Green Curry

I love Asian food (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese).  I really love it.   And I love to cook.  But, over the years, I’ve tried to recreate some Chinese and Thai dishes without much luck.  As a last ditch effort I decided to recreate one of my husband’s favorite Thai dishes; walleye with green curry sauce.   I hit the fish market and the headed to the Asian grocery store nearby and found a can of green curry (that I hadn’t tried before – I have tried other brands without much luck).

Well, I have to say I was very impressed and have had this dish many times since.    I’ve tried it with a variety of different fish and my favorites are black cod and halibut.    I think most meaty white fish would work.   

Here is what you need:  

• White fish (you could also use chicken or shrimp)
• AROY-D Green Curry (one can is enough for two people).
• Your favorite three Asian vegetables (I like to use zucchini, spinach, peapods, green beans and Chinese eggplant)
• Cilantro
• Jasmine rice

Here is what you do: 

1. Make the rice (I use a rice cooker but you can make it on the stovetop also)
2. Heat up the curry in a sauce pan over medium heat
3. Sauté the vegetables (set aside and add to the sauce 3 minutes before serving to warm them up otherwise they will get soft.)
4. Sauté the fish for 3-5 minutes on each side (depending on thickness)
5. Put the rice in a bowl (I use wide, shallow bowls)
6. Add the fish
7. Pour the sauce over the top
8. Cover with chopped cilantro
9. Enjoy!

Sautéing the Vegetables

The finished dish

So easy and so good.   I hope you can find this curry!  If you live in Minneapolis, I found it at United Noodles but I think it is a popular brand in most Asian stores.   

Ina Garten

Ina Garten is one of my favorite TV chefs (Barefoot Contessa).   I like her personality and her recipes always look delicious and reasonable (from a time and ingredients perspective).   I’ve actually met her and she signed one of my cookbooks.   She looks and acts the same off TV as she does on.   I think it would be fun to spend an afternoon in the kitchen with her, cooking and chatting over a bottle of wine.  I have to admit to this  - I always thought her name was pronounced like "in-a-garden."  It is not "in-a" it is "eye-na" and it is a "t" in her last name, not a "d."

Anyway, I was recently reading Redbook magazine (Nov. 2010 issue, page 232) and there was a page that featured her.   She is promoting her new book, How Easy Is That?, and had some tips for keeping it real in the kitchen that I thought made perfect sense.  Here are a couple that stood out. (My comments are in blue.)

The party is only as happy as the host.   “It is a much better party if the food is simple and you’re relaxed.” 

How many times have you had a party where you are stuck in the kitchen missing out on all of the fun conversations?   I know this has happened to me too many times.  One thing I’ve done in the past is hire someone to help out and make sure the food is replenished, dirty plates are picked up, there is enough wine and clean glasses, etc….  You can find a little helper for about $15/hour (that is $60 for 4 hours!) and it is worth every penny.  Another good tip is you can hire students from the local bartending school to man your bar for a very reasonable rate.

Having a man who can cook is overrated.  “It’s more important to have one person who cooks and another person who appreciates it.”

Cheers to you Ina!  I love that outlook.  I am the only one that cooks in my house and sometimes I get frustrated by that, especially when I have friends whose husbands love to cook and help in the kitchen.  But I will say that my husband does really appreciate my cooking and that definitely makes it all worth it. 

Gratitude is the best hostess gift. “I always send flowers or a note the next day to express my appreciation.”

I was lucky to have been brought up by a very thoughtful mother.   She instilled in me, at a very young age, the importance of hand-written Thank You notes, and how rewarding it is to give thoughtful gifts and show people that you appreciate them.  I wish more people would be better about that kind of thing.  It is such a simple thing to do and is such a nice gesture of gratitude.  

Cook with your heart.   “I only cook for people I love.”

If I cook for you, it is because I love you!    I enjoy showing my love through food (and wine).   Cheers!   

Check out Ina's new cookbook.  Her recipes are yummy and not intimidating. 

I Will Remember You.......

I was recently reflecting on the question: what do I want to be remembered for?

I’m not sure what sparked this line of thinking other than the old cliché “life is short.”  Actually, there was more to it.  I was thinking about my grandfather who passed away a few years ago and I was reflecting on what I remember most about him.    I remember his joke telling, his laugh, him letting me play with his hair and putting it in small ponytails and barrettes when I was a little girl, his sweet love for my grandmother (he’d walk in the kitchen and lovingly tap her on the butt), and his tickle torture (otherwise known as “cleaning my plow”).   He was a good influence on my life and I miss him.     

Now, obviously, everyone has a different interaction with a person depending on the nature of the relationship.   I’m curious what my grandfather's employees would say about him?  And I know it would be different from what his wife or children would say about him.  But I do think there would be a common theme.

As I was reflecting on what I remembered most about my grandfather, I began to ask myself: what do I want people to remember most about me?   

