ECLECTIC ELEVEN...

...ON ELEVEN/ELEVEN/ELEVEN.

in honor of today's fun date here are eleven, eclectic tidbits i feel like sharing.

in alphabetical order.

1) ALMOND JOY CREAMER

the bottle says this flavor is "limited edition" and i sincerely hope it's a marketing ploy. 

i'm heavily concerned for the day it cannot be found at the grocery store.

which would explain why there are three giant bottles currently residing in our fridge.

it seems i've become a hoarder. of almond joy creamer.

 the (rather large) splash of it in my coffee each morning is too good to be true.

when i'm feeling really crazy i double up and have it again in my hot chocolate at night.

2) BAGEL THINS

i have a dream...

that one day we will live in a neighborhood with a delicious bagel shoppe around the corner.

 until that day comes, thomas bagel thins are my breakfast of choice

(preferrably toasted and topped with whipped cream cheese and a bit of honey).

it's hard to beat tasty and low in calories too.

3) COMPASSION IN ECUADOR

 i am reading along as several of my favorite bloggers are in ecuador right now.

they traveled there with compassion international,

and you can read their posts here.

go ahead and get the tissues ready for these touching stories.

4) HALF-MARATHON FOR AS OUR OWN

it's coming up soon and i'm so ready for it to be here.

i'm thankful for the donations, prayers and really excited to walk for this cause.

the training is complete and now the countdown is on.

i already have my jersey ready to go!

5) THE HEAD AND THE HEART

this is my current, go-to, listen again and again, album.

i love it on my walks and really just about anytime.

at first this picture was slightly alarming to me each time it appeared on my phone.

now it brings a smile to my face because i know good tunes are ahead.

6) JOURNALS

my kids each have a quotable kid journal to record the classic ridiculousness of everyday life.

i have shared about these before, but since then the were discontinued.

i panicked that they would never be in print again,

and paid double what i did for adelaide's so graham would have one.

only to laugh at myself a few months later when they were back in print.

i vote you get yours now so you don't make the same silly mistake i did.

and this year we have also bought this gratitude journal.

our plan is for each family member to answer the daily gratitude prompts throughout november.

then we will pull it out again every november throughout the years to come.

7) KITCHEN SHEARS

if you were to peek in any bag of mine, you will most likely see a pair of scissors in it.

this is not a new thing. when i was a teacher i often had stray pairs wander in my school bag.

i usually didn't know they were there until we would fly somewhere

and airport security confiscated many pairs from my possession.

these days my scissors of choice have changed.

i bought several pairs of kitchen shears and stashed them in all our bags.

cutting food into bite-sized pieces has never been so fun.

it works especially well for pizza and chicken strips.

8) MEDICINE CHECKLIST

maybe everyone has done this since the invention of prescription medicine bottles, but i have not.

back when graham was heavy laden with ear infections,

i realized it was much easier to keep track of when he got his medicine directly on the bottle.

life-changing i tell you. i hope real simple lists this idea in their next issue.

because it's definitely made giving medicine at our house really simple.

9) PICTURES WITH LISA WOODS

we are more than glad to take a road trip to our favorite photographer but this year she came to us!

as always we love the beautiful way she captures personalities in a relaxed and fun setting.

it was great to have her take pictures of our family and some of my other favorites too.

more pics on lisa's website.

10) SKINNY TASTE RECIPES

summer vacation eating got a little OOC (out-of-control) around here.

so this fall we attempted to reign it in with healthier stuff.

skinny taste has come through big with many healthier versions of classic recipes.

so far our favorites are the baked ziti and loaded baked potato soup. 

here's a pic of the yumminess from her website.

11) TOMS

i know it still feels like summer most days but i feel weird wearing summery clothes in november.

so i traded in my flip-flops for toms and i'm loving every second of them on my feet.

our cousin carrie recently told us a neat story about their "one for one" promise in action:

i saw a sea of TOMS in mozambique. there was a drop point not far from the village

where i was living and it was so neat to see everyone from kids to 80-year-old ladies

(who can't even stand up straight) dancing around in church sporting their toms!

YOUR TURN.

what's one (or eleven) things you are liking on this fun date in history?

