Quick (Cinco de Mayo) weekend in review (& pictures) + What I'm Cooking

D's parents came to visit it us for the weekend.  The weather was absolutely perfect despite the Weather Channel making me nervous all week; I couldn't have asked for a better result.  They brought Allen Brother steaks (AMAZING! Like better than Ruth Chris, amazing!)  We grilled asparagus and I made one of my favorite salads, Mixed Greens with Grapefruit and Cranberries (from an earlier post).  This meal was by far the best thing I've eaten in FOREVER!  Sorry, no pictures of our meal.  We were too busy stuffing our faces.

Later that evening the women played the men in euchre (best of 5 games) and we WON! That's 2-0 for the ladies!

Today, D and I focused on putting in some more sweat equity into our backyard.  His parents also brought us a variety of fantastic flowers from their beautiful backyard.  Here are some of the irises that didn't quite make it during transport but are blooming beautifully on my kitchen counter.

We decided to go to Lowe's to find a weeping tree and additional flowers.  While there, we think we finally found a light fixture for above our dining table:

It's perfect!

After 2 trips, we had plenty of bags of soil, a Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Tree, lilies and additional flowering ground cover.

Our little helper, Luna

It was brutally hot outside but it's not called "Sweat Equity" for nothing.  D and I both got a bit burnt.  Here's some of the progress we made.

Just need new mulch

We originally had a poorly-kept coy pond in that area but decided to take it out and fill it in instead.  I think it was a good decision and will hopefully keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Once we called it a day on the yard work, we decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (a day late).  I made fresh guacamole from scratch.  We added that to grilled, blackened chicken tacos and served that along with grilled Mexican corn on the cob (sweet white Indiana corn on the cob smeared with mayonnaise and drizzled with chili powder and topped off with cilantro.  It usually calls for Cojita cheese or grated Parmesan but I didn't have any on hand.)

Guacamole 

2 large avocados, cut into small cubes

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/4 medium white onion, chopped

1 medium jalapeno, diced small

1-1/2 TBSP cilantro, roughly chopped

1 lime, juiced

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir.  I like to smash some of the avocado pieces but also leave some chunks.  

D says this is the meal he could eat everyday.  What a wonderful end to a truly fulfilling weekend.  Hope you all enjoyed your Cinco de Mayo weekend!

The Perfect Night-Before Pre-Marathon Meal! What I'm Cooking: Turkey and Artichoke Heart Pasta

Sometimes, a recipe will hit me like a ton of bricks and I'll obsess over the flavors until I can get myself into my domain kitchen.  I was at work the other day and I was craving spaghetti.  Recently, my meals have been on the lighter side and I was yearning for something heavier and heartier.  Work days can be a bit challenging because I work such long hours and oftentimes, I get home and crash, with just enough energy to complete that night's P90X workout.

But on this particular night, I was motivated to buckle down and make exactly what I wanted.  I went to the pantry, grabbed what was available and came up with this:

Turkey and Artichoke Heart Pasta (makes 4 large servings or 6 small servings)


1 cup whole grain wide noodles (I used Ronzoni Healthy Harvest)
1-1/4 lb lean ground turkey
1/4 tsp cumin
2 large garlic cloves, minced and divided into 2 portions
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 8-oz can artichoke hearts (quartered), drained
3-1/4 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup red wine
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp crushed red pepper (I like it spicy!), divided into 2 portions
salt and pepper, to taste

In a pot of boiling salty water, cook the whole grain pasta until it is al dente (approximately 7 to 8 minutes).
In the meantime, in a large pan, over medium heat, cook the ground turkey with the cumin, half of the minced garlic, and half of the crushed red pepper until it is cooked through.  Remove from pan and set aside.

