Eric's Birthday Weekend

Eric's official birthday was Saturday, but we started celebrating on Friday night. We went to Carmine's on Penn,  a local, family-style Italian restaurant, with a group of 9 friends. We ate so well! The food there was amazing and we had a great, late night with friends. Eric also got some very nice gifts from friends.

Saturday was a little bit bittersweet. Eric opened the presents I got him, and we went to the beer store so he could stock up on brewing supplies for a batch he wanted to start on Sunday, so all that was exciting. However, it was the one year anniversary of Eric's brother, Adam's passing. Adam lost a hard fought battle with cancer on April 2, 2010. We love him and miss him a great deal. 

Sunday was craziness in the kitchen! Eric brewed beer, I made chocolate chip cookies and then Eric cooked Osso Bucco. It was a dish Adam had mentioned wanting to cook, so Eric thought it'd be appropriate to give it a shot. Osso Bucco is an Italian dish {apparently we're on an Italian cooking kick}, and it's veal shanks cooked in a vegetable and white wine sauce. It was really yummy {sorry! we ate it before I thought about getting pictures}, but I think we could have used pork. Veal tasted very similar and was double the cost of pork! Oh well, live and learn. For dessert we had key lime cheesecake. It's Eric's favorite cheesecake and something that I have made him for his last 5 birthdays! 

All in all it was a good birthday weekend. I'm already trying to figure out what I should do for his birthday next year since he'll be the big 3-0!

This is one of 6 copper cups that Eric received from friends. They are the cups that Moscow Mules are made in - the good ones anyway. The drink is really refreshing for summer and the recipe can be found here , if you're interested.

A digital meat thermometer, a peppercorn blend and Bourbon smoked sea salt. All my gifts to Eric. He was surprised at how excited he was over salt & pepper!

Key Lime Cheesecake. Yes, I know you wish you had taste-o-vision.