Strip T's

We went to Strip T's for dinner. Bear with me here, it's a mere sandwich shop by day and a gourmet kitchen with a chef from Momofuku by night!!
My dinner had feet:


Bryan accused me of holding his hand at one point, and when I made a frowny face he said 'but he's dead' like that would make me feel better...
If you live here and haven't been; Go!

Also Lily and I made biscotti on this rainy February day! I thought this was a cute picture!

Hello, Lovely

My PC bit the dust last week. I had been waiting for new the iPad release, but need an actual computer more than a cool toy... I'm pretty excited!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Julia, you wonderful woman

Four hours later and there is a successful meal on our plates!
I only had one 'oh my gosh I'm not doing this right' moment and I just told myself 'yes I am' (whether I was or not) and kept going.





Everyone with this cook book needs to make this recipe! It's like the most delicious pot roast you'll ever eat.
A friend at our party noticed this cookbook on my shelf and totally convinced me that I could/should do it. Thank you, dear friend. Our bellies are so happy!

Boeuf

Ok, Julia, it's you and me.





We'll see what happens. I haven't even started yet, and Bryan has already given me two pep talks. Deep breath- I can do this.

Masked Marauders

I forgot about my little friends!

Mardi Gras

We had so much fun at our little Mardi Gras throw-down!








These decorations along with black and white New Orleans movies being projected onto one wall while jazz music played in the background set the scene pretty well.


King Cake with a baby inside which Gina found!


Parisian Macarons with vanilla bean buttercream filling. I had never made these before and since they are meringue-like had a tendency to go horribly wrong. I made the batter, piped the cookies onto baking sheets and said a little prayer while Bryan crossed his fingers and held his breath... They were delicious! I'm glad there are a few left over because they are my new favorite treat!


Yellow cake pops with edible glitter!!


Chocolate truffles with sea salt.

There was also chicken-sausage gumbo with rice. And last but not least we had iced chicory coffee and beignets from cafe du monde?



And of course Bryan mixed a group of New Orleans cocktails like the sazarac, vieux carre, gin fizz, and hurricane!

We love having people over! It's always fun to have a home full of friends!

Lily

It's been a while since my smallest friend was on my blog! I just want everyone to see the cool kid that I get to spend my days with!








Her blue steel face.












She loves being outside, dancing, going to the playground, doing laundry, climbing, sliding, reading, looking at pictures (of herself), eating peas, waving to airplanes, wearing slippers, and hanging out with friends!

She's talking all the time and doing such a good job using words. She knows so much and never forgets something you've shown her. She is kind to others (unless she's very hungry but that is something I struggle with too so who can blame her?) and wants to help you do everything.

Her personality is so big, and she really makes me laugh every day.
Wake up already so we can play some more!

My Life is Much Better

Because my sweet husband is in it!
Every day I'm glad we are on this journey together!
Last night I walked in the door and this is what I saw:


Oysters, flowers, drinks, candles, charcuterie, and cheese!


There was a movie playing on the wall with Ian's projector.


There were cocktails!


And candles and flowers!
After we snacked on our first courses we made dinner together.


Lamb with pomagranite sauce.


Baby broccoli


Herbed whole wheat couscous.



And after all that: dessert!


I picked up treats at Flour Bakery:
Creme brûlée, sticky bun bread pudding and raspberry lemon curd pound cake!

Hope you had the happiest of Valentines days with your sweetie too!

Supper Club: Fondue

Lisa and Ted were our gracious first hosts to the newly established supper club! It's Bryan's PhD class and significant others that make up this group.
Lisa spent some time in the region where fondue is from so she was the perfect person to host this dinner!

Eldra & Lisa

Ted & Fiona

John made this bread! Delicious!

Lisa put together a wonderful cheese fondue and laid out plates of different charcuterie, cornichons, carrots and her own home made bread.

Bryan and Fiona

Fiona and John

I brought chocolate fondue for dessert and along with it pound cake, glaceed oranges, candied grapefruit peel and clementines.

and of course Lydia joined in the dinner party with a pupcake and a few carrots.

Mardi Gras a'comin to Boston!

Walden Pond

We spent the morning yesterday at Walden Pond. It was beautiful and Concord, the closest town, was perfectly quaint. There's no wonder why Henry David Thoreau chose that place as his experiment for simple living.

The replica of his simple home for the two years he lived at Walden Pond.

The water was all very clear.

Most of the shoreline on the shady side of the pond was completely iced over. We tried to throw rocks to break the ice and nothing would crack it!

The house site wasn't discovered until 100 years after Thoreau was originally there.

And now it's time to make Super Bowl goodies! Go Pats! 

I fear there will be rioting and mayhem in the streets here in Boston tonight if the Giants win.