Holiday Blues

I'm finally summoning up the energy to write my holiday post.  Which, unfortunately, is bringing on the holiday blues.  Seems like Christmas and New Year's went by so fast!

Christmas Eve 

BearFace, Murphy and I actually made pretty good time on the drive home on Christmas Eve.  I think most people did their traveling over the weekend, and were off the roads by the time we were heading back to CT.  We made it home just in time to make it to the annual Christmas Eve festivities at my great aunt Mollie's house.

Always enjoy the annual Aunt Kay Memorial Beer Pong Tournament!

As always, it was an entertaining evening with the cousins, complete with a delicious feast and a bit of snow at the end of the night.  

Christmas 

Which means we woke up to a white Christmas!  My family started off the day with Christmas morning Mass at our church.  It was rather an emotional mass as I thought about all the families in Newtown that would be celebrating Christmas without their children and loved ones.  My prayers went out to all of them, and still do.  

After Mass, my mom and I took the pups to the park in an attempt to get out some of their energy before our guests arrived.  

I'm going to get you!! 

Can't say it worked as far as getting their energy out, but they had a blast all the same.  Next it was present time!  Ruby, apparently, is quite the present-opening expert!  Murphy wasn't really sure what to make of his presents, but got them open with a little help from Mom.  

                                          SQUEAKS!                             Hmm, this doesn't look like 

                                                                                                what I asked for.

Around noon, I headed over to BearFace's sister's house for Christmas lunch with his family.  I hadn't seen his nieces in quite a while, and it was a lot of fun to spend some time with them.  BearFace and I both tried to hold ourselves back a bit on the food, but certainly inhaled our fair share of lunch and dessert.  And then we were off to Christmas Round Two (dinner at my house)!  It was nice to spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins as well.  I had not seen them in quite a while either!  Murphy and Ruby had to go into time out for a while, but everyone, including the pups, had a good Christmas!

Wednesday 

The day after Christmas brought a reunion with 2 of my favorite people!  First, a long coffee date with MagSauce, who was nice enough to drive halfway down from Massachusetts to meet me for a catch-up!  After that, Murphy and I drove a bit farther to meet Jenny and and Elise for our UConn reunion!  We walked around the barns for a little while and visited some UConn ponies, although my favorites were all out in the field.  Also Elise was a bit of a cripple, so we couldn't drag her too far!

Our plans were to have a feast of our favorite college foods, including Wings Over Storrs (BEST late night weekend snack), and UConn Dairy Bar ice cream!  Jenny and I were frequent visitors to the Dairy Bar during college, especially since most of our classes were directly next to it (It's like it was meant to be)!  Sadly, neither of these tasty treats made it into my belly.  Apparently, Wings Over Storrs does not open until 4:00, and the Dairy Bar closed as we were walking up the steps!!!  So, so sad.  We ended up eating at Willington Pizza instead, another one of our favorite delicacies from our college pastimes.  

Thursday 

I started Thursday morning off with breakfast with my friend and ex-roommate Sarah!  We had some snow overnight, which turned to freezing rain in the morning and unfortunately canceled our riding plans.  We stopped by the barn first to visit my old friend Doones, and then headed to breakfast to catch up on our lives!

Peaceful, snowy morning in New England.

Murphy and Ruby had their own little adventure while I was breakfasting.  My mom decided to take the two of them for a car ride to Hubbard Park near my parent's house.  The three of them were sitting in the van, watching the ducks swimming on the pond.  Now I can't speak for Ruby, but I can certainly say I could not imagine Murphy highly enjoying this activity.  Apparently, he did not.  He decided that active participation was better than watching, and without a warning, leapt out of the open van window.  Ruby followed suit, and they both sprinted to the duck pond and dove in!  My poor mother parked the car as quickly as possible and ran to the pond, where she found the two troublemakers clinging to the wall, trying to get out of the freezing cold water!  I imagine the whole scene going something like this:

Murphy: Sooo...how often do you guys watch the ducks from the car?

Ruby:  Mmmm, couple times a week maybe?

Murphy: Yeah, it's real, um...exciting.  Have you ever thought about chasing them?  

Ruby: Uhhh...no.  Not really.  

Murphy: Alright, watch this.

**Dogs hit the water**

Murphy:  CRAP!  I CAN'T SWIM!!  IT'S REALLY COLD!

Ruby: OMG I'M FREEZING!  THAT'S THE LAST TIME I LISTEN TO YOU!  

