BOB!

No, that's NOT going to be the name of our baby...it's the awesome stroller that our awesome friends in NY got for us! Finally put it together today. Can't wait to use it. I secretly wish I were a baby so I can sit in this and have Badge wheel me around.

You guys are the best!

Parmesan Polenta and Spicy Sausage Sauce

Badge and I have been eating up a storm. First, on our Portland trip, then on our LA trip, and most recently on our NY/Baltimore trip (post coming soon). After all that eating, I'm now a good 18-20 lbs heavier than my pre-pregnacy weight. Doh! Luckily no one can tell, because apparently I wear my weight well.

Hey look I rhymed...

Where was i? Oh yes, I guess it's time to get back to business with eating (semi)healthy food and exercising. Yesterday I went to yoga after work and had a nice class. I can no longer do deep forward bending or twists, but I'm happy to report that I'm still really bendy in the backwards direction. Standing up and dropping back from upward wheel is still accessible, and surprisingly so is scorpion (although I really should probably stop doing that). Today at lunch I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. Because my stomach feels like a brick, I need to run at the incredibly slow pace of 12:30min/mile per hour but at least I got it done and worked up a sweat.

For dinner, I decided to make a polenta dish from cooking light. Very easy, very tasty, very healthy. Big win. I omitted the sausage because we've been eating a lot of meat lately but I'm sure it's even more delicious with. To pair with the polenta, I sauteed spinach and added toasted pine nuts. Enjoy!

Parmesan Polenta and Spicy Sausage Sauce
Courtesy of Cooking Light
1 tbs olive oil
3 oz (2 links) sun dried tomato chicken sausage, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbs chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 (14.5oz) can diced tomato, undrained
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cup chicken broth
1 cup water
3/4 cup quick cooking polenta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat med saucepan over med high heat. Add oil, sausage; saute 3 min or until browned. Add onion; saute 5 min or until tender. Add garlic; saute 30 sec. Add oregano, pepper, and tomatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer 15 min, stirring occasionally. Add 1/4 cup basil; cook 5 min or until sauce thickens (I threw in some red wine).

Combine broth and water in large saucepan; bring to boil. Ad polenta, reduce heat, and simmer 5 min or until thick, stirring frequently with whisk. Stir in half of cheese. Place 2/3 cup polenta in each of 4 bowls; top with 3/4 cup sauce, 1 tbs basil, and 1 tbs cheese.

El Pollo Inka

This past weekend, we went to LA to see my mom.


Well, that's the story. I might have had ulterior motives. I might have been desperately craving El Pollo Inka. If so, I might have ordered saltado de pollo and eaten my whole plate. I might have accompanied my meal with an inka cola and chicken rice soup. I might have secretly considered taking a dish to go.


You'll never know for sure...

*cue twilight zone music*

Vanilla Ice Cream

As soon as I got back from Portland, I made vanilla ice cream using the vanilla beans Monkey shared with me.


These beans are beautifully fragrant. I scrapped every last black "stuff" out of the pod and dumped it in the custard, along with the pod itself. Look at that goodness.


The ice cream itself is loaded with cream and egg. No wonder it's so good! At first I rationed this out in small bowls, but by the end of the week I was spooning it straight out of the tub. I'm a glutton. You need to make this asap (recipe on Monkey's site).


On a random side note, I've discovered TJ's version of Honey Bunches of Oats. It's SO addicting. Even more tasty because you actually get a honey flavor instead of just sugar. I really could eat this all day.

Portlandia

Last weekend, Badge and I visited Monkey in Portlandia. Though it was chilly and damp, we had a wonderful four days of eating, cooking, shopping and general relaxation. For an entertaining read, check out Monkey's post (she is a far better writer than me). For a quick and dirty summary with appealing photos, read on...

-Thurs
Arrived, immediately gave Tony fresh catnip from my garden, watched him roll around in it endlessly.


Hopped on bus to get amazing southern food at Screen Door. Started with fresh salad, hushpuppies, and the most delicious fried oysters I've ever had.


For entrees, Monkey had shrimp and grits.


Badge had buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes (my fav of the entrees).


I had pork chops with sweet potato puree.


Everything was amazing. We will definitely be coming back here on every Portland trip. Watched Black Swan afterwards (I love how there are so many theaters in Portland that are serve alcohol and food during the movie).

- Fri
Checked out Monkey's balcony garden and vermicompost (many squiggly worms).


Went extreme shopping with Monkey while Badge did his own extreme shopping at Nike employee store (we had a hookup). Made zhong zi which was much less complicated than I thought it would be. Very good and tasted exactly like in my childhood memories. Ate Monkey's amazing home made ice cream (I pretty much ate some of this every 2 hours during my stay) which included vanilla, coffee, and ginger flavors. Played Munchkins and I took the victory!


-Sat
Walked to farmer's market, checked out plethora of homemade cheese and meats and veggies, ate delicious lox bagel.


Stopped at Stumptown for some amazing cappuccinos (Badge had a lager).


Went to Bamboo sushi for dinner (no pics included because they came out blurry). Ate many rolls, a pork bun (good but not as good as Momofuku), and some sort of unworldly cod, cooked to perfection. Came home and watched The Other Guys which was surprisingly funny. Played another game of Munchkin. Badge finally wins a match!

-Sun
Went to brunch at Veritable Quandry.


Food was top notch. I had crab benedict, Badge had catfish benedict, Monkey had apple johnny cakes, and we shared an oatmeal which turned out to the most delicious oatmeal I've ever put in my mouth.


Monkey and I got manicures while Badge got a pedi. For early dinner, went to Kenny and Zuke's which had melt in your mouth pastrami sandwiches (pics on Monkey's blog). I could seriously eat here every day. Sadly, had to go to the airport and return back to SD.

Overall, we were really impressed with Portland. I love how everything was walkable or easily accessible via public transportation. Every single restaurant or coffee shop we went into was super cute and the quality of the food was amazing. I could definitely see myself living here except for the fact that it's rainy for most of the year. But honestly, I'm beginning to think the year round sunshine in SD is overrated considering the city kind of sucks and you have to drive everywhere. And of course Monkey is in Portland! I'm sure I could live anywhere so long as she's living next door to me. One day...one day...

Many more pics posted here.