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. 

 

And we're bored...

Did the Puyallup.

Brad went to the Puyallup Fair for the first time yesterday.  BBQ, Krusty Pups, and Scones.  Not to mention lots of goats and a spectacle of prize-winning vegetables.