A LONG Overdue Visit!!!

We FINALLY got Amy back in the cities (after a long absence), and we got to "hang out" with her for four days...AWESOME!!!!!!

She arrived Friday afternoon, and we had a RIP ROARING BBQ pizza evening on the patio...sooo fun...soooo tasty....soooo AWESOME!  Davey has become a MASTER chef on his new grill, and it was QUITE lovely to enjoy the amazing weather, and the FABULOUS pizza with my family!!!!!

After pizza, Duane, Abigail, and I went to Target to get the "fixins" for s'mores (I'm on a roll...what can I say??!!)...YUM!!!!

Saturday, we hit the outlet mall in Albertville.  Before we got there though, we stopped at a few places in Maple Grove (Robin had a gift card to spend), and made a stop in Rogers for a REALLY REALLY quick run through the antique mall (me), while Robin, Emilie, and Amy perused the wares at a vintage jewelry store across the street.  TOTAL score on all our parts...I found the following ceramic chickens....

and they found some really cool vintage jewelry!

After SPEEDING through the shops, we headed to Gualadajara for lunch.  REALLY awesome Mexican food, and very affordable...if you are IN Rogers...you need to check it out!!!!

After lunch, the girls headed to Albertville, and Duane, Dave, and I checked out the antique store next to the restaurant...I TOTALLY scored...

We then headed to Albertville, reconnected with the girls, and had a GREAT time shopping for back to school stuff...!!!!

After the outlet mall, Duane and I headed back to Eagan to "regroup", and they all headed back to south Minneapolis.  We hooked up soon after, and CONTINUED our adventure with dinner at Erte, in North Minneapolis...SOOOOOO awesome.  I had the "the House"...the BEST cut sirloin I've EVER tasted, and the scalloped potatoes with carmelized onions...which were also AMAZING!!!!!

After dinner we caught a movie..."The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"...ODD movie, but I REALLY liked it (and, OF COURSE, cried like a baby at the end...).  Very creative...very thought-provoking...and I LOVE Jennifer Garner!!!!!

We then headed back to Eagan, and went to bed.  Sunday, we spent putzing around the house, and I had everyone over for dinner.  I tried a new recipe, that is DEFINITELY going in the second edition of FLAIR (Frequently Looked At, Interesting Recipes...):

Salt and Vinegar Crusted Chicken with Balsamic Caramelized Onions

Yields: 6 servings

Chicken:
6 chicken breasts- about ½ inch thick
3 cups salt & vinegar potato chips, crushed
⅓ tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour, seasoned with salt & pepper
olive oil

Balsamic Onions:
2 large onions, thinly sliced
3 T. olive oil
fresh herbs (whatever is on hand...I used basil, rosemary, and parsley)
2 T. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

fresh parmesan cheese


Chicken:

Rinse and pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine eggs in one shallow baking dish, seasoned flour in a separate shallow dish, and potato chip crumbs, plus ¼ tsp. salt, in another.

Dredge each chicken breast in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip in eggs and then coat both sides with potato chip crumbs.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken breast on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side or until chicken is golden).

Place browned chicken breasts on a baking sheet and finish cooking in oven about 8 minutes at 350 degrees (may take longer, depending on thickness of chicken).

Balsamic Onions:

Over medium-high heat, drizzle olive oil in skillet and add sliced onions. Saute until nice and dark golden brown. Add herbs, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper.

Top warmed chicken with onions and fresh shaved parmesan.

YUM!!!!!

Monday, I had to go to work to prep for a training that I had to do for "new hires" on Tuesday, but, after spending the day at school, went back to Robin and Davey's to celebrate Davey's birthday.  We ordered take out from Bagu, a Thai restaurant in the neighborhood.  I had the beef curry, and it was AWESOME!!!!!

We got Davey a rotisserie rack for his new grill, and, again, had a lovely evening on the patio...

After dinner, we watched "Red", the retired spies movie with Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren (among others...!)...SUCH a great movie...!!!!! 

I then headed home and ate the ENTIRE box of Kohler Terrapins that Amy brought with her (in, APPROXIMATELY, 43 seconds...)...

OH MY DEAR LORD IN HEAVEN....possibly the TASTIEST chocolates EVER....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was AWESOME to have Amy here, and we had a GREAT time!  She's coming back in October...can't wait to do even MORE fun stuff in the cities!!!!

Here's hoping YOU had a visitor that makes you HAPPY recently too!!!!!