I'm pretty sure my job is turning me into an alcoholic. It is not even 5 pm on a Monday afternoon and I've needed a strong drink since 9:45 this morning when I ended a particularly difficult call. You know it's getting bad when you kill half a bottle of wine a night, order a cocktail (or five) at every occasion, and consider carrying a flask of tequila in your purse just to make it through the day. I mean damn gina! A sista is struggling. It's getting to the point where I watch Intervention on A&E and totally sympathize with the addicts. I once found myself sitting in front of the t.v. sobbing along with "Alyson" a once promising young White House intern and all around smarty pants turned crack head, though to be fair she dabbled with morphine and heroin too. I remember thinking to myself how completely feasible it is that someone with such a bright future would turn to that crack rock to cope with their life. It is rough on the streets of D.C. I guess that would explain why there are more liquor stores then delis in my beloved Capitol. This is the place after all where the majority of adults my age are barely breaking 30,000 a year while working insane hours for an extremely stressful job trying to pay for a cost a living none of us can afford. I should say before my parents fly to D.C. all alarmed that I'm spending the majority of my time passed out drunk and depressed in my bed, I'm kidding...about the "Alyson" story at least. As Whitney famously said "crack is whack" but I'm legit shopping for flasks online right now and I'm feeling this one cause I likes to keep it classy Some One Please Buy Me This Flask...PLEASE. Don't you judge me!
How many of you out there can sympathize? A job, co-worker, relationship, teacher, criminal law class or repeating situation that just causes you to need to pull over at the nearest liquor store and grab desperately for a bottle of anything, as long as there is booze in it. Is it so wrong to feel positively giddy when you pull off the cork of a 2008 reserve chardonnay? No of course it isn't. So go ahead...embrace your inner alchie and have a drink or five with me tonight. I know I haven't blogged for a while but I do hope you will forgive me and jump back on board. Tonight I am not cooking a thing because I'm going out to dinner with my beloved Roomie and a really amazing guy friend of ours David Croom. We're going to Eatonville on U St in D.C. and from the looks of the menu I'll be licking my plate clean and partaking in libations. It's been an extremely rough day. The kind that sucks so much you have to laugh to keep from choking someone out. But honestly that's pretty much every day for me...JOY! Instead of a recipe for dinner I'm going to give you a recipe for one of my absolute favorite drinks The Hurricane. I fell in love with this nectar of the gods the same moment I feel in love with New Orleans. I vividly remember the first time I encountered The Hurricane. I was sitting in Pat O'Brien's in the French Quarter in August of 2010 lovin life with my Cuzzy.
This drink is AMAZING and if you've never had one you're missing out. I make this when chardonnay just won't cut it and I need two different kinds of rum to set myself straight. This super simple recipe calls for
Ingredients:
- 2 oz light rum
- 2 oz dark rum
- 2 oz passion fruit juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp simple syrup
- 1 tbsp grenadine
- Garnish: orange slice and cherry
For the passion fruit juice I like to use Welch's Passion Fruit juice which you can find in the same aisle you'd find like Minute Maid Fruit Punch. That way you can avoid making simple syrup. You won't need it with this juice. Pour all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake it up and drink on honey.
If it's been a Hiroshima circa August 6th, 1945 during WWII rough day...run a warm bath, put on the new Adele cd, and drink this puppy in the tub. After all Ernest Hemingway once said "Drinking is a way of ending the day." Cheers!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Self Announced Pity Party Day!
Today is not a good day. It's dreary outside, my apartment is a mess, I feel disrespected, taken for granted, and stagnant. That's honestly how I feel. Today I let a stranger make me so upset I cried at work. Me, Ryan...the emotionally detached one, cried at work. I usually only cry 3 times a year and I'm upset that I wasted a perfectly good cry over a jack ass I'll never meet. But still, he made me cry.
