Operation BIG BIRD: Complete.

After one very long day at work, and I mean very long, I went on my somewhat merry way to go get my turkey. I weaved through the shores of lake Minnetonka to make it to Lakewinds Food Co-op. Lakewinds started as a small organic health foods store that my mom has been going to for years. Now, Lakewinds has grown and expanded to other locations, but their mission to bring healthy organic food to the people is still what they stand for. Anyway, I picked up my beautifully plump 15 lb bird and headed for home. And now the turkey is resting peacefully in my fridge. Tomorrow will begin the all out process of preparing for Thursday. If you read my cousin Kelly's blog she hilariously goes into the joys of being first time thanksgiving hosts. She says it best, so read it people! I will be making orange\pomegranate\rosemary cranberries, corn bread apple sausage stuffing (or as my brother calls it: Bread Dressing) and Spinach-Cheese Swirls for an appetizer. And of course, the turkey. Which will be a Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus. I know it may sound fancy, but we french can use snobby words for very simple things. But not only will we be good french hosts with floofy sounding foods, Kelly and I are both native american (Chippewa as a matter of fact) so this is our contribution to feed the pilgrims (my parents).

But before all the preparations and the cooking, tonight i am just going to veg out. What does Julia Roberts say in Pretty Woman? Be still like vegetables. Lay like broccoli.

I made some shrimp and rice that was pretty darn good and spicy! Now... Now I rest, cause the next few days will be a whirlwind! Giga-waabamin! (goodbye in Chippewa)

Blog Already!

That was a message from my cousin Kelly today, "Blog Already". Where to begin? I have had one mama-jama long week! I knew I would going into it, but now that I have a moment to stop and catch my breath, it really was a long busy week.
Highlights included: Dinner at Jeanelle's on Tuesday. The best tasting ham ever! Thanks Jeanelle! Wednesday night gossip girl turkey session with Kelly. I knew Chuck was going to give Blair the necklace! Thursday, dinner and fellowship with the ladies at Bonnie's place. Meeting Amanda and I like her already cause she had cupcakes for us! The way to my heart is through cupcakes! mmmm...
Friday, well Friday was a super go go go day. After work I rushed to Lakewinds Food Co-op to place an order on a big fat fresh organic turkey. Kelly and I were content with cooking a 9 pounder, but my mom insisted on at least 18! But she's paying for it, so I doth not protest. So I literally ran into Lakewinds, to the front counter and I stammered slightly out of breath, "Is it too late to get my turkey order in?" I think I was expecting a crabby old lady with an evil eye, waiting to take her stamp that reads DENIED and slam it down on my order form. But instead a kind lady took my form, assured me that she was going to put it with the other forms. I guess I'm just really worried that I will go to pick up my bird and they will have no record of my request. It's stressful enough to be a first time turkey maker! My mom's friends invited them over for thanksgiving, but my mom politely declined and told them she would be with me and that I was making a turkey for the first time. Her friend said, You're putting your money on a first time turkey maker over me who has years of turkey experience? Apparently my mom has faith in me. I am confident that I will do just fine. I can do all things through Julia Child who gives me strength. Oh wow, was that just totally blasphemous to say? Well I guess I prefer to worship a God who has a sense of humor.
After my turkey order, I rushed over to Edina to meet Kelly and Kyle for a movie. We saw Lars and The Real Girl. I really love this movie. It's just beautiful and touching and funny all rolled into one. RUN don't walk to see it! And if all that fun wasn't enough, I went back to the East Side to meet up with Ellen. We had dinner at Chili's, drank some 'ritas and talked forever. I promise you Ellen that I will see Lars with you!
Saturday I awoke early to hit the Macy's door busters. On a mission to get a $5.98 roasting pan. Guess who got the last one! Yeah you know it! Two minutes later I saw a bevy of soccer moms standing around the empty display all looking rather disappointed. So I avoided that section of the store like the plague. I remember the cabbage patch doll fights of '84, I'm no fool! Nobody's taking my roaster away from me! Word to your mother.
After all that I headed out to my parents place to help them move back into the house, unpack boxes and get them settled in. They just all seem so happy to be back in their own place! Later that night I met up with Shannon for dinner and a movie. We saw Fred Claus, only so so, but mildly entertaining. Shannon and I were extremely grossed out by Santa's sausage sized fingers! EW! Later, I crashed on Shannon's couch and Sunday morning I went back out to my parents to help do more unpacking.
I am now home. It was nice to walk in and throw down my stuff, wave hello to my bed and crash on the couch. When I don't sleep in my own bed, I have this silly thing i do, when I finally see my bed, I always say, "MY BED!" My bed treats me well and I love it dearly!
I am now having a moment to catch my breath to relax and do nothing but catch up on The Office from Thursday and munch on my new favorite Wasabi Crackers with Laughing Cow cheese spread. Kelly got me hooked on both!

