Hanging with the No Fear Family!
Last weekend Roberto and I had a chance to go and visit our friends, The No Fear Family. Although we initially “met” through the Wonderful World of Food Blogging, Judy from No Fear Entertaining and her husband T (and their girls and pups too!) have become really good friends of ours outside of the blogging world. Even though we both live in Florida (which is close compared to other food blogging friends I have), they still live about 5 hours from us, so we don’t get to hang out as often as we would if we lived closer…that said, we decided we needed some hang time and so they were gracious enough to host us AND Pepino at their beautiful house in Cape Coral. Now that is a good friend!
We got there just in time for Judy to leave and pick the girls up from school. So I made sure to get myself to work while she was out. Judy showed me prior to leaving (why is it that even in a rush, food bloggers find time to give another food blogger a “tour” of their fridge the moment they arrive???LOL!) that there were some eggplants that were on the verge in her fridge, so I decided to make some Baba Ganoush. Now T used to not be a big fan of the stuff, but he has recently been converted, thank goodness, and claimed that he liked mine, so I was feeling pretty good. For dinner that night we had Peter from Kalofagas’ famous Pork Souvlaki which really lived up to all the prior praises. We had it with home made tzatziki and bread, roasted potatoes and a delicious Greek salad – Judy, I really need the recipe for the dressing. It was great! I wish we had more pictures of the food and us preparing it, from that night – but we were too busy gabbing that we forgot to take many!
The next day Roberto and T went to a local Italian market while Judy and I stayed home and…BLOGGED. Yep folks, that is how addicted to blogging we really are! We also worked on the Daring Baker’s challenge for this month. Even though I have officially dropped out of the group, we thought it would be an awesome thing to do together, since we have been talking about doing a DB challenge together forever! But I can’t say any more about it, because it is a SECRET.
When the guys got back they came with provisions for sausage lasagna and sausage for lunch (I hate to tell you we ALSO had sausage the next morning for breakfast – Judy’s homemade that is!). Actually I was kinda sad I didn’t see this awesome market – that Roberto claims is “just like being in Vegas at the Venetian” (not that I have been there either…), because it sounded incredible. So maybe next time they will let a girl come!
T grilled up some pinwheel sausages for lunch and then the rest went into the 25 LB LASAGNA that he made for an impromptu NO FEAR dinner party they had that night. It was a wonderful time meeting some other friends of theirs (and a friend of their friend!!!). The lasagna was some of the best I have ever had, and we all had a blast – especially the dogs, and the kids!
I don’t think Pepino will ever forget this weekend. He had a BLAST and has pretty much been sleeping ever since we got home!!! (Actually when we got home he hid under the bed for an hour, pouting because he missed his new friends!!!).
The next day before heading back we had a great morning exploring Sanibel Island and Captiva. These are world famous beaches that I have never been to before. The water was beautiful and both beaches are great for shelling – we also saw jellyfish, sponges, horseshoe crabs and various other cool sea life.
We had a wonderful weekend and you can be sure there will be many others to follow! If you want to read Judy’s account – check it out here!
Peter G - February 11, 2009 at 8:26 am
Sounds like a great time was had by all Jenn…I mean how could you go wrong?…All that lovely Greek and Italian food!
erin :: the olive notes - February 11, 2009 at 8:58 am
yay! I was waiting to hear all about this trip. Looks so much fun. poor peppino though 🙁
Dharm - February 11, 2009 at 9:08 am
Sounds like you all had a wonderful time!! Its always nice to meet up and enjoy good food together with good friends!
Ben - February 11, 2009 at 9:32 am
That sounds like you guys had a wonderful time! I am so jealous, lol. BTW, does pepino mean the same in Italian than in Spanish? cucumber? I love that name, my new kitty’s name is salchicha. LOL we are really obsessed with food, aren’t we? :-p
Bellini Valli - February 11, 2009 at 10:12 am
Tp find friends that you have so much in common with as a couple is really special. I hope you have plenty more fun times together!!
dawn - February 11, 2009 at 10:42 am
Awww Pepino met a good friend! How cute that he sulked.
