Merry Christmas!!

In this Season there is Reason to Celebrate!

From our "Packed Table" to yours! We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

“But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:10-14

My First Half Marathon - I Run for the Party!!

Just a short diversion from my regular food posts to share what I did this past weekend! Stay tuned for more yummy food to come!

I did it! I did it! I did it! I completed my first half marathon!

This was downtown Nashville about 7:00 am this past Saturday morning November 12. I'm somewhere in this sea of people, nervous but excited about what lay ahead!

We awakened early, about 5:30 local time after not so much sleep. But it was okay, we were pumped up and ready to go! My oldest son and daughter-in-law were running with me. My husband and brother-in-law came along for support and picture taking!

I started the race strong and felt really good. Unfortunately, because of a long wait, I was unable to take restroom break before the race started, so around mile 6 I finally stopped at one that didn't have a line! The hills were fairly manageable, with the exception of mile 10 which presented a challenging incline! The above picture was taken shortly after that, around mile 11.

I crossed the finish line and I was happy with my time which was 2:14 and 8 seconds! My only goal was to run the whole thing and be able to finish! When I was almost to the finish line I was screaming "I did it, I did it!! What an incredible feeling of relief and accomplishment. All those miles and hours of training and now I'm crossing the finish line. I was elated!! Even some tears of joy? Yes, it felt so good!

My husband didn't get back in time to see me cross the finish line (bummer), so he took the above picture shortly after I had crossed.

My son and daughter-in-law were elated too! They crossed the finish line and immediately started talking about what half they would do next!

We were celebrating and high fiving and having the best time right next to the Hard Rock! Since I'm a city girl, I was thrilled to run through the streets of Nashville and take it all in!

Anyone who finished received this medal. We thought they were really cool. The guitar actually spins around!

If you are thinking about running a half, I strongly encourage you to do it! It was a great experience and I'm already getting the itch to plan for another one.

Highlights from California

Craziness! We have been home from our trip to CA for over a week now and my life has been a bit insane. Jet lag, chest cold, an unexpected job, and a zillion other things have been zapping me of time and energy. I am slowly but surely making some headway. More than anything, I am ready to start posting some delicious summer recipes. But first, I wanted to share some of the food highlights of our trip.

We flew in and out of San Francisco and drove as far south as the Santa Maria area. With 5 people in a rental car that wasn't quite big enough for all of us and our luggage, traveling with little sleep, we didn't mind too much. We, after all, were filled with the excitement and anticipation of our son's wedding, getting to see much of my family who lives in California and much more. Our first stop after spending the night (or shall I say 3 hours), in a hotel in San Francisco was to head for Monterey. Ah, beautiful Monterey! Brings back sweet memories of my childhood since we would vacation there most summers.

After picking up all the tuxes for my husband and all my boys, we headed for the wedding rehearsal/rehearsal dinner. We chose to have the rehearsal dinner at a little place on Fishermen's Wharf in Monterey, called Paluca Trattoria.

What a lovely restaurant it was and the perfect size for our dinner. We were fortunate that they closed the restaurant for our private party. The ambiance, food—everything was perfect.

The bride and groom hanging out with "the fisherman" on the wharf before our sumptuous meal.

The meal started with the Trattoria Salad–Organic mixed greens, caramelized walnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese, drizzled with a tasty dijon balsamic vinaigrette. I regret now that I didn't get pictures of my entree which was Seafood Ravioli-yum! Others ordered the Pasta Palermon–Italian sausage, caramelized onion, bell pepper, with fresh marinara. Others enjoyed the Penne Con Pesto–Penne pasta, grilled chicken in a pesto cream sauce. It was all very delicious.

This was our view from the restaurant after the sun went down. It was truly an unforgettable evening!

At last, it was the wedding day and we had a little time to kill. Back to the wharf we went, to enjoy clam chowder in a bread bowl. Just about every restaurant on the wharf has someone outside giving samples of what they say is the best clam chowder on the wharf. We finally just had to choose one... a tough decision.

A box of caramel corn from one of the candy stores on the wharf made a delicious desert. The pleasant aroma of caramel wafting through the air was irresistible.

The night after the wedding, we found ourselves back at the wharf again. By invitation from my father, we were all treated to an abalone dinner. My Dad eats NO seafood, but amazingly, he adores abalone!

The abalone shell glows luminescent and beautiful. It's used to make jewelry. The edible part is actually the foot of the abalone. No worries, it was quite delicious, we enjoyed our meal very much.

This is what we saw from our window while eating dinner!

