Mardi Gras

It is hard to watch Facebook during Mardi Gras. All the good food, all the friends, all the booze, all the party. It makes a girl jealous.

I woke up on Fat Tuesday in pursuit of my own fun. We are too poor to order and ship King Cake's, but I hope that will change eventually. I had to bring Louisiana to us.

I pulled out my Holly Clegg cookbook and dug around for crawfish anything. My latest edition of Louisiana Cookin' was all about mudbugs. I haven't handled life well, since they rubbed the little critters in my face. (Did I mention I've been feeling jealous?)

Well with a little work and one tiny hiccup, we dined on Crawfish Creole on Tuesday night.

A little roux.

A little trinity.

A little Crawfish Creole.

My disappointment was a big one, but it didn't really impact the dish. I thought I was buying crawfish from south Louisiana. Alas, it was a Gulf Coast company, but crawfish meat was from China. CHINA?! I was upset, but we survived. I can't wait to get back towards the coast where the seafood is fresh and from someone with a terrific accent.

Recipe follow up

- I'll try the eggplant orzo one more time. I didn't read the recipe attentively as I should have and made the orzo in advance instead of letting it happen in the oven. He liked it, but we both agreed it was more work than it was tasty.

- Oh by the way, he survived the KKC. One hour and 8 minutes. 12 donuts. No vomiting.

- The Mushroom-Shallot Frittata. OH MY GOODNESS!! We both loved it. It was a lot of chopping but so worth it. In the future, I can easily make scones the day before and this for brunch. Add in a fruit salad, mimosas and Bloody Marys. This sounds like a great weekend gathering!

- I just ran 4 miles. Why do I ever fall out of rhythm? I finish, and I feel that I am on top of the world. I don't understand after a run like that why I ever let myself take time off. Now I'm looking forward to training for the 10miler (and Cooper River) even more than I already was.

Happy, happy Sunday!!

Weekend Menu Planning

This weekend T needs to buckle down on his thesis. It is possible he will defend his thesis on April 2nd, so the reality of the work to be done has officially hit home. He looked at me like I had three heads last night when I looked deep into his eyes and said, "I'm in charge this weekend!" I told him he has to focus, so I get to do all the cooking! Wahoo!

Here is what is in the works...

He will spend the night in Raleigh tonight before the Krispy Kreme Challenge tomorrow. I will go to Raleigh tonight to see a great friend who is in town, so supper tonight and breakfast tomorrow are off the books.

Saturday lunch - Shhhh! Don't tell him, but I'm picking up Jersey Mike's. We both love it, and after I've worked that morning, it will be something easy to bring home.

Saturday dinner - Salmon combining two recipes (See here and here.) Eggplant orzo. And something green.

Sunday breakfast - Mushroom and Shallot Frittata. Heart-shaped bacon (an early Valentine's day happy!). And fruit salad.

Sunday lunch - Chicken and Corn Chowder (I sort of want to make this shrimp instead of chicken.)

Sunday dinner - We have been invited to enjoy hot pot and a friend's house. Yum!

Countdown to Cooper River

I'm getting so excited for the Bridge Run this year. It will be my 3rd time to run it, and I hope it is something we do annually whether we are pushing strollers or setting PRs.

HTTP://COUNTINGDOWNTO.COM

FoodPornDaily.com

I kid you not. This is the name of a website. And OH MY GOODNESS!

Today they have posted the picture of a salted brown butter M&M cookie. And yes, they link it back to the blog that produced the picture and the recipe.

My life has changed...

FoodPornDaily.com

Salted Brown Butter M&M Cookies

I want to stop working nights and weekends, so I can be an adventurous cook/baker again!!!!!

Routine

We are finally back into our groove over here... back to the real world. We got up this morning and started the running up again. Tom has two races scheduled - one in February (the Krispy Kreme Challenge) and Cooper River in April. I will also do the bridge run and I've added the Tar Heel 10 miler while he is in Hawaii. I've decided to train like it is a half, so I get in some of those delicious long runs. I'm also taking a ballet class once a week, and I wish I would actually lie down and use the reformer twice a week. To try a little something different, I am taking a crack at an arm challenge. In the past, my arms bulk up quickly and I really detest it when my sleeves don't fit properly. I can thank Pinterest if I hate it, but the goal is to keep it up for a month and just see what happens. Wish me luck!

Baby, it's hot outside!

It is 70 degrees outside. I requested chili before it got so hot, so we turned on the AC to eat our dinner. I think the warm weather made him a little excited. Farmer Brown picked up a few seeds for his newly assembled greenhouse. The zinnias and the spearmint were my input.