Ramblings of a Former...

2012 - The Year of Racing

2012-01-11T15:32:00.004-05:00

It appears as though I caught a serious racing bug in 2011. This year, I'm going to strive for the following:

Two 5K
One 10K
One 10 miler
Three 1/2 Marathons (2 in one week!)
One marathon

There might be another one mixed in there somewhere. We'll see!

Oops!

2011-12-16T11:25:00.003-05:00

I forgot to add one of my favorite albums from 2011!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - self titled

Their sound is awesome and cute. It almost seems as though this band is from a different time and place. Take a listen. You'll see what I mean.

And a few late entries...

The Black Keys - El Camino

Some have criticized them for selling out their sound. I don't understand it because they continue to sound pretty great. Sure, there's a song on here that's a combo rip off "Stairway to Heaven" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance". But, who cares.

The Roots - Undun

There are some real gems on this one. I love that there's a hip hop band out there. With a real drummer. Plus, it's pretty awesome what they pulled on M.Bachman on Jimmy Kimmel.

Favorite Albums of 2011

2011-11-30T14:53:00.009-05:00

It's that time of year again! Time for the roundup of my favorite albums of the year. 2011 was an especially great year for music, especially women artists. Here's my list, in no particular order.

Wilco - The Whole Love

I was about to give up on this band. Their last few albums were so boring. This album reminded me why I loved them in the first place!

War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

A great record for a quiet Friday evening at home.

Tori Amos - Night of Hunters

I have loved Tori for so long. I don't care if she's not the most popular. She is a musical genius. Her albums of the last decade have been enjoyable, but there was usually only a song or two on each one I really loved. This album works the entire way through. I can't stop listening to it. Best when driving on a gray day.

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

These ladies rock. Enough said.

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Her guitar work cannot be denied. I think this album is alot more accessible than her last effort, Actor. A really great listen from beginning to end.

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

I was against this album when I heard a sneak peak of it before it came out. Then I bought it and listened to it. One of her best. I don't know why I was so turned off by it at first. But, as I've learned throughout my life thus far, things I initially greatly dislike end up being my most favorites. (Twin Peaks, Tori Amos, Big Lebowski, etc).

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Sensual and beautiful album. Her voice is captivating.

Black Lips - Arabia Mountain

The super fun party album of 2011. I dare you to listen to this and not dance around the room like a silly person.

Tom Waits - Bad as Me

Best album since Mule Variations. Some really great tunes from one of America's best song writers.

Running Apparel

2011-11-30T14:28:00.007-05:00

So many of my friends have started running this year. I am so proud of them! Many of them have asked for running gear recommendations. I am of the opinion that, if you can put on a cute outfit, it makes getting out there on the sidewalks and roads easier. Here are some of my favorite cold weather options.

First up, Under Armour Frosty Tights. They are essential for cold weather running. I don't wear shorts over them, but some do. They were recommended to me by my sister years ago and I couldn't run without them!

UA EVO Hoody! I usually wear a long sleeve shirt or tank under this hoody. That's usually good even when it's cold. If it's really cold (below 30), I'll throw a fleece over it.

Newton Running Shoes. I love Newtons. They feel like the shoes I was always meant to have! But, they are not for everyone. I also love their funky colors.

Sweaty Bands. There are many retailers for these. They're ribbon with velvet backing, so you can wear a headband and it won't slip. If you have fine hair like me, these are a must! There are alot of sellers on etsy who also make and sell them.

Back!

2011-11-30T14:27:00.002-05:00

Sorry I've been so MIA this year. I spent most of the summer training for a marathon, which I ran in the fall. So, now I'm back with more ramblings. More posts to come.

Marathon Training Progress Log

2011-09-03T07:08:00.002-05:00

The Maryland 1/2 Marathon was such a success, I decided to train to run the Philadelphia Marathon in November. So far, it's pretty difficult running at least 15-18 miles every weekend, but I'm doing it! I'm still with the same awesome training group, and the people who run with me are the best motivation anyone could ask for.

This weekend, I run the Charm City Run 20 miler. I thought it would be good practice for the marathon. Hopefully I can keep up the motivation until November!

Cupcakes - Two Little Red Hens

2011-08-15T10:33:00.003-05:00

My friend and I went to NYC for the day to see the fabulous Alexander McQueen exhibit at the MET. We are both cupcake fans, so we tried out a new bakery, Two Little Red Hens. Their cupcakes were fabulous! Super moist cake, with just the right amount of frosting. The chocolate one was a bit overwhelming, but they were some of the best vanilla/vanilla I've ever had. I would highly recommend them!

Crabcake Wars

2011-08-15T10:25:00.005-05:00

This summer, my husband and I have set out on a little journey of sorts for a really awesome crabcake. I read about the one at Koko's Pub, so we thought we would try it.

Turns out, this was the best crabcake I've ever eaten. It was almost a religious eating experience. Huge pieces of lump crab meat held together just enough with a fabulous tasting filler.

A friend recommended Pappas Crabcakes, so we visited there a few weeks ago. Their crabcakes were very good, but were not the awesome experience that Koko's was.

For our little experiment, Koko's wins, but Pappas is also a really fun place. If you're looking for the quintessential Baltimore crabcake, either of these places will satisfy.

U2

2011-06-27T14:15:00.002-05:00

I think it's great that no one really smokes anymore, and while this was a really great moment at U2 in Baltimore, sometimes, I miss the olden days of holding up lighters.

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 16 - Alewife

2011-06-27T14:03:00.004-05:00

Alewife was recently awarded the best burger in Baltimore. When reading reviews, there was some chatter online comparing their burger to that at Hamilton Tavern. Since Hamilton Tavern is my current favorite burger, I was excited to see how Alewife's stacked up to the competition! The answer is....good, but not as good as Hamilton Tavern.

Alewife really piles on the goodies on their smokehouse burger. Bacon, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, gruyere cheese. The beef they use is reportedly from Roseda Farms, and good beef like that doesn't really need dressing up. I actually took most of the bacon off the burger and ate it separately. The bacon itself was very good.

There is something intimidating about getting a burger with a huge steak knife stuck into it. This was a serious burger! I did manage to finish it, but couldn't look at the guy at the bar next to me 10 minutes later when he started eating the same thing. It was alot of food.

Overall, this burger is my #2. A very good burger, but my favorite is still Hamilton Tavern.

The accompanying duck fat fries were also good, but the ones at Victoria Gastropub are better.

Pretty view from the old bank window

Burger and Fries (and beer)

Burger closeup!

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 15 - Shake Shack

2011-06-27T13:57:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted a new burger and I have two for you this week! The husband and I were off last week following our (not so great but we love them anyway) Orioles around the Mid Atlantic. Our first stop was Nationals Park, where they've just opened a Shake Shack. Word around the stadium was they're starting here, and then hopefully expanding to other locations in the District and beyond.

Most people will put these on par with Five Guys and In-N-Out Burger. So far, in this class, I thought these were the best. A perfectly cooked burger, with just the right amount of toppings, and an excellent, cheap bun. Sure, it's not fancy, but it's a perfect summer day burger!

"storefront"

Burgers and Fries

Visualize Whirled Peas

2011-06-15T09:33:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend, I visited my parents' house in the country and picked some peas from my Dad's garden! I decided to prepare them simply, by just boiling in water and then in a little butter with salt and pepper. Next time, I hope to have enough motivation for some risotto.

Freshly Shelled Peas and Stella. Not much better than that.

Peas!

Finished!

2011-05-17T14:04:00.004-05:00

This weekend, I ran (and walked) my first 1/2 Marathon! There were MANY hills, especially at the end, so I did walk very briskly around mile 11 for a bit, but I did run for a good long while! It was challenging, but I finished! And, I raised over $2,500.00 for Marlene's Mission! I could not have done it without so much support from my husband, family, and friends!

Here's some photos of the medal and celebration cake from Sugarbakers.

Finishing medal:

Celebration flowers from my husband. Yellow cake with Raspberry filling and Amaretto buttercream. Best bakery cake ever.

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log!!!!

2011-05-10T06:42:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been a long, but enjoyable winter! (When is the last time anyone has said that?) Tonight is the last track workout before the big race on Sunday. I have been dealing with some tendinitis in my ankle, but all looks to be well to run this weekend. I would like to thank everyone for all their support! I'll check back in next week for a full race report.

1/2 Marathon Progress Log!

2011-04-29T08:33:00.002-05:00

This is a depressing progress log! I sprained my ankle in a 10K last week, so I've been forced to rest. BUT, I should be taking baby steps back to running this week, and it looks like I'll still be able to run the 1/2 marathon. I've been back in PT, and they're helpful.

