So Close

I'm working on a "reflection" piece for the new year. In the mean time, I'd say this is about right.

Snow Day

Looks like we might get a white Christmas this year - which is exciting even if it is old snow....

Keeps Gettin' Better

Hallway conversation:

K: I keep smelling cinnamon around the office.
R: Oh, yeah. They put a cinnamon air freshener in the women's bathroom!

I'm then called into my bosses office:

B: I bet they're trying to cover up bad smells coming from the drain.
K: Well, there's always an air freshener in there - I think the cinnamon is just more festive.
B: Well, you know, if you let a floor drain get dry, it starts to smell really bad.
K: Yeah, I think I knew that.
B: I think you need to go in once a week and pour a bottle of water down the drain to keep the smell down.
K: Um, well, have you talked to building maintenance about this?
B: Yeah, I mentioned it. I go into the men's every week and do that - it really keeps the smell down.
K: Uh-Huh.

Last Minute

Still looking for that perfect gift for me??? As Nick and I were decorating our tree last weekend I remembered that the last two Christmases I worked at a company who's CEO gave out the annual edition Swarovski Crystal ornaments. I have 2006 and 2007. I would like 2008 please.

Thank you.

Tis The Season

I could watch this over and over again.

And This!

Remember when I posted about this site? Well, Orangette has a book coming out in March! I want this book. Think on it.

Not Extreme Cakes, But...

Pictures from a dessert party that I hosted - there were a total of nine different desserts, all made by yours truly:

Chocolate cake with raspberry filling and chocolate cream frosting
Almond cake with lemon curd filling and vanilla buttercream
Pecan tarts with chocolate drizzle
Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Cheesecake bites with orange cream buttercream
Apple pie
Pecan pie
Oatmeal cookies
Nutmeg shortbread

Comforting, To Say The Least

A few months ago, someone introduced me to Orangette. I love this site. Unfortunately she does not update her posts daily, but when she does, it's always spot-on.

This was truly the best time of year to come across this site. All comfort food, all the time. (for now...) I've tried out several of her recipes, and they're wonderful every time. Now when she posts about something out of the ordinary, I don't hesitate before running to the grocery store. Her recipes are simple, inexpensive (except in the case of a really delicious triple cream cheese or two....), and oh-so-delightful.

Of course the conversations are always entertaining.

"What are you making?"
"You'll see. It's going to be epic."

chopping, braising, serving....

"Um, what the hell is this??"
"Just try it. Trust me on this one."
"Wow. That's really good."

Every time. Seriously.

I haven't tried out her most recent recipe - just not in the mood for a crisp refreshing salad, but her others are good enough to make again and again until the salad craving kicks in.

The ones I've tried (which are now favorite recipes):

Tomato Soup with Red Onion and Cilantro Stems
(Finally, a reason to keep the stems!)

Lima Beans in Cream
(Don't question it. Just make it and try not to cry when you taste it.)

Savoy Cabbage Gratin
(Melty deliciousness....)

So, get to it, and thank me when you're done.

The Next Chapter

1. Kim, you need to be more mindful of what you're doing when you're sitting at the front desk. When you put your elbow up and rest your chin in your hand, it makes you look tired. You don't want to be giving off the impression that you're tired at work.

I don't think the UPS guy gives a shit if I'm tired. And since he's the only one who ever comes in the front door.....

2. Wow. We went through a lot more toner than usual this last month, Kim. Maybe you should start keeping an eye out when people are using the printer to try to get an idea of what it's being used for.

Yeah. Better yet, why don't I send out a memo asking everyone to email me when they're about to print something so that I can run down the hall to watch what comes out of the machine!

Extreme Cakes?

Okay, now this is just cool.  Thank you cakewrecks for sharing this video!

And here's where you can see the behind-the-scenes stuff.  Brings extreme cakes to a new level!

Ahead of Schedule

Is it too early to post Christmas present ideas?

• These are so pretty! I love everything in their collection, but the cake plates are especially tempting.
  
• Still holding out for this shower set.
  
• Gift Cards! Business as usual: Here. Here. Here.
  
• I'm planning to expand my garden next year. A couple of these would be awesome.

Alright, that's all I have for now.

I'm Just Sayin'....

For those of you who are angry, shocked, ashamed and sickened....You're about 4 years behind schedule.

This is "An historic moment that none of us will ever forget.
...I'm sorry, but this is a day a lot of people never thought they'd see...what a monumental moment for America."

~As stated by The Superficial Writer, and felt by a land-slide inducing majority.

Stuck in The Middle

Email conversation:

Me to J: So, the manuals I shipped to you yesterday were damaged by UPS. They're sending them back to us. I know you needed them for your training - any thoughts?

J to Me: Go ahead and send me four more - next day air

Me to D: J's asked if I can send replacements next day air. Assuming I need approval due to cost of shipping.

D to Me: No, just send them ground. The classroom portion is where they use the training manuals, and that finished today.

Me to J: D says I can just send them ground since you're done with the classroom portion of training.

J to Me: No, ground shipping won't get them here until next week - I'd like them to arrive before I head back home.

Me to D: J wants the manuals before he leaves the site.

D to Me: Ground will be fine. J will just have to tell the trainees that the manuals will arrive next week.

Me to J: Alright. This isn't working. D says they need to go ground. You will have to discuss this further with D directly if you want them sent next day air.

J's Manager to Me: I just received an email from J. Please just send the manuals next day air.

OH MY GOD THE HELL!!!!

Weekend Recap!

We had a good weekend. Halloween was tons o' fun, and the costumes were low-stress:


I find it amusing that Nick and I never mean to have coordinating costumes, but somehow always manage to!

Saturday evening was a surprise 75th birthday party for Nick's grandfather. I was asked to make dessert - German Chocolate Cake - his favorite! I was happy with how it turned out looks-wise, and he was thrilled with the taste factor!

Recently....

1. "What do you have planned this weekend?"

"I'm making cheesecakes for a wedding. The rest of the year is going to be pretty crazy for my baking business!"

