English Gadroon

I love getting my silver out, even if it's just to polish it. 

Why?  Because I always get to re-read this sweet note from my Granny every time I open my silver chest. 

I love you too, Granny.  I think about you every time I use my silver and how you used yours every single day and for every single meal.  It didn't matter if it was a fancy-schmancy dinner or just cereal for breakfast.  You truly believed in using the things that brought you pleasure each and every day.

Fry Guy

The Hubs did a fabulous job Christmas shopping this year.  There were several key pieces of kitchen equipment I lacked and he made sure I received each one.  One of the items I had been wanting for a while was a mandoline.  And not a cheap, wimpy one.  I wanted a good high-quality, yet affordable, mandoline.  I did my research, got the opportunity to test one during a cooking class this past summer and eventually settled on the Benriner Mandoline. 



The Hubs using my new toy.


I. LOVE. IT. 

Spicy Sausage Cups

I'm always on the look-out for quick and tasty party worthy snacks.  It seems that during the holiday season time is one thing I'm constantly short on.  Well, that and money.  The fact that these don't require much of either makes it the perfect last minute snack/appetizer/hors d'oeuvres to take to a holiday party.

A dear friend introduced me to a more basic verion of the recipe a couple of years ago and they immediately earned a spot on the Hubs' "Top 5 Favorite Snacks" list.  The best thing about them: they are so simple that even he can make them with ease. 

Are you serious?!?!?

We were sitting at a stoplight about a mile from my in-law's house today when I burst out laughing.  It was because I saw this restaurant:

Why we do what we do...

Yesterday the Hubs let me tag along on an "Old School" reunion he had with 2 of his former students.  He had these students their freshmen year (his first year of teaching) and then again their senior year (his last year at that school).  This group has always had a special place in his heart and he has kept in contact with quite a few of them over the years.  (In fact, one of them is now a teacher at our school!)  This is an incredibly talented bunch.  Many of them have successfully pursued professions in the art world.  More about them in a minute...


 Since we were heading in to town to meet them later in the afternoon for coffee we decided to make a day of it and visist Niko Niko's for lunch.  Yum.  We ate out on the patio and had a really nice time.  Tried to visit the CAMH after lunch, but since it was Monday it (along with the MFAH) was closed.  Good thing the Cullen Sculpture Garden is (almost) always open!  The weather was perfect for just walking around, being silly and getting a stern warning from the 80+ yr old 'security' guard while killing an hour.