Happy St. Pat's!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We celebrated the weekend of my most favorite holiday with an Irish-themed dinner party with friends, complete with a Guinness roast, corned beef and cabbage, roasted potatoes and carrots, and lots of Irish liquir (car bombs included!. On Sunday, we had a family gathering in honor of Grandma Vida's 92nd birthday. Chris and Kristi came down with their girls for the day and Grandma was able to really enjoy her celebration. It was a fun-filled weekend and a great start to an adventurous week!

Bittersweet Thanksgiving

While we normally venture down to Southern California to spend Thanksgiving with our Suich family, this year we did something a little different.  Rather than heading straight to Fullerton, we stopped in Thousand Oaks to spend the holiday with our Watson family, at the home of my Uncle Randy and Aunt Mary Jane.  It was a bittersweet celebration, but it was also just what we all needed.  My cousin (in-law) Vicky prepared the Thanksgiving menu and the majority of the delicious food...only in Southern California can you have Thanksgiving dinner outside, in the evening, and be too warm in long sleeves!

Our beautiful table on the patio

Digging in!

Aunt Mary Jane... our reason for
celebrating together this year, and the
missing piece from our day.

  

Enjoying time around the fire pit
after dinner and dessert.



Cake Decorating Class at JoAnn

During the month of August I had the opportunity to cross off another "bucket list" item by taking a cake decorating class at JoAnn Fabrics.  (I know, I'm easy to please, right?!) My mother-in-law was game to take the class with me, and we had a lot of fun laughing our way through the sessions as we tried to keep up with the teacher and not get totally covered in sticky, brightly-colored frosting!  This was my second class at JoAnn and I love that they make this kind of learning available and affordable.  I love indulging my crafty side, but I'm so cerebral that I need the "boost" of the classroom setting (Pinterest alone isn't enough inspiration!).

The class was FUN and super informative, and I learned techniques I didn't expect to.  I thought it would be all about decorating "finished" products, but the class was a "basics" one so we covered everything from layering your cake to "torting" (filling in between layers) to frosting it (and making it look smooth and pretty) to filling cupcakes and icing them.  We learned how to make frostings of varying consistency and what consistency to use for what type of project/effect....we learned "tips and tricks" for getting cakes to bake evenly....we learned how to color our frosting accurately....and we spent A LOT of money on cake decorating supplies that we will hardly ever use.  At each session we also practiced different frosting techniques (all the foofy, pretty stuff), and I was bummed that I had to miss the last class when they taught everyone how to make frosting roses! I have a rain check for session #4, though, so I will get to it eventually!

So here are the PROS from taking the class:

--Getting to sample cookies, cakes, and frosting on a weekly basis

--I now have a decent supply of cake decorating tools

--I am no longer intimidated at the thought of decorating a cake; it's really not as hard as it looks!

--I learned more of the "basics" than I thought I would, but as it turns out, these skills will probably be the most useful

--I had tons of fun with my mother-in-law every week

And here are the CONS:

--The class fee of $27 is misleading; by the time I bought all the required supplies/tools (and I didn't even buy all of them!) I probably spent closer to $100

--There is a TON of prep work every week that is not disclosed in the class brochure (they don't provide you with cookies/cakes/cupcakes/frosting -- you have to make your own ahead of time)

--The class was very FULL, and there was a lot to cover each week; Barbara and I both felt our learning was rushed

All that being said, I am eager to eventually get in my 4th session and then take the next class in the series!  I have an adorable little one to make all kinds of birthday cakes and cupcakes for!

Below are just a few pics I snapped with my phone during class sessions 1-3.



Grilled Pork Tenderloin & Cherry Salsa

We first had this dish a few weeks ago, compliments of my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dick, who made it for a family birthday celebration.  Chad liked it so much that he decided to make it for his family while we were up at Lake Tahoe over the Fourth of July.  And we were thrilled when we were treated to it again last weekend when we were at American having dinner with the Klaibers from Germany.  It's so good that I couldn't resist sharing the recipe here, since I've been talking it up to people and many have asked for it!  The full, printable recipe card can also be found here on Epicurious.com. 

