LoveFeast Table

This summer shows excellent signs of bursting with potential if this past weekend was any indicator.

Right off that bat I hit a yard sale and scored some cute porch decor and a set of dishes!

There was time to work in my garden.

There were eager helpers who wanted to start their chores before breakfast!

Roxy met a fan who wanted to “contain” her!  Roxy can barely “contain” her enthusiasm for the situation.

got hotchalk? got hot help?

Suburbia Man stains the deck-fresh for the summer.

Summer sunset.

First summer boat cruise.

First bike ride.  Two parents.  Three kids.  15 miles.

Lunch outside at Barbette, Minneapolis.

The first vole of the summer and his untimely death.

Not a good segue I know…but our first dinner outside!

We got a taste of summer and it’s going to be sweet!

Just like milk and cookies…it’s always good!

How do you plan to spend this summer?

Over the years, somewhere along the way, Kristin and I began “theme-ing” our summers with a signature cocktail.  Looking back…I’m pretty sure it started the summer we moved to Minnesota.  The cocktail and theme was suppose to lift our spirits, embody our mojo, and help us get through our busy schedules,  holding us up until we’d meet again.  It had to be refreshing.  It had to make us happy.  It had to be a cocktail we would look forward to sharing next time we clinked our glasses together, which we try to do, at least once during most summers.  I know….no small task for one little cocktail!!

We spend a lot of time (OK, well some…) each spring discussing summer themes and cocktail choices.  We’ve had previous themes like, “Mommy-Madness & Margaritas” and “Mama-Mojo & Mojitos”.  Over the years, we have had a couple of themes around Sangria.  One year a theme was “Summer, Sunshine, & Sangria”.  We were obviously feeling upbeat about that summer’s potential!

Then, there was the summer after our trip to Italy and our time at the Limoncello Table.

That trip inspired us to do a Limoncello throw-down between our two families to see who could brew up the best batch of Limoncello.  It was the summer of “Laughter & Limoncello”.  Do you wanna’ know who won?  We defaulted.  Devon made a beautiful lemony limoncello that summer that would have won by a landslide.

As you can see this has grown into a yearly tradition.  A tradition that we wouldn’t just hand over to just any ole’ person!  This year is a different summer for us.  Our blog is underway and we are busy working on events and re-designs for our blog.  There’s a lot going on under the surface here!!  It’s going to be fun!  But, these mama’s only have so much time.  So, with compete trust and admiration for our friend’s libation skills we’ve handed over the pressure our summer-signature-cocktail-creation to our blogging friend at Sippity Sup, Greg.  I am sure he was tickled pink, with the pressure task!!

Also, here’s the scoop!  The LoveFeast gals are getting together next week!  It’s going to be fun!  I’m flying in to spend some time with Kristin….because it’s easier to create and be inspired when we are in the same room together.  We are also looking forward to getting together with the East-coast bloggers of Momz Share!!  Momz Share is a gathering for Baltimore, D.C. mom-bloggers to enjoy some “Networking, Sharing, & Cocktailing” started by Jennifer, of Hip As I WannaBe.  In other words as we say in the blogging world, we get to meet in, IRL (In Real Life!).

Kristin and I are  looking forward to clinking our glasses together “IRL” and tasting our summer’s new signature cocktail!!  We can’t wait to see what Greg has planned for us!

Want to theme your summer too?  What would your signature cocktail be?  And, who would you want to share it with?

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there!  Believe us when we say, we know that your days are full of endless loads of laundry, piles of dirty dishes, driving bus loads of loud children, shopping for and preparing meals for the umpteenth time, wiping snotty noses on your T-shirt, managing EVERYONE’s hectic schedule…only to redo the same thing day after day.  But, we also know why we’re happy to do it!  Here are our reasons!

Kristin’s…

Teapot

Little Man

Zap

Drama Boy and Little Man

Teapot

Zap

Drummer

Drama Boy

Teapot and Little Man

Drummer

Drama Boy

Little Man, Drummer, Zap

Teapot and Little Man

Chris Ann’s…

My oldest

Big Sis

Little Bro

Fancy Little Sis

Big Sis

The Gang

Middle bro again

Sister love

Beach Baby

Birthday Boy

Rock Star

Fancy Girl & Fancy Roxy

The Teen

Bon Qui Qui & Cat Girl

Snow boy

Little Sis

Big Sis

The Eldest

The End!

