I had a date tonight with Penny for Valentine’s!!! And Kelsey and Matt!
She’s so pretty 😉
Kelsey and I made plans last night to meet up for a movie screening of "Up In The Air’ at her house. We canceled this morning due to our 4" and then reinstated the date when the roads cleared up later in the day. So glad because it was an awesome night!
Matt and I got in a nice gym workout this afternoon. It was supposed to be a yoga day, but Super Flow wasn’t happening at 6:30 this morning so we turned it into an elliptical day. I did 45 minutes of ET plus upper body weights with Matt.
MY OTHER RECIPES
Then we showered (FINALLY!) and headed to Penny’s!
Chips and homemade [onionless] quac were waiting!!!
In Kelsey‘s beautiful homemade bowls!
I implemented the "small chip" strategy again 🙂
Peek-a-boo Penny!
Happy Valentine’s from Eric!
–> Malbec!!
This 2007 Graffigna Centenario Malbec was sent to me to try out. I’m loving this new role as wine reviewer!!!
I ended up with 3 of this size glasses:
This 100% Malbec was pretty good 🙂 Here’s what we determined about it while tasting: Brightly fruity up front with ripe cherries and plums but fades to very dry and tannic astringency. Very full and rich body that leaves the mouth on the spicy side.
Wasn’t my very favorite, but I did enjoy it. And I love 100% Malbecs 😉
Poor Penny was abstaining tonight:
Kanz and Eric enjoyed a few brews! Then Eric went to a show and Kelsey, Matt and I played over a movie
I also partook in a brief IPA tasting by Matt. 3 same beers. 3 different yeasts!
On the menu tonight was Kelsey Meatballs + Spaghetti Squash!!
Go to Bites + Bowls if you’d like the details!!
How to cook spaghetti squash video!!
We piled about 5 meatballs (these were ethically raised lean meat balls) with sauce, spinach and parmesan!
So glad to finally eat a delicious spaghetti squash! I feel like the two that I made this year were not good so I’ve been avoiding it, but Kelsey‘s was awesome!
Kelsey prepared waters in beautiful clay glasses
And Valentine’s napkins!
We watched the movie Up In The Air (don’t ask how we had it on DVD – it’s complicated from a friend of a friend). I had REALLY high expectations for the movie and we all three HATED it!!!! The plot was boring. The acting was bad. I’m not sure why this movie came with such great recommendations and expectations!? I thought it was pretty horrible. Unfortunately.
***
After dinner, we dove into dessert 🙂
Trader’s Joe’s frozen ganache cake with meyer lemon and a homemade berry sauce!!
What a gorgeous presentation :)
Kelsey made the berry sauce herself and we had to have some seconds of the cake fillers:
Not gonna lie – leftover pizza from Eric’s gathering was consumed when we came down from the movie a few hours later 🙂 I had half a slice 🙂
Thanks Kelsey and Penny for a fun evening!!! So fun to catch up and play : )
Going to bed. Way past my bedtime and I’m ready to crash into clean sheets!!!
I love the photo of Penny peeking over the counter. Looks like a great feast – especially those desserts!
Hey Kath, I was wondering if there was a reason she left the avocado pit in the guac. Does that prevent oxidation in any way?
This looks like a great night!!
I was wondering the same thing!
Yep – it prevents oxidation! At least for a little while.
Beautiful dessert presentation. I love spaghetti squash too so I am heading over to find out the recipe for dinner. 🙂
Have a good night!
Looks like a fun evening! That ganache cake looks delish!
FUN!!!!!! Y’all eat in such style!
yum, that all looks soo amazing!
I love dogs like Penny because they always look like they are so, so happy and smiling 🙂
That meatball/squash supper looks absolutely delicious. And the dessert? speechless.
I didn’t like Up in the Air either!! At least the rest of your night was a success though.
Waaaaaah, jealous. Miss you purdy ladies!! What a FUN night. Helllooooo A+ on dessert presentation Kelsey 🙂 Happy vdaaaay!
what a fun night! glad you finally got a good squash…the last one i had was not so hot 🙁
ah, I am a longtime Penny fan. I love her!
Awww, Penny is so pretty 🙂 So are those bowls! Love her bowls, they’re awesome.
Dinner + dessert look delish, especially dessert. 😉 Love the avocado pit in the guac, keeps it green(er)!
Jenn
Oooh you sound like such a wine expert!
You DIDN’T like Up In The Air!!?? I thought it was brilliant – the exact opposite of everything you said lol! Each to their own :p
WOW that dessert looks SO GOOD! And I so badly want to tryh spaghetti squash – never even seen it in England 🙁
Have a good day!
I agree about Up in the Air!
I loved up in the air too, especially when he talked to the groom before the wedding (can’t say too much or I’ll ruin the plot.)
That is such a gorgeous dog – and an even more gorgeous plate of cake!!
Love the presentation of the deserts – fancy presentation makes food taste so much better!
Never tried spaghetti squash but keep seeing it in the blog world!
