Food & Wine Festival 2010: Round Four

On the first counterclockwise excursion around the World Showcase Lagoon, Nichole, Daniel & I made our first stop in...

NEW ZEALAND
Seared Sea Scallop with Vegetable Slaw and Lemon Vinaigrette. Villa Maria Private Bin "Unoaked" Hawkes bay Chardonnay.

I had the sea scallop last year as well. It was perfectly seared & so tasty, especially against the crunch of the vegetable slaw. i wish I could recall more about the wine...but I can't.

It didn't take us long to decide on our next destination. The lure is just too great to bear to pass by the delicious smells coming from...

GREECE
Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki. Boutari Naoussa.

The chicken souvlaki was very tasty, but a little challenging to eat (especially when you are attempting to split it between three people). It was worth it though. The yogurt sauce added a nice dimension to the spices on the chicken. I don't seem to remember anything about this wine either--I actually had to text Daniel to figure out which one it even was!--which leads me to wonder if I even took a sip at all. I shouldn't have trouble remembering the *first* two wines of the day...

It was particularly warm on Sunday, so our next mission was to find Nichole a cool, refreshing beverage. We landed in...

FRANCE
Escargot Persillade en Brioche.

While Nichole sipped a Parisian Cosmo Slush, I shared some escargot with Daniel. It was just as much buttery, garlicky goodness as the last time...and *this* time I remembered to snap a photo!

After departing France, our next stop brought us home to...

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Heirloom Tomatoes with Oregon Blue Cheese, Red Onions and Basil. Sagelands Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley.

I have been anticipating this dish since I first laid eyes on this year's Food & Wine Fest menu. I waited for the one person who enjoys tomatoes & basil as much as I do. It was not easy. This salad was so.very.good. We discussed attempting to recreate this ourselves at a later date, but substituting thinly sliced shallot for the red onion & increasing the amount of basil. Really, though? You cannot go wrong where tomatoes & basil meet. The Riesling is as they all are for me: delicious. I surprised myself by immediately noticing that this one had a definite citrus flavor to it! I usually don't taste the subtle flavors of a wine that easily & I thought I was mistaken, but Daniel confirmed it. (The red wine in the photo was the Sagelands Vineyard Merlot, Four Corners, that he chose. I didn't actually order two wines. Heh.)

Determining that it was time for something sweet to wrap up our culinary travels, we made our way to...

GERMANY
Apfel Strudel featuring Wether's Original Karamell Sauce. Gunderloch Diva Spatlese Riesling.

There is just something so satisfying & comforting to me about apple strudel. Plain or with a sauce. Warm or room temperature. With raisins or without. This strudel had just a couple of raisins & was room temperature, but the best part were the *two* sauces. It sat in a wonderful pool of vanilla sauce & was topped with a super yummy caramel drizzle. (You'll have to forgive the photo. It was dark out & I was left with the sole option of having my dessert & wine held beneath a muted light while I tried to hold as still as possible, since I never bring a tripod into the parks with me.) The Riesling--mmmm, Riesling--was sweeter than the one I had with the heirloom tomato salad, and it had a definite apple undertone. More specifically, it distinctly reminded me of the mellowed flavor that my Gramp's apples had during the Winter, when he would bring a few up from the root cellar to slice & have with popcorn. It was the strangest thing for me to taste that so vividly. Each sip started out tasting "just like wine," and ended with the "tingly bite" that wines always have for me, but between those two was a burst of mellow apple, plain as day.

I still have a pretty decent list of dishes I want to try. I am sure we'll make at least one more round this coming weekend & then I will have one last chance the following weekend to squeeze in anything I've missed. I can't believe it's been almost six weeks already!

Read more...

Top Ten Tuesday: November 2, 2010

Playing around with a new idea. Random Top Ten lists that pop into my head. =)

Top Ten Favorite Trick-or-Treat Candies
10. Bite-sized Twix
9. Fun-sized Hershey bars
8. Fun-sized Kitkats
7. Bite-sized Milky Ways
6. Fun-sized M&Ms
5. Fun-sized Twizzlers
4. Fun-sized York Peppermint Patties
3. Fun-sized Starburst
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
1. Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins (and yes, there *is* a difference, I cannot even believe one would suggest otherwise)

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: November 1, 2010

Monday: Spaghetti & meatballs with salad, maybe some garlic bread.
Tuesday: Something at WDW. I have a vaction day!
Wednesday: Meatloaf patties, mashed potatoes & French-cut green beans.
Thursday: A quick "Chicken Voila" meal from the freezer & a salad.
Friday: Another vacation day for me & another meal at WDW.
Saturday: More WDW.
Sunday: WDW?

Minus some kitchen drama last Tuesday, the menu was executed exactly as planned. Saturday's dinner was at ESPN Club while we watched the World Series on the big screen & Sunday's dinner was Food & Wine Fest, Round Four.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: October 2010

A photo of me:
Take your pick!



1) Candle scents this month:
Mango Peach Salsa. Honeydew Melon. Apple Cider. Home Sweet Home. Orchard Pear. Cafe Au Lait. Vineyard. Pumpkin Pie. Autumn Wreath. Mandarin Cranberry. Apple Pie. Autumn Leaves.

2) What I am reading this month:
Many magazines. Trying to weed through the pile still & get them recycled.

3) Top three four songs I was drawn to:
"Trip Around the Sun," Jimmy Buffet with Martina McBride. "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," Danny Gokey. "Days Go By," Keith Urban. "Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney.

4) Movies I saw:
Not a single one. There is no time, between new tv shows, playoff baseball & football starting.

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
Fringe: The Box - I loved the look on Walter's face when he got his inheritance from Bell. The Big Bang Theory: The Zazzy Substitution - I laughed so hard when Sheldon said "Zazzy!" when introducing the cat.

6) Something yummy I made:
I tried several yummy new recipes, but I think the Pumpkin Chili won.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
TGIFriday's. Louie Mack. Bonefish Grill. ESPN Club. Cosmic Rays.