I miss my running group though. I can run 2 miles tomorrow, and it will be good to see them.

Too Much Cuteness

2011-04-21T08:07:00.001-05:00

Mental Health Break

2011-04-12T08:51:00.001-05:00

NYC Eats - The Spotted Pig

2011-04-12T08:01:00.006-05:00

Our second stop of the day was the Spotted Pig. We got there at the totally senior citizen hour of 4:30 for drinks, and decided to eat an early supper when they started to serve their full menu at 5:30 (we had a show to get to, hence the early dining hour). My lovely cousin met us there to hang out with us, which was awesome.

I didn't take pictures of our drinks, but I loved them. My friend objected to putting bitters in a Tom Collins, so I got to finish hers. At 5:30, we were seated upstairs. I'm glad we went early because by 5:30, the wait for dinner was already one hour. Go here early, folks. This place is small and crowded.

We started with a plate of Gnudi, otherwise known as little pockets of cheese heaven. I could have had 3 plates of this for dinner and been satisfied. Amazing.

I went for the burger, which was supposed to be one of the best. It was definitely good, but super salty! Most of their food was salty, my friend couldn't even finish her pretty scallops. The fries were the real star on this plate, with awesome fried rosemary. Just perfect!!!!

Too Salty, but pretty scallops

Burger and Fries

Closeup

NYC Eats - Katz's Deli

2011-04-12T07:43:00.003-05:00

My friend and I ventured to New York City last weekend to attend the LAST LCD Soundsystem Show. It was wonderful, and we had a few eating adventures while we were there!

First up, Katz's Deli. Yes, it's pretty touristy there, but the pickles are good and the sandwiches are terrific. It's one of the best hot dogs I've ever eaten, and I was excited to go back.

There is usually a line to get in at lunch time, but it moves fast, as most people order from the counter.
Sign!

Don't forget your ticket! Their seltzer is awesome, just don't call it sparkling water.

The menu

If you wait for table service, you not only get a seat right away, but you don't have to wait in an extra line for these terrific pickles.

My "light" lunch! Also my first ever bowl of matzo ball soup. Why have I never eaten this fantastic soup before?

10 Miles!

2011-04-12T07:38:00.003-05:00

I hit the 10 mile mark this weekend on my long run! It was surprisingly not terrible, although I was pretty much finished at 10 miles. I have been chewing on these clifbar shot bloks as I run, and they've really helped keep up the energy. This week, our long run is supposed to be 12 miles, but I'm cheating a little and only running 6 because I have a 10K race on Saturday. I am determined to run this race without stopping this year! (There is an infamous insane hill at mile 4).

My IT bands are acting up again, but I'm stretching and getting through it, I think. I'm going to check out these fancy tights to see if they help at all. Someone in my running group has had success with them.

That's all for now! Only a few more weeks until the race!!!

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log - Week 7!

2011-03-29T07:37:00.002-05:00

I just completed week 6 of my 1/2 marathon training and am full steam ahead into week 7! I think I'm finally used to getting up at 6:30am on Saturday mornings to run. This past Saturday, I completed 8 miles without stopping! From here on out, all distances will be the farthest I've ever run, so that feels like an accomplishment. 13.1 is feeling doable now!

I also had what will hopefully be my last PT appointment yesterday. The doc said everything with my IT band is looking good, just to keep stretching and icing after runs.

Thanks again for all the support!

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log #5

2011-03-16T09:07:00.002-05:00

I am a few weeks into training now! I have discovered a few new running routes around local lakes, and it's finally beginning to warm up a bit here. Big thanks to Under Armour coldgear for getting me through the winter months! This week will be the farthest I've ever run, with a long run of 7 miles. I'll be a little over 1/2 way to 1/2 marathon distance! The people in my running group are great.

I am almost finished with physical therapy for my IT band. As long as I ice it for a little while after runs, it hasn't caused any pain, but it still feels tight. The foam roller is my new best friend.

That's about all for now! I'm glad these progress logs show actual progress!

Sprinkles Cupcakes (finally!)

2011-03-07T10:00:00.005-05:00

You may remember a few years back when I posted about driving to Sprinkles in LA only to discover I left my wallet way back in my hotel room. The folks at sprinkles were nice enough to invite me to a free sneak peek of their new store in Georgetown. We were each allowed to pick 2 cupcakes from their Sunday menu. These are some of the best bakery cupcakes I've ever eaten. The girls down the street at Georgetown Cupcakes sure do have some competition now!

The vanilla/vanilla is fantastic, with just the right amount of sweetness. I think it is a hot milk cake.

The others were also great. The peanut butter chip was a little rich, but still very tasty. I liked that the cinnamon sugar didn't have icing, like my Nana's cinnamon cake.

Candace was there, but I didn't get to talk with her. Too many people in the bakery.

Here's some pics!

Boxes

Cupcakes in boxes

Vanilla closeup and cut

Chocolate Marshmallow closeup and cut

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log

2011-02-24T13:11:00.003-05:00

Well, the first week of official training was last week! We began with a 2 mile time trial at a local track on Tuesday and met on Saturday morning at 7:30am for our first long run. Things are going pretty well so far, and the people in the running group seem nice.

The great news of last week is that I've met my fund raising goal for Marlene's Mission! Once my cupcake bake sale total has posted, I will have raised over 2,000 so far! Even though I've made my goal, I am still accepting donations. Thanks to everyone who's contributed thus far!

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log #4

2011-02-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back to running longer distances! I am back to 4 miles, and am ready to start official training on the 15th! It looks like there are about 15 people in my group, and we're all at about the same level (running between 10-12 miles a week, and have finished a bunch of smaller road races). Thanks again to everyone who has donated to Marlene's Mission!

Stay tuned!

Perfect Pancakes

2011-02-01T11:57:00.004-05:00

I love a good, simple pancake.I always have a little trouble getting the temperature of the pan correct when I make pancakes. I haven't yet invested in an electric griddle. Last week, during a snowstorm, I managed to get pancakes right on the first try!

Perfect pancakes in pan!

Table setup!

Closeup with syrup!

Just Awesome

2011-01-31T09:02:00.000-05:00

I'm a fan of the "real" Office, and this is just fantastic.

1/2 Marthon Training Progress Log #3

2011-01-25T08:22:00.003-05:00

This weekend, I ran on the treadmill for the first time in 2 weeks! My PT says everything is looking good and I can keep running indoors, about 2 miles at a time. Formal 1/2 marathon training starts in 2 weeks, and he thinks I'll be ready to start with everyone else.

Very good news!

NYE Food

2011-01-21T08:35:00.002-05:00

This year, for NYE, we hosted a little get-together for some friends. As usual, it was a super fun crazy time. Some photos of the event before the mayhem. (Note: I made slow cooked pork tinga tacos from Rick Bayless' Mexican Everyday, but forgot to take pictures)

Flowers from our friend!

Party Hats!

Fridge Before

Drinks

Dips

Christmas Candy Making

2011-01-21T08:29:00.004-05:00

I realize I am a bit behind the times with this post, but I wanted to post pictures of my Christmas candy making efforts! Everyone loves my peanut butter balls :) They are a recipe from my good friend, Meri!

Chocolate melting on my fancy double boiler, aka rice cooker

Sprinkles!

Finished

Closeup!

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log #2

2011-01-13T09:25:00.002-05:00

Last week, after running 3.5 miles, I noticed that my IT band (a wonderfully difficult to stretch and maintain length of connective leg tissue) had flared up considerably and decided to rest and go to see a sports medicine doctor. I went on Monday, and he informed me that I did have an IT band flare up in my right leg. I was worried this injury was going to sideline me for a while, but they seem pretty confident that with 2 weeks of rest, and a few weeks of physical therapy, I'll be able to get back my training feet.

So, it looks like I'm still on pace to begin 1/2 marathon training the second week in February! I am really glad to not be sidelined and promise to keep working!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my Marlene's Mission page so far.

She Caught the Katy

2011-01-11T11:44:00.001-05:00

My Phish show going days are long gone, but it's nice to know there's a song with Katy spelled with a "y".

1/2 Marathon Training Progress Log #1

2011-01-05T10:53:00.002-05:00

Here starts my first training progress entries! While I have not started the official Charm City Run training for the Maryland 1/2 Marathon on May 15, 2011, I have been running. With my trusty Under Armour Coldgear, I ventured outside this week and ran 3.5 miles.

