Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• a snoring Beagle.
• the corner pieces of an Imo's Deluxe pizza.
• three days until Tri Delta convention + mom in Orlando.
  
• opening a fresh container of half & half.
• my new stainless steel trash can.
  

I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook
can play each time with a variation.
Madam Benoit

With this brutal weather the very last thing I want to do after running a Beagle around the block is cook a "good hot dinner." Ew.

But most of my usual recipes are on the grill or casseroles in the oven. I just couldn't take it anymore so I went digging around in other cookbooks and recipes I had on file. When I opened the cute recipe book Casey gave me at my bridal shower full of guests' recipes, I thought, "Lucy's Chicken!"

I believe the original name was Bistro Chicken but since Lucy, a high school youth group friend, has shared it many times it has become Lucy's Chicken. I had always heard how simple and yummy it was but has never tried it.

It didn't disappoint! Easy to make, filling enough for dinner, light and fresh for summer too.

Enjoy this great summer dinner and thank Lucy!


Lucy's Chicken
1/2 box of pasta (any kind - I used whole wheat rotini)
2 Chicken breasts
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 small tub feta cheese
1/4 cup Caesar salad dressing
1 small hand full chopped fresh basil

The recipe I had also included 1 can black olives which I omitted because I don't like them and chopped broccoli florets which I didn't have on hand. You can add or remove anything you'd like! You could grill the chicken instead of sauteing it like I did, add another veggie or use another type of salad dressing (Casey used honey mustard).

Cook pasta as directed, drain and cool.
Dice chicken, toss in a bit of flour, salt and pepper.
Heat olive oil and a bit of garlic in a pan.
Saute chicken until cooked. Move to plate to cool.

Toss pasta, chicken, feta, tomatoes and salad dressing together until coated. Serve room temperature or cold.

Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.
Frank Borman

One of my favorite parts about living in a new-to-me city is having the chance to explore new events and try out new things. Even though I've been here for about a year and a half, there is still so much I haven't done!

Yesterday even, Nick was dragged joined me for a trip to the Maplewood Farmers Market which is held through the summer on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Schafly Bottleworks parking lot. I've always heard it was a good one and while I loved the atmosphere (lots of people, dogs and live music from the patio) I was disappointed in the offerings. A few too many radish shoots and beets for my liking. They did have a few vendors with great meat selections but we didn't really need anything. Oh well, I got a great rosemary baguette from Black Bear Bakery.

After we went (for the second time this week!) to The Village Bar for seriously the best hamburgers and handmade onion rings I've had in a while. Cheap and so delicious.

Overall a fun, Wednesday night exploration (but we came home to a Beagle that really had to go tink!).

No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.
Elbert Hubbard

We had a great and busy Memorial Day weekend here in St. Louis and on our little trip to Louisville, Kentucky.

Nick's mom and dad stopped in for two nights on their way back from Florida. I took them to Schafly on Saturday for the World Porksteak Championship. Needless to say, it was delicious! Then we headed out to Nick's club because they wanted to try out some new golf stuff. They practiced, I relaxed in the Adirondack Chairs on the driving range! That night we enjoyed dinner together on The Hill at Cunnetto House of Pasta.


On Sunday, they headed out and we left for Louisville. It was a rare day to have Nick off on Memorial Day so we took advantage of the time. We spent Monday at Churchill and got an awesome backstretch tour from horse trainer, Tom Amoss. We also had the chance to watch the horses saddled in the paddock and even stand in the winner's circle. Nick was in horse-heaven!

Tom Amoss' barn on the backstrech

Watching the morning workouts.

Race 4 winner (and Tom's horse!) Alicia's Pretty Boy.

In the winner's circle - fun!

With jockey Miguel Mena.

I wanted all of the hanging planters but did get to snag the centerpiece from our table!

With the famous Twin Spires.

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.
Voltaire

On Tuesday night I joined some of my favorite St. Louis people, my Tri Delta alum friends, at our local Schnucks grocery store for a cooking class. This is a newest Schnucks location and the one I shop at regularly. The store itself is beautiful and the fun part is that they have a great cooking school too!

The class we signed up for was themed around yummy things for summer parties. We had two chefs helping us and teaching neat tricks but we paired off and cooked everything ourselves. They had every kitchen tool and appliance under the sun so I was in heaven!

For the cost of a dinner out that we would have done anyway, it was such a great way to spend time with friends, learn some new stuff but also enjoy a great food that we made.

With Sarah, my dessert-making partner.

Susan and Katie manned the chicken wings.

Along with Kara they rocked it!