LITTLE LUNCH ON THE PRAIRIE...

i love mail of all kinds, but especially invitations.

so imagine my EXCITEMENT over THIS INVITATION
that recently arrived in my inbox!

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY...
 i will be LUNCHING on royer's cafe cilantro ranch salad,
delectable shrimp blt, and their famous chocolate chip pie.
all the while enjoying SOCIALIZING
at rachel ashwell's B&B in roundtop, tx.


i have loved RACHEL ASHWELL's products for sometime,
and yes they are all quite fabulous.
but (as i often tell my daughter) out of all her prettiness
the most beautiful thing about her is her heart.

the first time i met rachel was a year ago at antique show.
when she touched our whole family's hearts with her KINDNESS.

now i'm counting down the days until i'm here...
(photo source)

1) visiting THE PRAIRIE,
2) meeting other kind bloggers & ANTIQUE SHOW friends there,
3) dining on that yummy grub from ROYERS,
4) supporting this great organization- DWELL WITH DIGNITY,
5) and of course i will BLOG about it afterward!

and finally a BIG thanks in advance to
kelley at THE HIDDEN LIST for putting this shindig together.

MONDAY MUSINGS...

...primarily about mcdonalds.

for someone who only consumes the occasional fries, doesn't eat hamburgers or drink cokes, i've placed a lot of orders at mcdonalds this month. all for the sake of these:

(source)

eating extra fries this month is not the confession though. this is: i've turned into that mom. you know the one. the one that slows down the drive-thru line by asking if a particular toy can be placed in the happy meal box. she is also that wife who asks her husband to pretty please let her run into various mcdonalds around town in attempt to trade out dolls of which they have duplicates. it isn't pretty, but it's true.

that mom might justify this ridiculous behavior by:
a) thinking ridiculous thoughts about how madame alexander dolls in happy meals may only happen once a childhood.
b) thinking what great props these will be while she tells classic stories to her kids again and again.
(but then she starts the storytelling to her toddler only to remember mid-stories that some classics are actually rather creepy. children who excitedly encounter a house made of candy, only to have their sugar high interrupted by a cannibal? a grandma stuck in the belly of a wolf? need i go on?)

c) and what about the fact that adelaide formed a bond with madame alexander dolls from an early age? her "baby julie" was one of her first friends. when you consider the full-sized dolls cost much more than the price of a meal, these little versions seem like too good of a deal to pass up.  congratulations mcdonalds, your marketing worked on me.

so we have a few new pint-sized friends at our house. whenever we see the doll below evan says, "hansel, he's so hot right now!" ( in a perfect derek zoolander voice.) this drives adelaide crazy as she cannot figure out why we think hansel is hot in our air conditioned house.  she responds every time by saying, "daddy, you MUST be teasing because HANSEL IS NOT HOT right now!"

yes, it's true that adelaide loves playing with these toys, but let me tell you who has really benefited from the frequent trips to mcdonalds- graham. baby g had fallen off the charts for his weight.  our pediatrician is not that worried, but she did suggest giving him a little more substantial foods with every meal. i'm sure chicken nuggets are exactly what she had in mind.

one afternoon as i was getting our drinks ready for a mickey d's picnic lunch, graham did an amazing bumbo lunge maneuver and successfully plucked the chicken strip right out of my snack wrap. he wasted no time at all, and began to gnaw on it. i think it's safe to say somebody else likes mcdonalds.

some times these toys are used as teethers,

other times we just sit and stare at them,

every day my own pint-sized characters entertain me as they play.

STUFF...

have i mentioned my love affair with all red sauces? it's been a lifelong thing.

in college i lived for weeks at a time on boxes of spaghetti noodles and jars of prego.

when evan and i were newylweds our go-to dish was "noodles with red sauce." i proudly made it for dinner at least two times a week. sometimes we got fancy and heated the sauce instead of just pouring it at room temperature onto our noodles of choice.

when i was pregnant with adelaide i didn't even need noodles. i would just eat spoonfuls of sauce straight from the jar.

i know it might seem like an addiction but it's just a part of who i am.

a few months ago real simple featured a pasta recipe involving red sauce. of course i had to try it.

you don't even have to dream about red sauce to love this STUFF. we all loved it.

this afternoon the shells were STUFFED. tonight our bellies are STUFFED.

now it's time for you to STUFF this quick fix in your recipe collection.

