This Blog and Me
Posted by Cathy at 1/1/2008 1:00 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
This Blog
About Me
I love to cook but mostly I love to eat. I walk 5.2 miles a day just to be able to chow-down on fattening food while maintaining a normal weight. All of this so my inner thighs remain distant relatives. The problem is I can’t stop eating. My appetite is insatiable and my husband marvels at the quantity of food I am able to ingest and digest on a daily basis. He says I should be in one of those tiny booths at a carnival where you pay a dollar to see a normal sized woman eat ginormous amounts of food in 8.3 seconds. Please join me in my kitchen and life adventures and while you’re here catch up on my progress of muddling my way through the bankrupting trials and tribulations, not to mention horrors, of planting a vineyard and starting a small winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
My journey begins in a small, quirky town in Northern California. My family and I are transplants here (by choice) from Southern California, Orange County area. One day I had this brilliant fantasy of becoming a winemaker and living the rest of my life happily ever-after in one of the wine regions of the world. Wow, easier said than done. However, all in the pursuit of education, we packed up the kids, left our life on the coast and moved to this land-locked, nuclear free, often whacked out zone of a town that doesn’t allow businesses that would make life better or easier for the people who live here; places like Target, Costco or Trader Joe’s, have not been allowed to enter the city limits. The people that run this town then complain about the lack of funds available for city projects, money that could be raised by sales tax generated by business. I say, “You can’t have it both ways”, they say, “We don’t care, let’s build toad tunnels and become famous for the most minuscule wildlife crossing this world has ever known”. Now, after four years here, things for me are moving along, while things in this town will always remain the same. And in case you were wondering, you have to leave the city if you want to buy decent underwear; that will never change.
Since moving from “The O.C.” and in case you’re wondering, “The O.C.” really is like the TV show portrayed it, a glamorous area where less is definitely NOT more and lives are made and perpetuated by the privileged that live there. However, I’ve left that all behind in the pursuit of bettering myself and making a good wholesome life for my children. We will nurture and take from the land only what we need, leaving the rest for future generations to cultivate and enjoy. Okay, just kidding, I am NOT, that good, and I love to exaggerate!
I completed my studies at the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor’s of Science in Viticulture and Enology. I am currently in the process of purchasing 88 acres of dirt in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. There I will plant my vineyard and hone my winemaking skills where Pinot Noir remains supreme. Wow, that makes me feel really important when I say “hone my skills”, like I’m some kind of genius who has discovered a secret formula of how to put yeast and grape juice together to produce alcohol; practicing everyday until I get it just right. And that part about living in a place where Pinot Noir is considered some type of supreme god with iconic status. Well, that is true. And yes, this will all take years and years and yes, years. I hope I live through it.
I love to go off on long-winded tangents and write in run-on sentences using hardly any punctuation. I also love to cook, taking difficult recipes and breaking them down into non-intimidating steps that anyone can make, even the most self-proclaimed kitchen nightmare- nincompoop. You have to love that word, nincompoop, it really says it all. So yes, you too can do this, cook that is. Cooking is enjoyable and life is hard but when you return to your home and enter your kitchen you should feel, take your bra off comfortable, and not terrified to try new and exciting things that will impress your family and friends. Hopefully, I can motivate you to do this or you can sit back, be lazy, kick and scream and watch me kill myself while I try to inspire you to get off your tush and make something decent that your family can eat. Imagine taking a food dish to a party and actually being proud of it instead of making excuses that you can’t cook and being alright with that! Throwing cheese and crackers on a plate and calling it a day is no longer an option people; the world expects more of you. I told you about the run-on sentences right, we’ll just refer to it as my stream of consciousness writing from here on out. By the way, did I tell you I am 100% Polish, that will explain a lot and I believe is one of those tangents I was referring to previously.
The Characters in My Life (and that is putting it lightly):
The Husband
Oh he’s a funny one; I’ll call him, “The Wild Boar” as he would prefer to remain slightly anonymous (as you can tell by the picture). And yes, he chose that name for himself. Do you think there is any pathology involved in wanting to be referred to as, THE WILD BOAR? Does it mean he is passionate? Or does it mean he’s an ax murderer? If he’s the "Wild Boar" does that make me the "Pighunter"? I’ll have to look into this more, we might need a psychiatrist.
