fast food, we love it all. On Friday we tried a new restaurant in Phoenix, The Cornish Pasty Company. A pasty is a savory pastry, traditionally filled with meat and potatoes and comes from Cornwell, England. I ate pasties on our trips to England growing up, so it was a great treat for me. I ordered a Cheese and Onion pasty (my favorite) -- here's a picture:


They also had "mushy peas" and oven fries -- yummmmm.


Jason left from Phoenix for Valencia, Spain on Saturday. He had a very long day of travel, but made it safely. He is there for a conference this week; I will see him Friday in Fort Myers, Florida. We are having a mini-Bailey / Hemmer beach vacation while Tim competes in a soccer tournament.

With Jason gone and the house to myself I tried some new recipes and put out my fall decorations. The house smells like spiced pumpkin candles, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and tomato basil soup.

Here are the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. A healthier version of a traditional cookie with whole wheat flour, oats and natural peanut butter. The result was delicious, I totally recommend.


Maybe I'll put the recipe up on the blog sometime soon.

I also made Roasted Tomato Basil Bisque that I've wanted to try for ages. I LOVE grilled cheese and tomato soup, which I ate Sunday night:


Here's the soup simmering away...


It made enough for me to have 2 bowls and I froze enough for 4 more bowls. If you like soup definitely try this recipe!
3 lbs plum tomatoes, cut lengthwise
1 28oz. can of plum tomatoes, with juice
2 yellow onions, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 TB. olive oil
2 TB. butter
1 quart of vegetable stock
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 tsp. thyme

Put plum tomatoes on a baking sheet, toss with olive oil and some salt and pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. When you have about 20 minutes left on this, prep and begin cooking other ingredients. In a large soup pot saute onions, garlic, butter, olive oil and red pepper flakes -- about 10 minutes. Add roasted tomatoes (with all their juice), can of tomatoes, stock, basil, thyme. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Take the pot off heat, hit it with the immersion blender until blended smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, Get one! Seriously it has made making soup so much easier. But, if that isn't an option you can (in batches) pour the mixture into a blender. Once blended, stir in about 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Put the lid on the soup pot and simmer on low until heated through.

Now for the "fall" part of the blog post. Here is my mantle:


And the kitchen table. I have TONS of pine cones and random candles, this my fall creation...


I LOVE fall - pumpkin spice, warm coffee, falling leaves on a chilly evening, football -- it has always been my favorite season.

I'm off to finally pack for Florida...I'll post pictures of the trip when I return.
xoxo