Fox 25 On the Slopes at Mount Sunapee with the Peanut Gallery!

On the Slopes at Mount Sunapee with the peanut gallery!
What a thrill to be interviewed by Lily, our favorite reporter on Fox 25, and to meet the incomparable VB.  Caught playing hooky from school and work, we took part in Fox 25's 'ski for free' On the Slopes Friday's and had an amazing day of perfect powder skiing.  Officially a celebrity, I've been getting a lot of this lately: "Hey, was that you on t.v. the other day?"



And to top it off, we won TWO jars of FREE Teddy Peanut Butter, Crunchy and Smooth!  A day doesn't get any better than that.  ~ Joe

Wine a Little, You'll Feel Better

Joe and I took a break from the store last night to enjoy an evening of fine wine and delectable cheese at The Chatham Cheese Company. The event was hosted by Marquis Consulting and the ladies of the Cheese Company who educated and treated us to unusual samplings of wine and cheese. The shop is located just outside the walking center of Chatham making it easy to drive right on past, but we recommend strongly that you take the time to stop the next time you're in Chatham. To begin, we were treated to an array of meats, cheeses, and spreads that stimulated our culinary senses and we sampled two Spanish wines, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet. While we noshed, I reflected how little time or energy we have to enjoy the finer things in life-- I never even considered stopping in this wonderful little shop. Receiving the invitation to this event forced us to see what we have been missing! Our hosts began a serious course on different ways to pair wine and cheese: by region, by complementary flavors, and so on...sorry I didn't take notes, and then, there was also the wine. I think I'll need a refresher course soon! We fell for several of the cheeses including a Lamb Chopper and an Irish Cheddar. The Pirate Spread from Narragansett Creamery caught my attention knowing my daughter would live its spicy bold flavor, so we wrapped some up along with some wonderful olives for Joe and the Spanish Cabernet Merlot Syrah for the next time we entertain, which hopefully will be very soon!

Charmed by Chicago

"Sometimes my life comes around full-circle," Emeril reminisced to Joe this week in Chicago. The highlight of Joe's trip to the Houseware's Show was meeting up with Emeril Lagasse and recalling his days cooking on Cape Cod. Joe had a blast working for a spell with Emeril in his booth and helping him to educate the show-goers about his new, exciting products.

Joe was captivated by his first trip to Chicago. He saw the "green" Chicago River for St. Patty's, the gorgeous view from the John Hancock Observatory, and he enjoyed an amazing dinner at Sapori Trattoria. He was so impressed by Chicago's Gold Coast that he would like to move there! A perfect ending to his trip was a night at the Kingston Mines of which he said, "The blues will never be the same for me, I was flipped out." Now it's time to get back to work...

A Touch of Culture on Cape Cod

Sometimes it seems if it weren't for our children we would do nothing but work. Yesterday, with help from my daughter, we experienced a little culture right here on Cape Cod. Thanks to her first grade friendship with a little actress we were drawn to see "The Sound of Music" performed by very talented Cape Codders at the historical Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans, MA. Living on the Cape can sometimes take the fashion out of your dress, the style away from your hair, and very often the "popular" out what you know about pop culture, but if you take the time you will be surprised to find the cultural experiences available. It was our first show at the Academy in Orleans which at first it reminded me of old small-town theatres found in college towns dimly lit with layers of paint on antique beadboard and pipes crossing the ceilings, but once we climbed the creaky stairs we were pleased to find a theatre in the round (or square as it may be) where the ushers take each guest to their seat- because you would never find it without their savvy. After a witty introduction by the director, we were treated to a wonderful production of one of our favorite things, "The Sound of Music"! We loved it and we joyfully can't wait to go back for more!

Cape Cod Skating Party

Cape Cod is ripe with wonderful places to skate in the winter. From frozen cranberry bogs to kettle ponds, there is an abundance of locales to choose from to enjoy free winter entertainment.

Last week when the weather here had been frigid for sometime, we decided to try out a pond near our friends' home. Armed with an air pot full of steamy hot chocolate, our band traipsed through the woods to discover an idyllic spot to enjoy some winter activity. After some falls, and lots of laughs, we decided a cold winter can be fun afterall.

Winter Cooking on Cape Cod: January

Winter time is a great time for cooking. Warmth escaping from simmering pots and baking ovens helps to offset the cold drafts that flow in through panes of glass and leaky doors. It is also a great time to share our creations with friends and family.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, our resident chef, Joe, came up with a wonderful down home meal consisting of Barbecued Ribs, Beans & Rice, and Collard Greens with Black Eyed Peas. The aroma from the Barbecued Ribs filled the house with a sensational southern scent, just what we needed to banish the bone chilling cold outdoors. As the Collard Greens began to cook, I must admit I began to lose some of my appreciation for scents emitting from the kitchen as they began to overtake the sweet and tangy scent of the ribs.

As friends began to arrive they delighted in the theme of the evening's menu and shared with their children the authentic nature of the food they were about to partake. Much of the menu was a first for me and the children. While they were less impressed to try the Collard Greens, I dove in and to my surprise loved every last bite. Our friends were also delighted and with every ooh and oom that came from them, the chef was rewarded.