Dad’s Enchiladas and Refried Beans

My dad lived in Guatemala for two years and learned how to make great enchiladas! We were raised on these enchiladas and to this day, I still love them!

Grilled Reuben Sandwiches

Arnold Reuben (1883-1979), opened a deli in New York City in 1908. After a few relocations it settled in its final home at Madison and 58th, where it stayed for the next three decades. As the story goes, in 1914 an actress by the name of Annette Seelos, who was working on a Charlie Chaplin film at the time, stopped into Reuben’s. Allegedly she stated: “I’m so hungry I could eat a brick.” Reuben took some rye bread and added Virginia ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. Seelos was so pleased with his concoction that she requested it be named after her. Reuben, taking his due credit and rebuffing her narcissism stated: “The hell I will. I will call it a Reuben’s Special!”

We are living in an Easter Egg…

Happy Thursday! It’s absolutely beautiful here in Vermont! My seeds have sprouted and my cilantro is taking over the window box. With all the excitement of my seeds sprouting, I have since planted more seeds and I am anxiously awaiting for them to pop through the dirt. However, the window boxes were sold out! That didn’t stop me. I used yogurt cups to start some new seeds (pop some holes in the bottom so they can properly drain). Also, I used a cardboard egg carton to start some other seeds and that’s been great because it didn’t cost me a cent!

?

Many of you bloggers out there check your blog stats, referrers, etc daily, maybe even hourly, if you’re obsessed. (Hey, I do sometimes, too!) At any rate, I have noticed a common thread in my Search Engine Terms. The 3rd most commonly searched term that directs people to my blog is GINGERBREAD HOUSES. Seriously? Everyday I have several people who happen upon my blog who are looking for gingerbread houses, pictures, recipes, icing, etc. Who is making gingerbread houses in March, May, and all months of the year besides December? I was just wondering…it just seems a little bizarre…but that could just be me. No, it’s not me, I still think it’s unusual.

What is your #1 search engine term?

The Haircut…

Over 6 inches of my hair feel to the ground a few weeks ago. It was time to let it go. I know when I pull my hair in a pony tail every day, it’s time to reconsider my hair-do. I am going for virgin hair too, so no more coloring for this chica! No one has cut my hair, besides my sister, Annika, for over 15 years! I know, I am a brat when it comes to my hair. (Wait, I take that back. A stylist in Russia cut my hair once, and it was disastrous.) I just didn’t realize how spoiled I was to have a very talented hair dresser in the family, until I didn’t have access to her haircutting skills. I took her for granted!  Everyone in our family is spoiled to sit at her feet, and let her hands work magic.

Ah, May is Marvelous..

and frankly, there is a lot to be smiling about. However, there is one thing that continually bothers me: allergy season. It feels like I have ants crawling around in my throat, the pressure in my ear holes makes me wonder if I am on an airplane, and chronic phlegm isn’t helping the sitch. My head feels like a bowling ball and my swollen glands, that’s another story. Seriously, it’s consuming my life. I have been sneezing for weeks now. I clean houses, and all this dust is getting the best of me. For two weeks I have felt that I am on the verge of getting really sick. It just hovers over me, teasing me, and it’s not going away. Wah. Give me the strength!

FREE CONE DAY TODAY!

APRIL 29Th, 2008: Free cone day at Ben and Jerry’s.

Consider this your personal reminder…hurry, before it’s all gone! I am hoping they dish out this flavah:

Our Baby Blue Beta…

Until we live in a larger home and get a dog, we welcome the new addition to the Zinke household. He’s a bundle of joy. He currently sleeps on our dining room table. And he won’t eat. Stubborn lil’ guy. His brother, Pasha, is living in Salt Lake City, Utah.

4-Minute Tomato Basil “Broo-SKET-ta!”

I don’t know about you, but I love fresh tomatoes off the vine during the summer; big, plum, red and juicy. Tomatoes are the only food Rick doesn’t care for. However, he’ll eat them if they are in non-tomato form, like tomato soup, non-chunky salsa and pureed in marinara. Anyway, my first run in with this tasty spread happened one afternoon at the local Price Chopper (nice name for our local market, eh?) a few months back. I was delightfully surprised! (Truthfully, I am tired of seeing this recipe stuck on my fridge with a magnet, so I am officially tossing it after this post is over.)