To be fair it was a combination of things. Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm not an overly emotional person. Some would say I'm cold. Its not that, its just that very few things get me into this sort of state. I especially hate crying in front of people. I feel weak and stupid which in turn makes me feel vulnerable (another feeling I don't like). I was perfectly fine/bordering on losing it in the middle of my office building while speaking to my father on the phone. He of course could hear something wrong in my voice and made the mistake of asking me what was wrong. That's when the water works really started. You know the kind of crying where you can't even get out a full sentence? Yeah that was me...in the middle of my office building, surrounded by strangers who kept looking at me curiously.
It's just terrible to feel like a virtual punching bag day in and day out and its not in my nature to be disrespected by anyone, certainly not a stranger, and take it. Crying makes my feel a sense of shame about what I'm doing. Mainly because I've bought wholeheartedly into this idea of myself as an emotionally untouchable woman and, to a certain degree I am, but I am also really sensitive. A fact I hate to admit but, as I expressed in my last blog entry, honesty for me is extremely important even if it makes me uncomfortable. When I cry I feel this wave of self disappointment wash over me for allowing someone or thing to bring me down. I especially hate the left behind evidence of an emotional break down. For example I stopped crying a good 10 minutes ago and my face is still all red and puffy. So today I'm not leaving you with any recipes. Sorry I'm just not up to it.
The good news is that out of concern for my mental well-being my father offered to buy me dinner tonight (I swear I've never met a better man then this guy...do they even make them anymore? Seriously!) and I asked my friend Danny to tag along. She agreed. Like me she is a budding foodie, great cook, and emotionally aloof.
We're heading to the Buddha Bar on Massachusetts Ave after work. I've been to this place before but I went to the one in Paris for my 21st birthday. Remind me to tell you that story one day. It was an amazing experience. Anyway we're going to try it out tonight and Danny, being the great friend she is, is going to participate in my alcohol fueled mini-pity party. Don't judge...its been a rough day. Here is the link for Buddha Bar http://www.buddhabardc.com/. I'll let you all know how it goes.
To be fair it was a combination of things. Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm not an overly emotional person. Some would say I'm cold. Its not that, its just that very few things get me into this sort of state. I especially hate crying in front of people. I feel weak and stupid which in turn makes me feel vulnerable (another feeling I don't like). I was perfectly fine/bordering on losing it in the middle of my office building while speaking to my father on the phone. He of course could hear something wrong in my voice and made the mistake of asking me what was wrong. That's when the water works really started. You know the kind of crying where you can't even get out a full sentence? Yeah that was me...in the middle of my office building, surrounded by strangers who kept looking at me curiously.
It's just terrible to feel like a virtual punching bag day in and day out and its not in my nature to be disrespected by anyone, certainly not a stranger, and take it. Crying makes my feel a sense of shame about what I'm doing. Mainly because I've bought wholeheartedly into this idea of myself as an emotionally untouchable woman and, to a certain degree I am, but I am also really sensitive. A fact I hate to admit but, as I expressed in my last blog entry, honesty for me is extremely important even if it makes me uncomfortable. When I cry I feel this wave of self disappointment wash over me for allowing someone or thing to bring me down. I especially hate the left behind evidence of an emotional break down. For example I stopped crying a good 10 minutes ago and my face is still all red and puffy. So today I'm not leaving you with any recipes. Sorry I'm just not up to it.
The good news is that out of concern for my mental well-being my father offered to buy me dinner tonight (I swear I've never met a better man then this guy...do they even make them anymore? Seriously!) and I asked my friend Danny to tag along. She agreed. Like me she is a budding foodie, great cook, and emotionally aloof.
We're heading to the Buddha Bar on Massachusetts Ave after work. I've been to this place before but I went to the one in Paris for my 21st birthday. Remind me to tell you that story one day. It was an amazing experience. Anyway we're going to try it out tonight and Danny, being the great friend she is, is going to participate in my alcohol fueled mini-pity party. Don't judge...its been a rough day. Here is the link for Buddha Bar http://www.buddhabardc.com/. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
I Guess I am My Father's Daughter
So I know I've been MIA but I refused to violate my one and only rule when blogging which is to never blog when I have absolutely nothing to say. Lucky for you today is a new day and I have oodles to discuss. But first I'd really like to know how you all are doing? How's cooking coming and if you've tried any other the recipes. Post pictures I would love to see what you've come up with! I myself have been a cooking fool. I made the BEST big mama style dinner on Sunday. The Roommie and I had fried pork chops smothered in gravy, summer squash (yea I know its fall whatever!) and a peach cobbler that my great-grandmother would have been proud of. I have been trying to think of something that I wanted to blog about. Inspiration came to me last night in the form of frustration. So here it goes!
