Ummm - Umbria pizza!

Craig Douden, the new owner/operator of Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria, delivered a scrumptious deluxe pizza to my HFN office last Friday for lunch. If you want a calzone, a pizza, a pasta dish or gourmet salad, then take a drive over to Umbria at 1965 Cliff Lake Road. They also offer "take and bake pizzas." Craig and "his people" will take good care of you! See other "food for thoughts" here.

That old shed

Every time I drive by this grey, metal shed, I say to myself, "Self, isn't it funny to see that shed right here in suburban Eagan?"

Knit one, pearl two

I knit this 85% wool/15% mohair scarf as a silent auction item for the upcoming 23rd annual Eagan Rotary Art gala fundraiser. I hope someone will bid some $$$ on my scarf! My wife and already 2 of our 3 daughters also knit. We're a close knit family!

Do you knit? Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

News you can use

Eagan and our next door neighboring suburb of Burnsville publish the joint "This Week" newspaper. I think Burnsville secretly wishes it was as cool and fun as Eagan!

"Comfort food"

For a light Saturday night dinner, we ate oatmeal waffles topped with peanut butter and real maple syrup and clementines.

Try our healthy recipe:

1.5 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup oatmeal

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs slightly beaten

1.5 cups milk

6 Tablespoons butter, melted

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

In large mixing bowl, stir together first 5 ingredients. In small bowl, stir together other 4 ingredients. Add small bowl mixed contents to large bowl ingredients, stir until blended.

Bake in waffle iron. Top with fruit & maple syrup. Enjoy!

Eagan swam past Eastview!

Eagan High School's swim team added another victory to their team record by swimmingly beating Eastview High School's team on Friday evening.

Congratulations, Wildcats!

The Wildcats crushed the Eagles

On Thursday night, the Eagan High School "Wildcats" beat the Bloomington Kennedy High School "Eagles" by a final score of 11 - 0 at the Eagan ice arena. This brought the Wildcats to a 10 wins, 3 losses and one tied game record in the south suburban conference.

Congratulations on your 4th straight win, Wildcats!

Chan's Chinese cuisine

Chan's Restaurant recently opened next door to Ring Mountain Creamery. The "cashew chicken" was yummy! See other "Food for Thoughts" here.

Discarded tree

Christmas trees are laying out in front of homes everywhere for garbage day. I'm sad to say farewell to the Christmas holiday.

Strike a pose!

A birthday bash is a blast with best buddies!

I was right behind you

Sunday afternoon proved to be a very popular time to ice skate at the Eagan Ice Arena. And it was much warmer than the outdoor skating rinks!

sunny Saturday's skate skiing

The outdoor thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius) on Saturday afternoon at Lebanon Hills Park. But the sun was shining for skate skiers who glided around the snowy, groomed 2.5 mile trail.

A juicy start

If you're looking for a healthy, fruity beginning to 2011, then zip over to Kowalski's on Johnny Cake Ridge Road for great organic or non-organic fruit! Check out their wine shop, fresh meat counter, delicatessen, bakery and more!

Gas over $3

Dang! Our gas prices have gone over $3.00 per gallon at our neighborhood Holiday station. How does that compare with gasoline where you live?

Not just in China

We stopped at Panda Express near Bylery's for a quick Chinese dinner. Do you like Chinese food? Can you use chopsticks well? See other yummy "food for thoughts" here.

Sworn in for duty

Senator Ted Daley took the oath of office on Tuesday morning at the Minnesota State Capitol building from a Minnesota district judge. Ted will serve Eagan and parts of Burnsville as our new senator representing District 38.

Congratulations, Senator Daley!

Photo: Greg Buck, CPA

Meet my "womb-mate"

My 9 minutes younger identical twin brother, Luther, and I both donated a pint of blood at the Red Cross blood drive on Monday afternoon at the Eagan Community Center. He earned a two gallons pin and I'm working on my three gallons pin.

Give blood. Give the gift of life.

Almost ready

This new Think Mutual Bank at 4245 Johnny Cake Ridge Road next to Kowalski's grocery store will be opening soon! If you have money to deposit or if you're looking for a loan, THINK smart about banking! Click here to see their construction last summer.

First pastry of 2011

I baked "Swedish Kringla" for my family on New Year's Day morning. We watched the Rose Bowl parade on TV while sitting next to the Christmas tree in front of the fire dancing in the fireplace.

New Year's Eve celebrations

Steven & Allison hosted a lively New Year's Eve party at their home with a smorgasbord of appetizers, scrumptious wines, some silliness and a New Year's countdown at midnight! Celebrating with friends makes this my best snap of 2010! Happy New Year - 2011!

The City Daily Photo blog community's theme for January is "Photo of the Year."

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants