Life According to Silent A

U.S. Botanical Gardens Holiday Magic

2009-12-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

On December 12, we went downtown to the U.S. Botanical Gardens to check out their Holiday Magic display which includes replicas of major Washington, DC monuments and a magical train display weaving in and around miniature recreations of fairy tale homes like where the 7 dwarfs live. It was beautiful and definitely a must do if you are in the DC area for the holidays!

Noah with Mike and me in front of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument . . .

The White House including the latest Obama additions - the girls' swingset and the First Lady's vegetable garden . . .

The 7 Dwarfs (from Snow White) house by the train tracks . . .

Jayden's 4th Birthday

2009-12-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

For Jayden's 4th Birthday on December 12, we went to Jammin' Java, a music club/cafe in Vienna, VA to watch Agent 23 Skidoo who sings positive hip hop for kids. Noah has been dancing lately, but he was a little shy at the show. It was great fun for all! Definitely recommend it if you are looking for birthday party ideas.

Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA . . .
Noah and Mommy . . .

Agent 23 Skidoo singing songs like "I Like Fruit!" . . .

Kids having fun on the dance floor . . .

Jayden's Birthday Cake . . .

Blowing out his candles . . .
Noah making his stage debut . . .

First Snow of the Season

2009-12-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

Some pics of Noah and Shea from Saturday's first snowfall of the season.

November/December Update . . .

2009-12-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

So much going on, so much to share, and so little time to blog. We spent Thanksgiving at Jason and April’s new condo with her family and Mike’s family. We had a feast! And Mike made a very tasty Sweet Potato and Banana Puree topped with Pecan Crumb Topping. Noah loved every bite! His favorite was stuffing!

The spread for 11 adults and 3 kids (and this didn't include the desserts!) . . .

The Munoz and Balagot clans . . .

QT with my boys . . .

Noah and Mike enjoying some wine and cheese . . .

The day after Thanksgiving was Mike’s Mom’s Birthday so we went to Woo Lae Oak in Tysons Corner for dinner to celebrate. We arrived early and decided to stop by the mall to check out the sales. As a parent, this quickly became my worst nightmare! We didn’t have Noah’s stroller so we carried him around but since the mall was SO crowded I didn’t want to put him down for a second should he run off or be grabbed by someone in the hordes of shoppers! Anyway, after fighting our way out of the parking lot and arriving at the restaurant, we had a wonderful Korean BBQ dinner and Noah again LOVED everything. On Saturday, we hit up Ticonderoga Farms to pick our Christmas tree and this year, Mike and his dad cut it down! It was a little muddy from all the recent rain but luckily we found a nice Scottish Pine not too far from the path.

We found it! . . .

Finally cut down - Good job, Mike! . . .

Ready to bring our tree home . . .

Noah with Lola . . .

Three generations . . .

On Wednesday, we went to the Smith Center to watch GW vs. Mason Men’s Basketball with RJ and Patrick. GW crushed Mason and Noah had a great time although it was a LONG night for him. He even got to meet Big George!

Noah in his GW colors . . .

Go GW! . . .

Final Score - 66-49 . . .

On Thursday, Mike baked some yummy Cherry, Macadamia, White Chocolate Christmas Cookies. They were SO good. Saturday, after being snowed in all day, Randy and Daphne came by to hang out before hitting up the outlets on Sunday. Noah was surprised and I think a little freaked out by the snow. We ended the weekend by FINALLY decorating the Christmas tree. With the Winter Wonderland as our backdrop, it is DEFINITELY starting to feel like Christmas around here. I can’t wait!

Happy Holidays!

2009-11-22T18:18:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy November. Last weekend we had our Annual Holiday Wine and Cheese Party. It was a little early this year because the big Pacquaio/Cotto fight was on November 14. The party was quaint but fun. We had a ton of food and cheese and wine, but we had a problem with our cable at the last minute so unfortunately I was on the phone with Verizon for most of the night. At around 10:30 we finally gave up on the cable, grabbed some desserts and wine and watched the fight over at Mae and Dennis's place. It was a great fight and I had a great time catching up with everyone. However, unfortunately, since I was distracted most of the night I didn't get a chance to take any pictures :(

Pumpkin Gingerbread

2009-11-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large mixing, combine sugar, oil and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and clove.
3. In medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between prepared pans.
4. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour.

My thoughts: Great seasonal bread. Made it for Noah's Halloween party. Very easy.

Marine Corps Marathon

2009-11-04T19:06:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we headed downtown to check out the Marine Corps Marathon and take some pics around downtown . . .

Chicken with Artichokes and Angel Hair

2009-11-03T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 thin chicken cutlets (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts packed in water, rinsed, drained, and quartered
2 tablespoons rinsed and drained capers
2 tablespoons butter
8 ounces angel-hair pasta
1/2 cup parsley leaves

Directions

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Place flour in a shallow dish, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge cutlets, shaking off excess. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Cook chicken in batches, adding remaining oil as needed, until light golden, 1 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to a dish.

2. Add broth to skillet, and bring to a boil; cook until reduced by half. Add artichokes, capers, and the chicken with any juices. Gently swirl to combine, and bring just to a boil. Remove skillet from heat. Swirl in butter, and cover to keep warm.

3. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook until al dente; drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta, topped with parsley.

My thoughts: LOVE this recipe from MarthaStewart.com. I used palliard chicken breast instead of culets. Used Italian Bread Crumbs instead of flour. Super fast. Super easy. Inexpensive, few ingredients. Great for a busy week night. Pasta is nice and light.

Marine Corps Marathon

2009-10-29T19:21:00.001-07:00

This past weekend we went took Noah downtown to watch the Marine Corps Marathon. The weather was great and Noah had a lot of fun. Took a lot of pictures. Will upload soon. Lots of festivities planned for this coming Halloween weekend too including Ella's Birthday party, trick or treating with Noah, and a couple of parties with friends and neighbors.

Ignorance

2009-10-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

During my morning commute, I heard a caller to the Junkies show on 106.7FM refer to a woman as "colored". The Junks stopped him immediately and said "What is this the 50's?!" The caller proceeded to say that he was not trying to be politically correct, but rather polite for the show. I can't believe that in this day and age, people can be so ignorant! Sorry but one is still racist even if malice is not the intent when using certain words by virtue of the connotation and definition of that word! Ignorance is not an excuse. Get a clue and an education, People!

Pics Update. . .

2009-10-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Lunch at Lupa in NYC for my birthday. Definitely brought us back to our vacation in Italy two years ago. We started off with a salad and ravioli. Mike had a spinach salad with pancetta and the dressing was the drippings from the pan! I had the special pasta of the day - butternut squash ravioli - SO good, SO fresh! We loved the appetizers so much, we decided to order another pasta, the gnocchi to go with our entrees - skate and chicken diavolo. Even though we were running a little late for our 2:00 show (we had to go from Greenwich Village to Times Square!), we decided to stay for dessert, the panna cotta which did not disappoint.

We hopped into a cab and the traffic sucked. So after going only 10 blocks in 20 minutes we hopped onto the subway at MSG.

When we got out of the subway, it was down pouring! Luckily I knew right where the theater was and we made a run for it. Got in 10 minutes late and luckily only missed the first ensemble song. The show was amazing! The set, the plot, the songs, the voices - LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this show! I only wish we could have gotten better seats. We were in Row W orchestra Stage left.

After the show, we hopped back on to the subway and headed back down to Tribeca for my brother and Brenda's engagement party at Matsugen, some hot Japanese restaurant. The food was delicious. Noah ate just about everything but the sushi from the tofu to the tempura to the soba! I think we had about a zillion courses, we were SO stuffed! It was great to see everyone.

Noah got to meet his Tito Vince! . . .

Girl pic minus Brenda, Aim, and Katrina . . .

Too bad we didn't get a pic with Alv and Brenda :( Afterwards the gang headed out to some random bar named Neighborhood down the block which turned out to be a Karaoke Bar too! Since the night was pretty young we had the whole place to ourselves. It was interesting but fun times as always with the cousins. Got on the mic a couple of times, but nothing eventful. Fave moment of the night had to be Januel's La Bamba duet with Brenda's friend. Don't hurt yourself Januel! See you guys during the holidays!

Sharona and Jonathan's wedding was at a beautiful mansion in Upper Marlboro. Here she is walking down the aisle.

The ceremony was usper romantic. They exchanged love letters and placed them ina momento box to open later.

Here I am with Deardra and Sharona. Together again . . .

Congrats sharona and Jonathan!!! We had a fantastic time at the wedding. The food and music were excellent!

Weekend Recap . . .

2009-10-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Mike's parents came to visit so since we had a babysitter we went downtown to see Amal who was visiting RJ for the weekend. It was my first time at a bar in eons! We went to this place called Public Bar. Nothing too crazy, just a casual, loud sports bar. We didn't stay out too late cause Mike's Mom couldn't put Noah to bed so we headed home early but grabbed some empanadas from Julia's on our way out - yummy! Saturday, Noah and I met up with the Gordons for a playdate in MD. It was at one of those indoor gyms for kids. It was Noah's first time and he loved it! At first he was a little shy but soon enough he was getting into the ball put, running around, playing musical instruments, building towers, and doing simple puzzles. Afterwards, I dropped him off to spend some time with his grandparents while Mike and I went to our neighbors' crab feast. It was awesome! He has a buddy who is a crabber in Annapolis and so the crabs were HUGE and had literally come out of the ocean 4 hours earlier AND his mom made these awesome homemade hush puppies. Once I got Noah to bed, it was finally time to catch up on some errands at home. On Sunday, we went to the new Hooked in Sterling which just moved to Potomac Plaza. It was quite a disappointment to say the least, even though for now I'll chalk it up to the new location I still plan on posting a pretty nasty review onyelp. Spent the rest of the afternoon running some errands (got our Halloween costumes!, drycleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.). Going to try to post some pics and then head to bed.