"Hm. About that. I don't think you should be broadcasting side endeavors at the office. This is your full time job, and that's all you should be talking about while you are here."

Verdict: Work is stifling, to say the least.


2. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm on the bus with 25 pounds of cream cheese. Thank you Baby Jesus for sturdy canvas shopping bags!"

"Wait. 25 pounds of cream cheese??"

"Yeah. I ran out and I have to finish these 100 cheesecakes so they can be picked up tomorrow. Is it too early to drink wine???"

"I'd say it's the perfect time to open a bottle of wine! Hang on. My mom wants the phone."

"Hi Kim, how are you? Ummm...HOW MUCH CREAM CHEESE????"

Verdict: I work too hard for my money.

Foodie

As posted on Confessions of a Young Woman:

The Omnivore’s Hundred is a list of 100 things
that every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all.

Here are the rules:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (Not together, but would be nice)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (Well...Vodka, actually)
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Note: You may notice the lack of cross-outs. As most of you know, I'm pretty much open to anything, barring health issues, so I'm game for most anything. Perhaps this should be a life list???

Cheesecake Saga

I met with the bride and groom to be, and they were absolutely thrilled with my cheesecake - the exact quote from the wedding planner was "She said it was simply a matter of choosing between wonderful and even more wonderful!". I'm sure the champagne that I served for the tasting had nothing to do with that review.

So, I have a really good cheesecake recipe, but the bride's best friend is vegan, so she has asked if it would be possible to have a small vegan cheesecake. Since I had such success with previous cheesecake attempts, I told her it shouldn't be a problem at all. Since then, I've tried out several recipes, and I've decided two things.

1. Vegan cheesecake is THE DEVIL.
2. People who review vegan cheesecake recipes don't actually know what cheesecake is.

The first is based on the multiple recipes I've tried that have turned out terribly...one actually made me gag. Seriously. The second is based on the reviews that were posted on the recipes I've tried making. "This is so good! I'm so glad to find a vegan version that is just like the real thing!!!" I am very curious to know where these people were getting cheesecake prior to becoming vegan, because this stuff is truly disgusting.

I've tried all sorts of combinations of tofutti cream cheese, soft and hard tofu, soy milk and lemon juice. Nick won't even try my test cakes anymore if he hears the words "vegan" or "tofutti". I finally found a recipe that is rather similar to my standard. The only real difference is that it calls for fake cream cheese (tofutti - shhh!) and powdered egg replacer. Sofar, the texture seems right - we'll see about the flavor. Perhaps I could just douse it in sauce and call it good?

Closing opinion? I count myself very fortunate that I don't have to eat foods that are "almost as good as the real thing".

In Other News...

Did anyone else think it was interesting that Michelle Obama wore a blue dress tonight, and Cindy McCain wore a red dress? Coincidence? Methinks maybe not.

Update!

• Kim's Test Kitchen has had yet another success! Nick tried my first cheesecake attempt, and his response was that it was the best cheesecake he's ever had! Ta-Da! I plan to try out more recipes in the future, so please keep the ideas coming!
• I have an appointment with the happy couple on Sunday to try some cheesecake and various other items for their wedding...my first cake tasting!
  
• I went out with a very good friend for dinner the other night. She's a fairly new friend, but I suspect she will be around for a long time to come, because she's nice and sweet and actually GENUINE. She's so nice, in fact, that she has offered to do marketing for my business free of charge! (did I mention that she's a marketing manager?) I'm seeing a LOT of cookies in her future. Like, a TON. Seriously.
• New link under Sites I Like! Check out Cake Wrecks! This site cracks me up...and definitely makes me feel better about what I consider to be past personal cake wrecks.
  

A Little Help?

I received an email this week from someone that Nick works with, requesting help with a wedding. Her friends are getting married and they're doing all the food themselves. This is a great way to save money, but I think somewhere along the line they realized how much work it was turning into and so they are looking for an inexpensive option for dessert. The theme is Tea Party, so they're doing individual cheesecakes for the guests, and a 10" cheesecake for the head table. That's one 10" cheesecake and eighty 2" cheesecakes. Eighty. Eight-Oh. 80 cheesecakes on the 26th of THIS month. Good Lord.

A little background: I've never made cheesecake in my life. Well, not until last night anyway. It looked and smelled pretty good, but wasn't cool enough before bed time, so I'll be tasting them tonight.

Any of you out there have a good cheesecake recipe you'd like to share???? Please???? I'm really hoping this one works out, but I just found it randomly online, so there's certainly room for error.

Weekend in Review

Nick and I went to a Welcome Home party for a friend that just came back from a month in Brazil. She made some seriously amazing Brazilian food, complete with cocktails made with their signature liquor. After a few of those, things got a little crazy. I can't remember the last time I went to a party that so many stupid silly things happened - it was a great time!

First, there was Jello-Bear. There is a back story, of course.

There's this teddy bear, which has been around for a while now. About 3 years ago, Nick and Zak were roommates, and their apartment building had an underground parking garage. Zak found the bear abandoned on the dumpster, and put it on the hood of Nick’s car. Nick knew it was Zak, so he skewered the bear on Zak’s antenna. This bear has been going back and forth this entire time…one time it wound up under someone’s back tire, so when they backed out, it lost a leg. We snuck it into Zak’s mailbox once. Nick and I asked Zak to take care of our cats while we were on vacation in June…when we came back the bear was in our freezer.

So….we had to come up with something good….12 large boxes of jello and 2 days later…we had jello bear!

Then, there was the waxing. Our friend Elishia is an aesthetician - she brought a home waxing kit to help fit in with the "Brazilian" theme. If you don't get the reference, I would recommend Google - but do not click on any images!!!

So, the waxing kit. It turns out Nicole was due for a brow touch-up, so we started the wax heating. Nick and Zak couldn't turn down a crazy stunt.....

