March 11, 2013 by Andrea

The Adventure to High Wycombe

With the temperature hovering around freezing and Logan in school today we made the short trip to Asda (British Walmart) as they had the cat treats Val wanted for Lucy. So, we bundled up and headed through the very pretty, but very chilly British countryside to High Wycombe.

We were successful in stocking up in the treats. If they do end up being the same ones that use to be sold in the US, apparently the only treats Lucy will eat, we will acquire more in July. But for now 20 bags should do. Once again, this is going to be an interesting trip through customs at the US border.

On the way back we stopped near Marlowe for lunch. No one in our little group had ever been to the Dog and Badger, so we stopped there.

We were incredibly pleased. The visit started with Emmie asking if we “could just grab a table” and the reply was “only if it doesn’t scream.” The inn/pub was built in 1390 but the church it is attached to was originally built in 650 and rebuilt in the 1200s (I think). The atmosphere, complete with wood beams and two fire places (with lit fires) was great, but the food was even better. Bob was the adventurous one and went for the blood sausage while I stuck with a bacon hamburger. Oh so very, very good. I hate to admit it, but British bacon kicks American bacon’s butt. It just does. But we had a great lunch and now Brad and Emmie have another good pub option.

On the return we took the scenic route and came across some wildlife. I was very proud of myself as I correctly identified deer in the distance. We then saw …

an elk. Just standing there and totally not bothered by Brad calling to it so we could get a good picture.

We are hanging out with the dogs tonight. Brad is doing pulled pork and I’m making BBQ sauce. Nice, low key evening.

. We are just hanging out with the dogs as the have taken a liking to us.

March 10, 2013 by Andrea

Spring Break

Say “Spring Break” to most people and warm weather, beaches, maybe palm trees come to mind. As Bob and I headed out for spring break and did we pick a Caribbean beach? A little place in Mexico? The wine country? Nope – we headed to England where snow is forecast for tomorrow.

And despite the very chilly wind as we headed into Henley today, I am so incredibly glad we came. We, of course, had an adventure getting here. The two mile back up at the bridge started things off right, then we moved to the delay in Tampa. Apparently the plane was late first thing in the morning which just backed it up for every other flight. We did make it to Kennedy, and we high tailed it to the next gate, getting to the Heathrow flight just as they called our zone. I will say, Kennedy is one of those airports where “sprawl” just happened and it makes no sense what so ever. I have to think they just built and connected without planning because if I think someone sat down and thought that was a good design, I’d cry. But any way … we get on board and take bets as to whether or not the care package bag makes it. The plane pushed off from the gate on time, and then went back to the gate due to, what turned out to be, a clogged hydraulic filter. Hour and a half (enough time to pretty much complete the work I brought with me) later and we are off. I will give Delta a lot of credit, with the exception of the food which was just awful (Bob disagrees and said it “wasn’t that bad” – yes, it was) and some very hard seats, the flight over the pond is always wonderful. Great crew. Very friendly and they always try I be helpful, friendly and professional. … Oh, and the bag made it!

We kept today pretty low key. But I am embarrassed to say I used my camera, totally forgetting that I have a new iPad so the connector is different and the fancy dancy card reader doesn’t work on this devise. Nor does it connect tot the phone. So all the pictures I took of the amazing nursery/garden center where we had lunch are stuck on the camera for now. I got a great shot of the boys for Mom L. And both mom’s – you would love the garden center, had it been a bit warmer, we could have wandered all day.

We may have a few adventures planned this trip and I will endeavor to post as I go, using my phone as my camera so I can actually put some pictures with the words. For now, I will just leave with the view from our room at Brad and Emmie’s … A view that despite the cold, I am so very, very glad to have this spring break.

March 4, 2013 by Andrea

The “It’s OK Dinner”

I haven’t cooked an interesting meal for most of February. 39 IEP meetings in a short month will do that to a person. But it is a new month, with a vacation coming up and the possibility of an actual yoga class, so I thought it would be a good time to experiment. Experiments can go really, really well or they can be total disasters. This one fell somewhere in between.

I had some beautiful purple basil in the garden that I was dying to try, and some cute little leeks and a tomato or two from the last veggie basket. The store had some pretty green beans and I still had leftover squash. So what to do?

I started by roasting the squash and green beans with some olive oil. Then I cooked down a little leek and shallot and added the tomato. Get that all nice and soft, add a little veggie stock and cook down. I seasoned a chicken breast with salt, pepper and herb de Provence, got a nice crust on it, then combined it with the tomato and leek sauce to finish cooking.

It looked good, it smelled wonderful, but it was only ok. We even broke out a bottle of wine tonight, just because. The first one was a Chilean Pino Noir that was just bad. Not a “not so good” bad, but an undrinkable bad. We decided to not try more than one sip (soapy acidic taste will do that) and we went for one of the Haywood’s Bob picked up. It was ok. Kind of like the dinner. We have had better, but it was drinkable, like dinner was eatable. Not the best meal, but far from the worst. I’m hoping my next experiment is more successful.

