Hope everybody had a great weekend! Last week felt really chaotic for some reason, so it was nice to have a couple of days to relax.
**FRIDAY**
This week we covered demi glace and hollandaise in class. The demi glace was no sweat- we actually made it into a piquant sauce for pork chops (I had 2 bites… I don’t miss pork, but the sauce was good). The hollandaise, on the other hand, was kind of a huge ordeal. It took our three group members to get it assembled and we were taking turns with the whisk. The scariest part is that we have to make it all on our own next week for our practical exam. Time to bust out the arm weights.
I forgot to take photos of what we cooked, but a few people in our class chipped in to buy a cake. The baking classes turn over whatever baked goods they don’t want to take home to be sold… I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want this cake:
I think this may be a lobster…?
My piece was frozen. A cake-sicle, if you will:
I was trying to get bed early on Friday, so we were boring and made dinner at home. I pulled out the new Giada cookbook (are y’all sick and tired of this yet?) and tried the Lemon Risotto. It’s similar to this recipe, but with a lot of lemon juice and more broth.
OMG- it was SOOOO good! We had it with some rotisserie chicken and steamed asparagus:
The risotto is really rich. It involves a good amount of butter, mascarpone and parmesan cheeses- but a small amount is definitely enough. Plus I used my whole, “Well I’m running in the morning…” justification, which is badbadbad. But yeah, go buy the cookbook and try this recipe. There’s also one in there for butternut squash and vanilla risotto that I want to try.
Which brings us to…
**SATURDAY**
Got up at 5:00 for a 6am 14-mile run. It was not too bad, but I really need to figure out the whole “what to eat before running” issue. I just get really worn out and the mid-run gu (NASTY) isn’t cutting it. Any suggestions? I need to get faster, too. We did it in about 2:15.
Oh, also on the running front: anyone who is debating a marathon- or any race for that matter- should rent Spirit of the Marathon. It’s a documentary following 6 runners of varying levels training for the Chicago Marathon (one is Deena Kastor, one is a new runner, one is a 70-year-old 5th time marathoner). I watched it on Friday night and definitely bawled at the end. Brian HATES running and actually enjoyed the movie, too.
The rest of Saturday involved a bridal shower, running some errands, and then driving to the lake. The best part? I slept 10 hours last night. And then napped with Chloe during the Cowboy’s game. Nice.
**SUNDAY**
We drove back from the lake late this afternoon and then took Chloe to a pumpkin patch right by our house.
She liked this one:
And tried to eat this one:
Be we ended up with these:
Brian set up a nice little fall display on the porch, but it’s too dark to take a photo right now. I’ll try to get one up tomorrow.
We’re having an easy dinner tonight- chicken quesadillas with Ezekiel tortillas, refried black beans, avocado, cheese and leftover chicken:
And watching Charlie Bartlett… so far it’s pretty funny.
Survey Time
Do you decorate for holidays, and if so, which ones?
We decorate for Halloween and Christmas, but I feel kind of dumb doing so since we don’t have kids. I think Chloe and Piper appreciate the effort 
My family always decorated for the holidays, and I feel weird not doing that, but there’s really no point just for the two of us. I miss it though. Maybe at Christmas.
I’m a scrooge, so I don’t decorate for any holidays. At Christmas I put up our fake tree (even though we live in Oregon and trees are CHEAP here) and a couple of other Christmas-y things that my Mom gave me and that’s it. Like you, it doesn’t seem like that big a deal since we don’t have kids.
Haha, I love Chloe in the pumpkin patch!!
That risotto sounds awesome – I’m definitely not sick of Giada and her yummy recipes yet!!
My roommate and I bought pumpkins and put them on our porch, but that’s it so far. I think we’re going to do a little more at Christmas until we can go home for break and see all the good stuff at our family’s houses!
Great post. I want to get that cookbook AND rent that movie now. I hear you on the mid-run Gu. Ick. I have been known to try to stash a half a Clif bar in my running shorts. Not ideal but it does help if you are having one of those days. I can’t remember, is this your first marathon? If not, you already know this but during the marathon they will have lots of stations with oranges, gatorade, and of course Gu. I always find the oranges are perfect and exactly what I need.
Happy Monday!
Thanks for the tip on the movie. Sounds like it’s right up my alley – I have been debating running a 1/2 marathon or a marathon for a while now.
I love Chloe – she is so cute.
We don’t really decorate since it’s just us too. We did put up a small Christmas tree last year (the kind that rotates and has lights). It was pretty cheesy but did the trick
As you know I used to be really bitter and not decorate for anything. But last year what with the new house and husband I decided it was time so I got a tree, some garland and a wreath. This year I just bought some Halloween stuff and have already slated the banister for garland come Christmas. We don’t have kids either but so what! It just means the decorations stay intact and that we don’t have to hang any homemade stuff made with “love” but not good taste. sorry, I know if I had a child I would hang every scribble and maceroni neclace but I don’t so I can still talk smack!
I only decorate for Christmas – but I do try to do little projects with D for the holiday of the moment. Whatever we make usually ends up being a decoration that hangs out for a while. Like the Haunted House we just made for Halloween. I would love to decorate for every holiday, I just hate having to find a place to store everything.
Chloe looks so chic in her hot pink harness.
OH CHLOE!
Your lemon risotto sounds fabulous. I’ll never get sick of Giada. Obsessed with her actually!
I decorate like CRAZY for Christmas, but I guess that’s it! I think we’re gonna carve pumpkins this year, though.
Have a happy day!
Did you go to the st. james pumpkin patch?? Hope you liked charlie bartlett.. I thought it was pretty good.
I decorate a little for halloween and christmas
RunJen- it’s my first full marathon, but I did a half a couple of years ago. I know that there’s going to be a Gu/Clif bar station, so that’s good. I remember people passing out doughnut holes and beer on the half course!!! Gross.
Jill- Yep, the St. James patch! They had this little neighborhood block party thing there yesterday- I thought you guys might be there! Chloe actually got a blessing from one of the priests, but I’m not sure if he was from St. James or not.
That dog is seriously cute!!
Thanks for the info about the Giada cookbook. I bought it on Saturday and it is going to be a good one.
Yes, I decorate for almost every holiday and the husband just informed me he is getting a gorilla mask to wear while giving out candy to the trick or treaters. Poor kids. Some of us just never grow up.