I have been averaging about 8-12 miles a week since I started running last year (with a few weeks hiatus after a car accident). Charm City run wants you to be up to about 15 miles per week and able to run 4 miles at a time before starting training. I feel pretty confident this will be doable for me.

So, right now, I'm alternating between running outside when it's more than 26 degrees and inside on the treadmill when it is too cold.

I start formal training in February with Charm City Run. This means that I'll be staying in lots of Friday nights as the Saturday morning runs start at 8am.

Thanks for all the support and the donations for Marlene's Mission so far!

Running and Raising

2011-01-04T14:56:00.002-05:00

Hello fellow blog readers,

I have decided to kick it up a notch in 2011 and run a 1/2 marathon. I lost a friend to leukemia last year, and thought it would be good to give beyond the normal race entry fee and raise money for Marlene's Mission. All of the proceeds to go the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. I have a pretty lofty goal of $1,500.00, so please contribute if you can. Any amount is appreciated!

Here's a link to my fundraising page.

Thanks so much.

Scenes from a Cookie Swap

2010-12-21T15:01:00.002-05:00

I attended my first ever cookie swap a few weeks ago. The rosemary butter cookies I made won best rookie cookie! Here's some pictures.

Welcome Sign!

The Entries!

My winning cookies!

Favorite Albums of 2010

2010-12-21T14:47:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again! Time for the favorite albums of 2010. All in no particular order, except for #1.

Black Keys - Brothers

Another solid release from the Black Keys. I keep coming back to this album. It is fun, soulful, and good for beer drinking. People seem to like this band, but I feel like they don't quite get the props they deserve.

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

This isn't the album cover, because I'm afraid it will offend those who read this blog for cupcake pictures. I want to dislike Kanye West. I really do. But, this album is filled with some really brilliant music. So, I gave in and I love it.

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

When we first bought this album, we could not stop listening to it. It's beautiful and dreamy and just plain fabulous.

Grinderman - Grinderman 2

I have a crush on Nick Cave now.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

This was my first favorite album of 2010. I have bought it for numerous friends. She produced it with Beck, and it shows, but it's a lovely way to spend a nice summer afternoon.

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (and various artists) - Dark Night of the Soul

This collaboration is overlooked on alot of best of lists. I don't know if it's because it technically came out last year, or if people just haven't heard it. The Suzanne Vega and Julian Casablancas songs are especially nice.

Walkmen - Lisbon

Another solid release from Walkmen. I felt their last album was a little lacking, but this one is great the entire way through! Love the spanish influenced horns.

AND NOW.....#1!

LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Dance, punk, David Bowie...love it all. I was lucky enough to see them in concert this summer and it made my year.

The Quest for the Perfect Bacon Cupcake

2010-12-21T14:27:00.002-05:00

In the fall, a few friends hosted a sausage fest and asked me to bring cupcakes. I thought it would be appropriate to make bacon cupcakes to fit the theme. This proved a little more difficult than I imagined.

I started with a recipe for french toast cupcakes, where you baked the bacon in the batter. This resulted in a very dry, sad, cloying maple cupcake with bacon scattered throughout. I decided then that bacon in the batter is always a bad idea. (My guess is the salt just destroys any moisture in the cake itself).

I decided to abandon maple flavoring for caramel. These turned out wonderfully! They were still sweet, but received rave reviews. Pictures below!

Highlight of 2010 Summer at 4:32

2010-11-10T10:29:00.000-05:00

Birthday Present

2010-09-09T08:34:00.006-05:00

Last week was my birthday, and one of my presents was this super cool filled pancake pan (also known as Ebelskivers)from Williams-Sonoma. I had been eyeing it for a while, and was excited to try it out!

The first attempt at flipping them while trying to keep the filling intact was a little difficult to do using chopsticks. Later in the weekend, I used wooden skewers, and found them to be much easier to use.

If you're into hosting brunch for people, I would recommend investing in this pan. I got the cookbook also, and it offers some great recipe variations. The batter is light and fluffy, and tastes fantastic!

First attempt at filled pancakes, below.

Pan on stove!

Batter!

Ingredients!

First batter is poured!

First Flip!

Some worked out, some did not

Mmmm...powdered sugar

What I Made for Dinner 08/27/10

2010-09-09T08:24:00.005-05:00

Friday is typically pizza night at our house. I've been experimenting with different pizza dough recipes, and really love this one for wheat dough. Sometimes, I just don't have the time to wait for it to be ready, and cheat with the super cheap and awesome freshly made dough from Trader Joe's. I'll admit, I did cheat this Friday night.

I still had plenty of fresh basil and tomatoes from a weeknight trip to my parents' garden, so I opted for a fresh mozzerella pizza this night. It was phenomenal. I could have eaten three.

Before oven!

After oven!

Tomato Sauce

2010-09-09T08:17:00.004-05:00

Each year, my Dad has one of the best gardens around. Last summer, his tomato crop was hit with the blight, so sauce making was not an option. This year, there are almost too many tomatoes! So, I set out to put up 2 baskets of Romas in two nights. I accomplished this goal, and the sauce looks wonderful. Luckily, I had my friend, the Squeezo in the kitchen to help!

I ended up with 15 quarts of sauce, and 4 quarts of roasted tomatoes. I thought I could turn those into sauce at a later date. I chose to freeze everything because I do not have a pressure cooker. I find that the sauce keeps just fine.

Tomatoes in basket, ready to be made into sauce!

Getting their first wash in the sink!

Squeezo!

Sauce on stove (aka, I heart my Le Creuset dutch oven)!

Sauce in bags, ready for freezer!

Summer Grilling

2010-08-19T14:28:00.002-05:00

It's summertime here on the east coast, and that means it's time to feast on some bbq chicken and asparagus. (Yes, I know it's not really in season, but it tastes good on the grill and I couldn't resist it!) We also received the first cobs of corn from the family farm, and thought it would be good to have a feast.

We are traditional grillers, which means everything is cooked on a charcoal grill using hardwood charcoal, without the use of lighter fluid. While a gas grill is convenient, I don't think it really imparts any flavor to the food. So, I'm sticking with old, slow charcoal.

Corn and the first tomatoes of the season!

The grilled feast:

No Knead Foccacia Bread

2010-08-19T14:23:00.004-05:00

This month's issue of Cook's Illustrated included a recipe for no knead focaccia bread. This is one of my favorite breads, despite it being a little heavier on the olive oil than I'd like. I thought it was a little heavy on time. If you just knead the bread, it takes alot less! But, the end result was a much tastier, fluffier foccacia. This was my first time baking bread on my baking stone, and it really does make a difference!

Bread in pan

Detail View

My Favorite Season

2010-08-19T14:19:00.003-05:00

My favorite season is fall, but in food terms, it's when tomatoes are in full effect. I am spoiled, and have a Dad who grows phenomenal chemical-free produce. The tomatoes and potatoes are my favorite. During tomato season, I probably eat a BLT sandwich every week. I am always saddened when they are all turned into sauce.

I wish I could capture the beauty of them. These pictures will have to do.

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 14 - Sunshine General Store

2010-08-10T12:42:00.002-05:00

This weekend, we took a little trip up the road to a place recommended by my husband's co-worker for burgers. The place? Sunshine General Store. Let's be clear. This is not somewhere you'd take a girl (or guy) for a romantic first date. But, if said girl or guy is into huge, 1/2 pound, very tasty burgers, you might want to consider it. Sure, this place could use a good cleaning, but the grime is part of its charm.

And the burgers are no joke.

These are a generous 1/2 pound, well done burgers served on a roll that was perfectly toasted on the grill. Toppings range from tomatoes to fried onions, but I'm a simple girl, and just got cheese, lettuce, and mayo.

For a burger under 7 dollars, this is the place. I don't think I'll go to Five Guys ever again.

Sunshine General store is located at:

22300 Georgia Avenue
Brookeville, MD 20833

Don't forget to stop by the ATM before visiting. They do not take credit cards.

Georgetown Cupcake

2010-07-22T09:37:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting to try the confections at Georgetown Cupcake for a few years, but could never get down to their flagship store to try them. A few weeks ago, I discovered they also had a location in Bethesda Row. I thought it would be a good idea to try them out before it got super crowded because of their new show on TLC.

I ordered 6 cupcakes. Each new bakery I try, I always get a vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream. Theirs was the best I've ever tasted. (My previous favorites were Sugar Sweet Sunshine in NYC and Sweet in Boson) The cupcake was a little heavy on the icing, but it was so good, I was glad for extra. The sprinkles were mini gobstoppers and were a step up from the everyday rainbow ones.

