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!

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

De-Stress Me Please!

So, it has been a very stressful week. My sister-in-law is getting married this Saturday and......

I am the Maid of Honor. I am honestly more stressed about her wedding than I was my own.....

And work has been full of crazy dramatic events......crying clients, angry co-worker husband,

So, I thought I would post about my favorite place to destress....my lovely back patio. It is calming and soothing. A place to relax and unwind with a glass of Chianti. It also holds one of my favorite purchases of this summer--the firepot, which I bought on clearance at Meijer. It uses fuel gel (which my recommendation is to purchase a ton of it at the end of summer when it is half off because it costs $13.00 a bottle regularly!). It crackles like the sound of real fire and emits a great glowing flame. I love-a-love-love it!

Two days until the big shindig....XOXOXOXO

You Say Tomato....I Say How Many Ya Want

Did you know as I child I hated tomatoes. I don't ever think I even had tasted one when I made my mind up about this-but my Grandpa Snuffy didn't like them, so neither did I. Ketchup, yes. Big, ripe, juicy tomato--no.

I also hated bleu cheese, olives, Dijon mustard, sour cream and pork chops. But my how my tastes have changed. Stuff the bleu cheese in the olive--Magic, I tell you. Coat the Dijon on the pork chops, slather sour cream on my nachos--oh yes! Why didn't I learn to love rice cakes and sea weed? Life is so cruel.

These tomatoes are fresh from my back yard. The plant is brimming over with ripe tomatoes so this whole week will be filled with tomato dishes (sorry, honey). My tomato plant came from Stump's in Logan (a roadside stand where once something is sold out they are gone---so you have to go the first week they open or you miss out!). It is the Rutger's variety and they are so sweet. I almost had to fist fight an old lady over this plant, but she backed off.

I ended up making last night this delicious salad of spinach, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, black olives and basil. I made a simple oil and balsamic seasoned dressing. Right before serving I added some sun-dried tomato feta cheese.....delicious!

Then I cut up a head of cabbage into wedges and grilled them the healthy way--with several heavy squirts of butter spray, some splenda, salt and pepper. I know it doesn't look pretty or impressive, but it is so good. P.S. I forgot I also hated cabbage as a child. I think I only thought you could make sauerkraut out of it--and that is something I still can't stomach.

I finished up our meal with some simple chicken kabobs. I marinated everything in a oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh rosemary and oregano blend. It was the perfect meal for a hot summer day! Ta-Ta for now:)

My Sweet Baby Isabella

Today we had to put down my sweet baby Bell Bell. She was my Easter present when I was ten years old. My grandmother made a tiny Easter bonnet for her with holes cut out for her ears. She probably weighed a pound. I remember giggling with delight when we drove her home and stopped at a park where a man asked if she was a kitten because she was so tiny.

She arrived at our house with a severe case of kennel cough and I was devasted when Dr. Bill called and said she probably wouldn't make it. Well, she proved us all wrong as 17 years later she was still hobbling around.......but a stroke and seizures got the best of her and we knew it was time.

So may you rest in peace my wonderful, sweet, brown-nosed chi-hua-hua. I know you are probably basking in the sun of doggy heaven chewing on one of grandma's biscuits.

The Long Lost Blog

I could absolutely kick myself for neglecting my blog. I have made so many delicious recipes and cocktails over the past few months--it makes me sick that I didn't document them. I just end up making so many things that I end up forgetting some of the things I really liked.

It has been the summer of wedding planning for my sister-in-law, starting at a new company for work, lots of playing golf and lots of RAIN! I swear this has been the coldest, ickiest summer ever! But it is now August, so hopefully the tides have changed.

I also have moved into a new hobby this summer---practicing on my green thumb. I have never had good luck with keeping anything alive before, but this year I have REALLY tried. Daily watering and deadheading. Pruning carefully. Weekly feedings. It takes about an hour every day...but you know what, they look pretty darn good AND I planted everything in late April and we now into August and they are still ALIVE!! I know I shouldn't sound so excited, but it is a first for me!

I am going to make an effort to keep this updated, if only for myself.....

And then they were done.......

The Wheeling Project

The Gary Project


Ah, back from the dead. I have spent the last three months of my life fixing up these bitches! I could kick myself for not taking any "before" pictures! I've painted, cleaned (then cleaned again....oh and then again), ripped up flooring, shoveled gravel, wired lights, laid trim, and oh so much more.

It was a learning experience, but I must admit I am a pretty fast painter now. The Wheeling Project was Eric's baby and the Gary Project was mine. Now, I love a-love a-love my Gary. He turned out beautifully. Now just to find the right people to rent it........I don't want any dirtballs up in here!

So far I've showed it to a dozen people, but only one has actually sent back an application......I think credit checks scare the bejesus out of them. But I guess if they already know that we won't like what we see---then they won't waste their time completing it. Ah, dirtballs.......my favorite.

I'll post some more interior photos this week. I guess I'll have to change the name of my blog from Baker's Lamb to the Laborer's Lamb? Ugghh, you should see my hands they are disgusting from all the manual labor! It's definitely time for a break!