• About Gina
    • Contact Me
  • Travel
    • Asheville, North Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina
    • Charlotte North Carolina
    • Nashville, Tennessee
    • Rochester NY

Gina DiMartino

~ finding beauty in pain

Gina DiMartino

Monthly Archives: July 2013

tea for two (or 4)

30 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by ginamd in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Boston Strong, Hicks & McCarthy, Tea

There are a few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.

Henry James

IMG_0945

White linens, ornate blue and white china and stately silver adorned the tables in the tea room at Hicks and McCarthy. Soft aromas of tea and pastries wafted past us as we sat down at our table. Quiet excitement filled the air. We felt fancy. And hungry!

IMG_0947

My good friend Allie came to visit this week from Ohio. She just spent a year battling non hodgkin’s lymphoma, is now in remission, and came to encourage and refresh me  as I walk through a different, yet similar situation in life. We drank coffee at Javas, went out to lunch, sat outside in the beautiful sunshine and our last day together, we went to tea. Hicks and McCarthy serves High Tea in the afternoon and my friends Mikey and Virginia work there. It seemed like the perfect conclusion to our fun week.

IMG_0955

The food was ridiculously amazing. The scones were the perfect blend of crumbly and moist. Covered in creme fresh and raspberry preserves, we couldn’t get enough. Little sandwiches cut into delicate triangles also adorned the tiered plate and beautiful tarts and pound cake finished off the meal.

IMG_0962

We laughed and ate and told stories and pretended we were fancy, talked with British accents, and ate some more. We were stuffed by the end. So good!

IMG_0963

I have amazing friends. I can’t even begin to describe that to you. But the way they stick by me through thick and thin…I couldn’t do it without them. I can’t believe that in our short lives we have walked through so much together. High school, college, deaths of loved ones, happy weddings, cancer, bombs…They’ve been by my side through it all. God knew that I couldn’t do this life without them! I am so blessed!

IMG_0973

drive

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by ginamd in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Boston Marathon, Boston Strong, Bstrong, left foot driving, left foot gas pedal

I can drive. I can drive. I can drive! Whoop! It is so freeing. Here are a few pictures. People have been so interested in the foot pedal situation so I figured I would share with everyone exactly how driving with my left foot works.

IMG_5678

The left pedal has a bar that goes over to the regular gas pedal. So when I push the pedal on the left, it in turn pushes the regular gas. There is a plate over the regular gas so I can not push it on mistake with my right foot. This is also nice because I have somewhere to rest my boot without worrying about it getting in the way.

IMG_5642

It took some getting used to. I have to go to a driving class two different days. I practiced indoors with fake pedals at first. And then drove the school’s car for about 45 minutes each day. The instructor took me through all different types of area so I would get used to driving in stop and go traffic, on the highway, on small side roads etc. I then had to get an amended drivers license that says I am allowed to drive with special equipment.

IMG_5640

It also pops right out so that if someone else needs to drive my car they can.

remember me

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by ginamd in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Why do people in Finland look at my blog? Or Norway. Or Moldova, Bulgaria, Bahrain? So weird. The most popular blog posts I have written are recipes. Ones I didn’t even make up. Things I found on someone else’s blog, made myself, and then blogged about. Of course I give the original people proper recognition for their recipe, but still. My best writing was about oatmeal? Since I started this blog, I have had views from 91 countries. Thats 46% of the world. My blog has reached people in 46% of the world. But only on the level of oatmeal. How weird. What if my blog reached that much of the world for something really important. What if my blogs about the bombing, or about songs that speak to me or about church or real life were reaching that many people. I want my life to be about so much more than oatmeal. I know that it is, but I sometimes when I look at these stats, I think that all people see in my life is oatmeal. Oatmeal and Iced Coffee. And trust me, the iced coffee is amazing, so I won’t be offended if you look at that post.

I guess it’s just something I think about once in a while. When I look over my stats and see why people are visiting my blog. People close to me know my heart and the things that are important to me. But are those things really showing to the WORLD? Am I a city on a hill or a light under a basket? I know the numbers on my blog don’t really matter. And I can thank pinterest for my oatmeal fame. But it is a good reminder to me. Something to make me pause and think.

I want to be remembered for more than oatmeal. How bout you?

what’s going on

14 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by ginamd in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Apparently I have been horrible at keeping up with my blog. I am sorry! So many things have been happening, the days just slip by so quickly. You would think that I would have so much more free time since all I do is sit around, but I seem to keep so busy and I don’t ever get anything productive done!

This weekend we went the BBQ & Blues Fest at Highland Park. We had great food and listened to an obscure blues band that I have never heard of. It was packed and I was scared the entire time that someone was going to kick my leg. People kept stepping over it and getting so close to me. Plus the anticipation of being in a huge crowd like that with no means of escape. Interesting.

There were fireworks in Webster last night. I woke up thinking we were being bombed. They were so loud. Then I remembered there were fireworks at midnight and it was indeed midnight, so I was ok. They kept me awake though that’s for sure.

