The Sunday Circular

 We stayed out late the night before for our friend Jose's birthday party. This time Scott had more to drink than me. So we slept in.

Apparently Peanut also had to much too drink. I woke up to this mess. Of course he's licking the plastic bag in this picture. He loves licking bags -- reminds him of his alley cat days. 

  Scott's hangover comfort food is pancakes and syrup, that would be last thing for me. I tried to cheer him up with emoticon mini pancakes. 

 My stomach was just not having it. This might be the first time I've left pancakes on my plate. Ever. 

Off to work I went, hungover. Damn you Best Buy!

While he went to his job, I worked on getting the chile-braised pork shoulder (from the latest Bon Appetit) ready for our epic meal.

 I got a strawberry plant from the back of someone's pickup truck while Scott was in California. Thanks to Emma for finding it on freecycle. He planted it for me earlier this week. Here's hoping it produces fruit.

I hope it produces Strawberries.

 I also planted all my seeds so they could get started before the last frost. 

 It was finally warm and sunny enough to do laundry. I don't use my dryer at all in the summer. There's no need when nature can do it for you. Plus your clothes smell better than toxic dryer sheets.

 For lunch I had leftover red beans and sausage and a tangelo.

And another picture of Peanut.

When Scott returned we worked on the garden. I squared off the garden with twine. There are 3 things that I'm doing wrong that Mel Bartholomew would not approve.

1. I used twine to make squares. He says you should use wood because twine will rot.

2. I walked across the garden to tie the string. He says you shouldn't do that because the dirt gets packed.

3. Our garden is 8 x 8 and not 4 x 4. He says 4 x 4 is the biggest you should go so you aren't tempted to walk in the garden.

Mel needs to breathe. A good walking path made of wood chips will fix this "problem."

While I started making the refried beans the cat escaped from the yard. When I looked outside, meowser was lounging in front of our neighbor's stoop with Brooke in tow. Then the neighbor kids ran over. Peanut was as big as the boys, but it didn't stop the eldest, youngster.

 Once we got back inside we finished prepping the home-fried tortilla chips, guac and radishes. 

 I suggest you buy the best local corn tortillas and fry them yourself in a deep fryer or a dutch oven. The results are light-years beyond store-bought chips. Here's a quick guacamole recipe we make when we get lazy. It'll be the perfect antidote to all this homemade food.

Quick Guac

3 avocados

1/4 c Good quality salsa

1/2 t Cumin

1/2 Jalapeno, minced  

1/2 c Cilantro, finely chopped

Salt and Pepper

Cut avocados down bias and remove the pit. Scoop avocado into bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mash with fork. Add plenty of salt and pepper. Taste before serving.

Tyler, Emma and Olive joined us for dinner again. Two nights in a row. 

They took turns eating. Lucky Emma got to eat first. By the time Ty got to the table, we were all on seconds or thirds.

Scott stole Olive away from Tyler.

Well, I never get to hold her and Tyler needed to eat; poor guy was hungry. I clearly do not know how to hold a baby. Nonetheless, It was fun holdingOlive.

After dinner we played games we bought at the Salvation Army in the North Loop. 

 The SA downtown has a basement that has all the things that were returned or didn't sell at the regular Target stores, only cheaper. 

 After drinking at JT's b-day party on Saturday I didn't really plan on swinging 'em back, but board games and tacos need lubrication. We made some killer ginger ale and cherry brandy drinks. I think it'll be our drink of the summer.  

Ginger Meet Cherry

3 parts Ginger Ale

1 part Cherry Brandy or Kirsch

Ice

Mix and drink.

By the time Tyler made it to the top of the Marble Mountain, I was getting pretty "tired."

 So was Baby Olive.