October Events

2009-10-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, can't believe it is already mid-October. So much going on, so little time to blog. The first weekend in October, we headed up to NYC to celebrate my birthday and Alvin and Brenda's engagement party. First we had lunch at Mario Battali's Lupa - AMAZING!!! Then off to the 2:00 show of Wicked. And then met up with the fam at Matsugen for the engagement party. Ended the night with drinks and karaoke at a bar called Neighborhood. Last Tuesday was my 32nd birthday and we celebrated by having the fam over for Maggiano's. This past weekend was a long weekend. On Friday we hit up PassionFish for happy hour. Saturday we went to my friend Sharona's wedding in Upper Marlboro - beautiful outdoor ceremony, yummy food, and great music! Sunday we threw an Oktoberfest party on the patio. We lucked out with perfect weather. All out neighbors and some of our friends came out. Mike worked the grill and made his first attempt at brats. Monday, we headed downtown to check out Founding Farmers for lunch. Tuesday I worked from home. Pics of everything soon to come.

Wegmeyer Farms

2009-09-28T19:15:00.001-07:00

On Saturday we went pumpkin and raspberry picking at Wegmeyer Farms in Loudoun County with our friends, the Ellicotts. The farm is a little off the beaten path so we were pleasantly surprised to have the pumpkin patch all to ourselves. The boys had a fabulous time and we came home with some great pumpkins and yummy raspberries. On the way we also passed by Pumpkinville at Leesburg Animal Park. Can't wait until Noah is old enough to go there so we can try the haystack slide!

Final Cut BCBG Max Azria

2009-09-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

The Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets now has a Final Cut BCBG Max Azria store in addition to the BCBG Outlet. I went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was great. Everything was organized into $29, $39, and $49 racks. What a steal!

Pumpkin Picking Time

2009-09-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's fall! So this weekend we're off to a local Loudoun farm, Wegmeyer Farms. Should be lots of fun for Noah - hayrides and pumpkin picking. Tons of pictures to come :)

Windy City Red Hots

2009-09-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Discovered this place on yelp and decided to check it out - Windy City Red Hots. It's a truck parked in a local nursery that sells Chicago style hot dogs. Mike had their Windy City Red Hot which is a 100% pure beef hot dog topped with mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle, sport peppers and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. He loved it. I had the chili cheese dog. It was delish. We also split chili cheese fries. This place is definitely a come backer (just not every week - I don't think my heart could take it!).

The Counter

2009-09-22T05:40:00.001-07:00

On Friday, Mike and I had an early dinner in Reston Town Center at the latest restaurant, The Counter. I had the Old School - 1/3 lb. All-Natural Ground Beef, Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles & Red Relish (aka home-made Ketchup). Mike had a customized burger. Move over Hell Burger cause there's a new King of Burgers in town. The burger was juicy and full of flavor. They have a ton of "unique" toppings, but the Old School was classic and pure perfection. Note for those who like their burgers fully cooked, their idea of well done is pink throughout.

Weekend Update . . .

2009-09-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we took Noah to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. We went for Griffin's Birthday party. Noah had a great time eating pizza, watching Chuck E., and going down the slide. Afterwards we went to the Kennedy Center for the Open House Arts/Multicultural Children's Book Festival. The book festival didn't have too many Asian books, but we were able to get Noah two plus a children's book on President Obama. The Open House Arts part of the festival had tons of fun street performers and performances inside and outside. It was great family fun!

Here's Mike and Noah watching Mambo Sauce perform . . .

On Sunday, we went to King's Dominion for Mike's company Employee Appreciation Day. Apparently there were no rides that Noah could go on with an adult so we watched one of the shows and then had lunch with Nate, Kate, Sal, and Julia before heading home. When we got home, I wanted to try a new recipe and made this http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sauteed-chicken-with-olives-capers-and-roasted-lemons and it was tasty!

Weekend Idea . . .

2009-09-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend, the Kennedy Center is hosting an Open House Arts Festival and Multicultural Children's Book Festival. The schedule is filled with performances and readings that look to be entertaining for the whole family. Noah loves reading before bedtime and I hope to get some great new books to add to his library.

Treb and Joyce's Wedding

2009-09-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

Went to VA Beach for the long weekend to attend Treb and Joyce's wedding. Congrats guys!!!

Trying my hand at some wedding photography . . .

The church . . .

Treb waiting for his bride . . .

The ceremony . . .

The new Mr. and Mrs. Farrales! . . .

At cocktail hour . . .

Mike and April . . .

Oyster shooters - yum! . . .

Family picture . . .

Wedding cake - it reminded me of ours :) . . .

Me and Mae . . .

Mike and Jason . . .

Me and the hubby . . .

Tablescapes . . .

First dance . . .

Mike, Gabe, Dee, and Jeff . . .

With the newlyweds . . .

Money dance . . .

Good times . . .

Noah's First Birthday

2009-08-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last week was pretty busy because Noah turned 1 years old!! On Tuesday (his actual birthday) he had a party at daycare . . .

Red velvet cupcakes for everyone! . . .

Noah's 1st Birthday present from Mommy and Daddy - his first set of wheels! . . . He loves to ride in it on family strolls . . .

On Saturday, we had a small indoor (cause it was raining) bbq picnic at the house with Noah's lolos, lolas, aunts, uncles, and cousins . . .

Noah's titas decorated his birthday cake - a giant cupcake! . . .

Singing "Happy Birthday!" . . .

Family picture . . .

Noah with Ninong Dennis and Ninang Mae . . .

Noah with Ninong Paul . . .

Presents! . . .

After the party, April's fam came over and we spent the night breaking in the patio . . .

Weekend Update . . .

2009-08-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend with family and friends . . .

Ran errands all afternoon with Noah while Mike celebrated Nate's Birthday at Allsports Grand Prix in Dulles, VA.

Saturday night celebrated April's 27th Birthday at Hooked in Sterling . . .

Sunday went to Randy's new condo for a rooftop BBQ . . .

Then off to Mae's house for April's Birthday Part II - crabs and strawberry filled anniversary cake! YUMMY!

Reston Asian Festival

2009-08-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Went to the Asian Festival in DC this weekend. Our friends were performing but we only grabbed a quick dinner and headed out before they hit the stage. When we arrived found out that you had to park offsite and take a shuttle bus to the site, but luckily we went down a residential street and found some parking only two blocks away. When we got in, it was very crowded and a little disorganized. There was a LONG line of vendors until we FINALLY made it to the food area. I had some pad thai, Mike had some vietnamese sausage, but they were just okay. The highlight was the young coconut juice that I ordered. Is it a come backer?! Just a maybe.

The patio is complete! . . .

2009-08-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Day 10 - The sitting wall around the egress window is completed and the deck lighting is installed in the railing . . .

Day 11 - The stone walkway is laid down . . .

Day 12 and 13 - Sand is added to the patio to set the pavers . . .

AND the patio furniture is added! The patio is complete!!! (just waiting for the grate to cover the egress window well) . . .

Shrimp Saganaki

2009-08-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

2 tablespoons each of extra-virgin olive oil and canola oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
6 plum tomatoes (1 1/4 pounds), coarsely chopped
Salt
Crushed red pepper
1 1/2 pounds shelled and deveined large shrimp, halved lengthwise
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
3 ounces Greek feta cheese, crumbled
Crusty bread, for serving

Directions
In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and crushed red pepper and cook until softened, crushing them with the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and olives and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the dill and half of the feta and cook just until the feta is hot, about 1 minute. Transfer to shallow bowls, sprinkle with the remaining feta and serve with crusty bread.

My thoughts: Got this recipe from Food and Wine. It's a Mediterranean dish. Looked really good in the magazine so I thought I'd try it. Mike devoured it even though it commits the cardinal sin of mixing seafood and cheese. Liked how it all cooked in one pot. Peeling and deveining the shrimp was a pain though.

4th of July Cousin Crab Feast . . .

2009-08-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Not many family gatherings going on this summer so I invited all my cousins down to the house for a 4th of July Crab Feast. Good times as usual with the fam.

Thursday, the invasion began. After I got home from work, Aim and Terry and the kids got in, shortly followed by Gail, so we headed off to American Flatbread for dinner. Then on our way home we stopped by the town center for the first Brambleton summer concert of the year which Terry described as something like boozin' it up with your babies. It was a reggae band with a white lead singer, but they actually sounded decent. Ran into the Brambleton usuals. Afterwards stayed up late with Gail until Karynn's flight (which was delayed several times) finally arrived at 2 in the morning.

Noah and Megan playing in the loft . . .

Friday morning, Mae invited us over to her house for breakfast so we had blueberry pancakes while the kids played.

Noah's thug look . . .

Then Terry was off to work at Nationals Park while the rest of us waited for the NY/NJ caravan to arrive. They, on the other hand, were apparently taking family restroom breaks . . .

Once Lynn, Lor, Jay-R, Chris, Kimmie, Alv, James, Kristine, and Sophia arrived we made plans for the afternoon. Paulie arrived to meet up with the gang and then we were off to Five Guys for lunch and then the Leesburg outlets for some steals.

Jack and Sophia waiting for some yummy burgers . . .

The BCBG outlet was crazy. The fitting room line was too long so people were trying on clothes out in the store! We joined in on the action and I scored a cute black cocktail dress for 75% off . . .

