Easter

As usual- I'm late :)

We spent Easter Sunday with my family.  Char picked us up that morning and we headed west to check out our brother's sweet pad, of course after a pit stop for bloody Mary's...

We arrived (late) and was introduced to the new girlfriend.  My brother mixed me up a drink-- name is still pending, but pretty sure it should be something along the lines of One and Done.

We had some appetizers to pick at while we waited for the ham.  We gorged ourselves with all sorts of goodies, including a couple different pieces of pie.  Go on and judge.

Once everyone was done eating, my brother decides to do what every family does on Easter.  Shoot the shit.  

I don't even know what it was we shot, but it went boom.  He handed the gun over to me (after making me hobble down the hill and back) and I somehow managed to blow it up on the second shot.  I was pretty proud of myself.  Pretty sure everyone else was a little more scared of me after that.

After that happened, the responsible adults made us put the guns away, causing the party to rapidly wind down.  He mixed up another drink that made a SnapChat appearance and I was drug out of the house to head home.

Char got us back home in one piece and peeled out of the driveway to go home.  I don't know why she wanted to get away from me...

Weekend Happenings

I was able to get off work early on Friday and went to the greenhouse with my neighbor.  After sweating more than a couple of football players at two-a-days, we headed to happy hour for some margaritas.  Once we cooled down we headed home and I got ready to head north to Jill's going away party.  She's headed to Florida (not for vacation, Ma) so she had a little get together and Juice and I were able to crash it!  After a few embarrassing memories and more embarrassing photos, Juice and I called it a night and headed home.

Saturday DJ got up and smoked some bacon.  I headed into work and then back home to get ready to meet Ma for wedding planning.  We went to the consistory to check it out and then the hotel to make sure everything is squared away there.  From there we went to check out the linen store and decided on tablecloths-- chalk up one major decision made!  Peter joined us for that and then we headed to talk to the caterer.  We have a tasting set up-- let's hope it's good because I'm not sure where else we'd go to try out!

I headed home and DJ had me get ready and we headed to a friend's place where the dogs and I unknowingly, crashed a bachelor party-- whoopsie!  We picked up a pizza and called it a night.

Yesterday I went to brunch for Zip's birthday and watched him open presents.  I had to head into work from there and then came home and worked on more wedding things-- this thing might come together yet!!

Weekend Recap

We survived Beers N Ears! 

My freezer is full(er) of corn and my fridge is empty of beer.  Success. 

Peter brought the save the dates for me (pre-stamped-- awesome!) and helped put addresses on those.  We handed what we could out that night and I was able to put a handfull in the mail yesterday.  I'm hoping to finish those up tonight.  Start checking your mailboxes!!

We had a friend a smoke some ribs, chicken, and pork.  It was amazing.  I gorged myself on that (big surprise there!!).  Everyone brought a side dish or dessert so there were plenty of options for everyone.  The dogs got their share of scraps too.  Clyde got more than his share; I woke up Sunday morning to him gagging.  Luckily I grabbed a bucket just in time! 

After a failed attempt at some cat herding, I headed to Juice's to work on wedding things.  I get there and start getting our craft area in order, only to realize I forgot the paper.  Fail.  I ran to Walmart to get some and we started chuggin away at it.  And then she started stamping...  apparently the ink pad was out of ink because you could hardly make out what she was stamping.  Second fail.  We ended up mainly catching up and playing with TJ. 

Maybe next time!!

Corn Corn Corn

It's that time of year-- Sweet corn time!!  Yum.

I've only had it once so far, but this coming weekend we're planning "Beers and Ears."  Basically friends and family come help us freeze some corn and take what they want home with them.  Oh yeah, and we have beers...

Imagine that, the Knollies are having a party!! :)

2013

2013 is over.  I'm pretty sure if the weather was nicer, I would still think it was September.  Where did the year go!?  Crazy.

It was most definitely a year to remember!  Both good and bad, but here are the main things I remember from each month.

January: A good new years day makes for a rough second.

February: Our yearly trip to the beef expo.

March: Pony Express auction to celebrate St. Patty's day.

April:  My green thumb flared up and I started planning my garden and flowers.

May: I heard our house whistle for the first time when the storm blew through.

June: UC went to be with JDB, CJ, and BO.

July: A girls trip to WI for a weekend concert to relax after the barn burnt down and the pony went to OS's.

August:  State fair, plus I entered my first pie contest (and won!).

