Philadelphia International Flower Show
Living in Philadelphia has been such a blast this year. PB and I tried new restaurants, ran Kelly Drive multiple times, found “our” market, visited the Art Museum, and more.
One activity I couldn’t wait for is the Philadelphia International Flower Show. Last year, this exact weekend, my dad went with my (at the time future) father in law to the Flower Show while I was at a surprise bridal shower held for me by my mother in law and sister in law. My dad was there to surprise me for dinner, and my father in law took him to the show to pass the time until then. Later on, when the surprise was revealed (and tears flowed for the third time that day of course) my dad had the most gorgeous flowers in his hand. He also had a slew of photos on his phone of the most beautiful design of flowers made into a stiletto. Ever since seeing those photos I have been waiting in anticipation for this year’s show.
Well, the show is here! Last night my mother in law and I went over to the Philadelphia Convention Center for the show, and it was even better than I imagined! This year’s theme is Passport to the World, and upon entering the show there is a very large hot air balloon that is actually the design of a globe. All the continents are made out of roses.
I will let the photos speak for themselves. The highlights:
By far my absolute favorite:
Singapore:
Brazil:
Other highlights:
(I want to live in this design)
And a few of us, just for fun:
Can we say, SPRING IS HERE?
If you are in the Philadelphia this area, check out the Philadelphia International Flower Show. You will not be disappointed.
Show information, from the website:
Place: Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107-2299
Hours:
Friday :10 am to 9:30 PM
Saturday: 8 am to 9:30 PM
Sunday March 7: 8 am to 6 pm
Ticket Pricing:
Friday, March 5 Adults $24 • Students (17-24) $18 • Children (2-16) $13
Saturday and Sunday, March 6 & 7 Adults $26 • Students (17-24) $18 • Children (2-16) $13
Love & Roasted Chicken
It has been quite a few months since I have waxed on and on about PhillyBoy. I guess I try to keep it to myself now that I realize the posts are gag-worthy for some! Whoops! I suppose I can’t help it. I am one of those lucky people who has found someone that she loves fully and completely, and I can’t get over it. My parents had that kind of love, and I never thought I would be equally lucky!
A long time ago I wrote the story of how my parents met, but that post was lost before I could save it in my drafts backup folder. To give you the quickie version…. My auntie D and her boyfriend were dating and wanted to meet up in Florence for a few days. My aunt was living in Trieste at the time, and her boyfriend was in the States but would be in Italy for business. My grandparents did not want my aunt to go, but finally agreed when auntie said she would take her sister as a chaperone. When my aunt told her boyfriend that, he said he would find out if one of his brothers could make it too to keep my aunt’s sister company.
My mom and auntie, many many years ago (my auntie is standing in the back and my mom is sitting down):
My mom, with my dad in the background (sometime in the late 70s):
Fast forward to Florence.. My dad (my aunt’s boyfriend’s brother) is sitting in the barber shop in the hotel and sees a beautiful woman in the mirror pass by, with long blond hair and a beautiful outfit. He says to himself “if that is the woman I am supposed to accompany all weekend, I am going to marry her.” I am sure he did not think that was actually the woman he was supposed to accompany! But it was! My dad and mom were formally introduced, and it was love at first sight. Though they did not speak the same native languages, they both spoke some English and my dad spoke a bit of Italian so they were able to communicate. By the end of that first evening, my dad and mom knew they wanted to be married. The four of them ended up having a magical trip in Florence that I heard about many times growing up, and when my mom went back to Trieste, she had a promise ring on her finger.
The rest is history, as they say. My mom got married to my dad, studied for her high school final exams, and got her driver’s license all in the same year. And yes, my aunt and her boyfriend got married too!
My uncle (in the middle), with my dad (left) and a friend (also late 70s):
And one random, because I can’t help it! Another one of my dad’s brothers, with one of their sisters! (again, late 70s):
The love doesn’t end there. By 1985 we were all living in Rhode Island. My parents had a boy born in 1979 and a girl in 1983, and my aunt and uncle had a boy in 1979 and a girl in 1983! The girl, my cousin who I grew up with as almost a sister, was my maid of honor! The story is quite a bit longer and a bit more romantic than that, but it would take hours to fully share. I have asked my aunt to share it many, many times in the last few years! It is one of my favorite stories. Feel free to ask any questions about this love story if you have them!