So as you can see this HAS been a long, fruitful and fun week, not including my job... PUKE and no comment.
Ellen and I were talking the other night and I was telling her how my family has very strong hermit tendencies. We like to be home-bodies and eventually a tad bit reclusive. Ellen said, "But not you and Kelly!" I had to laugh out loud. I cannot speak for Kelly, but she has her hermit ways, and I definitely do as well. However, I am blessed with friends, and my own company can get pretty old. I am a work in progress. I can rise up like a phoenix among the hermits.
I would like to continue to sit on my couch and chill for the rest of the night, but I have been summoned for dinner at the Vlach's... Kyle shot a pheasant and he wants to cook it up. Kelly made muffins and I don't want to pass that up. I only have to work 2 days this week (praise God!) and soon I can decorate for Christmas. This will be another busy week, but bountiful and I am already thankful for so much, and it's not even Thanksgiving Day. Gobble Gobble.

"S", My Name is Sabrina, and I like...

There is this new theory I read about in the newest issue of Newsweek, about how there is a "name-letter preference". Scientists believe that you gravitate towards things, good or bad, that start with your initial. They used the example of Ken Griffey Jr having so many strike-outs "K's", apparently lots of baseball players with the name that starts with a K, have a higher strike-out rate. I don't know how true this is for me, let's see... I drive a Subaru, I like Spicy food at Sawatdee. One of my favorite cities is Sevilla, Spain and I like the store Sephora. WOW!!! Let's see how I do for bad things, I hate Snakes and driving in Snowstorms, I've had my purse Stolen 2 times, and I periodically have to get Stitches in my head. This is amazing! Of course what if your name was Xavier, I guess you must love Xylophones and maybe you break lots of bones, cause you have to get X-rays a lot!


Wait a minute, my blog's name is Superfluous. Amazing

Yocky Yocky!

I have plans to go out tonight, so the likely hood of making this squash recipe below is pretty slim. However, I will make this in the near future and sit and indulge. A note on squash: When I was a wee girl, I really didn't like squash, or any vegetable for that matter. But since I was a compliant child until the age of 12, I just went along with what my mom made for dinner, and didn't say a peep. Well one night, maybe around the age of 8, and a squash night too, I sat there swirling and mashing my squash into oblivion, wishing I could have something else to eat. "Why must I eat this gross squash", I thought to myself, "It tastes like crap and smells funny too!" So in one triumphal move, I raised my fist to the sky and in a loud voice I chanted, "YOCKY, YOCKY!" Not Yucky, but Yocky! Maybe I thought by saying "yocky" I had found the loop hole out of punishment. Yucky is not something you say to your mother's cooking, but maybe yocky would make a statement, without getting disciplined? So as I was pumping my fist in the air yelling Yocky Yocky, my brother joined in, and together we had our own version of Mutiny on the Bounty, or Mutiny on the Squash I guess.... Needless to say, my mom didn't find it too amusing.
Now I love squash, no rebellious cries any longer. But once in awhile my brother and I will be eating and we will look at each other and declare, "Yocky, Yocky" just for giggles...