The rest of the shopping trip I strolled around with Alv and Noah but didn't find any more buys. After the shopping expedition, it was clear that going out in a group for a dinner would be quite the undertaking so Mike headed downtown for dinner and drinks with Alv, Jay-R, Gail, Karynn, Paul, and Eric while the rest of us ordered in and helped Lor with her Lemon Lush.

Taking over Adams Morgan . . .

Karynn's got dance floor skills . . .

The "little" cousins are legal! . . .

The night owls . . .

Late night eats - Jumbo Slice! . . .

Saturday - the DC crew rolled back in super late after hitting up U Street and Adams Morgan. Mike woke me up and told me Katrina and Jun were downstairs. I didn't believe him (both had not planned on coming down) but I went downstairs to check anyway and was pleasantly surprised to see Katrina in my kitchen eating a jumbo slice! Yea - we're almost complete! Tried to go back to sleep, but instead stayed up chatting with Jun, Katrina, and Gail until Noah woke up and my day had to begin. After Noah was changed and fed, I whipped up breakfast for EVERYBODY (yup all 18!) all by myself. I was pretty proud of myself AND I think it turned out pretty good :) On the menu was home fries (I made 5 pounds!), two florentine frittatas, chicken maple sausage, and fresh fruit.

The leftovers . . .

After breakfast I had to run a couple of last minute errands for the crab feast while Mike picked up the crabs at the downtown seafood market. I didn't think I had that much to do but at one point the house seemed pretty hectic. Luckily, I had many sous chefs to help out with everything from making the iced tea to stripping the corn to balling some melons to watching Noah! Had a couple of snafus - the drink dispenser leaked and so did the kitchen ceiling! But all in all, everything turned out great.

Noah and Mommy celebrating 4th of July . . .

Stripping the corn . . .

Chris and Kimmie making the watermelon salad . . .

By 4:00 we were ready to chow down on crabs, ribs, jerk chicken, potato salad, pasta salad, chips and salsa, grilled corn, watermelon salad, lemon lush, and strawberry rhubarb pie!

We had 1 1/2 bushels of crabs . . .

and 5 racks of ribs . . .

Mae brought over a little water mat for the kids to play in and they had a blast. The afternoon was filled with cornhole, basketball, a trip to the playground, and of course a lot of food!

Jason and April brought over fireworks and so once it got dark, we lined up in the backyard for the "show". Mike was the fireworks master and the kids had their first sparklers - too cute.

All lined up for the show in the backyard . . .

Sparkler fun . . .

Trying to spell MAF . . .

Happy 4th from us . . .

Sunday, almost everyone headed out pretty early. I packed up a bag of crabs for everyone to take home to their parents cause we had a ton of leftovers. In true Raagas style, we polished off the dessert for breakfast :).

Sophia pinching Noah's cheeks cause he's "so cute" . . .

One last pic before the gang heads out . . .

Gail, Paul, and Karynn hung out for the day until Karynn's flight around 8. The locals came over again for dinner since we still had a whole rack of ribs we didn't cook the night before. After everyone finally left, Noah was looking for everyone. I think he missed all his cousins, aunties, and uncles already. I was exhausted. Good thing I had off the next week to recover! This was too much fun. I think we'll have to make it an annual event OR everyone could just move to Brambleton :)

What Else is New . . .

2009-07-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

So aside from all the construction at the house, this summer has been pretty eventful.

I took a week off of work to spend at home with Noah while his daycare provider went on vacation. Happy bonding time with my Baby Boy who I can't believe will be one in just a few short weeks! He's growing up way too fast. He's a lightning fast crawler now and gets into everything nowadays. His favorite things are the remote control and veggies! He loves to babble, but no "Mama" yet :( But he loves to laugh and laugh and laugh.

One weekend both Mike's parents and mine were in town so babysitters for all the kids = Parents' Night Out for us, Mae, and Dennis. The first night we hit up Reston for dinner and drinks at Passion Fish and met up with Paulie and Eric for a little bit. The next night we hit up Blues Alley in Georgetown to hear Lynne Fiddmont, an R&B vocalist who was a former background singer for everyone from BabyFace to Stevie Wonder. Her show was amazing! We grabbed drinks at a new bar next door called Rugby. SO Georgetown. Actually it might not even be new, just new to me since I haven't been to Georgetown in years! After the show we hit up Chi-Cha Lounge for a little bit. Club/lounge scene not really my thing anymore these days. Although I did try the hookah which was uneventful.

Mike spent a week in San Diego for a work conference so while Noah and I had the house to ourselves, I was able to get a couple of things done around the house like fix a leaky faucet (saved myself $189!), rearranged the family room furniture (it looks SO much bigger and roomier!), put together some patio furniture (the firepit, some dining benches, and a sectional and coffee table), did a little shopping, and started planning our next vacation. I felt very handy and accomplished!!!

RJ came for a visit too. Hopefully he will be moving back to the area soon. Randy moved. Jason and April are in the middle of moving. Victor and Joni sent out their wedding invitations. Also got Treb and Joyce's wedding invites. Having lunch with the Gordon's this weekend and trying to hit up the Reston Asian Festival to see Raf and his new band. Lots going on!

Are we done yet?!

2009-07-28T10:37:00.001-07:00

Day 8 was an off day since it was Sunday. It took one guy all day Saturday to build the first sitting wall.

Day 9 - Worked on the sitting wall around our basement egress window . . .

Today is Day 10 and there's still some work to be done. They have to finish one sitting wall, set the pavers in sand, lay down the stone walkway to the driveway, and finish all the electrical. Will keep you posted!

The Sitting Wall

2009-07-28T10:35:00.001-07:00

Day 7 - The sitting wall under the pergola is finished - it feels like Napa! . . .

Deck Railing

2009-07-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Day 6 - The deck railing finally arrives and is installed, but the sitting wall is untouched. This project is starting to take forever . . .

Patio Pavers

2009-07-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

Day 5 - The pavers are put down and the "new" sitting wall is prepped . . .

Patio Snafu

2009-07-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Day 4 - They installed the sitting wall wrong so it has to be redone . . .

Patio - Cement poured

2009-07-28T10:26:00.001-07:00

Day 3 - We FINALLY get a better idea of what the patio will look like because they poured the cement base - LOVE it!. . .

The Patio

2009-07-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

More supplies arrive - the sitting wall capstones. Still waiting on the deck railing . . .

They FINALLY start on the patio!
Day 1 - Clearing out all the sod . . .

and setting up a level line for the patio height . . .

Day 2 - Clearing out all the dirt and digging a trough for the gutter . . .

and lining the final border of the patio with boards (it changed again!) . . .

Outlining the Patio

2009-07-28T10:04:00.003-07:00

My multiple attempts at drawing an outline for the patio and sitting wall (already made a couple of changes from the original vision) . . .

Trying to make sure the dining furniture will fit on the patio even though we're still waiting on the table! . . .

Deck Furniture

2009-07-28T09:52:00.001-07:00

After the deck was finished, we had to wait a couple of days for the patio team to begin. In the meantime, our furniture arrived and I couldn't wait to set it up . . .

The firepit in front of the future sitting wall under the pergola . . .

The sectional and coffee table on the deck . . .

The new view from the foyer and family room . . .

Deck Stairs and Pergola

2009-07-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Day 3 - The deck stairs are added and the pergola is installed . . .

The deck

2009-07-28T09:36:00.001-07:00

Supplies arrived and took over our driveway . . .

Evergrain Composite Decking in Cedar for the deck and Cedar for the pergola . . .

and EP Henry Pavers in Dakota Blend for the Patio and PA Fieldstone for the sitting walls . . .

End of Day 1 - Holes dug for the pergola and deck posts . . .

Day 2 . . .

Deck built and foundation for pergola poured . . .

Backyard Renovation Project

2009-07-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

For the last three weeks, we have been renovating our backyard by adding a deck and patio. Hopefully everything will wrap up by the end of this week. What do you think?

The vision . . .

Before . . .

Noah at 10 Months Old

2009-07-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

Here's pics of Noah when he turned 10 Months Old last month . . .

Margarite's Baby Shower

2009-07-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

On June 20, I went to Margarite's Baby Shower at her house. Maggie Mae is almost here! . . .

The happy parents-to-be . . .

Yummy Georgetown cupcakes - the strawberry was REALLY good! . . .

Some cute gifts from her sorority sisters . . .

I got her a clothesline and my favorite swaddle blankets . . .

Group pic . . .

Congrats Margarite and Matt!

Mike's 1st Father's Day . . .

2009-07-21T08:02:00.001-07:00

On June 21, we celebrated Mike's first Father's Day with Noah . . .

DC BBQ Battle

2009-07-21T06:45:00.001-07:00

On June 27, we headed down to the annual DC BBQ Battle for some yummy lunch and then went over to the waterfront to check out the seafood selection . . .

There was a ton of food at the BBQ Battle from foot long corn dogs to turkey legs to funnel cakes to ribs of all kinds! . . .

Then we enjoyed some fresh oysters and crab cakes at the waterfront . . .

Noah had a ton of fun with his Daddy . . .

We even saw the President's helicoptor, Marine One . . .

GREAT family outing with the hubby and baby :)

Sharona's Wedding Shower

2009-07-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

Went to my friend's wedding shower on Sunday. It was at a cute French restaurant called La Ferme in Chevy Chase, MD . . .

The guest of honor . . .

The favors were bottle openers shaped like high heels . . . VERY cute! . . .

My team won the veil decorating contest! . . .

Time for some gifts! . . .

Having fun with aperture . . .

With the bride to be . . .

