Just Because I'm Cute!!

Is it Kibble Time??!!

 

Bicycle Wine Rack - Must Have List

Why did someone just now think of this. It is such a great idea!
If your biking to the park for a picnic or biking to the corner store. This bicycle wine rack is perfect. It hold one bottle of wine and is easy to take on and off. This is going on my Must Have List.

Get it Now!

New York 2012

This was our first trip to New York. We had an amazing time! Here are some of our sites.

Office Mondays

You know who you are. Happy Monday!

Spinach Lasagna Rolls | Skinnytaste

   I have found a new recipe blogger I love. SkinnyTaste. She follows Weight Watchers points which I love. Tonight I made her Spinach Lasagna Rolls. I made the entire batch to eat over the short week we have coming up. I was surprised how easy it was. I did make a few tweaks to it in order to make it more of a meal for me and Jared.

What you Need:

1/2 lb of ground Turkey (I prefer thighs)

Red Pepper flakes to taste

3 cloves of garlic chopped

9 lasagna noodles, cooked

10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and completely drained

15 oz fat free or Skim Milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg

salt and fresh pepper

32 oz prepared tomato sauce

3 oz part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

What you Do:
Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook over Medium heat add olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until aromatic.


Add ground Turkey thighs and brown. Add tomato sauce and cook on low until flavors are mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

 

 

Ladle about 1 cup meat sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 12 baking dish.

Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

 

 

Prepare the Lasagna as the box requires. Drain.

Place a piece of wax paper on the counter and lay out lasagna noodles. Make sure noodles are dry.

Take 1/3 cup of ricotta mixture and spread evenly over noodle. Roll carefully and place seam side down onto the baking dish. Repeat with remaining noodles.

Ladle sauce over the noodles in the baking dish and top each one with 1 tbsp mozzarella cheese.

 

 

 Put foil over baking dish and bake for 40 minutes, or until cheese melts. Makes 9 rolls. Enjoy!!

 

 

Friday Happy Hour

Tots and beer with Jared. TGIF.

Seafair 2012

  This year was our first Seafair. We had a great view from our Roof Deck and decided not to deal with the crowds. We grilled brats and drink ice tea and cold beer while we watched the Blue Angles.
While we did not get to see the entire show we did  have the Blue Angles and other jets fly right over the deck. It was so loud the apartment building was shaking. The beagles did not like this at all.

Jared relaxes on the roof between grilling.

Self picture on the roof.

The Blue Angles over the roof deck!!

Four of the Blue Angles over the deck.

The Navy Ships come into the sound and give tours. We had about 5 ships that come in around us.

Cuise Season is Here!

  Living across from the sound has it benefits. Each day we can watch something new outside of the Window. Since the summer season has started there have been many more cruise ships coming into and out of port. They are really fun to watch. Once Saturday we watched them leave from the patio on the water. This inspired us to take a cruise to Alaska for our vacation next year.

Going.....

Going....

Gone!

Bacon Monday!

Bacon, who does not love it! Happy Monday.

Beagle in a Bag - Video

 Today Winston found himself in a tight situation. After we re-filled the dog food container Winston was not convinced it was all gone. There was one kibble he had to get. However he found this to be a difficult task. He did this so long we caught it on tape.

Watch Winston try to get the last kibble.

 

Lunch Date with Jared

  The iconic summer afternoon in Seattle is lunch on a patio with friends and cocktails after work on another patio. This summer working for Nordstrom I have received "Summer Hours". Every Friday I get to leave at noon and enjoy the weather. Because Seattle does not get a lot of summer days this is cherished among seattleites, and most business honor it. This past Friday Jared and I had one of these iconic days. At noon Jared picked me up from work and we were off for an adventure. We drove out of our comfort zone of downtown Seattle and about 25 minutes up to Edmonds for a tapas lunch date. I had only been to Edmonds once but it has a charming little downtown that we will be back to enjoy.

  We ended up at Demetris Woodstone Tavern that sits on the sound by the Kingston / Edmonds ferry terminal.  Demetris is a new concept that intertwines a generous tapas menu, enticing happy hour, and edgy late-night lounge. Voted best tapas in 2011 this place held up to its award.

Check out their Menu.

