Smoked Pork Butt

And the new king of our house, in terms of Pat's culinary explorations, is Smoked Pork Butt. Pat soaks the meat in a brine for several days. Then smokes it for 6 hours. The result is so melt in your mouth good, there is barely time to take pictures before it is gone.

Meatloaf.....bacon wrapped meatloaf

I don't know how your mom used to make meatloaf, and I certainly don't mean to complain about how mine made it, but there was no bacon wrapped around the outside of it.......

Christmas Eve Lobster Pasta

For Christmas Pat and I gave each other a nice dinner out at the restaurant, Table. However it was not nearly as good as the Lobster Pasta he made for us on Christmas Eve, served for just the two of us in front of the fireplace. The meal was amazing and accompanied by the fire and him, one of the most relaxing moments of the year - what a gift!

Talking over Skype to his parents...showing off the lobster and my frilly apron

Brussel Sprouts

Flambe

adding the cream

pasta

mmmmmmmh

Lobster Bisque & Grilled Garlic Bread

Hello lobster head

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Fire!

I don't think I'll ever get back down to my wedding weight...but is it any wonder that I don't really care?

So delicious!

YUM!

Halloween 2012

Fall Soup

Turkey Noodle

Okra

We moved to North Carolina when I was 8 and along with grits and a few other "southern" specialties, I tried okra.  And I left it a "tried" because it was so slimy, I didn't get how anybody could really like it.

This is how I could really like it:

Oktoberfest

We made it again this year to the Oktoberbest celebration in downtown Asheville. Beer, polka music, dancing, lederhosen, a then a little more beer was had by all.

Baseball Game

Family outing to a Tourists baseball game

Let's see, that was Mom, Dad, Pat, Harry, Ben, Luke (hidden behind Dad), Marge, Leslie, Mark, Betsy, Noah, James and Grace was off with her friends.

Some other day last fall

When you create a bridal registry with Bed, Bath & Beyond, after the wedding you get to go in and buy anything on your registry with a great big discount.

Look, we don't have to eat with our hands anymore: