Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soooo, what are you going to be tonight!?

I was never much of a Halloween person, but I've come to find out that it can actually be fun!

Thank you toddlers for introducing me to something new.

Here are my top three favorite costumes of the year.

Much to my dismay, my husband refused the hotdog outfit...

Sniffle...

Well, enjoy!

C'mon Todd, this is the best!

Really!!?!
I can't stop laughing!

Thank goodness we didn't have a girl. I would not be able to resist this costume!

I hope you all survive the candy-crazed, screaming children, girls dressed as sluts, shaving cream and toilet paper onslaught tonight!

Booooo!

Fried Bologna

Does anybody else love this girl!?!

She seems like such a breath of fresh air. 

Real. Approachable. 

I mean, seriously, who can't love a girl who fries bologna?!

 I thought we were the only people on earth who appreciated this fine cuisine;

 A true Bill Martin specialty.

I can't wait to pick up her new book.

Check her out!

The New Midwestern Table

Thank you Ms. Thielan for speaking our language!

Greek Orzo with Artichokes

Orzo, check.

Artichokes, check, check.

Cheese, check, check, check!

This is a great side dish, or accompaniment to any grilled protein, however in a giant bowl with seared spicy shrimp makes it a great crowd pleasing main dish.

I adapted this recipe from Mary Hobika, and I admit that hers was better, but this might be a close contender.

Thank you Mary for the inspiration!

Recipe:
Serves a million hungry people

Ingredients:
1 box of orzo, cooked al dente
1 cucumber, seeded and chopped (peeled optional)
1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped and/or two cups of grape tomatoes, quartered (or roasted tomatoes are delightful too)
4 green onions, chopped 
1 cup of chopped dill (or more to liking)
1/2 cup of chopped mint
1/2 cup of chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil to coat
The juice from two lemons + tsp. of lemon zest

2 cups of feta cheese
1 can of artichoke hearts, artichoke hearts quartered

Optional: Grilled shrimp that was tossed with olive oil, salt and crushed red pepper before grilling

Directions:
Boil water and dump in the orzo. Add a tablespoon of salt. Stir and cook to package directions.
While the orzo is cooking, clean and chop all of your vegetables and your herbs. Juice and zest your lemons.
When the orzo is cooked, toss with olive oil and lemon juice. 
Toss in all of your ingredients. 
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional: Add grilled shrimp
This recipe is so adaptable. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your liking. Especially the herbs. If you like dill, add more dill...and on, and on....

OPA!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday Everyone!

I am so excited that not only did I get to go out with a bunch of smart, fun, gorgeous ladies last night, eat gobs of Italian food, and drink copious amounts of Vino Rosso, I actually get to do it again tonight with my husband!

Hurrah!

All hail the babysitter!

We had heard mixed reviews of the restaurant, but my meal was A+, and all of the other women seemed to really like their dinners as well. 

The server was chatty and knowledgable about the menu, and their house Pinot Noir was delish.

What else do you need!?

I recommend it.

Here is the link, check it out!

Garlic Restaurant and Bar

My only gripe was that they called last call on us...but maybe they knew better than we did...

Ahhhemmmm...

Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend!

Enjoy the snow my Northern friends!

Stay warm!

Snow Kickers

Brrrrrr....

Here we are! 

Is that really snow in those pictures my northern friends have been posting!?

 Zoiks....

I'm sorry guys...but I am sure ours is not far behind...

Sadly, my son has gone from a size 2 to a size 4, and a size 7 shoe to a size 10 in four short months. This means that those super cute Frye boots that I wanted to buy for myself have been moved to the back burner once again...unless I want my son to go barefoot this winter.

I guess the toddler wins again.

Poor me.

I was going to wait until after Thanksgiving to buy boots for the little bankrupter, 

however it looks like I need to order them sooner than later! 

Here are some cute boots I found last night while I was playing around online.

Sorel Practicality 

LL Bean Supercute Standards...

Livie and Luca.
Adorable for school, but not so practical for the great outdoors...

Damn Cute!

'Nuff Said...

Me, oh My...

Hysterical Throwback....
A Serious Consideration
(I know, I know Tricia....but just think, Ava can rock them next winter!)

I die.
I found most of these on Zappos, but my wallet shivers with fear...
I will most likely take a trip to Target...
but if I was going to drop close to 100 buckaroos on boots for my three year old boy, one of these would  have to be in the running...

Enjoy the Snow My Friends!

Baby's Got Sauce

It doesn't get much more natural that this.