People have financial goals, professional goals, and personal life goals.   Personal life goals are usually something like “I want to be married by the time I am 30, I want two kids, and I want a black SUV parked in my two-car garage.”    But how often do people base their goals on what they ultimately want their legacy to be.   I’m not talking about material things here; I’m talking about the essence of you who are.   In a room full of people that know you, will they all say the same thing about you?    Will they say.....You were very giving and charitable?   You were full of life and made everyone laugh?   You were graceful and elegant?    You were spontaneous and fun?   You were smart and a great advisor/teacher?    You were stubborn and cranky?    You were patient?   You were wild and spontaneous?  Etc…..   I could go on and on but you get the gist of what I am talking about.    

I don’t mean to be morbid, it is just an interesting thing to think about and if you come up with a goal along these lines and kind of live your life that way, you just may be able to accomplish the goal of being remembered for what you want to be remembered for.   

It is something you need to think about every day as a theme in your life.   If you want to be remembered for being a great listener then you need to really listen to everyone you encounter.  Make them feel heard and they will remember you for that.

Personally, I want to be remembered for being kind, loving, thoughtful, and a good friend to people.    (Okay, and maybe as the woman who got everyone to drink sparkling wine casually on a weekly basis.)  

A couple days after I was thinking about all of this, I heard the song I will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan (famously played at high school graduations in the 90s) come on the radio.  The chorus of this song pretty much summed up what I was thinking.  The lyrics go something like this: 

I will remember you

Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by

Weep not for the memories 

I’d like to think that people reflect on the positive/good things about people.   It is important not to hold grudges and, in the words of Sarah McLachlan, “don’t let life pass you by.”    Life is short; you need to work on your lasting impression now.   

What do you want to be remembered for?     

In loving memory of my Grandpa Schenkelberg 

(6/13/1919 – 11/27/2005), whom I remember fondly.

Update

I thought I would update you on a couple of the posts I’ve written about in the past.

The “diet” is NOT going that well but I haven’t given up. I’m still determined to lose 10 lbs. by January. Wish this Chunky Monkey luck as the holiday season is definitely upon us. I actually kicked off my holiday season in Vegas on October 15. I swear it has been a non-stop party since then. Lots of eating and drinking going on in my world. I need to go pick out a sexy birthday outfit for extra motivation.

I tried the Stolichnaya White Pomegranik. I am not a fan. It takes like cherry cough syrup. I certainly can’t drink it straight and, in all honesty, I couldn’t even stomach it in a Cosmo. I’m pretty bummed about this. I will be sticking to Stoli Orange on the rocks and plain Stoli in my Cosmo.

I took a photography class. It was great, if not overwhelming; I’m looking forward to practicing everything I learned. Look for some better photos to start appearing on the blog. I also got inspired to buy Photoshop to help take my photos up a notch – so I will have to learn that also. So much to learn, so little time.

My posture is getting better. I still catch myself slouching all the time but I do catch it and try to correct myself. I think I need to strengthen some specific muscles to help hold myself up properly. (As I just caught myself slouching again.)

Oh, and I found my heart rate monitor buried at the bottom of my bra drawer. I think I left it out and my husband put it “away.” I went 5 months without it (took that long to find it), now that I found it again, hopefully it will help me stay in my “fat burning zone” while working out.

That is my update for now; in case you are following along I didn’t want to keep you guessing.

Fun Drinking Quotes

I just came across these quotes after the holiday (Thanksgiving) weekend and thought they'd be fun to share.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” -- Frank Sinatra

"I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it." -- Rodney Dangerfield

"If your doctor warns that you have to watch your drinking, find a bar with a mirror." -- John Mooney

"My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses.  Drinks right out of the bottle." -- Henny Youngman

"Being drunk is hell; getting drunk is heaven." - Kingsley Amis (English novelist) 

Cheers!

Homemade Hummus

I don’t know about you but I’ve always bought my hummus at the store.  For some reason it never occurred to me to make my own.   Well, I was reading Women’s Health magazine and they listed a simple recipe for hummus and declared that after making this recipe you will never go back to store bought hummus.    Well, I decided to take the challenge.   And the verdict?   It is true, I will never buy store-bought hummus again.   I loved it!   

Here is the recipe for you to try. 

Combine the following in a food processor:

2 cloves of garlic

1 15-ounce can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)

2 Tbsp. tahini

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. water

3 Tbsp. olive oil

½ tsp, ground cumin

½ tsp. salt

Blend until smooth.

(I added cayenne and extra olive oil to mine; and an extra clove of garlic. You could also add roasted red pepper or jalapenos for variety.)

You will get 2 cups of dip that will keep for a week in the fridge.

Serve with pita chips, carrots, snap peas, and cucumbers.  (Or whatever you little heart desires.)

Let me know what you think!  It is so good.   I’ve now stocked up on chickpeas so I can whip up a batch next time I’m craving it.

Nothing says fall like Apple Crisp!