I also had a key lime, and bites of the coconut, pumpkin spice, and chocolate. All were very good. The pumpkin spice was a little too heavy on the maple in the icing.

Overall, I'm really glad this shop is just a short drive from my house (on a good traffic day). I can't wait to go back and try more flavors.

Meadow's Frozen Custard

2010-07-22T09:29:00.003-05:00

My new favorite treat is the frozen custard from Meadow's in the Hickory Ridge Village Center. Each day, they have vanilla and chocolate and 2-3 other rotating flavors. They also have italian ice and espresso drinks, but I have yet to try those. Custard is made with egg yolks, making it just a little creamier than ice cream. Theirs does not disappoint!

Their take-home quarts of custard are a great deal at 4 dollars.

Check out their website and stop by for a cool treat next time you're in the neighborhood.

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 13 - Hamilton Tavern (with bonus cupcake review!)

2010-06-01T09:11:00.006-05:00

This weekend, my husband and I ventured out of our 10 mile radius to have burgers and beers with friends at .Hamilton Tavern. Business owners have really been revitalizing my old home town with hip places like this (and Red Canoe, down the street).

We split the beef and veggie burger, so as to try them both!

First, the beef burger...

The burgers here are really top notch. The beef comes from a farm, about 20 miles north, and tastes like it was picked up that morning. I ate this burger on Saturday, and wish i could go back for more tonight! The bun looks like it might be too much, but it compliments the burger perfectly.

Second, the veggie burger

The veggie burger was substantial and homemade. It had a nice smoke flavor, and was not, like most places, a reheated Boca burger. Even if you're a serious meat eater, I would suggest giving this a taste.

Finally, for dessert, a salted caramel cupcake with salted caramel buttercream topped with bacon.

One word - yes. Sure, the icing application could use a little work, but when a cupcake tastes this yummy, it's hard to criticize.

All in all, a fabulous night out with friends, good burgers, dessert, and beer. Note to the ladies, the Hamilton Tavern has one of the coolest women's rooms I've ever seen, but it will make you feel guilty for not having read Wuthering Heights.

Baby Shower Cupcakes and Cakes

2010-05-24T08:56:00.004-05:00

My friends and I made a bunch of cupcakes (118) for a baby shower this weekend for our friend and her partner! They looked super cute and were a big hit all around. Here's some pictures of the cupcakes and cakes.

Lost Questions Left Unanswered

2010-05-24T08:55:00.001-05:00

Here's my best attempt at making a list of unanswered Lost questions. I think this list speaks to why season 6 was such a disappointment for those of us who really loved the show. Shame on you, lazy writers.

Who is Alvar Hanso?
Does Sun's dad have any ties to the DHARMA Initiative and/or the Hanso foundation? Did he know about the island?
Who was running all the things in Ann Arbor? What was in Ann Arbor?
Who were the DeGroots?
Why the conceiving issues on the island?
What was the DHARMA initiatives motives on the island?
Was it smoky in Jacob's cabin all those years giving orders to Ben? If so, why did Jacob let him do that? Was Jacob just observing all the goings on to see if Ben would be "good" in the end?
What was Libby's purpose? Was she working for Widmore? Or was it just a random coincidence that she gave Desmond the sailboat that brought him to the island?
Please explain the map written in invisible ink on the door in the hatch.
Why was Aaron supposed to be raised by Claire only?
WHY WAS WALT SPECIAL??!!!!
What were the rules between Widmore and Ben? Why did Ben break the rules at the end?
How did Ben have unlimited resources and money off island? Who was supplying him with these resources?
Was smoky controlling all the ghosts on the island? Was he the ghosts?
What was the purpose of the temple?
Why did the water turn brown?
What happened to ben in the temple when he was little?
Why didn't Richard tell Ben more about the island?
How did the others get all the food? (Ben's crew who lived in otherville)
What happened between Kate and Ben at the beginning of season 3 (or 4, can't remember), when he brought her onto the beach for breakfast and told her that the next few weeks were going to be very hard on her, and then she came back to the cages all beaten up and bloody? What did they discuss?
Why was Ben getting Sayid to kill all those people? Who was the economist?
What was Illana's background? Who were the people in her group and what did they believe?
What was Desmond's sacrifice? What happened to little Charlie?
What happened to Miles, Lapedius, Richard, and Claire?
Why was the lady at the hotel in Africa scared of Ben when he checked in?
What happened to Anna Lucia?
Why did smoky selectively kill some, but not others?
what was the point of the polar bears?
How did the polar bear get to the desert for Charlotte to find?
What did Eloise know? Why did she know so much? Why did she eventually leave the island?
Why was Desmond immune to the electromagnetism?

Sushi Note

2010-05-14T07:59:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of sushi. There are great places in my area to eat this edible art. With its growing popularity, many fish are at risk of being overfished, especially bluefin tuna. A plethora of rolls at most sushi restaurants contain bluefin tuna. I encourage you to avoid these rolls. I have been skipping the bluefin tuna for about 6 months now, and it has not hampered my eating experience.

Check out this link for more information regarding the overfishing of bluefin tuna and a list of more sustainable restaurant choices.

Nostalgia Cupcakes

2010-05-13T08:39:00.002-05:00

I ventured to Nostalgia Cupcakes in Annapolis, MD. Their cupcakes are really pretty, and quite tasty. Pictured here are the HOT chocolate cake and the Pink Lady cupcakes. I was surprised that the hot chocolate cake contained chili powder, or pepper of some sort. It was an interesting idea, but it detracted from the chocolate flavor in the cake. The pink lady cupcake was injected with a bit of strawberry jam and topped with vanilla buttercream.

These cupcakes were definitely among the top tier of bought ones, but I still feel like I can make tastier ones at home. I was also a little put off by the attitude of the workers in the store. They substituted a bunch of cupcakes without letting me know (I had ordered and paid for them ahead of time), and weren't very apologetic about it either. I guess I just figured if you had your own cupcake shop, you'd be in a good mood. Or at least smile when someone picked up their order.

Maybe they were just having a bad day.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Twin Peaks!

2010-04-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Twin Peaks. I was in middle school at the time. I still can't believe my parents were cool enough to let me stay up to watch it. My mom would make me black coffee and feed me cherry pie.

I still think David Lynch just wanted to make a show that was all about food.

If you have the DVDs, sit down with a cup of coffee, black as a moonless night, and watch a few episodes. Twin Peaks, like your gum, is always in style.

Strawberry Cupcakes

2010-03-29T09:46:00.004-05:00

I found a huge amount of strawberries at COSTCO last weekend and thought it was time to make the Strawberry Cupcakes from the Martha Stewart Cupcakes cookbook. I also thought it was a good reason to show off the pretty tray I snagged from Target's Liberty of London collection. These cupcakes were delicious, tasting of strawberry shortcake topped with strawberry milkshake icing. A perfect way to celebrate the beginning of spring.

Cupcake batter with strawberries!

Finished cupcakes and tray!

Birthday Cake!

2010-03-29T09:10:00.003-05:00

My friend and I worked on this birthday cake last week for her son's first birthday. Not bad for the second try at fondant!

Lost

2010-03-02T15:13:00.003-05:00

I'm a little disappointed in the Lost episodes thus far. Here's hoping it improves soon.

Lost

2010-03-02T15:13:00.001-05:00

I'm a little disappointed in the Lost episodes thus far. Here's hoping it improves soon.

New Painting!

2010-03-02T15:11:00.001-05:00

I finished this painting in two classes. The assignment was to paint an atmospheric background with a figure over it. The source was a black and white photograph, so we would have to make up the flesh tone colors ourselves. It's a little out of proportion, but I like it that way.

Kloby's Smokehouse

2010-02-17T09:51:00.002-05:00

This weekend, my husband and I had took a much needed excursion to Kloby's Smokehouse for dinner. This place has been open for quite some time, but it was our first visit.

I haven't had a pulled pork sandwich like this since I was in North Carolina! The pork is perfectly prepared and the cole slaw on top just adds to the tangy flavor of the sauce, which is not overpowering.

Their fries and hush puppies were also outstanding.

They serve beer in mason jars for that added touch.

Take a look at their website for pictures of their food and full menu offerings.

New Ride at Kings Dominion for 2010

2010-02-12T15:42:00.002-05:00

A new Giga Coaster, The Intimidator, is set to debut this spring at Kings Dominion. It will be slightly shorter than the Millenium Force at Cedar Point, but still looks like fun.

