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Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
1 week ago
8/23/08
quite the menagerie.
Among the creatures that inhabit 645 Kroger Lane are, for a few weeks in late summer, a colony of Walking Sticks on the Side Porch. We first spotted a pair of them two summers ago; last year there were three and now there are six. They change color and shape over the course of the season, going from a sort of soft and "unripe" state to more stick-like. Perhaps they like to call this house home, too.
8/16/08
things don't change.
Here we are on a gorgeous August evening; we're cheating fate because the weather is stunning, and the moon is nearly full, and we're satisfied and nicely buzzy.
We're two days away from our 18th wedding anniversary, and in toasting the occasion with a freakin' amazing bottle of Italian red (complemented by an equally amazing dinner, which I'll get to in a second). We're recalling those late-summer days when we were newly together, when meeting up back in Bloomington for the school year was an exciting prospect.
I remember the early days of our relationship (does he like me? will he call? will he call AGAIN?) and then I remember that we settled into a comfortable togetherness that was easy and effortless early on, as it is now. I've always felt a rush of excitement on seeing him (like running into him "accidentally" when I knew he'd be studying in the Union), and that translates today, 20 years later (plus a few months). I felt that again on Thursday when Wrigley and I watched and cheered as Rob ran a 5K in the neighborhood. I'm still smitten.
The thing that constantly amazes me is that our home life, as uncomplicated and routine-oriented as it is, is so close to what we envisioned during those early days when we talked about our dreams of a life together. And our vacation time is so close to our everyday life, too. What's more, it doesn't feel like we're working particularly hard to achieve it: Our silly little contented life comes naturally. Something tells me that we might be onto something.
So on our 18th anniversary (and on Wrigley's 10th birthday, and Henry's 13th), we're all feeling content and happy. Which is, I suppose, how it should be.
Oh, so about dinner: A recipe from Beaulieu Winery for fennel-spiced steak: A rub of toasted and ground fennel seed, peppercorns and coriander dusted heavily over a steak, which is grilled, sliced and served atop thick slices of summer tomato. The tomatoes came from our garden, and they tasted like the sun that was shining when I picked them today. It's one of our very favorite recipes, perhaps mostly because it's so rare. It just doesn't fly in February.
Happy anniversary, B. I love you more than I can say. But then, I think you have a good godd@&m idea.
We're two days away from our 18th wedding anniversary, and in toasting the occasion with a freakin' amazing bottle of Italian red (complemented by an equally amazing dinner, which I'll get to in a second). We're recalling those late-summer days when we were newly together, when meeting up back in Bloomington for the school year was an exciting prospect.
I remember the early days of our relationship (does he like me? will he call? will he call AGAIN?) and then I remember that we settled into a comfortable togetherness that was easy and effortless early on, as it is now. I've always felt a rush of excitement on seeing him (like running into him "accidentally" when I knew he'd be studying in the Union), and that translates today, 20 years later (plus a few months). I felt that again on Thursday when Wrigley and I watched and cheered as Rob ran a 5K in the neighborhood. I'm still smitten.
The thing that constantly amazes me is that our home life, as uncomplicated and routine-oriented as it is, is so close to what we envisioned during those early days when we talked about our dreams of a life together. And our vacation time is so close to our everyday life, too. What's more, it doesn't feel like we're working particularly hard to achieve it: Our silly little contented life comes naturally. Something tells me that we might be onto something.
So on our 18th anniversary (and on Wrigley's 10th birthday, and Henry's 13th), we're all feeling content and happy. Which is, I suppose, how it should be.
Oh, so about dinner: A recipe from Beaulieu Winery for fennel-spiced steak: A rub of toasted and ground fennel seed, peppercorns and coriander dusted heavily over a steak, which is grilled, sliced and served atop thick slices of summer tomato. The tomatoes came from our garden, and they tasted like the sun that was shining when I picked them today. It's one of our very favorite recipes, perhaps mostly because it's so rare. It just doesn't fly in February.
Happy anniversary, B. I love you more than I can say. But then, I think you have a good godd@&m idea.