I recently made apple crisp for, what I think is, the first time.   I don’t remember ever making it before?  How can that be?   Anyway, I got a recipe from my sister and then tweaked it a little bit.   The result was an amazing apple crisp; the perfect dessert for fall.   I even got inspired to make my own caramel sauce from scratch, which also turned out great.    I did not, however, get inspired to make my own ice cream.   I have to draw the line somewhere otherwise I really wouldn’t get anything else done.    But I will have to try to make all three sometime in the future.   The recipe is below.   The perfect use for those fall apples.  And, due to the apples, we can go ahead and count this as a "healthy" dessert.

Apple Crisp

Topping

1/3 cup softened butter

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup flour

2/3 cup oatmeal (quick oats)

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 Tbsp. honey

2 Tbsp. white sugar

Pinch of salt

Knead together with hands.

Apples

Peel and cube 3-4 apples (I used honeycrisp apples, which were amazing due to their natural sweetness).   Mix the apples with a splash of apple juice and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.   Top with the oatmeal crumble and bake at 375 for 50 minutes.

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes – take off foil for 25 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.  YUM!

Exciting News!

Back in March (March 23 to be exact), I posted that I was inspired by a new idea that I was really excited about and promised to keep you posted.   Well, I’ve been working on it since then and it has finally come together.   

I’d like to introduce my new website:  www.thesparklingqueen.com

This is how it all came about….  I was sitting by the pool in Palm Springs, CA trying to figure out ways to put my sommelier classes and certification to good use.   I took the classes two years ago because I love wine and figured since I will be drinking wine for the rest of my life, I might as well learn as much as I can about it to make my experiences and food pairings that much better.    Well, the world of wine is a bit overwhelming to say the least.  There are hundreds of varieties, hundreds of regions, and thousands upon thousands of producers.   It is hard to stay on top of it all.  Then I asked myself the million-dollar question: what is my favorite type of wine?  The answer being Sparkling wine, of course!    And there I had it, I realized my niche.    I’ve been drinking and learning all I can about it and launched the website to share my love of the bubbles with everyone.   My goal is for the site to be informative and fun.   So many people reserve sparkling wine and Champagne for a special occasion and it should not be that way.   Bubbly makes every occasion special and just adds something festive and fun to the moment.  Check out the site and my  Sparkling Wine blog and let me know what you think!

Cheers!

Operation Chunky Monkey

Dear Diary,

I’m sick and tired of these extra 10 pounds that are stuck to my body.   I feel like a chunky monkey.   I’m sick of the vicious cycle.  I do well for a while, and then I fall off my “healthy routines” horse and grab that cookie, in turn sabotaging all my efforts.    I figure if I don’t shake these 10 pounds now, they will continue to accumulate and then I will really be cranky.  It is time to make a real effort to shed the stubborn 10 pounds that are hanging around and create some healthy, long-term habits for myself.  I figure putting them here will help me stick to them.   I need encouragement!   And while I have darling friends that think I look good the way I am (thanks), it is all about how I feel and feeling like a bloated chunky monkey is just not a good feeling.  I’m not happy with my body and I want to lose the jiggle and firm up.  In all honestly, I might have a rock hard body under this 10 pound layer that is just waiting to shed its shell so to speak. 

The word “diet” completely freaks me out and makes me want to devour all of the sweets in the house for fear I won’t be able to indulge ever again.   The idea of depriving myself kills me.  I love food way too much.  So, in an effort to not set myself up for failure, I’ve decided to adopt a couple things to change at a time in hopes that they become a habit.    Here are my rules that I am going to start right now (you are my witness) and continue through the rest of the year.  

1. No eating while watching TV.   I tend to plan meals around catching up on my shows.  For example, I can’t watch the Bachelorette without a yummy snack and a glass of wine.  I think this rule is going to make a huge difference in my waistline and free time; as I’m sure I won’t watch as much TV if I can’t eat something while watching (I only average 30-60/day of TV, but still).  I honestly can’t think of the last time I watched TV without eating.   This is going to be hard.
2. No candy.   Leave it to me to make this rule right before Halloween to torture myself.  But the fact of the matter is, we don’t get trick-or-treaters so I eat it all myself.   If I am going to have sweets/dessert it has to be unprocessed and not come in a package with graphics.   
3. If I’m going to have dessert, it has to be within 40 minutes of my meal.  Dessert/sweets also have to be limited to less than three per week.  (This will be huge for me because I LOVE sweets and eat them daily).
4. Try to eat lots of fruits and veggies.  If I NEED a snack, it will have to be fresh fruit or vegetables.
5. Try to eat mostly REAL food – fresh and not processed (i.e. – more homemade foods from scratch).  This will be a fun challenge in the kitchen.
6. Eat smaller portions.  I need to be more feminine when I eat.  Seriously, I eat like a man.  I need to be daintier.   Maybe using a smaller plate will help?
7. Just say NO to seconds.  While seconds sound good, they are not necessary.  I already know what the food tastes like and I am usually already FULL.   No need to make myself uncomfortable and consume extra calories.
8. Cardio for 1 hour/5 times a week.   Need to sweat it out in my fat burning zone - now to find my heart rate monitor which has been missing since June.
9. Weights for 30 minutes/ 3 times a week.  Time to tone and firm up.  I see tank tops and mini skirts in my future.
10. Walk Miko every day.  It is starting to cool off which makes me unmotivated to go outside but this will be good for both Miko and me.  

