RANDOM TUESDAY THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I'm sorry, was I shouting?)
Gretchen = Geek Example #1 -
I'm dying to go here - Dickens World. It's a Charles Dickens theme park in Chatham, UK!
You can walk through the dank corridors of Marshalsea Prison or take the Great Expectations Boat Ride. It's like an English Major Dream Vacation!
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Is anybody else sick and tired of the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration? I mean, I have absolutely ZERO interest in this new Dark Shadows movie.
He keeps playing the same silly, freaky character over...
and over...
and over...
and over...
Enough already!
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The other day, Jude and I were driving in the car, discussing his upcoming birthday. He's decided that he doesn't want to have a big theme birthday this year. Which makes me both sad (he's growing up) and happy (WHEW!). Anyway, we haven't really planned it yet, but I think he's going to have just a few pals over for a sleepover and that's it. I asked him if they wanted to do anything special, maybe play a game or watch a movie, and he said no. Then about a beat later he said "When I'm in high school, and have parties, we'll play a game called Spin the Bottle."
I am a reeky, clay-brained, canker-blosson! What are you?
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This is NOT written by my child, but stolen off the internet. Enjoy...
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Gretchen = Geek Example #3 -
I desperately wish for this sign every time certain children are dropped off at a Cub Scout meeting and left for others mind...
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And on a quick serious note:
Two noteworthy events this week which gave me pause -
1. The 20th anniversary of the LA Riots. I will never forget them. A few sad, angry, frightening, tragic days, when the straw broke the camels back, and people went temporarily insane.
2. The One World Trade Center, which is the tower they are building to replace the World Trade Center has officially reached the height that surpasses the Empire State Bldg. and makes it the tallest building in NYC.
May it forever stand proud. And may Jude never force me to go to the top of it (I know he will!)
As much as my Mama and I adored each other, we had a fairly contentious relationship. We bickered. A lot. My teen years were particularly hellish. Daddy spent a lot of time separating us and mopping up tears.
Maybe we were just too much alike. And therefore, competitive. Or maybe we were just different enough that those differences made us crazy. Mama tended to be an emotional weeper. I tended to have Daddy's more logical, linear mind. Mama was passive aggressive. I was just aggressive.
While in many ways, Mama was my biggest supporter, she could also be extremely critical. She told me I was such a pretty girl...if only I'd stand up straight/do something about that hair/wear a little lipstick/wear some "nicer" clothes (i.e. the style of clothes SHE wore). I always felt that I never quite lived up to what she'd hoped for me.
And I, for my part, was that nasty teenage girl who thought her mother was the stupidest woman on the face of the earth.
But once I reached my 20s, things mellowed out between us considerably. And after Daddy died, we became what I think I could call "friends".
In December, 1991, I went home to Austin for Christmas, and Mama and I decided to throw a cocktail party together, inviting both her friends and my friends. One thing that we both LOVED to do was cook and entertain, and this was a rare opportunity for us to do that together. Mama was a terrific cook - one of those few '60's housewives who ventured outside the traditional casseroles and canned goods. Mama was always experimenting. I'll never forget when she decided to introduce my very Texan Daddy to curry. And guess what? He LOVED it.
Being a "good cook" was a highly prized quality to Mama, and she had taught me everything I knew.
So for the party, we each chose several dishes and desserts to make, and cooked up a storm. I have to say, that between the two of us, we put out quite a spread.
At some point during the evening, Mama was standing in the dining room next to the food, chatting with one of her friends. I was in the kitchen. They couldn't see me, but I could hear them talking.
The friend complimented Mama on how delicious the food was. "Oh Doe, you are SUCH a wonderful cook."
Mama answered "Well thank you. I like to think I'm a pretty good cook. But Gretchen? Gretchen's the gourmet."
I remember standing there in the kitchen - stunned, with tears welling in my eyes. Mama had not only told someone that I was a good cook, but that I was a BETTER cook than she was! There she was, going on and on in a completely unsolicited way. She was proud of me.
It was the nicest compliment she ever gave me.
And she ever knew that I heard it.
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Please visit each of this week's spinners, and while you're there, leave them a nice complimentary comment!
Jen handed out "Words" once when Sprite's Keeper was the keeper of The Spin Cycle, but it's been a couple of years, and I thought I'd bring it back for an encore.
