Sunday, January 27, 2008
What's cookin'?
ME! Yes, I've been trying new recipes and loving them!
I recently made Giada's Spice Bean Soup. Lucky it turned out to be delicious because there's so much of it. This is an 8 quart pot! The recipe says to let it boil - and I was like, "I don't think so!"
I had to change to this bigger pot after adding in all the veggies, and then realizing that I hadn't even added the broth yet and the pot was full! What gets me is that it didn't look like Giada was using that big of a pot on TV - and hers wasn't nearly as full as mine. Ah well - the more to enjoy. Towards the end, the soup became almost like a thick vegetable stew. Yum!
A while ago, I saw they were selling Sprinkles cupcake mix at Williams Sonoma. Apparently, Sprinkles are really big in LA. I had never tried them, but I'm always willing to try a good cupcake. I had never tried anything 'red velvet' either. So, I made my first purchase of red velvet cupcake mix.
First off, cover the mixer when you add in the dry mix. It gets EVERYWHERE. It's not like I turned on the mixer to full power. I only had it on setting 1 - but as soon as you pour in the mix, a haze of power is set free and just settles on everything. I've been wiping down all my counters and walls and all the towels are just pink. I love pink, but not when it stains my "supposed to be white and green" towels. I think I used up about 5 wet paper towels after that before they came away white. Anyway, the cupcakes turned out OK. I'm not in cupcake heaven over them. And red velvet turns out to be a light chocolate flavor - only red in color. OK - been there, done that. I found them a little dry - but I liked that they weren't too sweet. Maybe the ones made at the stores are better - probably, or they wouldn't be so popular. Those brown and red dots come with the mix.
And my last big culinary moment of the weekend, chicken pot pie! I used Nigella Lawson's recipe from her Nigella Express series. The only difference is that I didn't add the Marsala wine. It was delicious and very easy to make. There are a couple of things you have to prep, but once you have it, you just throw it all together. Add on a layer of pre-made puff pastry and you're done.
You see that extra piece of pastry sticking out near the bottom of the picture? Yeah, that was the first part to be eaten. :)
That's it. I've hung up my pot holders for the rest of the weekend.
I recently made Giada's Spice Bean Soup. Lucky it turned out to be delicious because there's so much of it. This is an 8 quart pot! The recipe says to let it boil - and I was like, "I don't think so!"
I had to change to this bigger pot after adding in all the veggies, and then realizing that I hadn't even added the broth yet and the pot was full! What gets me is that it didn't look like Giada was using that big of a pot on TV - and hers wasn't nearly as full as mine. Ah well - the more to enjoy. Towards the end, the soup became almost like a thick vegetable stew. Yum!
A while ago, I saw they were selling Sprinkles cupcake mix at Williams Sonoma. Apparently, Sprinkles are really big in LA. I had never tried them, but I'm always willing to try a good cupcake. I had never tried anything 'red velvet' either. So, I made my first purchase of red velvet cupcake mix.
First off, cover the mixer when you add in the dry mix. It gets EVERYWHERE. It's not like I turned on the mixer to full power. I only had it on setting 1 - but as soon as you pour in the mix, a haze of power is set free and just settles on everything. I've been wiping down all my counters and walls and all the towels are just pink. I love pink, but not when it stains my "supposed to be white and green" towels. I think I used up about 5 wet paper towels after that before they came away white. Anyway, the cupcakes turned out OK. I'm not in cupcake heaven over them. And red velvet turns out to be a light chocolate flavor - only red in color. OK - been there, done that. I found them a little dry - but I liked that they weren't too sweet. Maybe the ones made at the stores are better - probably, or they wouldn't be so popular. Those brown and red dots come with the mix.
And my last big culinary moment of the weekend, chicken pot pie! I used Nigella Lawson's recipe from her Nigella Express series. The only difference is that I didn't add the Marsala wine. It was delicious and very easy to make. There are a couple of things you have to prep, but once you have it, you just throw it all together. Add on a layer of pre-made puff pastry and you're done.
