From Our {New} House to Yours

Wishing you the sweetest Christmas!

Love, Anna + Frances

Staycation

Get two people together who both have time off from work, love adventures, and have nothing better to do on a Wednesday afternoon, and what happens? They decide to go to Annapolis, Maryland! And that's exactly what happened yesterday with my friend Mason, for no other reason than to do some fun exploring together.

We arrived in town just as the sun was setting and the Christmas lights were flickering on. It was unbelievably charming! We finished up last minute Christmas shopping, then hunkered down in an old tavern for oysters and crab cakes. We whiled away a few hours, enjoying the feeling of being on vacation and being someplace neither of us knew we'd end up when the day began.

Snowstorm

The excitement was palpable. The panic was rising. Anticipation set in as Northern Virginians looked forward to the first "snowstorm" of the season: a light snow for a few hours that resulted in an inch of cover on the ground. Schools were closed early, the federal government told employees they could leave, my co-workers were worried about their cars getting stuck, and I just sat back, amused. After it was all said and done, the tips of the grass were still showing!

If anything, the snow has made things feel a little bit more Christmas-y around here. Holiday lights look so much prettier with a little bit of snow! In honor of my first Virginia snowstorm, I spent a good portion of yesterday baking cookies to commemorate the occasion.

Rather than make the usual sugar cutout, I used my friend Amanda's recipe. With a recommendation like that, I figured I couldn't go wrong. The unexpected citrus flavor really makes the cookie stand out. They ultimately served as my ticket into a cookie exchange party. I tasted over 10 varieties, and still think mine were the best. And still think Virginians' reaction to snow is funny.

Clear skies are predicted for the week, and I am officially on vacation, so the plan is to get out of the kitchen, out of the house, and to use my free time to continue exploring my new hometown.

'Tis the Season

Ways that I've been enjoying the holiday season so far:

1. Going wine tasting in Virginia's horse country
2. Visiting the National Cathedral for the Annual Crèche exhibit
3. Trying out a new wine bar
4. Going for a hike while laughing at all the Virginians who say, "it's so cold!"
5. Finally going to a Buffalo Bills backer bar
6. Decorating a tree (at work) and fireplace (friend's house)
7. Having margaritas!
8. Shopping
9. Happy Hour at a local brewpub
10. Driving around to look at pretty Christmas lights
11. Having dinner here and here
12. Spending an afternoon at the National Portrait Gallery
13. Checking out the view
14. Trying to find good pizza (or maybe this?)

Needless to say, I've been extremely busy trying to enjoy myself and be as gluttonous as possible, it would appear! The reason for this? My parents took Frances back to Buffalo with them after Thanksgiving. For one month, I have very little responsibility and I'm taking full advantage. This would explain why I haven't been blogging, (as well as why I feel like I've gained 10 pounds). I love my Frances, but man am I enjoying my freedom. This holiday season has been full of fun, new things, and lots of joy. I definitely owe my parents, and I definitely don't want the month to end.

Welcome to Washington

This year, my family will be celebrating Thanksgiving in our nation's Capital. I've been busy cooking, baking, cleaning and preparing to see my family for the first time in over three months! I'm so excited! Aside from eating, I'm planning to show them around my new hometown, do some shopping, sightseeing, and a museum or two. After an extremely busy couple of months, I'm looking forward to having some relaxing family time.

Enjoy your turkey and time off! Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to the Fam!

Here "he" is -- the newest addition to my humble household. I see many adventures in his future. Won't you come along for a ride?

A Brush With Fame

This past week, I spent two hours of my life waiting in a long line with my new friend Joan and hundreds of other people.

It wasn't just any line. We were all anxiously awaiting our turn to see a very important person.

The line started outside, then wound its way through Sur La Table, (one of my favorite kitchen stores). Anticipation built as we got nearer to the end...

There she is! The very important person we'd been waiting to see!

Oh, hello Ina. So nice to see you!

Thanks for stopping by. And for signing my cookbook. And making those two hours worth it.

It Is Official

Fall has arrived in Northern Virginia. You can't really tell by looking outside, but there's a chill in the air. Finally.
I celebrated by baking an apple crisp, after finding a great deal on less-than-perfect looking Golden Delicious apples at the market. Who cares what they look like when they just get chopped up and baked into a delicious, aromatic treat? The combination of the baked apples, spices, and vanilla ice cream worked their magic, evoking the warmth and coziness of a perfect fall evening. Finally.

