a most perfect Thanksgiving

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to all!

Tuesday I flew out to DC to spend my Thanksgiving break with Rahul. After several hours stuck in traffic, he finally got to the airport and whisked me away and since then, I’ve been deeply involved in cooking preparations, folding his laundry, and planning our (failed) Black Friday plan of attack.

We had a Living Social deal for Whole Foods and spent way too much money on a Thanksgiving feast for 2 people, but it was so much fun to cook Thanksgiving for him! If you read me regularly, you’ll know that Rahul is from India, so I made several un-PC jokes about pilgrims and Indians.

My Thanksgiving feast last year was for 8 people and very busy so making a simple turkey breast (with this recipe — I definitely recommend it!!) and traditional sides was really enjoyable. And the DC weather was so great that we went for a run pre-cooking and ended up taking our stuff outside for a picnic.

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving as well! I am currently spending my last couple days in DC soaking up the vacation bliss — semester finals are coming up and I’m trying to not think of them. I’ll be back next week with some kind of food. If I ever find room in my stomach again.

happy Veteran’s Day!

Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who have served and are currently serving our country! 

Today is particularly bittersweet to me as my own brother, Hunter, is a soldier! He’s deploying to Afghanistan in a matter of weeks so I am taking a quick trip home to Virginia this weekend to send him off right! We’re doing this the Southern way: too much food, beer, and crazy relatives.

Fun fact: this picture was taken in May 2010…. which was also the last time I saw him! I cannot believe I’ve gone a year and a half without seeing him! 

Have a great weekend!

another date night dinner for 2

I’ve definitely enjoyed having a hungry guy around because I can make real dishes and have someone to help with the leftovers! While big meals, like my lasagna, meatloaf, turkey burgers, and spaghetti and meatballs are delicious, sometimes a simple recipe for two is just what the evening calls for.

In celebration of my new job situation (I got 2nd, really awesome summer job!), I decided to cook us a nice dinner over the weekend, complete with fancy wine. And when looking for inspiration for our meal, I looked no further than the summer I lived in Argentina.

In summer 2009, I headed way down south to work for my undergrad university in Córdoba, Argentina. Of course, it was winter down there… But what most people don’t realize about Argentina is that Argentina is famous for Italian food. Aside from their delicious beef, the huge population of Italian immigrants that has flooded my beloved Argentina have created what is called the best Italian food outside of Italy — in the big cities, Italian is still spoken by a lot of the population!

I thought of one of the best combinations of Argentine cuisine — the merge of beef and pasta — in beef braciole (pronounced “bra-cho-lay”). Rolls of beef stuffed with parmesan, braised in tomato sauce, and served over pasta? Sign me up! And it makes a perfect dinner for two!

Braciole with Mushroom and Pasta (serves 2)
2 slices beef top round, sliced thin and pounded lightly
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 T fresh oregano leaves
salt & pepper
olive oil
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 T fresh basil, chopped
2 cups diced tomatoes (with their liquid)
1 cup crushed tomato
1/3 cup dry red wine
tooth picks
spaghetti or angel hair pasta
In a sauté pan, sauté the mushroom slices in a drizzle of olive oil until tender. Remove from heat and set aside. Slice the 2 cuts of top round in half, making 4 slices. Pound a few times with a meat mallet (or rolling pin). Using your fingers, rub a small amount of olive oil on one side of the meat as well as a sprinkling of salt and pepper. In a small mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs, parmesan, and oregano together. Using a spoon, divide the mixture evenly onto each slice of the meat, then press it into the olive oil on the meat to help it stick. Roll the meat gently and secure with toothpicks (don’t use broken kebab skewers like me!). Heat a drizzle of olive oil in the same sauté pan that you used for the mushrooms and over medium-high heat, sear the beef rolls, about 2-3 minutes per side. Turn the heat down to medium-low and return the mushrooms to the pan along with the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, red wine, and basil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and let simmer for 35-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, cook the pasta and drain. Serve the braciole along with its sauce on top of the pasta with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese!

an Austin barbecue secret

I’m going to let y’all in on an Austin barbecue secret. Sure, Salt Lick is amazing and the experience of driving out in hill country and seeing the meat smoked on the open pit is one not to be missed. I plan on taking all of my out of town visitors to Salt Lick still. But if you’d rather stay in Austin and eat the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten, you’re going to go to Franklin’s.

Yes, Franklin’s BBQ. The one that used to be the trailer on the side of the highway. It is now a proper restaurant that just so happens to be nextdoor to my boyfriend’s apartment.