You see that extra piece of pastry sticking out near the bottom of the picture? Yeah, that was the first part to be eaten. :)
That's it. I've hung up my pot holders for the rest of the weekend.
Monday, January 07, 2008
That's Entertainment!
We recently saw the latest Cirque du Soleil show, Kooza. It is wonderful! Anyone who hasn't seen it should go. Except for one act that was kind of pointless, the other 2 hours of the show is amazing. As always the music and the costumes blow me away. I just don't understand how people can be so imaginative and creative - and just darn talented! I think Kooza is staying around in SF for a few more weeks, and then it is heading to San Jose. Catch a show if you can!
We've also been catching up on movies. I've finally seen Casablanca. I don't know. It was good, but I think my expectations were too high. Plus, I already knew how it would end, because one day it was on TV and I didn't know it was the ending and the 5 minutes I watch were literally the last 5 minutes of the movie. Darn. It was good though - Ingrid Bergman is gorgeous as always.
We also saw The Number 23, with Jim Carrey. It was different. I actually liked it. I guessed wrong at the outcome, so I guess that's good. It's a rental movie, definitely. Wouldn't pay $10.50 for it.
Last night, we saw Casino Royale, the latest James Bond. I was so confused at first because right from the start they talk about how James just got is "00" status. HUH??? Turns out this was supposed to backtrack as the 'first' James Bond story. That's why they couldn't use Pierce Brosnan. Ah... now I get it. It was very good! I really enjoyed it. Daniel Craig was excellent as Mr. Bond. And now, we have to wait for the next movie to see what happens! I hate it when they do that - but I love it too, because now I have something to look forward to. Next movie, we may just have to trek it to the theater.
I also found a new BBC TV show to watch. Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Don't you just love the title? It's a little more raunchy than Sex and the City used to be. It stars Billie Piper (from my fave - Doctor Who). She is, as the title clearly states, a call girl. But it's got a comedic quality to it that I really like. She does the Carrie thing (from Season 1) of narrating to the camera, or looking at the camera to express her feelings. It's funny, but serious, and not for children. Unfortunately, I only found 5 episodes that were uploaded. There are actually 8 episodes. Apparently, Billie Piper just signed on to do another season.
I also found out that this show is based on a book, that was based on a blog. I found the blog and found it to be very interesting reading. I don't know how people live like that - but to each his/her own. She's happy - who is anyone to judge, right? Check it out - Belle de Jour.
We've also been catching up on movies. I've finally seen Casablanca. I don't know. It was good, but I think my expectations were too high. Plus, I already knew how it would end, because one day it was on TV and I didn't know it was the ending and the 5 minutes I watch were literally the last 5 minutes of the movie. Darn. It was good though - Ingrid Bergman is gorgeous as always.
We also saw The Number 23, with Jim Carrey. It was different. I actually liked it. I guessed wrong at the outcome, so I guess that's good. It's a rental movie, definitely. Wouldn't pay $10.50 for it.
Last night, we saw Casino Royale, the latest James Bond. I was so confused at first because right from the start they talk about how James just got is "00" status. HUH??? Turns out this was supposed to backtrack as the 'first' James Bond story. That's why they couldn't use Pierce Brosnan. Ah... now I get it. It was very good! I really enjoyed it. Daniel Craig was excellent as Mr. Bond. And now, we have to wait for the next movie to see what happens! I hate it when they do that - but I love it too, because now I have something to look forward to. Next movie, we may just have to trek it to the theater.
I also found a new BBC TV show to watch. Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Don't you just love the title? It's a little more raunchy than Sex and the City used to be. It stars Billie Piper (from my fave - Doctor Who). She is, as the title clearly states, a call girl. But it's got a comedic quality to it that I really like. She does the Carrie thing (from Season 1) of narrating to the camera, or looking at the camera to express her feelings. It's funny, but serious, and not for children. Unfortunately, I only found 5 episodes that were uploaded. There are actually 8 episodes. Apparently, Billie Piper just signed on to do another season.