I remind myself of my parents’ beautiful story all the time. My father is an incredible man, and although PhillyBoy did not meet my father until he met me, he is much like my father. Both do everything they can for those they love, and I am lucky to have them in my life!
While I do most of the cooking in the house, PhillyBoy is no bad cook. In fact, he is the master of making a delicious meal out of practically nothing. On this day in particular, he roasted a chicken to perfection with just a few Google searches and a recipe from his imagination. It was delicious, and will be delicious when he makes it again (hint hint!). Some might even say this is engagement-worthy chicken…. It is that good! See for yourself….
PhillyBoy’s Roasted Chicken
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 3-4 lb chicken
1 orange, in segments
1 onion, in segments (very roughly chopped)
3 celery stalks, roughly chopped
2 lemons, quartered
2 tbs olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
assorted spices
1 cup white wine
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Stuff the chicken with the orange, onion, celery, and lemon pieces. It is ok if not everything fits inside the chicken, but do your best. Truss the chicken with kitchen twine.
2. Rub the outside of the chicken with salt, pepper, and any spices you like. Pour the olive oil over the whole chicken and rub it all over.
3. Place the chicken breast side down in a roasting pan. Fill the pan with the wine + enough water to have 1 inch of liquid in the pan. Place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken breast side up and place back in oven. Baste every 15 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reads 165 degrees Farenheit, about 85 minutes total. Enjoy!
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Morning Runs
Confession: I have been sleeping through my morning runs. PB too. That means we have to scramble around late in the afternoon to get our runs done.
I really enjoy running before work. I do! I like running on an empty stomach while half awake, and it puts me in a great mood for the day. I don’t have any good excuse why I haven’t been getting up, besides that winter makes me lazy. I am so lazy I haven’t even been running outside! The most energy I am willing to muster up is t throw on a pair of pants and a tank and head downstairs to run on the treadmill.
Today, however…. Today was new day. A special day! I did run after work, but something beautiful happened. I headed over to Kelly Drive for my run, and when I got there… I saw the ground. The ground has been covered by snow for months, but it is back. With that came a gorgeous sunset, a packed path, a spring drizzle, and no gloves. For the first time since November, I felt the air against the skin on my hands directly. I did not have my shirt zipped up to my chin, and I felt the breeze of spring around the corner.
My run was slow, the slowest I ever remember in fact. I had my afternoon snack around 4:30, way too late for me for a 5:30 PM run. I felt it sitting in my stomach, and I swore to never sleep through my morning run again. We will see if that happens! It didn’t matter though. The feeling of the fresh, crisp air on my face and the sun setting behind Center City Philadelphia brought back my passion for running. I haven’t enjoyed a run like this in several months, and it feels good to be back.
Spicy Shrimp Dinner
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Warning: The following recipe contains a seriously spicy ingredient! Do not continue reading if you do not have a glass of water or calming avocado nearby!
Saturday afternoon, while at the new Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting, PhillyBoy and I decided we wanted to stay in that night and cook at home. I had recently received a jar of Chile Crunch to review and I knew I wanted to base dinner around it. The ingredient list forming in my head included shrimp, brown rice, and avocado. I wanted to make a dish that balanced all sorts of flavors and textures, and this dish did exactly that.
Chile Crunch is sold over on Foodzie, which according to the website, is “an online marketplace where you can discover and buy food directly from small passionate food producers and growers.” I was first introduced to Foodzie at the Foodbuzz Festival in 2009, and I have supported it ever since. If you look to the right of this post you will see all of my favorite Foodzie products, which are available for sale on their website. I love the idea of helping small producers reach a larger audience through this site. Chile Crunch is not a product I would ever think to buy, and I am glad I had the opportunity to review it. It is extremely spicy and crunchy and made the perfect marinade for the shrimp in this dish!
Spicy Shrimp Dinner
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:
1 lb 26-30 count shrimp
1 onion, chopped any way you prefer
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tbs Chile Crunch, with oil
1 cup brown rice
kosher salt + pepper to taste
1 avocado
2 large vine tomatoes
juice from 1 lemon
4 wraps, if desired
Directions:
1. Make brown rice according to directions (for me, this means bringing 2.5 cups of water to a boil, adding 1 cup brown rice + dash of salt and cooking, covered, for 35 minutes. Let it stand for 5 minutes and then fluff with a fork and serve).
