a week of traditions

This week we lost the matriarch of our family.  My mother and her brothers have gotten to spend a few days this week together remembering their mom.  I've been blessed by having a job allowing me to spend the whole week with my family.  We've been honoring my Grandmother's memory all week starting with a Kessler's and ginger ale toast Tuesday after her prayer service.  Last night we had a taco feast with margaritas, because those were her second favorite drink.  And for dessert I made her date nut pudding.

If you've never had date nut pudding, you may be imagining a creamy viscous liquid pudding.  This is not the case with this pudding.  It is a more traditional English pudding studded with soft dates and nuts.  It's honestly the easiest dessert ever.  I love taste inspired memories.

Recipe:

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup chopped nuts [pecans or walnuts]

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk [dairy, almond, coconut, soy...]

1 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbl. gluten-free flour [just rice flour would be fine in this case, but my mom had an already made blend, so I used that.  this is not the situation in which you can substitute in a nut flour]

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a bowl until well combined.  Pour into a greased glass baking dish (size 7x11 is ideal but 8x8 would do).  Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and no longer jiggly.  

Enjoy as is.  

Or with whipped/ice cream.  Or my favorite way, cream drizzled over the top.

Lillian

Yesterday, March 25th at 6:52 pm central standard time my grandmother made her journey to heaven.  I was racing north to Minnesota to get home to support my mom when I got the phone call.  "She's gone, and I just am looking at her and she is so peaceful."  Praise God.  Peace is what she needed after a 90 year stint here on earth and enduring her past few years in immeasurable physical pain.  

Rest peacefully.  See you around, Gram.

So there's this thing...

Tonight I had every intention to do a deep clean of my house.  But instead I got upset.  Went to Walgreens.  And bought Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cups.

Seriously?

My only regret:

I didn't get chips too.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6112651/?claim=s9qpewdfq5f">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

A couple of things

1. It is Tuesday and we had tacos.  Unintentional Taco Tuesday win in the Gross household.  Can we just reminisce for a minute how much I love tacos?  See here & here [specifically number 8].

2. Apparently I really like numbering.  I don't know why I'm acting surprised.  I send Justin text messages with numbers too.

3. The guy on tv right now talking about some suicide case looks like the oldest Brady brother of whose name I have forgotten.  I know it's not Bobby...

4. Lady does this thing when she sees something out of the window, she thinks it's out every window.  Or something.  Today some kids dropped an informational packet about a food bank fundraiser off on our front porch and Lady went bonkers.  When a strange noise is heard in the dark of night she'll give off a little woof, but when a child comes innocently to the porch in broad daylight she decides to sound the alarms.  Weirdo.  Anyways, after the threat had been neutralized she ran to the back window to...watch them?  Obviously they weren't out there.  This dumbfounded her.  She is equally confused during the summer when the chipmunk [Stuart] teases  her outside our patio door.  He'll run down under the deck and Lady will run into the next room expecting him to be there.  Every time.  We've given up hope on her figuring that one out.

5. I have a secret stash of jellybeans that Justin can't find.

6. I've filled out my March Madness bracket and this year is the year.  Gonzaga will win!  I don't know where Gonzaga is even, but every year I choose them to win the championship because of their awesome sounding name.  I can smell it this year.  It's happening.  I also have Bucknell going pretty far.  Where the h is Bucknell?  Finally, why did I not go to a more excitingly named school?

And since it snowed another 4 inches yesterday [March 18th gosh darnit!] here is a picture from our honeymoon.  It was blessedly warm, and we ate so many hamburgers.  Disney World is the best.  But also... Hogwarts. Hogwarts.  Hoggy Warty Hogwarts. teach me something please!

Nerd.

fin.

Dabbling in goat cheese

Usually when Justin and I undertake in DIY house projects one or both of us end up in a sour mood.  I know they say that there's more than one way to skin a cat.  And that may be true.  AANNDD I've never skinned a cat... but I'm pretty sure my way would be the best way.

It's like that.

Luckily I was inspired while dodging co-workers at Hy-vee and bought a rack of ribs, so I already had that going for me as a good apology dinner.  To accompany the ribs I made goat cheese scalloped potatoes.  Justin isn't very sure about goat cheese so I went light on it, but if you love it by all means use a heavy hand.

Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

[the UN-recipe]

3[ish] pounds of potatoes- if using baby reds or yukon golds, then keep the skins on, otherwise peel.