I also found out that this show is based on a book, that was based on a blog. I found the blog and found it to be very interesting reading. I don't know how people live like that - but to each his/her own. She's happy - who is anyone to judge, right? Check it out - Belle de Jour.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
One week (almost) down, 51 to go
I'm still in denial that it's 2008 already. The week between Christmas and New Years flew by, and if not for the picture evidence, it would have been a blur. No, I wasn't drunk the whole week.
One of my best friends from college was up from LA for a visit (finally). With his visit came the excuse to party! Gathering the troupes, we had a wonderful (and surprisingly cheap) dinner at one of our favorite sushi restaurants. A short visit to our condo for champagne and dessert. A brisk walk to the perfect spot near the Bay Bridge for the fireworks with four minutes to spare. It was just enough time for everyone to have a quick swig (impromptu toasts) from the champagne we brought along. It was beautiful.
The next day was quietly enjoyed with my friend and watching reruns of America's Next Top Model. After realizing that there were only a couple of hours of sunlight left, we drove around the city - quick tours of Golden Gate Park, Sea Cliff, Pacific Heights, and a quick hike through Fort Miley. We ended off the day with a delicious dinner at 21st Amendment, and then a sad goodbye to my friend as we dropped him off.
Wednesday brought the first full day of work for me since mid-December. My goodness, the day sitting at the computer was LONG! Thank goodness, I only had to work Wednesday and Thursday. Friday was my regular day off (my schedule allows me to work an extra hour each day to get every other Friday off). I was lucky with the timing of this Friday because of the rainstorms. I did not want to have to wait for the train in that weather. I could only shake my head as I looked out the window at the strong winds that whipped through the trees, and the sheets of rain that pummeled our back yard dog walk area. Not surprisingly, I didn't see a single dog out there that day.
Today, I'm enjoying the first weekend of the new year. I've managed to keep my lazy butt in front of the computer the last couple of weeks and totally catch up on all three seasons of Ghost Hunters, and finish the rest of what I missed of Most Haunted (all seven seasons worth). I'm so proud...
Monday brings my first full week of work. Ugh...
One of my best friends from college was up from LA for a visit (finally). With his visit came the excuse to party! Gathering the troupes, we had a wonderful (and surprisingly cheap) dinner at one of our favorite sushi restaurants. A short visit to our condo for champagne and dessert. A brisk walk to the perfect spot near the Bay Bridge for the fireworks with four minutes to spare. It was just enough time for everyone to have a quick swig (impromptu toasts) from the champagne we brought along. It was beautiful.
The next day was quietly enjoyed with my friend and watching reruns of America's Next Top Model. After realizing that there were only a couple of hours of sunlight left, we drove around the city - quick tours of Golden Gate Park, Sea Cliff, Pacific Heights, and a quick hike through Fort Miley. We ended off the day with a delicious dinner at 21st Amendment, and then a sad goodbye to my friend as we dropped him off.
Wednesday brought the first full day of work for me since mid-December. My goodness, the day sitting at the computer was LONG! Thank goodness, I only had to work Wednesday and Thursday. Friday was my regular day off (my schedule allows me to work an extra hour each day to get every other Friday off). I was lucky with the timing of this Friday because of the rainstorms. I did not want to have to wait for the train in that weather. I could only shake my head as I looked out the window at the strong winds that whipped through the trees, and the sheets of rain that pummeled our back yard dog walk area. Not surprisingly, I didn't see a single dog out there that day.
Today, I'm enjoying the first weekend of the new year. I've managed to keep my lazy butt in front of the computer the last couple of weeks and totally catch up on all three seasons of Ghost Hunters, and finish the rest of what I missed of Most Haunted (all seven seasons worth). I'm so proud...
Monday brings my first full week of work. Ugh...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)