Sunday, September 13, 2009

SHARK ATTACK!

Okay-so the Lambert clan decided to head to Florida on a whim to unwind after the big wedding. Now, we new we were in the midst of hurricane season, but we took the gamble and it ended up being our best trip there yet.

We rented a huge 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath house directly on the beach and it was my first time there with the beach being perfectly deserted with sunny, hot days and the calmest ocean I have ever seen. It was my first time ever seeing schools of dolphin swimming by people on rafts, schools of stingrays right at the shore, and hundreds of sand dollars at our feet.
Our house came with a beautiful kitchen decked out with granite and stainless, so I gladly took over making most of our meals. My highlight of the week came after shark fishing. The top picture is a lemon shark that someone on our boat caught. Out of the twenty folks aboard we were lucky enough to be the only ones interested in taking home an ocean treat.


My hubby ended up catching a six foot hammerhead shark--but it was tossed back because supposedly they aren't good eatin' fish. He did though produce the most excitement aboard the S.S. Minnow. Eric was bruised up and down his side from pulling this sucker in:) He was my big great white shark hunter! The second photo above shows me and my not so fabulous catch--only a baby lemon shark. He was tossed back in because honestly, who can feel good about themselves for eating a baby shark. The third is my father-in-law and his catch--a mackerel. Another tossed back to the ocean, for as our guide informed us they are the gutter of the ocean and wouldn't even be kept for chum.
So, the lemon shark was gutted on the boat and rid of both ends and chopped into twelve or so steaks. As, I opened up the white paper holding our ocean treasure the next day I had to think a while at what might be the best plan of attack. It isn't like the shark I normally pick up at the grocery. The skin is a bit furry and there are pieces of body parts that I am sure would not be pleasing to eat. The smell, very--um excuse my lack of creativity--fishy. I had to breath out of my mouth only.
So, I ended up taking my 50 cent steak knife and went at it. I decided to make kabobs and only use the firm white meat and get rid of the remains before the other family members would see and make them change their mind about eating shark.
After an hour of carving with the CRAPPIEST knife ever, I soaked my pieces in a bit of buttermilk for about an hour. Then I rinsed and marinated in a terriayki marinade. Let me just say--they turned out fabulous. Everyone loved them:))))) Thank goodness.
So, if our guide ever reads this---HA! I told you we wouldn't be like those other folks that show up for shark fishing and say they will eat the meat and don't. It was sharkalicous, baby!





Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Maid Service

What can I say.....I have had weddings on the BRAIN lately. Eric's sister Karen got married August 22nd and it has been months and months of build up--and now it is over. I am sad:( I was the Maid of Honor and I sure hope I lived up to Karen's expectations! I was actually more stressed about her wedding than I was my own. That is so me--I am such a people pleaser. I cannot help it.
(yeah-that's me at my wedding. I had to reminisce....)



I luva, luva, love weddings.....and Karen's was so beautiful. Every thing went perfectly and she was radiant. Great food, booze and friends! We partied until 4 in the morning and woke up and celebrated all over again!

She used the same photographer that I did for my wedding and I have to give accolades to Tri-Village Studio in Grandview for their finesse with the camera. Karen sent me the link to her wedding photos and I don't even know how she will narrow it down. Whenever I get someone to email me some pictures they took that night I will post them here.

In the meantime, I had to take a stroll back down memory lane.......It will be four years next weekend:)
It wouldn't be an Eric wedding without cigars. He has said for four years now that he is going to submit one of our wedding photos to Cigar Afficionado.....he will probably have to lie about the date now to get them to use it.


And me, being a foodie--can't leave out the cake. Our cake was wonderful. My mom's friend Cheryl made it for $300. We ended up setting it up on a gazebo overlooking the lake with netting draped around it during the meal which we pulled for the cutting. They told me no one had ever done that there before (I felt like a genius---it didn't last!). I always wonder if anyone has done it since then.....

This pic pretty much sums up how I felt about the evening. It was perfect--and ended up being just the way every bride dreams of.........
I know Karen felt that way too and I am so relieved:) I can't wait for Karen and Kasey's first anniversary--hopefully we can celebrate like that night again! His family is crazy fun, they know how to whoop it up for sure.




And there's my man and his crew looking so tough. Bad asses going to the chapel.
Watch out downtown Lancaster.
XOXOXO