Well, That's Just Delicious!

Part of our meal Wednesday evening...so VERY good!!

Pan Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch pencil thin asparagus,rinsed
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to coat skillet
salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Over medium heat, saute garlic till just golden. Remove from pan and turn heat up a bit. When pan is just smoking, throw in wet asparagus and then immediately clamp on a pot lid! Shake pan vigorously and more than once until asparagus is toasty on all sides. Toss garlic back into pan, then add salt and pepper (always fresh ground!) to your taste. Serve hot or room temp - delicious both ways!

Um, the rest is up to you!

~~~

xoabb expect anything!

CG Kate Bag (She's BACK! YEA!) Harvest...

Has become quite sparse to say the least...

But on a much happier note, I'm so very pleased to report that my Kate Bag has resurfaced! You simply can't imagine how glad I am about this. I missed that bag!
Found it in the garage buried beneath the Costco bag of 16 rolls of paper towels. Have no idea how it got there, but am quite certain I'm the responsible party. (sigh)

Onto other things, namely my home patio San Marzano tomatoes (with a few other tomato variety interlopers). They're producing sorta kinda ok. Not a big production, but the ones I've harvested have been quite nice, as you can see. No tomato blight, which is simply delightful, but the odd summer weather has really cut into the numbers of ripe fruit.
My Community Garden tomato plants? Blight loaded, unfortunately. Tomorrow I'm taking a big old industrial size bag to the garden and taking out the plants. They'll be sealed in the bag and tossed. No compost heap for them!
Just one last note. This past weekend I made a bolognese sauce from my garden tomatoes. The hubs said it was the very best sauce he'd ever eaten and would I please make it exactly like that again and again. Damn...didn't write down one thing I did...

~~~

xoabb
expect anything!

SWF: Sky & Beach w/a Side of Veggies

Mathews County VA

Some of the best days I've ever had

With all my new and old Blisters*

(*Short for Blog-Fest Sisters)

My CG* Kate Bag harvest 8/14/9

Haven't a clue what kind of peppers those are.

Some hot, some sweet...

But which is which??

Ahh...the tastebuds will tell me!

(Pepper & bean seeds from my dad.)

(Oh! Maybe he'll know - wait, he gets his peps mixed up too!)

And...

Once 30 pounds roma tomatoes - now?

Almost 2 gallons tomato sauce!

My first endeavor "putting up" any kind of food.

Can you imagine how fresh and wonderful

it's going to taste during the cold cold winter?

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

SkyWatch Friday

Do join us!

SWF with a Side of Tomatoes

Sky Watch Reflection

Pollen on pond. Allergies!

NO one is sneeze free!

Lots of tomatoes

(Not mine, farmer's market grown)

Must freeze them...now what???

~~~

xoabb

expecting my mom to come through with her marinara-type sauce -

you know, the one with the peppers & onions that is so so good!

Sky Watch Friday

Do join us!

(both photos taken yesterday -
can you believe the pollen on our pond??)

Gour-Met!

Saturday night we gathered once again for Gourmet Group. This time around we were channeling that most delightful Barefoot Contessa, aka Ina Garten. A good theme as I don't think that gal has ever concoted an unfortunate recipe!

Jules and Andy were our hosts for the evening. Here's Jules draining the pasta. She did that very efficiently. And with a smile on her face! (Yes, she will kill me for posting this photo.)

I was responsible for appies. Tuna tartar, and tho the photo kinda really sucks and it was simply delicious! This is out of the Barefoot Contessa's Family cookbook.  

I also made her grilled chicken satay. It was in her very first cookbook. Though ONCE AGAIN the photo is not great It was wonderful! For the first time, every appetizer was eaten meaning for once I didn't make enough appies for a dang army, just enough for the 10 of us - imagine that!. Also made her delicious parmesan/thyme savory crackers - OMG - wonderful! That recipe is from her latest cookbook, "Back to Basics".

Patty made the arugula with parmesan shavings salad. A perfect palate cleanser. (Also from her first cookbook.)

Next, the main course - of course! Baked Shrimp Scampi. Can you say YUM??? Simply delicious! And enough garlic to keep vampires away for at least a year. Just sublime. (From Back to Basics.)

See that little tomato concoction? That was made by Suzanne. It was beyond superb. It was beyond wonderful. It was simply awesome! (Back to Basics cookbook.)

Last but not least, Stephanie (with the help of her ~baby~, Gabby, and we all know the help of a child makes everything better) made Tiramisu. (Don't remember the cookbook that's from.)

It was unbelievably delicious.

It had enough rum in it to anesthetize a horse. 

~

Our evening was long and lovely. 

I slept in Sunday, even missing

most of CBS Sunday Morning.

I never miss CBS Sunday Morning.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

My New Favorite Veggie Dish

As usual, we all gathered for Sunday Family Dinner last night. Brussels sprouts were on the menu. At least they were on my menu as everyone else in my immediate family cannot abide them (thank God there's a few in laws and nieces that have seen the brussels sprouts are delicious light so I wasn't eating them alone). Stew Leonard's, a grocery store experience in and of itself, has been having tastings of the above brussels sprouts recipe for the last few weeks and it is simply delicious! If you want the recipe, go here. I followed it for the most part, but it's one of those things that you really can do what you like to your taste. (Didn't use nearly as much olive oil as their recipe called for.)

Of course, Little Miss Magic was a SFD attendee and had a fabulous time pulling on Stella's tail playing with Miss Stella-Bella. I do think at this point, Miss Stella was pleading "Please make this baby go away!"

As always, a good time was had, wonderful food was eaten and memories were made. I'd say that makes for a very successful SFD!

