this weekend marked the last weekend that we will be spending at Casey’s brother & sister-in-law’s house.

things i will never forget about this house:

-all the times we spent out in the backyard by the pool
-listening to classic rock on the hello-kitty boombox
-watching Emma & Spencer dive off the diving board for the first time!
-watching Casey & his brothers come up with new ways to throw a ball & have someone catch it off the diving board
-blown up barbie heads in the backyard
-lighting our first fire outside
-that night we went to the french laundry & hopped right into the pool without clothes on
-playing catch in the front yard
-the wonderful feeling of being relaxed after spending all weekend in the sun
-the ice cream man…choco taco…watermelon schnapps!
-spencer the master of smores!
-that creepy neighbor & the *damnit-amber* neighbor!
-all the food we ate & the wine we drank….

the good times…the bad times…this house sure did have mojo! you will be missed, dear napa house.

Spending nights outside with my neighbors triggers memories of my childhood. Those nights when it’s almost 9pm and the sky is still bright….playing around the front yard with frisbees (the one i played with got run over by a car!). And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the ice cream man drove by.

I’ve come to the conclusion that eating is so much better when done outside. We moved into our house almost a year ago (july 4th will be our move-in anniversary). For the first three months, we did not eat a single meal inside. Casey says the food I make for us is always better during the summer. I think it’s just cuz we get to eat it outside! Now that the weather is warmer, breakfast/lunch/dinner will be eaten on the patio. Food just tastes better that way!

Fathers Day Dinner included:

-cheese plate (with marcona almonds)
-tomato/mozzarella/crusty bread with olive oil topped with homemade pesto
-middle eastern inspired ground lamb kebabs
-salad with tomatoes, red onion, italian parsley, feta & cucumber with a lemon oregano dressing
-crispy lavash bread
-vanilla roasted apricots mixed with strawberries, mangoes and cherries on top of a dollop of honey lemon ricotta & marscapone cheese mixture
-4 bottles of red wine!
-vegan food for my brother (indian rice with vegan burger & vegan chocolate pudding)
-laughter, sillyness, and fun moments. Happy Father’s Day Dad!

The Weekend:

-shopping for gifts at Bath and Body Works (i love these!)
-drinks with neighbors/made a potato salad with cilantro & grilled chicken (vinegar based)/drinks with other neighbors
-speaker installed in ceiling of kitchen
-wallmounted touch panel installed in wall of kitchen (means I can listen to music while cooking & cleaning up what a cook! yay!)
-dinner to celebrate a friends birthday at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (bloody $50 bill fight in the front-don’t ask)
-ice cream at Mitchells (chocolate caramel crackle with another scoop of strawberry) Husband god Toasted Almond & Mexican chocolate.
-grocery shopping at Whole Paycheck…err… I mean Whole Foods
-house cleaning & gardening for parents arrival
-father’s day dinner
-hanging out with neighbors- another neighbor brought over yummy bread pudding with a lemon rum glaze.

i have to stop eating. time to catch up on Big Love & Entourage.

these beets were part of my first delivery from Farm Fresh to You- Capay Organic Farms. Included in the shipment were: red onions, green beans, apricots, peaches, beets, red chard, cherries, red potatoes and zucchini. So far I’m happy with the service!

to make the beets:

-wash beets & sprinkle with generous amount salt & pepper
-wrap beets up in parchment paper
-wrap parchment covered beets with foil
-put on baking sheet
-roast 425 degree oven for 45 minutes
-peel off skin & enjoy!