I love bruschetta and I always want to order it when I eat at Italian restaurants, but never feel justified spending over $4-8 bucks for some bread, tomatoes and spices. Here is an easy-make-at-home recipe. It makes a great appetizer for parties!

Bruschetta

6-8 Roma tomatoes, diced or 14 oz canned petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (2.5 oz) sliced black olives
1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon basil or 2 tablespoon fresh basil, julienned
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Sea Salt
Fresh ground black pepper

1 loaf Italian Bread
Grated Parmesan cheese

In a bowl, combine tomatoes, olives, garlic, basil, 6 tablespoons EVOO, oregano, salt and pepper. Let it marinate. Meanwhile, preheat your oven (or you can use your bread toaster) and lightly coat one side of the bread with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Then place it on a baking sheet and toast it until it is slightly golden brown.

Spread the tomato mix over the oiled side of the bread, covering almost the whole surface area, and top with grated Parmesan cheese.

I like mine drizzle some balsamic vinegar over the bread just before serving.

RICK PASSED HIS BOARDS!

Some of you were asking for the status of his exam….sorry I left ya hanging! We are both relieved it’s over.  Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Cycling, Herbs and Tuna, oh My!

The weather here in Vermont has been nothing but perfect this past week. We had a high of 78 this past weekend and the forecast brings nothing but more good news! Rick and I found ourselves in shorts and t-shirts, asleep on a blanket in the park yesterday. It was incredible! On Saturday, I attended a bar-b-q and nothing says “Summer” like chicken on the grill and potato salad on the table, chips in the bowl, buns all lined in a row, John Legend on the stereo and a little girl slipping on a plate of chicken bones! (They also grilled crab…seriously? It was awesome!) I am so glad the Winter boots are out of sight and Spring has sprung!

Ode to Megan!!!

Megan: HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY, BABE! I had such a great time picking my favorite pictures of you for this post. You crack me up. You are one of the funniest, most beautiful gals I have ever known and I am so lucky to have you as my sister. I miss you, terribly! I hope this day is filled with wonderful memories and time with family. Gosh, you are wonderful!

Ode To Morgan!!!

My wonderful sister, Morgan, turns 32 today! Morgan, we love you, we miss you and we are so grateful you are alive. I can’t imagine not having you as a sister. You have so many lovely talents and fans world wide. We hope it’s a memorable day for you!

Disneyland and my grandma Betty’s old house…check out the belly shirt!

The Greatest In-Laws of all time!

It was September 21st, 2007 when we last saw Rick’s parents and it was so great to have them in town this past weekend. Their visit was so quick, and I am sad they’re gone already. We had a great time visiting Dakin Farms in Ferrisburgh, the Vermont Folk Rocker in Starksboro, and Vermont’s very own Ben and Jerry’s in Stowe, where it all began. (Speaking of Ben and Jerry’s, be sure to stop by their store for a FREE cone on April 29th. Click HERE for locations.)

I think Rich and Janna fell in love all over again, as we encouraged them to participate in some very cheesy pictures. Deep down, we know they loved it! What great sports they were!

It’s 4:34 a.m.

And my husband is sleeping. I know this is the start of what’s to come: early mornings! He’s on his pediatric rotation at the hospital and I need to go wake him up at 5. I feel like making gingerbread pancakes. Ahh, breakfast rules. I seriously don’t know how to sleep in, and I guess it’s a good thing because I hate alarm clocks (they are so evil) and that’s the only way Rick can get up (so I am his alarm clock). I need to work on getting 8 hours of sleep. 6.5 hours of sleep? Seriously? We went to bed at 10 o’clock last night, hoping to get 7 hours. Ah, gee. The next three weeks he’s got to be at the hospital between 6:30 and 7 a.m. Give me the strength. I know I am morning person (there is something really awesome about being up before the sun rises…and most peeps are still asleep) so I don’t mind it, but when I start yawning at 6 p.m., I know I am in trouble.