New Ride at Kings Dominion for 2010

2010-02-12T15:42:00.000-05:00

A new Giga Coaster, The Intimidator, is set to debut this spring at Kings Dominion. It will be slightly shorter than the Millenium Force at Cedar Point, but still looks like fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0_tQhpAFKs&feature=player_embedded

The Hurt Locker

2010-02-08T11:06:00.001-05:00

If this movie doesn't win best picture, there is something seriously wrong with Hollywood. I am sad I didn't make the effort to see this in the theater. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a very very long time.

View the trailer here.

Nana's Cinnamon Buns

2010-02-08T10:56:00.003-05:00

If there is a sweet besides cake that I have to force myself to stop eating, it's my Nana's cinnamon buns. They are so light that you hardly realize you're eating something sweet at all.

If I haven't mentioned it yet, we were snowed in all weekend due to mother nature throwing a big snowball at our street, so I made these to go with our Saturday brunch. They were wonderful.

Dough rolled out, spread with melted butter, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, brown sugar, and coconut

Yummy Dough close-up

Freshly cut roll

Rolls ready for a second rising

Freshly Baked Rolls

What I Made for Dinner 02/07/10

2010-02-08T10:47:00.003-05:00

It was Superbowl Sunday, and instead of sharing tater tots and sloppy joes with friends in VA, we opted to not drive our car into a ditch and stay home. I had an eggplant sitting in the fridge, and decided to try a new recipe for Eggplant Parmesean. It was from the "Light Recipe" book from America's Test Kitchen. I didn't take any pictures of the finished product, but it was super tasty. You only breaded one half of the eggplant with toasted panko, so it kept the eggplant from getting soggy. I also made a quick tomato sauce to go with it. A comforting lunch/dinner on a cold winter's day!

I apologize for not taking pictures of the finished product! I was simply too excited to eat it.

Quick Tomato Sauce Thickening in the Dutch Oven

Panko toasting on the stove!

Eggplant draining in pink colander!

Eggplant freshly de-watered

Here Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard...

2010-02-08T10:42:00.002-05:00

When the snow falls, and one is stuck at home, there is not much to do but clean the house and bake. This weekend was spent doing both of those things. On, Saturday, I made this brunch! I have gotten into the habit of roasting potatoes in the oven instead of making hash browns. The Cook's Illustrated recipe for roasted potatoes is just amazing. Also on the menu was fried bacon, eggs, and fresly baked cinnamon rolls (more on those later). Served with mimosas, who would want to leave the house?

Snow

Brunch View #1

Brunch View #2

A Lost Promo to Wet Your Whistle

2010-02-01T15:03:00.001-05:00

Lost!

2010-02-01T08:28:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the premiere of the final season of Lost tomorrow night. I'm just going to put it out there my perfect ending for the series:

They all board flight 815 and it lands safely on the island. Everyone exits the plane, and the screen fades to black.

Dear NBC

2010-01-15T08:04:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Dinner Adventures!

2009-12-10T08:14:00.004-05:00

This year, for the first time, my husband and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner. I felt pretty relaxed about making it, as the only thing I've never made before is a stuffed turkey. I was more nervous about getting Nana's dressing to come out properly than the turkey itself. Here's a summary of our Thanksgiving cooking adventure!

I bought the turkey from Maple Lawn Turkey Farms. It is just a short drive from our house, and I was happy to support a local business! Being a former vegetarian, it is a little sad to see the happy turkeys wandering around before you go into the shed to pick up his sister, but I got over it.

I had to take a picture of our fridge, since it's the most full I've ever seen it! The turkey was brined the night before and left in the fridge, uncovered, to dry in order to promote a crisp skin while cooking.

Fridge!

The night before, I made the dressing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. My Nana's dressing is my favorite, so I used the family recipe from our family cookbook. There is alot of butter and bread in dressing. Here, the celery and onions cook in lots of butter on the stove.

Butter, celery, and onions!

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner was also an excuse to get myself a proper cutting/carving board. The proper supplies are important when cooking!

Supplies (and turkey)!

The stuffed, roasted turkey recipe from the book "America's Best New Recipes" by America's Test Kitchen guided me through the whole process, from brining to carving. Here, I spread some aromatics in the bottom of the roasting pan before placing the turkey on the V-Rack. (I also heated the stuffing to 130 degrees F before placing it in the bird!)

Aromatics!

My husband took a picture of me trussing up my first bird a la Paul Child.

Bird Trussing!

It is tradition in my husband's family to also have fried oysters during the holiday. He took care of this task perfectly.

Fried oyster coating assembly line!

Coated Oysters!

The turkey came out of the oven and looked amazing! Thanks America's Test Kitchen!

Turkey!

The only aspect of cooking Thanksgiving dinner that I found challenging, was getting everything onto the table at the same time. It seems like you wait forever for the turkey to be finished, and then you have to cook the veggies and the mashed potatoes all at the same time! But, we did it, and everything arrived at the kitchen island hot and ready to eat!

Thanksgiving Spread!

For dessert, I made traditional pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream. It was the best tasting pumpkin pie ever. Another successful America's Test Kitchen recipe!

Pumpkin Pie and Freshly Whipped Cream!

Overall, this dinner was fantastic. I will put the turkey in about 1 hour earlier next year. Dinner wasn't ready until 3pm, and I would have liked to serve it at 2pm. I am glad to have this cooking experience under my apron! Until next year...

Stay Tuned...

2009-12-10T08:13:00.001-05:00

It's cookie factory weekend at my house. Lots of cookie pics forthcoming.

100 Best Things About Food in Baltimore

2009-12-09T12:33:00.004-05:00

This list appeared in the Baltimore Sun this week. I abhor the word "foodie", so I changed the title. Crossed out are my accomplishments. (Despite growing up around people who go crabbing, I still have not eaten a softshell)

