Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

Hope everyone is having a nice short week- hard to believe it is already June! After tomorrow, I will only have four weeks left of work (not that I'm counting down), and I know they will go quickly. I've giving a short presentation tomorrow (an easy one- it's about me), an intense one Monday (practice run) and Wednesday (45 minute live CE presentation- speaking of which.. pharmacists, don't forget to get your CE credits by June 30!), and a journal club presentation (the risk of fractures when taking a PPI) the following Monday. On top of that, I worked an extra shift in the stores on Tuesday night, and tomorrow I'm working the overnight shift (I've never actually done this, so I'm interested to see how it will go).

Last weekend I went back to Indy for the long weekend. Well, I didn't actually make it for a long weekend.... I got to the airport on Friday night, only to sit there for almost two hours while my plane was delayed. Eventually they cancelled the flight (for some of us at least) because most people would have been stuck in Charlotte. I guess there were severe thunderstorms (they better have been severe!) down South. I woke up early on Saturday morning (4:30!!!) to catch a flight through Philidelphia to Indy and finally made it home.

Saturday was a family day. As you may have noticed, my mom's birthday was Friday. She and I worked on making wedding invitations for a friend during the day- I can't wait to show them to you. I forgot to take a picture (arrrg!) of them, but they are purple pocketcards with shimmery white invitations and grey and purple ink. The main invitation even has a purple gemstone! Purple isn't my favorite color, but these are absolutely gorgeous. If you were to buy these from someone who professionally makes wedding invitations, they would cost a small fortune (as much as I pay for my monthly rent!). I'll see if my Mom can send a couple of pictures my way to post on the blog.

On Saturday night, we met up with my brother to have dinner at Harry and Izzy's for Mom's birthday. (Not only do I love their food and service, I love the name... it makes me think of my Mom and our dog, Izzie- you could write a book about their adventures but a restaurant named after them is nice, too). We started with their St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail. If you are ever in Indianapolis, make sure you try this! But *beware*- it is hotter than Hades! I had a salad with pecans, julienne apples, and a vinegrette, but eveyrone else had either steak or lamb. Dessert was homemade strawberry shortcake with ice cream and whipped cream- yum! The strawberries had soaked into some of the shortbread just enough to soften it up and make it taste like jam. (Another picture fail- neither my Mom nor I remembered to take a picture!)

After dinner, my Dad, Mom, and I went to pick up my keys to my new apartment! I was lucky enouh to get the apartment I wanted (click here for my original post on apartment searching), which is right downtown. The place is huge- 2 full bathrooms, a walk-in closet, and another bonus room off the master bedroom. It also has wooden floors in the kitchen, nice countertops, and track lighting. My favorite feature of the unit, though, is the amount of windows- they are everywhere! There are two sets of bay windows- one in the bedroom and another in the living room, which gives you a great view of the city skyline. (I can also see my brother's apartment complex, which is only two blocks away. I liked my Dad's idea of stringing two cans together to have as walkie talkies.) I'm really looking forward to moving in!

Sunday morning I helped to make breakfast (blueberry pancakes!) and hung out around the house before heading to visit Lisa in Speedway! You have to be crazy to go to Speedway on race weekend- it is a madhouse! Luckily, I had some expert advice from a seasoned pro- I brought my Mom's bike (thanks Mom and Dad!). It was ten times easier to get around. (It was a little nostalgic for me- I felt like I was in junior high again.) Amy (who was visiting from Texas), Katie (another Speedway native), Lisa, and I spent the day lounging, catching up, and trying to stay cool. For dinner, we attempted to eat at Baxbeau's but got a little lost (we would get lost in our own city). Instead of eaitng at the restaraunt, we got carry-out and ate on the steps of Monument Circle.

A view of the Sailers and Soldiers Monument at night

I loved this picture- it is of one of the fountains downtown.... but when I showed it to Amy, Katie, and Lisa, all three of them made a sour face (like, what is this?!). Looks like I'd never make it as an artist!

Amy, Lisa, and Katie- had so much fun with you!

My turn! Hmmm...maybe I'll try to crop myself in the picture above....

On Monday, I slept wayyyyy in (a much needed three-day weekend luxury). After cleaning up and getting together my bag (as hard as I try, my suitcase of things ends up all over the floor by the time I leave- it doesn't matter how much stuff I have, where I am, or how long my trip is- it always ends up on the floor), my Mom drove me downtown to meet Nick for a late lunch (isn't she the best? So took me so that I could surprise Nick). We ate a Left Bank Cafe, a new restaurant on the canal. The food was okay, but the service was chaotic. I'd give them a couple of weeks to sort things out. When you do go, be sure to get a Nutella and strawberry crepe- amazing!!