STUFFED SHELLS

• 20 jumbo pasta shells
• 1 24 oz ounce jar marinara sauce
• 2 15 oz containers ricotta*
• 2 C baby spinach, chopped**
• 1/2 C grated Parmesan
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t pepper
• 1/2 C grated mozzarella*
• *we used reduced fat cheeses & it still tasted great.
• **you can also chop any additional veggies and add them into this recipe.

1) set an oven rack to the highest position and heat oven to 400 degrees F.

2) cook the pasta.

to clarify that is steam.

i was NOT channeling my inner betty draper and smoking while cooking dinner.

3) drain and run under cold water until cool.

4) spread marinara sauce in the bottom of baking dish.

normally i'm a prego sauce kinda of girl but i was filling adventurous with the barilla.

5) chop the spinach.

i had already sliced my finger with a paper cutter earlier in the day, so i took the lazy, i mean safe, route and used the food chopper instead of a knife.

6) combine spinach, ricotta, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

7) spoon the mixture into the shells and place them in the marinara sauce.

this was actually kinda fun. for a second i felt like a chef in an italian restaurant. then i saw the gerber puffs on the counter next to me and came back to the real world.

8) sprinkle with mozzarella.

9) bake 12 minutes or until the shells are heated through.

10) increase heat to broil for 2-5 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.

enjoy!

"FOOD IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A BALANCED DIET." -Fran Lebowitz

there have been quite a few things consumed

for the very FIRST time at our house this month.

CHOCOLATE BUNNY

i think it's safe to say she loved it.

PIONEER WOMAN'S CHICKEN POT PIE

to say we liked it would be an understatement.

WHITE MUFFIN TIN LUNCH

she's a big fan of things that match right now.

and i'm a big fan of how much more she'll eat

when i put it in a muffin tin (ideas here).

HAPPY FACE BREAKFAST

served at our very own kitchen table nail salon.

the first munchkin pedicure of the year was given

while she was trapped in the highchair.

and last but most certainly not least,

G's FIRST BITE OF RICE CEREAL

while he was totally indifferent to the taste, it was one of many things

that confirm he is growing up before my eyes!

GOOD EATS and GOOD READS...

last year i wanted to try more houston restaurants. so i decided before i turned 30 i would visit 30 places i hadn't already been. i'm excited to announce the goal was reached and we enjoyed a lot of goodness along the way!

the (completed) 30 before 30…

four stars according to me (excellent):

Beaver's (09-18-09)****
fried pickles- served with chipotle ranch sauce
beaver nut burger- a protein bomb with brown rice, cashews, walnuts, cheddar cheese with bibb lettuce, tomato, onion, house pickles, and miso-mustard sauce.
macaroni and cheese- corkscrew pasta, parmesan, and cheddar gratin
(dined with tiffani and adelaide for a girls' lunch )

Canyon Cafe (01-26-10)****
tortilla and sweet potato chips and homemade salsa
seared ahi salad- ahi tuna seared rare and chilled.
served over fresh greens with a light sesame vinaigrette, sliced apples, carrots, and radish.
topped with crisp wonton strips
(dined with tiffani, mazie, sarah beth, and graham for lunch)

Buffalo Grille (02-28-09)****
french toast- with strawberries, pecans, and chocolate chips,
and a side of pecan smoked pepper bacon
cinnamon mocha- signature cinnamon coffee mixed with hot cocoa
(dined with evan and adelaide for birthday brunch)

Cyclone Anaya's (03-25-09)****

cheese enchilada lunch plate- served with mexican rice and black bean soup
plus a surplus of thin crispy tortilla chips and delicious salsas
(dined with tiffani and adelaide for a lunch date)

Mi Luna (02-18-10)****
greens with pine nuts
baked goat cheese in tomato basil sauce
fried potatoes
shrimp in aioli sauce
(dined with tiffani, mazie, adelaide, and graham for lunch)

