Presents

Presents are an interesting thing. Most people like getting them and/or like giving them. I like both :)

I have one friend who is so stretched so thin, that it is a pleasure to be able to help her out. However, she HATES receiving things from other people. She makes sure that you take her money when it comes to getting take out, going out somewhere, etc... but throws a fit if you try and give her money for the same things.

Tonight we got her family season passes to an amusement park for 2010 (it was a joint present between 2 families for her kids' birthdays and for the holidays). She acted like she didn't really like the gift!

The other family we went in on it with thinks that she didn't like the gift. I think that she thought it was too nice of a gift and/or was just not expecting it.

She's also the person who you can never take out for her birthday because she hates being fussed over.

I'm a bit different - you can get me whatever you want :)

Friends

You know those friends? The ones who you can see very week or every other month? And you have so much to talk about, that the hours just fly by? Thankfully, I have been blessed with many such friends!

The great thing about these friends is that no one monopolizes the conversation. It's not the "ABC" show. We each take turns telling the stories of our days, weeks and months. If one person feels like being silent, the others will make up for it. If one person feels like they have ALOT to say, then we let them have their moment in the spotlight - because we know that each of us will have our time to shine.

Today I was sad - I was planning on going up to the bay area to have a girls night with my best childhood friends in the world. The trip got cancelled :(

Luckily, I met up with two of my best friends that I have here in town. We got to sushi at 7:30pm. The next time I looked at my watch next it was 9:10pm. The next time after that it was 10:30pm. We closed the sushi place down and I got home at 11pm!

We had so much to talk about we could have continued for hours, and the 3 hours we spent at dinner flew by in what felt like 5 minutes. In fact, the two friends continued on to a pub down the street. I came home because I have a family to take care of in the morning. That's the other thing about truly great friends - there were no hard feelings about me going home. They know how my life is and were just happy that we got to hang out.

This was the perfect way to spend an evening.

Friends

What a great weekend so far. Dinner last night. Tonight:

This will be short. I'm at a friends house for girls night. Great food, AMAZING drinks (my friend mixes the most awesome drinks), and now...

There's a pole in the middle of the dance floor.

There will be NO pictures :)

Friday Observations

I went to dinner with a great girl friend tonight. There are many types of friends, but girls like this are the best:

• She agrees to go to the restaurant I want as often as I agree to go to her picks (and MANY times, both of us have the same pic).
• We used to have 3000-4000 calorie meals. We would go to a restaurant, say that we weren't that hungry, or that we were on a diet. Then we would proceed to order 1/2 of the fried or cheesy appetizers on the menu. Not to mention the HUGE margaritas. Now we are both trying to be more mindful of what we eat, and how much we eat. Tonight we had a couple of orders of meat to BBQ (it was a Japanese BBQ place) and called it quits. Before, we would just be starting to eat after that.
• When we get together, we hang out for AT LEAST a couple of hours. And we don't run out of things to talk about. In fact, we hang out by the cars for a while because we each "forgot" some ting "important" to tell the other one.
• We are honest with each other. I can tell her what I think about her love life/work issues/grooming habits (eye brows) and she can do the same for me.
• We laugh more than we talk.
• She is willing to do anything for me, and I for her (except most Sundays - I know not to bother her then (lol)).

I am very lucky that I have a number of friends that fit this bill!

If any of you are out there reading this - THANK YOU!!

Saturday night dinner

I have got to say how NICE it is reconnecting with old friends, and finding out that you still REALLY like them!

Not only did we have a great time last night, but old and new friends got along extremely well, which is definitely a bonus.

These are people whose parenting style I have ALWAYS admired. Their kids are 16 and 17 and were little when we became friends. I loved how well mannered their kids were, how their kids ate everything, weren't shy and how relaxed this couple was with their kids. They never treated them like children, but like intelligent people. Yes, there were fights and arguments, but you could see that these kids were happy to be around their parents.

In fact, the monkeys still use the baby blankets my friend made for them :)

Their older daughter is graduating this year and is going to Vassar. Their younger daughter is a social butterfly and very independent. I just hope my monkeys turn out as well as theirs have.

