Poker night...and Autumn Cleaning

I had one rule.  One rule upon marriage that I thought, as now a wife I could have.  NO POKER!  Bill has plenty of single friends, or at least friends that don't live with their significant other.  Dude apartments.  I tolerated poker for many, many years, in a much smaller apartment where I had no escape to go to, and the next day I found myself  fishing out Old Style Tall Boys turned upside-down in the sink (the thought is....what?  Draining the last drop so it doesn't get my recycling bin wet?)

Regardless, it has happened, when I'm out of town, or spending the night at my folks, whatever, as long as I'm not here.  Well, last Friday, my weekend of only cleaning, organizing, washing my tights, yes my tights,  and only ONE  birthday party - I decided you know what - I don't care.  Have poker here.  Why not.

And what happened?  It was FUN.  I went downstairs to find my neighbor Shirley (her husband was upstairs playing cards) and we had some Ouzo (left over from our wedding) and beers.  And we had a blast.  It was nice seeing Bill and his closest companions all under one roof.  It was a great night for all.  Would have been better if Bill took the money pot, but eh, it was still super fun.

It's Fall Around Here!

It sure feels like it, although tomorrow its supposed to be 88 degrees!  My classes are going full force at Columbia, I have three sections of Producing 1.  My students are great, and I really think its going to be a great semester.  Lenny is adapting more and more each day, although we do toy with the idea of Doggie Day Care, for the days we are gone longer then eight hours, and Bill wants to get another dog so he's not alone.  Doggie Day Care is cheaper.

Regardless, back to the soup.  As soon as there is a nip in the air, I do what I do best.  Make soup.  I have more soup recipes that I can make in a year, but I also love winging it!
This evening last week, I made a spin on my grandma's zucchini soup - It was tomatoes (thanks CSA!), onions, veggie stock, cannelloni, garbanzo, and kidney beans.  And of course the most delicious spicy sausage from my corner Italian store, Fiore's.
We invited Lex, who said he was missing homemade soup and we chowed.

Fresh tomatoes!

Parmesan Rind is awesome in soups - freeze it when you're done with your hunk o' cheese!

Happy, full boys

I made my first tapenade, too!