Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

Jared and I needed a nice Couples Day this Valentines Day.  We spent the day doing things a little differently than normal…

We started off by exercising together…  We headed to my gym where they let him with my guest pass.  He belongs to Gold’s Gym downtown, but froze his membership due to his schedule.  It was fun to lift weights with him and we did a total body circuit. 

We then did a running interval on the treadmill:

• 1 minute at 7.5 mph
• 1 minute at 5.8 mph / incline 5%
• 1 minute at 6.0 mph

 

Afterwards, we headed to Janoski’s for breakfast per his request.  No pictures, but it was delicious!

Then we got into the third part of couples day: homemade art work.

Semi-inspired by Joe and Betsy, I thought it would be fun to create a piece of artwork together.  The house desperately needs some art work so what better way to add some color than to do it ourselves?  I wasn’t sure what Jared’s reaction would be but he was totally into it!

 

 

We set off on a mission.  Since we are certainly no artists, abstract was the way to go .  As cheated a bit and traced the design onto the canvases.  The design basically split between the two and we were both responsible for one side.

 

We both got really into it. Each shape had a particular color assigned to it.  Jared picked the colors and I picked the shape they were assigned to.  I was very particular about my edges, making sure each shape was sharply defined.

Our end result is neat.  We used primary colors with a dark background.  For not being artists, I’d say we did really well. 

 

Our final activity of the day was to eat dinner together.  Not that this doesn’t happen often, but you know what I mean.

I made salad with spinach, tomato, and pepperocinis.  I also made angel hair pasta with shrimp, broccoli, and asparagus spears.  

The pasta was super-easy.  I used Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta (high fiber but still “white” for Jared) , fresh asparagus, broccoli florets, and shrimp.  I lightly sauteed the veggie and shrimp in garlic and garlic olive oil from Market District.

 

Dinner was really good.  I love shrimp with fresh veggies. 

 

And no V-Day would be complete without dessert of some kind…

 

Brownies!  These were seriously so easy to make.  Butter, sugar, cocoa, loads of walnuts.  I didn’t add extra chocolate to the mix because I didn’t have any any I wanted to try them in their true form.  My only complaint?  I prefer whole walnuts instead of broken-up pieces…  That was still my error though!

 

Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day!

Hope you all get to enjoy a wonderful day with your love.  Or just people you really care about…

 

Yesterday I got a nice run in and headed into the office…  I wanted to catch-up on a few things and I wanted to have the “peace and quiet” to be productive.  It’s amazing the work that can get done when no one is around!  I mailed about 300 Landlord Tenant Registration forms (work that is generally done by the secretary, but I thought I’d be nice and mail 1/2 of them since we are down one secretary).  I also had the opportunity to organize my desk.  One thing I hate is clutter, but I handle a pretty large volume of work so papers just enter my office constantly.

 

 

These lovely flowers were delivered to me at the office on Friday.  Jared is a really good guy, though I’m sure I did my fair share of guilting him.

 

 

We have a pretty low-key day planned.  We thought about going out for Valentine’s Breakfast and also threw around the idea of taking the dog to get groomed.  His nails need trimmed and he needs bathed… 

 

I have a “nicer” dinner planned of shrimp & broccoli scampi.  I’m going to make some brownies (thanks Lindsay!), and do laundry…

 

I don’t have any night meetings this week (as of now) which is awesome.  Though, next week is another story .  My goal for the week is to make every meal at home.  With having no night meetings, this should be easy peasy. 

 

Happy V-Day!

One Christmas gift Jared and I got (collectively, though I expect it was more for me) was an electric griddle.  I enjoyed trying it out on Sunday with my new-ish egg rings…

 

You can see the placing of the spatula works well after the initial egg-drop into the ring…   I love the griddle and I love the egg rings.  Also, the rings would work well for mini pancakes. 

 

My breakfasts as of late have been yogurt and granola.   Simple and delicious.  I have thought about trying to make greek yogurt at home, but haven’t gotten around to it. 

 

I got a magic bullet yesterday at Macy’s.  The immature side of me always stayed away from the Magic Bullet because the name is just so ridiculous.  I mean really.  Please think of another name.  But I was impressed to see it can do some of the following:

• Smoothies (my primary use)
• Sauces
• Grind herbs
• Make party drinks (because, well, I party so much.

I look forward to trying it out today for a out-of-season smoothie!

 

I got this blender because I did not want to spend $200 on a Breville.  In fact, the thought of purchasing a $200-$400 blender made me nauseous.  So, off to Williams Sonoma I went, yesterday, determined to find something that I could not buy elsewhere.  Often, I avoid WS & Sur La Table because I know I can find things cheaper.  For example, yesterday, I spotted amish popping corn for $8 at WS.  The same kind I buy at McGinnis Sisters for $2!  What the??

