Gobble-Gobble

This year we decided to have a nice, mellow Thanksgiving with just the two of us. Read: tasty food and optional showers, followed by copious amounts of junky TV, pie, and trips to the beach. Life is good!

On Tuesday night at 2:30 in the morning, our neighbor decided it would be a great idea to play the drums. My conversation with Lancer went a little like this:

Me: Lancer!! Our neighbors are playing the drums and it's 2:30 in the morning!
Lancer: Do you want some earplugs?
Me: NO!!! I WANT YOU TO PUT SOME PANTS ON AND GO MAKE OUR STUPID NEIGHBORS STOP PLAYING THE DRUMS AT 2:30 IN THE MORNING!!

Lancer is a good man. I'm very grateful to him for that, and a busload of other reasons too special to share with you. I love that man.

Kicked off Wednesday with a baking spree. I bought Lancer's Razzleberry pie, but I made my own gluten free chocolate french silk pie. It was so good, I currently have another one in the hopper ready to be bakes and filled. If you can't eat 2 pies at Thanksgiving, when can you?

I had the genius notion that my sink and disposal could handle a few yam peels. I was wrong. Now I know why people buy the canned stuff. Basically, I hit the disposal, and my sink vomited at me.

We called this clogged sink helpline (who even knew that existed???) They ask questions like "when you turn on the disposal, is there a whirlpool of food and scraps?" Um, yes, and then some. They told us to fill the left side with 4 inches of water and a metal pan. Then, add 4 inches of water to the right side, and plunge the crizzle out of it.

Amazingly, it worked! Did you know that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for plumbers? I do now.

After the hourlong delay, I got my candied pecan sweet potatoes cooking in the crockpot. Recipe here. They were easy and delicious!

And here are all of the goodies for my homemade, gluten-free cornbread stuffing. This has been the stuff of delicious leftover turkey lunches. It's stellar! It's loosely based on the recipe here.

This year, we smoked our turkey in our Big Green Egg. It looks like R2-D2 and produces a wonderful turkey with a light hint of smoke and flavor. It was delicious!

The whole spread

Here's our delicious finished bird, smoked to perfection!

Our delicious green salad with homemade dressing, blue cheese, and cranberries

My delicious (if I may say so myself) corn pudding. It's actually more like a corn souffle--super easy and definitely delicious. I'm a corn gal at heart. Recipe here.

And the aforementioned candied orange sweet potatoes with pecans and an orange reduction. Delish!

I finally got to use my Williams Sonoma turkey holder. I filled him with cranberry relish.

And we also got to use our fancy monogrammed napkins. I rarely bust these babies out, but it's fun for special dinners.

I also did a pomegranate Jell-O with pomegranate seeds. The Utah boy, a connoisseur of Jell-O and Jell-O related dishes, gave it two thumbs up. I trust his pallet--when it comes to Jell-O.

And the finished stuffing!

Lancer carving the bird with his fancy-schmancy Calphalon carving set--one of my Christmas gifts last year.

Dobbie is thankful for a wonderful mommy and daddy who made him a special plate with turkey and corn pudding.

And then the pies. Oh, the pies. Sheer gluttony.

The next few days were filled with fun movies about the destruction of the world. The special affects in 2012 were really cool. I loved watching California crack off and fall into the ocean.

We went up to HMB twice--once was rainy and windy, so we headed back up on Saturday to get a Christmas tree. Hayley had the same idea--she was pulling in as we were pulling out. Good idea, Atwood! We stopped into a nursery that has a hill full of trees you can cut down yourself. I was all excited about the idea, but quickly realized it was the Hill of Misfit Trees. They were all too short, too skinny, too sparse, etc. We mozied on to the next nursery, where we found our perfect little gem.

Here's the winner!

As we were heading to the counter, Lance spied a little 6 inch rosemary topiary, and asked if I wanted to get one--of course I did! He then asked "instead of our other tree?? Riiiiighhhtt. In what world is a 6 inch rosemary topiary a good candidate for a Christmas tree? I can imagine the 2 ornaments we could get on it right before it toppled over.

Taking home our hollitime goodies. You know, our tree, and then our 6 inch mini "tree"

After we got the greens on lock, we headed up the coast to Sam's Chowder House for some tasty lunch. Here's Lance pondering all of the possibilities for fun with his mini-tree.

We started out with the clam chowder (LJ) and the spinach salad with spiced walnuts and goat cheese for me.
For our entrees, Lancer got the tuna melt, and I got the roll-less lobster roll. Mine was good, but not great. I think something got lost in translation when I had to forgo the bread.

After lunch, we enjoyed the last few minutes of sun along the beach. It was a perfect California autumn day!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are so grateful for all that we have, and all that we enjoy. We are truly blessed to live here, and we're grateful for all of our friends and family.

So, You Come Here Often??

I was in the drive-thru at In-n-Out this afternoon. There was this nerdy, bespectacled guy in front of me, and I could see him looking at me in the rearview mirror. I ignored him. I'm certainly not looking for a secret boyfriend....right, Brooke??


As the line started to move, weirdo just sat there, occasionally glancing back at me. He left at least 1.5 car lengths between his car and the one in front of him.