8) Something that made me cry:
The Chilean miners rescue. Their reactions upon being brought up from the mine. The people who rescued them. The whole thing was very moving.

9) A goal I had for this month:
To get some direction on my medical issue. I'm definitely moving in the right direction! I have a specialist selected, details in line from my insurance company & some wheels in motion.

10) This month I looked forward to:
Food & Wine Festival!!

11) Something I want to remember about this month:
How excited the Rangers were each step of the post-season process. Things haven't gone as golden for them in the World Series so far (down 3-1 as of October 31), but they've still been a fun team to watch.

12) A photo I took this month:

Italy Pavilion, Epcot.

Read more...

Skeered.

Terrified.

Of vampires.

I *hate* vampires. I hate anything even remotely associated with vampires.

(Go ahead, laugh, I realize it's ridiculous.)

When I was in 3rd grade, we made this art project. It was a hanging bat. I was so proud of it that when I got home, I hung it so it dangled from the inside of the frame of my canopy bed. That following Saturday, I saw the original classic, "Dracula"...and then when I went to bed, I couldn't stop staring at that.damn.bat.

I cannot handle vampires. I scarred myself for life.

Read more...

Making my seasons change: Autumn 2010.

Read more...

They say love makes sacrifices, right?

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
(John 10: 13)

This? Runs a close second.

Read more...

Home.

I was catching up on my Google Reader some more and I happened upon a blog post, titled Where the Heart Is. The author asked "What does home mean to you?" and it got my wheels turning.

As a transplant, I remember first living in Florida & often referred to Connecticut or New England as "back home." It's where my history is. Where I was born, grew up and lived for the first 25 years of my life. I don't recall exactly when it changed, but on one visit back to Connecticut, I made reference to "home," and for the first time realized that I meant Florida. Since that day, I hadn't given it much thought.

Florida *is* my home now. It is where I live. It is where the streets have become familiar. Where palm trees are no longer a novelty. Where I have favorite places to visit, restaurants where I like to eat, stores where I prefer to shop.

But as I really let the question camp out in my thoughts, something new occurred to me.

New England is also still my home. I have memories there. I can still picture the winding, hilly roads I traveled with crystal clarity. It is where stately pines are as familiar along the street edges as palm trees are for me now. I can hear the blend of Massachusetts & New York accents that play at the edge of the voices I know best in Connecticut. I have favorite places I miss visiting, people I miss going to dinner with at restaurants I like, and seasons I miss turning with more obvious distinction.

Home is not a place on a map for me, I've come to understand. Home is Central Florida, with its theme parks and orange blossoms. Home is New England, with its deeply entrenched history--both my own & this great country's--and its magnificent Autumn beauty. Home is California, where I have never laid down roots in any official sense, but can settle right in, as if I'd never left, no matter how long it has been since I was last there.

Home, for me, is where I love. Home is where I *am* loved. There is something to that old cliche "Home is where the heart is." The landscape and the structures, they don't matter. It's the people who I find there that can make anywhere home to me. Because it's seeing their faces, hugging them tight and laughing with joy, that ultimately makes me feel like I've come home.

Read more...

Right Now: October 26, 2010

Outside my window... it is hot & humid again. What gives, Mother Nature??

I am thinking... I preferred having the a/c off & the windows open in the evening.

I am thankful for... the opportunity to complain about having an air conditioner to run in the first place.

From the kitchen... came frustration tonight. The romaine leaves were smaller than they had appeared. The baking dish I chose wasn't quite big enough. The fish kept coming unwrapped. I let my frustration get the best of me & I got a little snappish. Dinner turned out yummy, though, my mood improved and apologies were issued, so it was all good in the end.

I am wearing... boxer shorts & a tank top. Because it's hot. Again. Hmph.

I am creating... a lot of medically-related paperwork. Sheesh.

I am going... to root for the Rangers in the World Series.

I am reading... more from the stack of backlogged magazines.

I am hoping... the 10-day forecast is not giving me false hope that it will cool down again. Seems as though every day the cool weather stays to the last 3 days of the forecast & never gets any closer.

I am hearing... the sound of my own typing & the whoosh of the a/c kicking on.

Around the house... are ghosts & pumpkins. My seasonal decor makes me smile.

One of my favorite things... really cold grapes.

I don't understand... why the phrasing of proposed amendments on the ballots has to be so confusing. Just say it in plain English so we know what we're voting for. We don't all have legal degrees.

I wish... the Yankee Candle store was in the mall that is closer to me. I don't like the other mall.

A few plans for the rest of the week... World Series viewing, a hair cut, and some WDW!

A picture to share...

Brandi & I fiesta'd with Donald! This is the one & only photo of me so far this month, so I'm going to have get on the ball with that or my monthly snapshot post for October is going to have an empty spot (or a duplicate photo).

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: October 25, 2010

Monday: Pot roast in the Crock Pot with potatoes & carrots, and some biscuits.
Tuesday: Romaine-Wrapped Tilapia with Red Onion and Capers, wild rice and steamed asparagus.
Wednesday: Pasta with tomato sauce.
Thursday: Brown Sugar Glazed Pork, rice and a salad.
Friday: Grilled ham & cheese with tomato soup.
Saturday: Something yummy at WDW while watching the World Series game with Nichole & Daniel.
Sunday: Something at WDW, as yet to be determined, depending on where we are & what we have a taste for.

I have two new recipes to link to because both that were on last week's menu were keepers! Monday's Creamy Chicken Over Linguine and Wednesday's Pasta with Tomatoes, Spinach and Goat Cheese. The rest of the week's menu went as planned with plenty of leftovers available for lunches, as well as Sunday leftovers.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Food & Wine Festival 2010: Round Three

I was starving when I arrived at Epcot this week. It was actually a physical impossibility for me to walk past...

GREECE
Spanakopita. Atlantis White.