Reality Trumps Aspiration

Remember that time when I talked about hand-stitching a quilt? Remember how determined I was to accomplish said task? Things have changed. Now I'm more determined to finish the quilt with my sanity intact. I bought a sewing machine. Hopefully I'll have this finished before next year!

Don't get me wrong, I still believe that I could finish that quilt by hand. Unfortunately this project was turning out to be a stressful deadline situation, and I was losing my motivation to do it with the thoughts of how much time it was going to take. So, screw it, I bought a machine.

Just Call Me "Covered Wagon Kim"

I'm really inspired by the things my mother writes about on her website.

Scratch that.

I'm really inspired by the way my mom lives her life. There are certain things that I could never do, like homeschooling children if I had any, or live in the country full time, or depend on a wood burning stove for all of my heat in the winter. But then there are other things she does that are so simple and easy to do with a little motivation and creativity. She makes her own laundry soap and dries her clothes out on the line. She uses food containers for storage, and a coffee can for her knitting, rather than buying some fancy container at the store. She has a very productive garden, which lowers her dependence on the grocery store produce department considerably. She's not afraid to make big purchases when they are necessary, such as a new washing machine or food processor, but necessary is the key element in her spending. She's constantly trying to find new ways to be "green" - something I thought I had down pretty well as a Seattle-ite, but I'm constantly learning new things from her and those who contribute comments on her website.

I've started taking on new projects, which are inspired by her ideas, but not necessarily based on them. This year was my first attempt at a garden. I have to keep it pretty small, since I only have my apartment deck to store everything on, but I have a variety of plants going. I've definitely learned a few things this year, and hope that next year will be even more fruitful.

I've also taken up canning. I had some girlfriends over on Labor Day for a canning party where we made apple butter! I'm hoping to expand my pantry of home-canned goods in the next couple of months. Not only will this enable Nick and I to enjoy seasonal produce all year, but it will certainly make for inexpensive Christmas gifts!

My newest and biggest project is quilting. I'm making a baby quilt for a friend and it's turned into quite the adventure! I don't have a sewing machine, and though I could certainly fit one into my budget, I think I'm pretty good with a needle and thread. I have really short legs, so I get plenty of practice hemming most of my slacks. So, I'm hand-stitching the entire thing. That's right. I'm hand quilting the layers together, only after I've hand stitching each piece of fabric together. It's going to take me FOREVER to complete. I was hoping to have it done by the time the baby is born in November, but I suspect this may turn into a Christmas present when all is said and done....

I've even expanded my cooking to simpler things! Rather than spending tons of money every day to make fancy dinners, I'm spending more time studying what I already have in the kitchen, cooking from my cupboards. When I want to try something new, I usually find my recipes online, where I can review other peoples' reviews to determine if something is worth the time and cost to make. I'm also working really hard to not eat out as often - something that has not been easy with the social girls I work with!

Okay...I'm officially rambling. I guess I just want to brag about the positive changes that I've been making, and brag about what a great influence my mom has been!

But Wait, There’s More!

It seems that some clarification is needed with regard to my last post. I think Sarah Palin seems like a cool person -- A kick in the pants, if you will. However, I have no intention of voting for her. Her stances on the key issues are exactly the opposite of what I believe. I think it would be fun to have a beer with her and NOT discuss politics. If we went there I might be tempted to punch her in the face.

Next on The Opinion Poll

Alright, I'll admit it. I like her! I don't agree with Sarah Palin on many things. However, I think she is good at delivering a speech. She's SASSY! And FUNNY! I'd love to grab a beer with her sometime. Unfortunately I think some of her statements were less than factual, and she went on the attack a bit more than necessary. I also have to say that I think she shot herself in the foot with her statements about Obama's lack of experience. I certainly don't discount her experience and background, but I don't think she's in any position to point fingers.

As much as I think it was more strategy from the Republican Ticket, I can certainly appreciate the time Palin took to introduce her entire family. I'm sure she's a great mother who loves her family, but I stand by my previous statement.

Step down and take care of your family.

The Circus That This Election Has Become

Oy. Where to start? I don’t think anyone would argue with my view that McCain’s choice of running-mate is curiously strategic. I’m just not sure how good his strategy really is. While I believe that there are women voters who would be happy with any woman in office – one step at a time, so they say – I also think most Hillary supporters are smart enough to know that Sarah Palin does not side with them on the key issues. It’s rather offensive that McCain thinks this strategy will work with the majority of women voters, really.

If I were a member of the Republican Party, I would be pissed at McCain. He’s made a complete spectacle of his campaign. He chose someone who he barely knows, who has very little political experience and zero foreign policy experience. Sortof kills his argument that Obama is too “green” for office if you ask me. He chose someone with quite the controversial background, who is in the midst of quite the shocking situation with her daughter.

Let the games begin! I know that any running-mate he chose would be under harsh scrutiny, and it’s pretty much impossible to keep your skeletons in the closet when you’re running for office. The celebrity comes with a very high price, and I certainly don’t envy anyone in that position. However, it seems that voting her into office is exactly the type of thing that the Republican Party would term a “Slippery Slope”.

If I were a member of the Republican Party, I would be pissed at Palin as well. What does it say for your family values if you’re willing to accept a position knowing it will put your pregnant teenage daughter on a pedestal? I absolutely agree that family should be left out of the campaign process – especially children. I don’t think anyone would argue that point. However, I can’t believe that Palin would actually think this situation would be left untouched because family should be held “sacred” in the political process. Shame on you, Mother Palin. Step down and take care of your family.

Perspective

Nick left for Africa on the 18th, and won't be back until Thursday, September 4th. I MISS HIM!!! SO MUCH!!!

I used to love time alone. Even when I lived with someone, I craved my own space and made the most of it when I had it within my grasp. I've seriously lost my ability to entertain myself. The first couple of nights that Nick was gone, I went to bed before 9pm -- there wasn't anything good on television, and I was bored! I thought maybe it would come full-circle, and I would get used to my evenings of solitude. I guess Nick is my perfect match, because 2 weeks later, I'm still going crazy with loneliness.

