Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Happy almost- New Year!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas Dream List
1. Dean & Deluca Parmigiano Reggiano Whole Wheel Cheese
2. Classic Di Porchetta
3. Milano Diamond Leaf Band Ring
4. Micropave' Diamond Earrings
5. Princess Cut Diamond Bracelet
6. Burberry Check and Leather Headband
7. Hermes Scarf
8. Lady Dior Leather Top Handle Bag
9. Pair of Tiffany candlesticks
10. Tiffany Diamond Bow Brooch
11. 2 Round Trip Upper Class Virgin Atlantic flights to London
12. 3 month Sail Boat Charter in the Virgin Islands
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Cranberry
Spicy Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir - I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit!
Cranberry Nut Bread - We are obsessed with this recipe. We have made it 6 times (not kidding).
Cranberry Upside-Down Cake - This was pretty good, but not spectacular. Whipped cream is a must to cut the sweetness of this cake,
This morning I made oatmeal with cranberries and pecans. I stirred in a handful of fresh cranberries in the boiling water before adding the oats. They made it taste really unique and also made the oatmeal turn pink! This would be a fun idea if you had kids.
Happy Holidays! Our Christmas Tree is in the house but hasn't been decorated because we have to get new lights. Once we get the lights and ornaments on the tree I will share some photographs.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Last Day
I had a great time last night b/c my Friend "L" is in town. She cam over after work and Mr. Foodie and I made dinner for her. We make Chicken Tikka Masala, which I have posted about on this blog before. Such a great dish! Cooks Illustrated is always the best.
I went to World Market today with my 10% coupon and got chestnuts for my Thanksgiving stuffing and spices. They had a special buy 3 get one free on their organic spices which is pretty awesome!
I am so ready for this day to be over with...
Monday, November 16, 2009
A less-stress Thanksgiving
1. Prepare all decorations the weekend before.
2. Polish all silverware and glassware a week before the big day. I have stainless steel flatware and I use a little vinegar and water (50/50 mixture) to keep it looking sparkling clean.
3. I purchase my turkey the Saturday before Thanksgiving to make sure I get the perfect size, and also to ensure adequate defrosting.
4. I do my Thanksgiving food shopping at several stores. I try to buy all of the dry goods on Monday before the big day. I do all of my last minute shopping on Wednesday or Tuesday evening. This is when I buy all of my fresh herbs and produce.
5. I scan all of my recipes to see if there are any specialty food items that are not carried at my local stores. For example, the turkey brine calls for Crystallized Ginger which cannot be found at Publix.
6. On Wednesday I purchase fresh flowers and make any arrangements. This year I am going to hollow out a pumpkin to use as a vase for my flower arrangement.
7. The weekend before I do the major house cleaning projects. Make sure to look at your base boards, blinds, look for fingerprints on doors, etc. I also clean out my refrigerate about a week before to remove any out of date items to make room for Thanksgiving food.
8. Iron all tablecloths and napkins in advance. This year I am making my own napkins and napkin rings. Once complete I will post photographs.
9. Plan your seating arrangements. Create place cards if using. I created place cards with fall themed scrapbooking decorations.
10. Decide on all recipes at least a week in advance. Confirm with guests if they will be bringing any specific items. Set the time for guests to arrive.
11. Determine your wine and alcohol needs. I am making a special cranberry and orange sherbert punch to be served before and after the meal. Make sure you have enough wine for all guests.
12. If serving coffee with dessert, ensure you have adequate mugs, 1/2 and 1/2, sugar, coffee, etc. We do espresso/cappuccino and also plain coffee.
13. On Tuesday I choose cooking vessels for each dish I will be preparing to ensure I have everything I need and don't need to purchase anything else prior to the big day. I know this may sound like a bit too much, but I detest scrambling in my cabinets to find a dish.
14. I use my laundry room to store items that are crowding the kitchen. The washing machine/dryer provides a large surface for temporary storage. For Example, my Kitchenaid stand mixer has a permanent home on my counter top (as well as my toaster oven). After I finish using these appliances on the day of I move them to the laundry room for storage.
15. Entertainment: We create a slide show and have it running on the television. We also create a playlist for pre-dinner, dinner, and post-dinner enjoyment.
16. How to gather with multiple families: Mr. Foodie and I host his family for Thanksgiving dinner. Afterwards my family joins us (my Mom cooks for my family) and they all come over for dessert. This way everyone gets to see each other on Thanksgiving. We also get the added bonus of having multiple desserts!
