The Dive

I've never met a person who can pick a restaurant like Christian.  We have tried some amazing places just from online reviews and I can honestly say I've never had a bad experience from any of the places Christian finds.  They are all jewels.  If you want a list I'm happy to give it to you, except for this place.  Yes, that is particle board walls with plastic "windows" you see, and yes, those are plastic lawn chairs on a concrete floor.  Christian took us to this (literally) hole in the wall place called Philly Way for - what else - Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and fries.  He said it was a "pretty good" place that he and some guys from work go to sometimes.  Let's just say I was ready to hit the road the moment I got there and the sub-par sandwich didn't help either, but I'm glad we stayed because the place itself has now become a family joke.  It was hilarious!  Just look at it!  It was also blog-worthy, so for all two of you Milwaukeeans out there who read my blog, stay far away from Philly Way!

Fat Matt's Rib Shack

 Every time we visit Atlanta we try to make it to Fat Matt's.  If you pass through the sprawling city of ATL this place is an absolute must.  I like ribs okay, but at Fat Matt's I LOVE ribs (the pulled pork sandwich is pretty heavenly, too).  Mark got a kick out of Georgia tasting a little BBQ in her antique sweater.  He was hoping Janet wouldn't happen to throw a glance his direction and see the possible destruction of her sweater.  No worries - she stayed clean.

The two gents having a go at ribs.  This place is seriously a hole in the wall shack where the waitresses call you "honey" and serve the most perfect lemonade you've ever had.  I could go on, but it'll make me hungry.

    

 

Here we are: the whole Mitchell family at the Atlanta Temple.  

The temple underwent a year and a half remodel and before they re-dedicate it they held open houses for the public to tour inside.  We took the boys to see what the sealing room looks like (where you get married) and all the other beautiful rooms, and they really were beautiful.  For me, however the best part was the video before we went inside.  One of the leaders of our church, Elder Holland spoke about being married for eternity.  He got teary (and so did I) as he said he couldn't talk about heaven without talking about his wife and children because it would not be a celestial existence without them.  He explained that in the temple we are sealed to our family for eternity, not just until "death do us part."  Who wants to be parted from the ones they love more than anyone else on earth?  I looked at our kids and at Christian and knew what he said was true.

 We all think Genevieve and Georgia look alike - it's the eyes.  I love this picture of them in their off-white vintage clothes.  So beautiful.

Christmas and Beignets

We started a new tradition: a fried turkey for Christmas Eve dinner and beignets while we wait.  We had so much fun doing it, and it's a good thing because we all smelled like oil and fried food.  Christian was completely sold on the turkey frier after tasting fried turkey at a friend's house on Thanksgiving.  So, we decided to get the most out of the oil and first fry some doughnuts, or beignets as they call them in New Orleans.  The only problem with this is that December in Milwaukee is cold, and usually snowy.  Christian had the answer: fire up the kerosene heater to keep an eye on the roaring fire already going in the driveway.  He loved it!

Kerosene heater.

Excited for beignets!

Braving the roaring turkey frier with tiny dough triangles.  (yeah, I cheated and used Pillsbury crescent dough.  Worked like a charm!)

Christmas morning - with a bow from the wrapping paper.  So cute!

Yet another Christmas with Legos on the top of the list.

The AT AT Walker was the envy of all the boys.  When they crowded around the walker, begging to play with it Jack told Winfield and Charles, "be grateful for what you got!"

Sleepy girl!

The only things Charles wanted for Christmas were "a digger and a dump truck" and he got them.

Summer you can taste!

If you have never tasted Wisconsin frozen custard, you are missing a very decadent experience.  We took Gammy and Paddy to Leon's, the original custard joint which is said to have inspired Happy Days. 

Is there anything better than ice cream cones on a gorgeous summer night?

This is the cleanest Charles looked all night.  It was downhill from here.

"Look at my mustache, Mom!"

Paddy's boys

Someone else is pretty excited about summertime.  Georgia has turned into a little smiler.

Thank you, Julia Child

A few weeks ago Christian and I went to see Julie and Julia. We enjoyed it, or at least we enjoyed the Julia Child part of the story (A+ to Meryl Streep, C+ to Amy Adams). Anyway, a wonderful thing has happened because of that movie: Christian has found the buried desire to cook again, and I mean cook without me in the kitchen. He even does the shopping for all the ingredients and makes a noticeable dent in our grocery budget (who would have thought saffron would cost $18 for a tiny envelope of the stuff?). This lovely occurrence happens only on Sunday evenings, but I absolutely LOVE it. I am in heaven - delectable smells come from the stove as I nap, and viola! dinner is served without me lifting a finger. I have to say, I'm glad Julia Child wasn't familiar with a crock pot at the time because it seems to taste better doing it all in the oven. He is, however only on his third Sunday and hasn't quite grasped the idea that a meal is more than just a main dish.

That said, I'll be the last to complain. Who can pass up melt-in-your-mouth porterhouse steaks seared in butter with Madeira sauce drizzled over the top? That one is called "biftek sautee." Or how about pot roast cut and simmered with rice, tomatoes, saffron, onions, bacon, and a slew of other tiny but wonderful ingredients. The meat was tender and perfect. I can't believe I am actually saying this about Christian's cooking, but we all sat there smacking our lips and oohing over the flavors of "boeuf something-or-other." (boeuf a la catalane) He has come a long way from chocolate chip cookies and scrambled eggs.

Christian is actually embarrassed that this new marriage with cooking is because of that so-so movie, but I could care less where it came from, I just don't want it to stop! Here's to inspiration and cooking with butter! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Julia Child.