Don't get me wrong, I've certainly kept myself occupied. Last weekend my dad was in town. I have a baby shower to host next weekend, so I've been busy planning that. I've had a very full Labor Day weekend, what with the cooking dinner for my girlfriend and her mother Saturday night, as well as the canning party I hosted on today. Tomorrow night I'm meeting some friends for dinner downtown.

Sure, I have plenty going on - a very full schedule compared to most....but I can't express how much I miss Nick. I ache with the feeling of his absence.

I've known married couples where the husband goes off for months at a time to fish up in Alaska or serve in The Peace Corps or perform Military service. I've heard tales of the long stints apart, and the stress involved with the unaccustomed companionship when he returns.

I have to admit, I don't think I could do it. If I'm in a relationship that gets to the point that I'm uncomfortable with my partner being around full-time, there's something wrong, in my opinion. If I ever find myself in this situation, regardless of whether that situation comes with my partner, or is acquired later in the relationship, I hope I always ache with the feeling of their absence.

No Way. No How. No McCain.

I'm watching Hillary speak at the Democratic National Convention, and I must admit, I'm a bit choked up!

Despite the fact that I didn't think she was the right fit for the White House, and despite the fact that she had lipstick on her teeth during her speech, I was so proud. I was proud of Hillary Clinton and proud of where we've come as a country. I'm watching a woman who has worked her ass off and run for President.

Despite what you believe, or what party you support, you have to admit that it's a very exciting time when a woman is taken seriously as a Presidential nominee.

IT Dependency

Nick left on a 3 week vacation to Togo yesterday morning. He has a good friend from highschool who is stationed there for the Peace Corps. She has some vacation time to take, and Nick is starting Law School next month, so it's the perfect opportunity! He's going to be staying in her guest room - in her house which has no electricity and no running water. I'm sure he's going to have tons of great stories when he returns (and hopefully pretty presents for his pretty girlfriend!)

Last night, when Nick had been gone for approximately 14 hours, I learned just how much I depend on him. It took me 20 minutes to figure out how to switch our television settings so that I could watch a DVD. Seriously. I actually called one of our friends to find out if he knew how our TV works.

Now, I'm not a complete idiot. I say this from experience - not just because my mom has convinced me. Normally I can figure these things out pretty easily, but this new setup has me a little stumped. Nick and I purchased a fancy new television a few weeks ago. It is widescreen, has HD capabilities, and even PC hookups, so we can watch stuff from the laptop (I even played online Tetris on the TV!) This is particularly cool for Netflix streaming movies. We just choose something from the "watch now" list, hook the laptop up to the television, and it's just like watching any other DVD. The HD part is pretty cool too. We don't actually have HD service, but because the television is set up for it, we have access to the HD broadcasted channels. So, several of our standard stations have multiple channels, so you can watch the same programming in HD.

So, all in all, it's pretty cool. The only unfortunate thing sofar is that I have to find the proper menu on the television, and not just click that handy little button on the remote that says "tv/video".

Now...to figure out how to set the alarm clock!

My First Email of The Day. Courtesy of the actions of a mystery dipshit that I work with

From: Kim
To: Personnel
Subject: Kitchen Issues

A few items:

• Please put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher! At least once a day I have to take care of items that have been left in the sink or on the counter.
• Please be conscientious of messes left behind when you are making food or coffee. I don’t mind wiping the counters and appliances down, but I prefer not to scrape your crusty food out of the microwave or clean up your coffee spills that are left on the floor.
• Please email me if there are problems in the kitchen area rather than leaving “Clean Me” signs for me to find.
  
  
  Thank you.

Because I Don't Have Nearly Enough On My Plate Right Now...

I'm hosting a baby shower for a good friend next month, and I'm having a really good time planning things out. I've never hosted any type of shower before, so I'm becoming really good at stealing other people's ideas!

My friend Rachel is hosting a baby shower this weekend, and she has a pretty good idea for a game. She asked the two grandmas-to-be about any quirky habits or situations from their respective children. At the party, she is going to present these items as possible things that the baby will do, and all of the guests have to guess which parent the trait will come from. I'm not really into cheesy games, and I don't think I can pretend otherwise, so this is a pretty perfect game for me to incorporate.

I'm also stealing an idea from a wedding that I went to earlier this summer. Instead of a guest book, everyone signed a square of fabric, which the bride is having made into a quilt. I figure with a group of 20 or so at the baby shower, it will be the perfect amount for a small quilt. Now, I don't have a sewing machine, so I'm going to stitch it by hand. Keeping in mind, I've never actually made a quilt before, but from what I've found online, it seems pretty straight-forward. I can hem my own pants, so how hard could it be? Famous last words? Possibly.

I'm getting pretty excited about all of the cool fabric I could get for it, and really personalize it. I'm thinking I might need to incorporate some big white and blue buttons as well...

So, any thoughts or ideas? I could use a little direction on the quilting thing...as well as any good shower ideas!

The Ol' One-Two Punch

Me: This cake looks like crap
Nick: No, it looks good!
Me: No, seriously. See the white fondant trim, it has smudges all over it from the black frosting.
Nick: Well, I think it's fine.
Me: I know, but I just wanted it to be really clean.
Nick: Honey, you are an amazing baker, but if there's one thing you're NOT, it's clean.

This morning I woke up and there were black frosting spots all over the sheets which came from somewhere on my body.

The Kids

I just finished watering our little deck garden, and thought it might be time to give you all a progress report.

Bell Pepper! There's one smaller guy coming in, and multiple blossoms, so possibly more to come:


Next up is the basil. Now, there were some basil issues in the beginning. I bought a basil plant and moved it to the planter box, and it died. The end. Kidding! I went back and bought two more, and left them in the pots. The potted basil is doing really well. I have the pots sitting on top of the dirt in the planter box, and it seems that the watering of the potted basil is doing wonders for the dead basil:


Finally: Tomatoes!: Alright. Not actually a baby. Right. This is two plants. I've heard about and seen some pretty bad tomato plant stories this year. If you're having issues, I highly recommend getting an earth box next year. I want to get several next year so I can plant everything in them. These things are literally the shit and my friend Don is the shit for giving me one as an early birthday gift! As a result, I have 14 (!!!) babies that I can see. I'm anxious to see how many there actually are, once they are red and I can see them in the midst of all the leaves!

