We’ve been to The Filling Station a couple of times now, but it hasn’t yet been warm enough for us to enjoy our burgers outside at the picnic tables. Well that time has come, friends.
The players, after the jump.
Outside at The Filling Station
Written by Liz on April 14th, 2012
Burgers and Bitches at Joe Allen
Written by Liz on April 13th, 2012I don’t curse too often here on SCF, but here is a time when the words are well deserved. Here we are, heading to see Clybourne Park and it’s 715 p.m., 45 minutes before curtain. We walk into Joe Allen, wondering if we can get two seats at the bar. Unlikely, we know. But we are in luck! Two seats, count ‘em, one-two, on either side of three women who appear to be dining together. How can we get them together? Asking the women to slide down would seem to be the first logical choice, but as I approach them, their faces turn snarly.
So I turn to the bartender. Would there be any way — and as I’m asking, I hear Ms. White Shirt here turn to her left and, in a stage whisper: “Don’t. Make. A. Move.”
Our Bees Swarm!
Written by Liz on April 11th, 2012
Asparagus Season Has Arrived!
Written by Liz on April 11th, 2012The farm’s first spears of asparagus are up!
We harvested them and had them with a piece of absolutely delicious porchetta from Tarry Market.
Porchetta, for those that don’t know, is pork loin seasoned with lots of herbs, especially sage and thyme, wrapped with pork belly, seared and roasted. This pork belly was so crispy it actually cut the roof of my mouth. But well worth any injury. And the asparagus? Fresh, grassy and delicious. Yay spring!
Portrait of Samantha
Written by Liz on April 10th, 2012
Samantha’s Plane Ride Home
Written by Liz on April 8th, 2012OK so maybe the plane ride out wasn’t the best. Not the worst, but not the best. The plane ride home? The best. Piece of cake. Look at how happy!
Easter Sunday at Church with Gramma
Written by Liz on April 8th, 2012The talented photographer Mark took these portraits of Samantha before church on Easter Sunday. I’d say Mark has a second career in front of him should he ever decide to give up IT.
And yes, the whole Easter Sunday outfit can be seen here:
I mean.
And here we are at church with Gramma:
More, after the jump.
Easter Supper at Annie and Bob’s
Written by Liz on April 7th, 2012Annie put together a nice feast for Easter on Saturday night, and invited some of the friends and family over who hadn’t yet met Samantha. Can you say ham and hot dish? Oh yeah!
Lunch at Buster’s in Mankato
Written by Liz on April 7th, 2012For lunch on Saturday, we went to what appears to be a really rockin’ bar. At least at night, I bet. During the day, it was laid back enough for us to take a big table by the back and get a few burgers.
But despite the innocent looking setup, this was not you average lunch. It was, in fact, the first time anyone could remember that Mark, aka AJ, did not finish his burger.
Dun-dun-dun! He had ordered the Insanity burger, and it was, indeed, so insanely spicy that he could not finish it. The culprit? Dave’s Insanity Sauce, a sauce so hot that it has its own wikipedia entry.
Yes, he was a bit ashamed. But also happy to know that he was beaten only by something that once held the title of “World’s Hottest Sauce.” More photos of the food — and the family, with Samantha, of course! — after the jump.
Samantha in Minnesota
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012Good Friday Supper: Fish Three Ways
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012For Good Friday supper, we were thinking about turning Mark and Angie on to our newly discovered recipe for Bo Ssam. But, it being Good Friday, for Doris, meat was off the table, so to speak. So we went with fish. Walleye, shrimp and salmon, to be exact. Bob smoked the salmon — man was that tasty. We did the shrimp with a lime-cilantro-mustard marinade. And the walleye, we prepared with an herb breadcrumb mixture similar to the one here that Epicurious recommended for halibut.
We also made a fennel-asparagus salad using the recipe for Shaved Zucchini and Fennel here on SCF, substituting blanched asparagus for zucchini. Damn! It’s been a while, but we’ve still got it!
Happy Hour at Pub 500
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012After our walk through Sibley Park, we stopped for a beer at Pub 500, which SCF fans may remember from such posts as “Historic Mankato Pub Crawl: Pub 500.” We had some craft beer and a helping of very delicious homemade potato chips.
Sam had milk.
At Sibley Park with the Family
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012A nice little walk in the park before supper. Goats, llamas, koi. What else could you need, really?
The park, named after Minnesota’s first Governor, Henry Hastings Sibley, is a quite nice one, really. There’s a playground and a paved walking path among the animals —
— and then acres of green space with beautiful specimen trees:
And then there’s this:
A Three-Day Meat Event
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012
Shopping at the St. Peter Food Co-Op
Written by Liz on April 6th, 2012Wow. If we had a co-op like this in Nyack, I’d be in heaven. (Hmmm. Business idea?)
