Fruit Still Life

There's a special place in this world for Melon and her fruit cronies. So take a load off, Melon, and enjoy the view!

Oliver's First Love

Oliver is growing up so fast, and we knew if would only be a matter of time before he showed an interest in . . . GIRLS! Our friend Ann came to visit in August and Ollie got a little . . . um . . . fresh . . .

Ollie: "Ann, I love the way you pet me. You're so pretty. Will you be my girlfriend? I love you."

Ann: "Woah there little guy! Are you serious? I mean you're cute, but I live in Cincinnati and you live in New York . . . "

Ollie: "Oh, Ann, I would follow you anywhere."

Ann: "That's all I needed to hear!"

Ollie: "Take a picture, Mom. We're in love."

Top Dog

"I feel the need . . . the need for speed!"

Olliecare

Unless you've been living in a cave for the last 9 months, you've certainly been hearing lots about the many health care proposals circulating in our nation's capital. (The recent debates have made me think about moving to a cave.) Jess and I've been discussing the issues a great deal.

We consider ourselves lucky. Not only are we relatively healthy (though if we keep eating this, we won't be for long), my employer (CUNY) provides us relatively affordable health care, a luxury we wouldn't be able to afford if we were forced to buy health care on our own. Jess and I both feel that anything that might improve our country's 37th place World Health Organization ranking would be a good thing. Sure, if reform passes, things will be different. But isn't that good?

Recently, however, our dinner-time, health care discussions have gotten rather raucous. Not on account of Jess and I, however:

That's right, Oliver has injected himself into the health care debate. No. . . he's not on the side of those that call Obama and his posse Death Eaters, nor does he think the plans floating around Congress amount to "socialized" medicine. [By the way, Oliver thinks that many political pundits use words like "socialist," "fascist," "Hitler," etc. without really knowing what they mean in an attempt to scare American citizens. He knows what they mean. He's not scared.]

No, Oliver isn't afraid that the so-called "Obamacare" does too much: He thinks it does too little. Oliver's upset that none of the proposals currently circulating the offices of Capital Hill contain any insurance guarantees for animals. He thinks that calling these plans "universal health care" is a misnomer. These plans are not truly universal because none of them cover any of our four-legged friends.

His life is at least as dangerous as those of us with opposable thumbs and the ability to speak. On a daily basis, he chews on and consumes all sorts of potentially dangerous items, walks over broken glass on the streets outside, and he often has to avoid the footsteps of careless Brooklyn citizens.

Oliver's proposal would offer guaranteed, affordable health care for all US citizens, including our pets. Not only would his proposal provide preventative care and allow all animals to choose from whichever veterinarian he or she likes, but it would provide end of life counseling that would help these animals create living wills.

Oliver doesn't have the means to canvass for support anywhere but in this apartment. He asks that if you'd like to support his call for justice, post a comment in the box below. His parents will forward the comments to Pres. Obama.

The Atkins Anniversary Dinner

For our anniversary, Brian's parents treated us to a fancy meal in Manhattan. We ultimately decided that the one thing we would never splurge on ourselves—and, therefore, should treat ourselves to—would be a steak dinner. We opted for something casual, but refined, and moderately priced, so we could toast with a fews drinks too.

Welcome to the Brasserie Les Halles, where American beef is cooked in a French style!

We started the evening with some French beer, why not?! Ummm . . . I'll tell you why not: Kronenbourg 1664 = La francaise Bud Light.

But dinner? Dinner was mouth watering, jaw dropping, heart stopping . . . SO GOOD! We're not kidding about the heart stopping though: it was an all-meat feast! We ordered the Planche de grillades for 2, which is an assortment of grilled meat served on a plank.

Besides the mound of French fries it came with, our dinner included: 2 lamb chops, 2 hanger steaks, 2 links of merquez, 2 sirloins, 2 strips of thick cut bacon, Provençal dressing . . . and oh yeah, can't forget the vegetables . . . 2 slices of grilled tomato!

Goodbye Slimfast diet, hello Atkins diet.

Turkey Pot Hold-the-Pie

Oliver has been such a good dog lately. He's been well-behaved, patient, and loyal, while Brian has been preparing for his doctoral exams over the last 3 weeks. And because the little guy has asked for nothing in return, we decided to surprise him with a tasty, pet-friendly recipe, courtesy of Rachel Ray Magazine. Perhaps you'll want to share it with your puppy, too!

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon flour

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 pound deli-sliced turkey, chopped

1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. In a small skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until thickened, 2–3 minutes.

2. Stir in the turkey, veggies, and parsley. Cook until heated through, 2–3 minutes. Let cool to almost room temperature before serving. (Makes 4 servings)

Clearly Oliver loved it . . . even though we only had peas, no carrots. He even preferred the leftovers served cold for breakfast!

Cherry Clafouti

If you're not French already, you will be after you eat this!

*** Please take note that making and eating our recipe for Clafouti is not optional: you must make this right now!!! ***

It is best served warm, so bake it just before you serve dinner (or breakfast, yum!), and serve with a spoonful of crème fraîche.

Unsalted butter, for dish

2 large eggs

1 large egg yolk

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup crème fraîche, plus more for serving

3/4 cup whole milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for dish

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 ounces cherries, halved and pitted

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat your oven to 375°

2. Butter a 9'' (1.25" deep) baking dish and sprinkle granulated sugar over butter.

3. Whisk together eggs, yolk, and flour. Then whisk in crème fraîche, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt.

4. Arrange cherries in prepared dish and strain batter over cherries.

5. Bake until browned around edges and set in the center, 30–35 minutes.

6. Let cool only slightly, dust with confectioners' sugar,

and serve warm with crème fraîche!