Ingredients:

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided

1/2 cup minced shallots, divided

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 pork tenderloins, about 2 1/2 pounds total

1/2 pound fresh cherries, stemmed, pitted,halved

1 fresh Fresno chile, red jalapeño, or Holland chile, thinly sliced crosswise

1 tablespoon. extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
Prepare a grill to medium-high heat. Combine 1/2 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup minced shallots, 4 tablespoons lime juice, and vegetable oil in a resealable plastic bag. Add pork; seal bag and turn to coat. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes, turning occasionally.

Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/2 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup shallots, 2 tablespoons lime juice, cherries, chile, and olive oil in a medium bowl. Season salsa lightly with salt and pepper and set aside to let flavors to meld.
Remove tenderloins from marinade and season generously with salt and pepper.

Grill tenderloins, turning frequently, until a thermometer inserted into meat registers 145°F, about 15 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes. Cut into thin slices and serve with salsa.

Notes:
We found it tasted better to marinate the meat -- and even the salsa -- at least overnight so that the flavors could really sink in.

We paired this dish with red wine and Epicurious agrees -- they recommend a Zinfandel or Old Vine Zin. 

Bon Apetit!

Happy First Father's Day!

Poor Chad....his first Father's Day came at the WRONG time! He got home LATE Saturday night after a long week in Indianapolis for the national forensics tournament....Tess and I got home EARLY Sunday morning (like, 2am) after a greuling week without Daddy and a quick weekend turnaround trip to SoCal, ending with an awful 7-hour drive home in the backseat of my parents' truck (towing the boat trailer).  We were both exhausted on Sunday and personally I felt like a total zombie.  We managed to get up for a late breakfast with Chad's dad and stepmom (Geoff and Toni, or "Papa and Nana"), which was really nice, but the rest of the day felt like a blur of sleep deprivation!  By evening I managed to pull myself together enough to make a really nice (although late) dinner for Chad, and he opened his cards and gifts from me, Tess, and Burnie.  In all of the tiredness I didn't take a single pic....woops!

But the meal....the meal was really amazing!  It's actually the thing I really wish I had taken a picture of! I got the recipe for "Shrimp DeJonghe" from my stepsister Kristin; it's a dish she's made for me a few times when I've visited and Chad had never had it.  Think shrimp scampi covered in garlic-buttery bread crumbs -- YUM!  I served it with some linguine and a fresh salad, and of course a nice bottle of white whine.  It was so good and the recipe made enough that we ate leftovers for a few days....and they were just as good as the first time! 

Chad felt the day was a success, which is all I could have asked for given the timing and limitations.  He got a new bottle of cologne from me, some engraved/monogrammed pint glasses from Tess, and a wine tasting kit from the besties in Dallas. I'm glad it turned out well!

Mother's Day Celebrations

Last weekend (Mother's Day) was one of the busiest I can remember in a long time! In addition to celebrating our wonderful mothers, we attended a wedding rehearsal and wedding (Chad gave the ceremony), I helped host a baby shower, Chad ran a speech and debate tournament at his school, we had a short visit with our adorable nieces, and we hosted Mother's Day dinner and dessert in our home.  Whew!

Despite all the busyness, my sweetie did a wonderful job making sure I was recognized and appreciated on my first "official" Mother's Day. He picked out a gorgeous dress from Ann Taylor Loft, with matching necklace, for me.  He also "facilitated" getting me a beautiful bracelet I had stumbled across on Etsy, engraved with a passage from Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (the book that inspired our sweet girl's name).  The bracelet is handmade (like everything on Etsy, right?) and came all the way from England. 

  

Below is a slideshow of our Mother's Day festivities, which included a stop at Paul and Barbara's to see Elise and Everlee.  We enjoyed having my parents and aunt and uncle over for dinner, and then my grandparents came for dessert. We extended the celebration into Wednesday when we had Paul and Barbara over for a belated Mother's Day dinner ~ it was a great excuse to break out our china!



