Dinner On My Own

When Dale is out of town I usually indulge in my favorite simple meal. Rotisserie chicken and a pretzel bun, both from Kowalskis, and a salad. This salad is hearts of romaine with Annie's Goddess dressing. Sophie looks intrigued. Dessert was a slice of truffle roulade from Kowalskis (of course!).

Eating Out - Lizz Wright at the Dakota

I had the most incredibly cruddy day today. I'm so glad I had plans to see Lizz Wright tonight at the Dakota Jazz Club with my good friend Noel. Noel ordered some wine and I had a Bombay Sapphire Martini. We both had the house burger. The food is always fantastic there. Lizz Wright has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard and I'm not exaggerating. I'd listen to her sing the phone book. Anyway, great food, great music, great venue with a great friend. After a terrible day I feel renewed.

A Mini High School Reunion

The world keeps getting smaller and now because of Facebook it's smaller still. A couple of years ago I joined FB and reconnected with a number of high school friends and acquaintances just before my high school reunion. Some continue to pop up. Recently one of these people, Mike, approached Dale at the gym because he recognized him from a picture posted on my FB account. Dale told me of the meeting and, long story short, Mike and his wife Charisse came over to our place for dinner tonight. It was wonderful to reconnect. We had both forgotten in what class we met but determined that we had at least been in Spanish together in 8th grade and also a government class as seniors in high school. There was a lot to reminisce about including teachers, classmates, classes, et cetera. I observed how I find it interesting that in high school one spends so much time trying to define how one is unique and different. Yet years later you realize that you really had a lot in common with everybody, namely your age, school, neighborhood, city, era; things we never would have considered unifying at the time.

Mike and I had martinis before dinner. Mike's was vodka and mine gin. Dale and Charisse had wine. For dinner we had lasagna which I've made for years and is based on my mom's recipe. I remember Mom making it for the first time when I was about 12 years old. I absolutely loved it and now consider it one of my favorite comfort foods. Here's how I make it now:

1 - 1&1/2 pound Italian sausage (or ground beef/turkey)

1&1/2 jars a spaghetti sauce

lasagna noodles (I use about 11 or 12)

15 oz. ricotta cheese

1 egg

chives

4 cups mozzarella

Fry off meat and add spaghetti sauce to the pan. Prepare noodles but only cook them for about half the recommended time as they will bake in the oven. In medium bowl combine ricotta and cheese and set aside. Begin layering items in greased pan. Spread some of the meat mixture on the bottom of the pan and cover that with about four lasagna noodles. Spread some of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles and then cover this with some of the mozzarella. Repeat until ingredients are used up. Cover with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, oregano, and nutmeg. Oven should be heated to 350 degrees. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Cover and let cool for about 10 minutes.

[Note: for a healthier option we use ground turkey, "light" dairy products, and egg whites. For high octane we go with fattier ingredients.]

Dale made green beans and garlic bread.

I find lasagna to be great for entertaining because it can be made ahead of time and you can have cocktails with guests while it cooks.

Coffee

I love morning coffee. I usually have two mugs a day which probably translates to about 4 cups. Dale got me addicted to the stuff but not until about 12 years into our relationship. I think its funny I'm more the coffee junkie now as he used to drink about 6 cups a day and has now cut back to 1. It probably wouldn't hurt for me to cut back a bit although I've heard that 4 cups is about the limit to what the daily intake should be so for the time being I'll hold steady. I take mine with cream and sugar while Dale usually takes his black. I will say it does make me look forward to getting up in the morning.

Top: Illustration by Nouar

Bottom: Coffee Mug from our collection. Quote by Eleanor Roosevelt says "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift"

Valentine's Day 2011

The kids were cookoo at school today. They weren't bad but they sure were geared up for Valentine's Day. I can't say I blame them. I remember what a big day it was for me - addressing the Valentines, making a Valentine's box, passing out the Valentines. It was all very exciting. My class was feeling that same excitement and I'm just glad they had a great time!

Dale dug out the grill from the snow and put on a new tank of propane. He grilled steak, made oven baked brussels sprouts, garlic bread and a salad.

One of my students came in with her mom this morning and they brought me a HUGE apple pie from Lund's. Dale and I ate it tonight and it was delicious.

My cocktail of choice tonight was a Hendrick's gin martini. Dale had some red wine.

Bank Restaurant Minneapolis - More Pictures

Early Valentine's Day Dinner - Bank Restaurant Minneapolis

Dale and I had an early Valentine's Day dinner tonight at Bank Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. The restaurant is located in what was formerly the grand lobby of the old Farmers and Mechanics Bank.

The building is so stately and the inside so beautiful I feel compelled to provide a little background information. The following is information regarding the bank from Wikipedia:

"The 1942 Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, is a former bank building that is now the home of a Westin Hotel The building is an example of the Streamline Moderne phase of the Art Deco movement and is notable for its bold relief sculptures of a farmer and a mechanic framing the main entrance. The sculptures were designed by Warren T. Mosman, who headed the sculpture department at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006."

"The walnut-paneled main banking hall of the building is now the lobby of the hotel. The taller wings of the building once held offices, but now house 214 hotel rooms. The hotel conversion preserved several historic features of the bank building. The main banking lobby with a 34 foot high ceiling, marble staircase, and carved wood emblems have been retained. The original bank vault on the lower level is a conference room, while the former safety deposit vault is now a wine vault and the entire bank has been made in to a restaurant, called B.A.N.K. The restaurant kept as much of the original woodworking from the actual bank as possible. Former offices now serve as private dining rooms and the teller counter now serves as a bar."

We arrived a little early and got drinks at the bar. I had a Bombay Sapphire martini and Dale had white wine. For dinner I had the Five Onion Soup and Dale had the ceasar salad. We both had the pan roastedpork tenderloin as entrees. For dessert I had a chocolate waffle with maple ice cream. Dale had the cookies and milk.

This amazingly grand space evokes a bygone era and easy to get lost in while dining.

The bar at left is the former teller counter of the old Farmers and Mechanics Bank.

Silver Hour - Wednesday February 9, 2011

When the days are bitter cold and the nights still long, it's nice to have something to look forward to during the day. The kids at school have been inside for recess for nearly the last two weeks and are starting to go buggy. This in turn is making ME go buggy. I love looking forward to dinner and cocktails. Tonight's dinner is a mostly homemade chicken pot pie. When I say 'mostly' I mean that we're not getting a frozen Swanson pot pie. We use a pre-made Pillsbury pie crust, a store bought jar of chicken gravy, a couple cups of grozen mixed vegetables, a couple cups chopped up chicken breasts, and a little thyme. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes and your comfort food is ready.