Our gorgeous Pina Colada Trifle (definitely the best thing made if I do say so myself!)

Poached shrimp with a variety of dipping sauces.

Our brilliant creation!

...and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Alexander, The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

Yesterday was seriously the longest day ever.

I started off the morning with a few errands and ended up stranded in front of Einstein Bros. Bagels for 2 hours until my car decided that it would start.

Then after grocery shopping, I spent another 2 and a half hours in the sweltering parking lot with a car that wouldn't start. Needless to say my ice cream melted, I had to miss my afternoon visit to Angie and my car is now being checked out at the mechanic. Boo.

Hmmm... what will it be this time? Nick's bet is on the alternator, I say perhaps an issue with the battery. Either way, I'd just appreciate a car that turns on and if that could happen for less than $500. Okay, less than $200 would be better.

Thankfully, I did get groceries, albeit slightly gooey and warm by the time they made it home, so Nick and I enjoyed a delicious dinner: grilled pork tenderloin with a peppercorn marinade, grilled corn on the cob and a big fresh salad. We've been hit or miss lately (and also doing a few too many "every man for himself" these past weeks) so it was great to have a home run last night.

Hungry husband is excited.

Yum. Delicious end to a crappy day.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• a big vase of pink peonies on my desk at work.
  
• the smell of citronella candles.
• homemade black bean and corn salsa.
• choreographed curtain calls in Broadway shows.
• finally read The Help - it was wonderful!
  

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if
green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.
Doug Larson

Seriously, one of my very favorite things about St. Louis (except for the Cardinals, of course) is the Soulard Farmers Market.

One could say that, perhaps, my love of the Soulard Farmers Market equals that of Publix.

The market is located in the area of Soulard which is just south of downtown and also home to Anheuser-Busch. The neighborhood was established in the late 1700s by a Frenchman Antoine Soulard who as fleeing the French Revolution.

The Soulard Farmers Market was founded in 1838 and is full of vendors offering produce, farm raised meat, plants, homemade soups, food vendors and even counterfeit sunglasses (adds to the charm!). The best part is that it is so cheap.

One of the produce stands

Freshly made croissant with warm ham and cheese from the Soulard Bakery stand

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• reminders through my work in Junior League how very, very fortunate I am.
  
• free (really good) Cardinals tickets.
• waffles with bacon IN them. Oh yes, it is true. And delicious thanks to Casey!
• maybe, maybe, maybe getting a dog.
• Ashley and CJ will be here next weekend!
  

The success of the dinner depends as much
upon the company as the cook.

Ward McAllister

Nick has been talking forever about wanting to go to a Japanese steakhouse. There was in Florida that we loved, Tokyo Bay, and haven't been to one since moving here to St. Louis. Nick heard of a good one, Oishi in Chesterfield Valley, from a coworker and was dying to go but we need some friends to join us! Not too much fun to go by ourselves.

So on Saturday night, Heidi and Dan were toddler-free and up for dinner too! It was delish, we stuffed ourselves and enjoyed the different atmosphere (including catching tossed food from the chef in our mouth! I missed.). Nice just to try something different than a regular restaurant.

Nick's excited!

Heidi and Dan.

Me and Heidi.

Yum - look at that steak!

Onion volcano, that's the best part!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• a calm, rational husband when the mechanic explained why my poor little V-Dub needed $2100 in repairs
• my pre-ordered Girl Scout Cookies have finally arrived
• some of Nick's fun Iowa friends are in town to watch UNI in the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness
• my mom arrives in four days
  
• weather this weekend in the 50s - hooray for a touch of Spring

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• we finally got a renter for our Florida house - woot!
  
• homemade French toast with warm syrup.
• Corrina, Corrina on TBS. Gosh, I love that movie!
• purging and shredding all the junk in our files.
  
• Welsh potato chips and rarebit from Llywelyn's.
  

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• fresh cut daffodils from the grocery store.
• trying our first St. Louis Lenten fish fry!
• $5 deals from Home Goods.
• petting the darling guys from the Blood Hound Rescue at Petsmart.
• watching Olympic speed skating with Nick - it's like horse racing but with people!
  

I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills.
It's probably the most important thing in a person.
Audrey Hepburn

The quote above is one of my favorites. I think of it constantly when I'm with Nick. He always makes me laugh! A very romantic Valentine's Day was no different.

We just had a yummy at home. My mother always made heart-shaped meatloaf and pink mashed potatoes so I did the same. Nick requested chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting for dessert.

I made him turn off the sport-of-the-minute or whatever he was watching on television and put on some nice music for dinner. He selected Sirius XM - Love Songs and then serenaded me with My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

Swoon.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• my darling red-headed Valentine.
  
