My Weekend with Yoga Girl (a.k.a. my sister)

Monday, November 16, 2009.....

Although my sister didn't arrive till late Saturday afternoon, we managed to squeeze a whole lot of fun in.

I must admit, any guest who shows up with fun gifts gets a definite A in my book. She had just returned from Italy and I had asked if she could pick me up some spice bowls (my definition of a spice bowl is a very small bowl that holds the spices I use in a recipe - I'm a big believer in prepping BEFORE I cook and depending upon the recipe, I could need many little bowls). She brought me 2 cool ones.

They were simple, but beautiful. In addition to the bowls, she brought me a silver ring she got while at a street fair and a leather journal. Both which I love.

Once I was done ogling, it was off for a pedicure. Not just any pedicure, but one that lasted 90 minutes and included a back and shoulder rub. Can you say A-W-E-S-O-M-E?

With cute toes, I decided to take my sister to a new grocery store that opened by my house. Yes, you heard me. A grocery store.

Fresh Market is ......pretty. It is not a place I'd go for my everyday items, but fresh breads, black truffle oil or really unusual beer is a place that needs to be visited. They've managed to arrange the items in a place that doesn't feel like a grocery store -- a definite place you have to visit, but not too often because it is easy to drop $$$ you didn't plan on spending.

After our trip to the store, we came back to the house for a quick dinner and then back out the door to see the movie Precious.

Precious, is not a light or fluffy movie, but I guess if you've seen the previews you already know this. It is a dynamic movie with great performances and a story line that kicks you in the gut. I never looked at my watch or had a moment where I thought the movie was moving too slowly. If you like serious drama, go see this movie.

After getting back from the late show, we came back to the house, chatted and went to bed.

Yesterday was the cooking demonstration class. I'd recommend a demonstration class to anyone who has a fear of cooking because it demystifies cooking.

The class was taught by Rick Rodgers. He often writes for Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, appears on t.v. and has published numerous cookbooks over the years. Personally, I've been going to his classes for years, but this is the first time my sister went with me.

I knew a guy who has won Bon Appétit's Food and Entertaining Award for Outstanding Cooking Teacher would be someone my sister would like. Besides, he was cooking Thanksgiving dishes. What could be better than that.

He started with a sherried crab bisque and then for the main course had turkey, mulled wine cranberry sauce-- mortadella, walnut and rosemary stuffing--baby carrots with orange glaze --mashed potato casserole with smoked gouda and bacon (okay, gouda & bacon how could this not be yummy) and pumpkin cupcakes with ginger cream.

Everything was tasty and throughout the class we were fed great cooking tidbits about turkey (he worked for Perdue for 10 years and knows a lot about turkey from the farm to the table).

Although I hadn't been to one of his classes in 3 years, he recognized me and we chatted a bit after the class. I got his latest books Winter Gatherings, Autumn Gatherings and Summer Gatherings which he autographed for me (I should mention many of my cookbooks are signed by the author).

After a quick kiss goodbye and a snatching of another cupcake for hubby we were on way home. Yoga Girl dropped me off to begin her trek home to NJ. It was great to see her and nice to know I will be seeing her soon (wow, Thanksgiving is next week).

That was my weekend...how was yours?

Rant and Rave Wednesday

Wednesday, November, 11, 2009...


Any readers following me on a regular basis know if it's Wednesday, it's time to Rant and Rave about the past week. Without further adieu, here are my Rants and Raves from the past week:

Rave: In the US it's Veteran's Day and although I'm not a fan of war, I appreciate everything a veteran has done for me to have the freedoms I have today.

Rave: Some really nice weather for November in the Northeast. It's freakish, but I'm okay with that.

Rave: I'm seeing Yoga Girl, a.k.a. my sister, this weekend. We're going to a cooking class at The Silo in New Milford with Rick Rodgers, an amazing instructor and cookbook author. This was my birthday gift.


Rant: I called the Silo to get the time of the class and they don't have us registered. They are investigating.


Rave: Two wonderful bloggers gave me awards. Miss Nobody not only gave me one, but THREE awards. You really should go check her out if you haven't. She writes about her life and will from time-to-time share some of her writing pieces. She's young, but has a very insightful soul putting her years beyond her age (55 Word Fiction).

Green Eyed Momster bestowed the You are Wonderful Award on me. Green Eyed shares the good, bad and painful with her readers, but is taking a break from blogging for a bit. She needs to recharge and I respect that. When blogging becomes a chore or exhausting, one should stop. I think people forget that.

Rant: Stinkin small fuzzy animal (want to blame the bunny, but I think the bunny has a friend) who is eating my brussel sprouts AGAIN. I thought I foiled the bunny and his gang, but I was wrong.

Rant: Insomnia. Last night. It sucks. Enough said.

Rave: Mad Men. The finale was Sunday night and the writers did a fabulous job at tying up all the loose ends. Every episode during the season I'd wonder what they were going to do with so-and-so's character, but the finale answered my questions. However, it's not just the finale, it's the writing. They master capturing the social impact, particularly events had on people (e.g., Kennedy's assignation,) while other life events (marriages and divorces) are downplayed making it very interesting. It's a show that makes you want more.

That's it for me. Any Rants and Raves you want to share? I would love to read them. Just click on the linky thing for anyone that wants to participate in Rant and Rave Wednesday. Please be respectful and do not use the linky thing if you are just promoting your blog (yes, this is another Rant of mine).