Currently listening to the Home Alone soundtrack. One of the best ever! “Precious Moments” is a total warm + fuzzy song.
And I tie it in by saying…so was today!!
KERF reader Olivia drove down from the north to attend not one, not two, but THREE concerts this weekend, two of those being Dave Matthews! [He’s a Charlottesville native!] She’s a trooper! We met this afternoon for an hour-long walk + talk…plus a beer!
I have two kegs in my basement and never use them!
Filled up my little mug with Pumpkin Beer Round II. I’ve tasted it but haven’t actually drank any yet and it is FABULOUS. [I think because it’s 8% alcohol! Go matt!)
Tonight for dinner Faith + Tate came over last minute. I love how Faith and I can email at 3PM and decide to do a joint dinner and pull together such a nice meal.
I had a mocktail (diet tonic + cherry) while I cooked up some wheatberries
Mmmm! I just put in 2:1 water to grain and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover for about 40 minutes, basically just until they are edible and chewy, and then drain.
Turned into a garbanzo wheatberry salad!
This gross goo is the dressing. 1 tbsp mustard, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp pumpkin spice vinegar, pinches of salt + pepper, random herb mix blend.
We also tasted the black cherry vinegar Larbs gave us – it’s divine!! Like POM juice. This photo makes me burst out into: “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!!!!” I used to LOVE how Mary Poppins glugged her medicine into a spoon!!
POMs!!! And here is my 2007 video on how to eat one!! (Soooooo long ago!! Do I look young!?)
Into the salad:
- ~2 cups wheatberries
- ~2 cups cooked garbanzos
- ~1.5 cups mixed chopped veggies (peppers, tomatoes, cucumber)
- ~2 cups spinach leaves, chopped
- ~2/3 cup POM seeds
- Dressing above
Some salami from Hickory Farms for the boys to add if they preferred (and they did)
F+T brought some vino, per usual ; )
I had a small glass – gotta save up for our big wine event tomorrow!
Faith also made this delicious curry pumpkin soup out of a pie pumpkin, topped with yogurt, pumpkin seeds and maple syrup!
It was incredddddible!
Matt’s contribution was this glorious loaf of Flax Oat Bran. How will I ever have him make any other bread!?
Fresh outta the oven, hot and chewy
I had a second piece – me like bread.
Cheers, to friends and small businesses!
The music has changed to the Harry Potter theme song. Matt is over halfway through Book 7. I’m debating reading #6 but he doesn’t think I will be done in time for the movie to be in theaters! Perhaps not, but I might start it tonight. It’s about time to retire to the bedroom for reading hour.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
Sounds like a fabulous evening. I spent some time with some girlfriends and am now winding down for bed.
Hannah says
Garbanzos and pomegranate seeds – what an inspired combination! I don’t have cherry vinegar but maybe my quince vino cotto will work as a replacement…
Kiran says
Colorful, healthy and yummy salad! Hmm.. I love freshly baked breads 🙂
stacey-healthylife says
That is a great looking salad, I love wheat berries in salads. It gives a nice texture.
Lauren says
I used to refuse to take medicine unless it was out of a spoon when I was little and all because of Mary Poppins!
hungryforbalance.wordpress.com says
I LOVE the Home Alone soundtrack! I’ve already done some Christmas shopping but I don’t think I’m ready for any Christmas music just yet. I think it’s because once it starts that’s all you hear everywhere you go- I don’t want to get tired of it.
Kristy @ KristyRuns says
Mmmmm! Everything looks so good! Curry pumpkin soup? Yes, please! Fun night! 🙂
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
I love that you often eat soup out of mugs — very cozy feeling!
Jillian@ Reshape Your Life says
awesome tutorial on pomegranates! I’ve always wondered how to prepare them! The salad looks delicious!
Bronwyn Coyne says
That bread looks absolutely delicious. And pumpkin + curry is always a good combo.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
I would love to skip on over to the casa de KERF and have joint dinners with you and Faith 🙂 2 1/2 hr drive is not a skip, sadly.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That looks like such a fantastic meal!!