Add the remaining garlic and onions to the same pan and cook for a minute.  Pour the red wine and balsamic vinegar on top to help scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan and to help soften the onions.  Cook uncovered for a few minutes until the onions and garlic have softened and the red wine and balsamic have reduced by half.  Add the cherry tomatoes and using a spoon, gently squish them against the bottom of the pan.  Once the tomatoes look like they have softened up, add the artichoke hearts, tomato sauce, herbs, garlic and remaining crushed red pepper.   Reduce heat, add the ground turkey back in and let simmer for several minutes.  Once the noodles are done, all them into the pan, along with a spoonful of the pasta water, and mix all the ingredients together.  Season with fresh ground pepper and serve into bowls.

This dish is having a bit of an identity crisis.  It's not sure if it's an Italian pasta or whether it's a version of a chili.  Either way, it was exactly what I was aiming for.  I have really been loving canned artichoke hearts and  hearts of palm lately.  They have showed up in several of my recent dishes.

I've had leftovers for a few days now.  It was perfect for my work lunch yesterday.  Even going with the larger portion, I was able to stay under 500 calories.  I know that we are definitely into summer now with temperatures close to the 80s but I still thoroughly enjoyed this meal!

PS, I am NOT running in the Indianapolis Mini Marathon tomorrow but I have several friends who are.  So to you awesome/crazy people, I wish you the best of luck!

Getting in Shape in 2012: Eating Right + P90X

D and I are going to Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in t-minus 120 days (but who's really counting).  This will be our first major vacation together so we are beyond stoked.

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I've already bought my first bathing suit for our trip:

 Via

Can they also throw in her body please?!

D and I have made the commitment to get (in his case, back) into shape!  Up until about a year ago, he was still active.  He played soccer in high school and then for years after that, he played with friends in a few recreational leagues.  He was always in the best of shape until a knee injury about 2 1/2 years ago and our move to the south side of Indianapolis put a damper on that.

Me, on the other hand, I gave up active sports when I got into high school and instead played varsity golf.  I did minimal activity and managed not to balloon up until about the age of 26 when I started my notice my flailing metabolism.  So over the past couple years, I've done my best watching what I ate and for the most part, when I was really dedicated, I was able to keep my weight down.  At my heaviest, I weighed about 136lbs.   I put myself on a strict eating regiment and over about a year and a half, lost almost 20 lbs, which was just in time for my best friend's wedding last Fall.  But after that, when the cold weather started coming in, I resorted to the comfort food and the convenience of fast food (what idiot decided to put a McDonald's in my place of employment?).  I was lucky and only managed to put on about 8lbs, considering the junk that I was consuming.  It was in January that I really started to notice how "squishy" I appeared.  Most people would say to me, "you're pretty tiny, why do you need to lose weight?" and while yes, I'll agree that I'm petite, I'm also lacking tone or definition.

In February, I started to get back into my strict diet.  I call it a strict diet because I am absolutely anal about recording my food.  I still eat delicious food, I just focus on healthy choices and portion control.  I used to use Spark People but the MyFitnessPal app for iPhone is just so awesome and easy to use.

For a couple months, I was in a bit of a cooking lull but I've bounced back.  I really enjoy cooking because it's fun and relaxing but also because I love knowing exactly what I'm eating.

Here's a preview of what I've been whipping up lately.  My plan is to post all the recipes on Friday (the 13th dun dun dunnnn!)

Green Monster Smoothie

Baked Orange Salmon with Citrus Salad 

Tofu Stir Fry

Curried Carrot and Ginger Soup

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Turkey Chili Blanc

Mixed Greens Salad with Grapefruit, Artichoke Hearts, Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts

A couple years ago, I got sucked into the continuous replay of the P90X infomercials and on an impulse, I went ahead and purchased the program.  You can't help but be amazed at the testimonials from the people who have done it.  But when I got it, I did it 2 times, decided it was too hard, and packed it away.  What a ween-wad!

