Cooking and Eating - November

Wines:

La Vieille Ferme (2006) Cotes Du Ventoux - France - ***

Beaujoulais Noveau 2008 - France - ****

Awaken Saugvivon Blanc - (Chile) ***

Viansa Thalia Sangiovese 2004 - (California) ****

Cheese:

Pumpkin Fondue (with Switzerland Gyere and Emmanetheul) ***

Gourmet Food Item:

Fresh Italian Bread every week

Ethnic Recipe:

Coq au Vin

Cooking and Eating - October

Wines:
Sterling Vintners Collection 2006 Pinot Grigio (California/American) ****
Oak Grove Zinfandel 2007 (California/American) ****
Castelli Romani Rosso 2006 (Italian) ***
Lost Vineyards Pinot Grigio (Argentina) No Vintage **

Cheese:
Blarney Castle Cheese (Ireland) Smooth and Creamy Gouda ***

Gourmet Food Item:
Fleur de Sel - Sea Salt from France

Ethnic Recipe:
Cannoli (Italy)

#20 - Participate in a Book Club

In September, my old pageant friend Gill decided to start a book club. The invite went out to all of the women in this area and was passed onto other women that they knew. It was our hope that not only would a group of women from all different backgrounds and walks of life would be able to discuss books (intelligently) but also become friends and have some great experiences together. So far we have held three meetings and have read some very delightful and enjoyable books. I am looking forward to this.

September - The Next Thing on My List
October - Eat, Pray, and Love
November - Confessions of a Counterfeit Farmgirl
December - The Shack

#19 - Become part of a professional organization

In October I officially became part of a professional organization called NACE - National Association of Catering Executives. I have only attended two meetings, but am hoping to sit on a committee or two to really become invloved.

Weight Goals

Because I am not afraid to post this for all the world to see :)

October - 222 (Starting Weight)
November - 224

5K #1

Race #1 - Ran on October 25, 2008.
Goal Set - 40 Minutes; Non-stop
Final Time - 40 Minutes, 14 seconds - went non-stop
Ran it with Michele Decker at Wolf Trap.

NEW GOAL LIST

Introducing the 25 in 25 - In honor of my 25th Birthday, I am on a mission to complete 25 goals from each catergory and giving myself exactly 25 months to do it in! Stay tuned!!!

25 in 25
Starting Date: October 1, 2008
End Date: November 1, 2010

Mind Body and Soul
1. Compete in two half-marathons; improve time
2. Join a running club
3. Participate in at least 5 small runs (5Ks, 10Ks); set personal records for each and try to beat the times
4. Get rid of upper ab fat
5. Tone arms/gain upper body strength
6. Lose 20 lbs (weigh myself once a month to track progress)
7. Get cholesterol tested
8. Play a team sport
9. Have a Supersize Me Night (get all my favorite fast food items, watch the movie, and hopefully become cured of eating fast food at all)
10. Reconnect with 10 of my high school friends and speak to them at least every other month (start with 5 for the first year, 5 the second year)
11. Give up soda for a month
12. Run a 10 minute mile consecutively for two miles
13. Pay ½ credit card debt
14. Pay Dad $1500 for car
15. Wear every single item in my closet; in a year get rid of what I don't wear
16. Become part of a charity organization
17. Do something political
18. Become part of a professional organization
19. Participate in a book club
20. Take a picture of something that interests me every day for a month
21. Take at least 3 classes to learn something new
22. Attend church 5 times
23. At least read five books of the bible if not the entire thing
24. Finally read The World’s Religions (a book assigned to me in college, but never actually read) 25. Grad School by 2010

Books, Movies, and Music

1. Watch 25 movies from list
2. Increase movie collection by 25
3. Increase CD/Music Collection by 25
4. Own 10 Disney Movies
5. Watch 10 Academy Award Films (Best Picture)
6. Own Gilmore Girls Series (6)
7. Own I Love Lucy Series (2 left)
8. Watch at least 7 “President” movies
9. Own 25 Musicals
10. Watch 10 Foreign Films
11. Watch 5 Movies from recommendations from Krissy, Brett, Bri, Amanda, Cindy, and Others
12. Read 5 Travel Books
13. Read Harry Potter
14. Read 5 Books from recommendations from Krissy, Brett, Bri, Amanda, and Other
15. Read Culinaria France
16. Read 3 Shakespeare Plays
17. Read 25 Fiction Books on List
18. Read 25 Non-Fiction Books on List
19. Increase book collection by 25
20. Read Feminine Mystique
21. See three musicals or plays
22. Attend 2 concerts
23. Attend 1 community theater gig (Altar Boyz) (blog post)
24. Watch an Opera
25.Go to the Shakespeare Theater