1. Have a jumbo lump crab cake from Faidley’s on a Saltine
2. Pick steamed hard shells at Mr. Bill’s Terrace Inn in Essex.
3. ~~Eat Bertha’s mussels.~~
4. ~~Drink a Natty Boh.~~
5. ~~Snack on a Berger’s cookie.~~
6. ~~Put marshmallow on your snowball.~~
7. Split Maryland beaten biscuits and put some thin slices of ham in them.
8.~~Serve sauerkraut with your turkey.~~
9. Get a chicken box (fried wings, western fries, dinner roll) from a Baltimore City public market.
10. Maybe the chicken box should be from Tyrone’s?
11. Lake trout. And for those of us who watched “The Wire,” have a grape soda with it.
12. ~~Breakfast at Blue Moon Cafe down in Fells Point.~~
13. Corned beef on rye at Attman’s.
14. Chiapparelli’s house salad.
15. ~~Knock back a goblet of Resurrection Ale at Brewer’s Art.~~
16. Take a Sunday morning stroll through the JFX Farmer’s Market
17. ~~Thrasher’s french fries from the boardwalk in Ocean City.~~
18. Have a Black Eyed Susan at the Preakness. (Note: I will never go to the Preakness unless some one gives me a ticket in an actual seat)
19. ~~Chow down on a pit beef sandwich at Boog’s during an O’s game.~~
20. ~~Shop for shoes and chocolate at Ma Petit Shoe in Hampden.~~
21. Have a soft crab sandwich on white bread.
22. ~~Eat a box of Rheb’s buttercreams. Not at one sitting, of course … on the other hand, why not?~~ (This should really be higher on that list!)
23. Order a Tio Pepe sangria (red). It contains fruit, so it counts as food!
24. Polish sausage from one of the two Ostrowski shops.
25. German sausage from Binkert’s
26. ~~Fisher’s popcorn downy ocean, hon!~~
27. Sunday brunch on the terrace at Ambassador Dining Room, an atypical setting for an Indian restaurant.
28. ~~Get peach cake from Woodlea Bakery.~~
29. ~~Eat the pumpkin appetizer at the Helmand.~~
30. Eat a Wockenfuss caramel apple! Mmmmm. (Do not like)
31. Thin crust pizza! Iggies and Joe Squared.
32. Savory muffins at Red Canoe in Lauraville.
33. Try some of the special flavors from Taharka Bros. (formerly Sylvan Beach) ice cream and Pitango Gelato.
34. ~~Make fun of the hipsters at Golden West and Rocket to Venus in Hampden.~~
35. Have a special occasion dinner at Charleston. Ask Chef Cindy Wolf to fix what she thinks is best that night.
36. ~~Change your mind about vegan/vegetarian food at Liquid Earth.~~
37. Try the charcuterie at Clementine.
38. Macaroni and cheese with bittersweet chocolate from Jack’s Bistro.
39. Throw in a shrimp salad from Kibby’s and/or Mary Mervis.
40. ~~Smith Island Cake, but only from Sugarbakers.~~ (I think getting your wedding cake from Sugarbakers counts, right?)
41. Gorge yourself on the Monday night all-you-can-eat at Vaccaro’s.
42. ~~Discuss a bottle of wine with Tony Foreman at Cinghiale.~~
43. ~~Eat roasted vegetables at Donna’s … wearing black.~~ (Added - I used to work there, so I should really double strike this one :)
44. Veal Chop at Da Mimmo.
45. Bookmaker salad at Sabatino’s.
46. ~~Get a crab cake and a lemon/peppermint stick at the Flower Mart. Isn’t a fabulous crab cake, but even an average crab cake in Baltimore is better than anywhere else!~~
47. Order any sandwich at Trinacria. But no calling ahead to order like I do. You must wait in line for the full effect.
48. ~~Order the popcorn and deviled eggs at Woodberry Kitchen. Before your appetizers, not in lieu of.~~ (note, their popcorn is really not that good at all)
49. 49. Have lunch on the patio at Sanders Corner overlooking the Loch Raven Reservoir.
50. Head to Carroll County for the best cream of crab soup at Smokey’s BBQ on Liberty Road.
51. Stop at DiPasquale’s in Highlandtown for their Italian and meatball subs.
52. Fried chicken livers from the Lexington Market.
53. ~~Bagel with lox and cream cheese or apricot spread from Greg’s.~~
54. ~~Sit at the bar at Cinghiale and order anything. Talk to Rob about wine when Tony isn’t in town~~.
55. Tamales from the food truck on Broadway.
56. Coddies on a cracker from a rowhouse bar.
57. Wander aisles of exotic produce – lychees! jackfruit! Indian eggplant! – at H Mart or Lotte Plaza in Catonsville. Eat some yummy bi bim bap or udon soup at the food court and then pick up a beautiful fresh whole fish for dinner before you head home.
58. ~~Go to a bull/oyster roast or crab/shrimp feast at any number of Baltimore venues as long as you go to at least one at a V.F.W. hall, American Legion, Steelworkers Hall, fire hall, state park, etc.~~
59. Prime rib at the Prime Rib.
60. Greenberg Potato Skins from Prime Rib.
61. How about the fried green pepper rings at Gunnings!
62. You have to get a Popular Mozzarella Pie from Matthew’s Pizza!
63. A baloney-wrapped hot dog from Attman’s.
64. ~~Pit beef from anywhere without a door.~~
65. ~~Late night dinner at the Bel-Loc Diner.~~
66. Eat a “Tour of Samos” at Samos in Greektown (Greek salad, tzatziki and pita, kalamari, spinach pie, chicken souvlaki, dolmades, lamb chops, garlic shrimp, gyro, roasted potatoes).
67. Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding at Ale Mary’s
68. ~~Eat anything on the menu at Andy Nelson’s.~~
69. ~~Gravy fries.~~
70. Chicken salad from Graul’s Market!
71. Old-fashioned Maryland stuffed ham.
72. ~~OTTERBEIN’S COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!~~
73. Raw beef and onion sandwich with raw yellow onion and salt and pepper on fresh rye bread (or pumpernickel).
74. Buy a crepe at Sofi’s and enjoy it while watching a movie at the Charles.
75. ~~Naron candy.~~
76. Polish dog with “the works” at Polock Johnny’s.
77. Italian cold cut sub at Pastore’s in Towson.
78. ~~WOCKENFUSS CANDIES!!!!!!!!!!~~
79. Order the chocolate-chili bread pudding at the Blue Agave.
80. ~~Have a picnic at Fort McHenry.~~
81. Any sandwich from Eddie’s in Roland Park.
82. ~~String bean rolls at Cafe Zen.~~
83. ~~Garlic fries at Brewer’s Art.~~
84. ~~Oysters and beer at Cross Street Market!~~
85. ~~Coffee from Zeke’s.~~
86. Smoked platter from Neopol at Belvedere.
87. Go to the Wine Market on a Monday night and enjoy a neighborhood discount (extended to all diners).
88. Have an ice cream that contains vegetables at Dominion Ice Cream. [Ed.’s note: Now relocated to Hampden.]
89. ~~Have Old Bay on things other than seafood. For instance, corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw.~~
90. ~~Margarita in a hubcap from Nacho Mama’s.~~
91. Take the Clipper City brewery tour.
92. Have a Black Eyed Susan cupcake at Charm City Cupcakes. It’s one of my favorite things about Baltimore! (I will not ever go here because they stole their name from another bakery and stole all the photos on their website from other internet sources and did not give them credit)
93. Get fruit and veggies from an a-rab.
94. Sip ‘n Bite.
95. ~~Sip a Bloody Mary with an Old Bay rimmer. I only see this done at Baltimore restaurants.~~
96. Enjoy a meal at Salt.
97. Eat the Berger cookie pie at Dangerously Delicious Pies in Federal Hill. A new tradition built on the old.
98. ~~Mary Sue Easter Eggs.~~
99. ~~Eat sushi in Towson.~~
100. Wiener schnitzel, red cabbage, and more at Eichenkranz in Highlandtown. The last traditional German food in the city.

Fantastic Chocolate

2009-12-07T14:01:00.003-05:00

I ventured to Frederick this weekend and discovered this fantastic candy store. It is not the cheapest candy ever, but they have interesting flavors and their chocolate is super tasty.

It's on Market Street in Frederick. Their main store is in Waynesboro, PA. You should stop there too! It's on the way to some really great fried chicken at the Parlor House.

Zoe's Chocolate website

Stay Tuned...

2009-11-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

I am attempting my first Turkey this weekend! It will be an adventure.

Apple Pie Success!

2009-11-16T09:05:00.005-05:00

I don't know what it is about pie making, but I have not had very much success with it. I think I prefer the zen that is mixing cake batter. But, in the tradition of my Grandmas, I feel compelled to keep attempting pies. I used some of the remaining apples to make an apple pie on Sunday, following the instructions from my Cook's Illustrated Baking Cookbook. As usual, they did not let me down. I made my most successful apple pie ever!

I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the pie with the apples. Hopefully, I will get around to that later tonight.

I attribute my success to a tupperware pie guide that my MIL recently passed down to me. It really helped when rolling out the dough to keep it in a circular shape, and size it correctly.

Thanks, Cook's Illustrated and Tupperware pie guide!

Pie Before Oven (check out those pretty dots of butter)!

Pie After Oven (pretty, flaky crust)!

Bye Bye Apples

2009-11-16T08:50:00.005-05:00

At the end of fall, it has become a tradition in our house to make applesauce to use up all the apples we didn't get around to eating after apple picking. My Dad gave us our very own Squeezo, so we didn't have to borrow his this year. I can't wait to use it for berry jam next spring/summer!

To make the applesauce, I added a cinnamon stick and a few tablespoons of lemon juice to a large stockpot of water. I brought the water to a simmer and added the halved apples. After about 10-15 minutes, I transferred them to the Squeezo and processed them. I don't like to add sugar to my applesauce until serving.

After the applesauce is cooled, transfer to labeled, quart-sized freezer bags and freeze.

If you like making applesauce, I highly recommend a Squeezo over a food mill. You don't have to core the apples, and they are processed in just a few seconds! There are tons available on ebay or you can travel to the Amish Market in Lancaster, PA.

Some of these will be applesauce, some will be pie!

Apples in Bowl!

Apples on stove!

Generic Squeezo!

Applesauce in Bowl!

All finished!

Biggest Stage Ever

2009-11-10T10:33:00.005-05:00

I had the pleasure of seeing U2 and Muse at FedEx field and never posted about it. This stage was immense. I don't think I'll ever see anything like it ever again.

I think I was the only person in our section cheering for Muse. I was sad that Bill Bellamy only played the piano for one song. What is that about? Do they think they need to be all about guitar playing for an American audience? Disappointing.

U2 were wonderfully over the top and fantastic. I had never seen them before, even though they'd been on my list for some time (20 years).

Massive stage!

Halloween Cupcakes

2009-11-10T10:06:00.003-05:00

This year, for Halloween, I decided to spend less time on my Utz Girl costume, and more time making festive cupcakes. I tried Martha Stewart's Yellow Buttermilk cupcake recipe and her vanilla buttercream icing for the first time. These recipes can be found in her Cupcake Cookbook, also known as my new favorite cookbook. I thought the cupcakes themselves were a little dry, and will probably use extra large eggs instead of large next time.

This was my first time working with fondant, and I loved it. I made little ghosts and mummies.

Here's the results!