Like Etsy Come to Life

With the best intentions, I ventured into the city on Saturday to attend a festival that's been high up on my list of THINGS TO DO IN WASHINGTON. Prior to going, I pictured a nice, leisurely Saturday morning strolling through the vendors, Frances in tow, checking out a bunch of Etsy sellers. What actually happened involved a huge traffic jam, a parking nightmare, and an extremely high level of frustration. Thanks to a wonderful friend -- I owe you one! -- I was bailed out of the mess I found myself in, and eventually made it to the festival, two hours later and sans Frances. Which turned out to be a good thing because the crowds were out in full force.
I'm a huge fan of Etsy.com, and love the idea of supporting local artisans.



I didn't end up buying anything, but it was fun to look. And I learned a big lesson, in the process: always check the traffic before heading into the city! Seriously, I should know better by now, right?

Farm Fresh

In my ongoing attempts to find fresh, local produce, I'm happy to say that I've finally hit the jackpot! Close to home, there's a wonderful farmer's market every Saturday morning that I've ventured to twice now. It's in the historic part of town -- extremely quaint and picturesque -- and full of little treasures. Artisans and farmers, florists and bakers all set up shop before the sun, (and tourists) rise. Shoppers stop by with cups of coffee in hand to stroll through the open air market and to see what a new week brings from the farm.
Two weeks in a row now, I've had luck finding pretty flowers. These hydrangeas are sitting on my dining table, and are the perfect late summer / early fall centerpiece.

And last night I made a farm fresh dinner, complete with tomatoes, eggplant, garlic and zucchini all from the market. It was a good choice on a rainy night: hearty and delicious, and smelled absolutely divine while cooking in the oven.

I'm hoping to continue the tradition of early Saturday morning trips to the market. It just feels good to be up early, enjoying the fresh air, taking in the sights of beautiful farm fare, and then reaping the benefits all week long. For me, it is the perfect start to the weekend.

Up Close and Personal

It's not everyday I have a brush with celebrity. So it's pretty exciting when I do have the chance to meet someone famous. Even more exciting when that person is the author of my favorite book! Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, was in Washington, DC recently for an appearance at a local bookstore. She read from her new book and made time for questions.
She took a question from me!
And then signed my book! I was delighted!

Jam Session

I canned raspberry jam! Nine little jars of perfection, all done with the help of a great teacher.

My friend Joan taught me how to put all those raspberries to good use and now my pantry is stocked for the winter. I am hooked! And psyched! And can't wait to do more!

Faux Fall

All my people back in Western New York tell me it's cool and crisp there. The feel of fall is in the air, and the customary mums are showing up on doorsteps. Judging from the pictures, it certainly looks like fall. I know it must be, because football season officially started last week. However, I'm having a hard time believing. It's warm in Virginia, no leaves are changing, and I'm still in sandals, (after Labor Day, no less!). I decided to hunker down on Sunday, make a big pot of soup, watch football, and try to conjure up the feeling of autumn coziness. The plan was put into motion, but unfortunately nothing quite worked out. The Buffalo Bills lost against Miami, for one. And the soup I made fell far short of perfection. In theory, roasted garlic soup sounded perfect for my 'faux fall' day. The aroma of the garlic roasting in the oven certainly satisfied. The soup, however, did not. Unless you are a big fan of garlic. And by that, I mean you like to have the taste of garlic in your mouth for 48 hours post-soup consumption. Which I do not.

Rather than go into more detail about my failed attempts to have a New York-like fall day, I'll instead introduce you to one of my favorite blogs, and a successful attempt at cooking. Needing to use up the remaining produce I picked at the farm, I chose to make eggplant parmesan following this recipe. Eggplant parmesan is not something I would normally make, as I've never had luck with it, nor particularly liked it. But I had the eggplant and I had the tomatoes, so decided to give it a try Saturday evening. With a guest for dinner, it was a risky choice, but The Bitten Word boys did not steer me wrong. It was delicious! A must try for eggplant parmesan lovers and haters alike. The accompanying sauce was full of flavor, and the eggplant breading was crisp. Perfect meal for a late summer dinner. Because who am I kidding? It is still summer in Virginia.

My Job

Normally I wouldn't spend any a lot of time talking about my job, but I've had so many questions from so many people that I thought I'd take the opportunity to tell you how it's going.

I'm a librarian.

I work in a private boarding high school.

I used to work in a public high school.