Projects

1. Organize Recipes
2. Organize Stories
3. Organize Quotes
4. Make at least two cork trays
5. Scrapbook 101
6. Scrapbook Senior Year of College
7. Scrapbook Vegas and NYC
8. Photo Albums for Misc Pictures
9. Finish Katie and Chet’s Gift (Dec 08)
10. Organize French Notes
11. Buy a toolbox
12. Finish Latch hook Rug (Dec 08)
13. Shadowbox for Marathon
14. Plan Mom and Dad’s Ann Party
15. Organize 2 Big Photo Frames
16. Going Away presents for Libin and Uday
17. Print all pictures of Lorelai
18. Print all pictures of Anthony
19. Pageant Book
20. Print off all pictures
21. Write pilot for cooking show
22. Get both blogs (blogger and my space) updated with Goal List
23. Hang all stuff on the walls
24. Start genealogy project
25. Frames for Posters

Travel, Adventure

1. Get Passport
2. Travel to Brazil for New Year’s 2009 (**Reunite with Cris and Aline)
3. Disney World
4. The Beach in VA or Maryland
5. Learn to ballroom Dance
6. Attend 18th Century Ball
7. Do 5 Walking tours of DC
8. Visit 5 tourist areas of Maryland
9. Visit 5 tourist areas of Virginia
10. Attend 10 Embassy Events
11. Sky-dive
12. To take a train somewhere
13. Visit the National Aquarium
14. Visit the Ispy Museum
15. Learn to shoot a gun
16. Have a reunion with my four best friends from senior year of college - Katie, Krissy, Amanda, and Brett
17. Go speed-dating again
18. Go horse-back riding
19. Be an extra in a film
20. Stay in a haunted hotel room OR visit a place that advertises itself as being haunted
21. Audition for a reality tv show
22. Go to Canada for vacation - to Quebec or Nova Scotia or New Foundland (or all three!)
23. Own a pair of Pumas/Own a great pair of walking sandals
24. Go to dinner theater
25. Take a tour of the following places in DC: The Capitol, White House, Library of Congress

Cooking and Eating

1. Try Ethiopian Food
2. Eat at 15 different restaurants that I haven’t been to
3. Make Mom and Dad’s Surprise Gift
4. Try sushi 3 times
5. Take a French Cooking Class
6. Make 5 French recipes
7. Buy Kitchenaid
8. Bake bread from scratch 3 times
9. Make Spaghetti sauce from scratch
10. Host a Make Your Own Pasta Night
11. Martini Party
12. Try four different wines a month: 2 from US; 2 from other countries
13. Try a different cheese a month
14. Attend the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend or another Food and Wine Event (Nationwide)15. Attend two wine events (local)
16. Buy one gourmet food (such as caviar) item a month
17. Make one ethnic dinner a month
18. Go on a limo wine tour
19. Manage to grow at least one herb
20. Make Strawberry Jam
21. Increase Cookbook collection by 5 books
22. Find a great café to have croissants and hot chocolate (and that makes great bread)
23. Eat out for brunch at least 6 times a year for two years
24. Buy at least 10 items off my Kitchen/Dining Room Wish List
25. Cater at least two parties (as a paid caterer)

Recap of 101 Goals

Completing or at least coming close to completing 101 Goals over the last 1001 days has been a truly remarkable experience. It opened the doors to me trying new things and gave me excuses to do the things I always like to do. Here is a brief recap about the
Ones I Didn't Accomplish or Came Close to Accomplishing:

Study for the GRE; Take the GRE (Found out the programs I am looking at - I don't need too!!!)

