Back from the Beach.

And we're back! We actually got back last night after a pretty smooth flight -- no delays, no cancellations. We even got to sit behind Jimmy Fallon and his new wife! I presume they were just getting back from their wedding in the Caribbean. They were very lovey and adorable and now I look upon Mr. Fallon more favorably and can forgive the fact that he tends to laugh during every SNL skit.

As always, the Bahamas did not disappoint. It was gorgeous -- of course -- and it definitely provided me with the break that I needed. I only did work on one of my days there. The rest of the time was spent swimming, snorkeling, cruising around in the boat, getting tan, reading, and good ol' family fun.



I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and have some exciting plans for the New Year.

There is so much to share about the trip, but it's hard to know where to start. I guess I can let the pictures tell the story instead.

Bahamas Ahoy!

I am officially a free woman for the rest of 2007! Tomorrow, Jamie, Scott and I will be taking the flight to Miami and a final destination of the Bahamas. Most excellent. As the first official Holiday Season as a married couple, Jamie and I will be spending the holidays with his side.

I will take tons of pictures. I will say "hello" to our dear friend, Piggybank Telephone Car. And I will definitely be getting some much needed rest and repose. I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season among the ones they love. Check back here on the 31st for some pictures and stories...

Whose Cuisine Reigned Supreme?

Yesterday, was Jamie's Iron Chef birthday party. We played host to a group of 14 people (including 6 judges) which officially made it our largest dinner party to date. I think that 14 will pretty much be our limit.

Jamie -- being the birthday boy and all -- was the Iron Chef along with his sous chefs Leah and Dan. I was the challenger with Mollie and Angie. Our secret ingredients were two of Jamie's favorites: goat cheese and chocolate. It was a fight to the death. And no, we didn't have to incorporate both ingredients in all of our dishes.

The Iron Chef's Menu: First Course (Trio of Appetizers)

• Mille Feuille with Two Goat Cheeses
• Phyllo Knots with Spinach and Goat Cheese
• Mushrooms Stuffed with Goat Cheese

The Challenger's Menu: First Course (Trio of Appetizers)

• Chocolate Stout Ale - sure we didn't brew our own beer, but clever nonetheless
• Pizzettes with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese (and homemade dough)
  
• Crispy Potato Slices with Garlic and Herb Goat Cheese

The Pizzettes before going into the oven...

The Iron Chef's Menu: Second Course

• Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chocolate Ravioli with Red Pepper Sauce

The Challenger's Menu: Second Course

• Apple and Walnut Salad with Goat Cheese
• Agnolotti with a Sweet Pea and Goat Cheese Filling

It should be noted at this point that our agnolotti had character. It is hard to roll your own pasta when you have never ever done it before.

Iron Chef's Menu: Final Course

• Goat Cheese Tiramisu with Chocolate Lady Fingers and Homemade "Chocolate Waves"

The Challenger's Menu: Final Course (a quartet of desserts - we are all bakers after all)

• Goat Cheese Cheescake with a Chocolate Sauce and Caramel Doodad
• Chocolate Volcano Babycakes with Brandy Whipped Cream
• Homemade Chocolate Goat Cheese Truffles
• Hot Chocolate

The Goat Cheesecake Birthday Cake.

Whose cuisine reigned supreme??

The Challengers! Despite the Iron Chef team's originality and ability to incorporate both ingredients in all of the dishes (although, it was just a dusting of cocoa powder in some -- ahem), we took it on taste. Just barely.

Poor, poor Iron Chef. Losing on his own non-birthday.

The party was awesome and I had a blast with Mollie and Angie. Despite time-pressure and minor mishaps, we were having giggle-fits pretty much the entire time. Sure we may have set the fire alarm off once, lost an egg to the cold, hard, ground, and had a cheesecake casualty. It was all in good fun. Besides, I heard there was a chocolate explosion on the Iron Chef's kitchen wall.


We also learned a valuable lesson: when selecting a secret ingredient, do not choose one that is uber-expensive. Next time, we're doing potatoes. I also learned that I need to get one of those new cameras with a food setting. Because none of the pictures of our food really came out. Sadness.

Another Junior.

A bunch has happened, and I plan on updating the masses soon, but I wanted to share this little thing that happened at school today. I got bitten by a Kindergartner. While this, of course, is an area for concern in and of itself -- what with the various unpleasant infections that could follow -- I would like to focus on WHO bit me. (And before you comment, yes, I did get it checked by a doctor and have taken the necessary blood tests and vaccines).

His name is James Long Jr. Ever since I found out about the existence of little James, I was predisposed to like him, despite all of the horror stories. It should be noted that I have never had a James in my class that did not prove to be the most difficult challenge of the year...in fact, I made a point of not including the one James in 2nd grade on my class roster. Good thing, too, because he turned out to be so difficult he had to be transferred out of our school within a month.

ANYWAY. This James is in kindergarten and was climbing the fence during recess. He had made it halfway up the fence and there being nothing but a long fall on the other side, I immediately demanded that he get down. Of course, he did not like it when I pulled him down and he bit my finger. Luckily my nail prevented any serious damage.

But! James Long Jr.! I know that both James and Long are very common names, but are the chances that we would have a James Long Jr. when the normal names around here are Redeemed and Pristine? Sadly the Junior could use some lessons from my James Long on how to treat me nicely...