Monday, December 28, 2009
Our First Christmas
On Christmas Eve I had the pleasure of attending the traditional Edwards family meal at Benihana. It was all very exciting since the Memphis establishment burned down last year and the family wasn't able to enjoy the refreshing steam of the hibachi like they usually do. Different from the usual Italian fare served at the Good house on Christmas eve, but equally fun. After Benihana, the Edwards bros and I attempted to start a new family tradition by watching A Christmas Story and eating peppermint ice cream pie over at our place. Weren't able to finish the movie before we had to scurry to the beautiful eleven o'clock service at Second Pres, but we were able to get a decent picture in front of our first Christmas tree!
The next morning I awakened at my usual 6:45 to prepare breakfast for Price. After exchanging gifts with each other we ate cinnamon rolls and bacon while listening to Christmas music. I turned up the thermostat, lit allllllllll of my candles, and it almost felt like we had a fire going. It was so cozy and fun. I must say, Price totally out-gifted me this year. He really spoils me and I totally don't deserve it.
We then headed east to celebrate with our families, starting off the day opening presents at the Good house. (Below is Hannah, black sheep?!?!?!)
Then off to the Edwards for gifts and lunch and relaxing. Around 4 we headed back to the Good house so that I could prepare my dessert for our Christmas dinner. My mom really out-did herself with our Christmas feast. Ham, turkey, cheese grits, hot fruit compote, mac and cheese, orange and green salad, and my mediocre attempt at the Pioneer Woman's tres leches cake. We returned home to our haphazard apartment stuffed and pooped.
The next morning we set off for Jackson, MS with Price's brothers to visit their mom's side of the family. It was great to get to catch up with them and see where they lived. I have never been to Jackson and really enjoyed it. Still can't get over the fact that they have an Anthropologie before we do. We had so much fun playing with Price's six year old cousin. Price had so much fun playing Super Mario for Wii. It was a great finish to our Christmas weekend.
Since then, we have been enjoying doing absolutely nothing until around 1 or 2 everyday, eating leftovers, and watching movies. I love being a teacher and having a Christmas break. I just can't believe this bliss must end on Monday the 4th.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
"Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts..."
Pumpkin Dip
- 1 block cream cheese
- lots of powdered sugar (I just kept dumping it in... probably 1/2 of a box)
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
Mix together these ingredients until combined. Keep adding powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want. I prefer mine a bit thinner so I added quite a bit of sugar. I also added more spices just for kicks.
Gingersnaps
I found the recipe on this site. They turned out great. I added some extra molasses and additional ginger.
http://www.joyofbaking.com/gingersnaps
Monday, December 14, 2009
He Went... To... Jared?
A year ago today, my sweet husband got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were talking last night about how quickly this year has passed. I so vividly remember walking to the admissions building at Furman thinking I was meeting my sister to "talk" and being swept off my feet by a candlelit proposal in a place that was so special to our relationship. I remember getting in his car and not knowing who to call first or where to go to celebrate because everyone was studying for exams and I was too excited to think straight. I remember going to McDonalds before going back to tell my friends and getting a soft-serve ice cream and then not eating a bite of it and leaving it in Price's car for 2 days. Clearly, I was distracted as ice cream is not something I ever waste. I remember running around the J apartment complex telling friends, both awake and asleep, about our exciting news. I remember standing in front of my closet for a good thirty minutes trying to decide what to wear on my first day with a fiance. I remember painting my nails once a week for a good month or so. I have a good memory and could go on and on but am going to stop for your sake.
Sitting here thinking about a year ago, I'm struck by how much has changed. Right now, Price and I are sitting in the living room of our apartment in our pjs (it's 8 pm, mind you) watching Mary Poppins on ABC family. We will probably go to sleep in an hour. My nails haven't been painted in awhile and I can't remember the last time I cleaned my ring. Our friends are all over the place. We are both teaching, something that really wasn't even a consideration a year ago. We have to pay bills... okayyyy... he has to pay bills. And I don't make the gourmet meals I pictured myself making as a wife because I tried that for a month or so and realized it wasn't amenable to our budget! Confession: tonight, I scratched the plan to make chicken enchiladas and instead opted for leftover ravioli from the PDS lunchroom. Price told me it was delicious. Apparently I am a great food heater-upper.
