Our Thanksgiving

It must be Thanksgiving weekend because I just ate a turkey sandwich for breakfast.

We spent the holiday with our friends Chris and Colleen.  Chris (or Master Chef Chris as we've decided to call him) cooked an amazing meal.  We had a perfectly moist turkey with apple cranberry stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and homemade cranberry sauce.

J and I brought Green Bean Salad with Walnuts, Fennel, and Goat Cheese.  This is a new recipe for us, but it turned out being really good.  It's a great alternative to mushy green bean casserole which grosses me out.

As if that wasn't enough deliciousness for one day, dessert consisted of chocolate silk pie, pumpkin pie, and apple pie, along with homemade butter pecan and cinnamon ice creams.  (Are you drooling yet?)

After dinner and dessert, we all fell into a food coma.  I mean, we all watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  "Are you serious, Clark?"

Luckily after all that eating, we were able to burn calories while playing with the cutest little guy!

Pictured: a positive influence (comment by J).

Gag

For all you Real Simple readers out there (you know who you are!), don't waste your time making the bok choy and apple slaw.  It gets two thumbs down from us.

Sad scooter is repulsed by the bok choy slaw.

After the slaw experience, I'm convinced that bok choy needs to be cooked before eating.  Otherwise, it has a really bitter taste.  Although the apples help offset the bitterness a little, it isn't nearly enough.

In the magazine's defense, this is the first Real Simple recipe we haven't liked.

White Bean Stew

Another 'thumbs up' review for a Real Simple recipe... and this one is extra exciting because it uses the slow cooker.

I'm slow in trying this month's recipes since I just received my replacement November issue.  The original issue was either never sent to me or the mailman stole it for his wife.  Luckily, Real Simple customer service was great about sending another copy.  

Little-known factoid: Real Simple's customer service department also serves Fortune Magazine.  I don't really see the connection, but whatever works for them is fine with  me.

The white bean and kielbasa stew was inexpensive, simple (real simple!), tasty, warm, and satisfying.

I made cornbread on the side (shout out to Mount Vernon's Grist Mill for grinding the corn meal just like in the good 'ol days), which was scrumptious with the stew juice (the term 'stew juice' sounds gross, but you get the idea).

The next Real Simple recipe on our list is the bok choy and apple slaw.

Glove Testing

J ordered a pair of much-needed winter gloves that arrived via the hot UPS guy.

They felt comfortable, but he wanted to make sure they were going to be warm enough.

So he stuck his hand in the freezer for a while.

Do we make it too obvious that we're new to this cold weather thing?

Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to the brave members of our armed forces, and especially to my dad for his service in the USAF.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." -Elmer Davis

11-10-07

On this day in 2007, J proposed to me.

Throwback photo - at the top of the St. Augustine lighthouse.

Four years later, we have conversations like this:

A: "I need to get dressed up for the hot UPS guy today."
J: "Now I know why you wanted to order those things..."
A: "I only order from companies that ship via UPS."
J: "Yeah, well, I'm going to start ordering from companies that ship FedEx, and get the hot FedEx girl to deliver on Saturdays."
A: "You mean the geezy, gross FedEx girl?  Go ahead."
J: "Oh, speaking of geezy and gross, I called UPS and they said that the normal guy is out today and he's been replaced by Joe Paterno, who needs a job."

I love being married to my best friend!

63 and Sunny

Today was a beautiful day for a picnic - and I was lucky enough to have Colleen and Isaac visit for the afternoon!

We picked up some Firehouse Subs (YUM!) and headed down to the lake for a picnic.  The fall leaves continue to become even more beautiful, and although some trees are starting to lose their leaves, many more remain.

I just love the rainbow of colors.  Vibrant reds...

... gorgeous oranges...

... and lovely yellows...

Guilty Pleasure

I admit it.  I love watching "The Sing-Off" on NBC.

I'm so amazed by what the groups are able to do without any music or instruments.  It just blows my mind!

Since I've watched every episode this season (I admit that, too), here are my favorite performances of the five teams remaining in the competition.

Pentatonix (Arlington, Texas) - "Video Killed the Radio Star"

Dartmouth Aires (Dartmouth College) - "Queen Medley"

Afro-Blue (Howard University) - "Killing Me Softly"

Vocal Point (BYU) - "Life is a Highway"

Urban Method (Denver, Colorado) - "Airplanes"

Personally, I hope Pentatonix is this season's champion.  If for no other reason - because the guys in their group sang Britney Spears songs.

Pentatonix - "Britney Spears Medley"

Delicious TJ's Finds

Since moving from Florida, I miss Publix just about every day.

But I've started falling in love with Trader Joe's.

As an example, J and I are both addicted to the white cheddar corn puffs.  I mean, how could we not enjoy them - they're the world's puffiest!

I've also recently discovered their organic creamy tomato soup.  It's rich, creamy, and incredibly satisfying - especially on a cold day.

And since it's fall, I just HAD to get some pumpkin butter.

Thanks, Trader Joe's.  You've lessened my Publix withdrawl and for that I will be forever grateful.