Weekend trips are bittersweet. Just enough time to hug hello and goodbye!
This time around, we got to spend time with some of the extended family.
My second cousins (cousins once removed? I always get confused…), Andy and Mary, are great cooks- and have a fancy brick oven on their deck!- and fixed us a feast.
Quinoa with carrots and parsley, vegetarian moussaka, prime rib (which I heard was fabulous), and roasted broccolini with edamame.
For dessert: flourless chocolate cake from French Meadow! Delicious. If you’re ever at the St. Paul/ Minneapolis airport and are looking for a fresh bite to eat, French Meadow has you covered! They have salads, sandwiches, pizzas, meat, vegetarian and vegan options, and all kinds of baked goods.
My grandmother- notoriously not a dog person- was quite taken with Riley the English spaniel, who was such a sweetie. Charley is a little too much of a hyperactive (12-year old) puppy for her!
She also likes stuffed duck!
The rest of the time was spent the usual way… when we all get together, we spend a lot of time around the table. Sunday brunch at the country club- a weekly date my grandparents and I kept for four years while I was in college in the Twin Cities.
Breakfast at home… the table is always covered, as you can see, with French baguette, several different types of jams and honeys, and fresh fruit.
When there aren’t quite so many of us, we sit in the “breakfast room” and linger over the paper. Through the window outside, you can see the lake (one of thousands) and birds feeding; it’s mesmerizing. When I grow up – it’s bound to happen one of these days 
– I’d love to have a breakfast room of my own.
Before we flew back home, we had just enough time to stop by Carlye and Joe’s apartment to say hi. Charlie had just been put down for his nap, but he woke up right as I was leaving. Wish these guys lived closer!
The trip was short and sweet, but we’re going to make sure we get back out there as soon as we can.
In the mean time, though, there are errands to run! Hope you’re having a great week.
Where are your parents from? Do you live near most of your family?
P.S. The 2012 Recipe Challenge page has been updated.
awww
Great food, great company- so wonderful!! We’ve moved around a TON, so I think we’re sort of mutts 
. SC is my official home
It looks like you had a brilliant weekend away! The flourless chocolate cake looks divine ♥
Weekend trips to visit my family are always bittersweet too- I’m glad to see them, but the time just seems to go SO fast!! Looks like a great weekend!
You have such an interesting family. It’s great how you have so many interests in common.
how fun! most of our close family is in FL. everyone else is up north in VT and NJ area. just lori and I here in NC.
The food looks great! Its freezing in Minnesota now! My parents live in WI and my sister lives just across the river in St. Paul. My dad’s side of the family all live in Connecticut and its always a great time when we can get together. I wish it happened more often.
I agree about French Meadow! I’ve been to the Lyndale location and the new airport location plenty of times! My favorite is to go with a bunch of friends, each order a different dessert and sample!
I’m so glad you enjoyed such a lovely weekend with your family! The food and company sound equally wonderful.
Both of my parents are from the San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley), and all of my extended family still lives there. It’s hard being so far away; I’d like to move back eventually. In the meantime, though, I try to savor the time that I DO get to spend with them. Christmas was so much fun this year!
what a fun weekend
and that cake looks incredible!