Oh Sweet Sweet Friday

Yeah, that's me in the blue poodle skirt.  I'm only sharing this 'cus I like you.

It's Friday!! 

Well, actually it's currently 11:24 pm on Thursday, but I'm pretty stoked...  Can't you tell?

So, I spend my entire work week thinking about my weekend to-do list.  I get out my little lined notebook, make sure everything is neatly bulleted, and get out my favorite black ink pin.  Then, I put everything into categories.  First there are the errands I have to run, the projects I need to finish, and the food I want to cook.  I already have a list for this weekend, but I have a looming problem..... As soon as the weekend hits I will end up forgetting that that neat little list ever existed.  

That's sort of an issue.

My to-do list has become so insanely long that all I really want is to crumple it into a ball and throw it in the trash.  Apparently I can't do that anymore.  The projects are staring me in the face, and my stock pile of Nutella is becoming dangerously low.  (Oh Heavens!)

I am now going to share my list.. Not to get phone calls from certain relatives (ahem), but as a virtual reminder that I cannot destroy with a match or lighter.

Okay, here we go.

1.  Finish painting my closet doors

2.  Repaint the bookshelf

3. Start curing the pork belly

4. Do laundry

5. Drink a glass of rosé (Hey, something has to be enjoyable.)

6. Read my latest issue of Bon Appétit

7. Clean the coop

8.  Spray paint my big metal B

This list is totally do-able, right?  I purposely didn't make it too large, mostly because...well...I know myself.

Anyway,  I'll let you all know how it goes on Monday.  Expect a new update on Scratch That, including a possible new "Wine of the Week" series.   Oh, and if you haven't started "following" it yet, do it.  I pinky swear that it won't be lame.  I'm not crossing my fingers behind my back either.

So there it is!  Have a great weekend dudes. 

 À bientôt!

Friday Night: Homemade Beet Pasta with a White Wine Butter Sauce

Have you ever made fresh pasta?? I haven't. Apparently I thought the best way to introduce myself to homemade pasta was to make beet pasta. I have to admit, I wasn't disappointed. First, the color is amazing. Second, it tasted really great! I paired it with a white wine butter sauce with leeks and bacon. Soo soooooo good!

Before I give you the recipe I have to add a disclaimer. I am not a professional and I made a few mistakes along the way. Here are a few tips. When you roll out the dough, make it thinner than you'd expect. The pasta will plump substantially in the water and you don't want it to be too thick. Also, make sure after you slice it that you do not pile the uncooked pasta on top of eachother. I did this. While it did end up separating in the water, I was scared it wouldn't come apart and I'd have to roll it all over again.

To make the pasta, follow this recipe from CeramicCanvas.com

I chose to substitute the all-purpose flour for semolina but obviously that is personal choice. Also, I do not have a pasta roller so I hand rolled it and sliced it with an extra sharp knife. A pasta roller would probably make it look more professional..... (hint)

Here is the recipe for the sauce I used. It was ahhhmazing.

White Wine Butter Sauce

1.5 tbl butter

1 leek chiffonade

1 shallot minced

1 cup of chicken broth

1/2 cup of Sauvignon Blanc

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/4 a lb of uncured bacon

Slice bacon into chunks and pan fry until cooked half-way through. Drain fat and put bacon on a separate plate. In the same pan melt the butter over med-low heat. Saute shallot until transparent. Add leeks and continue to cook until wilty and fragrant. Next add the chicken broth and wine. Continue to cook until it boils and reduces about halfway. Add the bacon back into the pan and continue to cook until the bacon is reheated. Salt and pepper to taste. (I prefer sea salt and cracked pepper, but that's up to you!)

Enjoy!

Hearts,

Lauren

Mellow Monday

So nothing too exciting happened this weekend. Actually nothing at all. We spent it just relaxing. On Sunday I ended up cooking our Thanksgiving dinner finally. (I had purchased the ingredients to make "leftovers" but ended up having to thaw the bird out a lot longer than I anticipated). I also finished painting the walls in the kitchen. Jeff started the cabinet doors so hopefully those will be done this week. I also knitted this headband:

I'm really happy with how it turned out. Though, because my hair is so short I get REALLY bad hat head; therefore it ain't coming off.

Today I'm hoping to finish the other side of the upper kitchen cabinets, oh, and start working on christmas presents. I have some great ideas. I do want to warn all of my family that your gifts will most likely be handmade, unless you asked for something incredibly specific.

Anyway, hope your Monday isn't quite so.... Monday-like.

Happy Friday

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

Next week promises to be exciting on La Maison. Get excited!

What I'd Rather Be Doing

I'm stuck in Watson library today. Nothing like a Saturday of descriptive statistics. I'd much rather be watching christmas movies. YEAH, I know! We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet, but come on, who can resist Its a Wonderful Life or White Christmas? Sounds like a hot chocolate kind of night to me.

Jeff isn't feeling to motivated either. Rightfully so. It might be a week before major kitchen things are accomplished. We'll see.

Oops

Above photo from current Ikea catalogue

I totally forgot about trend thursday.. OOOOPS! I don't really know where my mind has been lately. Most likely it's been wrapped up in work/school/paint colors. Well, actually, that's exactly where it's been. I have a rather large paper and project due within the next three weeks on top of the kitchen reno and work, hopefully I won't lose my mind! So on that note I will leave you to enjoy a great fall weekend. See yah on Monday!

Happy Friday

Here

It's finally friday! I hope you all have a good weekend, and while you're at it, check out this amazing tour of Louis Armstrong's home, including his 1960s renovated kitchen. See yah monday!