June 23rd, 2010

Hands down summer is my favorite season.  My happiness factor goes up exponentially.  The less going on, the better because I can fill the days with gardening and pool fun.  I also love to go and play at Julie and Ben’s house on the hill, I have many fond memories having Amaghetti sandwiches at their kitchen table or gossiping in their nursery while the kids scattered all the toys from the toybox.  In May Julie and Ben decided to move neighborhoods and bought a house in Clayton (a fantastic house at that….ah marone is that kitchen to die for!).  

The Murphy family happy and smiling in front of their new awesome home!   When Trent and I moved from the hill the move was definitely bittersweet.  It took me a couple of years to feel like our new house was home.  I’m hoping with Julie and Ben’s new house I can adapt quicker (it not being my house and all), not a huge fan of change, even happy change.  Except when it comes to people getting married or having babies, that change is always embraced.  I am blatantly digressing….

So Julie and Ben were coming home from an oil free Destin on Father’s Day and had a post Father’s Day/Welcome to new home dinner for their families.  Julie made ribs, pasta salad, bread, baked beans, and ice cream to celebrate all the dads (and in her spare time unpacked an entire household).  The celebration was fun and I think I’m slowly adjusting to Clayton being my second home.

My goofy girls playing in the driveway after dinner.  See, new fond memories already happening!

June 22nd, 2010

Tonight I have plans to have a cocktail and then see Solitary Man with Kevin and Ryan.  On nights I go out I like to have dinner ready for Trent and the girls to make his evening easier (and to lesson my guilt for abandoning the girls for the evening).  I had smoked pork steaks in the freezer, so I defrosted them and baked them with barbecue sauce in the oven.

We still have a crazy amount of bok choy left in the garden despite my many, many attempts to get through it.  So I steamed some with garlic and soy sauce.  And no, Trent is not on a low carb diet with his brown rice serving.  I was on the computer going through facebook while cooking the rice and smelled a not so wonderful burning smell wafting through the kitchen. The rice got mad at me because it didn’t have enough liquid and the whole bottom of the sauce pan was burned.  I learned a trick from Chef Rocco Despirito. Whenever you burn something, don’t stir the pot, just dump the unburned portion into another bowl and you’ll be fine.  Well it worked perfectly, unfortunately about 60% of the rice stayed in the pot.  So I gave most of it to the girls and the rest to Trent knowing he’d be absolutely fine with a double portion of pork steak to make up for it. 

I had a great time with Kevin and Ryan.  We all agreed the movie wasn’t the best.  I had high expectations since the cast had Michael Douglas, Mary Louise Parker, Susan Sarandon, Jenna Fischer, and Danny Devito, however I wouldn’t recommend, maybe a renter at best.  On second though, I wouldn’t even recommend it as a renter.  I think even if the movie isn’t great, it’s still fun to see flicks on the big screen out with the people!

June 19th, 2010

For Father’s day Trent had 3 simple requests.  He wanted to go on a morning bike ride, then the whole family to go to Mass, and steaks with blue cheese, grilled garlic bread, and salad for dinner.  We were having my parents over for dinner on actual Father’s day, so I did the steak dinner on Saturday.

Done, done, and done!  Happy Father’s day to a fantastic husband and father!

June 17, 2010

This afternoon was highly anticipated!  We had matinee tickets to Wicked.  My dad, Cathy, Lauren, and myself all went to the Fox for an afternoon of good theater fun.  I have been explaining the story of Wicked to Lauren and playing the music for months, so we were ready.

Lauren at the Fox with our tickets, very excited girl.  She loved the show and sat captivated for the full 3 hours.  In fact, Lauren has her friend Meghan over for a play date right now and is telling Meghan about it as I type this.  Right now they are discussing houses falling on witches. 

For dinner that night my parents took the girls for an overnight and Trent and I went to Charlie Gitto's on the Hill.  So, so good!  Trent and I split a shrimp cocktail and chopped salad.  Then Trent got a spicy sausage pasta and I ordered the Ciopino.  It was my first time Ciopino experience, but hopefully not my last, I’m a fan!  But I’m even more of a fan of date night.

 

June 15th, 2010

I have no idea why, but the 2 dill plants I planted in the garden are out of control.  They are taller than me and going in every which direction.  I wish it was the parsley and basil plants, but they still haven’t gotten with the program yet.  Really I don’t use dill all that much for all this craziness. 

 

I think it’s trying to become king of the garden.

Our peas are ready for a harvest too.

What?  You don’t dress to harvest too?

Peas meet dill.  Dill meet Peas.

Chicken, dill, and celery chicken salad.  I used fat free greek yogurt because Trent doesn’t like mayo.  But the yogurt is just as good in my opinion.

Salad with the peas.  I gave peas to the girls for dinner too.  Lauren ate all of hers, Sydney wasn’t as enthusiastic. 

So that was about 3 sprigs of dill down and 1,387 to go.  Got any dill recipes you wanna throw my way?  I’ll happily take them!