Weekend Recap: To Be Continued

Last Thursday Nick went in for a follow up appointment with a colon specialist who performed a really gnarly procedure called "coring". They cut out the entire area in order to avoid further infection, leaving Nick with a 2 inch gaping hole right below his tailbone! I'll spare you all the gory details, but know this: Stuffing gauze into your loved one's ass twice a day is VERY UNPLEASANT. VERY.

Doing much better, and things are healing quickly, though Nick is still quite uncomfortable. I'm doing my best to alleviate some of the discomfort, but there's only so much you can do in this situation!

On a positive note, I'm getting really good with the latex gloves, gauze and saline solution!

Weekend Recap, On Time Edition

We've had quite the weekend! Most of you may remember that really lame hospital visit I had last year due to a VERY LARGE abscess on my backside? Apparently Nick felt like celebrating the anniversary of that event by going through the exact same thing!

Nick has been unable to sit comfortably since last Wednesday. He went in to see his doctor on Thursday, and was given a prescription for antibiotics. By Saturday night, the swelling had kicked in, and he was pretty much stuck with laying on his stomach. Add in a 102* fever, and you end up with serious discomfort. So, yesterday we went to the emergency room where we sat for 3 1/2 hours before finally being shown a room. They shot him full of antibiotics and pain killers, then drained the infection and sent him home with more pain killers and a bunch of gauze.

We're now home and doing much better. Nick is still pretty uncomfortable, but he's able to sit up for short periods, and his whimpering has subsided a bit. I took the day off work so I could take care of him -- he's a pretty good patient as long as you keep the toast with jam and fruit cups coming.

Missing You...

Weekend Reviews seemed like such a great idea. Then summer showed up.

I realized this week that I have 3 weekends worth of catching up to do! This is certainly not due to lack of interesting adventures, I assure you! I'm going to do my best to recap everything while giving my weekends the post that they deserve....

June 21st and 22nd:

This was actually a four day weekend with the girls! One of my girlfriends is having a four day bachelorette weekend in SONOMA. 8 girls drove down Thursday night, arriving at the MANSION that we rented for the weekend on Friday afternoon. Saturday we rented a limo bus for a wine tour in Napa. Sunday a smaller group of us drove into Sonoma to do more wine tastings, while the rest of the group lounged pool-side. Monday we drove back, arriving in Seattle around 3am Tuesday morning.

Okay, now that the recap is finished, let's get down to the details!

Mansion. Right. 7 bathrooms. 10 bedrooms. Pool. 3 kitchens. Columns. Fountains. Statues. Think southern plantation house, complete with wicker furniture on the front porch.

Saturday's wine tour included The Hess Collection, Franciscan, St Clements. Lots of lovely wines. I brought home 9 bottles total, 2 of which were amazing ports. Sunday in Sonoma we hit tasting rooms, which featured wines from all over the world. In that environment we were able to have the undivided attention of the somolier, and we were able to pick and choose what wines we wanted to try, rather than sticking to a tasting menu. One of the tasting rooms had a cheese shop across the courtyard, so we were able to incorporate a cheese tasting with our wines. We simply let them pick a selection of cheeses for us, and they brought them over to the tasting room. I brought home an amazing truffle cheese, which is actually infused with truffle oil and about the consistency of brie. Earthy and delicious - just like my preference for Scotch.

The drive home was frustrating and amusing and exhausting. Imagine getting a group of girls together for four days, when no one has met before. Estrogen at it's finest by day four. Luckily, by the time the wedding came around everyone was well rested and back to being friends. ;>

June 28 and 29:

Kim Time. Nick was gone for the weekend, so I had the house to myself. I had a very restful weekend for the most part. I had received an order for a bridal shower this weekend, which included 3 dozen chocolate truffles. This also happened to be the weekend that summer finally kicked in, and it was 85 degrees in my kitchen, which is NOT temperature controlled. There was lots of back and forth between the table and the refrigerator. I nearly cried on several occasions, but everything turned out beautifully, and my customer had rave reviews after her party.


July 4-6:

Another long weekend! Nick and I had several invites for the 4th, and were having a bit of a time deciding who to grace our presence with. On the 3rd, we both had decided that we wanted something more low-key, and we had just received yet another invite to spend the 4th with our friend at his parents' house. It was exactly what we wanted. Lots of good food and conversation. I even scored several great recipes from our friend's mom, as well as a tentative date to show her how to make tamales from scratch.

On the 5th, Nick and I had a wedding to go to. This was actually one of my really good friends from highschool marrying the girl who's bachelorette weekend I had just attended. They went all out, holding the wedding at the Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls. In the invitation, they asked all guests to wear black and white, and the decor at the wedding consisted of white fabric lining the ceiling, canopy style, with red chinese lanterns hanging. It was beautiful. At dinner, Nick and I were seated at "the highschool table", so I had a little reunion with all my old friends. Rather amusing to see some of my old friends get plastered on red wine after all these years! Also rather strange to look around the table and see old friends who are now parents, some of which currently expecting a new little one!

Nick and I opted to stay at the lodge for the night. Because, well, who wants to drive home when there's no end in sight to the wine and dancing??? The next morning I woke up and realized Nick wasn't next to me. I sat up, wondering where he was, and realized he was just on the other side of the bed! Made me wish my bedroom were large enough to upgrade my bed!

Mama Always Said

Yesterday my boss typed up a draft of an email to send out to everyone. Before sending it, he asked me to "make it flowery", and proceeded to tell me that he thinks writing is one of my biggest strengths, and he intends to take advantage.

That same day I sent him an email of frustration about our current insurance benefits. He liked it so well that he forwarded it to the president of the company that administers our plan.

