Friday, January 29, 2010

Boxer Love

If anybody knows me, they know the love affair I have with Boxers. I was raised with them when I was growing up, and we had one while my kids were growing up. Her name was Baily. We had a wonderful life with her until she got cancer at 7 years old. My daughter is allergic to dogs, so I couldn't get another. (That is why we now have Stella, she is non-allergetic.)
A friend of mine has this beauty above, her name is Bella. She is so beautiful.
Meet Lucy, her baby. She is the cutest thing I have seen in a long, long time!



Nothing like a mother's love.



Lucy getting to know her new family. Bella is looking at him thinking, "you better be careful with my baby!"



Bath time! Isn't she ADORABLE?!!!!



Nap time.



Sleep time.
These two really make me miss Baily, they are so beautiful. Don't you think?

Happy Friday everyone, and have a wonderful weekend!!

XOXO

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Beef Bourguignon: It's What's for Dinner

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon good olive oil
8 ounces center cut bacon, diced
2 1/2 pounds chuck beef cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks
2 yellow onions, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)
1/2 cup Cognac
*1 (750 ml.) bottle good dry red wine
1 can (2 cups) beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound frozen whole onions
1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, caps thickly sliced
For serving:
Egg noodles
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.
Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.
Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.
Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.
Serve over warm egg noodles and garnish with fresh parsley.
*I used 2 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups beef broth instead of the red wine.
This is one of the best beef stews I have ever tasted. I made it last year and did a post, but had to do another because it is soooo good. Of course I'm using my new blue pot!
Enjoy!
XOXO

Monday, January 25, 2010

HAPPY MONDAY!

Just breezing by from work to wish you a Happy Monday. This is a picture of what I wish I was doing today! I would have given anything to stay in my jammies, sip some tea, and snuggle down with Stella this morning. But nooooooo..........I had to go to work!

Not only is it raining, it is POURING!! It is dark, and downright miserable today.
To top it off, they said on the news this morning, today is officially the most depressing day of the year. I don't know why, that is what they said. Maybe hearing this first thing in the morning, still dark and pouring, set my mood for the day.
It can only get better!
Hope your having a nice day!

XOXO



Saturday, January 23, 2010

Sushi Night

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Last night I got a hankering for sushi, so tonight, sushi it is.


Start out with a warm bowl of miso soup.




Next, a salad with delicious ginger dressing.





Then, dive into an assortment of sushi. I can't wait.
What are you having for dinner tonight?

Have a super Sunday!

XOXO

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Salutations

Just passing through to say hello and wishing warm thoughts to all of my friends. I haven't had my computer for two weeks now, so it has been hard to post.

So I wanted to show you my favorite Christmas present this year. I had a very nice Christmas this year. My kids bought me the cookbook I have been wanting for awhile, and they got me a very cute warm jacket for the winter.
But this is what my husband got me, and I love it!!

The Le Creuset cast iron round French oven.
Size: 7.25 quart
Color: Caribbean
BEAUTIFUL is all I can say!

I wonder what I will whip up this weekend?

XOXO


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Surprise!!

Well, my husband's surprise birthday party was a huge success! We had such a good time, and he truly was surprised. I apologize in advance for all of the pictures, but I wanted to let you in on all of the fun. Here are some of our friends, old and new, waiting for his grand entrance.











My daughter Amy on left and niece Katy with 2 of my husbands good friends, still waiting.






Here is his grand entrance, excuse his fingers please.




After the grand enterance!




After the initial surprise and a few appetizers and cocktails, we moved downstairs to the bar area to watch the Eagles game. This is my brother-in-law on the right with some high school friends.




My beautiful kids, Amy and John with Cyndi who works for my husband.







Birthday boy with friends.








A warm kiss for mom. The best mother-in-law ever!







Pretty Amy & Katy with our good friend, John.






Watching the Eagles LOOSE!!!!





Me with good friends, Kay and Betsi.






Me and my wonderful sister-in-law Diane. Starting to have fun at this point!








Yucking it up for a family portrait, with a few friends popping in the background.






After a fun evening, filled with surprises, good friends old & new, family, food and drinks----it was time to blow out the candles. What a great time we had!!




I hope you all have a fun filled weekend yourselves!!




XOXO

















Thursday, January 7, 2010

More Snow Tonight

It appears that we are getting more snow sometime tonight sometime after midnight. Not too much, they say about 3 inches or more, but just enough to make it a slippery morning commute.
I think I have had my fill of snow already this year. I must be warm blooded.




I have to admit though, it is pretty.

I want to wish everyone a wonderful weekend. I will be very busy. We are throwing my hubby a SURPRISE 50th birthday party on Saturday night. Doesn't it just figure that the Eagles and Dallas play at 8:00 p.m. in a play off game!!!!
Luckily, I'm having it at the Jarritown Hotel. I had the upstairs reserved for our party, but had to do some re-arranging. We will surprise him upstairs at 7:30, then move the party down to the bar area with T.V.'s. They were so gracious to reserve a nice big area for us. We will have about 50 or more people. Wish me luck! I will report back with pictures later.

I am officially dropping my computer off tonight at Best Buy to have it fixed. In the mean time, I will try to use my hubby's to check in.
Have a great weekend!!
XOXO

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Computer Glitch



My computer has been acting up lately. I think I have a short in my screen. I need to get this fixed a.s.a.p., as I have been putting this off long enough!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year so far. Stay warm and enjoy the winter. It is frigid here in Pennsylvania. How is your weather?
Have a great week and I hope to get back real soon!

XOXO