He loves to eat like me but even more so LOVES to kvetch about what I make. It’s too sweet, too salty, too bitter (always my favorite), too spicy, not spicy enough, too dense, too cold, too hot, oh I could go on and on and on….I call it the Goldilocks Syndrome, his love affair with disharmony. But even with all this complaining I love, love, love him dearly. His constant begging of me not to do certain things only pushes and motivates me even more to do just those things. Things like putting all my energy into a website that will give intimate details of our life together; where things he might say and repeated by me could be taken out of context. But it works for me, our life, his complaining; we’re a team and for the most part he is always ready and willing to go along with all my crazy, life-altering schemes and ideas. For example, when he agreed to take all our money and start a winery and plant a vineyard that could easily fail leaving us bankrupt and destitute and in the streets, yeah…that was a big one, but he jumped right in, no looking back. I respect that. So, I let him get away with these minor kvetching infractions, they are only words, right? I try to look at the bigger picture. However, I’m not sure what that bigger picture is but someday I hope to figure it out.
Hooligan #1
My 8 year old son loves to try new foods and for the most part is willing to taste most things. His favorites, salmon and shrimp, not too exotic but he loves them. He’s a good boy who does well in school and enjoys life, I can’t ask for more than that. He says his mom is a “good cooker” and that works for me and puts a smile on my face. However, while at the dinner table he wields his fork and spoon like they are shovels, rests his chin on the plate and pushes the food in. We really need to work on the table manners before he starts dating. He’s also a master of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, always keeping me on the edge of my seat. I love that.
Hooligan #2
My 6 year old, the pickiest eater I know. It started when he was eight months old in the highchair; he would aggressively push the incoming spoon away with all the strength he could muster. He had a food plan that included only the healthiest of choices. I will name them here for you…Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets (microwaved only), Totino’s Pizza Rolls (microwaved only), green beans (cold, from a can only, not fresh, never heated), pasta (marinara or butter sauce only, with spaghetti sugar a.k.a. parmesan cheese from the green can only), toast (crust removed cut into thin strips), cheese sandwich (crust removed, cut into four squares) hamburger patty (no bun, cut into pieces, ketchup for dipping), french fries (any), macaroni and cheese (from a box only, none of that homemade stuff), pizza (cheese only, not too saucy), juice (apple only, I always buy Treetop®, he can taste the difference if the brand is different and will not drink it).
Save me from this child. However, I’m learning to embrace his picky palate. I fantasize about his palate evolving into a world-class, disconcerting, articulate, takes no nonsense, winemaking, super-tasting phenomena. He could be a winemaking star, picking out microscopic wine flaws in single tastes. It’s his mission. The problem is, he has no idea what his mission is. Will he accept it? Or will he cast that journey aside as a job of non-importance to the greater good, as if not saving the wine is not a job for the greater good…okay, okay I’ll stop.
I never imagined I would start a blog. EVER! Several years ago I really didn't know or care what a blog was.
Then there was that epiphany moment while searching for a recipe on the web that I came across a food blog. I was instantly drawn to the details of this person’s life; her cooking triumphs and failures, her family issues and other mindless, random details. I kept returning to the site and then realized there were other sites like hers out there. EVERYWHERE!
A whole hidden world was taking place everyday on the internet and I had been completely left out of it. There were not only food blogs but wine blogs, lifestyle blogs, mommy blogs and even blogs about how to blog.
I was hooked. Reading blogs went hand in hand with my obsession of reality TV…an escape right at my fingertips that could be reached at any time of the day.
It made me realize I too wanted to blog. I had something to say and wanted to share the mundane, repetitive, boring details of my life. My own place to inspire, share, complain and learn.
So the Noble Pig was born. A place for me to rant about food, family and wine (my interests are too far and wide to be limited to one thing). Welcome to my site and my life.
A whole hidden world was taking place everyday on the internet and I had been completely left out of it. There were not only food blogs but wine blogs, lifestyle blogs, mommy blogs and even blogs about how to blog.
I was hooked. Reading blogs went hand in hand with my obsession of reality TV…an escape right at my fingertips that could be reached at any time of the day.
It made me realize I too wanted to blog. I had something to say and wanted to share the mundane, repetitive, boring details of my life. My own place to inspire, share, complain and learn.
So the Noble Pig was born. A place for me to rant about food, family and wine (my interests are too far and wide to be limited to one thing). Welcome to my site and my life.