Today Allie visited our church and after church we decided to try a new coffee shop that just opened. We got there at 10:30 and they didn’t open until 11. So we just went to Javas. It was so nice outside that we just sat there for two hours and enjoyed the man playing the accordion, the sunshine, the light breeze, and the overall atmosphere of Gibbs St. We decided we could have more coffee so we went back to Fuego to check it out. Tony and Renee came from Javas and started their own place. It was great fun to see a coffee shop in the very beginning of its existence. I’m excited to see what it grows into. Then we jumped over to Revelry for some lunch. I had chicken & waffles. Never even heard of that before, but recently people have been talking about it, so I was ready to try it. Fried chicken on top of a waffle with maple syrup…interesting. It was good though. And Revelry is a great new Speak Easy on University. I loved the atmosphere and we’ll definitely be going back. They boast to have the best bar tenders in Rochester. Not sure about that, but we’ll see I guess.

And the weekend is over! Tomorrow we start again with PT. Things are progressing slowly. Nothing really new to report. At this point it’s all about strengthening my right leg (which is about 6 sizes smaller than my left) and waiting for the nerves to repair (which will take about FOREVER) I do get discouraged sometimes. Because I just want to WALK. Or be normal. Or not have to have people help me. Or not be in pain. Or have toes that always tingle. See. I’m not always happy!

I have a doctor appointment to assess the hole in my eardrum and see what we need to do with that. Peter’s doctor told him he has to have eardrum repair surgery on both ears, so I’m assuming I will need that in at least one ear, but really hoping NOT. I had tubes twice as a child and hate anything that has to do with my ears and ear pain.

Thursday I get the left foot pedal in my car so I can start driving! I passed my driving test and have a new amended license so once the pedal is installed I will be able to drive again! So excited for that. This also means that I will probably start playing in the worship band again, for which I am both anxious and apprehensive.

As I ramble on I realize this post is jumping all over and not very eloquent. But I guess that’s how I’m feeling right now. I will work this week to make some better writing. Sometimes it flows out and sometimes it doesn’t. At least you know what’s going on with me. For now.

Cherry Semifreddo

06 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by ginamd in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

cherry dessert, semifreddo

This week we picked so many cherries from our cherry tree. We pitted them for hours. Literally. We watched an entire movie whilst pitting cherries. We froze bags of them. Enough for a pie in each bag. I saw this recipe in the new Bon Appetit magazine for a Plum Semifreddo and thought it looked interesting. I decided to try it and substitute cherries for the plums. I also added dark chocolate chunks because I thought that sounded delicious. They also added some good texture. It turned out pretty well. It is not a smooth creamy consistence like ice cream. Maybe a little similar to a sorbet. I would probably add some almond extract next time.

IMG_0905

IMG_0908

Cherry Semifreddo

Ingredients

  • Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 1 1/2 pounds red plums, cut into chunks (I used cherries)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • Kosher salt
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chilled heavy cream
  • 1 dark chocolate bar chopped into bite size pieces

IMG_0911

Preparation

  • Coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving a generous overhang on all sides.

Combine plums, cardamom, 1/3 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until plums release their juices, about 5 minutes. Uncover and cook until plums soften and start to fall apart, 6–8 minutes longer. Let cool slightly.

IMG_0918 IMG_0923

Purée plum mixture in a blender until very smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing on solids. Let cool. Set aside 1 cup purée for serving.

IMG_0927

Whisk egg whites, a pinch of salt, and remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a medium heatproof bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) and set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Heat, whisking constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, about 4 minutes. Remove bowl from saucepan. Add vanilla and, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until mixture is tripled in volume, glossy, and completely cool, about 10 minutes.

IMG_0929

Using clean beaters, whip cream in another medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 1/3 of whipped cream into egg-white mixture until just combined. Fold in remaining whipped cream until just combined. Fold in plum purée just until large streaks appear throughout mixture.

IMG_0933

Transfer mixture to prepared pan and smooth top. Fold plastic wrap overhang over top and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours.

IMG_0939

Unwrap semifreddo and, using plastic overhang, gently lift from pan. Invert semifreddo onto a large platter, remove plastic wrap, and slice 1 inch thick; transfer to plates and let sit at least 5 minutes to soften slightly. Serve with reserved plum purée.

IMG_0944

  • DO AHEAD: Plum purée can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Semifreddo can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.

Taken from: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2013/07/plum-semifreddo#ixzz2Y2M81rV1

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 360 other followers

Recent Posts

  • sit with it
  • Books I read in 2021
  • still
  • a quiet life
  • don’t miss the magic

Archives

  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • February 2021
  • December 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • March 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Twitter Updates

  • sit with it ginadimartino.com/2022/02/21/sit… 3 months ago
  • Books I read in 2021 ginadimartino.com/2022/01/10/boo… 4 months ago
  • still ginadimartino.com/2022/01/05/sti… 4 months ago
Follow @Gdimar

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Gina DiMartino
    • Join 360 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Gina DiMartino
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...