Our first course was the butternut squash, cheddar cheese, arugula and pine-nuts flat-bread. It was amazing. And much larger than we imagined. The earthy squash and sharp cheddar  was a great combination. The best part was the sweet balsamic vinegar reduction they drizzled on top!
 

 

The second course was patatas bravas. A tapas dish native to Spain. This was our favorite item of the day. The sauce is tomato-based, and includes vinegar, red pepper, and a variety of spices that you taste in every bite. At first it will overwhelm you but then you can't stop. It is drizzled generously with  patatas alioli. Our next journey is to try to recreate this dish at home. Stay Tuned.

 

 Our last course was bacon wrapped dates stuffed w/ serrano peppers served on top of a bead of fresh spring greens and drizzled again with that mouthwatering reduced balsamic. The sweet and spicy was a perfect combination. I was sad there were only 4.

Dogs are a Girls Best Friend

Just a little something to make you smile, I just did. :) Happy Monday!

Beers at Blind Tiger Ale House

While in New York this past May we visited Blind Tiger Ale House in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan. This was a last stop before we were off to the JFK airport. This is one of New York's best beer bar. Not only because of the beer but the people and the atmosphere. This dark almost cave like bar make you feel like you have been there even though it is your first visit. The 28 beers on draft focus on American beers from both coast. Doing my normal thing I ordered the flight. I want to taste of everything without being carried out. My only regret is not eating lunch here. After we got home I read all the reviews that say the food is a hidden gem. With items on the menu like Beer Braised Chicken & Chorizo Tacos, Deviled Eggs, and Lamb Burger. Our next trip to New York will include lunch at Blind Tiger. If your on the Lower West Side stop in and have a draft beer. Start your beer list now  Blind Tiger. 

Flight of East Coast Beers

BEERS ON TAP

Brewery/Beer	Style	Origin	ABV
Capt. Lawrence Kolsh	Kolsh	NY	5.5%
Ithica Pale ALe	Pale Ale	NY	5.8%
Oskar Blues Old Chub	Wee Heavy	CO	8.0%
Sixpoint Resin	Imp. IPA	NY	9.1%
Leifman's Goudenband	Wild Ale	BEL	8.0%
Stone Smoked Porter	Porter	CA	5.9%
Troegs Flying Mouflan	Barleywine	PA	9.3%
Allagash Curieux	Barrel Aged Triple	ME	11.0%
Lagunitas Fusion IX	IPA	CA	5.6%
Troegs Java Head	Oatmeal Stout	PA	7.5%
Tommyknocker Hop Strike	Black IPA	CO	6.5%
Mad River John Barleycorn	Barleywine	CA	9.5%
Smuttynose Homunculus	Belgian IPA	NH	9.9%
Troegs Perpetual IPA	IPA	PA	7.0%
Victory Donnybrook Stout (Nitro)	Stout	PA	3.7%
Goose Island Matilda	Belgian Ale	IL	7.0%
Slyfox Grisette	Saison	PA	5.6%
Brooklyner Weisse	Hefeweissen	NY	5.5%
Kelso Industrial IPA	Imp. IPA	NY	11.5%
Founders Centennial	IPA	MI	7.2%
Stillwater Kopstootje	Spiced Farmhouse	MD	6.5%
Ommegang Seduction	Belgian Dark	NY	6.8%
Mckenzie's Cider	Cider	NY	6.0%
Kuhnhenn Red Rasp. Panty Dropper	Fruit Beer	MI	4.8%
Allagash White	Belgian White	ME	5.2%
Chelsea Hop Angel	IPA	NY	6.8%
Green Flash Hop Head Red	Red Ale	CA	6.4%
Victory Prima Pils	Pilsner	PA	5.3%
Thornbridge Puja (Cask)	English IPA	UK	6.5%
Thornbridge Kipling (Cask)	Pale Ale	UK	5.2%
Bronx Pale Ale	PAle Ale	NY	6.3

Szechuan Green Beans

Shortly after Jared and I moved to Seattle we ate at this hole in the wall Szechuan  restaurant in Redmond. We had heard about it from our downstairs neighbors. When we walked in to the restaurant it was packed. No only with people but with smoke. My first thought was "Is this normal?" My second thought was "Breath Susie Breath!!!" This was not just any smoke it was that smoke you get when you cook really hot peppers. Of course I started to cough, but one think I knew we were not leaving. The smell coming out of that kitchen was amazing. I would fight thought it, plus I was the only one coughing so I knew I had to buck up and look like a local.

