Joseph plays disc golf about twice a week. Sometimes he travels to a new course (there are about 25 to choose from in a 60 mile radius, it's more popular than you think) but usually he goes to the rec center in Burnet, which is about 20 minutes from our house. The disc golf course is spread out and interwoven around a forest, baseball diamond, creek and a running trail. It works out really well for us, I run, he plays, then we meet for a picnic before I go to work. We used to go out for lunch whenever we were out and about during the week, but I started packing "picnics" recently as a way to use more leftovers and save money. And thank God I did, how could I not have known that a picnic I made under a tree with Joseph would be way better than any crappy restaurant in Marble Falls? It is, way better, that is! Anyway, on Mondays since we are both off, we either go to Austin or we go to Burnet to exercise all day. I also recently realized that there was a swimming pool inside the rec center. So now, we go about an hour earlier and run and then swim.
It has been three weeks since I added swimming to my exercise routine. It's going really well and I am so happy that I decided to start swimming again. I swam for several years when I was a kid. I was really good, and would have been so much better if I had actually worked a little at it. But with almost everything in my youth, I didn't give a shit and did the minimum requirement, so my swimming career stalled out shortly after highschool started. Don't get my mom started, I can't bear to think of her reliving the "you've got more athletic talent in your thumb than I do in my whole body and you're wasting it!" saga that plagued my childhood. Anyway, all that half ass swimming has made actually swimming in adulthood much easier. So, at least it isn't going completely to waste. And thanks for all the early rides to the pool, Mom.
Yesterday, I was especially pleased. We had Cooper with us because Joseph is trying to train him to be a disc golf dog. He's a spaz about the disc when we first get there, so I make him run with me before I turn him over to Joseph, tired and more able to concentrate. He was mad yesterday because he could see Joseph playing but I was dragging him the other way trying to make him run. I took a quick 30 minute jog (Coop finally won and got to go play with Joseph after only 15 minutes) and then went in for the most bad ass workout in the pool. I swam 80 laps, 2000 yards in under and hour. I'm pretty out of touch with swimming routines and training but I have come up with a nice way to get in there and really pile up the laps. I use a kickboard for part of the laps, which I look at like walking during a run. A good pace for me is to kick 200yds (8 laps) and then swim three 100s (4 laps) with 15 seconds between them. After the third 100 I am out of breath and need the 200 of kicking to rest. Kicking is rest, but still crazy exercise that burns my thigh muscles and all the way up into my back and belly. I did 200 kick/300 swim four times and felt so great when I was done. I was starving (the lifeguard was eating tacos (weird, huh?) at the end of my lane and I stared at her while kicking and though so hard about the chicken I was going to eat later!) and my body felt like it would collapse into a puddle if I let it. I took a quick shower and then met Joseph and Cooper for lunch. After lunch, Joseph played one more round while Cooper and I read People magazine under a tree. Then we went home and made the best chicken dinner ever. A nice day indeed.
I won a 15 minute back massage on a bet earlier in the day. My back and shoulders are pretty sore, so I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I fell asleep 2 minutes into it and I question whether I actually received the whole 15 minutes. Hmm.
I still haven't really lost much weight, according to the scale. But changes are very apparent physically. My legs are great, seriously. I have slowly watched them morph from round and flabby to slender and defined. There is still fat on my thighs and butt, but remarkably less than a year ago. I have gone from a size 12, to an 8. I can still wear some pants that are 10s and even a pair of 12s, but the way they fit is incredible. My butt is so much smaller and it is actually a round, semi-tight ass, which is separate from my lower back, which is also sporting some new spine and muscle definition. I think before it just all blended together. I have enjoyed watching my body slowly change over the last 9 months, and look forward to seeing how much better I can make it. In January I will post some before and after pictures in a, Amy Becomes a Runner: One year later blog. Because I'm not on a diet, I eat whatever I want and there is no stress about it. I am very in tune with my body though and it's easier for me to decipher what my body wants and needs to eat and drink, not what I want to eat, which keeps over-eating under control. I try to eat only nuts, fruits, salads and small sandwiches during the day for energy. Dinner is a free-for-all, but I don't like to feel full when I go to bed, so I don't eat too much. I also only drink water, diet coke, coffee with skim milk, wine or beer on my days off and juice occasionally. I didn't set out to change my whole mindset when I started running. Maybe I did, but didn't know it and certainly didn't know how.
There was no way for me to know that this "diet" (that I started in January) would be the one that stuck for me. I like to think that I was finally in a place where I could focus on growth, as opposed to survival. Once the pressure secure myself to something stable had passed, I was able to thrive. This life I lead with Joseph is remarkable. Physical fitness is the first of the many aspects of life that we will master together.
our story, as it happens
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
kick ass chicken
Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Dinner last night was A-MAZ-ING! I know I've said that many times with other food posts, but when it's true, it's true.
Mustard Grilled Chicken
I made a marinade out of toasted herbs and seeds (oregano, basil, parsley, mustard seed, cumin seed) combined with lemon juice, ground dijon mustard and olive oil. I used a whole chicken, which I cut the back-bone out of and then cut in half, giving me two pieces, each with a drumstick, thigh, breast & wing. A whole chicken is usually about $1 a pound, around here anyway, so it's economical and amazing!