You can"t go to California and not eat at In-n-Out. My boys love this place, and I'm embarrassed to tell you how many times we ate here (so I won't).

While in Santa Cruz the boys found yet another place for clam chowder and of course they had to supplement the experience with some milkshakes. This restaurant called Zelda's was right on the beach!

Our last day in California was spent in San Francisco. It is one of my all-time favorite cities and where my husband and I spent our honeymoon. Our college-age son LOVES Thai food so our first stop was this Thai Restaurant called Osha Thai. There are several locations in downtown. I ordered the Pad Thai and I thought it was extremely tasty. In fact, I'm not a big Pad Thai girl, but this was really good. I have to give my youngest son credit for the photo.

The day had started gray and rainy, but by the time we passed over the Golden Gate the sun was shining and things were looking up.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to Ghirardelli...

AND, you cannot go to Ghirardelli without ordering one of their magnificent hot fudge sundaes! My hubby and I split one and I'm so glad we did! The hot fudge is incredible!

As much as I love to travel, it is always so good to get home! I am looking forward to sharing the foods of summer with you! It is my favorite season!

Wedding Joy

We have had a whirlwind of a week. I am sitting right now in the mountains near Santa Cruz, CA basking in the afterglow of my son's wedding. It was beautiful, amazing and one of the best days in the life of our family.

As you can see from this beach scene we are a ways from our Kentucky home. The wedding took place in the beautiful city of Monterey, CA. It is so amazing to me the twists and turns of life! My Dad was actually born and raised in Monterey and my son's new bride was born and raised just an hour north of this beautiful city.

They were married just blocks from beautiful Monterey Bay, which was a very picturesque place made even more lovely on this day.

The beautiful wedding party. My 4 sons are all in a row, starting to the right of the stunning bride.

The proud parents and my parents to the very right. The height of any children coming from this marriage is hard to predict.

The perfect end of a perfect day was an incredible sunset! Here you see my handsome husband and I enjoying the end of a wonderful day.

Artichoke Risotto and a Wedding

I hinted in a previous post that we have an up-coming wedding, and we are in the final stretch now. In less than 2 weeks our oldest son will marry and we couldn't be more thrilled.

Last year my son was finishing up medical school, deciding where he would spend his residency, when a friend from church told him, "Hey, you have got to meet my cousin." A blind date was arranged and I think it's fair to say, they had a wonderful time. Only one problem, she was a few states away with one more year of grad school and he was now bound for another state, even further away, to begin his residency. Needless to say, they were engaged last summer and spent this year apart, sneaking in visits whenever and wherever possible. They set a date as soon as they could after she graduated. We spent this last weekend attending her graduation in Chicago and now after a very long wait the wedding is just around the corner.

My future-daughter-in-law is wonderful! The kind of girl every mom longs for her son to bring home. She is sweet, kind, and caring. Spontaneous and adventuresome, she has a great sense of humor that brings out her dazzling smile! We do a lot of laughing in our family and she joins right in with it. She will make a wonderful wife and an incredible (Lord willing), mother. Our son brought home the total package! My husband and I feel very blessed indeed! And, I don't want to leave out, after raising four boys, we will finally have a daughter! - JOY!

My future-daughter-in-law is also a vegetarian. I have learned much from her and am learning more as I incorporate more meatless dishes throughout my week. So, in honor of her and their upcoming wedding, today's post is a great meatless entrée. Artichoke and Red Pepper Risotto.

To prepare this dish, you start by browning a couple jars of marinated artichoke hearts.

Browning the shallots and Arborio rice makes for a fragrant kitchen.

Then, the customary method of cooking risotto, adding the broth in increments.

Adding the liquid in stages allows the rice to cook slowly and release the starches, creating a creamy texture.

Artichoke and Red Pepper Risotto

Ingredients

• 5-6 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth, divided
• 2 jars (7.5 oz each) quartered marinated artichoke hearts, drained
• 3 shallots
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked Arborio rice
• 1 1/2 cups dry white wine (such as Chardonnay) or substitute more chicken broth
• 1 small red pepper
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 ounces Parmesan Cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
• Snipped fresh chives (opt).

Directions

Heat broth in saucepan or in microwave. Meanwhile, place artichokes in skillet; sauté over medium-high heat 4-5 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from skillet; reserve 1/2 cup of the artichokes. Set aside remaining artichokes.

Meanwhile, finely chop shallots. Add oil, shallots and rice to skillet; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until shallots are tender and rice is shiny and translucent. Add wine; cook 1-2 minutes or until wine is completely evaporated, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup of the broth to skillet; cover and cook 2-3 minutes or until broth is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Repeat with remaining broth in 1-cup increments, cooking 2-3 minutes after each addition or until broth is absorbed (13-15 minutes total cook time). Remove skillet from heat.