One of Kristin’s and my favorite things are tables and tablescaping.   We love to gather our friends at our tables!   We love to get out all our dishes and found objects and create a table that is warm and welcoming for our guests.

When we set our table it is with our guests in mind.  It is something we enjoy doing.   We like to think about each guest and how we hope they will feel happy, special and welcome at our tables.

These are some inspiring table Kristen and I found on the ground level of Macy’s during the Macy’s Flower Show.  I love the personal touch of ribbon and writing.

This reminds me of the welcome note Kristin wrote at her table at her birthday party this past winter.

Think you don’t have any cute stuff?  How about this idea.  Embrace your tuna fish and coffee cans!

Different textures and heights add interest to your table.

What are your ideas on adding interest to your table?  Please leave a comment and share!

And, please share your dishes at our next Fancy Friday~Fancy Friday Dishes!!  Dig out what’s beautiful, special, meaningful, whimsical, and wonderful about your dishes!!  We want to hear your stories about your dishes!

Two of my five children have red hair.  The question is always asked, “Are you Irish?”  I smile and reply, “Yes!”  My mother’s side of the family is Irish.  I was raised with the understanding that to be Irish was something to be proud of.  Her family is fiercely loyal and loving!  They are a force to be reckoned with.  They can drink beer and appreciate the good stuff!  They are witty and sarcastic, passionate and vivacious!  Even when my grandmother passed away, there was singing and clanking of glasses…a true Irish wake.

My husband and I had the opportunity to travel to Northern Ireland with our family a few of years ago.  I have to tell you, two days in that country, I felt at home.  My family and their personalities were to be found everywhere we went.  My kids fit right in.

We stayed with a family who welcomed all of us and were happy to give us the inside scoop to the culture in Belfast.

We walked the neighborhoods and visited the Shank Hill.

Devon learned how to play the Bodhran.

We walked on both sides of the Peace Wall.

We visited the local places to eat (of course).

This week, I emailed our friend and asked if he would share a little about St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.  My first question, “Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland?”  (I just wondered how much Hallmark had played a part!)  Jon responded, “We do indeed celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  It’s not traditionally as crazy and commercialized as it is in the States, but that’s changing.  Dublin has a huge parade now.   St. Patrick’s in Belfast, like everything else, is complicated.   It has tended to be a ‘Catholic’ holiday; Protestants usually complain that Catholics wearing Republic of Ireland football tops and waving Irish flags is not very ‘inclusive’.  Over the past ten years, Belfast city council has made moves to make St. Patrick’s day something for everybody.”

I asked Jon if there was traditional food served on St. Patty’s Day.  He said, “There isn’t a typical ‘St. Patrick’s Day’ food or dish, but in general, Irish everyday cuisine looks a bit like this:

Probably one of our most common and popular dishes is a ‘full breakfast’, which despite the name is available any time of day.  An Irish full breakfast will vary slightly depending where you are and what local culture is like, but will usually have bacon rashers, sausages, fried eggs, white pudding, black pudding, toast, sauteed sliced potato, and fried tomato.

Here in Northern Ireland, an Irish breakfast is called an ‘Ulster Fry’ or simply a ‘fry’ and consists of bacon, fried eggs, sausages (either pork or beef), fried soda farls (a form of soda bread; the farl is split in half cross ways to expose the inner bread and then fried with the exposed side down), potato bread and wheaten bread.  Sometimes, depending on where you are, it gets served with baked beans.  Top it off with a cuppa (tea, not coffee; a ‘cuppa’ is always tea; a ‘coffee’ is coffee).

Irish stew is popular everywhere and is made from lamb, beef or mutton (mutton used because it is fattier and more flavorful) potatoes, carrots, onions, and parsley.  Traditionally, stew is made from whatever is available on the day, so that’s not a hard fast recipe.  Many people add Guinness to it, which is fabulous!

Soda bread and wheaten bread are staples.

Another  popular bread is barmbrack, a slightly sweet high-rising bread with raisins in it (the name is from the Irish báirín breac, literally ‘speckled loaf’ because of the raisins).