17. Use cute paper Thanksgiving-themed plates and napkins for dessert to reduce the number of dishes.
18. Make - Ahead: I am doing several things ahead of time this year.
- I am making my cranberry sauce on Wednesday. It tastes better the next day...
- I am making my creamed spinach on Wednesday up until the point of baking it in the oven on Thursday.
- Make ahead gravy is easy.
19. Try to use all of your resources. I have one oven and 4 burners. I am trying to use other kitchen appliances to lighten the load. This year I am making the mashed potatoes in the crock pot. This is great for three reasons: 1. No stove top boiling/kitchenaid mixer. 2. Less dirty dishes. 3. Keep them perfectly warm until ready to serve.
20. Create an oven-schedule. Dtermine everything that must go into the oven on the day of, and schedule accordingly. Remember that resting the turkey once you take it out of the oven is essential. Don't be afraid to let is set, covered with foil for at least 30-45 minutes before carving. It allows the juices to re-distribute themselves, and lets you bake the last minute items and make gravy.
I hope you can use at least one of my ideas above to make your Thanksgiving dinner a sucess.
Absolute Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Good Eats Roast Turkey
Ingredients
1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey [we use a much large turkey b/c we have many guests, and enjoy leftovers]
For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water
For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil
Directions
2 to 3 days before roasting:
Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.
Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.
Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:
Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.
Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.
Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.
Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Cross Stitch
Jobs
I start off by spending two months studying for the Series 6 & 7. I am confident I can successfully pass the tests. I will then spend time training here at home and out of town. Mr. Foodie has been very supportive through the process. I don't know what I would do without him.
Good luck to anyone out there looking for a job. I know it is hard, but just keep trying. Good things come to those who work hard.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Handmade Holidays
I am the type of person who must have a goal/purpose/task to keep me occupied. The sewing machine has been my saving grace through the past few stressful months.
For my Thanksgiving table I am making Dark Purple napkins, and napkin rings made out of the same cloth as my table runner. I hope to start cutting the fabric this evening. I have already washed/ironed the fabric so all I need to do now is start cutting and sewing. I am going to make 8 napkins. My dining table seats 8 people so I am making an entire set.
I also stitched a bread cloth for my table. It has a cornucopia on it and says Happy Thanksgiving along the sides in dark purple thread. I would be posting more pictures but unfortunately my Nikon lens is in need of repair and I haven't sent it away yet. I need to get on that so I will have it for the holidays!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dinner...
This recipe is another great one from Simplyrecipes.com
Sausage, Spinach, Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce package jumbo pasta shells
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 large egg
- 16-ounces ricotta cheese
- 10-ounces chopped frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed dry, chopped further (or 10 ounces chopped fresh spinach)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 28-ounce can tomatoes with herbs, including the liquid, tomatoes broken up (or your favorite tomato or pasta sauce)
- 2 9x13 shallow baking dishes
Method
1 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (1 teaspoon salt per quart of water). Cook the pasta shells according to the instructions on the package. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.
2 Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage to the pan, breaking up the sausage into smaller bits. Cook sausage until cooked through, and no pink remains, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute more. Remove pan from heat.
3 Beat the egg lightly in a large bowl. Mix in the ricotta, chopped spinach, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, basil, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and sausage mixture. Fill each cooked pasta shell with some of the ricotta, spinach, sausage mixture.
4 Spread 1/2 cup chopped canned tomatoes over the bottom of each of the baking dishes. Arrange the stuffed pasta shells in the dishes. Spread the remaining tomatoes over the top of the pasta shells.
At this point you can make ahead, to freeze (up to four months) or refrigerate before cooking. (If freezing, cover with foil, then wrap with plastic wrap.)
5 Heat oven to 375°F. Cover the pans with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.
Serves 8.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Cranberry Walnut Bread
Cranberry Nut Bread
Ingredients
2 cups flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped cranberries
1 Tbsp Vanilla
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 Tbsp grated orange peel
Method
1 Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
2 Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped cranberries and walnuts to coat with the flour mixture.
3 Mix together orange juice, butter, egg, and orange peel. Add to flour, cranberry, nut mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just blended.
4 Pour into a greased 9x5 or 8x4 loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 60 minutes or until done (a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
5 Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
Serves 8.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Butternut Squash Bisque
The recipe is adapted from "The Whole Food Cookbook" that I purchased a few years ago. This is one of my favorite cookbooks b/c it contains accesible recipes that can be made on a weeknight. It also emphasizes healthy choices and the use of unique/healthy ingredients.
