M.I.A.

Hello all!  I know that I have been gone for quite awhile now, but man have I been busy!  I completed my work at The Catholic Foundation on the 24th and then left for Santa Fe, NM with my mom the same day.  I had never been before and it was amazing!  In fact, I think our family is going to spend Thanksgiving there together.  It will give us more time than this past trip and also give us all a chance to take Santa Fe in together as a family.  Can't wait!  I have lots of pictures to share, mostly of food of course, and will get those up this week sometime.

I am adjusting to my new schedule still.  Right now I feel like I'm on vacation and will be returning to "work" anytime.  It's definitely challenging getting used to it all.  As soon as I get adjusted and figure out timing of different things I'll feel more adjusted.  It's amazing how busy you can stay without reporting to an office 40 hours a week.  I feel very blessed.  

Last week was a very busy week between starting my new job and Blake's birthday.  In between work projects I was running around like a crazy woman getting groceries, picking up gifts, and arranging arrivals for b-day events.  Everything went off without a hitch and fun was had by all.  I think (hope!) that Blake had a wonderful b-day weekend and was very happy with his gifts and spending fun time with family and friends.  

That's all for now, I'll be back with pictures and some new recipes very soon!

Ciao!

Xo-Wife of Wright

Please excuse my absence...

I am in the process of training a new employee for the Catholic Foundation.  I have some new and exciting things happening in my life and I cannot wait to share them with you all!  But it will have to be next week...On top of the training I have also had a very sick husband.  I will not be sharing the details of that, because trust me, you do not want to know...

Everyone have a fabulous rest of the week, I will be here on Monday!

Ciao!

Xo-Wife of Wright

Erin no bra...

Is that not the correct Irish saying?  Considering the amount of women out last night that were dressed inappropriately I think it should be changed to that.  I had no idea that St. Patrick's Day was the new Halloween for girls to dress questionably on.  It is.  Trust me.  My dear friend Meghan even pulled a "questionably" dressed girl aside and told her that she was too pretty to be dressed like that and that her mother would be ashamed.  I believe the girl told Meghan that she "was just jealous" to which Meghan laughed in her face.  Poor sweet child, how wrong you are.  I also love the fact that at 31 my friends sometimes feel the need to tell younger women what they're doing wrong.  Can't save them all! 

We had a good time last night at McNellie's but I have to say it.  I am officially "too old" for that type of crowd.  I bet 1,000 people were there.  It was outside with tents, long lines for beer, no ventilation, 30 minute waits to use a port-a-potty in the dark (eww), lingering smell of b.o. a plenty, and questionably dressed women with drooling drunk men chasing them.  You know, the type of thing we all would have loved ten years ago.  Next year I will be getting there at 2:00 in the afternoon to ensure a spot inside at a real table, with a real waitress, and a real restroom.  I'll make sure we get a window seat so we can watch the poor saps outside.  People watching is great from a safe distance! 

We were there from about 6:30-9:00.  At that point us old folks were ready for bed.  Not like the good ole days, but still fun.  Here are some pics from the night.

First the crowd, a portion of it anyways...

I forgot to mention it up top, but it was also and un-official McGuinness reunion there.  I bet I saw 50 people I knew from high school.  Here's one lovely lad, John Erick, who stopped by our table with Ashley.

Also great to see Ms. Mary Green pictured here with Tyler and Joe.

The boys, Blake and James.

The girls, Meghan and Katy.

And of course a solo shot of Ashley.  Miss you bunches, wish you were home always...

So that's it for our St. Patrick's Day.  We plan on celebrating St. Joseph's Day tomorrow.  Italians celebrate St. Joseph's Day like the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  I will be making my Nonna's Pignolata's.  They are usually handed out to children on St. Joseph's Day.  They're fried sweet dough that has a honey glaze.  I'll share pics on Monday.  Yum.  Also going with the tradition I'll be wearing red tomorrow in honor of St. Joseph.  Join me if you think about it!

Ciao!

Xo-Wife of Wright



Bada Bing.

My sweet husband has been asking for meatball subs for over a week now.  Ever since we bought sub size baguettes from Cao Nguyen grocery.  They are 35 cents a piece and lovely.  I would say they're about 8-10 inches long, crusty on the outside, soft in the middle.  Perfect for any sandwich(I'm sure most people by them for Bahn Mi), but in Blake's mind destined for only one thing.  A MEATBALL SUB.  