~~~

xoabb

expect family connections!

A World of Fun

We hosted a baby shower this weekend and my daughter volunteered to make the cake. From scratch. Totally from scratch. I'm not kidding. I tell you this because anyone who knows me even slightly knows I am more than capable of botching even a box cake mix. I cannot bake. At all. And I'm a pretty decent cook. 

As you can see, the cake was iced with fondant. Tho she didn't make the fondant (Wal-Mart carries it in their craft department - along with butter extract - imagine that!), she had to dye all those circles. I'd say it was a pretty terrific job, especially considering this is only the second major cake she's made and only the second time she's worked with fondant. Of course, she wasn't entirely happy with it, but we were all impressed and thought it was wonderful. If I would have had to make this, I'd still be in a puddle on my kitchen floor, weeping copious tears. 

Extras...

Anyone need a decorated cake?

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

That's my world!

Do join us!

It's Just Wrong!

There's something so very wrong about a big plate of delicious looking cheese and meat covered nachos with a side of salsaed sour cream sitting next to all those diet books. I'll bet there isn't a recipe for nachos in even one of them! As you will see, my youngest daughter, Brynnly, has absolutely no empathy for me or my friend!

Miss LaLa walked over to my house with her various diet books as I have finally embraced the awful truth that since Christmas I have put on a few pounds and they simply aren't going away. I've also drifted closer to the floor. My mother, who knows a lot and is always willing to share, has told me numerous times that this occurs to everyone as they age, it just isn't those of us with big ol' muffin tops. Since drifting's a given, having an out-of-control muffin top is quite literally adding insult to injury.

I added my own books to the pile and then we spent the next 15 minutes or so having a highly philosophical discussion about the various pros and cons of the various horrifying diets represented and how we both really needed to embrace one of the diets and stick to it. There was a lot of highly philosophical cussing, too. Cussing and talking about diets seem to go hand in hand. I wonder why.

We weren't really paying much attention to anything other than ourselves when we both became aware that there was a lovely aroma in the air. The kind of aroma that makes your mouth water. The kind of aroma that can only mean big-time calories. While eavesdropping on us, Brynnly had the audacity to make nachos, carry the nachos to the table, plunk them down by our diet books and eat them in front of us. She also said something along the lines of "Oh my GOD!! You guys are talking diets again? Why? You know you two will stick to it for, like, about 5 days and that'll be that!" I said for that snooty little remark, I was going to take pictures of her eating that sinful plate of calories and post them here. "Well," Miss Smarty Pants replied, "I am not going to pose for any darn picture and you better hurry because I'm not stopping eating just to wait for you to take a picture." She can be so bratty at times!

Little Miss Smarty Pants then asked us if we wanted a bite. Can you imagine that? Because we both have such control, we both yelled an emphatic "NO" at the same time. I then reminded her that she was my daughter after all and just maybe in the future she might have a teensy tinsy little old weight problem as well. I cannot tell you what her reply was, as I try to keep this at least a PG rated place. Suffice it to say Brynnly is sure extra poundage will never be a problem for her. HA! That's what she thinks. And when her time comes, I promise I will refrain from saying "Told you so!" I will! No, I REALLY will!