Flash forward to now, with the support and combined participation, D and I have decided to give it another try.  We're in a much more conducive place in our lives.  We have the desire, the time, and the space to do it.  We're starting our 4th week today!!  I really enjoy the Plyometrics and the Yoga X.  I've never really been able to do pull ups, ever, so instead I do a modified version using a chair.  Hopefully, by the end of the first round of P90X, I'm able to do a few without.

ME WEEK 1 (not fun to post):

NOT ME (but what I'd ultimately like to get to):

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I am already seeing results (I'll post a new body picture once we complete Week 4) which really are the best motivation.  I'm not so focused on the scale because the number isn't going down as fast as I'd like but I'm seeing definition in my arms, legs and stomach.  Not only that, I am over that initial 2 weeks where every muscle in your body aches and it seems nearly impossible to do simple things like pull a shirt over your head or walk up a flight of stairs, I'm excited to workout and constantly looking for new inspirations.  I even squeeze in exercises while D is at work or at my work by taking the stairs (all 9 stories up to my unit).  I have begun doing them 2-3 times a shift.  I've also begun easing myself into running which I despise with every morsel of my being.  It doesn't help that I haven't quit smoking yet which is a MAJOR goal of 2012 (I know, feel free to smack me).

Here are some websites and tools that have been insanely helpful:
Pinterest.com - A great way to find endless amounts of health and fitness blogs
Tone It Up - I love the girls of Tone It Up but not really able to invest $ into their program, yet.  They send out emails with very helpful tips and tricks.  They also are working with Self.com which is just as useful.
Self.com - Great articles and reads on fitness and health.  Also, great healthy recipes.
SkinnyTaste.com - Delicious recipes with nutritional info
EatingWell.com  - Another site chock full of healthy options
MyFitnessPal - I had the app on my iPhone for forever but never used it until a couple weeks ago.  Now, it's my go-to app to log and track everything that I eat which is key (I think) to the weight loss aspect of my body transformation.  I love that you can scan the bar code of the foods you eat and it will automatically pull up the nutritional information.

What do you use to keep motivation or what have you tried that has delivered results?

I feel like I'm getting into the best shape of my adult life and couldn't be happier.  Jamaica here we come!

Love is in the Air!

I have very exciting news on the home-front: My beautiful, wonderful, amazing, exuberant, magnificent (ok, I think you get the picture) mother announced that she is getting remarried!  It caught a lot of us by surprise, considering they've only been dating for a short period of time, but as it's been said before: When you know, you know.  So that being said, I am over the moon with excitement.  Just the thought of going wedding dress shopping for my mom gives me butterflies beyond belief.  She so deserves the love of a good man and has been patient over the past 12 years.  I always knew in my heart she would find what she was looking for.  So, it looks like they are planning for a mid-summer wedding.  I can't wait to hear how the details pan out.

We enjoyed a nice "engagement dinner" at Stone Creek Dining in Greenwood.  I enjoyed a wonderful dish of Pan Seared Scallops over Sweet Potato, Andouille Sausage Risotto and topped with a Watercress Citrus Salad - divine!  

I loved seeing my brother and his family.  It is crazy how much my niece and nephew have sprouted over the past couple months.

My grandmother also got to join in with the celebration.   Love that woman!!

As my BFF always used to say, "I love LOVE!" and I couldn't agree more.  I am surrounded by the most amazing, loving people and it is the best feeling in the world.

Burgers & Beers Exciting the Exploding Downtown Foodie Landscape:: What I'm Eating: BRU Burger Bar on Mass Ave

My first experience dining at a Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG) establishment was at their Stone Creek location for a private event years back.  My brother and his wife got married in Michigan and then had a small, private dinner reception at Stone Creek in Noblesville at a later time.  I was definitely impressed with the service and food.

