In the Kitchen

I wrote the blurb below last Sunday, but discovered after writing it that the pictures I attached wouldn't appear when I tried to post it.  This took days to trouble-shoot, but eventually Scott was able to figure it out for me.  It was something about an issue with Internet Explorer.  Whatever.  That kind of computer stuff is beyond me.  I'm just glad it's fixed.  Even though the post is a week old, I thought I would go ahead and put it up.  You will notice that small boxes appear where the pictures from my original attempt to post were supposed to be.  I don't know how to make them go away.  Anyhow, here it is:
  

Whew.  Work has been rough lately.  Last week was rugged in many ways, but I survived it.  The weekend arrived right on time.  When I got home from work Friday (from our Milwaukee office), I was so tired and so cold that I jumped right into bed..... just for a few minutes to rest a bit and warm up. Those few minutes turned into the entire night.  I got up for about an hour from 8:15- 9:15 PM, but otherwise I slept from 6:30 PM Friday night until 8:00 AM Saturday morning.  I rarely sleep that much.  Clearly my body and mind needed the rest.  It felt good.

In addition to getting much needed rest, I've also just decompressed and relaxed quite a bit this weekend.  I should be doing work, I know-- there is so much to do there.  But I just haven't been able to bring myself to it.  I put in a lot of work hours during the week.  Sometimes on the weekend I just want to chill.  Isn't that what weekends are for?

One of my favorite things to do is spend time in the kitchen.  I love to cook.  Until now, the various places I lived all had OK kitchens.  The kitchen in this house is by far the nicest kitchen I have ever had.  It's not show-stopping, award-winning or anything even close, but it's perfect for Scott and me.  This is the view of the kitchen from the dining room.

It's a pretty large space.  Lots of cabinets.  Eat-in area.  Island.  Below is the view of the kitchen as you enter from the living room.

I love this kitchen (non-matching appliances and all).  I love Sunday mornings.  I love listening to jazz.  This morning was the perfect recipe of all 3 of those things.  The house is freshly cleaned and always quiet.  I put some soft jazz on and got busy in the kitchen. 

First up:  low-fat strawberry cinnamon muffins.  I had never made these before but they are quite good and not too bad for you.  They are made with low-fat vanilla yogurt (one of my favorite foods) and have a dollop of strawberry jam on the inside.  Mmmmm.    

Next recipe:  a slightly more nutritious version of meatballs made with lean ground beef and spinach.  Obviously in the photo below they are unbaked but, damn, they look good (IMHO).  I'll bake these bad boys tonight and serve with tomato sauce and whole wheat pasta.  That's amore. 

I had some left over shredded cabbage from when Scott and I had fish tacos earlier this week.  I didn't want it to go to waste, so I whipped up a small batch of coleslaw.  I used the new Kraft low-fat mayonnaise with olive oil.  Have you tried it?  It's really good and seems to have considerably less fat, calories, etc. than regular mayonnaise.

Anyone who is even slightly serious about cooking knows the value of having the right tools for the trade.  I have been spending several days each week at my company's office in Milwaukee.  The office is right across the street from a respectable shopping mall that includes a Crate and Barrel-- a mecca of things for the kitchen.  Ahhh.....the Crate and Barrel.  I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go there.  I recently purchased these:

Measuring spoons.  They are plastic, which might not be my first choice, but I highly recommend these.  They are elongated on one end so they easily fit down in spice jars and other containers.  They are also magnetic in the middle so they stick together, but easily come apart when needed without having to fool with putting them on/taking them off a ring.

Of course, one set of measuring spoons is never enough, so I still have my old-faithful stainless steel set from Williams Sonoma.

Along the same lines as the magnetic measuring spoons, Crate and Barrel also has measuring cups with a similar concept.  Elongated to easily fit into containers and magnetic on the handles so they stay together.

And, like measuring spoons, one set of measuring cups is never enough so I still have my old-faithful stainless steel set from Williams Sonoma.  These have been with me in every kitchen I have cooked in since the mid 1990's.

My friend, Greg, is an outstanding cook.  He gave me these bowls for a gift.....I'm trying to remember the occasion.....I think they were part of a house warming gift when Scott and I moved to Bendelow Drive.

I love these bowls.  I use them almost daily.  I have other mixing bowls, sure, but these are by far and away my faves.  I love the bright colors.  I love that they have handles on them and spouts to pour from.  The sizes are perfect.  I used these for all three of the recipes that I made today.  These bowls are a staple in my kitchen.  Such a great gift.

