Double Rainbow

I was driving home after a thunderstorm today and all of a sudden, right in front of me was the coolest thing ever: a full arching rainbow, clear and crisp as can be. Not one, but two! One right on top of the other. I pulled into a Whole Foods parking lot to get a better look, and there was a crowd of 20 people standing outside, also getting a peek. It was a magical moment, like seeing a hummingbird. The picture below is not the actual double rainbow I saw (I did not have my camera - crap!!!) but it was just like it. It was a coincidental reminder that it is Pride weekend back home in SF. Happy Pride everyone!

City Girl Gone Rogue

John and I and two of our friends, Brittney and Jesse are going on a quick getaway to the Uinta Mountains this weekend. I have gotten my first ever fishing lisence. It is a momentus occasion. However, I am actually rooting for the fish.

RIP The Scarecrow

It's sad that it took Michael Jackson's death to make me remember how much a part of my childhood he was. And while over the years I have danced to 'Don't Stop' a million times, and loved the 'Thriller' video as much as anybody, I have to say that my favorite memory of MJ is "The Wiz". This one is so so underappreciated! One of my earliest memories is of watching it on tv with my parents. I wish I had it on DVD. I'd watch it right now in honor of him.

Gummy Melt

Have you ever wondered what happens to a jar of gummy worms when left in a car in 90+ degree weather? Wonder no more:

Amazing Grace

I have a wonderful friend from school, Maggie. 2 months ago, Maggie and her husband Mike (also a friend from high school) had the most beautiful baby girl, Grace Ellen Meyer. Grace was born with a heart defect that required surgery not long after she was born. It has been a trying 2 months for her and her parents, but I was thrilled to hear that yesterday, Grace was taken off her ventilator and was able to breathe on her own all day. Amazing Grace indeed!

I cannot think of a more awesome person than Maggie and as someone who had many sleepovers at her house, I can say the same for her wonderful family. I know that it was their enduring love for Grace and for each other that lifted her through these tough times. If you pray, please pray for this gorgeous little one, or keep her in your thoughts. I know the positive energy of everyone around her will help her heal. I am crossing my fingers that Maggie and Mike will be able to take her home for the first time soon, an event that is long overdue.

Haute Dog

If you are prone to spoiling your dog, as am I, and yourself, which I am also a strong proponent of, this might be the thing for you. If you live in the area, Log Haven restuarant in Millcreek Canyon is having "Dog Days of Summer". Bring your dog to dinner on the outside patio (weather and space permitting) and while he enjoys specially prepared "k-9 kabobs", you can enjoy $33.95 prime rib or $25 steak and lobster (before 6:30pm during the month of June). See you there!

Bachelorette Pad

My chickens are quickly growing into sophisticated, modern and independant ladies. They are in search of the perfect bachelorette pad. Anyone know how to build something like this?

Pago

It might be a bold statement to say that I think that professional chefs are going to save the world (if they haven't already), but I really do believe it. More and more, not just in major cities, but even in smaller cities like SLC, I see executive chefs partnering with local farms and local artisans in order to get fresher, more flavorful and less processed produce and meats, which in turn helps the local economy and environment. I know a lot of ordinary people, like me, who have taken these ideas and use them in their own kitchens. I know we'll all be healthier too. If you don't understand how important this is, then read The Omnivore's Dilemma and/or In Defense of Food, both by Michael Pollan.


Which is why I was so excited to hear about a new restaurant/wine bar in my little neighborhood called Pago. The description on its website says it is a 'Farm to Table' restaurant where they use high quality, local and seasonal ingredients. I can't wait to try it. They are open for brunch on the weekends, and lunch and dinner every day. I'm definitely going to support this neighborhood restaurant with a philosophy that I fully support. Who would like to join me?

Curry in a Hurry

Try this yummy thai-style curry recipe. I made it tonight and it was so good! I substituted whole wheat noodles for the rice noodles, halved the amount of chicken and supplemented it with mushrooms.

I Heart The One

Dear President Obama,

You are making it harder for our husbands, boyfriends, partners, etc to say they are too busy at work or too stressed to take us out on a date night. Keep up the good work.

Love, Debbie

A Delicious and Healthy Meal in Less Than 30 Minutes

Only sans the very annoying Rachel Ray. Tonight I made a spinach salad with chicken, carmelized cinnamon pears, toasted pecans, goat cheese and thinly sliced celery w/olive oil & vinegar dressing. I paired it with a side of polenta. Yes, I have been on a polenta kick lately. The best part of the meal is that it took me 30 minutes to make, enough time for John and Floyd to go for a walk and get home just as I was finishing the polenta. The meal turned out so well that I'm going to recreate it tomorrow night for John's boss, who we are delivering a homemade meal to while he recovers from back surgery. I hope he likes it as much as we did.