I got their double-walled Cocktail shaker.  Which was $40 (gag) but seems nice enough to cost that much.  Double walled, silicone tubing around it (to prevent sticking).  And pomegranate cosmo mix.  The mix will be used for New Years.  Maybe I will crush the ice in my magic bullet and make pom-cosmo-tini’s.  Probably not.  Jared will probably hate the pomegranate flavor. =)

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It was so windy that day that I think I now officially take the worst pictures.  I’m in the paper today.  Thankfully, not for shutting off water.  Here’s the article.  If I were vain, or self absorbed, I would start making a scrapbook of myself.  But I’m not.  I never will be.  The only Pgh blogger that “knows my secret” which is more like- can understand the mix between my personal and professional life is N of Yum Yum and I think she can appreciate my need for balance with the blog.  I just hope she doesn’t e-mail Council .  Jokes!

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Jared and I went to Cadillac Ranch last night.  It was nothing to blog about.  Unless you like restaurants with hub-caps and 50 flat screen tvs. 

I wanted to share a few pictures from the last few days from the holidays in the new house.  It started Christmas eve when I had a small tasting of this wine below…

 

It was, okay.  In fact.  It was better chilled (and if you add ice like the super-classy me.).

 

Christmas Eve was spent with family.  I didn’t snap any pictures, though.

I managed a rainy run on Christmas morning.  I cut it short though because there were a few ice patches that I was going “whoa” on, and my toes were soaked/frozen.  I came home happy ready to start the day cooking. 

 

Before the cooking craze was to begin, I warmed up with some french toast. 

This french toast was so good.  I bought the bread at Market District (Mediterranean raisin walnut), and the sliced it for me.  I prefer my french toast thick, but Jared liked it was it was.  I enjoyed three pieces.  Jared enjoyed six, and Ambrose got some, too.

 

We exchanged gifts and Ambrose waited patiently for his French Toast.  Jared is saying “Wait until I shower to put that on your blog”.  Oops.

 

Then I got to cooking!!

 

Cherry-Stuffed Pork Loin

I used 2/4 cup dried cherries, 1/2 cup dried apricots (cut in half) and let them soak in 3/4 cup wine  for about 1/2 hour.  After they absorbed about 1/2 of the wine, I added them to a small pot and added heat to help soak up the wine.  I then added about 1/2 cup walnuts. 

The pork loin I bought came in a package of 2 from Costco.  I was surprised to find that when I opened the package, there were two loins instead of one big one.  I was actually pretty happy about this seeing as how I don’t have a meat tenderizer.  I took the two loins and pounded them mercilessly.  I used an old marble rolling pin.  Anyways.  Add your fruit mixture to the loin.  Season with salt, pepper, and tyme.  Cook for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.  The pork didn’t dry our because I took it out of the oven when it read 160 degrees.  Let it rest for about 10 minutes.  It will reach 170. 

 

I made some guac.  No recipe here.  Just 2 avacados, half tomato, 1/4 onion and some guac mix I got at McGinnis Sisters.  I really liked the simple salad I made.  It had onion, romaine, spinach, fresh orange juice, and balsamic.  Sort-of inspired by Yum Yum but sans a few ingredients I didn’t have.

 

I put out the dips for everyone, including a spread of cheese & apples (unpictured).  I got Ambrose ready with his bow. 

 

I made some biscuits last minute.  The biscuts were so good but a “once a year” treat.  They had 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 sticks butter (you see why now), 1 1/2 tbls baking powder, and 1 cup of milk.  They were sooo good.  Seriously.  Oh!  And the cheesecake turn out very pretty.  With the exception of the saran wrap markings on the top of it.

 

 

Once everyone came, the tree went from crowded, to super crowded.

 

Sorry for the blur, but Ambrose is a hard dog to photograph.  He got his present. 

 

 

 

Just like every other family that celebrates Christmas, we opened gifts.  It was a nice time.  I think the picture of me, I am opening an electric griddle which I have been wanting and got!!  I also got a $50 giftcard to Williams Sonoma to add to my “blender fund”.  Lots of other nice gifts were recieved.  We opened gifts while the pork cooked in the oven.

 

We then set the table.  Everything fit including the green bean casserole (Jared’s request). I made glazed carrots and steam broc as well.   Everyone raved about the pork and said it was delicious and moist.  I honestly don’t know how those things happen.  Jared was happy, everyone liked the meal. 

