Strawberries + 30 Rock.

Because of this lovely shift of weather from the 60 degrees we had the day before...

yesterday, I made this! 

Finding a pint of strawberries for 99 cents is super exciting even in summertime, so to find such a deal in the middle of snow and blustery wind was even better. They weren't the sweetest berries, but that didn't really matter for the jam because I just adjusted the amount of sugar as they cooked. 

The other day, Andrew stumbled across this recipe and since we struck gold on the strawberries, we figured it'd be the perfect afternoon to make the tarts. I halved the amounts, which allowed us each to have one for dessert last night and one for breakfast this morning. I have to say they were much better for breakfast. The crust I made was a bit different from Michael Symon's, so it was less flaky than the photo (and the Toaster Strudels of our childhood), but it still tasted great with coffee! 

The strawberry jam was definitely the best part...it just about made me forget that it's the last of January and we're in the dead of winter. Not really, but it did help!

Tonight, we're going to be toasting to the series finale of 30 Rock - hard to believe this show is ending and we won't have Liz or Tracy or Jenna to make us laugh. One of my favorites, and a 30 Rock classic, is "The Rural Juror" from season 1. The absolute best is when Tracy and Jack are exploring the possibility of selling Tracy Jordan's Meat Machine in Ukraine (and mention two places where our family is actually from!!!). Even though the show is ending, meat will ALWAYS be the new bread. 

М'ясо: новий хліб! 

Tracy's photo via 30 Rock's FB Page. 

January blues.

Every January this happens to me - when we take our Christmas tree down, I feel like everything looks empty! Our tree was oh, so lovely this year (okay, I say that every year, but this Christmas, it fit just perfectly in our apartment, see?), and right now the corner looks like it's really missing the yalynka! We also had such a wonderful Christmas at home with our families, and now that the tree is gone, it really cements the fact that the holidays are over and we're in the middle of a winter freeze, both literally, as it's really, really cold outside, and figuratively, with school and WI Bar studies (yup...) starting to take up our time. 

We absolutely can't wait for warmer weather and all the fun it will bring - I'm so ready for taking the 10 minute walk to the lake and not freezing my ears off! To make up for the cold outside, we've stayed busy baking and cooking warm and comforting foods, including these ah-mah-zing (how I love Happy Endings...) chocolate chip cookies! I'm linking to the recipe because my sister said she was going to make these today - I'm pretty sure these have become my favorite chocolate chip cookies of all time. 

Right now it's actually warmed up to a balmy 11 degrees...time to celebrate! We'll be baking bread and cooking up some spicy noodles for dinner tonight. Stay warm, friends! 

MN Mondays: Nicollet Mall.

Maybe it's because I've missed being downtown almost every day, or maybe it's because this lovely little street has been on my mind lately as we're searching for rehearsal dinner locations (!!), but lately, I've been thinking about Nicollet Mall. Running through the center of downtown Minneapolis, Nicollet is home to great restaurants and shopping. I spent a lot of time walking down its sidewalks, whether during my Macy's Registry days in high school and college or during law school. I miss the lights and the people watching, and look back happily on the many date nights (including our first ever!) and soccer mornings that happened here. 

Photo by Joe Ennesser

Photo by Tricia Vetrone

Photo by Betsy Graca

Maybe one of the best parts about Nicollet Mall is the fact that you can cross it all by skyway, which would have been completely necessary on a day like today, with a -40 windchill! I'm looking forward to spending some time on the downtown sidewalks this summer, which seems a long way away with this weather. But there is a sign of hope - tonight, it wasn't completely dark until after 5:00! Now this is progress! 

Photos (2), (3), and (4) via Capture Minnesota. 

Saturday Post No. 3

We LOVE our new KitchenAid! Since we've been back in MKE, this big blue dude has already helped us make bread, peanut butter cookies, coconut cupcakes, and, as of this morning, these New England style hot dog buns! They're still cooling, but seriously, it smells just like a good old fashioned bakery in our apartment right now! I can't wait to try them tonight. 

Otherwise, we're just hanging out (having ourselves a party...that's for you, D), bracing ourselves for the super cold blast that's supposed to hit us tomorrow and Monday. At this point I'm done with winter and am anxiously waiting for spring; I would really appreciate the temperature to cooperate and NOT sink to -10! 

Hope everyone is having a lovely, relaxing weekend - stay warm, friends! 

MN Mondays: Auld Lang Syne.