One last group shot . . .

Noah is 11 Months Old!

2009-07-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

And he got his first tooth this weekend :) Can you see it?

Napa/Russian River Valley/Sonoma

2009-07-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

In the beginning of June, we took a trip to Napa Valley with our friends Randy and Daphne to meet up with Abby and Kris from Sacramento. This was our third trip to the area and as usual it was a fabulous time of with great food, great wine, and even greater friends.

Day 1 – Napa
Left at 7AM on Virgin America for San Fran. Nice flight. Inflight satellite TV, guest chat, and games! Sat all the way in the back and took forever to get off the plane, claim our bags, and pick up the rental so left San Fran a little later than expected and got to Napa a little late. Missed our first lunch reservation at Ubuntu :(. Oh well next time. Had lunch at Oakville Grocery instead – classic Napa spot. Beautiful weather for an outdoor picnic. Had the ham and brie.

Light lunch at Oakville Grocery . . .

Our travelmates - Randy and Daphne
*Never had time to upload the rest of my pics. To see all our pics from the trip, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/munoz.arlene/NapaRussianRiverValleySonomaSanFranciscoTrip#

1:00 Sit down tasting at Caymus. Group of 10 including some Europeans. Older crowd. Serious enophiles. Loved the wines, didn’t care for the lecture. Tasting ran long (a little more than an hour) cause others asked lots of questions like where the grape picking machines were made and our host insulted the French! Nice tasting room though. We tried –

2:30 Drove down the Silverado Trail to Pine Ridge. Had their wines at Sonoma Restaurant in DC. Loved it. Joined the wine club. Sal recommended visiting the winery. Great pick. Sit down tasting with one other couple in the wine cave. Nice ambiance. Very romantic. Private, but not snobby. Host was great. Knowledgeable and interesting. Casual but special. Tasted 6 wines in the cave (3 from bottle, 3 from barrel) with an assortment of cheese and crackers plus two more in the tasting room. We were here for about an hour and a half. Tasting was complimentary for club members.

4:15 Drove up the street to Robert Sinesky. This was recommended by the guy from the Napa Wine Project. My criteria was walk in tasting close to Pine Ridge with quality wine. Didn’t disappoint. Walked in at 4:15. They close at 4:30 but the host still welcomed us warmly. Came with another group of 4 who happened to be her friends so she comped all of us since she couldn’t open up a new bottle for one of the vintages after “last call” and she didn’t have enough condiments for each of us. Nice tasting to end Day 1. Had three tastings here and ate every last thing she fed us but I couldn’t tell you much else since at this point I didn’t even remember tasting wine #2. ;) Fed the coi fish and took some pics. Headed off to the B&B.

5:00 Check in. Stayed at Maison Fleurie. This is our third Four Sisters Inn that we have stayed at. LOVE this chain. Not your typical Victorian floral B&B. Very cozy. Lovely beds, yummy breakfasts, and fabulous location. Stayed in one of the petit queen rooms. It had no TV and just enough room for us and our luggage but we didn’t mind since we knew we were just sleeping here. After check in, grabbed some complimentary wine and cheese from the B&B “happy hour” and headed up to the outdoor balcony where we chilled for a bit before getting ready for dinner. The B&B also has a pool and hot tub, but we didn’t use them.

6:30 Redd. Had the 5 course tasting menu. Ate here last time we were in Yountville and although there are so many great places to eat we could not pass up another opportunity to eat here cause it was the best meal of my life! Had enough wine for the day so I stuck with water but the boys got the wine pairing and Daphne was able to get a customized vegetarian tasting. Had the himachi, lobster risotto, lamb, corn fritters. Absolutely wonderful.

9:30 Walked the 300 feet back to the hotel. Called it an early night since we were still on East Coast time, had been up since 4:30AM, and were going on 2 hours of sleep.

Day 2 – Napa/Russian River Valley

5:30 Woke up. Jet lagged. Called Noah on the web cam. Such a good boy for Lolo and Lola! Mike went for an early morning run then we watched the hot air balloons fly away (maybe next time we’ll try it!). So pretty! And took a walk around Yountville (everything is only half a block from the B&B).

8:00 Met up with Randy and Daphne for a bike ride around the vineyards and town. Did a little off roading. I think I surprised everyone with my biking skills. I might not be athletic but I know how to ride a bike people! Bikes were complementary from the B&B.

9:00 Just in time for a yummy breakfast of quiche, home fries, fruit, cereal, and all the other usuals. Dining room was super cozy with two large love seats by a fireplace and other bistro style tables. Met some other guests but no one of interest. Signed the B&B guestbook. Packed up our stuff. Grabbed some complimentary sodas for the road. Took some pics, checked out, and we were off.

Drove through Yountville one last time (there was a line out the door at Bouchon Bakery! And took the scenic route back to 29. Stopped at the Napa Valley sign for some obligatory “we were here” pics and headed off to meet Abby and Kris at Russian River Valley. Driving through Napa Valley is such a great drive!

10:45 Got to Siduri a little early for our 11:00 appointment. Abs and Kris were running a little late so we didn’t start tasting until about 11:15 but it was worth the wait. Siduri was recommended by Food and Wine as one of Napa and Sonoma’s Best Winery Tours. There is nothing to tour here though. The tasting is in a warehouse type district. No rolling hills of grapes here. They get all their grapes from elsewhere. We had an appointment and much to our luck they had an open house the day before. For us, this meant we got to taste all the leftovers – 16 – yup SIXTEEN open vintages. The host was elderly, but she was chill. Very casual. Explained the wines nicely. Not pushy at all. Took pictures for us. Gave us some VERY good cheese which we devoured. We were here for about 2 hours! Split a case of Pinot with Randy and Daphne. Andy and Cat joined us too.

2:00 Had plans to grab sandwiches at the local Italian Deli Traverso’s but luckily our host at Siduri told us it was closed on Sunday’s and recommended we try Willow Market and Café in Graton. What a find! We sat at the counter and had a delicious lunch. They had a “Polenta” section of their menu which I had never heard of before. Very interesting so Mike ordered something from there and I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich. Cute restaurant/diner.

3:00 Time for more wine. Went to Martin Ray. Small quaint tasting room. Complimentary. Mike and Abs did the reserve tasting. I was almost done for the day.

4:00 Up the street was Joseph Swan. Cute barn like tasting room with huge door but got a rude welcoming when the host said we should have made an appointment for our size group. Anyway they carded us (except for Kris – hahaha!)!!! and still served us. They were doing a special tasting of library wines which apparently were not a big hit with the group. I tasted the current releases and then stopped there cause I was definitely done then.

5:00ish Drove around using the GPS in search of one last quick tasting but got lost in some “rural” wooded areas so we decided to just head to the B&B and check in. Driving through Russian River was interesting. Definitely more casual than Napa. Met the innkeeper, very nice guy and checked in. Cute B&B. Nice patio area where we opened up a bottle of wine, caught up, and hung out until dinner.

6:30 11 course – yes ELEVEN course dinner at Willi’s Wine Bar. This place is “tapas” style so we ordered what we liked and the waitress brought out enough for everyone to have a taste. EVERYTHING was fabulous. Plus we all had wine flights. Great time. Most memorable moment of the night – BONE MARROW! My favorite – Filet mignon sliders. Here’s what we ate – After the meal, the bill was actually quite less than I expected. Pleasant surprise for some great eats.

9:30 Spent the rest of the evening catching up and drinking on the patio. Great times with great friends.

Day 3 – Armstrong Redwood Reserve, Sonoma, San Francisco
7:00 Woke up early and drove 5 minutes to the Armstrong Redwood Reserve with Randy and Daphne. These are some of the tallest trees in the world. Had the option to do a hike but instead just walked about half a mile to the Parsons tree (1330 ft), took some fun pics, and headed back for some breakfast at the B&B. We definitely don’t have trees like this on the east coast!

9:00 Breakfast with the gang. Had some egg soufflé dish with cherries, blueberry scones with home made raspberry jam, fruit salad, and chicken apple sausage – SO GOOD! Then after some Bad Ass Coffee we were off to Sonoma!

11:30 Arrived at Chateau St. Jean. This was highly recommended on yelp.com and by our host at Pine Ridge. Now this is an estate. You drive up to the main house surrounded by the grapes and walk into a beautiful fragrant garden. The tasting room is also a gift shop with lots of fun wine-related products. You can do a $5 tasting at the tasting bar or you can do the $10 reserve tasting in another room. We decided to do the reserve and much to our luck, we had the option to sit on the patio for the tasting. It was an absolutely beautiful day. We had an awesome view and the wines were very good. We tasted 6 in all. Very nice staff who allowed us to take our time. We were here for about two hours.

2:30 Arrived 2 hours late for our lunch reservations at the Girl and the Fig in downtown Sonoma but luckily they still took us. The town of Sonoma was so cute! Definitely will have to spend more time here next visit. Girl and the Fig was supposed to be a light lunch but we left stuffed! Split a tower sampling of cheese and stuff and then split some mussels with Mike. Ate outside. Did I say it was a gorgeous day? After lunch had to say our final goodbyes to Abs and Kris L

4:30 Made the quick drive back down to San Francisco. Stopped by the scenic overlook for the Golden Gate Bridge to take more “we were here” pictures. Weather in San Fran was WAY different than Sonoma. It was super windy and a little chilly!

5:30 Ferry Building – Arrived with one thing in mind – OYSTERS! Hit up Hogs Island Oyster Company for their $1 oyster happy hour. The place was packed but were able to squeeze out a spot at one of the standup tables and killed 96 oysters in 15 minutes! Will came and had about 5 but other than that Randy, Mike, and I had a field day! So yummy. This was supposed to just be appetizers too! We were supposed to have dinner at Range in the Mission but instead decided to end our food fest cause we were stuffed and check out Will’s apartment in Nob Hill.