I've been at the new job going on four weeks, so I've had time to make some observations. Pulling onto campus everyday is like leaving the real world behind.

There is a strong sense of tradition and history. The main administrative building was originally the home of Martha Washington's granddaughter.

Honor and spirituality are at the core of all decisions.

The student body is small, and the school community is extremely tight-knit. There is a lot of emphasis placed on decorum and intellectualism. There is also a strong athletics program.

Some perks of the job include using the facilities and dining on campus. The food, and the degree to which I've been welcomed into the community, are both impressive, (one is as important to me as the other!). At various points throughout the last four weeks I've felt lucky to have landed this job, and amazed by how different education can feel in this type of setting. So far it's going really well, and I'm happy I made the switch. Starting anew has been invigorating, rewarding, and if I'm not careful, fattening! Thank you for all your questions.

Long Weekend

One of my reasons for moving to Virginia was to be close to Washington, DC, but lately all I've been craving is some time away in the quiet of the countryside. Actually, to be more specific, I've been craving some cheap fruit and veggies. When I moved to Virginia, I left behind a vegetable garden and raspberry bushes, only to find out that good produce here is so expensive. Gone are the days of one dollar handfuls of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, beans, and most other summer vegetables. So in an attempt to find plentiful, homegrown, cheap vegetables, my friend Kevin and I planned an adventure to the countryside. We packed a picnic and drove west for about an hour, slowly watching the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia fade into rolling hills and fields aplenty.

It was the perfect summer day -- sunny with a refreshing breeze, and blue skies that stretched on for miles. My friends back in New York say it's beginning to feel like fall, but not here.

I did some research, and found a farm that offered a whole slew of picking options. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, okra, bitter melon, eggplant, squash, peaches, blackberries, raspberries, and sunflowers. It was like having access to my own, albeit bigger, vegetable garden! I filled up my bag with goodies galore, and am happy to report the grand total was $5.90!

Even Frances was able to come along, and enjoy the sunshine.

The next stop after our picking adventure was Sky Meadows State Park, a lovely spot for a picnic and hike. We arrived at lunchtime, and were happy to find a spot of shade underneath a tree. Frances rested while Kevin and I enjoyed chicken sandwiches, fresh fruit, lemonade and complete tranquility. Feeling refreshed, we opted to follow a 'moderate' trail to the top of a hill -- hard climbing, but a view that was well worth the effort.

The day couldn't have been better, and now I have a tired pup -- always a pleasure -- and a bunch of produce. My plan is to combine yesterday's raspberries with those from my previous picking adventure, (which have been frozen) and make jam. I'd also like to make tomato sauce with my freshly picked plum tomatoes. Any tips on jam making, tomato sauce or canning are welcome! My adventures in the country will soon be turning into adventures in the kitchen.

Right at Home

I knew it was just a matter of time before I fell into my old habits in my new surroundings, and fall I did. Last weekend, early Sunday morning, I tagged along as a new, like-minded friend ventured into the countryside to go raspberry picking. She introduced me to her favorite orchard and we wasted no time getting to work. After a light rain, everywhere was glistening. The raspberry fields seemed to stretch on for miles.

The aisles between bushes were wide, the berries were plentiful, and the conversation was good.

I felt right at home.

When I got home, I couldn't wait to put the fruits of my labor to work. After scouring through my cookbooks, I decided on a simple cake. No fuss, no muss. Just a beautiful way to showcase the best of the orchard. It was simply delicious.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

Gourmet, June 2009

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar, divided

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1 cup fresh raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.

2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

3. Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in vanilla. Add egg and beat well.

4. At low speed, mix in flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, and mixing until just combined.

5. Spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. Scatter raspberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar.

6. Bake until cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm, 10 to 15 minutes more. Invert onto a plate.

Catch Up

As I'm sure you can surmise, I've been busy lately with moving, starting a new job and settling into a new city. And then of course, my Internet installation was delayed. I have so much to catch you up on! First, I'd like you to meet my new nest.

It comes with quite a history, as well as new appliances, new windows, a new kitchen and a new bathroom. All done beautifully, I feel extremely lucky to have happened upon this place. It is tucked away in a friendly, historic community with walkable streets and a yard for Frances. We're enjoying getting to know our new neighborhood, and meeting a whole new variety of dogs. There are tons!

