Going home

Well on this trip I feel like I went home sort of, and tonight I will be flying back to my true home, The Bunny Lounge. i hadn't seen most of my relatives down here since I was 16, that was 8 years ago (goodness do the math aren't I old?) Anyhow I found a place to feel at home in Historic Downtown Hendersonville.

Rabbit & Company that way? Yeha I'm going! Oh? Its a cheese, wine, and kitchen store? GOING NOW!

CUTE!

All over town they have decorated bears (at home we have decorated buffalo) and this was the one for Rabbit & Company

It was a very cute shop, and I told the clerk that this might be my favorite store ever and she said well you must love to cook and I said "I love to cook, I love wine and I especially love rabbits," and I told her I was taking pictures to blog about it.

This guy cracked me up!

I didn't get to buy anything at rabbit and company because anything i wanted i couldn't fly with! Oh well!

Tonight we fly home, I can't want to give Hef's Dad, Shadow, and especially little Hef big hugs and kisses!

Traveling on a good tail wind!

Darn it if those rabbit's ain't the sweetest! RG fired up the 7bunny7 and met us at our layover in Detroit! Honest to goodness, I watched it land and this is my own photo! Sweet little buns! I traveled the rest of my flight in top bun style!

Ok, I didn't actually get to go on the 7bunny7 but I did see it! Now we are settled in Hendersonville NC and I grabbd a bottle of Moscato at Aldi's. Which was fun because our grocery stores can not sell wine. It's actually very yummy! Fruity and crisp!

Mama's leavin!

Unfortunately I have to travel to Hendersonville NC to attend my grandma's funeral. Don't worry, we're not traveling southwest! I'll be there all week but I have a backlog of photos and recipes to share so I'll try to keep bloggin. Hef's dad is going have his hands full with Heffy because this little doesn't understand that he isn't going.

Wild Bun!

So we get a wild bun from time to time, this is it's cotton tail. We actually saw a baby and mama wild bun running around our neighbors yard chasing eachother and playing, it was too cute! I couldn't step away to get the camera. This morning this little bun was also on the other side of that fence and was stretched out sunning! If I had time I would have taken his picture, its hard because of course he runs away when we get to close.

Summer Vegetable Gratin

So I thought I'd write about Summer Vegetable Gratin while I ate it, saved the file and posting it now. Hef's dad is taking a shower after our game of lacrosse. The idea for Summer Vegetable Gratin came from pg. 256 of The Complete America's test kitchen tv show cookbook. I changed somethings and there are some things that need to change in the future, but its delicious! Also it makes the house smell like a pizzeria or something fragrent like that. So here's the recipe that I ended up using:


1lb each zucchini and summer squash (I used zucchini from our garden so I just sliced enough to make the pan look ful)

3-4 ripe tomatoes

2 medium garlic cloves crushed, minced, or pressed, whatever (Hef's dad likes using the press, and now we have a metal one so he can't break it)

handful of chopped parsley

3 tablespoons evoo (with a little extra for pan)

About 1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped basil

S&P

I used a 13x9 glass pyrex pan, but the cookbook said you could use a real gratin dish of similar size. Use the little extra oil to brush the pan for nonstick purpose.

Slice the zucchini and summer squash into 1/4 inch thick slices, sprinkle with salt and let sit in a colander for 45 minutes to dehydrate. Then place on 3 sheets of paper towel and using 3 more paper towels press out anymore liquid possible.

Slice tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices, arrange on paper towels, sprinkle each layer with salt, let sit for 30 minutes, and also press out excess water.

At this time its good to preheat the oven to 400. I hate recipes where you start preheating the oven and the oven is at 400 for 15 minutes it didn't need to be! Waste! The way the recipe is written it tells you to turn the oven on then let the zucchini sit for 45 minutes, and run an electric oven for 45 minutes? NO!

Mix together the oil, garlic and parsley. Toss half the oil mix with the zucchini and summer squash and layer into baking dish. Layer tomatoes on top and pour on the rest of the oil.