Ted Kennedy is my favorite politician of all time. I just love him and completely appreciate the politician he was. I cried my eyes out when he passed away last year and I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news because I was legit traumatized. Before he passed away his book True Compass came out and I had every intention of reading it. I was on a flight back to DC from CA during Thanksgiving of 2009 and the woman sitting next to me had the book. We got into a conversation about our mutual adoration for Senator Kennedy and she offered me her book to read during the flight home. In addition to it being a great read, Senator Kennedy also offers up one of the most beautiful story about life, love and family I've ever read. This is in no way a review of his autobiography, but it is impossible to read his work and not be affected by how close he was to his family and how much love they shared with each other. The vivid way he describes them and his upbringing made me think back on my own childhood and household as well as how I want to raise my future family.
Have you ever read something that just connects with you on a spiritual level? Like the minute you read it you feel its truth and importance in your bones? I had never had that experience until I read this quote in True Compass "...my family did not so much live in the world as comprise the world. Though I have long since outgrown that simplistic view, I have never questioned its emotional truth. We depended upon one another. We savored food and music and laughter with one another. We loved one another." Isn't that just beautiful? I was raised believing that family is paramount. Nothing else is. It is one of a few sacred truths I know.
I give credit to my parents obviously. It wasn't until I went away to college that I began to get the distinct feeling that my upbringing was unique in that the way my parents chose to raise my brother, sister, and me was more experimental on their part then conventional. Taking into account how different my parents actually are, I suppose it was inevitable that they would raise us with so much openness. Super Hokie LaDonna as you know is a traditional mother in the most loving and literal sense of the term. My father is another matter. He is in many ways antithetical to my mother, her counterweight. Where she shielded us from the ugliness of the world he exposed us. Movies she didn't want us to see, he took us to. Taboo topics at the dinner table were readily welcomed by him. His parenting philosophy was not to avoid the hot pot on the stove but rather to grab it with both hands to experience its heat for yourself. He wasn't reckless in this. We always felt protected and we experienced life in a way that was of course guarded by my parents. However, we were raised more aware of the world in certain respects than many other children our ages.
Ours was a home of incredible openness and this fact made us close because there were no secrets, anything could be shared. I asked my father his motives behind raising us the way he did and he said "baby, I've never wanted anyone to tell you something about me that you hadn't heard from me first. I don't want to be a surprise to my family." Character wise I take after my father more than my mother. I used to resent that, if I'm honest (lol). We clashed a lot because we were/are so similar. Our relationship got a lot better when I went away to college because that afforded us the opportunity to miss and romanticize each other. But now I realized that the traits I admire most about myself, I've gotten from him. Mainly my frankness and my innate sense of skepticism. My mom tells this story about how I've always had a pretty strong personality. She would try to spank me when I was being a brat and my father would tell her not to do it because he didn't want her to break my "spirit" (bet he regrets that at times). Now when I say and do things others think shocking, my parents rarely bat an eye. Its something that they celebrate about me and so I've always thought it was a good thing.
It has been suggested to me on numerous occasions that my straightforwardness masks insecurities I have and serves as my defense mechanism. While my skepticism about all things ranging from life in general to religion leave me lacking in "morals" and "family values" in some way. I would suggest the opposite. I am just that comfortable with myself and, much like my father, I never want some one else to shape my story for me. Sometimes my candor is to my own detriment. Sometimes its unrealistic to expect that other people be the same way with me especially if its not in their nature. What I don't like is when people perceive this part of me to be a character flaw of mine or they assume that because I operate this way there are certain things I am not and don't have to capacity to be i.e., domestic, sensitive, sensible enough not to make an ass of myself in front of people I've never met, and lastly "moral." But I am all of these things already. If you don't know at least that about me, then you don't know me at all and that's truly your loss.