Months later, D and I were just beginning to date and living downtown gave us ample opportunities to try new and exciting places.  We especially liked the eclectic Mass Ave area.  At the time, I didn't realize Stone Creek and Mesh were affiliated so we walked in not really knowing what to expect.  The former Scholar's Inn building had been transformed from a dark, stuffy scene out of the Sopranos into a modern contemporary establishment with beautiful hand crafted decor and amazing lighting, so they started off on the right foot.  The staircase and the brilliant chandeliers were so eye-catching.  It was pretty crowded which I took into account was because of its infancy.  From what I can remember (this was over a year and a half ago) the service was a bit shaky and slow and although the food was pretty decent, I found myself having a hard time justifying the price: a few rounds of drinks, a couple salads, an order of scallops and fish tacos, a shared dessert and a bill near $100.  All in all I would say this is a solid place to celebrate very special occasions but not somewhere I would frequent.

Then flash forward to a few weeks ago, I started to hear/see buzz around a fairly new restaurant along Mass Ave that certainly peaked my interest: BRU Burger Bar.  Upon further research, I discovered they, too, were owned by CRG.  The menu and the atmosphere sounded much more attuned to our tastes, not to mention, they boasted a pretty swell local craft beer menu.  I immediately recognized the location as a place that D and I walked by so many times on our many strolls downtown.  I often wondered what it was since it seemed to be so centrally located.  Although, the day we went was chilly, I could easily envision BRU being a major hot spot anytime the weather is nice.  There is a nice large patio area and they have these large windows that can open up.  The interior is small and has CRG's signature touch of design.  High-end wood work, unique lighting fixtures, one of a kind art on the wall.  But what BRU has that I think Mesh really lacked was a casualness and youthfulness.  It was a Saturday around 2 yet the place still had a pretty decent amount of patrons.  The crowd was very mixed: young hipsters; an artsy older couple; men in polo shirts; a woman with bright red hair and her kids in tow.  We decided to belly-up at the bar and immediately began eyeing the beer list.  We were greeted by the bartender who was pretty friendly and eager to take our order.

Now, I want to preface this next part by saying that D and I are, by no means, connoisseurs of beer.  We are sophisticated enough to enjoy and appreciate local, craft beer and we do frequently but it's not beneath us to just grab a case of Miller Lt and call it a night.  I worked in high end restaurants and learned how to pair beer and wine with food so I have an advantage over D when it comes to those things.  Anyways, I was thirsty and decided to ask our bartender what I should try.  They have a very impressive tap list and a nice import bottle list.  They recommended Sun King Brewery's Chocolate Wee Mac, the one featured on the black chalk board.  D went ahead and just ordered a Blue Moon, something that is safe and that he knows he likes.  This was met with a bit of  "Are you sure you want to go with that?  You should definitely go with the Wee Mac.  Blue Moon is okay and all but...."  I'm paraphrasing because I can't quite remember verbatim.  D then answered back to the tune that he's not really a chocolate guy and especially not mixed with beer yet the bartender still insisted and gave him and I a sample to try.  He politely said it's good but that again, it wasn't his cup of tea and instead ordered the Bell's seasonal and not the Blue Moon, since that kinda implied to be a silly choice.  I actually liked the Wee Mac a lot and decided to order a glass (even though the flavors would eventually not pair very well with my burger choice).  Here's my no-expertise beer enthusiast's description: dark in color, medium in body (definitely not as heavy as it appears) with strong notes of chocolate, better yet: Tootsie Roll! See, I'm not an expert.  Anyways, the whole point of my beer story is that a lot of customer service has to do with reading your guest and knowing when to give a proper recommendation and when not to give unsolicited advice.  In that brief exchange, the bartender was helpful to me because I had asked for their opinion and not helpful to D and even a Wee Mac bit insulting.  It never hurts to give recommendations but don't make the guest feel stupid for not knowing about or liking a certain food or beverage.