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH CHILE VINAIGRETTE
2 (1 1/2 - to 1 3/4-lb) acorn squash
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh hot red chile, including seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 450°F. Halve squash lengthwise, then cut off and discard stem ends. Scoop out seeds and cut squash lengthwise into 3/4-inch-wide wedges. Toss squash with black pepper, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a bowl, then arrange, cut sides down, in 2 large shallow baking pans. Roast squash, switching position of pans halfway through roasting, until squash is tender and undersides of wedges are golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes.While squash roasts, mince garlic and mash to a paste with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer paste to a small bowl and whisk in lime juice, chile (to taste), cilantro, and remaining 1/4 cup oil until combined. Transfer squash, browned sides up, to a platter and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Purple Fish

Yesterday on my most favorite day of rest, I went about cleaning and watching the Food Network for tips, turkey tips really, but I will get to that later. I rested yesterday, Sundays are good for that. My kitchen got a thorough scrubbing down, and after all that I thought, I should cook in my sparkly clean kitchen. I had Talapia that needed to be eaten and a pretty little summer squash that i needed to cook up. And in the door of my fridge, wedged between tomato paste and horseradish was a sad looking half of an onion that was just begging to be eaten. It's as if it was saying, "Pick Me, Pick Me!"... So in the saute pan went the onions in some olive oil and then some garlic, because when don't i cook with garlic! Then went the sunshine yellow summer squash. I sauteed them with the onions and garlic, salt & pepper & parsley & my can't live without red pepper flakes. I removed the squash when they were done. And to get the little bits off the bottom, i added some red wine, just a little drizzle, and a bit of butter. I placed the talapia fillets into the pan and the wine turned my fish purple! It was a strange site to behold and i wish I would've taken a picture. I've never eaten purple fish, and although they looked a little scary, they tasted wonderful. I served them up on top of the yellow squash... and then it was a Vikings meal on my plate! Too bad the Vikings SUCK! But don't get me started...


This week is jammed packed every night from Monday until Sunday, and then I will rest.
Wednesday Kelly and I will be having our Thanksgiving Dinner Super Power Summit. I had the brilliant idea a few weeks ago to host Thanksgiving. And then Kelly volunteered her home to accommodate the dysFUNction. So together we will be preparing the feasts of all thanksgiving feasts, sans green bean casserole! Which speaking of GBC, i was just telling my mom the other day, "Mom, we are making a healthy yet deliciously simple gourmet meal, with NO green bean casserole." That night, my mom said to my dad, "Sabrina and Kelly are doing Thanksgiving." My dad said "I don't care where we go, I just want some green bean casserole." OH PUKE DAD! I think we will be making him his own portion in a ramekin.

Wednesday night, the recipes will be chosen and the meal will be planned. The big question is the turkey. Neither kelly or I have ever made a turkey. But I have been reading up on it, and getting lots of tips... lots and lots of tips. Turkey will be my middle name when I am through with this holiday!

Did you know that on the original Charlie's Angels there was a Sabrina and a Kelly? Kate Jackson was Sabrina and Jaclyn Smith was Kelly. Farrah Fawcett was Jill, and since we have no Jill, Kyle can be her. I always thought Kyle would make a good Farah Fawcett... hmmmm...

Feasts A'Plenty...

Do you ever have one of those nights where it just isn't pleasant? You just feel off and nothing seems right in your life. And as you go to bed, you think "Tomorrow has got to be better than this, Please let it be better than this." Well Friday night was like that for me. I won't go into details, but let's just say it wasn't the most happiest nights of my life. Thank God for fresh starts in the morning. I've come to believe that 99.97% of my woes can be solved with just a simple nights sleep. Funny how perspectives can change in a 7-8 hour time frame.