I'm venting a little if you can't tell. Anyway on to more important things. What the hell am I going to eat tonight? Because I am an emotional cooker I want good old comfort food. It's been a weird few days for me emotionally I swear. I'm not a needy woman whatsoever but I'm having a needy week I think and my parents aren't around so The Roommie will have to do, and you all of course. Tonight I'm making baked chicken breast, sweet carrots, and rice.
Chicken Breast
1 package of chicken breast or tenders which ever you prefer
2 Tbsp of butter
2 Fresh Rosemary Springs
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sweet Carrots
4 large carrots
1 cup of water
1/2 stick of butter
1 cup of sugar
Preheat over to 375. Take chicken out of package and rinse in the sink. Put the chicken in a bowl large enough for mixing. Melt butter and pour over chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper put in a baking dish and add the rosemary springs. Cover with foil and bake for 45 mins.
On to the carrots...
Peel and cut the carrots. Make sure you don't slice them to thin because you want them a little chunky. Pour one cup of water into a pot and add the carrots. The water should just cover the carrots so if one cup doesn't do it add a little more, if that's too much water...take a little out. Bring the carrots to a boil and add in 1/2 a stick of butter. Add the one cup of sugar. The goal is to get a syrupy consistency so if one cup of sugar doesn't do it add a little more until the liquid has the same consistency as syrup. Cook until the carrots are soft and then let sit for a few minutes.
Rice
I would just buy a box of you favorite packaged rice and call it a day!
Next blog I'm going to tackle seasonings. Its high time we delve into the different spices of life! Besides I am a seasoning fanatic and just salt and pepper will not do any longer.
Cook on my fearless ones,
Ryan.
Ted Kennedy is my favorite politician of all time. I just love him and completely appreciate the politician he was. I cried my eyes out when he passed away last year and I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news because I was legit traumatized. Before he passed away his book True Compass came out and I had every intention of reading it. I was on a flight back to DC from CA during Thanksgiving of 2009 and the woman sitting next to me had the book. We got into a conversation about our mutual adoration for Senator Kennedy and she offered me her book to read during the flight home. In addition to it being a great read, Senator Kennedy also offers up one of the most beautiful story about life, love and family I've ever read. This is in no way a review of his autobiography, but it is impossible to read his work and not be affected by how close he was to his family and how much love they shared with each other. The vivid way he describes them and his upbringing made me think back on my own childhood and household as well as how I want to raise my future family.
Have you ever read something that just connects with you on a spiritual level? Like the minute you read it you feel its truth and importance in your bones? I had never had that experience until I read this quote in True Compass "...my family did not so much live in the world as comprise the world. Though I have long since outgrown that simplistic view, I have never questioned its emotional truth. We depended upon one another. We savored food and music and laughter with one another. We loved one another." Isn't that just beautiful? I was raised believing that family is paramount. Nothing else is. It is one of a few sacred truths I know.
I give credit to my parents obviously. It wasn't until I went away to college that I began to get the distinct feeling that my upbringing was unique in that the way my parents chose to raise my brother, sister, and me was more experimental on their part then conventional. Taking into account how different my parents actually are, I suppose it was inevitable that they would raise us with so much openness. Super Hokie LaDonna as you know is a traditional mother in the most loving and literal sense of the term. My father is another matter. He is in many ways antithetical to my mother, her counterweight. Where she shielded us from the ugliness of the world he exposed us. Movies she didn't want us to see, he took us to. Taboo topics at the dinner table were readily welcomed by him. His parenting philosophy was not to avoid the hot pot on the stove but rather to grab it with both hands to experience its heat for yourself. He wasn't reckless in this. We always felt protected and we experienced life in a way that was of course guarded by my parents. However, we were raised more aware of the world in certain respects than many other children our ages.
