Snapshots of Recent Food-Related Goings On

Because I start classes this week and I'm too lazy to write a real post.

We hosted a fun, but somewhat small casserole party! I made my first ever Tater Tot Casserole!



It was darn tasty, but it'll probably be my last. It's sort of as gross as it is tasty. Here's something funny about it though. On the Ore-Ida website, tater tot casserole is tagged as vegetarian - observe here. Anyone else see why this is funny? Should I write to them? Or just let it be a funny? Thoughts?

Moving on - the casseroles! It was like -2 or something, so only 6 out of 18 people showed (I'm blaming the weather, although it's also possibly I got really annoying without knowing it and all my friends don't like me.) Anyway, YUM, right?



On a plate! Caitlin made a delicious pineapple bread pudding with cheddar CHEESE on top that tasted like the 1960's. That garbonzo thing is sort of curried with all this wilted arugula and it was a saving grace on a plate loaded up with bad-for-you things.



A little close up of Alissa's lovely roasted onions, just because they're beautiful.



There should really be a picture of some wine because there was plenty of that too.

Lastly, from today, a tub of Smitten Kitchen's Oatmeal cookies that I took to our vet, One Love Animal Hospital, as a thank you. Our beloved Bill has been with them since THURSDAY (so LOOOOONG!) for surgery etc and they have been superfantasticamazingterrific. If you live in Brooklyn, take your pet there! Baking these cookies for them felt like the full realization of the true meaning of what it is to be COOKIE. A dozen little sugary, butter-licious bites of love and gratitude.

a Portland Christmas, a New York New Years

Christmas consisted of all the traditional fixings and festivities! Dinner at the University club on the 23rd, cozy Christmas eve with mom spent watching Christmas in Connecticut and eating at the always classic Paley's Place. Christmas Morning at Mom's welcomed in as always with a bunch of dear friends and plenty of good food. Dinner at Dad's with the family (and a healthy dose of presents. I was mostly too busy soaking up all the Christmas cheer, so this is the only picture I really have for you of all that - you'll just have to trust me that it was a great time, and that the food was all really delicious.



Marina and I had a little lovely post-Christmas sister day. We mostly spent it eating a delicious, big, soul warming brunch at the fabulous (if a bit heavy) Tasty & Sons in Portland.

We ordered a chocolate doughnut to begin, because that's how sister days go. Dessert First please and thank you.



Here is the burger Marina ordered.



My sister is a Champ and she ate the Whole Dang blue cheese-bacon-rare burger-with Russian-Dressing Thing! Go Marina!



I had this heavy heavy heavy Boudin Blanc omelet with truffle cheeeese.



It was sort of too much, so I was glad I had this radicchio salad to help me through.



Mom and I had a really lovely last-night-in-Portland dinner on the town at Gruner, her new favorite. I have to say - and I hate to put it this way but I really mean it as a compliment - Gruner is a place that really has risen above a lot of the Portland restaurant hangups (crappy, you're-so-lucky-to-be-eating-in-this-restaurant service, etc) and is just a great great place. These were my favorite thing I've eaten in a long time - beet pickled eggs with fresh horseradish!



A cross section, because I'm an obnoxious person who takes pictures for her blog now. Enjoy my downfall in all it's fushia-hued glory.



8 lovely, family and friend-filled days were over much too quickly, but I'll be back soon enough and it was a festivefantastic Christmas.

Plus, one must be in New York for New Years, it's the center of the world after all. Here's what ours was like:

Mike came! He brought Champagne! It pleased me immensely!



He Made Cupcakes!



Mike and I made lots of food, actually.



Inspired by my recent deviled egg experience at Gruner, I made a (surprisingly!) great Emeril Lagasse recipe!



We wore our Party Hats (courtesy of Angie).



We took Prom pictures and Danced!




New Year! A time for reflection, clearly. Pondering our resolutions.



Sometimes, of course, it's good to stop reflecting and just party it up.




Happy New Year! May 2011 bring boatloads of lovely happy times!