best of both worlds

as you probably have read in my previous post, about my mom + her cooking and her mom duties of making sure her children are fed,  we had frozen some food she had us bring home the other week {a copious amount!}.  we were waiting for our schedules to align [a time where we are both home + an open dinner slot] and of course, not having this land on a friday [no meat lent friday!].

so that time was now.  i was very excited to break out the bánh bao {to die for!}.  it’s a favorite of mine, amongst a huge variety of other things my mom makes {honestly, everything is my ‘favorite’}.  hubby charming then created his own recipe for fried rice.  adding his own pizazz as he stir fried the white rice to perfection!  voila, a delicious meal created by my love, hubby charming, and my loving mother dearest!  it can’t get any better than that {right?}!!  it was the best of both worlds, combining their skills, and a damn good meal as a final result…yum, yum, yum.

image

image

image

here’s a recipe for some yummy fried rice.  not exactly the one hc used {he improvised} but very close!  enjoy!

DIRECTIONS

*In a saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. {hc says to use old rice, or let the rice sit for a day for best results!}
*In a small saucepan, boil carrots in water about 3 to 5 minutes. Drop peas into boiling water, and drain.
*Heat wok over high heat. Pour in oil, then stir in carrots and peas; cook about 30 seconds. Crack in eggs, stirring quickly to scramble eggs with vegetables. Stir in cooked rice. Shake in soy sauce, and toss rice to coat. Drizzle with sesame oil, and toss again.

 

bread + butter

hubby charming is out of town.  no, i don’t like it.  not one bit.  but i must make do with it, so typically i keep myself busy.  i’m usually productive but i tend to be in overdrive without the hubs around.  my mind races with possible projects, like what could i craft, who can i see, what can i do, where can i go.  relentless thinking.  relentless doing.

i was super excited to be able to have dinner with the lovely dana.  we’ve been friends for a good five years but honestly, it feels like forever in such a good, cozy way.  we are like ying and yang.  like cookies and cream.  bread and butter.  salt and pepper.  ya know?  those friendships that just balance each other out [ditto for my awesome hubby charming…a perfect balance].  i just adore her.

image

we had lots of chit chat.  yummy food.  wine + beer.  low key and relaxing.  i had to send her home with cookie favors as well.  it was my parting gift…who would refuse free cookies?!  that’s like the best free gift ever.  besides hugs.  and kitten + puppies.  ok, i could list a lot of fabulous free gifts.  um, anything free is good!

ahh, goodnight lovies.  it’s been fun!

a walk down memory lane

i want to take you back down memory lane.

image

we are going to visit our first new year’s together {hold on to your horses!}.  i’m taking you back to 2008…whoa!  well, really the end of 2008 because this was new year’s eve.  i can’t believe that was many a years ago, time sure flies by!  it’s amusing to think that we were only together for, barely, a few months in these photos {wow}!

we started out the evening imbibing and noshing at leyla’s {old} condo in river north.  a little kookiness, a little goofiness, and a lot of fun.  when you’re with this bunch, it gets cray!

the girls...meow!

the girls…meow!

appetizers

appetizers

the boys

the boys

after some jovial moments with our friends + famille, we went on our merry way to broadway cellars {it’s been ages since we’ve been back and seeing this makes me want to go again!}.  we had reservations for two!  after many courses, after many wine pairings, and desserts, we were dunzo {i mean, how much can one consume without bursting?  i really don’t want to find out!}.  we gladly rang in the new year with all the wonderful folks in the restaurant, it was so jubilant!  we were happily stuffed, happily in love, and happy it was 2009!

image

image

celebrate!

celebrate!

should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne!

for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne.
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

happy beurffday dick!

it was mr. richard heintz sr.’s birthday!!!  yay!

we kicked off our day with a lovely start at church.  for some reason, mass today just flew by…it was weird.  it felt very ephemeral.  like i was in fast forward.  maybe it was because we didn’t sit in our usual ‘spot’??  it was quite packed by the time we got there {um, maybe it was because i was totally running late…causing us to be late, therefore causing hc a very difficult time in the parking lot because it was filled to the gills…oops!!}, most of the pews were full, so i was ushered all the way up to the front side rows.  hubby charming almost didn’t find me!  so, therefore {phew!  am i longwinded???  nah!} mass was over before i felt it began!

anyhoo, after that, we did our usual run to starbucks & off we went, over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go [literally]!  brunch, presents, cake, oh my!

hb dick, we love you lots!!  xoxo

my outfit for the day

my outfit for the day

pretty colors

pretty colors

hello

hello, bad angle

family

family

mimosas

mimosas

purty wrapped

purty wrapped

for his railroad

for his railroad

the unsigned card ;)

the unsigned card, hee

gift from misse, john, + daniel

gift from misse, john, + daniel

grace + daniel

grace + daniel

hb dad!

hb dad!

hb dad!

decadent

make a wish!

make a wish!

image

my ice cream stacking abilities!

image

delicious!

