Ginarita Summerita

With the latest developments in weather including tornadoes, storms and hot, steamy days, an idea for a new summer drink was born. Combining the freshness of gin and lemon with the sweetness of a margarita mix creates my newest invention - the Ginarita!
Here is goes: 1 part Hendricks gin, 1 part triple sec, 1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 part soda water, 2 parts margarita mix. Instructions: combine ingredients, sit on the deck in the late afternoon and don't drink too quickly!

Happy First Day of Summer!

Summer - only THE best time of the year!
Anna's Best Summers Ever List:
Lichen, Poland - the cabin, childhood memories, swimming in the lake, getting ice cream, fishing.
Traverse City, MI - bike rides, cherries, beach, running on the Vasa Trail with Jackson, eating fish for virtually every meal.
At the Lake Lichen, Poland.

Fishing.Getting ready for a flight over the Old Mission Peninsula, MI.
NOT a tropical island! This photo was taken while flying around Michigan's coast!One of my favorite photos - on the way to see Lake Michigan's Sand Dunes.

The wedding season has begun

Today Donny and Kristin were married in a wonderful, little, wooden church on one of Minnesota's beautiful lakes.


After the couple drove off, I found a new friend when exploring the area.
Film stars attended the event.
Some of them did not want their picture taken.
And after eating a delicious and cleverly designed cake, we danced all night.

The Pulled Pork Party

After riding the tractor around the gravel roads on a warm summer night, I was ready for some deliciousness. Good thing Jacob was around, this guy knows how to cook! Pulled smoked pork sandwiches with a home-made vinegar BBQ sauce and coleslaw were the hit of the night, although Leslie's rhubarb bar was also my favorite. No photos of the bar unfortunately, it disappeared from my plate too fast. This only means that Leslie better make that dessert again!
Work it!Jacob proudly displaying RC cola alongside his plate.

Fargo Half Marathon

The Polish Girl did it! 13.1 mi or 21.1 km - the last one sounds better ;) Now, recovering and training for the full marathon! Well, maybe...
Here with Nick, who finished the Full Marathon. Congrats!

And one more!

Thank you for the pretty earrings, Diane!

THE shrimp boil!

You know how husband wants this to be your last degree when he throws you the best graduation/birthday party ever!

Featured favorites of the day:

• ummm... the shrimp boil!
• Jungle Juice
• interestingly shaped cactus... thanks Lacey!
• 250 jello shots
• Palak Paneer dish
  and pretty much everything
• 

Graduation!

Finally, you may say! After numerous hours of studying, crying, screaming and tearing out my hair - I am officially done with my degree number 3, and the last one this time, promise!
Since the nursing students have their very own pinning ceremony, when the dean pins a ribbon and a Maltese cross with UND logo on it, most of them usually skip the actual graduation. Here are just some of the photos from pinning!

Birthday Breakfast

The best two things to do on your birthday is to have a party (check!), and to have dessert for breakfast. Thanks to Nicole for taking me to the Dakota Harvest for some delicious baked oatmeal followed by Napoleons!

Devil May Care about the Super Saver

On Saturday we attended the first annual Derby Party at Aleks's. He went all out with the drinks and the food and even sustained some injuries when cutting lemons the night before that caused an ER visit! Now that's what I call commitment!No animals were hurt in the making of this hat. Bravo, Lacey! Coco Chanel started from hats, too!
While some drank typical Derby juleps and weird drinks with egg whites (!), I opted for a good old mojito!
Dana and Megan won the Derby bet with the Super Saver finishing 9 places ahead of my pick, Devil May Care.

What is in in? Butter!

Watching "Julie and Julia" this weekend immediately made me want to be a pro in French cooking. Not so easy!
Since the film featured the Beef Bourguignon (try pronouncing that!) I thought I would show off my super chef skills.. I found the recipe online here and begun. How hard can it be?
Oh, it can!
The instructions were very involved; it called for putting in and taking out the beef from the oven several times, at different temperatures, while cooking the vegetables. After a glass of wine I gave up, or rather made it the "Anna Way", which is putting it all in the oven and just baking it. It ended up pretty delicious, which makes me wonder; what would it be like if I only made it the correct way, hm?

The Polish Party

In the wake of recent tragic events in Poland, I decided to celebrate what Polish people stand for; kielbasa, vodka and fun! I have picked up several sausages from local meat shop L&M Meats, pickled herrings and invited all the fun people.
Plus, the first bon fire of the year!
PS. Thank you for bringing the "Polish Salsa", Sam!

Best eggs in the world

If you told me a year ago that eggs from free range chickens were different that those from the store I would call you bluff. My attitude has changed since we started getting fresh eggs from a friend. Some eggs are different in color and shape, but they all have a large, orange yolk, and I promise they taste different.
When I worked in a cafe in Traverse City, MI, I would peel hard boiled eggs for salads and was always annoyed by how difficult it was to remove the shell, as it would stick to the whites. Now I can appreciate it because I know it is a sign of the freshness. How easy are your eggs to peel?

Party Time!

Last Saturday we were invited to out friends' place for a hockey party. Since the game started at 3 or 4 pm, we decided to be fashionably late and showed up at 7pm. Perhaps a little too late... but just in time for dinner! Colin showed off his skills as he grilled chicken outside (this by the way makes the first grilling party of the year)! Lacey baked a delicious meringue,which went quite smoothly with the 33 year old bottle of port and numerous bottles of teeth-staining red wine...The meringue was so delicious and light I also attempted to make my own...

...and what I got this flat white egg omelet instead. Perhaps I should be taking cooking lessons from Lacey!

The best pizza I ever ate

What is a good pizza place, you ask? It's where they make the pizza you want, even if it's not on the menu.
Last Saturday Jacob, Jeff and I (after a long time of pondering the flavor we would like to try) ordered a half Buffalo Chicken pizza and half Blue Heaven; or blue cheese and steak. The Buffalo Chicken pizza is not on Rhombus Guys menu but the cook agreed to make it anyway. The phone call followed the feast:
Rhombus Guys person: Hello?
Jeff: I just ordered a pizza from you and I have a comment...
RG person: Uh-oh...
J: The pizza was not on the menu. It was the best thing we ever ate. (Insert applause from Jacob and myself). Can you make sure that whoever made it will write down the recipe; we will be ordering it again!
Can't wait for next time!