Um...I'd like an order of skinny, please, along with a side of svelte. No, don't Super-Size it.

~~~

xoabb

2004: 6 Crabs, 4 People

2008: 200 lbs. Crab, 150+ People
~~~
Crabtacular V
Tequila MockingCrab

Imagine This:

• 2 perfect hosts, both w/5 years crabbacious experience
  

Our Bbum & Chrissy - thx for the pic whoever took it - I did not

• 1 perfect party house - totally open floor plan (an Eichler - 'k?)
• approx. 1500 square feet blue tarp to keep off continual rain
• 1 very good, tarp hanging-inclined friend (thank you BEN!)
• 2000 or so square feet astro-turf for a mudless backyard
• 1 Big Green Egg for perfectly smoking 50 pounds of...
• ...BBum's perfect pulled pork ~ & EVERY DANG BITE EATEN!!!!
• 200, COUNT 'EM, 200 POUNDS DUNGENESS CRAB ~ & EVERY DANG BITE EATEN!!!!
• 1.5 cases tequila from Julio Bermejo, Tequila Ambassador of the World, of Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Fran.... ~ & EVERY DANG DROP CONSUMED!!!!
• equivalent amount Tommy's Heavenly Margarita Mix ~ & EVERY DANG DROP CONSUMED!!!!
• 1 case of Los Abuelos/Fortaleza provided by - and served by - the honorable Guillermo Erickson Sauza, fifth generation tequila maker making the best heartlands tequila on the planet - this one's for sippin' ~ & EVERY DANG DROP CONSUMED!!!!
• plus Bbum's personal barrel of aging Tequila ~ WAS EVERY DANG DROP CONSUMED????
• many fabu pot-luck dishes brought by the attendees ~ & EVERY DANG BITE EATEN!!!!
• 2 dogs, Janice & Ruby, for dropped-food clean-up duty - job very well done, girls!!!
  
• 150 - 200 Crabtacular invitees ~ & EVERYONE THRILLED TO BE THERE!!!!
• 1 perfect nephew/godson ~ see Mr. Wonderful's picture just below!!!
  
  

Love love love you, dodgie - xoxoxoauntie nanas & uncle gbxoxoxo

Now Imagine THIS:

A Night of True Perfection

Crabtacular V
Tequila MockingCrab

best party ever!

~~~
xoabb

(see you there next year for VI!)

~~~

P. S. - Until I figure out how to do that Flickr thing, go here
for more (of my quite ordinary) Crabtacular V photos.

Don't forget to visit my bro's blog for more Crabtacular V!

Sunday Family Dinners

As often as we can, cousin Jules and I gather our families together for Family Sunday Dinners either at her house or at mine. Aside from our own families, Julie's two brothers and their families (GB's and my cousins) usually join us and there's always the various friends joining us too (MentalM and her crew often). Jules and I have definitely created a family tradition that will be carried along by our own children, pictured above. Matter of fact, the kids get quite crotchety with us if we miss too many Sunday's in a row.

Last Sunday we had Cedar-Planked salmon and yummy roasted veggies a-la Rachel Ray served over brown rice. Below, behold the glorious feast:

Delicious! Here's the recipe:

Cedar-Planked Salmon

The amounts aren't really exact - add more or less to your taste

2 - 4 Tbs. canola oil, just enough to make a paste
3 or so Tbs. brown sugar (brownulated or regular brown sugar)
1 Tbs. dried dill (don't bother with fresh for this)
1 tsp. to 1 Tbs. Williams-Sonoma Potlatch Seasoning (love it) OR
cayenne pepper to your taste

Combine the above ingredients

juice of 1 lemon (to squeeze over the salmon)

Soak cedar plank in hot water at least 20 minutes, weighing it down so it’s completely covered. I personally think that hot water better seeps into the wood. I have no idea if this is factual or not. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to high; adjust to med. low after 15 minutes. (If cooking over charcoal, allow the coals to burn until they are covered with white ash.) Above is the drained plank.

Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the drained cedar plank. Score salmon down to the skin into serving-size pieces. That last slice on the right is made up of a bunch of little pieces that were hanging over the side of the plank. Cut a lemon in two and squeeze it's juice all over the salmon. This time we had farm-raised salmon. While it's delicious, I really prefer wild salmon, but at $15.99 a pound.....

Pat the brown sugar mixture evenly over the entire salmon surface.

