Beautiful Day For A Farmer's Market!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Saint Louis... clear skies, sunny and pipping hot!  Leslie, Chris and I headed over to the farmer's market in Tower Grove park.  This didn't exist when I lived here 5+ years ago and I was surprised and happy to see how large it was and the amount of people that were there.  It runs from 9am - 1pm. Walking around and talking to the vendors it quickly became evident that if we hoped to get the farm fresh eggs or other prime items we would need to get there in the 9am hour instead of our lazy 11am.  I will be there next week for my organic eggs!  

http://www.tgmarket.org/

Tower Grove Bath House

I had no cash but I'll be back for these next week!

Leslie eyes some lemon basil

It was great to see the bath house up and running...when I lived here from '04-'06 it was under renovation.  The kids here where loving it.  I dipped my feet in as well :)

Always live music, they were really good!

Holy Crepe! food truck...yumm... but sadly, no gluten-free items.

Our bounty :-)

I'm a few behind... but Happy 4th!!

For Independence Day my friends Leslie, Chris and I went to Tower Grove Park to see the Compton Heights Community Band.  It was a beautiful night for it.  Also on the bill was a kazoo player trying to break the Guinness Book of World's Records for the most kazoos played during the Stars & Stripes.  As the evening wound down and the sun set I joined around 5,000 in humming along and accompanied by civil war cannons.  Fun night!!

Happy Birthday to Hilary and Me!!

I have a birthday twin and she is also one of my closest friends!  Last night Rudy threw an awesome party for the two of us...complete with yummy cheeses, appetizers and tasty adult beverages.  I happily agreed to bring the cake - gluten free of course! After much internal debate I decided on an Orange Rosemary Pound Cake with Buttercream frosting :-)  Yum...

Orange zesting and rosemary snipping...

Hot out of the oven!

Yum....frosting...

YUMM... MORE frosting!!!

Tasty Lemon Drop Martini made by bartender Rudy :-)

Nice spread!

Birthday girl Hilary :-)

Yes, there is a twin to this photo!

Barb and I :)

Happy Birthday to us!!

My Last Providence Dinner Party!!

 I. Love. To. Cook.  Yep, I really do.  Over the last half year I have gotten into the habit of throwing a Thursday night dinner party for friends.  It forced me to make my apartment presentable at least once a week and gave me something to do that I loved instead of always wallowing in my unemployment.

This was my last Thursday night in Providence before moving across country and therefore, my last Providence dinner party (boo hiss).  On the menu was:

- Spinach, fresh pea and goat cheese salad
- Steamed asparagus with lemon zest and parmesan shavings
- Homemade gluten-free potato gnocchi
- Tomato gorgonzola sauce
- Toasted macadamia & almond nut meringue with a ginger pear chocolate sauce

Photos? You betcha!!  First up I made the dessert...

Meringue baking in the oven...yumm....

Chocolate sauce in the making

Up next was the homemade gluten-free gnocchi... arm strength needed!

Handrolling and imprinting the gnocchi

Gnocchi finally done... one+ hour it took!!  Boy do I love my friends! :-)

Speaking of friends they have started to arrived... Hilary :)

Colleen!

How does Rudy always manage to look so damn cool?!?

Mr. Earl!!

Why do I not have a picture of my 6th guest Mike!?! Ack.

Tomato gorgonzola sauce reducing.

My only group shot...not my best work!

Food!  Eat!  Yay!! :-)

Time for the meringue!  Yummy! :-)

Lovely evening... thank you friends :-)

Sketchy Grump Makes His Debut

My cousin Sarah sent me her beloved red merino sweater to turn into a buddy for her... I love special projects!  I had a lot of fun yesterday turning it into a grumpy mustached fella!

There is always a moment before I start cutting into the sweater that I sweat a little...

There's no going back now!!

Ready to get out the sewing machine...

By request Sarah wanted this bear to be incognito :-)

All hand sewing done and body seams finished, he is ready for stuffing...

All done!!

Whatcha lookin at fool??!?