It’s not really Sunday night, right?
Sigh. I know the truth but I’m ignoring it for a little longer. I hope you don’t mind.
Another sigh – we didn’t win the massive Powerball drawing Saturday night, but we had fun dreaming of what we would do if we did win. Mainly we decided we would split some of our time between Maui (when we’re craving white sand beaches and crystal-clear water) and Ireland (which has captured a piece of our hearts each time we have visited).
Imagine all the topics I could blog about!
Would would you do if you won the Powerball?
And then we have the Minnesota Vikings. A devastating loss in the playoffs due to missing a field goal in the last few seconds of the game. Enough said about that.
Did I mention we didn’t even get above zero today? But it was sunny out. That’s what we Minnesotans cling to when it it gets ridiculously, no-man’s-land, frigid, arctic-vortex-like cold outside.
How about a few cheerful weekend snaps – all taken indoors – instead?
Technically this is a photo from Thursday, but I had to share how well my Joe cleans up, when his mama forces him to! Or rather, when his band teacher requires black pants, white shirt, and a tie. It was his very first band concert (our percussionist!) and even Grandma and Grandpa were able to come for it. I can also (and very honestly) say we were all pleasantly surprised at how great the kids did!
Friday night brought Teacher Man and me to Benihana with my office staff and their spouses//significant others for our holiday dinner out. After several rounds of sake, sushi, and way too much amazing food, a good time was definitely had by all. And with two additional bar stops on the way home, we also stayed out way later than I would’ve thought we could! (Or maybe it’s just me that usually crashes at home by 10 p.m. on Friday nights.)
I started my adult coloring book this weekend – the one I received as a gift from another blogger through the Christmas in the Country gift exchange. Okay, I obviously didn’t get super far but I have to say it was a really relaxing endeavor and I can see why adult coloring would offer some pretty nice benefits, as written about in this article.
Proof that I don’t always drink wine! (You can find my recipe for Cranberry-Pomegranate Cosmopolitans here. (I think a girl should be able to make at least one cocktail well, and this is my signature drink. Hint: it’s all about using freshly-squeezed lime juice.)
And tonight I am finally sharing the recipe for my absolute favorite potatoes – Cheesy Gratin Potatoes with – wait for it! – bothy Gruyere and Asiago cheeses. I seriously could skip the rest of the meal and just eat this entire dish. Seriously. These potatoes are THAT good.
Go forth and make them this week. 🙂
And that my friends, is our weekend in a nutshell. I’ve got another busy week ahead at work, but I’m hoping to sneak in a Turkey Tuesday post for you. Until then, cheers!
Lara
Cheesy Potato Gratin
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs. unsalted butter
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 3 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese Parmesan would also work
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 375ºF.
- In a 10-inch nonstick fry pan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Slowly stir in the stock and cream.
- Add the Gruyère and thyme and stir until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the potatoes and stir to coat them well.
- Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and sprinkle the Asiago on top.
- Transfer the pan to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the top is golden brown and bubbling at the edges, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.