There you have it.   I’m going to stick to these for the rest of the year – there are only 14 weeks left in 2010 which sounds manageable.    Hopefully these rules will become habits and continue into 2011.   Wish me luck – I will keep you posted.

FYI - I almost made rules about alcohol and fried food but visions of Champagne and French Fries danced in my head and I just couldn’t do it.  

Cheers!

Ceviche Styles

I was recently buying fish to make ceviche and the fishmonger asked if I was making Mexican style or Peruvian style.   I said “Mexican” (because I was adding cilantro), and then realized I wasn’t quite sure of the difference between the two.  Well, not wanting to be in dark long, I researched it and here is what I found……

Ceviche in General

Ceviche, which is also spelled seviche or cebiche, depending on which region it comes from, is typically made from fresh, raw seafood prepared in a centuries-old method of cooking by marinating it with the acidic juice of citrus fruit instead of heat.  Lemons and limes are the most commonly used citrus.  You can use various kinds of fish, such as shrimp, halibut, red snapper, tuna, and sea bass.   Depending on the type of fish being used, ceviche can be ready in five minutes or it might take three-four hours.  Ceviche can be eaten as an appetizer or entrée.

Ceviche's origin is disputed between many different countries and regions.   However, most historians agree that ceviche originated in the area of present-day Peru.  Despite its origin, every country has given ceviche its own touch of individuality by adding its own particular ingredients. 

Peruvian Ceviche
In Peru, ceviche is composed of chunks of raw fish, marinated in lemon, lime, or bitter orange juice (naranja agria).  Chili, sliced onion, salt and pepper are often added and maybe some garlic, chili rocoto, or olive oil.  Sea bass, shark, or sole are the kinds of fish traditionally used.  The mixture is marinated for several hours and served at room temperature with chunks of corn-on-the-cob and slices of cooked sweet potato.
The modern version of Peruvian ceviche, which is similar to the method used in making Japanese sashimi, consists of fish marinated for a few minutes and served promptly. 

Mexican Ceviche

In Mexico, ceviche is served in cocktail cups with tortilla chips, or as a tostada topping and taco filling.  Shrimp, octopus, crab, squid, tuna, and mackerel are popular bases for Mexican ceviche. The marinade ingredients include salt, lime, onion, chile, avocado, and cilantro.  Tomatoes, chilies, passion fruit, Tabasco, lime juice, garlic, and bell peppers might also be added. 

My Version
I think my version leans more towards the Mexican style.....

 
When I make ceviche, I don’t really follow a recipe but the ingredients I include are:

White fish (such as Halibut)

Shrimp

Scallops

Lime and lemon juice

Cilantro

Cucumber

Red Onion

Jalapeno

Garlic

Splenda

Salt & Pepper

Avocado & Mango

I make sure to use very fresh seafood and cut the fish into similar sized pieces (usually pretty small).   I combine the fish in a bowl and completely cover with the citrus juice.  I let that marinate for 3-4 hours in the fridge (it usually takes about 4 hours).

When the fish it done, I add the rest of the ingredients (chopped cilantro, cucumber, red onion, jalapeno, and garlic) and let that sit for about 30 minutes (at room temperature).  

Just before serving I season to taste with salt & pepper and add a packet or two of Splenda to help cut the acidity of the juice.  

I serve my ceviche with tortilla chips and slices of avocado and mango.

There are many tempting flavors of exotic tropical fruits, spices, and vegetables that lend themselves to many different versions of ceviche.   Let me know your favorites!

Cheers!

Next up? Photography.

I’m always trying to learn and challenge myself.  As I get older, I’m trying to hone the skills that I will be able to use forever.   For example, one day I decided that I would definitely be drinking wine for the rest of my life and thought that I should learn more about it so I could enjoy the experience that much more.   As a result, I enrolled in the International Sommelier Guild classes and became a certified sommelier.   The same goes for food.  I will definitely be eating for the rest of my life and love to challenge myself everyday with new techniques, recipes, and ingredients.   Even though, I have always enjoyed cooking (and thought I was pretty good at it), I did indeed sign up for cooking school a few years ago to take it up a notch.   While I eventually dropped out (yep, I’m a cooking school drop out) I learned some new skills and gained a lot more confidence as far as not being afraid to try anything. I use recipes as only a guide; it is so much more fun to play around.  A pinch of this, a dash of that…….