Things are so different from where they were last year and from what I imagined they would be like, but they are different in a good way! I really had no idea what a blessing marriage would be. I get to spend all the time I could ever want with my very best friend. We watch movies. Laugh about the grasshoppers that have infested our apartment. Fight about putting up the Christmas tree and then happily hang ornaments together. After dating for 5 years I really didn't think we could get much closer but everyday I am surprised. Price is gracious, kind, and so encouraging. I always knew these things, but being married has made me see them on a deeper level. A year ago today I was a very lucky girl! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the future.
Disclaimer: Price did not actually go to Jared.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Elf on a Shelf
Have any fun family traditions? Please share! Also, if you too are fascinated by the elf on a shelf you can find out more info on this site: www.elfonashelf.com
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Halls Are Decked
Helpful hints for others looking to spruce up their space for Christmas:
- Home Depot is where it's at. We got our lovely 8 foot Fraser Fir tree for $39.99. The other tree lot we browsed had prices between $70-$150. Rip off.
- Hobby Lobby has garland that looks very real. And they run it half off for a few weeks after Thanksgiving.
- Christmas scented candles make me oh so happy. An even cheaper way to add a festive fragrance to your house is to let water, orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves simmer on your stove for a few hours. A trick I learned from my mom that smells heavenly
- BUY A DECENT TREE STAND. I will spare you the sappy details of our experience with a shoddily made tree stand that was too small for our tree, but if you are trying to decide between the $7 tree stand and the $12 tree stand just splurge on it. It will save you blood, sweat, and tears. We experienced all three.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Kindergartners Say the Darndest Things...
Last Week (on playground before our Thanksgiving feast):
Kid (pulling his ears up and down while wiggling shoulders and shaking hips): "Mrs. Edwards, my ears are itchin' to PAR-TAYY!"
This Morning:
*Kid: "Guess what Mrs. Edwards?"
Me: "What?"
Kid: "My mom drove into the hood this morning?"
Me: "What hood? Like the hood of a car?" (Not thinking that a child his age would know about the "hood")
Kid (giggling): "No, like the hood where the gangsters live."
*Note: This child decided to cut his cargo pants later on in the day during craft center. Perhaps his trip to the "hood" inspired him.
This Afternoon (making snakes in craft center):
Kid: "Snakes give my mother the willies. We have one under our house."
Other kid: "Is your mom a scaredy cat?"
Kid: "No. As a matter of fact, snakes are very frightening."
I then had to explain to the rest of the group what "the willies" were.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
Also a favorite of Jessica Simpson. These candles are sure to add a breath of fresh air to your apartment/house/condo/parent's house and maybe a little holiday "spice" too. The large size has a burn time of 60 hours. I recommend the "Havana" and "Grace" scents. Just add mistletoe and you are set. www.tocca.com
Tory Burch flats ($295ish)
I have the best husband ever. He bought me a pair of these babies in black for my birthday and I never want to take them off. I would wear them every day of the week, the only thing stopping me is my fear that I will wear them out too quickly. It's quite a conundrum. They are excellent for fashion forward teachers... until a little one steps on the metal "T" emblem and pain shoots through your toenails... but that's a very very minor detail. www.toryburch.com
Hunter rain boots ($100-$125)
Alecia's Tomato Chutney ($8)
Alecia's Tomato Chutney is made by Alecia in Leeds, Alabama. I first tasted its goodness on a pizza at Frank Stitt's Bottega Cafe in Birmingham. Apparently, it is one of Stitt's favorite products too. The flavor is savory, but with a sweetness that comes from raisins and sugar. I have used it on baked chicken, pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and with cheese and crackers. According to a man I met at Williams-Sonoma who also loves this product, the chutney is made in small batches in Alecia's kitchen. You only see it in Birmingham and can't order it online. If you are interested you can give Alecia herself a call at (205)352-4900.