In reality it was probably more like this:

Murphy: Duck.  Duck.  I like duck.  Want duck.  Need to chase duck.  DUCK.  RUNNING AFTER DUCK.  IN WATER.  WATER COLD.  DROWNING.  HELP.

Needless to say, both dogs took a much-needed trip to the groomer after their swim in the duck poop-infested water.  

Later on that evening, I met up with some more UConn ladies for a happy hour in West Hartford.  Caitlin, Honeybear, and Banana and I met up at Max Burger (YUMMM) and got a few drinks and snacks.  

And what's better than one dinner?  Two dinners!  My parents and brother Joe picked me up for a second dinner at the Cheesecake Factory down the street in West Hartford.  Another fun-filled day with friends and family!  

Friday

My last day :( I had a couple appointments, did some errands, and kind of just hung out before the trip back Saturday morning.  My mom and I had our nails done that evening, and then we all spent the rest of the night watching some TV and relaxing.

Saturday 

And then it was back to NJ early Saturday morning.  It was a whirlwind week, but I had so much fun seeing everyone.  I only wish I could have been there longer!  The trip home was a quick one, since I left around 6 am.  There was no one on the road, and I got back a little before 10.  Just enough time to do a bit of cleaning, unpacking, and then repacking for Ian and Michele's wedding in PA!  

It was the first black tie event that we have been to, and it was a blast!  We had a wonderful time, and were happy to be able to celebrate with Michele and Ian. We spent the night in a nearby hotel, and stuck around for brunch the next morning as well.  

Sunday 

CRASH.  After having so much fun visiting everyone the week before, and then our late night at the wedding, BearFace and I were exhausted, and spent Sunday lounging around on the couch.  

New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve looked like this.  After seeing Django Unchained Monday afternoon, we picked up some Chinese food, Ben and Jerry's, and sparkling cider (that's right, the non-alcoholic kind), and plopped ourselves on the couch for the rest of the night.  Didn't even make it to midnight.  Not our most exciting night, but it was nice to stay in and spend some quality time with my favorite guy...Murphles!  Just kidding, I kind of like BearFace too.  

And that's the story of our CT Christmas trip...can't wait to see everyone next time I'm back in town!

Packing Peanuts and a Kale Craze

Sooo I just got off the webcam with my dear friend Jenny in Lexington, KY (thank goodness for technology), and she yelled at me for slacking on my blogging.  Which I have been, and which I apologize for.  Truth is, without RD around, things have been a bit dull.  Relaxing, yes.  Clean, yes.  But not too many disgusting, yet funny stories to share.  Does this mean I miss him?  Absolutely not!  Anyway, I figured I better kick my butt into gear and bang out a post before bed tonight.  I promise I will share about my CT trip this weekend, but for tonight just a few more recipes and a Murphy story or two.

Since I was away for a week and sick the week before that, Chubbles and I have not gotten to spend much quality time together, and he was definitely not pleased about this.  When I got to the barn on Monday, I gave him a quick pat and then went into the tack room.  Chubbles expressed his displeasure with my lack of attention by BANGING on the gate as loudly as possible.  I took that to mean, "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, WOMAN?"  Anyone who thinks horses don't have personalities has clearly never gotten to know one.  I headed over to the barn after work today for a nice trail ride with my two boys, Chubbles and Murphy.  I knew Chubs would be raring to go after 2 1/2 weeks off the trails, and boy was I right!  Luckily I was expecting him to turn into a rodeo horse, and was able to keep a step ahead of him.  We made it through our whole canter stretch with no bucks!  

Murphy, as always, frolicked about like a rabid bunny, leaping through the bushes and making laps around us.  I've noticed during the last few months that Chubbles seems to really like Murphy.  When he gets close enough to his nose, he will bend down and sniff his head (which usually results in Murphy jumping straight off the ground like he was just electrocuted).  Chubbles will also speed up when he loses sight of Murphster around a bend, and sometimes halts and turns to look back if the little guy has stopped to smell something delicious (mostly poop-related items).  Today Murphy was walking behind him, right on his heels, and Chubbles actually slowed down and stepped to the side to let Murphy run past him.  Who would think that a dog and a horse would be friends?  So cute!

Sadly, Murphy was too busy acting like a rabbit on 

drugs to get in on this picture. 

