Cakes and Ale

Taking a Break...

As you may have noticed, posting on Cakes and Ale has been sparse!

Over the past few months, life has been particularly busy and I told myself I would only post if I really wanted to. Unfortunately, I haven't really wanted to. Work (and life in general) is taking up all of my brain power and attention!

I'm not saying this blog is done for good. I do need a break, however. Hopefully, I will have some great, interesting ideas about how to blog in the future come out of this time off.

Thank you for your understanding!  

A Most Excellent Birthday

My (29th!) birthday was last Sunday, which meant I got to claim the whole weekend as my own to celebrate! 

Friday night, Josh and I decided to tackle cooking live lobsters for the first time. I'm a firm believer that if you're going to eat an animal, you should be OK with slaughtering it. Otherwise, aren't you just deluding yourself that what your eating (for example, a steak) didn't actually come from an animal (a big-eyed cow)? Anyway, I love lobster, and I wanted to cook it myself.

Friday afternoon, the crustaceans arrived:

After taking a peak, I put the cover of the box back on and weighted it down with a couple Wine Spectator magazines. I was convinced those guys were going to try to escape!

We studied up on our various instructional material:

 

Then, it was time to suit up:

Josh was convinced that gently rubbing the backs of the lobster would make the whole "death-by-being-boiled-alive" thing easier on them:

Right...

Massages complete, it was time to get our friends into the pot:

Pick them up behind the claws!

Into the pot they went, and meanwhile:

a couple glasses of Cuvee Sauvage were poured.

12 minutes later, they were red and ready!

With a side of clarified garlic butter and a little lemon (not to mention the best patio weather imaginable), they were perfect.

Dessert was much less labor intensive:

Two dips from the Tastee Freez! 

Surprise!

We didn't just celebrate the good, ol' U S of A this weekend...

We also feted my little sister Laura and her new fiance Steve!

I'm getting my matron-of-honor planning spreadsheets prepped and ready to be of assistance in any way I can! 

Until then, I'll be happy to knock back some champagne in honor of the happy couple.

 

Best wishes to the handsome couple!

Year 5

It's pretty hard to believe, but our wedding was FIVE years ago today:

Happy Anniversary Mr. Wagner! 

(from the Mrs.)

The Big 3-0

A very Happy Birthday to my lovable husband Josh, who turns 30 years old today!

 

Sperry Top-Sider - Authentic Original Boat Shoe, $75

In his honor, throw on a pair of jorts, some boat shoes, and turn up the yacht rock while sipping back a G&T.

Sailing... takes me aawwaaayy...

Milestone Birthdays

We celebrated Josh and my Mother's respective milestone birthdays this Saturday with a festive gathering of their nearest and dearest at our place. It was the largest scale party I've thrown to date, but thanks to many helpers in the kitchen (and the very wise decision to hire someone to tend bar) it went off without a hitch. 

Spring Birthday Cocktail Party Menu

Grapes, Almonds, Assorted Cheeses & Crackers

Hummus, Crudite, & Pita

Spanakopita Bites (Spinach & Feta in phyllo dough)

Shrimp Cocktail

Cold Asparagus Spears with Dijon Vinaigrette

Chicken Skewers Two Ways (Curry & Italian)

Spicy Soy Pork Tenderloin

Yellow and Devils Food Cupcakes with Espresso Buttercream Frosting

 

Party Prep

I'm throwing a joint birthday party for Josh (whose birthday is next Tuesday) and my Mama (whose birthday is today!) on Saturday and I'm in full-on prep mode. That means my obsessively ordered self currently has about five lists (and lists for those lists) of things to do / buy / cook and otherwise get ready for our celebrations!

Actually, I'm feeling pretty good and organized. Today I made a drawing of appetizer placements for the dining room table. Yes - I am insane.

Anyway, I've gotten the worst of the shopping done already: the booze! As fun as I had at Binny's purchasing the wine, beer & spirits for our soiree, I did not have as much fun making 15 trips to and from the car to get them into the house. Nonetheless, the job is done, and since I'm hiring a bartender for the big day, my work in this area is pretty much complete.

A glimpse at the stock:

2 cases of beer (Corona Light, Negra Modelo, and Victoria)

3 cases of wine (4 varietals)

A portion of the bar area

Reinforcements below!

I've also knocked out other miscellaneous party supplies, including a new cooler, plates & cutlery, about 40 new wine glasses, and some seriously festive cupcake wrappers. We're totally looking to out-do that royal wedding!

Next up: the food!

Easter 2011

Happy Easter!

We have had quite the day with family and friends, eating and drinking ourselves silly in typical holiday fashion.

Some highlights:

Pimento Cheese Dip + Champagne

Marzipan Macarons from Brussels

 

Never too big for an egg hunt

Mom's Wedgewood

Roast Leg of Lamb

Lamb Cake Duo! (No wonky eyes this year!)

MORE Belgian chocolates!

Dare I say I'm ready to eat again? Thankfully, I managed to make off with a decent stash from that cornucopia of delight above!

 

Misc

It actually feels like spring this week! In that vein, a few things I can't get enough of:

My tried-and-true Tory Burch loafers... that feel like slippers!

(Similar pair HERE)

Fresh flowers all over the house, including these vibrant irises in the dining room.

Easter candy! Being a kid is fun, but at least as an adult there's no one around to tell you to lay off the sweeties!

Programming Update

I'm apologizing in advance for a lack of original programming this week! With all the travel I've been doing (and am about to do), I've had very little time for getting busy in the kitchen. Although I miss my pots and pans, but I have definitely been enjoying some tasty restaurants in lieu of home-cooking. (Friday night Indian deliciousness at Veerasway, for example!)

I did accomplish some much needed tasks on the home front this weekend, however. Such as installing new light fixtures in the kitchen (pictures to come, once I've cleaned up the plaster that fell on me from the ceiling during the process) as well as some serious shoe racks in our master closet (so happy to get rid of all the shoe boxes!) What's next?

Not much... at least, not this month. I'm heading to North Carolina tomorrow for work (although, I do get to spend tomorrow night with my baby sister!) and then on to Austin next week. Which is actually totally fine because let's face it - March in Chicago? Meh. Bring on the warm weather climates!

I'll still be posting this week, but who knows about what. In the meantime, please do enjoy these sites I can't get enough of lately:

Cupcakes & Cashmere

Tomboy Style

Walking Around Where the Sidewalk Begins

Enjoy!