To go with the grilled chicken I made a pan sauce with the drippings. Um, holy crap! Joseph said it was "the best sauce I've ever tasted on anything", and I agree. After the chicken came off the grill, we finished it in the oven. Then I used that pan with all the grill and chicken gunk and juices in it, sauteed onions and garlic in a bit of butter, deglazed with white wine, then added reduced beef stock, milk and butter.
Buttered Spaetzle
Oh My GOODNESS! I love spaetzle. I have to make spaetzle every week at Cafe 909, so I got some good practice there before making it at home. It's not hard at all, and after you do it once, the technique is simple. I made the dough on Sunday so it could rest overnight. I don't have a spaetzle press (never seen one actually) so Joseph and I came up with an old fryer basket, which worked perfectly. It's just a matter of pressing the dough through whatever holed thing you've got into salted boiling water. It takes about 2 minutes for the spaetzle to start floating, then it's done. Before serving, I toasted it with butter and bread crumbs. We also had ginger glazed carrots.
Mustard Grilled Chicken
I made a marinade out of toasted herbs and seeds (oregano, basil, parsley, mustard seed, cumin seed) combined with lemon juice, ground dijon mustard and olive oil. I used a whole chicken, which I cut the back-bone out of and then cut in half, giving me two pieces, each with a drumstick, thigh, breast & wing. A whole chicken is usually about $1 a pound, around here anyway, so it's economical and amazing!
To go with the grilled chicken I made a pan sauce with the drippings. Um, holy crap! Joseph said it was "the best sauce I've ever tasted on anything", and I agree. After the chicken came off the grill, we finished it in the oven. Then I used that pan with all the grill and chicken gunk and juices in it, sauteed onions and garlic in a bit of butter, deglazed with white wine, then added reduced beef stock, milk and butter.
Buttered Spaetzle
Oh My GOODNESS! I love spaetzle. I have to make spaetzle every week at Cafe 909, so I got some good practice there before making it at home. It's not hard at all, and after you do it once, the technique is simple. I made the dough on Sunday so it could rest overnight. I don't have a spaetzle press (never seen one actually) so Joseph and I came up with an old fryer basket, which worked perfectly. It's just a matter of pressing the dough through whatever holed thing you've got into salted boiling water. It takes about 2 minutes for the spaetzle to start floating, then it's done. Before serving, I toasted it with butter and bread crumbs. We also had ginger glazed carrots.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fish & Chips
That was our culinary conquest today, Fish and Chips. Joseph saw Tyler Florence do his Ultimate Fish & Chips and he was inspired and chose that to make this weekend. We had beer battered flounder, hush puppies and French Fries that meant Joseph got to use the crazy expensive and elaborate mandolin that he got me for Christmas last year. We rarely use it because I never want to clean it. We used our semi-new wok as the fryer and we broke in our brand new "spider", that I got at the outlet mall is Destin in August.
We didn't have the fish and chips until dinner time, so we snacked on cheese and crackers and some of Joseph's very best shrimp cocktail and spicy cocktail sauce in the afternoon while watching football.
Joseph frying french fries in the wok
Yummmmmmy!
Tomorrow we are having my dinner of choice.... mustard marinated grilled whole chicken, buttered spaetzle and glazed carrots. I'm baking personal size pear pies right now. How much do I Kick ass?!
We didn't have the fish and chips until dinner time, so we snacked on cheese and crackers and some of Joseph's very best shrimp cocktail and spicy cocktail sauce in the afternoon while watching football.
Joseph frying french fries in the wok
Yummmmmmy!
Tomorrow we are having my dinner of choice.... mustard marinated grilled whole chicken, buttered spaetzle and glazed carrots. I'm baking personal size pear pies right now. How much do I Kick ass?!
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Sad Day
I'm not even talking about the shattered state of our country right now.
It's a sad day in Worthington for my brother Mike and his fiancee Kristin. The worst-case scenerio we've all run through our heads, sadly became a reality for them this evening. Their sweet black dog Marcus was hit by a car in front of their house. They took him immediately to an emergency vet, but there was nothing that could be done. His heart had stopped beating and they weren't able to bring him back.
They are devasted and inconsolable, as I expect I would be in, GOD FORBID, the same situation. Mike and Kristin got Marcus when he was a tiny puppy and have enjoyed his company for many years. Their other dog, Kita, will certainly be missing her "brother".
Hug your pets a little extra tonight. And keep my sad, broken-hearted brother in your thoughts for a while.
It's a sad day in Worthington for my brother Mike and his fiancee Kristin. The worst-case scenerio we've all run through our heads, sadly became a reality for them this evening. Their sweet black dog Marcus was hit by a car in front of their house. They took him immediately to an emergency vet, but there was nothing that could be done. His heart had stopped beating and they weren't able to bring him back.
They are devasted and inconsolable, as I expect I would be in, GOD FORBID, the same situation. Mike and Kristin got Marcus when he was a tiny puppy and have enjoyed his company for many years. Their other dog, Kita, will certainly be missing her "brother".
