The KING and the SHEEP

Soy Boy very excited about being a KING this year. . .a right of passage. . .someone important. . .the sheep. . .not so much! Can you even find Chunky Monkey in the top pic?

Tis the Season!

We made our 2nd annual treck up to the mountains in search of our perfect Christmas Tree(s)~! When we left, it was pouring down rain and was calling for a 'wintry mix'! As we got closer and closer to the tree farm & further up the mountain, the rain turned into snow! The kids were super-excited & it was a very pretty winter wonderland while searching for the trees! It was a really fun day! And. . .goes without saying. . .we found the prettiest tree on the mountain!

Finally, Some PROGRESS!!

All along I was worried that we were going through all this trouble and I was going to end up feeling like it was too small! Well. . .I don't feel like that anymore...here's the latest and greatest!

VERY Happy Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving Addition

Here are some new pics of the kitchen (although a mess) and the framing of the addition.

GREAT NEW RECIPE

Well, our new kitchen isn't complete, but it's usable at this point. The day that the backsplash was finished and the workers moved out, I came down with the flu and had to wait yet another week before I could 'christen' it! To my dismay, Foodie Dad got in there and tried it all out before I did!! Yesterday was the first day that I felt the ambition to do something and I decided to cook dinner. . .And I mean a REAL dinner! Luckily, one of Soy Boy's friends came by and I got the usual "Mom can he stay for dinner" routine & he did. . .it was a mini dinner party & I had a blast cooking (& eating it!). Love my new kitchen and can't wait until the addition is done and we're all put back together.

I found this recipe in the Williams Sonoma Thanksgiving catalog. It's a great kicked up version of scalloped potatoes. I made it with a big roasted chicken (put my new convection oven to the test) along with roasted Brussels sprouts coated in olive oil and some fresh thyme. I wish I really WAS having a dinner party cause it was a meal fit for a king! Very casual & rustic, but delicious!

POTATO-LEEK GRATIN

5 Tbs. unsalted butter
4 lb. leeks, white and light green portions, rinsed well, cut into 1/4-inch rings
1 1/2 Tbs. kosher salt
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 cup heavy cream
6 oz. Gruyère cheese, grated
3 oz. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
3 lb. russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch slices
3 Tbs. minced fresh chives

Directions:
In a 12-inch nonstick fry pan over medium heat, melt 4 Tbs. of the butter. Add the leeks and salt, stirring to coat the leeks with the butter. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are tender, about 20 minutes. Add the thyme, nutmeg, pepper and cream and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Wipe out the pan and grease with the remaining 1 Tbs. butter.

Preheat an oven to 400ºF.

In a bowl, combine the Gruyère and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses. Layer one-third of the potatoes in the fry pan and spread one-third of the leek mixture on top. Sprinkle with one-third of the cheeses, then 1 Tbs. of the chives. Repeat the layering 2 more times, reserving 1 Tbs. of the chives.

Cover the pan, transfer to the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking until the potatoes are tender and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes more. Sprinkle the remaining 1 Tbs. chives on top. Let the gratin stand for 15 minutes before serving. Serves 8 to 10