Workin' For The Weekend

It's funny how idealized the "weekend" becomes when you spend your week slaving (did I say slaving?) at a full-time job. Friday night and the two days that follow glisten with endless possibilites as the work week comes to an end.

***
Brad and I properly rung in the weekend following my first real work week with a drunken night out. Several friends joined us in eating cuban food and drinking beer in a smelly bar. We beat the hangover that followed with a nice Saturday of walking in the park, shopping and lounging at home. Sunday was looking fine as well, when we walked over to the the 5th Avenue street fair, here in Park Slope, and ate quite a bit of yummy food while browsing the local vendors. However, the lovely weekend and perhaps our recent string of seemingly good luck and happy days came to a screeching hault when we headed to our hockey game.

While driving over the Manhattan Bridge at approximatelt 45MPH, thinking how good the car was running after having it's exhaust problem fixed by the mechanic this past week, the hood of the car flew up, tore off by all but one hinge and slammed against the windshield. It all went down sort of like this - driving . . . thinking . . .driving . . . WHAM!!!!!!!!seeing nothing but the black car hood. I don't remeber stopping the car. But I do remember saying to Brad "What the F@%! just happened?" And then I looked up to see that the sun roof had shattered from the impact and later noticed the rear view mirror was lying on the car floor.






If you're wondering why the car is all tied up, it is because Brad is a manly man and was keeping some string in the trunk for unseen events demanding string, just like this one. (Or so he claims - I don't know if he really "put" it there.) We used it to tie the nearly detatched and now inverted car hood on in order to drive it the rest of the way across the bridge and then back over the other side to return it to Brooklyn.

To answer your questions: Yes, we're OK. Luckily nobody was behind us. And no, The Dark Winbows didn't win the hockey game - we never made it and the team lost 2-1 in overtime.

And speaking of crap luck. Tonight I stepped in Francine's fresh dog poop while I was walking over to clean it up. So much for the wonderful weekend. Looks like I'm going to be working for the car payments from now on.

This Blog Needs a Jump Start

It will not die. Hopefully the regularity in my life, due to my recent change in employment status, will help this blog to prosper - Once I am adjusted that is.

In the mean time, how about a recipe?! I've been cooking, I just haven't had the time to be blogging about it.

For Brad's birthday I made a dish that was so good we already repeated it, last night. If you've been reading this blog I bet you can guess where it came from, still my favorite cookbook, Tyler Florence's Eat This Book. If you love sausages and artichokes - wait, should I stop there, because aren't those foods so intensely satisfying alone that it might actually be dangerous to combine them? Hold on tight - you will LOVE this dish. And although it takes a little time, it is easy.

Artichokes With Lemon, Sausage and Sage

Artichokes
1 handful of fresh, flat leaf parsley
4 garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 lemon, halved
salt and pepper
4 whole artichokes

The Rest
olive oil
4 pork sausgaes (6 oz. each)
4 fresh sage leaves
2 shallots
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lemon, cut into paper-thin slices
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbls unsalted butter
chopped parsley for garnish

1. Combine parsely, garlic cloves, wine, bay leaves and lemon halves in a large pot and add 2 quarts water. Bring to a simmer.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the artichokes by trimming the end of the stem and shave the outer layer with a pairing knife to expose the tender green flesh. Snap off the outer leaves until you reach the soft , pale green leaves and cut approximately 1 inch off the tops of the artichokes.

3. Slide the artichokes into the simmering broth. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. A knife inserted in the stem should have no resistance when done - remove them from the broth with tongs. Halve the artichokes length-wise and with a spoon, remove the hairy choke. Be gentle and try to keep the artichokes in tact.

4. In a deep skillet heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and brown the sausages for 7-10 minutes until cooked. Remove them to a separate plate.

5. In the remaining oil, toss the sage leaves and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes to infuse the oil. Add the shallots, lemon and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the chicken broth, bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer.

6. When the stock has reduced and thickened, swirl in the butter. Add the artichokes and toss them to warm.

7. Serve the artichokes and sauce over the sausages and ENJOY!!!!

MMMmmmmmmm. Oh my!

It's All About To Change

My freelance lifestyle as I know it is over.

Last week I accepted an offer to become a full-time designer with Public New York. I start tomorrow morning around 10am and from that moment on I will continue to work five days a week, every week, for a long time . . . I don't think I can even express in writing the anxiety I am currently experiencing over this commitment to change.

Exciting though, isn't it?

Another Milestone

So many important occasions and events have been passing for Brad and I lately that I have had little time to sit down and write about the day to day stuff. Having just finished traveling on occasion of our first wedding anniversary, this weekend was no exception. Yesterday we celebrated Brad's 30th birthday!



A few days previous, Amanda (sister-in-law for those who don't know her) arrived from San Fransisco to take part in the festivities. She and I spent Friday afternoon enjoying spring in Park Slope and shopping for Brad's gifts. Later on the three of us attended the Whitney Biennial, where there was a suprise (for us anyway) performance by Matmos, and ended the night with dinner and cocktails.




On Saturday, Brad's birthday started with a big brunch including coffee from his new french press, presents and a beautiful day. Many preparations were in order, and some decorating was done, for last night when we threw a party (the first in our new home) worthy of such a memorable date. In the company of some great friends, we ate great food, drank great wine (beer and wiskey!), ate great cake and partied well into the night. I nearly singed my eyebrows - 31 candles creates a lot of heat - and we even hosted a raffle of our most desireable unwanted belongings, which our lucky winning guests stumbled home with. I'm pretty sure we all fell asleep happy.





Today, I am finally experiencing downtime. The party has been cleaned up, Amanda has gone home, and Brad is now in his third decade. In an hour or so, we'll head off to our street hockey game (for hopfully a fifth consecutive Dark Rainbow victory). And then finally, we'll come home to a quiet house, with our precious little pets, and relax.