FUNKO!

The most fun you can have in Everett

FUNKO HQ

 Star Wars!

Harry Potter!

 Batman!

 Godzilla!

 and some lovely NM food

The New Mexicans

maybe I went a little overboard on both the enchiladas and merch!

Received my FRESH PLATE kick-starter box on Friday 9/8/2017. Had a real busy weekend and was unable to cook my first meal until Sunday.  Here is my first meal THE RICOTTA STUFFED CHICKEN WITH TOMATO PANZANELLA. I would say all in all it took me about 2 hours from start to finish. It was delicious and I would order it again

Here is the stuff I added, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a small bread roll

Here's the stuff I left out the "CIABATTA" (sorry it was hard as a rock)

The paper bag 

The paper bag had ricotta, tomatoes vinegar, garlic, rosemary and basil

CHICKEN

outside the bag was the lemon and shallot. 

Make sure to wash and dry all your produce/herbs, and pat dry your chicken.

Special equipment needed was the zester/juicer.

Heated my oven to 425 degrees and cut my roll into 1" pieces tossed it with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Placed it in a cast iron skillet and toasted it for 8 minutes. 

finely chopped my rosemary and garlic

In a small bowl I mixed the zest, rosemary, salt, pepper, garlic and ricotta

Placed the ricotta mixture under the skin of the two chicken breasts.

Placed the chicken in the cast iron skillet with some salt and pepper.Went into the oven for about a half hour. meanwhile... 

Halved the tomatoes chopped the shallot and basil

Made a dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper

Here is the panzanella salad. 

Here is the chicken. 

Here is my lovely dinner. 

I really want this startup to work, so if you live in Washington state you can order some 

freshplatenw.com

Crock-pot Rosemary, White Balsamic, Date and Shallot Chicken

Slow Cooker Rosemary, White Balsamic, Date and Shallot Chicken

2 Large Chicken Breasts cut in half
Olive oil
1 Very Large Shallot
10 pitted dates
5 sprigs of rosemary
1/4 cup of white balsamic vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Bouillon cube (optional)

For Christmas I received an awesome crock-pot.

You can set the removable pot on your stove, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to brown the salt and peppered chicken. when the skin is crispy remove the pot to the slow cooker and set timer on low for 6-8 hours. Slice the shallot and dates throw them in. Pull the rosemary off one of the sprigs chop and sprinkle it on top of the chicken. Lay the other sprigs on top. Add the bouillon to the balsamic vinegar to dissolve and pour over chicken. Put the lid on it. and cook.

Destroy all evidence that you got the idea from PaleOMG!

Thanks Lillian and Norman for my awesome Christmas present.

Snow Day 2/6/17 Scenes from the Backyard (I think I'm trapped in a Snowglobe)

It's already February and I thought I'd be doing more post this year. I still have stuff from January to show off but for now I will show you scenes from my backyard. Can't or won't leave my house today.

Why 2016? Why?

I'm mystified by all the weird, wild occurrences of  the past year, but to me the most bizarre, more than having a reality show celebrity elected president is the senselessness I felt at the death of my cousin Ruben. I felt he was like me, smart, sassy, and never quite fit in. I don't recall the last time we talked but, I remember he always made me feel like the wild child I always thought I was.  When we were kids we used to run around town thinking we owned the place, I felt he always understood the desire to run out of the smallness of my world like no one else. I want to recapture some of that go-luckiness I used to have. So, in honor of all that have passed in 2017(especially my Ruben), I resolve to find a little of the wicked, wild me of the late 80's early 90's.

Warm wishes from our home to yours. Happy NEW Year 2017!

Annapolis, Delaware, Historic Triangle, Monticello and DC

Spring break was a blast and this is the first time I've had a moment to sit down and reflect on all that the places we visited and the things Geromino and I did. 

Sleepless in Annapolis

You know that disorienting feeling you get when you take a red eye flight and then your in a different country with different people and you can't check in to your inn yet because it's only 9am and check in time is 3pm and your not hungry and you'd just like to take a nap, but your in a new place, with a new time zone, so you have to walk around and it's like your living in the walking dead? Well that was the first day on our trip.  

Walking around sunny Annapolis Saturday April 16, 2016 was like walking around an all day fancy dress party. The reason being the annual St. John's College vs. the Naval Academy croquet match. You heard me right CROQUET! (Click this link to see buzzfeeds 2014 coverage)  We didn't know what was going on, I thought to myself "Does everyone in Annapolis dress up and walk around like they're in a movie ALL THE TIME?" Thank God that wasn't the case, because I did not pack anything fancy,  it's nice to know that people have places to wear pork pie hats and Lily Pulitzer dresses. I will always have fond memories of all the drunk college kids in fancy dress not knowing who won the match because they didn't quite make it there. And BTW it was the Johnny's (St. John's)who beat the Midshipmen. 

At this time I would also like to point out that we as residents of the inglorious State of Washington, we are not allowed to enter the navy military academy because our drivers license and Nexuss passes are not proper id. :(   Check the website before you go kids:  http://www.usna.edu/Visit/index.php

Checking in and taking a nap was also a highlight our place the Chez Amis Bed and Breakfast was a corner very cute building that felt very "New World 1700's", our room the "Treaty of Paris" was sumptuous. Large bed. Large sitting area. Walking distance to EVERYTHING Annapolis. We had incredible breakfasts, the place felt historic and homey at the same time. Here's a few pictures.

Elly @ Chez Amis setting up breakfast. Yummiest crab strata I have ever put in my mouth. 

Here's the facade on the side of the building this was our window

Geromino and the resident hound, Maggie.

Sunflowers in our breakfast nook.

Second day in Annapolis has us driving into the "tough" streets of Baltimore to Fort McHenry National Monument the forest service is having it's national centennial celebration and admission was free! Score. The place is amazing the set up and parklike atmosphere is a treat a big plus was the day was gorgeous. Here is our pic with the star spangled banner and one little movie of the harbor.

Oh my! I've taken all this room up and have only covered 24 hours. Well, I would like to end part one of this post by mentioning all the yummy places we ate in the Annapolis.

In first place

The Point- the crab cakes and the fried pickles words cannot describe the deliciousness 

2nd place

Harry Browne's- this Annapolitan Flatbread 

with Crabmeat, Spinach, Caramelized Onions,Bacon, White Crab Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese was very good. And later on we went for drinks at the bar. Will revisit someday.

3rd Place

1747 Pub- Crab Dip $12 Local Brews $5 sitting around with uppity college kids in their croquet best, priceless.

4th Place 

The Fox's Den  Just had drinks didn't eat there but the menu looks okay. Everything in the place is American made. Whiskey, Whiskey OOOH LA LA

5th Place

Red Red Wine Bar- AGED GOUDA and Champagne flights, how can you go wrong.

Honorable Mention is:

Mill's Fine Wine and Spirits no food, just goodies to drink.