I decided to buy lobsters again, since they are still relatively cheap. The recipe I used here is still the only way to go, as far as I am concerned. To go with the lobster, I made these potatoes here (I used a mix of Yukon gold and purple Peruvian). Since my friends friend was coming with her, and she doesn't eat lobster, I also made chicken (which was so tasty and looked beautiful). I also was not sure if my other friend who didn't eat meat, ate lobster so I also made a pasta dish I have been thinking about for a long time.

Roast Chickens with Black Pepper—Maple Glaze
ACTIVE TIME 20 MIN
TOTAL TIME 2 HRS 30 MIN

6 SERVINGS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Coarsely ground pepper
2 medium onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Two 3 1/2-pound organic chickens (I used one 5.5 lb chicken)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the maple syrup and 2 teaspoons of coarsely ground pepper. Remove the glaze from the heat.

2. On a large heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet, toss the sliced onions with the olive oil. Season the onions with salt and pepper and spread in an even layer. Season the chickens inside and out with salt, then arrange them on top of the onions. Loosely tie the chicken legs together with kitchen string.

3. Roast the chickens for 45 minutes. Brush the chickens all over with half of the maple glaze and continue roasting them for 1 hour longer. Increase the oven temperature to 425°. Generously brush the chickens with the remaining glaze and roast for 15 minutes longer, or until the cavity juices run clear and the chickens are richly browned.

4. Transfer the chickens to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Pour the onions and pan juices into a large glass measuring cup and skim the fat from the surface. Season with salt and pepper and serve with the chickens. (I never do the pan juices because I am too lazy, but I do serve the caramelized onions on the side, YUM!!)

--Maria Helm Sinskey

This recipe originally appeared in April 2004, Food & Wine Magazine.


Penne a la Betsy
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/09/cooking_with_my_punk-ass_little_sister_penne_a_la_betsy/


1 pound of extra large shrimp. It should already be peeled and deveined.
butter
olive oil
1 small onion (diced)
2 cloves minced garlic
8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup wine
parsley
Basil
salt
pepper
3/4 lb. penne pasta

Rinse shrimp under cool water. Heat about a tablespoon of butter and olive oil in a skillet. Add the raw shrimp and cook for a couple of minutes. Remove and let cool.

Cook penne. While penne is cooking. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add garlic and onion and begin cooking stirring occasionally.

Take the cooked shrimp and pull off their tails and cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.

Add wine to garlic mixture. Then add tomato sauce and stir well. Now add heavy cream.

Add shrimp, 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 tablespoon basil to mixture. Stir well. Add cooked noodles, mix and Enjoy!!!

Since I was already making lobster I omitted the shrimp this time. Next time I will add it. Also, I didn't have tomato sauce so I used 4 tiny diced tomatoes and some Italian seasonings. Next time I will use tomato sauce. I did add the fresh herbs at the end. Also, I used fat free half and half. It's hard for me to use full fat products.

So, even though I TOTALLY butchered this recipe (and I feel horrible because I LOVE Ree, the Pioneer Woman) I LOVED it the way I made it, and think I will love it differently when I make it the right way.

Here are some picture of my monkeys, the older monkeys friend and our "old" and great friends.

Like tends to attract like

This is a real email exchange I had today:


To: Friends
Subject: Ruby's Diner Special Today
Ruby's Diner - So Cal locations Only - Rubyburger & Fries just $2.60 - Monday 12/08
In Celebration of their 26th Anniversary and opening of new Irvine Spectrum location. Get a Rubyburger and fries at a retro price! Just $2.60!Valid for dine-in only on Monday, December 8, 2008 from 11:30am - close of business at participating locations only.PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR SO CAL LOCATIONS ONLYPlease ask for the Anniversary RubyBurger when ordering. Valid for The RubyBurger Burger only.Additional charge applies to any addition and substitution.


From: Friend whose kids are in the big monkeys class
Just went last night for Spencer's bday but what a great deal!

To: Friend whose kids are in the big monkeys class
Go again today and save the burgers for the kids lunches ;)

From: Friend whose kids are in the big monkeys class
Ur just ghetto! Lol

To: Friend whose kids are in the big monkeys class
Have I mistakenly given you ANY OTHER impression? If so, I’m sorry ;)

From: Friend whose kids are in the big monkeys class
Yeah I can see y were friends...