7:00 Nob Hill – Caught up with Will. Took some cool rooftop pics and headed off to the airport. Dropped off the rental at the airport, checked in, and caught the 10:35 red eye home and to see my baby. Slept the whole way J

Amazing trip. Can’t wait until our next one!

I'm back!

2009-07-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, haven't updated in a while cause a LOT has been going on. Went on vacation for a long weekend with Daphne and Randy and got to see Abby, Kris, and Will. Went to Margarite's Baby Shower. Celebrated Mike's 1st Father's day. Went to the annual DC BBQ Battle. Hosted a Cousin Crab Feast for 4th of July. Started adding a deck/patio to our backyard. Pics and posts to come soon!

Weekend Festivities . . .

2009-06-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Looking for things to do this weekend? Should be a nice weekend to get out and about.

Eastern Market re-opens - Lots of festivities to celebrate. Saturday 10AM - 6PM
NoVA Beerfest in Leesburg - $20-$25/ticket. Saturday 11-9, Sunday 11-7
National Capital BBQ Battle in downtown DC - $10/ticket. Saturday 11-9, Sunday 11-7:30
Brambleton Freedom Fest - BYOB. Fireworks.

Noah is 9 Months Old! . . .

2009-05-18T19:27:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

2009-05-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first mother's day :) Spent it with my husband and baby boy and went to see my sister in law graduate from grad school. Had a yummy ten course dinner at the new Four Sisters Restaurant with the fam. Got a great gift from Noah and Mike too. Tiring but great weekend :)

Upcoming Family Friendly DC area events

2009-05-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

May 16 and 17 10:00AM - 4:00PM Loudoun Farm Tour

May 16 11:00AM - 7:00PM National Asian Heritage Festival on Penn Ave, NW between 3rd and 6th

Wash your hands . . .

2009-05-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

You can help protect yourself and your families from the H1N1 flu by staying informed and heeding the advice provided by credible sources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The CDC recommends the following:

Stay informed. This Web site http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

Passport DC

2009-04-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Saw this on the news this morning . . . http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/calendar2532/calendar_show.htm?doc_id=76354.
Sounds like fun for the whole family.

Time . . .

2009-04-28T11:09:00.001-07:00

There just never seems to be enough hours in the day :(

2009-04-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Last year we grew some tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in our backyard. I think I want to try it again this year. Saw these plans for an Italian Garden in Better Homes and Gardens. They have lots of great vegetable garden plans. Now if only I have time to build a raised bed!

Time for a haircut . . .

2009-04-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of getting a new cut a la Katie Holmes, what do you think? Any suggestions?

DC Burger Joints . . .

2009-04-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a burger joint in DC, there’s plenty to pick from. Here’s my top 5:

Five Guys (Best all around for flavor, toppings offered, and value. Plus they have excellent fries.)
Ray's Hell Burger (Best for flavor and juiciness. These burgers are huge!)
Big Buns (These are good burgers. They offer a variety of sauces.)
Elevation Burger (Ate here once, they were good, but I’ve had better).
Good Stuff (Ate here once. Decent burger, but thought it was over-hyped and expensive.)

Noah is 8 Months Old . . .

2009-04-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Noah turned 8 months old on Saturday. My baby boy is growing up so fast! He is a mobile monster!!! He hasn't quite mastered crawling yet, but he loves to go backwards and roll around to get where he wants to go. He also loves grabbing Mommy's glasses and putting whatever he can grab in his mouth! His favorite play things are his jumperoo from his Tita Aimee and his exersaucer from his Lola Lorna and Lolo Tom. Pictures to come soon.

Stir-Fry Chicken with Green Peppers

2009-04-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

1 (8 oz.) can pineapple
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tbsp. corn oil
6 green onions, chopped
1 med. pepper
3 servings of rice

Directions
Drain pineapple. Blend 1/3 cup with cornstarch and soy sauce. Add chicken. Marinate 30 minutes. Drain, reserving syrup marinade.
Heat wok. Add corn oil. Stir-fry chicken 3-4 minutes. Push chicken to one side. Stir-fry onions 1 minute. Add peppers. Stir-fry 1 more minute.
Mix chicken and add marinade and pineapple in wok. Cook 1 minute. Serve over rice.

My thoughts: Stir frys are SUPER quick and easy to make. The short list of ingredients also make it super inexpensive (sometimes I don't even add the onions). This is my go to recipe when I have some chicken breast around and don't have a lot of time to cook. I love the crispness of the peppers with the sweetness of the pineapples. The marinade is awesome.

Ballard Designs

2009-04-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

With the country in a recession, it seems like there are SO many good sales out there to get the economy going. For example, Ballard Designs is having a Buy More Save More promotion that ends today. This cherry media cabinet was originally $1,999 but is on sale for $799.99 + 15% off with the current promotion for a final price of $671.99! That's 66% off the original price! If I find other great deals, I'll try to post them :)

A little "me" time . . .

2009-04-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

I was in training this week and went to lunch at a restaurant on my own. I went to Café Asia, a restaurant we used to frequent when we lived in Arlington and had my favorite dish, Chicken Thai Basil. At the end of my meal, I still had time to spare so I treated myself to some Mango with Sticky Rice. Noah is usually very well behaved at restaurants, but eating alone and not having to worry about if he’s grabbing something, sitting upright in his high chair, or if there’s a changing table in the restroom was quite refreshing. Taking some time for myself and enjoying a meal in peace and quiet – ahhh, it’s the little things that make a new Mom happy.

Washington Nationals

2009-04-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

On Monday we went to the Nationals Home Opener. This was the first time I've been to this park. It was a lot of fun. We baby bjorned Noah on the metro and packed up his diaper bag. I specifically got seats in left field in the back of the section so Noah would be in the shade if it was too sunny or protected if it rained. We were in Section 108 which was also near the Family Restroom. The only negative was that the seats were a little small so I had to make sure Noah wasn't grabbing the guy next to me. We lasted until about the fifth inning when the temperature started to drop. We didn't want Noah to get sick so we decided to leave early. Noah was more interested in watching the scoreboard instead of the field, but otherwise, he had a good time. He was knocked out on the way home. The park also had other things for kids to do like a playground, arcade, and family picnic area. If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer, a baseball game at the Nationals Park is a great idea!

Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1)

2009-04-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

I got my infant car seat at my baby shower. I registered for the Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1) in French Roast. I chose it for a couple of reasons. Graco is a reputable brand. They have two types of infant car seats, the SnugRide and the SafeSeat. I chose the SafeSeat because it accommodates the baby until it is 30 lbs. and 32" as opposed to 22 lbs. and 29" and so can be used longer. So far, I've loved the car seat. We use it with the matching seat base from Graco (one for each car) and the Graco SnugRider Infant Carseat Frame Stroller for the first 6 months. Haven't had any problems with the car seat except that it does not fit in a high chair or in a booth when we are at a restaurant. Otherwise, everything about this car seat is great. The straps and handle are eaily adjustable. It pops in and out of the base quickly and the shade is useful. After Noah reached about 13 lbs., it started to get too heavy for me to carry around but by then he was big enough for me to just carry in and out of the car easily.

Orzo, Pine Nut, and Feta Salad

2009-04-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

1 pound orzo
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 1/4 cups feta (6 ounces), crumbled
1 cup thinly sliced scallion greens

Directions
Cook orzo in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until tender, then drain well in a colander.
Whisk together lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl, then add hot orzo and toss. Cool orzo, then toss with pine nuts, feta, and scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper.

My thoughts: A nice alternative side dish to the usual instant mashed potatoes or rice I typically make. This is great for summer. I added halved cherry tomatoes and sliced black olives. To toast pine nuts, place in a shallow baking pan in a 350°F oven until golden, 5 to 10 minutes. It was light and refreshing, but I think it needed a touch more salt. Be forewarned, a pound of orzo makes a lot! We had a ton of leftovers. Cutting this recipe in half would probably be enough for dinner for two plus leftovers for lunch the next day. Mix in some roasted chicken and it’s a complete meal.

Redbox

2009-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

As new parents, the hubby and I haven't had a chance to go to the movies like we used to. That's okay though because now we spend our Friday nights renting movies from the local Redbox. Redbox is basically a DVD rental vending machine. Ours is located at our local grocery store. Rentals cost only $1.05/night. Returns are due by 9PM the next day. You can also sign up for their free Monday night rentals where they text you a promotion code that is good until midnight. The machines are stocked with the most recent DVDs and a couple of classics. Since we haven't been able to go to the movies, it is a great way for us to catch up on everything we've missed. Most recently we've gotten a chance to watch SlumDog Millionare, Marley & Me, Milk, and Changeling. If you want to reserve something in advance, you can do it on their website which makes checking out even quicker. The only negative to Redbox is that on Friday and Saturday nights it can be so popular that a long line can form so if you have a particular movie in mind, be sure to reserve it online first or get there early.

Danish Puffcake

2009-04-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
4 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 cup whole milk
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup (6 oz) blackberries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Place a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with 4 tbsp butter in the oven (you can also use a 10-inch skillet, but bake pancake for 20 to 22 min).

2. In a blender, combine eggs, flour, salt and milk until a thin batter forms, about 30 sec.

3. Remove pan with butter from oven and pour in batter. Return to oven and bake until pancake is puffy, golden and set, 18 to 20 min.