It is definitely taking its cue from Whole Foods, in that it’s one of those mainly organic stores that have taken the “health food store” stigma and vitamin aroma out of the equation.
Pho Saigon in Mankato
Written by Liz on April 5th, 2012Surprise, surprise: there’s good Vietnamese food in Mankato, Minnesota! Our pho at Pho Saigon was really very good!
And it’s a great place to take a big group for a family dinner, too.
Doris, Sam; Sam, Meet Gramma
Written by Liz on April 4th, 2012Sam took her first plane ride out to Minnesota to visit Gramma Weber. It was a joyous occasion indeed.
Sunday Brunch at the Hudson House
Written by Liz on April 1st, 2012A little after-church toad in the hole never hurt anyone, did it?
And stunning cherry blossoms as the centerpiece of the restaurant:
Cooking for One: Saturday Night Supper
Written by Liz on March 31st, 2012Greg may be at work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t eat well on Saturday nights here at SCF. I present eggs over easy with Schaller & Weber lardons, arugula from the garden and Wave Hill bread with lemon olive oil. Delishy!
The Nyack Garden Club Flower Show
Written by Liz on March 31st, 2012I don’t have nearly as extensive of coverage as Jennifer does over on Nyack Backyard, but I took exactly three photographs at the centennial flower show of the Nyack Garden Club.
Number one. A scene setter:
Number 2. My mom’s arrangement:
And number 3, the penguin:
To see more, you really should click on the Nyack Backyard link. But go Mom! Congrats!
PS: Here’s a link to last year’s show.
Sour Cherry Blossoms!
Written by Liz on March 30th, 2012I pruned one of our sour cherry trees and had enough branches to make this arrangement in our foyer, and to give similar arrangements to neighbors. Now let’s hope we get some cherries, too!
At o lar, Once More With Feeling
Written by Liz on March 27th, 2012The polenta with mushrooms and a soft egg was a new one. Not that we needed an excuse.
Oh and also, Tom had been raving about the tuna, fresh from the docks at Montauk:
Wow. More, including the runny egg, after the jump.
Coffee Is Becoming More Important To Us Now
Written by Liz on March 27th, 2012I don’t know if it’s because Samantha wakes me up in the night, or if my tastes are changing, but lately, I’ve found I need my coffee to taste better. We’ve gone almost exclusively French Press. I’ll post about that another time… but it definitely got me thinking. Do we need to upgrade our coffeemaker? Or is the French press the best you can get, and has the bonus of being inexpensive, too?
Thoughts?
Sunday Brunch at Irene’s
Written by Liz on March 25th, 2012A big, beautiful pork shoulder. Seasonal salads. Lovely wine. Yes, just another Sunday brunch at Irene’s.
Saturday Supper at The Ranch
Written by Liz on March 24th, 2012Mom had a few friends over for a fancy Saturday supper at The Ranch, and Sam and I were honored to be included. Of course Sam was upstairs sleeping when we all got to enjoy Anita’s lovely dessert, a blackberry pound cake:
Hugh Turns 5!
Written by Liz on March 24th, 2012I can’t believe it’s been five years since little Hughie, our godson, was born. Five years ago, he was a little bundle in my arms. Today, he’s blowing candles out on a Star Wars cake.
Sam is “Reading”
Written by Liz on March 23rd, 2012A little morning time with Samantha, while she takes time to peruse that great novel ” The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
Yes, and she almost rolled over. (She did roll over on St. Patrick’s Day, from tummy to back. But we haven’t had a complete one yet. We’re waiting!)
Corned Beef and Irish Whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day
Written by Liz on March 18th, 2012Kris and Tom know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer? Green bagels? Pshaw. They make a nice cocktail with Irish whiskey and serve Tom’s great grandmother’s Irish Soda Bread.
Not to mention a healthy helping of Corned Beef, which, yes, of course they brined and boiled themselves, thank you very much.
More of their fabulous party, after the jump.
Recipe: Irish Soda Bread
Written by Liz on March 18th, 2012For Saint Patrick’s Day, Tom made a loaf of Irish Soda Bread, and it was utterly delicious. Not too sweet, not too dry. Best part is that the recipe comes from his grandmother, who was from County Kerry.
He was kind enough to share the recipe, which I will share with you, after the jump.
Sam’s Stone Barns Onesie
Written by Liz on March 13th, 2012We like to grow things locally around here. And Sam, being locally grown herself, is mighty proud to say it.
A very generous gift from Irene from the gift shop at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture. Thanks!