Ours was a home of incredible openness and this fact made us close because there were no secrets, anything could be shared. I asked my father his motives behind raising us the way he did and he said "baby, I've never wanted anyone to tell you something about me that you hadn't heard from me first. I don't want to be a surprise to my family." Character wise I take after my father more than my mother. I used to resent that, if I'm honest (lol). We clashed a lot because we were/are so similar. Our relationship got a lot better when I went away to college because that afforded us the opportunity to miss and romanticize each other. But now I realized that the traits I admire most about myself, I've gotten from him. Mainly my frankness and my innate sense of skepticism. My mom tells this story about how I've always had a pretty strong personality. She would try to spank me when I was being a brat and my father would tell her not to do it because he didn't want her to break my "spirit" (bet he regrets that at times). Now when I say and do things others think shocking, my parents rarely bat an eye. Its something that they celebrate about me and so I've always thought it was a good thing.
It has been suggested to me on numerous occasions that my straightforwardness masks insecurities I have and serves as my defense mechanism. While my skepticism about all things ranging from life in general to religion leave me lacking in "morals" and "family values" in some way. I would suggest the opposite. I am just that comfortable with myself and, much like my father, I never want some one else to shape my story for me. Sometimes my candor is to my own detriment. Sometimes its unrealistic to expect that other people be the same way with me especially if its not in their nature. What I don't like is when people perceive this part of me to be a character flaw of mine or they assume that because I operate this way there are certain things I am not and don't have to capacity to be i.e., domestic, sensitive, sensible enough not to make an ass of myself in front of people I've never met, and lastly "moral." But I am all of these things already. If you don't know at least that about me, then you don't know me at all and that's truly your loss.
I'm venting a little if you can't tell. Anyway on to more important things. What the hell am I going to eat tonight? Because I am an emotional cooker I want good old comfort food. It's been a weird few days for me emotionally I swear. I'm not a needy woman whatsoever but I'm having a needy week I think and my parents aren't around so The Roommie will have to do, and you all of course. Tonight I'm making baked chicken breast, sweet carrots, and rice.
Chicken Breast
1 package of chicken breast or tenders which ever you prefer
2 Tbsp of butter
2 Fresh Rosemary Springs
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sweet Carrots
4 large carrots
1 cup of water
1/2 stick of butter
1 cup of sugar
Preheat over to 375. Take chicken out of package and rinse in the sink. Put the chicken in a bowl large enough for mixing. Melt butter and pour over chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper put in a baking dish and add the rosemary springs. Cover with foil and bake for 45 mins.
On to the carrots...
Peel and cut the carrots. Make sure you don't slice them to thin because you want them a little chunky. Pour one cup of water into a pot and add the carrots. The water should just cover the carrots so if one cup doesn't do it add a little more, if that's too much water...take a little out. Bring the carrots to a boil and add in 1/2 a stick of butter. Add the one cup of sugar. The goal is to get a syrupy consistency so if one cup of sugar doesn't do it add a little more until the liquid has the same consistency as syrup. Cook until the carrots are soft and then let sit for a few minutes.
Rice
I would just buy a box of you favorite packaged rice and call it a day!
Next blog I'm going to tackle seasonings. Its high time we delve into the different spices of life! Besides I am a seasoning fanatic and just salt and pepper will not do any longer.
Cook on my fearless ones,
Ryan.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Neverland for a weekend
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls....Super Hokey LaDonna is in town. Do you know what this means? My fridge will be stocked, my house will become a virtual fall wonderland, and I can be a kid again if only for the weekend. I don't know about the rest of you but my venture into adulthood was somewhat aggressive. I do acknowledge wholeheartedly that most of my friends have been cut off since their freshmen year of college however, that was not my case. My dad had promised that he would take care of me until I got married and I believed that to mean that I could go on living life as I knew it. So comfortable was I in the lap of parental luxury that when it was taken from me I suffered from an extremely mild depression for months that consisted of me whining about not being able to go shopping and just general brattiness.
I vividly remember shopping for my apartment furnishings at Ikea in May of this year. Super Hokey LaDonna had graciously offered to buy my bedroom furniture and, I assumed, every other single thing I wanted in Ikea... naturally. I was gleefully skipping down the aisle like a participant in Supermarket Sweep throwing things into my cart with wild abandon. Paying no attention to the cost of this or that just happy in the full knowledge that I wouldn't have to pay for any of it anyway and it would all go towards making my apartment the chic bachlorette pad I'd envisioned.