4. Serve from skillet or transfer pancake to a plate. Drizzle with more melted butter, if desired, and lemon juice; dust with sugar. Serve immediately with fruit. Makes 4 servings.

My thoughts: This beautiful dish is perfect for a light brunch. It is quick to make and requires minimal prep. The recipe only calls for blueberries, but I also added strawberries. I soaked the berries in the lemon juice before adding it to the puffcake instead of drizzling it directly on. It stuck to the bottom of the pan a little bit so using Pam instead of butter might help.

Chicken Cobbler Casserole

2009-04-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

6 tablespoons melted butter, divided
4 cups cubed sourdough rolls
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 medium-size sweet onions, sliced
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup white wine
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers
2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Directions
Toss 4 tablespoons melted butter with next 3 ingredients; set aside.

Sauté onions in remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat 15 minutes or until golden brown. Add mushrooms, and sauté 5 minutes.

Stir in wine and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until bubbly. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch square baking dish; top evenly with bread mixture.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

My thoughts: If you're looking for a chicken casserole recipe, this one is excellent. I really like it cause it doesn't require a lot of prep. I usually add more ingredients than what the recipe calls for so I use a large rectangle baking dish instead of a 9" square. Also when I don't have white wine around, I substitute with chicken stock.

Strawberry Shortcake . . .

2009-03-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

1 package of angel food dessert shells or cake (found in the bakery section)
1 lb. of fresh strawberries, sliced
Vanilla ice cream (I recommend Breyer’s Double Churned Vanilla)

Directions
Place one scoop of ice cream in dessert shell and surround with strawberries.

My thoughts – Looking for a super quick, easy no bake dessert that everyone will love? This is it. All of these were on sale at my local Harris Teeter this week so I picked up everything for less than $9. This made 6 individual desserts for only $1.50 each! Plus, I have a half a carton of ice cream leftover for another dessert :)

Smothered Chicken . . .

2009-03-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

4 skinned and boned chicken breasts
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 teaspoon olive oil
18 to 20 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water

Directions
Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; flatten to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dredge in breadcrumbs. Set aside.

Sauté mushrooms in 1 teaspoon hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until edges are browned. Remove from skillet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside.

Sauté garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil over medium heat 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and soft. Remove from skillet, and mash lightly with a fork or potato masher; set aside.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1/2 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium heat; add 2 chicken breasts, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken to a wire rack in a jellyroll pan. Keep chicken warm in oven at 225°. Repeat with remaining butter, oil, and chicken.

Stir chicken broth and next 3 ingredients into skillet, and cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Stir in sautéed mushrooms and garlic. Stir together 3 tablespoons flour and 1/4 cup water; whisk into broth mixture over medium-high heat. Cook 3 minutes, whisking constantly, or until thickened. Serve with chicken.

My thoughts – Got this recipe from the internet (in my opinion, don’t waste money buying cookbooks – there’s a ton of free recipes out on the web). It is from Southern Living (one of my fave magazines). Mushrooms ($1.25/8oz.) and chicken breast (buy 1 get 2 free) are on sale this week at Harris Teeter. Didn’t need to buy much else since all the other ingredients are stock pantry items which is one reason I love this recipe. Typically I like to use fresh herbs, but the dried oregano and basil worked fine. I sauteed the chicken in olive oil instead of butter and didn't waste my time keeping it warm in the oven. I used only 1 tbsp of flour since the hubby didn’t want the sauce to be too thick and heavy. Served it with plain instant mashed potatoes and some fresh tomato slices. The dish turned out great. The sauce is the stand out in this recipe. The husband especially loved the garlic. Next time I’ll probably add more mushrooms. It took me a little longer to make than expected since my son wasn’t in the mood to watch Mommy cook today and so I had to stop and entertain him at times, but otherwise it should take less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Since chicken breast is so cheap, I’ll definitely be trying more chicken recipes this week. Stay tuned!

Spring DC Family Events . . .

2009-03-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Been trying to put out more review-type blogs so here’s some up and coming family friendly activities for those in the DC area . . .

Saturday, March 28 –
43rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival (http://kitefestival.org/). We’ve been to this event several times and it is always great fun to see all the kites from huge to small filling the sky around the Washington Monument. It is a great way to welcome Spring in the DC area. Even though Noah is too young to fly his own kite, he’ll have lots to see to stimulate his senses. Weather permitting, it is a great time to pack up a picnic (eateries are far and few in this area) and enjoy it with the family on the monument grounds. This event also takes place in close proximity to the cherry blossoms on the tidal basin which are forecasted to bloom from March 28 until April 11 with the peak period from April 1-4. I drove by the cherry blossoms this morning and there wasn’t much to see, but the buds are just starting to open up. Also at the Tidal Basin are cultural performances at the Jefferson Memorial for the National Cherry Blossom Festival (http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390) which kicks off with an opening ceremony at the National Building Museum. Also at the National Building Museum is the Festival Family Day (http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/events/eng/event_display.php3?event_id=250) for those looking for indoor activities (the forecast is currently calling for 50% chance of rain) including hands-on activities for the kids, demos, and performances.

Monday, April 13 –
White House Easter Egg Roll (http://www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll/). This post is a little late since tickets went on sale and sold out yesterday. The White House decided to do something different this year and make tickets available via their website. In years past, people camped out as early as the afternoon before to attend one of these uniquely DC events that gives the public access to the white house grounds. Tickets were available and released at various times during the day; however, every time I got “thru” I got a message saying that tickets were no longer available. The website was not very user friendly, and apparently the high demand also caused the server to crash several times. Washingtonians are pissed. Anyway the event is open to children under the age of 10 so Noah still has a couple of years to get in. I would love for him to get in just once. I guess we’ll try again next year. At least the hubby is happy I won’t be making him camp out on the Elipse any time soon.

Family Time . . .

2009-03-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was all about family time. Thursday we went to dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Reston Town Center for my husband's birthday dinner. We were a group of 11 (8 adults and 3 kids). Here’s my review of the restaurant that I posted on opentable.com.

By an OpenTable.com user-->
who dined on 03/19/2009 (review submitted 03/21/2009)
Overall Rating - Very Good
Food - Very Good
Ambiance - Very Good
Service - Outstanding

Special Features: good for groups, special occasion, kid-friendly

"Went here with a group of 8 adults, a 3 year old, 1 1/2 year old, and a 7 month old for my husband's birthday. Typical Reston Town Center kid friendly upscale restaurant. The server was very attentive and patient with the group. The majority of the group had steak and frites. They were very tasty and large portions. I also had the french onion soup - very yummy. For dessert, we had Grand Marnier Souffle. Great way to end the meal. The wine list is pricey (no bottles under $50) but the bottles we had were good. Had a french martini too but have had better although the bar area is a nice place to hang out."

Sunday we were pleasantly surprised by a visit from my cousins. We convinced them to stay until the afternoon and so we had Pho for lunch, went shopping at BCBG, and then watched the boys play in a co-ed flag football league. The Pho restaurant was more expensive then others, but Mike thinks it is his new favorite in the area so we’ll definitely be back. Apparently Muri and Paul are regulars. The summer rolls were very good. BCBG was having a blowout sale and I had to refrain from overspending but I did score a cute summer top that was marked down $29 from $118! Gotta love living by the outlets. Lor and Muri also bought a couple of cute dresses. The football game was a slaughter, but Noah enjoyed watching his daddy and uncles. They didn’t do THAT bad though considering the team met for the first time less than an hour before the kick off! Oh well, more family fun planned for next weekend. Stay tuned.

Salt and Pepper Salmon and Dill Creme Fraiche with Smashed New Potatoes with Peas, Lemon, and Pearl Onions

2009-03-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Salt and Pepper Salmon

1 salmon fillet (about 2 pounds), skin on, 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick
Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

Directions
Run your finger up and down the center of the salmon feeling for any pin bones. Remove any that you find with a needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. With a sharp knife cutting across the width of the salmon, divide it into 4 equal portions. Lightly salt the salmon and let sit a couple minutes; this will help you get crispy skin.

Heat a 2-count, about 2 tablespoons, of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is almost smoking. Season the salmon with pepper, and rub about 1 1/2 tablespoons butter on the skin side of each fillet. Add the salmon to the pan, skin-side down. To get super crispy skin, cook the salmon almost to completion, about 6 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook until flesh side is nicely seared, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the salmon to a platter and top with a dollop of dill creme fraiche. Serve with the Smashed Potatoes.

Dill Creme Fraiche

1/2 cup creme fraiche
1/2 bunch fresh dill, coarsely chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon roughly chopped capers
4 cornichons, finely chopped

Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until combined.

Smashed New Potatoes with Peas, Lemon, and Pearl Onions

1 1/2 to 2 pounds red bliss potatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (10-ounce) box frozen pearl onions, defrosted
Pinch sugar
Splash freshly squeezed lemon juice
5 slices lemon
2 (10-ounce) boxes frozen peas, defrosted
1 lemon, zested
Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
1/4 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 heaping tablespoons roughly chopped fresh dill
1 bunch watercress, stems trimmed just above the rubber band

Directions

Put the potatoes into a large pot, cover them with cold water, and add a large pinch of salt. If they're large, cut them in half. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain. Stick a fork into the potatoes, 1 at a time, lift them out of the colander and peel with a paring knife. Toss the potatoes into a bowl and roughly crush them. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil with the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the pearl onions, sugar, and lemon juice and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the lemon slices, peas, and lemon zest and continue cooking until the peas are hot. Season with salt and pepper. Dump the vegetables over the potatoes in the bowl, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil add the parsley and dill and taste for salt and pepper. Scatter the watercress over the top, fold it in just until it wilts and call it a day.