That aside, the rest of the experience was actually quite enjoyable.  The menu is beautifully inspired with hints of several different cultural cuisines. Really, every aspect of the menu looks delicious.  Roasted Jalapeno Mac and Cheese.  Sriracha Caesar Salad?! You had me at "Sriracha."  The Country Fried Shrimp Po Boy really caught my eye but the name of the place is BRU Burger Bar so we focused primarily just on the burgers.  Our plan of attack was to each get a different burger and one add the fries ($2) and the other add the onion rings ($3) since the burgers come a la carte.  I went with the Ground Turkey Burger because the description was just so interesting: Carrot Ginger Slaw, Peach Compote, Curry Mayo.

This burger was bursting with flavor, especially yellow curry.  The peach compote added a real balance of sweet and smooth.  The slaw was crisp and refreshing and I loved the multi-grain bun.  The burger, itself, was a tad dry but that tends to happen often with ground turkey.  Overall, I enjoyed it but certainly look forward to trying the other burgers on the menu.

Speaking of which, when I first glanced at the menu, I knew immediately that D would go with the Mexicali BBQ Burger and of course, I was right.  You had him at "queso" and "guacamole."

This thing is a monster of a burger, yet D ate every last bite!  Spicy, ooey-booey, and juicy is how I would describe it.  Then they go on further and add one of their onion rings just to be more awesome.  Which brings me to one of my other absolute delights: the onion rings.  They are quite possibly my favorite onion rings in the city.  They were so light and airy and the batter was fantastic.  They are lightly battered yet fluff up so much from incorporating the good quality beer which you could really taste.  Also, when I bit down, the whole onion didn't slide out which is great since I have little grinders and have a hard time biting down sharply on anything.  And to add the cherry on the top of the perfect onion rings, they go and serve it with their own house-made ketchup.  I don't think my wording or my picture does enough justice for how much I L-O-V-E their ketchup.  They take Red Gold tomatoes, a little bit of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar (i'm guessing) and concoct the most wonderfully simple condiment I've ever tasted.  Brilliant!

I definitely enjoyed my first experience at BRU Burger Bar and can't wait to get in there again especially on a bright, sunny day.  We finished our second round of beers and the end of the basketball game that was on and made our way out the door.  Sadly, we were greeted at our car with a $20 parking fine for an expired meter.  We must not have asked for enough time.  Stupid parking meters!  Anyways, definitely give BRU Burger Bar a try and let me know what you think!

BRU Burger Bar

410 Massachusetts Avenue  Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
(317) 635-4278 

CRG continues to provide Indianapolis and surrounding areas with top quality establishments that keep my interest piqued.  For more information, click on the links below:

Mesh on Mass

Stone Creek

Cunningham Restaurant Group

Belated Post >> What I'm Eating: Pizzology in Carmel

My birthday is January 21st and my younger brother's is February 3rd so we typically go out to dinner annually with my mother to jointly celebrate.  He's 2 years younger than me, married, and the proud father of 2 adorable kiddos.  They live in Noblesville so I don't get to see him and his family quite as often as I'd like. 

Aw, wasn't he such a stinkin' cute kid

 

When my mother suggested just ordering pizza and eating at her house, I quickly chimed in to proclaim that Pizzology was on my restaurant bucket list and wasn't too far from her place in Fishers.  

Pizzology is another brainchild of Indy restaurateur, Neal Brown, located at 131st and Hazel Dell Rd in Carmel.  It is described as "Neapolitan Craft Pizza. Local, artisanal ingredients"  Sounds intriguing enough to me.  It also boasts a nice local craft beer list, too.  But most importantly, for this occasion, the key was to find a place that was kid-friendly.  My niece is 1 and a half and my nephew just celebrated his 6th birthday.  As much as I'd love to enjoy an upscale birthday dinner, convenience was necessity.  