Recipe:
2 to 3 lb butternut squash, peeled, and cut into 1 inch cubes.
1 Onion - Chopped
4 Carrots - Peeled and Chopped
1 inch piece of Fresh Ginger Minced
Saute in a large stockpot with EVOO for about 5 minutes.
Add 2 quarts of stock or water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 40 minutes. Add a bunch of chopped parsley and puree' with a stick blender. Add fresh ground nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.
I also added a little hickory smoked salt for more depth of flavor.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wish List
Handled Cheese Wire from Fantes
Krups Fast-Touch Coffee Mill, Model 203 Recently reviewed by
CooksILlustrated for excellent spice grindining abilities. I have been using whole spices recently, and I need an efficient way to grind them.
New Cooling Racks. I have two that are starting to rust and look bad/are too small. CIA Bakeware 12-Inch x 17-Inch Cooling Rack
All-Clad Stainless 4 quart Saucepan
Monday, September 21, 2009
Jacksonville
I can't wait to visit with friends. We are going out of town this weekend (our Chicago trip) but when we get back we HAVE TO VISIT!
Once I finalize the Chicago trip plans I will be posting them here on the blog. I will also be posting a full trip report once we get back.
I recently discovered an awesome website chow.com. I am sure EVERYONE else out there already knows about it, but I didn't. They have tons of Chicago message boards to take advantage of. They also have boards for many other places. Check it out if you plan on traveling anytime soon and are an obsessive foodie like I am.
Inspiration
"Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart. Remember the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money. Figure out what you love to do - what you have a heart to do - and then do it."
This is what I am working towards every day.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Coat Rack
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Plans
Candied Bacon Ice Cream Photo and Recipe courtesy of http://www.davidlebovitz.com
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Oklahoma
This weekend I am going to take my cross-stitch to get framed. I am thinking a silver-antique looking frame would be nice. I also hope I get my sewing machine delivered before the weekend so I can practice using it. I did some sewing when I was a kid, but it has been a long time. I am planning on using it to make napkins, place mats, and maybe a runner for our table. I could also make pillow cases. I don't know about making clothes. Maybe pajamas for me and Mr. Foodie. Who knows? I am going to sign up for a class through Joann fabrics. I will report back on my progress.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Weekend in Review
Saturday evening we met our friends at Walker's Wine Bar in Riverside. A cute little place with good atmosphere. I liked that fact that it was extremely crowded and we all had a place to sit. We shared two bottles of bubbly.
We have a very busy weekend coming up. Mr. Foodie is headed to Key West for a bachelor party. He is flying back on Sunday just in time to make the home opener - Jaguars game. I will have the house to myself Friday and Saturday night. Friday we have plans to see Oklahoma with my grandparents, and now I have to find someone to go with me. Hopefully my Mom will step up to the plate.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Carnitas
Ingredients
5 pound pork shoulder, bone-in, (sometimes called "picnic"
1 jar of Salsa Verde
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
2 teaspoons or oregano
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt
12 to 16 corn tortillas, heated and softened
1/4 head of cabbage, very thinly sliced
1 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar (if you only have unseasoned, add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to it)
Salt and pepper
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija Mexican farmer's cheese, or some grated Monterey Jack cheese
Sour Cream
Directions
1 Trim the excess fat from the roast. Put the meat in a large casserole or Dutch oven with salsa verde, onion, stock, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and oregano. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until meat is very tender when pierced, about 3 hours. Turn 3 times during the 3 hours to ensure even cooking.
2 Preheat oven to 400°F. Remove meat from liquid in pot and put the meat into a roasting pan. With 2 forks, tear meat into large shreds. Roast meat for 15 to 20 minutes until parts are brown and crispy. The browning may take up to 30 minutes depending on your oven. Just keep an eye on it.
3. While the meat is roasting, skim and discard fat from liquid in the casserole pan. Boil juices, stirring, until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, 8 to 10 minutes.
4 Return the meat to the Dutch oven. Stir in chopped cilantro. Season with salt.
Serve with heated and softened corn tortillas (20 seconds each in the microwave spread out over a paper towel will heat and softened packaged tortillas sufficiently), diced avocado, crumbed Cotija or grated Monterey jack cheese, sour cream (or crema fresca), and seasoned cabbage slaw.
