Open Door Policy: Cape Weekend Part 2

Back in Chicago now- where it is officially 25 degrees colder than it was in Mass....ridiculous. The remainder of the weekend just got better. Picking up where I left off, I was on my way out the door to grab Sues when I came upon the three fates watching Meet the Press for any news of Hillary's "Bobby Kennedy" slip. I don't think I could find a better picture for Mom and her sisters.

As Susie mentioned, her bus driver felt that the bus stop was open for interpretation so while I was wandering around the art show near the real bus stop, poor Susie was being dropped off a couple miles down the road. No matter though. She got ejected from the bus right in front of Ben & Jerry's and, well, let's just say I know the location well:)

We managed to skip a hello ice cream cone (the only time we said No to sugar for the next 24 hours) in favor of something much better/worse. Arnolds. The holy mecca of greasy, amazing beach eating. Onion rings the size of shoelaces and served in a pile the size of an office telephone. Clam rolls that melt in their salty, battered goodness right on your tongue. I like to add a little horseradish to my tartar sauce and...see for yourself:

Thank God I get to go to Piece tonight...just remembering is making me hungry. Once Sues had the ten cent tour and was introduced to her first round of family members, we decided to head to the beach. Now the forecast was for sun but with a cool breeze off the water. Even that morning I'd kept a hoodie on for most of my warrior poses. Alas, we put our swimsuits on underneath exercise pants and T-shirts just because it made it feel a little more like the beach.

So glad we brought sunblock "just in case" as well because it was STUNNING!!! Seriously, I have seen my unfair share of beautiful beach days on the Cape and this was really up there. The only downside was that in my haste to put sunblock on (I am an SPF 30 JUNKIE), I got hasty around my bathing suit bottoms and now have a hilarious tan line. Oh well, nothing that time and self tanner can't fix!

Sues was not thrilled with my stealthy photo abilities (thank YOU, cell phone!) but look at all the beautiful blues in this picture. We took a nice long walk with my cousin, just enjoying the day and the height of Horseshoe Crab mating season. 17 pairs of copulating crustaceans. Impressive.

The remainder of the day went a little like this: beer, eat rhubarb cake (recipe tomorrow), beer, AMAZING PEANUT BUTTER BLONDIE that Susie baked and brought, beer, eat one of Aunt Pat's O'Henrys, Dinner, beer, more cake and blondies & a muffin for breakfast. I may have successfully achieved type 2 diabetes this weekend.

We tried to go out but just couldn't rouse the energy to spend $15 dollars hanging out with townies and listening to Cracker at the Beachcomber. Too much sun. Too much sugar. And wine at home:)

Saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. Sues was very patient with the 700 blogging/tech questions being thrown out and I think half my family will now be signing up for Twitter. I'm sorry in advance :) It's always funny to me when people find it odd that we met on the internet. I just don't think about it. I make friends in lots of places and find it to be such a treat that one of my good friends is someone who I never would have met otherwise. Aren't those the best kind?

Sues & Sas on Newbury

Brother drove us all the way back to Brookline through the traffic. It took some weaving, grunting and him vetoing my entire iPod (alright alright, the indie lady singers do start to sound alike after awhile) but we made it back with a full afternoon to spare.

Still feeling a little ill from our sugar OD, we decided to walk to Newbury St where I FINALLY met the divine SAS! We shopped (got a cute top at Zara), chatted about the XY's and just generally had a deliciously girl afternoon on a beautiful day. THANK YOU, Ladies!!

I took the T to airport, settled in for chowder and a salad at Legal and arrived home completely unscathed to a very happy Honeycat. Such a fun time and Sues is obviously welcome back now that the family knows she comes bearing wine and two varieties of baked deliciousness. My favorite thing about the fam is that we can have a great time when it's just the four of us but every house we've ever lived in just comes alive when it's full. That's one trait I have enthusiastically inherited and we get lucky with the most thoughtful guests!