March 1, 2013 by Andrea

A Week of Birthday Fun

So it was my birthday this week. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, emailed and wish me a happy birthday. Yes, mom, that includes your 5:01am text. 🙂

I use to hate my birthday. Being the end of February means you get A LOT of questions growing up as to whether or not you have a “real” birthday or are a leap year baby and don’t really have a birthday. I hated it and just refused to acknowledge the day for a long time. But I’m over that and pretty much don’t care much either way; but a birthday is a great excuse for cake, so ill take it.

Speaking of cake, the week started out with mom and dad having us over for lunch and topping it off with a cute birthday cake. I have to say it was perfect – vanilla cake with vanilla icing and by gosh, it was cute

Bob and I head across the pond for my spring break soon, so I was considering that my birthday present. But … I woke up that morning to find a pretty little box by the coffee pot. (Does he know me well or what? Is there any other place in the house where I am guaranteed to see it?).

That pretty little box contained a beautiful pair of earrings that I have worn every day since. Can’t sleep in them week, but they are very, very pretty. Can’t get a good picture cause they sparkle but that’s ok.

We are still in meeting hell at work and have begun testing hell, so my time has been … booked, taken, short … take your pick. But Melissa took me out for a very nice lunch and we actually sat down and ate. I think it was the first day I didn’t work through lunch all month.

I got home on my birthday to find another little box on my doorstep.

Erin, my friend, you know me too well. Love them and can’t wait to break into the scrub! And the card was darn cute too.

We are going to head out to see Val and Bill this weekend, then it’s off to England soon for some time with Brad, Emmie and Logan. Emmie are plotting to get into the Bodleian library. We are smart girls, we’ll figure something out.

I did manage to cook tonight … Nothing fancy, mind you, but better than I’ve done in a few weeks.

Pork tacos with onions and homemade tomatillo sauce. I used some extra spice in the sauce and it came out really well. Sharp, but not too hot. Good flavor and not bad for an end of the week meal. Maybe after break I can get back into cooking. I have so many things I want to try!

Hope everyone had a good week.

February 21, 2013 by Andrea

I Officially Feel Old

I thought I felt old when I realized a few years ago that my students who were graduating were young enough to be my children. I thought I was old when the oldies station started playing songs I thought were cool. I thought I was old when I realized that the 80s were thirty years ago. But I was wrong; today marks the day where I officially feel old.

One of my students came to me in a panic today because progress reports go out tomorrow and he was not done with an assignment for English. They are learning to write a research paper so he had his topic, had his sub categories and needed to gather sources and gather information and note where it all came from for the bibliography. He had no sources yet and it was due …. you guessed it … today. When I asked him why he had nothing he told me he only had one day to go to the library and the computers were all taken. So he couldn’t use the Internet.

What about a book

He looked in a book.

Why didn’t he write that as a source?

It only had a little information on his topic.

So why not use it as one of the source?

It was a book.

Yes, a book is a source.

But it’s not a website.

(Here is why I feel very, very old today)

I asked him, in a very calm and rational voice what he thought we used as sources for our research papers before the Internet.

He responded, with all sincerity and wonder, “You wrote research papers back then?”

I officially feel old.

February 18, 2013 by Andrea

A Day Off

Work has been kicking my butt lately and I think it is a little worse since I know I have three more weeks of it. Seventeen meetings in two days takes a toll, and it is not just the meetings, it is the prep, paperwork and finalizing after meetings that just adds more time. But it is done for now and Bob and I headed up to St. Petersburg for a nice day out today.

We originally planned to go to a place that has 120 beers and an extensive wine list. But they didn’t look open, so we wandered around a bit and found a cool Mexican place. The food was so good, and I was so hungry that I forgot to take pictures of the food. I did manage to get one of Bob’s beer. It really isn’t the beer so much as what they add – Worcestershire, pepper and spices. Bob said it was good, and very different.

And … Bob and I decided we missed Brad and Emmie and Logan so much we couldn’t wait for the summer to visit. So since Bob had to take a few days off and I have Spring Break coming up, we decided to freeze our tushes off and go visit. We found a great deal on the flight, making it cheaper than DC (sorry Karen and Erin … we’ll get up there soon, but we just could not pass it up!) so we are going for it.

Gracie, of course, loves the suitcase and decided she needs to go to England too. Not sure how Renny and Luna would feel about that … or the neighboring rabbits.

February 10, 2013 by Andrea

What to do when there are no eggs in the house

I headed to lunch with mom and dad today, and stopped to pick up some things to make so Bob could eat this week as I have late meetings at least three days. So after making beef stew, pulled pork and jerk chicken, I really, really wanted dessert. Bob mentioned ice cream, but I had none In the house. I mentioned that I could make a cake or cookies and his response was that he didn’t want me to have to cook any more today. I tried giving him the correct response, which is, of course, “which ever you would like to make, dear.” Ok, the dear is optional, but really, for a smart man, he just didn’t get it.

I decided to make a cake while he took Jessie for a walk. But … there are no eggs in the house. Something I dearly wish I had known before going to the grocery store today. But, that little, pesky detail is not going to tell my stomach that it just can’t have dessert. So, I went with the vegan cupcake option.