2. Meanwhile, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium in a wide, shallow skillet. Add the chopped onion and sweat for 10 minutes until soft and translucent. While the onion is sweating, mix the juice from one lemon with 3 tbs of Chile Crunch with oil in a large bowl. Add the shrimp and toss well to coat all pieces.
3. When the onion is done, remove it from the skillet and turn the heat to medium high. Add 1/2 the shrimp in a single layer. Do not move the shrimp once you place them in the skillet. When the underside is pink (about 2-3 minutes) flip each shrimp. I use tongs for this. When the shrimp are cooked through (about another 3 minutes) remove and repeat with the second half.
4. When all the shrimp are cooked add them and the onion to the skillet for a minute or two to heat up.
5. Cut the avocado and tomato in uniform cubes and mix together. You are now ready to assemble the meal.*
*I prefer to serve the dinner in pieces and let each diner prepare it the way he likes. This is what that meant for us…
My plate:
PB’s plate:
This is a dish I can’t wait to make again. While it used a couple of pots, it was worth the end result. Please try it and let me know what you think!
***Don’t forget to enter my delicate soles giveaway!!
New! Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting
Weekends usually mean running around from planned activity to planned activity for PhillyBoy and I. This weekend, for the first time in what seems like many months, we had no scheduled plans! Yes, we had lots to do in the house, and yes, our to do lists are miles long, but with no strict schedules we were able to have some fun.
A new Whole Foods opened in Plymouth Meeting, PA, about 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, and I have wanted to go and see it for weeks. This store is one of (or THE) biggest in our area, and being brand new, I knew it would have many of the great qualities of my local Whole Foods in Cranston, RI. Saturday the opportunity to shop there came when we heard about The Great Parmigiano Reggiano Wheel Cracking Extravaganza . Hundreds of Whole Foods across the nation, Canada, and the U.K. came together to crack large wheels of parmigiano reggiano cheese at exactly the same moment, breaking a previously made world record.
For more information on parmigiano reggiano, visit the Behind the Rind blog on the Whole Foods Market website.
The event promised cheese samples, recipe demonstrations, and wine & beer tastings where available. When PB, my mother in law, her husband Ed, and I arrived at the store, it was packed. Snowstorm warning packed. Early Saturday morning packed.
We were happy for our little adventure though!
This Whole Foods was the best one I have ever visited. I found some ingredients and products I haven’t been able to find anywhere else in this area, and I noticed that the variety in the store is tremendous. I could have stayed there for hour visiting each aisle and learning what it had to offer. I was especially impressed with the selection of produce, noting that they had lots of local fruits and vegetables, but also a great selection of imported unknown produce that I wished I had the time to learn more about. The staff, like at any Whole Foods, was knowledgeable and kind.
Fun fact! Hangry Pants Heather’s brother is the Specialty Foods Team Leader at a Whole Foods in Rhode Island! Speaking of Heather, I bid on her version of Dreena’s Super Charge Me cookies for the Online Bake for Haiti and won! They are so incredible and taste just like Girl Scout samoa cookies. I put them in the freezer and have been pulling out two a day to add to my greek yogurt snack. YUM,
Back to Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting: PB and I made salads in the extensive prepared foods section and ate a quick late lunch before the event.
The four of us made our way over to the cheese area at 2:59 PM, and at 3:00 PM exactly (with a countdown) the cheese expert made the final cut in the parmigiano reggiano wheel, opening it for all to see. The cheese area was packed!
The final countdown:
5!
Four!
1!!!!!
It was really fun! I actually don’t like cheese when it is not mixed in foods so I do not sample any, but PB, my mother in law, and her husband all said it was extremely flavorful! The cheese expert must have passed out over 100 samples in the first few minutes alone.
We were all happy.
They also passed out samples of a basic pasta topped with parmigiano reggiano.
Whole Foods does it right.
Congratulations to the Whole Foods Market in Plymouth Meeting- you are doing everything right! We can’t wait to move closer… just to have access to your amazing store.
***Don’t forget to enter my delicate soles giveaway!!
Whole Foods Market in Plymouth Meeting, PA is located at 500 W. Germantown Pike Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 and is open from 8:00 AM- 9:00 PM seven days a week. Contact phone number: 610.832.0010.
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