I love putting together a letter, then creating several drafts until the words are just right. I always thought I was a pretty good writer --- Even better that my boss feels the same way!

This Interruption in Service Brought to You By My Television

Yeah, I know.....It's Thursday night and I still haven't posted my weekend update! My life has just been a tad too crazy to post this week. I know, I know, I'm posting NOW, what the hell...but my weekend was pretty amazing, so I want to dedicate some time to my post. I'm tired and haven't been able to concentrate this week. My office is moving locations, and I'm the admin, so I'm doing most of the work....it's been stressful, to say the least. My boss made me cry within 10 minutes of my arrival this morning, for crying out loud!

Over It.

So, in the mean time, I'm drinking wine and watching tv. My evenings are my sacred time this week. Right now I'm watching Last Comic Standing, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the laughs.

Highlights:

Really cute cute cutie toot from Seattle...he got lots of laughs, and I don't think it had too much to do with his cuteness.

Another guys says "Why is it that when someone hands us a slice of homemade cake we always feel the need to comment how moist it is???"

Such a true comment...I wrote it on the back of my phone bill so I could blog about it.

Final highlight, which has nothing to do with television, or work or crying....Nick and I have a Baby!!! :

Lost in Translation: Foul Language Edition

This afternoon's IM conversation:

Nick: K, I'm out like a trouble
Me: like a trouble?
Nick: Bubble, Bubble!
Nick: Damnit,
Nick: Like a trout
Me: what?
Nick: Bubble, like a trout
Nick: shit....
Me: what the fuck are you talking about?
Nick: I;m high
Nick: never mind,
Nick: Bye!

Weekend Recap!

Migraine.

3 Days.

Seriously. I had a migraine that started Friday afternoon, and didn't really end until Sunday evening. I thought it was gone Saturday evening. I had finally taken the right combination of drugs, water and sleeping, and when I awoke from my nap, I felt great!

I made a strata for Father's Day brunch, which was to be held the next morning at Nick's Dad's house. Recipe:

18 slices firm white bread (such as English muffin bread), crusts removed
6 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
4 ounces provolone, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

6 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Preparation

Line bottom of 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish completely with 1 layer of bread, cutting some slices to fit. Arrange half of prosciutto evenly over bread. Sprinkle half of goat cheese and half of provolone over. Sprinkle with half of green onions and half of basil. Top with second layer of bread. Layer remaining prosciutto, goat cheese, provolone, green onions, and basil atop bread. Cut remaining bread into 1/4-inch cubes. Sprinkle over top.

Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, and salt in bowl. Season with pepper. Pour egg mixture over strata; press down on bread with spatula. Drizzle melted butter over strata. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover strata and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Bake until center is set, about 1 hour. Remove from oven. Preheat broiler. Place strata under broiler until top is golden, about 30 seconds. Cut into large squares and serve.

Delicious! I've made it before, and it truly is a favorite. Unfortunately I woke up on Sunday and my migraine was back in a very angry way. Not only did I have the raging headache, but I was sick to my stomach - couldn't even keep water down.

Ah well, I guess the rest was good for me. And I received rave reviews on the strata!

Suck It, Utah!

I'm becoming more and more interested (read: concerned) in seeing what our summer is going to turn out like. We're currently experiencing the coldest June on record. Today was the first day that I have been comfortable without a jacket on, and the locals are starting to refer to this month as "Junuary". On Tuesday night there was a blizzard on Mt Rainier, which left 3 day-hikers stranded, and a fresh 7 inches of snow fell on Snoqualmie Pass.

In one week I'm leaving on a four day bachelorette weekend down in Sonoma. The plan is to drink lots of wine and lounge pool-side. And chocolate. There will be chocolate.

Inherent Goodness

So, I've been having a really hard time with a wedding gift. I know what I want to get, and it's just perfect, but I'm having challenges in actually obtaining the gift. It's a specific bottle of wine that is made in New York. The problem is that the winery only ships to addresses in the state of New York! What a pain.

So, I've been tirelessly searching for someone who knows someone who lives in New York. My thought was that I could order the wine online, have it shipped to said person's address, and they could in turn, ship the wine to me.

How is it that no one knows anyone in New York! Just when I was starting to give up, I remembered that I used to work for company that has offices all over North America. So I touched base with an old colleague that still works at said company, and she asked two of her New York contacts, and one of them came through for me! And MAN did she come through for me! Not only is she willing to go out of her way to deal with the post office in order to get the wine to me, but she is going to go out and actually buy the wine for me so that I only have to pay for one leg of shipping! At one point in our email conversation, she asks "Only one bottle? Do you need anything else while I'm at it?"

I'm thinking some cookies might be in order here....

Weekend Recap!

Here's what my weekend looked like:

Saturday

• Coffee until the early hours of the afternoon. Nick went to a friend's house to do some computer work and watch a few episodes of Battlestar Gallactica. while he was gone, I cleaned the apartment. Nick says he didn't recognize the place when he came home. Score one for Team Kim.
  
• Dinner was Orange Chicken made by Nick. Recipe:
  

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Marinade:
• 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Sauce:
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon chile paste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 slice ginger, minced
• Oil for stir-frying, as needed

PREPARATION:

Place the cubed chicken in a bowl, and add the marinade ingredients. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce ingredients and the garlic and ginger.

Heat the wok and add oil.

When oil is ready, add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry until aromatic.

Add the chicken and stir-fry until it changes color. Push up to the sides of the wok, making a well in the middle. Add the sauce.

Combine the sauce and the chicken. Stir-fry for another minute and serve hot.

*Nick doubled the sauce and added sliced onion, broccoli and sugar snap peas.