Boxty, pancakes made from potatoes are also common.

Ham steaks called Gammon are another local dish.

Seafood is also a staple, but traditionally in many parts of Ireland, seafood was looked down upon as what you ate if there was nothing else or you were very poor.  But today it’s very popular and some of the best seafood in the world comes out of our waters.”

Thank you Jon for sharing a wee bit of information with us!  Honestly, I learned a lot!  I have to admit, I’m a little bummed as I have already purchased the corn beef, cabbage and potatoes.  This has been the St. Patrick’s Day menu in my house for as long as I can remember…along with homemade Irish Soda Bread!

So, friends, we raise our glass to you and leave you with this, “Here’s to me, and here’s to you.   And here’s to love and laughter.   I’ll be true as long as you.   And not one moment after.”  (Irish Toast)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Yes, I have to admit here, that I did indeed, celebrate my birthday for two weeks!  But, please, don’t see me as indulgent, just doing what a girl needs to do to survive!  You see, Chris Ann and I have been joking that we have somehow switched places this winter.  Usually, in February, Chris Ann is in full hibernation mode.  Between the cold, snow and husband traveling, the winter blues catch up with her! Every year, my perky self, calls to make sure she hasn’t totally holed herself in.  I send her funny books and even recommend tanning as a way to cope!  This year, she was proactive!  She planned a sunny vaca and an inspiring trip to Blissdom.  Where was I?  I was in Baltimore.  This year was like no other.  I didn’t see it coming.  First the clouds enveloped the sky, then the grey descended and snow (after snow, after blizzardy snow), blanketed my city.  My husband was not here on my birthday, both computers crashed, my car went up (twice!), I ran into a parked car (the lady was not nice), my son broke his elbow bone the week of baseball travel team tryouts, a dear friend died (unexpectedly), I pulled a muscle…anyway, you get the picture.  Before I knew it, I was in a very bleak place.  I don’t like this place and it’s not a familiar one for me.  So, I clawed and scratched to grab a hold of a happy place!  Yes, part of that was a birthday that never ended!!

Originally this little soiree was meant to happen on Valentine’s weekend.  But, because of the snow, and lack of parking on our street, we rescheduled for the third weekend in February.  Devon was inspired and created a menu that (he hoped) would bring me back to our trip through Italy!  At first, I was finding it hard to drum up the creative juices to decorate and tablescape (something I normally do with gusto and passion!)  In fact, the day before the party, I was crying on Devon’s shoulder, heaving, “I just want white flowers.” ( Can I just stop here for a sec and tell you how awesome my husband is.  Not only did he get me white flowers, he bought all the white flowers, roses, tulips, hydrangeas, antique roses…he could find!)

The morning of the party, I was still at a bit of a loss.  My big ideas, were really out of reach!  My “fun design” ideas, totally out of grasp.  I decided to go with simple (hopefully) elegance.  White.  Simple.  I had lots of things in white.  So, I ran around my house and gathered the elements and textures that I thought would work together!  Devon put a glass of wine in my hand around noon.  I began to touch a bit of my decorating mojo.  Somehow, it came together.  And honestly, it was beautiful!

Two foot pillar candles from my basement created snow lanterns that I dug in the snow.

Then, I chalked a greeting to our guests.

Strung some lights on my fireplace…

Proceeded to “scape” my table…

Piled high the antique linen napkins…

The room took on a glow and it was bellissimo!

Guests arrived with wine and began to enjoy juicy olives.

Devon chopped and tossed!

There was the first course…our lamb plate loaded with meats and cheeses from Mastellone’s.

There was mushroom polenta that he topped with white bean ragu.

Homemade pasta stuffed with roasted butternut squash.

Devon even recreated a salad we had in Panzano, Italy…mushrooms, pears and gruyere.

There was Bistecca alla pizzaiola (ribeye stewed with all kinds of goodies!)

My beautiful sister, surprised me by making and actually bringing to me, (ah hem, Chris Ann) Baked’s, Root Beer Bundt Cake!  Oh my!  It was delicious!

We sat around the table and talked the night away! There were old friends, new friends and family there. I sat at the table that night and realized it had worked!

