Comfort Food

Look at what I got for Christmas! My very own dutch oven, an enviable beauty! I have been wanting this very one for some time now, and am so pleased to finally have it to call my own.
This weekend was the perfect time to break it in: with temps in the teens, I had nothing but cravings for warm, hearty fare. Wanting to try a new tomato sauce recipe, I gathered together the ingredients and spent Sunday afternoon watching football and watching the sauce simmer on the stove. The dutch oven is perfect for sauce making, and now I have a whole pot full.
I even made meatballs for the first time! I taste tested the sauce last night, and think it's good enough for company tonight. On the menu? Salad, spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. The perfect antidote to a cold, January night.

Habits

One would think that by now, over a year into writing this blog, I would be in the habit of carrying my camera around in order to capture all the sweet moments I've been experiencing. But alas, I've completely fallen out of the habit. So rather than show you what I've been doing, I will tell you.

Last weekend I tried a new restaurant for lunch before heading to the National Building Museum with Mason. Lunch was delicious, (although I still haven't found pizza that I truly love) and playing tourist in the city for the afternoon was a very enjoyable experience. I also attempted Ina's Perfect Roast Chicken, and am sorry to say that mine fell far short of perfect. It could have been the chicken -- mine came from a farm in Maryland -- or it could have been the way it was cooked. I used a rotisserie instead of a roasting pan, hence the flavors didn't come together in quite the same way. Lesson learned? Don't mess with perfection and always follow the recipe!

This morning I met my friend Nancy for breakfast at a cute French cafe in Old Town Alexandria. After our croissants and coffee, we headed to the Holocaust Museum for a somber couple of hours. I was happy to go, and even happier to have a friend to go with. It was not an easy thing to do, but something I have been meaning to do.

On tonight's agenda? Heading back to the city for cocktails at a speakeasy! I'm not really sure what to expect, but it sounds fun and mysterious. And who doesn't love fun and mysterious, especially when cocktails are involved?

I've also recently gone here and seen some fabulous artwork.

I've watched all the football playoff games and can't wait for tomorrow's championships.

I've brought Frances to work with me, (more on that later).

I've acquired a really, really awesome new cooking pot and will be breaking it in tomorrow.

Stay tuned...

Sunrise over Virginia

The view from my library's front steps, the morning after the "big" snow. Luckily it mostly bypassed the DC -metro area. There was just enough to make for a very pretty view.

Cozy Sunday

Now that the holidays are over, and Frances is back in Virginia, I've been wanting and needing to enjoy some wintertime coziness. And that's just what we did this past Sunday, after a pleasant walk in the park with my friend, Mason. Taking a cue from some of my favorite bloggers, I settled into Sunday afternoon by starting the process of Martha Stewart's Chicken Chili. While I worked on dinner, Mason built a fire in his fireplace. Frances curled up on the couch. The football playoffs were on the TV.
The chili simmered and the aroma filled the house. The cornbread was baked. Inevitably, I joined Frances on the couch. Time slowed down and there was nothing to think about except the warmth from the fire, the puppy snuggled up next to me, and the soon-to-be enjoyed comforting meal. It was the perfect antidote to post-holiday doldrums and my craving for some coziness. When it was finally time, Mason and I set our plates on the coffee table, and couldn't resist eating our chili directly in front of the fire. It was the perfect way to spend a January Sunday in Virginia: cozy, warm and with good company.

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.