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Date Night Dud


I thought I'd give you a date night update since I got quite a few comments on it.

Dinner was great. It was even easier to make the second go around because I knew exactly where we were headed. And I brought out the Lens Baby to take some photos of the results. I am still learning, but I think I captured a bit of the yummminess.

Just before we started making dinner, we posted my car on Craigslist. Even before we sat down, we had a call from someone wanting to see the car. And another as we were doing dishes. We had the car sold by the time we went to bed. And I'm happy to say we got out of it what we wanted. Oy I am going to cry like a baby when they drive it off.

So though we had a nice dinner and managed to sell my car, the evening was sort of a dud as far as having fun goes. I think we both fell asleep watching TV around 10:30. We'll have to take a raincheck. Tabby had a great evening with the grandparents and Auntie Gaga and was a very good girl for them. So I think she'll be invited back.

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Date Night and other Blather

A couple of weekends ago I tried out one of the recipes in my new cookbook, Apples for Jam which my sister got for me after seeing me oogle it while we were in Anthropologie, I suspect. We made the ricotta gnocchi which were really easy to make and … well … amazing. I was planning to make the tomato pesto to go with them, but Target was out of basil, so I bought pre-made sun dried tomato pesto which was excellent.

So when Matt and I were planning a little date night for us, Matt requested that we have the ricotta gnocchi again. Typical to me, I wanted to try out some new recipes (from Apples and Jam, to be precise), but I yielded because we still have an unopened package of the pesto and well … they were really really good. As with last go around, I will also make a simple salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and romaine with balsalmic vinegar dressing on top … and there might be wine.

Tabby is going to visit her grandparents and Aunt Gaga. As for Matt and I and the rest of the evening, I have no idea what we'll get up to. Probably something TV related would be my guess. We're kinda boring these days. Continue reading “Date Night and other Blather”

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Ricotta Gnocchi

from: Matt & Jess original

Ingredients
1/2 C refried beans or black beans
1/4 C cooked ground beef (seasoned as you or your baby likes it)
2 T cheddar cheese

Directions
If using black beans, mash them with a fork. Then combine beans, beef and cheese together.

from: 171

Ingredients
2 C ricotta cheese
3 T greated parmesan cheese
1 scant cup all purpose flour
salt
pesto, butter and more parmesan to serve

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Mix the ricotta, flour, parmesan and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. With lightly floured hands, roll the dough into thin sausages (5/8 inch thick is recommended). Cut into little dumplings about 3/4 inch long.

Drop them into the boiling water and cook for about 45 seconds (they will rise to the surface). Remove with a slotted spoon and serve immediately with pesto (sun dried tomato is very good), butter and parmesan.

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What to say about today?

I'm kind of whiny and tired today … Tabby didn't sleep real well last night (probably our bad as we forgot to give her a bottle before bed last night) and therefore neither did I. So I need positive things to focus on.

* I lurve my new car. It has bluetooth. Now my commute can be practically used to make and return phone calls. Or gossip with my sister … whichever.
* I ran 2.5 miles this AM. I realize that for you running types this is probably pathetic (and I won't even tell you the pathetic speed at which I ran this distance), but for me it's a major accomplishment.
* I finally got on the feed bandwagon and am now using google reader to keep up with all of you fine people. It is saving me loads of time (note: I tried bloglines a while back, but couldn't get into it, but I love GR).
* Though I got home quite late last night, I got to spend the whole night at home and actually had a nice dinner and got a few things accomplished.
* Our house cleaner comes tomorrow … so even though I have to get the house in order tonight, I will have a CLEAN house tomorrow afternoon. Yay.
* I need to buy a bunch of new clothes … but for the good reason.
* I get to spend a quiet evening at home with my favorite people (and canine who thinks he's people).

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Frigid Beauty


I actually managed to get a few things accomplished last night … which was brilliant. We made dinner (salmon burgers which were good, but not great), we worked on our will (so fun, I could hardly stand it) and I spent a bit of time on the computer … and actually got the few photos I took on our trip up on the net. Yay me. The photos were taken on our trip home. Everything was snow covered and really really beautiful. If the driving conditions had been a bit better, I would've stopped and taken some shots from better angles & vantage points.

Alas, I am boring today. Nothing more to say really … just huge piles of work.

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New Year, New … Shoes!

Guess what was waiting for me when I got to work this AM? Yes … new shoes … Mary Jane Crocs to be exact. Now I can be comfy and fashionable. Perhaps some would take umbridge with my referring to Crocs (even Mary Janes) as fashionable, but this is my world, damnit. Mom bought them for me from the Crocs kiosk when we were Christmas shopping (they didn't have my size in stock) and they showed up sometime while I was gone. Happy Happy.

Anyhoo. I sort of feel like my 2008 has officially started. I know I'm about 8 days late, but I've been on vacation and now I'm back to work and out in the rat race and all that. I did go to the gym yesterday AND today … and as a seasoned gym lemming, I have to say … I HATE JANUARY AT THE GYM. Tons of resolution makers clogging up the cardio and fumbling around on the weights. I know some of them will stick it out and kudos and all for the effort … but man … pain in my butt. I have little enough time to be there, especially now and it sucks when I can't get what I need.

Ahh, on to more pleasant things … the SWG strike, for example. I really do like my TV, but having a bit of a break from it is AOK by me too. I've set the Tivo to capture Project Runway and Jamie Oliver's new show, Jamie at home. I also hear Nigella's got a new show … she's not as beloved to me as Jamie though. I have also been watching the box sets … Ugly Betty, Bones and we've got Heroes and The Office S 3 in the queue. What're your strike viewing alternatives?

And last but not least, Ms. Tabby. She's been working hard for weeks on a new skill. Not anything as frightening/exciting as crawling but way more heart melting … she has learned to give KISSES! It's this funny little thing where she sucks in her top lip and makes this smacking sound. And she does it over and over. I must remember to stalk her with the video camera so I might share her cuteness. It pretty much makes up for what she's been doing to us in the sleep department … but that's another blog entry entirely.

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Back to Reality

I've been MIA. 1000+ pardons!! It has been super *super* busy around here. Here's a bullety update of what I've been up to:

* finally bought a new car
* went to a few very enjoyable parties
* spent a lovely 5 day weekend in Vail with my family
* been cooking from my new cookbook
* had three lovely days of skiing
* handled some miscellaneous junk I can't do when I'm working and child-minding all week
* played around a bit on my gameboy
* spent oodles of time with my two favorite people and single favorite canine

I haven't even taken many photos … but I'll upload what I've got soonish. Now I've got to dive back into it all tomorrow. Sooo much to do!