How is it the last day of 2012? I just can't believe how quickly this year has gone by! 

While I'm not usually one for resolutions, I always like to take a look back at the last year to reflect on all that has happened over the previous twelve months. Twelve months - some days it seems like it takes forever to get through a year, and other days, I feel like time just flies, and the year is over in a blink of an eye.

I think back to New Year's Eve 2011, and so much has changed since then. We went out for a few hours to a friend's place, but came back to spend the night in our old apartment in Minneapolis because we were snowed in and couldn't get a cab to go anywhere else. We stayed in, drank champagne and danced the night (and year) away by ourselves. Now, a year later, we've gone on all sorts of adventures that were really unimaginable to me this time last December 31st. From major school accomplishments for both of us (graduating from law school and passing the bar to starting a PhD program) to the big move to a new state and every little event in between, 2012 has taught me a lot about myself and about what is truly important in life. Through it all, I know we couldn't have done all that we have without the love and support of our families and close friends. That is truly the glue that holds my life together, and I don't know what I would do without it. 

While 2012 was really a major year for us, I am so, so excited for what 2013 will bring...I'm sure there are going to be plenty of surprises in store, as always, but the best and most wonderful thing about the year ahead is that we're getting married!! I can't wait to marry my love, and August can't get here soon enough! 

I hope that 2013 brings everyone peace, health, and love. Spend tonight with your favorite people reminiscing all about 2012, and ring in the new year with a glass of something sparkling. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay happy. 

Here's to an absolutely wonderful new year. 

In the lane, snow is glistening...

Winter has finally come to Shorewood. After more than 280 days without measurable snow (a record, apparently), we have powdery trees and fluffy sidewalks. The lake was particularly beautiful - driving by it on the way back from work, the sky, snow, and water were all this silvery color. Here are just a few shots around our neighborhood, taken this afternoon. 

MN Mondays: A Twin Cities Christmas.

A quick post on MN Mondays this afternoon, but hopefully a useful one!

Photo by Doug Wallick 

If you've never been to Minnesota, you may believe that it's a frozen tundra of ice with nothing to do but stay inside for 6 months out of the year. Well, you're wrong - there's so much to do during wintertime! Minnesotans have embraced the cold and have come up with all sorts of activities, both inside and out, that are especially fun to do around the holidays. And with just enough snow, it's remarkably beautiful as the streets and parks turn into quite the winter wonderland.

If you're visiting MN or coming home for Christmas, below are just a few of my favorite things to do: 

Photo by Dave Peterson

Go ice skating, outside! St. Paul's Rice Park has an outdoor skating rink open almost every day from now until February 3rd. The park is lovely, right in the heart of downtown St. Paul and in front of the Landmark Center. Afterwards, drive up to Grand or Summit, and admire all the gorgeous houses decorated with Christmas lights.  

Go ice skating, inside! If it's too cold but you really want to go skating, the Depot Hotel in downtown Minneapolis has an indoor rink open through March. I've always wanted to do this - maybe this year we'll get the chance! You can make a full weekend out of it - stay at the hotel and go skating one night and goof around in the indoor water park another night!  

Take part in a Minneapolis tradition at the Holidazzle parade! The parade runs down Nicollet Mall, and true Minnesotans will watch outside, all bundled up...but if you can't handle the cold, you can watch it from the skyways on your way back from Macy's 8th Floor Auditorium Christmas display. The last day of the parade is this upcoming Sunday - I'm so sad to be just missing it this year! 

Head out to the Guthrie Theater for another Christmas classic: A Christmas Carol! Make sure to take in the views of the Mississippi from the Endless Bridge before the play: breathtaking. 

Photo by Norbert Marklin

Stretch out after all those Christmas cookies and holiday feasts and take a walk around Lake Harriet. Perfect in the summertime, this lake is one of my favorites, and it's just as beautiful during the winter months. 

Photo by Ron Traeger

Check out Van Gogh, Monet, and fantastic skyline views at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Also free. I could easily spend hours here. This Supper with Shakespeare exhibition looks really cool! 

Photo via Como Zoo's FB page

Visit Como Zoo's arboretum. An indoor flower lover's paradise, this place is gorgeously decorated for Christmas! The zoo itself is also open year round, and it's free (one of the last free zoos in the country!). 

There is so much more to do and see, but these are just some of my favorites. Maybe we'll check out a few (and add a few more) when we're home...NEXT WEEK!

Photos (1), (2), (3), and (4) via Capture Minnesota.