The smell of the spanakopita is *heavenly* & even that doesn't come close to how yummy it tastes! I had this last year as well. It was just too good not to repeat. The wine was super dry. Normally, even if I can't identify which fruit I am tasting, I can tell it's there. This was dry dry dry. Not bad, just dry.

As is turned out, Brandi & her husband happened to be at Disney this weekend, celebrating her birthday & partaking in a little food & wine themselves. So, I met up with them at Mexico and we wandered through the countries, finally ending up in...

SPAIN
Seared Albacore Tuna with Romesco Sauce. Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red.

The tuna was tasty; it had some seasonings crusted onto it. I cannot for the life of me tell you what that sauce was. It wasn't spicy or fruity. I am thinking it was maybe red pepper? I recall very little about the wine--we were chatting at the time--but I do remember liking it, which is rare for me when it comes to reds.

We set off again around the World Showcase Lagoon & finally stopped at...

SINGAPORE
Coconut-Braised Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice.

It isn't, ummm, much to look at. The coconut was definitely evident. It was a bit more spicy than I would prefer, but the rice helped to balance it out just a bit. (It would have been better with a little more rice, I am thinking, at least for me.) Not that I would shudder at eating it again, just not my personal favorite. What I will NOT be trying at any point in the future is the Singapore Sling [not pictured] that Brandi & Phil tried. They insisted I had to try a sip. It was really just a larger size dose of cough medicine was the final consensus.

For out final stop of the day, we decided to go with...

FRANCE
Parisian Cosmo Slush

I decided to take a different spin on "dessert" this time. The slush sounded so refreshing (it was a little warm outside) & I do like me some cranberry. There was an ulterior motive for stopping in France, though. Brandi wanted to me try something I have not ever worked up enough nerve to sample. And so, taking her on her word that it would not be a chewy texture, I tried one of her Escargot Persillade en Brioche [not pictured]! I was pleasantly surprised! It really was just buttery goodness, that tasted similar to garlic bread! I may have to get this one on my own at some point--something I thought I would never say.

I am very much looking forward to Round Four because it will mean Nichole & Daniel have arrived at WDW! As much as I enjoy going by myself, it is always lots of fun to spend the day "globe-trotting" & tasting with wonderful friends. (As long as they are the patient sort who doesn't mind that I need to whip out my camera before eating anything.)

Read more...

9 years.

Gram (February 4, 1917-October 20, 2001) and Gramp (January 30, 1918-January 6, 2003)

We little knew that morning
That God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone;
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories,
Your love is still our guide;
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same;
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
(Ron Tranmer)

Read more...

Right Now: October 19, 2010

Outside my window... there is a raccoon stalking my door. Ahem.

I am thinking... I may never have a fully functioning work computer ever again at this rate.

I am thankful for... a full refrigerator. And freezer. And pantry.

From the kitchen... are a whole bunch of new recipes lately!

I am wearing... blue & white striped pajama pants & an orange tank top.

I am creating... a large stack of recycling with all the magazines I am plowing through at work, passing time between answering phone calls.

I am going... to need a snack soon.

I am reading... magazines, magazines, magazines.

I am hoping... for a Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee World Series.

I am hearing... some baseball on tv & a raccoon scratching around outside.

Around the house... it is finally looking like Autumn, after I got around to putting up my decorations. I love all my pumpkins!

One of my favorite things... is the unexpected. On my way into church Sunday morning, I saw one lone tiny red leaf lying on the sidewalk. The leaves don't change down here the way they do in many other places, so spotting a tiny glimpse of Autumn when it wasn't expected made me smile all day.

I don't understand... how the *inside* of my glasses gets so dirty. What is possibly touching my lenses on that side?!

I wish... my doctor's office would CALL ME BACK already.

A few plans for the rest of the week... cheering for the Rangers & the Phillies, and Round Three of Food & Wine Fest!

A picture to share...

Teeny tiny Food & Wine Fest! Hee!

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: October 18, 2010

Monday: (new recipe!) Troy found a new chicken recipe he wants to try. We'll be having it with a side of broccoli & a salad.
Tuesday: Burgers on the grill and Troy's creamy cucumbers. (story: We each have a recipe for a creamy cucumber salad. They are both really yummy. We trade off turns making them.)
Wednesday: (new recipe!) Pasta with Tomatoes, Spinach & Goat Cheese.
Thursday: Tuna casserole.
Friday: Pork chops, boiled potatoes & steamed Summer squash.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest at Epcot.
Sunday: Leftovers?

Stayed right on task with this week's menu. The only elaborations are: I added the recipe for the Pumpkin Chili, which was so delicious! You would not have even known the pumpkin was there, it was so subtle. Friday's birthday dinner was at Bonefish Grill--I cannot resist their bacon-wrapped scallops! And I actually had no leftovers on Sunday (that almost never happens!) so I tried out a second new "recipe" (I feel funny calling it that because it was zero effort) for a Turkey, Mozzarella and Basil Wrap. Basil is my weakness & I am always drawn into recipes that list it as an ingredient. This was very simple & very tasty & totally hit the spot.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Food & Wine Festival 2010: Round Two

And so it was that I ventured back to Epcot on Saturday for another tasty tour around the world.

Round Two kicked off in...

POLAND
Kielbasa and Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream.

This standby is an old favorite. I knew it would be good. I've had it plenty of times before. It's not terribly adventurous but sometimes the taste buds want what they *know* is good! I'm always shocked that I like the onions, not being a fan of them as a rule, but they are so sweet done this way.

A quick zip around the corner brought me to my next stop...

GERMANY
Nurnberger Sausage in a Pretzel Roll. Hooked Riesling.

Another choice that I am fairly familiar with. If you've never had a pretzel roll, then you just won't understand the draw. So warm & soft & slightly salty... Mmmm... I went with the suggested wine pairing. Bottom line: I have yet to meet a Riesling I don't thoroughly enjoy!

From Germany, the next country in line was...

ITALY
Polpettine Toscane with Rosemary Breadstick.