When I got home from work yesterday he was asking for them again.  I told him that we would have to wait until I went to the grocery store on Tuesday because we didn't have any mozzarella for the sandwiches.  It's funny how fast husbands volunteer for something when they really want it.  Off he went to the store for mozzarella and I got started on the meatballs.  I have my go to meatball recipe that is my families, but I decided I wanted to try something a little different for the subs.  I remembered Giada making a mozzarella stuffed spicy meatball that I thought would be perfect for a sandwich.  She served hers with pasta, but I knew they would work great for this.  I looked up her recipe here and got to work. 

Here are the things I changed.  I used 85/15 ground turkey instead of beef and veal.  They were very moist, and I don't think you would know they were turkey unless someone told you.  I did not use and onion because I did not have an onion on hand.  I used regular mozzarella instead of smoked because again, that's what I had on hand.  Another thing that attracted me to these meatballs is that you cook them entirely in the oven.  No searing and splatering oil all over the stove as I normally do when making my families.  They cooked up super fast, about 15 minutes, and left no mess since I lined my baking sheet with parchment paper before baking.  While the meatballs were cooking I heated up some canned marinara sauce and split the baguettes.  When the meatballs came out I put them on the baguette (I take out some of the soft dough filling in the bread to make room for the meatballs), topped them with sauce and mozzarella, and slipped them back in the oven open faced for the cheese to melt and the bread to toast.  Check these bad boys out.

Here's another view.

And finally the center view.  It was funny watching Blake fidget while I made him wait to eat so that I could take this picture...

They were delicious.  I could only eat half of mine along with my salad.  Blake ate all of his and I had to roll him to the couch afterwards.  Okay, not really, but close.  He was VERY full. 

Try them soon, they were a cinch to make and would definitely be a croud pleaser.  I've already decided I'm going to make mini versions of these meatballs next time we host a party.  They would be great stuck with skewers for people to pick up and dip in sauce. 

On a completely different note, I discovered something exciting after dinner last night.  I went to close our curtains in the living room.  My seedlings are placed next to the back window in that room. I had just checked on them when I closed the curtains on Sunday night and thought "They're not sprouting, we probably did something wrong."  But guess what?  This is what I found last night...

Yea for sprouts!  All three varieties of tomatoes and the thyme have sprouted!  Yippee for our green thumbs.  I already feel accomplished.  Also, my dad informed me that the amount of sprouts we have going would be enough for a garden the size of our backyard.  We are not planning to "garden" the entire yard, just a section.  Whoops!  So when all of these are sprouted and ready for the ground we will be having an "Adopt a Veggie" Saturday.  Anyone in the OKC area that can promise a good home to our little sprouts is welcome to a sprout of their own.  First come, first serve!

Ciao!

Xo-Wife of Wright



No words.

It's gorgeous outside today.  It's also almost 80 degrees.  I cannot wait to get home and sit on my patio with a glass of wine.  A grilled burger sounds good also, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow for that.  BARG.

It's only been three days since Lent started, so I can't complain.  Two of those have been without meat though...so maybe I can complain a little??  I'm still having a tough time deciding what to give up. I have a couple of things I'm going to work on, like complaining (whoops) and eating more whole foods, but I just can't seem to nail down something to give up. 

The new Archbishop sat at the table I was at to eat lunch today at work.  As everyone was talking about having been on the Atkins diet at one time or another I spoke up and said as an Italian I just couldn't give up pasta.  It goes against my very being.  I looked at the new Archbishop and he kind of looked at me curious.  I immediately made the connection that giving up pasta for Lent, and not the Atkins diet might be exactly what I have been looking for.  I spoke up and stated that giving up pasta for Lent would indeed be one of the biggest sacrifices I had ever made during Lent (I'm sure that impressed him). 

So MAYBE that's what I'll do.  No pasta.  For forty days.  Oh no, if I say it on here I will have to do it.  What will I eat on Friday's when I can't eat meat, so I usually eat pasta?  Do Asian noodles count as pasta?  I don't think they should...

Hopefully I can think of something else that would be equally as impressive to give up.  Help me Rhonda.

Xo-Wife of Wright

Yes, I do know there is "black stuff" on my forehead.