Bad words? Words of advice? Words of wisdom? A few choice words? Words With Friends? I'd like a word? Word count? Word of mouth? WordPress? Word one? The Word? Microsoft Word?
Write your spin! Link it here!
If you're new to The Spin Cycle, click the tab up top to read all about it.
See you next Friday!
Share your spin! Highlight the code. Copy to your HTML. Et voila! Linked!
If, magically, I was granted one day during which I could eat anything my little heart desired without gaining a single ounce, risking a heart attack from clogged arteries, or vomiting from over-eating, I would eat the following...
Beignets and Cafe au Lait from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.
Fresh and hot. And when you eat them, you get powdered sugar all over yourself and up your nose.
Fried Catfish from Mama's House on Crenshaw in LA. With a side of Mac and Cheese and those Greens cooked with ham hocks and some of that Louisiana hot sauce and a big iced tea.
The above picture is used entirely without Jan's permission, but I'm hoping that my saying that her recipe is one of my favorite foods on the Planet Earth will make her okay with it.
Prime Rib from Lawry's Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. Lawry Cut, medium rare. With both the Creamed Spinach AND the Creamed Corn, and that weird salad in the spinning bowl. And the Yorkshire Pudding. And a Manhattan.
Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog.
Pasta Carbonara made with this recipe...
1 lb. pancetta (or bacon)
1 lb. spaghetti
3 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp. butter
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
freshly ground pepper
Fry pancetta or bacon until it is very crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble. Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just tender. Drain spaghetti and pour into a very large bowl. I like to use a large stainless steel bowl which I've run under hot water to warm up. Pour eggs over the pasta and toss to coat the strands evenly. Add butter and toss again. Add Parmesan, parsley, pancetta and lots of pepper and mix thoroughly.
Queso Flameado with Chorizo from Guero's Taco Bar in Austin, TX. Wrapped in homemade corn tortillas. Heaven in a bowl. Seriously. When I go there, I don't even order an entree. Just a couple of margaritas and a big bowl of cheese filled with pork.
and while we're in Austin...
Chicken Fried Steak from Threadgill's in Austin TX. Smothered in cream gravy, with mashed potatoes and fried okra and blackeyed peas. And corn bread. And a Shiner Bock beer. Heaven smothered in cream gravy.
and...
Homemade Peach Ice Cream, made with ripe Texas Hill Country peaches. A taste that you have to experience to understand. Heaven frozen.
A rack of Baby Back Ribs. Dry rubbed with Grub Rub...
then grilled, and then baked, smothered with MY barbecue sauce. And PLENTY of napkins.
Key Lime Pie - I don't care where it's from, as long as it's made with real Key limes, and isn't dyed with green food coloring. Either whipped cream or meringue is acceptable.
Port and Stilton Burger from Umami Burger in LA. Blue Cheese and port caramelized onions on a huge, meaty burger. With the sweet potato fries.
Mama's Chocolate Cream Pie -
1/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups milk, scalded
2 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 sp. vanilla
baked pie shell
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp. sugar for whipped cream
Mix flour, sugar and salt; put in top of a double boiler and gradually add scalded milk. Add chocolate and cook until thick, stirring constantly. Add small amount of hot mixture to the egg yolks; stir into remaining hot mixture. Cook 2 minutes. Cool. Add butter and vanilla . Pour into baked pie shell. Whip heavy cream with sugar. Spread on top of thoroughly cooled pie.
Hmmmm.
I guess that's it. Just enough sweet. Just enough savory. Lots of pork. I could then die a happy woman. I am really very hungry now.
So...what would you choose?
This post inspired by...
Prompt #1 - If you had one day to eat anything you want and not gain a single ounce what would it be?
Another Tuesday, another Random Tuesday Thoughts...
I saw this on tv and almost peed myself...
Ha! It's a real site - Farmers Only! The only online dating site for Americas Farmers.
According to the website, "This group makes up America's Heartland – the slice of America with good old fashioned traditional values, values that were never lost by the farmers of our country."
So why are there so many pictures of trashy looking women in Daisy Duke cutoffs riding tractors?!