About Me
I love to cook but mostly I love to eat. I walk 5.2 miles a day just to be able to chow-down on fattening food while maintaining a normal weight. All of this so my inner thighs remain distant relatives. The problem is I can’t stop eating. My appetite is insatiable and my husband marvels at the quantity of food I am able to ingest and digest on a daily basis. He says I should be in one of those tiny booths at a carnival where you pay a dollar to see a normal sized woman eat ginormous amounts of food in 8.3 seconds. Please join me in my kitchen and life adventures and while you’re here catch up on my progress of muddling my way through the bankrupting trials and tribulations, not to mention horrors, of planting a vineyard and starting a small winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
My journey begins in a small, quirky town in Northern California. My family and I are transplants here (by choice) from Southern California, Orange County area. One day I had this brilliant fantasy of becoming a winemaker and living the rest of my life happily ever-after in one of the wine regions of the world. Wow, easier said than done. However, all in the pursuit of education, we packed up the kids, left our life on the coast and moved to this land-locked, nuclear free, often whacked out zone of a town that doesn’t allow businesses that would make life better or easier for the people who live here; places like Target, Costco or Trader Joe’s, have not been allowed to enter the city limits. The people that run this town then complain about the lack of funds available for city projects, money that could be raised by sales tax generated by business. I say, “You can’t have it both ways”, they say, “We don’t care, let’s build toad tunnels and become famous for the most minuscule wildlife crossing this world has ever known”. Now, after four years here, things for me are moving along, while things in this town will always remain the same. And in case you were wondering, you have to leave the city if you want to buy decent underwear; that will never change.
Since moving from “The O.C.” and in case you’re wondering, “The O.C.” really is like the TV show portrayed it, a glamorous area where less is definitely NOT more and lives are made and perpetuated by the privileged that live there. However, I’ve left that all behind in the pursuit of bettering myself and making a good wholesome life for my children. We will nurture and take from the land only what we need, leaving the rest for future generations to cultivate and enjoy. Okay, just kidding, I am NOT, that good, and I love to exaggerate!
I completed my studies at the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor’s of Science in Viticulture and Enology. I am currently in the process of purchasing 88 acres of dirt in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. There I will plant my vineyard and hone my winemaking skills where Pinot Noir remains supreme. Wow, that makes me feel really important when I say “hone my skills”, like I’m some kind of genius who has discovered a secret formula of how to put yeast and grape juice together to produce alcohol; practicing everyday until I get it just right. And that part about living in a place where Pinot Noir is considered some type of supreme god with iconic status. Well, that is true. And yes, this will all take years and years and yes, years. I hope I live through it.
I love to go off on long-winded tangents and write in run-on sentences using hardly any punctuation. I also love to cook, taking difficult recipes and breaking them down into non-intimidating steps that anyone can make, even the most self-proclaimed kitchen nightmare- nincompoop. You have to love that word, nincompoop, it really says it all. So yes, you too can do this, cook that is. Cooking is enjoyable and life is hard but when you return to your home and enter your kitchen you should feel, take your bra off comfortable, and not terrified to try new and exciting things that will impress your family and friends. Hopefully, I can motivate you to do this or you can sit back, be lazy, kick and scream and watch me kill myself while I try to inspire you to get off your tush and make something decent that your family can eat. Imagine taking a food dish to a party and actually being proud of it instead of making excuses that you can’t cook and being alright with that! Throwing cheese and crackers on a plate and calling it a day is no longer an option people; the world expects more of you. I told you about the run-on sentences right, we’ll just refer to it as my stream of consciousness writing from here on out. By the way, did I tell you I am 100% Polish, that will explain a lot and I believe is one of those tangents I was referring to previously.
The Characters in My Life (and that is putting it lightly):
The Husband
Oh he’s a funny one; I’ll call him, “The Wild Boar” as he would prefer to remain slightly anonymous (as you can tell by the picture). And yes, he chose that name for himself. Do you think there is any pathology involved in wanting to be referred to as, THE WILD BOAR? Does it mean he is passionate? Or does it mean he’s an ax murderer? If he’s the "Wild Boar" does that make me the "Pighunter"? I’ll have to look into this more, we might need a psychiatrist.
He loves to eat like me but even more so LOVES to kvetch about what I make. It’s too sweet, too salty, too bitter (always my favorite), too spicy, not spicy enough, too dense, too cold, too hot, oh I could go on and on and on….I call it the Goldilocks Syndrome, his love affair with disharmony. But even with all this complaining I love, love, love him dearly. His constant begging of me not to do certain things only pushes and motivates me even more to do just those things. Things like putting all my energy into a website that will give intimate details of our life together; where things he might say and repeated by me could be taken out of context. But it works for me, our life, his complaining; we’re a team and for the most part he is always ready and willing to go along with all my crazy, life-altering schemes and ideas. For example, when he agreed to take all our money and start a winery and plant a vineyard that could easily fail leaving us bankrupt and destitute and in the streets, yeah…that was a big one, but he jumped right in, no looking back. I respect that. So, I let him get away with these minor kvetching infractions, they are only words, right? I try to look at the bigger picture. However, I’m not sure what that bigger picture is but someday I hope to figure it out.
