...and to you sister, merci.

"I don't love Paris," she said.  The room gasped and gazed upon her with judgemental eyes... 

Shocked?  Perhaps blasphemous?  I can't help it.  I am not in love with that city. I do, however, have great respect for the city and its historical importance, culinary development and powerful effect.

February marked a seven year anniversary of a phone call that changed my life. 

"You want to go to Paris for $600?"

"....maybe?..."

Okay, maybe I didn't immediately jump to go to Paris.  I was saving for my Roman adventure which was quickly approaching in May.  Plus I was scared.  I hate to fly.  Hate doesn't even begin to cover it.  Flying is my worst fear and my nemesis.  After a few discussions with my roommates and parents I realized I had to fly to Europe in May, I might as well do it now and call it practice. 

I decided to answer with yes.  Yes I will go.  Yes I will fly by myself.  Yes I will meet you in Paris, sister.  What a powerful three letter word.  I didn't realize that I just said yes to empowerment, independence and a life love of travel. 

This weekend marks the anniversary of a trip that has become a milestone in my life. Thank you, JoDee. Thank you for your love of Paris and its inspiring power. It changed my life for the better.

Pears, Peas and Strollers

A baby's life is adventurous. 

Why?  Because almost everyday they are trying, discovering and experiencing something new.  I'm kinda jealous.

I've known this about babies all of my adult life, however, it's not until I've witnessed it firsthand that its sunk in.  This came to my attention over the weekend when Katherine went for her first walk facing forward in her stroller.  I realized, that for her, she has experiences that are somewhat old hat like the taste of pears.  (she's known this flavor since she was three months)  However there are very new tastes like peas.  (her first try was Sunday).  Then there are new adventures that might seem initially scary, but are literally life changing...like seeing the world facing forward.  Life never gets boring for this new life.

Katherine...

laughs and smiles when the wind blows on her face.

squeals and squirms when Auggie walks by.

looks surprised every time she sees her own reflection.

doesn't get bored looking out a window.

gets to taste a new food every three days (!!!! I like this one !!!).

feels pride when she rolls over and sits up.

Katherine's life has made me begin to examine my own.  What is mesmerizing to me?  What do I get so excited about that my only reaction is dancing?  Do I try new experiences?  Where are my adventures?

Perhaps something we should all ponder?

Even though a little wobbly at times, Katherine is experiencing life facing foward.

Spring Fever

Exhausted. Sore. Productive. These are words to describe what Randy and I consider our most successful home improvement weekend ever. Plants were removed, walls were painted, a light fixture was installed and yes, even a tree was cut down. This feeling of accomplishment has led us to ponder the remaining projects at the White House.

If you have ever been to our home you would observe incomplete projects at almost every turn. I'm okay with this. I like living in a state of development and creation. However, in order to prevent our over zealousness from overtaking our house we have decided to... complete all projects started by our two year house anniversary... Phew! I said it. Unfortunately, for Randy, most of these projects will require his workmanship and energy. But dear reader, don't discount the encouraging words and lovely company I will be giving him while he works.

So with confidence I can say spring has sprung at the White House.  And now I have a question for you ...what does your Spring Fever look like?

before: lights in the half bath

after: new light fixture in the half bath, but oops...broke the bulb on the way up...new project: find replacement bulb

Goodbye ugly tree.  Now what to do with the stump?

before: too many plants in the backyard

after: a cleaned out backyard...more room for Auggie to sunbathe

before: frame and pillar purchased at Canton in October '09

after: a pretty white frame

after: a white pillar with one more thing to add...a marble top

Gak.

Can't forget the cutest girl in the world!

There are days...

...when my heart knows no words.

"Love is the greatest gift one can give."

Balsamic and Molasses Glaze Pork and Corn Risotto

Tuesday was the perfect day to cook.  A hefty layer of ice covered DFW and the Whites were safely tucked away in the White House.  The menu for the week had already been planned and it so happened that Tuesday was pork and risotto night.  Perhaps evidence of predestination?  Randy, being the fabulous man he is, gave me the opportunity to cook and relax in the kitchen while he played with KTG (Katherine the Great, thanks for the nickname Tim).  Viola!  A few hours later this delicious meal was served.  If you're in the mood for a dish of this sort, I suggest either one (the risotto more than the pork).  Check out the recipes by using the links to the right.  Here are my notes on these two items.

Slow Roasted Pork Loin with Balsamic and Molasses Glaze

1.  used two pork tenderloins instead of two 5-bone pork loin roast.  This cut the roasting time down significantly.  Roasting the pork at 300 degrees made it extremely tender and moist.

2.  increased the red pepper and garlic because I like those flavors

3.  decreased the amount of molasses to 1/2 cup

4.  wish I would have saved more than 1/4 cup of glaze

5.  loving the leftovers, can't wait to put the sliced pork on sandwich with thick slices of mozzarella cheese

Corn Risotto

1.  I followed the directions for the risotto precisely except for the cheese and fresh corn. I used Parmesan instead of Romano cheese and one bag of frozen organic corn instead of fresh corn on the cob.

2.  Cooked the bacon, but I don't think it needs it.

2.  The fried sage leaf with anchovy is delicious!  I used anchovy paste instead of anchovy, but my mistake was frying the sage in the bacon grease.  Cook it in canola oil!  The bacon flavor took away from the sage and anchovy. 