Hug your pets a little extra tonight. And keep my sad, broken-hearted brother in your thoughts for a while.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Prime Filets
If you have not been to a Costco, let me fill you in on some things. It's AWESOME! For many reasons it is the best way to shop for pretty much everything in your home. For foodies like us it's like a fantasy-land of meats, cheeses, breads, fruit, wine and chrome countertop appliances.
Joseph had a really hard time deciding which steaks to buy. The meat at HEB where we usually shop is disgusting in comparison and about four times the price. He could have seriously spent all day and about $5,000 buying meats, chesses and wines. But he settled on four 10 oz. Prime Filets and two bottles of wine. Last night after I got home from work we made this for dinner:
Blackened filet with shrimp scampi and steamed broccoli
Perfect medium rare
Kendall Jackson Grande Reserve 06 Chardonnay
Joseph using his glass of wine for emphasis while telling a story about two idiotic people! (you may know them!)
Then we had lemon meringue pie that I made on Sunday, which was SO GOOD! While we were sitting at the table finishing our wine we let the dogs in to hang out with us for a bit. Marshall plopped down right between us under the table and Cooper laid down next to me. After a few minutes he started waving his paw in the air and quietly growling at me. I reached down and grabbed his paw, and then we stayed just like that for about twenty minutes. My dog actually sat next to me and held my hand. He is so damn cool.
Joseph had a really hard time deciding which steaks to buy. The meat at HEB where we usually shop is disgusting in comparison and about four times the price. He could have seriously spent all day and about $5,000 buying meats, chesses and wines. But he settled on four 10 oz. Prime Filets and two bottles of wine. Last night after I got home from work we made this for dinner:
Blackened filet with shrimp scampi and steamed broccoli
Perfect medium rare
Kendall Jackson Grande Reserve 06 Chardonnay
Joseph using his glass of wine for emphasis while telling a story about two idiotic people! (you may know them!)
Then we had lemon meringue pie that I made on Sunday, which was SO GOOD! While we were sitting at the table finishing our wine we let the dogs in to hang out with us for a bit. Marshall plopped down right between us under the table and Cooper laid down next to me. After a few minutes he started waving his paw in the air and quietly growling at me. I reached down and grabbed his paw, and then we stayed just like that for about twenty minutes. My dog actually sat next to me and held my hand. He is so damn cool.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Armadillo
We had an incident so strange in our front yard last night that I thought I must share it. I wish I had had my camera with me, because my words certainly won't be able to fully capture the freakishness.
We got home late in the evening after a day of relaxing and shopping at Costco (our first time, we fell in LOVE!) in Austin. (We relaxed elsewhere, not at Costco, we didn't like it that much) We decided to let the dogs out of the backyard, for a change of scenery, and have them hang out with us in the front yard for a few minutes. Joseph was trying to get them to play with each other, which doesn't happen often, much to Cooper's dismay Marshall doesn't like to play. He was saying, "Go get him" to Marshall, when they both took off to get something. It was dark and we couldn't see, but the dogs had run across the driveway to the side yard and had caught/cornered something. We have a nest of horny toads next to our garage(they're endangered, Marshall has killed at least 10, they look like little lizards but way more dinosaur-like than cute geckos, they don't bother anything, really) so we assumed that's what they were chasing.
Joseph was standing on the driveway trying to get them to leave whatever it was alone and come back to the front yard. Then... (I was sitting on the front porch and caught the whole thing) Joseph yelled "What the hell is that?" as an armadillo ran over his bare feet, jumped up and hit the bumper of the car and waddled cluelessly in a circle in the driveway for a second until the dogs figured out where he was. I yelled, "It's a freaking ARMADILLO!" just as Cooper bolted after him in his rather pathetic attempt, on the armadillo's part, at getting away. Cooper is a nice boy, so we didn't have any armadillo deaths in our yard last night.
Who in the world, except for Joseph now, can say they've been run over by an Armadillo in their own front yard?
By the way, even up close and scared, there is absolutely not one cute thing about an armadillo.
We got home late in the evening after a day of relaxing and shopping at Costco (our first time, we fell in LOVE!) in Austin. (We relaxed elsewhere, not at Costco, we didn't like it that much) We decided to let the dogs out of the backyard, for a change of scenery, and have them hang out with us in the front yard for a few minutes. Joseph was trying to get them to play with each other, which doesn't happen often, much to Cooper's dismay Marshall doesn't like to play. He was saying, "Go get him" to Marshall, when they both took off to get something. It was dark and we couldn't see, but the dogs had run across the driveway to the side yard and had caught/cornered something. We have a nest of horny toads next to our garage(they're endangered, Marshall has killed at least 10, they look like little lizards but way more dinosaur-like than cute geckos, they don't bother anything, really) so we assumed that's what they were chasing.
