Category: <span>Moments</span>
Winter made its presence known this weekend with a cold and wet snow storm. We are not getting as much snow as our families up north, but it is still beautiful to wake up on a weekend to the sight of white flakes blanketing our trees in the back yard. Expecting snow, we hunkered down and cooked, crafted and spent lots of time together. Here is how the weekend started.
After a lazy start on Saturday, we hunkered down and cooked, cooked and … well, cooked. Chicken parmesan, southwestern pulled brisket, lentil and kale soup/stew, mushroom and potato soup, slaw and picked onions. All that Saturday cooking left Sunday wide open for more leisurely pursuits.
This is my lunch for Monday 😉 leftover lentil and kale soup and some red pepper hummus… healthy and satisfying.
Sunday mornings must start with coffee, unless it snows, then they must start with hot chocolate.
Not store bought, powdered and grey stuff. Homemade on the stove top with milk, dutch processed cocoa and … wait for it, bittersweet C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. Thick, rich and bitter … grown up.
This was also the first time Sophia tried it and she liked it… as much as any child can enjoy bittersweet chocolate.
A quick excursion despite the inclement yet gorgeous weather, a lunch from leftovers and the Pièce de résistance…
Southwest pulled brisket served with homemade cabbage and scallion slaw and pickled onions served on tortillas. Satisfying.
First hot chocolate for Sophia, first time making pulled brisket, first snow of the season … a weekend of firsts.
Very few things are just about us once we become parents. While at times overwhelming, it is endearing and entirely worth it. Evan’s birthday was this Sunday and we celebrated it just as we intended — with his parents and grandmother. My mother-in-law baked a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting which is Evan’s favorite.
Sophia helped ring in Evan’s new year.
As for what to get a man who has everything? A cookbook, of course! It is a rather selfish gift, I know. I am sure to benefit from this over the years when Evan prepares delicious dishes artfully described in this bright text. Actually, there is a story behind this cookbook; Back when we lived in Philadelphia, we used to attend dinners hosted by Shola Olunloyo, an excellent and famous chef who at one time co-hosted a dinner with Alex Talbot who one of this cookbook’s authors. The techniques they both used were very unique and each dish was packed with flavor. We were inspired and have since experimented with some of the methods used by both chefs. Anyway, though this book is not an experience (which is what we like to gift each other) per se, it will lend itself to many culinary experiences.
Making up for last week with two pictures 🙂
“The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” – Alice Morse Earle
Look who is 25 months tomorrow!!! The official picture is on Sophia’s Photo Project page, but here’s a close second. Can you tell we had a difficult time choosing?
A weekending post is coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned!
We made our usual, bi-weekly pilgrimage to the Philadelphia area this weekend to celebrate my nephew’s 10th birthday. My sister was making a spread fit for a wedding and everyone was excited. Unfortunately, the birthday boy got sick! The party was cancelled! The food didn’t go to waste — some of it was generously donated to us and we are grateful. I was and still am incredibly disappointed that the party didn’t happen. I am told a swift re-do is in the works. The weekend wasn’t a complete wash because we were with family. My in-laws took turns visiting with us. Even our Bubbie made it this morning and we were very happy to share Sophia with everyone. Once again, sad to leave and wishing we were living closer to our families.
