“When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I’ll know I’m growing old.”
—Lady Bird Johnson
First Snow.12.17.11
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101 in 1001: #27 Eat at Melt.11.09.11
When we left Melt after dinner a week ago, we all agreed that we should be rolled home. Why? Oh, because we COULDN’T MOVE after eating a pile of fries and the following:
Nathan: A FRIED ham, turkey, and cheese sandwich with mixed berry preserves
Nathan’s sister, Brandi: A lasagna grilled cheese sandwich (like the lasagna ON the sandwich)
Nathan’s mom, Leesa: A grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and tomato
Me: A barbeque chicken grilled cheese sandwich with grilled onions
Sensing a trend? Yep, Melt serves tons of varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches. You might have to wait an hour any time you go, but these sandwiches will be the most unique, delicious grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. Plus, if you get a Melt tattoo, you get 25% off for life. And people do it! Because it’s that good!
For all you foodies, you should know Melt. It’s been featured on Man vs. Food (13 different cheeses, five pounds of food … enough said?) and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It’s a Cleveland icon, and I had to go, even if it meant being rolled home.
Brandi had to take pictures at the restaurant because I was TOO! EXCITED!
There’s that infamous lasagna sandwich.
And my sandwich the next day in some better light. Deliciousness in a recyclable to-go container. 
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101 in 1001: #45 Visit the West Side Market.11.01.11
For the longest time when we were dating, Nathan and I tried to figure out what our “thing” was. You know, some couples play tennis together, some like to cook together, and some run marathons side by side (OK, I don’t know anyone who does that, but I’m sure they exist). We decided that our “thing” was exploring our city. I know, it doesn’t sound like a thing, but hear me out.
When I lived in Cincinnati and Nathan would come visit, we were always on the go–trying new restaurants, using our Groupons, visiting museums, etc., etc. We really like to get to know a place and are always up for trying something new.
So, when some Cleveland friends told us the West Side Market was “their favorite thing about Cleveland,” we knew it had to be one of the first places we checked out in our new city. And, we have to agree, it’s pretty awesome. The best part is that it caters to so many people–I like the fruit and vegetable arcade, Nathan loves the desserts (of course), my mom goes right to the cheeses and my dad loves to look at the fish and seafood.
And that leads me to ANOTHER 101 in 1001 post (oh you just get ready, I have lots coming!). Non-Clevelanders, meet the West Side Market!
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101 in 1001: #28 Pick apples.10.17.11
Apples are so much better when you pick them yourself. For real. Nathan and I visited Eddy Fruit Farm a couple weekends ago to pick apples and grapes, and it was a perfect fall activity.
The weather was GORGEOUS, we picked about 25 apples and 324 pounds of grapes, and we got a 45-pound pumpkin to carve. Go big or go home, we say!
Back at home, we made a completely apple-inspired meal: apple and turkey paninis, roasted cinnamon apples and carrots, and apple crisp. I’m not a huge fan of apple crisp (or any cooked fruit for that matter–I’m a texture person), but this was delish. Here’s the recipe in case you’re interested:
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp (from foodnetwork.com)
Ingredients
5 pounds McIntosh or Macoun apples (we used Jonathan)
Grated zest of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the topping
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish.
Peel, core, and cut the apples into large wedges. Combine the apples with the zests, juices, sugar, and spices. Pour into the dish.
To make the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Scatter evenly over the apples.
Place the crisp on a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour until the top is brown and the apples are bubbly. Serve warm.
(And here is my original 101 in 1001 list, in case you’re interested.)
The finished product!
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Hello, Cleveland!10.01.11
Nathan started looking for jobs in March and was determined to find exactly what he wanted. After getting his master’s in clean and renewable energy engineering, he wanted to work on reducing buildings’ energy consumption. Easy, right? NOT! Not in this economy.
He looked and looked and looked. Got some interviews, but was told he needed experience in the field. Having been in the Air Force the last four years, he had experience in mechanical engineering, but not in what everyone wanted.
This is probably a good time to mention that he was looking EVERYWHERE. We were not going to be picky about where we moved from Cincinnati. He interviewed with companies in Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin and Iowa, and he got some jobs offers, but nothing fit exactly.
I seriously don’t know how people who are looking for jobs for months do it. I would get so frustrated! Nathan, however, was awesome and kept going until he found that perfect job, which some people probably thought was unrealistic.
In August, weeks before our wedding, he got THE job offer. He’d be reducing buildings’ energy consumption while working at an established engineering and architecture firm. Score! And the craziest part? The job was in CLEVELAND! Cleveland! We wouldn’t even be leaving the state! We thought that was hilarious after all the places he interviewed.
So, here we are. We’re closer to my family and some friends, living in a great little neighborhood and getting to know the area. AND Lane Baldwin Photography is officially open for business in Northeast Ohio. If you or anyone you know needs/wants pictures, please send me a message!
It’s been kinda gray here. But the skyline is still pretty.
I went for the first time last week, and I’ve lived in NEO for 10 years! A client recommended Ohio City Pasta, and I’m so glad I went. Can’t wait to go back!!
Love Ohio City Pasta!