Ice Cream

The other day M and I went on an evening stroll around his neighborhood. It had been grey and gloomy all day but after work the sun came out and it was actually quite beautiful and warm. During our walk we came across the dreaded ice cream truck. Dreaded because I hate the music the trucks play. Something about it really gets on my nerves. Perhaps it's the fact that between March and October there are three different ice cream trucks going up and down my street everyday, but I digress.

On this day I guess I have to be thankful for the ice cream truck or I wouldn't have experienced the following conversation.

Scene: Little girl on scooter here's music and stops to ask mom and dad what the noise is. Mom and Dad immediately identifying the ice cream truck respond, "That's the ice cream truck!" Little girl then takes off down the street on her scooter to investigate.

Little Girl: Hello!

Ice Cream Truck Driver: Why hello there.

Little Girl: I don't want any ice cream, I just wanted to stop by and say hello.

*Little Girl pauses to think.*

Little Girl: Well, actually I do want ice cream but I don't have any money.

It doesn't get any more precious than that.

Funny

I came across these on another blog I read and it made me smile. Hope it makes you smile too.

Memorial Day Weekend

I don't know about you but memorial day weekend didn't come quick enough. Last week felt like the week that went on forever and luckily, with three days off, so did the weekend.

Friday night I went to the first Jazz in the Garden of the season. I have to say this is by far my favorite summer time event. It's so relaxing to just sit on the grass with some friends and a picnic, listen to the music, people watch, and enjoy the sunshine. I have to say Friday felt like summer with the hot weather we were having.

Saturday was perfect for sleeping in and after avoiding the hot sun M and walked from his apartment to the stadium to watch the DC United soccer team play. It was really fun being in the arena, neither of us had been before, and the fans as usual were crazy. I don't know what the deal is but apparently the thing to do in DC is throw fake white snow at each other during soccer games.

The rest of the weekend was spent, sleeping, reading and eating. Basically a weekend of relaxation. With such gorgeous weather it was hard not to just lounge and enjoy. Unfortunately last night when we ate dinner on the porch I also got my first mosquito bites of the season and boy do they itch! Luckily I only have three so it could be a lot worse.

Time for a swim? Or not.

If you never want to enter a swimming pool again, read this article on CNN.com

All the things I didn't want to think about, in print, from a reputable source. Gross.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

What's better then a super easy cake to make that's tasty, flavorful and leaves you with fresh raspberries to eat? I don't know, which is why when I came across this recipe I knew I had to make it.

Ingredients
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 package fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 8x8 inch square pan.

In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In your kitchen aid mixer beat together butter and 2/3 cup sugar at speed 4 until pale and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beat well. At low speed (mix) add half the flour mixture, mixing until combined. Add buttermilk, mixing until combined. Then add the rest of the flour mixture until combined.


Spoon batter into pan and smooth. Scatter berries on top of batter. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar over berries. Bake until cake is golden and tester comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes and then cool completely on wire rack. Enjoy!

Spinach-Cheese Swirls

In a search for something new to bring to Jazz in the Garden on Friday, I came across this recipe on the back of the puff pastry box. It sounded like the perfect item to bring to a picnic, travels well, easy to eat and flavorful. I must admit that during my first attempt I let the puff pastry defrost too much and it was really hard to slice. The second time I waited a little too short which made unfolding it a little difficult but made it a lot easier to slice.

My suggestion for you, let the puff pastry defrost, unfold it and then either put it back in the freezer for a little bit or stuff it, roll it and then put it back in the freezer for a little bit. Circular or slightly misshapen, these are delicious!

Ingredients
1/2 a package of frozen puff pastry
1 egg
1 tbsp water
1 10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
1/2 cup of shredded Monterey jack or Muenster cheese
1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan
1 green onion finely diced

Leave puff pastry out of the freezer for about 30 minutes on a slightly floured surface.

Preheat oven to 400F, line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat egg and water together. Unfold pastry and brush with egg. Cover with drained spinach. In a small bowl, mix both cheeses and the green onion. Spread cheese mixture on top of the spinach. Roll pastry tightly, like a jelly roll. Slice into 1/2 inch thick slices.

Place slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with egg. Cook at 400F for about 10 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Mayor Euille Today!

On Monday afternoon I participated in a taping of Mayor Euille Today, the mayor of Alexandria's monthly talk show. As one of the co-chairs of the healthy lifestyles workgroup I was there to talk about the Mayor's new Get Healthy for Life Alexandria initiative and specifically the 50 million pound challenge that is part of that initiative.

The taping went really well. The other co-chair and I got there early and reviewed the questions that were prepared for us so that we knew what exactly we were supposed to be talking about. Next thing I knew we were being led onto the stage, had microphones put on us and they were taping. I think during the interview I said a total of two things. I know for sure I introduced myself and I think I added blood pressure testing to the list of activities that will occur at the Senior Health Fair in May. But on the whole it was really an interview between the mayor and the other co-chair of our healthy lifestyles workgroup.

I wouldn't say it was my shining moment but it was a very good introduction to TV and honestly I didn't feel as nervous as I thought I would. If I look petrified please don't tell me.

The video isn't up yet but when it's ready you can find it here. It will be the May 2009 episode. Enjoy!

**I almost forgot! Last week I went to a city council meeting to receive a Proclamation for the Get Healthy for Life Alexandria Initiative. If you want to see that you can click here. Select 2009 Alexandria City Coucil Meetings then the Watch Now for May 12, 2009. Once the window opens jump to the Proclamation (13:10) to see me on TV. I am the second from the right. My big moment comes at 17:28. Enjoy!**

Cinnamon Buns

This weekend I decided that I wanted something yummy for breakfast. Looking through what I had in my kitchen and what I felt like I decided upon cinnamon rolls. Fortunately one of my favorite blogs Smitten Kitchen had recently posted a recipe.