Yes, we are really obsessed with food, as there are days I spend all day blogging and baking and then researching more food items.
It sounds like you guys had a lot of fun and that your guest really made you feel at home with her kitchen–very cool.
Happy Cook - February 11, 2009 at 11:00 am
Pepino has grown, he/She looks so cute.
I think it is so good that you and your hubby loves blogging and taking pictures as you are like a team.
Here food blog is my passion, and hubby loves to eat the food i make.
But when it comes to blog it is just me who is intrested in it.
Have to admit hubby do encourage in buying things for my blogs etc…
Judy - February 11, 2009 at 11:27 am
I read this and I was able to relive the wonderful weekend. Osso has been sleeping since you all left but sadly I think it is because he is (once again) growing!!! It was truly a great time and isn’t that funny that as soon as you all walked in and I was heading out I did give you a fridge tour??? DId I even show you your room? LOL!
Can’t wait to do this again!!!
Patsyk - February 11, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Looks like a fantastic weekend with wonderful friends.
lo! - February 11, 2009 at 7:23 pm
What fun!
Isn’t it great when you meet someone online and everything just clicks?
The Leftover Queen - February 11, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Hey Ben, Peppino is actually and Italian nickname for Giuseppe. But the way THIS Pepino got his nickname was from a song that my grandfather used to sing to me when I was little:
http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/p/pepinotheitalianmouse.shtml
🙂
The Duo Dishes - February 11, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Good friends, awesome food. What else could you ask for!
Sara - February 11, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Sounds like a really great time! Of course the food looks great too.
Ivy - February 12, 2009 at 2:53 am
Isn’t it great making friends with fellow bloggers who share the same interests?
nina - February 12, 2009 at 3:03 am
It is amazing how the blogging world has opened so many new doors and friendships…..without blogging you would never have met, right?
janet ching - February 12, 2009 at 9:01 am
Wonderful experience! I have also been able to make new friendships after blogging recently, this is really awesome.
Jan - February 12, 2009 at 10:47 am
Sounds like a fantastic weekend!
The food looks excellent and I love those dogs!
Jenni - February 12, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Is it wrong to admit that the thing I most envy you about this post is the sausage-rich environment? I hope not….
Maria - February 12, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Sounds like you had a great time — how fun! And the food sounds and looks great.
Natashya - February 12, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Wow! What a great time, had by all.
Good friends and good food, that’s what it’s all about – plus puppies of course!
Melissa - February 12, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Like I said at Judy’s, it’s lovely that you guys got to meet. Sounds like a great time. The dogs becoming friends are making me smile BIG. 😀
Aggie - February 13, 2009 at 9:41 am
What fun!! Loved reading about your time together! Great food girls!! I need to hang with a foodie friend and cook all weekend!
Peter - February 13, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Yowzers…that souvlaki (and the lasgna looked good)!
Grill-master T did a great grill job and as for the souvlaki recipe…it’s easy, it’s delicious and it’s authentic…thanks for the link-luv. 😉
farida - February 13, 2009 at 8:04 pm
It must be great to meet your online friends in real life:) Looks like you guys had a fun time together.
Sue - February 13, 2009 at 11:26 pm
That is so nice that you’ve gotten to know each other so well. It sounds like a great weekend. And what beautiful pictures. Blogging buddies are the best!
Bren - February 15, 2009 at 1:08 pm
what a great visit! The only person I’ve met from all the food blogging is Don over at Orph’s kitchen (actually going there today); but I’d love to meet more. I know we’ve talked about me making my way down there…if you ever find ur way up this way, make sure to let me know. And tho I don’t eat pork, those skewers looked great!
Soma - February 15, 2009 at 9:36 pm
All that food… that souvlaki rocks!! it must have been fun to meet virtual friends. I love those cute pics:-)
& ur contribution to Blogger aid looks gorgeous!