The Swell Season

(The intro is in French but the lyrics are English)

I love all kinds of music, but if I had to choose only one style of music to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be just like that of The Swell Season. Its mellow and beautiful, and a piano gets me every time. I first saw this duo on the movie Once, which is the only movie in my lifetime I have ever watched for the first time and third time in the same night. It was just so good. This latest album, Strict Joy, has been in constant rotation in my car and on my iPod. I want to share with you one of my favorite tracks from Strict Joy.

I'm posting this today because not only have I been listening to this song constantly for the last week, but also because these two played last night at the Ryman in Nashville. Because we have a crazy busy week and are going to Nashville on Friday, we weren't able to go hear them. So to make myself feel better I decided to devote today's post to them and their lovely music. Please enjoy. Then go support The Swell Season!

Bargain of the Year

I cannot express in words how excited I am to have finally found this little garden stool/table. I have liked these since I first saw them in Pottery Barn, but never thought much about it, as I'm not known to drop $100 on something this insignificant (Right now you can find this same exact thing in Target for $94.) You are not going to believe how much I paid for this EXACT replica of the Target variety. It was $20 at Big Lots. No its not plastic! Now I have been known to go in Big Lots for cleaning supplies and dog toys because they carry name brand products for less than half regular price and its close to my house. But for home goods and accessories? Not so much. However, I may have changed my tune. They had quite a nice selection of patio and garden supplies, from outdoor lights to ceramic planters. Now you are sure to find things that certainly don't suit your taste, but you just might find a little something that does. It's worth at least a walk through.

Barefoot Contessa

I LOVE Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa. If you aren't sure who I'm talking about, check out Food Network at 4:00 pm. She cooks the simplest most delicious meals and makes them all look easy and effortless. Every recipe I have ever tried of hers is so good. I aspire to be such a wonderful cook one day, but for now I'll just copy her recipes and cross my fingers they turn out as good as they look in the book. Today I'm sharing one of my favorite Ina recipes with you. I usually only make this when the zucchinis are in season at the Famer's Market. It is so delicious and a perfect spring and summer side dish. If your husband thinks he doesn't like zucchini, trust me he will eat this.

Zucchini Gratin
6 TBS butter
3 yellow onions, sliced
4 zucchini, sliced
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 TBS flour
1 cup hot milk
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2/4 cup grated gruyere or swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook onions in butter 20 minutes. Add zucchini and cook, covered, 10 minutes. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and cook 5 minutes. Stir in flour then add hot milk. Heat until sauce thickens. Pour into casserole dish (8x10). Sprink bread crumbs and cheese on top, dot with butter. Cook 20 minutes.

Rainy Day Recipe

It's a gloomy, rainy Saturday and I must admit I'm kind of glad. I find it to be very productive when I feel stranded at home. I clean, catch up on my reading, and spend more time in the kitchen. For some of my friends and family, my love for cooking has come as quite a surprise. Let's just say I was never considered to be the homemaker type. I don't blame them, before I got married the only things I knew how to cook were frozen pizzas and scrambled eggs. But as soon as my husband and I got back from our honeymoon, I knew I could not in good conscience eat out of the freezer every night. I wanted to sit down to a good, home-cooked meal as often as possible, and I wanted my husband to as well. To my surprise, the first meal I prepared as a wife turned out edible. And so my love of cooking began right then and there, in our little two-bedroom rental house with exactly one square foot of counter space.

These days I thankfully have a house with a bigger kitchen and more experience under my belt, so I like to be a little more creative. Like most men out there, my husband likes a hearty meal, so I've tried my hand at roast several times before. Its always turned out good, but lacking a little in the flavor department. So to this recipe I added a little secret ingredient (Italian dressing mix) that I think punches up the flavor. This roast turned out flavorful and delicious, and its perfect for a rainy day.

Dutch Oven Beef Roast
1 2lb boneless chuck roast
2 TBS olive oil
3/4 cup water
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 package dry Italian dressing mix
4 small baking potatoes or sweet potatoes, cut in chunks
3 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in large Dutch oven. Season meat with salt and pepper; Brown meat on both sides. Combine water, Worcestershire sauce, basil, salt. Pour over meat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, one hour.

After one hour, add vegetables and Italian dressing mix. Return to boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, another hour. Let stand a few minutes before serving. Be sure to scoop sauce over top. Goes well with fresh bakery bread.