McCarty's Pottery
Now that I am married and allowed to collect pottery, I have a full-blown obsession with the pieces produced by Lee and Pup McCarty in Marigold, MS. According to their website, the McCarty's started throwing pottery in 1954. "Lee and Pup have come a long way since William Faulkner showed them a clay deposit in a ravine on his property and told them they could have it." I received several pieces as wedding gifts and the soft brown, blue, and green glazes typical of McCarty work perfectly with my decor. My birds and candlesticks make me particularly happy. I hope to collect many more pieces and maybe even make a trip to the McCarty barn and restaurant in Marigold in the near future (Price)!?!?! www.mccartyspottery.com
Juliska
Thank you Rachel Walton Knowlton for introducing me to Juliska ceramics (pattern: "Berries and Thread.") I am big on pretty colors, so when I chose this for my everyday china I couldn't decide between the blue, green, or brown. Sooo... I got some of each and I couldn't be happier! I have SO much fun mixing and matching my pieces. And the colors of my plates etc. flow effortlessly with my (small) collection of McCarty serving pieces. These guys are sturdy and elegant. I think my next present to myself will definitely be the small blue Juliska pitcher that was featured in this months Lucky magazine! www.juliska.com
Labradoodles ($ "too expensive for me")
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Back to Reality
1. Heated Bathroom Floors- Makes it a little bit easier to wake up in the morning.
2. Picturesque views of the country club golf course- All we get to look at is the parking lot and the railroad tracks.
3. Laundry Laundry Laundry- For the first time in months our clothes feel clean and we didn't have to deplete our quarter collection.
4. High Thread Count Sheets- I really dropped the ball on that one. Bought the cheapest I could find and with each wash they get these little fuzz balls on them that won't come off and make them scratchy.
5. A controllable shower- I forgot that showering can be enjoyable when you aren't spending the whole time fiddling with the knobs to get that perfect balance of hot and cold without getting scalded.
6. A walkable neighborhood- I avoid walking in our neighborhood because of the combination of busy streets, angry Memphis drivers, and my paranoia. Also, the houses near us are not nearly as fun to drool over.
We had such a fun time playing house together and will certainly jump if the opportunity arises again. However, it is nice to be home and back in our routine!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Chez Price
In this post I would like to take a moment to spotlight the kitchen-savvy man I married. It probably won't come as a surprise that he is quite humble about his cooking abilities and becomes quite bashful when complimented. But I have no problem bragging for him.
Mr. Edwards is self-taught. He began his career making delicious omelettes for his adoring girlfriend on special occasions using the Furman dorm stove and an extremely scratched frying pan that he rented from our RA's office. Since then he has graduated from eggs and maintains quite a repertoire of delicious dishes. Some of my personal favorites include his chicken couscous with vegetables, fish tacos (haven't had those in awhile... hint hint), corn and black bean salsa, and even though I don't like avocados in the least his guacamole is fab. He dominates our baby Weber grill and uses our Wusthof knives like an Iron Chef. He also hones them to keep them sharp. Wow.
Two weeks ago he made a dish we named "Farmer's Market Pasta" out of a bunch of random ingredients and vegetables we had in our fridge. He spent less than $10 at the grocery. I kid you not we ate this meal at least 5 nights and also had some to take for lunch. If you are cool with leftovers it is a great dish. I don't exactly know how he made it and I don't think he does either but here is the gist of it:
Ingredients:
- 5 stalks of celery (chopped)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 4-5 Japanese Eggplant (these are the long skinny ones, much easier to cook with)
- cooked chicken (however you want to cook it)
- 1 package of penne pasta
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can tomato sauce
- Salt
-Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley
Start by sauteing the onion, garlic, and celery in a skillet using a little oil or cooking spray. Cook until translucent. Add chopped eggplant and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and any other seasoning you like. Simmer about 15 minutes on low. Meanwhile, cook pasta noodles. After you have drained them, add the veggie sauce and chicken to the warm noodles. Mix in chopped parsley and perhaps a handful Mozzarella cheese. Hope you like it because you are stuck with it for about a week!
When it is all said and done. Mr. Edwards won't even let his wife lift a finger to help him clean up. He makes the kitchen sparkle. In the future, his wife hopes that he will venture into the world of baking :)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Getting Festive
Monday, October 19, 2009
Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater
I have been a TCBY fiend for quite some time now. I have the rewards card, I know all the locations in Memphis, I have memorized their hours. I lived without a close TCBY during my college years and have found that absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. Ever since October 1st, I have actually taken up stalking our TCBY locations in an effort to obtain this holy grail of fall flavored froyo. I confess, I have the store numbers in my phone and call daily.
