Pumpkins and sharp objects

I can't seem to shake the feeling that carving pumpkins is going to end in severed thumbs.  Especially when using kitchen knives.  Even more so when the handle breaks off the kitchen knife mid carving.  

However, we made it through the evening without blood and without a need for stitches. 

I also feel like crying when walking home in the dark  I spot the fake body hanging in the window of our neighbor's house.  

Happy Halloween everyone.  Eat candy.  Drink cider.  And watch Charlie Brown.  Because no one knows how to celebrate a holiday like Charlie Brown.

Hello again.

35 days.  How embarrassing.  That's over a month.  That's how long I've neglected this space.

This absence was not intentional, but rather the result of life transitions and hoarding precious free time.  We've entered the illustrious world of evening MBA classes, the grind of work, and graduate school applications.

Sometimes I get home from work and all I want to eat is Cheetos and a milkshake.  And since my husband won't be home until after 10 pm, I indulge.  That's what I've earned after sitting in traffic for over an hour.  Cheetos, a milkshake, and a presidential debate. 

After which I made chicken pot pie.  Naturally. 

Brad has taken over in the kitchen the past few weeks.  Outshining my culinary efforts with fancy skirt steaks and corn and black bean salads.  I love coming home to dinner.  There's something magical about it.  I think the food is excited to see me too.

We've also taken to exploring the legion of amazing restaurants nestled in this beautiful drizzly city.  As the weekend nears I pull up my Urban Spoon page and search for something new.   

Poutine from Smith.
French onion soup from Elliott Bay Brewery. 

In other news:

It's now fall in our apartment.  Warty pumpkins make me happy.  They seem the epitome of Halloween. 

Our little friend, and a dozen other gourds, came from the Spooner Farm pumpkin patch.  We didn't stay long... it was rainy, and the Husky's game was on T.V.

Recently.

Recently, we spent time with dear friends. 

Recently, we played poker and ate Swedish Fish. 

Recently, we baked quiche.  And it was really good.


Spinach Quiche
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

9 inch refrigerated pie crust (or make your own... more power to you)
3 eggs
5-6 green onions 
10 oz. chopped frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
1/3 cup half & half
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese 
3 oz. cream cheese 
1/4 tsp. black pepper 
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

1. In a medium bowl,  mix cream cheese until smooth, slowly add in eggs and half & half. 

2. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Spread pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan, pour in remaining ingredients. 

3. Bake for 25 minutes, rotating halfway through.

Bag-less Lady.

Locals are aware that Seattle has banned the use of plastic bags.  Grocery stores encourage the use of re-usable bags, and charge a five cent fee for the provision of a paper one.  This is a minor inconvenience, mostly we mourn the loss of free liners for our small wastebaskets (that's recycling, right?).  And it's not surprising, given that even before this was put into practice I felt judgement poor from the eyes of fellow Trader Joe's shoppers when I forgot to bring my re-usable bags.  But today I discovered a new development in this "no-bag" city of ours.  While retail stores are still permitted to provide their customers with a tote in which to carry  their purchases, one store is breaking the mold.  The irony just kills me. 

Today, as I stood in line at Victoria's Secret I overheard the sales associate ask a customer if she would like a bag for five cents.  What?  Surely I had misunderstood.  I was next in line.  I handed my item of choice to the girl behind the counter and she rang up the purchase.  She then proceeded to wrap the item in no less than four sheets of tissue paper, after which she handed the awkward bundle to me.  I couldn't help but chuckle.  Luckily I was toting a large purse.  

"Why aren't you using small bags any more?"
"It's some law in Seattle, something about recycling."

Apparently discretion went out the window with plastic bags. 

What's that?  You don't want everyone to see your new delicates?  That push-up bra won't fit in your wristlet?  That'll be five cents please. 

A Very Merry Birthday

Miss Elena is officially one year old.  We celebrated this gorgeous munchkin with an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party.  She was hardly rattled when we all burst into song and placed a beautiful tall cake in front of her, others have not faired so well.  The only tears resulted from a tumble off her ladybug.