Joseph was standing on the driveway trying to get them to leave whatever it was alone and come back to the front yard. Then... (I was sitting on the front porch and caught the whole thing) Joseph yelled "What the hell is that?" as an armadillo ran over his bare feet, jumped up and hit the bumper of the car and waddled cluelessly in a circle in the driveway for a second until the dogs figured out where he was. I yelled, "It's a freaking ARMADILLO!" just as Cooper bolted after him in his rather pathetic attempt, on the armadillo's part, at getting away. Cooper is a nice boy, so we didn't have any armadillo deaths in our yard last night.
Who in the world, except for Joseph now, can say they've been run over by an Armadillo in their own front yard?
By the way, even up close and scared, there is absolutely not one cute thing about an armadillo.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Football & Lemon Meringue Pie
Relaxing on Sunday morning
Watching football
Lemon Meringue Pie (I scraped one of the meringue peaks off on the oven shelf)
What's that thing in your hand?
Watching football
Lemon Meringue Pie (I scraped one of the meringue peaks off on the oven shelf)
What's that thing in your hand?
Love Lessons
Yesterday I was looking for something in Joseph's night stand. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find a little book called "Love Lessons" that I gave to Joseph for Valentine's Day last year. Clearly, it isn't daily reading for my Higleyboy, as it was way in the back of the drawer under some junk, but that's okay. I flipped through it because I hadn't in a long time and wondered why I had chosen to buy it, because that's a little "frilly" for our taste.
I had underlined the parts that I thought pertained to us and put hearts on the pages that I liked before I gave it to him. Reading it last night was amusing and kind of sweet. Here are the quotes I had highlighted:
Love is friendship set on fire
I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I'm with you
Love is an act of endless forgiveness
And in each of our horoscopes I had highlighted the words I liked:
Cancer (JH)
Once you decide to give your heart, it's usually for good.
Most attracted to: Scorpio
Scorpio (AM)
You are innnnntense, a real challenge. Your true love will find you're worth the trouble.
Most attracted to: Cancer
I had underlined the parts that I thought pertained to us and put hearts on the pages that I liked before I gave it to him. Reading it last night was amusing and kind of sweet. Here are the quotes I had highlighted:
Love is friendship set on fire
I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I'm with you
Love is an act of endless forgiveness
And in each of our horoscopes I had highlighted the words I liked:
Cancer (JH)
Once you decide to give your heart, it's usually for good.
Most attracted to: Scorpio
Scorpio (AM)
You are innnnntense, a real challenge. Your true love will find you're worth the trouble.
Most attracted to: Cancer
Friday, September 19, 2008
Fall?
I have no pictures and nothing fun or exciting to report. I just finished reading Kate's and Elizabeth's blogs (the ones I check daily) and commenting on some comments and am about to go to bed, but I wanted to write quickly and say...
It got down to FIFTY NINE degrees last night!! It's been in the seventies most days this week. We finally got to turn the air conditioning off and open the windows. I forgot how amazing a real cool breeze could feel, it's been so long. Of course, the cold front isn't supposed to last much longer and it's expected to be in the nineties by the end of the weekend. But whatever, I'll take it happily. I took Cooper running this morning, which I hadn't been able to do in about 4 months. I enjoyed it much more than he did, I forgot to factor in his fat ass being out of shape after not running for 4 months, poor guy.
I'm going to an OBAMA party on Sunday. I will be among the dozen or so other democrats in the tri-county area to try to make some sort of effort against the...
It got down to FIFTY NINE degrees last night!! It's been in the seventies most days this week. We finally got to turn the air conditioning off and open the windows. I forgot how amazing a real cool breeze could feel, it's been so long. Of course, the cold front isn't supposed to last much longer and it's expected to be in the nineties by the end of the weekend. But whatever, I'll take it happily. I took Cooper running this morning, which I hadn't been able to do in about 4 months. I enjoyed it much more than he did, I forgot to factor in his fat ass being out of shape after not running for 4 months, poor guy.
I'm going to an OBAMA party on Sunday. I will be among the dozen or so other democrats in the tri-county area to try to make some sort of effort against the...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Joseph's Ultimate Chicken Parm
I picked Sunday dinner, which was good but not great. Joseph picked dinner for Monday night, and what a good choice it was. We made Joseph's Ultimate Chicken Parm, which is his manly twist on normal Chicken Parm.
For an appetizer we had tomato, basil & fresh mozzarella bruschetta. A classic we never get tired of. On to dinner, first, I made a spicy tomato & red pepper marinara, or Arabiata sauce. Then, we butterflied and pounded out some chicken breasts, layered them with pepperoni, salami, ham and fresh mozzarella. I rolled them up and sewed them back together with toothpicks. Then (I gave in and let him bread them all) we breaded them with garlic bread crumbs and pan fried them in just a bit of olive oil, then finished them in the oven. Along side, we served some parmesan butter noodles. It was SIMPLY DELICIOUS! The best meals we have are the ones he thinks of and I execute to perfection. We make a good team. In the kitchen, and elsewhere!
Bruschetta
Nobilo Icon 05 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, N.Z. (another travel destination for us)
Jojo's Ultimate Italiam Meat Chicken Parm
****Hurrican Ike Update****
Although this massive hurricane did make a disasterous landfall less than 200 miles away, we did not receive one drop of rain or unusual gust of wind. However, I am happy to report that the Blogger Gods were reading and the temperature in central Texas has dropped to a pleasant 80ish degrees. A solid improvement, and I'll take it!
