Saturday, January 22, 2011

Saturday Project

I had to do it! 

My cellar was a huge mess. After we recently moved we did not go through all of the boxes and put stuff away. We put the basics away but the other stuff was left in boxes for the day when we had enough energy or determination to get the job done. Well today I just couldn't take it any more. I channeled Niecy Nash and got busy.

Yikes! What a mess...

This is the other area of the cellar where my desk is and where I (should be) practice (ing) my piano.

I know... lots of chairs but there's no room upstairs for them. Reminds me of a 1950's kid's dancing party in the basement.

Organized, piano plugged in and ready to go. Ahh...

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Absolutely delicious dinner at Castello Pomodori

The Contessa di Pomodori had us over for dinner at her riverfront villa. We have lately been talking about a dish that Lidia Bastianich made on her show called Socca. It is a casserole of beef (blade steak), potatoes, savoy cabbage and it is braised with wine and a pestata of rosemary garlic and sage. Then it is topped with shredded fontina and baked until it is bubbling and brown. It was accompanied by a salad of blood oranges, oranges hard cooked eggs cured olives and drizzled with olive oil. I must say that this was one of the finest meals I have had at Sally's place. The casserole is really easy to make (with no diminution of the Contessa's skills just for the record), but is a very hearty and comforting food. The recipe is here. Give it a look below and try the recipe yourself. Yum!!

Just for the record: We had a Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert but I overbeat my meringue and it looked (not tasted mind you) a little grainy so I didn't photograph it for this piece. 

Fresh from the oven and golden brown.


An unusual and delicious salad.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I am so sorry I missed this!

Last night during Miss America talent segment Miss Arkansas surprised even we who thought we had seen everything, when she turned out to be a friggin' Yodeling Ventriloquist!!! It is absolutely hilarious!