(Warning: this next story contains the word "poop" many times)

In other Murphy- related news, while unpacking my brand new PIZZA STONE!! the other day, someone ate a tiny piece of styrofoam, which instantly made him salivate uncontrollably and then have a bit of diarrhea the next morning (the diarrhea may actually have been from the massive quantities of horse poop he ate at the barn, but who can say for sure?).  Of course, being the overprotective mother that I am, I texted Drew while I was at work to see if Murphy was ok.  

Michelle: Has Murphy pooped today?  He had a little diarrhea this morning.

BearFace: Not on my watch.

A little while later...

BearFace: Murphy pooped out a packing peanut.

Michelle (in typical instantaneous panic mode): OMG really?!?!?  Where did he get one of those?!?!?

BearFace (in typical nonchalant BearFace style): He's fine. 

Michelle: I just hope he doesn't have a lot more in there...

BearFace: silence

Obviously I instantly began prepping myself for the possibility that my accident-prone dog would have to have emergency exploratory surgery to remove a whole (theoretical) box of packing peanuts, while simultaneously racking my brain to figure out where on Earth he could have found them.  By the time I left work, every one of my coworkers and both doctors knew that my dog had pooped out a packing peanut.  And when I got home and incredulously exclaimed to BearFace, "Where could he have found a damn peanut?!?!?", BearFace finally found it in his heart to tell me that he was joking.  There was no peanut.  He thought it would be amusing to tell me this based on the tiny piece of styrofoam that Murphy had swallowed.  Not. Amusing (ok, maybe a little).

Now on to the recipes!  I have several...all of which have been the result of trying to use up stuff in the fridge.  Also, I recently discovered how much I love kale.   

#1 Chicken, Tomatoes and Kale with Marsala wine sauce

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Grape tomatoes, halved

Kale, roughly chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped

Garlic salt and pepper

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

1/2 cup Marsala wine

1. Slice chicken breasts in half the long way, and season with garlic salt and pepper. 
2. Heat about 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat, then cook chicken breasts about 5 minutes per side, or until meat is white through the center.  Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Saute onions, tomatoes, and garlic until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add kale and cook additional 3 minutes until slightly wilted.  Remove veggies from pan and set aside with chicken.
4. Melt butter in pan.  When sizzling, whisk in flour until smooth.  
5. Add wine and chicken broth and bring to a simmer.  Continue to simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, then add veggies and chicken back to pan until warm.  

Not bad for a quick weeknight "gourmet" feel.

#2  Chicken and Veggie Pizza 

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (I used whole wheat, but honestly like the regular kind better)

Grape tomatoes, halved

Kale, roughly chopped

White mushrooms, sliced thin

1 jar Marinara sauce

Shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

Garlic salt and pepper

1. Place pan (or PIZZA STONE!!) in oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
2. Season chicken with garlic salt and pepper, and cook in olive oil over medium heat about 8 minutes, or until no longer pink.
3. Roll out dough on floured surface until size of pizza stone.  Place on stone, and liberally poke with a fork.
4. Spread sauce to desired thickness on top of dough, then sprinkle minced garlic over sauce.
5. Top with cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, and kale. 
6. Bake 6 minutes, then top with chicken and bake for another 6 minutes.
7. Slice and eat. 

I LOVE MY PIZZA STONE!!!

#3 Chicken Stir-Fry

Leftover cooked chicken from pizza

Leftover rice from weekend Chinese food feast

Mushrooms, sliced

Kale, roughly chopped (surprising, right?)

1/2 medium onion, chopped

Sugar snap peas, whole

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

2 eggs

Sesame oil (Can substitute olive oil if you don't have sesame)

Soy sauce

1. Heat sesame oil over medium heat.  Add onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and snap peas and saute about 5 minutes.  
2. Add garlic and ginger and stir until fragrant.
3. Add rice and stir until it breaks up and becomes soft.
4. Push ingredients to sides of pan to make a clearing in the center, and crack 2 eggs in the space.  Cook eggs for a few minutes, then stir to mix with rice and veggies. 
5. Add cooked chicken and kale and stir until chicken is heated and kale is slightly wilted.  
6. Add soy sauce to taste and stir.  

I don't usually add ginger to my stir-fry, but I really liked

the flavor it added. 

I hope that holds you over until I finally have time to write about my holiday adventures!  It's going to take a while, so I've been gearing myself up for it.  I hope everyone is staying warm in this frigid cold snap.  Brrrr.