8/9/08
otherwise.
On our very first trip to Martha's Vineyard in 2003, we discovered one thing about the island: Pie is as much a part of Vineyard life as field-cut flowers. Drive anywhere on the island, and you're sure to find a sign advertising home-baked pie with local fruit just as sure as you'll find a little roadside stand with charming bouquets of flowers for sale.
On our first visit, we stumbled across Pies and Otherwise, a little gazebo in front of a house where the husband was out front selling blueberry, peach, apple and mixed-fruit pies that his wife had baked. On subsequent trips, we've always been sure to have a pie on hand for dessert. This year, we ran across Pies and Otherwise rather late in our visit (after we'd, ahem, purchased a pie elsewhere). Nonetheless, we stopped, and I bought a couple of raspberry squares -- sort of a pie in brownie form. Delish!
Only the next day did we read in the Vineyard Gazette that the baker, Eileen Blake, had recently passed.
When we returned home, I determined to try to replicate the raspberry squares. I managed a decent attempt just today. I used 2.5 pounds of mixed red raspberries and blackberries, and doubled up on the amount of cornstarch called for in the recipe, in hopes of duplicating the deeply intense, thick fruit filling we'd enjoyed from the Pies and Otherwise fruit squares (I suppose these qualify as 'otherwise').
Here's the thing: After a tremendous (but simple) dinner of burgers and corn risotto and excellent wine -- and a lovely August evening where we've got the house wide open due to the cool weather -- I feel just as blissed out here as I did on vacation.
On our first visit, we stumbled across Pies and Otherwise, a little gazebo in front of a house where the husband was out front selling blueberry, peach, apple and mixed-fruit pies that his wife had baked. On subsequent trips, we've always been sure to have a pie on hand for dessert. This year, we ran across Pies and Otherwise rather late in our visit (after we'd, ahem, purchased a pie elsewhere). Nonetheless, we stopped, and I bought a couple of raspberry squares -- sort of a pie in brownie form. Delish!
Only the next day did we read in the Vineyard Gazette that the baker, Eileen Blake, had recently passed.
When we returned home, I determined to try to replicate the raspberry squares. I managed a decent attempt just today. I used 2.5 pounds of mixed red raspberries and blackberries, and doubled up on the amount of cornstarch called for in the recipe, in hopes of duplicating the deeply intense, thick fruit filling we'd enjoyed from the Pies and Otherwise fruit squares (I suppose these qualify as 'otherwise').
Here's the thing: After a tremendous (but simple) dinner of burgers and corn risotto and excellent wine -- and a lovely August evening where we've got the house wide open due to the cool weather -- I feel just as blissed out here as I did on vacation.
8/2/08
last day.
Our last day on Martha's Vineyard is waning with a light shower, which seems a nice way to end the visit. We managed to squeeze in a morning at Espresso Love and another big canoe trip before the skies clouded over. Just now, we're back from town, where we grabbed a gift for the neighbors who are taking in our mail, a souvenir for ourselves and a dozen shrimp for tonight's dinner.
Rob is busy packing the car. I'm in denial.
Rob is busy packing the car. I'm in denial.
8/1/08
for a slow day, a lot to do.
Yesterday (Thursday), the forecast called for rain. So we planned accordingly: Instead of a day of canoeing or golf, we figured we'd take advantage of gloomy weather and take a tour around the island. No matter that it turned out to be a beautiful day when the clouds lifted (sans rain) mid-morning.
We started with a drive toward Vineyard Haven and then headed on from there. We stopped in at Chilmark Pottery, where we'd picked up a couple of fun pieces (currently in use at home as salad bowls) on an earlier trip. We weren't in the market yesterday, so we moved on. We stopped at an adorable little farmstand called Fiddlehead Farm (cute!); they weren't yet harvesting much of their own produce (tomatoes are still a week off here), but they had a bunch of neat gourmet and imported items. From there, we wandered on to Martha's Vineyard Glassworks, which we'd also visited previously. We watched the glassblowers work and bought two "floats" -- brightly colored globes modeled on those used by Japanese fishermen to float their nets. They're super cool garden accessories (we have two at home in the bed by the front door) and these will go in the back by the patio. Nice souvenirs.
