still here

just very busy wrangling a toddler. here's a shot of her at the beach the other day - quite a different creature since last summer.

Easy as Roasting Asparagus

I don't think this counts as a recipe, but it is so delicious, and Solar Powered asked for it - so here it goes.

Roasted Asparagus (adapted from the Gourmet Cookbook)

Asparagus
Olive oil (about 2-3 TBS)
Salt
Pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment and wash asparagus. Chop off bottom (woody part) of asparagus) and place asparagus spears in pan. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Salt and pepper. Roast in oven for 10-15 minutes until cooked through - don't let them burn.

Delicious! Spring is coming!

Wishful Thinking

Happy Monday. I don't know why this is underlining my post, but here goes. If I ever get a good night of sleep again, I would celebrate with a cup of this "Brioche" tea. It is the most delicious I have ever tasted and I need to trek back to Beverly Hills to buy more immediately :)
If you were taking a very short trip sans bambino, where would you go - luxe resort with all sorts of amenities that isn't quite as scenic, or impossibly romantic, lush and gorgeous resort that is a little more bare bones (i.e no TV in the rooms)? I am trying to decide btw the Ritz St. Thomas and Caneel Bay on St. John for a quick little Caribbean getaway.

Oh, and someone is walking. Yikes - happy Monday!

A Room With A View

When you have a baby, your world becomes a little smaller for a few years. Not in a bad way, because small things like smiles and steps and coos are very precious. But, you aren't exactly footloose and fancy free to set out on adventures. We took a wonderful trip to Italy a few years ago, and I've been working on getting my photos onto DVD. Here are some. Just looking at them makes me nostalgic, but also excited for when we are ready as a family for some fun adventures.

I've been thinking more and more about how precious experiences are as gifts. I remember the trips I've taken so vividly, and I think they are so important.

We are planning a very small getaway this summer - just three nights (about the length of time Nana can wrangle the munchkin), so Italy probably won't be an option. I'm thinking the Caribbean - any advice? And, what is your favorite travel memory? I would kill for some pistachio gelato and prosecco right now :)

Babyproofing

So, I find the term sort of a misnomer, because even when things are babyproof, you still need to watch the baby all the time. Ours has already figured out how to remove the protective outlet covers from the outlets. That said, I have found one amazing babyproofing aid: the retractable baby gate, as found at www.retractagate.com. I'm not sure this link works, but if you google retractable baby gate, it should pop up. It folds away into nothing when baby is in bed, but allows us to use our living room without worry that she will fall down the stairs :).

Thumbs up. I can't tell you how awesome this is. I'm thinking about valentine's day stuff for tomorrow's post, but right now, the miracle of the baby gate is too awesome not to share :)

Tasty Treats, Travel, Rain and Paper

This isn't my photo, but it is from gateau au yaourt.info, which is a french website all about this delectable little cake. It's so easy to make, and the perfect not too sweet and not too rich sort of cake that you can just devour all by yourself. I liked it warm with a cup of tea at night, toasted with jam for breakfast, and then cold with a cup of cocoa. It's the perfect dessert for beverages, because it doesn't overwhelm them. Check out Chocolate and Zucchini's recipe - it's fantastic.

In other news, I've started applying for the munchkin's passport. I figure we will want to take her places at some point, and it takes so darn long for the thing to be ready. Speaking of which, where would you recommend taking babies for a vacation? Any ideas?

It was pouring again today. So, we headed to the mall, went to a Junior League meeting and tried to stay dry. It's clearing tomorrow - I hope!

Tired

The munchkin and I went out for a marathon walk this morning - all the way to the promenade and back. We met friends and played in Palisades Park, then headed back home. I always forget that walks wipe me out, but she's just storing up energy in the stroller. My goodness, what energy!