A roll, or log if you will, or chèvre.  Herb chèvre highly recommended but the good 'ol Fareway didn't have it this time. Note: I only used about 1/3 of the log, possibly 1/2 if you account for the snacking I did while assembling.

Salt and or garlic salt.

Pepper

1/4 stick of butter

1/4-1/3 cup of corn starch

1-2 cups of milk of choice (almond, coconut, soy, cow, NOT goat)

Any other flavoring you like, for example, thinly slice onion may be appropriate If your husband is mad at you for being huffy about wall hangings I recommend skiping the onions.

Thinly slice the onions [by hand for those seeking penance for their bad attitudes] and layer them in a deep, greased casserole dish.  After there are enough potatoes in the bottom, sprinkle with salt, pepper then dot with butter and chèvre and sprinkle with corn starch.  Repeat layers.  When you reach the top layer, skip the corn starch as it isn't the prettiest on top.  Once everyone is all layered in and happy pour enough milk in the casserole to come about 3/4th of the way up the pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1-11/2 hours.  Check the potatoes to see if they're tender and if the sauce is thickening up.

Whatever you do, DO NOT cover the casserole dish or you and your partner in crime will be running around opening doors and windows and flapping towels as the dog runs around looking very concerned about the decibal at which the smoke alarm screams.  Plus you'll have to clean the oven, and that's such a bummer.  

Just so you know...

If you want to have the best experience whilst you eat your starburst jellybeans, and you do.  This is a flavor profile chart I have put together.

The best:
A handful of pinks
yellow alone
green alone
purple alone

The worst:
orange
red

Interesting taste combinations:
3 pinks + 1 yellow
2 greens + 1 purple
3 pinks + 1 green

If you have to eat up the oranges and reds:
18 pinks + 1 orange
15 yellows + 1-2 reds

Helpful tip:
Feed the ones you hate to your dog.  Or husband.  Or an unassuming friend with bad taste in jellybeans.

Love,
Megan

On a Friday

This week I got my 40 hours in by 4:45pm yesterday [Thursday].  So I boldly decided to call it a week.  I blessedly slept until 8.  Stayed in my pajamas until 12:20pm.  Snuggled my pit bull.  Decided to try again to like Mad Men, still not sure if there's a plot.  Seriously though, is January Jones not just the classiest?

Then I met my friend, shopped.  Targeted. [have I not mentioned that I looooove target?] Bought starburst jellies and tequila and then spent the afternoon painting our nails, drinking margaritas, eating chips and queso and learning the Wop Dance.  I'm good.  Especially in my bombass wedge retro metallic tennis shoes from Target.  They haven't come off my feet yet.  I might sleep in them.

Tomorrow we are participating in "The Gaelic Gallop" which is a 2 mile fun run.  When I informed my mother of this she said, "those two words don't belong in the same sentence."  I agreed, countered with the weak argument, "but wouldn't it be cool to finally be athletic?..."  Anyways, it's a good reason to buy a new pair of running pants according to husbands.  And new workout clothes are the reason that I wake up each day.  That and cereal.  Which I polished off this morning.  The roof of my mouth will never recover.

Also I almost got a huge rabbit named Maude today.  But then I didn't.  It would have been the coolest to have a rabbit named Maude.  And she was litter box trained, which is terribly convenient.

Chicago: The sights [which is mostly of animals]

Last weekend we went to Chicago. 

 We saw some pretty cool stuff.  

Here are some favorites.  

[From my iphone]

Tall Buildings.

Shedd Aquarium:

I have a thing for animals that dress up in their nicest outfits.  Especially tuxedo animals.

This fish tried to eat me.  He was also much bigger than he looks here.

Lincoln Park Zoo:

Usually I hate chimpanzees.  They scare me.  But this little lady and I had a long conversation about life.  And the freckles on her chin.  I lied and told her she was lovely.  I don't even feel bad about it.

We revisited the cat house at the Lincoln Park Zoo several times to get to see the tiger.  Please note the pink flowery jacket in the window.  Someday that will be my kid's jacket reflected in the window.

Is this a leopard or a jaguar?  I've already forgotten.

I love giraffes.  And I'm jealous of their eyelashes.  Right?

Orchids are amazing.  I have one named Hyacinth.  The Conservatory in Lincoln Park had a whole room of orchids.  Beautiful!