Hooligan #1
My 8 year old son loves to try new foods and for the most part is willing to taste most things. His favorites, salmon and shrimp, not too exotic but he loves them. He’s a good boy who does well in school and enjoys life, I can’t ask for more than that. He says his mom is a “good cooker” and that works for me and puts a smile on my face. However, while at the dinner table he wields his fork and spoon like they are shovels, rests his chin on the plate and pushes the food in. We really need to work on the table manners before he starts dating. He’s also a master of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, always keeping me on the edge of my seat. I love that.
Hooligan #2
My 6 year old, the pickiest eater I know. It started when he was eight months old in the highchair; he would aggressively push the incoming spoon away with all the strength he could muster. He had a food plan that included only the healthiest of choices. I will name them here for you…Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets (microwaved only), Totino’s Pizza Rolls (microwaved only), green beans (cold, from a can only, not fresh, never heated), pasta (marinara or butter sauce only, with spaghetti sugar a.k.a. parmesan cheese from the green can only), toast (crust removed cut into thin strips), cheese sandwich (crust removed, cut into four squares) hamburger patty (no bun, cut into pieces, ketchup for dipping), french fries (any), macaroni and cheese (from a box only, none of that homemade stuff), pizza (cheese only, not too saucy), juice (apple only, I always buy Treetop®, he can taste the difference if the brand is different and will not drink it).
Save me from this child. However, I’m learning to embrace his picky palate. I fantasize about his palate evolving into a world-class, disconcerting, articulate, takes no nonsense, winemaking, super-tasting phenomena. He could be a winemaking star, picking out microscopic wine flaws in single tastes. It’s his mission. The problem is, he has no idea what his mission is. Will he accept it? Or will he cast that journey aside as a job of non-importance to the greater good, as if not saving the wine is not a job for the greater good…okay, okay I’ll stop.
You are HILARIOUS! My new fave blog...and maybe, just maybe I'll learn how to love cooking...
Reply to this
Welcome to the blogosphere--we've got you now! Muahahahahaha!
Reply to this
Obviously you've been doing more than eating over there!!! when will we hear about the rocks left for the maids? off to a great start!!!
Reply to this
Times like this make me realize how much I really miss you! BTW, I am inspired to get off my tush and cook! Partly because of your blog partly because there's no one around to do it for me anymore! I do miss "The O.C." sometimes...just sometimes though
Reply to this
Cathy, Once again you brought tears to my eyes..and yes they are tears of laughter! Did you share this with the rest of the crazy Polish family. XOXO -- ME
Reply to this
cathy, thanks for dropping by my blog! i've read this post and am wondering if you've almost here (in Oregon, that is) for your wineyard. are you going to move to OR? love to visit the wineyard when it's ready
Reply to this
Cathy- You rock! I am so impressed; you are taking over as the numbero uno place to visit when on the web (our other fun blog-site could fall by the wayside). This is too much fun & you are one talented chick. One more great thing to talk about on those cold morning walks.
Reply to this
Neat blog, ma'am. I suspect it's just your reflection.
Your hubby may be wrongly referenced (the wild boar). Unless my (really old) memory fails me, it wasn't Goldilocks that did all the griping. It was the bears.
I'll stop there, before I get into trouble.
Reply to this
I love this blog! I added you to my blogroll!
Reply to this
Wonderful 'about me' section!
Reply to this
I am just discovering your site; great stuff! What an amazing dream you have - a winery in the greatest wine region of Oregon! As a wine industry person languishing in the East, I am hungry to hear more about your adventures. Thanks for sharing!
Reply to this
i was wondering why i like your sense of humor, but it's all clear, your European, Polska
Reply to this
I love your humor, looking forward to more...you're a talented writer.
P.S. The cake was awesome!
Reply to this
Starting a small vineyard and winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon? How wonderful!
One of my favorite white wines comes from that area..Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris (never tried their Pinot Noir though.)
I wish you the best of luck in your new adventure. Creating/planting a vineyard is so much work, unless you're hiring out the labor. I helped a friend get started once, and it was the 2nd most tiring/rewarding thing I've ever done!
