Pork Chops with Rhubarb Compote

I figured out what to do with the rhubarb I got from the farm share!

After asking every person I know what to do with it, I settled on making a compote.  I used this recipe.  I also roasted some cauliflower, and made salads.

CJ and I felt like real chefs making this meal.  We snipped some thyme from our window sill herb garden to season the pork chops, we chopped up the rhubarb to make a delicious compote, and we had fresh salads with the farm share lettuce, broccoli, and radishes.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Side Note:  I have this weird thing where I can't eat bread that's not toasted.  I don't know why, but I just don't like un-toasted bread.  If you make me a sandwich on un-toasted bread, I'll eat it, but I'm not going to be a happy camper. 

Now I think I'm developing a similar thing with roasted vegetables.  It's only with certain vegetables like broccoli or cauliflowers, but I don't like to eat them raw/steamed/boiled/sauteed.  They HAVE to be roasted! 

Roasting is the way to go.  I think I want to start roasting fruits next.  I've seen recipes for roasted strawberries, grapefruit, and grapes.  You name it, I wanna roast it.

It was so yummy! After we ate, CJ said "this was the best dinner, yet!" and I'd have to agree.

Happy Roasting!

A 5k, a Wedding Shower, a BBQ, and a Graduation Party

Hi Guys! Happy Sunday!

My Saturday was by far the busiest day Ive had all year.  Luckily everything worked out, and I had time to make it to all my events.  Get ready because this is going to be a long post!


9:30-11am 5k at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, Ma.
I woke up at 6:30 am, and started my day with a cup of coffee.  For breakfast I made some toast with peanut butter, honey, and sliced strawberries.  It was a picture perfect breakfast, but I only took a picture of my coffee :(

I left my house at about 7:30, and headed to South Station to pick up my BBB(best blogging buddy), Tracy, and her friend Miriam who had just flown over from Ireland.  We drove over to Canton to the Irish Cultural Center.  

At 9:25 we lined up, they were a little late starting the race, so we didn't start running until 9:40.  It was a small race, only 121 people ran it, so I wasn't as nervous as I get at some of the huge races.

The course was boring, we just ran down flat, straight roads with one little loop into a parking lot.
The race went by really quick, and I was done and drinking a Magner's before I knew it!

Official Time:  26:22
Pace: 8:30
Place: 42/121

 

After we got some food and refreshments, we listened as they announced the top three men and women, the wheelchair division winner, and the award for best costume.

We stopped to check out a tent that had displays for all the counties in Ireland.  I snapped this pic of Tracy and Miriam next to the display about their home county of Cork! 

Unfortunately we couldn't stay very long at the festival because I had to go to the Bridal shower, so we headed back home so I could get ready.

1-4pm- My dear friend Liz's Bridal Shower at Tavern in the Square, Cambridge.

After I showered and got ready at Tracy's apartment, I drove over to Cambridge for Liz's wedding shower.
Every table had a pitcher of Sangria, so I helped myself to a glass right away.

Here's the lovely Bride-to-be and her sister.  She's opening my gift!  I got her a really cool mirror from Crate and Barrel. 

 

While Liz was opening the gifts, we had some cake.  We had a choice of Carrot cake of Chocolate cake.  I chose chocolate obviously!  I did try a bit of the carrot cake and it was awesome, but I am glad I stayed loyal and stuck with the chocolate.   The cakes were home made by Liz's aunt who owns a popular restaurant in North Conway.  She is a very skilled baker!  The chocolate cake had a mocha frosting and it was to die for.

4-6pm- BBQ with CJ's friends in Wakefield

Since the shower ended at 4, and my cousin's graduation party didn't start til 6, I had some time to kill.  I called CJ to see what he was up to.  He was at his friend's neighbor's cookout and he said I should come meet him there, so I headed over.

When I got there I saw there was a live band.  These guys were awesome! They played some blues, and CJ even got up and played the drums with them for a song.

My favorite part of this barbeque was the 9 week old puppy that was there.  She was so cute! She didn't even look real!  Her name was Rosie and I couldn't even handle the amount of cuteness.

 What an angel!  I need a puppy in my life... :(

6-9pm-My cousin James' Graduation Party in Saugus

After hanging out at the BBQ for a few hours, we headed over to my cousins house for his graduation party.  At this point my energy was starting to run out so I didn't snap any pictures the whole time.  I just hung out with my family, and ate some steak tips.  I wish I took a picture of the slushie machine my aunt rented because it was awesome!  Such a fun idea.

All the kids played volleyball, but since I was wearing a dress, I didn't play.  When it got dark, we broke out the sparklers and glow sticks and played with those.  You're never too old to play with sparklers!  Around 9, CJ and I left to go meet up with our friends at Chili's.   

