overnight getaway

Last weekend Jeff surprised me with a night away just him and I! What a treat. Ella K was back at home with our friends Maggie and Pete, who were generous enough to risk giving up some zzz's and come spend the night with her. What great friends we have!

Hotel Modera

Courtyard at Hotel Modera

A relaxing late afternoon at Hotel Modera (modern boutique hotel in downtown PDX). NxNW wine pre-dinn dinn. Then off to Lincoln, for a unique and delicious dinner (N. Williams St.). An intimate space - minimalist, yet cozy (my fav) - and quite the unique menu by most peoples' standards. I ordered a ricotta cavatelli (almost like a gnocchi) with a rabbit ragu (yes, rabbit - a very sustainable meat) and parmesan. Delish! Jeff got the hanger steak with blue cheese butter and cornmeal onion rings (super low fat I'm sure). The bruschetta was an interesting starter, yet quite unsubstantial if I'm being honest (two pieces of plain toast with essentially a very flavorful butter).

Lincoln

Following dinner we bounced back to our hotel to grab drinks at Nel Centro (the bar/restaurant at Hotel Modera). What a fun little surprise to have live music (jazz) in the bar (they were throwing a party just for us I think). Lo and behold I found myself a tad bit hungry after the dainty portion of rabbit pasta I was served at Lincoln. Obvious solution: order a pizza! The pizza from Nel Centro was scrumptious, a thin crust, and I devoured all but once slice. :)

What a fun and memorable getaway in our own city. Just takes one fun date night like this to remind me why I love my hubby so much! I'm reminded that these times are so important!

piece of high chair art

Jeff and I have been looking...and looking...and looking...for the perfect high chair. Oh what a dilemma. For some reason, this has been quite the tough choice...to the point where Ella's chubby thighs are getting stuck in her current baby-feeding chair (the Bumbo) and food is falling on her lap because she has no tray to eat off of. C'mon MAMA AND DADA, just make a damn decision!!!

Upon researching dozens of different choices, looking for something modern, minimalist, compact (for our compact living space), and stylish (a real challenge for most baby items, which are usually worse than ugly oozing eye-sores)....I came across our dream high chair. Yes, you will probably laugh at the fact that it's perhaps not very functional, but doesn't it look pretty? Needless to say, we did not order it because I'm sure it's ridiculously spendy and I have not been able to find any sites that sell it. But can't we just admire it's beauty for a moment? :)

caribbean coconut rice

I'm not ready to let go of my Caribbean memories from last month yet! A couple weeks ago I tried out this new recipe to complement some Hoisen chicken skewers that we were grilling (just chicken breasts marinated in Hoisen sauce, usually found on Asian foods aisle...will make your skewers oh-so-tender and juicy). This simple, easy rice recipe was so full of flavor and had such a hearty, tropical spirit! :)

Caribbean Coconut Rice

2 tsp. butter

1/2 tsp. dry ginger

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 c. jasmine rice

1/2 c. coconut milk (I used canned)

kosher salt

pepper

1/4 tsp. grated lime zest

1 1/2 c. chicken broth

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, and cinnamon, and sauté 1 minute or until fragrant. Stir in rice, and sauté 2 minutes, or until rice grains are opaque. Add coconut milk, salt, lime zest, pepper, and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir once, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 min. Fluff rice with a fork, cover, and let rest 5 min. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using.