Unfortunately, Ike made his way all the way north and did some serious damage to the electricity in central Ohio. The power has been out since Saturday, came back briefly on Monday (my brother's and grandmother's power stayed on when it came back) but went out four hours later and isn't expected to be restored fully until next Sunday! Both my parents are without power, which means my dad can't work because his office is downstairs and my mom can't dry her hair, which is life-threatening to her. There is no school, no traffic lights, nothing. The first time a hurricane was destructive in Ohio.
For an appetizer we had tomato, basil & fresh mozzarella bruschetta. A classic we never get tired of. On to dinner, first, I made a spicy tomato & red pepper marinara, or Arabiata sauce. Then, we butterflied and pounded out some chicken breasts, layered them with pepperoni, salami, ham and fresh mozzarella. I rolled them up and sewed them back together with toothpicks. Then (I gave in and let him bread them all) we breaded them with garlic bread crumbs and pan fried them in just a bit of olive oil, then finished them in the oven. Along side, we served some parmesan butter noodles. It was SIMPLY DELICIOUS! The best meals we have are the ones he thinks of and I execute to perfection. We make a good team. In the kitchen, and elsewhere!
Bruschetta
Nobilo Icon 05 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, N.Z. (another travel destination for us)
Jojo's Ultimate Italiam Meat Chicken Parm
****Hurrican Ike Update****
Although this massive hurricane did make a disasterous landfall less than 200 miles away, we did not receive one drop of rain or unusual gust of wind. However, I am happy to report that the Blogger Gods were reading and the temperature in central Texas has dropped to a pleasant 80ish degrees. A solid improvement, and I'll take it!
Unfortunately, Ike made his way all the way north and did some serious damage to the electricity in central Ohio. The power has been out since Saturday, came back briefly on Monday (my brother's and grandmother's power stayed on when it came back) but went out four hours later and isn't expected to be restored fully until next Sunday! Both my parents are without power, which means my dad can't work because his office is downstairs and my mom can't dry her hair, which is life-threatening to her. There is no school, no traffic lights, nothing. The first time a hurricane was destructive in Ohio.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Sunday
We slept too late to enjoy mimosas like I had hoped, but we enjoyed the day, nonetheless. First, we went grocery shopping. I picked our dinner for tonight, braised pork roast, creamed potatoes & fresh corn cut off the cob. Joseph got to pick dinner for Monday night, Italian meat and cheese chicken roulades (basil, mozzarella, salami, pepperoni & ham rolled up in pounded out chicken breast, breaded and fried) with red sauce, buttered noodles, broccoli & sizzler bread. (I will just bake my chicken roulade, but I will fry one for him)
I baked all afternoon while Jospeh watched football. I made a sourdough pullman loaf, which turned out well, but still needs improving, and a banana cake with white chocolate cream cheese frosting. I tried a different recipe, one that I got from the pantry guy at 909. It had a different rising method than the traditional sourdough that I tried last weekend. The aroma of the starter is intoxicating. It smells up my whole kicthen with the sweet, slightly sour, yeasty bready scent of sourdough. (It kind of smells like baby's breath) The bread wasn't cooked quite long enough, but had excellent flavor and texture regardless. It is very chewy, but that is easily solved by a a few minutes in the toaster. The banana cake is from my Magnolia Bakery (NYC) cookbook and turned out SO WELL! It's so moist and banana-y. The icing is great too. I'll include the recipe below.
Our dinner turned out really well. The pork was a little over done, I lost track of time while reading a trashy magazine, but it was still good because the sauce was so delicious. I had marinated the pork overnight and braised it on a bed of carrots, celery & onion in the marinade of apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, apple juice and dijon mustard.
Before dinner we took a walk on the golf course. Joseph threw some discs and I walked the dogs. Now we're going to watch Entourage. Here's our walk, dinner, bread & cake.
Magnolia Bakery
Banana Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
For Cake, Sift together:
3 c cake flour
1 t baking soda
3/4 t salt
1/2 t baking powder, set aside
In mixing bowl, cream together:
1 c soft butter
2 c sugar
Add one at a time, mixing between each:
3 eggs, at room temp
Stir in:
1 1/2 c mashed ripe banana
half dry ingredients
When all incorporated, add:
6 T buttermilk
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
Mix in remaining dry ingredients, until blended
Bake at 325 in a 9x13 or two 8 inch round pans for 40-50 minutes.
Frosting*, whip together:
1 pound soft cream cheese
6 T soft butter
1 t vanilla extract
8 oz cool melted white chocolate
*I made half this recipe of frosting and it covered a 9x13 cake perfectly. The full recipe seems like a ton for one cake.