Cookie Monster

During my break on Wednesday, I was eating lunch with a few other pharmacists, and we started talking about food. Now, for those of you that know me, you know I'm not much of a foodie. So when Linda asked me if I liked to cook, I said, "Well, yes, but I'm not that good... *But,* I loooove to bake!"

I have wonderful memories of spending time with my mom (and sometimes with my grandmothers) baking treats. Cookies, cakes, breads- you name it, I love to make (and eat) it. After talking about baking on Wednesday, I realized that I hadn't made anything in quite some time, and I decided I was due to make a batch of cookies. Flipping through my mental cookbook, the perfect recipe hit me- my mom's zuccini raisin cookies. Now I know these sound a little weird, but they are absolutely fabulous!

When I got home after work and running some errands, I looked into my refrigerator to make sure I had all of the ingredients. Unfortunatley, my zuccini that I had bought earlier this week didn't look so hot. I needed to go to the store to pick up some more, but I also wanted to make sure I had time to work out. So, what do you think I did? Just what anyone else would do-- I ran to the grocery store (and walked back) to buy a vegetable to make cookies. Seems a little counterintuitive, but it made sense at the time.

Here's the recipe....

Zuccini Raisin Cookies

-3/4 cup shortening
-1 1/2 cups white sugar
-1 egg
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 1/2 cups grated zuccini
-2 1/2 cups flour
-2 tsp baking powder
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 cup raisins
-small amount powdered sugar

Cream the shortening and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Mix in the zuccini. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add to zuccini mixture. Stir in raisins. Bake at 350 degrees on a greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I recommend that you use a finer grater for the zuccini- it helps to give the cookies a better texture.

Speaking of baking, here are some pictures of my first days in the kitchen....

Cutting out sugar cookies. Would you believe that I still own (and still wear) the shirt I have on in this picture?

I just adored my play kitchen and my fake foods. I never had an Easy-Bake oven, but I didn't need one.

I think that hat is bigger than my head. My second favorite part of this picture is the bowl- my parents recieved it as a wedding present and still have it today.

Another one of my favorite baked good as a kid was lemon cake with lemon frosting. My Mom used to make it for Ryan's birthday every year. At some point, I decided that I liked the cake, too, so now I've had it for my last several birthdays. No secret recipe here--you'll have to call Duncan Hines for that one.

La Bella Vita

Last Tuesday my Dad came for a short visit to Rhode Island. He had two tickets to see Tower of Power in Boston on Wednesday night, so I took half of a vacation day so that we would have time to explore the city. I've been to Boston more than half a dozen times since I've lived on the East Coast, but I knew that I probably wasn't the best tour guide.

If I ever need suggestions for places to see and things (and I am lacking access to a local authority), I turn to Trip Advisor. While searching for various to-do's in Boston, I came across Michelle Topor's Food Tours of Boston. After reading reviews and looking at her website (and a phone call to my Mom to be sure my Dad would like something like this- non-refundable tickets!), I decided that we'd give it a try.

On Wednesday afternoon, we met at the location described on the instructions. There weren't very many other people around, so I began to wonder if we might be the only people on the tour. Just then, our tour guide walked up and introduced himself. I recognized Jim from the pictures and descriptions of the tour guides on Michelle's website but thought that it might be creepy if I told him I already knew who he was. As it turned out, there were only 2 other people on our tour- a mother and daughter (maybe in-law?) from Virginia.

Jim started our tour by giving us a high-level overview of the history of the area. Before the North End was inhabited by Italians, a number of different immigrant groups lived there. As the immigrants became more affluent and prosperous, they left the area.

Our first stop was at Maria's Pastry Shop. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but appearances can be deceiving. Maria's is a family business that has been open for 25 years, yet still remains largely unknown. Jim showed us the different types of Italian pastries that are made and what, if any, affiliation they had with religious holidays. Colomba, for example, is bread shaped like a dove that is made at Easter. This sweet cake is eaten for either breakfast or dessert and is topped with almonds and powdered sugar. After Jim explained all of the goods, we were able to taste biscotti (bis means "two" and cotti means "cooked"), marzapan, white torrone, lobster tail, sfogliatelle ("clam shell"), and amaretti. The amaretti is what Americans would refer to as a macaroon--this was definitely my favorite. (Note: I felt badly for the rest of the day for taking my Dad to Mike's Pastries an hour before the tour, since our tour guide pretty much said it was a commercial cop-out. Sorry, Dad!)