The sauce was yummy, but to be honest, the meatballs were a bit dry for my personal preference. The flavor was good, but a dry meatball is just 'meh' for me. The best part of this dish was the breadstick.

Having three fairly heavy dishes in my tummy (never ceases to amaze me that such small portions can truly fill me up!), I decided it was time for dessert, before I found myself tragically too full, so after carefully studying the map, I chose my final destination to be...

BELGIUM
Freshly Baked Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream.

Despite having to old favorites to start out this tasting trip, I have to say that *this* was my favorite selection of the day! The waffle was warm & soft, the berries were sweet without being *too* sweet, and the whole thing was surprisingly light given its appearance. Even without being chocolate, it was the perfect way to close Round Two.

Read more...

I Want Wednesday: October 13, 2010

**I Want the football & baseball hats. And a wee little noggin upon which to place them. Just because seriously? I cannot take how adorable they are.


**I Want one of these iPod Touch capsule cases although I have no idea which photo I would ever choose. I just think they are so cool.


**I Want to glitter things.

**I Want a casserole pot that is versatile enough to be used on the stove *and* in the oven.


**I must be feeling crafty, because as soon as I saw these lanterns, I Wanted to make some.

Read more...

Right Now: October 12, 2010

Outside my window... is the most beautiful sunset.

I am thinking... it's good to have Troy back in Florida. It's way too quiet here when he's away.

I am thankful for... being another year older. It sure beats the alternative.

From the kitchen... came a super simple dinner tonight. Some nights you just need that.

I am wearing... black cargo capri pants & a black tank top.

I am creating... happiness.

I am going... to watch Big Bang Theory on the DVR in a few minutes. I still can't believe I resisted watching this show for so long, thinking it wouldn't be funny!

I am reading... an old issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

I am hoping... to see a World Series featuring a Cliff Lee-Roy Halladay match up!

I am hearing... the background noise of Jeopardy. I don't know hardly any of the answers tonight. I don't like when this show makes me feel dumb. Hmph.

Around the house... there is laughter.

One of my favorite things... is comfortable routine.

I don't understand... why we cannot get a computer to function properly for me at work.

I wish... I could tell you what my birthday wish is, but you know the rule!

A few plans for the rest of the week... trying a new recipe on Wednesday, going out for my birthday dinner on Friday & Round Two of Food & Wine Festival on Saturday.

A picture to share...

33 birthday cakes ago.

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: October 11, 2010

Monday: Cheese, crackers & fruit.
Tuesday: Hot dogs and oven-baked fries.
Wednesday: (new recipe!) Pumpkin Chili and biscuits.
Thursday: Stuffed Shells with salad and garlic bread.
Friday: Going out to dinner for my birthday (which was Tuesday).
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest at Epcot.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Only one minor tweak to last week's menu. There ended up being a lot of leftover pizza, so I finished that up on Wednesday & moved the baked potato to Sunday.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Food & Wine Festival 2010: Round One

I have been drooling in anticipation of this since, well, the last one ended. I have had a list of menu options on my hands for weeks now. You would think that I would have had an exact plan of attack when I arrived at Epcot on Saturday. You would be wrong, though, because any plan I had was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices once I added in the sights & smells before me.

The tour begins in...

CHILE
Shrimp Ceviche. Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc.

I am usually on the fence about shrimp. I don't dislike it but it's not generally my seafood of choice either. This looked *so* good, though, that I had to try it. It did not disappoint! It had some kick to it but not too much, and it didn't hurt that there were only a few shrimps in the cup, mostly the tomato & onion mixture. I have no clue what the crunchy things were on top but they made a really pleasant contrast to the softness of the rest of the dish. The wine was ok. I thought it was kind of bland but compared to all the flavors in the ceviche, perhaps it was just overpowered?

After some deliberation (and a quick "this or that?" consult), I departed Chile for...

SOUTH KOREA
Barbecue Short Rib with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Kimchi. Bhoae Bokbunjajoo.

My taste buds pretty much exploded in South Korea. The tangy barbecue sauce. The kick of the kimchi. The fruity black raspberry rice wine. My taste buds did a little dance. And then, the rice wine kicked in & I walked around grinning like the village idiot. The absolute only "complaint" I had was that I was not smart enough to grab more than one napkin. The ribs require at least three.

After the rice wine happiness, it was time to find some place that could do a little "soaking up" of the alcohol. So after another text consult, I made my trek from South Korea to...

PUERTO RICO
Medianoche Sandwich.

This was very tasty & quite a good chunk of sandwich (as compared to the typical portion size). It kind of reminded me of a pressed Cuban sandwich, only the bread wasn't toasted & the sandwich wasn't pressed.

With a little more food in my stomach, I determined that it was time for something sweet.

DESSERTS & CHAMPAGNE
Pear Streusel Pudding Cake.

This was lighter than I thought it would be, judging by the way it looked. Sweet but not too sweet. It was tasty, but didn't quite top me off the way a dessert should, in my book. I could have popped the whole thing into my mouth in one bite (I didn't) & barely known I had eaten something. It almost could have passed for a bite of coffee cake for a mid-morning snack!

So I ventured off in search of chocolate in...

IRELAND
Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey's Irish Cream Ganache.

Now *this* was a dessert. It was no bigger than a mini muffin but it was warm & rich & gooey. Heavy for such a little bite of a fellow! I scooped off little bits of cake, careful to get some of the warm chocolate "lava" & the ganache in each spoonful. You just can't go wrong with chocolate to end a meal.

I'm already counting down to Saturday again, for my next globe-hopping trip of yumminess. I'm going to try to have a plan in place for Round Two but...

Read more...

Right Now: October 7, 2010

Outside my window... the gorgeous weather is taunting me with its perfectly clear blue skies, gentle breeze, mild temperature. And here I am, stuck at my desk.

I am thinking... about Peanut Butter M&Ms.

I am thankful for... everyone else being at lunch right now.

From the kitchen... there was pizza last night.

