Family Dinner

very few places will take a reservation for 22 people...who knew?!

Between the conversations, we were also much entertained by the good, old game of "Telephone".  Among the many "important messages" to send around the table, one went something like this:  "There's an alien in my ear and It was so bad that It won't get Christmas presents this year."...or something like that.

And below, just another wonderful exchange of words:

Mt. Hood

on the road again...

one of the best parts of this trip was the great conversation we had driving all over Oregon -- that is, if you were awake ;) we took turns.

We stopped for a break near the top of Mt. Hood on our way back from Sunriver.  Ben picked me a flower.

elevation check.

Grandpa Joe worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  And the U.S. Department of Agriculture puts in these awesome looking elevation checks.  I have a photo of something just like this in Taipei, Taiwan -- I'll have to dig it up!

and up here, this is what it looks like:

makes you feel kinda small...

Crater Lake (Mount Mazama)

through the thicket and around the bend, there is a lake that is the deepest blue

Old

royal.

the deepest of purples hydrangea bushes perch along the edges of the Lobdells' "creek"

welcome.

and a very warm one, it was!

so much delicious food, beautiful gardens, paths, sunsets, and even better company.

Lobdell's, 2012

Corn and Chevy

After picking up Aunt Sandy, we stopped for super sweet white corn in Mollala off the bed of a Chevy 6500, c.1950s

Multanomah Falls

how does your garden grow?

black-eyed susans and daises from the Ebel Garden -- one of many beautiful bouquets around the house

city of portland: let the cafe marathon begin

waiting in the epic Voodoo Doughnuts line

maybe they'll sell OQ Coffee ;]

you may now assemble your bike

welcome to PDX...you may now assemble your bicycle!

ticket

to vacation!

Last year our "big" vacation was The Honeymoon.  This is the train ticket that sent us on our way home last June (2011) after the time of our life.  This year, the Schellacks are off to Oregon in August.  The ticket won't be as neat, but the trip is sure to be both adventurous and relaxing.

Ben's BLT

Originally meant to be eggplant balls, these were flattened and made into a sandwich.Eggplant recipe is from "Vegetables from an Italian Garden".

Add bacon, Kale (lettuce), and tomato, and voila!

Whoever said eggplant couldn't be enjoyed in bar-style form:

Ben's BLT

round and round

Splendor

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these:

Matthew 6:28
Longwood Gardens, PA

love coffee. love new jersey.

pending approval on "threadless"...

We're looking to make one that is exclusively for OQ Coffee Co. In the meantime, help get it printed by voting here: love coffee. love new jersey. @threadless !

Pop-up Book Market

re-live life's incredible moments:

Florence, June 2011

summer strawberry (cup)cake

mini berry cakes...or giant muffins.  dessert or breakfast.  whatever you want it to be!, whenever.  birthday celebration one night, breakfast tomorrow morning

One Year

I spent the weekend with the best person ever.  Doing some of the best things ever, visiting some of the best people ever.  We saw some of the most incredible flowers and plants (ever) and ate some of the best food ever.  How appropriate to mark One Year!

we stayed right down town -- but drove to Kennett Square and got to hang w/ Jesse 

how serendipitous that they have season passes to Longwood Gardens! 

where there are breathtaking fountains, magnificent flowers and plants and massively impressive conservatory

with much unique flora alongside some simply lovely ones, and pleasant aromas around each turn

in addition, we enjoyed fantastic fare, had our fair share of espresso, and on our way home, plopped down in a little park (Top Left) before we left for NJ. 

On our way home, we took a long detour through Princeton, stopping at Terhune Orchards, the Bent Spoon (whereupon we acquired an old Synesso (!)) and finished off the adventure with the comforting familiarity of deliciously, satisfying gelato.

*win*

Bear Mountain, New York

after some gourmet, Slatton breakfast burritos, we were off with our backpacks for a 4-mile hike through the fog...

5-May 2012, Harriman State Park*

*a.k.a. "the Shire"

contemplating

Season to Season

Schellacks enjoyed bountiful spring of Kale and other hearty lettuces.  But as summer kicks off, it begins to go to seed.

We're ready for tomatoes!