Mia Bella Trattoria (06-19-09)****
insalata cesare- romaine lettuce, parmesan, croutons, anchovies, and caesar dressing
tortellini di pollo e spinaci-whole wheat tortellini filled with spinach and a trio of cheeses
in tomato basil cream sauce with grilled chicken and fresh sauteed spinach
(dined with evan for dinner before seeing cabaret)

Pronto (11-20-09)****
fritto misto- fried calamari, shrimp, and zucchini chips with a spicy marinara sauce
cannelloni- fresh pasta wrapped around roasted chicken, mushrooms, spinach and ricotta with tomato basil sauce
(dined with evan and adelaide on a friday night)

Ruggles Bakery (03-26-09)****

soup and sandwich combo- white meat chicken salad on croissant and homemade tomato basil soup
(dined with kelli, caroline, and adelaide for lunch after a walk around rice)
Taste of Texas (05-12-09)****
salad bar and soup- baked potato soup topped with cheese, chives, and crumbled bacon
one of the tastiest salad bars i've ever had in texas, complete with homemade dressings and bread
(dined with misty and adelaide during misty's lunch break)
Treebeards (02-24-09)****
trio plate (choose 3 sides)- red beans and rice, squash casserole, and a fruit cup
chocolate cake- rich, moist, and delcious frosting
(dined with evan and adelaide for lunch near evan's office)

three stars according to me (good):

Artista (03-25-09)***
golden empanadas- house made pastry filled with seasonal and local ingredients
new england sea scallops- served with spinach, toasted sesame, and cilantro gremolata
cocoa tart- gianduja fudge, chocolate ganache, and coconut ice cream
(dined with evan for dinner before seeing les mis)
Auntie Pasto's (04-17-09)***
scallops & angel hair- sea scallops on top of angel hair pasta,
tossed in zesty tomato butter sauce, and topped with a dollop of tomatillo sauce.
served with sourdough loaf.
(dined with jim, karen, evan, and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Barnaby’s Cafe (05-23-09)***
black bean veggie burger- served with cucumbers, feta, tomato, and sauce on a whole wheat bun
plus a side of cripsy french fries
(dined evan and adelaide saturday lunch)

Benjy’s (08-21-09)***
caesar salad- with wasabi-cilantro dressing
mushroom pizza- signature mushrooms and pine nuts and cheese atop a light flaky crust
(dined with evan for dinner before seeing the color purple)
Cleburne Cafeteria (12-27-09)***
blackened salmon- all dishes served cafeteria style
macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and squash casserole-
made with vegetables bought daily from the farmer's market
(dined with evan, adelaide, graham, dad, mom, and sara kate over the christmas holiday)

Doyle’s Pizza(08-27-09)***
garlic bread- buttered and toasted to perfection
hawaiian pizza- canadian bacon and pineapple on a tossed crust
(dined with tiffani, amanda, and adelaide for a girls' lunch)
Fu Garden (06-07-09)***
general tso's lunch special- sweet and spicy deep fried chicken,
fried rice, wonton soup, and spring roll
(dined with dad, mom, sara kate, evan, and adelaide for sunday lunch)
Goode Co. Seafood (03-21-09)***
baby coho salmon- served with sauteed mushrooms, fresh green beans,
and homemade sourdough bread
(dined with chris, kelli, caroline, evan, and adelaide for dinner)

Ibiza (02-12-10)***
meat and cheese pairings
moroccan shrimp- with goat cheese polenta
mocha bread pudding- with carmel ice cream
(dined with evan before seeing miss saigon)