I kinda scooted up--hint-hint, dude. He moved up a tiny bit, but still left a billion feet in front of him. I thought about honking, or sidling up to his bumper--but then I thought he might be a serial killer, and I didn't want to set Ted Bundy off. So I ignored him.

He moved up reluctantly but this weird dance continued on until he grabbed his burger and left.

As I was pulling out the light changed and I had to wait for 10-15 cars. No way I would see Ted again, right?? Wrong. Methinks he pulled over and waited for me. Wait-did I mention I look like crap, too? Oversized fleece and hair in a bun. Not hot.

As I 'm sitting at a light, I hear a honk. I look over, and Nerdman is holding up his frosty shake, giving me a knowing look and a smile--kinda "you like shakes, I like shakes, let's like shakes together." I was going to give him a rude face (and possibly a gesture) but then I realized the nerd's game was so bad he was trying to pick up chicks in the In-N-Out line. I wish there were a way to tell him I thought his "flirting" was the work of a serial killer, but I had no way to do so.

So I gave him a wan smile, flashed my ring, and drove off.

It's not you, it's me. And by that, I mean it's you.

Vamps, Wolves, Choppers & Mud Baths

Or, how I spent my weekend.

Kicked off the crazy on Thursday night with Twilight in the theatre with Sharla. She had never seen it on the big screen, so I joined her. I'm not one to turn down Junior Mints and a 20 foot Eddie. Then, since we were already there....we decided to stay for the midnight showing of New Moon. We couldn't help ourselves. We make no apologies.

I had to be up by 7:30 the next morning and kind of wanted to die. But the thought of RPatz' hair and Tay-Tay's abs kept me going. And a gallon drum of Diet Coke. And a lot of sugar.

And then it was finally time for what I had been waiting months for...my New Moon party!


This handsome couple showed up, took a few pics, and then I told the one with scruff to scram. I gave him bonus points for his solid, smoldering stare-down competition with Jacob. However--maybe next time he should try it in front of a poster featuring someone less, um, smoldering. Someone like Jerry Lewis! Then he would surely win the stare-down contest. (Just kidding, T! Love the red and black!)

May I welcome you to Forks? Eddie stopped by to oversee the night's activities. He's so thoughtful that way.

SQUUUEAALLL!! Did you see that he is holding my hand in this pic??

Kristine laying a little sugar on her favorite teenaged werewolf

Sharla fitting right into the advertisements

Once Lancer came out of his man cave, he discovered that his house was plastered with pictures and posters of half-naked oily wolves and vamps, and women in their 30's getting a little too friendly with a cardboard cutout. He was very uncomfortable with this for some reason.

The Gang

In addition to a super low-key taco bar, we did some tasty Twi Treats to take to the movie--all red and black, of course.


We ate our food, listened to the Twilight soundtrack, took a quiz and giggled about our favorite boys. And, yes, New Moon really was just as great the third time. Except for the part where RPatz runs like a girl in a flowing vest during a dream sequence--you know which part I'm talking bout, Willis. That part was just as bad for the third time.

I finally got more than 5 hours of sleep, and then headed out to the Motorcycle show with Lancer. He was much happier at this than the crappy Fall Harvest Craft Fair.

@ The Harley Demo

I love these weird hybrid bikes--they are kind of like a snowmobile mixed with a motorcycle. 3 wheels, less chance to tip over. I'm all for it. We ran into our Stanford Ward friends, Jeff and Natalyn, at the show--I think Lancer has a new recruit for his biker gang. And Natalyn and I are going to try and spend more time on the back of the bikes. She has full leathers. I'm behind the times.

Then off to Napa!! Once we checked into our old-school Motel/Spa, Dr. Wilkinson's, we went to dinner at the CIA in St. Helena. SO tasty.

I started out with the roasted butternut squash soup. I told Lancer that I would spend a day in the kitchen if I could somehow re-create the delish soup at home. The waiter must have heard, and showed up with the recipe. It makes 3 gallons--so once I figure out how to make, oh, 4 cups, I will get busy.

Lance got the swordfish on a bed of lentils with bacon, and I got the steak with blue cheese sauce with fingerling potatoes. We shared the wilted spinach salad.

Lance got the apple marzipan tartine, and it made him make this face. I hope he steers clear of those down the line.

We love-love-love the CIA!

Napa is so beautiful! The fall colors were in full bloom all over. I love the small town charm.

After our mud baths, whirlpool, steam room, facial, and massage...we sadly packed up and headed back home. But not without a stop at Bouchon for lunch, and the Bouchon Bakery for baked goods to go. I love Thomas Keller.

Lancer got the apple/butternut squash soup with toasted hazelnuts, I got the french onion soup, and we shared the salad with warm goat cheese. All culinary perfection.

For entrees, I got the pan-seared trout, and Lancer got the roasted chicken.

Then we headed on home and relaxed. I really needed a weekend hanging out in Canadian peat moss and volvanic ash from the Napa Valley. I'm so glad Lancer intuitively knew this. He also intuitively knew I needed some cute Pumas, a new sweater dress, and tights to boot. What a smart gent.