June 14th, 2010

Family night at the Cardinals Game!  Trent’s firm has tickets and emailed out a bunch of dates they were available.  We picked tonight and, luckily, the game time was changed to 6:05, so it worked out great taking the girls.  We had been practicing our “Take me out to the Ballgame” song and were excited.   

The weather was in the 90’s, but thankfully we were on the shady side of the stadium behind 3rd base. 

We all had a great time.  I packed dinner for the girls and they split a box of popcorn.  Trent and I went traditional with hotdogs.  We could have easily stayed the whole game, the girls really liked it.  But we left in the 7th inning to get the kids home a little after 9 pm.  The only thing Lauren didn’t like was the t-shirt blasting thing to the fans.  She felt if they were going to give some of the people t-shirts, they should have enough for everyone.  I feel the exact same way about Oprah’s big Christmas give-away show.

June 11th, 2010

So excited, we have bok choy ready to harvest in the garden!

Only one problem….

I got a little carried away in April and thinks me planted waaaaay to much.  Oopsies!

The girls and I had a fun time cutting the leaves and cleaned them in the sink.  I went online earlier in the week to figure out what to do with it instead of just experimenting.

Cooking Light’s Turkey Meatballs with Bok Choy.  You are supposed to put jasmine rice in the meatballs, but I put in breadcrumbs instead.  Boiling rice just to add it to a meatball seemed kinda silly to me. 

So excited I got to cook with food I grew myself!  We had the same thing for lunch the next day (from another batch of bok choy).  I gave our neighbors and Bethanie a big bag of it and STILL have a ton left.  Tomorrow I’m pedaling a bag to Cathy.  Pretty soon when people see me coming they are going to run away in fear I’m the Bok Choy monster.

June 10th, 2010

Trent’s birthday!  Unfortunately, he’s spending it in Columbia for a trial.  So my dad came over for dinner and I made Chicken Curry Salad with apples, raisins, chives, and celery.

Happy Birthday to Trent and looking forward to celebrating soon!

June 8th, 2010

After decades of teaching, my mom is officially retired!  Time to celebrate!

Both of my parents LOVE listening to live music, so they reserved a big table at their favorite local hangout, Highway 61 Roadhouse, and arranged for some of their favorite local musicians (whom they are conveniently friends with) to play. 

Trish Prager!  She went all out and did a special song for my mom to the tune of “Hey Soul Sister.”  Where’s a video camera when you need it!

Matt Davis, also my parent’s next door neighbor and my mom’s guitar teacher. 

Matt did a great version of “I just want to bang on my drums all day” and Ben did a great job of drum banging and my mom did some mean tambourining.  So fun!

  

Mom and Dad made use of the dance floor.

The crowd enjoying the music.

Even Grandpa Coco stayed up past his bedtime.  Definitely a fantastic evening with all my mom’s favorite things.  Congratulations Mom, you are going to make one great retired lady!

June 7th, 2010

Kirk and Sally stayed in town after the birthday celebrations on Sunday night.  I made an angel hair lemon chicken pasta, bread, and salad.  We ate on the patio and it was a enjoyable and mellow evening.  Come Monday night we had a huge abundance of leftovers. 

Michelle has evenings in the Brightwell house called “fend for yourself” nights where everyone has a different dinner of whatever they find in the frig.  I’ve been using that idea more and more whenever our frig gets chaotic with random leftovers.  What’s the point in cooking something new for dinner if you already have food ready to go in the frig?

Jenny’s version of “fend for yourself” night.  There’s the myriad of randomness waiting to be eaten.

Trent’s dinner: the 1 salscissa we had leftover from the bbq, leftover imo’s pizza, and salad (which I made from the leftover celery heart I had from making the veggie tray).

Jenny’s dinner: leftover pasta and salad.  And yes, I know.  I tend to get crazy with the parmesan cheese.  Let’s just say I like when restaurants leave the bowl of parmesan cheese on the table instead of grating it over your plate because I always feel bad having a server grating away over my plate while other people at the table look longingly at their own naked pastas waiting for their turn.  I love me some cheese AND “fend for yourself” nights!  Our bellies were full and our frig was slightly less empty.

June 5th, 2010

Birthday day!!!  Our first party was Lauren’s friend party at Baked Goods Pottery.

Kids painting their masterpieces.

Sydney painting her vase.

Birthday girl excited for her cake!

Aforementioned cake.  We also had Imo’s pizza delivered (Lauren’s favorite pizza).

Wehner park for evening family birthday barbecue.  Jonathan grilled salsiccias on two grills and did a great job!  I made a potato salad, green salad, corn and bean salad, and veggie tray.  My mom made cassata and there was leftover birthday cake as well.

Ben and Noni “showing her teeth".”  Can’t get much cuter than that!

Jon relaxing with his family after slaving over 2 hot grills in 90 degree weather.

Our 2 handsome nephews!  I love the rare occasions where all the cousins from both sides of the family are together and playing.  It feels very festive and cozy.

The birthday season begins with my dad’s birthday on May 25th and ends with Sally’s birthday on June 20th.  Lots of celebrating, lots of gifts giving, and lots of meals together!