Onion Creek (06-08-09)***
chicken salad sandwich- chicken salad with toasted pecans, dried cranberries, lettuce, tomato on wheat.
side salad- greens with carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and creamy cilantro dressing
(dined with tiffani, amanda, and adelaide for a monday lunch)
Piatto (10-16-09)***
jessica's gnocchi- fresh homemade gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce, served with sourdough bread
(dined with evan and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Ragin Cajun (11-06-09)***
shrimp po'boy- seasoned and boiled shrimp atop a hoagie bun with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayo mixed
spicy fries- french fries seasoned to cajun perfection
(adelaide and i met evan during his lunch break and dined in the tunnels downtown)
Raia’s Italian Market (05-16-09)***
caesar salad- romaine, capers, croutons, and pecorino romano with a homemade caesar dressing
bolognese- rigatoni pasta with Sicilian meat sauce
chicken marsala- breaded chicken breast, onions & mushrooms in a marsala sauceand served with alfredo pasta (technically i ordered the bolognese and evan ordered the chicken marsala but we shared both)
(dined with evan and adelaide for a saturday night dinner)
Raven Grill (06-12-09)***
fried calamari- served wtih ancho mayonaise and homemade marinara sauce
grilled salmon salad- grilled salmon served over field greens tossed with low-fat lemon caper vinaigrette,
mushrooms, carrots, roasted corn, and pico de gallo
(dined with evan and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Skeeter’s (05-08-09)***
skeeter k'bob- skewer with beef and chicken, grilled peppers, tomato, onions, mushrooms, & pineapple
(dined with chris, kelli, caroline, evan, and adelaide for dinner)
Ziggy's (04-24-09)***
grilled shrimp salad- fresh mixed organic greens, fresh kiwi, pine nuts, cheese, and grilled shrimp.
served with lemon ginger vinaigrette
(dined with tiffani and adelaide during tiff's lunch hour)

two stars according to me (fair):

Azuma (11-10-09)**
miso soup,
noodle bowl with chicken
(dined with evan for a lunch date)
Goode Co. Tacqueria (08-28-09)**
two crispy taco dinner- two tacos, rice, beans, and avocados
(dined with evan and adelaide for a family friday night dinner)
Le Peep (04-18-09)**
two squared- two pieces of french toast,
two eggs cooked over medium, and two pieces of bacon.
(dined with evan and adelaide for saturday morning brunch)
Ruggles Grill 5115 (03-12-09)**
smoked salmon sandwich- smoked salmon on a toasted sesame bun topped with greens and special sauce with sweet potato fries
(dined with kelli, caroline, and adelaide for lunch after realizing the original ruggles was temporarily closed)

other fabulous houston eating spots:
berryhill, black walnut cafe, collinas, fuzzy's pizza, hungry's cafe, lupe tortilla, 100% taquito, star pizza, tiny boxwoods.

places I want to try in the next year:
rainbow lodge, dolce vita, spaghetti western, la brocante cafe, blue planet cafe, lola, giacomo's, gravita's, t'afia, stella sola, zelko bistro, canopy, and more to be determined.

houstonians- what else should i add to the list?!?

so while my 29th year was the year of food,

my 30th year will be the year of books.

this year's birthday resolution is simple: READ.

1) READ through the new testament.

2) READ one book a month.

3) READ more recipes.

(and cook from the two recipe books i received for christmas: one recipe a month from ree drummond's the pioneer woman cooks and one recipe a season from julia child's mastering the art of french cooking.)

mission EATS: accomplished.

mission READ: here i come!

30 BEFORE 30...

if you take a closer look at what i did to celebrate my birthday (below) you might notice there was a surplus of good food involved. it's true, i like to eat. in the past, my birthday resolutions have been a little more noble than this year. for the 2009-2010 list i'm just making one resolution- to familiarize myself with more houston restaurants. i decided before i turn 30 i will try 30 places i haven't already been in the houston area. some are places i keep hearing about, some are places i drive by often and wonder what they are like, and some came highly recommended by my houston references. it took me a little while to compile my list but i am now ready, so let the tasting begin. as i try each place the restaurant name will no longer be written in bold and the tasting date will be recorded. (disclaimer: menu item descpritions may be taken from each restaurant's website). a rating will be given each restaurant on the following scale:
* bad, ** fair, *** good, **** great, ***** excellent

30 before 30 restaurants…

Artista (03-25-09)***

golden empanadas- house made pastry filled with seasonal and local ingredients
new england sea scallops- served with spinach, toasted sesame, and cilantro gremolata
cocoa tart- gianduja fudge, chocolate ganache, and coconut ice cream
(dined with evan for dinner before seeing les mis)

