FOOD & FLOWERS

Hi everyone. It's been a few typical winter days here in my world. The sun is not cooperating today and I have nowhere to go so I thought I would sit down and do a post. These are flowers that are still going strong since Valentine's Day. They were given to Abby from her boyfriend, Tom. She also received chocolates, which I helped her devour. I received a chocolate rose from The Husband which was hollow...don't you hate that?
Things are very slow here this time of year. You really have to make your own fun. I go crazy if I don't get out of the house, just a quick trip to the store can give me a different perspective. It must be the fresh air. Alas, I couldn't get The Husband out of the house this past weekend. He is loving the family room and his new television. We are not people who go to movies so we rent them With the Academy Awards just around the corner, we got caught up on some newer movies...Moneyball, The Ides of March, Contagion and The Help. I read The Help over a year ago and I was so happy that the movie was so true to the book. The actresses portrayed the characters perfectly. So it was a very quiet weekend with a lot of movies and popcorn.
Last week I had the whole family over for dinner. Have you ever heard of Irish nachos? I ordered them at our favorite pub a few weeks ago and took a picture. I then replicated it as an appetizer before our dinner Thursday. In a nutshell, you make waffle fries and then sprinkle chopped green onions and tomatoes over them, then top them with the cheese that you buy in the jar. Do not use shredded cheese, it turns to glue! I mound everything on a festive plate before I pour the hot cheese on. You can then garnish them with more green onions or even bacon bits as they did in the restaurant. Yum!
I had my butcher make up Polish chickens for me. I have no idea why they are called that. It is both chicken breasts stuffed with homemade sausage. One will be enough for two people. This is the before...
...and this is them out of the oven with the string cut off and sliced in half. This is how I serve them on the buffet. It's possible that your butcher can make these up for you or you can try it yourself. I take the easy way out!
I also made potatoes roasted with rosemary and butter. Corn, a simple pasta salad and a loaf of French bread finished off the meal. We had cheesecake for dessert. I usually set the table even if we are having a buffet, but this time I just stacked the plates and silver.
I found these pretty hydrangeas at a little grocery store. I don't usually shop there because it is so small and the prices are high, but they do have a nice floral section with things I don't expect. I found my rosemary plant there {which died...sob}.
So, that is about all I have been up to. I made a trip to the mall with Abby last week and although I am not really a mall person, we had a great time. I was looking for a dress to wear to a dinner party we are going to Saturday night. I have a few nice dresses and some dressy tops that I could wear with black pants, but it's always nice to know you have something new on. I couldn't find anything I liked though so I have to resort to what I have in my closet. The couple hosting the party live in the oldest house in their town. There is a ballroom on the third floor that used to be used for town hall meetings. I was there for a Christmas party just after they moved in...I am wondering what they have done with this ballroom! I will let you know.

I hope all of you are having a good week. Hopefully you are having nice weather. It is cold and really gloomy here...looks like rain. Well, I guess that is February for you! See ya! :-)

I am joining French Country Cottage this week! Pop over!