 

We finished off with the cheesecake.  I didn’t snap any pictures because we were so busy cleaning and talking that it didn’t seem as important.  Jared tried one bite of it and just blurts out “Oh I love you so much”.  It was really funny.  The cheesecake “wasn’t light but wasn’t heavy”.  That means, I used three blocks of cream cheese.  One of which was reduced fat.  For the sour cream, I used light sour cream.  It had three eggs in it.  The crust was good, but not evenly gingery.  If that makes sense.  Some parts just tasted like graham cracket while others made you go “whoa ginger”.  Next time (not that I make cheesecakes often), I will use gingersnaps instead. 

 

The remainder of the night we hung out.  After the parents left Jared and I relaxed and I wore my new Snuggie.  Yes!  I got a Snuggie, from Jared.  He knows how I like to spend my evenings (under blankets snuggled).

 

I don’t know what is on the agenda for today, honestly.  I am thinking maybe some post-Christmas sale shopping (I need to stock up for next year, of coarse!).  I also am hankering for my blender.  But I’m not sure if I want to wait or want to splurge.  Who knows!

 

I hope you and your family had a great holiday, however it was spent.  The day comes and goes so fast.  I think I was able to savor every joyous moment.

In the past, I would either be working Christmas Eve, or would work a half day.  This year, I am off!  Also, I would spend Christmas eve with a continuous flow of wine in my glass through the night at family parties.  I always woke up the next day looking like this…

 

I’m the one without the reindeer antlers on.  This is from 2006. 

 

Tomorrow will be different, though.  Mainly because Jared and I spend Christmas Eve apart, with our respective extended families. 

 

These are a few pictures of my dwelling before now.  Lights and all.  I simply could not live in a place that wasn’t decorated for the holidays.  I got rid of the little tree in a yard sale before I moved, but that tree held me through 2006, 2007, and 2008 Christmases. 

 

 

I never got to cheesecake making yesterday because Jared and I got tied up in errand running.  That is on the agenda today along with cleaning.  Something else we didn’t get to do yesterday thanks in part in our errand running.

 

 

 

 

To anyone that reads this that is from a southern/warm climate, these temperatures probably looks scary to you!  Well, they look warm to me.  The current temperature, however, does not…

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Jared and I also went to Beto’s Pizza last night.  It is a South Hills staple whose unique twist is to put “cold cheese” on top of the baked pie.  Basically, they cook the crust & sauce and top it with cold cheese when it’s out of the oven.  Beto’s doesn’t have a website, but I figured the Yelp page may help put things into perspective. 

My family loves Beto’s.  My cousin who lives in Vegas and visits only during the holidays must stop at Beto’s.  My Aunt & Uncle who live in Eastern PA have “trained” their pizza shop to use “cold cheese”.  I haven’t eaten there since I was a child.  I tried to describe it to Jared, but he didn’t get it. 

 

Jared got 2 cuts with pepperoni.  I got one cut with mushroom.  About 20 minutes later, out came out cuts that were topped with cold cheese and our respective toppings.  Okay. 

I would appreciate this concept more if the crust was hot.  Unfortunately, however, the crust was lukewarm.  The cheese doesn’t melt as much as one would expect.  Instead, the cold cheese makes the sauce, crust, and toppings cold.  So it’s like you are eating a half-baked pie.  Maybe this changes if you order the pie, put it in the box, take it home.  Maybe the heat steams & congeals the cheese?  I don’t know.  But I ate the slice, and about halfway through (pictured), I gave up.  I gave up because it was cold.  I wanted to take off the cold cheese, shrooms, and sauce and eat the crust.  But the crust isn’t even good.  The sauce was okay.  But it was –gasp- cold!  Actually, the sauce was good.  It was simple & had chunks of tomato in it. 

I left there hungry.  I would much rather eat Mineo’s Pizza.  In fact, I’d rather only eat Mineo’s pizza if I’m going to eat pizza.  I’m not a huge fan of pizza.  Mainly because unless it’s going to be good, it leaves a huge lump in my stomach.

Also, this post was half dedicated to Jared as he told me “You have to blog about this place, it’s horrible!  And he made me take a picture of the pizza.  Love him. =)

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I may have, jokingly, been offered my old job back at the County.  Well, not my old job, a colleagues old job that left.  I guess that’s flattering?  Don’t think I could return in fear of the office thinking I couldn’t handle my new job.

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The majority of the day today will be spent cleaning (really this time), baking, and then my evening will be spent with family.  Merry Christmas Eve!  This whole “not working for five days” thing has really gotten me un-focused.