Well, this past weekend while I was at Homecoming I gathered a search party (my mother) to stay on the lookout for me. Well... she found it and had a pint waiting for me in her freezer. Though a yogurt this tasty needs no additional adornments, I decided to make ours extra special by topping it with cinnamon and marshmallows that I toasted in the oven. YUM-O!!!! Enjoying it cuddled up in a blanket with fall scented candles surrounding you takes the experience to an even higher level. It's only on the menu for a little while, so go out and buy some today!!!!
Feel free to share your favorite pumpkin recipes or menu items. I would love to have a reason to try them!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
My Dutch Lover
I have a new best friend. It is big, blue, made of cast enamel, and too heavy for me to lift from its spot on the top shelf (enter, strong tall husband)… My LeCreuset Dutch Oven.
I received this mother of all pots as a graduation gift from my Aunt. I don’t think I knew what its function was when I registered for it at Williams-Sonoma. Just thought it was pretty. To be honest, until yesterday, it has been sitting in the same place in our kitchen for the past two months adding a splash of color and silently intimidating me. Well, this weekend I took that oven down and put it to work. The results were very encouraging.
The function of a dutch oven is kind of like a crock pot, without the cords etc. You can throw a bunch of random things in it, put the lid on, stick it in the oven for a few hours and let your meat and veggies cook to a tender goodness. You can use a dutch oven both on top of the stove and in the oven, which I did for this recipe. I didn’t really follow a recipe, so hopefully next time I will be able to recreate it. Our dinner last night was fantastic, but I can’t take any of the credit… magical things happened in my big blue pot.
Pork Tenderloin With Fall Veggies
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 2 small sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
- 6 small red potatoes, quartered
- 3 large carrots, sliced into large pieces
- 1 onion, cut into chunks
- olive oil
- fresh rosemary
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
Cut up all your veggies, and place them in a large sauté pot with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Saute over medium heat until slightly browned on outside (about 5-10 min.) Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in dutch oven over the stovetop (medium heat.) Add pork tenderloin and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary. I also drizzled a bit of Worcestershire sauce at this point. Sear tenderloin about 8 min, turning every 2 minutes to make sure all sides are seared. Turn off heat, add veggies to dutch oven and pork, and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, and any other herbs or spices you fancy (I used a little cinnamon and nutmeg.) Cover Dutch Oven with lid and place in oven, preheated to 350 for about an hour or so. About halfway through I drizzled a little more Worcestershire.
After I took the tenderloin and veggies out of the oven, I deglazed the pan (removed the brown bits) by adding ½ cup chicken broth, ¾ cup white wine, and 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard to the pot over medium heat. Let the sauce come to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens a bit. Serve this sauce over the pork.
ENJOY!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Life and Times of an SK Teacher
Clues That The Kindergartners Are Rubbing Off On You:
(1) Your favorite snack is now pudding cups (fat free, of course)
(2) You get so into the Sesame Street video your class is watching that the lead teacher kindly reminds you “Mrs. Edwards, it’s time for carpool.”
(3) While putting book order forms in the boys folders, you seriously consider purchasing Caps For Sale, the Little Engine that Could, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… for future use J
(4) You forget your husband can open his own drinks and tie his own shoes. (About 90% of the time spent with the kids I am doing this)
(5) Your quads are sore from sitting in tiny chairs and looking kids in the eye.
6) You smell like hand sanitizer constantly and fear you might be coming down with Swine Flu.
(7) When you are up past 9:45, it’s a late night.
(8) You have gained at least 5 pounds. It’s so hard to resist the Star of the Week treats, as well as the gummies, Cheez-Its, Rice Krispy Treats, and other kid snacks that are always around.
(9) Your big victory of the week is designing a Hippopotamus paper bag puppet for next weeks craft project.
You have zero tolerance for whiners, fakers, suck ups, and know-it-alls.
Here are a few pictures of some of our little SK angels. They are so cute, sweet, and entertaining.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Labor Day Weekend/ Football Season Begins
I must say I was skeptical on Saturday when I woke up to Sports Center instead of the Food Network. But for a weekend with nothing special planned, Price and I managed to pack those three precious days with lots of spontaneous outings and activities.
Friday night was spent watching MUS whoop South Panola with Lizzie and Bev. On Saturday we leisurely drove to Oxford, MS to continue our month long quest to find something to hang our lovely new All-Clad pots on. Price found the perfect piece at my favorite antique store, The Mustard Seed. AND, we only spent twenty dollars! After drooling over furniture we can’t afford (ok, Price sat in the car while I drooled), we browsed around Square Books and then headed homeward.