 

This is a juxtaposition.  It was about 85 degrees in the room with azaleas   And I had a hat and scarf on.  But look at that riot of pink!

Transit:

And the traffic.  If ever I was to move to Chicago, I wouldn't own a vehicle.  Too much of a time suck.

Harry Potter is on ABC Family, which is excellent.

It's "The Order of the Phoenix" which I haven't always appreciated enough.  But as I've grown older, I appreciate it more.  Except for the part when Cho and Harry kiss because that is just so weird.

Also tonight we went to the Hyvee, which I love because we didn't need anything real (except syrup for my pancakes) so we could just meander around.  And meander we did.  We roamed around the fruit and J let me prod a weird looking fruit that actually was really pokey and hurt.  Then we considered buying sun dried tomatoes, but they were expensive so we got roasted red peppers instead.  Then we bought Log Cabin syrup, which reminds me of growing up.

I was also allowed to buy Peanut butter Panda Puffs because I said I was craving them.  PLUS we got to buy treats.  Justin got frozen greek yogurt and I got raspberry sorbet which was so good.  

When we got home I ate some sorbet.  And then a bowl of Panda Puffs.  And then I almost cried.  Because the snacks were good.  And I really love when Harry Potter is on tv.

Chicago: The Food

Basically what I love most about traveling is also what I get the most anxiety about.  Well, that and the scary thought that I might have to throw up somewhere weird.

Anyways, the thing that I'm talking about is the food.  Being originally from the Twin Cities area, I had a lot of gluten free restaurant options.  I love all those options and visit them when I go home, but it's so fun and exciting going to big cities that have new and old options.  And now let's begin our culinary journey.

Let it be known that I don't have pictures of everything because I temporarily lost my brain and forgot that I always take pictures of what I eat.  Whoops.

Friday:

We arrived.  On the car journey over, we ate sour cream and chive nut thin chips.  Which were medium.

We meant to eat at Naked Pizza that offers pizza on gluten free crust.  But we parked a half mile away from the restaurant.  Then the place was plum out of gf crusts.  So we ate at Qdoba next-door that has some safe options.  And was medium.  Maybe medium plus, but not pizza.

Saturday:

For breakfast we ate at the "bistro" at our hotel.  I ordered fresh fruit.  $4 was a lot for fruit I thought. Until I got basically a huge bowl full of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.  And then I was the happiest little Megan.  Raspberries make my rocking world go round.  Plus I ate a Kind bar for protein.  To which I will give a rating of 8,000 sprinkles.  Which is a good rating if you're asking.

For lunch we panicked out of our original lunch plan because I heard the place was only "eh" and it was pretty far away from where we were located so last minutes I said "There shall be Spicy Chicken at P.F. Chang's China Bistro." And so it came to pass.  And there was spicy chicken.  And there was fried rice.  And all was good in the world.  So, not original, but I loved it.  So 3.1 stars.

On our way to deciding that PF Chang's was a good choice, we passed the Weber Grill restaurant.  Justin said "Oh!  That's where I wanted to eat last time I was in Chicago, but I couldn't get in." Then while I was dawdling in the creepiest bathroom that there is ever to be in a PF Chang's, J googled to see if Weber Grill had gluten free options and, lo!  There was such a huge gluten free menu that we walked right back to that restaurant and made reservations.  And this is what I had:

 

That, my friends, is barbecue ribs, barbecue beef brisket, mashed potatoes and baked beans.  Heavens they were amazing.  I decided that I'm moving to there.  To the restaurant, not Chicago.  Justin loved his option too.  He got this PLUS pulled pork and he got mac and cheese instead of beans.  Also he ate all 4 pretzel rolls with the cheddar butter.  Not going to lie, I wanted cheddar butter.  This meal earned a rating of 16 hugs.

Sunday:

For breakfast we went to Tweet.  I recommend Tweet because the food is good and the atmosphere is squishy.  If you like sitting next to the vegans and being able to hear their entire conversation, you're in luck!  It didn't bother me, I think J would have appreciated more space.  There were also a lot of boobs on the walls.  Like, so many.  But they also had so many gluten free options that I had to ask the waiter to come back three times because I hadn't made a decision yet.  I chose pumpkin pancakes which were so good.  And Beautiful. 

