Country Music Marathon

My husband's been super swamped with work and Boy Scouts and of course this marathon training he's been torturing himself with. I'm in awe of how much time and commitment a marathon takes by the way, so to all of you tough cookies out there who have finished one or more, you're amazing! Witnessing the aftermath of a 19 mile "practice run" has been a real eye opener for me and has strengthened my resolve to avoid any kind of activity that includes ice baths or eating "Goo". Not only do I not have the endurance to run more than a couple of miles (one), I don't have the attention span. So I will sit here with my muffin top for another month or so until gardening season is in full swing and then get back to work doing something physical I actually enjoy. Win win.

ps. He is running for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, by the way, which is a superb organization that fights the blood cancers that affect so many children and adults. So if you're interested in pledging, he just got his page up! http://mch.cmm2010.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=SCOTTNASHVILLEMARATHONLLS You don't want him to end up looking like this guy for nothing!

pps. You don't have to pledge to comment.

Martha and The Frat Boys

Love her or hate her, this is a commercial that would make anyone laugh. I saw it on Andrew Richie (aka number one Martha fan)'s blog and am still giggling. Those guys are so lucky!!! Click on the link below to see her very Martha like design intervention c/o Macy's.

"Thanks Martha, for making us less disgusting."

martha stewart

Shepherd's Pie

This is, I have to say, one of the tastiest dinners I've had in a while. Served with Suzanne's superb bread, some sharp cheddar and apples.... yum! This particular recipe is from Alton Brown, the annoying food scientist and chef. I'm not a huge fan of his, but his recipes are usually spot on and this one is definitely a keeper. So, as long as I don't have to watch or listen to him, we're cool.

Ingredients:
For the potatoes:
2 pounds of russet potatoes
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 ounces unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 egg yolk

For the meat filling:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb (I used ground turkey)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup fresh or frozen English peas

Directions:
Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

FYI, I added more salt and more tomato paste. I also added more peas because I love them so very much!

A Good News Day via an International Women's Soccer Qualifying Match

On Wednesday, the U.S. women's under-17 team defeated Haiti 9-0 in their first qualifying match for the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championships in Costa Rica. Once the final whistle blew, Haitian goalkeeper Alexandra Coby was so overwhelmed with emotion that she dropped to the pitch, weeping. It was all just too much for her and understandably so -- losing by such a harsh margin, even to a much better team, is always difficult to take, but given that Haiti is in the midst of trying to recover from the devastating earthquake that ravaged the Caribbean nation's capital two months ago and left hundreds of thousands of people dead, there was much more saddling these girls than just a lost game.

And the U.S. team saw that. As Haiti's coach helped the crying goalkeeper to her feet, U.S. goalie Bryane Heaberlin walked the length of the pitch, gave Coby a hug and didn't let go. The rest of the U.S. team soon joined her, circling around the two goalkeepers for a long group hug that left the entire squad in tears.

Said Heaberlin to USsoccer.com:

"I saw her crying and that was pretty hard for me to see. She’s a 'keeper and we have that bond. I knew that she had probably lost people close to her, and when she goes home she might not have anywhere to go. I gave her a big hug and told her she did great. She came to compete in this tournament despite all that she’s been through and I have tremendous respect for her.”

Haiti's participation in the tournament despite all that's going on back home for them has been the talk of the competition and the team's determination and bravery hasn't been lost on their opponents. Added U.S. defender Olivia Brannon:

“It just put everything into perspective. It makes you realize what is truly important, your family, having a roof over your head, and having food on the table. We take all those things for granted. I had my mom in the stands cheering for me tonight. Some of these girls might never have that again.”

So while the match itself may have seemed like piling on, it should be pointed out that the U.S. team didn't pander to their Haitian counterparts, instead showing them the respect of playing hard the whole game before sharing their true feelings and consolations after the final whistle. And these young Haitian girls will hopefully go back knowing that they're not alone.

______________________________

"For I was an hungered, and yet gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me......... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25

This Guy is So Good.... Slap Chop!

"Stop having a boring tuna, stop having a boring life."

I'm sold.