Recipes

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

HLS and more New House Adventures!

Wow what a weekend!

First I must commend the girls who put on the Healthy Living Summit. It turned out to be a huge success and I think everyone, including myself, had a wonderful time and learned a lot. The most exciting part for me was to actually talk to so many of these bloggers in person. So many times you read blogs and even email with other bloggers and think how you just know you’d want to be friends with that person if they lived closer, and it’s still so true. There were a lot of us, so it was hard to talk to everyone or for any length of time but it was still so exciting to be around all of these amazing people who love so many of the same things that you do!

I mean where else would you find a room of 125 people who all get giddy over little jars of Barney Butter!? Or where the Greek yogurt flies off the breakfast buffet in the first 10min (I came about 15min after registration opened and it was long gone by then haha!).

No worries, the breakfast buffet was still delicious! I was pumped to finally try Mix My Granola!

Unfortunately I couldn’t join in the Saturday evening activities in the North End (At least I’m
local so I’ve been many times), or the Sunday morning run which looked glorious from seeing other peoples pictures. No, I had the fun task of MOVING in one of the hottest weekends we’ve had this summer!

I was able to make the Friday evening cocktail party at Rustic Kitchen though!! I love Rustic Kitchen so I was excited about this. I was also excited to wear the cute salmon-y colored dress I had worn to my friends wedding a few weeks ago! Well apparently great minds think alike because I walked in and saw my fellow Boston blogger, Elina, in the same dress!!! Hahah!

(ps I totally stole those pics from Meghann and Heather's blogs respectively...thanks girls!!)

Somehow we missed this photo op, but if you check out Meghann's post and scroll down you'll notice a pic with Elina, then myself and we are dress twins :)

Here are some more pics from the Summit. I'm sure by now you've read 124 recaps and this will be #125, so I'll just post some pics and keep it simple.

I Heart Swag
My delicious sandwich bar lunch at the Summit:
I wish I could have access to delicious cut fruit everyday! Snack time:

The rest of the weekend was moving...I hate moving, HATE moving (although I’m sure I’m not alone there). You never realize how much stuff (crap) you accumulate until you have to move it all.

However, more exciting...I am finally in the new house officially!!! It's so weird and exciting at the same time. I mean, I am now living in a House (not an apt), and it's MY house! I am finally living with Brian, and realized the other day that I never have to pack a bag to stay with him again!

Of course this has been the hottest week of the year so it's hard to get too much done around the house without breaking a sweat haha. I did document our first dinner on the new grill!!Brian is SOOOO excited about this. It lives in our back yard cabana:The grill man :) Now all we need is proper patio furniture, instead of the ghetto set we're using now: This was somehow pulled together with some veggies given to me from my uncles garden, a bag of frozen shrimp I brought from my apartment and some Emeril’s Essence spice that was sent to me via the Foodbuzz Tastemaker's program! I spy a hot dog ;) So maybe I was craving a grilled hot dog and made Brian split one with me as an appetizer. Grilled Shrimpies! Veggies:My plateP.S. Emeril's Essence is awesome!

I can't wait to share more pictures of the house...we've done lots of painting and practically re-did the bathroom!! It's coming along great.
Even the tomatoes are flourishing!

This weekend is my Bachelorette Party!!! Holler!!!!!! Can't wait to share that with you guys!

17 Days!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Last Shower of the Year...I hope!

A week and a half ago was my friend Jen's shower...she's on of my bridesmaids (remember the one who made my amazing cake favors!). I am also one of her bridesmaids and was also make the favors for her shower.

I opted for some nice chocolate truffles!

I made two kinds, using two recipes, and two different liquors as flavorings...although they flavor differences were very subtle.

First was a Barefoot Contessa Recipe using Grand Marnier, and the other was from my Tartine cookbook! And I added some Chambord to these.

There was a lot of this:And this:
And this for decorating:

The Chambord truffles got a pink drizzle while the Grand Marnier ones had a white drizzle.

It was a learning experience with the ganache fillings...I let them cool MUCH too long in the fridge and had a hard time forming the balls (hehe...yeah yeah I know, grow up!). But really...I ended up putting the bowls of cold ganche in the microwave for about 30sec to soften it up. Even then they did not make for very uniform truffles but oh well! Still tasted delicious.After chilling again overnight, it was time to melt that chocolate to dip... of course it was like the hottest day of the summer to do this which made for some melting ganache but oh well. It blended in with the dark chocolate coating.Then while still wet, I piped melted white chocolate to decorate.
They were a hit!

The shower was beautiful...and I even hired my aunt for her cake too! It was freaking fabulous!!!It was a white cake with 4 thin layers separated by raspberry preserves and Italian buttercream!

As fun as showers are I am SO glad its over for this year!!!!

A few days later I went to Jen's condo for a thank-you note writing party :)

We made an amazing spread for dinner:
  • cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto
  • tomato, mozzarella, basil
  • pink lady apple slices sprinkled with feta and a tiny drizzle of balsamic!
PERFECT summer dinner for us!!

Well lets see whats happened in this past week:
  • Booked Rehearsal dinner site (finally!)
  • Make-up trial last night (yay!)
  • Met with florist again to review
  • re-picked linens...but not much changed
Need to:
  • finalize table numbers
  • order labels for candy bags
  • finish guest book!
  • get stuff for bathroom baskets
  • Pick more paint colors for the house!
Need to pick colors asap too because...I'm officially moving in Sunday!!!

Also can't wait for the Healthy Living Summit this weekend too!!!

T-25 days...

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

New Post minus camera?

Well doesn't it figure when I get around to post I realize I left my camera at my friends place last night!!!

So I am starting this post this morning from work (hehe), and will post a follow up later when I get home because today is a busy day!

Leaving work early, then:
  • Going to get our marriage license
  • meeting the music director at the church
  • final walk through at our Reception site with our caterer and the site coordinator
  • visiting another potential rehearsal dinner site!
  • then I must hit the gym :)
As to not leave you entirely pictureless...here are a few from Brian and my friend's wedding we went to the other weekend (the same weekend as my shower)

On my way up to NH that Friday before the wedding, I stopped in Portsmouth for a little lunch for 1, and ended up at Popovers!This was INCREDIBLE - lobster salad in a popover, over mixed greens and asparagus:The Wedding Rehearsal:The bride had a cake made for the rehearsal in a replica of the grooms boat!! He loved it!Rehearsal dress: (we weren't in the wedding, but since most guests were up for the weekend everyone was invited. We matched and he had no idea what I was wearing haha!

(I'm kind of obsessed with my dresses from this weekend, not gonna lie)

Wedding Attire:The groom and his boys walking to the church:Bridesmaids!Beautiful Bride!The CeremonyHappy CoupleDinner was in the Tent
The Bride and I (ok clearly I've developed a "pose" haha)Mmmm caprese salad
All the UNHers!!! (the bride and groom as well as many of us went to UNH) And lots of this...
This wedding was SO fun! Lots of dancing all night long! Can't believe the next wedding I go to will be MINE!!!