Auntie Pasto's (04-17-09)***
scallops & angel hair- sea scallops on top of angel hair pasta,

tossed in zesty tomato butter sauce, and topped with a dollop of tomatillo sauce.

served with sourdough loaf.
(dined with jim, karen, evan, and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Azuma (11-10-09)**

miso soup,

noodle bowl with chicken

(dined with evan for a lunch date)

Barnaby’s Cafe (05-23-09)***

black bean veggie burger- served with cucumbers, feta, tomato, and sauce on a whole wheat bun

plus a side of cripsy french fries
(dined evan and adelaide saturday lunch)

Beaver's (09-18-09)****

fried pickles- served with chipotle ranch sauce

beaver nut burger- a protein bomb with brown rice, cashews, walnuts, cheddar cheese with bibb lettuce, tomato, onion, house pickles, and miso-mustard sauce.

macaroni and cheese- corkscrew pasta, parmesan, and cheddar gratin

(dined with tiffani and adelaide for a girls' lunch )

Buffalo Grille (02-28-09)****

french toast- with strawberries, pecans, and chocolate chips,

and a side of pecan smoked pepper bacon

cinnamon mocha- signature cinnamon coffee mixed with hot cocoa
(dined with evan and adelaide for birthday brunch)

Benjy’s (08-21-09)***

caesar salad- with wasabi-cilantro dressing

mushroom pizza- signature mushrooms and pine nuts and cheese atop a light flaky crust
(dined with evan for dinner before seeing the color purple)

Canyon Cafe (01-26-10)****

tortilla and sweet potato chips and homemade salsa

seared ahi salad- ahi tuna seared rare and chilled.

served over fresh greens with a light sesame vinaigrette, sliced apples, carrots, and radish sprouts.

topped with crisp wonton strips

(dined with tiffani, mazie, sarah beth, and graham for lunch)

Cleburne Cafeteria (12-27-09)***

blackened salmon- all dishes served cafeteria style

macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and squash casserole-

made with vegetables bought daily from the farmer's market

(dined with evan, adelaide, graham, dad, mom, and sara kate over the christmas holiday)

Cyclone Anaya's (03-25-09)****

cheese enchilada lunch plate- served with mexican rice and black bean soup

plus a surplus of thin crispy tortilla chips and delicious salsas

(dined with tiffani and adelaide for a lunch date)

Doyle’s Pizza(08-27-09)***

garlic bread- buttered and toasted to perfection

hawaiian pizza- canadian bacon and pineapple on a tossed crust

(dined with tiffani, amanda, and adelaide for a girls' lunch)

Fu Garden (06-07-09)***

general tso's lunch special- sweet and spicy deep fried chicken,

fried rice, wonton soup, and spring roll

(dined with dad, mom, sara kate, evan, and adelaide for sunday lunch)

Goode Co. Seafood (03-21-09)***

baby coho salmon- served with sauteed mushrooms, fresh green beans,

and homemade sourdough bread

(dined with chris, kelli, caroline, evan, and adelaide for dinner)

Goode Co. Tacqueria (08-28-09)**

two crispy taco dinner- two tacos, rice, beans, and avocados

(dined with evan and adelaide for a family friday night dinner)

Ibiza (02-12-10)***

meat and cheese pairings

moroccan shrimp- with goat cheese polenta

mocha bread pudding- with carmel ice cream

(dined with evan before seeing miss saigon)

Le Peep (04-18-09)**

two squared- two pieces of french toast,

two eggs cooked over medium, and two pieces of bacon.

(dined with evan and adelaide for saturday morning brunch)

Mi Luna (02-18-10)****

greens with pine nuts

baked goat cheese in tomato basil sauce

fried potatoes

shrimp in aioli sauce

(dined with tiffani, mazie, adelaide, and graham for lunch)

Mia Bella Trattoria (06-19-09)****

insalata cesare- romaine lettuce, parmesan, croutons, anchovies, and caesar dressing

tortellini di pollo e spinaci-whole wheat tortellini filled with spinach and a trio of cheeses

in tomato basil cream sauce with grilled chicken and fresh sauteed spinach

(dined with evan for dinner before seeing cabaret)

