Friday Things
1. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned that we were having a serious drainage issue in our backyard? We decided that while the drainage problem was being resolved that we would also have the company transform our current concrete slab of a patio into a larger stone patio, complete with a fire pit and sitting wall. Theyโve been working every day for nearly a week, and things are starting to shape up. I canโt wait to see everything finished!
2. In other news, Einstein is still rocking the cone look like a champ. One week down, two more to go. Heโs so good-natured and easy-going; even though Iโm sure he hates that cone more than anything, he never tries to get it off and walks around with his tail wagging all the time. He even sits patiently every night and lets me clean his ear. Heโs the best patient!
3. I loved seeing a Pittsburgh bakery, Prantlโs, get some much-deserved attention on Huffington Post this week for their legendary Burnt Almond Torte. Anyone from Pittsburgh can vouch for how fabulous it is, and the best part? You can order it online and have it delivered right to your door! Cakes for everyone!
4. We are now T-minus 14 days until the beachโฆ Sun! Waves! Sand! CANNOT.WAIT.
5. I took the quiz โWhich โFriendsโ Character Are You?โ and got Monica, and the description is, wellโฆ scarily accurate. Gosh, I loved that show!
6. I am loooooving this vegetable chart; it has everything I need right there! Which vegetables are in season, how to cook them, what to eat them with, etc. All in one handy little chartโฆ I am definitely printing this out and keeping it in my kitchen!
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7. So, just out of curiosity, does anyone else use the phrase โclose the lightโ or โopen the lightโ instead of โturn off the lightโ or โturn on the lightโ? I do, and I think my mom does, and my Chief Culinary Consultant thinks itโs absolutely hysterical and crazy.
8. Is anyone else all-in on playoff hockey?
9. Do you have any special plans for the Easter weekend? We are having dinner at my momโs house with my Chief Culinary Consultantโs family, my grandparents, and uncle, aunt and cousins. Iโm looking forward to a relaxing day hanging out with everyone!
10. TGIF! I hope you have a fabulous holiday weekend! Duke has been a great snuggly little brother while big brother is out of commission with the cone!
(Note to self: Buy Einstein and Duke bunny ears for Easter next year!)
Thank you so much for sharing our veggie chart! Itโs definitely make the rounds on the internet. Awesome โ we have lots of great cooking resources here too: http://www.cooksmarts.com/cooking-school-101/
I say close the light, or shut the lights. For me itโs a French thing, as itโs Fermez les lumieres.
Sorry! but I have never heard โclose/open the lightโ. We only use โswitch offโ or โturn offโ. Poor Einstein, glad to hear heโs coping with the cone well. P.S How cool to have your own firepit!
It seems too many people say it that way which makes it โnormalโ.. and it also seems most people are too lazy to get up and โcloseโ the light , me for example!
My daughter says โclose the lightโโฆdonโt know if she heard it somewhere or just decided it made sense to say it that wayโฆsheโs 3โฆ
Iโm glad someone else pointed out that in French the expression would translate to โcloseโ or โopenโ the light. Beat me to it!
Einstein is such a good dog because he is loved! When dogs are loved they are usually well behaved. Enjoy Easter. Oh I made your Italian Easter Bread and it was superb. Couldnโt quite get as many plats as yours but that didnโt matter.
Even plants.. if you show love to them they stay in good shape.
How about thatโฆI did the Friendโs quiz and I got Monica too! Funny since my name is Monica and she was always my favorite character! Have a great Easter!
I love the veggie chart.
Definitely all-in on the NHL playoffs โ even if my home team isnโt playing on any given night, one of the other games is on the TV! I will admit, I love watching CBC for their openings โ they know how to pump their fans up!
Spending time with the family for Easter, and currently skimming through your Easter recipes to try and find a dessert to pair with the other idea I had. Hope you have a great weekend!
Awe, love this Friday Things Post. My mom and I totally say โclose the lightsโ and everyone gives us a little look, go glad to hear itโs not just us!
Iโve never heard CLOSE THE LIGHT or OPEN THE LIGHT before. Although I do have a friend who gets DOWN from the car instead getting OUT of the car.
Uh, nooooโฆnever heard open and close the light. I love you anywayโฆโฆโฆ
I will be having lots of lamb and ouzo and tsoureki (thank you for the recipe!!) on Sunday, since I am (half) Greek!! And yes, my dad (who is from Greece) does say โclose the lightโ haha
I am from MA so it will be BRUINS BRUINS BRUINS here for a while :) There is nothing more exciting than playoff hockey!!!!