We ordered a few dishes so we could try multiple items since it was all new to use. But the one item we both walked away completely in love with was the green beans. They were the Szechuan Green Beans. As soon as we got home Jared looked this up and was determined to make it. And he did. The first time he cooked it the whole house smoked, but the flavors were there. Now over a year later he has perfected the recipes and we have it often.

Warning: This will smoke up your house unless you have a killer vent-a-hood. But you will make this over and over again.

Gather what you will need:

Garlic

Ginger

Green Beans, washed and trimmed

Small dried chilies

Szechuan  peppercorn

Onion

Canola Oil mixed with Chili Oil

Wok

Heat oil mix over high heat. Let heat until it starts to smoke. You will be frying the green beans.

Make sure your green beans are dry. If they are wet your gonna have a bad time.

Keep the green beans moving in the wok. You want an even crisp on all the beans. While Jared tends to the beans Winston and Cash wait right outside the kitchen just in case they are needed to help clean up.

Once the beans are crisp remove from the wok onto a paper towel to train off any extra oil.

Heat Wok back up to medium high. Add chilies, ginger, garlic, onions, and szechuan  peppercorns. Cook for 3-4 minutes until flavors have combined. Adjust the heat by the number of dried chilies. I like3 but Jared has not found his limit yet.

Pour mixture onto the green beans and mix lightly. Serve and Enjoy!

The Legend of Socks & Sandals Guy



There are many myths out there and some you never think you will come across. Bigfoot, The Tooth Fairy, Elvis, UFOs and even Man - Bear - Pig, but today I witnessed something I thought I would never see. Socks and Sandals Guy. (Dun dun dun)

As I walked through the urban streets of downtown Seattle I come upon a creature like no other. At first I was in disbelief, was I really seeing the legendary Pacific NW Socks & Sandals Guy? I slowly approached and yes it was him. I was able to snap a few picture of him in his natural habitat without disturbing him.

Here is my proof:

Sunny Day in the Park

We enjoy the summer sun at the Park with the beagles! Finally it feels like summer here. The temperature got up to 91 degrees. That is amazingly HOT here. To all our Texas friends I know you are laughing but I am spoiled now. After 27 years of 100+ degree summer days I am happy to complain about 91.

We head across the street to   The Olympic Sculpture Park. It is the perfect destination for an afternoon walk on a sunny day. We all enjoy laying in the grass over looking the Sound. Sometimes we are lucky and see marine life. The other day we saw a harbor seal close to the waters edge. That same day we saw bold eagle land in the tree top 50 feet away from us.

It will never stop amazing me how amazing the Seattle area is. It has been a huge change from Texas but we never regret the move. Nowhere that we have lived have we been able to look out one window and see a mountain range and the water,then look out the other and see Mt. Ranier, a volcano!

More pictures of the Beagle enjoying the sun.

Crows are his enemies. He will stop at nothing until they are all gone. He plots his next move. The only problem is he is tied to me!

He love to pose for the camera.



  

Winston waits on a treat for being a good dog. So he thinks.

 Cash looks on as another dog walks by.



National Ice-cream Sandwich Day

Today is national ice-cream sandwich day! Everyone should go out this afternoon and eat an ice-cream sandwich.

Is there really a better way to enjoy a hot summer day than with cold vanilla ice-cream wedged between two thin pieces of chocolate cake?

I personally love ice-cream sandwiches. They take be right back to my childhood. The vanilla ice-cream melting down my forearms and the chocolate cake ending up on parts of my face that have my mom still wonders how it happened. No matter what there is an ice-cream sandwich for everyone.

Here are some ideas:

Are you indecisive?

Try the Neapolitan, you basically get 3 sandwiches in one.

Watching your waist line for the beach?

Skinny Cow has a verity of flavors for only 100 – 150 calories.

Feeling a little Martha Steward coming on?

Make your own at home and enjoy any day of the year.

Martha's Mini Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Wanting to go all out for this great day?

Go with the Macaroon Sandwich Cookies. This reminds me of one of my friends, she loves Macaroons so I know she would love these.

Love Homepage but don’t want he hassle?

Sur La Table offers a gourmet box mix that will have everyone thinking you are Suzy Homemaker. Stonewall Kithen Ice-Cream Sandwich Cookie Mix