I definitely have a passion for food and wine.   My other love that ties this all together is travel.  I love to explore new places; I spend many hours researching the foods and wines of an area.   In addition, I’ve also always been somewhat of a photo freak (I have a bookcase full of photo albums to prove it).    Since I plan to be eating, drinking wine, and traveling for many years to come, I need to hone my documentation skills.  Yep, time to step up the photography skills.    I came across this website this morning and am wondering why my food photos don’t look like this?   

http://www.pennydelossantos.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=1&p=1

Well, now I have a new goal.   I hope within the next year we will all see a noticeable difference in my photos.    I have the fancy camera, now it is time to get it off “auto” and explore the settings and many possibilities that await.   

I am now enrolled in my first photography class and can’t wait!   

Cheers!

Inspirational Blog

So, I was in a “French Picnic” cooking class a few weeks ago at Whole Foods.   It was a great class; I loved the instructor, there was lots of food, the recipes were great and do-able, they keep the class size to 10, and it was only $30.   I’ve taken lots of cooking classes in the Twin Cities and this one really impressed me.  (So much so that I signed up for two more.)    Anyway, to get to my point….. During class there was a woman taking lots of photos and it came up that she was taking photos for her blog.   I wrote down her blog and when I later went to look at it, I was in awe!

Move over Martha Stewart, Jenna has got you beat!    In addition to admiring the beautiful photos, I can’t help but want to throw a festive party (and maybe take a photography class as well).  I found lots of inspiration on this site; the ideas are very creative and fun, not to mention beautiful.    Just try to go to this site and not want to throw a party yourself.  Either that or try to find a way onto the guest list for one of her fabulous parties.

http://eatdrinkpretty.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think, and if you get inspired - I want an invite!  

Parmesan from Australia?

I recently found parmesan from Australia.   I did a double take, as parmesan and Australia are not words I would put normally together.   My curiosity got the best of me and I had to try it.    I have to admit, I really liked it.    It was crisp and nutty and I loved the texture.    I will definitely be looking for the kangaroo in the cheese aisle again; it is a reasonable alternative to Italy’s Parmigiano-Reggiano (which I love).   Check it out!

Favorite Summertime Meal

Summer is flying by and I finally made one of my favorite meals on the grill; pancetta wrapped Swordfish skewers.   They are so good.  Wrapping the fish in Pancetta keeps it moist and flavorful.   I basically cut the swordfish into one-inch cubes and marinate it in olive oil, salt & pepper, cayenne, and some pesto.   I marinate it for 4-8 hours.   Then I put the fish on skewers and wrap it in the pancetta.  I grill it for no more than 3 minutes on each side (4 sides).   I drizzle the plate with homemade pesto and serve it with pan seared gnocchi with parmesan, grilled bread, and caprese salad.   So good!   

 I also found a new Italian white wine that I paired with this dish.  It worked out fabulously.   This actually might be my new favorite white wine.  It is very aromatic, clean, and refreshing.  I bought it at Bright Wines in St. Paul when I was there for the first time and had bought a variety of things to try.   I highly recommend it!   (Details:  Soave Classico, 2008, Le Barche, made by Marcato.)   It was $16; I’m tempted to go buy a case - and I never do that.  

 

Here’s to making the most to the last weeks of summer!  September will be here before you know it.   Let me know if you give this recipe a try and what you think of it.

Cheers!

It’s Official, I am a Triathlete!

Well, I did it.  I completed my first triathlon.   It was awesome!

The training was good, I felt prepared.  I love that this gave me motivation to keep up my workouts and to workout more frequently all summer.  (I’m hoping to continue the pace now that it is done.)  I also liked the variety of having three sports to focus on.  If I didn't feel like running one day, I could always bike or swim.

The stress of how to transition between during the race got the best of me and I broke down and bought a tri suit.  Which is good from a transition aspect but bad because it looks like I mean business and people might have overly high expectations of me.

The low down:

I got to Okoboji late Friday afternoon and we took a boat ride to a local restaurant, Rebos (sober spelled backwards), for dinner.   My pre-race meal?  Chips and salsa, 2 margaritas, and a burrito (quite possibly the best burrito I’ve ever had).   Admittedly, this was probably not the best pre-race dinner; the peer pressure got to me.   I was planning to forgo the chips and salsa and only drink water.  Ha!   I have no will power when it comes to chips and you pretty much can’t have chips and salsa without a margarita (or two).  

My hopes of going to bed at 8 p.m. were not realistic with this gang.   But I did make it by 10:20, although it didn’t help.  Robin (cousin) and I couldn’t sleep; we were too anxious for the race.   

We got out of bed at 5:00 a.m. and had a banana and Cliff bar and got geared up for the race.  (This was forced as I was still full from the burrito.)  We loaded up our bikes and off we went.   “We” consisted of myself, my cousin Nicholas, my cousin Robin, my cousin Christopher, my cousin Eric, and three of Nicholas’ friends – Troy, Katie, and Jenny.  It was a great group.

