Chef BoyarT

Tyler has done it! He has perfected the art of ravioli! I'll back up; being the brilliant woman that I am, I bought Chef T the pasta attachment for his Kitchen Aid Mixer for our first Christmas together. Since then he has gotten pretty good at making fresh pasta. We have tried butternut squash ravioli a few times and they always come out tasting like Heaven; however, they look pretty pathetic since we were cutting them all by hand! Until this little gadget found it's way into our kitchen.

Last night Tyler made some spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli with a red sauce and I must say they were pretty good. This gadget made sure they all were a uniform size and had just the right about of filling. Our only hurdle now is figuring out a way to drain them without them sticking together too much. Ask Lauren if they were any good considering we sent her home with a stockpile!

In case you were wondering, pasta is pretty easy to make and you don't need anything fancy if you have the patience and space to roll it out very thin. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Here is a good video on how to make pasta if you are interested.
A few comments regarding the video:

• we use a food processor to mix our dough
• don't worry about the fancy flour
• don't worry if you don't have a machine, use a rolling pin

Happy Friday!

Let the season begin

Some may say it's a bit premature but Monday night marked the first fire of the season. Yes, we did have the air conditioner on and the doors open to let in a little cold air but it was still so worth it. The firescreen is a hand-me-down so if anyone knows where I can get a pretty one on the cheap, please let me know.

p.s. I love how I always have to give disclaimers on my stuff, I guess I want to world to know that "yes, I know some of my stuff is ugly but I'm only 26, give me time!"

Over and out.

An Eventful Weekend

fyi I'm not winking, I'm squinting. Thanks for the picture Blair!

Well, the race is over and I'm glad it's behind me but I'm not so happy about my results. I was a solid 6 minutes slower than last year AND at least 2 of those minutes can be attributed to my old friend, the toilet. Yes, graphic I know, but come mile 12 and my stomach was not happy. I would like to formally thank the Rosa Parks Museum for letting me in and very quickly pointing me to the bathroom. Ugh, I was NOT happy but there was no way that I could have ran for another 10 minutes! According to the world wide web, I am not alone and I need to start popping an Immodium an hour before I run and lay off the dairy and fat the night before. Thank you frozen yogurt and pimiento cheese that I had Friday night, thanks a lot! So with that said, I finished in 2 hours and 22 minutes which is about a 10:54 minute mile. BTW, sweet Tyler waited for me. Thank you Tyler, you are very selfless!

Now on to Sunday. We had to replant our turnip and carrot seeds because the unusually hot September screwed things up. I also put in some broccoli and romain. We will see how it goes, the broc and romain are new to us. We did pretty well with last year's carrots and turnips. They were glorious!

Sunday night, Tyler and I did a massive practice round for our cooking with pecans compitition at the fair this year. Yes that is correct, we are the type of people who enter competitoins at the fair. I think Tyler gets it from his mom but I have no excuse. We might also enter in the appetizers and finger foods competition if we have time. I would tell you what we are making but then you might steal the idea and beat us so I will wait until after this Sunday's judging.

Happy Monday

Race Day Eve and Happy October

Running Group at last weeks training run

First of all, I'm sorry I didn't post on Wednesday but I was in Atlanta for work again with no wireless card, shocking.

On to more interesting things, tomorrow is race day and I have been carb loading for a week now. They say that carb loading will make you run faster but since I have gained about 4 lbs this week from pasta I have a feeling that I will be the lone exception. I must learn the subtle art of moderation. So...13.1 miles followed by bbq and beer all before the Auburn game at 11 am.

Different topic: It's day 1 of October so the pumpkins are out. Now let's talk about spending $8-10 at Publix for a pumpkin, I won't do it. So, Blair and  I made sure to take a pit stop at Trader Joe's on our way home yesterday to pick up some $3.50 pumpkins and yet more cheap wine. I would like to make a correction on last weeks post. One bottle of Trader Joe's wine is not $3.50 it's $2.79, but I digress. So anyway, If you are near a Trader Joe's go ahead and spit in the face of Publix pumpkins and pick up a few. I must say, mine look good.



Tyler made me get 3 this year so SB could have one to carve. His is the little one obviously.



Boring Post Warning

Wow, I am so not interesting these days, not that I ever really was but this is bad! I have nothing to blog about so I'll just give you an update.