It is located in a small shopping center on the west side of Hazel Dell Rd and is located a little ways back from the road so we accidentally drove past it the first time (just be on the look out).  The interior space is artfully designed.  To the right is a bar area that, on a Tuesday night, was completely empty and then to the left was the main dining area.  This is not a humongous space but I think that it works since it's supposed to be a neighborhood joint.   The focal point of the restaurant is the open kitchen with eat-up bar so that you can sit and watch your pizza being assembled and then tossed in the wood-burning, brick pizza oven.  

My nephew with "Oma"

Couldn't put his Nintendo DS down

We were quickly greeted by our delightfully wonderful and knowledgeable server, I want to say her name was Maria but I'm having a bit of a brain-fart.  None of us had dined there before so we all intently listened as she named off the specials and added some personal recommendations including Sun King Brewery's Malus Pi.  Excellent choice.  I call it cider beer on steroids with wintry, spice notes.   

I had done a little research prior to going and was told by a few people to ask for the bread sticks that are not on the menu.  We got a couple orders of those while we perused the rest of the menu.  I don't know why they aren't on there because they are insanely delectable: doughy yet not too much raw flour flavor; crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside; and finally, sprinkled with sea salt and Parmesan.  I can't forget to mention that they're served with house-made Parmesan cheese sauce and fresh marinara.  Both orders were eaten quickly and enjoyed by all!

 

The Tony's Fritters immediately caught my attention so we also put in a order of those, as well. 

You betcha I added a poached farm-fresh egg to that thing!  I first must say that I am salivating reminiscing about this unique appetizer that I ate almost a month ago. 

 

When it came out, I immediately smelled the earthy, warm aroma of the truffle.  I quickly broke open the poached egg so that the warm, creamy yolk served as an additional dipping sauce.  They utilized the truffle as a oil drizzle and as a lightly whipped truffle butter (heavenly).  This small plate was so decadent, boastful and completely unexpected.  Lucky for me, the kids and a few others weren't interested so I got to eat most of it.  BRAVO!

For our entrees, we ordered 2 pies: 1 for the adventurous eaters (CARNI) and 1 for the tame eaters (PEPPERONI)

When I think of my perfect pizza here's how I construct it in my mind:

1. Hand-kneaded dough that is thin and crispy
2. House-made tomato sauce was is slightly chunky, sweet and lightly seasoned
3. Layer of rich, salty white cheese, not too much, and not so rubbery that it all comes off in one bite
4. Local, fresh, seasonal ingredients
5. Baked in a brick wood-burning oven

This is how I ultimately describe the Carni pizza.  I call this the "Perfect Date" pizza: Porchetta, Mortadella and Pepperoni for the man and arugula, thinly sliced rings of white Spring onions and salty, briny capers for the lady.  This is a knife and fork kind of pizza that encapsulates all the flavor basics: crunchy/melty, salty/sweet, fresh/baked.

 

The Pepperoni pizza was equally crafted.  Even my picky-eater nephew ate some.

I think my brother polished off most of it, though.  That guy can eat anything, at any quantity and gain 0 pounds.

Although I was completely stuffed and slipping into a bit of a gluttonous food coma, I riskily ordered some Pistachio gelato.  I knew everyone else would take a little bite and that in the end, a sweet cap is always a good call.  Of course, I was right again.

I just love the rich, creamy, slow-churned quality of gelato.  Then mix it with the saltiness of the pistachio and  it's just divine.  We easily polished it off and took a moment to let the digestion process begin.

The Birthday Boy with a variety pack of K-cups

Amateur photographer

My Mama and I

Smile, D!

I must give another huge congrats to Neal Brown in creating an experience quite different to that of The Libertine downtown.  Both equally share an obvious love of cooking, thoughtfulness in crafting a full bar and food menu, and ingenuity of doing so by utilizing local resources.  Pizzology caters to a more suburban and family-oriented crowd at very family-friendly prices while not sacrificing quality.  

I sure hope that it won't be long until  talented, Indy restaurateurs venture down to the south side of Indianapolis which I think is just dying to be tapped! (wink, wink! hint, hint!)