Becoming responsible for a little person makes me seek out healthier options all around, especially when it comes to snacking 
Translation: Get your paws off of my snacks, kid, eat your applesauce...

Did I mention that it is a great way to use all of those apples you picked with your family last weekend?
I know, at the time it makes perfect sense to pick five million bags of apples....

Child Labor!?
How cool is this contraption!?

Put Some Muscle Into It Kid!

Recipe:

Yields 2 large jars or 4 small

Ingredients: 

12 Apples (use a mixture of apples to get a variety of sweetness/tartness and flavor; I used Honeycrisp, Red Delicious and Granny Smith)

2 cups of apple juice or pear juice (organic)

Juice from one lemon

1 cinnamon stick

*Optional: add light brown sugar to taste if you like your applesauce on the sweeter side

Directions: 

Peel, core and slice apples. 

Cook over low heat with the apple/pear/lemon juices and the cinnamon stick. 

Stir occassionally and cook until the apples break down. If you don't like your applesauce chunky, allow to cool and puree in a food processor. If you do this, make sure you bring the sauce back to temperature before canning.

*Remember to remove the cinnamon stick :)

Taste and stir in the sugar at the end of cooking if you like it sweeter. 

Put in jars and refrigerate for up to a week, or can it if you want to store it for longer.

Canning Directions

Enjoy!

Jump on In!

I am overly excited that one of my great old friends has reached out to purchase one of my paintings! 

This large canvas is going to make the long trip to Washington State after making a showing at Five Corner's Cafe this winter.

I am so proud that another work is going to a great home. There is nothing more rewarding than not only having my good friends like my work, but to take one in as their own is like an adoption.

I couldn't be happier!

"Leaf Pile"
2013
Gouache, Salt and Alcohol on Canvas

If you are interested in purchasing a work for your home, or would like to request a price list, please contact me via my Facebook link, or email me at
tkdetrick@hotmail.com

Thank you guys again and again for your support!

Happy Friday!

Ahhhhhh!

Another beautiful weekend deserves a beautiful, clean start. 

Here is a great, healthy drink to kick it off, before the onslaught of late Autumn wine tours, spiced cider and hot toddies.

Believe me, your belly will rejoice and thank you later!

This is a great green juice recipe that I found and adapted from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook 

"It's All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great"

Thank you Gwyneth for the 302 pages of guilt...

I mean, inspiration...

Before

After!

Recipe:
5 large leaves of kale, ribs discarded, leaves torn or roughly chopped
1 lemon, zest and pith removed
1 large apple (I used Honey Crisp), roughly chopped
1, 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped
1 sprig of fresh mint
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Blend in a powerful blender or push ingredients through a juicer. Press the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and drink! YUM!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Kinfolk

I recently went to the book store to paw through some new releases, and stumbled across a great new cookbook that just came out in September.

"The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings"

I have seen their quarterly magazine in random gift shops and book stores, and always wanted to pick up a copy, but never wanted to commit to a 20 dollar price tag.

Well, after getting this cookbook I may have to reconsider. 

It is beautiful. 

I want to break bread and drink wine with these people.

Give it a gander. 

You will understand.

Kinfolk

I love it.

This is my new coffee table book.

Not to mention, they have a great website with simple but clever entertaining ideas, images of a life you can only dream of, events you want to go to, stories you want to read...

Simple. Clean. Inviting.

www.kinfolk.com

Who wants to go a Kinfolk dinner with me!?

I'll drive!

Not So Sticky

Candy apples are great, but you really have to commit to one once you start...and sometimes that can be a little much.

I see caramel covered children. 

Gross. 

Sticky. 

These are poppers. No commitment necessary.

But you will go back for more than one, 

I promise.

These were the quickest treats to throw together, and the talk of the party. 

Thank you Pinterest! 

Pass it on!

Recipe:

Ingredients/Supplies:
Grapes (seedless)
Dipping caramel (found in the produce section)
Chopped pecans
Tooth picks or cute sticks

Steps:
Stick grapes with toothpicks or sticks, dip in caramel, roll in pecans. Serve and accept the compliments to come.

Enjoy!

Channeling Martha Stewart

This weekend we pulled out the lugs and went to town.

Apparently Halloween is pretty cool to a three year old...which in turn makes it cool for me I suppose.

The genuine excitement and enthusiasm of a child is undeniably contagious.

My son kept me well entertained with a soundtrack of Halloween riddles, songs and diddies as we filled our house with all things spooky. 