A few years ago Val sent me an article that mentioned a vegan cupcake book. (Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World) I had to try it. So I did. When I lived by myself and never had milk or eggs in the house, I frequently ate meals that were mostly vegan. Baking was no different and I love the way these taste. You know a recipe is well used when the pages are stuck together, yet the spine wants to open on that recipe. That would be the vegan chocolate cupcake.

Yes, the cupcake, which is totally chocolatey, totally delicious and totally easy is vegan. No eggs, no butter, no milk. Soy milk, apple cider vinegar, canola oil work with the coco powder, flour and leavening agents to make a moist, yummy cupcake.

The icing, however, is not vegan. I am horrid at making icings and they never turn out right. I also lack patience today to try yet another icing, so I went with heavy cream and Nutella. I said the cupcake was vegan … I never said the whole thing was. The cream topping gives it a nice layer of flavor and the cupcake it just delicious even on its own.

Easy, quick and no fuss cupcake. Dessert even with no eggs in the house.

February 9, 2013 by Andrea

Reason Number ___ I Love Florida

I should feel at least slightly guilty for this post considering so many are digging out from a blizzard. Should. But I don’t. I did move to Florida in large part to avoid snow, sleet, ice and cold.

It has been a long few weeks and the next two are not going to be any better. This means when I’ve had the energy to cook, it has been simple meals that I’ve done dozens of times if not more. But today we decided to get out and about for a bit and enjoy the beautiful weather. Bob suggested St. Armand’s Circle. So we headed down there and found a little place that did Middle Eastern/Mediterranean called Terrace on the Circle.

After my disaster with falafel a few months ago, I have been reluctant to try it again. We split a plate of falafel that looked great

and tasted way better than any I’ve ever made. And the sauce … just so good.

For the main dish I went with the Kefta.

I was pretty sure I was going to be able to eat the whole thing, but nope. Had to bring half of it home. The meat was seasoned well, but I am use to spicier versions, so it was missing just a little something. The hummus that went on top was fabulous, however. And this from someone who isn’t that crazy about hummus for the most part.

But the best part of the day (aside from finding a cool little spice shop) was the view.

Just another day in paradise you could say!

January 30, 2013 by Andrea

It’s Easier Than It Seems

After eating a lot of soup and a very unhappy stomach for the last few weeks, I wanted to make something filling, tasty and comforting. So what better dish than lasagna.

Lasagna is one of those dishes that is way easier than it appears. I do “cheat” and use the no bake noodles, but the rest is homemade. I use a nice combination of ground beef and pork with some onion and seasonings. I like a videlia onion tomato sauce. So layer noodles, the meat sauce and the cheese (ricotta and mozzarella) and bake. That’s it. Really, nothing more too it. And I get leftovers for the next few days. (Even with Mom and Dad over for dinner we still have half a tray.)

For dessert (you have to have dessert) I did my very first attempt at panna cotta. Turns out, this is a stupidly simple dessert to make. I dissolved some gelatin in water, heated cream and sugar, added a little vanilla and combined the two. Chill and done. I got the basic recipe from David Lebovitz. I did cut it in half since there were only four of us, but this took about fifteen minutes to make. I topped it with macerated blueberries and mango from my veggie basket and came out with a panna cotta Dad said was better than a restaurant’s and Mom actually liked. (Turns out she is not a panna cotta fan -who knew?) Bob said it was a definite do again. I’ll take all of those as high praise.

Erin, I did find a vegan version that I am dying to try, so come visit so I have an excuse to make it!

January 27, 2013 by Andrea

This is January?

As someone who grew up in Jersey, January is cold, snow, ice and hot chocolate. It isn’t gardening and open the windows and air out the house. It just isn’t. And since my very green thumb of Jersey is a little pale yellow turning brown, I am sticking to things that are harder to kill.

But today was beautiful out and I decided I wanted to plant some pretty flowers. I picked up some pansy and another flower I forget the name of and redid the front garden. It isn’t the tulips I had u north, but I think they are pretty and cheery and a nice splash of color.

In addition, I added a few more herbs to the back garden. I decided to forgo the veggies and just get them from my veggie basket and the farmer’s market. But herbs go a long way when cooking so I picked up some purple basil (hoping to get some sweet basil from mom), rosemary, sage, and parsley (let’s hope Leia can’t get to it and eat it this time). This means we have the every growing scallions and thyme with a few leeks and now some new fresh herbs.

It’s a cute little garden and it makes me happy.

On the food front … Food still does not like me. I’m eating a little more, but nothing is sitting well in my stomach these days. I think it’s stress, but who knows. Maybe the residuals of the cold/virus/whatever this is. But … I did make some ribs this weekend that came out rather well.

I slow cooked them in the crockpot with beer and apple juice. Oddly. It worked. I finished them on the grill with the BBQ sauce. And that is not potatoes on the plate! My veggie basket had celery root in it. I’ve never had or made celery root before. So … I roasted them kind of like potatoes with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme (from the garden of course) and then added some carrots. Pretty darn good. Not something I would seek out and buy, but I did like it enough to make again the next time I have it in the basket.

Sixteen Paws

The random adventures of Andi, Bob, and four furry creatures