And this iced coffee was the nectar of the gods.  Justin hated it and just got regular.  Which is boring.  Tweet gets a rating of 547 boobs, which is actually probably how many boobs there were, which is weird but didn't bother me.

On our way out of town through grayness and rain we stopped at a five guys burgers and fries.  Such a good decision.  So many fries.  I can die in a happy food coma now.  And really need to work out...

The worst picture I have ever taken.  Period.

Also, tonight I made pancakes and didn't have any syrup in the house.  Isn't that the dumbest?

In which I outsmarted daylight savings time. aka Chicago Part I: The Culture

Basically.  I decided that in order to NOT lose an hour while in Chicago for the weekend, I decided that it was lost on the car ride over.  How convenient?  That was a wasted hour anyways.  An hour of traffic sitting, poof, disappeared.  Or something.  I think I've mentioned before that I absolutely am flabbergasted by daylight savings time.  I should also mention how out of whack I am when changing time zones.  I lose all rationality and have no idea what time it is in real life.  And what real life, really?  Thus, making me capable of out smarting daylight savings time.  Or, what?

I digress.  We went to chicago.  My lovely Iphone [Henrietta the II] took many pictures.  My camera (still unnamed) took two.  These crazy times we live in.  I've decided to break Chicago into three parts.  The Culture.  The Food.  And the sights [which will be mostly animals].

Without further ado, I bring you.....

CHICAGO: THE CULTURE

As experienced by Megan and Henrietta the II

First, we scoped out the city.  Found ourselves an Urban Outfitters.  Laughed about the ridiculous men's coats in the sales room.  This one doesn't look as bad on the computer as it did in person.  The camouflage one though?

Horrible.

We became professional public transit utilizers...

After we got off 4 stops early and decided just to hoof it all the way down to the aquarium [pictures of that another day].  It was about 36 degrees and only drizzling a tiny bit, so, lovely.  I should also warn that this post has the dorkiest pictures of me ever taken.  Ever.

 I have this thing.  When I go places, especially places rich in artistic culture, I run into exquisite Picasso exhibits.  Ok so it's only happened at the Chicago Art Institute [not really the hugest surprise], and in Lucerne, Switzerland.  That makes it no less jump out of my boots exciting.

I saw this one.  My Picasso.  I gasped.  I hopped. I shouted a little bit in the dead quiet exhibit.  Then I had to choke back tears.  I have a bit of a Justin Bieber complex about great works of art.  Only it is so much less shallow.  Pablo Picasso touched this canvas, believed these lines, loved and hated every part of this.  And I did to.  Art is spiritual.  Especially when it's in your soul.  I have a huge spot in my soul for Picasso's blue period.  I have since I was 13. 

This is the worst picture of me ever taken, but I needed photographic proof that I was in the same room as a piece of Picasso's soul.  He was in the air.  Analyzing the room, the way we all dressed, the magnificent way my frizz was able to defy gravity, the variety of boobs.  Because oh that Picasso, he loved him some boobs.

This cat spoke to me.

And then we went and hung out with a couple of my other friends.  I didn't take fan pictures of everyone, so I pray that Degas, Pissarro, Titian, Cezanne, Gauguin, Manet, Renoir & the like don't feel left out.

Monet, you're lovely.  Don't listen to Justin, your lines aren't too soft.

  

Oh VanGoh, I know how misunderstood you feel as a redhead.  Just understand that I think you're wonderful.  Thank you for leaving a piece of yourself for us to enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the miniatures display.  We peeked in every room imagining what life would have been like in that room, with those furnishings.  At least I imagined it.

Then we made an obligatory visit to the Bean.  You know, it's Chicago after all.  We took our picture, marveled at the metal, talked crap about a large group of sorority sisters doing a chant, and then laughed at the hipster-cum-figure skater that kept knocking fellow skating patrons over.  

Just look at all those people experiencing culture.  And metal.  Clearly I'm so over the Bean.  It's just neat but, whatever.

Now I'm sitting at home, and just as I was feeling sorry for myself for being sucked back into the Vacuum that is Dubuque, I can't.  Feel sorry that is.  Because this is how pretty my fireplace looks tonight.  On this cold, dreary March night.  As I look at the flames now they don't even flicker.  It is so strange.  I have never seen so still a flame.  It's like they're telling me to be happy where I am.  

For now.

