Christmas 2008

It's finally Christmas break!! Yep, I was still in school yesterday. Don't ask me about it, I'm still bitter. Over the weekend we had our staff party. In my classroom are 13 kids and 5 aides. Jackie (my FT aide) was gracious enough to host the party and we had a great time. Plenty to eat, even for me. I made a new salad that was good but not a hit for those who don't like beets. Yao filled up on turkey and ham. We left with a gift certificate to Cafe Rio and scented oil sticks (or whatever they're called).

Roasted Beets and Parsnips with Black Olives and Oranges
Serves 4 / Vegan / Gluten-Free / 20-30 min. prep

(Vegetarian Times magazine)

4 beets, peeled and diced (3 1/2 cups)
4 parsnips, peeled and cut into matchsticks (2 cups)
1 fennel bulb, cut into bite-size wedges (3/4 cup) (I substituted Anyse bulb.)
3 Tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
8 cups baby arugula (8 oz.) (I used mixed spring greens.)
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned, each section thinly sliced
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 450F. Place beets, parsnips, and fennel in large bowl. Add 2 Tbs. oil, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and evenly scatter vegetables on baking sheet. Roast vegetables 20 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times with spatula. Increase oven temp to 500F. Roast vegetables 10 minutes more, or until tender.
2. Place arugula, orange slices, and olives in large salad bowl. Add roasted vegetables, balsamic vinegar, and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Toss well to mix, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Saturday was out third anniversary. And Sunday we had a party with Ashley Phillips & fam and Renee Nipko & clan (6 kids but who's counting?). Yao built his first gingerbread house!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. More stories and pictures to come.

3rd wedding anniversary

December 20th is our wedding anniversary and yesterday made 3 years. We celebrated with reservations at the Melting Pot (although we were too full for dessert). Yao got a new pair of boots and I got to pick out an outfit at Anthropologie (my favorite store that I can't afford and don't have anywhere to wear the clothes). Anyway, lots of fun.