My thoughts: To quote my husband, "This is the best dish you have EVER made!" This was the first time I made this recipe and based on his reaction, I would say it was a success. The recipe is from Tyler Florence's Ultimate. I didn't follow the recipe exactly. When cooking the salmon, I melted the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds and used a brush to generously spread evenly on the salmon skin. I substituted sour cream for creme fraiche. Although the recipe calls for 1/2 cup, I used an 8oz. container of sour cream cause I didn't want to waste anything and just added more dill and a drained 3 fl. oz. jar of capers. I couldn't find cornichons so I didn't use them. I plan on using the extra creme fraiche as a dip for pita slices. When I picked up all the ingredients for the potatoes at the grocery, I thought 2 lbs. weren't enough so I used a 3 lb. bag of red potatoes instead. Peeling the potatoes was a pain, literally. I thought I was going to burn my fingers off.

In the end, the salmon was just the right amount of crispy. The dill "creme fraiche" pulled everything together and was delicious. The potatoes were light and lemony and a definite step up from my usual go to betty crocker instant mashed potatoes. Hahaha.

The recipe was pretty easy. So easy I could probably make it on a week night too especially since the creme fraiche can be made ahead of time.

Noah loved cooking with Mommy and Daddy today . . .

Chicken Piccata Pasta Toss

2009-03-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/3 pounds chicken breast tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white wine
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup chicken broth or stock
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 pound penne rigate pasta, cooked to al dente
Chopped or snipped chives, for garnish

Directions
Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and the chicken to the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken until lightly golden all over, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and return the skillet to the heat.

Reduce heat to medium. Add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter, the garlic and shallots to the skillet. Saute garlic and shallots 3 minutes. Add flour and cook 2 minutes. Whisk in wine and reduce liquid 1 minute. Whisk lemon juice and broth into sauce. Stir in capers and parsley. When the liquid comes to a bubble, add remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter to the sauce to give it a little shine. Add chicken back to the pan and heat through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Toss hot pasta with chicken and sauce and serve. Adjust salt and pepper, to your taste. Top with fresh snipped chives.

My thoughts: Another great Rachel Ray recipe. I usually make the following substitutions: 1 medium onion instead of shallots, extra chicken broth instead of white wine, and bow tie pasta instead of penne. This recipe is great cause we always have enough leftovers for lunch the next day and it tastes even better!

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Roll-ups with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

2009-03-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

16 cremini caps, cleaned with a damp towel and finely chopped in food processor
1 small yellow-skinned onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
Salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or the equivalent of freshly grated
2 cups part skim ricotta
8 curly edge lasagna noodles, cooked to al dente (12 to 14 minutes)
1 cup fat free chicken broth
8 ounces Gorgonzola, crumbled
1/2 cup (3 turns around the pan) heavy cream
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

Directions
In a medium skillet over moderate heat, saute mushrooms, chopped onions, and garlic in oil until mushrooms give off their juices and darken and onions are tender, about 7 or 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; the salt will help draw water out of the vegetables as they cook.
Add dry chopped spinach to the pan and heat through for 1 minute. Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and a little nutmeg. Add ricotta and stir into mixture to heat cheese through, 1 minute longer. Remove pan from heat but leave in the warm skillet.

Heat broth in a small pan over moderate heat. Melt Gorgonzola into broth and bring liquid to a bubble. Stir in cream and thicken sauce 2 minutes.

Place cooked lasagna noodles on a large work surface or cutting board. Spread lasagna noodles with a layer of spinach-mushroom filling. Roll up pasta and arrange the 8 bundles in a shallow casserole dish. Pour warm sauce over roll-ups and top with mozzarella. Place casserole under broiler to melt cheese.

Serve with steamed asparagus and broiled tomatoes.

My thoughts: This is one of my go to non-meat/non-seafood (i.e. vegetarian) recipes. It is very filling and tasty especially the sauce. We had it with roasted chicken, asparagus, and tomatoes.

Sesame Chicken, Shiitake and Bok Choy Pasta

2009-03-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

3/4 pound thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh gingerroot
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1-1/2 pounds baby bok choy, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces
8 ounces dried whole-wheat pasta, such as spaghettini
1-1/2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

Directions
1. Rinse and pat chicken dry. Place in a resealable plastic bag with 2 tablespoons lime juice, soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic, and 1 teaspoon gingerroot. Reseal bag and marinate chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade to a plate.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot and cook chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 4 minutes total. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep covered. In same skillet, cook mushrooms in remaining oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until just tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a bowl. Add chicken broth and remaining garlic and gingerroot to skillet with bok choy, and simmer until vegetables are crisp tender, about 3 minutes. Keep warm in skillet, covered.

3. Cook pasta in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander. Add pasta, mushrooms, and sesame oil to skillet and simmer, gently stirring, for about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining lime juice.

4. Cut chicken crosswise into slices. Transfer pasta to dishes and top with chicken. Makes 4 servings.

My thoughts: The longer you marinate the chicken, the better. The chicken was great and full of flavor. Next time I would use asian noodles instead of whole wheat pasta. The sauce was good, but I felt like it was missing something to give it that extra kick. Definitely something to try again but next time will experiment with the sauce a little more.

Update . . .

2009-03-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Been a busy bee lately. No time to post :( When the weather was nice, we spent a family day in DC. Hit up the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market and then the zoo. From the zoo, we took a nice walk down to 2 Amys for lunch and then headed home . . .

Chowing down on a yummy pumpkin muffin with cream cheese icing at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market . . .

Watching the mama gorilla and her baby with my little monkey . . .

After seeing the lions, tigers, orangutans, elephants, and hippos, Noah was pooped . . .

After a nice stroll down Macomb, we finally arrived at 2 Amys. Noah wanted to try my pizza! . . .

Noah had a ton of fun with Mommy and Daddy! . . .

Last weekend our friend Wendel from CA came for a visit to meet Noah . . .

Noah is 7 Months Old . . .

2009-03-18T17:14:00.001-07:00

Spicy Shrimp and Spaghetti Aglio Olio (Garlic and Oil)

2009-02-26T18:34:00.001-08:00

Spicy Shrimp:
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (a couple of handfuls)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
Coarse salt, about 1 teaspoon
2 tablespoons (a couple of generous drizzles) extra-virgin olive oil

Aglio Olio:
1/4 cup (4 turns around the pan in a light stream) extra-virgin olive oil
1 (2-ounce) tin anchovy fillets
6 to 8 large cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley, a couple of handfuls
Coarse salt
1 pound spaghetti, cooked to al dente

Combine shrimp with next 6 ingredients and toss to coat shrimp evenly. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium high heat, then add half of the shrimp. Cook shrimp 3 minutes until pink and just firm. Remove shrimp to a warm platter and repeat process with remaining shrimp.
Return pan to heat and reduce heat to medium low. Add 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Add anchovies, garlic, and pepper flakes to oil. Break up anchovies with a wooden spoon until they melt away into the oil and garlic mixture.
Toss spaghetti in the pan with parsley and the garlic oil, then season with a little coarse salt, to your taste. Top servings of garlic and oil spaghetti with spicy shrimp.

My thoughts: This is THE recipe that made me love Rachel Ray's cooking. It is super easy, super quick, inexpensive (especially when shrimp is on sale!), and extremely tasty. It is probably my husband's favorite meal that I cook for him. The red pepper flakes give the dish a nice amount of heat and the garlic gives it an intense flavor = a very yummy meal!

Apple Charlotte with Cinnamon Sabayon

2009-02-25T13:09:00.000-08:00

For the filling:
1/2 stick unsalted butter
4 medium Granny Smith apples
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the batter:
2 large eggs
1/4 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for greasing ramekins
2 tablespoons sugar, for ramekins, plus extra for top
20 slices brioche bread, crust removed

Cinnamon sabayon, recipe follows

Begin by making the filling. Set a large saute pan or roasting pan over medium heat and add butter. Peel and cut cheeks off apples then cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Once butter has melted and just starting to foam, add apples, scraped vanilla bean and pod, lemon juice, and brown sugar and cinnamon. Toss to coat well and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until apples are just tender and liquid has evaporated. The sauce will caramelize slightly and should be a nice, rich dark color.
In a shallow dish, make the batter by combining eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir with a whisk until fully combined. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and generously butter and sugar 4 (1-cup) ramekins. Invert a ramekin, or use a round cutter, on half of the bread slices to use as a guide to cut out circles. These will be the bases and top of the charlottes - you should have 8 in total. Cut the other slices of bread in half lengthwise. Working with the circles. lightly coat in the batter and place in the bottom of each ramekin. Lightly dip the other rectangles of bread in batter as well, then use them to line the walls of each ramekin - standing them upright around the perimeter leaving an overhang that you will later use to fold over and seal the charlotte. It should take about 6 strips per ramekin. Fill each mold with apples and some of the caramel from the pan. Fold over the edges to seal it up completely and sprinkle the tops with a little sugar. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. If the tops brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. When done, the bread will have puffed up slightly, the edges will be brown and the sugar on top will have caramelized. Allow to cool slightly, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto individual plates. Serve with cinnamon sabayon.

Cinnamon Sabayon:
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup calvados or apple liqueur
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
Splash water

To make sabayon, combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set over a pot of boiling water on low heat, i.e. a double boiler. Whisk (you can use an electric whisk to make it easier) until the mixture becomes light and fluffy and the volume almost doubles.

The filling . . .

The batter . . .

Fresh out of the oven . . .

