October and Breast Cancer Awareness

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Peg

Lobby of Burj al Arab, Dubai, October 2013 ©PEGhardee

As we near the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I celebrate family, friends, and everyone proud to be survivors of this disease. Blessings to them. I had my annual mammogram this month, and when I checked out they issued a lovely little pocket calendar just chocked full of healthy hints. So, I’m here to share the love by sharing a few of those great tips, because some things are just worth passing along:

Be in charge of your breast health.
Perform routine self exams; over age 40 get your mammograms annually.
Keep your heart healthy.
Check your blood pressure routinely.
Get moving. Do something physical daily to boost your immune system and get your metabolism going.
Cook at home as often as possible with fresh ingredients.
There are tons of healthy recipes right here on this blog to keep you going!
Manage stress over the upcoming holiday months.
Keep your commitments in check…don’t add too much to your list!
Balance work, home, and play.
Practice time management.
Keep a relaxed and positive outlook.
It’s going to be a fun season, so enjoy it!

More Pink in the Burj al Arab for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Gotta Love a Photo in a Mirror! Burj al Arab, 2013.

Gotta Love an Ice Bar

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Peg

Happy F.R.I.D.A.Y! I know you remember how much I ~~adore, love~~ am obsessed with an Ice Bar, right? My most recent adventure was at Frost in Boston, celebrating Gray’s birthday. At a chilly 21°F, 30 minutes was about the right amount of wrong for us.

Acting all childlike, we then traipsed across to the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and hopped on the Carousel for a ride on the artfully handmade animals. Prezza was the next stop for a divine Italian dinner. There’s no substitute for experience, and that night we enjoyed more than our fair share. Then…back to the real world!

I LOVE a photo in a mirror...This comes as BO surprise to my family!!

I LOVE a photo in a mirror…This comes as NO surprise to my family!!

Flower Arranging in Hotel Rooms, part one

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Peg

Warning…I’ve done this a time or two…and a LOT this particular past spring and summer, all for joyous family celebrations. Jump along and take a gander. This was Brenton’s 30th birthday in DC. You may be wondering why I put myself through this exercise; the truth is that when traveling to these bashes I like the way my arrangements turn out a bit better than those of an unfamiliar florist. Now don’t give me that ~~you crazy person~~ look! Pic on the left is of one of my work buckets in the loo of our room at the fab Hotel Monaco. Request from the birthday gal…peonies and hydrangeas, also my favorites!

Another work bucket and 2 completed arrangements on the bench in background.

And here are a couple of the completed arrangements placed in the lovely courtyard of the divine Co Co. Sala, venue for the celebration.

BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato) Lobster Roll

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Peg

Fresh from Breakwater Fish and Lobster Market in Brewster!

I gave myself an A+ this special evening! A few weeks back the Hardee/Yelle family found themselves in a villa at the lovely Ocean Edge Resort, located in the darling Cape Cod village of Brewster (more on that sweet place later!). Friday night we cooked in, a virtual feast actually, including this local lobster. Since the Yelles moved to Boston I’ve become ~~hooked on~~ addicted to lobster rolls, enjoying at least one each and every visit. So I decided to make my own this time around, with Marc’s most capable assistance. We all decided that it deserves at least four Michelin Stars! Stay Calm and Dig In.

I KNOW! It looks too good to be real. I promise it is tho. ©PEGhardee

Meat from 2 boiled lobsters, chopped in large pieces
5 slices cooked bacon, chopped
4 leaves Boston Bibb lettuce
1 avocado, cut in chunks
2 tomatoes, cut in chunks
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 Tbs celery leaves, chopped
2 Tbs chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs chopped fresh chives
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs butter
4 long split rolls

Combine mayo, celery, celery leaves, basil, chives, and lemon juice in large bowl.
Add in lobster, bacon, avocado, and tomatoes.
Toss gently.
Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat.
Split rolls and toast inside part in butter about 2 minutes.
Place lettuce leaf inside roll.
Top with lobster mixture.

Of course you may delete the roll if you are watching your carb intake. Simply serve the lobster mixture on a bed of lettuce, as I did here! PS…sorry the pics aren’t terrific. They were taken with td’s phone!

A bit of extra avocado AND a claw on the side!

Bell Buckle, Tennessee

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Peg

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (thank you Dr. Seuss). Of the millions of places on earth, the don and I found ourselves in Bell Buckle, Tennessee a few weeks ago. And what an unexpected treat it was. Bet you’re wondering how this could possibly have occurred? Well, the abbreviated version is: in Nashville; in taxi; serenaded by cabbie with country karaoke; revealed we were headed to Sewanee; were told to take exit 97 into Bell Buckle to “lunch” at Bell Buckle Cafe. So, hell…we did it! Such a treat!

BIG BONUS! It just so happened to be the 20th annual RC Cola Moon Pie Festival.

This is the real deal people.