Get my cholesterol tested (I attempted too once, but it involved fasting and whoops)

Become a size 14 (I am happy being a size 16/18 - nuff said)

Buy some stock (Still would like to do it)

Try 10 new recipes (I only got to 9 that I could remember, however, I am always trying something new, so I count it as completed)

Organize all my recipes (too many of these to count, but I found tastebook.com to help me)

Host a martini party (Alcohol costs too much, but really this will come)

Filet a fish all by myself (I bought a great Rapel Filet Knife, does that count?)

Since mastering the art of pickling, learn how to make jam (mmmmm - I want Strawberry Jam)


Film the pilot/write the script of my cooking show (This one will still happen, I swear)

Attend 18th Century Ball (In the works)

Get a daisy tattoo with my sisters (I think my sisters are less adventurous than I am :)

Visit Disney World once again (Next year, next year)

Play Dance Dance Revolution in public (I was very close)

Audition for American Idol or another reality tv show (Lost interest)

Sleep outdoors under the stars (without a tent) (I need to get a sleeping bag first)

Sky-dive (still on the list)

Get my passport (I know sad and pathetic I am)

Finish my musical (?)

Win a karaoke contest (I entered 1 but it was rigged!)

Write a poem for my dad (I hate the poetry I write as an adult)

Finish re-typing my collection of stories I wrote when I was in middle school (A scary time for me is when I thought I had lost my entire collection. I am done with my poetry, but considering that all of my short stories turned into novellas when i was younger, it is takin a bit longer)

Volunteer once a month (I am a bad selfish person)

Go a full day without complaining (Like no one could see this coming)

Stop swearing for a day (ha)

Learn how to sew a button (Mommy came to see me and fixed all my buttons)

Learn how to ballroom dance (still on my list)

Read five books having to do with feminist issues (I read two - Susan B Anthony's Failure is Impossible, which was amazing and Virgin - the Untold History, which was fasinating)

Become part of a professional organization (Hyatt wouldn't pay for it - boo)

To own all seasons of I Love Lucy on DVD (2 down, 4 more to go)

To make a list of people to see in concert: Attend at least two

Go to a Sara Evans concert with my dad for his Meet and Greet/ Get my dad to meet Sara Evans

Spend an entire day alone with my nephew (still want this one to happen)

Go on a road trip with my mom (We should drive to Vegas to visit my sister, but then who would want to drive back)

Write something on each of my friends facebook wall (Would have been easier to accomplish if I didn't have so many friends that I added)

Write down and organize at least 5 of my ancestors

Contact relatives that have genealogy information

To get the Vagina Monologues back from Sara Antoine

Pictures of Napa

http://picasaweb.google.com/Singingchef40

For pictures of NAPA - follow the link above.

#35 - Napa or Bust

By far the greatest vacation of my life!!!! And much needed back in July. For those who do keep in touch, you all know that I planned my Napa trip around another journey - me completing my first half-marathon (not even one of my goals I know!). I spent a wonderful 8 days in San Fran/Napa/Sonoma and fell in love with the area completly. Below is a little synopsis (okay fine my interary) of what my trip entailed and needless to say, I would go back in a heartbeat.



Thursday Night - July 17th
- Flight from Dulles 12:51 pm
- Arrive in San Francisco 9 pm
- Room Service at Grand Hyatt San Francisco Hotel/Relax!! (Great hotel!!!)


Friday - July 18th - San Francisco Day
- Union Square in the morning for breakfast and some shopping
- Cable Car to Fisherman’s Wharf
- Alcatraz 12:00 pm Tour
- Take cab or bus to Presidio Register for Race in San Francisco Location - Presidio Noon to 7 pm; Sports Basement
- See Golden Gate Bridge and other areas
- Back to Hotel for some rest
- Dinner around the Mission District
Chez Spencer (Delicious meal of foie gras and Venison Tenderloin + Beaujoulas)
82 14th St. San Francisco, CA 94103


Saturday - July 19th
- Matt and Christina fly in at 11:10 am
- Brooke flys in early morning; will either wait at airport or take subway to the GrandShuttle
- Lunch on the Road Check-in at hotel in Santa Rosa; Extended Stay South
- Korbel Champange (FREE TASTING)
- Dinner in Santa Rosa; Johnny Garlics (Guy Ferari’s Restaurant) - by 7 pm
- In Bed by 9:30/10:00 for big race day!