I baked all afternoon while Jospeh watched football. I made a sourdough pullman loaf, which turned out well, but still needs improving, and a banana cake with white chocolate cream cheese frosting. I tried a different recipe, one that I got from the pantry guy at 909. It had a different rising method than the traditional sourdough that I tried last weekend. The aroma of the starter is intoxicating. It smells up my whole kicthen with the sweet, slightly sour, yeasty bready scent of sourdough. (It kind of smells like baby's breath) The bread wasn't cooked quite long enough, but had excellent flavor and texture regardless. It is very chewy, but that is easily solved by a a few minutes in the toaster. The banana cake is from my Magnolia Bakery (NYC) cookbook and turned out SO WELL! It's so moist and banana-y. The icing is great too. I'll include the recipe below.
Our dinner turned out really well. The pork was a little over done, I lost track of time while reading a trashy magazine, but it was still good because the sauce was so delicious. I had marinated the pork overnight and braised it on a bed of carrots, celery & onion in the marinade of apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, apple juice and dijon mustard.
Before dinner we took a walk on the golf course. Joseph threw some discs and I walked the dogs. Now we're going to watch Entourage. Here's our walk, dinner, bread & cake.
Magnolia Bakery
Banana Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
For Cake, Sift together:
3 c cake flour
1 t baking soda
3/4 t salt
1/2 t baking powder, set aside
In mixing bowl, cream together:
1 c soft butter
2 c sugar
Add one at a time, mixing between each:
3 eggs, at room temp
Stir in:
1 1/2 c mashed ripe banana
half dry ingredients
When all incorporated, add:
6 T buttermilk
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
Mix in remaining dry ingredients, until blended
Bake at 325 in a 9x13 or two 8 inch round pans for 40-50 minutes.
Frosting*, whip together:
1 pound soft cream cheese
6 T soft butter
1 t vanilla extract
8 oz cool melted white chocolate
*I made half this recipe of frosting and it covered a 9x13 cake perfectly. The full recipe seems like a ton for one cake.
OH-NO!
That's what Joseph has to say about yesterday's disgusting game. I'm glad I was at work and didn't have to see it.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Over the Sun
This is not the same as being "Over the Moon", I assure you. I mean that we are literally, over the sun, over it, wish it would stop shining! We were hopeful that the 900-mile-wide hurricane making landfall 200 miles away might bring us a cool rainy weekend and make it feel like fall, even just temporarily. But no such luck, you all in Ohio will feel more of the effects of Ike than we are. We got nothing, not even a cloud in the sky. So, the air conditioning continues to run, the sun continues to relentlessly shine in the giant blue sky, the grass is brown and sunburnt, the crickets and gnats are breeding, the lake is hotter than bath water and I'm tired of it all.
This may sound odd coming from the Sun Goddess herself who left Ohio citing, "not enough sun". The first 5 months of summer are great, don't get me wrong. I do love the sunshine and really emotionally thrive in beautiful sunny weather, but there comes a point when enough is enough. It's been a minimum of 90 degrees for HALF A YEAR now!! Fall doesn't exist here, so we're holding out for winter.
I'm dreaming of jeans and sweaters, scarves, big winter bags, hoodies, slippers and Uggs. Just to be able to open our bedroom windows at night would be a miracle. I'd trade anything right now for a dark, cloudy, wet & rainy weekend. But no, tomorrow the weather forcast is this: 90, partly cloudy, mosquito warning. Awesome.
This may sound odd coming from the Sun Goddess herself who left Ohio citing, "not enough sun". The first 5 months of summer are great, don't get me wrong. I do love the sunshine and really emotionally thrive in beautiful sunny weather, but there comes a point when enough is enough. It's been a minimum of 90 degrees for HALF A YEAR now!! Fall doesn't exist here, so we're holding out for winter.
I'm dreaming of jeans and sweaters, scarves, big winter bags, hoodies, slippers and Uggs. Just to be able to open our bedroom windows at night would be a miracle. I'd trade anything right now for a dark, cloudy, wet & rainy weekend. But no, tomorrow the weather forcast is this: 90, partly cloudy, mosquito warning. Awesome.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I may be a BUCKEYE
...But this is where I do my laundry
Saturday, September 13th
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
vs.
UNIVERSITY of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
We are proudly displaying OSU & USC flags on our back fence, which is visible to A LOT of traffic. The winning team's flag will stay up, the losing team's flag will be put away until next September when they play again in Columbus. Joseph's lucky number is 13, which makes me a little nervous for the Buckeyes.
Go Bucks!
&
Go Trojans!
Sorry everyone in Ohio for that last line. I have to, this blog isn't called "Amy, My Story". You don't have to worry about me though. I'll always be a proud Buckeye. I was born at the OSU hospital, Mama Lisa has worked there for 28 years and has always had tickets to games, Kate graduated from OSU Law, my whole family is OBSESSED (does anyone remember Mr. Mrs. and Baby Buckeye in the Buckeye Mobile?, see photo) and it is nearly impossible not to internalize some of the "Religion of Brutus" growing up in Columbus. I'm afraid to say that you may all have your work cut out for you in trying to instill this in my children. They will most likely be raised on the beaches of Southern California and their vision will be clouded with Dodger blue, maroon & gold and purple & gold.
Kate, Kevin & Jack
Saturday, September 13th
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
vs.