I am wearing... jeans, a sleeveless orange sweater, brown heeled boots & my black track jacket (because they insist on running the a/c at 70*).

I am creating... order from chaos.

I am going... stir crazy!!

I am reading... sports headlines.

I am hoping... the Twins can tie up their ALDS matchup against the Yankees tonight.

I am hearing... the a/c running, the fish tank gurgling, a machine in the shopping humming & my own typing.

Around the house... better be quiet, since I'm not there right now!

One of my favorite things... crisp morning air.

I don't understand... why some people feel communication is optional.

I wish... I could get my work computer set up properly. Setting up this new machine has not gone smoothly. I hope that isn't an omen.

A few plans for the rest of the week... catching up on some shows on the DVR, watching the baseball playoffs, taking a tour of Food & Wine Festival, and decorating for Autumn.

A picture to share...

This is one of my most prized possessions. It is the original key to my grandparents' home. They replaced their kitchen door when I was an adolescent, but this is the key I remember turning in the lock for most of my childhood. So many of my happiest memories revolved around that house & the people inside it. Seeing that key never fails to make me smile. So while it is of little use or value to anyone else, it is infinitely precious to me.

Read more...

A baseball fan's rant.

I'm sitting here, listening to a Rays "fan" have a conversation. He keeps saying "we." We this. We that. I happen to know for a fact that he might turn on a game a half dozen times a season.

I have a problem with the "we."

Because the guys who go out & play 162 (plus Spring Training & if they are lucky, the post-season)? *They* are the team. They are the primary "we." Those of us who dedicate three or so hours of our attention to that 162+ are the auxiliary "we." I recognize that not everybody is going to sit down & watch the way I do, all 162+. And when I can't watch or listen? I am recording. Or getting play-by-play updates via text from someone who *is* watching or listening. It is ok not to be fanatically involved with "your team." They can still be "your team." But you don't get "we" status for watching .4% of the regular season's games & wear a hat or t-shirt sometimes.

I repeat: It's ok not to be fanatically involved, but then you have no right to say "we," which should be reserved for fans who invest time & energy from Spring Training on--and even in the off-season. "We" is for those of us who live & die, night after night, with their team. NOT the casual observer.

I'm not questioning your loyalty (until I hear you make remarks like "Baseball is boring & stupid, the season never ends, how can you watch it?" when "your team" is down in the dumps & then when they're winning again, you suddenly want to talk trash to me), but I will fully admit: I am a baseball fan snob. You don't earn the right to say "we" until you've invested yourself fully in your team.*

*Honorary "we" usage permitted for those who live & die by their team, but whose schedule or responsibilities do not allow for nightly participation, yet still manage to seek out information & remain as immersed as they possibly can.

Read more...

I Want Wednesday: October 6, 2010

I have a conundrum. (Ha! I love big words.) (Yes, I *am* a dork. Whatever.) Getting back on track. The office staff at work gets a cake (or pie or some sort of tasty treat) on their birthday. The birthday boy or girl gets to choose. Whatever they want. Every year since I've been here, I have chosen an ice cream cake, mostly because I wasn't allowed to have one growing up; October in New England was "too cold" for an ice cream cake, so I was told. This year I wanted to go with something different. I made the terrible mistake of visiting the Publix bakery site. It just isn't wise to give a Libra too many choices! And there are *far* too many mouth-watering choices there...

I managed to narrow it down to four. It was not easy. You should be impressed.

I'm taking I Want Wednesday in a different direction today. I Want you to tell me which one to choose before my brain explodes!

**Strawberry Sensation

Your choice of vanilla or chocolate cake filled with vanilla custard, strawberry glaze, and fresh strawberries. The whipped topping matches the cake flavor, and is garnished with ganache icing, glazed strawberries, and chocolate curls.

**Strawberry Elegance

This dessert gets its name from the glazed berries that top it, along with chocolate ganache icing and chocolate curls. Filled with vanilla custard and iced with whipped topping, the three-layer cake is either chocolate or vanilla—your choice.

**Raspberry Elegance

This cake is certainly worthy of its name, with four layers of moist vanilla cake and a luscious raspberry filling. Covered with our rich cream cheese icing, this impressive dessert is as beautiful to behold as it is delicious to eat. Also available in chocolate.

**Ebony and Ivory Cake

Four alternating vanilla and chocolate cake layers filled with alternating layers of vanilla custard and chocolate pudding. On top, vanilla and chocolate whipped topping, pieces of dark chocolate, and drizzled chocolate ganache icing make this cake look as good as it tastes.

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: October 4, 2010

Monday: Cheese ravioli with sausage & tomato sauce, garlic bread and a salad.
Tuesday: Tilapia (cooked in packets on the grill), steamed broccoli and some wild rice. Didn't get to this last week.
Wednesday: Pizza.
Thursday: A great big baked potato and a salad.
Friday: Going out to dinner for work.
Saturday: Food & Wine Fest at Epcot.
Sunday: I'm trying to decide between a homemade soup & a chicken dish. Too many new recipes to choose from!

We stayed mostly to menu last week, except for two slight adjustments. Thursday ending up being a very annoying crazy evening. By the time we got to start dinner, the scalloped potatoes & ham wouldn't have been ready to eat until after 8pm, which is a bad plan for two people who get very crabby when they get hungry. So, we put the scalloped potatoes & ham in the oven for Friday's dinner and ended up eating Wendy's for dinner on Thursday. The fish got bumped up to this week.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: September 2010

A photo of me:

I went to a dinner show, Capone's, with my mother. They take your mug shot when you first come in. My mom told me to "look mean." The end result is that we laughed every time we looked at the photo.

1) Candle scents this month:
Clean Cotton. Lavender Vanilla. Lavender Fields. Vanilla Cupcake. Storm Watch. Juicy Peach.

2) What I am reading this month:
I'm between books. Not sure what I want to read next. So I am busily weeding through some stacks of old magazines, pulling out anything of to be filed for future reference & sending the rest off to be recycled.

