The Beast of the East

We were hit with yet another snowstorm yesterday and today. It is starting to get to me a little bit by now. Philadelphia has now gotten 78.5 inches of snow so far this winter, and we are not done yet. I hear there is something brewing for Wednesday. Not sure what the normal is, but I think around 19 inches a season. They underestimated our area a little bit and the storm moved North, so I feel sorry for N.Y. and anyone else north http://lifewithdogs.blogspot.com/of here.

I'm really getting tired of shoveling. It seems like no matter how much you shovel, it just keeps coming down.



I do have to admit, it really is beautiful though!
But enough is enough.
I'm really, really, ready for Springtime!!

XOXO

Thirsty Thursday

To me, this drink just screams summertime! Although it is very refreshing anytime.

Lemon Drop Cocktail

ingredients:
1-1/2 to 2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau....you could use, in a dire emergency, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier, but you really do want this to be as good as it can be, don't you? I thought so!
1 teaspoon simple syrup...to make simple syrup mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. When cool you are good to go.
1 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Ice cubes
Superfine (or regular) sugar for dipping the rim
Lemon peel twist for garnish
method:
Mix the vodka, orange liqueur, sugar, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice; shake well for 20 to 30 seconds. Pour strained liquor into sugar-rimmed martini glass and garnish with lemon twist.
**note: to get a nice sugar rim that sticks to the glass, use the leftover lemon rind from juicing to wet the rim of your martini glass before dipping it into the sugar.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Newest Arrival

The hospital had these heart announcements on the windows for all of the new babies. Notice they had the wrong year? It should say 2010!

HELLO WORLD!!




I would like to introduce you to my beautiful grand-niece, Peyton Marie O'Malley.

This is my other beautiful niece, Megan, holding her niece! Megan's sister Kelli is the proud mother to Peyton.

Just look at this beautiful, sweet first smile. She is the most precious thing I have seen in a long time!

XOXO

Somebunnie's Anniversary

This week someone is having an Anniversary, and to celebrate, is having a cookie giveaway. That someone is Pink Martinis and Pearls. If you have never seen her cookies, they are amazing! How cute are these bunnies? They have Spring iced all over them!

So hop on over and wish her a Happy Anniversary, and check our her beautiful blog.

And while your there, check out some of her cookies. She is very creative, has lots of style, and knows her way around with a piping bag! Aren't these champagne flute cookies just wonderful??

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARILYN!!

XOXO

New Technology

This is a picture of my great-niece, Peyton. (Is that what I would call her?)
My niece Kelli is in labor as we speak. This is an ultra sound of Peyton. Maybe I am just out of the loop, but I don't remember ultra sounds ever looking this clear! There was another cute one of her sucking her thumb. When I saw this, I just thought how technology has gotten so much better. Maybe this normal to everyone. But like I said, I have been out of the loop for a long time!

This is Kelli and Cody at the hospital this morning. She is a week overdue. They admitted her last night to induce labor. Peyton is being suborn, so they just broke her water about an hour ago. This is my sister Susie's daughter, who lives in Kansas City. I will be going for a visit in a few months to meet Peyton!
I'll keep you up to date. I can't believe my sister is going to be a grandma! The first for us siblings. So exciting!

Have a great day!
XOXO

Creamy Crab Bisque

I made this soup last night, and let me tell you....it was DELICIOUS! I wanted something a little special for Valentine's Day. I had it along with Filet Mignon, with a herb butter sauce and mushrooms. We celebrated a day early.

Makes: 2 servings
Total time: about 30 minutes

1/2 cup diced leeks

1/4 cup diced carrot

1/4 cup diced celery

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/4 cup dry white wine

3/4 cups heavy cream

3/4 cups whole milk

1/2 cup clam juice

Salt, pepper, and Tabasco to taste

1/2 cup pasteurized lump crab meat, divided (about 1/4 lb.)

Minced fresh chives

~Sweat leeks, carrot, celery, and garlic in oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until carrot is soft, about 8 minutes. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.

~De glaze with wine, simmer until nearly evaporated, then stir in cream, milk, and clam juice. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then season with salt, pepper, and Tabasco. Off heat, puree' mixture with a hand blender or whatever you have. Ladle soup into bowls.

