This is what turns up when you google "flu bug."
This thing is too cute for something so yucky.

My poor sick boy.  

First The Girl had it. Then I had it.  Then she had it again.  Then I had it again.

Can HH escape its wrath??? 

Now THIS would be an interesting group

Those who know me will say that I talk a lot.  I've been told my whole life that my mouth "waddles like a duck's rear end (thanks, Dad).  But most of the time, I think it's a good thing.  And while my childhood report cards may have said things like "talks too much," at least they didn't say what my father so proudly tells us his own report card said: "Talks too much and annoys others."  I'm sure I've annoyed some people with my talking (friends, please tell me if I do!), but most of my worst yammering is either because I'm nervous and trying to fill uncomfortable silences or because I want to get to know you.  Not filling every silence is something that I, as a grown-up 40 year old woman, am trying to work on.  I'm getting better at it and even liking the silence sometimes. I'll bet others are enjoying it too.

For the most part, I think people find me easy to talk to because I talk.  I open myself up, I make fun of myself, and I try very hard to put people at ease.  I do not (at least I don't think I do--friends, tell me if I do PLEASE) ramble on and on about myself.  While I will disclose the latest stupid thing I've done or admit that I sometimes feel/do/act the same way you do at your very worst, I do not think I am so very interesting as to talk incessantly about what makes me ME.   I am very self-conscious about making sure I don't.  

Because, people, I am also a good listener.

Now, lest you think all this blather is proving I am full of crap and DO talk about myself, I'm coming to my point.

I am in a group processes seminar in school, which is basically about group dynamics (good! Interesting!) and also teaches us how to have group therapy (dumb!  not necessary for my major!).  I love the professor, in all his counselor-ly ways.  Love him.  But there are some who are in the class who think a) they are beyond the class and know everything and b) are so wrapped up in what They are All About that they can't even see when they are being, ahem, a-holes.

I'm not going to disclose anything because I am a Keeper of Secrets, but I am going to vent that I, a talker, had to tell someone else in my small group that he was Talking Too Much and not letting anyone in.  He turned it around and said it was because our personalities clash because we are Too Similar.  WHAT?  I had to explain the difference between Talking A lot (small amounts, in many instances) and Talking Too Much (9 minutes for an answer to a question.  THAT, my friends, is a soliloqy). 

A show of hands from those who think I should make this very pie for next week's group?

Now,  I thank you for listening. I'm going to do what that pie says and see what happens next week.

This would be amazing for HH and I when the kids fly the coop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 3rd

...can kiss my tuchus.

I still miss her like it was yesterday.

Twelve Years

 

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl.

My Kind of Night

Look!  I even remembered flowers (or Judy and Ann did.  Thanks girls!!).

Saturday night was the start of a new thing: The Girlfriend Dinner.  Twelve friends, from all over who didn't necessarily know each other before, hanging out and talking (and laughing!) without the intrusion of their other halves.  Well, mine intruded a bit and so did Audrey's but those two are *almost* one of the girls themselves (or at least they fancy themselves to be!) so it was okay.

I think I would very much like to have one of these get-togethers at least twice a year (next time, brunch?).  I loved looking down the length of my dining room and seeing all these amazing women whom I'm just lucky to know, let alone the fact that most of them would take a bullet for me. And it was so loud with laughter!  Who doesn't love that?

Here's what we had:

To start
*Muhammara with homemade pita chips

For dinner
Chicken Marbella
Armenian Rice Pilaf
Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad
Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Arugula
Store-bought Ciabatta bread 

Make this for your next dinner party.  You will thank me AND The Silver Palate ladies.

For dessert
**Coconut Macaroons
Shortbread Ripple Biscotti
Kouign Amann (OH. MY. GOD.)
Chocolate Sorbet

*this isn't the recipe that I used (can't find it!) but it's close
**quadruple this recipe because it only makes 4 big ones.  Unless you want 4 big ones teeheehee

This Salad is So Good I Want to Lick the Pictures

How did I never have baby arugula (rocket) before?  I guess because I have a distinct memory of someone in When Harry Met Sally ordering *Grilled Arugula and yuck, how gross is that?  Plus I'm not one for the bitter.  

This is the scene!  Remember?  "Pesto is the quiche of the 80's" ?? I love the internet.

But I reeeeeeaaaaallllly digress.  

Baby arugula isn't bitter...it's peppery and DELICIOUS.  Like, I kept eating it raw and unadorned and that's just unheard of with me (I mean, c'mon...salad is just a foil for delicious dressing).  

Anyhoo, this post is about a fantastic salad that contains not only baby arugula but another delicious and sometimes unsung vegetable--cauliflower.  Roasted, this pale stuff tastes almost like popcorn.  Add some shallots and thyme?  YUM.  I got this recipe via Alexis.  Say what you want about her....the girl makes a lot of good food.

Here's the recipe with my changes in bold. And this recipe is supposed to make enough for 8.  Obviously not 8 of me.  Maybe 3.

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese 

Ingredients

Roasted Cauliflower:
3 (2) tbs. olive oil
1 large cauliflower, separated into large florets and thinly sliced through stem
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 small bunch thyme (1 tsp. dry)
2 tsp. coriander seeds
Salt and white pepper

Don't be stupid.  ROAST this!

Salad:
1 green apple, cut into quarters and sliced
2-3 radishes, thinly sliced
1-2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced into rounds
1/2 thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup yellow raisins, plumped (in warm water) and drained mine were plump already
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 cups baby arugula
3 tbs. pine nuts, toasted
2 oz. fresh goat cheese, crumbled

Don't omit these, even if your kids are stupid and  pick them out. The peppery arugula + sweet dried fruit=SLURP

Apple-Cider Dressing:
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
3 tbs. cider vinegar
2/3 cup (heaping 1/3 cup) olive oil
Salt and white pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat the oil in a roasting pan over medium-high heat, add the cauliflower, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 6 minutes, until golden brown. Turn the slices, add the remaining ingredients, and season with salt and pepper.  Set in oven and roast for about 10 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven, and keep warm. I roasted it from the get-go in the oven, adding the shallots after about 10 minutes.  I think it would've been crispier if I had done it this way though.

In a small bowl, whisk mustard with vinegar and a large pinch of salt, add the oil, and season with pepper. In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients (except for the pine nuts and goat cheese), add a few spoonfuls of dressing, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Place the cauliflower in the center of a large plate, arrange the salad ingredients around the cauliflower, and drizzle with the remaining dressing. Finish with cheese and pine nuts. (Published 2010)

Uh, yeah.  I couldn't wait until HH and the Boy got home.  I quickly ate this before the Girl could come downstairs and ask to be fed too.

 

Pretty!

*Edited to add:  I AM A MORON.  It was grilled RADICCHIO not arugula.  And to think I've been missing out all this time unnecessarily.