A picture of the amaretti cookies- yum!

Jim explaining the significance of the marzipan lambs that are made during Easter. Maria and her sister hand make the ears, legs, etc. of the lambs by hand- only the body comes from a mold.

Our next stop was Mercato del Mare, a relatively new (only 2 years old) seafood specialty shop that resembles a European market. They buy and sell local products whenever possible (i.e. sea scallops from Nantucket). You can regularly find halibut, salmon, tuna, calamari, swordfish, red snapper, haddock, and other varieties depending on the season. The owners are known for their home-prepared "heat and eat" meals for young professionals on-the-go.. lobster rolls, clam chowder, lobster bisque, and ready to grill tuna teriyaki.

A view of the case with the freshest seafood on the block

After the seafood market, we went to Polcari's Coffee, a general store specializing in coffee, dried legumes, spices, nuts, and hard to find items, including rose water, pomegranate molasses, and preserved lemons. Walking into this store was like taking a step back in time- even the scale that they use to measure your purchases is over a hundred years old. It is owned and operated by the 3rd generation of the family that started it in 1932. I learned some interesting facts- the difference between real and American cinnamon and how to roast your own coffee beans. I bought some Italian candy, dried kiwi, and dried lavender (it was only $1.99!!).

Sunlight can make even a barrel of nuts look lovely

Love these spice jars- so charming!

Because we had a smaller group, we had the advantage of being able to visit several of the smaller shops that larger tours can't fit inside. The next two stores are great examples.

Monica's Mercato is a small shop that carries all sorts of pastas, meats, cheeses, and other products imported from Italy. Across the street is a sister restaurant, Monica's Trattoria, which is owned by the same family. Fresh pasta is made daily and can be bought from the merchant shop. I'm not one for pasta, but even the lobster ravioli sounded delicious. The owners weren't expecting us, but they made prosciutto and cheese (don't remember what type) sandwiches on the spot. I also learned about the designation "D.O.P." D.O.P. stands for "Denominazione di Origine Protetta" and is literally translated as "Protected Designation of Origin." It is a certificate of authenticity from the Italian government that prevents "impostors" from selling their products, along with the promotion of quality and originality. For example, all Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses must come from a specific region of Italy.

A picture from Monica's- now you know what I mean when I say small!

Having a local guide you around town definitely provides opportunities that you otherwise would never have known about. Our next stop after Monica's would have been difficult to find, considering it does not have a sign or even a phone number. Albie's is a produce shop that visits the local markets every day and brings back the freshest fruits and vegetables to the North End. Unlike American supermarkets, you are not allowed to handle the produce yourself. When you walk into the store, you simply tell Albie what you would like, and he picks out what he thinks is best. In the spring, look for baby dandelion, fava beans, artichokes, and spring onions.

I just love that there isn't even a sign!

While we were outside of Albie's, Jim brought out some of the more interesting ingredients for us to learn about and try. We tried both fennel root and prickly pear. The prickly pear was my favorite- it tastes like a cross of a watermelon and a raspberry. The seeds are smaller than those found in a watermelon, so you actually eat them instead of spitting them out. If you like raspberry jam with seeds, than this fruit is up your ally.

A prickly pear! Try this 3 times fast: Peter Prangle, the prickly pear picker, picked three perfectly prickly pears.

Here is Jim explaining the difference between a boy and girl eggplant. Unfortunately, the male eggplant is preferred because it has fewer seeds. If you turn an eggplant upside down, you can tell the sex of the fruit by its belly button. Male eggplants have indents, while the females are flat.

The North End neighborhood has some gorgeous architectural details. Some of the town homes you see pictured below held up to 12 families. And if you think about it, a family in the early 20th century wasn't just one or two children. Jim pointed out unique details as we strolled from shop to shop.

The copper contrast is gorgeous- I can't imagine what some of these places are selling for now!

An eagle perched atop a windowsill

Our next stop was at The Wine Bottega. According to Jim, who has traveled and lived all over the globe, this is one of the most beautiful wine shops he's ever been in. This place was huge! Its focus is on discovering and sharing small production, hand-crafted wines. We were able to taste a sip of limoncello, an Italian liquor that is chilled and served in summer months. It is made from simple syrup, lemons, and high-proof vodka that is steeped for 80 days. Not exactly my thing...