Instead of reading through the entire recipe I decided to jump right in . . . big mistake! Little did I know that it would take me 3 plus hours to finally have cinnamon rolls ready to eat. I have to admit, they weren't as tasty as I had hoped and in all honesty I didn't think the end result was worth the effort. Yes they were good but I think I would rather go buy myself one roll instead of having two pans of rolls to eat up.

What an Exciting Week!

This week has been pretty busy and exciting. Here are some things that have been going on:

• On Monday night the Caps won the sixth game of the Stanley cup playoffs quarterfinals, leaving the series tied 3-3. Tonight is game 7 and I'm not sure I can contain my excitement.
  
• Monday I met with a woman who runs an elderly community in Old Town Alexandria. I am going to start teaching nutrition classes there once a month.
  
• Last night I went to the city council meeting. The vice-mayor read a proclamation about the Mayor's Get Healthy For Life Alexandria initiative. My Healthy Lifestyles Work Group was there sporting 50 million pound challenge t-shirts, another initiative that our group is working on.
  
• The healthy lifestyles work group that I co-chair has a new website: http://www.alexhealth.org/partnership/healthy_lifestyles_workgroup.html Check it out!
  
• Tomorrow I get to go watch M play in a hockey game.
  
• Sadly on Friday night Timberlakes, my favorite bar in Dupont Circle, is having their closing party. It will be lots of fun to see all the regulars and hopefully the new owners won't change too much before reopening.

Non-traditional Collard Greens

About a month ago I went to a conference in Atlanta. While I was there we did an activity where each person at the table had two minutes to teach everyone else at the table something they knew how to do really well. While I taught everyone else how to check their blood sugar, another lady at the table taught us how to cook collard greens. I have to admit that a lot of stuff she said to do, I didn't, but I did finally have the guts to cook some greens.

One reason I haven't liked greens in the past is the saltiness of them. But when cooking them yourself you can control this. I also love the flavor of the greens without the smokey flavor often added to them. I guess the south is rubbing off on me, but not completely.

Ingredients
1 bunch of collard greens
1 small onion
olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
Roma tomatoes

Separate leaves and using a sharp knife, remove the hard stalks from each leaf. I did this by folding the leaf in half and cutting off the stalk side. Stack leaves, roll and slice into ribbons. Place leaves in salad spinner, fill with water and wash really well. Spin dry.


Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook until transparent. Add garlic and cook until aromatic. Add greens and 1/2 cup of water. Simmer over low heat until cooked down. Add diced tomatoes and heat briefly. Serve warm over couscous or as a side.

Update

So . . . what do you think of the new layout?

I figured that after almost three years of the same layout it was time to switch things up a little bit. I am also working on a few other changes over the next couple of months so stay tuned.

C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps!

In case you are not a hockey fan, right now is Stanley Cup Playoff time. I didn't watch much hockey growing up. Sure we had the sharks and I even had some friends who went to games here and there, but I didn't really get into hockey until last fall. It all started when M bought me tickets to the Caps for my birthday. One game and I was hooked. Since then I have been to a handful of other Caps games and have been watching M play in his adult hockey league.

There's something to be said about watching a hockey game live. The cool air off the ice, the slap of the puck as it hits the hockey stick, the thrill of the goal as the crowd goes wild . . . it's awesome. And lucky for me last Monday M and I had the opportunity to attend one of the play-off games.

The Caps were up 1-0 in the series of seven games and by the end of the game Monday they were up 2-0. Not only did we win but the game was intense the entire evening. We had great seats on the lower level on the corner of the rink and for the first time eve I caught one of the falling t-shirts. They drop them attached to a parachute from the rafters at the end of the game in celebration. Lucky for M the shirt was way too big for me so he added a new shirt to his collection of Caps apparel.

Sadly since that game the Caps have gone on to lose two games in Pittsburgh and now the series is tied 2-2. I would love to be at the Verizon Center tonight cheering on the Caps as they are finally playing aggressively and playing like the team I am used to. I just hope they can keep it together through the next period and a half and then take the series next week in Pittsburgh.

UPDATE: The caps just lost in overtime, leaving the series at 3-2 Penguins. :(

Cruise

Last weekend me and two of my friends from high school went on a 3-day cruise. Originally the cruise was supposed to be from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico. But due to H1N1 Virus (aka swine flu) our cruise was redirected to Catalina Island (off the coast of Los Angeles). I have to say it was quite possibly the most relaxing vacation I have ever been on. Three full days of eating, sleeping, reading and doing nothing. It was fabulous.

Trip Itinerary

• Thursday we arrived in San Diego and were transferred to the Port of San Diego to board the Carnival Elation. Thursday evening we left San Diego and headed north.
  
  
• Friday morning we anchored off the coast of Catalina. Starting at 8am boats arrived to take us off the cruise ship and to the city of Avalon on Catalina Island.
  
  
• Friday night we left Catalina and began motoring down to Ensenada. Due to the ships documentation we had to anchor off of the coast of Ensenada for four hours, which we accomplished Saturday morning.
  
  
• Saturday afternoon we left Ensenada and by Sunday morning we had arrived back in San Diego and were reading to leave the boat and head back to the airport.

Trip Photos

5 Ways to Know You Are No Longer on a Cruise

• People in uniform don't greet you by name.
• The taxi driver asks for money instead of your Sail and Sign card.
• There are no animals made out of towels or chocolate waiting for you on your bed.
• The doors to your rooms don't magnetize themselves to the wall after you open them.
• There's no itinerary under your door in the morning to tell you what's going on today.