Seasoned Cabbage Slaw
Place thinly sliced cabbage in a medium sized bowl. Sprinkle on olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, salt and pepper. You can substitute white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for the rice vinegar, if you do, sprinkle on some sugar to help balance the acidity of the vinegar. Toss. Adjust seasonings. Let sit for 10 minutes for the cabbage to absorb some of the dressing.
The Best Sangria
Ingredients:
6 peaches, plums or nectarines, or your favorite combination of stone fruits, halved, pitted and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 cups peach nectar
1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
1 bottle dry Spanish white wine (white Rioja) or Sauvignon Blanc
2 cups club soda, or more, to taste
Ice cubes for serving
Directions:
In a large pitcher, combine the fruit, peach nectar, orange liqueur and wine. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Stir in the club soda and ladle the sangria into ice-filled glasses. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Inspired Design
I want to buy this shirt for Mr. Foodie, but it is meant for women and his 6"4' self wouldn't be able to fit in it. For those who don't know, his groom's cake was a large stick of butter. Yes, I didn't make a mistake. A LARGE STICK OF BUTTER!!!
13 Gypsies - Jacksonville, FL
They asked me to review the restaurant we went to last night so here goes.
13 Gypsies - Restaurant in Jacksonville, FL
The restaurant has a pretty good atmosphere however they could make some changes. There is too much open space. I know it sounds crazy for me to request this, but I feel like they should put more tables in. That would make it a little more cozy and give it a European bistro feel. The staff was friendly, but not exceptional. No complaints. Our server was willing to answer my list of questions about the menu without an attitude.
The Food
The restaurant markets itself as a Peasant Kitchen. Here is a quote from the website/menu:
"STAYING TRUE TO HIS ROOTS, CHEF HOWARD HAS FOLLOWED AND CAPTURED THE DOCUMENTED GYPSY MIGRATORY TRAIL... OUT OF INDIA AND WEST ACROSS CENTRAL EUROPE, ITALY, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND NORTHERN AFRICA. KEEPING THE RECIPES OF EACH LOCATION AS CLOSE TO TRADITIONAL AS POSSIBLE."
We ordered 6 tapas and 2 desserts with a side of Flat Bread and Peasant Bread. I will start with the 6 tapas dishes:
STREET STYLE PORK KABOBS - OLD WORLD MOORISH SPICED KABOBS, WITH FLATBREAD - The pork was extremely overcooked. The cut of meat was indistinguishable, but the spices were good.
SPANISH 'GAMBAS AL AJILLO' - SHRIMP SAUTÉED IN OLIVE OIL, GARLIC, AND RED PEPPER. - This was our least favorite dish. In a coastal fishing town like Jacksonville, Fl previously frozen imported shrimp from China just won't cut it. If it's a price thing, increase it and buy the best ingredients. We found ourselves very disappointed with this item.
ROMAN GNOCCHI SEMOLINA AND PARMESAN FLATS, TOPPED WITH A MUSHROOM TAREEFI SAUCE. - This was the star of the show however I have several comments to make. The dish should have been a little warmer to start out with. The plate should have been warmed before plating the food. The flavors were good, especially the Parmesan which was a high quality cheese. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly however there should have been more of them on the plate. After careful consideration of the meal, it is possible that we liked this dish the most because it was the only carb dish we tried, everything else was meat and seafood. It was also the last dish to be delivered and the flavors in it were nothing like the others we tried.
FRESH CHORIZO AND PEARS - CHEF'S HANDMADE CHORIZO SAUSAGE, SAUTÉED WITH PEARS AND SPICED DATES - The Chorizo was a little dry in my opinion however the flavors were good. A thought the dish lacked texture. We determined that the dates should have been caramelized to give them more of a crunch to contrast with the sausage and pears. Overall the flavors were pleasant.
ANGRY BULLPAN SEARED BEEF FILET, SERVED WITH PACHECO SAUCE AND CROWNED WITH CRUSHED RAW GARLIC AND PEPPERCORNS - We enjoyed this dish very much. The peppercorns added a great crunch to the beef. The sauce was very unique, like nothing I had ever tried before.
BLACKENED OCTOPUS - SECTIONS OF TENDERIZED OCTOPUS, BLACKENED WITH CHEFS OWN SPICE BLEND. The table enjoyed this dish however it need to be crispier in order to call it blackened. The spices were great and the butter sauce was incredible. It just needed a little more sear on it to make it perfect.