Girls Night=Pizza Night

2009-11-10T09:54:00.003-05:00

This weekend, some girlfriends and I got together to sit around a table, drink wine, and eat. We thought a pizza night would be a good idea. I made the dough and my friends brought the fantastic toppings. Here are two of the lovely pies which came out of the oven. I am also trying to make a better effort to post recipes to go with these photos. You can find them at the end of the post!

Our first pizza was a re-creation of the roasted butternut squash pizza I made in Phili over the summer. This time, we cubed the squash, and I think it made a better pizza.

Dough before topping!

Roasted Butternut Squash pizza with Gruyere, fried sage leaves, garlic and rosemary olive oil, and fresh lemon juice.

For the second pizza, my friend Meri had the genius idea of making a carmelized onion, pear pizza with both goat and gorgonzola cheeses. Perfection.

Pizza before pear!

Pizza after pear!

Here are the recipes we used for the dough and the butternut squash.

Wheat Pizza Crust (taken from the NYT article "Healthier Pizzas" published this summer)

2 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus additional for brushing the pizza crusts
1 1/4 cups stone ground whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus additional if necessary for kneading
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1. Combine the yeast and water in a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup. Add the sugar, and stir together. Let sit two or three minutes, until the water is cloudy. Stir in the olive oil.
2. Combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour and salt in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice. Then, with the machine running, pour in the yeast mixture. Process until the dough forms a ball on the blades. Remove from the processor (the dough will be a little tacky; flour or moisten your hands so it won’t stick), and knead on a lightly floured surface for a couple of minutes, adding flour as necessary for a smooth dough.
3. Shape the dough into a ball, pinched at bottom and rounded at top. Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly oiled bowl, rounded side down first, then rounded side up. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and leave it in a warm spot to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When it is ready, the dough will stretch when it is gently pulled.
4. Divide the dough into two equal balls. Put the balls on a lightly oiled tray or platter, cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap or a damp towel, and leave them to rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, the dough balls can be placed in a wide bowl, covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to three days. Alternatively, you can wrap them loosely in lightly oiled plastic wrap and refrigerate them in a resealable plastic bag. When you are ready to roll out the pizzas, you will need to bring the balls to room temperature and punch them down again.
5. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven. Roll or press out the dough to a 12- to 14-inch circle. Lightly oil pizza pans, and dust with semolina or cornmeal. Place the dough on the pizza pan. With your fingers, form a slightly thicker raised rim around edge of the circle. Brush everything but the rim with a little olive oil, then top the pizza with the toppings of your choice.
6. Place the pizza pan on the stone. Bake as directed.
Yield: Two 12- to 14-inch crusts.
Advance preparation: The pizza dough can be refrigerated after the first rise for up to three days (see step 4). The rolled out dough can be frozen. Transfer directly from the freezer to the oven.

Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza (from my lovely friend, Chinwe)

pizza dough
olive oil
a decent-sized butternut squash
4-5 cloves garlic, slices fresh rosemary (say, 2 tsp minced?)
about 1 cup gruyere cheese, grated
fresh sage leaves (20)
half a lemon

Preheat oven to 400.

Peel squash and cube (about 1/2 inch cubes) Toss with some olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast in one layer on a baking sheet until soft. Approximately 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, slice garlic and mince rosemary and put them into a little bowl with 1/3 cup olive oil and let that sit for a while.

Once squash is ready, increase oven heat to 450 or so. Roll out dough and brush it all over with the oil/garlic. Then put down squash, then sprinkle grated gruyere all over. Bake about 12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and browned.

While pizza bakes, fry the sage leaves in a skillet in a thin layer of oil until kinda crispy but not too brown or burned (keep an eye on them -- they can go fast!). Drain them on paper towels.

When pizza's done, brush the crust with a bit more of the oil/garlic stuff, then put the sage leaves on top. Squeeze the half lemon all over it (it will seem like a lot, but it works!)

I have to say that I was skeptical about squeezing 1/2 a lemon over the pizza, but it really does bring out all the flavors.

Candy Review - Candy Corn Dots

2009-10-22T09:12:00.003-05:00

These are some really interesting Dots! I am usually wary of tasting anything candy corn flavored, due to a horrible tasting experience of the candy corn Hershey Kisses. I think these should be renamed "Fall Smoothie Dots". They don't so much taste like candy corn, but remind me more of a creamy egg custard snowball. I love the subtle flavor of these dots. Not as much as the blood orange ones, but almost. Definitely pick up a box if you're an egg custard fan like myself!

Candy Review - Ghost Dots

2009-10-22T09:09:00.002-05:00

These are another iteration of the Dots made especially for the Halloween season. I somehow thought these were a special fruit flavor, but they are not. I guess I could have actually read the description on the package before I excitedly bought them at Walgreens. They are a nice color, but the flavors are just plain old Dots flavors. So, if you like Dots, and don't want to know what flavor you're eating, then these are for you.

Candy Review - Halloween Dots

2009-10-09T12:06:00.002-05:00

These Halloween Bat Dots were pretty difficult to find. Luckily, my husband found them at our local gas station. They have a wonderful subtle flavor of blood orange. They taste almost exactly like the Sunkist Fruit Snacks from the 1980's. Why don't they bring those back to the grocery store shelves?

Even if you're not the biggest fan of Dots, I would recommend these sweet treats.

Summer Movies 2009

2009-09-25T07:34:00.003-05:00

This summer, I finally managed to see most of the movies on my list. Here are the ones I saw and a quick review of each. If they're not in the theater anymore, I would recommend all of these on DVD.

District 9

Many of my friends didn't like this movie, but I thought it was interesting. I'm a sucker for alien movies, and this one had some good ideas. Granted, there were holes in the plot, but it's an action movie, after all.

Watch the trailer here.

Inglourious Basterds

I love that the title is spelled incorrectly and Tarantino won't tell anyone why. Another fine installment from one of my favorite directors. No one else can craft a conversation like him.

watch the trailer

(500) Days of Summer

This was my birthday movie this year, and it did not disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. A nice little story about relationships, music, art, and karaoke.

Trailer:

In The Loop

This was the smartest, funniest movie I've seen in years. Why aren't more people talking about it? So many great lines, I wish I would've had a notebook and pen with me in the theater. My favorite, "difficult difficult lemon difficult".

Trailer

Not Julia Child

2009-09-02T12:01:00.001-05:00

The movie "Julie and Julia" inspired me to encourage my friend to flip the 6 egg omelet we were making for breakfast. Most of it ended up in the sink. The photo shows the remaining eggs.

Should have practiced with toast in the pan first!

Brunch with the Girls

2009-09-02T11:55:00.003-05:00

I am trying to catch up on all of the food I've managed to photograph this summer. During the spring, my friend and I hosted a lovely brunch at my house. The following photo montage displays our efforts:

Grandma's Sticky Buns Before Oven

Grandma's Sticky Buns After Oven

Fruit Sculpture Courtesy of Friend's Awesome Dad

Quiche and Ina Garten's Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits

Eats and Treats in Phili

2009-09-02T11:44:00.005-05:00

A few weekends ago, I ventured to Philadelphia to visit friends. We being the foodie types, the weekend revolved around the eating a preparing of food (as well as a trip to see Julie and Julia).

We started out our Saturday at Carmen's Country Kitchen, a funky little restaurant in South Phili, where we ate in the back of their pick up truck located in the street. What a fun experience! People were stopping to talk with us and there was a case of mistaken identity. The food was fantastic as well. Here's a photo recap:

Pancakes and waffles with caramelized corn, zucchini, and dates:

French Toast with fruit and strawberry fluff:

After brunch, we started working on dinner. After a quick trip to the Reading Terminal Market for ingredients (and Bassett's ice cream), we headed back to the house to start prepping for grilled pizza.

What emerged was this masterpiece...grilled pizza with roasted butternut squash, Gruyere cheese, and fried sage leaves. Beautiful.

We also made a roasted pepper and goat cheese pizza, but I forgot to photograph it.

After dinner, we went to a showing of Julie and Julia, a must see for anyone who loves food.

A great ending to a fantastic day in Philadelphia.

Carmen's Country Kitchen is located at:

1301 S 11th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147-5601
(215) 339-9613

Get there early as they only have about 3 tables inside. If you're lucky, you'll get to sit in the back of the pick-up truck.

Sweet Treats in Boston

2009-09-02T11:40:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, the husband and I travelled to Boston to visit friends, eat food, and take in the sights. Last year, I went to Kickass Cupcakes, which were just ok. This year, we went to Sweet for some of the best cupcakes I've ever bought. These rival those at Sugar Sweet Sunshine and Magnolia Bakery in New York City. I tried the Pink Lemonade (pictured above), Boston Cream Pie, and Vanilla Buttercream. They were all fantastic. Perfect, moist cake, with a not too-sweet icing. And they are so pretty!