Of course, all the while that I'm cooking in the kitchen I have a side-kick with me: Rudy-Patoody.  Usually she sits or stands at alert in case a morsel drops on the floor.  After a while today, though, she got tired and tuckered out on me.  Old girl has gotten so gray!  I love having her around me anytime, including in the kitchen.  And I don't even mind if I constantly have to step over her because she lays right in the middle of the action. 

So, those are the highlights of my relaxing Sunday in the kitchen.  I whipped up a few concoctions.  Had Rudy and my other pets around me.  Smooth jazz on the radio.  Sun shining outside.  I enjoyed myself today.

Dark Day

Over the course of the past decade, I have had some bad days at work.  That's to be expected and I accept it.  Yesterday, though, was one of the darkest days I have ever had on the job.  I can only think of 2 days over the past 10 years that have been worse:  the day one of our consumers and one of our staff died in a fire and the day I found out that one of our foster parents was accused of sexually abusing the children in his care.

When I got home from work yesterday, the first thing I did was pour myself a very strong drink.  And then I poured myself another one.  Nothing like using alcohol as a coping mechanism, right? 

About half-way through my second drink, I had a good crying session.  Crying makes me feel exhausted, so I believe I was asleep on the couch by 6:30 PM.

Strong drink; crying session; sleeping on couch...........what a way to spend a Friday night.      

Unfortunately, I know the following to be true:  yesterday was bad and Monday is going to be worse.

Late to Work

I got to work an hour and a half late today. 

I got there at 4:30 AM, but I meant to get there at 3:00 AM.

Ahhh.... my job.... I'm grateful for it, but I think it might be trying to kill me.

The really sad thing is, it's going to get worse before it gets better.  It will get better.  I swear.  If it's the last thing I do, it will get better. 

I've got to tie a knot at the end of the rope and hang on.

Anniversary Dinner at Fleming's

The night Scott and I got married on March 14, 2008, we had dinner at Smith & Wollensky's at Easton.  Scott had reserved the wine room for us, so we were tucked away from the crowd.  It was cozy and charming and we were so happy to be married.  I remember feeling content.  The temperature outside that evening was mild-- springlike and misting a light rain.  I love rainy evenings when the temperatures are that unique spring blend of warm and cool .  There is something so.....quiet about it.  That's how I felt that evening.  Quiet.  Peaceful.   

The food we had at Smith & Wollensky's was amazing.  Truly amazing.  Ridiculous.  By far, the best food I have ever eaten.  (and the most expensive meal I have ever had in a restaurant!  still less expensive than a big wedding reception, though.....)  Scott and I savored every bite of the oscar-style filets that we ordered.  Anyone who thinks they get good steaks at places like Outback has never had a really good steak.  Smith & Wollensky's is just in a different class.

Scott and I enjoyed our meal so much, we decided that it would become our tradition.  Every year on our anniversary, we would dine at Smith & Wollensky's.  And, we did on our anniversary in 2009; our first anniversary. 

Our second anniversary, in 2010, presented a logistical challenge to our tradition.  Scott was living in Columbus and I was living in Madison.  Not only did that preclude us from dining together for our second anniversary....we didn't even see each other on that day.  It was depressing.

Our wedding anniversary this year, 2011, brought good news and bad news.
The bad news first?  No dinner at Smith & Wollensky's (and that's not even that bad!)   

The good news?  Scott and I are together.  There are no words to describe how happy that makes me.  I was so, so, so happy to just look at my husband on our anniversary-- to lay my eyes on him--to wake up and see him first thing this morning--to kiss him good-bye when I left for work--to spend the day knowing that when the work day was done, I would come home to him.  I touched Scott's face repeatedly throughout the day.  It was all the "happy anniversary" I needed.

While just being together was more than enough to satisfy me, we did decide to go out for an anniversary dinner.  There would be no dining at Smith & Wollensky's, however, since there isn't one in Madison.  There are some other nice steakhouses here, though.  We decided to go to a place named Fleming's by Hilldale mall.

           

The inside of Fleming's was nice.  Dark.  Cozy.  Typical upscale steakhouse.

