NYC, Part 2

So we're in NYC with these crazy kids (+ Casey... don't know why she's not in the picture, or perhaps Christy snuck into this one).

Shaun, Christy, Ryan, David

We continued walking around the city seeing places like The Plaza hotel (which is NOT being knocked down), the Apple Store, Trump Tower, etc.

The Plaza

Apple Store

Trump Tower Waterfall

We went into Tiffany's, like Breakfast and Tiffany's, Tiffany's. 6 floors. Lots of glittering things.

After Shaun & Christy headed off for Connecticut, we stuck around a little longer ending up back in Times Square. We then grabbed Papaya Dog's for the trip home and headed back to Brooklyn, and then home.

Times Square

Me, Casey & Dave in Times Square

In the end it was a fun trip. I'm not in love with New York (and I didnt' hate it either), but I'm just not a city girl. Thanks for the fun times Sullivans & Somervilles! Where shall we go next?

NYC, Part 1

My first trip to NYC. Honestly, I'm scared of New York city... my two (very brief) experiences with the city were not at all good. And the results from this trip: not as scary as I though, fun times, a bit of adventure (but what trip to NY doesn't have a little adventure), lots of walking and delicious food.

We went with these crazy kids:

Me, Christy, Shaun, Casey & David (in-laws)

We parked in Brooklyn and took the subway in. We went to Times Square, Trump Tower, Empire State Building, Serendipity 3, and made a stop at a Papaya Dog.

Me & My Wonderful husband

Saw a soon-to-be Rockefeller Christmas Tree covered up by a big banner.

Christy & I hung out in the life-size Barbie house in Toys R Us


Times Square

The Amazing Casey got us reservations at Serendipty 3, so we just walked on by the people in the 2 hr.+ wait line :o)

Our picture in front of Serendipity.



Shaun & Christy at Serendipity.




Try #1



Try #2

Finally!

Inside the restaurant:

The menu's were HUGE

We went to Dylans Candy Store & the M&M store in Times Square (where I found out what M&M I am - orange... aparently I'm stressed out and need to eat chocolate - hey, I'll take any excuse).

A little taste of home.


My kind of chococlate bar :o)


Part 2, to come...

Date Night: Origami

Penguin's (hearing Casey & Dave say it)

A giraffe

Grand Piano

Two Jumping Frogs

All of them

Leesburg

Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures right now, so go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishpuff/tags/leesburg/ for pictures from our visit to Leesburg this weekend. Post to come once it's working!

Apples, Apples, Apples...

Last week I was give a 1/2 bushel of apples and subsequently spent all day Saturday turning those apples into treats for our freezer. I'd tried out once a month shopping but that was a huge FAIL for us. We definitely were out of food for the past few days (poor Ryan) so these apples were a bonus and I'm glad I could fill up our freezer with treats again. I was being pretty brave with my list of to-dos for the weekend.

- 2 loaves of bread
- 2 apple pies
- 1 gf crumble for my Dad (for dinner on Saturday)
- 4 mini crumbles
- 1 beef roast for Sat. dinner w/my Dad
- brats for Ace's birthday lunch
- 2 dozen apple muffins
- apple cake, in time for Ace's lunch
- applebread
- chicken parmesan for Sunday dinner
- applesauce, with whatever was left
- clean the bathroom (before anyone comes over!)

oh yeah, and grocery shopping

Ryan was amazing, he did all the laundry, cleaned the kitchen floor when I was done in there, vacuumed, peeled, cored, and chopped TONS of apples, and kept asking what he could help me with. I'm glad I made him sleep in while I went shopping, after all the work he does during the week he deserved that sleep in, let alone everything he did for me this weekend!

After getting home from shopping and waking my sleepy husband up I started some brats off in beer for our birthday lunch for Ace. They were so good... I am DEFINITELY getting them when they next go on sale.















After that I moved onto the apple treats... 2 apple pies, 2 dozen apple muffins, apple cake, applesauce, gf apple crumble and four mini apple crumbles.




I also made my first Roast Beef ever. I used my crockpot and cooked it in a beef stock/red wine combo and it worked! It was very delicious and we had my Dad over to eat it with us. We then had leftovers for sandwiches on Sunday AND Monday :o) I think my British family would be proud.

Sunday didn't turn out quite how I thought it would, after church, lunch, and picking up the car I was pretty wiped out. I made the applesauce and dinner for that night - and then just relaxed until Nick & Britt came over. Tonight I will hopefully finish it all off with some applebread and more applesauce.

The apple cake was delicious... so moist! The recipe definitely needs to be shared... I just made on adjustment and put in applesauce to replace the oil.

Easy Applecake

6 c. apples, peeled and chopped
2 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
1 c. applesauce
1 1/2 c. sugar

1. Beat eggs, sugar, and oil.
2. Add dry ingredients.
3. Mix well and then fold in apples.
4. Bake 1 hour in bundt pan at 350 degrees.