Mary, mary, quite contrary...

Mar 25, 2014

how does your garden grow?

We moved into our home in June of last year and one of the first things we did was pull out the ugly bushes on the side of our concrete jungle, with the intention of planting a garden.  Almost a full year later, we are finally planting.  Now, we are terrible gardeners, but we love the idea of having a garden, picking fresh fruits and herbs to serve in our ever growing repertoire of recipes. 

But, seriously, we are terrible gardeners, so we are taking a risk and hoping that 1) we don't forget to water them, and 2) Dominic the dinosaur doesn't destroy any chance they currently have at life.  We have already caught him trying to squash them with the hose. 

So how does our garden grow...well, most of the time it just doesn't.  Let's see if a little love and a prayer can change things this time around.

 photo 001_zpse34dc8ce.jpg photo 002_zpsfa798eac.jpg photo 003_zps32f737e7.jpg photo 004_zps36cde643.jpg photo 006_zpsa7f2f687.jpg photo 008_zps701e391b.jpg photo 005_zps25a8df8b.jpg photo 010_zps8c0cb3a3.jpg photo 011_zpsae3d5f4f.jpg photo 012_zps6c194027.jpg photo 013_zpse253a3b8.jpg photo 015_zps1445c75d.jpg photo 024_zpsc1d127f0.jpg

Los Padres Supper Club...

Mar 17, 2014

I hesitate to post this because, 1) this was the dinner party that Chris and I hosted, 2) I wasn't super proud of the food and 3) I am the only one that takes pictures, so with the single fact that I spent most of my time cooking in the kitchen,  their aren't any. 

Regardless, I would do my personal blog book of memories an injustice by not posting it...so here goes:

Chris and I hosted our dinner on February 15th, so with the day of St. Valentine the evening prior, we went with the theme of All Saints Day.  Now what this really meant was that we could cook good food and then just tag a Saint to the dish and call it good.  Because in all realization, there is a Saint for almost ANYTHING.  Can you tell we planned this dinner with only one month to spare?

Pass Appetizers - St. Lawrence of Rome (Patron Saint of Cooks)
Don't have a picture of this one...it was figs stuffed with honey bourbon goat cheese, topped with walnuts and goat cheese pecan truffles with fresh no knead bread...but here is a picture of our transformed back yard.

 photo 022_zpsd3bcc064.jpg

First course - Saint Neot (Patron Saint of Fish) Oil Poached Tuna, served atop a fennel and shallot salad, topped with a blood orange slice, crispy fennel, and cilantro

 photo 026_zps28960933.jpg photo 027_zps10b11fa7.jpg

Second course - Cauliflower and leek soup with garlic confit oil, homemade croutons and beet chips
Saint Isidore (Patron Saint of Farmers)

 photo 030_zps0e189ee2.jpg

Third course - Winter Enchiladas (butternut squash and chirizo served in a homemade corn tortilla topped with a spicy winter sauce, creme mexicana and cotija)  Saint James, the son of Zebedee (Patron Saint of Spain)

 photo 034_zps7e3bb508.jpg photo 031_zps6408b501.jpg

Forth course - Champagne pallet cleanser - Saint Valentine
 
 photo 036_zpscd33018d.jpg

Fifth course  - Rabbit braised in Belgian ale served with lemon browned brussel sprouts and homemade buttermilk biscuits.  Saint Melangell (Patron Saint of Rabbits)
We also created a artichoke pate stuffed roulade from the center cut of the rabbit

 photo 039_zps7e40433b.jpg photo 006_zps00ec55d1.jpg photo 007_zps21c49809.jpg photo 008_zps610579f4.jpg photo 016_zpsd86bcae0.jpg

Sixth course - Honey pots de creme topped with a vanilla whipped cream and honey lace cookie
Saint Ambrose (Patron Saint of Beekeepers)

 photo 044_zpsd7d1fadf.jpg photo 042_zps7d565629.jpg photo 010_zps53517d27.jpg


Smile...

