Saturday, May 31, 2008

EAT A (Ginger) PEACH!


Ginger Peach Chicken-
(A dedication to the Allman Brothers Band)

2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp fresh grated ginger
2 fresh grated garlic cloves
2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 cup fresh peach puree
4 tbsp honey
5 boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 peaches quartered
1/2 red onion cut into big slices
rice (I used rice pilaf that I added fresh corn off the cob to - I boiled the corn on the cob and then cut if off the husk and added to rice)

Bring red wine vinegar and sugar to a boil in a pan. Once sugar has cooked into the vinegar add the ginger and garlic and let cook for 2 minutes. Add peach puree, soy sauce and honey, stir through and then turn off heat. Cover the chicken with the marinate and save some aside for basting. Cover chicken and put in the fridge for 2 hrs. Place peach slices and onion on a skewer and brush with marinate. Cook chicken and peach and onion skewers directly on the grill till done and serve with a side of rice!

The grill god must love this dish too - literally right as it was finished it started DOWN POURING!!! Thank you grill god for waiting!!!!!!

YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY!!!!!

DOWN THE SHORE!!!






So she's 11 months and has be on a cruise though Europe and skiing in Vermont, her first year wouldn't be complete without a trip down the shore to the beach house!!!

She had a blast on the merry-go-round and she loved playing in the sand!

A great time was had by the Matrale family!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Scooting around...



So at 11 months she doesn't crawl, but she does get where ever she needs to go!!!

Partners in crime!!!



I wonder how well cantaloupe and a broccoli, spinach & tomato omelette is going to sit with Marley?

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

AJ's new thing...

My daughter seriously cracks me up sometimes - what a lady!!!!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Mother's Day!





I had the most amazing first Mother's Day!

Saturday night we had dinner with my whole family at The Brick Oven - I had clams in a lemon wine sauce to start, followed by the most delish and tender Veal Franciase and then finished with tiramisu a la mode - it was all sooooo good! I got presents and cards and I really loved them all - it meant so much to me!

Sunday morning Alex and AJ gave me the most beautiful cards and flowers and we had a amazing breakfast - broccoli quiche and fresh fruit compliments of Alex. After Alex did some work on the patio and we to to buy our new patio furniture!

I had the most amazing 2 days ever - thanks so much to everyone that made my first Mother's Day so special!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Patio!!!



Alex and I just completed another do-it-yourself project. We can finally sit outside and have dinner or play with Marley and AJ in the backyard!!! It took us about 4 days to complete and I am so proud of the final result!!! Can't wait to set up the new furniture when it settles a bit...some time this week and I post more pics for sure!!!

Nesta Matrale




Nesta was a big part of our family and we are all going to miss her tons and tons.

We got Nesta from the pound in West Virginia while away at college and she was the best companion ever. She was just around six weeks when we got her. I remeber so clearly the day Alex and I went to pick her out - all the other dogs in her littler were playing and running around and she was off in the corner just relaxing and looking so sweet - and that is just the way she stayed till the end - the sweetest dog ever. She loved Marley from the get go and followed him where ever he'd go - we called them PETE and REPEAT. She was the type of dog that could be let off her leash and she never roamed more than a few feet away. She loved long hikes in the woods, swimming in the pool, her ball that she'd carry everywhere and play keep away with Marley, sleeping and EATING (which got her in tons of trouble on more than one occasion!).

When I got pregnant there were so many who told me how carefully I'd have to watch the dogs but I knew in my heart what kind of dog she was and knew I had nothing to fear with her and the baby and boy was I right - she was so loving a patient and just really great with AJ - they were best of buddies!

After a few years of being on all kinds of meds for seizures her kidneys finally gave up...

Sleep tight Bessy Bear - we will miss you always till we meet again- we are sure you'll be at the gates waiting!