Aside from settling into my new home, I've tried to settle into my new hometown. I've done some exploring and have found a new ice cream shop to fall in love with, (who knew salt caramel custard could be so delicious?) a new bistro in which to dine alfresco, and a quick getaway to some fantastic scenery, (can you believe I forgot to bring my camera?). There is so much to do right in my immediate vicinity, and then of course there's all of Washington, DC. My head is spinning with all the possibilities and activities that I'm going to discover.

Oh, and I've found the grocery store and have tried to break in my new kitchen. Some stand out meals include this and this, (sorry, no photos again!).

I think I've caught you up on mostly everything. I promise to begin blogging regularly again, and remembering to take pictures. I have a feeling that there's going to be a whole lot of good stuff to share with you soon!

Priority Mail

Hello, friends! Just checking in to let you know I've arrived safe and sound in Virginia. The weather is fine and the sights are beautiful. I would have written sooner if I'd had an internet connection established prior to today. I hope you understand. I can't wait to fill you in on details of my new hometown and all the fun I've been having!

Moving Day

184 items, 4,000 pounds, and three hours later...

... my sweet nest is an empty nest! See you in Virginia!

A Break

Seeking a breather from hard work around the house -- sorting, packing, holding a garage sale, donating -- I headed out to the country for an afternoon of fresh air, sunshine and raspberries.

It was a glorious day! Nothing but blue skies as far as my eye could see.

I was intent on picking raspberries, but first went to get a closer look at the fields of zinnias. I was sure someone planted them for a reason, otherwise I would have picked myself a bouquet. They were beautiful!

Turning my attention to the raspberries, I was pleased to find bushes teeming with berries. The sweet berries more than made up for my stained fingers.

So pretty! I'm hoping to bake my berries into something delicious, but it's going to require disposable bakeware and a hot oven. With tomorrow's temperature predicted at 90 degrees, I might forget the baking and just continue snacking.

Sentimental Journey

Not surprisingly, now that I've made the decision to leave my home, sentimentality is setting in. I have just over one week left in my house, and I've started to note the last time I'll do things. For example, I picked a bouquet of hydrangeas last night and thought to myself, "that's probably the last time I'll pick a bouquet of hydrangeas from my front yard."

And how pretty they look on my [almost] barren mantel! When the time comes for another garden, hydrangeas will be one of the first flowers planted, along with peonies.

Another favorite thing I did for the last time in my house this week was bake. My neighbor gave me a monster of a zucchini, (the length of my forearm!) which I could not let go to waste. I dug out my favorite zucchini bread recipe and got to work.

Zucchini-Oat Bread

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3 eggs

1 cup applesauce

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

3/4 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon; set aside. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and remaining cinnamon; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or until foamy. Add remaining sugar, the applesauce, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in zucchini, nuts, and raisins. Spoon into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture.

2. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack.

My baking dishes are all packed away now, and the zucchini bread has been doled out to friends and neighbors. Leaving my home is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done -- despite my best efforts to remain detached and unemotional -- but also an exciting step in a new direction. And someday, I'm certain, I will live in another sweet little house with a pretty little garden and counter space galore!

Blueberries Up, Blueberries Down

With a moving date looming in the near future, I'm starting to feel the pressure to get everything done -- pack, take care of business, (who knew there was so much paperwork involved in selling a house, renting an apartment, and starting a new job?) say goodbye to those I'll miss the most, revisit all my favorite places in Rochester, and still try to keep a semblance of order in the house for Frances. So I was relieved to have a "day off" from moving-related tasks to visit one of my favorite places for an afternoon of eating and friendship. I returned to Hurd Orchards, this time with friends, for their Blueberries Up, Blueberries Down luncheon. When we chose the date back in June, we had no idea that it would turn out to be one of the most pleasant days of the summer thus far.

The barn, where lunch was served, was awash in sunlight and flowers. There was a gentle breeze blowing through the open doors, with lovely aromas coming from within the kitchen. In keeping with the blueberry theme, the entire meal had blueberries in one form or another.

Salad with blueberries and apricots in a toasted almond dressing.

Honey oatmeal bread with blueberry-cherry jam and mini blueberry muffins.

Chicken with blueberry catsup, zucchini fans and yellow transparent applesauce, (first apples of the season!).

Blueberry buckle for dessert.

It was a perfectly enjoyable day, and one that I was so happy to have. Time slowed down for a few hours, and I wasn't concerned with checking items off my "to do" list. But now it's back to the list, with high heat and humidity making a return as well. I'm not wishing away my remaining time in Rochester, but am wishing that I could just get everything done and not have to worry so much!