So another week has flown by, my to-do list hasn’t budged and I’m wondering what the heck happened. Here are a few things I can account for:
1. Pelligrino – Is it possible to become addicted to sparkling water? When I first met my husband I couldn’t stand the taste of the stuff. Now, I can’t wait ’till dinner to have a glass. Today, I drank it straight from the bottle and it was only 2 p.m…..I think I have a problem.
2. Pan-Roasted Brined Pork Chop
- bonappetit.com
We made this for Hubby’s B-day celebration and it was Ah-mazing! Be sure to use 2 inch bone-in pork chops as the recipe states and marinate no longer than 8 hours or they will be very salty. We drank some good juice and started off with a 2010 Capiaux Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. Earthy, medium bodied with cherry cola notes, just the way we like it….paired well with the pork. Next up, 2009 Shafer Relentless, which is a Syrah/Petite Syrah blend from Stags Leap, Napa Valley. The 2008 was Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year and the 2009 was drinking beautifully. I don’t usually buy into that stuff but my honey kept saying it over and over and by the end of the evening I was repeating him like a parrot. Yeah we had a bit to drink….
Two Ah-mazing wines and Grand Marnier in the snifter…
3. Earlier this week it was Winter and all of our plants froze. Yes, we did wrap them in sheets and burlap but Mother Nature laughed in our face. Today, Spring is teasing us and I’m sweating just thinking about what is to come. I can’t take the heat….Tell me again why we live in Phoenix??
4. Twitter….I am now on Twitter (@cherylhjohns) and it’s my new crack. I love that you can stalk follow peeps on Twitter without having to know them. Here are a few of my new favorite “friends” Jerry James Stone @jerryjamesstone – he’s all about cooking in SF, Hot Food Porn @hotfoodporn – I’ll admit they had me at food porn, but when I saw the pigs on their Twitter wall I was a gonner! And finally, an amazing photographer Nick Ulivieri @ChiPhotoGuy who uses Chicago as his photo backdrop.
5. The Art of Barter. It’s January and this is the month you are supposed to get rid of all the useless crap you have hoarded over the last year! Don’t throw it in the landfill; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sell it, barter for more useful items but don’t contribute to mass consumerism. Seriously though….think before you buy.
6. Jackie from Marin Mama Cooks – my new blog crush… Lots of quoina, kale and veggie recipes. She features meat as well as cookies and cakes but what I love most is her step-by-step pictures that work oh so well for the not so confident kitchen cook that is me. When Hubby and I move to Northern Cali, Jackie will be one of my BFF’s she just doesn’t know it yet…
7. This goofball keeps me on my toes. Is she praying to the sleep Gods or practicing doggie yoga? Either way I decided she needed a memory foam mattress in her crate since she has spent a bit of time there this last week while I was off getting myself beautified and what-not.
Yes, She really sleeps this way!
8. Music finds – Macklemore…..Thrift Shop – Love this song! It has a message with a bit of fun! One kind reader was gracious enough to point out that I’m just tagging along to be weird and non-conformist and I should stop trying to sell a lifestyle that’s based on deception. There was something in there about the relevance of this song with wine and blah, blah, blah. I stopped listening because I was having too much fun and really life should be about having fun. Be sure to check out Patty’s favorite “Same Love” – this brings me to tears every time I listen. Also check out Heather’s favorite “Irish Celebration”.
9. I love when my sister visits me, which happens several times a year. She’s visiting again in a couple of weeks and I have a mile long list of things we “Have To Do”, most of which we never get to. We do eat well thanks to her culinary skills and drink lots of good juice but don’t take my word for it, check out her latest post on the Rose Pistola Rocket Salad. I’m hungry now!
10. Let’s end with some eye candy…..Adam Levine. The Food and Wine Hedonist did this so well I really don’t need to add much more except if you like men or have Man-Crushes be sure to check out his post and click on the link for the picture of Adam in all his glory. And then check out this one on his FB page…
Want to know what wine I paired with Macklemore’s Thrift check it out here.
Happy Weekend peeps and Cheers to you! What’s in your glass?
My Love Affair With The Vine 
Have to take our own photography class. But we don’t have coupon yet. Maybe we need to check out Groupon as well.
Love your random posts, random things are the best!
Hi and thanks for stopping by! I have so much going on in my head it can be difficult to settle on one thing ~ that’s where the Random Bits came from. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Cheryl! It’s your Calif BFF (he he). Yes, if you do move up my way you better call me so we can meet up and hit some wineries! I love Stags Leap, amazing! You have great taste in wines girl (and food). Seriously, thanks for the sweet compliment above! I love that you love the blog and actually make some of the recipes. I wouldn’t say that you are a novice in the kitchen at all. Look at that pork dish you made. When I first saw that photo I seriously thought it was your photo and I was simply amazed. I gotta check out Jerry James now since you enticed me as well as your sister’s blog. The photo of your dog is hilarious! Have a great night! xoxo, Jackie
That’s why I Love your blog – the recipes are easy to follow and you have great photos in case I get lost along the way. And my dog….she’s a nut! One of these times I’ll have my camera ready and film her chasing herself in a circle around our living room. It’s almost as if she’s chasing her tail, all the while she has this crazed look in her eyes. It cracks us up every time she does it 😉
I’m such a dork! I thought “There’s another Patty that loves that song, too?” Haha! I also love Thrift Store. I sent it to several of my peeps, and most thought I was crazy. Thanks for the cooking and photography links. I will go check them out. And my beast sleeps the same way! Except she stops the minute I get my camera. Silly pups. 🙂 As for the weather, that cold snap was CRAZY! I’m glad it’s getting back to lovely. Cheers, lady!
That’s what I love about Twitter, you can find the most interesting people on just about any subject. My next thing is improving my photos using Hubby’s SLR.
Last weekend, I took a 3-hour class from a photographer that had a Groupon. He was from Colorado, but in town for the class. It was really helpful! Have fun. 🙂