A Weekend of Wine...

Friday night Chad and I attended a 7-course wine-paired dinner at the Grafton Winery & Brewhouse.  Yummy...and very reasonable!  The place is fairly new and very cool.  It was up on the second floor of the building where the winery is located, so it overlooked the river.  (The brewhouse is down on the first floor.)  I wasn't sure how the seating was going to work out but we ended up sitting with 2 older couples who were quite friendly...and became funnier as the night went on...and the wine went down.  LOL!  The owner was in attendance and the chef came out to tell us about each course.  Surprisingly it wasn't stuff feeling at all.  The employees had a great sense of humor!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take any pictures but I listed the menu below. 

Course I

Four Artisan Cheeses 

~ Pinot Gris ~

Course II

Watermelon, Cucumber & Tsatsiki Salad

~ Apple Crisp ~

Course III

 Seared Scallops, Pomme Puree, & Roasted Red Pepper Coulis

~ White Cabernet ~

Course IV

Herb-Encruste French-Cut Lamb Chop, White Bean Cassoulet, Zucchini Strings & Balsamic Reduction

~ Harbor Red (dry red blend) ~

Course V

Pan-Roasted Halibut, Shrimp Chowder, Steamed Mussels & Crispy Pancetta Bacon

~ Chardonnay ~

Course VI

Peppered Tenderloin Medallion, Mushroom Ragout & a Trio of Asparagus

~ 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ~

Course VII

Spiced Plum & Raspberry Turnovers

~ Raspberry Kiss~ 

Can you believe that this took 4 hours to get through???  The winery wasn't skimpy on the amount of wine (half a glass per course) or the food (sooooo full)!  I can't wait for Grafton Winery to schedule the next one.  I think in June they have a 4-course beer-paired dinner planned.  I'll be in attendance at that one too!

We decided at the last moment to reserve a room for the night, so we wouldn't have to drive the hour home after all that wine.  There are plenty of B&Bs in the area (very few hotels), but most of them were booked.  I think that was because of all the eagle watching going on in he beginning of the year.  Anyway, we ended up at the historic Reubel Hotel...not the best place...but adequate for what we needed given that we didn't get home until after 11pm!

On the way back home Saturday, we stopped at this little wine place in Fairview Heights that I had been wanting to visit for quite some time...Olivia's.  How cute is this place???  They specialize in all types of wines including hard to find wines...and wines of all prices.  They have free wine tasting on Saturdays from 12pm-6pm...2 white & 4 reds each week.  They post this on Saturday mornings.  We lucked into the wine tasting!  Rick, one of the owners, was quite knowledgeable about the wines and could answer every question we asked.  There's a little bar in the back where they do the tastings and everyone just converses with each other.  The owners, a husband and wife, are so personable!  They make you feel right at home.  The tastings aren't skimpy and they don't mind giving you a second taste of something you might like!  Woo hoo!  You can bet I'll be back again next weekend!

This was just the weekend I needed after such a crappy work week!  I'm hoping for a better week this week...and get back to the gym.  I totally blew the diet this past week.  Have a good one! 

Weekend Project Unveiled

So here it is...the results of an extremely expensive shopping trip and 3 days of manual labor....new window treatments.  I know, I know.  It's actually pathetic that it's taken me 4 years to get these up, but I've just had so much more to do around here.  

So the living room had these "cottage-like" shutters.  The style of the person who sold me my house was completely country...not like me at all.  I've tried to make these work in a more modern decor, but I just got completely tired of them.  Plus, the window frame was so badly painted, that I just couldn't take it anymore.  I spent Saturday taking down the shutters, filling multiple holes in the window frame, sanding it, priming it and finally painting it.  It looks great now, but you can't see it.  See the before pic below...

The next two pics are of the bedroom...before.  I'm just getting around to decorating this room.  I finally purchased a matching set of furniture last year...pathetic again.  I know!  Now it's time to decorate!!

Wait for it...wait for it...

Ta Da!!!!!  The living room after....

...and the bedroom...

It was difficult work...hanging the curtains...but soooo worth it.  Everything looks so much nicer now.  Hope you like it!  Now on to the next project...

 

Day 12...

Wow!  I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd written.  I'm on Day 12 of "Lisa's Healthier Lifestyle"...and I've lost 2 lbs.  Woo hoo!  It's so hard for me to lose weight.  I'm so happy that I've lost 2 lbs in just under two weeks.  This should be slow enough of a weight loss to keep it off.  I've done this while continuing to have a few drinks a week...and some of my favorite food...just less of everything.  I'm also trying to up my gym workouts from a sad once per week to at least 3-4 times per week.  Work is not helping me keep to this routine though.

We're heading out to Hanley's Grille & Tap tonight.  Yum!  It never seems to disappoint.  I'm looking forward to a nice glass of wine after a long day.  I'm working on a new project at home...nothing too big but still work.   More to come on this later...

  

Update...healthier lifestyle day #2

Phew!  I forgot how tough this was!  I've really been off my game the last 6 mos...Africa trip, bronchitis, rib issues, car accidents!  Is someone trying to keep me from the gym???  Can't be!  So I've made the typical, cliche' resolution...get healthier!  Much to Chad's dismay...I'm taking him on the calorie-cutting train with me.  Ha!