The wonderful thing about Franklin’s is the ritual involved. It is open “11am-sold out” and they mean it. I’ve been twice now and each time, upon getting in line at 10:30am along with several other die-hards, it still took over an hour to get through line. There is nothing like waiting outside in the Austin sun for over an hour and then finally getting inside the restaurant and smelling the food. 

We chose to take the food back to his place to eat this time, but when the weather is nice I recommend sitting outside and soaking in the barbecue. Rahul and I actually went on our second date to Franklin’s so it is his fault I’m so obsessed.

(sorry for the blurry photo!)

I recommend getting the two-meat plate (which we split) and some extra meat on the side to share as well. The pork ribs are my personal favorite, being a Virginia gal, but the brisket (lean and fatty) is out of this world. The pulled pork is good by Texas standards (but not by Virginia standards) and I have yet to try the sausage but it looks great. The pies look delectable, too.

So get your butt to Franklin’s BBQ around 10:30am, prepared to stand in line for a while, and earn yourself the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten.

holiday highlights

I have been in a constant state of food coma for the past few days and I’m kind of okay with it. Roast beef with Bernaise, my mama’s mashed potatoes, too many cups of coffee in mama’s new Keurig coffee machine, our traditional Eggs Benedict, turkey, endless cookies, and pie…

More highlights from the Christmas include 42 feet of Twizzlers,

the best pie crust I’ve ever made,

and an epic apron that my grandma made me!

Now, I’m digesting and snuggled up in a chair watching football and drinking copious amounts of wine. My tummy is full from my grandma’s chili and pumpkin pie. But guess where I am? No, not Virginia.

Kitty Hawk, NC – the land of the first flight and the beaches of my youth. My family has been going to the Outer Banks since my grandparents’ honeymoon back in 1957. My summers as a child were spent in Duck, Corolla, Nags Head, and other beaches out here. My grandma and mom got a deal on a silent auction beach cottage and we’re here for the week. Slowly more and more family members are trickling down in time for a big New Year’s brunch on Saturday. Be sure to tune in for pictures of babies, icicles, long-awaited seafood, and Brew Thru.

The beach is good. Amen.

scenes from the Farm

I arrived safely in Virginia and into my own little hideaway… Liberty Farms (built in 1795), aka the home of my Aunt Josette and Uncle Chuck.

While on the Farm, I did a little of everything including but not limited to: wrestling with duck fat, chopping down a Christmas tree,  falling for some puppy eyes, cooking with my aunt, driving a tractor, and being reunited with my mama!

After a lovely holiday dinner with everyone (Aunt Josette, Uncle Chuck, Josette’s mother, my stepdad, my mama, 3 dogs, 3 cats, and a partridge in a pear tree), we shipped out and I was whisked away to the mountains to hang out around my mom’s house for the next couple of weeks. It is so good to be home for the holidays.

tis the season

FOR HOLIDAY BAKING!!!!!

Today I’m on a plane and headed back east to Virginia for a couple weeks for Christmas where I will be in charge of all the baking. After a quick pit stop at the farm, where I’ll be cooking with my aunt the chef, I’ll then head to my mom’s house!! Since my mom and her husband both work, I will be stuck at home without a car and nothing to do but play with her Kitchenaide and 3 lbs of butter. I’m crushed.

But for now, here are some snaps I took while making Jenna’s Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies (which I gave to my students on our last day of class!). I just love baking.

big sky adventures

It is official: I’m in love with Texas. I know I’ve said “Austin” before, but now it has branched out to the whole state. I’m sure this is a huge overstatement, but I don’t care. I had a magical day.

The day started by a roadtrip to the original Salt Lick , a famous barbecue joint in Driftwood, TX (the original location). I’d seen it on the Food Network and the commercials on TV here would make even a vegetarian salivate. I went with my usual companion, Mary, and we both loved our sliced beef sandwiches and sauce dripping down our arms.

And after our delicious meal, we were on our way out the door when I smiled politely at a cute waiter and asked if I could snap a picture of the world famous meat pit. It is amazing what a smile and a pair of boots gets you around here, because he let me go into the kitchen and go behind the pit for a great picture!

After traipsing around and taking pictures, we took our bbq food babies back on the road and headed further west into Texas Hill Country. On the agenda? WINE!

Our first stop was at Texas Hills Vineyards in Johnson City. They had an adorable cute dog in the tasting room and you knew the wine was made on sight — you could smell the fermenting in the next room (reminding me fondly of my aunt and uncle’s champagne storehouse in France). There we did a 5 wine tasting where we picked the wines, sticking mostly to reds. They have an award winning 2005 Syrah that I highly recommend!