Being surrounded with friends, good food and great conversations, I was slowly emerging out of my wintery soil!  Love and hope were sprouting again! (And, yes, this is the end of my birthday celebration!)

My husband made it back the day after my birthday, a day before the next storm hit! You know that saying, “Love makes the heart grow fonder”?  I missed him and was so happy to see him!  He arrived and a wrapped package appeared on the table.  The kids gathered around and Little Man proceeded to help me tear off the paper.  I was shocked!!  Absolutely stunned!  Behind the wrapping paper was a much longed for upgrade to my camera…a new Nikon!  I really was surprised.  I thought a new camera was a bit further in the future, but evidently my family pooled their resources and made it happen! (Thank you family!)

Then, it snowed again the next day…and the next.  Overall we received like 50+ inches.  This week of snow set records in Baltimore!  Because of the snow and lack of parking spaces, we had to cancel the shin dig we had planned that weekend for my birthday.  But, my mom still wanted the kids overnight and I was dieing to escape my house.  So, we made a few calls and a bunch of us braved the mounds of snow and chilling cold to venture to Joe2 (Joe Squared).  I just wanted a beer and live music!

This was our first time to Joe Squared.  I had driven by Joe Squared many times and had just assumed it was a college pizza joint.  Then a few months ago, we began to hear the buzz that it was a music venue as well.  After a little inquiry with some friends, we discovered it was quite a foodie/artist joint!  My interest was peaked! After being stuck in the house for so long, I really needed a pizza/beer/artist-y/foodie/music-y type place to be re-inspired!

Devon and I got to the restaurant before our friends, we pulled up a chair at the bar and ordered a much needed beer, Devon a Chimay (on tap) and me, Stella Artois.  (It was on my birthday wish list!)  Tom Reyes, a jazz band was playing.  I sunk into my chair, swigged on my Stella and took it all in.  The bar, dining area and stage are in one open room.  The lights were dim, but not too.  There was art on the wall…some fun piece about Sheila Dixon being “framed”.  But, the best part, I was out of my house, next to my husband.

Our friends arrived and after waiting a bit for a table we were finally seated.  (The place was a bit busy with lots of people braving the elements!)  We were greeted by our waitress and she took our drink order…beer, by the pitcher.  Devon and Derek started with wings.   Devon had the 9 Spice Wings and Derek the Ginger Pine Nut wings.  Both of which were the bomb!  They really were delicious!  Melissa ordered the Broccoli Cheddar Potato Skins.  They were good.

Then, I decided to order their specialty, pizza!  Their pizzas are all square and the crust is made from a 200 year old starter.  I ordered the Mushroom Lovers Pizza.  It arrived and can I just say, it was love at first sight!  It was a beautiful pizza!  One bite in and I knew we would be lovers forever!  It really was good.  The flavors were simple, the toppings perfectly placed and every bite was as good as the first!

Devon and Derek split the lamb cheese steak, as did Diana and Cliff.  Devon said, “The sub didn’t leave me craving more.  There were no distinct flavors other than mint. It was tasteless.”  Devon is the kind of guy that loves that lamb flavor! Melissa ordered pizza her way, with a bunch of different ingredients, and she loved it!

Then, as we wrapped up our meal, our server brought us the check…um, we weren’t done…but, felt like we were being pushed to wrap it up.  We stopped our server and asked her for another round of beers and for information about desserts.  Honestly, she wasn’t real sure how to describe the desserts.  So, she pulled another server over and he went into detail about the desserts.  Armed with info, we ordered a slice of Earl Grey Cake and Mocha Toffee Cake.

The evening ended with much laughter!  Joe Squared delivered just what this birthday girl needed…a fun night out with good food…and beer.

Today I have to confess, I have milked this birthday year like no other!  You see, the weekend of birthday brought many gifts!  It started with 36+ inches of snow.

My husband got stuck in TX because the airlines were shut down.  My bff was representing LoveFeast at Blissdom in TN.  My boys wanted no part in shoveling (truth, unless they were getting paid!) Those were the gifts that were hard to open on my birthday.  There were a few that brought a smile to my face!  Chris Ann, anticipating I was going to have a little bit of a let down on my actual birthday, shipped out a loaded package of goodies for me, early.  I debated on waiting, but in Kristin fashion, I decided to declare it a birthday week and proceeded to start the festivities three days early (my husband was already out of town)!!  I’m so glad I did!  Here’s a glimpse of what I scored!

