r & r

sometimes i miss college so much it hurts. really, there is so much in those four years that will never be experienced in the same way again.

i know a lot of that time was made so rich and i remember these years so fondly because of the three wonderful friends i met & lived with at Hope.

i guess one of the perks of not having a job is the ability to escape mid-week and take a mini vacation with your best pals -- a few days were enjoyed this week by the four of us up at Big Star Lake.

we enjoyed conversation, sun, silence, food, drinks, scrabble, food and more food.

one of the treats we enjoy when we're together is a little rosemary popcorn that i learned to make from giada de laurentiis at some point during our college career.

it is refreshingly good. here's the recipe just in case you want to make it for some of your best friends:

• combine 1/4 cup olive oil & 2 or 3 sprigs of rosemary in a small pot
• put on medium heat for about 7 minutes
• let set for a few hours (then remove sprigs)

• in a large pot combine 3T of the rosemary infused olive oil & 1/2 C popcorn kernels
• put on medium high heat
• shake pot after a few minute
• after done popping, add salt & drizzle leftover (1T) olive oil over popcorn
• enjoy with good company :)

(thanks for the photos, em)