UNIVERSITY of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
We are proudly displaying OSU & USC flags on our back fence, which is visible to A LOT of traffic. The winning team's flag will stay up, the losing team's flag will be put away until next September when they play again in Columbus. Joseph's lucky number is 13, which makes me a little nervous for the Buckeyes.
Go Bucks!
&
Go Trojans!
Sorry everyone in Ohio for that last line. I have to, this blog isn't called "Amy, My Story". You don't have to worry about me though. I'll always be a proud Buckeye. I was born at the OSU hospital, Mama Lisa has worked there for 28 years and has always had tickets to games, Kate graduated from OSU Law, my whole family is OBSESSED (does anyone remember Mr. Mrs. and Baby Buckeye in the Buckeye Mobile?, see photo) and it is nearly impossible not to internalize some of the "Religion of Brutus" growing up in Columbus. I'm afraid to say that you may all have your work cut out for you in trying to instill this in my children. They will most likely be raised on the beaches of Southern California and their vision will be clouded with Dodger blue, maroon & gold and purple & gold.
Kate, Kevin & Jack
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Higley Chef Salad
Early in our cooking experiences together, Joseph and I made a wedge salad. It was so delicious (marinated onions and tomatoes in balsamic vinegar, iceburg, bacon, bleu cheese and homemade croutons) that we called it the "Higley Wedge Salad" and have made it several times since.
We also created the Higley House Salad, which is one of Joseph's regular requests. It consists of: romaine, iceburg, bacon, green onion, carrot, celery, cheddar, croutons, tomato, cucumber and French dressing.
Tonight, the second Tuesday where I worked and Joseph was off, I came home from work to find the all new Higley Chef Salad for dinner. It was a bed of romaine with cherry tomato, carrot, red onion, chick peas, celery, bacon, turkey, ham & white cheddar arranged in rows on top. We had toasted sourdough (store-bought, see previous entry) with butter with it and Moosehead beers to drink. A memorable Tuesday, if there is such a thing.
We also created the Higley House Salad, which is one of Joseph's regular requests. It consists of: romaine, iceburg, bacon, green onion, carrot, celery, cheddar, croutons, tomato, cucumber and French dressing.
Tonight, the second Tuesday where I worked and Joseph was off, I came home from work to find the all new Higley Chef Salad for dinner. It was a bed of romaine with cherry tomato, carrot, red onion, chick peas, celery, bacon, turkey, ham & white cheddar arranged in rows on top. We had toasted sourdough (store-bought, see previous entry) with butter with it and Moosehead beers to drink. A memorable Tuesday, if there is such a thing.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sourdough
I am very excited to be making my first batch of sourdough with my blanc du bois sourdough starter. I have been eager to learn about sourdoughs for years, but never got around to really learning how to start one. Now I have the sourdough-chronic and I'm going to become a master sourdough baker.
The dough has to rise for 16 hours in all, so I am starting it tonight and baking it tomorrow. I will post pictures asap. Should I make round loaves or baguettes?
Well, it turns out, I suck!
I put the sourdough in the fridge to rise for 12-14 hours on Sunday night. Sadly, Joseph had just turned the fridge thermostat down one notch colder and I put the bowl of dough on top of the sodas on the top shelf... right under the fan where the cold air comes out. Figure it out for yourself. I'll try the sourdough again next weekend. :(
The dough has to rise for 16 hours in all, so I am starting it tonight and baking it tomorrow. I will post pictures asap. Should I make round loaves or baguettes?
Well, it turns out, I suck!
I put the sourdough in the fridge to rise for 12-14 hours on Sunday night. Sadly, Joseph had just turned the fridge thermostat down one notch colder and I put the bowl of dough on top of the sodas on the top shelf... right under the fan where the cold air comes out. Figure it out for yourself. I'll try the sourdough again next weekend. :(
Thursday, September 4, 2008
No Autographs Please
The good people at PBS are creating a new internet/television show about about food and restaurants. When I got to work this afternoon I learned that they would be doing an episode about Cafe 909. And that tonight we would be cooking for (and being filmed while doing so) the crew and host of the show. Damn, man, a heads-up would have been appreciated so I could at least wear mascara.
Anyway, they weren't there to film my face. The camera guy moved all around to several different positions and angles, filming us cooking for about an hour. At one point he was standing on the bar filming me from above. The show will be on the internet in October and then on PBS sometime next year. I'll let you know.
Anyway, they weren't there to film my face. The camera guy moved all around to several different positions and angles, filming us cooking for about an hour. At one point he was standing on the bar filming me from above. The show will be on the internet in October and then on PBS sometime next year. I'll let you know.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
And he cooks too
Joseph is handsome and kind, it's evident to all who meet him. Most also know that he is funny, super-athletic and smart. Very few people actually know how awesomely multi-talented and wonderful he is though.
Some examples:
*He always helps me put clean sheets on the bed, because he says he fluffs the feather mattress better than I do (he does).
*He loves to come to the grocery store to keep me company
*He sees girly movies at the theater if I ask him really nicely
*He goes on ice cream and candy runs late at night
*Occaisonally, I can drag him on a walk with me and the dogs if it's late enough in the evening, but usually I go alone and come home to an ethusiasitc, "how was your walk/run!?"