The weather was perfect.   We hit the water at 7 a.m.   I got kicked twice within my first two minutes and decided to back off.  The swim went well except my calf cramped up and still hasn’t let go.  I thought it would take me 40 minutes to complete but the timer guy said 24:18 when I got out of the water.   You would’ve thought we were at a picnic during our transitions periods.  I think we got chatty and forgot we were in a race.  Therefore, we lost a lot of time during the transitions.   The bike ride was okay.   It was 65% on the highway – which was not blocked off!  We got honked at, yelled at, cursed at, and dirty looks.   It wasn’t very safe.   There were also no bathrooms along the route and I had to pee like crazy!    

Once we got back to the transition area I dumped my bike and headed to the restroom.  This is where the tri suit was not the most efficient.  It is hard to peel that thing off so I lost some time there.   For the run we all decided to stick together and we did a lot of walking.   I crossed the finish line at 3:10 and it felt great!    My goal was 3:30.  

The next 12 hours consisted of a big celebration.   After hydrating a bit, I popped a bottle of bubbly and kicked the festivities off.   The rest of the day consisted of lots of eating, drinking, and boating.  Oh, and the tornado that happened while we were at the bar that knocked the power out for the night.  Got to bed at 2 a.m. and didn’t sleep well again because it was hot and humid and with now power, there was no AC.   Always and adventure!

All in all, it was a great first triathlon and, yes, there will be second.  I loved it!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

Well, it is mid-July and I’ve finally kicked off summer. Nothing says summer like homemade ice cream. My only question is why did I wait so long? My answer is weak. For one, I’ve been busy. (Too busy for ice cream? That sounds absurd.) Secondly, I’ve been trying to be healthier. (But eggs are good for you and dairy has calcium. Believe me I can justify anything.) Needless to say, my trusty Cuisinart ice cream maker has made its 2010 summer début. I love that you can whip up the ice cream recipe in less than 30 minutes and be eating fresh, delicious ice cream 30-40 minutes later.

I decided to try a new recipe from my Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book.

I picked Cherry Garcia, which is basically vanilla ice cream with fresh cherries and dark chocolate flakes. It turned out really good, except I forgot to put vodka in it and now it is frozen solid. Putting vodka in homemade ice cream is a tip I got at a cooking class in Italy. It helps keep the ice cream from freezing completely solid and instead results in a creamier texture and maybe, perhaps, a buzz. I figure now that I am in the swing of summer; I will have to try at least one new ice cream recipe a month. This goal is not only because I love homemade ice cream but also because I have to prove to my husband that “yes, I do need all of these kitchen gadgets, and yes I do use them.”

If you have an ice cream maker break it out and whip some up, if not then I’m sorry – you are missing out. If you live anywhere near me, feel free to grab a spoon and come on over.

                                                                         Ingredients

                                                                             YUM!

"Penelope, Get Over It!"

These are the words my Dad spoke to me this morning as I was still dwelling over a contest that I had lost. This is what I love about my Dad. While you may think his words seemed harsh, that was all it took to snap me back to reality. I realized after he said those words that I was dwelling on something in the past that I had no control over now. I kept beating myself up for not doing x, y, and z and for losing by such a small margin. I was grieving the loss of something I never had. Would it have been great to win? Hell yes! But did I lose anything in the process? Well, about 6 hours of my time and a whole lot of energy, but really no. There were no real consequence, other than my self-pity and moping.

Here is my sob story, in case you are curious…..
So, last week I was doing research on some Champagne that I had in my cellar that I was about to open. (I know I’m a geek, just like to know the stats on what I’m drinking). Anyway, one of those Champagnes was G.H. Mumm (NV Cordon Rouge). As I was perusing their website I came across a photo contest they had going on. Basically, “set the scene and think of what is for you “a stunning dinner to celebrate the world’s beauty.” Well, I happen to think Lake Calhoun in the summer time is quite beautiful and happens to be across the street from me. I also, had a bottle of Mumm in the fridge and plenty of my favorite snacks (cheese, crackers, grapes, strawberries, and salami) - which for me constitute the perfect meal. So, off I went with my camera and set up my perfect lake view picnic on a perfect sunny day with the Minneapolis skyline in the background.




Well, I entered on Friday, July 2 and it took until Saturday morning, July 3, for my photo to post to the site. Not a big deal, other than it was a holiday weekend and the contest ended at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 4.

Feeling confident, I posted a request for votes on my facebook page and figured I could easily get the 30 votes I needed; especially given I have over 200 facebook friends. Well, I was wrong. I only ended up getting 26 votes. I made a couple frantic calls on Sun. to get some last-minute votes and I neglected to call a few people who I didn’t think had internet access over the weekend (which I later found out they did – 6 votes right there! Ugh – kick, kick.). Anyway….. There were about 50 photos, and I’m telling you they were not that good; I really thought mine had a shot of winning. The contest takes the top 10 photos based on votes. I was #11! I had 26 votes and #10 had 27 votes! This is where my self loathing came into play. I was really upset and disappointed for the next 24 hours (at least). Admittedly, I still get a little mad thinking about it.