~Top each serving with 1/4 cup crab meat; garnish with chives.

ENJOY!

(I doubled this recipe for us.)

XOXO

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Just passing through to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

I hope you are spending this Sunday with your special Valentine today.

XOXO

Happy Birthday and Happy Friday

Hi everyone, just a quick update. Tonight we are taking my mother-in-law (on the left in the hoodie) to a special family dinner for her 80th birthday. We are going to a steakhouse in Philadelphia called Butcher & Singer. Hopefully, we can get through all of the snow covered city streets. It should be a nice place. Never have been there, but heard many good things.
For the last few days I have been mending my tired, sore bones from shoveling for 2 days. I just can't believe the amount of snow we have gotten. Schools have been closed for 3 days now. That part was nice, no work! I cannot believe that they are calling for more snow Monday night. Oh well, I'm getting used to it now.
I promise I will get through to read your blogs this weekend. Right now I have to get ready to catch a train, and my hair is NOT cooperating!
I just wanted to say hi and Happy Friday, have a great weekend!

XOXO

Love Potion #9

I found this recipe here, and it not only sounds delicious and refreshing, but perfect for Valentines Day, fast approaching. I don't have any big plans, but I just might get the ingredients for this drink!

How about you, what are your plans?

Love Potion #9
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz strawberry vodka
¾ oz white crème de cacao
½ C of frozen strawberries
1 scoop vanilla bean ice cream
Splash of milk
½ C ice (crushed is best)
Strawberry garnish
Method:
~Place all ingredients except strawberry garnish in a blender and blend until smooth.
~Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with a strawberry.

XOXO

SNOWMAGEDDON

Well, that's what they are calling it, Snowmageddon for the East coast.

This is the 10/12 sq. foot pallet I personally shoveled out for Miss Stella every 4 hours for 24 hours.
If you don't keep up with it, it can overtake you! They say the total snowfall for this area was 26.7 inches. That is no chump change. We are only use to 2-4, or maybe 6 inches at a time. This picture was taken before it was all over.
Luckily, my wonderful son was with me to dig us out of this mess.

Here we are looking out the back door to the patio. This is my son's portable Weber. There has to be at least 18-20 inches so far. I don't like it one little bit either.

This is out the sliding door of the dining room. It is up to the floorboard.
I love the words the news people use....crippling. I guess it is true, when you are not use to a lot of snow. It is not crippling to me, I was prepared, I choose to be home for 2 days.

I do have to admit that it is very beautiful though! I have everything I need....family, plenty of food, and shelter to keep us warm.

Have a fun Superbowl Sunday if your partaking!

XOXO

SLOSHED!

1 1/2 oz. Cognac

1/2 oz. Rye Whiskey

1/2 oz. sugar + 1 oz. warm water

8-12 Leaves of fresh Spearmint

In a glass or julep cup, mix the sugar and water or add the simple syrup. Gently muddle the mint leaves with the sugar syrup—do not break them up or mash them into bits. You just want to bruise them. Add the whiskey and cognac and stir to combine. Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir again, until the glass begins to frost. Top off the glass with crushed ice to fill, garnish with fresh mint and serve with a straw.

The real name of this drink is "Prescription Julep." It is known for a cure all for those pesky viruses. I thought it looked like a good drink to help fight the cold winter blues!

Enjoy!

XOXO

Happy Monday and February!

I've got the bug to make cookies, and these are the ones I chose. I made a small trial batch this weekend and loved them! I did , however, add 1 egg to the recipe. It made them perfect! Give them a try, they are a lot easier that they look!

Mini Linzer Cookies


Serves:
36 cookies
Ingredients:

3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup good raspberry preserves
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick and cut 2 3/4-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter. With 1/2 of the rounds, cut a hole from the middle of each round with a heart or spade shaped cutter. Place all the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.
Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Spread raspberry preserves on the flat side of each solid cookie. Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners' sugar and press the flat sides together, with the raspberry preserves in the middle and the confectioners' sugar on the top.

~*Don't forget to add 1 egg to this batter. It was really dry and crumbly before the egg.

XOXO