Then in order to shovel a walkway and my driveway, I bribed some local neighborhood boys with a little xbox live time and food.  It worked!

For myself I made a pot of French onion soup!  (I did share with Drama Boy and Drummer!)

There was one gift though, that I received the morning of my birthday, that was more valuable than the rest!  I woke up, stumbled into my kitchen, only to be greeted by my two older boys, Drama Boy and Drummer, busy making blueberry scones (from scratch) and pulling shots of espresso for my Americano!

Can I just tell you, my momma heart was bursting!  The scones were flaky and the Americano, perfect!  (These boys will make great husbands!)  Drummer made me a birthday banner!  I asked him why it said 29?  He said, “Because mom, last year you were 28!”

Read the rest of this entry »

I woke up this morning next to my superhero.

It’s been 16 years of him watching over me and our family.

He reminds me that a true superhero love is not always perfect…sometimes there’s a dark side…but superhero love keeps coming back to where it started…back to fighting for justice, protecting those he loves, providing for those in need, always being vigilant, having integrity and always, balancing it with romance.

I love that he loves me.  I love that he’s still by my side, fighting to keep this institution (that has failed so many) alive.  It’s not easy.  It’s a commitment.  It’s a promise to give our kids something precious.  We have to fight for it.

There are many villains out there that would love to destroy this institution…and believe me, many have tried! I’m happy to say, at the end of the day, we have stood together to passionately protect the thing we love and treasure, our marriage.

I love you Devon!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,

Kristin

p.s Thank you Irene for creating a card that said what was in my heart this Valentine’s Day!

It’s time for someone to blow out the candles and celebrate, Kristin!!! Happy Birthday!  In honor of your special day I baked you a cake, just like when you baked me a cake for my birthday.

Dear friend, I just want to say that I hope your weekend was good even with your hubs out of town attending a conference and me being at Blissdom without you.  I know it didn’t help to have the “sickies” lurking about your brood either.  Just know that I’ve been celebrating your birthday (with out you) all week!  First by sampling your birthday package filled with Chocolate Espresso Cookies tucked inside and then with this cake!  Your birthday week has been delicious!  And, not to add insult to injury…let me just say that the cake I baked you was tha’ bomb!!

THIS CAKE IS TO DIE FOR!!  Root Beer Bundt Cake from Baked New Frontiers in Baking.

For the Bundt Cake:

2 Cups Root Beer (not diet)

1 Cup Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, cut into 1″ pieces

1 1/4 Cups Granulated Sugar

1/2 Cup firmly packed Dark Brown Sugar

2 Cups all-purpose Flour

1 1/4 Tsps. Baking Soda

1 Tsp. Salt

2 large Eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray the inside of a 10″ bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

In a saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat, until butter melts.  Then, add sugars and whisk to dissolve.  Remove from heat to cool.

Then, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.

In another small bowl, whisk the eggs until just beaten and then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined.  Then, gently fold the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture.  The batter will be slightly lumpy.  Pour into bundt pan and bake for about 40 minutes, rotating one time half way.  Stick a small sharp knife in and if it comes out clean, voila! your done.  Let cool completely.  Gently loosen sides and remove cake from pan.

It looked so good that I had to make sure!

This piece was in honor of your birthday!

FOR THE OUT OF YOUR MIND DELISH Root Beer Fudge FROSTING!!

2 Ounces Dark Chocolate (60% cacao)

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, softened

1 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Cup Root Beer

2/3 Cup Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 1/2 Cups Confectioners’ Sugar

Put all the ingredients into a food processor.  Pulse  in short bursts until frosting is shiny and smooth.

This will create nearly instant happiness.

And, I can indeed tell you that it was good, very very good and worthy of your birthday.

This I know, cause I’ve tried it and tasted.

Best wishes for a lovely day and a wonderful week…and I’ll let you in on a little secret.  I don’t think it will be very long until you get to try it yourself!