Sunday

• Woke up at 10:30am - thought "1030's not too bad..."
• Breakfast of "Montana Mess" - hashed browns, bacon, green onions, cheese. Topped with salsa and sour cream. Yum.
• Errands. Found a cat bed for Cricket and some shirts for Nick. Tried to find lingerie for my friend's bachelorette party, but the boutique I visited was lame. Macy's, perhaps? Also went grocery shopping for dinner.
• Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs made from scratch. This is a favorite recipe from a cookbook I received for Christmas this last year. I've made it a few times, and it seems to get better every time I make it! Recipe:
  

MEATBALLS:

2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed and torn into small pieces.
1/2 C buttermilk
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 C freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 T minced fresh parsley
1 large egg yolk
1 small garlic clove, minced
3/4 t salt
freshly ground black pepper
1-1 1/2 C vegetable oil for pan frying

SAUCE:

2 T olive oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 T minced fresh basil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti
freshly grated parmesan for serving

1. For the meatballs: Combine the bread and buttermilk in a small bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes, mashing occasionally with a fork, until a smooth paste forms.
2. Place the ground meat, cheese, parsley, egg yolk, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the bread mixture and combine until evenly mixed. Shape 3 T of the mixture into a 1 1/2 inch ball. (when forming meatballs, use a light touch. If you compact the meatballs too much, they can become too dense.) You should be able to form about 14 meatballs*
3. Pour the vegetable oil into a 10 or 11 inch saute pan to a depth of 1/4 inch. Turn the heat to medium high. After several minutes test the oil with the edge of a meatball. If the oil sizzles, add the meatballs in a single layer. Fry, turning several times, until nicely browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.** Transfer the browned meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels.
4. Bring four quarts water to a rolling boil in a large pot.
5. For the sauce: Discard the oil in the pan, but leave behind any browned bits. (my "bits" are usually pretty black at this point, but still delicious for the sauce...) Add the olive oil and garlic; saute, scraping up the browned bits, just until the garlic is golden, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and salt and pepper to taste. Add the meatballs and simmer, turning them occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Keep warm over low heat until the pasta is cooked.
6. Drain the pasta and toss with olive oil to keep from clumping. Serve sauce and meatballs over pasta with freshly grated cheese for garnish.

*I make larger meatballs, so only get about 8, per this recipe.
**I leave the meatballs sitting for about 10 minutes before I turn them. I make sure the meat has a nice crust on the bottom before turning, as this keeps them from falling apart. Usually one turn is enough to cook through if you follow this.

Post Post Post Post Post

Alright....I know I've been so so so so horrible about updating my website. Well, not recently...it seems that I have a tendency to post for a few days in a row, and then nothing for like, a MONTH. Ridiculous, right? SO....I think I'm going to follow in my mother's footsteps, and post regularly! I figure the best way to accomplish this is to give myself a reason to post, and that would be...dun dun dun...The Weekend Recap! See, this would not only give me a reason to post regularly, but would also keep you, my Faithful Reader, in the loop! It seems that I actually do quite a bit every weekend, but unless you are someone I email with regularly, you don't get to hear the stories or see the pictures. A prime example would be the awesome backpacking trip that Nick and I took last weekend!

Here's an excerpt of an email I sent to Mom:
Had a great weekend! Nick and I went backpacking with a group of friends. We went to this place called Ross Lake, which is commonly referred to as The Alps of The U.S., so as I'm sure you can imagine, it was pretty amazing! We hiked 7 miles in, then camped over night, then 7 miles back out. The area that we camped can only be accessed by foot or boat, so it was pretty remote, and there weren't very many people around. I'm pretty sore today, but it's SO worth it to be able to tell people that I hiked 14 miles with 30 pounds of gear on my back! I was the only girl in the group who carried my own stuff! Hard Core!!! ;>

TAG. I'm it.

Sean tagged me. Here we go.

What were you doing five years ago?
I was working at Starbucks Corporate office - working in a call center; I didn't have this website. I was probably still in the "I'm never making cakes if I open a baking company, because they always turn out like shit" phase.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (in no particular order)?
1. Clean my apartment. All of it.
2. Lingerie shopping for my friend's bachelorette party.
3. Come up with something interesting for dinner. Make it.
4. Find a baby gift for a friend who is expecting (no, not the one having the bachelorette party!) I'm thinking Burt's Bees Baby Bee.
5. Beep! Beep! Go get a fresh cup of coffee.

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Whole Cashews
2. Baby Bell Lite
3. Wheat Thins with a really yummy spreadable cheese
4. Homemade chocolate chip cookies
5. Wine (I could only come up with four)

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Buy a storefront for my baking business
2. Pay for Nick's Law School
3. Quit my day job
4. Buy a vacation home (or 2...)
5. Take a long vacation

What are five of your bad habits?
1. Procrastination
2. Nail Biting
3. Pizza
4. Online Shopping
5. Not calling people back

What are five places where you have lived?
1. Seattle, WA
2. Camas, Washington
3. Topeka, Kansas
4. The Dalles, Oregon
5. Oregon City, Oregon

What are five jobs you've had?
1. Customer Service Rep in a Call Center
2. Executive Assistant
3. Bagging Groceries
4. Event Coordinator for high school grad parties
5. Crazy Cat Lady (unpaid - I do this every day for free)

There. Now maybe you know something about me that you didn't before. Please don't use it against me.


UPDATE: Nick just asked "When did you become such a Tetris Master???" Maybe I should add 'computer games' to my list of bad habits....

Helpful Hints

Alright, my birthday's coming up again. Here are some ideas:

• Mastering The Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child; Hardcover
• Delon Asian Lily Body Butter
  
• Philosophy Coconut Frosting body wash
• Philosophy Amazing Grace shampoo and conditioner
• Food & Wine Magazine
• Esquin gift card
• REI or Joe's gift card
• Victoria's Secret gift card
• Half Price Books gift card

Any gifts will be reciprocated with a very cute thank you card!

UPDATE: I would love copies of this and this. The authors' respective websites are here and here. By going to these websites, you might be able to get in touch with said authors, and receive info on how to get the books signed (hint hint.)

Consolidating

I've created a new set on my Flickr account! Please check out Flour Power Baking Company photos!

