Colorful “swords”
At my friend’s home, supper Saturday night. Cut from her garden.
These summer flowers remind me of my Grandmother.
The beets and cucumbers in their respective dishes were colorful, too.
Month: August 2015
G
When your neighbor brings you baguette…
You eat a slice at dinner time. Buttered.
The next morning you need to soak the crusty thick slices in a mixture of eggs and milk, a dash of vanilla.
Melt butter and a bit of olive oil in a big skillet.
Golden brown French Toast is the goal, not burned.
Real maple syrup. A mug of coffee.
Starting the day right. Thanks J & P for the tasty baguette.
Inspired to Test the Nine Minute Pasta Recipe
A week ago I posted the Marian Burros Plum Torte recipe posted by Jjbegonia and my friend Roberta baked it and sent a couple of photos. I didn’t post the following pasta recipe but sent it to a few friends.
I read this article via Business Insider Via link to http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/08/27/one_pan_9_minute_pasta_recipe_from_martha_stewart_living_the_backstory_and.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_em_top
I missed the Nine Minute Pasta recipe in Martha Stewart Living 2013 the first time around the Internet but read the above story and was intrigued.
Without making it myself, I shared it with friends I knew would enjoy reading or cooking it. Give it a test.
My friend Joanne in Florida got my email and actually got all the ingredients and not only made it, but documented it with photos.
Here’s her report- thanks J
Hi Ruth – thanks again for the recipe. I tried it last night and here are a few pictures. So easy. My pan wasn’t big enough for the pasta to lay flat so I broke the linguine in half. You do indeed have to keep hovering over it and stir while it’s cooking so that you don’t end up with a lump of linguine. When it was finished (exactly 9 minutes!), it felt a little gummy so I threw in 1/4 cup of wine and that did the trick – I guess you could also perhaps toss with a little more olive oil instead of the wine. It tasted great and I will surely make it again!
JB
Here is the link to the recipe itself
Kat and Kevin Tie the Knot (Literally) Aboard Three Rivers Queen at Sunset
August 28, 2015. A beautiful August evening for a happy wedding celebration. Here’s the first peek at some highlights of the photographs from the wedding. Congratulations to Kevin and Kat!
Kevin sees the bride for the first time
Kathleen being presented by her father
Here are the bride Kathleen (Kat) and Kevin. He is watching her come down the aisle of the top deck of the Three Rivers Queen (Gateway Clipper Line)
Tying the knot
The sun is starting to set
Just married
Colors of the Sunset Bridal Party
Roberto Clemente Bridge closed due to the Baseball Game (Pittsburgh Pirates 5- Colorado Rockies 3)
The sun was sinking fast.
On the way back to the Three Rivers Queen
Reboarding on the gang plank
Their two dogs are important to them although they didn’t attend the wedding they were featured in the cake topper silhouette.
Working together to get the wedding cake’s first piece out and onto a plate. It’s more difficult than it looks!
Their rings in the bride’s bouquet
A full moon over the city of Pittsburgh
The ship’s captain Andy,flanked by the crew, navigated the Three Rivers Queen expertly, going up and down all three rivers- Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.
Heinz Stacks and Moon in the Clouds from Troy Hill Road
Left the Rehearsal Dinner at Penn Brewery to go across the street to my car. This is what I saw.
The scene was elusive in camera, not wanting to focus, but a spectacular view. I really enjoy night photography and need to make a point to get out more at night.
and below a cropped view with more of the city proper
It’s Pumpkin (Hat Knitting) Season Again
I’m in the doghouse tonight for missing National Dog Day and my DIL sent a photo of Henry (the Airedale) and the new Airedale puppy, Josie coming home to their house next week. Her plan was I could make up for my omission of the family dogs on the blog today. Laura sent me a photo of Penny (the goldendoodle) on the couch looking glum cause I didn’t feature them on the blog for National Dog Day. Who knew? On to what I was planning to blog…..even thought it’s still August for a few more days.
People, including Fallon Tonight, have tweeted and posted their opinions on the early reappearance of Pumpkin spice flavored drinks at that great big coffee chain.
I bemoaned the early August Halloween decorations in stores and just yesterday I saw bins of Candy Corn for sale. Ugh. Seems Summer barely had a chance. But now I’m jumping in with knitting pumpkin hats.
Last year I knit five baby pumpkin hats. You can only knit so fast. This year I looked at the list of babies I know (including new grands) and thought I’d better get knitting. Asked for head circumference measurements. Turns out I can make one hat in a day (probably about 5 hours). I did 3 loads of laundry and changed the bed, checked email periodically and watched a few of The Chef’s Table documentaries while I knit. And this time I’m making notes to remember what I did which unfortunately I did not do last year.
Could have saved a lot of time checking gauge if I had done so.
Cast on 70 stitches on bamboo needles and
cast on 80 stitches on the metal needles. I still can’t decide which material I prefer.
Each has good points.(no pun intended)
I’m a relaxed knitter so had to go down a needle size from the recommendation on the pattern which was found on Ravelry. Weighed the hat on the food scale and I should be able to make two more hats from one skein. (I bought two skeins but that will be a lot of hats) one skein of green is plenty and there will be leftover. The stem is I-cord stitch. I’m skipping the leaf for now.
The pattern in Punkin Head by Tara Thomsen available for free download.
Seating for Five
When you drive past and the scene sticks in your mind –
you make a turn at the light and swing into the gas station to drive back and photograph –
with the iPhone as camera at home
Why were these people waiting in line? Had to GOOGLE to find out
Drove over the 16th Street Bridge Saturday evening, as I returned to the city from Ohio.
As I sat at the red light at the end of the bridge I saw this line. That’s a lot of people in line, I thought.
Camera was right there on the passenger seat and the light was red.
Forgot about the photo until tonight (Monday) and then googled 16th Street and Penn Avenue restaurant.
I found out why they’re all waiting in line.
Figured it was a restaurant not a concert as the music venue is on the opposite side of the street.
Yep.
Gaucho Parilla Argentina. a Wood-Fired Grill. 1601 Penn Avenue.
Not sure when they opened but seems everyone else already knew!
P.s. August 27, 2015 An article about The restaurant in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today Gaucho
Fellow blogger inspires my friend’s dessert for dinner guests
Thursday I shared a blog post with my friend Roberta. It was from a blog I follow-(http://jjbegonia.com/marian-burros-plum-torte/) with Marion Burros Plum Torte recipe included in the post.
Roberta made it that night for dinner guests.
Sent the two photos and I asked her permission to share. She’s guest blogger today. Here’s what she said-
I made it with apricots since there were no Italian prune plums at the market, but otherwise didn’t change a thing. I can see why people love this recipe–so easy and so good. Thanks a million–it’s a keeper! R 
Check out the Plum torte post by jjbegonia to see her beautiful plum torte photos and recipe which inspired the apricot torte!