new years baking

My day started off quite benign (thank goodness)  with my first dentist appointment in 6+ years.  You could imagine my suprise (and delight!) when the dentist exclaimed, "I needed some good teeth this morning!)" A dozen xrays, a good cleaning, and a quick polish later I was off to the gym.  Still had some toxins lingering around from girls day + night tuesday.

This afternoon has been all about the kitchen:

1. white chicken chili
2. chocolate birthday cake
3. fruitcake cookies
4. dried cherries, pecans and rosemary brie en croute

I think I've done 5 sets of dishes by hand + 1 by the dishwasher!

venturing out. . . . .

Today will be my first day venturing out in the winter wonderland behind the wheel. Somehow I managed to convince felipe to shuttle me to the huge UO sale yesterday. Picked up a couple tees, a skirt (that hopefully is "work-appropriate") and a fabulous black wool coat with just the right amount of sass.

Today, I need to make it to the grocery. Have lots of yummy things to I want to bake on my week off - homemade bolognese sauce for dinner tonight, white chili later in the week, peach cosmos and spin-dip for the s&tc marathon with the ladies, and some stuff jalapeno's for the fam this weekend. Just might swing by my favorite thrifty to make this treacherous trip worth it;)

christmas dinner

When the weather outside is frightful, the fire is so delightful. We made the best of being snowed in yesterday and roasted some Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary. Twelve cloves to be exact! Had to lock the kitties up so we could eat in peace.

Elo left Brent a little Christmas present - totally unappropriate, but I when I saw the pattern I could resist knitting up a little poopie!

More Christmas fun

To: Felipe
From: Jackson
Father Christmas? SNOW DAY! Felipe couldn't make it out of the driveway this morning, so we both got a snowday. Unfortunately, I'm afraid Christmas in Hutchinson might be snowed out as well. I've been fervently checking KDOT, and the roads are still completely snowpacked. Bah humbug!

Christmas with the Rosso's. . .

Heep on the wood!- the wind is chill

But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still.

---Sir Walter Scott

Today was a glorious Christmas eve. It started rather ordinary, with the alarm waking me at the ungodly hour of 520, and me hitting snooze before finally crawling out of bed to get ready for work. After a cold and rainy drive to the VA, I witnessed my first Christmas miracle (no new admits), swiftly followed by my second (after the morning's discharges, there remains but one patient on the service with six residents to care for this one patient). This promptly lead to the third and most excited - leaving at noon today, with the gift of christmas day off! What a lovely suprise. I slowly made my way home through the beginnings of a winter sleet, ecstatic at my fortune.

After a quick change into my jingle shirt and christmas shoes (betsy johnson!) we headed to the in-laws for a delicious lunch of beef tenderloin followed by a gift exchange. I was absolutely ecstatic to unwrap the softest, cuddliest, snuggie-like, blanket-like, robe-like bundle of warmth that can be zipped around your body into a cocoon like contraption but leaves your hands free for important activities such as knitting and snacking.

3 cheers to family, christmas, and snuggling!

Can't wait to celebrate with the rest of the family on Saturday.

Something I am very excited for. . . . .

S&TC 2 trailer!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . . .

Like father like son - naps + guitar = nirvana.

Miss Elo checking out the presents. . .good thing she's on the nice list this year. Santa already brought her a cozy new kitty bed and several toys.

My first try at homemade chx noodle soup. Definitely got a work-out rolling out those noodles (well, Felipe got a work-out, I gave up about a quarter of the way through!) Unfortunately the noodles continued to expand in his tummy and he's feeling quite full.

Prince Felipe enjoying some homemade sangria and video games (before the noodle-induced food coma.) Isn't married life grand?

Jackson says hello to Mischa!

Things I am thankful for today

1. Sleeping in late with the kiddo's: Jackson & Elo are super snuggly!
2. Christmas bonuses
3. Lunch with friends
4. World Market's Fireside Blend coffee

caramel apple martini

My newest creation. . . . .

• 3 part sparkling apple juice


• 1 part apple vodka


• splash of butterscoth schnapps

'tis the season

I just adore throwing dinner parties! Tried a couple of new barefoot contessa recipes this weekend - turkey lasagna and aunt beatty's chocolate cake (my first layer cake!) Both were a total success, with just enough leftovers for a second taste.

Our house is starting to look (and smell) like Christmas. I've got a yummy cranberry candle burning on the mantle, our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and the presents are starting to appear under the tree. The cats adore the tree, and the presents even more. The boys have gone missing, the ribbon has teeth marks, and the corners of the packages have already been unwrapped.