So I downloaded this new app for my iPhone...Lose It!  It assists you in tracking your weight, calorie intake, nutrients...and even comes up with a daily calorie intake max after you enter in how much weight you want to lose.  My goal...10 lbs in 2 months, which is probably quite unrealistic for me.  I lose weight ever so slow...even when I diet and exercise.  Blah!  I'm going to get close to that goal though.

So today is Day #2 of the calorie tracking and decreased calorie intake.  Yesterday wasn't bad...half of a fruit smoothie for breakfast, turkey lettuce roll-ups with cheese for lunch, clementines for a snack and then left-over pork fried rice for dinner.  Today was more difficult.  I'm much more hungry...and quite crabby because of it.   To top it off I had a crappy, crappy afternoon and left work quite late.  I really wanted a glass of wine...my evening standard after bad work days.  BUT I didn't!  I retrained myself!  Yay!  I figured no wine since I didn't work out!  I'm saving the alcohol for weekends...or girl's nights.  Ha!


I hope you all are doing well with your New Year's resolutions!  Keep it up!

Today is the first day of a healthier lifestyle...

...or so I hope.  I really want to cut back on the unhealthy things in my life.  I just hope I can stick with it.  If I can, I will hopefully lose the extra pounds that I packed on in the last part of 2009...and get back to where I was physically.  So since I was off work on the first business day of the year...and banned from the gym for one last day...I thought I would spend the extra time cooking up a fresh & healthy meal for Chad & I.  Here's what I came up with.  Yummy just the way it is but also with lots of room to add your own flair.  I added some hot sauce & hot Chinese mustard to the stir-fry.

Veggie Fried Rice with 5-Spice Pork

From Every Day with Rachael Ray

2 c. chicken broth

1 1/2 c. long-grain white rice 

5 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 lb. thin pork loin chops, thinly sliced

Salt/pepper

2 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder

2 large eggs, beaten

1/2 lb. shiitake mushrooms, stemmed & thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, seeded & thinly sliced

2 small carrots, shredded (a couple of handfuls)

1 scallion, thinly sliced

1 c. fresh or thawed frozen peas

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1  2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & grated or minced

1/3 to 1/2 c. tamari

• In a medium saucepan, bring the broth and 3/4 c. water to a boil.  Stir in the rice, cover and cook over low heat for 18 minutes.  Fluff with a fork & spread on a baking sheet to cool.
• In a large, deep nonstick skillet or wok, heat 2 Tbsp. oil over high heat.  Season the pork with salt, pepper & the five-spice powder.  Add the pork to the pan & stir-fry for 3 min.  Transfer to a plate.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in the skillet, then add the eggs and scramble for 2 min.  Push the eggs to the side of the pan, add the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and lower the heat to medium.  Add the mushrooms, red bell pepper and carrots; stir-fry for 2 min.  Add the scallion, peas, garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 1 min.  Add the cooked rice and crisp it for a couple of min.  Stir in the tamari & reserved pork.     
  

Green Beans with Carmelized Onions

Courtesy of Rachael Ray

1 Tbsp. EVOO                            1 Tbsp. butter

1 large onion, sliced                  1 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed

Salt & pepper 

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the EVOO & butter.  Add the onion to the pan.  Cook until light brown & carmelized (about 20 min.)
• Meanwhile, cook the green beans for for 5 min. in 1 inch of boiling water, covered.  Drain the beans & toss them in the skillet with the onions.  Season with salt & pepper. 
  

Bon Appetit!

The Ups and Downs of the holidays...

Well as I mentioned in my previous posting, I hosted Xmas Eve at my place. Here's a few of the pics from that night. My dining room...

The Fillback Fam...

Mom & John...

OK, so I must apologize for the picture following this recipe. I forgot to take it prior to everyone digging in. Ha! It was quite yummy & a great finger food. I made this new recipe as an appetizer to the Xmas Eve meal...

Pesto Tortellini
Courtesy of Taste of Home

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
  
• 2 Tbsp. oil, divided
• 10 oz. pkg. refrigerated tortellini
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1/4 c. prepared pesto
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• Frilled toothpicks

Directions:

• Place garlic cloves on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp. oil. Wrap foil around garlic. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 min. or until tender. Cool for 10-15 min.
• Meanwhile, cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain & rinse in cold water. Toss with remaining oil & set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, milk, pesto & pepper. Mash garlic into pesto mixture; stir until combined.
• Alternatively thread tortellini and tomatoes onto toothpicks. Serve with pesto dip. Refrigerate any leftovers. Yum!!!!
  

I also made a yummy glaze for the ham. Sorry, there's no pic of this one. I forgot to take it in all the hustle and bustle prior to serving the meal.

• 6-8 lb. ham
• 1 c. honey
  
• 1/2 c. molasses
• 1/2 c. bourbon
• 1/4 c. orange juice
• 2 Tbsp. dijon mustard

Directions:

• Combine the honey, molasses & bourbon & in a small pot on the stove over medium heat. Then stir in the last 2 ingredients.
• Bake the ham at 325 degrees for 1.5 hours. Baste occasionally.
  

And the bad news of the holidays...

So, I was rear-ended on New Year's Eve Eve. Blah! I was just sitting at a stop light minding my own business and then...Bam! Actually the damage to my car isn't anywhere near as bad as the other driver's car...and no one was injured! Now it's more of a hassle than anything else. Here's a pic of the damage...