Lemon Spaghetti with Pancetta & Broccoli

I made up this recipe the other night and had to share, because it turned out soooo good. It was inspired by a pasta dish I had made in the past but couldn't find the recipe, combined with a recipe I had printed from the Pioneer Woman website. I feel like it looks more labor-intensive than it is, but I was also enjoying wine and conversation while cooking....

Sometimes I get inspired to plan a meal around a particular ingredient. (Just like sometimes I get inspired to plan an entire outfit around a piece of jewelry, a scarf, or a pair of shoes.) I knew I had a big bag of lemons in my fridge, and I knew I had spaghetti. I was trying to avoid going to the grocery store and this is what I came up with -- although I was so excited to create my own recipe, I decided to go to the store anyway.

Here it is:

1 package diced pancetta, sautéed and drained (set aside).

3/4 package spaghetti, cooked and drained (set aside).  (If you're trying to be healthy/ier, you could use whole wheat or low carb or brown rice pasta.)

1 package frozen broccoli florets, defrosted (set aside).

In a large skillet, sauté 4 cloves minced garlic in about 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add the zest of 1 lemon and the juice of 2 lemons. Reduce heat. Add about 1/4 teaspoon salt and about 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Add 1 cup sour cream (I use light) and 3/4 cup parmesan or Italian cheese blend. Stir in about 1/2 cup cream (I used half and half) until the sauce is the consistency you desire.

Add the pancetta, broccoli and spaghetti and toss until coated with cream sauce. Add more olive oil if you need it to help coat the noodles.

Transfer the tossed pasta into a covered baking dish and cook at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley (if desired).  I think it would also be fantastic with some Italian bread crumbs on top.

This was delicious paired with a chilled white wine (we had Pinot Grigio on hand) and would also make a great side dish with grilled chicken or roasted pork. Bon apetit!

Surprise Party

Also this past weekend, in addition to our maternity photo shoot, we conspired with my cousin Valerie and Uncle Dick to throw a suprise birthday get together for my Aunt Debbie's 60th.  We had a great time preparing a delicious meal of salad, corn, and jambalaya.  For dessert was a homemade (and home decorated) carrot cake!

We sure enjoy our family times at "American" (which is what we call their beautiful country home in Reedley).  We can often be found gathered around their big kitchen island, talking and snacking, dining on the patio, or sitting by the pool with margaritas and homemade guacamole with chips.  We have such wonderful memories with my parents, and Dick/Debbie/Valerie there!

Happy 60th, Aunt Debbie -- we love you!

Old Town Traditions

Last night Chad and I walked over to the local Farmer's Market, held in Old Town Clovis every Friday night from May through September. What a little piece of Americana, right in our backyard! We had a wonderful time taking part in this community tradition, and I had a lot of fun snapping photos with the new Canon camera. The prices on produce were pretty good, I guess -- with our $20.00 "budget" we bought a bouquet of flowers, an onion, some peaches, some blueberries, some squash, a wedge of smoked jack cheese, and an heirloom tomato. Yum!

After shopping we stopped in at La Posada for dinner. Mexican foods has long been our "tradition" on Friday nights. This place is great -- it's within walking distance of our house and is super quaint: the restaurant is an old house. They also have really great homemade chips and salsa! Double yum!

More Mother's Day

We spent the Sunday after Mother's Day in Reedley with my parents, Dick, Debbie and Valerie (who was home for the weekend). The afternoon included a delicious meal and an amazing strawberry cake that Valerie and I made. I also received a wonderful Mother's Day charm from my Aunt Debbie.

A Tribute To Donuts....

I've blogged about 'em before, but today it just bears repeating...

I LOVE DONUTS. I just do! I think it started when I was a little girl, and my grandparents just LOVED to take me to the donut shop. I remember staring into the glass donut case with such awe and anticipation, and a little anxiety about which type of donut I'd choose. I remember that Grandpa always ordered the old-fashioned. My favorite was the cake donut with pink frosting and sprinkles. I also remember that the donut shop we always went to had one of those little mechanical ponies out front, that you could ride for $.25. Grandpa would always let me ride the pony when I wanted to! Walking into a donut shop always takes me back... the smell, the little napkins, the small cartons of milk you can buy, and the rows and rows of glistening donuts.... aaah.