I really enjoy the presentation of your blog--you have an approachable and humorous voice, and I don't mind the occasional rambling at all! (I have a Polish grandfather--so go figure! Must be in the DNA.)
Keep up the good work (and try to keep blogging when the vineyard gets going. You'll be so busy!)
Reply to this
My whole family was laughing about how you introduced the cake page and why to make it. I just came stumpled upon your page and we all just loved it. Will enjoy reading your blog. Keep up the funny and good work.
Reply to this
You have been officially blogrolled on my newbie site as the first of "food blogs I love." I am so excited that you have property for a winery in the Willamette Valley. My family's favorite vacation spot is on the coast near Tilamook, and sometimes we take the long, long way and go through the Willamette Valley.
Reply to this
Hey! Great learning more about you...I love this!
Reply to this
And I'm so glad you decided to blog! Your comment about your sensory evaluation class at UCD made me say, "hey, I didn't know she went to UCD" . . . so I'm happy you wrote this page so I could learn more about you!
Reply to this
Wait. You're planting a vineyard in Willamette Valley??? How did I not know this!! You are officially the coolest person I know.
Reply to this
I enjoyed reading about you & your lovely family! I will certainly be back to check out all that's new & the food.
We have a few things in common - loving to eat (but I don't think I can like you mention you do), loving to cook, and run-on sentences with no punctuation. Cheers!
Reply to this
Best blog I've come across by far. Enjoyed reading your words (run on as they may) and look forward to more. I love to eat and drink wine as well.
Reply to this
i'm assuming your husband is a dr and that you're jewish. just an assumption based on well, everything. i am only 3/4 polish - one grandparent being hungarian. i'm a nyc jew living in -ready? - nashville, tn. yep. the buckle of the bible belt...
your blog is wonderful. i'm your latest greatest fan...
Reply to this
Just couldn't pass up such a really neat person, who loves to cook and eat, who has a precious family, who really doesn't need another admirer to boost her self-esteem....but she's got one.
Reply to this
Alright, it's official: I've got a blogcrush. xoxo
Reply to this
Happily subscribing to this blog. Loving the articles AND the recipes.
Reply to this
you have a marvelous and totally fun website!!!! Glad to have stumbled across it!!!!
Reply to this
Your Hooligan #2 actually eats a greater variety than my Drama Girl and she's 11! Some kids are just major "overtasters" - if you know the term. I'm subscribing just to see if you can coax him to try more things. Love your blog!
Reply to this
What an amazing site that you have! You are funny, a great writer, and your recipes are so sinful that just reading them may ahve damned me for eternity! So since I am already damned, I might as well just try them all. Now need some brown sugar, bananas, chocolate chips, and marshmallows for recipe #1. Cheers!
Reply to this
Wow, I now love your blog and add into my blogroll. Congrat on purchasing a land in Williamlett. Great place to grow Pinot Noir. I have been thinking about talking wine making course at UC Davis. Your story is very inspiring. Can't wait to try your wine one day.
Reply to this
You should publish a cookbook! Your photography is absolute perfection! I am impressed. Thanks for sharing on your blog. I will be an avid reader from this point on. Good luck with the winery. BTW, I love wine, but know very little about it. I will take your advice on wine and live by it. Someone sent me your blog regarding Clafoutis and that is what got me started. I will try it now while cherries are in season here in S. Texas. Barbie
Reply to this
I really like your blog, and your self-description. Very nicely done.
Reply to this
Hey! We're getting a Target! And, you can buy underwear at Gottschalks until then!
Did you know the toads don't even use the tunnel?
Reply to this
I have come out from under the dust cloud in my studio and discovered blogs ~ who knew??? I am a fan!
I love that the Hooligan's like sticks ~ I still collect them and have placed them strategically throughout my garden, along with my rocks I pick up. Blah. blah, blah... You ROCK Cathy! Happy days...
Reply to this
I've heard about you and your blog. Your writing style is very entertaining - thanks for making us laugh! Welcome to DLM; you're a great addition!
Reply to this
Totally hillarious you are...I shot a wild boar once...it made an excellent pappardelle con cinghiale (don't grade my spelling). Glad to have found you.
Marc
Reply to this
Your younger son sounds like my oldest grandson, almost 3. Very particular about food and who does what with it, like he needs to put on the ketchup. As for me, food and wine, who needs anything else?
Reply to this
Food and wine and children with peculiar and particular tastes. Sounds like my life.
Reply to this