PIZZOLOGY (on Twitter @pizzology)

www.pizzologyindy.com

13190 Hazel Dell Parkway  Carmel, IN 46033
(317) 844-2550

My Super Bowl XLVI Recap

Holy cow! Last week was such a blur here in the great state of Indiana!  Super Bowl XLVI came and went with a fury and I have never been so proud to be a Hoosier!

I experienced the Super Bowl frenzy as a complete Joe Schmo (or Joan Schmoan, in my case):

• No fancy-schmancy NFL or VIP parties 
• Hardly any celebrity citings (I saw a contestant from The Biggest Loser and the ESPN guys broadcasting from far away) 
• We tried to hear LMFAO perform but were so far back that we couldn't see or hear anything (just lots of yelling and pushing) 
• D and I (and the doggies) watched The Big Game from the comforts of our couch

But, I don't feel deprived at all.  I walked around the city and took it all in like a tourist or out-of-towner.  I certainly felt that way walking around on Georgia Street/Super Bowl Village.  I barely recognized a stretch of the city that I'm otherwise totally familiar with.  I nom-nom-nom-ed on some delicious food truck grub (see my previous post).  I drank beer, lots and lots of beer!  I soaked in the hypnotizing excitement that the city of Indianapolis had oozing out of its veins.  

The crowd for LMFAO

My 2 best friends and I

The following series of pictures were one of the highlights of my whole Super Bowl experience.  My friends and I stumbled into Howl at the Moon (the dueling piano bar on Meridian St, just a block or 2 from Banker's Life Fieldhouse).  I always have an entertaining time when I go there and Friday was no exception.  The crowd was a lot more intoxicated animated than usual but it made for an insanely great time....

LOL!

Say cheese cute Mr. Piano Man

Someone made a request to play Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, an oldie, yet goodie!  But of course, a nay-sayer in the audience just had to rain on that parade and offered $100 for it not to be played.  But just in time, this guy came up on stage and offered $250 for it to played AND asked for the microphone....

Where it began, I can't begin to know when

But then I know it's growing strong

Oh, wasn't the spring, whooo

And spring became the summer

Who'd believe you'd come along

 Hands, touching hands, reaching out

Touching me, touching you...

 Oh, sweet Caroline..BOM BOM BOM!

 Good times never seem so good! So Good! So Good! So Good!

I've been inclined to believe it never would....

He had the entire bar up and dancing! He totally rocked it OUT!!  I don't know if he was local or from out of town but he became a rock star to the whole place that night.

After that crazy night, D and I spent all of Saturday lounging around.  We vowed to not drink on Sunday since we were nursing hangovers from hell.  But when we woke up on Sunday we were refreshed and revitalized and...OUT OF BEER!  I frantically tried to figure out what we were going to do but thankfully, through the magic of Twitter, our beer prayers were answered.  Flat 12 Bierwerks (@Flat12) was selling bullets and growlers until 4pm.  Bless them!  I got in the car and quickly drove over there to get 2 growlers, Flat 12 Amber Ale and the Super Bravo 46 Extra Pale Ale.

They went perfectly with the bacon wrapped jalapenos and from-scratch spicy sausage pizzas we made.

Fresh jalapenos, onion & chive cream cheese, bacon!

Roast garlic infused olive oil brushed all over dough

Pizza sauce made from stewed tomatoes, onions, garlic, oregano, basil, and balsamic vinegar, s/p

Topped with mozzarella and ground spicy sausage (Love my pizza stone) 

Perfect, thin crust pizza!

Luna and B during the game...

But now the party is over.  And so, too, is the freakishly balmy weather that surprised locals and visitors alike.  We're back to being the sleepy, Midwest city that we were before the end of January.  We're back to not pretending we're employees of TMZ chasing celebs around town. We're back to full work weeks.  We're back to $5-$10 parking.  We're back to a slow, comfortable pace and I'm okay with that.