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I have a new favorite way of entertaining myself while I'm doing housework. Our Direct TV cable company has a bunch of music stations, and I have discovered their Show Tunes channel. My mother would have LOVED this station! All show tunes, all the time. I sing along at the top of my lungs while I'm mopping or doing dishes or whatever. I'm seriously hoping that the UPS man doesn't show up while I'm in the middle of dancing along with Rita Moreno on "America" from West Side Story. Though I'm sure he's seen worse.
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I may be late to the game here, but you all, especially those of you with boys, MUST read this lovely piece - 25 Rules for Mothers of Sons. I agree with them all. And I SO wish I'd written this first.
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The other day, I had hunted all around for my reading glasses, and couldn't find them. I finally had to leave, got into the car, reached up to pull down my sunglasses and discovered this on top of my head...
Yes, that would be TWO pairs of reading glasses + my sunglasses. I have finally, officially become my mother.
It's SO addicting! You make four letter words using the letters they give you. It's so simple, but completely fun. I HIGHLY recommend it. Well, not if you want to actually get anything done in your life.
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Alright, short and sweet today. I'm working on brevity. It's very difficult. We'll see how it goes. Be sure to hop over and visit Stacy's other random thinkers!
Yesterday, Jude had his first big track meet. 18 Catholic schools from the Greater Los Angeles area. Jude did great. No medals, but he really did well for himself, and totally bested his personal bests. For a brand new track team, they definitely made their mark. But this is all beside the point of this post.
Through a peculiar series of events, I somehow volunteered to give a ride to the meet to a 7th grade boy, Luke, who Jude kind of idolizes. Luke is very fast, a quality which Jude values very highly. Luke is from a very lovely and ...hmmm...quiet...family. Mom's a librarian. Dad's a surgeon.
So we picked up Luke and headed out to El Puente, CA, which is an armpit of Los Angeles. I'm sorry if anybody is actually from El Puente, but really...armpit. Far out on the 10 freeway in the middle of the dregs of suburbia.
Jude and Luke were awkwardly chatting in the backseat - Jude was trying to seem cool, Luke was extremely sweet and polite to the little 3rd grader. I was driving, and Jimmy was riding shotgun.
Suddenly, our favorite radio station started a salute to Levon Helm, the late great drummer/sing for The Band, who passed away a couple of days ago.
I, of course, reached down and cranked up the radio to near airplane decibels when they started...
Jimmy started passionately playing air drums. I was singing along with Levon. When The Band hit the chorus, we joined in with rousing two part harmony at the top of our lungs.
I glanced in the rear view.
Luke was watching us, stunned, eyes wide, mouth open.
Jude?
Was holding his head in his hands, slowly shaking his head back and forth.
For a second, I considered the situation.
The damage was certainly done. We were clearly established as the weirdest parents around. Maybe, if we stopped singing/air drumming immediately, we could regain some semblance of...
Oh wait, here's the chorus again...
"The niiiiiiiiiiight they drove old Dixie down....And all the people were singing, they went...laaaaaa, la, la, la, la, la...."
We will try to make this up to him at some point in the future. Ideas?
Welcome to Second Blooming Happy Hour! As Aunt Grace says "It's always 5 o'clock somewhere!"
Because you people mean SO much to me, I have, at the sacrifice of the health of my liver, spent a great deal of time this week trying out cocktail recipes! It was difficult, but somebody had to do it.
The big trend lately in all the hot bars, is a return to the "Classic Cocktail", libations created back in the heyday of the cocktail - the 1930's through 1960's - possibly inspired by the popularity of Mad Men. And truly, I always feel a little bit like Joan or Betty when I've got my hand wrapped around a martini glass.
And so, I have for you my own personal Classic Cocktail Guide, each recipe carefully researched and enthusiastically taste-tested.
Before I begin, I have a few important words of advice before you start your own exploration of the cocktail...
Invest in some equipment. A nice shaker, appropriate glassware. It really does make a difference. And if you don't have a shaker, at least get a cocktail strainer. But a shaker is way cooler.
Buy good liquor. You don't have to go broke buying only top shelf, but with these old-style cocktails, the liquor really is the star, and the better the booze, the better the drinking experience. So don't go rockgut.
Absolutely DO NOT forgo the garnishes!!! The garnish is the BEST PART. Well, the best part after the booze. But seriously, what's a martini without the olive? A Manhattan without the maraschino cherry? Ah, the cherry is my favorite part! Plus, I can do this naughty bar trick which involves tying the cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. Always impresses the gentlemen!
