Category: Food Talk

Year 7 aka That Time I Smoked a Cigar

LaurenLeave a comment

So I think you can probably all guess from the title where this post is ending, but I’ll start from the beginning anyways and say thanks for the kind comments on Joey’s last post.  He made me break my “no crying at work” rule but for good reason 🙂

Ahem, in addition to “hacking” my site, there were also flowers, a card that I’m pretty sure was designed just for us and dinner reservations at a surprise location.  Which turned out to be Vesta Dipping Grill.  We’d only been one other time and I was so so excited to be back.  Love that place!

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I proceeded to order one of the only items our waiter didn’t point out as a personal or customer favorite, but it turns out this shrimp, roasted cauliflower, tabouleh and harissa hummus dish was amazing!  Viva la jumbo shrimp!  Is it weird that despite all the deliciousness on the plate, my favorite part was the roasted cauliflower?  Flavor explosion!

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No joke, we had the hardest time deciding whether to order dessert or just go home and eat the ice cream we had in our freezer (you know, because you should always have a back up, should the restaurant dessert menu be disappointing) but I still had half a glass of wine to finish so I figured we might as well stay.  Vesta knows how to do a caramel apple up right!

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As we were walking back to the car, Joey spotted a cigar bar and convinced me to go in.  Look I know, I’m all into that “healthy living” stuff, but sometimes you remember you’re young and staying out late to smoke a cigar in a big leather chair is more fun than going home and getting into bed on time.  And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 7 years than doing something spontaneously fun with my better half.  Plus Joey needed to practice for Hannah and Josh’s wedding 🙂

Happy Friday!  I’m off for a little girls trip with my mom and sister and could not be more excited!

 

Mother’s Day at Our House

Lauren4 Comments

For Mother’s Day, my mom requested that she be able to work in my “garden.”  To be clear, I don’t actually have a garden.  I have concrete and jungle weeds, but no garden.  I think her plan was to remedy that, but Mother Nature had other plans… like snow.  I guess it was her day too and she can do what she wants?  We opted for a big family breakfast at our house instead.  Turns out we can fit eight people and a table in here 🙂

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Joey and I spent a few hours prepping on Saturday, so come Sunday morning, all we had to do was pop a few things in the oven, make coffee and stall while one of the three quiches we made proceeded to take an hour longer to cook than it was supposed to.  Luckily, we’d gotten a head start that morning but seriously, quiche, do you have to be like that?

In addition to quiche, we made a sweet potato hash, a fruit salad and what’s Mother’s Day without Mimosas?  For the record, we barely put a dent in that huge bottle of champagne.  We also drank three pots of coffee, laughed over the card I got for my mom and watched Jory put on a light show with some fun pen thing he brought.  I’ve already asked if he could bring it to our wedding 😛

Several hours later, when everyone had cleared out and all the leftovers had been put away, I felt really proud of our first hosting gig in our own home.  My mom has been hosting family gatherings my whole life and I’d never realized how much work goes into it.  Taking on the responsibility this weekend just made me appreciate her so much more.  I love you, Mom 🙂  And Lori, thanks for making me feel like a part of your family since the moment I met you.  You raised a pretty great son and for that, I’m grateful 🙂

Happy (Snowy) Monday!