Oh snap...

Sur La Table fooled me into going into their store and spending WAY too much money on my lunch break today. Damn them.
They sent me a gift certificate for $10.00 off anything in the store. I went in with the intention of getting ONLY the adorable apron you see above. Then I found the super cool orange scale on the clearance rack. I have had my eye on both of these beauties for a while now. I’m super excited…damn them.

Currently...

Listening to Kate Walsh's CD Tim's House (so so SO good)

Reading The Last Chinese Chef (yes mom...it is getting better...you were right)

(sigh...)

I need to move to Ashland, Oregon.

get ready...

In about two weeks we will be in PRIME asparagus season. I am ready…bring it on.

Black and White

These have to be my favorite cookies/pastry in the whole wide world. In about a month I will be in NYC and I plan on eating one of these everyday…maybe three. Bonnie Lynn you need to try to make these for me and send me a solid recipe.

my husband is a dancing machine...

Friday night was the grand opening of the dance club side our friend’s new bar. My husband can really break it down on the dance floor. There was a lot of gyrating and fist pumping. It was pretty awesome.

No reservations

This has to be the best travel/food show EVER. Drew and I love Monday night because we know we can watch a new episode of No Reservations. You should be watching it…seriously.

tonight...

Dinner was ramen noodles with kale, mushroom and left over roasted chicken. Then it was serious snuggle time with Mr. Marlow. It is amazing how big his paws are...and how blindingly white my legs are.

Big Debate in Austin Tonight

A local restaurant in town offers some advice…

dinner

Chicken roasted with lemon, garlic and thyme. Mashed taters with a gravy made from the pan drippings and a shot of vermouth. Brussels sprouts roasted with salt and pepper. Yum.

Sweet Jesus

Cadbury Creme season has officially begun. I need to rejoin the gym to make up for the damage I am going to do to my midsection with these little beauties.

Fight Night

Drew had a bunch of boys over Saturday night for a boxing match. I decided to feed all of that testosterone by cooking up a big pot of meat. What you see above is Chicken and Pork Adobado from my new braising cookbook. It is a Filipino recipe for braising that involves marinating the meat in white wine vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and herbs. Then slowly cooking the meat in the same marinade. The great thing about this recipe is that once the meat is fork tender, you pan sear the meat for a crispy lacquered crunch on the outside, leaving fork tender meat on the inside. The dish is then served with rice, the reduced braising liquid as the sauce, and then topped with a tomato relish. The tomato relish on this dish rocked. We will definitely be making this again.

Yum...

This is my favorite new cookbook of the moment. Braising has to be the best cooking method in the world. I love being able to go about my business while something juicy and wonderful slowly cooks in my kitchen. I made something extremely yummy from this book this weekend. Pictures will be coming shortly.

Bonnie Lynn...

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful sister in the whole wide world. I love you like crazy and I would be lost without you in my life. Have an amazing day and buy yourself some fabulous presents. You deserve it.

cupcakes...

Here are the sweet treats that I made for Drew and our friends next door. Simple swiss chocolate cupcakes with a vanilla frosting. Yum.

v.day dinner

I made Drew his favorite meal for valentine's day. Rack of Lamb with a red wine pan sauce (with rosemary and shallots), garlic mashed taters, and green beans. His belly was pleased.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Lotta apron

Here is the reverse side of my apron. This side is my favorite because of the embroidered "Vera".

Finally!!

Here is my finished reversible apron in all its glory. I made it from the Lotta Jansdotter sewing book. In case you can't tell from the look on my face...I absolutely love it.

Birthday boy

I embroidered this shirt for Drew's birthday. Tiny little bluebirds for my beautiful blue eyed man.

Close up

Here is a closer look at the blubirds...

Forty Years

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

I love and miss you so much.

XOXOXOXOXOX

birthday purse

I bought this oversized clutch at Old Navy for twenty bucks. I love its wooden handles, the print, the fact I can fit a book in it, and I especially love that I constantly get comments on how fabulous it is.

Never Again

No more Stella Artois for Sara. I had about as many Stella’s as Miss Winehouse is holding above, and due to it spent the majority of the weekend unable to get in a vertical position with out being sick. Drew and I are lightweights because we rarely ever go out for drinks. We much prefer to stay home and watch movies. Friday was an exception because there were many things to celebrate. We had dinner at Sean’s new restaurant, and then went to the grand opening of our friend’s new bar downtown. In addition, at the stroke of midnight it was my beautiful husband’s 29th birthday. Way too much fun…

Yael Naim

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-YUxbDEPFiM

Bonnie...you will love this.

Parkside

I apologize for the super dark photo.
Last night we were invited to a happy hour celebrating the opening of Sean’s new restaurant.
It was free champagne and appetizers for everyone.
Robert, Drew and I ate our weight in raw oysters from Virginia that had been gently kissed by some red wine vinegar, shallots and black pepper.
Other favorites were the mini burgers and the steak tartar…yum.
Tonight we get to go back for an actual sit down meal for the
friends and family run through. The restaurant will not open to the public until Sunday.

I’ve got my eye on
the bone marrow and herb salad, as well as the duck confit with lentils.
I will let you know how it goes.

The King of Kong

Drew and I watched this documentary on Pay Per View last night.

It’s about the reining Donkey Kong champ who has held his high score since the 80’s being challenged by a teacher from Washington.

Drew and I laughed so hard we almost pee’d our pants.

I highly recommend it.

Superbowl Commercial

I totally know how she feels...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YbCU1UhrO0E

Happy World Nutella Day

Mmmmm nutella.

I love you.

You taste good on just about everything.

perfection...

I just came across this apron on Amy's Angry Chicken blog this morning.

I think it is perfect. I ordered the pattern as a late birthday present to myself.

the pattern can be found here www.montessoribyhand.net/patterns.html

My birthday was lovely.

Drew and I celebrated my birthday over a glass of wine at a cute little French restaurant downtown called Chez Nous. We had escargot, country style pate and chocolate mousse (yummmm.) Drew was going to let me splurge at Anthropologie for my birthday, but was unable to find anything. Sewing has ruined me. I look at things now and see how simple they are to make, and I can't belive how expensive they are.

I need to get better so I can make my own fabulous dresses.

Tomorrow...

Today is my final day in my twenties...ever.

I feel like I should be doing a keg stand or something to say good bye to this wonderful decade of my life. Tonight will be low key. My friend Christene is taking me to get a pedicure, then Drew and I are going to go see "There will be blood". Tommorow will be filled with many things that make me happy. Drew, Marlow, yummy food, shopping, and a few stiff drinks. I can't wait. There is no better day to have your birthday than a saturday. I plan on taking plenty of pictures this weekend to post next week.