Mar 14, 2014

This week I have intentionally looked at my kids, at the little pieces of them that make them everything that they are. At the tender, shy, honest heart of our powerful, inquisitive daughter and at the lonely, passionate, needy outbursts of our emotional second born son.  I have been noticing the little moments that make me smile, the moments that make my heart swell with pure unblemished happiness.   I have been so blessed by these two human beings, and every day when they are tucked into their beds, I miss them.  The second that the door closes on our day together my heart aches for one more outburst so I can soothe them with a tight hug and a Eskimo kiss.   I want one more hour in our day to soak in every possible facet of them, every angle of their person.

I want to know them, and smile, smile at the way Dominic throws his food because he is so mad at his lack of words and guide him to expand his vocabulary past "no", "mommy", "yellow" and "ball".  I want to smile at Scarlett when she asks me over and over where she is going that day, smile through the constant battle regarding my lack of being able to stay home from work, to help her understand how blessed she is to be surrounded by so many people that love her and give their time for her security.

I want to find my children every day.  I want to miss them when they go to sleep and look forward to seeing their faces in the morning.  I want to embrace every part of them, the adventurous spirits and frustrated emotions.  I want to smile, with them, at them and around them.

 photo 1DCA77D2-A00A-4A2C-B8EA-68A339A68A9E_zps8kookfvo.jpg photo FA8D10F6-7783-4C73-A9F9-951CA7B91858_zpslf08huwy.jpg photo 002_zps05c028eb.jpg photo 009_zps1a07bcea.jpg photo 013_zps00328f84.jpg

Also, we apparently have ducks that live on our street during mating season.  And plus also, Dominic is OBSESSED with animals, seriously, completely obsessed.  He spent 45 minutes in complete bliss following these ducks around the cul-de-sac.


Wedding season...

Mar 12, 2014

Chris and I thought we had survived the "wedding every weekend" stage of our lives and had moved onto the "new baby every 6 months" stage.  But somehow this year we were bombarded by invites, seemingly opening a new bridal shower or wedding envelope every week.

I actually really love weddings.  I love all the personal touches that every bride and groom add to their day, I love guessing the ethos of the wedding just by the look of the invitation, I love seeing the smiles on the faces of a room full of loved ones as the doors open and everyone sees the bride for the first time, I love walking into a banquet hall and being able to appreciate all of the hard work that went into making this day special.

Last weekend we attended the wedding of Chris's step brother.  The wedding was on a Friday, and as exhausting as it was working all day, picking up and dropping of our Korean son from school, changing super fast and arriving to the wedding just in time, the night was surprisingly relaxing.  This wedding was unlike any wedding that I have been to in a long time.  I felt the hand of the bride and groom through the entire night.  This couple is so full of love,  intentional about relationships and family, and it showed.  The wedding itself was super low key and the reception was very family oriented.  They had 7 kids in the wedding (5 flower girls and 2 ring bearers). But the best part...they had a photobooth.  The kids are now just old enough to run the booth by themselves, so to be honest, we didn't see them most of the night because they were either on the dance floor or putting on silly hats and goofy faces for the camera.  (And lets be honest...the adults got in on the action too.)

Gear up for some serious photo drop coming up...

 photo IMG_0109_zpsf83838c6.jpg photo IMG_0112_zps01a51e3c.jpg photo IMG_0107_zps750125e3.jpg photo IMG_0143_zpsed0ac913.jpg photo IMG_0123_zps6558cb61.jpg photo IMG_0121_zps0c557a43.jpg photo IMG_0197_zpsa16b6a54.jpg photo IMG_0144_zpseb320307.jpg photo IMG_0198_zpsde53f794.jpg photo IMG_0265_zps79ef9fe7.jpg photo IMG_0148_zps0e8027dd.jpg photo IMG_0199_zps9d9d8a2f.jpg photo IMG_0267_zpsee10a20b.jpg photo IMG_0269_zps49943527.jpg photo IMG_0271_zps99911408.jpg photo IMG_0266_zpscd21a43f.jpg photo IMG_0314_zps3a2402ef.jpg photo IMG_0317_zps9fb28eda.jpg photo IMG_0320_zps4c4e5550.jpg photo IMG_0315_zpsa81a84b0.jpg photo IMG_0326_zps74e5ffce.jpg photo IMG_0322_zps6429af20.jpg