Bake for 45 minutes. Near the end of cooking time mix up the breadcrumbs, parmesan, I bet mozzarella would be good too, and the parsley.Remove from oven, turn oven up to 450, and sprinkle breadcrumbs on top. I put on all the breadcrumbs the recipe called for and its too much! I don't like breadcrumb topping on mac and cheese or anything like that so too much for me so apply to your own liking, then bake at 450 for 5-10 minutes til breadcrumbs brown up.

I let it cool while we played lacrosse. Other then the breadcrumbs I really like it. I would also suggest omitting the breadcrumbs and taking the veggies baked in the oil and tossing with penne or some pasta like that. The ATK(america's test kitchen) recipe included sauted onions, which i didn't notice and thus didn't buy. Also it called for thyme, I used parsley as its what I had, making it more italian then french. And for the topping it called for shallots as well, I had shallots but they had gone bad, so oh well.

JULY 9TH 2011 BUNNY BLOG BASH!

Yes! I am going to do it! And I really want as many buns and bloggers to come as possible so I am making it almost a year away. July 9th 2011 is a Saturday, curiously it is the closest saturday to Hef's 4th birthday, weird huh? So everybun start stealing the humans money and tucking it away. If you want to look into trips, you would need to fly into the Buffalo NY airport. And I recommend the Holiday Inn Grand Island as the closest hotel. Other fun attractions beside me and Hef, include Niagara Falls, Buffalo Chicken Wings and Hef! He says he counts twice acause he's a bunny!

This photo is for Sage, Hef is hoping for some screen licks too! I couldn't find his kerchef so here he is in his bowtie!

PARTY!! WANT TO COME?

So OMG Bunny Lady suggested a bunny blogger party!! Wouldn't that be great? I asked Hef's dad and he said everyone was welcome here! Would anybun want to do that? Would everybun be willing to fly to Buffalo NY? I know some of you are faraway, and it is a recession, so I'm taking a sort of poll I guess. I love throwing parties! So let me know what you guys think and maybe we could do it?
Hef's gunna sit here and wait for the rsvps!

Veggies! Herbs! All at The Bunny Lounge!

WARNING Lots of Pictures today! Once again here is the super crazy zucchini plant. I am mad at the zucchini plant! I was harvesting some Zucchinis last night and about 2 inches from my hand a little snake tail zips away. I ran on the deck screaming and jumping around with two big zucchinis in my hands, Hef's dad was like "oh a snake?" ACK YIKES YUCK!

But take a look at them big boys! I should have measured them! They better be pretty delicious for my troubles! Tonight they are getting breaded and baked into Zucchini Chips, per Hef's dad's request.

The other night we grilled some of the zucchini with steaks. I was setting up Hef's cage while Hef's dad cooked dinner. I told him to brush the slices with oil and season with s&p. I came into the kitchen to see him dipping zucchini in a shallow bowl of oil. ACK! I was very worried they would be super oily, like eggplant, but they were  delicious. Hef's dad also wanted me to show off our grill, so there it is.

So this is partially the zucchini plat, which got so huge it took over my poor sweet potato! But Sweetie Potato is a trouper and is vining out from underneath to potato it up!

If you were a follower last year you might remember this cute little strawberry vine. It was our very first plant for food! Of course it's all gone to bunnies so far! Well I had one or two but mostly bunnies! Last night Hef's dad moved it into the Offical Food Garden Spot. I'm worried! I don't want my strawberry to die!

Last night we also harvested our yyukon golds! I only had 4 seed potatoes from the little package I bought. I didn't do too bad but I don't think I am going to beat Rabbit's Guy! Darn it!

For some reason I always feel the need to plant my dill seeds in a pot. I just spread them all over the whole pot and cover with good soil and let it go. Two years in a row I end up with this big bushy dill pot.

On recommendation of The Raspberry Rabbits, Shell, we made Deviled Eggs with Dill. It was a lazy sunday afternoon when I made these and my eggs were a hare away from being great, so a little sloppy. I just mashed the yolks up with mayo and dill to taste and glopped it in. This is a try again when I get a piping bag recipe! Definetly!