I have to say, there are just some mornings, when life is feeling a little rough and tough, that a donut is all I can think about to make me feel better. Some might consider it an addiction -- and it's probably a healthier one than drinking or gambling. It won't get me into TOO much trouble if it's done in moderation.... and now that I'm pregnant, and can't really "diet," well.... temptation can easily get the best of me. So today, with pregnancy hormones in full force, I gave in -- and enjoyed not JUST a donut, but a side of donut holes, too!

It got me thinking that for me, there are few things that make me so happy as a donut. Those of you who know me well can attest that they are my joy and my weakness. I began to dream about all the ways that donuts could be incorporated into one's life -- yet without the caloric impact. (Would a donut-themed baby nursery be too much?)

A quick Google search reveals that I am not the only one who loves donuts enough to incorporate them into other areas of my life! I offer the following evidence for your amusement. My readers may be surprised (or not) at which of these items I actually own.... And for the family: don't be surprised if some of these items show up on my Christmas list.

First of all, how can I get THIS job?

Donut pajamas -- yes, I actually own some, although they don't look exactly like this. Is it ironic that I can no longer fit into them?

Donut socks, incorporating my other fave -- Hello Kitty! My dear and sweet friend bought me this very pair for my birthday last year. Unfortunately these are NOT my legs!

A donut bicycle bell, recently procured by my girlfriend at Danifornian Hygge -- not as much of a connoissuer, but definitely an appreciater of donuts.

Donut coffee! My friend Marianne has a Keurig, and has let me taste and enjoy this delicious blend. Mmm!

Educational materials on the history of the donut -- this book goes on my Christmas list, for sure!

A board game -- I think the box & title are more donut-themed than the actual game, as far as I can tell, but these people get an "A" for effort!

An at-home donut maker. My dear and sweet friend bought me one of these, too, and unfortunately it suffers from some engineering defects. Burned donuts = not yum.

Donut KNIT TOYS! I need these SO badly....er, BABY will need these SO badly!

A donut flash drive...

Donut JEWELRY! Bellalure definitely missed the boat on this hot commodity....

Tacky but clever: donut tennies, for walking off those extra pounds!

And this is my favorite of them all -- did you know that there is an ENTIRE DAY devoted to celebrating donuts? It follows right on the heels of my favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day. If you're looking for me on April 23rd, check Judy's Donuts at Herndon & West...

Edible Architecture, Part Deux

On the Tuesday before Christmas we joined the extended White family (Sarah's aunt, uncle, cousins and their respective families) for the second year in a row, to particpate in their annual gingerbread house building night. We had a great time! We think our house turned out pretty good although not as good as last year. We're grateful to the family for including us in their yearly tradition!

Thanksgiving Update

We made a mad dash to "The O.C." for Thanksgiving this year, leaving Thursday morning and returning home Saturday evening, to spend time with the "Fullerton Parental Unit" (aka Ron and Meg). Our holiday meal was wonderful and it wasn't just because of Ron's prowess in the kitchen! The house at Wilson Avenue was packed full of the most interesting mishmash of people, all of us grateful to be together for turkey, even if some of us had just met. There were 17 of us around the table: Ron, Meg, Dave, Chad, Sarah, Richard, Tammy, Michael, Alex, Dan, Deanna, Jim ("JB") Alan, Roger, Marguerite, Scott, and Glen. (And under the table were the pets, Molly and Jayme....)

While I can't speak for everyone, I know the reason for my gratitude -- our hosts. At the Suich household, generosity abounds, and shelter (both literal and figurative) is provided for those who are in need. Family members are chosen from the heart, not just by blood or marriage. And family members are loved and valued, affirmed and esteemed, regardless of their beliefs, economic or educational background, faults and failures, or current life circumstances. All are welcomed and all are uniquely treasured. Chad and I are continually amazed at the demonstration of gracious, Christ-like love that takes place under that roof on a daily basis. It's the "pure and undefiled religion" shown by caring for others that's talked about in James 1:27. It felt so good to be part of such a tangible expression of "the kingdom."