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"My Wish," Rascal Flatts. "Don't Know Why," Nora Jones. "Blessed," Martina McBride.

4) Movies I saw:
None. Baseball, football *and* new tv episodes all happening this month. There's no time for movies!

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
When Meredith tells Cristina "He's perfect" after Cristina asked how Owen was right before their wedding, on the Grey's premiere, "With You I'm Born Again"; there was just something about that moment when you could see the depth of their friendship in Meredith's reply. Joan Cusack in the season premiere of Law & Order: SVU, "Locum"; her acting was incredible. And any time Sheldon Cooper laughs on Big Bang Theory.

6) Something yummy I made:
September was a bit of a crazy month. I didn't make anything new. I did make some mashed potatoes that came out *perfectly* though! There is just something about getting them exactly right.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Biergarten. Sunshine Seasons. Tusker House. Capone's. Hollywood Studios. Ling's.

8) Something I that made me laugh:
When I was at my mother's timeshare before we made one of our trips into the Disney parks, I happened to notice that she was making out a list of which tv shows she wanted to set up to record on a lined Post-it notepad. The funny part? Without ever knowing she does this, I made out my list of tv shows to set up on the DVR, also on a lined Post-it notepad. The only differences? A few of the shows on our lists & the fact that her notepad was pink & mine is blue. We could not stop laughing. Apparently list-making on Post-it pads is genetic??

9) A goal I had for this month:
To make it through a jam-packed month without my apartment looking as if a tornado had touched down in it. Only once or twice was it trying to head that direction, but I stayed on top of it!

10) This month I looked forward to:
New tv episodes. There were some fantastic season finales that have left me thinking all Summer. Unfortunately, a busy month plus baseball games *and* football games being played means I will have some catching up to do on the DVR, but I love that there are new episodes lined up & waiting any time I want one!

11) Something I want to remember about this month:
The way the people who love me come through for me without fail when I need them.

12) A photo I took this month:

Just playing with the Precious at Epcot.

Read more...

I Want Wednesday: September 29, 2010

There are clearly some bigger things I want right at the moment, but that doesn't stop a girl from a little frivolous wishing & window-shopping, right?

**I Want these Halloween Stacking Boxes to add to my Halloween decorations. I have so many pumpkins, but not really much else to balance it! These would be perfect.


**So would these! From the second I first saw the sneak peek, these bottle tea light holders have been on my "I Want" list!


**And now that I know this color works on me, I Want this dress, though I have no idea where I would ever wear it. The last dress I wore was for Alison's wedding, over a year ago. I think maybe I've been thinking a bit too much about my...inherent girl-ish-ness over the past week. =P

Read more...

Cravings.

I crave a room filled with sunlight.

I crave cool breezes.

I crave quiet.

I crave Food & Wine Festival.

I crave laughing til my stomach muscles ache with the people I love best.

I crave ice cream.

I crave Autumn. And apple cider. And wrapping myself in cozy blankets.

I crave my own space.

I crave looking at photos, recalling the memories, reminiscing.

I crave the beginning of baseball season.

I crave a front porch, a backyard, an upright freezer, and a washer and dryer I don't have to feed handfuls of quarters.

I crave winding hilly country roads.

I crave new music that sings to my soul.

I crave a creative spark.

I crave a walk down a peaceful familiar road, under trees just showing the first signs of Autumn color, with golden sunset light giving them a glow.

Read more...

Right Now: September 28, 2010

Outside my window... there is a bird feeder that has not been accosted by the band of traveling raccoons since their last pinata party, but every time I hear a suspicious sound, I have to look.

I am thinking... that I'll be missing my Sox something fierce next week.

I am thankful for... all the support & concern I have been shown in the last week.

From the kitchen... tonight was BLTs. So simple but so tasty!

I am wearing... black yoga pants & my big red comfy Red Sox t-shirt.

I am creating... a plan of attack for Food & Wine Festival! Yum!

I am going... to move over to the bedroom soon to watch the end of the Sox game, because the living room DVR will be recording both Parenthood and The Good Wife at 10pm.

I am reading... some emails that have been collecting in my inbox.

I am hoping... for a continued sense of peace.

I am hearing... Remy & Don's laughter. I will miss their gigglefests, as I do each long baseball-less Winter.

Around the house... are clothes that I refuse to put into the dryer, so I hang them to air-dry. I really should put them away.

One of my favorite things... is new magazines.

I don't understand... the silent treatment.

I wish... the Yankees had lost tonight.

A few plans for the rest of the week... enjoying the final few days of the 2010 baseball season, catching up on some more new tv shows, and heading up to WDW on Saturday to watch Troy's sister & nieces run in the Half Marathon, then attending the late night after party in Epcot.

A picture to share...

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: September 27, 2010

Monday: Roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes with gravy, and steamed asparagus.
Tuesday: BLTs.
Wednesday: Leftover turkey sandwich & some potato cakes. Next week, I really want to get back to trying out a new recipe, but I figured this week's goal was just to have a menu planned again. Start small.
Thursday: This time, we really will get to the Scalloped Potatoes with Ham.
Friday: Tilapia (cooked in packets on the grill), steamed broccoli and some wild rice.
Saturday: We don't have a plan yet. We will be at WDW, watching Troy's sister & nieces run in a half marathon, so the meal plan is presently a little sketchy.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Last week was an exercise in adaptability. Monday stayed to plan. Tuesday, I just wasn't hungry very much so I ate what I could. Wednesday, I had lunch at Animal Kingdom (Tusker House--buffet with African flavors--very good) and then dinner was just leftover spaghetti. Thursday, we finally decided on chicken thighs with a barbecue glaze, some noodles in a butter sauce & some corn. By Friday, we'd decided that we were on ham & potato overload, so we went out for Chinese. Saturday brought brats on the grill and some mac & cheese. On Sunday, I had piles of leftovers to clean up, so I didn't have to really cook all day and I *still* had enough for lunch on Monday! Hoping we get back on the menu track this week. I missed it.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

The silence tells stories.