Shiloh Community Garden
New Brunswick, NJ

Springtime! Strawberry Lemon cupcakes

is it just me, or does spring make you want to start drinking lemonade and eat light, fluffy cupcakes like these? :]

Felicity Riehl

Leah's baby shower (Felicity May)

grocery store

we did our apple-picking in the fall and we hope to pick some oranges this summer...somewhere!  But in the meantime, we grocery shop. (photos complements of benjammer)

see food

we don't eat much "meat" at home, but since #1 digs the seafood scene, I whipped up something simple.  It helped that we had incredibly fresh, crisp, fluffy french bread a la Elijah's Promise kitchen to soak up the sauce at the bottom

sewing a letter

of the woods

Slias ~ of the woods

he's going to be one strong, crafty, clever, woodsman!

traveling light

JWell Women's Retreat, Ocean Grove NJ

a slice of bars

Benjamins Winter Bars

so with some extra sour cream (yes) left over, I sought to modified this recipe into a more delectable afternoon snack or morning treat.

A few changes:

• made in a spring form pan and cut into little slices

• 2 c. craisins
• 1/2 c. white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (mix this w/ a bit of h20 before adding to mixture)
• 1 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• slowly mix all this stuff over LOW heat (you don't want scrambled eggs, do you?)

This is the crumble that gets split into bottom (pressed down) and sprinkled on top:

• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 3/4 c. rolled oats (opt: replace ~1/2 c. w/ wheat germ)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 c. mix of AP flour and wheat flour
• 1 cup butter, softened

This is probably one of my top 3 favorite "bar" recipes.  *win*

Morning Glory muffin madness

BenSchellack convinced me to make him the world's largest muffins...so I did!

Frittata di Schellack

A delicious mistake: (serves 4)

Frittata di Schellack

della Cucina Schellack 

serves 4, Oven = brolier-low

• eggs (6)
• spinach (10oz)
• diced tomatoes (4 pealed plum)
• mozzarella
• drunken goat (hard) cheese to sprinkle

whisk eggs. coat spinach in it.   throw into a large cast iron. toss everything else into it.

cook on stove until set. (med-low, ~5 minutes; do NOT overcook! it should still be runny)

move to oven until eggs are just cooked through. (cheese should be ever so slightly brown).

sprinkle hard cheese on top.

enjoy!

nothing beats an overflowing glass of beer

HENNEPIN 

Farmhouse Saison

by Ommegang Brewery

How can it not be good?  It's from the same town baseball was born!

strawberry limoncello sorbet

Thank you, Vitamix.

Boston ICA

2008

Being at the ICA for the first time is better than seeing it in photos and dissecting it to pieces. In addition to the High Line Park, this makes Diller+Scofidio one of my top architects (James Corner/field Operations goes without saying)...

apples, pears, in Disc-form...oh my

momma schellack purchased some especially large apples for this salad recipe...and I got to put it all together!  A simple Pear Vinegarette by the Mr., and dressed the tower of sliced apples and pears, crumbled with blue cheese with arugula leaves intermittently stuffed throughout.

Voila

Providence reminds me of Italy

except, there is an American flag soaring from the building on left!

the narrow streets, the distinctive, vivid buildings, and of course, the roman influence.

Cranberry scones with wheat germ

I never really liked scones, but stepping out the comfort zone after having been inspired after a week of delicious baked goods down in FL, I set forth.  For a decently healthy scone, based on the feedback, they were a success!

(recipe modified from allrecipes "simple scones" and epicurous)
Makes 8, Oven = 400°

mix:

• 1.5 c AP flour 
• 0.5 c wheat germ 
• 1/4 c sugar (this is already decreased sugar) 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1/4 tsp baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp salt 

add:

• 8 tbsp unsalted butter, frozen (just so you can grate it in) 
• 1/2 cup craisins (or dried currants) 
• 1 tbsp orange zest 

whisk together first, then add:

• 1/2 cup sour cream (alt. mix proportions w yogurt) 
• splash of orange juice 
• 1 large egg 

Don't overmix. Once clumpy, make into ball. Place on lightly floured surface (either my counter or silpat <-- best friend) and cut into (8) triangles.

Place on cookie sheet and sprinkle w/ sugar. Pop in for ~15 minutes.
Let 'em cool for a little, then serve warm! with tea or coffee [:

seersucker

(photo by joevickiephotography.. they are excellent!)