And Super Hokey LaDonna played along, until we got to the register. I loaded all my items up on the checkout counter practically doing the Tootsie Roll I was so happy in my ignorance. When the total rang up it was something like $800 dollars. I turned to my mother expectantly and she said the words I will never EVER forget "Uh, so how much of this are you paying for?" I turned around looking for the person that she was directing this question to because surely it wasn't me. Seeing no one there I stared helplessly at my mom hoping that she would take pity on my poor (both literally and figuratively) soul.
No pity was to be had. She told me the amount she thought acceptable for me to cover (a whooping $300 dollars) and I had no choice but to comply. So there I was shaking like a $5 dollar stripper complete with the Whitney Houston sweat mustache as I handed my debit card over to the cashier. And that was the true death of my adolescence.
So when ever Super Hokey LaDonna comes to town, I get to forget that that traumatic experience ever happened. Once again I am transformed into that girl who doesn't have to pay rent, utilities, cable...put gas in her car or choose between a mani and pedi or groceries. I can be the little girl who marveled at seeing her mother create masterpieces in the kitchen. In a moment of introspection I suppose I love being in the kitchen so much because that's where my mom always was. I feel safe in my kitchen. I feel confident there and that's how I want you all to feel, at home around your pots, pans and odd cooking utensils knowing that there, if nowhere else, you have complete control.
Julia Child, a famous Smithie (woot woot), once said "Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." I completely agree! So throw caution to the wind and try something new. I say as long as you don't hospitalize anyone it’s a success. Speaking of which, how did your Taco Pie come out? Mine came out great! This was the first time I made it and I'm glad to report the Roomie liked it.
Tonight I'm thinking Italian. A simple and not at all traditional Chicken Parmesan to be exact. I found a pretty simple recipe here http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/chicken-parmigiana/Detail.aspx. If you don't feel like breading your chicken that's fine, you can honestly skip that step. Make sure not to over season your chicken. Once we get more comfortable we'll include different spices but for now let’s keep it simple. Just use salt and pepper. Thankfully pasta sauce has a lot of flavor already. I prefer Prego's Roasted Garlic for this recipe but you can get whatever you want.
Serve this dish with some spaghetti noodles. Quick note: wait until water is boiling to add noodles and then boil them with a little oil to ensure that they don't stick together. Once you drain them add a little more oil to the noodles to make sure they stay fluffy. You can also buy some garlic bread pre-made in the freezer aisle and Voila! You have yourself a meal your mother would be proud of. Oh and don't forget the wine! Let us know how it goes :)
I vividly remember shopping for my apartment furnishings at Ikea in May of this year. Super Hokey LaDonna had graciously offered to buy my bedroom furniture and, I assumed, every other single thing I wanted in Ikea... naturally. I was gleefully skipping down the aisle like a participant in Supermarket Sweep throwing things into my cart with wild abandon. Paying no attention to the cost of this or that just happy in the full knowledge that I wouldn't have to pay for any of it anyway and it would all go towards making my apartment the chic bachlorette pad I'd envisioned.
And Super Hokey LaDonna played along, until we got to the register. I loaded all my items up on the checkout counter practically doing the Tootsie Roll I was so happy in my ignorance. When the total rang up it was something like $800 dollars. I turned to my mother expectantly and she said the words I will never EVER forget "Uh, so how much of this are you paying for?" I turned around looking for the person that she was directing this question to because surely it wasn't me. Seeing no one there I stared helplessly at my mom hoping that she would take pity on my poor (both literally and figuratively) soul.
No pity was to be had. She told me the amount she thought acceptable for me to cover (a whooping $300 dollars) and I had no choice but to comply. So there I was shaking like a $5 dollar stripper complete with the Whitney Houston sweat mustache as I handed my debit card over to the cashier. And that was the true death of my adolescence.
So when ever Super Hokey LaDonna comes to town, I get to forget that that traumatic experience ever happened. Once again I am transformed into that girl who doesn't have to pay rent, utilities, cable...put gas in her car or choose between a mani and pedi or groceries. I can be the little girl who marveled at seeing her mother create masterpieces in the kitchen. In a moment of introspection I suppose I love being in the kitchen so much because that's where my mom always was. I feel safe in my kitchen. I feel confident there and that's how I want you all to feel, at home around your pots, pans and odd cooking utensils knowing that there, if nowhere else, you have complete control.