This doesn't do the place justice- even the floors were beautiful! You weren't supposed to take pictures, so this one had to be done in secret without a flash.

Our last stop was at Salumeria Italiana, a fabulous little find that has been around for over 40 years. They import the cream of the crop from Italy- commercial and artisan pasta, polenta, rice, olive oils, capers, San Marzano DOP tomatoes, and a number of meats and cheeses. Jim also gave us a short lesson in this store. I had no idea that there were different types of balsamic vinegar. You have to read the label to find real balsamic vinegar- the first listed ingredient will always be "grape must." Americans apparently get fooled by marketing ploys that companies use- they simply color/flavor regular vinegar, which is definitely different than the real thing. We also got to taste and learn how to pick out olive oil. If you are a true foodie, you could have spent hours (and lots of money!) in this store alone.

This pasta was colored naturally- I wanted to get some to take to my Mom, but I know that it would not end up intact by the time I got it back to my apartment.

Dad and I in Salumeria Italiana at the end of our tour. You don't actually go that far, but by the end of the tour, we were worn out!

Again, I highly recommend this tour to anyone who's visiting Boston. It was the best way for us to learn about the hidden secrets of Boston's North End (without having lived there for ten years). Thanks for a great tour, Jim!

More to come on Dad's visit to Boston...

I Don't Want to Check My Bags

Hope you had a great weekend! I took one of my last few, precious vacation days on Friday to go home for a long weekend. Nick leaves for China on April 1st, and if I hadn't gone to see him this weekend, it would have been a total of 3 months between visits! I had such a wonderful time with my family and friends- I'm sorry if I didn't catch you! But, I have good news! I will be in Indianapolis for work for an entire week in April! Nick will be in China (boo) but that means you won't have to share me.

Over the weekend I learned how to post on my blog with my phone, so I should be able to write quick updates much more frequently. I'd better get to bed soon- I tried to sleep on the plane, but no matter what, I can never quite get comfortable. I kept bobbing my head and waking myself up (does anyone else remember watching people in class do this?! It is hilarious! Not that I ever did that...).

I bought Marsh brand sugar cookies at the grocery store this morning to share with co-workers tomorrow at a meeting. When other people go on vacation, they always bring back something fun to eat (i.e. Debbie brings bagels from NY). It's hard to do much of anything via plane, so I decided that my sugar cookies would do. However, they are now more like sugar crumbs. Some jerk moved my back after I sat down to try to make his fit. This would have been fine, except for the fact that he kept ramming it in the overhead compartment to make his ridiculously large "carry-on" bag fit (I only put this in quotes because he must have been slipping $20 bills to the attendants to let him keep his bag- no way they would have normally let this thing on board. The whole time I was thinking of Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents on his trip home, refusing to check his bag.) Oh well, I'll have to keep the cookies in my purse next time and have the strength not to eat any of them! Does anyone have any other suggestions for Indiana-only foods?

If you're not familiar with the movie Meet the Parents, here's the dialogue between Ben Stiller and the flight attendant when he is trying to shove his bag into the overhead compartment.

[Greg is trying to fit his large bag into the overhead bin]
Flight Attendant: I'm sorry, sir, you're gonna have to check that.
Greg Focker: I got it.
Flight Attendant: No, I'm sorry, that bag won't fit.
Greg Focker: No, no, I'm not - hey, I'm not checking my bag, okay?
Flight Attendant: There's no need to raise your voice, sir.
Greg Focker: I'm not raising my voice. THIS WOULD BE RAISING MY VOICE TO YOU, okay? I don't want to check my bag, okay? And, by the way, your airline? You SUCK at checking bags, okay, because I already did that once and you lost it, and then I had everything screwed up very badly for me, okay?
Flight Attendant: Well, I can assure you that your bag will be placed safely below deck with the other luggage...
Greg Focker: Oh, yeah? How do you know my bag will be safe below with the other luggage? Huh? Are you physically going to take my bag and put it beneath the plane? Are you going to go right now outside, with the guys with the earmuffs, and go put it in there?
Flight Attendant: No...
Greg Focker: No? Okay, then shut your piehole and listen to me when I say that I am FINISHED with the checking-of-the-bags CONVERSATION.

I wasn't able to find this clip from the movie 0nline quickly, but I'll add it later if I come up with it.