9-11pm- Chili's

We got to Chili's and since I had been casually drinking all day, I didn't want to order anything but a water!  I munched on some chips, and sort of payed attention to the Celtics game (I don't really care about sports).  Everyone had plans to go see the midnight showing of the movie Promethius, but I decided to go home instead of sleeping through the movie!  It was definitely a good choice! I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Such a fun day! I'm spending today mostly relaxing until 6 when CJ is playing in a work Basketball tournament!  Wish him luck.

:)
 

First CSA Pick-up: What the heck do I do with this Rhubarb?

Hello! Hope your Thursday is going as well as mine!  I just picked up my first share from the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). 

I got lots of great stuff this week, and I can't wait to eat it all.  One of the main reasons I wanted to do this CSA was to force myself to learn how to cook/prepare different kinds of vegetables.  Utilizing all the fresh produce will definitely be a challenge.  I don't want any of it to go to waste.  

Here's what I got:

A bunch of radishes
1 head green leaf lettuce
1/2 lb spinach
1 crown of broccoli
1 lb rhubarb
1 quart strawberries

My biggest challenge this week will be figuring out what to do with the rhubarb.  I don't think I've ever had it in my life, and the only thing that comes to mind is rhubarb pie.  My mom told me she used to dip it in sugar and eat it raw.  Anyone else have any ideas? 

I know I won't have any trouble finishing the strawberries.  They are one of my favorite fruits.  Also, I predict lots of salads in my near future with radishes, spinach, and lettuce. :)


If you want to read my post on CSA's, how I decided to sign up, and why they are so amazing, click here.
For more info on CSAs: Local Harvest
For Info on my CSA:  Farm Direct Co-op

P.S.  If you know any rhubarb recipes, please leave a comment!

Tory Row 5k w/ Team Mac&Cheese&Peas!

Shaina, Jackie, & Me

I had an awesome experience at the Tory Row 5k on Sunday!

Official results:
Time: 27:33
Pace: 8:53

Our Team came in 7th!

7.

MAC & CHEESE & PEAS

Total Time: 1:58:26

Things that made it awesome:

• My bestest running buddies were there!  Representing Team Mac&Cheese&Peas!

Team photo: Shaina, Jackie, Tracy, me

• Drizzley weather= great running conditions

source

• Guzzling a Harpoon beer at 9:45 am

source

• Chasing that beer with a piece of Perfect Fuel Chocolate

from Wickedpotatoes

• Chatting to some crazy barefoot running men who tried to convince us they invented barefoot running.  uh yeah right buddy, obviously cavemen invented it!

source

• Chatting to Race Menu guy, J Alain Ferry, and then signing up for Team RaceMenu (!!!)  

website

• Grabbing Brunch (& mimosas!) at Russel House Tavern

Things that made it not so awesome:

• Losing a contact lens before the race even started! 

and...that's it actually.



P.s.  Please watch this video!  Dr. Katz invented the ONQI system that scores food for NuVal, the company I work for.  These are his adorable children.

Spelt Flour Banana Oat Muffins

Inspired by this recipe.

Since our bananas were rotting I decided to bake something with them.  I wanted my recipe to include oats, brown sugar, and spelt flour.  I found a recipe online and just tweaked it a little bit to include those ingredients.
What's better than baking on a rainy day?

Ingredients:
1 cup mashed bananas
1.5 cups spelt flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
3/4 cup 1% milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda
Mash bananas
Whisk together egg,  milk, olive oil and vanilla.
Pour liquids into flour mixture, then add in bananas and stir til just mixed.
Pour into muffin tin, fill each cup about 3/4 way
Bake for 20 minutes!

Muffiny Goodness!

How to: Windowsill Gutter Garden

This is a really fun project to do.  It's also fairly inexpensive and pretty easy.

Having fresh herbs growing in your kitchen window is perfect for cooking healthy meals.

Materials to make one Gutter Garden:
Tape Measure
Gutter (vinyl or aluminum, the choice is yours)
Gutter end caps (right and left side)
Potting Soil
Plants/seeds
Saw (If you don't have access to a saw, most Home Depots have a cutting station were you can use a saw, or have someone there cut it for you.)

Step 1:  Measure your window sill, this is where the gutter will sit.
Step 2:  Purchase your gutter, we chose to get a white plastic/vinyl one because our windowsills and frames are white.
Step 3:  Purchase the end caps, make sure you have a right one and a left one.  Make sure they fit the gutter.
Step 4:  Cut the gutter to your desired length.  This is where the saw comes in.
Step 5:  Pick out plants and or seeds, and potting soil.  We chose some herbs because we want to use them for cooking, but you can get flowers, or any other small plants that do well in containers.

Step 6: Plant your plants!  And fill the gutter with potting soil.

Step 7:  Place it in the window and marvel at how crafty you are!

I recently used the parsley and basil to season my salmon.  It was delicious!  I love having fresh herbs at my fingertips!