Then we moved onto Chilmark Store, which was insanely busy with the lunch crowd. No wonder: they make a wicked good New York-style pizza. We fueled up with a couple of slices (and a few bits of whole-wheat crust for The Hairy Friend).
Next stop: Morning Glory Farm for some lettuce and tomatoes for last night's dinner, and then to Edgartown Seafood for a slab-o-halibut. Rob grilled the fish on the charcoal barbeque out back; it was perfect, with a salty, peppery crust on top and nicely moist inside. If I never have fish again, it'll be OK. We topped it with a tomato/garlic/basil/balsamic/lemon/oliveoil combo, much like what Uncle Dave & Regina did last weekend. Awesome.
We started with a drive toward Vineyard Haven and then headed on from there. We stopped in at Chilmark Pottery, where we'd picked up a couple of fun pieces (currently in use at home as salad bowls) on an earlier trip. We weren't in the market yesterday, so we moved on. We stopped at an adorable little farmstand called Fiddlehead Farm (cute!); they weren't yet harvesting much of their own produce (tomatoes are still a week off here), but they had a bunch of neat gourmet and imported items. From there, we wandered on to Martha's Vineyard Glassworks, which we'd also visited previously. We watched the glassblowers work and bought two "floats" -- brightly colored globes modeled on those used by Japanese fishermen to float their nets. They're super cool garden accessories (we have two at home in the bed by the front door) and these will go in the back by the patio. Nice souvenirs.
Then we moved onto Chilmark Store, which was insanely busy with the lunch crowd. No wonder: they make a wicked good New York-style pizza. We fueled up with a couple of slices (and a few bits of whole-wheat crust for The Hairy Friend).
Next stop: Morning Glory Farm for some lettuce and tomatoes for last night's dinner, and then to Edgartown Seafood for a slab-o-halibut. Rob grilled the fish on the charcoal barbeque out back; it was perfect, with a salty, peppery crust on top and nicely moist inside. If I never have fish again, it'll be OK. We topped it with a tomato/garlic/basil/balsamic/lemon/oliveoil combo, much like what Uncle Dave & Regina did last weekend. Awesome.
7/31/08
a two-hour tour.
Again yesterday, Wrigley donned his yellow Float Coat and hopped willingly into the canoe, and we enjoyed a couple of hours paddling around Edgartown Great Pond. We explored far and wide, going up into several coves and checking out the homes scattered along the shore. It was bright and sunny, an ideal day to be on the water.
Today is the opposite: cloudy, rainy and dark. Which is perfect: It gives us reason to do some on-land exploring. We'll hit Morning Glory Farm early for some produce for tonight's dinner, then maybe head over to Chilmark and other parts of the island.
Speaking of dinner, last night's was again epic: Fresh (!) scallops the size of my head, pan-sauteed and then served over a succotash of sauteed onion, corn and teeny green beans, with a butter/lemon pan sauce over the top. I will never have better scallops. Eating seafood out here completely ruins it for the stuff we get at home.
We just might not leave.
7/30/08
dear regina: sorry about the stove.
Since Rob and I both love cooking, it's a real treat to be able to do so on vacation, especially when we have amazing local ingredients and a gorgeous kitchen to work with. (I also love the provisioning part of these trips, making a list of things to bring with us and curating a collection of recipes to make.)
With the recent remodel of the house, Regina had installed a stunning six-burner AGA stove. It's a real beauty: a gleaming black cooktop and white enamel front, with three ovens (of different sizes and functions) and about a zillion parts that naturally all need cleaning after you've put the sucker through its paces.
Which we did last night. All due apologies to the nice girls who came this morning to clean.
Sea Bass and Confetti Vegetables with Lemon-Butter Sauce
For the fish
2 sea bass fillets (sprinkle with salt)
Heat olive oil in a large skillet; add fish and cook until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Remove from pan, place on a plate and tent with foil.
Add 1/4 cup white wine and the juice of a lemon to the pan; cook over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon cold butter.
