Christmas Family Dinner

 Every year the "family" (my med school family) gets together for our Christmas dinner and our annual Secret Santa gift exchange.  Last night was bittersweet, mostly because this will be our last time together.  It also makes me think about how awesome 2010 has been.  We all decided what careers in medicine we would pursue, we've traveled together, Jennifer had a baby, Jess got married, Forrest and Megan became a couple....so many awesome things have happened but it's exciting to see what new things 2011 will bring.  We'll be celebrating match day, graduation, and the start of residency.  And hopefully, we'll all keep in touch as best as we can for the rest of our lives after medical school.  So below I'm featuring a picture montage of last night's festivities and I will be back tomorrow (hopefully not too hungover) to show pics of our annual NYE party at Tristan's house.  We're going out with a bang!!

  Ignore how fat my sweatpants make me look and instead focus on my adorable puppy.

 For my birthday this year the family got me a coffee of the month club subscription...here are my 2 newest. 

  When you have no clue for what to do for dinner, what do you make?

 If cookies are baked underneath something healthy, they instantly become healthier.  My friends, I made kale chips and dark chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for dinner.  Andy likes them, but decided that kale chips and cookies do not equal an even meal.

 Kale chip inspiration is due to the lovely lady Kath Younger over at KERF....they're the bomb and if you don't believe me, make them.  Pull the leaves off of your kale and sprinkle with salt and olive oil.  Bake at 350 until crispy.  Just like chips.

 I bought those at Big Lots...and my blog buddy Diana over at www.mymarblerye.wordpress.com also found these gems at Big Lots.

  Our theme last night was a make your own pasta bar.  We had whole wheat spaghetti and white linguine with a choice of sauces...meat, alfredo and pesto.  I was in charge of pesto and alfredo. 
  I found a recipe online for basil walnut pesto and it was really good.  I was not about to purchase a freakin' $7 bag of pine nuts...so I bought a big bag of walnuts for $5.  I still prefer pine nut pesto to walnut, but it was really good.

  Tristan got a kick ass thermos.

  Michelle's Silpat in honor of Jenna at EatLiveRun!!!

  Adam scored a year subscription to "Draft magazine", a beer brewing magazine.

  Jess got M.A.C. nail polishes..

  This pic doesn't do justice of my awesome "foodie swag bag."  Basil dipping oil, butternut squash pasta sauce, multi-colored pasta, coffee, etc...

  I had Jennifer and got her a container of loose leaf candy cane black tea from the local tea store in the mall and a toile mug.

  Courtney got a filter for her Keurig and a bag of Starbuk's caramel coffee...

  Megan got an Ethiopian magazine necklace and she's posing with Joyce, the artist.

Everyone get your party on because it's New Year's Eve!!!

Holiday Hoopla

    My sister, mom and I at the Christmas Eve service at church.

  Kati and I at the Christmas Eve service....

  I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays.  I know that I did.  Fortunately, I was allowed Friday through Sunday off for the holidays.  Andy also had time off and we had a lot of fun with our families. 

  We did some serious damage to these homemade cinnamon rolls.  I wish I would have taken more pics of the Christmas morning food.  Eggs, bacon, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, waffles, fruit, and hashbrowns.  It was the most carbalicious meal there ever was.  I tried to eat 1/2 of everthing...half biscuit, half waffle, and half cinnamon roll.  However, I ended up eating an entire cinnamon roll.

  Bunsen loved his new toys.  He ran right off to play as soon as we handed that over.

  This is an inside joke gift. This is Andy's favorite cup in the world, and my mom borrowed it and thought she had lost it.  Andy wanted to kill her once he found this out.  However, a few weeks ago my mom found it in one of her many totes, and wrapped it up for Andy to open up on Christmas.  She put it inside about 5 different boxes each individually wrapped.  I'm pretty sure Andy thought he was getting some sort of awesome gift, but lo and behold, it was his favorite cup.

  Andy's Christmas knives.  I'm not allowed to use them.....because I need all of my fingers for emergency medicine.

  My sister got me a pair of mukluks house shoes....one of my favorite gifts!!!

I had a fun shopping day with my mom today....found a ton of stuff at Macy's on clearance and also bought Andy some clothes.  Now I'm relaxing for the rest of the day in my fleece PJs before I have to go to work tomorrow.

Sam Adam's Brewery

  On Saturday, Courtney and I met up with friends and went to the Sam Adam's Brewery for the tasting.  It was a lot of fun.  The tour guide took us through the brewery and showed up how beer is made and what beers are brewed on location.  The location in Jamaica Plains, Boston is more of a historic and trial run brewery.  Large quantities for shipment are not brewed there. They try out new recipes there, and also brew the beers served in local bars in Boston.

  This is barley..one of the beginning 4 ingredients of beer.  Barley, hops, water, yeast.  This was the most delicious snack..tasted like sunflower seeds.

  Sam Adam's Boston Lager

  Sam Adam's Winter Lager....delish

  Sam Adam's Brick Red.....too bad it's only available in Boston.  If you're at all a fan of red ales, which happen to be my favorite, you will love this beer.

  After all the fun of that evening, I was a grandma and went to bed early.  However, I did eat some amazing food at a little bakery called Canto 6..a little bakery in Jamaica Plain.  I had sandwich called "Goat in the Garden."  It was whole grain bread with roasted beets/slaw, arugula and mozzarella (changed from goat).  I also split a salted chocolate chip cookie and cranberry oat bar with Courtney for road snacks.
  When we got in Connecticut, we had time for dinner before my UConn get together.  We ate apps at Wood 'n Tap, a small Connecticut pub chain. 

Harpoon Winter Warmer..........SOOOOOO good.

  The best damn fried cheese in the world.....that was the crispiest coating I've ever encountered.

  Roasted butternut squash soup with creme fraiche and smoky bacon.

  Hummus platter....this was really good chunky hummus.

 

  Those are Trader Joe's salted caramel dark chocolates....nuff said.

Bibim-blah

Courtney and I are checked in and ready to roll in Connecticut.  We've had a whirwind of a trip over 4 days....Charleston, WV to NYC to Boston to Connecticut.

Sitting in the Charleston airport.  The flight was delayed by an hour, but we saw multiple medical school friends in the airport as well.

Which glasses do you like?  Courtney and her hilarious necklace.

I'd like to say that this trip has not only been for the purpose of interviews, but to eat delicious food.  Here's a photo recap of our trip.  I feel like photos are better than words, so enjoy.  Not to mention that I have a UConn residency get-together tonight at 7.  Also, I despised Korean food, but I'm glad that I tried it.

  Be back soon with more food photos and entertainment!!