I read online (Bonnie's plants) that eggplants do well in dark pots to keep them nice and hot. So thats where I put mine, but it wasn't going so great! Hef's dad transplanted it into the Offical Food Garden and look! An eggplant, and we have a few more flowers on it. Way to go Hef's Dad! I think this took about a week to grow!

Here's one of our arugulas, we have 8, we lost one early on. I thought to a rabbit, Hef's dad just thinks it wilted away.

And finally! The row of herbs! Basil on top, Mint in the middle, and Sage in front! I have plans for Mint Tea and Mojitos, Lemon Basil Porkchops, and Sage chicken!

Hef's Playboy Mansion

Isn't this a funny picture? This was on Hef's birthday. Daddy's laughing at Heffy hanging onto a birthday craisin!

Last night Hef's new cafe showed up. It's huge! Maybe I overdid it a little. Hef's dad said it was a little big, so I said "big enough for two". Hef's inside in this photo and you can't even see him!

Aww there he is! And Hef quickly figured out the ramp but thinks its more fun to jump up and down. He likes hiding under the shelf when Shadow comes in.

Yup, Hef's a stylin bun. It's even on wheels, it feels like spinning around an assistant in a magic trick! The bottom panel is so high that Hef can just hide behind it!

Once Again, Beef Broccoli

This time with the beef broccoli we served up a nice chilled bottle of Sake! Ok, I know beef broccoli is "chinese" and sake is Japanese. It's what we had and I don't knw anything about chinese alcohol. I'll look into it for next time.

This time I added zucchini from the garden and some carrots. This is my big calphalon high side ten inch skillet. I mostly bought this skillet for this dish and it was still overflowing with vegetables!

In the end still delicious! I think Beef Broccoli has become one of my go to meals, like some people and meatloaf I guess. Hef's dad doesn't really like meatloaf so thats ok. Having made it 3 or 4 times now it's becoming easier and easier for me to make! Lovely!

Already its gone!

Our weekend! Where did it go??? "It's not under here, Mama!"

We did a lot this weekend. Sunday was Hef's birthday and we partied! Hef thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. He assumes the craisins and treats are just held up in the mail....anyhow! On Saturday we went to the Taste of Buffalo, 2nd largest food festival in the country, Chicago has the biggest. Here is Hef's dad chowing down on a bourbon chicken sandwich from Chester's Cajun Grill. It was yummy but had a spicy aftertaste that lasted too long for my wimpy don't like hot tastebuds.

Hef's dad also tried out a Ford F 250. He really wants one! I want a VW Beetle. We're really in different directions.

Hef's dad also had chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce from Saigon Cafe. (Remember I made beef satay? Mine was better!! Hef's dad didn't like this at all. I tried it no flavor on the chicken itself)

Now this! I'm going to have to learn to make this. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pie from Danny's! Delicious!

I also had an absolutely perfect for a 85 degree crowded day red wine slushie! yum yum yum!

Then on the way home we saw an Amtrak train along the highway. This train was moving and Hef's dad speed up along with it so I could take this cool picture. Can you believe how still an image it is when we are all moving around 70 mph?

A Very Hoppy Birthday!

Today as Hef has hinted, is his 3rd birthday! More years then ears now! What a big bun he's getting to be! Hef's dad got him a cool H hat from work. I ordered Hef a cage but it hasn't arrived yet. Isn't that always the way? Oh well. We love Hef and we'll make sure he has a great day.

Friday Funny

"What do ya mean, do I know my limit? *hic* Sure I can hop home! *hic*"

After all we are the bunny lounge...

We are the bunny lounge and we do have a variety of alcoholic beverages coming through our doors. Heffy had a belated toast to BL's "39th" birthday, this bun light is for her!

This is a fun little wine called Chocovine! It was delicious. The display in the store said that it tasted like a chocolate milkshake so I had to try it. Definetly survive this one cold! It was tasty like Baileys or Godiva liquers or Nesquick. Also its from Holland, home of Netherland Dwarfs like Hef!

We haven't tried this one out yet. I have seen it on the shelves for a while and finally decided to buy a bottle.

And I love little extras in life like this bunny on top. Hef looks like a little stuffed toy, doesn't he? I bet on Sunday we'll open this bottle and toast to Hef.