Happy Hour

Today Justin had to go to a company dinner.  This saddens me outwardly, as it should.  But secretly thrills me.  My co-worker was in dire need of a happy hour outing, and today was a PERFECT excuse to go out.  

After much grumping about how my town isn't exactly a gluten-free mecca, I did some research and found that Carlos O'Kelly's has a gluten-free menu.  

We showed up grandma early (4pm) and ordered queso and raspberry margaritas out right!  Can I just say that their gluten free menu is beautiful?  It's colorful and had enough options to make me happy.  I clarified a couple times that the queso and chips and salsa were gluten free [because I'm OCD and that's how I do] and the server put up with me ever so graciously.

For supper I ordered the chicken fajitas.  I have been on a fajita kick lately, so it was fun to get to eat them without making them.  I again verified upon their delivery that there were corn tortillas and they were.  I'm not going to say that it was a culinary masterpiece, but honestly, from someone that hasn't eaten out at a chain restaurant in...6 years?  Yes.  6.  It was wonderful.  I will definitely be going back.  The queso was everything you want in cheesy, spicy queso.  The salsa was delightful.  The chips were super delightful.  I have a place for happy hour now.  Margaritas are my poison and chips are my juggernaut.  

I only had the wherewithal to snap a photo of my margarita.  Half guzzled.  And a corner of the salsa snuck into the picture.  Next time I'll try and do better.  There will definitely be a next time.

In which Lady smells like a rotting fish. And makes me crazy.

Lately my pit bull has been driving me bonkers.  I don't' know what it is.  Let me restate, I don't know what it is that has gotten into her to make her so annoying.  

On Tuesday we got an epic March snow storm.  It snowed to beat the band.  An inch per hour.  March snow is wet snow, heavy snow.  Of course this just being our first year of homeownership, we have yet to purchase a snow blower.  I beat Justin home, and ate over half of a Happy Joe's BLT pizza [let it be known, BLT is the best flavor of pizza] and felt like I should be a helpful and supportive wife.  I shall shovel so that my knight in shining armor can make it safely into the driveway! This I boldly stated to myself and my Ladydog.  

I put the aforementioned canine on her chain outside and set out into the tundra to partake in my first commitment to tundra removal in many a moon.  I probably lifted about 16 shovels full of snow, but those shovels were HEAVY!  Oofda.  Lady hated it.  She was barking like an idiot.  Being a considerate and embarrassed neighbor, I decided it was time for this beast to be placated by putting her in the garage.  This is where she goes when we aren't home lest she feel the need to take a poo on the rug or pee on my blanket.  Again I say, MY BLANKET!!! 

As I escorted her royal barkness to her throne room, she did a bunk.  Pulled a fake.  Blitzed the quarterback.  So I called her.  Lady, sillyhead, don't run up the driveway.  Come back! Lady!  LADY!

LADY!

Oh $&*%!

Picture a girl, not very big, in green hunter boots, a brown eskimo parka, and chartreuse mittens running like the wind after the skinniest, stripiest pit bull hell bent on getting the H out of here.  She was gone.  I panicked whilst I ran.  Will the neighbors hate me?  Will she jet out into the street and be squashed under a passerby?  Will I throw up that pizza?  Will Justin divorce me in the event of a lost forever dog?  Will I slip on some well hidden ice?  Seriously, am I going to upchuck this pizza?  Then as I yelled "STAY" my pit bull finally came to a stop about 5 or 6 houses down.  She kept trying to skulk away from me.  I used my angriest mom voice [you have to practice before you need to use it for real] and finally was able to grab her by the collar.  She wouldn't come willingly, so I carried my 50 pound pit bull back to the house. Then I called her grandmother.  Her grandmother was disappointed by her choices.  She then made excuses for the pit bull because she loves her to pieces.  On days again like today I don't quite understand why.

So far today she has tried to lick the clean dishes in the dishwasher maniacally, tried to remove all of the pillows and cushions from the couch and chair, told me THREE times that she needs to go outside only to be put on her chain to sniff at the snow and cast judging glares into the neighbor's yard, tried to assault me on the couch because I was on the computer and not spooning her [spooning is kind of her thing], and last but not least, turned on my caps lock.  

She's currently curled up next to me sleeping, her ears and eyelids twitching.  I guess she's pretty cute.  

This is our B-E-A-UTIFUL new couch that was delivered yesterday.  It's everything I wanted in a couch.  Plus.  Seriously those pillows.