This is a Rowlands’ family favorite. And Nick became a fast fan! Ingredients sweet Italian sausage EVOO your choice of sliced peppers: red, green, yellow, jalapeno sliced onion provolone cheese ketchup hard roll Directions Cook sausage in a sauce pan with water. Saute peppers and onions in EVOO in a separate pan. Add cooked sausage and brown. Split sausage and... Read more
I’ve gotten quite good at packing, unpacking, and repacking. I haven’t spent a weekend in State College since Homecoming (six weeks ago!). My apartment is cluttered with piles of bridal magazines and clean laundry. There are sticky note reminders and a stack of “congratulations on your engagement” cards. And my refrigerator is bare, which is very unusual. ‘Tis the life... Read more
What should we have for dinner? It’s a question that enters many minds as the dinner hour approaches. Should we pick up sandwiches on the way home from work? Or order pizza? Or make a quick run to the grocery store to buy ingredients? Is there anything in the refrigerator? Or the garden? In the book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” Michael... Read more
As much as we’re ready to get creative and crafty and design our invitations and favors, we know we have to first secure our big ticket items. That is venue (check), caterer (check), photographer, and music. We’re halfway there! Decisions about the venue and caterer were unbelievably easy. We fell in love with the Sunken Gardens at Lauxmont Farms the... Read more
I experienced my first Bar Mitzvah, and what a cultural experience it was! The celebration was in honor of Jordan, a family friend of Nick’s. They were neighbors in Virginia, and Kirsten babysat him when he was young. Wait, he’s still young! Just thirteen. Which is why I was so surprised by the extravagance of the Jewish tradition. The day... Read more
There’s nothing quite like fall in central Pennsylvania. The colors are vibrant, and the air is cool. And then there’s FOOTBALL! Since we graduated, my best friends have gathered in Happy Valley for at least one game each fall. Whether we actually have tickets to go into Beaver Stadium is not important. It’s more about Mad Mex margaritas and Cafe... Read more
Every little girl dreams of the perfect wedding day. And the perfect marriage proposal. Last weekend Nick made one of those dreams come true. And the other isn’t far behind. He arrived in State College late Friday night — with surprises. He brought ingredients for breakfast, a box of brownie mix, and “Love Actually.” We curled up on the couch... Read more
Nick got down on one knee, and Emily said YES! He proposed on Sunday, Oct. 12 after a perfect weekend full of surprises and adventures. Of course, food was also involved. We are the culinary couple, after all! On Saturday morning we enjoyed eggs and bacon and coffee from matching mugs. That afternoon, after a trip to Penn’s Cave, we... Read more
Nick returned from training in Indianapolis just after midnight, missing his birthday by only an hour. But that didn’t stop Emily from singing “happy birthday” and Nick from blowing out his candles. Although they didn’t enjoy the delicious cake until the next day. Crazy Devil’s Food Cake 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup cocoa 1 cup... Read more
During the first weekend in October I returned to Dover for High School Homecoming festivities, and I realized that no matter how many years pass, I can still go to a place where time seems to have stood still … Some things never change. During that same weekend I glimpsed the future through a dear friend, a brand new mother... Read more