*He listens to all the blabber my brain spins out, which is sometimes really random and I'm sure quite boring
*He scratches my back while I'm falling asleep
*He brings champagne home sometimes and tries to sneak in into the fridge without me seeing so he can wake me up the "best Sunday way", with a surprise champagne cork popping.
*He waters my plants when I ask him to, and there's alot of plants to water
*He carries everything heavy
*He mops the floor so I don't have to
Natuarally, I do the great majority of the cooking in our house, he is always helpful, but usually assuming the sous chef roll. It isn't very often that Joseph gets to fully utilize his secret culinary talents.
Tonight I came home from my first Tuesday at 909. It's been a really long time since I went to work while Joseph stayed home and I wasn't excited about it. The night was slow and I got to talk about menus and take home some sour dough starter, so I didn't mind altogether. I was delighted when I walked in the front door to find...
Joseph in the kitchen making dinner. He was making stir fry and rice. The stir fry was delicious, with onion, garlic, fresh ginger, carrots, squash, green beans and chicken in a really spicy hoisin/soy sauce. I should let him cook for me more often.
I didn't want to do a whole other entry just about food, but our dinner on Monday was way too good not to be documented. It was one for our record books, for sure. And my, what that book would look like if we actually kept one!! (We used to, when we first started dating and did all that kissy-cooking and were totally into each other like mad, we had a spiral notebook that we kept in the kitchen and Joseph would write down everything we made, the recipes and step by step how I made it. We also used that book to come up with things we wanted to make. I wonder where that book is and I miss having that much time!)
Monday we spent the afternoon in Burnet. Joseph played two rounds of disc golf and I ran 2 miles and then read for an hour in the shade until he was done. We got home and having skipped breakfast and lunch (wow, so unhealthy, I did snack on almonds while reading) we were starving and ate dinner hours earlier than normal. Maybe being so hungry had to do with us both devouring dinner so enthusiastically. It was nice, being done with dinner early, but also getting to bed early.
cheese and grapes
casesar salad boats
Duvel for Joseph, Paulaner Hefe Weizen for Amy
grilled new york strip (which Joseph grilled, he's always the griller)
smashed tomato & butter sauce
scalloped potatoes
grilled asparagus
crusty french bread
2002 Matanzas Creek Cabernet
Some examples:
*He always helps me put clean sheets on the bed, because he says he fluffs the feather mattress better than I do (he does).
*He loves to come to the grocery store to keep me company
*He sees girly movies at the theater if I ask him really nicely
*He goes on ice cream and candy runs late at night
*Occaisonally, I can drag him on a walk with me and the dogs if it's late enough in the evening, but usually I go alone and come home to an ethusiasitc, "how was your walk/run!?"
*He listens to all the blabber my brain spins out, which is sometimes really random and I'm sure quite boring
*He scratches my back while I'm falling asleep
*He brings champagne home sometimes and tries to sneak in into the fridge without me seeing so he can wake me up the "best Sunday way", with a surprise champagne cork popping.
*He waters my plants when I ask him to, and there's alot of plants to water
*He carries everything heavy
*He mops the floor so I don't have to
Natuarally, I do the great majority of the cooking in our house, he is always helpful, but usually assuming the sous chef roll. It isn't very often that Joseph gets to fully utilize his secret culinary talents.
Tonight I came home from my first Tuesday at 909. It's been a really long time since I went to work while Joseph stayed home and I wasn't excited about it. The night was slow and I got to talk about menus and take home some sour dough starter, so I didn't mind altogether. I was delighted when I walked in the front door to find...
Joseph in the kitchen making dinner. He was making stir fry and rice. The stir fry was delicious, with onion, garlic, fresh ginger, carrots, squash, green beans and chicken in a really spicy hoisin/soy sauce. I should let him cook for me more often.
I didn't want to do a whole other entry just about food, but our dinner on Monday was way too good not to be documented. It was one for our record books, for sure. And my, what that book would look like if we actually kept one!! (We used to, when we first started dating and did all that kissy-cooking and were totally into each other like mad, we had a spiral notebook that we kept in the kitchen and Joseph would write down everything we made, the recipes and step by step how I made it. We also used that book to come up with things we wanted to make. I wonder where that book is and I miss having that much time!)
Monday we spent the afternoon in Burnet. Joseph played two rounds of disc golf and I ran 2 miles and then read for an hour in the shade until he was done. We got home and having skipped breakfast and lunch (wow, so unhealthy, I did snack on almonds while reading) we were starving and ate dinner hours earlier than normal. Maybe being so hungry had to do with us both devouring dinner so enthusiastically. It was nice, being done with dinner early, but also getting to bed early.
cheese and grapes
casesar salad boats
Duvel for Joseph, Paulaner Hefe Weizen for Amy
grilled new york strip (which Joseph grilled, he's always the griller)
smashed tomato & butter sauce
scalloped potatoes
grilled asparagus
crusty french bread
2002 Matanzas Creek Cabernet
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