Chick'n Fried Steak with No Fowl Play

I have a weakness for Chick'n Fried Steak (Seitan). I don't know where it came from or when it happened, but I love it and I crave it. When I go brunching I usually end up ordering Chick'n Fried Steak (why do I keep capitalizing that?) because it is something that I rarely make at home. I rarely make it at home because I just can't get it right. However, the other night, I got it right. So, so right.

Adam's date?!? NEW YEAR'S EVE!

2011 fell away from me. It happened so fast I can hardly believe that it is already (gasp) early-mid January! In 5 days it will officially be the middle of the month, and do you know what that means? It means that I failed to update you on Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Year's Eve in a timely fashion. I guess I am just fashionably late!

Thanksgiving and Christmas shared a common theme: eating and lazing about. Also, I made the same main dish for each! I had stumbled upon this recipe a few months prior and decided it would be the perfect Thanksgiving entree. I had almost everything on hand, too which always makes things easier.

I'm a Sap for Christmas Trees!

I love the holidays. I love every holiday. Christmas, however, is one of my favorites! This year, Patrick and I are staying home, playing video games, watching movies, drinking Spanish coffee and eating. It is probably going to be the BEST DAY EVER. Although, it will be hard to top selecting and decorating our Christmas tree.

It was love at first sight!

A Very Important Date

New York is Wonderland and Brooklyn is the Mad Hatter's Tea Party; a little off kilter, quirky and fun! I recently went to Brooklyn to visit my wonderful friend Kim, who you may remember from her July visit to Seattle and the Bazooka BBQ! Instead of focusing on going out to bars and restaurants, we decided to throw caution to the wind and spend our days catching up and meandering, and our evenings drinking wine and cooking. It truly was one of the best vacations I have ever taken.

Choosing My Beer On a Case by Case Basis

It's no secret that I love a good beer. Recently, Brandi treated me to a beer at one of my all-time favorite places, The Stumbling Monk.

Now, I urge you to click on that link and look closely at the picture. While searching for a link to direct you to this fabulous bar I (hardy har har) stumbled upon this review that JUST SO HAPPENS to include a picture of ME (and Patrick and some of our friends). Isn't that the best thing ever?!? It's circa 2007 which makes it somewhat dated, but all the more fun.

Anyway, Brandi and I had been doing a little shopping and we ended the evening with a delicious beer and great conversation. One of my favorite things about the evening, was the accidental Space Needle on our table.

Paint chipped Space Needle and St. Bernardus 

I know that you are all waiting with bated breath for a "real" post. I promise it is in the works. May I suggest waiting at The Stumbling Monk?

The Silence of the Yams

Yes, it's been awhile. A long while. In fact, tomorrow is DECEMBER! Gah!

Let's re-cap:

1. October was the month of Halloween decoration creation and party planning. I must say, it all worked out into a pretty spectacular party that I may have to do annually - especially now that I have two dummies, a wooden coffin and enough cobwebs to impress Dracula himself. In typical me fashion I failed to photograph ANY of the food. I am sort of the worst. But here's a picture of Patrick and I taken by our lovely friend.

2. And then it was November! And I went to New York and I turned 30 and I celebrated Thanksgiving. I have pictures and recipes and lots of things to share about those so check back!

3. While I organize my thoughts and pictures, please enjoy this recipe from one of my all time favorite sites!

How did the ghost mend his sheet?

With a PUMPKIN PATCH!

Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday. As a child, I remember thinking that things could not get much better than dressing up, trick-or-treating and celebrating with a pillowcase full of mini-candy bars to last through the freezing Montana winter. Eventually, as a teenager, trick-or-treating became all-night horror movie fests and Halloween parties, and as an adult the never-ending supply of mini candy-bars ceased to be the end result of trick-or-treating and became my favorite way to celebrate November 1st. SALE!

One of my all-time favorite seasonal celebrations has got to be pumpkin carving. This year was no exception! We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and last weekend carved some of the best pumpkins I've ever seen! Instead of munching on candy all night, I kept to comfort food and served mini pot-pies.

Tonight the seeds will be roasted, and Dollhaus of Horror prep will continue. Halloween is almost here!!