The Boar's Feast

Rob's college put on a FEAST for graduate students in the Old Hall last weekend.

Elizabeth of Woodville, one of the founding Queens of Queens' College

We got all dolled up (Rob even managed to borrow a tux....thanks Dan!), and ate a 6-course meal in a room built in 1449.
It was kind of neat to eat in a place where members of Queens' College were dining 43 years before Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue!
The food was deeeelicious:

• Veloute (aka soup) of cauliflower finished with truffle oils and chives
  
• Grilled wild boar sausage, mustard mash, apple crisp, chianti sauce
• Roasted saddle of English lamb, filled with a spinach and garlic forcemeat, fondant potato, and ratatouille
• Crisp pastry tartlet filled with lemon curd ice cream, glazed with Italian meringue, with raspberry compote
• A selection of artisan British cheeses
• Fairtrade Chocolates (and coffee for those who wanted it)

Some of Rob's fellow LL.M.s (and guests) and me

After each course was cleared away, I felt like the meal should be over. Then, when it just kept going and going, I couldn't help thinking about how many dirty dishes were piling up from all of those sauces, sides, and garnishes.....I think I need to get out more.
By the end of the night we were in that happy haze that comes with bellies filled with delicious food. It might take some time (and more pants with elastic waistbands), but I could get used to this style of eating!

We Are All Worms...

...But I do believe I am a glow worm.

~Winston Churchill

On our last trip to London, Rob and I went to the Cabinet War Rooms Museum. During WWII, and especially during German bombing raids, the British War Cabinet operated in top-secret underground rooms near the Parliament Building. These rooms, including the original furniture, equipment, and decorations, are now on display.

They also have an entire section of the museum dedicated to the life of Winston Churchill.

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

~Winston Churchill

He was a remarkable man, confident in his destiny, and convinced of the importance of his role in the battle against evil (e.g. Nazism & Hitler). If you want to learn more about him, The Last Lion by William Manchester is a great book.

"The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every opportunity."
~Winston Churchill

Winston was a great orator, and was (obviously) famous for his memorable one-liners. Some of our other favorites include:

• "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
• "I am easily satisfied with the very best."
• "This report, by its very length, defends itself against the risk of being read."
• "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
• "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."
• "Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

And, most importantly:

"Never, never, never give up."

What are some of your favorite quotes? (They don't have to be from Good Ol' Winnie.)

A majorly Miserables Birthday

Never fear. My birthday was not actually miserable, but it definitely had a Miserables theme.

This year, we decided we'd go see the play Les Miserables in London for my birthday present!

But, before we saw the play, we wanted to read the book (all 1400 pages of it). So we did. And loooved it. For anyone who likes the play, I'd highly recommend reading the book.

Then, before we saw the play, we wanted to get the soundtrack so we'd be familiar with the music. So we did. And looooved it. We got the original London Cast recording and it's great.
Finally, a few days before my birthday, we made the trip into London. We nabbed half-price tickets for the evening show, went to see an awesome museum (more on that later), then headed up to Leicester Square for the main event.
After the show, and all the way home to Cambridge, we couldn't stop singing! It was really, really fun.

Then, on my actual birthday, I woke up to a sneaky Rob bringing me breakfast in bed:

A delicious croissant, a pastry, and an orange "cake"

That evening, we met up with friends for dinner at a great Thai restaurant. After dinner, we went back to Heather's house for delicious frozen yogurt and apple bread.

I'm starting to think birthdays need to happen more than once a year....

Dance Through the Decades

Last night our ward put on a great activity: A Dance Through The Decades where everyone had to come sporting gear from the past. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play dress-up!
There is a great store here called Primark that sells "fashion" clothing at cheap prices. The thing is, it seems like 40% of the clothing is either straight from the 80s or covered in sequins.

(Verland's gold-sequined beret on the bottom left....from Primark!)

As a rule, I avoid clothing in neon. But, as another rule, no eighties outfit is complete without neon. So I went for it. I found orange keds, a bright blue shirt, and a nice purple pair of shades. After some negotiation, Rob agreed to rock some nice baby blue aviators with his collar popped and to sport some white keds.
At the dance we realized our outfits couldn't really compete with some others (look at James and Heather below), but we did learn a British version of the hokey-pokey (very fun), and some other new dances.
By the end of the night I was pretty attached to my side-pony and the shades. Unfortunately, when I told Rob how much I liked our new look, he said he didn't want to be anywhere near my purple sunglasses in public. I guess that means my 80s revival tour is going to have to go solo.

My Secret Love

I have a confession to make and I'm ready to go public. (Although, I'm pretty sure Rob has already guessed.)

I'm in love with...my immersion blender.

Isn't it cute?

You can't really blame me, though. Winter is just so much better when it includes this, or this, or this, or, most importantly, this.

Lately, when almost every dinner has been of the liquid variety, I've started to think I might actually have a serious problem. But last night we made this, and then Rob assured me that my secret love is no problem at all.
Potato and Leek Soup with Spinach, Sausage and Parmesan
(adapted from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman)

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp butter or extra virgin olive oil
• 3 medium/large potatoes, any type, cut up into small cubes
• 3 leeks, white and light green parts only, washed and sliced into thin rings
• Salt and pepper
• 1 quart vegetable stock or water, preferably warmed
• A couple handfuls of baby spinach (optional)
  
• A couple links of sausage, casings removed (optional)
• A handful of fresh parsley, roughly torn (optional)
  
• A light grating of Parmesan (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Put butter or oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium heat. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the leeks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the leeks are nice and tender, about 5-10 minutes.
2. Add the potatoes and stock and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes.
3. In the last few minutes of cooking, stir in the spinach leaves.
4. Blend soup until thick and chunky.
5. In a separate frying pan, crumble a few (about 4) links of sausage and cook until browned. Drain and stir into the soup.
6. Serve soup and garnish with parmesan and parsley.
7. Thank your lucky stars you have an immersion blender

Hair Updates

Update #1: First of all, some of you may be dying to know how Rob's beard is coming along.
Answer: It's 3 1/2 weeks old, somewhat red and viking-esque, and getting thicker by the day! His resolution not to shave has been bolstered by a public declaration that his beard is dedicated to getting into the spirit of the Old Testament. (Rob and I are Sunday School teachers at church, and this year we're teaching the Old Testament.)

Hair update #2: Rob's last haircut was in November, so his normal head of hair was getting pretty overgrown. Unfortunately, his thick blond locks were too much for the clippers we borrowed to handle. So, what did I do?
Answer: I bravely turned to good, old-fashioned scissors! I am proud to say that even though it took me about 3 times as long to accomplish, Rob is now sporting a perfectly acceptable haircut done completely with scissors. Ta-dummmm!

Last, but not least: Granada

We are officially home from our trip now, but before everything gets back to normal I have to put up our Granada pictures!

On the afternoon we arrived in Granada, the lady running our hostel suggested we go walk around the Albaicin, a medieval Moorish neighborhood that has remained almost unchanged for centuries.

Except for the addition of mopeds of course

So we hiked up through the neighborhood on winding, cobbled streets until we came to little square in front of a church with this view:

Click to on it to see it better

That's the Alahambra, a palace/fortress constructed in the 14th century by the Moorish rulers of Granada.
After the Moors were conquered, it was turned into a Christian palace, and then fell into disrepair for hundreds of years. Eventually, it came to the attention of the Western world and began drawing tourists to Granada. Now it's been restored and is pretty awesome. We were amazed at the intricate detail that covered so much of the palace.
Now we just have to find someone who can replicate this type of work for when we build our future house....do you think the neighbors would mind a Moorish palace going up next door?