I'm now off with my growling tummy to Piece where I will undo every single inch of my run this morning with a crazed gusto you've yet to witness. Piece be with you and Happy Birthday to the Epicurious Chemist!

Girlcrush: Nigella Lawson

Having taken the weekend "off," there is now a serious queue of posting to be done. This is a long overdue food post, remember those?


I love Nigella Lawson. Stunning woman with English accent having a passionate affair with heavy whipping cream and garnished with sharp, clever wit. Perfection. The video above is her latenight favorite- Caramel Croissant Pudding (with a shot of bourbon). Love.

And LOVE FFFFood for pointing me to the video and THIS preview for a PBS show with Gwyn Paltrow, Mario Batali and a Spanish roadtrip. Start following FFFF if you don't already.


In other cooking news, I baked yesterday for the first time in what feels like forever. My inspiration actually came from the Epicurious Chemist who turned me on to Technicolor Kitchen's Ranger Cookies. I love the idea of putting as many of my favorite things into a basic recipe as possible and with dark chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts and oats... these more than fit the bill. I highly recommend the jump to TK for the recipe, I only had 3 (+ 2 for breakfast) because I'm still being healthy- aren't I just the picture of moderation :P

The rest are soundly frozen until I have people over next. If I can keep good milk on hand for guests, I think I may do Ina proud by greeting whomever at the door with warm cookies.

Speaking of the EpiChem, he introduced me to Rangers because he and Lisa (my childhood neighbor and his lady love) took care of HC while I was across the pond. I returned home dirty and jetlagged to find a clean house, a clean litterbox, a slice of goat cheese pizza from Piece in the fridge, homemade matzoh crunch and a homemade Ranger cookie. And a torn-up petsitting check.

My friends kind've rock.

TKTC Note (late addition): I have several friends who would all but die if I showed up with Peanut Butter Blondies with Chocolate Ganache. I'm putting this recipe in my back pocket for an SOS:)

TKTC SECOND NOTE: New favorite site. Tastespotting.com. If you're ever in need of inspiration...to buy a real camera. And maybe do some cooking as well.

Let's Hear It For The Boys

It's the morning after and strange as it probably sounds, I feel better about my life and the people in it today than before I got mugged last night. I mean people (neighbors, bankers, cops, friends, lovers) just stepped up.

If I have to pick my favorite part about getting mugged (thus far... the day is young), it has to be the protective outrage already coming from the various males in my life. Don't get me wrong, I'm an independent woman and I held my own last night. You never fight with someone who has a weapon but once he took off, I chased him vigorously while shouting some fairly colorful iterations of the word "fuck."

In fairness, not exactly sure what I thought I was going to do if I caught up to him but I know I at least rattled him with my crazy eyes and Banshee-Cossack temper. According to his rap sheet, I also have an inch and 10 lbs on this kid. Too bad I didn't have a hammer. Hammer trumps screwdriver.

Back to the boys. I am both warmed and amused by the testosterone-laced bravado that has ensued into today from man and beast alike:

The Epicurious Chemist: "Although Jamieson looks far larger than I am, if you ever get a bad feeling or something and you need someone to make sure shit's alright, let me or Lisa know. She is armed with pepper spray and I am armed with guns of solid muscle. And an uncanny knowledge of old Jean Claude van Damme movies. I'll go Lionheart on some punk ass kids."

Bri: "You let me know if I need to come up there. Too bad Alex had already left(Bri's brother was staying chez TKTC this weekend). He would have put a vicious beating in place on behalf of the family."

Jaimeson (via this morning's facebook status): " Jaimeson is trying to be calm about TKTC getting mugged. 'A head for a tooth,' says the angry Greeklastname."

Branner the Puppy (by way of D):"Branner's gonna throw down on those guys."

My dad was en route to the UK when everything went down so Mom and I have made the executive decision not to tell him as I am fine. The only thing scarier than a big Greek manfriend is my big Russian Dad (the furious and irate edition).

Pity the fool.