Meanwhile, slice bell pepper into 1-in. pieces. Stir remaining artichokes, bell pepper, peas, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese into rice. Top with reserved artichokes and garnish with snipped fresh chives, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings; Calories - 380 per serving

Alaska and the Story of Miss Camon Part 2

We were fortunate to fly into Anchorage, during daylight hours and on a day when it was clear and beautiful. The above photo was taken from our plane as we were getting close to Anchorage. I need to say from the outset that pictures really don't do justice to all your eyes are taking in. Alaska is—well, majestic and that is difficult to capture. We did however, make a feeble attempt.

Our first stop was, The Alaska Fur Exchange, a fascinating little store that held an array of animal fur. Head pieces, gloves, boots, and it seemed, any type of fur imaginable. We had fun "trying on" all the various pieces, including some boots made out of beaver, which would be a must for me, if I lived there. This is how the natives have kept warm for centuries.

You may be needing to sport a couple of wolverines on your head.

Or, how do you think hubby and I look as wolf and fox?

For lunch that day Camon took us to a little place you might be familiar with, called Taco Del Mar. We don't have them here in Kentucky, so for us, it was a treat. I ordered the fish tacos and they were delicious!

Next stop was Alaska Wildberry Products Theatre and Park. We were not able to do the Theatre and park because it's mostly outdoors and not open in the winter. However we did enjoy the gift shop which is home to a 20-foot chocolate waterfall. The "falls" uses 3,000 pounds of chocolate. You can of course smell it as soon as you walk in.

If you are a family with little kids, and in Anchorage in the summer, your family would really enjoy this.

Breakfast the next morning was a highlight. We went to a restaurant called Snow City Cafe, alocal favorite. The food was delicious! Camon ordered the Kodiak Benedict–poached eggs, Alaskan king crab cakes, toasted english muffin, hollandaise, topped with green onions.

My husband and I ordered the Crabby Omelet—snow crab, swiss cheese, green onions and avocado. This café also serves lunch and everything on their menu looked scrumptious!

On day three we ventured out of Anchorage about 40 miles south to a little town called Girdwood. Everything about this day was spectacular. The drive to Girdwood is next to the bay (or inlet) and you are surrounded on all sides with spectacular mountain views.

Here, Camon and I are right next to the frozen bay. Sometimes you would see lots of mud-flats and other times, you would see the bay starting to melt and streams of slush and ice moving in currents beside you.

Once in Girdwood we went to the Alyeska Ski Resort. We walked around the hotel and from the hotel you can take this tram to the top. The view on the way up and from the top of the mountain was incredible! I've never seen anything like it!

If you are an avid skier, then this is the place for you. This photo was taken looking up from where you exit the tram. The skiers also have a choice to go further if they take the ski lift.

There is a very elegant restaurant at the summit with an incredible view (of course). There is also a snack bar for the skiers. Another little round building hosts a collection of fascinating historical photos and local stories telling the history of Alyeska and the construction of the ski lifts.

For lunch on the next day we went to a great restaurant in Anchorage called Moose's Tooth. This was a delicious pub and pizzeria. Camon and I enjoyed splitting the "A-Mae-Zing" apricot pizza, blackened chicken, cream cheese, apricot sauce, fresh red peppers, carrot threads, green onions and cilantro. My husband enjoyed the Pastrami Sandwich.

And for dessert, when you're already full, how about a piece of mud pie—yum!

On one of our last days we had the privilege of going to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. They were having a special event that particular day called the Multicultural Drumming and Dance Festival. We not only were able to see the Alaskan natives dancing and drumming. But, we also enjoyed seeing a troupe from Hawaii and some modern dance from New York.

Our first and last meal in Anchorage was spent at The Glacier Brewhouse. We liked this restaurant so much that we decided to eat there twice. The first time we had the Bourbon BBQ Alaskan Salmon. We did not have the camera handy and we were quite hungry, so no pictures of that. To call it "delicious" is a bit of an understatement! The second time, we had the Ginger-Pepper Crusted Rockfish (pictured above). Ginger-pepper seared rockfish, jasmine rice, Thai coconut curry, sauted spinach and peppers with cucumber, mango and pineapple salsa. A great way to end a great trip!

We are course forever grateful to my dear friend Camon for making this trip possible. She was also a wonderful tour guide, having everything planned out in advance. Life is good. So much to enjoy! But it's all made so much more wonderful in the presence of dear friends. We are so blessed.