That said...
The Second Blooming Classic Cocktail Guide:
Tom Collins
Betty Draper's drink, but new to me. A real surprise - super refreshing and summery. Sort of like a mojito without the mint. Or the rum. Or the lime. Well okay, not that much like a mojito, but really delicious. I recommend.
2 oz. gin
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
2 sugar cubes
splash of club soda
1 slice orange
1 maraschino cherry
Drop sugar cubes in a tall glass. Add gin and lemon juice. Stir. Add plenty of ice, and top with a healthy splash of club soda. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Sidecar
I went through a phase of drinking Sidecars many years ago, and I'd forgotten how delish they are. Makes you feel very sophisticated.
2 oz. brandy
2 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 strip orange zest, for garnish
Fill shaker with ice. Add brandy, Cointreau and lemon juice. Shake well. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with orange zest. Mmmm.
Whiskey Sour
Every time Pop takes us out to Hoi Ming, our favorite Chinese restaurant in New York, I order a Whiskey Sour. I think of it as my special treat. So every time I drink one I expect somebody to walk around and offer me a hot towel.
2 oz. Bourbon
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. simple syrup (see below)
1 orange slice
1 maraschino cherry
Fill shaker with ice. Add bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake, shake, shake your booty. Strain into glass. Technically, you're supposed to use a special sour glass, which looks like this...
...but since few people actually own a set of sour glasses, you can use a martini glass, or if you prefer, serve it on the rocks in a highball glass.
Simple Syrup -
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Stir together in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Cool. Can be kept for months in a jar in the fridge.
Greyhound
Basically, a more sophisticated version of a Screwdriver. I'm thinking it would make a tasty brunch beverage.
2 oz. vodka
4 oz. grapefruit juice
Add ice to a tall glass. Add vodka and grapefruit juice. Garnish with a slice or grapefruit or a twist of grapefruit peel.
Manhattan
I ALWAYS have a Manhattan when I'm in...you guessed it...Manhattan. I just can't help myself. I suggest using a good bourbon, Maker's Mark or Knob Creek. And as I previously stated, don't miss the cherry. If you want a lesson in cherry stem tying, shoot me an email, and I'll help you out.
2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 maraschino cherry
Fill shaker with ice. Add whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Shake like crazy. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cherry. Drink it while remembering how fabulous you are.
White Russian
Okay, I have to admit that I can't drink these without thinking about The Dude in The Big Lebowski. But I have fond memories of drinking these back when I was in my twenties, and not worried about cream intake. They really are delicious, and a fun after-dinner nightcap.
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. light cream
Add ice to highball glass. Pour vodka and Kahlua over the ice, then top with the cream.
Old-Fashioned
I think that this may officially be my new favorite cocktail. It has that perfect balance of sweet/tart/bitter. Plus, it's fun to make - kind of complicated (makes you feel like a real mixologist), and it involves muddling, and who doesn't love to muddle.
1 sugar cube
2 dashes bitters
splash of soda water
1 slice orange
1 slice lemon
1 marachino cherry
2 oz. bourbon
ice
Drop sugar cube in the bottom of an old-fashioned highball glass. Soak the sugar cube with the bitters. Add a healthy splash of soda water. Mix until the sugar is dissolved. Drop in the orange slice, lemon slice and cherry. Muddle together. I don't own an actual "muddler", so I use pestle from my mortar and pestle (which then gets me started saying that line from The Court Jester "the vessel with the pestle holds the pellet with the poison"...or is it "the vessel with the pestle holds the brew that is true" or...sorry, I have gone off on a tangent). Add bourbon, stir. Top with ice. Delish.
Alright. We have now come to the end of our lesson. I hope you have found this informative. You will notice that I have refrained from providing an actual Martini recipe, mostly because they are so subjective, and have so many options (gin/vodka? olive/twist?).
But I will leave you with a little Francis Albert. Just because it's damned good.
Bottoms up.
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I'm telling you people, this week you've ABSOLUTELY got to check out the other spinners - we're talking cocktail recipes here! And there are some humdingers. Check out each and every one!