1. School is hard. Just finished my 15 page paper that is due tomorrow. 6 pager due Tuesday and final exam due Thursday. Woof!
2. Strongbow's collar AND costume came in last week. Pictures to follow.
3. Our half marathon is coming up on Saturday and I hope I don't have the same problem as last year. Sorry to be graphic but let's just say that at mile 11 I ran into some gastro problems (no pun intended).
4. I'm helping Mom redecorate my brother's old room. No, I am not just doing this out of the goodness of my own heart; there is a carrot being dangled and if Mom comes through for me I will be a happy girl! (Mom, I hope you are reading this)

This is our "inspiration" fabric (I don't speak decorator but I will try)

Fear not my friends, I will be back to my semi-awesome blogging self after things calm down! Let's hope!

Supper Club Tag Team

Tyler and I teamed up with the Bennett's this month for Supper Club at our house. I would have to say it went well but it is my house, after all, so I might be biased.

Blair and Chad did a roasted eggplant spread, salad, corn bread and cupcakes while Tyler did the Jambalaya (very good I might add)  and I did a black bean and caper dip and some molasses chocolate chip cookies. Food was good, company was good, and our Trader Joe's $3.50 wine was a little too good! Oops.

In case you were wondering, Strongbow was a great host and didn't try to eat any children! Thank goodness!

A NYC Food Guide and Our New Crush

So Tyler and I have a crush. Strange, I know! I found this photography blog a few months ago and sent it to Tyler and because of his new obsession with his camera I thought he would like it. He did.
Anyway From Me To You has beautiful photos taken by the beautiful Jamie Beck (pictured above). She was recently written up in Design Sponge if you care to take a peak.

Tyler and I are headed to NYC in a few weeks so after checking out her site a few times and seeing her beautiful shots of NYC Tyler decided to email her to ask specifically what she would do if she had 3 meals to eat before she died and boy did she deliver, and quickly I might add!

Here is what she said:

3 meals before you die in NYC:

Breakfast: Cafe D'Alsace on the UES. I go here every Saturday for a bowl (literally) Cafe Au Lait and breakfast. Bunch is amazing, pastries are perfect. It's oh so french, all the windows are open and there is outside cafe seating as well. Great local NY crowd. I then most of the times go to the MET after that for some inspiration. The MET is my favorite favorite place in NYC, I consider it my church. It's based on suggested donation so pay what you want not what it says. Also since y'all are into home stuff there is a housing works (one of the best chain thrift stores in NYC) by Cafe D'Alsace on 90th and 2, a great and charming historic bakery on 87th and 1st called Glaser's that has been there since 1902! Also Gracie Mansion is amazing in the Park at 84th and east end.

Lunch: so many great choices in NYC. I'd have to choose La Esquina in soho, the grilled corn is a must and I always have the Cochinita Pibil (pork tacos) OMG they are AMAZING!!! Cooked in a banana leaf. This diner lunch spot is super famous too, you see it in the into to SNL and for lots of photo shoots. They have a secret dinner restaurant underground but it's quite expensive though really really good.

Dinner is a toss up between 2 places: Supper in the East Village & Bread in soho. Supper is warm and homey and small and nostalgic. Like a big italian family place. Best burrata mozzarella in the city. Bread has amazing amazing creamy pesto and their bolognese is my favorite in the city. It's a small, candle lit but always hopping place.

You left off coffee- you MUST go to the ACE hotel and have a cappuccino from the coffee bar in the hotel "Stumptown" It's the best in the city and that Ace hotel is incredible. You could also get your coffee to go and walk down to the farmers' market at Union Square if it's on the day the market is running. Also a fun and one of my favorite flatware stores by this and Union Square is called Fishy Eddy.

Amy's is great especially in the Chelsea Market and the highline is so beautiful. If you want to get off the beaten track and go someplace only locals are at (chelsea market can get overrun with tourists at times though food network and NY1 film in that building which is too cool) I'd suggest Sullivan Bakery in hell's kitchen. It's actually my favorite bread in the city. Hands down. When you go to the store they have the most amazing, fresh pastries that it's literally painful to pick from. It's cool to see NYers running in grabbing coffee and bread and running out too.

 
So I couldn't help but share her wonderful tips and if any of you have a chance to go to New York maybe you can print out this little "guide" and take it with you!
 
Oh yeah and I have to brag, she looked at my blog and loved Tyler's pics! A real photographer liked his pics! He is almost famous!
 
Jamie,
If you are reading this, I am not a stalker! I just like  pretty people, who are nice, return emails very promptly and who take good pictures!