My Favorite Squeeze

Every once in a while, I get a craving to have breakfast for dinner. It wasn't a regular event at my house growing up because my Dad isn't a huge fan. Instead, when he would go out of town, we would feast on pancakes and bacon. Pancakes are by far my favorite breakfast food (when they are done right, of course), but I also enjoy French toast. I found the following recipe in Good Housekeeping magazine. (I am not a regular reader of this publication, but it was the only decent reading available at my doctor's office. And yes, I am that person that tears things out of the community magazines.)

French Toast

-2 large egg whites

-1 large egg

-3/4 cup low-fat milk

-1/4 tsp vanilla

-1/8 teaspoon salt

-butter or butter spray

-8 slices whole wheat bread

In a pie plate, use a whisk to beat the egg whites, egg, milk, vanilla, and salt until blended. Dip bread slices into egg mixture, and press the bread lightly to coat both sides well. Place 3-4 slices in a skillet, and cook 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides. Top with fresh berries and maple syrup.

Nutrition info (per 2 slices): 300 calories, 12 gm protein, 46 carbohydrates, 9 gm fat, 6 gm fiber, 56 mg cholesterol.

Now, I know that I'm no cooking genius, but how hard can this recipe be? This is the second time I've made this recipe, and both times I have ended up with bread that is too burnt on the outside and still soggy on the inside. The first time I blamed my pan/skillet (it does the job 95% of the time, but how good can a $5 pan from IKEA be? It serves my current purposes, but I would eventually like to upgrade.), but now I'm starting to think I don't have the heat set correctly. Any tips?

To go along with my breakfast for dinner, I made fresh orange juice- YUM!

FLASHBACK: (Since I did such a poor job of updating during the holidays, I am going to be using these "flashbacks" to bring everyone up to speed.)

On Christmas Eve, I got a call from Nick, who had just finished opening up some of his Christmas presents. When I asked him what he received, he immediately said, "My mom got me a juicer!" to which I replied, "Really?!" He was excited (by his standards) and went on about how he couldn't wait to use it. I would have been more excited for him, but I got him a juicer, too!!

During our Europe trip, Nick raved about the fresh juice we would have in the mornings at our breakfast spots, so I made a mental note (along with a note in my Blackberry) to get him one later. (Note to self: write blog posts about the trip to Europe in the near future.) We imposed a $20 spending limit on Christmas presents this year (a chance to save money and be creative), which was perfect- I had seen a Black and Decker juicer at Target for $19.99.

It turned out that Nick got a much fancier juicer-a Jack LaLanne juicer. (I'm sure you've seen his commercials on T.V.) His Mom got a good deal on one at a garage sale, so it couldn't be returned. However, I'm not sure Nick would have wanted my wimpy juicer. During my Christmas vacation, he made me several good juice combinations, including grapefruit, oranges, apples, and carrots. I liked the juice, but I have 3 qualms with the juicer:

1. It is *huge.* Unless you have a lot of storage space in the kitchen (or can hide it someplace else), it stays on the counter.

2. The parts can't be put into the dishwasher. I mean, I don't mind hand washing some dishes when it's absolutely necessary, but I can't see myself cleaning this thing by hand every morning (or see myself making juice every morning).

3. The pulp is separated from the juice- this can be both a pro and con. It allows you to put fruits and vegetables you might not otherwise consume (I don't know whether to say eat or drink here), and you can use the pulp in muffins and other recipes (but how many people really do this? Seriously, fresh juice and muffins every morning? Who is this person? Betty Crocker?). I personally love the orange juice with 'lots of pulp."

Here is where my juicer comes into play...

1. All of the parts (except the base with the power cord) can be put into the dishwasher!

2. It is small enough to fit under the kitchen counter.

3. You have the option of having high or low pulp juice.

But, at the same time, you can only use it for citrus fruits. I guess it depends on what qualities you are looking for in a juicer. :)

My new favorite kitchen appliance...

For those of you who are wondering, I ended up getting Nick a combination Christmas and anniversary gift (We were at Pat and Sarah's wedding on December 27 when I just started introducing myself as his girlfriend). I didn't stay under my $20 limit, but Nick got me a coral-colored cashmere scarf and glove set (love it! It's the very first things I've ever owned made of cashmere), so we were even in the end. At Details, one of my favorite gift stores in Indy, you can buy pictures of letters from around the state, including IU, PU, and Indy. I used pictures taken from downtown Indy to spell his last name.