Bread: The Peasant Bread was blase' while the flatbread was satisfying.
Dessert: Both of the desserts we ordered were okay, but not exceptional: Bread Pudding and their famous Tres Leches cake. We were not impressed.
In sum, I think we would go back to this place. The wine and sangria was inexpensive which was a refreshing change to most restauarants. The bill for two couples was 117.00. This included a bottle of house white, and 2 carafes of Sangria. Not bad for a pleasant evening with friends.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Design: Entryway
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
10 ways to waste time
1. Join a Fantasy Football League. This provides you with tons of time-wasting material to sift through. If there is money involved (which there is in my league) you can even justify it. Sort of.
2. Cake Wrecks - My favorite website/blog in cyberspace. Whenever I am REALLY bored (like right now at 4:41 PM, I check out the latest post and browser older ones).
3. Read about my fave NFL Football team: The Jacksonville Jaguars.
4. Facebook Stalking - An oldie but goodie.
5. Read TheOnion.com - Hilarious, Seriously Laugh Out Loud stuff here.
6. Check the sale section on Williams Sonoma.com & Pottery Barn.com.
7. Crossword puzzles. I am obsessed. I have this ludicrous notion that doing them will prevent me from getting Alzheimer's one day.
8. Play Solitaire on my iPhone. Mr. Foodie claims I am obsessed with this activity.
9. Look up recipes in the Internet. Plan dinner parties that will never happen. Look up Thanksgiving recipes.
10. Sleep. Yes.... I have an office. I close the door, and sleep sitting in my chair. The good news is that my back is to the door so no one can see me. I reason that I can wake up if someone opens/knocks on the door. So far so good.
Oklahoma
Enough complaining....
I do have some good news. Mr. Foodie and I are going to go see our city's symphony perform Oklahoma with my grandparents. We call them "Grandma and Grandpa." My Grandmother loves musicals and brought me up singing and dancing all of the time. We are going to a nice dinner ahead of time, and then taking a shuttle to the symphony center.
Mr. Foodie and I are very lucky because we both have awesome families that get along very well. We enjoy spending time with the grandparents on both sides which is refreshing. Also... I know some of you out there might think I am crazy, but, I love my Mother-in-law like my own Mom. She is one of my best friends, and I don't know what i would do without her. I guess that is what happens when you meet your future mother-in-law at 15...
So here's a toast to all the mothers out there - Thanks for all you do.
Green Street Hooligans
Click on the link above for the recipe. It will take you directly to the food network site.
We watched Green Street Hooligans. Mr. Foodie swears that I put this movie in our Netflix Queue, however I totally disagree with him. A movie about soccer, street fighting and gangs? I DON'T THINK SO! The movie was ok, made me really miss London.
I also completed about 50 stitches on a new cross-stitch piece I am working on. It is a Lighthouse Christmas Ornament for our tree. Mr. Foodie picked it out. I am done with the "sky" above the light house.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blut
A verb?
A body part?
Blut = Blogging + Rut, or a Blogging Rut
Webster's Dictionary defines it as the lack of witty things in blog posting. Uninspired topics. A state of blandness and mediocrity. A disease affecting millions of newly formed blogs in cyberspace.
I am close to hitting 100 posts and I find myself running out of things to say. This brings up several more fundamental questions: 1. Is my life THAT boring that I can't find things to type about to complete strangers? 2. Is this some type of blogging litmus test? 3. Will I pass?
After a thorough scan of the literature, the prognosis for my Blut diagnosis looks good. I am instructed to follow a strict regimen containing the following:
1. Positivity - Live it, Breathe it, Be it
2. Don't give up on the things I like to do and replace them with moping, TV, and sleeping/picking fights with husband.
3. Get this whole job mess sorted out. Do you know how it feels for a control freak like myself to not know what's coming next? Really.... *I just had a physical reaction to typing the previous sentence: Teeth grinding, jaw clenching, tense muscles. I <3 anxiety.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sunday!
We have a couple of activities planned for today. We are going to go on a guided ranger tour of Kingsley Plantation at 2:00 PM. This is a really cool place here in Jacksonville, right down the road from where we got married. We are going to take our camera and take some photographs at Kingsley and at the Ribault Club (our wedding location). In my opinion, this is one of the top 5 wedding venues in North Florida. I will post some photographs here on the blog once we get back.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Employment Mayhem
Job 1: This job would be a sales position with a major health insurance agency. Salary would be base + commission. Advantages to this include the following: Major Company (less likely to go away any time soon), Steady income (some ups and downs based on my performance), possibility of promotion (never a certain thing with a big company), and the big plus: Benefits. The only reason the benefits thing matters is because I have several health conditions that may make it hard for me to qualify for an individual health policy.