Next up was my favorite, William Chris Vineyards in Hye where we were greeted by the cutest sign ever!

We enjoyed a delicious wine tasting of 3 wines: 2 reds and a dessert white. I was absolutely smitten with the Enchanté, their blend of a merlot, malbec, and a cabernet franc. It was divine! I’m not a merlot fan, but even their merlot was amazing (and Mary liked it a lot, too!) The William of William Chris chatted with us as we tasted and he was so laid back and nice. The whole environment of the tasting was very relaxed and casual, but you still knew the product you were tasting was of great quality (all natural!) and elegant. Even with Bill’s dirt smudged boots and blue bandana, you knew it was a great wine. Perhaps that added to the character of the place?

Our next (and last) stop was Woodrose Winery in Stonewall. The tasting was in a giant dance hall with some love music, compliments of a guitar-strummin’ cowboy. Mary and I had decided on this winery because of a recommendation from a nice couple we met at the first wine tasting, and we ran into them again at Woodrose! They joined our table and let us know that our tasting was on the house because they’re members of the wine club there… also meaning we got a few extra pours, a free cheese plate, and excellent company! We sat there for a good hour and a half, maybe even two hours, and enjoyed great conversation with fun people. I even have slightly modified career aspirations because of our conversations with this couple! The whites were terrible, but the red wines made up for it and we certainly had a lovely time.

We rolled ourselves out of wine country around 5pm and headed back to Austin. Between the wine, the people, the boots, the big blue sky, and the sense that I truly belong in Texas, I’m sold on this place. Does it get any better than this? Today was a perfect Saturday for adventures in Big Sky Country.

I’m alive!!!

I’m alive & well and have reentered the land of the living (aka, the Internet). I got my wireless set up last night thanks to my friend Trevor, so I am all set up down here in Austin and already working on my Texas swagger.

Recap of the past week: We drove, and drove, and drove some more. I ran in a hotel room, once, after the 6 hour day. After 13 hours in the car I was barely walking much less running! I also haven’t bee eating well at all since I haven’t had food in my apartment until today and we’ve been eating between errands and building furniture. However, I am ready to unveil to you all my new digs!

To celebrate my new found adulthood/the installation of wireless Internet, my mom and I went to Whole Foods for lunch (and food shopping — thanks for the gift certificate Aunt Linda & Uncle Bob!!!!!!)

Salad with tofu and quinoa salad, Skin Rejuvenator juice (beet, apple, cucumber, spinach, kale, and bell pepper)

And we’re finally, back to the healthy living part of this blog I promise to write more exciting posts soon once I’m all settled in. Possibly joining a gym tomorrow (discounted membership from my apartment complex!)

And I shall leave you with a picture of me and Bevo…

Meant to be!

I hate goodbyes

Well Part 1 of my Goodbye Virginia Tour is over. I had lunch with my bff Tiffany in Richmond, visited my hometown of Poquoson, and headed down to Virginia Beach where I lived January-May of this year. Part 2 comes this weekend when I say goodbye to my family that lives near my mom. I absolutely hate goodbyes so I tend to try and just sneak out with a quick hug and a “see you later” but I didn’t always get out that quickly. However I got to see a lot of people and had a lot of fun visiting people who are very important in my life.

Here are some of the highlights: wine, baby, Panera, soy latte, puppy, caprese with avocado, and froyo.

My cousin's 2 month old son, Luke!

You Pick 2: half Mediterranean Veg sandwich, half Greek salad, and whole wheat baguette

Ashley the Creep and a medium iced soy latte

Reunited with the Monster (aka Sophie)

Traditional Caprese and olives with a twist: avocado!

Tart frozen yogurt with strawberries, snow caps, mochi, and a squeeze of marshmallow fluff!

A little too much dairy, so my stomach is mad at me, but I loved being down there! To my family and friends in Hampton Roads: I will miss you & come visit me in TX!

I didn’t get in any exercise so on my way out of town I made it to the gym for a quick session on the elliptical and some weights. On the drive back I did some difficult math calculations (what math calculations aren’t difficult?) and realized that my half marathon training started yesterday. Whoops! I was supposed to run today and cross train tomorrow, so I’m flip flopping that and I will be on schedule and won’t have missed anything. After a lot of comparison, contemplation, and questioning of other runners I decided to use the Hal Higdon plan (novice level)!

I’ve officially entered training & freak out mode!