 

dolce vita

we met up with the famille for a lovely dinner at dolce!  a cozy, delicious restaurant tucked away in a downtown ‘burb.  i love my famille.  i really do.  we grew up together in such crazy ways {five kids! but who wouldn’t say life is always crazy?},  but i wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world.  my dad has always taught me, family first.  they will always, always be there for you.  we are lucky that we are and always will be.  having that many siblings is something i cherish and feel so blessed to have 2 brothers and 2 sisters that are amazing {we are missing our eldest brother, the hipster who lives in l.a.}.  to top that all off, we all turned out to be damn good kids.  shout out to our p’s!!!  xoxo

image

 image

my other major loves, my darling nephews.  i just adore them [seriously love them]!!  they are the sweetest, cutest, most lovable little people ever.  i love being around them, i love playing with them, i love listening to them, i love being a good aunt to them.  they are so stinkin’ precious {i could just squeeze them and pinch them all the time…although i don’t think they would really enjoy that}.  they make the world brighter with their laughter, smiles, and innocent charm.  j’adore beaucoup, les petits enfants.

image

image

image

image

image

image

why did the chicken cross the road?

tonight’s meal: chicken pot pie!  oh em geeeeeee, it was so good!!  seriously, freakin’ delish!  i love hubby charming for his culinary skills.  at least his desire to do so, ’cause me, not so much in that department.  i like cooking {just the basics for me} but would rather have someone else do it.  am i right or am i right?  although, i’m a great cleaner upper…spic and span is my best friend 😉

image

image

image

chicken pot pie

1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup sliced fresh carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1-1/2 cups milk
4 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 cup frozen peas
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
1 teaspoon salt

biscuit topping

2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon
1/2  cup cold butter, cubed
2/3 cup milk

[via tasteofhome.com]

Directions

*In a large saucepan, saute the mushrooms, carrots and onion in butter until tender; sprinkle with flour. Gradually stir in broth and milk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the chicken, peas, pimientos and salt ; heat through. Pour into a greased shallow 2-1/2-qt. baking dish; set aside.

*In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cream of tartar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in milk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Pat or roll out to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter.

*Place biscuits over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown

oven roasted asparagus

1 bunch thin asparagus spears, trimmed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

*Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

*Place the asparagus into a mixing bowl, and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat the spears, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Arrange the asparagus onto a baking sheet in a single layer

*Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness.

*Sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

[via allrecipes.com]

i hope your evening was just as good + full of love, laughter, and silliness.

bon appétit!

girl time

it’s been awhile since i have been able to meet up with kt and kar.  leading into the holidays, we get so wrapped up [no pun intended] in so many things that it’s hard for us to get together!  we were able to finally catch up and have plenty of girl time today, although it’s never enough talkee time, ever.

so away we went with our late lunch date, so typical of me and kt…we are such sleepers!  the later, the better {ya know, we gots to get in our beauty sleep!} for us.

i should know better, that if i leave a decision up to kt, she can’t make one!  i offered a plethora of choices for lunch establishments but should have realized she would choose the one i have taken her to already!  well, who can say no to the ever fabulous bongo room?  as usual, we all had an amazing meal.

:p

:p

kar + kt

kar + kt

the girls

the girls

my cute little gift from kt

my cute little gift from kt

banana hazelnut + bacon

banana hazelnut + bacon

fabulous

fabulous

lol

beanie top

vintage chapeaux's

vintage chapeaux

afterwards, we did a little shopping [woot!].  milwaukee is a gold mine of vintage shops.  we had a blast perusing all the racks and finding such unique items!  after that, we parted ways and i sashayed my way back to our place.  i can never not stop by my favorite little paper store, paper doll!  i had to visit rhoda, the cutest little pug in wicker park!  after playing, petting, prancing, and carrying the sweet little dog around the store, i headed back home {for reals this time!}

i heart rhoda

i heart rhoda

 

meatloaf monday

boy, i was wiped out.  i’m a night owl.  i am just programmed that way.  i have tried, in the past, to go to bed before midnight [ha!] – nope, never, ever happens.  so, regardless of what time i have to wake up in the morning; i will, guaranteed, go to bed between midnight and two o’clock in the morning.  over the week’s time frame, i will aggregate in the regulated amount of sleep that is recommended but on an everyday basis, it might be 3 hours to 12 {for reals…i really can sleep 12 hours straight! // no kiddies to wake me up!}.

anyhoo, i woke up with an agenda on the brain.  but as my day started out really, really late, i didn’t hop to it right away.  hubby charming called and said he was on his way home from work {yeah, you can only guess what time that might have been, although his schedule is erratic} and i was excited because that meant we could do errands together!

image

that’s not my name, that’s not my name…

in the above photo, that’s my starbuck’s name.  yes, with a unique name like mine, i must have an alias!  peeps around me find it comical, i find it pragmatic.

