Meredith Cooked...Mark it down in history!

Yes, yes, yes... The heading is true. I cooked tonight. When we come to Florida, we ALWAYS eat well. Between Blake, Phil and Jeannie we have plenty of amazing cooks in the kitchen. I started feeling the pressure last night and volunteered to cook. Blake chose for me to make my Panko Crusted Chilean Sea Bass with a Key Lime Buerre Blanc and fresh tropical fruits on Japenese Sticky Rice. Man, pouring on the pressure. I was thinking towards lasagna, but we went for the Seabass. We went to a great little seafood market here in Florida and got some amazing Seabass for next to nothing (as far as Seabass goes). Blake picked up some gator tail meat since he has been craving the for some time. I went ahead and whipped up the meal. The buerre blanc was more liquidy than I like, but over all I am happy with the dish. The fish was cooked near perfect.














Chilean Seabass in a Key Lime Buerre Blanc with fresh tropical fruit.





























Blake's Gator Tail bites with fried jalapenos with a trilogy of sauces.

Last night (after the amazing prime rib night), Jeannie made a one pot meal. Ginger, curry chicken with potatoes and carrots. It was awesome! In addition, she whipped up one of her famous salad that are to die for. See below.















Jeannie's Famous Salad!














One pot Ginger, Curry Chicken with potatoes, mushrooms and carrots.


Blake's mom buys unique cookbooks on Amazon. Best Idea Ever. Well, she got a Moroccan cook book for Blake and we were off to the grocery store. He made a traditional meal, which was fantastic. It was lamb and beef meatballs with a yummy sauce and over easy eggs on top. YUM! Rock on Morocco!



We need ideas... Bring them on!!!

The Grass is Always Greener Until you Become Adults

Every time I sit down to think about blogging, I think about my cousin Katie. Katie is the most poetic and eloquent writer I have ever known. When I read what she writes, I feel like I fall into the deepest part of her soul. I feel like I can feel what she is feeling. She and I were born on the same day, in the same hospital, with the same doctor. This was quite an amazing experience for two little girls who would soon become best friends. Katie and I spent holidays together at grandmas house when we were children. I think Katie always envied me and I always envied Katie. Katie was the star soccer player, and I always wanted to be. I was the star basketball player, and Katie always wanted to be. Katie could (and still can) bring a room of strangers to tears with her piano and singing skills, and I can’t carry a tune in a bucket but I have always wanted to be musically talented. Right as Katie began to get the attention of the room, I would make someone laugh and steal that attention away. Katie always wanted to be the funny one, and I always wanted to be the talented one. As we grew older, we became better friends but we always thought we wanted what each other had. I guess life works that way. Katie was my idol, and I was hers.

As we became teenagers, we spent some time at each other’s houses in Cary and Atlanta. When we were not together, we were writing each other hand written letters or talking on the phone. Once we got into high school/college, we drifted apart, not with intention, but just naturally as friends sometime do. Katie and I became grown ups, and I think that is when we both remembered how influential and important we were to each other. We picked up right where we left off at 15 years old. I love Katie more than words can express. I envy her, but not in a jealous way. I envy her with pride. I am so proud of the woman she has become. I am proud of her talents and her strengths. I am proud of her determination and patience. I think she is a model for what a woman should. Katie is a picture of GRACE.

I think that Katie and I will both agree that we have been blessed with amazing and perfect lives. Katie is married to a wonderful man named Steve, and I married Blake who I loved way back when. Katie and Steve live in Ohio, and they made the decision to go on a journey to adopt from Russia. Their story has moved me. I would do anything in the world for Katie and Steve to be able to meet their little precious one they have desired and dreamt about for so long. I can’t wait until that day. Feel free to follow their journey with them at http://steveandkate.wordpress.com/. You will be able to see why I have so much pride in my cousin Katie. Now that we are grown and both blessed in so many ways, I see that I don’t want to be Katie and Katie doesn’t want to be me. We are just so happy to have each other just the way we are. The grass is always greener until you become adults, then you just become to the fertilizer that makes each other’s yard beautiful.