If you're in Boston, do buy yourself one (or five) of these awesome treats.

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 12

2009-09-02T11:36:00.002-05:00

Victoria's Gastropub - Ellicott City, MD

Victoria's Gastropub offers up one of the best burgers I've eaten in quite some time. Everything was fantastically prepared and presented. Their duck fat fries are some of the best I've tasted. The inside of the restaurant is cozy, you can hardly tell it used to be a Bennigans.

The burger was well flavored and cooked well. The bun did tend to get a bit soggy after a few minutes, but that is the cost of a juicy burger.

If you're in Howard County, I would definitely recommend stopping by this neighborhood joint for a burger. You will not be disappointed.

Burgers I've Eaten - Part 11

2009-08-11T11:52:00.003-05:00

Last week, I was feeling the need for a burger. It's been a while. I've been wanting to try Fatburger ever since it opened. I'd hoped it would satisfy my cravings for In-N-Out Burger until I could get back to California.

Sadly, this wish was not realized.

Maybe it was because I opted for their smallest burger, but what arrived at our table, I'd hardly call a burger. Instead, it was a minuscule five dollar pile of barely compressed together ground beef. The cheese was slightly burnt, and the bun completely overshadowed the amount of beef on the bun.

The beef also had no flavor.

Did I mention this burger was 5 dollars?

Saddest burger ever. I'd have taken a picture for you to see it, but it would just be too depressing.

I'll stick with Five Guys.

Frank's Muffaletta - New Orleans

2009-06-29T14:11:00.003-05:00

Since the French Grocery was closed on Sunday, I had a muffaletta for lunch at their rival, Frank's restaurant. Why have I never had this sandwich before? Everything seemed to blend together into one terrific flavor. I don't know how they compare to the other place in NOLA, but this sandwich was first rate. And I am not the biggest sandwich fan.

GW Fins - New Orleans

2009-06-29T14:07:00.003-05:00

It was a difficult decision figuring out where I wanted to have my only dinner in New Orleans, but this place came highly recommended on the web. I was not disappointed. Their oyster appetizer was phenomenal. The oysters were first wood smoked while the shells were heated separately to 500 degrees. They were then placed into the shells with some butter and cooked to perfection. These were so tasty, I could've eaten 30 of them.

I also had the butterfish entree with shrimp etoufee and lobster butter. The fish was perfectly prepared.

Their cocktails are also tasty. They have a signature cocktail made with champagne, and a bunch of fruit juices.

It's a fancy restaurant, but you don't have to dress up to go there. Service was friendly and nice. If you're going to visit the Big Easy, don't miss having dinner here.

Cafe On Main - Columbus, MS

2009-06-29T14:02:00.002-05:00

This place had some of the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. It might have even been better than Jestine's Kitchen in Charleston, SC. I also had the squash dressing and smashed potatoes. I had never heard of squash dressing and it was wonderful. A little sweet, a little salty, and the perfect accompaniment to the fried chicken.

For dessert, I had the lemon ice box cake. The crumb crust reminded me of the German wedding cookies my family makes for the holidays. A great ice box cake that was not too sweet.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera this trip, so no pictures. But, if you have the chance to travel to Columbus, Mississippi, I would highly recommend stopping here for lunch.

Doe's Eat Place - Greenville, Mississippi

2009-06-29T13:59:00.002-05:00

If you asked me where I would eat the best steak of my life, I would not have said Mississippi. But, it was here at Doe's Eat Place in Greenville, Mississippi, that they make the best steaks I've ever eaten.

I was still full from the awesome fried chicken I ate for lunch, so I only bought the 12 ounce fillet. It came out from the kitchen perfectly prepared, with a great seared crust on top, and yummy juices flowing out onto the plate.

The beef tamales were also fantastic, and are made from a recipe from the original owner dating back to the 1940's.

If you're into dive restaurants, this is your place. It's located in an old grocery store on the wrong side of town (and I mean wrong side...a security guard makes sure your car doesn't get broken into while you're eating). It's not fancy, but who cares, when the food is this good.

Doe's Eat Place is located on Nelson Street in Greenville, Mississippi. There are other locations throughout the south, but this is the original, and I've been told, the best.

Snowballs

2009-05-20T12:00:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I went to The Snowball Stand in Howard County for my first snowball of the season. Snowballs, as far as I know, are a distinctly Maryland treat. I grew up in Baltimore, and there were snowballs stands everywhere. My friend in middle school even ran her own out of her grandfather's garage! On the Fourth of July, my Aunt would sit on the back porch and hand shave ice so everyone could have a snowball.

There are different styles of ice in a snowball now, but I think that a traditional one is just shaved, slightly chunky ice. Cover with your favorite sugary syrup flavor, and you have a snowball.

I have always been a fan of marshmallow topping for snowballs. In my opinion, the more, the better. Some snowball stands are really cheap with their marshmallow toppings. But, not the snowball stand!

Personally, I think Egg Custard is the best snowball flavor. It's difficult for me to order any other. But, before Egg Custard, I was also a fan of Cherry, Skylight, Spearmint, Ice Cream, and Vanilla.

If you're in Howard County feel like picking up a sugary, gooey snowball for yourself, The Snowball Stand is located at the corner of Route 99 and Woodstock Road.

Seattle Eats - Dahlia Lounge

2009-05-18T14:31:00.004-05:00

Holy yumminess of food at Dahlia Lounge! This restaurant is owned by the famous Seattle chef who's name I do not know. But, he is famous out there and has a bunch of restaurants. I always miss eating at one, and this time wanted to make more of an effort. I was not disappointed. Even though the food was great, my pictures of the food were not, so please bear with me here...

Little ceviche taste from the kitchen to start...

Rockfish, Grapefruit, and Coriander ceviche app

This was so good I don't know where to start. Super awesome flavor, and something you wouldn't see anywhere else.

Fresh Salmon with Arugula (I think), Gnocchi, and some sort of awesome sauce with bacon

This entree is the reason I don't eat salmon unless I'm in the Northwest. Cooked to perfection with a fantastic accompaniment in the gnocchi and the sauce. Plus, just enough bacon to make the dish interesting, without overpowering the fish.

Not pictured are their great desserts. A caramel chocolate pudding with cardamom cream, and warm donuts shaken with cinammon sugar at your table, accompanied with rhubarb jam and marscapone cheese. Delicious!

This restaurant was recommended to me years ago by a local, and I can't believe it took me so long to eat here.

Seattle Eats - Le Panier

2009-05-18T14:25:00.004-05:00

Every time I go to Seattle, which has been three so far, I have to go to Le Panier for coffee and French-style macaroons. Their baked goods are so amazing, it's difficult not to buy everything in the case. This time, I also had an almond croissant, but forgot to take a picture.

Here's the website for Le Panier. It's located right at the market (and who doesn't visit the market when in Seattle?)

As you can see from the picture, I went a little overboard with the macaroons this time, but I didn't know when I'd be able to eat them again.

ORIOLES!

2009-04-23T09:12:00.003-05:00

Just a few shots from the first O's game I attended this season.

Orioles 10 - White Sox 3

Rain Delay

T-Shirt Night!

I miss when there were lots of fans at the yard

Process

2009-04-23T09:07:00.003-05:00

I decided to document the (not always pretty) painting process for my next project. I'm working on another of the Women in Corners series. For those keeping track, this is #4. This one is a little different, because the corner is implied, and there are 2 figures. Here's the progress so far.

Starting out - Grid and Charcoal Outline

2nd Layer (after a cadmium red and transparent orange underpainting)

Ramps

2009-04-23T09:03:00.003-05:00

This weekend, my friend and I made pizza on a Saturday night. Our most successful creation (of the 3 we made) was this one with roasted garlic, olive oil, olives, sea salt, goat cheese, and ramps. This was the best pizza I ever helped to make. Hurray for ramps!

Friday Funny - Safety Video

2009-04-10T10:39:00.003-05:00

I work in the safety industry, and there are alot of videos out there like this one. It's pretty gory, so it is not for the faint of heart (but it is all fake blood). I find it interesting that they show all of these injury scenarios, but the instructors only offer "be safe" as the solution to them.

If someone doesn't know not to weld a barrel full of explosive chemicals, I don't know if they can be helped.

Boo Teixeria

2009-04-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

Normally, I don't like to boo players, but this guy made me sad, so boo him!