What did I lose out on you ask? Not just a t-shirt my friend. The top 2 winners (picked by a jury that evaluates the top 10 photos) get to attend the 4th Mumm Explorer Experience dinner in the Gobi Desert, China for a 4 day trip in September. (Including: airfare, transportation, camel lodge accommodation, catering during the expedition, and a Mumm Explorer Experience Expedition Kit). The rest of the 8 get a bottle of Mumm Champagne. I had myself so psyched up to win the trip (or at least the bottle of Champagne). I never win anything and I really thought this was my chance.

Okay, I've wasted enough energy dwelling on the people I should've called and those darn people that didn't take 3 minutes to vote for me. I’m going to chalk this up to yet another life lesson on not sweating the small stuff. If there is nothing you can do to improve your situation then you best just get over it and take what you learned and move on. Bigger and better experiences await; there is no sense dwelling on the past. This is always a good thing to be reminded of.

Even now as I think about riding a camel in China, I hear my Dad saying, “Penelope, get over it!”

Pomegranate Vodka? Okay. Bacon or Salmon Vodka = No way!

It is no secret that I am a vodka kind of gal; more specifically I am Stoli Girl (even got the t-shirt to prove it).


I recently learned that Stolichnaya introduced White Pomegranik, the World’s first white pomegranate flavored vodka. I haven’t tried it yet, but I am excited to. From what I hear, the white pomegranate is a very rare fruit with delicate flavors. I will be trying it on the rocks soon and will let you know what I think. If you’ve tried it already, let me know what you think of it.

Now, I am NOT excited to hear about smoked salmon and bacon flavored vodka. Gross. I tried to mentally envision and taste it in a Bloody Mary, but no. I am going to stick to plain or pepper vodka for my Bloody Marys – thank you.

The Alaska Distillery came up with the smoked salmon flavor (apparently drunkenly trying to come up with Alaskan themes) – can’t get more Alaskan than that. I checked out their website (http://alaskadistillery.com) and also found a “Birch Syrup” flavored vodka; oh and there is a Rhubarb flavor too! Not sure what to say. Not even sure what birch syrup is? I am sure that is doesn't sound that appealing to me.

Not letting salmon be the only “meaty” flavored vodka out there, there is bacon-flavored vodka, called Bakon; created by Black Rock Spirits (http://www.blackrockspirits.com) in Seattle.(Yep, Seattle. I would’ve guessed Iowa, not Washington.) The tag line is: “Pure. Refreshing. Bacon.” I don’t know about you, but when I think of bacon, the word refreshing doesn’t come to mind; neither does pure for that matter. Apparently after trying this vodka, “You'll never want to use another vodka for your Bloody Mary.” Now I’m pretty open minded, but I prefer my bacon on a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich, not in my glass.

Nevertheless, props for thinking out of the fruit box when it comes to infusing vodka. I'm all for experimenting and trying new things, let's just not get too carried away.

This begs the question, what is your favorite vodka flavor? Talk to me!

For more information on the new Stoli Vodka visit:
http://www.nightclub.com/vodka/stolichnaya-introduces-white-pomegranik-worlds-first-white-pomegranate-flavored-vodka-1391

http://www.stoli.com/us-ca/#/products/whitepomegranik

For more information on the fish and bacon flavors visit:
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/06/30/2010-06-30_vodka_for_carnivores_flavored_with_bacon_or_salmon_it_jazzes_up_bloody_marys_and.html

Wine from a vending machine? Really?

It’s true. But, for now, only in Pennsylvania - where the mission of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is to “provide greater customer service and convenience to consumers.” What a great mission I think to myself as I sit in Minnesota, a state where I can’t buy wine at the grocery store with my dinner fixins or on Sundays.

This is new, and they are testing it out with hopes to expand statewide. The pilot test is taking place in two grocery stores.

The vending machines stock 53 best-selling wines at optimal temperatures and provide detailed information (such as suggested food pairings) for interested consumers.

The machine acts as a bouncer by “carding” the buyer. The buyer’s driver’s license is inserted and the age information on the bar code is processed. The photo is matched with a video image of the buyer at the kiosk and a Liquor Control Board employee monitors each transaction from a remote location to confirm that the video of the purchaser matches the purchaser’s ID. (Sounds like a fun job.)

Oh, and it also acts as a cop. No buying wine if you are already under the influence my friends. There are built-in breathalyzers that provide an instantaneous reading. If a breath alcohol level of .02 or higher is detected, the consumer’s purchase is denied.

I’m torn on this idea. While I like the idea of it, (Wine from a vending machine? How cool!) I kind of prefer the wine shop way of shopping. I’m a touchy, feely kind of gal. I like to pick up the bottle and look at it and walk around with it in my cart while I debate additional bottles or find something else more intriguing. What are your thoughts on this? Would you buy wine from a vending machine?