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I had never seen that video, and that is actually extremely helpful! 😀
Meg says
Friendship is the best kind of spoonful you can have 😀
Dinner looks amazing, and dessert? Even more so!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
just got back from seeing harry potter. the new music is great!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
That soup sounds amazing!! Oh my goodness, is there a recipe anywhere?
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
Looks like a fun day! I love pom seeds.
Vanessa says
I definitely ‘laughed out loud’ to the marry poppins reference! That bread is awesome.
Sarah says
Dinner parties with good friends are the best!
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
I loved the Harry Potter books. How is it that I didn’t know about the Home Alone soundtrack? I must buy one right away! 🙂
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
That salad and curry soup looks delicious.
I love Home Alone 1 and 2 — I like to watch them around the Holidays 🙂
Tracy says
Hey Kath! I have a question for Matt: where did you order your dual tap from? I wanted to get my husband one for Christmas and I’m not sure which one to order. Please help 🙂
Matt says
I got this one on Amazon from Beverage Factory:
http://www.amazon.com/Double-Stainless-Steel-Draft-Kegerator/dp/B0048CDUBC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290263187&sr=8-1-fkmr0
It was the best price I could find, and it looks like it’s cheaper now than when I bought it, plus free shipping! If you have some extra dough, you might want to spring for the Perlick faucets:
http://www.amazon.com/Perlick-525SS-Keg-Beer-Faucet/dp/B003714DTS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1290263366&sr=1-2
They are much cleaner than the regular faucets because of the way they operate. No beer is in contact with the moving parts so there’s no chance for things to get sticky and stuck. They’re not 100% essential, but after some use you’ll see how the regular faucets can be hard to open.
Tracy says
Thank you so much for getting back with me, Matt! I had no idea which tap handle to purchase, but now I do 🙂 My husband is going to be very happy on Christmas morning! Thanks again!!
Camille says
I would just go see the new HP! It is amaaaazzing!
That soup looks awesome, by the way 🙂
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I love Home Alone! I always have to watch it around the holidays; it has become my tradition! That salad looks amazing!! I’m off to make some of Matt’s bread tonight!
Ramona says
The dressing is a great idea! I’ve never made my own before and I’d like to try something like what you did.
Dave Matthews is not a Charlottsville “native”. In fact, he’s not native to this country. He was born in South Africa. He lived in other places (New York, then South Africa again) before he even moved to Charlottsville.
Tabitha (From Single to Married) says
That bread and the pumpkin soup looks amazing!
Simply Life says
oh that salad looks so good! It looks very similar to one of my favorite things to get a whole foods! 🙂
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
that dinner looks so perfect, yum!!
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
Your salad looks so fresh and colorful!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
What a lovely evening!! The bread looks fabulous, as does the pumpkin curry soup. 😀
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
I just started rereading HP7 last night. I’m tempted to reread the entire series…brings me back to my childhood!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
We have great friends that we love to eat dinner with, but they are an hour away…just a little too far. Dinner shouldn’t be complicated and you all did such a great job! It looks delicious and sounds like a great night!
faith @ gracefulfitness says
On the car ride home Tate said, “I love that they eat like we do”. And so do I! 🙂
Kath says
Awww, likewise!
Julie @ Honey B. says
The soup and salad look soooooooo good! I love the drink while you were prepping dinner. I am a huge fan of having sparkling water and lime or something like that – it makes me feel like i’m indulging in a boozy beverage without actually doing so.
mariaeatsbeets says
The whole dinner looks, fresh, simple and flavorful. I’ve made butternut squash soup in the past but never pumpkin. The yogurt adds a nice touch, greek or regular?
Kath says
Regular, actually, and maybe homemade by Faith!?
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
That is such an awesome throw together meal! Especially with that freshly baked bread! Mmm.
Sana says
You have awesome friends that can pull together a healthy meal!
Lisa says
Such a nice post! Gotta <3 good friends, foods and drinks. 🙂