My thoughts: We substituted apple liqueur with an equal amount of rum, but the rum was a tab bit too strong. Also be sure you use clear apple liqueur and not sour apple schnapps which is green and will affect the color of the sabayon. Be sure to butter the ramekins thoroughly as we had difficulty removing them from the ramekins. Very tasty dessert and easy to make. Like an apple pie with a twist.

Weekend update . . .

2009-02-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Lots going on this past weekend. Met up with Sharona at Sonoma for Restaurant Week. I love going to Sonoma for Restaurant Week cause I truly believe that they offer the best deal in town for this semi annual event. Unlike most participating restaurants, Sonoma allows diners to select anything from their menu rather than one or two pre-selected items and serves full portions. For the first course, diners are allowed to select one item from the charcuterie, starters and salads, or firsts section of the menu. For the second course, diners are allowed to select a pizza, a doubled first, or a second. The third course is either two cheeses or a dessert. This time around I started with the risotto truffle (divine!), then I had the pork porterhouse (yummy!), and I finished my meal with the chocolate trifle and sabayon (heavenly!). To go with my meal, I had the Alexander Valley Vineyards “Temptation” Zinfandel. Sharona and I had a great time catching up while Mike took care of Noah. We talked for 3.5 hours straight! Good time with an old friend!

Saturday was all about the taxes (ugh) sprinkled in with plenty of play time with Noah (hooray). The day ended with a fabulous steak with blue cheese butter and frites dinner courtesy of Mike – another yummy meal!

On Sunday we got to meet up with Randy and Daphne for dim sum at Fortune. Again SO yummy! We got a chance to catch up on what everyone’s been up to since the holidays and started planning our trip to Napa – can’t wait! Then we headed over to Alexandria for my friend’s kid’s 2^nd birthday party. There was a play room filled with mats and a ball pit. Noah was too young to play with any of the other kids, but he had fun playing with me and Mike doing some tummy time and standing exercises. Several people thought he was a girl (and this wasn’t the first time) despite his outfit. Is it time to cut the hair?! He was pretty cranky the rest of the day but I wasn’t sure if it was cause of the busy morning/early afternoon or cause he is teething or both. Either way, he woke up at 1AM again. After three weeks of decent sleep, am I in for another round of sleepless nights?!

Valentine's Day

2009-02-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

Mike gave me these . . .

Noah having a good time in his exersaucer (thanks Lola Lorna and Lolo Tom!) . . .

We went over to Mae's and Dennis's for Valentine's Day Dinner and made Apple Charlotte (recipe to follow) . . .

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

2009-02-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

14 ounce(s) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
6 tablespoon(s) Unsweetened Cocoa
12 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
6 tablespoon(s) sugar
1 1/2 cup(s) cake flour
1 cup(s) heavy cream
3 cup(s) fresh raspberries
1 pinch of salt

In mixing bowl, mix butter, sugar and salt until creamy. Add cocoa; mix until smooth. Add flour; mix until crumbly. Shape into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Roll out into circle between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. If dough gets too soft, refrigerate until firm before continuing. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap; invert dough circle over a nonstick tart pan with removable bottom. Keeping plastic wrap on top side, press dough into bottom and sides of pan. Trim excess dough; carefully peel off plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat oven to 375ºF. Prick bottom of tart shell all over with fork. Bake about 15 minutes or until dough looks dry. Cool completely in pan.

In saucepan over medium heat, bring cream to simmer. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Let sit until chocolate melts; whisk gently to combine. Cool to room temperature; pour chocolate mixture into tart shell. Refrigerate tart at least 1 hour or until filling is firm. Carefully remove tart from pan. Arrange raspberries decoratively on top of filling.

Making the dough . . .

Rolling out the dough . . .

Making the shell . . .

The shell . . .

Adding the filling and some raspberries . . .

The finished product sprinkled with confectioners sugar . . .

My thoughts: Very easy and inexpensive (depending on the chocolate used - I used Ghirardelli)recipe. Very rich flavor and must try for chocoholics. The shell is more of a crunchy cookie/wafer consistency instead of a chewy graham cracker crust consistency. Be sure the chocolate is firm before adding the raspberries. It tasted even better the day after.

More updates . . .

2009-02-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

Video of Noah laughing when we went downtown. LOVE his little giggle . . .

Time Flies By . . .

2009-02-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

Wow, Noah just turned 6 months old. Crazy how quickly time seems to be flying by. It’s going by so quickly it seems like I am always playing catch up. I think part of the reason for this is cause of information overload. It seems like I am constantly checking all the latest updates on blogspot, fb, myspace, friendster, etc. to see what everyone is up to as well as updating my own status. Even something as simple as uploading pics seems to take up more time than necessary. Once a picture is taken, I have to download it to my computer, and then upload it to shutterfly. While on shutterfly, I have to email it to my family and update my annual photobook (for an event this means selecting just the right set of pics out of many and cropping if necessary). In addition I also have to upload it to blogspot if mentioned in a post as well as upload it to multiple online social networks if I feel like sharing them that way. Hmmm . . . what used to be an enjoyable experience now eats away at precious minutes I could be doting on Noah or spending time with the hubby and friends. I think it is time to simplify my life.

In other news, since I haven’t had time to blog in about a month, here’s what I’ve been up to. Mike’s cousin Cathy came down for a visit and got to meet Noah . . .

Had a blast watching the Super Bowl at Mae and Dennis’s and made Ghirardelli chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder and pecans . . .

Started planning a trip out to Napa with our friends Randy, Daphne, Abby, and Kris (Mom and Dad are going to watch Noah). Can’t wait! Two weekends ago, it was unseasonably warm and so spent the day with the family down in Capitol Hill. Noah used his full sized stroller for the first time and loved it (Thanks Aim!!!). It was a perfect day.

I’ve been making desserts in my spare time. Two weeks ago made a Ghirardelli Chocolate Raspberry Tart which apparently was a hit with my neighbors and Mae’s co-workers. Then for Valentine’s Day made Apple Charlotte with Sabayon (Tyler Florence’s recipe) with Mike. Very yummy! For Valentine’s Day, had dinner with Mae, Dee, Melvin, Lisette, and the kids. Mike got me a beautiful arrangement of flowers. I guess that’s all for now.

Noah's 6 Months Old . . .

2009-02-18T05:42:00.001-08:00

Holy Inflation!

2009-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

Went to Wendy's today after 12:00 mass to grab a quick, cheap snack on the way home and was surprised to find out that they no longer have a $.99 menu! A small chili is now $1.59. A crispy chicken sandwich and the chicken nuggets are $1.39 a piece. That is a 40-60% mark up! RIDICULOUS!!! This economy is going down the tubes.

Noah at 5 Months

2009-02-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

OK, pics are now working on the Mac. Here's pics of Noah in January on his 5 Month birthday. he faux-hawk is evolving!

Cathy visits . . .

2009-02-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Cathy was in town for work so she stopped by for a visit . . .

Let it snow! . . .

2009-02-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

Pics from Noah's first snowfall . . .

2009-02-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry haven't blogged in a while cause I'm having problems uploading pictures for one reason or another. Will try to figure out what the issue is this weekend.

Where did January go?

2009-01-14T17:58:00.002-08:00

Life has been pretty hectic since the new year, so here's a brief update on me. Pics to come soon (hopefully). I chopped off my hair. I wanted to get it short like a haircut I used to have back when I was in my early 20's but it turned out to look more like a plain old bob. Now I have mommy hair :/ Need highlights or something to spruce it up but that will have to wait until I get some free time again. I was finally able to use the gift certificate Muriel gave me as a bridesmaid gift for a much needed 90 minute massage. It was heaven. THANKS Muri! In an attempt to make some extra money I started eBaying. I've already sold one purse :). I also went into ticket brokering and sold some tickets to the Jay-Z Inauguration Concert. It was too much work and stress so don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon. But it taught me that craigslist.com sucks. Mike got to go to the concert though and had an amazing time. Mary J, Beyonce, and TI all performed. Check out Mike's Blog for pics and video. In other news, NKOTB is hosting a cruise. First thoughts, BIG mistake. I guess they are going to run this reunion thing into the ground. Oh well, the cruise sold out in 48 hours so I guess there's still some crazies out there. Tuesday was the inauguration. Mike and Jason were going to attempt to go down to the Mall but when we woke up and saw the crowds, decided against it. Instead we dropped Noah off at daycare, had breakfast with Mae, Dee, and Eric, and then watched all the festivities on TV at home. It was a very exciting day. So many tourists in DC. It was great! Since it was so cold, we didn't get a chance to participate in any of the inauguration events like the balls. I've always wanted to go to an inaugural ball but didn't get a chance to go when I was in college (can't remember why). Anyway, the Neighborhood Ball looked way more fun than the Youth Ball. Oh well maybe in another 4 years. I had off until Thursday due to MLK Day, the Inauguration, and a work from home day so got a lot done, but now I'm sick. Does it ever end?! So that's briefly some of the things I've been up to. Will have to start writing "real" posts soon. Until then. Later.

Another week . . .

2009-01-14T17:58:00.001-08:00

Lots going on. No time to blog. Got a haircut. Pics to come. Got a massage (Thanks Muri!). Selling Jay-Z tickets. Inauguration around the corner. DC is going to be crazy! NKOTB is having a concert cruise. It is almost sold out. Not for me though. Will try to blog more this weekend.

The Big Move to Blogspot

2009-01-07T19:22:00.001-08:00

I've been blogging on xanga for years at http://www.xanga.com/silenta, but since my husband won't stop nagging me to move over to blogspot - here I am. Welcome to my world, Life According to "Silent A"