First, it was quiet here because I was busy. My mother was in Florida for two weeks & so we did some touristy things. And some local exploring. And she came for dinner. I just didn't have the energy to make myself sort out thoughts & photos into neat little blog posts.

But then it got quiet because Something Happened. And when Something Happens, I tend to clam up. I'm the introspective sort, and I turn inward when I have to work through Something That Happens. I process internally, and then, bit by bit, I begin revealing the Something to my most trusted confidantes.

I'm in a better frame of mind now, thanks in no small part to My People. I had posted, as my status on Facebook, a week ago: "...has without a solitary doubt, the *best* support system on the planet. The speed & precision with which they organize & circle the wagons when I need them amazes & humbles me. I am richly blessed with people who love me." This could not be more true.

Let me say it again: This could not be more true.

My People rally around me. They mobilize & they form a wall of protection before I even know what it is I really need. They say & do the most incredible things, all the right things, the things I most need to hear or to have done for me, things which I hold dear to my heart like treasures & they are too precious to share out loud. You know how people so often say, under difficult circumstances, that they don't know what to do or say? Well, not My People. Whether they are conscious of it or otherwise, I couldn't have laid out a plan in black & white for them to follow that would have topped the way they came through for me.

I have debated whether or not I would share this story of myself. I am intensely private & this is... very personal. Had it not been for My People, I can assure you I would likely not be sharing this chapter at all. But they have made it ok. They have bolstered my strength when I faltered. And they continue to go above & beyond. If anything validates my faith, it is having My People come through for me. It is by no accident that each of them are part of my world, of this I am certain. They are each gifts and a very certain component of the promise that all that I need will be provided for me.

I have what is called a fibroid. If you don't know what that is, I will leave you to exercise the power of Google or whatever your search engine of choice may be. For those of you not interested in looking it up, I will just leave it as "it isn't life-threatening nor does it have the inclination to turn into anything more ominous." It is, for all intents & purposes, a nuisance. My doctor discovered this fibroid back in March. He decided to keep an eye on it & we scheduled a follow-up ultrasound for last week. At which point, my doctor determined that the fibroid had increased in size enough that it should be removed.

This was all fine & dandy. Ok, well, maybe not fine & dandy, per se, but it was not cause for any great alarm or distress on my part. While I was, of course, hoping for the best case scenario, I was fully prepared to hear that I would need surgery. I'd even mentally prepared myself for the fact that I might not be a good candidate for laparoscopic surgery & that an open incision might be the way to go. So when he told me that it would need to come out, I would say that I handled the news fairly well. (Further substantiated by the fact that his exact response was "Wow, you took that very well.") Even the fact that he ruled out the much less invasive laparoscopic surgery.

What I was *not* prepared for was what came next. The part when he told me the chances were high, given all the delicate & necessary parts & functions all around the location of the fibroid, that he would need to work to save those at the likely expense of my (optional) uterus. (Yes, he said optional. Which, yeah, it is...but STILL.)

I can't say I was very strong at that point. Oh, I was a wall of steel on the outside. I nodded my head & listened to what he had to say. My voice didn't crack. There wasn't even a tear to blink back, much less shed. But the second I was home, it hit me. I think I felt every emotion on the spectrum. I am not even 34 yet. I am healthy--even despite this nuisance who has taken up residence in my abdominal area, I have *zero* symptoms, and had I not seen the ultrasound images with my own eyes, might be inclined to think my doctor had lost his mind. How could he possibly be telling me that the odds were decidedly *not* in my favor of ever carrying a child? Sure, that possibility exists until it is actually said & done but this is far more definitive, and how did I go from realistically optimistic to utterly hopeless in under an hour about something I had not even considered?

As it turns out, as I let My People in one by one, each of them offering support in their own way, I began to sort my emotions into piles. I slowly voiced my fears & my concerns & the jumble of thought fragments whirling through my mind, and together we began to untangle them for me.

The final consensus is that I won't be taking my doctor's word for it this time. He is a good doctor at what he does, but I'm going to place this in the hands of a doctor or doctors who are more familiar with my specific issues. Specialists with knowledge of alternative options & the latest treatments, with skills & tools & years' worth of experience. Doctors with the ability to form a plan that increases my chances of coming through this with all my original parts intact, regardless of how much cutting needs to be done to my person.

Why am I opening up about such a personal matter here on the internet, which, let's be honest, is *way* beyond my comfort zone? (Ha. So far beyond that my usual comfort zone is that dot in the distance at the edge of the horizon when you have a window seat on an airplane & you're squinting to see the furthest possible point where the sky & the earth meet.) Because I've learned a valuable lesson: Do not just take someone's word for it. We want to believe our doctors know exactly what is best for us. But they are humans. They cannot know everything about everything. So while they may know what's best for us within the realm of their knowledge, there may come a point when they have exhausted their knowledge base & it's time to seek out a second opinion--and it is the rare gem (I'm lucky enough to know one) that will admit when it's time to call in someone else. It's time to ask questions, to educate yourself, to advocate for your body & your health. I could have been a bobblehead about this. I could have numbly allowed myself to be carried along the current. And I could have been left with a lot of regrets & what-ifs. Except that My People got me sorted out & reminded me that we don't just make drastic changes without a whole lot of consideration.

I don't know what the outcome will be at this point. It could play out precisely the way my doctor described in that room a week ago tomorrow. But if it does, I can now rest assured that this decision was informed, that it was made by someone with extensive knowledge & skills because it truly was in my best interests, and not because perhaps I allowed someone with only the vaguest old-school understanding of my situation to perform a surgery I am not convinced he had much confidence in doing to begin with.

I have to believe that while I go quiet when I'm working through the thoughts, and that's ok, it's how I do it, that there comes a time when the silence does more harm than good. The silence has its place, but sometimes, so does telling the story.

