been some time

It has been some time since I have posted but last nights dinner deserves to be shared. It was delicious! 
Figs with black pepper honey & goat cheese

Cumin spiced pork chops with tomatillo and apple salsa.

Finally getting some use out of those Wedding Gifts.

There is one thing that is guaranteed when you get married: you will receive a bunch of personalized, weird shit. Some of these things are useful and some are so far from useful that you wonder what your great aunt was on when she bought it. I heard people say things like, "Well they're so unique, I wanted to get them something unique and fun". This is a mistake. There are are only a few rules that I feel should be followed in gift-giving. Any gift should be appreciated but these rules do exist.

1. Give gift receipts when possible.
2.. Never get someone something to decorate their home unless you have been in the home and can select something that fits with the decor they have already chosen.

3. Sex acts as gifts are almost always inappropriate.

That's it. Simple enough.

Unfortunately we received many "unique" gifts, all without gift receipts that now sit in a box in our attic waiting for the day when I need to be reminded of my wedding date in 6 different colors of monogrammed blankets.

We received several canvas "art pieces" that I can only assume we are supposed to hang above our beds to remind us of our love. They include our names, wedding date and in some cases inspirational words of love.

I have been on quite a tear decorating the house lately and came across a box of gifts that included the above gem. With my spray paint in hand, I took to the back yard determined to make this canvas into something I could hang in my house. A few coats later, I was pleased to hang this on my wall.

The second canvas pictured was a beautiful Rogers family monogram. Now I just need to find a use for the three Bibles we received and Uncle Tom's coupon for two sensual massages.

From the "Does that really work" file

I have been hearing all over the place that you can re-grow green onions. After you cut the white part with the root off you throw it in a glass of water and it will regenerate. I tried it out and it does, in fact, work.

The best part about the whole deal is that they don't have to grow in dirt thus eliminating the crap that finds it's way inside the sprouts. There is a downside though, I think they lose a bit of their flavor the more they reproduce. It's like burying your onion in the pet cemetery, as Jud would say, "Sometimes dead is bettah".

Best Sandwich in the world!

Inspired by Fatty's Cafe in Astoria, the Chavorrayo. 

I have been craving this since I moved out of New York, now I am whipping up my own "Chav's" on a regular basis. 

Loaf of Crusty bread
chicken breasts
avocado
jack cheese
garlic aioli (recipe below)

just season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook them however you want.

layer chicken breast, avocado an some jack cheese. Smear the garlic aioli on. Then I try to grill it like a panini. I just kind of press it on the griddle. There it is simple as pie.

For the garlic aioli ....

3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 large egg
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
couple turns of pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

combine everythign in a food processor (or blender) except the oil and pulse until it turns into a paste
slowly add the oil while running the food processor or blender

Welcome Saoirse Cake

I attempted my first ever tiered cake last week. The bottom tier looked great. I was talking to Sean while rolling out the fondant for the top layer which caused me to loose focus so it was a little messy. Overall the cake turned out pretty good and tasted great! (It was even a hit with "picky timmy")

Top Tier- chocolate with vanilla buttercream filling
Bottom Tier- Lemon cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting

Aprons!

I love Aprons. They are in fact one of the catalysts to my housewife transformation. On a recent trip though the hocking hills I stumbled across a vintage skirt apron for only $2.50! Quite a find. Upon my return I went on an online search for aprons and found my supplier has gone out of business to "be a mom". LAME! There are still some aprons on the site but it looks like only the ugly ones are left.
Anyway I did find her blog that has a regular apron giveaway. Check it out!

Bareaoke

Sometimes working from home can make you feel like you are living a boring life. Because of this you may find yourself accepting invitations to do about anything. One minute I was baking sugar cookies and before I knew it I was piling into a minivan with eight 21 year olds heading to Bareaoke. Yes, Bareoke. This is not karaoke based on Barry Manaloe nor is it karaoke at a lodge with bears hanging on the wall...it is BARE- AOKE. As in karaoke sung while strippers gyrate on the stage to your song.




The club, the Tennyson Lodge, is run by a mother, daughter and their dog. It is beyond anything you can imagine. The dancers are well passed their prime as evidenced by the knee braces and potbellys. Dj Marty and his metal head friends rule the place along with college kids and middle aged couples looking to put some spice into their relationship.

This is one of those things you have to experience to truly understand. Just do not invite me to come along, I think once was enough.

Top 5 most awkward Song Choices for Bare-aoke

Lightning Crashes- LIVE

Runaway Train- Soul Asylum

We Built this City- Jefferson Starship

Mr. Roboto- Styx

The Living Years- Mike and the Mechanics