Sunday - July 20th
- Drop off at Race by 6:30 am
- Race 7:00 am - 10:15 am
- Music and Wine Festival until 12:30 (Festival #9)
- Grab Lunch at the Plaza
- Gundlash Estate - Impromtu visit; Brooke and I ran past it so we decided to stop
- Shug Estate - 10 am - 5 pm $5.00 Tasting Fee; $10.00 for Reserve
- Tour of Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace; $10.00 per person (joined their wine club)
- Nicholson Ranch - 11 am - 6 pm; Doesn’t list fee for Tasting
- Dinner at Syrah - Reservations are for 8:00 pm; thought it was good, but really wish I could have done the tasting menu


Monday - July 21st - NAPA Day
- Chateau Montelena: 9:30 am - 4 pm; Current Release Tasting - $15.00
- Sterling: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm; $20.00 Tasting Fee (You ride a tram up to the top)
- Sequoia Grove - Only one I didn't like, but I bought my great cheese board there
- Cakebread; 10 am - 4 pm; Tasting $10.00; (11:45 am - 12:45 pm) - Reservation Made
- Robert Mondavi; 10 am - 5 pm; (on the hour); $25.00 per person; 75 minutes
- Reservations at Redd 6:45 pm (I ate seafood here and liked it!) Their corn chowder was amazing!


Tuesday - July 22nd
- 9 am - Spa Treatments - White Tasting for me - Scrub, soak, and massage
- Get to San Fran by 1 pm or so
- Ghirardelli Square Take Brooke to airport 5/5:30 pm (Flight out at 6:30 pm)
- Dinner at Pier 39



Wednesday - July 23rd - Sonoma Day
- Ravenswood - 10:30 daily tour and barrel tasting - $15.00 per person (Reservation made for 10:30 am) (Hour long tour)
- Buena Vista - 10 am - 5 pm; $20.00 fee Food and Wine Tasting- Carneros Room; (1:00 pm reservation made)
- Blackstone - 10:00 am - 4:30 pm; No reservation required
- Willies Wine Bar
- Take Matt and Christina back to Airport

Thursday - July 24th -
- Manicure and Pedicure
- Walk around Santa Rosa
- Went back to Viansa to have a glass of wine, some cheese and chacurterie, and to read a book in the beautiful California sunshine
- Drive back to San Francisco Airport and relax for the rest of the night before flying home on Friday.

Crime and Punishment Museum

What else do you do when a hurricane comes to town? Go to the newest and latest museum with one of your favorite people. Chris and I went to the Crime and Punishment Museum one rainy day. It was pretty impressive - everything from torture, to capital punishment, to lords of crime. By far one of the greater museums with great information.

#54 - Sing with a Band

It was close enough. A few weeks ago, I attended a Charioke Event (Karaoke for Charity) in which they also had open mic night. There was a guitar player and a drummer and we sang I should 've been a cowboy.

Festival #10

Festival #9 will be discussed in my Napa Valley Trip

Festival #10 is an arts festival I went to in DC a few weekends ago. It took place in Penn Quarter and was called Arts on Foot. I took a tour of the Woolly Mammoth Theater, ate some garlic fries from Gordon Biersh, scoped out some local crafters and ate an organic brownie in front of the fountain that is in front of the archives.

Recipe # 9

The Ingredients to a great meal.
Mastering the Artichoke
Not as simple as it might look
But delicious!

Recipe #9 - -

Lemon Artichokes with Pasta

Been trying to figure out how to master the artichoke for as long as I could remember. I never bought it fresh - always out of a can since it was intimadating to do it otherwise. But I was bound and determined that someday, I would conquer over the artichoke. Well, I still have a ways to go on that end, but I think I at least get it now. I selected a Bobby Flay recipe from my Food Network Cookbook and bought some long stemmed artichokes, some fresh pasta, fresh herbs, lemon, etc. I didn't however, read the recipe as well as I usually do - I don't know what it is lately, but I have had a very short attention span and it doesn't bode well for cooking new recipes. The end result was delicious, but I will have to get the recipe right the next time.

#7 - Attend Chruch at least 10 times

Well I went once. Fairfax Community Church with my friends Luz and Joe. It wasn't half bad and I have to say I like the dress code. Maybe I will try to go more often, maybe not, but I am always willing to explore my faith.