Blake's Yummy Yumminess

Blake has done some amazing cooking, even in the cottage where he had a 4x4 all in one range, oven, sink, fridge, and the oven didn't work. He cooked every night all summer except for 2. I didn't get pictures of everything, but he made big steam pots, pasta dishes, Asian cuisine and much more. Below are some of the meals that we have had since we last posted.

The man behind all of the master plans.


















Grilled Kielbasa
Sausage hash on a bed of
asparagus puree











Cornish Hen with a sweet plum sauce, braised red cabbage and asparagus fried rice.












Chilled Mediterranean Shrimp Salad Martinis













Mussels steamed in a white wine herbaceous butter sauce.


















Braised Cabbage and Shrimp Fried Eggrolls with sweet Tomkat sauce












Southwestern Grilled Flank Steak on Truffle Whipped Potatoes and a dash of Sriracha













Blackened Swordfish on fried rice with fresh steamed broccoli

















Sweet Mongolian Chicken with Broccoli and Sesame Seeds











Tamago omelet with mini hand rolls and Miso Soup












Jeannie (Boppy's) Amazing Prime Rib which we will learn to make. Flavored with Rosemary, Garlic, Onion, Salt and Pepper and Cayenne. YUM!!! Served with Merlot Au Jus, fresh beets and Yorkshire Pudding.









Good Ole' Mongolian Beef













Jeannie and Blake's Home made Cinnamon Rolls













Sweet and Spicy Ginger Sesame Chicken













Chicken and Asparagus Fried Rice with a perfectly fried egg












Meredith's 28th Birthday Meal. Steak. Lobster. Asparagus. She is such a sleeper!












We love this label. Tonkatsu Sauce "How to use is tasty" Makes no sense.












Blackened Cornish Hen with Mushroom/Spinach Ravioli and southern green beans.












Italian Shrimp and Tomato Pasta













Cheesy Escargot Toast Bites

Catching up on Lottie and the Fosters

I can't believe it is almost the end of my summer break from school. This summer flew by. I also can't believe that I have not had a spare minute to update our blog since I started in April. Blake and I spent the summer in Carolina Beach along with Lottie and Choo-Choo. Between graduate summer school, real estate, being a wife and being a mother to a 5-7 month old, I have just been swamped. Now, I am catching up in Florida. Grad school is out until August 26th, Lottie is being loved on by Boppy, and my teaching school does not start until next week. I have completely forgetting how to relax. I slept this morning until 8:30 for the first time since December 14th, 2008. Boy, was it nice!

As I mentioned, we spent the summer at Carolina Beach. Blake’s company is based there and my family house cottages there. We stayed in the loft upstairs which threw a curveball for Blake’s cooking. Don’t worry, it didn’t stop him from making some amazing creations.

Now onto Lottie. She is 7.5 month now. Her hair is getting so long. I truly can’t believe it. Since I last posted she has started eating solid baby food which is tons of fun. We are still working on teaching her to actually pick up food and put it in her own moth. As of now, she just smears everything around. I have started making her food at home because I calculated the cost of premade, Orangic foods. I was spending $47 a week, plus $45 in formula. That is way more than necessary. Making my own takes that cost down about 75%. Can you believe that?

Foods Lottie Loves:

BEETS- her favorite
Peas
Apples
Pears
Mangoes
Bananas
Carrots
Blueberries
Peaches

Foods Lottie Hates:

Green beans
My Veggie medley
Avocados

She is a pretty good eater. Lottie has always been a spitter. As she got older, she began spitting up more and more. At her last appointment (7 months), the doctor decided it would be best to get her some blood work to see if we can get to the root of the problem with the spit up. She was spitting up about 30 times a day. We are anxiously awaiting the results. I will update you when we know something.