Feeling like I'm back in middle school

Normally, I can walk up to anyone and start talking about anything. I'm friendly with all the moms at the monkeys' dance class, with all the moms in school, with pretty much most people I meet. And I am the friend who will come up to anyone and start chatting.

At my Zumba class, there are two girls, who are also Russian. I would love to strike up a conversation with them and maybe become friends. I've chatted with some of the other women there, and they are very nice. For some reason, I am shy in front of these two. I think, from experience with my own kind, that these girls may be opinionated and may look down on me. So, why do I want to be-friend them? No clue. I feel like I'm in middle school all over again.

Tonight, I did come up to them and tell them how they could stream Zumba music (they had asked the teacher about it a couple of weeks ago in class) and they were nice enough but that was the end of the conversation.

I should take a page from the big monkeys book. According to her, she just comes up to people and says "Do you want to be my friend"? If they say yes, she plays with them. If not, she moves on.

I'm sure she gets hurt if they say no, but that doesn't stop her! I guess it's a matter of do as I teach, not as I do :)

Gratuitous photo of the big monkey:

Happy Thanksgiving

I am extremely thankful:

For this country...
Where I am free to "Pursue happiness" no matter what my religious, political or moral beliefs are.
Where people voluntarily get in a Best Buy line at 2pm to be the first when the doors open at 5am the next morning - instead of standing in a bread line for hours to get food to live.
For the immigrants who came before me, who paved the way for my family to escape religious and political persecution.

For my children...
For reminding me that there is a fine line between sanity and absolutely frickin' nuts!
Who don't take me as seriously as I take myself.
Who remind me that it's OK to be sad and mad - by teaching them I reinforce these lessons in myself.
Who I love more than anything else in this world - and who infuriate me at the same time!

For the 16 lb. turkey...
Who gave his life so I may stuff at least 4 of the lbs. in to my face in one sitting, and then pick at at least 1 more lb. throughout the rest of the day.
Who is responsible for me laying on my back, with my belly looking at least 5 months pregnant.

For my friends...
Who I know will always be there, via telephone, text, email, facebook or blogger, for me day or night!

HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

There's no party like a Russian Restaurant Party

If you've never been to a Russian Restaurant evening, you are truly missing out. It is an amazing mix of food, alcohol (vodka or cognac - no mixers), music and the most AMAZING people viewing you have ever seen.

My closest friend came in to town and we all decided to go to The Russian Restaurant (I hadn't been in about 3 years)

This experience is best told through pictures - because it sounds pretty unbelievable otherwise. And the old adage is true - "When in Rome, do as the Romans". Translated into Russian Restaurant speak - "When at a Russian restaurant, you MUST do shots".

The evening starts between 8 and 9pm. We got there at 9m. We sat down to a FULL table of food - the appetizer course.

This included a trout head:

There were 2 or 3 more rounds of appetizers that were delivered (all sorts of cold cuts, hot potatoes, beef pelmini, sauteed shrimp, and many, many more).

Between the courses of food there was dancing. Just to give a glimpse into what people are liable to wear:

The outfit would not be complete without a big white bra underneath:


I'm wearing my religion on my back - OH WAIT! I'm Jewish!!:


Spotted! The Russian Cougar wearing leopard print:


The obligatory picture with shots of vodka (this was not far in to the evening, since we all still look sober, and yes the shots are meant to be taken in one fell swoop, and yes they are BIG shots):


In between eating and dancing and drinking, there is usually a balcony where people go to smoke.

This shot displays an outfit that can easily be taken from day to night just by unzipping the skirt:


Damn! She's sexy:


Entrees are served anywhere from 11pm-12am. It sounds like a late dinner, but with all the dancing and drinking, the timing is just right.

A typical Russian entree - something in a birds nest made of potato smothered in mayo or sour cream:


Coffee was served at about 12:30am. The night is over at 2am! Sunday is spent recovering and reminiscing about what we saw, who was wearing what, who was drinking what, who was saying what to whom and deciding when we will get together again.