Morning

Mornings and I have never really gotten along.  My childhood is filled with memories of loud music, bright lights, and cold water (among other things).  I don't blame my parents for the tactics used against me to pull me from my nice warm bed.  I simply refused to get up.  People would tell me (with a laugh) that one day I would appreciate mornings and would no longer sleep in.  Well, college came and besides the occasional 8 am class, my bed was still one of my favorite friends.  I thought I had proved all adults wrong. There was nothing like waking up at 10:30 or 11 am and then eating lunch!  

My enjoyable relationship with Morning began while I studied in Rome.  I had a morning course that made me rise early (before most Romans and tourist), hop on a bus and wander through Roman streets to arrive at the location of the lecture topic.  The class would then continue to walk from site to site listening to Professor Varner discuss the historical, architectural and artistic value of each viewed item.  Now I had a reason to get up with the sun.  I wanted to down a quick cappuccino and chocolate croissant on my way to class.  I also could not wait to absorb the history of capitol of the world with minimal distraction.  There was something about a quiet Rome...a Rome where the working Roman pedestrian was not out yet and the tourist was still snug in his bed.  It was at this time when Roman birds were singing and espresso machines steaming.

A handful of years after my first Roman experience (seven actually, yikes!), mornings have a different value to me.  I now have a little baby bird who chirps (sometimes fiercely) when she's finished laying in her nest. Her songs get me out of bed and Auggie and I come to her rescue.  After she eats we are all pretty content.  The Katherine bird plays with her choice of toy and Auggie squirrel hunts out of the dining room window.  I make a cappuccino, slowly drink it and sometimes am reminded of Rome. 

So it is true.  I no longer sleep in and I do appreciate mornings.  However, my gift of sleep has not left me.  Given the chance to snooze till lunch time...I know victory would be mine.

http://www.johncabot.edu/

http://wikitravel.org/en/Trastevere

http://classics.emory.edu/indivFacPages/varner/varner.html



Auggie on Squirrel Patrol



One of my morning cappuccinos

The Roman Forum in the early morning (note, there is no one in the forum!)

A pretty window

Santa Maria in Trastevere (would walk past this church multiple times a day)

Inside Santa Maria in Trastevere

An early morning stroll in the Borghese Gardens

Flowers in Trastevere

A morning tour of the Vatican Gardens

Katherine and Lars

Katherine in her Bumpo, oh so cute!

A Heaping Spoonful of Sugar

Sugar. I typically don't use it when I'm in the kitchen.  A spoonful is more than enough to sweeten my daily cappuccino.  However, this past December I went through sugar extremely fast.  Lemon sables, cranberry pumpkin bread, wassel, chocolate cinnamon marshmallows and rum chocolate balls only begin to describe the reason why two bags of sugar were bought and used.  Baking (and using so much sugar) made me begin to think about this substance and how it applies to my life.  First, one of Katherine's many nicknames is Sugar (Butterfly, and LaLa are just a few others). Second, I like to give lots of sugar (kisses) to this roley-poley newborn, to Randy and to Auggie.  Last, my life is sweet.  It's been a lovely year with a new home, new baby, new job, new experiences and much more.  What a blessing 2010 was to my little growing family.  Now, every morning when I make my cappuccino and add the spoonful of sugar, I will think of my life, thank God and smile. 

http://www.food52.com/recipes/2167_chocolate_swirl_cinnamon_marshmallows

http://www.food52.com/recipes/8644_fudgy_bourbon_balls

And now...a slideshow of Christmas.  Enjoy!

A delicious yet fuzzy picture of Boeuf Bourguignon, the main dish of the first Christmas celebrated at the White House.

Katherine Sugar LaLa Butterfly enjoying her Christmas stocking stuffers.

The appetizers to the second Christmas at the White House.

Auggie Clause...on his best behavior...

lemon sables

cranberry pumpkin bread

Randy working on the beef tenderloin before it was baked in a salt crust.

salt crusted beef tenderloin

garlic and thyme infused mashed potatoes, cheese corn casserole, garlic and ginger cream cabbage

beef tenderloin leftovers

Dinner Party for Eight

About seven years ago I was asked one of the most cliche questions and I didn't have an answer.  "If you were to have a dinner party, and you can select three people from any era, who would you invite and why?"  My response?  Lame..so lame that I won't even repeat it.  Why, why, why did I not have an answer for this question?  Not having an answer has bothered me because I felt as if for some reason or another not having an answer meant I had not established my instrests or who I was as a person.  For seven years I have thought about this imaginary dinner party, invited and uninvited many a person.  It has only been recently that I have confidently set a table for eight.  Will this list change?  Of course.  I like to think of this list as ever changing, just like me.

Caesar Augustus

first (and favorite) emperor of Rome

Amanda Hesser
New York Times food editor, author of great cookbooks, founder of http://www.food52.com/

Marie Antoinette
Queen of France, wife of Louis XVI, lost her head, had great fashion taste, gets a bad rap

Michelangelo
Sculptor, artist, architect, genius of the Renaissance

Mario Batali
chef, love his food, also had brain surgery

St. Paul
 messenger of Christ, Roman, changed the world

Alexander the Great
 ancient warrior who changed the world
Tina Fey
makes me laugh, favorite funny person