That night, we ventured downtown to the Memphis Heritage and Music Festival, which we will be attending annually from now on. It was a b.l.a.s.t. The event is put on annually by the Center for Southern Folklore and other sponsors. It was a smallish festival, taking up only a couple blocks of South Main. On the five or six different stages we were able to see gospel, folk, blues, Latino, funk, and rap groups. I must say Al Kapone (Al Kapeezy oH bOy!) was probably my favorite act. I especially enjoyed seeing one of my neighbors, who is… ohhhhh… probably late fiftyish, getting crunk by herself to this Memphis rapper’s rhymes. And how could I forget the cooking stage! We had the luxury of sampling the most delicious mustard greens, cornbread, and peach cobbler we have ever tasted. I don’t even want to think about the calorie content in those few bites. We had so much fun on Saturday that we went back on Sunday after Ole Miss beat Memphis only a few blocks away from our apartment.
Overall we had a great weekend of togetherness, food, not cleaning, relaxing, food, football, visiting with my family, and food. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving break!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Locovores
My passion for farmer's markets began in college during a sociology class taught by a granola eating professor. I became a regular at the Pepper Place Farmer's Market in Birmingham when I lived there summer of '08 and since then have become obsessed. I never thought I would find another one as great as Pepper Place, but a few weekends ago I went to the Memphis Farmer's Market downtown and have found my local food fix.
The key to a good experience at the farmer’s market is getting there early. Not only do you get to enjoy the cooler morning temps, but you also get better selections and prettier produce. I am a morning person so I had no problem hopping out of bed to support our local farmers.
The Memphis Farmer’s Market is located at Central Station in the trendy South Main district. There are probably between 50 and 60 vendors selling everything from cactuses to blueberries to wind chimes. I loved seeing how the farmer’s market attracts people from all walks of life, old women, young families, and even college kids. It is interesting talking to the different vendors about what they grow and hearing their cooking recommendations. You can easily get suckered into spending a lot of money at the market because everything looks so fresh and pretty, and every vendor vows their product will be the best you ever taste. I never really go with a list of what to buy, but I always decide how much I want to spend and bring only the allotted amount of cash with me. Here’s what I got last week for only $12: Okra, lima beans, green tomatoes, an eggplant, red potatoes, and a baby watermelon.
The Menu:
Fried Green Tomatoes with Non-Local Tomato Chutney (from Bham)
Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
Lima Beans
Salted Watermelon
Peach Tea with a Punch (of Firefly Vodka)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Banana Pudding
(I did not take this picture)
Easy Banana Pudding
- 1 small box vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 1 tub Cool Whip
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- (any other mix-in's you think would taste good)
- 1 box Vanilla Wafers
- about 5 bananas
Make vanilla pudding according to package instructions. Let stand for 5 minutes. With a mixer or whisk add 3/4 tub of Cool Whip and can of sweetened condensed milk to pudding mixture. Layer Vanilla Wafers, bananas, and pudding as desired in a serving dish of your choice. Top with remaining Cool Whip and some crushed Vanilla Wafers. Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Nesting
Friday, July 31, 2009
Mr. and Mrs.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
"I thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today"
- I love how great the yards look in my neighborhood this time of year. People seem to work extra hard in their gardens during the summer. I can't wait to have my own garden. Right now i'll just be content with the pot of basil I am growing but can't remember to water.
- I love that Fourth of July is casual. Other holidays (i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving) are stressful. The house must be perfect. The menu must be perfect. Not so on the Fourth. If the house is messy, we eat outside. As long as the ribs are tasty, nothing else on the menu matters.
- I get to wear my FAVORITE red sweater this year. When you are accused by your unobservant fiance of wearing a certain article of clothing a lot, you know you probably overwear it. I don't care. I love this thing (see below).
- The smell of grilling out is one of the best scents in the entire world. Even this morning at 8 am I could smell it. Passing one house I caught the sweet scent of ribs and later a whiff of burgers on a charcoal grill.
- Andddd... last but certainly certainly certainly not least... the FOOD. Now don't get me wrong I am not much of a carnivore. I don't really like ribs, burgers, or barbecue (I know, sacrilege being from from Memphis and all). It's the Fourth of July sides and desserts that steal my heart every year. Here is a glimpse at what the Good's will be eating this year: