All "Dressed Up" and Everywhere to Go......

Here is a picture of our new family member. It's been a long time coming, something we've talked about for a very long time and something Blaise has dreamed about his entire life. We have taken a hit like everyone else due to the downturn of the economy, and we decided in this instance, to make it work for us by moving up our decision to buy a bigger, safer bike by about 4 years. Like everyone else, Harley Davidson has felt a pinch this year and offered us a pretty good deal on an Ultra Classic. It's big, it's loud, its gorgeous and it's safer than our other bike which we no longer own.

Sabrina was away for the entire day over the weekend so we decided to take a ride over to Topsail Island Beach on the Carolina Coast. That is one beach we have not been to so I was excited to check it out. Neither one of us were disappointed.

After only a 2.5 hour ride on uncongested country roads from Raleigh, we found ourselves (on a Saturday) parking right at the base of the stairway to the boardwalk to the beach. The beach was all but deserted and was cool, clean and quiet. Dogs are permitted so we did have to share the beach and the ocean with a few four legged creatures - who were all too happy to be there.

We still marvel over the beauty and ease of the beaches here in North Carolina. Living in South Florida for so many years, we became "jaded" beach goers. Florida beaches had way too many people (it was hard sometimes to even find a spot to lay down), no frisbee, no beach balls, no dogs allowed, no parking, junk in the water, wall to wall traffic to get to the beach (a 10 minute ride would take sometimes close to 45 minutes because of traffic). We love spending time on the Carolina Coast and still giggle every time we get a parking space right at the entrance and there are no other cars. It's our private beach.

We love living in Raleigh for this reason. We are about 2 hours away (at the closest point) from the beach so we don't get all that tourist traffic, pollution and congestion - but we are close enough we can leave around 9 or 10 am, spend an entire day at the beach and still get home way before dark - not too exhausted.

Sabrina is going to Washington DC in a month or so and we were just talking today about packing up the Harley -- no corgis this time (sorry guys) and heading over to the Smokeys for some cool mountain air.

Are you jealous yet? Give us a call and let's talk about how we can help you make your dreams of living, working and playing (at the beach and in the mountains!) a reality.

Have a great week.

School Starts in One Week...

With only one more week left until the 2009-2010 school year begins, Blaise and I decided to take advantage of a "childless" weekend (Sabrina went to Carrowinds Amusement Park for the day Saturday) and take a Harley Ride over to Topsail Island, NC.

I took lots of pictures and will be sharing them here, next week. THAT's what we love about living in North Carolina. This weekend we drove only 2.5 hours to escape the nearly 100 degree temperatures to cool off in the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean at one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. On the flipside, in a few weeks, we'll be heading over to the Carolina Mountains for some cool mountain air and wildlife watching. It doesn't get any better than this and we LOVE LIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

In the meantime, while I'm organizing my pictures and information on Topsail Island, below is a recipe I wanted to share. NO, it's not a Southern recipe - which is what I typically put up on our blog - but this one is one of my favorites and definitely worth sharing.

WOW Your Family & Friends with Ravioli or Pasta with VODKA SAUCE

During a recent trip to New York City, I tried a dish which I've seen on menues millions of times but never ordered - Ravioli with Pink Vodka Sauce. Let me tell you, it was one of the most beautifully presented and delicious meals I've ever eaten.

Immediately upon arriving home, I put a pot of sauce on to cook all day and decided to look up a vodka sauce recipe. How EASY and how DELICIOUS! And while this is certainly NOT a Southern Recipe (which is what I typically share, ) this is so good, I want you to try it.

NOTE: I make the sauce and pour it over fresh ravioli (either cheese or veal ravioli). You can certainly use a good quality frozen ravioli, or pasta such as penne, rigatoni, bowties, etc.

VODKA SAUCE

1/4 lb. diced pancetta (Italian bacon) (if desired. this ingredient is NOT mandatory)

1/4 c. butter

1/3 c. vodka

1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

1 1/2 c. tomato sauce

Melt the butter in a large frying pan. When the butter foams, add the diced pancetta. When the pancetta browns slightly (takes 2 to 3 minutes), add the vodka and stir.

After the alcohol burns off (about 3 minutes),

SLOWLY stir in the tomato sauce and cream.

Stir continuously for 5 - 8 minutes.

If you want to serve it over ravioli, place the cooked ravioli on plates and nicely drizzle the sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh, grated parmesan cheese and italian parsley.

If you would like to serve pasta such as penne or rigatoni or even shells, then throw the cooked (al dente!) pasta into the frying pan WITH THE SAUCE and toss. Then place on plates, grate fresh Parmesan over the top and garnish with Italian parsley.

Another idea for this sauce that I've tried is adding a cup or so of chopped tomatoes at the very beginning when you are heating up the butter and pancetta, throw some diced tomatoes in at that point. That gives the sauce a real "al fresca" taste.

HOW EASY IS THAT? And oooooh so impressive. It really is delicious. If you don't make your own sauce and want to use jarred sauce, you can do that to. Just follow the recipe using jarred sauce. I do recommend that you use a fine quality jarred sauce that has less sugar.

Drop me an e-mail or leave a comment if you've tried this and let me know what you think.

Now Mange!! Mange!!!

Mange: (from Middle English manjeue, from Old French manjue, from mangier, meaning to eat)