It's Ash Wednesday and like any good Catholic girl I went to Mass today and received my ashes.  For those of you who may not be Catholic or need a reminder here is where that tradition stems from:

"Following the example of the Nine vites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told:

"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." "

You can reference this and more here.  Also, read Jonah, Chapter 3 in the Old Testament for a literal reference within the bible. 

I have received ashes most Ash Wednesdays from the time I was born.  I have always thought the symbolism and tradition to be one of the most powerful in the Catholic faith.  The day marks the beginning of Lent, a time in which most Christians prepare with penance, reflection, and fasting for Easter.  It's when we give things up that we like all in the name of a little sacrifice that by all means is modest in comparison to what was sacrificed for us.  Jesus was the man. 

Ashes are intended to be somewhat humbling, not embarrassing, but humbling.  There is a difference.  I can remember Ash Wednesday growing up in school.  I didn't think about being embarrassed about what was on my forehead because everyone had been marked just like me.  I can also remember starting college and when Ash Wednesday rolled around thinking, "I wish I was back in school where everyone had ashes on their foreheads."  It was a growing experience.  Now, I somewhat enjoy peoples faces when I am somewhere in public on Ash Wednesday.  There are always a few double takes, stares, and snickers.  There are also the random nods from strangers whose foreheads are smudged as well. 

So, to come back to where I started with this blog.  I went to Target over lunch with my mother...

and yes, I know there's "black stuff" on my forehead.  I don't mind the staring for a lunch hour, I'm really kind of proud.  I feel special.  I think that's how it was really intended to make us feel.  Special, chosen, connected, purposed.  I've enjoyed reading peoples posts on Facebook for the past week or so pondering what they should give up for Lent.  I like that it is on so manys peoples minds.  It feels good to do something "good" for 40 days.  If we could just get to 365...  Baby steps! 

More food and fun on the blog tomorrow...

Xo-Wife of Wright

The not so Secret Garden...

Let's start by saying that I'm praying that I do in fact have green thumbs.  If I don't, we've already wasted some money getting this organic garden going.  Some of you might have seen on Facebook this past weekend that Blake and I started seedlings for the organic vegetable garden that we're planting this spring.  I found out as I started researching that some veggies need to be started inside before you can place them in the ground outside.  On Saturday morning off we went, list in hand to buy the seeds that needed a head start.  Here's what we came home with.

While doing research I also found out that your garden cannot truly be organic if you don't plant the seeds in organic soil.  If you put them straight into your ground outside, or into regular potting soil there are chemicals(fertilizers, incesticides, etc.) that are not present in organic soil and in turn they will "grow" into your food. So, with that being said the picture above shows Organic Seed Starter Soil, a variety of organic seeds, and jiffy pots for the seeds to sprout in.  Here's a closer look of what had to be started ahead of time.

We started with large tomatoes for salsa, San Marzano tomatoes for sauce, and sweetie tomatoes for salad and to roast.  Green and red bell peppers and jalepenos, yum yum.  In the herb department we have Genovese Basil, thyme, and flat leaf Italian parsley. 

After filling the Jiffy planter cups 2/3 of the way full with soil you dampen the soil and add 2-3 seeds.  Once the seeds are added you top the planter cups off with more soil and dampen them again. 

Blake topping the seeded cups off with more soil.  Yes, that is our Netti Pot that I used to dampen the soil.  Dont' judge.  What would you suggest using to water mini plants?

After this step we needed to pick a naturally lit location to let the seedlings hang out for a few weeks.  It was hard picking a place that wasn't completely in the way, so they ended up to the side of the chaise side of our sectional next to the windows.  It was also recommended that you keep them covered with thin translucent plastic to let the light through but keep the moisture in.  I didn't get a picture of that, but here they are all done and ready for their move to the window.

Blake used a leftover piece of our kitchen ceiling woodwork to place them on for easy moving but any piece of scrap wood or stiff cardboard would work.

This weekend we'll be staking out the garden and breaking up the soil.  We are building a raised bed so that we can fill it with organic soil and not compromise the veggies in the yard soil that has who knows how many fertilizer/chemicals in it.  When we are past our last freeze and can plant outside we plan on adding the following veggies to the garden list:  Summer squash, zucchini, okra, potatoes, garlic, shallots, carrots, arugula, peas, sage, rosemary, and dill.  I can't wait!  I'll update you as we get closer to planting time.

Ciao!

Xo-Wife of Wright