Job 2: This would be a sales position with a small local employee benefits agency. Here I would have a lot of opportunity. Salary would be base + commission, but the commission would be highly variable based on my performance. This job would require more work, but also much more satisfaction. I would have flexible hours and the ability to work as much as I would like. I could easily be making some serious cash about 1 year or so from now. The only negatives to this job are the lack of benefits, the fact that it is a very small company, and it would require a certain amount of risk.
I am 90% sure I will be able to choose one of them. I am heavily leaning towards job #2 but it will require me to step outside of my comfort zone. I thrive in a challenging environment. In my current job I spend most of time doing NOTHING (like blogging) because I literally don't have anything else to do... I will keep you guys updated. Thanks for your continued support.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Life Update
1. I went to the dentist yesterday to get my permanent crown and the dentist chipped a minute piece of porcelain off so they have to send it back to the lab and I have to go back to the dentist. I am a little annoyed at this. I am so tired of going to that dentist office and missing time from work.
2. I have my interview tomorrow at 11AM with an awesome job prospect. I am nervous about it and excited at the same time. If this works out I will be so happy, I can barely control myself.
3. Mr. Foodie loved the Pottery Barn glasses. He was so excited and surprised that I found them.
4. College Football starts this weekend. We are spending Saturday with my parents eating ribs and watching the games.
I have had horrible nightmares all of this week. I am attributing it to a new allergy medicine the Doctor has me taking. I normally have nightmares occasionally, but nothing like this. Usually side effects like this are short-lived so I am confident it will end soon. I will just have to stick it out until then!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Crafting
The pattern is called a "wedding record." I choose to customize the colors with Hot Pink and Black, the colors from my wedding. The pattern includes our names and our wedding date. My Mom always did cross stitch when I was a little girl, and so did my Mother In Law. I picked it up about a year ago and I have really enjoyed it. I am a high strung person with a lot of anxiety at times, so cross stitching helps me because I can calm down while intensely focusing on something other than what is causing me anxiety.
My next project is to make another Christmas Ornament. I bought a pattern last year that has 16 different ornaments in it. I completed one last fall, and I just started a new one. I let Mr. Foodie pick it out. It has a Light House and Sailboat on it. I have only done about 30 stitches on it, but I thought I should go ahead and get started. I can't wait to show you all my handy work.
TOOOsday
I also purchased a Basket for holding magazines which is not on the website either. Oh well, sorry for the severe lack of visuals.
Monday, August 31, 2009
2 things I Love
Fish tank end table.... love it. Available at Costco.com
Fun things
I have several projects I would like to do: Placemats, runner, Tablecloth, napkins
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday Dinner
Recipe Courtesy of The Neelys on FoodNetwork.com
We are also having baked potatoes and a veggie. Mr. Foodie has been begging for baked potatoes for a long time. We have leftover buttery apple torte I made for a dinner party Saturday night so we are ready to go! Buenos Noches.
Sunday Funday
Mr. Foodie didn't have to work today which was a nice surprise. We stayed in bed until 10:30 AM with the cats. We are having a lazy day so far. We watched Project Runway from this week on the DVR. I am annoyed that they kicked off Malvin instead of Mitchell. We also watched the latest Top Chef and another show about animals who are living in the Chernobyl zone who are thriving, despite the radiation. Mr. Foodie recorded the show because it focused on a Momma Cat and her Kittens. They were so cute! I tried to talk him into getting another cat, but he says 2 is the max.
we are trying to find a recipe to make for dinner tonight, I will let you know what we decide on.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Jobs
I basically have three options:
1. Safe corporate job with benefits, and limited financial potential
2. Middle of the road, small company, more risk than job #1 and good financial potential
3. Independent Contractor affiliated with an agency, high risk, high reward.
At this point in my life I am leaning between 2 and 3. I have done the corporate thing for 3 years and I am over it. I need a challenge. I want to work in an environment that lets me reach my full potential. I am going to call back job #2 today to set up an in-person interview.