Cooped Up

Since we got our 6 little chickies yesterday, my research into cool chicken coop designs has kicked into high gear. I am a little obsessed with this coop with the grass roof. There is also the awesome and very modern Omlet that was a great find by my always resourceful friend Bree.

As for the babies, they are doing quite well and growing very fast! All they do right now is eat, sleep and poop, so they are really easy to care for. I have stopped constantly worrying if they are too hot or too cold. The heat lamp next to their cage keeps them at a steady 90-100 degrees. Today we got real feeding & drinking troughs for them. My favorites right now are the 2 Ameraucanas. Their feathers are already so cool looking. I can't wait to name them!

Polenta "Tartlets"

I made these cute little suckers for dinner tonight. The inspiration was an appetizer that I had at Faustina last week. They are muffin-sized polenta bites with goat cheese, tomatoes, chives and parsley over a roasted red pepper sauce. They were a success and super easy to make. I just used a simple polenta recipe made with chicken stock and parmesean cheese, poured it into a buttered muffin tray, made a thumbprint indentation in the middle and chilled until firm (about 2 hours in the fridge). Once set, I put a dollop of goat cheese in the indentation, topped it with quartered cherry tomatoes, and roasted in the oven for 20 min. I then sprinkled them with chives and parsley from my garden. For the roasted red pepper sauce, I blended a 12 oz jar of roasted red peppers (drained), about 1/3 C chicken stock, juice from 1/2 a lemon, 1 garlic clove and a few sprigs of fresh parsley in a food processer until smooth.

When I make these again, I will probably add toasted pine nuts to the goat cheese and bake them longer or sautee them so that the polenta is crispy on the outside. Overall this is a simple treat for anyone who enjoys polenta and an elegant, crowd-pleasing appetizer to serve at any gathering.

Babies Galore

I always thought that if we got another animal to keep Floyd company it would be another dog, possibly even a cat. I never thought of having any animals beyond that. Well, we have 6 new additions to the family. Meet our chicks. They are super cute!!! They are currently living in our basement, since we are not quite sure how Floyd is going to react to them. We have 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Red Sex Links and 2 Ameraucanas, all rarer breeds of chickens that are good egg producers. They will be so beautiful when they are full grown. More to come on the chicken coop and we should be announcing names as soon as we can tell them apart!

Lure Course Champion Update

Floyd is very tired from the competition today.

Lure Course Champion

Today we took Floyd to his second Lure Course Competition at the Wild Outdoors Festival. A lure course is when a dog chases a (fake) squirrel or rabbit through an obstacle course. This particular competition is judged solely on speed. Floyd goes absolutely wild when he sees the squirrel tail.

Floyd had the second fastest time and won the silver medal. He would have definitely won the gold medal if points were given for style, but nonetheless, we are very impressed with our little rescue mutt from the pound. He is such a fun dog to have.

The Song of the Summer

The band is Phoenix. The song is called 1901. I can't get enough. They make me want to become French. Go check it out now. Run.

Spring Harvest

It is only the beginning of June but we are ready to harvest our first vegetable...and the winner is: rhubarb! Rhubarb is very hearty, and grows without a lot of effort from us. When I pick the rhubarb in the next couple days I will think of my good friend Shelly, who lives in San Jose, and makes an excellent fig-rhubarb jam. Wish she was closer! John's mother, Kay, who happens to be visiting us this weekend, is probably the best pie maker around. Lucky us! If you are in the area, stop by this weekend for some amazing rhubarb pie.

Birthday Parties & Lake Michigan

I've been away from the computer for a few days. John and I headed back east to spend a few (too) short days in his home state of Michigan. The occasion was John's grandfather, Dr AJ Neerken's 90th birthday party at his beautiful home near the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. Two out of three of his children were present, along with 4 out of his 6 grandchildren, all 3 of his great-grandchildren and some of his oldest friends (including a former Miss Michigan!). It was a great tribute to a great man, who I know will be celebrating many more bithdays to come.

Another highlight of the weekenfd was a beachside walk with John, his mom and her two pups, Joey & Gem, at their family's summer cabin on Lake Michigan.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures. I was too busy basking in good company and the warm Michigan spring. :)