Fleming's offers 100 different wines by the glass.  That's a generous selection.  We opted to share a bottle instead of ordering by the glass.  I'm no connoisseur, but I have been enjoying the malbec variety of wine- which I was turned onto by the woman who owns my favorite little shop downtown, Savior Faire.  Scott and I ordered a brand named Pascual Toso.  It was decent and I really liked the big, bulbous wine glasses.

After pouring both Scott and I a glass of wine, the server asked if she could decant the wine for us.  Sure thing. 

This would be my woolly-bearded husband peeking at the decanter.

He decided it didn't look like there was much wine in it.  Below, he is pointing on the decanter to the level where he thinks the wine should be.  It was was 14% alcohol.  If we drank to the level Scott is point at, we would have been wasted and calling for a cab to bring us back to Stoughton.

Scott wanted an appetizer.  Our server told us the calamari at Fleming's was "to die for", so we ordered it.  It was good, no doubt.  To die for?  I wouldn't go that far.

Below is my adorable husband.  Is he cute or what?  He sent me the most loving e-mail message yesterday while I was at work.  So sweet.  On the way home after dinner last night, he told me "I love your person and what you stand for."  I don't think there is any better gift than kind, affirming words spoken.

As much as I love him, and I do, I still have to tease him sometimes.  Remember my mantra from previous posts?  Here it is:  You know I love my husband, right?  You know I adore him, right?  The mantra is usually followed by some kind of comment about hillbilly behavior.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of the table right in front of where Scott had eaten the bread we were served at Fleming's.  See all those crumbs?  Yep.  A little bit hillbilly......

.....although I think "bottoms up" on the wine glass was even more hillbilly.  Although, admittedly, it did make me laugh.

As per our tradition, Scott and I ordered oscar style filets for dinner.  The menu didn't offer oscar style, we had to ask for it.  Lump crab meat.  Bearnaise sauce.  All for the bargain price of an additional $11.95.  The picture doesn't do it justice, but below is the filet I ordered.  Medium rare and cooked to perfection. 

The sides were portioned for two, so we shared blue-cheese mashed potatoes.  They were good, but nothing to write home about (but apparently enough to write on a blog about.....)

While, granted, I often tease Scott about being a crazy hillbilly, unbelievably there was someone in Fleming's who out-hillbillied him.  See the dude below in the white t-shirt?  OMG.  I watched him in utter fascination.  He came in wearing jeans and a flimsy t-shirt.  OK.  That's not too bad.  The days of dressing up even for fine dining are largely over, and I'm glad about that.  What was killing me, though, was the dude holding his fork like a pencil, way down at the bottom close to the tines.  He was then using his knife, not to cut but to saw his steak.  At one point, he even waived his hand- with the knife in it- to flag down his server.  The icing on the cake was when he took a drink.  He didn't put the fork and knife down so he could pick up his glass.  He kept both in his hands and just leaned over and put his face down until he reached the straw with his mouth.  God love him.

No one ever said fine dining is cheap.  At this price (*gulp*), it's a good thing our anniversary only comes once a year.  My Mom sent us an anniversary check for 200 bucks.  I think she would be mortified if she knew we spent every penny of it on one meal.  We won't tell.  What she doesn't know won't hurt her.

When you arrive at Fleming's and ask to be seated, the hostess inquires as to if you are celebrating a special occasion.  Scott told her it was our anniversary.  To that end, a 'happy anniversary' greeting card was brought to us at our table and, at the end of the meal, they sent home with us the small golden box below as a 'special gift'.

Inside that golden box were 4 chocolates.  Those were the most delicious, decadent chocolates ever.  Soft, creamy, rich.  Seriously.  Orgasmic.  I told Scott that I thought the before-the-tip $163 we spent on dinner was worth it just because of the chocolates alone.   

That about sums up our 3rd anniversary dinner at Fleming's.  We had a lovely evening but, quite frankly, we could have dinner at White Castle and I would have been just as happy.  I feel so fortunate to have Scott in my life.  Everything about my life is better with him in it. 

Anniversary

On this date 3 years ago, I married a gentle- man with a kind heart.  My best friend.  My love for life. 

I'm so deeply thankful that we are together this year on our anniversary.  Last year, Scott was still living in Columbus and I was here in Madison.  I don't know what we will do to celebrate, but it really doesn't matter.  I'm just glad we're together.

Weary Traveler

Over the past few months, Scott and I have slowed down our exploration of Madison quite a bit.  I believe this is largely attributed to the winter weather.  Last Friday night, we decided we needed to break out of our rut and try something new.  We went to a restaurant I had heard of, but never been to:  Weary Traveler. 

