sunday brunch

went off with very few hitches.
A couple of the girls that were supposed to bring food had something come up last minute so we lived happily on cheeses with honey and cheeses with sea salt and cheeses with cheeses and biscuits and breads and sweets and booze. Real food may have just taken up valuable sweets and cheese and booze room in our bellies so it was just as well.

Because we are all somewhere near or past 30, I thought it would be fun to throw a girly girly tea party brunch because if you were born before 1980 you probably didn't get to have a princess party like all the little girls are having now.

And we deserve it, dammit.

I dusted off the china that hasn't been used in over 40 years (seriously). I sidewalk chalked my front pavement with hearts and flowers and stars and swirls. I glittered a path to my front door. There were candies and tiaras and lip glosses and nail polishes and Lisa Frank stuff and jewelry and all sorts of things all over my house. And glitter. And I blew up over 100 balloons and let them bounce around the living and dining rooms. And there was glitter. And we drank peach nectar with peach schnapps&blueberries&Asti and we drank gin&lemonade and we drank cans of Miller Lite and we wore fancy dresses and we talked about life and work and kids and dogs and sex and drugs and rock and roll.

And we may have listened to NKOTB. And LL Cool J.

Recipe: Pasta with goat cheese and asparagus

Shake things up at your next Wednesday Spaghetti with this super-easy, but really tasty, pasta recipe.

Pasta with goat cheese and asparagus
1 lb. spiral pasta
4 oz. log of fresh goat cheese
1 bunch of asparagus, cut into pieces about 2 in. long
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 or 2 cups fresh chopped basil
olive oil
salt
pepper

1. Boil the pasta for about four minutes, adding a few dashes of salt after the first minute or two.
2. Add the cut asparagus to the boiling noodles and allow the pot to boil another two or three minutes. (The asparagus should be tender but still firm.)
3. Drain the pasta and asparagus together, reserving one cup of pasta water.
4. Meanwhile, combine olive oil, lemon peel, basil and cheese in a large bowl, breaking up the goat cheese as you put it in.
   
5. Add hot pasta and asparagus to bowl, along with a couple slashes of the pasta water. Toss until smoothly combined, adding more pasta water if needed.
   
6. Season generously with salt and pepper.
   

taking the plunge

Alright, I'm going to do Wednesday Spaghetti. Maybe even this coming Wednesday. I have the urge. Spring is making me happy. I want to have spaghetti, and friends, and music and open windows. Maybe we'll even send the kids outside! I'll let you know how it goes!

There isn't some sort of minimum number of guests is there?

Jake and I had a private MommyBaby Wednesday non-Spaghetti last night full of all of our favorite foods. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, hummus, edamame, sushi, and mozzarella cheese.
I wish the picture of him was a little bit better, but at least you get to see how well my child eats.
The secret is being a mean mom. I didn't let him eat "kiddie" foods until he developed a taste for adult stuff. I'm the worst.

my first post!

Funny story...

Steven and I share a birthday.
Because it's his birthday he figures he deserves a BJ.
Because it's mine I figure I shouldn't have to give one.

I don't think he gets the joke because after being together for 8.5 years he still doesn't think it's hilarious. Go figure.

*****

I've been reading some of these posts. I think it's a great idea! I'm definitely going to have to give this a try, and soon!

holy crap, I'm drowning in Spaghetti.

If you read this blog and would like to join us, please leave a comment and I'll get you added as soon as possible. If your email address isn't in your profile, please leave that too, or email me at lora@arrowsmiths.com. You can't screw up Wednesday Spaghetti. All you have to do is make an effort once in awhile on any day of the week to eat any dinner you would like AT YOUR TABLE. It can be you and your friends. You and your family. You and your cat. You and your coworkers. You and the ladies auxiliary of whatever it is that you are auxiliaring. I don't invite (straight) boys over the age of 12, but you can. I let kids come over, but you don't have to. It's your chance to do things your way in the spirit of togetherness.

I do spaghetti because it is cheap and Wednesdays because my husband is out of the house. That's what works for me, but it might not work for you.

If you post to this blog and your blog isn't listed in the sidebar blogroll, please let me know. I added a handful of blogs there last week, but I forgot to hit SAVE in my haste to shut down the window when my boss' boss came over to my desk.

Fun and free for kids

http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=89630

I'll be volunteering and hanging out with the husband and my little one, the big one will also be there rocking out. Free food, rides and entertainment. They had me at food.