gretchen newton photography

Market Fresh

There is nothing better than hitting the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning and finding fresh veggies for weekend cooking … 

Spring has sprung …

Just some beautiful flowers … taken on my back deck and at the farmer's market this morning.

Our Superbowl Spread

For the Superbowl tonight, we had a nice little spread … first, we made a tasty, easy-to-make dip with ricotta cheese, feta cheese, chives and coarse ground salt.  We dipped with Toasted Ritz crackers! Then, we had buffalo chicken bites and blue cheese dip. The bites were so good.  I, a former vegetarian (for 9 years!), still have trouble eating meat on a bone …  It kinda grosses me out a little. So, the boneless bites were perfect! Next, we had a hearty beer cheese soup - made with Abita Beer - in sourdough bread bowls. And, lastly, we had chocolate cupcakes filled with a cream cheese filling … courtesy of my sister-in-law. Everything was so yummy! 

Ring My Bell, Honey!

Each year, my parents have a box of the most delicious fruit shipped to us just after Christmas. This type of fruit is only available once a year, for a few short weeks in January, and it's truly the world's only limited edition fruit.  It's called a Honeybell.  And, it looks like an orange, but it's not an orange at all.  A Honeybell is a unique natural hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit, which are both seeded.  However, a Honeybell has no seeds, and is incredibly sweet and juicy.  The shipment even comes with a bib to wear if you choose!

NYE: Tuna Steak, Swiss Cheese Fondue & Tiramisu!

Last night for New Year's Eve, we had a small little gathering (as we've had for the past 3 years) with wonderful food … and, this year we actually didn't over do it!  The menu consisted of grilled & very pink/red fresh tuna steaks with sauteed shiitake and button mushrooms, a salad, sourdough bread pieces to fondue in swiss cheese, and for dessert my sister-in-law made a fabulous layered tiramisu cake. Everything was super!

A family feast ...

For Thanksgiving this year, my husband's family came to our house.  I had a wonderful time planning the meal, and the food turned out great!  However, by the time we sat down to eat, I wasn't even hungry ... I think I was tapped out on the planning and preparing.  Check it out --

First, we had goat cheese soufflés on a bed of mixed greens and pomegranate seeds with Romano Basil dressing.  This was my favorite.

And, rolls ... of course!

Next, there were individual Cornish Game Hens for everyone, atop sweet potato risotto and port wine cranberry sauce ...

And, for sides we had Goat Cheese-Basil Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole ...

And, three hours later we had dessert ... Pumpkin Roll with pecan cream cheese filling and 2 tiny scoops of "No Sugar Added" (as if it mattered at this point!) vanilla ice cream.  

Yesterday once more …

A few months ago one of my high school friends, Cindy, and I reconnected through Facebook … And, after discovering my love for photography, she volunteered her family for a photo shoot outing with me!  It could not have been nicer November weather today and the sky was beautiful.

Many thanks to Cindy, Eli, Evelyn and Finley for your cooperation today –– these are some of my faves!  

A Day to Remember …

In September my husband and I spent an entire week in Washington, D.C.! It was a great trip and also an energetic time to be there considering it was 6-7 weeks before the 2008 election.  One of the most amazing days was our day we spent touring all of the memorials – Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, WWII Memorial, etc.  It made us realize that we hadn't really suffered something so devastating as the men/women who served, or lost loved ones, in those wars.  We saw many people reflecting at the sites, and since today is Veteran's Day … I find it fitting to post these pics.  Thank you to my grandfather, my husband's grandfather, my great uncle and all others who served or who are serving this country today.

Getting to know Greenville …

This weekend we traveled to Greenville, IL for a family wedding … it was wonderful to spend time getting to know my husband's side of the family better.  Our last meeting was over 3.5 years ago at our wedding!  Before getting on the road, I really had absolutely no expectations of what Greenville the town would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It's a quaint little town of 7000 with a McDonald's, a CVS, a superb pizza place called Mario's Pizza, an IGA and a college - Greenville College.  Did you know Augustana formed when 3-4 of the musicians attended college there?  Interesting, right?  I got some great photos when we were cruising the town before the wedding started.  

Birthday Flowers Close-up

My wonderful husband always gives me the most beautiful flowers for special occasions … last Tuesday was one of those occasions - my birthday. And, I just love taking close-ups of flowers -- you always see such unique details …