For the vegetables
Cut the kernels off 2 ears of corn; chop a tomato and a zucchini (two if they're tiny). Sliver a large handful of fresh spinach. Add corn and zucchini to pan, saute 2 minutes. Add tomato and spinach, cook 1 minute until spinach wilts.
Spoon the vegetables onto 2 plates; top with fish and pour butter sauce over all.
With the recent remodel of the house, Regina had installed a stunning six-burner AGA stove. It's a real beauty: a gleaming black cooktop and white enamel front, with three ovens (of different sizes and functions) and about a zillion parts that naturally all need cleaning after you've put the sucker through its paces.
Which we did last night. All due apologies to the nice girls who came this morning to clean.
Sea Bass and Confetti Vegetables with Lemon-Butter Sauce
For the fish
2 sea bass fillets (sprinkle with salt)
Heat olive oil in a large skillet; add fish and cook until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Remove from pan, place on a plate and tent with foil.
Add 1/4 cup white wine and the juice of a lemon to the pan; cook over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon cold butter.
For the vegetables
Cut the kernels off 2 ears of corn; chop a tomato and a zucchini (two if they're tiny). Sliver a large handful of fresh spinach. Add corn and zucchini to pan, saute 2 minutes. Add tomato and spinach, cook 1 minute until spinach wilts.
Spoon the vegetables onto 2 plates; top with fish and pour butter sauce over all.
7/29/08
wrigley the canoeing dog.
On Saturday, while the whole crew was here, there was an Important Canoeing Adventure. Dave, Harry, Alicia, Rob, Wrigley and I launched two kayaks and a canoe onto Edgartown Great Pond and went in search of a specific target. We all (Wiggy included) wore the appropriate, Coast Guard-approved PFDs (that's personal flotation device, in Wrigley's case a.k.a. a Float Coat). The mission? Investigate a white buoy in the pond, to which on previous trips Harry had tied various items, including a plastic shovel. Today, we aimed to attach a plastic airplane, secured with a piece of twine. The goal is to see if what's been left previously is still there on subsequent visits. Wrigley was a huge HUGE sport about the whole thing. Note to family and friends: This will likely be the photo on this year's Christmas card.
too much of a good thing.
Perhaps inevitably, we woke to a bit of dog barf on the floor by the back door this morning on Martha's Vineyard. Inevitably, because over the weekend when the whole crew were here, Wrigley was the beneficiary of some dinner-table generosity. Several of the treats were willingly given (Uncle Dave's oyster, Grandma's bread); others not so much (the two chunks of english muffin snatched from Harry's hand at breakfast). So there was barfing. Easily cleaned up, and now Wrigley is hiding under the dining table.
7/26/08
speaking of terrific (and fitting) poems.
Our friends Doug & Sandy shared this one:
The Good Nights
by Joseph Mills
On the good nights
when the bottle's empty
we always want
just a little more,
half a glass,
a few sips,
a taste.
We know
this desire
can be dangerous
to pursue,
that it can make
mornings difficult,
so usually we
brush our teeth
let the dog in,
lock the doors,
but sometimes,
even as we say
We really should
get ready for bed,
instead of loading
the dishwasher
we will search
for the corkscrew,
all the while
shaking our heads
in wonder
at this willingness
to ignore the clocks
and the fact we have
to work tomorrow,
this irresponsibility,
this evidence
even after all these years
of the unquenchable desire
for each other's company.
The Good Nights
by Joseph Mills
On the good nights
when the bottle's empty
we always want
just a little more,
half a glass,
a few sips,
a taste.
We know
this desire
can be dangerous
to pursue,
that it can make
mornings difficult,
so usually we
brush our teeth
let the dog in,
lock the doors,
but sometimes,
even as we say
We really should
get ready for bed,
instead of loading
the dishwasher
we will search
for the corkscrew,
all the while
shaking our heads
in wonder
at this willingness
to ignore the clocks
and the fact we have
to work tomorrow,
this irresponsibility,
this evidence
even after all these years
of the unquenchable desire
for each other's company.
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