Here is the full picture.

The first 3 letters- the "K" is from the construction of Lucas Oil Stadium. The "L" is from the top of the Indianapolis Museum of Art building. The "E" comes from the of Conseco Fieldhouse, where the Pacers schedule is posted.

The last 3 letters- The "M" is from the Indiana State Museum, which is just a short walk down the canal from Nick's apartment. The "E" is from part of a building downtown that houses Hard Rock Cafe. I think the "N" is from a random parking sign, but I'd have to look at the back of the picture to be sure.

As for this year, there might not be any holidays on the near horizon, but I'm going to call Julie soon to start planning birthday and Christmas presents.

Beating My Heart

It's hard to believe that Nick and I went on our first date one year ago today. Here is my account of story...

We had talked several times on the phone but hadn't had a chance to get together. Even though we were both busy, I called to see if he would be up for going to a concert with me (It was a Monday night, so I wouldn't have been shocked if he was on call or overnight at the hospital). I was thrilled to find out he would go and wanted to grab dinner before the concert.

Jon McLaughlin was playing at the Murat, and I had been thinking about going for a few weeks. (I think it was Chelsea who introduced Jon McLaughlin to me, but I can't be sure.) His first big break was singing the song "So Close" for the Disney movie Enchanted (I'm not sure the movie was that great, but it was still a break nonetheless). He is originally from Anderson, IN, which makes me like him that much more- he even has a song about Indiana (if you listen to it and are wondering, yes, it does make me cry). He had just released a new album entitled "OK Now," and I absolutely *loved* the CD. You can watch the video of his first son to be released from the CD, "Beating My Heart" here.

Nick suggested that we cook dinner at his apartment, and I was surprised to find out that he loved to cook. For an appetizer, he made baked goat cheese spread, and I instantly fell in love! (with the goat cheese, that is! He still makes it for me every time I come home.) For the main course, we had breaded chicken breasts, salad. and fresh fruit.

It was my first concert at the Murat (I know, can you believe it? All those years in Indy, and I've only been to one concert there!), so I was a little unsure of what to expect as far as seating goes, which was only listed as "open" on the ticket. After getting drinks, we sat in the middle of the room for a couple of songs, (It was a little hard to talk because it was so loud, but I guess that wasn't too big of an obstacle) but when my favorite song came on, Nick and I went up to join the crowd. We laughed, danced a little (more like swaying I think), and sang (well, that was just me). It was a wonderful night.

As a memento of the past year, I made Nick an accordion book and gave it to him when I was home at Thanksgiving. I picked up the accordion book kit at Paper Source when my mom and I went to Boston and then got the rest of the supplies at Jo-Ann's and a local scrapbook store I just discovered. I used two sheets of handmade paper to cover the chip board covers. Before gluing the back end of the paper to the chip board, I added a piece of ribbon to close the book, then glued the second end of the paper to the other board.

Here are a few pictures of the accordion book...

The front cover... I still need to work on my bow-tying skills

Here is the book on Nick's kitchen (kind of) table. The finished product is fairly wide...

...and takes up most of the table when spread out vertically as well.

Nick and Sarah: The Best of 2009

This is a picture from the St. Vitus dance last January. Erica took this picture and caught Nick looking at me (how sweet).

This picture from Jon and Myra's wedding in Fort Wayne. It was the day after we got home from Europe- guess we didn't get sick of each other on vacation!

The picutre on top is my favorite in the book by far- David took it at the Rathskeller. It captures our personalities perfectly. (I'm sure he said something ridiculous or was teasing me.)

The last picture is from my trip home at the beginning of November. You can read about this picture's story here.

It's hard to believe it's already been a year! I am very thankful that Nick has been so supportive of my adventure here in Rhode Island (we had only been dating six months when I left)... I am a very lucky girl

One Game at a Time

I can't believe it is already the middle of November and that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away! Five months have passed, and there are still so many things I want to do. I've been fighting a cold/exhaustion/etc for the past week, but I still managed to fly home Friday to spend a long weekend in Indy.

On Saturday, my mom and I went to McNamara's in Carmel. They have gorgeous Christmas decorations every year, and even though we've gone almost every year, they still manage to come up with new ideas. My favorite tree this year was covered in silver, glittery ornaments (I love anything sparkly!). If you are ever looking for a good florist in the area, I highly recommend them.

Our favorite tree this year had a Sock Monkey theme!

