November's Here - Fall Golden Hour: Cocktails

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Took the above photo while walking home from school the day after Halloween. I guess this is a sign we're ready to move on to the next holiday. 

Out with Noel today for lunch. Afterward we of course stopped by the 2nd hand shops and they're starting to set Christmas stuff out. Personally I'd rather stick to one holiday at a time but I suppose  stores gotta make their money. 

Dale and I headed off to Kowalski's after my afternoon adventures with Noel. We picked up all the makings for a chicken pot pie and it's gonna be GOOD. Tonight's golden hour and dinner are to  celebrate going off Daylight Savings Time and going back on Central Standard Time. Not sure why  getting that one extra hour back feels so luxurious, but it does. Cocktail hour started at 5:30. 

The pot pie was assembled and in the oven by 6:30. 

Continued with cocktails and music while dinner was in the oven. 

Cocktail Hour, Cigar, Dinner, and a Movie

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Cocktail with Dale in the backyard. I had a cigar. 

Very lovely day today. It actually got up to 88 degrees. Dale grilled hamburgers for dinner. We also had potato salad and a broccoli salad from Kowalski's. 

We watched Grease which I haven't seen all the way through in a number of years. 

Mom took me so see it back in the summer of '78 just after my 6th grade year. She thought it was a little raunchy. It's tame by today's standards but this viewing made me realize how much went over my head as a kid.

Overall lovely day today. So nice to feel warmth and spend some extended time sitting in the yard. 

Jax Cafe With Friends

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Cindi made reservations at Jax Cafe for tonight and invited me and Dale, Wyn and James K., and, of course, Maggie. Dale and I arrived first. I ordered a martini at the bar while we waited. Wyn and James were next to arrive. When Wyn saw me she said, "Joe you are my spirit animal!" I asked her why but honestly I was so stunned to find out I'm someone's spirit animal that now I can't even remember what she said although I believe it had something to do with my affinity for gin martinis. She ordered one for herself while James ordered a beer.

We were seated when Cindi and Maggie arrived. Cindi ordered a gin martini as well. It really is amazing how much influence I have. 

Wyn was so excited to be at Jax. She told me she's known about it for 20 years and has always wanted to go. The experience eluded her until now. She wasn't sure what to order so I heartily endorsed the steak because, well, it is Jax after all. We each got the slow roasted prime rib which was 14 ounces of heaven on a plate. We both loved it. 

Our server was named Sandy which was auspicious as I've been texting Cindi pictures of pink squirrels all week to get her psyched for dessert and one of the pictures I sent was of Sandy Squirrel from the Sponge Bob television show. It HAD to be a sign that our waitress ended up being named Sandy. She took really good care of us providing awesome service the entire evening. 

Wyn, Cindi, and I each ordered a pink squirrel for dessert. 

Cindi even had matchbooks made for the event.

Thanksgiving 2016 - Thanksgiving Eve

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Martini time.

From Dale's blog:

"Joe’s burritos in the oven, my stir fried Brussels sprouts and a cheap bottle of French wine. Thanksgiving has begun!"

So glad to have today off and do some pre-Thanksgiving relaxing with Dale.

Thanksgiving 2016 - A Toast

Thursday, November 24, 2016

A toast to Thanksgiving and all that I'm thankful for (you're at the top of the list Dale).

Fall Golden Hour Kickoff 2015 - Cocktail Hour

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Rosie and Bachelor's Guide to the Galaxy.

Cocktail Hour

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Cocktail hour before Sunday dinner. White wine and a Hendrick's martini. 

Drinks, Dinner, and Cigars with Mike

Mike and I got together at the last minute last night. He made mafalda pasta with meat sauce. Simple but delicious. The drinks and cigars were great too.

Christmas Season 2013/2014 - Holiday Brunch 4

Dale and I invited Phyllis and Julie & Regina over for our holiday brunch this year. Dale made the egg-bake, I made the pistachio rum cake pudding, Julie and Regina brought cinnamon rolls, and Phyllis brought the makings for mimosas. 

Top left: Athena smelled lots of good smells coming out of the kitchen.

Top right: My martini. I had a mimosa with the meal.

Bottom left: Dale serves up the egg-bake.

Bottom right: Stairs leading to the front door. Yes, our holiday brunch occurred at night time (long story).

Athena Eats Ice

I dropped an ice cube while making a martini tonight. Athena bolted into the kitchen. I figured she'd sniff it and walk away. Instead, she devoured it.

Fall Golden Hour Kickoff 2007

Okay, the Golden Hour Kickoff was last Sunday with beef stroganoff and pumpkin pie, but, tonight really feels like the Golden Hour Kickoff as it is back to central standard time. Dale and I are having a chicken pot pie with canned (oh well, no one's perfect) turkey gravy. It will be delicious! We'll have asparagus as a vegetable and we're listening to Anita O'Day on the stereo hi-fi system as it all cooks. What could be better? Jo Stafford was playin' earlier. Before that was Dave Brubeck.... Sophie got a little chicken and Homer was asleep. Victoria (rest her soul) could not be with us. I miss that cat.

Tonight we'll have PUMPKIN PIE for dessert. Whipped cream will most certainly be available as the topping of choice. Desk Set with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey (beard and purse that they were) will play as dinner is served. Meet Me in St. Louis will be the movie of choice next time around.

Drinks: I started with a Sidecar but didn't have enough brandy for a second. The second and third were martinis. I like to have a martini... Two at the very most... Three I'm under the table... Okay, technically I've only had two since I didn't have enough brandy for a second Sidecar but I'm on my third drink but I'm not under the table... I'm still standing (although I'm not done with the drink yet)... Okay... I hear the plates coming out of the cupboard in the background... I better check on how things are going....

Beef Stroganoff

Wow! Last week's beef stroganoff was incredible. Again, it came from Natalie Houghton's 365 One Dish Meals. What's great is that it is such an amazingly simple recipe and the prep time was minimal - only about 10 minutes. The cook time was just 15 minutes. The results were delicious! The ingredients included stew meat, butter, mushrooms, scallions, cooking sherry, beef broth, cornstarch, sour cream, and mustard. It was the mustard that really made it. We used Grey Poupon's Country Dijon which really gave it a kick. We had the stroganoff over egg noodles with steamed asparugus on the side.

Note: I love to have music playing while cooking. Last week while making the stroganoff we played the soundtrack from the movie Four Rooms. Most of the music is by Combustible Edison although a couple of tracks are by Esquivel. It's very lounge-y and fun to cook to while drinking Bombay Sapphire martinis and wine.