Mother Nature and Father Time Need to Get in Synch

April 17, Seattle Washington:

I guess I shouldn't complain about the long winter in Seattle. We've got nothing on Utah, after all...

But seriously? C'mon.

Forecast: Clouds about to break for sun

I was having a bit of a "blah" day today. Nothing bad happened. I just didn't feel like being at work. Any time I start to feel that way, I can't help but think about how great it would be if I could afford to stay home and bake all day. That turns into, "Gawd my job is lame. I don't want to be here." Blah. Blah. Blah.

Just when I was starting to feel really sorry for myself, my boss walked in with flowers. "Happy Administrative Professionals Day, Kim!"

Aww Jeez. I guess it's not so bad here.

Funny of The YEAR

Bumper sticker outside the grocery store today:

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup.

O.M.G.

I am totally freaking out about this AWESOME cake site I found. This woman does some truly amazing things with fondant. The link is on my sidebar - layers of love. Check it out here.

In other news, I had my first fondant experience the other night. I giggle every time I look at the picture of my cake. It sort of looks like playdough! I must say, I think it was pretty good for a first attempt! There are some ripples and wrinkles on the edges, but overall, it was pretty even and smooth!

Let's Spend The Day Together

Watch the video on Gillian's blog, then go to A.M.'s website to get more info. Sounds interesting, no?

Cultural Divide

Apparently there is more than one definition for the word "kosher". While preparing dinner this evening, I learned that when your talking about chicken, "kosher" means "Damn, Girl. Pull the feathers out yourself."

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em. But First, Try to Beat 'Em.

My boss comes back from vacation tomorrow, and I was given a warning this morning that he really likes to play pranks on April Fools Day. Apparently if I don't have a prank, I'd better come in tomorrow prepared with retaliation.

Sofar I've taped a small note to the bottom of his mouse. It says "April Fools!!!", and is placed to cover the optical ball so that it won't work. I also put a very small piece of scotch tape over the receiver of his phone so he'll think the line is dead when he picks up the handset.

I've got the pranks down pretty well - any thoughts on the retaliation? I only ask because I have a feeling that this could go on all day.

Friends With Benefits

Please disregard the second paragraph of my previous post. One of my girlfriends surprised me with a gift which is so much cooler than the original print that I wanted. Not only did she paint it herself, but her use of colors is amazing! Now you see why I have such a hard time not inviting everyone over at once - I have some really great friends!

Brunch went really well...It was crazy having so many hens in my coop at once, but everyone had a lovely time! The food and company were fantastic, and all the hard work was well worth it. Can't wait to do it again sometime!

Estrogen Fest - 2008!

Tomorrow I'm hosting a girls-only brunch at my place. I have about 20 ladies showing up, which is a bit more than I had originally planned on fitting into my apartment, but it should be a good time. The unfortunate side effect of having so many girlfriends is you have to figure out how to sort them out so that there aren't too many invitees. I skipped that part and just invited everyone, figuring it would work itself out in the end. I still think it will work out, in the form of my sitting in someone's lap! Get cozy, Girls!

The main theme of this gathering is Mimosas, of course. I'm providing coffee and oj, and everyone has been instructed to bring a bottle of champagne. I'm also providing all the FOOD. Here's a run-down of the menu:

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Roasted Tomatoes
Italian Risotto Frittata
Prosciutto Goat Cheese Strata
Corn and Bacon Pie
Farm Eggs with Watercress Parsley Sauce

I'm also serving those little "cocktail" croissants with a few different jams and lemon curd. Lemon curd that I MADE FROM SCRATCH. Yessss.

I made these really cute little cards with the name of each item, and bought some silver place card holder things to put them in. I had so much fun shopping for all of my groceries last night, and tonight I'm going to have a grand time with all the prepping and chopping. Tomorrow morning? Tomorrow morning I'm going to happily get out of bed at 745am to start all the baking, cooking and table setting. And the napkins! I'll need to press the cloth napkins, of course.

Yes, I like to play the part of Hostess, alright? It plays into my obsessive need to display things nicely in a way that doesn't turn people off.

My Own Personal Playground

It's as if The Internet heard about me and my love for Little Asian Girls. She is so freakin' cute I just want to scream!

UPDATE: SO much better without the sound. Seriously. The girl is really talented, there's no doubt, but after you watch it with sound, turn it off and watch again.

Where's Martha When You Need Her?

Most of you know me as a pretty calm individual. The other day? The other day I completely lost my shit over the Tupperware cabinet. I'm not even kidding. I had a container, but no friggin' lid! Nick finally came in when he'd heard enough of The Throwing of The Containers, and has promised to find a solution for me.

Honey? Where's my solution already???!!!???

C is for Crazy

I saw the cutest handbag on the bus this morning. As soon as I got to work, before the actual working part started, I went to the website (it's payday, y'all!).

This is my favorite among the "prints" section of the site. Too bad it's so expensive. Someone should buy it for me.

While you're shopping, any one of these would be lovely. Thanks.

Things I Need: Part One (possibly of many)

• Small business card holder that will fit in my purse
• Jewelry organizer
• New knee-high boots

Huh?

She's such a nutjob. She hates Easter. And Russians. No, she didn't tell me all of this in the same conversation, but she may as well have for all the sense it makes. I have no idea why she hates Easter and Russians - I didn't bother asking. If I had asked, I would have to hear more of her Crazy.

I spent $20 on chocolate and red wine today. Is it time to go home yet???

Creative Cooking

I was craving pesto last night, but felt like doing something a little different. So, I left the food processor in the cupboard. I didn't have pinenuts, but there were some walnuts in the kitchen. All the other ingredients were on hand, so I just chopped it all together roughly and added the olive oil and lemon juice at the end to make it all stick together. Here's what the resulting pesto looked like:













The final product was chicken coated in flour and pan-fried until cooked through and crispy. I topped it off with sliced tomato and the pesto, then baked until the cheese melted a bit.

Behold, delicious pesto chicken with mashed potatoes:













As my step-dad would say, "Yummo-Tummo!"