after our escapades around the city, we settled back into our abode to start a cookin’ {well, hubby charming did the cooking + i did a lot cleaning}.  on the menu – meatloaf!

the delish meal

the delish meal

setting the table

setting the table

yum

yum

some of his favorite sauces

some of his favorite sauces

meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 egg
1 dash ground black pepper
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup steak sauce, (e.g. Heinz 57)
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper

Directions

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.
*In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, salt, egg, black pepper and bread crumbs. Pour in the milk, 3 tablespoons of the steak sauce, onion and green bell pepper.
*Place the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and shape into a loaf. Brush the top with the remaining steak sauce.
*Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until done. Allow to stand 5 minutes before slicing.
[via allrecipes.com]

brown sugar glazed carrots
16 ounces baby carrots
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup water
dash salt
pepper, to taste

directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the baby carrots with remaining ingredients. Stir to blend ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling (uncovered) for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until carrots are tender and the liquid has evaporated.
[southernfood.about.com]
rice pilaf
1 1/2 cups white rice ( I use jasmine, but any white rice will work)
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 small onions, diced
2 teaspoons margarine or 2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves

DIRECTIONS

*In a small frying pan over medium heat, sautee the onion and garlic until onion is translucent. The garlic will cause the onion to scorch a bit, don’t worry, it gives it flavor.
*Add the rice, sauted onion and garlic, almonds, mushrooms, and chicken broth to a 4 cup capacity or larger rice cooker.
*Stir briefly to distribute ingredients.
*Set to cook. When done, let sit for 10 minutes.
[food.com]

there you go.  it was so good!

all in all, it was a very productive day.  one thing i pride myself on is getting things done {and a lot was done today!  sleep included.  yay!}.  errands complete, delicious food consumed, and relaxation ensued.

cupid’s day

happy valentine’s day!

image

ahhhh, the day of celebrating love.  i spent a wonderful day with the hubby doing much of nothing.  we relaxed and said a lot of i love you’s.  well, we really say that phrase a lot in general but it’s cupid’s day…it’s extra special!

we got all jazzed up {time to dress festive!} and skedaddled to one of our favorite restaurants, roy’s.  it’s always consistent in service, food, and flavor.  it’s also an extra perk to know the managers, sommelier, servers, and bartenders {loves them}.  we started with the confit pork belly & rock shrimp ceviche appetizer [whoa].  onto our delicious wild mushroom bisque soup.  my entree was the hawaiian sea salt crusted scallops, braised korobuta pork cheeks {amaze}, + okinawan potato puree.  hubby charming had the smoked pepper crusted bone in rib eye {medium rare} fromage blanc, braised escarole, + truffle mac + cheese.  redic.  seriously.  and finally…sensational sweet endings: pineapple upside-down cake + red velvet cake + cream cheese ice cream.  sounds freakin’ over the moon divine, right?!

my roses

my roses from cattails

hee

hee

i really had to dress the part...c'mon, it's v-day!  cupid shot me with his arrow!

i really had to dress the part…c’mon, it’s v-day! cupid shot me with his arrow!

image

imageimage

well, after imbibing + gorging like we haven’t eaten in days, we were ready to go home and put on our drawstring sweatpants!  it was a beautiful day.  happy love day!  xoxo

power lunch

i love lunches, brunches, eating, meeting, greeting with friends.  sometimes the world gets so crazy busy but you have to slow down to take some time to connect [that’s what makes life great, friends + family].  on my list, it’s paramount.

people tend to make up excuses on why they don’t have time to connect {too busy with work or blame others for lack of effort}, or just don’t make enough effort themselves.  some people just have different priorities than others.

life can get quite convoluted but i believe in finding the time if an opportunity arises.

ande <3

ande <3

i just love ande + matt.  they are such a fun bunch.  get us together and there is never a dull moment!  we are such a ‘type a’ group {our common thread of controlling, clean, organized antics}.  probably the most gregarious combo of peeps anyone would ever witness.   we tend to talk over one another a bit too much but find it so normal to do so.  between the three of us [never one to be succinct], there is never a moment of silence!

 

pumpkin pancakes + bacon

pumpkin pancakes + bacon

matt <3

matt <3

every so often, we are able to squeeze in a lunch or a dinner.  the latter is better for us [due to our long winded nature] but lunches will do. although they are just too short!  so, knowing we don’t have a lot of time, we race through our conversations!  we always say we should have the husbands join us [naturally all three of them are the more quiet, reserved types] but only say it because we feel like it’s nice to ‘try’ to include them.

 

well, there you go…two hours later {and that was our version of a ‘power lunch’}, many topics later, many tasty bites later, we wrapped up our delicious date at the fabulous bongo room {one of my two favorite brunch spots!!!!!!}.  until next time my lovelies!  xoxo