Loveless Cafe, Nashville

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Peg

I found myself in Nashville Tennessee last week with the don and a couple of my favorite other friends in this wide world. And we collectively found our foursome at the Loveless Cafe for Thursday brunch. My goodness is all I have to say. Neva’ in my life have I seen such a place, or eaten such Southern deliciousness. This little cafe was opened in 1951 by Annie and Lon Loveless, and now serves over 450,000 guests each and every year!I did however decide to drink my tomatoes that day. Yep…a bloody mary served in a mason jar, with a side car of everclear…didja ever hear of such a thing? Did I happen to mention that they make 7 thousand biscuits a day?! What? If you find your mouth watering a bit now, you can get some of this goodness shipped to your front door by the good folks at the Ham and Jam Shop. Hooking you right up!

D-Day Anniversary

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Peg

On this 70th anniversary of D-Day, I am happy to indulge in memories of my experience there (click here) on those Landing Beaches and at the Cemetery. Standing proudly and watching over the American Cemetery in Normandy is this stunning bronze sculpture titled “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves”. We actually walked the beaches where those brave American soldiers landed and fought against the German invasion of France. In a word, amazing. Thank you soldiers for this, and all other battles fought in the past, being forged now, and those to come. We treasure our freedom, thanks to you.

Monday is Coming

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Peg

Fair Warning…This is a Serious Post, with None of my Usual Playfulness.

Don and I placed crosses in our church in celebration of Easter (see below). This particular Easter weekend coincides with Marathon Monday in Boston. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The Marathon is always run on the third Monday of April, Patriots Day. This Monday we celebrate the victory of Easter Monday and the victory of the people of Boston.But first, reflection…The crosses honor the fallen victims, and the brave survivors (warning…this link is emotional) of last year’s Marathon bombings. We honor their families, rescuers, medical and rehabilitation staff, public safety officers, fire and rescue staff, and all of the people of the great city of Boston. Their bodies may have been broken, but never their spirit! They came back Boston Strong, and there will be lots of celebration Monday. My son in law Marc, is an Anesthesia Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, and helped treat many of the patients/victims following the bombings. He is proudly running this year representing the Emergency Response Fund of MGH. His run will honor all of those I listed above. Additionally he honors his VMI classmate and friend Dic, the transit cop gravely injured in the Watertown shootout (his life was miraculously saved and he is continuing to recover), and his own brother, Eric, who as a member of the SWAT team assisted in the hunt to apprehend the younger Tsarnaev brother. God bless the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. I almost forgot to mention that I’ll be there cheering on Marc, his teammates, and everyone. We even have special MGH Marathon t-shirts. I’ll post pics and info on the experience next week. ;o)

Boston Strong and MGH Proud!

Marc on a training run 10 weeks ago.

Bill Rodgers, 4 time Boston Marathon winner, stopped by MGH Wednesday to encourage all of the runners!

Thaw in the Straw

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Peg

Don’t sit under the apple tree; sit under the honeycomb, like Judy and Matt do…notice their Beelicious honey on my breakfast table! Our most recent excursion to Boston found us enjoying a delicious, low key brunch at Puritan & Company in Cambridge. How we navigated there beats the heck outa me…Gray and Marc drive the streets of that city as if it’s a one stoplight town in southern Georgia! Since it was Sunday Funday, we ordered adult beverages; Marc enjoyed what they call Thaw in the Straw. Upon returning home I called and kindly asked to speak with the bartender. I inquired about this concoction and he was friendly and forthcoming. You may be asking yourself how I even knew that I wanted to re-create it. We are a bourbon loving family; but here’s a confession. Marc stepped away from the table with Liam for a split second, and TD, Gray, and I all tasted it! Oopsie!! Thanks Marc. Here ’tis!

1 1/2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz honey
2 oz ginger beer

Mix bourbon, lemon juice, and honey together in glass.
Fill with ice.
Top up with ginger beer.
Stir.

Puritan & Company, Cambridge

Liam and Puritan's Boston Cream Donut, Yummy!

Liam enjoying Puritan’s famous Boston Cream Donut, Yummy!

Turkish Curried Chicken

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Peg

Tales of the Unexpected! Remember that my fam and I were in Istanbul this past October. Well, our first night there, we were having a perfectly peaceful dinner of curried chicken and other things curry at the magnificent restaurant 360°, enjoying our view of…you guessed it, 360 degrees of Istanbul. And out of the darkness, this creature starts climbing along the walls, and then slinking around the floor. Um hum. Suspended Moments in Time. Even rendered my dear son-in-law speechless for a millisecond; and that ain’t easy (written with true affection!) But back to the food. I entrust you with this marvy recipe. Please take care of it. And enjoy it in good health. Serefe! (you know, Turkish for Cheers).

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbs curry powder
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t grated ginger root
1/2 t white sugar
1/2 can diced tomatoes
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup coconut milk
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic; turn heat to medium low; sauté for 2 minutes.
Add curry, cinnamon, ginger, sugar, tomatoes, yogurt, and milk.
Stir until well combined.
Add chicken pieces and bring to a boil.
When mixture boils, turn heat to medium low.
Cover skillet and cook 10 to 12 minutes, turning a few times.
Turn heat off and stir all ingredients.
Leave skillet on burner 4 minutes.
Serves 4.

To serve, place bed of rice on plate.
Top with 2 chicken strips, half on and half off rice bed.
Drizzle with pan sauce.
Garnish with chopped cilantro.

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