This also means I need to buy a new suit this weekend, so hopefully I can get my Mom to go shopping with me. My Mom is what I refer to as a Power Shopper. Give her a mission, and she will find what you are looking for. All at a great price! I love my Mom, she is such an inspiration when it comes to accomplishing things.
I will keep you updated. I like these two suit jackets...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Photos from medieval times weekend...
This is my favorite picture of the weekend: Mr. Foodie in a cutout cardboard face.
Early morning posting
1. Football Season: Jaguars, College Football, and Fantasy.
2. Our trip to Chicago at the end of September.
3. Mr. Foodie's surprise birthday trip at the end of October.
4. Achieving my goal of losing 10 pounds by the end of September. I am giving myself a month to make up for mistakes.
5. Thanksgiving - I love to have an excuse to cook a huge meal. I also love turkey and dressing like a mad woman. Typing this reminds me that I need to try out a couple new dressing and gravy recipes before Thanksgiving. We have our turkey cooking method perfected, but other areas could use improvement.
6. My Sister possibly getting engaged
7. Having children..... eventually +/- 5 years
8. Finishing the cross stitch I have been working on for a year. I will be able to finish it in about 3 additional working hours.
9. Finishing/ordering my wedding album AND creating an album to present to the parents/grandparents.
10. Blogging on in to the fall.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Men
"It doesn't suck being a man" from Nealz Nuze.
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park
Car mechanics tell you the truth
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks..
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars..
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
Random Thoughts
Today's post is going to be about random things. First, my husband has never read my blog and this bothers me. Every time I ask him about it he says "I live the blog, why should I have to read it." Second, I am trying to get my sister to start a blog. She keeps talking about it but hasn't taken the plunge.
The chicken I made last night turned out pretty bad. Mr. Foodie refused to eat it. It really disappoints me when a recipe doesn't turn out well. Thanks alot Giada! Luckily we had leftovers from Monday evening... When a recipe doesn't turn out I take it as a personal offense to my cooking skills and it really bothers me. I need to get over it.
I am seriously thinking about getting a personal trainer. There is a new gym right next to my house that I drive by every day on my way home from work. I just need to take the plunge and get in shape. Relying on my husband for any help is just not working. I need to take matters into my own hands.
Also - I can't stand my job any more. I am so tired of doing the same stupid stuff over and over again. I need a challenge and I am not getting that. Plus I am underpaid and disrespected by my boss constantly. I applied for two jobs today so hopefully someone will call me back. I am so tired of working here I can hardly stand it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Budget Report
Monday, August 24, 2009
Foodie on a budget
Friday, August 21, 2009
Project Runway Allstars and Season 6
Nothing on TV besides sports can get me shouting at the screen except Project Runway. Throw in a 2 hour All-Star designer challenge and a glass of champagne and somebody is violating the noise ordinance. First of all, I want to point out that Santino is a twisted weirdo with serious mental issues. I never want to see him again. Secondly, Sweetp's clothes are hideous and I can't believe they even allowed her on a show called "All-Stars."
I am so unbelievably pissed off that Daniel V won the 100K. The Red Carpet Dress was made out of tarp material. Yes, you read that correctly, TARP. Tarp, as in a plastic woven covering my Dad uses to keep his firewood out of the elements. Tarp, as in a makeshift homeless person's abode. Tarp, as in the Federal Bailout Plan, okay not going there with politics on the blog.
Back on topic, I loved both Korto and Uli's designs. Why do they hate on the women of Project Runway? It seemed pretty clear that Daniel and the rest of the crew: Heidi, Michael, and Nina all have some type of secret love affair with Daniel V. I have perused several Project Runway blogs out there and everyone is clamoring for Korto's vengeance. That sounds like a dreaded disease or a book written by Joseph Conrad.
Project Runway Season 6: Episode 1
I was so worked up from watching All-Stars that I eagerly dove into Season 6 while Mr. Foodie hung our most recent home decor purchase on the wall (more on that later). This season contains the craziest people yet. My favorite quote of the show from Malvin "I don't differentiate between different colored carpets." I loved it so much I had to put it on Facebook... with reactions from long lost friends. While I disliked the crazy Ari, it was unacceptable that they let Mitchell stay on the show with that disgusting sheer fabric mess. That was a "Hot Mess" is you ask me.
As far as the winner, I can see why Christopher won the challange, but I LOVED the navy blue gown from Ra'Mon. It is difficult for my to type "Ra'Mon" with a straight face...
