whirlwind

The past month has been a total whirlwind.  Just complete chaos really.  And not the good kind either.  Because there really is good chaos.  Really!  But not this time.  So, the blog has been put on the backburner as I've been putting out fires left and right and managing a bunch of really challenging situations, including having my poor puppy (actually, he's a massive, muscular 100 lb, 18 month old puppy, so not the little tiny furball you might be envisioning when I say the word 'puppy') need two urgent surgeries under general anesthesia just in the past week alone....  It's been pretty awful.  The worst part is that after the first surgery he developed a terrible bacterial infection due to what we think was a latex allergy from all the latex adhesive tape they used to bandage up his head... so now he is on 2 weeks antibiotics and needs to have his wounds cleaned out every day and his bandages changed every day and wear a cone for another 2-3 weeks MINIMUM.   And this is a HIGH energy dog who is used to running with me every morning, enjoying long romps on the beach and doggie play-dates with equally rambunctious doggie friends.   OY VEY.   Tack onto that the kind of month where everything that COULD go wrong, DOES go wrong.... we all know those days and weeks and months....  Let's just say 2011 started off on the wrong side of the bed!  Geesh.

So, I really apologize for the total lack of updates and new material.  I'm usually SO much more active and on top of things when it comes to my business and my blog.   Life just kinda took over there.  And now, I am going to be out of town for 10 days.   My 6 year old daughter and I are leaving on the trip of a lifetime, which I've been saving up for for the past 6 years, since I was pregnant with her!  We are going back to France (where I was born and am originally from) to visit friends and family.  I'm leaving behind my son and puppy.  And trying not to think about how much I'm going to miss them.  I've arranged all kinds of fun stuff for my boy so I know he is going to have a blast.  But still.... I've never been away from either of my kids (or dog) for more than 3 nights.   So, a little anxiety there.    Having said that, I have been looking forward to this trip for ages and I just can barely contain myself thinking about it.  Just a few more days and I'll be back "home"....  :)

So, I thought I'd do a couple things here.  I want to leave you with a recipe for a super duper yummy vegetarian quiche I make.  In honor of my Paris trip of course!  And also, since many of you are new fans from the Rock That OCF giveaway I just did for my friend Ali, I will leave you with a discount coupon code for my Nitty Gritty E Book for $24 off the regular price.    The code is:  rockthatocf

I promise to share pictures of my Paris adventure here upon my return but I'm not planning on taking the big camera out with me every day.  Since I speak french, I kinda just want to blend in with my daughter and get the non-tourist experience some days and just wander fancy-free without any set plan or anything.   I haven't been back to Paris in almost a decade and it's going to be wonderful to re-visit my favorite spots with my daughter and see them fresh through her little 6 year old eyes and my old memories intermingled therein.   I've also got a ton of shoots in May so there will be plenty of new content here, I promise!  :)

Thanks for your patience everyone!

Oh, and also, I came across this link with some fun FREE activities to plan for during summer break with your kids.  I know it seems far away but it isn't (gasp!) and if you are anything like me, summer break means working from home with kids underfoot going bonkers because they are seeing too much of each other and outside of their normal scheduled day is NOT the idyllic summer for THE MOM!  Egad! :)  Hope this helps stave off the boredom that can lead to craziness!

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

And now, the recipe!

LEEK, GRUYERE, MUSHROOM, ONION QUICHE:

(this makes 2 quiches)

2 tbsp flour

6 eggs

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup half and half

4 cups shredded chees (I use either shredded gruyere or Trader Joe's Quattro blend)

2 large leeks, chopped

1 cup chopped white onion

lots of garlic

a couple cups of sliced crimini mushrooms

A bunch of really skinny asparagus.

And then I used premade dough because I just DO NOT have the time for that.  So, I had the dough pre-bake in the quiche pans for 15 mn while I tended to the rest.

In one pan, I sauteed the mushrooms with the garlic.  In another, I sauteed the leeks and onions.   In a bowl I whisked the eggs and flour along with the whipping cream and the half and half and then added the cheese to this egg mixture and stirred some more.

Once the dough was ready, I split the mushrooms into two servings and spread each into the bottom of each quiche pan over the baked dough.  Then I spread the onion/leek mixture (split again) on top of that.  And then I doled out the egg/cheese mixture on top of all that.  I topped it all off with the asparagus, (see picture).   Oven to 350 degrees for 30-45 mn (or so, depends entirely on your oven, just make sure egg mixture is firm) and VOILA.   My house smells soooo good and it was soooo yummy!

Oh and here is my poor pup Kooper right after his FIRST surgery.  He had to have another one just 5 days later.  He is still miserable...  :(

One eared wonder.  We love him so.