We all love to get them. I tend to be poor at remembering to give them. And I often find myself in that awkward social moment when somebody says "You look so good!" and then I need to say "You too!" back to them, but then will they think I'm just saying it because they said it to me? Should I have said it first? And what if they really don't look good? Do you say it anyway? Will they be able to tell that you really ARE saying it just because they said it? Sigh.
What's the biggest compliment you ever recieved? Do you hold it dear or does it embarrass you? Was it from a parent? Spouse? Friend? Child? Stranger?
Are you free with compliments? Or do you hold them close?
And what about as a parent? Do you feel you might over-praise your kid? Can a kid be over-praised?
You know the drill. Put your spin on it. Post it before Friday. Leave me a comment letting me know, and I'll link it up here.
Share your spin! Highlight the code. Copy to your HTML. Et voila! Linked!
I am SO loving Sunday nights! I look forward to it all week. Suddenly, ALL my favorite shows are back and all on the same night - Game of Thrones, The Killing and Mad Men! I'm in tv heaven. And speaking of Mad Men, check out this Mad Men Cocktail Culture iPhone App. Since this week's Spin Cycle topic just happens to be Cocktails, it's the perfect time to download this app! It not only has excellent recipes for a bunch of classic cocktails, but also a little game in which you mix up cocktails on your iPhone and then drink little virtual drinks. Which is amazingly unsatisfying.
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One of my Facebook friends posted a link to this website - Nina Katchadourian. It totally cracks me up. This woman is a serious artist, who had the incredibly silly idea to create a series of photographs entitled Seat Assignment: Lavatory Self-Portraits in the Flemish Style. While on a boring flight, she went into the airplane bathroom, stuck the toilet seat cover on her head and took a picture with her cell phone...
She loved the picture so much, that over the next two years, she went on 70 flights, and took over 2000 pictures in the bathroom.
PLEASE check out the website, they are hysterical! I love this woman.
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This reminds me of my youth in Austin - much time was spent in a tube, doing things that may have defied this sign...
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I have become a little crazy about a new tea - Korean Citron Honey Tea.
Yes, I know it looks like marmalade, but it's not. You spoon it into a cup, add hot water and have this really delicious lemony tea. And....I know that most of you don't live within walking distance of a Korean market, like I do, but you can even get it from Amazon...
True, $10 seems like a lot for tea, but that is a HUGE jar. So BUY some. I'm actually looking forward to my first cold of the season.
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The other day on Facebook, Jen from Sprite's Keeper mentioned how excited she was that they finally have a new Trader Joe's nearby, and I realized how dependent I am on the place. I really don't know what I'd do without it. It's amazing how many TJ items are staples around our house. In addition to their great food/great prices and amazing ready-made foods, I have a number of super easy meals that involve just mixing together a bunch of stuff from Trader Joe's that I keep around the house. Last night, we had one of our faves, which I will share with you. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, MAKE THIS. If you do not, you have my deepest sympathies.
Trader Joe's Tuna Lemon Pepper Pasta
1 pkg. TJ's Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta
1 12 oz. bag TJ's Artichoke Hearts, frozen
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 can water-packed tuna, drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 jar capers
grated zest of one lemon
salt to taste
Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the pasta. Boil for 10 minutes. After about 7 minutes, dump in the bag of frozen artichoke hearts. Cook the 3 minutes more. Drain, then return to the stock pot. Add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix. EAT.
Serves 2. Which is good, because it has too much green stuff in it for Jude.
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Hope everybody is having a lovely Tuesday thus far. Please visit Stacy's place and see the other Random Tuesday Thoughtites.
It's about time you showed up. I've been here partaaaaaaying all by myself! (hic)
Our Cocktail Spins are coming in!!!
Wooooohoooooo!! (hic)
Can I hear a woooooooohoooooo?! (why aren't they woohooing? Huh? Oh.)
We've got recipes, y'all!!! And lucky for you-woo-woo, I have been taste-testing! Heeeeeeeee. And I've gotta tella ya, they are GOOOOOOOOOOD. (hic)
So.....grab your shakers and your stirrers and start clicking and trying out some yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy cocktail. S. Cocktails. That's what I meant.
And after you've clicked around a little bit, PLEASE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE join the party!! Just spin up your most favorite cocktail and share with meeeee.
Huh? Mmmm...maybe I should eat a little something before I do any more testing. Or maybe take a little nappy poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....................................................................