• my mama is coming to visit in March!
• meat wrapped in butcher paper, not just on a foam plate with clear wrap.
• buying a cute gift for attending my first baby shower next week.
  
• the Olympic opening ceremonies - so many excited faces!
  

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
Malcolm S. Forbes

On Friday night Nick and I headed out to meet one of his college friends who was in town for a wedding. Ryan was one of the people we visited on our first trip to St. Louis in 2006 while he was getting his doctorate at Washington University.

We met a Ryan and two other couples for dinner but since a bunch of guys organized it, no one made reservations. So we ended up at Kilkenny's Pub. We were all starving but I wasn't keeping my expectations too high. Honestly, though, it was the best patty melt I'd ever had. Yum!

It was nice to be with some different people and at a different place for dinner. Talking about what we all did for work at the table, poor Nick was the least educated of us all. Three doctors, three masters degrees... and Nick with his undergrad business degree. The shame, right? Just kidding. He's a smarty pants.

We broadened our horizons, even if just a little bit, on Friday night!

Cute picture but the crooked frame behind me kind of drives me crazy.

Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season.
One word and one word only: Super Bowl.
Bill Peterson

On Sunday we're having our first Super Bowl party. Not too many people will be able to make it, mainly because we sent the invite out kind of late, but it still should be fun. Nick's college friends, Luke and Mel, are joining us along with Mr. and Mrs. Fab. We have a few other babysitter-dependent "maybes" and more that are stopping by to and from other get togethers.

Our house is small so eight people is plenty and a good excuse to throw a little party! I'm sure the game will be good but I'm most excited about the commercials, of course.

Here's what is on the menu:

• Chili with all the fixin's (cheese, sour cream, onions)
• Brats from the grill with hot mustard and kraut
• Homemade cornbread muffins
  
• Homemade onion dip with chips and veggies
• Buffalo potato wedges with warm blue cheese dip (ala Rachael Ray)

It is going to be cold so we'll have a fire going and have all the goodies for a toasty dessert of s'mores.

What's on your game day menu? Any favorites you can't live without?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• this is my 500th post! Giveaway to come... post-the 500th post!
• having Ashley here all weekend to play.
• Sudafed and my new Neti Pot to help relieve symptoms of my cold (fourth one this winter!).
• appetizers for dinner.
• Nick comes home from Orlando today!
  

Random: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose

• My next post will be my 500th post. Holy camole! Look out for a giveaway (my first!).
• Ashley arrives in St. Louis tonight!
• It's SNOWING. Sorry, I'm from Florida. I think this will always be a novelty.
  
• Although it isn't nice to say especially because of the children involved, I was glad to hear Brad and Angelina are separated. Vindication for Jennifer, take that!
  
• I haven't had a Diet Coke (or any diet soda, for that matter) in 26 days. That's huge.
  
• I follow the Big Ben Clock on Twitter. The only Tweets are when it goes "BONG BONG BONG" on the hour (with the correct number for the corresponding hour). Too funny.
  
• I made Chicken piccata for the first time last night. I always love ordering it in restaurants but never tried to do it myself. I used Ina Garten's recipe and it was quite delicious with some whole wheat pasta and vegetables, thankyouverymuch.

I think that women just have a primeval instinct to make soup, which they will try to foist on anybody who looks like a likely candidate.

Dylan Moran

On these chilly, dark winter nights not much sounds better for dinner than something warm from the Crock Pot. As my mother says, how can it not taste good after cooking for 8 hours?! So true.

So I've never made homemade soup so I thought I'd give it a whirl. This recipe was delicious! Husband tested and approved. Even for leftovers, after the broth soaked up a bit, it sort of turned into yummy, chicken casserole-type thing for lunch.

I highly recommend giving it a try!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

8 cups water
2 cup carrot, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 cup celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
4 teaspoons salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast (you can use a whole chicken if you like dark meat too)
2 cups frozen peas
3 cups noodles, uncooked (I used whole wheat egg noodles)

Directions

1. In 4-1/2 to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, combine water, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, poultry seasoning, 4 t salt, 1/2 t pepper.
2. Place chicken on top of vegetables.
3. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 to 10 hours or on high 4-5 hours.
4. Transfer chicken to bowl. Add noodles and frozen veggies to slow-cooker; cover with lid and cook (on low or high) 20 minutes.
5. While noodles cook, shred chicken
6. Skim fat from soup and discard. Return chicken to soup to serve.

Cooking after adding the noodles

Chicken all shredded up

Finished product - so delish!