Weary Traveler is near downtown on Williamson Street, which is called Willy Street around here.  You may remember a previous blog post about a Jamaican restaurant I went to with Kori on Willy Street named Jolly Bob's.  (link)

Willy Street is quintessential Madison.  Like I wrote in the Jolly Bob's post, it's an area of tree-hugging, granola eating, patchouli wearing urban hippies.  I don't say that with judgment or condescension.  I say it with love in my heart.  I love hippies. 

Weary Traveler is perfectly situated on Willy Street as it seems a go-to spot for the urban hippy-types.  It's located on the corner of a somewhat busy intersection in an older area of town that includes both commerical and residential properties.  Weary Traveler is in one of those buildings where there are business establishments on the main level and apartments above. 

The next photo is close up of the front of the restaurant.  As you can see, there are a whole bunch of fliers on a post to the right.  Gives it a feel of combination 'urban hippy meets campus'.

There is a door on the corner of the building, but entry to Weary Traveler happens through a non-descript side-door.

The inside is small and it was packed, but it felt warm and charming.  Even though there were a lot of people in there, it had a comfortable, relaxed feel. 

Scott and I sat at a table tightly snuggled amongst other tables.  We agreed it would be a nice place to come back to on a weekend afternoon (when it isn't as busy with a dinner crowd) and sit at the bar for a few drinks.

If you're looking for a domestic beer, Weary Traveler isn't the place for you. There isn't one to be found on the menu. I, personally, like watery domestic beers. Since domestics weren't an option, I ordered a Pacifico. Or two. OH.....OK.....I ordered 3 of them. Who's counting???

The Pacifio beer was going down like water.  Quite unlike the actual water, which you will notice is full in the glass above next to the beer bottle, which I'm certain was empty.  Isn't beer mostly water though?  I like to think so.

True to form for the urban-hippy types, a number of people in Weary Traveler had on knit caps of one kind or another.   

Also true-to-form for urban hippy types, most of the women in Weary Traveler had very short hair (I fit right in in that respect) and seemed fit and healthy (I didn't fit in in that respect.  I was by far the fattest women in the joint.)  I need to lose weight so I can fit in with the urban hippies that I admire and adore.  I want to wear knit caps and cool hippy clothes from Sahalie.  (link to Sahalie)

To add to my fatness, I ordered one of the dinner specials:  a non-traditional Reuben.  This Reuben was made with pastrami and some other stuff, as described on the blackboard in the restaurant where the specials were described.  And I love urban hippies too much to be mad that they spelled "rueben" wrong.

The Reuben wasn't bad.  Not great, but not bad.  I really liked the salad greens it came with and the potatoes.  I have no idea what was on those potatoes, but they were unique and quite good.  They had hippy-food flavor.  I don't know what that flavor is and I can't really describe it, but I know it when I taste it.

Weary Traveler is known for its "Bad Breath Burger".  That's literally what it's called on the menu.  A burger?  Right up Scott's alley.  You know he had to order one.  Actually, I noticed a lot of people in the restaurant ordered the Bad Breath Burger.  I realize a burger doesn't seem like something you would find in a hippy-type restaurant, but it was organic and made with beef from some kind of specially fed cow that was humanely treated....well, at least humanely treated right up until the point it was slaughtered.  Scott's burger came with the same greens and potatoes as my Reuben, which apparently are signatures of Weary Traveler.

I found an article on line about Weary Traveler that highlights the Bad Breath Burger. Much better pictures are included in the article than what I have here. It's a short, kind of fun article. If you want to check it out, click here.


I didn't finish my sandwich, so I asked for a to-go box.  Of course, the to-go container is made of some kind of decomposable material.  No bad-for-the-environment plastic or Styrofoam here.

It wasn't a surprise to me that the peace, love, and happiness vibe in Weary Traveler would also have a political element.  I noticed the sign below hanging on the wall.  This was just like one of the signs Scott and I saw at the political protest downtown last week (highlighted in a previous post).

When Scott and I left Weary Traveler, we noticed it was next to a Yoga studio.  Of course.  Of course it was next to a yoga studio.

Why do I say "of course" it was located next to a yoga studio?  I'll count it down for you.  (It's like a mantra.)

tree-hugging

granola-eating

patchouli-wearing

hippies.

Gotta love 'em.