Hope Einstein is feeling better soon!!
Love the veggie guide โ this will be our fourth year in a CSA -there are so many around Pittsburgh โ and I always enjoy getting vegetables that I wouldnโt necessarily buy and are sometimes at a loss for how to prepare them.
Thereโs a Southern expression โCut the lightsโ which means to turn them off. Funnyโฆnever heard of its counterpart to turn them on!
Woo PLAYOFF HOCKEY!! Go Rangers!
I also say open and close the light, but Iโm french canadian. It must be because of the translationโฆ Notice that in the other comments those that say open and close are either spanish, italian, greek or french?
P.S.: Go Habs Go
Fans of your site may enjoy a book titled โUnion Street Bakeryโ by Mary Ellen Taylor. I just discovered it and really enjoyed it. Recipes from the story are included in the back of the book.
I say, Outen the Light. We were at a Birthday Party and I ask my Husband to Outen The Light. He said, โWhat did you sayโ? I found a light switch in Lancaster that has the saying on it and it still bugs him. I always thought it was a Pittsburgh sayingโฆ I, too, am Monica and proud of it.. LOL Happy Easter.
Iโm a Monica too (absolutely no one I know would be surprised by that)
And poor Einstein! We just survived a month of the cone for our dog so you have my sympathy. Although it sounds like your patient is better behaved than mine was โ mine destroyed five cones, including a fabric one.
Note to self: Buy doggie bunny ears this year on sale for next year!
Poor Einsteinโฆ.I know they get used to the cone, but there is a โsoftโ compfy cone that really works beautifully. I used it for my dog after surgery. It saved on my walls and furniture too as the hard ones can do damage. You can find it at http://www.drsfostersmith.com and itโs called the Comfy Cone.
Thanks for posting the article from Huffington Post about Prantlโs burnt almond torte. That cake is just unbelievable! I live in Pittsburgh, in fact, used to live in the East End, and we always thought Pantlโs was our special secret. Everything is wonderful (go Lady Locks!) but that tote is really world class โ so glad that it finally got national attention. By the way, I think itโs a descendant of the German Bienenstich cake, sometimes called Bee Sting cake. Check out Smitten Kitchenโs efforts to recreate it. Have a wonderful weekend!
My brother in law says close and open the light! OMG! Drives me insane! He now has my sister saying it. Theyโve been together over 25 years. His parents literally โcame over on the boatโ from Italy. It must have started there. Wonder if my niece and nephew say it? Of course they have no reason to, theyโre teenagers and always practice leaving the light on! Or Open as you would say. Never thought Iโd hear of anyone else who says it. Good one!
My grandfather came over from Italy, so thatโs probably where my mom picked it up, makes sense! I donโt say it all of the time, but sometimes it just comes out that way! My husband is always like, โwhat?!โ haha!
Is there a link to download this vegetable chart?
I second that! I want to print that chart too!
I saw this on Facebook and have looked all over for the original link, but I canโt find it! For now, you can just save it as a picture, and print it like that.
Hi Michelle! Here is the link: http://www.cooksmarts.com/cooking-school-101/how-to-cook-vegetables/#.U1EiB8biyTA
Google Images to the rescue!
http://www.cooksmarts.com/cooking-school-101/how-to-cook-vegetables/#.U1EiB8biyTA
Thank you, Sarah!
Aw, poor Einstein! I hope the two weeks go by fast.
I have also heard โopen the TVโ from my friend who is Filipino.
I did the quiz and I got Rachel :)
Happy Easter!
I was just looking for a veggie chart the other day! This is perfect Michelle! (And PS I hope little Einstein gets better soon!)
Thatโs so funny you and your mom say โopen the lightโ and โclose the lightโ! Iโve only heard Filipinos say it, my mom and grandma say it. Itโs one of the โyou know youโre Filipino ifโฆโ jokes! :)
Happy Easter.
Actually, I dated a Greek fellow for a very long time, he also always said โopen the lightsโ and โclose the lightsโ. Another one I remember was (while in a vehicle) was to โturn the window upโ or โturn the window downโ instead of to roll up or roll down. Didnโt matter. I knew what he meant. Language . . . amazing.