My mom really liked the felt and knit poinsettas

How cute is this reindeer?

This would be so fun for a kid's room

I spent a little bit more time at home... My mom was working on invitations for a wedding, so I try to help with a new perspective. After you look at one thing so many times, you start to run out of ideas. (Well, at least I do.) While we were looking at the invitations in the dining room, Izzie (our golden retriever) and Rocky (the ancient cat- he's 17) were standing at the door looking at something together (note: this is rare- they usually don't get along). Izzie was almost pawing at something, so I decided I had better take a look at what was going on. I saw something brown and skinny and then shouted, "Mom! I think there is a snake in the door!" She thought I was crazy, but when we went to look, there was a snake inside the door! Mom was going to save the snake to show Dad and Ryan by trapping it between the glass storm door and the real door, but I convinced her that might not be the best idea. The last thing we need at that house is a snake running loose in the halls... When Mom first tried to get it to move, we thought that the snake was injured. Just a second later, we learned it was playing dead when it moved so fast it startled us (well, me, for that matter- I screamed). Mom successfully got the snake outside just a minute later- whew! Izzie and Rocky were both very excited about their recent encounter with another creature.

On Saturday night, Nick made my *favorite* appetizer before we went out to dinner. Almost a year ago (December 1), Nick and I had our first official date. We made dinner together (read: Nick made me dinner and I attempted to help) and then went to a Jon McLaughlin concert at the Murat. He made his signature baked goat cheese appetizer for the first time that night, and I have been hooked ever since. It's very simple, but oh so good. I've tried to re-create it since I've moved out to Rhode Island, but it just isn't the same. Here's the basic recipe...

Baked Goat Cheese Appetizer

-1 log goat cheese

-minced garlic (the kind in a jar)

-diced pecans
-balsamic vinegar

Toast the pecan pieces until slightly brown. Roll the goat cheese in the minced garlic. Cover the cheese with a large amount of the garlic. Next, put the pecans over the garlic. Bake the goat cheese for approximately 15 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove the cheese from the oven and put on a plate. Pour balsamic vinegar over the baked goat cheese. Enjoy!

You can spread the cheese onto whatever you like, but we like to put in a loaf of half-baked bread and serve the cheese with warm bread. Be sure to use a high-quality balsamic vinegar- it will make a noticeable difference if you use something without flavor.

A view of the Soliders Monument on the circle downtown at night

On Sunday, Nick and I went to the Colts game against the Houston Texans. Last winter, I was working at a pharmacy with Joe, the pharmacy manager, when he told me that he had an extra pair of Colts tickets. He was going to call a friend to see if he knew anyone that would want the tickets, but before he could pick up the phone, I told him I would gladly take them off his hands! (*Note: At this point in the year, I did not know I was going to be moving to Rhode Island to be a pharmacy resident. My brother and I were originally planning on splitting the tickets- they are not cheap!- but he has been able to go to most of the games since I have moved here. The only other game I'll be able to make is in December against the Jets.) This was my first time in the new Lucas Oil Stadium. The weather was gorgeous on Sunday (I could have worn a skirt!), so the retractable roof was open. The Colts won 20-17 after the Texans missed a field goal in the last minute of the fourth quarter.

Here's a view of the city skyline from the stadium

Helicopters flew over the roof after the National Anthem but I didn't get my camera out in time to get them in the picture

Because Peyton Manning uses audibles (calls plays on the fly), the stadium is quiet when we're on offense and LOUD on defense- the differential is amazing

Manning always picks up his leg before the center hikes him the ball

I thought this was another decent action shot

I don't think Nick has had this many pictures taken of him in a long time

My favorite picture- see the story below

Like most guys I know, Nick isn't crazy about having his picture taken. Like most girlfriends, I want a picture of us for everything we ever do or go to together. We already had the first picture of our faces, and I was pretty happy with how it turned out. I wasn't going to make Nick wait for someone else to take our picture with the stadium in the background. After the game, we were walking out of our section when we saw a couple having their picture taken with the field in the background. I told Nick that we didn't have to get one this time, and we kept walking. When we got to the next level, he pulled me into the concourse and asked a security guard to take our picture just because he knew that's what I really wanted. Maybe no one else thinks this, but I thought it was very sweet of him.

