Sunday, July 15, 2007

Buona Finesettimana!

We have had what has become our trademark weekend – doing absolutely nothing! And we loved it! With the weeks that we typically have, we simply look forward to spending time together alone and with Waylon – mostly the latter, of course.

Our Friday was pretty uneventful. I got home relatively early (6:45) and made pasta with a sauce based on a prepared Marzano tomato and sun-dried tomato sauce. I sautéed some chicken, garlic, and mushrooms, deglazed the pan with some Coppola Rosso blended red wine, and added the chicken to the sauce for a short simmer. We topped it with some goat cheese and enjoyed.

Saturday proved more exciting – well, in our own way. I played golf with my friend Brig Stone, who was in from Nashville, his mom, and her boyfriend Tom. We played at Baneberry, in Jefferson County Tennessee. We teed off at 8:00 a.m. I played poorly, but we all had fun, and I was grateful to have been invited.

When I returned from playing golf, Suni and I decided we wanted a light dinner. I often enjoy a cocktail or two in the evenings, especially on the weekends. Suni rarely “partakes,” and it is actually quite a challenge to deliver a drink that she will truly enjoy. Ironically, the only beer she likes is Guinness, which just doesn’t taste right out of a can. She likes mojitos, but those are such a pain in the ass to make, and they never turn out right. I was so happy when the thought occurred me to make bellinis, a traditional Italian drink that was invented in a café in Venice, if memory serves me right. Suni and I had seen a Food Network show – one of Giada de Laurentis’ – where Giada went to the very café, Harry’s Bar, where the first bellini was allegedly made by bartender Giuseppe Cipriani. Our only exposure to the drink, however, was at the Johnny Carino’s chain in Las Cruces, New Mexico – not exactly authentic. (Although the bellini is supposedly one of Italy’s most popular drinks, I can honestly say that I never had one in my semester there).

So I decided that I would get the stuff to make her bellinis. All I needed was frozen peaches and a bottle of prosecco, the Italian version of Champagne. Follwing Giada’s recipe, I made a simple syrup by stirring two cups of sugar into one cup of water over medium heat. After the simple syrup cooled, I blended it with some thawed peaches and grated orange peel to make a sort of puree. The recipe said to strain it through a fine mesh strainer, but I did not have one. I spooned a couple of tablespoons of the puree into a champagne flute and filled it up with prosecco. It was a hit! She drank the entire bottle and proceeded to play “air piano” and “air banjo” to everything from a Bill Monroe bluegrass number to a children’s version of the “Beer Barrell Polka,” which she actually insisted that I download on the spot. It was a spirited night, and we both had a blast!

Our Sunday has been a laid back affair. We basically just lay around and did nothng. I have to get up early tomorrow, as I need to have a very productive day and then I have a doctor’s deposition in Nashville at 4:00 p.m. This makes for a very long day. Suni did, however, weed the garden while I watched The Boy. In fact, as I write this post, Waylon and I are hanging out listening to Waylon Jennings’ “Don’t Ya’ll Think This Outlaw Bit Done Got Outta Hand.” And, yes, Waylon is his favorite. I have been looking all over the internet for a Waylon Jennings pacifier. If anyone happens to see one, let me know.

I hope everyone had a good weekend! I am gone most of the week. Hopefully , Suni will make her first post while I am gone :)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

But did she play air guitar to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun?" That's my favorite memory. That is also the night of the infamous butcher, baker and candlestick maker discovery! Ah, those New Mexican memories.

Anonymous said...

oops, that comment was from brandi. too lazy to sign up.

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