Thank you for your help little man!

"Halloween is Coming, Halloween is Coming..."

Freaky Buckets 

I was going to make my own, but why reinvent the wheel!?
Target banner on sale for 10 bucks = more time for fun.

Skeptic
(For some reason this guy reminds me of Jack Black?!)

A great use for old corks (and old candles...these are from our wedding!)!

Our Annual Halloween Tree
(Ornaments from Pier One)

Elias' Contribution!
Love This Guy

The Fall Mantel

Spiders Everywhere...

Some toddler loves to break the appendages off of these guys...Luckily we picked them up at the dollar store a few years back...

Autumn Dinner Party 

I have officially achieved cheesy housewife status...

Spoooooky....

These are actually pencils I found at TJ Maxx this past summer!

Sadly, my husband forbids me from getting this for our son...

Um, ya....I don't think so...

he he he he....

Could you imagine waking up to this face!?

I believe it is true when they say that children make you young again.

I'm officially in the mood.

Happy Pre-Halloween Everyone!

Adirondack Berry Booze

Okay, 

I totally ripped off this idea from my two best friends in Old Forge, 

but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right!?!

Ya, I know it is obnoxious......I apologize...

But what a great idea!

Also, my mother slaved away picking these berries; a mixture of raspberries and blackberries, and is probably balking at the fact that I am making boozy beverages from her labors. 

I'm sorry mom.

So, at the risk of insulting my mother and my two best friends, we are making "Berry Booze"...Adirondack vodka infused with Adirondack berries.

I know who is going to get the first two bottles!

Have a great Friday Everyone! 

(Especially my mom and PKR)

Stay tuned for more images as the vodka steeps!

Bubbles

On a rainy, dreary day like today, images like the one below cheer me up....

ya, not really.

they make me want to jump on a plane...

Stay warm and dry today folks!

'Bubbles'
Naples, Florida
2013
Taken with my beloved iPhone + souped up with Instagram
Set Design + Effects: Elias

Tzatziki with Mint and Honey

We have been experimenting with Greek foods a lot this Fall, and this may be the one simple, successful thing I have made.

I will be tucking this recipe away in my memory bank for years to come.

I know that you can buy tzatziki at any local supermarket, but homemade is truly so much better. 

Not to mention you can control your flavors, and adapt them to your liking.

 I urge you to not skip the mint and/or honey in this recipe. My husband does not care for mint (or so he claims), but he enthusiastically agreed that it balances out the flavors and gives it a fresh kick. 

Try it once, and then omit it the next time if you don't agree.

We served it atop toasted flat bread brushed with olive oil, baked chicken pulled from the bone, and a nice Greek salad. 

This made a simple, clean dinner, but would be perfect for lunch, or served as an appetizer.

I imagine pairing it with all things dip-able 

(I'm thinking toasted pita, raw or roasted veggies, grilled shrimp...)...

How do you eat your tzatziki?!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 small container of plain Greek yogurt 

1 cup of sour cream

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 cup of fresh dill, chopped

1 cup of fresh mint, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 tsp of cumin

juice from one lemon

2 tablespoons of honey

s/p

Steps:

1. Gather all of your ingredients. Chop your herbs, garlic and cucumber. 

2. Mix them well.

3. Allow the mixture to sit to enhance the flavors, from one hour to overnight. The longer it sits, the more intense the flavors.

4. Enjoy with anything dip-able, or serve with grilled/baked chicken, pork, fish or beef. 

Enjoy!

Fall in Love

This time of year feels like a big hug.

I was lucky enough to escape North for a few days last week, sans child, to take in the sights and enjoy a gorgeous Autumn drive with my mom.

Here are a few of the shots I took along the way.

You will see some repetition as I played with different filters and exposures, and as you know, I am not good at editing myself...

I hope you enjoy viewing this photo gallery as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

My Favorite View

Morning Sun

Near Raquette I

Near Raquette II

Near Raquette III

Near Raquette III in b/w

Raquette Lake

Raquette in b/w

Raquette Lake...again

...and again

...and again...

Tupper

Again...

...and again...

On Our Way to Saranac

High Peaks in the Distance!

Mirror Lake

The Olympic Ski Jumps

The High Peaks in the Fall
(It doesn't get any more beautiful than this...)

This makes me entertain golfing...

High Peaks with Ski Jumps Again

To be continued next year...

If I could bottle and sell the feeling that Fall brings I would be a rich woman.

Drink it up!

I hope you are enjoying Autumn!