Weekend Cooking Adventures

So this last Saturday, we planned to have Dad and Pattie over for dinner. I had gotten this slot on their social calendar almost 6 weeks ago! Who knew they were such a hot commodity. I don't often get the chance to make a meal for them, so I didn't want to just make any willy nilly meal. There were a few things I knew I wanted to cover. I got my obsession with green onions from my Dad, so I knew I wanted to make Asiago, Potato, and Bacon Gratin with green onions. Yep, its as amazing as it looks, guaranteed. Seriously, its one of our favorites!

I could NOT think of what to make with it. I turned to my new dear friend Scotty and asked for suggestions. He graciously offered me Mama Perry's (his mama) roast recipe. Guys, this was TOO easy. Salt, pepper, bay leaves. Thats it. MP said to wrap it tightly in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 6 hours. I'd never tell her (Scotty, you are sworn to secrecy) that I strayed from that last part. I needed the oven for the potatoes and I got a smaller roast so I was worried that 6 hours was too long. So I crock potted it. Folks, it was delicious! Simple, tender... yum! I just wish I would have thought to make a gravy with the yummy juices left in the pot. Anyway, Scotty and I affectionately named him Mr. Chuck Roast. Sorry theres only a before and no after.. we ate it too fast!

We couldn't forget the veggie. Josh and I have become obsessed with fresh green beans. So when I saw this recipe in this month's issue of cooking light (an awesome subscription my parents gave me for my birthday!) I knew I'd want to try it. More bacon.. you can't go wrong. Seriously, its a crime for this to all be healthy!! Green Beans with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Lastly, I knew I wanted to make cheesecake for Pattie. Not just my usual stellar cheesecake, but I wanted to get into the fall spirit and make a pumpkin cheesecake!! This turned out to be an ordeal. I did not want to stray from my tried and true recipe. But I've never done substitutions. I spent a good hour researching the right spices and amounts of what to add. I have to say.. it turned out PERFECT!!

Looks a bit yellow in that pic, but thats an iphone in a dark room for ya. So Brittany, I hope this pleases you... everything we made! It was a feast.. Josh and I were passed out fast asleep before 10pm that night!!

Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL???

Last year, I probably would have said ehhhh..... but I learned very early on when meeting Josh that if I wanted quality time with him on the weekends, I had better get interested in football. I've been acutely aware that once a week Josh's Dad calls for his "picks". Josh's Dad, Steve, works with Josh's Uncle, Joe. Joe gathers everyone's picks along with $5 and at the end of the weekend, whoever picked the most winning teams gets the pot, around $125! Not a bad deal. Last year I set out with a goal to understand the game of football. I really just did not get it. I think I drove Josh absolutely insane, asking what the different 'downs' meant. I must have asked about 10 times. But I FINALLY get it! I still ask questions about some of the rulings but Josh doesn't seem nearly as annoyed.

So about the 4th week into this season, I started to feel a bit over confident. While not submitting my picks to Joe, come on now, it's a bit early for that, I made my picks for Josh and Steve to see. The first week I hung my head in shame, I think I got 7 games wrong. But it didn't take long for me to start actually listening to the commentators, and following along with the Mark and Brian radio show when they spent all Monday morning talking about the games over the weekend. Little by little, whether Josh likes it or not, my picks are improving!

Last week was a bit busy, so Josh hadn't followed the games closely that weekend and assumed he was out of the running. Sunday night, we were casually watching the game between commercials of "I Survived..." (love that show) when Josh's cell rang. It was Steve letting him know that if Dallas won, that was it, Josh won the pot this week! I could almost physically see Josh's blood pressure rising. Trying not to jinx it, we peaked at the score every so often. When we were fairly certain that they had won, my faulty light bulb finally popped on. How did I do this week? Josh rolled his eyes, snickered, and dug my picks out of his pocket. Hoooollly crap.. whats this? We are tied!!! We both had the same pick for Monday night's game, so it came down to points.

In the even of a tie, Joe has each person pick a number that they think will be the total number of points scored on Monday night's game. Josh shot high, I shot low. He shook his head at me and said "amateur". All day Monday I talked some serious smack of how if I had really bet with Joe's betting a silly little girl would have knocked all these old men out of the running. I am proud to report that the final tally of points at the end of the game was 38. I'm proud because my "amateur" guesstimate was 41 while Josh's was 49!!!! HAHA, I WIN!!!!!!

Either way, its $115 (Josh involuntarily provided the entree fee for himself and Steve haha) in the Christmas shopping fund so I'm a happy camper. If I do well this week I'm placing a real bet next week!!

Would the Ex-Pageant Queen please SHUT UP!

If I said the name Carrie Prejean, most of you would, like me think.. sounds familiar... who's that? If I said the Pageant winner who was dethroned after not meeting her obligations, having nude photos leaked, and most recently and under age sex tape... you'd say oooooooh ya and roll your eyes. I get it that she is embarrassed but I am so tired of hearing her excuses and lies. What cracks me up the most, is how last night on Larry King Live, she turned off her mike and threatened to walk off because he mentioned the sex tape. What illusion is she under that she is there, on the Today show, on The View, on Larry King Live for any other reason than her scandal? That she has brought on herself! I would have much more respect for her, if she said you know what, I fell thru on my duties... I did things in my past that aren't supportive of a pageant lifestyle, but I have no regrets and want to move forward. If she had said that, I'd be 100% supportive of her. But it seems like shes so hellbent on her 15 minutes of fame, she could give a rats hoot-n-hollar what is being said about her, so long as SOMETHING is being said.

I think I have the support of the general public when I say please Carrie, go find a deserted island to park it on for a month or two, work on your tan and let anyone besides you have some air time!!!

Driving Under A Microscope

Why does driving with my boss feel just like driving with a cop behind me?

Today my boss asked a "huge" favor. (I quote huge because she acted like she was putting me out but really I got to spend an hour of work time driving listening to music, not a bad deal!) She asked me to follow her to her husband's work to drop off his car, and bring her back to Amgen. Sweet, lets go! I set off on the freeway first and as I was nearing the exit, I had a hmmmm moment... her car was waaaaaay back there. I made a mental note to not drive too fast when she got in. We got to his work, they made the trade of keys, and she hopped in. I should stop and say, my boss is kick-ass cool. She's laid back, down with the times... she has her things she's uptight about, but so do I. We set off, and I began rambling about the show "I Survived..." that Josh and I watched last night. A man was scalped by a bear, had his butt bitten, a lady had to convince a rapist that he was "really good in bed" so he'd leave her apartment, and 2 kids relived the horrors of the Virgina Tech Massacre... crazy episode! Anyway, we are flyin down the 101 when I catch her looking at my speedometer. oooooooooooooooops. I was speeding. I tried to act natural as I slowed down a little but I saw her smirking behind her sun glasses. After that, you better believe my hands were at 10 and 2, and I didn't even so much think about turning before my blinker came on.

What is it about an authoritative figure being in your car that makes you drive like their is a cop around you? I've NEVER gotten a speeding ticket, let alone a traffic violation ticket, and I've never (knowingly) caused an accident. Why am I making such a big deal about this? I'm weird.

But seriously, the dude with the bear.. that was some crazy stuff!