September: MC joined the family once we got back from our last minute-plans changed-book it SD vacation

October: My little Radish was born!

November: We learned Pa has cancer.

December: DJ gave me a ring

I hope you also had a year to remember and this new year brings great things for you all.  Stay tuned to see what kind of trouble we can get into in 2014!

Ugh

Third time writing. 

I've written about a couple different things now. But it's late and I'm hungry so tonight I'll write about how thankful I am for the food I put in my belly. 

And with that I'm off to eat ...

Short and ...

Sweet.  Embarrassing. 

DJ's mom asked if I could go pick up her CSA for her last week.  I said I would. 

I went once last year as well, and when I pulled up the local news channel was there.  The people looked at me like I was crazy.  Apparently they had sent out an e-mail saying they weren't doing it that week, but she was on vacation and didn't have her computer, so how was I to know! 

I thought my second shot would go better... 

I pull up and head toward the barn.  A little girl was riding her bike so I said hi and continued on my way, acting like I knew what I was doing.  I get in the barn and there's a sign that says to grab your box and something about a list with your name and to check it off when you take some.  So I walk into the fridge and look around to see what I was supposed to be taking.  I found the list of names and her's was already checked off.  Hmm... did someone else come and pick it up?  Or is that just for the extra stuff and they take turns?  I don't know!  I look around and see a bunch of boxes, none with names on and they all look the same.  There were also some loose green beans in a box.  I decided I was supposed to grab a box and some loose beans and headed out. 

And then the door wouldn't open.  Awesome.  I tried pushing.  I tried this little lever thing on the side and the pull thing on the other side.  Hmm... what else should I try.  I go back to just pushing. 

And then I remember the little girl.  So I start knocking.  Luckily she comes and lets me out-- but still won't talk to me when I try, so I decide to get out of dodge before someone else sees me informs me I'm taking the wrong thing.

I see two workers on my way out, I just said hi and kept on a truckin'!

I think I'll pass the next time she asks me to go pick it up!! ;)

Cast Iron Banana Bread

Alright, here's the recipe I was talking about.  It is sooo good!!   I found it at themeaningofpie.com.  Thank you, Pinterest.

I had never made banana bread before.  We had some bananas that were past their prime so I went to Pinterest.  I put in banana bread and saw one in a cast iron skillet.  I thought that was great!  (DJ is kind of on a cast iron kick right now...)  And we had pretty much everything on hand.  I made it while DJ was gone.  Then when he got home he informed me he doesn't like banana bread.  Handy.  He did end up trying it and said it was good, then got mad when I decided to take it into work!  I took it into work and it lasted all of a day and a half before we devoured it.  My coworker then told me I had to make it again.  I only had one banana left.  So then my boss gives me two of them.  I took the hint and made it again and brought it in yesterday.  As of now, there's a tiny sliver left.  It's just so good!  You don't even need to put butter on it! 

I did tweak it a smidge... I am not a fan of allspice so I used cardamom instead-- and NO I had never heard of that before so it was a gamble (one that actually paid off!).  They also had mace in place of nutmeg; but that is not something that is stocked at the Holy Knollies!

Wet Ingredients:½ c butter, melted and cooled slightly
⅓ c buttermilk
3 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
Dry Ingredients:
2 c flour
½ c sugar
½ c brown sugar
1 t baking soda
½ t salt
1 c pecans
¼ t nutmeg
¼ t cardamom
butter to grease the skillet

Preheat the oven to 350.
Mash the bananas. Mix in buttermilk, butter, vanilla and eggs. In a different bowl, combine the dry ingredients and combine. Mix the dry stuff into the wet stuff (half at a time) and stir until combined.  Butter your 9" cast iron skillet and pour your batter in.  Bake for 30-35 minutes (use the toothpick trick!-- my first one took foooorrreverrr and my next one was about 35 minutes)

Alright, go whip up a batch and let me know what you think!!  (sorry-- having difficulties with the picture thing again... just go to www.themeaningofpie.com and look at their pictures!!)

Ahhh-mazing

Ever wonder what makes an amazing combination when it comes to food and drink?!  I'm here to tell ya, these three make an awesome combo.  Just try it.  Here it is:

Peanut butter, chocolate, Mountain Dew.  Seriously.  Ever since I was allowed to drink Mtn Dew and made this discovery, I can't say no.  There's so many possibilities!!  Reese's candy, puppy chow, scotcheroos, etc.  Yum. 

Aren't you glad you checked in to find this was the topic for today?!   You're welcome.