Lisa just moved back to Indy from Dallas, so I visited with her on Sunday night, and she took me to the airport on Monday afternoon. She will be starting a new job in an emergency room next Monday and hopefully closing on a house soon after that- how exciting! I haven't seen a picture of the house, but it sounds like it fits her just right. Can't wait to take pictures of it and maybe help decorate!

*Happy Veteran's Day. A special thank you to all of the men and women who have served our country. I feel very blessed that we have people willing to sacrifice their lives to protect our country's freedom.

Nuts for Sugar Cookies

There are so many wonderful things about the holidays: being with family and friends, remembering all of life's blessings, festive decorations, kindness and good cheer, and one of everybody's favorites, baking.

I've never been much of a foodie, even when I was little. I think there are less foods that I like than things I won't eat. It's mostly a texture thing, but I also don't like the smell of meat. (I know, kind of crazy.) But there is one thing I've always loved: sweets... candy, cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite things to do was decorating sugar cookies with my mom. We would make cookies for Halloween, Easter, and Christmas, along with events that called for treats to be shared with others. I remember being so jealous of how creative my mom was with decorating her cookies- they always looked so perfect!

When my mom came to visit me a few weeks ago, I thought it would be appropriate to have decorated sugar cookies with a fall theme (this was part of the theme of her gift basket, which I forget to take pictures of- go figure!). Below is the recipe my mom has used for over twenty years.

Sugar Cookies for Decorating

Ingredients

-1 cup soft butter

-1/2 cup sugar

-1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

-3 cups flour

-1 teaspoon baking powder

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

-1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Directions

Mix together sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla. Set aside. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add gradually to butter mixture, blending well. Add lemon juice and rind. Wrap in wax paper and chill. Roll out dough and cut into shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 8 minutes. Decorate!

I think what makes this recipe stands out is the addition of the lemon juice and lemon rind. You don't need to use fresh juice or rind. I actually prefer using prepackaged lemon juice and dried lemon rind. This recipe makes about 4 dozen, depending on how think you like your cookies.

When decorating the sugar cookies, I recommend using Wilton's coloring dyes instead of the red, yellow, blue, and green liquid droppers you get at the grocery store. Although the liquid coloring does the job, the pastes create colors that are much more rich. For example, when decorating this batch of cookies, I was able to make several shades of orange, red, and brown to make the leaves look more realistic.

Other things needed for decorating:

-flat spreaders (a.k.a. butter knives)

-toothpicks

-wax paper

-plastic bags

-colored sugar, sprinkles, etc.

-other candies to put onto the cookies

I use the plastic bags to pipe frosting. You can put a small amount into the bag, cut a small hole in the corner of the bag (I emphasize SMALL- you can always cut the hole bigger if you need to, but you can't 'make a big hole smaller) , and gently squeeze the bag for piping. Toothpicks are another staple. I use them to marbleize two or more colors together. *Note: I forgot to buy toothpicks at the grocery store (not just once but several times), so I used plastic forks as a substitute. Toothpicks are better by far, but if you don't have anything else (and are too lazy to go to the store), plastic forks are okay, too.

The frosting is really simple: powdered sugar and water. Just add water (a little at a time) to a large amount of powdered sugar until you have the right consistency.

Look at all of the colors!

Below are instructions on how to marbleize the frosting:

Frost the sugar cookie with a regular coat of frosting (but slightly on the thin side)

Use a toothpick, bag, spreader, or fork to carefully place lines across the cookie horizontally or vertically.



Use a toothpick (the jank option: a plastic fork) to draw lines in the opposite direction that the second color is spread. (Note: Don't put too much pressure on the toothpick because you can end up with a line with no frosting down the cookie.) *Note: You can draw lines in just one direction, but alternating directions also looks good.

The finished product!

Here are some more pictures of the cookies I decorated....

I thought the acorns turned out to be really cute, but...

The squirrels were even better! The eyes are made of sugar- found them by accident at the grocery store.

I am a messy cook!

I got all of my cookie cutters at Home Goods, which is next to the Target where I shop here in Rhode Island. If you're reading this from Indy, there is a Home Goods in Castleton. Although things can be a little random, they have a pretty good selection of, you guessed it, things for your home. The kitchen/cooking section is fairly large, and they have some cute holiday decorations. The set I got had a squirrel, an acorn, a pumpkin, and several kinds of leaves. While I was there, I found a set of cookie cutters that look like Christmas ornaments- can't wait to use them in December!

Let me know what you think of the cookies if you make the recipe! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Here's a sneak preview of some of the other cookies I'll make in the coming year...