Julia Child, a famous Smithie (woot woot), once said "Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." I completely agree! So throw caution to the wind and try something new. I say as long as you don't hospitalize anyone it’s a success. Speaking of which, how did your Taco Pie come out? Mine came out great! This was the first time I made it and I'm glad to report the Roomie liked it.
 |
| Taco Pie fresh out of the oven |
 |
| Sliced Taco Pie |
Tonight I'm thinking Italian. A simple and not at all traditional Chicken Parmesan to be exact. I found a pretty simple recipe here http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/chicken-parmigiana/Detail.aspx. If you don't feel like breading your chicken that's fine, you can honestly skip that step. Make sure not to over season your chicken. Once we get more comfortable we'll include different spices but for now let’s keep it simple. Just use salt and pepper. Thankfully pasta sauce has a lot of flavor already. I prefer Prego's Roasted Garlic for this recipe but you can get whatever you want.
Serve this dish with some spaghetti noodles. Quick note: wait until water is boiling to add noodles and then boil them with a little oil to ensure that they don't stick together. Once you drain them add a little more oil to the noodles to make sure they stay fluffy. You can also buy some garlic bread pre-made in the freezer aisle and Voila! You have yourself a meal your mother would be proud of. Oh and don't forget the wine! Let us know how it goes :)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
My Life As I Eat It...
Some people shop, write, sing, or exercise in order to de-stress. Me? Nothing is more stress-less than a bottle of wine (preferable a nice cold chardonnay) and a hot sizzling pot just waiting for goodies to be thrown in and consumed. If I'm feeling particularly tense Nina Simone's Anthology CD is playing in the background. Seriously. Grocery shopping is like a weekend at Burke Williams Spa (until I get the bill that is, whew Fatha!). Getting pots from William Sonoma, who am I kidding? I meant Target, Walmart...hell even Marshalls, is like going shoe shopping. I love every single thing about eating, cooking and entertaining guests. I didn't realize how hookie I really was until I moved out of the house in 2005 to head to Smith College, a school that definitely does not educate little Susie Homemakers. Until then I had LaDonna, my super duper hookie Mom to do all this corny stuff for me. Now that she's on a different coast it falls to me.
 | |
| Me and the Bestie/Roomate |
So who am I? I'd like to think I'm a lot like you actually. I'm just a twenty three year old kid, at least I think I'm still a kid, trying to navigate my way through life with family, friends and most importantly food. I mean cooking is fun but not nearly as fun as eating and life is great, but better with food in it. I want you all to come along on my journey through "my life as I eat it." Through the good and bad, the hilarious and the sad, the miraculous and the mundane.
 |
| Super Hookie LaDonna |
I want to share my life with you through my food adventures. Favorite recipes, cocktails, foodie blogs, restaurants, bars you name it I want you to tag along and, when you find the time, share your stories. Cause we don't have to go through life alone. We have each other and we have food. Together we shall become domestic divas! Goddess's Divine of the kitchen.
I will always try to leave you with a recipe or you can suggest your own and share. It's like we're having dinner together...but not. Tonight I'm feeling Taco Pie. My mom always made it with cornbread, cheese and groud turkey meat flavored with taco seasonings. I found a pretty good recipe here http://oneparticularkitchen.com/2010/10/08/cornbread-taco-pie/. One of the best things about this meal is that its ready in 30 minutes and it cost about $20/$25 dollars to make. Quick note: I hate ground beef so I substitue beef with ground turkey meat but its your world go for it! Also feel free to serve it with a yummy salad. You can even get a pre-made one and fake it (I'm thinking something Santa Fe style). If you want to get really fancy pants you can serve it with a nice Sangria (which you can also buy pre-made) or some cervezas. Yum. Let us know how it turns out!
Look at us well on our way to cooking bliss...Dammit! Some One's Gonna Marry Us Girls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)