Getting Together

Tonight I saw a friends who I haven't seen in a while. She's not the friend that I will talk to for hours - but she's a good friend none-the-less.

She's one of those amazing women who is constantly on the go. Traveling to different countries, always triple booked, seems in control of her destiny. I became friends with her at one of my past jobs. She was the "go-to" girl. She knew ALL THE ANSWERS! And was very self-assured. We became friends pretty quickly.

Of course, when we get together and REALLY talk, I remember that she has the same problems we all do, regardless of whether we're married or single, have kids or are childless.

She recently started a new job and is still trying to find her place. She is wondering where her career will take her and whether or not she will find some one to share her life. Still, she keeps on going, looking fabulous every step of the way. In many ways I admire her - it's a strong, SMART, woman. She's detail oriented and writes out lists of what she has to do - and then she does them!! She is also constantly busy - she constantly has some sort of plans going one. Even tonight - she had dinner planned with me and then Salsa with another friend later.

I have realized that I am VERY lucky - I am surrounded by strong, amazing women that love life (even when they are complaining about it - because those moments make the best storied) and are there for me whenever I need.

Tonight we went to Vino Wine and Tapas Room. I really like this place. I've been a number of times and I know what to expect.

The Sangria is wonderful. Even my friend who does not like wine enjoyed the red Sangria. The tapas are very god too. I really like the Eggplant with Honey, the Ground Beef with Hummus, the Papas Bravas and the Cheese plate. In fact, I haven't really had anything I don't like.

One caveat - the service can be spotty at times. You have to flag down a waitress for most things, but it is better than it was.

There is also live music on the weekends. I hope the place survives the economic times. It's nice to have a place like this in the valley - casual but nice. Easy enough for a group of girl friends but sophisticated enough for a date.

Here's the drool worthy menu.



By the way, does anyone know how to make my pictures bigger?

Girl Friends

I absolutely love my closest girl friends. They are there for me whenever I need. When I need to go out to eat, or for a drink, they are always ready - especially the ones without kids.

However, their weekends consist, generally, of waking up late, lounging around, running a couple of errands, and getting ready to go out.

MY weekends consist of 1 child droped off here, another child taken there, mommy mommy I want, grocery shopping to have food in the house to feed the kids, mommy mommy I want, play dates, or setting up play dates, and maybe a couple of minutes of down time!!! I am lucky enough to have a wonderful baby sitter, so I can go out at night. Of course, by 11pm I am yawning and looking at my watch! Yes, I do get made fun of, and I feel bad, but I have had a LONG DAY, and tomorrow starts the same cycle. Them - tomorrow means getting up late, lounging around and getting some errands done. Repeat every weekend....

Tomorrow is another recipe - is it wrong that I look forward to getting together so I can have an excuse to cook????

Good friends

So, I have to give a shout out to this amazing couple I know. In the past year, we have become amazing friends. The kind of friends that you feel like you've known forever, and that will be there for you, FOREVER! The kind I am blessed to know (yes, I can be sappy as well as sarcastic). They can be over-bearing and always think they're right, but guess what???? So do I!!! To them I say - thank you (they know for what) :)

Anyways, I met them tonight for happy hour (I was only planning on staying 1 hour - honest) at a great sushi place. This place has a wonderful happy hour until 7pm, and after 9pm.

Bistro Ka is one of those places with great ambiance even though it's in a mall (but a very nice mall). The sushi is 1/2 price, but we usually get:

Spicy Tuna and Avocado with Crispy Chips - really good usually, but tonight had too many big chunks of onion.
Crab Cakes - just crab, no filler, amazing sauce
Chilean Sea Bass with Mushrooms - first time getting this (it's a special) but the mushrooms and sauce were wonderful (the sea bass was just good)

The happy hour appetizers are less than $6 and the portions are quite good (except for the Chilean Sea Bass - smaller potion and $8). The draft beers are $3 as is the sake!!

A good, fun place to go that won't break the bank! And in the lounge - we always talk to the most random people - tonight was politics with the table next to us (and it didn't turn into a shouting match - yay!)