Sidney Street Cafe

Saturday evening was Date Night for Alan and I at we headed to Sidney Street Cafe for our 7 o'clock reservation. This was a restaurant we had wanted to go to for a while but had heard that it is really best for special occasions...what better reason to celebrate than Alan getting a job this week! Sidney Street Cafe is located in Benton Park and many critics argue that it's one of the best restaurants in the city. We certainly agree. Alan and I shared the appetizer sampler which included: veal dumplings, honey mustard shrimp, crab cakes, and our favorite...lobster turnovers. For our entrees, Alan ordered the Missouri lamb trio and I ordered filet béarnaise stuffed with lobster. Everything was delicious and we loved sharing and tasting it all. Sidney Street Cafe is probably now one of our top favorite restaurants so we will definitely have to come back someday!

Stone & Hinds

We are excited to share that on Thursday Alan accepted a position with Stone & Hinds! This is a law firm in Knoxville where Alan will have the opportunity to practice tax law and also get to work in other areas of the law too. We feel truly blessed to have received this offer and are so happy and thankful. About a month ago, we took a trip to Knoxville to meet with the partners and some of the associates of the firm. It was an exciting time of building relationships and giving Alan an idea of what his future would bring. Alan and I are both so excited to know that this is where God is leading us. We are especially excited to be going back to Knoxville! Please keep us in your prayers over the next couple of months as we begin preparing for more changes to begin this next chapter in our lives.

Saint Louis Zoo

This afternoon, Alan and I finally went to the Zoo. We have been trying to go since we moved here and today was the perfect day for it! Being a Sunday afternoon the Zoo was packed (something Alan and I actually didn't mind at all since we both love to people watch) and the weather was nice but definitely not too warm. We had the best time. Admission to the Zoo is free (always a bonus) and it just celebrated it's centennial year since being built in 1910. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon of exploring and reliving childhood memories:

Love in the Gateway City

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alan and I had a fun and relaxing v-day together this year. I had a day off work so Alan and I got to enjoy lunch together at the Clayton Bakery & Deli and we ran a few errands together in the afternoon. We tried to get reservations at Sidney Street Cafe as we have heard it is a favorite of many of our friends here; however, they were completely booked, but we did make a reservation for later this month...I'm excited! Alan and I made a great dinner together at home of ravioli in a basil cream sauce, toast, and a bottle of rioja (thanks dad for the wine!) Alan and I completed our day together by watching the movie Valentine's Day. It was a fun romantic comedy about the crazy things that people do when they're in love.

Ice Skating in Forest Park

After visiting Cathedral Basilica, Alan and I decided to continue our adventures and go ice skating in Forest Park at the Steinberg Skating Rink. I don't think we've been ice skating together since we've been married...we had a blast. It was great to be outside on a beautiful day! I think it was in the upper 40s today! Spring cannot get here soon enough as far as I'm concerned, but this was a fun winter activity we both enjoyed. We are definitely a little sore now, ha! I guess we're getting old...

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

This afternoon, Alan and I went to Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. We had heard it was one of the most beautiful buildings in Saint Louis, and we are so glad we went. It was built in 1907 and is one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world. Pope Paul VI called Cathedral Basilica, "the outstanding cathedral of the Americas." Here are a few pics...

Mosaic Tiled Ceilings...over 41 million pieces of glass

Beautiful Altar

Stain Glass Windows

Confession Booths

City Coffeehouse & Crêperie

A banana, sour cream, brown sugar, and nutella crêpe...need I say more? Alan and I were introduced to this charming little café in downtown Clayton by our friends Laura and Mike French. We went here for lunch after church this morning and had the best time catching up with them. If I closed my eyes, you probably would have been able to convince me that I was in Paris. Bon Appétit!

1111 Mississippi

Last night Alan and I went to dinner at Eleven Eleven Mississippi which is a wonderful little restaurant that was recognized as being one of the best eateries in Saint Louis. We went with some friends of ours, Lacy and Ben Stegmann, and had a great time! Alan and I both ordered the shrimp and corn bisque for our appetizer and Alan ordered beef tenderloin medallions and I ordered halibut for our main courses. The meal was delicious and we had so much fun with Lacy and Ben. We have had the best time living in Saint Louis this year (minus the snow of course!) and are truly blessed by the wonderful friends we have made. It is snowing again today, but hopefully when this weather clears up a bit more we will be able to get out and continue to explore the city!

Oatmeal Cookie Cream Pies

These are the most delicious cookies and the perfect thing to make if you’re staying inside trying to keep warm and busy. I got the recipe from a good friend of mine, Lacy Stegmann. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Cookies
1¼ cups butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup sugar
Beat the first 3 ingredients together. Then add:
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla
Beat well.
In a separate bowl combine:
1½ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. cinnamon
Add to mixture. Add:
3 cups uncooked quick oats

Drop by rounded tablespoon 2 inches apart onto non-stick baking sheet. Bake at 375º for 10 minutes. Makes 3 dozen cookies or 18 cream pies.

Cream Filling
½ cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in mixer and beat on low. Then, beat on high until light and fluffy. Spread about 2 Tbsp. of cream filling over the bottom side of a cookie, and then top with another cookie to make into cream pies.