Onion Creek (06-08-09)***

chicken salad sandwich- chicken salad with toasted pecans, dried cranberries, lettuce, tomato on wheat.

side salad- greens with carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and creamy cilantro dressing

(dined with tiffani, amanda, and adelaide for a monday lunch)

Piatto (10-16-09)***

jessica's gnocchi- fresh homemade gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce, served with sourdough bread

(dined with evan and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Pronto (11-20-09)****

fritto misto- fried calamari, shrimp, and zucchini chips with a spicy marinara sauce
cannelloni- fresh pasta wrapped around roasted chicken, mushrooms, spinach and ricotta with tomato basil sauce

(dined with evan and adelaide on a friday night)

Ragin Cajun (11-06-09)***

shrimp po'boy- seasoned and boiled shrimp atop a hoagie bun with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayo mixed

spicy fries- french fries seasoned to cajun perfection

(adelaide and i met evan during his lunch break and dined in the tunnels downtown)

Raia’s Italian Market (05-16-09)***

caesar salad- romaine, capers, croutons, and pecorino romano with a homemade caesar dressing

bolognese- rigatoni pasta with Sicilian meat sauce

chicken marsala- breaded chicken breast, onions & mushrooms in a marsala sauceand served with alfredo pasta (technically i ordered the bolognese and evan ordered the chicken marsala but we shared both)

(dined with evan and adelaide for a saturday night dinner)

Raven Grill (06-12-09)***

fried calamari- served wtih ancho mayonaise and homemade marinara sauce

grilled salmon salad- grilled salmon served over field greens tossed with low-fat lemon caper vinaigrette,

mushrooms, carrots, roasted corn, and pico de gallo

(dined with evan and adelaide for a friday night dinner)

Ruggles Grill 5115 (inside the galleria saks) (03-12-09)**

smoked salmon sandwich- smoked salmon on a toasted sesame bun topped with greens and sauce

(dined with kelli, caroline, and adelaide for lunch after realizing the original ruggles was temporarily closed)

Ruggles Bakery (03-26-09)****

soup and sandwich combo- white meat chicken salad on croissant and homemade tomato basil soup

(dined with kelli, caroline, and adelaide for lunch after a walk around rice)

Skeeter’s (05-08-09)***

skeeter k'bob- skewer with beef and chicken, grilled peppers, tomato, onions, mushrooms, & pineapple

(dined with chris, kelli, caroline, evan, and adelaide for dinner)

Taste of Texas (05-12-09)****

salad bar and soup- baked potato soup topped with cheese, chives, and crumbled bacon

one of the tastiest salad bars i've ever had in texas, complete with homemade dressings and bread

(dined with misty and adelaide during misty's lunch break)

Treebeards (02-24-09)****

trio plate (choose 3 sides)- red beans and rice, squash casserole, and a fruit cup

chocolate cake- rich, moist, and delcious frosting

(dined with evan and adelaide for lunch near evan's office)

Ziggy's (04-24-09)***

grilled shrimp salad- fresh mixed organic greens, fresh kiwi, pine nuts, cheese, and grilled shrimp.

served with lemon ginger vinaigrette

(dined with tiffani and adelaide during tiff's lunch hour)

(all menu descriptions form restaurant websites)

other fabulous houston eating spots:

hungry's cafe and bistro, santos, fuzzy's pizza,100% taquito, collinas, lupe tortilla

in honor of the fact i turned 29 we celebrated, then celebrated, then celebrated some more.

friday night, the girls went out together. we got pedicures, we dined on MEXICAN FOOD AT LOS CUCOS, and went to the movies and saw he's just not that into you.

saturday just the 3 of us went to BRUNCH AT BUFFALO GRILLE . i totally pulled the "it's my birthday so i can eat whatever i want" card. i ordered french toast with strawberries. and pecans. and powdered sugar. and chocolate chips. then i had a cinnamon mocha to get some chocolate in liquid form too.

saturday evening we met up with more family for DESSERT AT THE CHOCOLATE BAR. once again i was not disappointed. neither was the mini chocoholic in the making who insisted on sharing all my tasty treats.