My highlights:
--Being reunited with my dear and sweet "nephew" Alex after 10+ years of being out of touch. He's 17 now! But he still has such a big place in my heart. See "then and now" pics below!
--Enjoying cold mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner, knowing they got that way because about 15 other people helped themselves to great food served with love!
--Skipping our usual day-after-Thanksgiving movie to stay home and do a 500-piece puzzle with family.
--Watching TONS of football.
--Stopping in Shafter on the way home to visit the beloved Becker family and our friends Jason & Stacy Coyle, who were visiting from Phoenix.

SLO Weekend...

We escaped the busyness of life this weekend for 2 days and nights at our favorite B&B near the coast -- The Sanitarium in San Luis Obispo. It was a wonderful time of no agenda, no plans....and yet somehow we managed to fit in everything we wanted to do. For me that included sleeping in, taking hot baths in our "Moroccan soaking tub," reading an entire book, napping, catching a movie ("Life As We Know It"), enjoying great food (including a delicious 3-course meal with wine pairings at Buona Tavola), photography, and wine tasting at Opolo. We made it home on Sunday in time to get the car washed, get groceries, get unpacked, and spend the evening relaxing on the couch after enjoying a yummy, homemade meal. We couldn't have asked for anything better! Below are some of my pics from around the B&B, which I spiffed up using my favorite apps on the iPhone.

Cooking Up A Big Birthday Dinner

Last weekend we had a great family dinner to celebrate my Dad's 61st birthday. It was also great to have Susi with us, and my sister-cousin Valerie was home for the weekend. Lately I'd been excited about the idea of making Eggplant Parmesan. It's such a rich and tasteful dish, and it's interesting to me for a couple of reasons: 1) eggplant is kinda stinky and unappetizing when you're a kid, and 2) how can something have no meat and still be so delicious? So, after talking with some ladies in my life who are EP veterans, I decided to give it a go. Little did I know that 3 hours before my first EP debut, I would find out I was making it for 20 people!

I think it was a hit. At least I got a lot of compliments on it; many of which I believe were genuine. (I had a LOT of leftovers, which Chad enjoyed for a full week after the party and raved about each time.) When you make something for the first time, you learn what you'd do differently the next time around. And since last weekend, I had the opportunity to make EP again, a little differently, with a friend who uses some different techniques/ingredients. So, I'm fully equipped for round two, as soon as I get the opportunity! Cooking is so much fun!

See pics below of "the process," along with Valerie enjoying her first few bites, the family dinner, and a beautiful shot of my parents' cozy home in Reedley, taken from the backyard looking in. It was a wonderful night with family (Susi included). The big highlight (aside from the EP, of course) was the framed art my grandmother gave to my Dad -- a water color of a New Orleans scene that she painted in the 70's, which was just hangin' out in a scrapbook somewhere, waiting to be discovered. It is just gorgeous! Susi took a great pic of it, which is also posted below.

SoCal With Susi

I had a GREAT weekend of fun in Southern California. with Susi! We hit up Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice, Santa Monica, Disneyland, and Disneyland's California Adventure. We stayed with my cousin Valerie and her roommate Amanda at their cute little place in Glendora. We got a lot of great pics! You can also check out Valerie's blog entry about our weekend here.

Channeling The Pioneer Woman

Some of you ladies may know about Ree Drummond, the "Pioneer Woman." I'd hear of her in passing in various female circles, and thought to myself, "Well, there's absolutely NOTHING 'Pioneer' about me;" thinking she was all about life on a ranch and the wild West and all that.

And then I got bored... and so I checked out her website... and several hours later I realized I was completely fascinated and captivated.

Just yesterday I was asked what my current hobbies are, and I responded, "Right now it's photography, cooking, and blogging." HELLO! This is what her site is all about! As if to confirm the site is totally "me" (well, minus the farm stuff), I logged on today and was immediately confronted with Ree's recipe for Homemade Glazed Doughnuts. I think she must have posted it just for me.

Anyway... it's a great site if you want to look at gorgeous pics, dream about yummy food, and be thoroughly entertained with how Ree writes about life in the country with her cowboy. See you there!