Smith Bites
I celebrated a birthday last month and The Professor really hit it out of the park this year; we were supposed to make a trip to the East Coast but sometimes life just doesn’t cooperate like we think it should. My guy still made the entire weekend really special with tickets to the theater, a bouquet of handmade paper flowers, an overnight visit from my sister-in-law and dinner at Cerulean Restaurant in Indianapolis – somewhere we hadn’t visited before.
Who doesn’t love sweet winter oranges, especially when said oranges are zested and the tequila-sunrise-colored juice is hand-squeezed into a glass measuring cup – a few splashes of orange oil ripple towards the edge like ink dots. Fresh-from-the-farm eggs whipped with sugar become light and airy; flour is added in alternating batches with the juice and batter is ribboned into a loaf pan and baked.
It’s February, it’s Valentine’s Day week, it’s cold outside and there’s snow on the ground – pretty typical here in the Midwest. What’s not typical here in the Midwest, at least in this house, is that The Professor and I began a new exercise program in January and . . . I can’t believe I’m saying this but . . . we’re still at it. As in, getting up every day and actually doing a full exercise routine, sweating and everything. I know. Who are we?!! The truth of the matter is, we are actually enjoying the process. I know. Again, who are we?!!
These crab cakes are a spin on sushi – probably my favorite Japanese food. Gluten-free bread crumbs, snap peas, scallions and tamari replace traditional crab cake ingredients, the guacamole-wasabi and pickled ginger garnish give these crab cake bites a fresh twist.
Today began rather early – 3:30am to be exact; one of those nights where sleep is restless as I process the tasks completed yesterday as well as those left undone. I dozed from 6-7:30 and then it was time to be an adult. ‘Please don’t make me adult today’, I said to The Professor. His baby-blues simply twinkle back at me and he doesn’t say a word . . . because he knows that even if I wanted to, I cannot stay in bed.
We’re in the throws of winter here in the Midwest – although we managed to dodge big blizzard, ‘Jonas’, of 2016 and for that I am grateful (I mean seriously, 40-inches of snow in 24 hours?!!). However, there is something to be said about being snowbound while the white stuff tumbles furiously from the sky – it can be magical. But when you live in the country like we do, there is always the fear and trepidation of loss of power that usually accompanies said blizzard.
One last post for 2015; every year I get to the end of December and marvel at how fast the year sped by and then I scroll through my Instagram feed smiling at all the wonderful moments The Professor and I have experienced. Each year has brought us new adventures, new travel, new friends, new experiences – and 2016 promises to be another remarkable year.
Is everyone ‘over the hills and through the woods’ on their way to Grandma’s yet? At the moment, The Professor and I are in the air on our way to Arizona to visit family for the holidays; I’m rocking out to Michael McDonald bringing it home with ‘Children Go Where I Send Thee’ and there are two puppies under each of our seats traveling with their owners seated behind us. It’s a full plane with other grandparents, tired moms and dads, even more tired littles – but everyone traveling anticipates the arrival of Santa and of being with people they love for the holidays.
Twas the week of Christmas and all through the house . . . we’re racing around like a goose and a grouse . . . I asked The Professor what rhymes with ‘house’ and this is what he came up with – feel free to eyeroll in his direction. Regardless, I know we’re all in the same boat because I see you in my social media feeds. You can run but you can’t hide.
Until a year ago, I had only used persimmons as table decorations but had never actually tasted a persimmon – even though I’ve lived here in Indiana for almost 20 years and persimmons are well-known in these parts. We’d tucked some pulp away in the freezer and The Professor found a recipe he wanted to try – I was more than a little suspicious but he forged ahead and I am now happily eating my words . . . uhm . . . pudding.
A super quick and straight-to-the-point post for you today – pumpkin cheesecake! It took multiple failures and several online conversations with my friend Jenni but we finally have a pumpkin cheesecake worthy of any holiday table – or any type celebration for that matter.