Place the planked salmon on the grilling grate and cook, with grill covered, about 15 - 20 minutes or just until the surface fat begins to turn white or when fork is inserted, the salmon easily flakes. Rainy Day Method: Preheat oven to 325º. Prepare the salmon as described above, then roast on the cedar plank for about 25 minutes.

Serve on the cedar plank, but do set it on top of a wood platter, or, as in our case that night, just carry it back in on the cookie sheet and serve it from there.

Here are the roasted veggies. Jules followed Rachel's recipe pretty much. She didn't use eggplant and served it on brown rice instead of the whole wheat pasta Rachel called for. It was wonderful!

~~~

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to e me - or leave it in the comments section here!

Bon Appetit!

P. S. Tonight Sunday Family Dinner is Jules' Italian Roast Beef -
it's fabulous, and NO you won't be getting that recipe! ;-)

~~~
xoabb

2007's Word of the Year?

Locavore!

"One who tries to eat locally and seasonally. Someone whose diet consists of food grown or produced within an area most commonly bound by a 100-mile radius of their home. Locavores usually shun large supermarket chains, opting for farmer's markets and local gardens instead. It is also a current trend for many high-end restaurants as well. It was coined in 2005 by a group of four women from San Francisco."

Did you know? Locavore was just declared Oxford American Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year.

It's also sometimes spelled localvores.

Great News!

There's now a Winter Farmer's Market in our area!

YEA!!

(Hope to see you there!)

~~~

xoabb

The Kitchen Chronicles

Got home from work yesterday and knew there was a LOT to get done. Now that I'm working full time I find I have no time to really clean the house. I cannot begin to tell you how happy this has made me! It has never been something I enjoy doing in the least as it's such a thankless task because no matter what you do, short of wrapping everything in plastic, it always gets dirty again. Not only that, there never seems to be anyone around to help do it. Here with me a second ago, now mysteriously gone! Imagine that! You would think I live in this house all by myself! Oops.......that's another story..........got sidetracked there......let's start over.

Got home from work yesterday and knew there was a LOT to get done. Now that I'm working full time I find I have no time to really clean the house. I had a new cleaning service coming over (today) and, of course, needed to clean the house before they cleaned the house. Got that done, well, except the master suite, which if you refer back to my New Year's Resolutions, you will discover that my husband accused me of using the floor as a third closet. Sadly, this is true. I knew that task was going to take a lot time, so I thought the best plan of attack was to put it off until after dinner, at the least.

The phone rings around 4:30. It's our good friend, Kim Fiori, inviting us to a restaurant at 5:30ish for toasts in honor of her hubby's birthday. I called GB to let him know, and decided I wasn't going because I just wasn't. GB came home and promptly left with another friend to meet the birthday boy.

Fast forward 2 hours later. My phone rings. It's GB. "Hi Annie.", he says. (I'm in trouble when he calls me ~Annie~. Usually means he has something up his sleeve that he's not sure how I'm going to react to.) "It's me. I coming home and bringing a few people with me for dinner." In the background I hear Kimmie disagreeing vehemently: "NONONO!, you twit! You're supposed to be asking her to join us at the restaurant!!" I then said, "That's fine GB, just go with them to the restaurant - I'll see you when you get home." Out of my husband's mouth then comes: "Great, Annie, we'll be at the house in 20 minutes or so." I asked him to repeat that. "Oh you want 30 minutes? OK, ok, that's fine!!" When I could speak again, I told him to get wine and beer and that he was doing ALL THE DISHES (which he got out of as Kim followed me around the kitchen washing everything I got even slightly dirty - what a wonderful way to cook!), and picking up the bedroom, too. That didn't happen either. Imagine that!

When you have 9 or so people over unexpectedly, the menu tends to be strange. Last night was no exception:  Tacos, macaroni and cheese, left-over spaghetti w/sauce, green beans. Let's see, we covered Mexican, American and Italian all in one evening! Guess it must have been good because there wasn't much left and all came back for seconds at the least. Comfort food....nuthin' better!

Had to make my own refried, and I use that term loosely, beans. Used half ground beef and half ground turkey for the tacos, had to mix a bunch of different cheeses together for the taco topping, and I only happened to have 24 taco shells because it was buy one 12-count package, get one free. BUT did we ever have a good birthday party! It's easy to have fun when you're with good buds.  And that's easy to imagine.

~~~

xoabb

~~~