Either way, I think, at the very least, the state of Minnesota needs to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores. I know I’ve signed numerous petitions but I’m not sure where things are at. Once that passes then we can work on the whole Sunday thing.

No matter where you purchase your wine, enjoy it! Cheers!

PS – Follow this link to see some photos. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/slideshow/news/24020756/detail.html

Just in Case you were Confused......

A Real Man....
He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret. He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires. He will make sure she always feels as though she's the most beautiful woman in the room and will enable her to be the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible. No wait... sorry... I'm thinking of wine. Never mind.

I just got this in my inbox today and it cracked me up. Thought I would share it with you here. As if I needed another reason to drink wine. I think it is the best thing for confidence boosting and mental health wellness. Have a great day! Cheers!

Fresh Fruit & Yogurt – So Good!

I’ve recently started mixing yogurt with fresh fruit for breakfast and it is awesome. There are some great yogurt flavors out there. This morning I was thinking this would make great dessert substitute. Lots of flavor and way less guilt (low calories, no fat, and real fruit = healthy). I actually only use half of the container per serving and it fills me up.

Two of my favorites (by Yoplait® light) are fresh strawberries with White Chocolate Strawberry and fresh raspberries with Raspberry Cheesecake. (It seriously tastes like cheesecake.)

Give a try and let me know what you think!

Awesome pairing - Beef & Zin

I’ve always been a big advocate (and follower) of steak and Cabernet Sauvignon or a Bordeaux blend. My husband, on the other hand, has always liked Zinfandel with his steak. Well, this weekend I made steak and decided to open a bottle of Zin I had been saving (Seghesio, Zinfandel, 2007, Sonoma County). Well, the Zin was amazing and I really enjoyed it with the steak. I have officially been converted. The roundness and fruit flavor of this wine really complimented the whole dinner (filet mignon, parmesan risotto with spinach, and sautéed mushrooms with truffle oil). It was very lush (the wine that is). Not to go on too much about it but I just want to say that if you are also stuck on Cab and steak then give Zin a try. I’d also say to try the Seghesio Zinfandel, I think it is about $25 a bottle and worth every penny.

On another related note….. I’ve always had a preference for New York Strip as my steak of choice. Well, lately I’ve been making filet mignon/beef tenderloin instead. I’m loving it - it is much more tender. My last couple New York Strips had been hit or miss (chewy and hard to cut and not as flavorful).

Cheers to mixing it up and trying new things!

Here is the photo of the label (always an easier way to remember a wine).

Trial-and-Error

Well, I’ve decided to take a different approach with this blog. I find myself over-thinking it and failing to post if I don’t think what I wrote was “perfect” or long enough. So now I’m just going to wing it and have fun with it. Bear with me…. I am living and learning with this thing and I keep getting distracted by drinking wine.

MIA

Sorry that I have been missing in action lately.
I do, however, have a good excuse. I was busy getting ready for company, had company for a week, and then had the stomach flu. So, two weeks went by and here I am crawling out from under my pile of mail and everything else I’ve been trying to catch up on this week. Lots going on!

I’m hoping that once you look at this photo, all should be forgiven (for my absence that is). This is my nephew and he lived with me for six days. It was awesome having him here.



I haven’t seen him since he was 3.5 months old and now he is 8 months old. It is amazing how fast he changes. He is such a happy baby so it was a joy to have him around and I miss him terribly now that he is back home in Boston. I will say, I don’t know how you Moms do it; I was exhausted.

Not to ignore the rest of my family, it was awesome to have my sister with her husband (parents to the little man) and my Mom and her boyfriend and my Grandma in town. The week flew by! We had a graduation party for Casey (sister) at my house. She graduated from the U of M and is moving to Baltimore for a job with Cargill. I am so sad to see her go. Her 4 years here flew by. I wish we had more time to hang out; we’ve had a lot of fun cooking and just chilling out. I was so happy that Casey decided to come to Minnesota for college and will miss her terribly. I will say I am very proud of her and am excited to witness her journey going forward.



On Sat. we celebrated my Grandma’s 90th birthday at my uncle’s house. My Grandma is an inspiration. She lives alone in LeMars, Iowa (the ice cream capital of the World), walks a mile a day, plays cards regularly, still drives, has a very active social life,is very fashionable, and hits the fitness center once in a while. She is a very strong and gracious woman. I love her spirit. I can only hope to be as with it as she is at her age.



There were about 25 of us (9 kids) at her party on Sat. It turns out that one of the kids was secretly (unknowingly) spreading the gift of the stomach flu, of which 85% of us got and spent the next couple days ill. Not good. Even worse is that my husband got it. Let’s just say he is somewhat of a grumpy sick person.

Anyway, I am going through family withdraw. I wish we weren’t all so spread out across the USA and that we lived closer. But, I guess it makes the time that we do have together that more focused and special.

This is basically my brief recap of the reason for my absence. I’m back and back on track. More postings coming soon.