Non-Turkey Meal!

We have made it through the leftovers and so time for a lighter fare: cherve and pear galette!



It is a variation of a savory crepe, actually. I made the dough with wheat flour (basically a pie crust recipe), adding for the middle bit of 2 cups ricotta, 2 cups goat's cheese, fresh rosemary and thyme, and a bit of kosher salt. You then pleat the edges of the dough up around the cheese, using an egg wash to hold the pleats into place, freeze for 30 minutes and then bake at 375. I probably should have made the opening a bit smaller (and the dough not so thin, as it spread out in baking) so you could see the pleating better. After 30 minutes, I added the Bartlett pears, which I had previous grilled on a cast iron grill. Bake another 15 minutes, let cool for 20 minutes, garnish with parsley and fresh pomegranate seeds, and serve warm!

Served with a cup of soup and a nice mixed green salad, it was a lovely way to end the weekend after a whole lot of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

We then thought of all the stuff one could have in the middle (prosciutto! mushrooms! butternut squash!) and determined that when his parents come for their visit in December, we will make this again.

Dormer: Before and After

The dormer is now done! All the windows have screens. The ladders and the old slate have been removed from the yard. It looks great and like it has always a part of the house.

We are really pleased with the results and phase 1 of house redux is complete. Don't ask me about phase 2 or just how many phases there are...

In the meantime, here are some before and after photos!





And here is the street view with it done. Doesn't look out of place at all!

Black Friday

I am sure that everyone else who went out for Black Friday got the super great deal on the new flat screen hd tv, or Guitar Hero, or several new cashmere sweaters. We, however, got the best deal ever.

Will and I went to one store-- our hardware store. Yup, that is what our Black Friday consisted of: driving down the two blocks (hey! it was rainy) at 1:00 pm and going in and buying at more than half price a 5 gallon shop vac. Returning to the house by 1:20 pm. Regularly $50, but we got the shop vac for less than $20. What a deal. And it is a "Quiet Plus!" Not really sure what that gets us, but hey, for the price, we don't care!

Now, all that shopping has tuckered us out. We are going to lay on the couch and watch a movie.

A Captiol Thanksgiving to You!

Our table is laid, our guests are on their way, our bird is almost done! The only left to do is,

Wish You and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dormer Windows: Done.

The builders put in the windows in the dormer today and finished their part. We now have a complete 12 foot dormer in our roof. The roofers need to finish up the shingling on the outside (that is for tomorrow) and then they, too, will be done.

It is pretty fantastic the space and the light that the attic now has. Whenever we get it together to redo the space as a master suite, it will be so lovely and cozy and bright! The windows face the southern side and so the morning light will simply be wonderful. I am sure that Will is already thinking of all the plants he can grow up there.

Bubbly!

I got an early Christmas present today. Early because Will cannot resist keeping presents from me, but that is another story.

Anyway, my present is a bubbly water maker from Sodastream.com. It comes with a bottle of CO2 and two 1 liter water bottles. Once the CO2 canister runs out, you return it, and the company refills!

IT IS AWESOME.

One button, pushed three times, and the tap water is carbonated! It is better than San Pellegrino, because it is free!!

You Scream, and I scream!

We all scream for ice cream.

Unless you are Will, and then you are too busy licking the ice cream maker's beater like you have never had homemade ice cream** before in your life, and after tonight, you never will again, and so you can't be bothered to scream!



** Yes, we now have an ice cream maker that makes ice cream in 25 minutes. Thank you Mike & Heather!! It is awesome. We tested it out last night with a raspberry vanilla ice cream. And while we gained about 4232 lbs. eating one scoop of the stuff because it is so rich with real cream, it was pretty tasty, as evidenced by Will, who not only is licking the beater but using a spoon to get some of the ice cream out of the bowl.

And yes, that is ice cream on his sweater, on his glasses, and in his beard.