Saturday I woke up and headed out to Here's Life Inner City. It is a program that was set-up to bring food and a message of God's love to people on major holidays. "Boxes of Love" are put together with a complete Thanksgiving meal for a family. A group of my friends and I went to volunteer there for the morning. We had a great morning, getting the boxes ready and making bracelets. The bracelets share the gospel message of how God loves us, through different color beads. Here is the website link to Here's Life Inner City to read more about what they do: http://www.hlictwincities.org/index.cfm

While we were there, Sarah brought along her friend Karrie. Karrie and I used to go to college together in Rochester, 11 years ago! It was so fun to catch up with Karrie. She is just as sweet as she was when we were in school. It is so cool to get re-connected from friends from ages ago. I am amazed at all the people I have been meeting and getting re-acquainted with this year. It is a blessing to have so many amazing people in my life! After we finished making boxes, we headed over to Sarah, Ellen's and Stacy's home to eat a delicious chili lunch! Sarah went all out, cooking the night before for all of us. A few more people came over and we had a little party. The chili was spicy and delicious, and all the other food was amazing too. I ate until i just couldn't eat anymore. I didn't have my camera or I would've taken pictures! I always say, few things could be better than good food and good friends!

And if that wasn't enough food and friends for the day, I went home to get ready for another fabulous meal. My cousin Kelly put together a dinner party, with a friends theme. She invited 3 friends, Heather, Tabitha(Kelly's Tabitha; I have to clarify because people always get that confused, cause I have a Tabitha too) and myself and in turn we were to invite a friend. Kelly invited Toni, Tabitha invited Crystal, Heather invited Lana, and I invited Ellen. So 8 lovely ladies enjoyed good, NO, AMAZING food and conversation. Her house looked beautiful as always, and her table setting was tre chic! Kelly will explain all the names and recipes of her meals on her blog, but here are a few pictures of the courses:

When I left last night, I made my way home and got ready for bed, and as I climbed into bed, I said my prayers... and I thanked God not only for delicious food and amazing friends, but that today was indeed a better day, and oh how truly blessed I am!

And on a completely different note that has nothing to do with blessings... I hardly get chances to dress up for parties. So because I was invited by Kelly to her chic dinner party, I decided to wear my best Blair outfit from the show Gossip Girl, a new favorite of Kelly's. If you haven't seen or heard of Gossip Girl, it is a show about young people living the glamorous life in New York's Upper East Side. One of the main characters is Blair Waldorf and she is very glam-preppy. She can usually be seen wearing cute dresses and her signature headband. This show is total smut, but the clothes are great to look at... So I put together my own version of a Blair outfit just for Kelly! And as Nothing But Bonfires does with her outfits, she always says where she got the piece of clothing or accessories. Like her, my clothes are very inexpensive, so what if they don't have New York's Upper East Side prices, better yet, they have St. Paul's Upper East Side style!

Dress: Target, Sweater: Sears, Shoes & Headband: Walmart, Clutch Purse: Thrift Store.

The Ranch is Rockin'

Back in July my parent's house had a fire. Lightening struck while they were away. And although the neighbors were able to call the fire department in time, and they were able to contain the fire; the whole upstairs had to be gutted.

So the past few months my parents have been working hard to get the house ready to move back into. But while they were at it, they decided to some major upgrades. First being the flooring. We ALWAYS had carpet in both houses my parents built. I really am not a huge carpet fan, but my mom loves the stuff. So to my complete shock my mom opted to just do carpeting only in the sunken living room and her bedroom! The rest is this beautiful hardwood that her and my dad and a friend of theirs installed.

The house also has a new fireplace stone wall:

New counter tops:

And in the basement to keep with the whole western theme, my parent's refurbished barn wood from their neighbor Earl's 100 year old barn.

They have worked so hard to get the house finished by the holidays. Next week they will move in, just in time for Thanksgiving. House fires are never fun, but as my mom said as me, my mom and dad and brother were driving together, "I have everything I need right here in this car."