My last thought on the subject... STOP THE CRYING! I am so tired of all of the crying, happy crying, sad crying, crystal meth addiction crying, whambulance crying, drama crying etc. Get over it!
One more thing -> Why have Lindsey Lohan on the show? She is such a loser and didn't belong there with her trashy looking self.
Pickled Cucumer Soup: Food Stories
I found the blog by searching for a soup my Boss just tried in New York yesterday at a Polish Restaurant. The mysterious dish is known as Pickled Cucumber Soup. I know it sounds quite disgusting at first glance, but he assures me that it is good. The Food Stories post provides historical and anecdotal information about the soup, as well as a recipe with variations. I am not sure if I will be trying this one any time soon but I thought it would be interesting.
On another note, while perusing the blog I found that the author and I share an obsession with anchovies. If you also love the salty creatures then head over to Food Stories for recipes that celebrate their goodness.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Bon Appetit
What I am listening to...
My Faves:
Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend
Cascada - Evacuate the Dance Floor
Lady Gage - ANYTHING!
My guilty pleasure - Remixes of Beyonce's Halo
My Can't Stand hearing it:
Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - This may be the most ridiculous song ever written and released to the public. I am unable to verbally express my dislike for this song on my blog. It requires hand motions and facial expressions that words can't describe.
One King's Lane
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back from the Dead
1. Severe and sudden back ache that occurred with no warning on Saturday
2. Sore Throat and Couch
3. Root Canal that took 4 hours to complete because my tooth had 4 roots instead of the normal 2 roots.
4. TMJ Inflammation and Headache associated with the dental work.
I have been sleeping and in pain for days now, but I am finally feeling better. Tonight I was able to do some housework and even cooked dinner. I made one of my favorite comfort dishes: Split Pea Soup. This soup is very good, actually I am eating some right now. The best thing is that there is little fat, and it is high in protein and vegetables. If anyone would like the recipe just let me know.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Julia & Julia
I have designed a menu for tomorrow night inspired by the movie.
Specialty Drink: Loire Lemonade
First Course: Escargot with garlic butter and a splash of cognac
Main: Coq au Vin
Dessert: Apple Torte
I might toss in a simple salad and make a caramel sauce for the apple torte depending on how ambitious I feel tomorrow.
First the bad news...
On a positive note...
I am making dinner for friends tomorrow night. I just have to decide on recipes, etc. I know we will be serving our new favorite Loire Lemonade. I have narrowed it down to three selections:
1. Indian Menu: Samosas (if I have time), Chicken Tikka Masala (I made this once before and it was INCREDIBLE), and Indian Spice Rice Pilaf with dates and parsley.
2. Hungarian Beef Stew Dinner with Egg Noodles & Sautéed Spinach with Leeks and Hazelnuts.
3. Coq Au Vin with french accompaniments.
I will update you later with my decision. I am trying to get input from Mr. Foodie but he is watching TV and won't respond to questions right now. :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fundamental Questions about life
I heard this on BBC Radio One on my drive to work today. I posed this question on Facebook this morning with the following responses thus far:
- Labyrinth or Fifth Element
- Love, Actually
- White Chicks (this is from my brother in law)
I have been thinking long and hard about this and it is too difficult to make a decision... Here are my top 3 choices:
1. The Secret Garden (the old version) - I read this book over 12 times as a kid. Yes, I had OCD from a very young age.
2. Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst - I know she dies, but I love the clothes and glamour.
3. Star Wars - I spent much of my childhood fantasizing about being a Star Wars character. To this day I am still enthralled by space exploration and the sci-fi genre.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
About Me
Wednesday Night
We took an evening bike ride tonight. We are lucky because Mr. Foodie's grandparents live very close so we rode over to their house and made a surprise visit. His grandparents are 86 and 85 years old! I hope we both live that long.
My Sister is thinking about starting a blog after reading mine. I offered to let her be a guest blogger to give it a spin before taking the plunge. I really hope she takes me up on my offer. I am also working on Mr. Foodie to be a guest blogger. After all, the title of the blog is Mr. and Mrs. Foodie. He assures me he is going to work on something to post on the blog. He is watching Star Trek Deep Space Nine right now and eating 2 slaw dogs. I am not kidding....
Only 2 days left until the weekend. We are going to see Julia & Julia tomorrow evening with friends. I will post a review of the movie here for all to read.
Inspirational Quote:
"People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk." - Ayn Rand