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We are still getting the last few kinks worked out, but I’m super excited! 

Stay tuned for a GDW re-launch contest/giveaway!

BIG THANKS to Splendid Sparrow for doing such a fantastic job!

I’m pretty sure Saturday night I had dreams about that chicken salad – because as soon as I woke up on Sunday – I knew I wanted 1 thing, and 1 thing only for breakfast:

It is weird to be craving chicken salad for breakfast, right??

I topped it with an extra sprinkle of curry powder and paprika – PERFECTION!

After breakfast, I took care of a whole bunch of blog related things, and before I knew it – it was time to leave for a little Sunday adventure!

Unfortunately – Mike and the pups weren’t able to come…

Fortunately – I was able to spend some fantastic quality time with my parents and in-laws!

The place – Ferrante Winery, in Geneva, Ohio!

Even with the snow, I thought the orchards looked lovely!

It helped that inside was nice and cozy warm!

I’m sorry – I don’t care what time of day, or what time of year it is. If you are at a winery – you just have to drink wine. I believe there are actual laws stating this fact.

Since I’m not crazy about sweet wines, but SO many of the Ferrante dry-er offerings sounded good – I decided to go with the “Winemaker’s Sampler Tray” – hey, I wasn’t driving!

And THANK GOD I wasn’t! The set down 10 samples (I was totally expecting 5), and each of the little glasses were filled to the rim! GAH!

I diligently got down to work trying all the samples, and taking notes like a good little wine taster:

Except – before anyone goes and calls me snotty – I’ll have you know I wrote notes like “tastes like a grocery store”. You heard me right. Not “Tastes like you could buy it at the grocery store” – but “Tastes like a grocery store”. I have a very sophisticated palate!

Their Golden Bunches Dry Riesling was definitely my favorite (probably because it tasted the most like a Sauv Blanc!) – it was quite delicious!

We ordered a few appetizers as everyone was sitting around chatting. First – the calamari, with their own special lemon caper mayo!

Followed by the PEPE CARCIOFO (TWSS!) - Romano, mozzarella and cheddar cheese blended with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives and fresh herbs. Served with bread

Both were amazing delicious – and the dip totally left me craving artichokes…(you’ll see more artichokes later!)

While we were waiting for our food – I went to explore the store:

Which shockingly had lots of wine: This coffee mug, that I’m 99.9% positive I need: Along with a whole bunch of other cute wine knick knacks! I could have spent a LOT of money in this little shop, but I did a nice job restraining myself! By the time I got back – my meal was there: Salmon Salad with their own special Cucumber Dill sauce:This salad was the definition of PERFECTION! Even though the flavors were simple, they all went so well together, and the salmon was cooked EXACTLY right!

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon Mom, Dad, Dan & June!

Thanks to all the wonderful afternoon eats (and drinks!) – I wasn’t hungry for dinner until almost 9pm! But once it started – I went from hungry to STARVING in no time!

Like I said before – I was really craving more artichokes after that delicious dip at lunch – when INSPIRATION STRUCK! I remembered Susan posting this recipe, and I remember drooling while reading about it! Sho’ nuff – I had all the ingredients!Sadly – I forgot to get my boyfriend Frank’s in the picture – but I assure you – there was a copious amount of Frank’s in this dish!

Mix it all up – put it in a casserole dish:Top with a little more swiss cheese for good luck: Bake for 20 minutes, on 350, remove from oven: Open chips: CHOW DOWN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! EVEN MIKE APPROVED OF THIS RECIPE – now THAT is saying something!

Yesterday – for the first time since AUGUST – I ran 6 miles!

It felt AMAZING (albeit, slower than molasses)! Back when I started running – Mike lovingly pointed out one day: People walk as fast as you run!

True – and yet I don’t care, it’s not about speed for me, its about getting from point A to B, running (even if it does just look like feet shuffling, and a tall man could walk next to me)   Slow and steady wins the race, right???

I met Kristin for our long run down at Rocky River Park.  Call Cleveland “The Mistake on the Lake” if you will – but it really is a wonderful place! It’s always cool to see Lake Erie, frozen over, so quiet, before sunrise!   That will never get old!  (It’s just as fun in the summer too!) 6 miles later:Knock on wood – my foot feels okay!    Let’s hope that keeps up!

When I got home – I was starving, and craving protein, but really didn’t want to wait the 10 minutes it would take for the oats to cook, to make spicy oats.  So instead: Flat Out with Eggs, Turkey, Hummus, Laughing Cow, and Frank’s!  Then – I showered, watched a terrible movie (DO NOT EVER EVER EVER EVER RENT “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt”), caught up on some blog to-do’s, and took the pups over to play at my parents.  (No pics, sorry!)

When I got home I was starving again – so I whipped up this lovely salad:Morning Star Buffalo Wings, Celery, Red Onion, Mozzarella, topped with:What did I ever do before I found Frank’s?  I really don’t know!  The rest of the night was spent cooking, catching up on some magazine reading, and watching some TV! A perfect low key Saturday night!

Can you spot the dog?     Silly Harvard! (I think I need to make a list of Harvey’s nicknames, just like I did for Lando a while ago…)

After I was done creating my Aunt Debbie’s Chicken Salad recipe  – you KNOW I had to make it my dinner – I chose to go the Flat Out way: Sweet, with a kick from the curry, and then a wonderful crunch from the pom seeds and lettuce – YUM!

Okay – now I’m off to put off cleaning, as much as I can.  Does anyone want to come clean my house for free?  Does anyone want to give me a new free vacuum that will actually WORK and pick up all the pet hair dustballs tumbling across this place????