Beautiful food presentation! those meatballs look delicious. i loved up in the air- it was so real to me. i’ve seen it twice!!
Wow I’m so impressed those bowls are homemade!
Penny is beautiful! She looks like such a friendly dog!!
Wow and the dessert is plated so nicely! It looks straight from a restaurant!
I really liked Up in the Air! I think it dealt with such interesting issues!
That spaghetti squash dinner looks amazing! So does the dessert of course…way to take a TJ dessert and make it look all fancy!:)
I’ve recently discovered that I really like Malbecs 🙂 I think you’re the first person to say that movie wasn’t awesome! Now I feel like I need to see it to see why some people love it and some don’t haha
Penny has such a shiny coat, and looks so cute all curled up. My friend and I had contemplated seeing that moving during our weekly movie date, but I’m kinda glad we didn’t now. Though I must admit I have been impressed with quite a few movie releases this year. Usually I can only find one or two movies that I like but we’ve gone to about 4 in a row that I’ve absolutely loved.
Hey kath! That looks like such a fun night. I saw Up in the Air and I too left thinking “george clooney is gorgeoussss…but whats all the buzz?!” Then I saw the director on Oprah and they discussed how the “actors” in the exit interviews are actually real people who recently lost their jobs in similar situations. The three actos were on the show too (the man who said something about chucky cheese, the woman who had worked at the company her whole life, and one other) and they discussed how much they appreciated having the chance to voice their feelings (they still don’t have jobs either). Those scenes weren’t scripted, which is pretty devastating. So I think the buzz is more about those aspects of the movie – plus I believe it was the director’s first picture. Hope that helps! I still think the Clooney story part of it was a little strange but I definitely have a better appreciation for the movie now.
Oh thanks so much for this background. That does make it more meaningful for sure. Perhaps I should see it again in a non-party atmosphere!
I love the picture of penny looking over the counter. How freakin’ cute. You’re dessert presentation is amazing! you guys are so talented!
I LOVED Up in the Air!!! Oh well– c’est la vie!
Beautiful presentation on that dessert!
That dog is gorgeous! I just want to hug her
really?!?!? i LOVED up in the air which was ironic since my friends dragged me to see it, and they didn’t lke it as much…
and i gotta try spaghetti squash. yum. putting that on my grocery list ASAP
What a fun night! The dessert looks like something you’d get at a fancy restaraunt 😀
Are you and Matt considering a dog when you move? Just curious! Penny is adorable!
Happy Valentines day!
We are considering it, but not until we’re very settled. We’d want a daschund if we do : )
We are considering it, but not until we’re very settled. We’d want to do daschund rescue if we do : )
What a perfect night! 😀 Everything looks great, and it’s always fun hanging out with good friends (and dogs!!! 😉 )
Happy Valentines!
mmmm, I’ve been wanting to try that chocolate torte from Trader Joe’s for a while now! Would you recommend it?
No, not really 🙁
Penny is adorable! I actually loved Up In The Air 🙂
I haven’t seen it yet!
Penny is a cutie 🙂 and the dessert looks fab!
Love the presentation of the dessert!
Melissa, Thanks. I was wondering about all those people.
No problem! Here’s an article on the interview http://www.oprah.com/entertainment/Up-in-the-Air-Director-Jason-Reitman. I really didn’t appreciate the movie until I saw/read this…all of the main points flew right over me! I think George distracted me from the storyline 🙂
Thanks!
That dog is gorgeous!! I want to hug her. 😀
your night looks so fun, what a pretty dog!
that dessert looks so yummy! I have heard similar things about that movie but have not seen it yet!
I think one has to live some life, and suffered some real dissapointments, before enjoying Up in the Air. I think I would have felt the same way before age 35 (yup, I’m an older reader). Check it out in 10 years or so!! But I also think it’s great when people don’t “love” a movie just because the critics do.
Looks like a pretty fun evening!
And so cool you get to review wines, I’ve only tried a Malbec once, they aren’t my favorite, but certainly delicious when you’re in the mood for it.
Dinner+dessert presentation looks lovely.
fabuloso eats! good to know abt the movie…i always thought it looked a tad on the boring side.
btw, you looked quite pretty last night. great color/neckline on you!
If you have a BevMo near you I believe the Gaffina is on the $0.05 sale right now (buy one bottle at regular price get a second for $0.05).
I just wanted to say I love your pink sweater. Do you mind spilling where you got it?
The Limited many years ago, I think!
What a sweet face Penny has! Do you know what her breed(s) is/are?
aw penny’s adorable!
i am thinking you probably had an awards screener for “up in the air” – which i have too – and i agree…OVERRATED!!!
Dinner looks amazing – especially that dessert! I love a good Malbec, too – it’s one of my favourite kinds of wine. 🙂
K
Ohhh I do so heart daschunds. I have two– Snooker and Dippy do.
I loved that movie!! Almost the exact opposite opinion of you!
Bummed to hear about Up In The Air. 🙁