Elizabeth & Brendan

That is our plan for 2010.  And give back actively rather than the passive giving we normally do.  We started to feel the need to do something while watching the Biggest Loser.  There is always a bit about the Pound for Pound challenege where if you lose a ound, they donate a pound of food to a local food bank.  This of course was usually followed by a commercial highlighting that 1 in 8 Americans go hungry.  Media worked.  It got us feeling guilty and interested in helping.  Because even after the trials and tribulations of 2009, Brendan and I are doing well compared to the average American. 

For the past year, we have been donating through Kiva.org.  It is a micro-finance site that allows for direct person-to-person lending.  (And since it is non-profit, you don’t make money on the loans, it is charity people.)  According to the website, “Microfinance is the supply of loans, savings, and other basic financial services to the poor.  As the financial services of microfinance usually involve small amounts of money – small loans, small savings etc. – the term “microfinance” helps to differentiate these services from those which formal banks provide.”

We found out about Kiva through a gift.  Jody and Katie gave us a Kiva gift certificate for our wedding and we have taken that giift and helped out four people (in Kenya, Ghana, Peru, and Tajikistan).   The premise being tht you take the money and as you get repaid, you loan it right abck out.  The one thing I wish is that they would post stories after the loan is repaid so you can check in and see how these people are doing.   

Which leads us to wanting to help out more in our own backyard and we plan to work with BostonCares, Somerville Homeless Coalition or some other organization. We have the applications, just need to feel them out and send them in.

“It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”
Albert Einstein

Brendan had purchased tickets to Avenue Q for our anniversary which was in town shortly after our trip to Georgia. So we decided to make a night out of it. A friend from work was stopping by to watch Eli for a bit and we were headed out to dinner and a show.

We ended up going to Erbaluce for dinner and it was awesome.  Our server was very friendly and knowledgable and the food was great.  We were adventurous as I had rabbit and B had boar.  Not our usual fare.

Avenue Q turned out to be hysterical and politically incorrect in every way.

Now that it is cool out, I have been cooking a bit more. And we are making some good crap. This past weekend I made vodka sauce for the first time and not only was it tasty but we have enough for a couple of more dinners.
Sunday had me making a lentil stew in the handy dandy slow cooker (aka crock pot). I threw in carrots, diced tomatoes, onions, celery, lentils and seasoning then turned the knob and walked away. 5 hours later – stew. Again, freezer friendly and tons of it.

I think the piece de resistance was the butternut squash with sausage and kale. So easy and yet so tasty.  I saw a recipe for roasted winter squash on this web site called Kalyn’s Kitchen and decided to give it try.  Brendan and I adapted it somewhat.

First we used a butternut squash and added kale.

Recipe as we cooked it.

1 medium sized butternut squash (just enough to cover the bottom of a glass 9 by 13 pan)
4 links of spinach and feta chicken sausage
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
Sprinkle of salt
Ground black pepper to taste
1 bunch of kale
2 cloves of garlic

Word that Baby Martine finally entered the world.  Kristin’s (awesome cake master and maker of my wedding cupcakes/cake)  water broke in the wee hours of Saturday and the baby decided he (my guess and remember I am currently 2 for 2 in guessing genders) just wasn’t ready.  He is not even here yet and he is being very stubborn.  Hmmm maybe it is a girl…

Which reminds me that we have to get the cake to have on our anniversary.  Maybe I will bring it with us to Georgia.  Kristen and Jonathan seem down with eating year old cake.

I made the pie and it is really good. Next time maybe I will try to make the crust. That seems to be the more difficult part.

So these last couple of days I have been venturing out of the comfort of the apartment.

Saturday I went for a ride to the vet with B and Eli (who is now good in the car compared to when we first got him).

Sunday B and I went to John’s and Caroline’s to watch the Giants game (Go Big Blue!) and while I was still in my pajamas and riding in the back of the car, it was a nice outing.

Today I met Larry and one half of the 2-H club for lunch at my favorite place: Eat at Jumbo’s.

This is all good since I will probably be returning to work soon.

Erica was in town this weekend and we met up for a bit in Davis Square. She got to meet the famous Eli and is totally enamored with him (just like EVERYONE who meets him). He sat for her and gave her paw. He even went to the window when she left. But enough about Eli. Let’s talk about me.

Erica brought Crumbs cupcakes for me to try. Now I have never had these cupcakes and have heard great things about them. Hopefully they live up to the reputation.

It made me think that I should create a cupcake score card and begin to rate and dissect all the cupcakes I eat.  I think I eat too many of them.  Whatever.

The freezing of meals always reminds me of “Steel Magnolias.” So this week and weekend we may be doing some cooking. And we are also going out to dinner. And I am getting a massage, hair cut, mani/pedi (oh wait no I am not). It is a busy weekend.  If we do get around to cooking and then freezing food what recipes “freeze beautifully?”

Liz loves cupcakes…

Chris and Kim (Chris was the one who went and got them so he gets the credit) brought me my favorite (besides Kristin’s). 

It is free doughnut day at Dunkin’ Donuts. Just purchase a coffee and you get it, free. But if you are buying 2 coffees you do not get 2 free doughnuts. I tried that and was told, “one per customer.” So I was rung up twice.