Yesterday evening I got to take part in one of the nation's largest free health clinics. During my 4-hour shift I was able to see 7 patients with a variety of medical problems. Definitely a neat experience.

O Tannenbaum

Our first christmas tree - came in 2 simple pieces, pre-lit. Can't beat a 5 minute tree. Leaves you time and patience for the ornaments! Can't wait to see what santa leaves for me Christmas morning.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a very happy thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for this past year. Felipe and I are spending the day home in our pajamas with the kiddos. No turkey today, but I do have some cinnamony monkey bread in the oven and smells delish.

Happy Holidays!

back to business

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted - VERY busy at work.

I just finished up my 4 weeks of OB, and much to my dismay, I loved it! Who knew catching babies was my thing? Right now I'm on inpatient medicine at the Leavenworth VA, which isn't too bad. I'm enjoying the change of pace much more than I'm enjoying the 40m early morning drive. Even with Daphne (my prius), I still went through a tank of gas in a week.

Sunday was not so fun:
630am: get up
8am: arrive at VA
noon: drive home, get ~10 pages regarding patients at the VA (i'm on call)
930p: get a call from KU, one of my OB patients is in labor
10p: drive to KU, check on my patient
midnight-7a: at nurses station watching my patient's strip, answering VA pages and trying to stay awake
7a: emergent C-section
9a: round on baby
10a-12:20p: take a brief nap in the call room
1-5p: teach medical students how to insert Foley's and NG tubes
5p: go home, collapse on couch

Thanksgiving dinner!

Today was a day of 1st's: first time hosting Thanksgiving, first thanksgiving as a wifey, and the first combined Garber-Rosso Thanksgiving. It was a hit on all accounts. I love planning the menu and spending a day (or two!) in the kitchen cooking up some delicious food to share. Here's few pics:

Prepping.

Appetizers: cheese ball and gingersnaps.

The main event. Turkey, roasted vegetables, salad, cranberries, and fresh bread. Served with wine (of course!)

Whew! A very full tummy.

Happy Halloween!

Ramen (felipe-style.)

Had this absolutely delish ramen in NYC @ Ippudo (thanks Jaymarc!) Felipe decided to re-create it at home with a blend of shitake mushrooms, various peppers, broths, spices, and cilantro. So delish we managed to down the entire pot!

my tree and me

Really awesome custom family trees!


source: My Tree and Me

Our final day: Newport

We took the Hollenbeck's car for a cruise down to Newport on Friday. What a perfect recommendation for our final day! The coastal town was quaint and full of interesting shops. The beach was beautiful. We even got to try some local sushi, hand-rolled to order.

On to Providence

Part 2 of the trip was full of adventure in Providence with the Hollenbeck's (ever the perfect hosts!) We got the explore the town which reminded me a lot of Lawrence. Scored some great secondhand clothes on Thayer, ate some amazing donuts, and tried as many local brews as I could. The menf0lk reunited and jammed at a local open-mic night to Emily & I's delight.

I heart new york!

Just got back yesterday from an amazing (and much needed) vacation!

First stop, New York City. After checking in to our miniscule hotel room, we met up with some old friends. A delish ramen dinner was following by drinks on a rooftop bar across from the Empire State Building.

Tuesday was spent exploring. We went ALL over the town - Natural History Museum, Central Park, the Fashion District, and Soho. It was all about the food as well. I breakfasted on some of the most amazing french toast, sipped some local coffee, and dined on some grilled corn & homemade enchiladas @ Cafe Habana.

After a big and greasy diner breakfast wednesday we braved the streets of new york like locals and hoofed it 2 miles in the rain to Penn Station to catch the Amtrak to Providence.

souper sunday!

Had SO much fun @ Souper Sunday - I love my friends! (not to mention a day away from the hospital.) Here's a peek at what was on the menu:

Chocolate Trifle Chicken Taco Soup
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Not pictured, but just as delicious - jalapeno popper spread, creamy potato soup, and sherbet punch.

Perfect weather for hanging out on the porch.

shrimp tacos.

Felipe & I finally got to spend an evening together. I think the last time we saw each other when we weren't - a) passed out in bed from exhaustion, or b) in the hospital busy as a bee, was probably a good 2 weeks ago when we went out to a delish dinner at blanc.

To celebrate I sauted up some chipotle shrimp tacos with a nice cold cerveza. We watched some tivo'd project runway, and now felipe's happy napping on the couch (with ultimate fighting on the tv.)