Lady Lawrence’s Blog

Wednesday, I got a chance to attended the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Luncheon. The Luncheon is organized by the Susan B. Anthony House, (her home–now a city landmark) located here in Rochester, NY.

This year, 2010, marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. That’s the one that allows me vote every November.

Instead of a keynote speaker, this year there was a keynote presentation. Actor Elizabeth Rainer performed “Hear My Voice: Win the Vote”. a vignette about a second generation suffragette and her battle and final success to secure the vote for women. It was an amazing presentation, with so many stories I had never heard before. Like how many of the women were arrested and sent to work houses, where they went on hunger strikes. The guards would force food down their throats through tubes. There was one story about a guard forcing milk down a woman’s nose because she refused to open her mouth (there was a picture on the big screen too—ugh). There were also stories about men attacking the female protesters and even firing gun shots at them. All the stories were accompanied by a video with old photographs of some of the stories and events.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate such an important legacy, and left feeling especially proud to be a woman.

Well done Guy Fieri. Matt and I made the East Utica Greens and they were delicious.

East Utica Greens

Matt even had a Utica Club just to complete the picture. It wasn’t that hard, but it was messy cutting up all the escarole. I think next time I’ll splurge and get the pre-cut escarole.

A co-worker of mine just sent me a recipe for tomato pie too.  So I’ll have to try that next. Utica is coming to Rochester!

They are at it again. The food network is once again discovering the outstanding cuisine of upstate New York. This time Guy Fieri (who I follow on twitter) has tackled East Utica Greens. For those of you who have never had East Utica Greens, they are fantastic, and not anything like southern greens. They are made with Italian greens (Escarole) and hot ham, hot peppers, and of course garlic! For years I have been asking (even begging) people for the recipe but no one has been able to give to me. I even tried to figure it out myself, but that was a disaster. So now Guy Fieri has beat me to the punch.

The story he tells is pretty funny too. He was at the Turning Stone Casino and was eating a veggie platter. Smack in the middle of the food served was this “green stuff” (as he said). He was afraid to try it, so he had his assistant eat it. When she couldn’t stop eating it, he was like “I gotta try this!”….haha, yeah that’s kinda what it’s like.

So I’m going to try his recipe and see if he got it right. Look forward to another blog post with the results. To the Food Network I have to ask…So what’s next? Grape Pies? Tomato Pie? Garbage Plate?. I’d actually like to see if one of their stars can figure out what’s in the Garbage Plate sauce–I bet it is wonderful

The frost made a beautiful icy pattern on our hallway window

Here’s a tale for all winter naysayers. After a week of traveling and visiting with friends and family, Matt and I have finally had a weekend home alone. It has been a very snowy and cold weekend. Snow can be a bother when you have someplace to be, but when you have no commitments it’ s a wonderful reason to stay inside with someone you love. Matt and I have hardly left the house, instead we have spent this weekend in cozy warm clothes, sipping hot chocolate and looking out at the elegant falling snow. I even made a lamb stew in the new dutch oven my parents gave me for Christmas. I started a new book and have already finished 12 chapters. I really can’t think of a better way to spend a cold winter’s day.

Tomorrow is Monday and I will have to return to work. The snow will once again become an unwelcome foe as I fight my way through and against it to get to work on time. In a few months I will long for the first signs of spring, but I hope I never forget the romantic beauty that snow brings. I really can’t imagine living with out it.

Not sure what this says about me but I love having all my shopping done and all my presents wrapped (in coordinating paper) under the tree before Christmas. It puts me in a holiday mood.

This year is our first holiday in our own house. And now that we have a fireplace, we can actually hang our stockings with care. (before we hung them on a closet door knob).

I also decided on what holiday treat to make this year. I was going to do baklava, but that proved to be very hard. I made a practice one and it tasted great, but was very time consuming to build–so not very practical during the busy holiday season. Instead I made candied orange peels dipped in chocolate. They look fancy but really they were very easy and very yummy.

I know, I know. I haven’t posted anything for a while. It’s really a shame too, because I’ve had a lot going on. For those who haven’t heard Matt and I just bought our first house. We’ve also had a first household crisis. The kitchen ceiling sprung a leak the day before Thanksgiving.:(

Speaking of Thanksgiving. We had 11 people this year. Including my grandmother and her husband David. We were so excited to have everyone over. It was by far my best Thanksgiving yet. I tried some new recipes and I loved them all. I also borrowed a turkey roaster and it made the turkey very moist. I think I will buy one for next year. Yep, already planning for next year.

I have decided to make my New Year’s resolution to be a better blogger. So wish me luck.

The title of this post refers to a cry Matt and I heard from a fan at an Amerks game once. We thought it was a very odd cheer, but now we like to say it before games.

So it begins again, hockey season is here, and we love it. Today was an exhibition game against York.  RIT is looking good this year. They started off strong, leading 3-0. York started to catch up, with the score 3-2 by the third period, but RIT held them until the end. I’m looking forward to a great season! Next week–Colgate, we got your number.

It’s turning out to be a very Saranac summer. Matt, Timothy (my brother in law), and I took the Adirondack Scenic Railroad last night. The trip included Saranac beer tasting! The train left from Utica and traveled up to Remsin and back. The baggage car was open so you could stand and look out over the scenery. It really was beautiful country, and the air was so fragrant. They also have wine tasting trips and other theme trips including a Halloween train ride. I really enjoyed it and would do it again.

So what’s next for Saranac? Saranac tasting hot air balloon ride? I don’t know but the summer isn’t over yet!

Matt enjoying a Saranac beer

Just got home from a Saranac beer tasting at the Lovin Cup. Patrick from Saranac led the tasting. We had six beers in all, including the new Summer Brew. The Summer Brew was a mix of beer and lemonade–which was better than it sounds. It was actually very refreshing. However the winner of the evening for me was the IPA. I haven’t had it in a while, and I forgot how good it was. Overall a very fun evening.

I’ve been asking around, but no one in Rochester seems to make a chimichanga. Don Pablo’s used to, but they have now closed. So I’ve been searching the Internet and asking co-workers and friends but most have never heard of it. Recently a friend at Church was going to Albany. I told her to visit Garcia’s. It was a favorite Tex Mex restaurant of my family’s and where I had taken Matt on one of our earliest dates. I told her to go there and order a chimichanga and told her how wonderful they were. Sadly I found out that Garcia’s is now closed as well. Then this friend told me she was going to Texas and that while there she would make sure to find a restaurant that made chimichanga’s. When she returned she told me that though she had called all around she could not find a restaurant that served them. I had hoped this was only isolated to Rochester, but now I am afraid I may never have a chimichanga again . So now I beseech the online world. Can anyone tell me where I can get a delicious chimichanga? (especially if near Rochester).