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: September 20, 2010

Monday: Ham steaks, boiled potatoes and cauliflower with cheese.
Tuesday: Spaghetti & meatballs with garlic bread sticks & a salad.
Wednesday: Not sure yet. I'll be at Animal Kingdom with my mother on her last vacation day in Florida & I'm not sure yet what my dinner plans might be.
Thursday: Something with chicken. Our usually predictable schedule is so out of whack lately. Next week will be better.
Friday: Scalloped Potatoes & Ham.
Saturday: We haven't decided this yet either.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Last week's menu--which I didn't even get to posting--included (Monday) grilled pork chops with corn on the cob & some parmesan noodles, (Tuesday) Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas, (Wednesday) leftovers, (Thursday) Meatloaf Patties with mashed potatoes & french-cut string beans (my mother's request), (Friday) some leftover pasta, (Saturday) dinner Capone's and (Sunday) not much because I just wasn't hungry all day.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Fragile. (Must be Italian!)

I was taking a break from some proofreading (the dry language of a quality manual was starting to become word soup before my eyes and I needed something mentally stimulating before my brain just completely checked out) and I happened upon a blog post (StyleLush, very fun blog) that forced me to pause & think for several moments. This wasn't so much Deep Important Soul-Searching kind of thought as the Trying to Imagine variety.

You see, there was a link to some champagne flutes that cost...perhaps you should sit down, if you aren't already. Stop looking at me through your screen like I'm crazy. Sometimes I stand at my desk just because it gets tiresome to sit all the live long day. These glasses cost TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DOLLARS FOR A PAIR. That would be TWO. TWO GLASSES.

I'm sorry, but that would be the day that I owned a glass that set me back $130. Not even if it's high quality. Not even if it's for consuming bubbles. Not even if it is the only glass I drink out of for the entire.rest.of.my.life. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate good quality & nice things. But can you imagine if that thing ever slipped out of your hand?? I already have heart failure over the concept of dropping one of my $9 holiday dishes (to be fair, they were given to me by my Gram, so there is sentimental value) while washing them. I agonize over dropping my iPod Touch, which looks so fragile. I get sweaty palms when I think about dropping My Baby, My Precious (that would be my camera, for those of you not in the know) & I won't use it without the strap firmly around my neck. The mental image of $130 worth of glass landing in a hundred and thirty million pieces on my kitchen floor would shatter what's left of my psyche along with it.

Do people I know really own glassware of this nature? If you do, please don't tell me. Better yet? Please don't put it in my hands. Have you seen how many times I drop my phone?

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday: September 6, 2010

Monday: Cheeseburgers and corn-on-the-cob from the grill.
Tuesday: Kabobs.
Wednesday: Pasta with tomato sauce--keeping it nice & simple.
Thursday: An old favorite that hasn't made an appearance in quite a while, Honey Lime Chicken with rice and steamed broccoli.
Friday: Fish sandwiches with mac & cheese.
Saturday: Something somewhere in Epcot.
Sunday: Not entirely certain yet, but somewhere out, I suspect, as my mother will be vacationing in the Orlando area.

Last week's menu had a minor tweak: the corn on Thursday was switched to Breaded & Fried Zucchini since there was still some squash hanging out in the fridge that needed to be used up. Wednesday's new recipe, Mini Farfalle with Tomatoes and Corn was very yummy; I liked it as-is, but you could easily toss in some chunks of grilled chicken too. I also thought it was the type of dish that could be used as a main or side dish. Saturday was the return of heat & humidity, and I ended up not feeling too hungry, so we just had a quick meal from the freezer with a salad.

The logo at the top will link you to more menu plans!

Read more...

Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: August 2010

A photo of me:
This is the only one I have at the moment. Snapped when I was right in the middle of an intense live football draft! ;-)


1) Candle scents this month:
Evening Air. Sweet Strawberry. Tahitian Tiare Flower. Strawberry Buttercream. Spa Fresh. Blue Hydrangea. Lilac Blossoms. Honeydew Melon. Sweet Honeysuckle. Buttercream.

2) What I am reading this month:
Red Sox Rule: Terry Francona and Boston's Rise to Dominance (Michael Holley).

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Wasted," Carrie Underwood. "Love," Sugarland. "Feels Like Tonight," Daughtry.

4) Movies I saw:
The Other Guys - it was really funny!

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
The only tv I've really watched this month has been baseball. And let's face it: as much as I love my Sox, there haven't been many feel-good moments lately.

6) Something yummy I made:
This Tomato and Goat Cheese Pizza was mighty tasty!

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Red Lobster. Five Guys. The Grill Bar at the Harvard Club, Boston.

8) Something that made me laugh:
The dinner conversation with Nichole, Daniel and Steven the night before the Sox game we attended at Fenway together.

9) A goal I had for this month:
Finding somewhere new to take my paper recycling now that the location I was bringing it no longer has collection containers. Not only did I find somewhere new, but the new location takes ALL recyclables!

10) This month I looked forward to:
Seeing the Sox play at Fenway with my friends.

11) Something I want to remember about this month:
How much fun you can have watching baseball with your friends, even if you're sitting in the rain for three hours.

12) A photo I took this month:
The room we stayed in at The Harvard Club in Boston.

Read more...

I Want Wednesday: September 1, 2010

**I Want to make my own version of an inspiration book. Lord knows I have a ton of magazines stuffed full of things that catch my eye. I was just searching for a way to actually organize them into a useful entity. I believe something along these lines may be it.


**I Want to burn all my new Yankee Candle Autumn scents. Mmmm... Autumn. My favorite time of year! (Even if it's only inside the walls of my home.) But, alas, my self-imposed rule is that there will be no Autumn scents until it is officially Autumn. That's about the only way I can pretend to have actual seasons anymore.


**I Want to be somewhere in WDW. Now. Work would not be supportive of this desire though.

**I don't really want to spend a whole lot of money replacing the front tires on my care. What I Want is to spend that money on anything else that has ever appeared on my I Want Wednesday posts. Being a grown-up is not all you think it will be when you're ten.

Read more...