I was pleasantly surprised while opening a pack of Blast-o-butter popcorn that only 5 cups of the popcorn equals a full serving of whole grain. Ok pleasantly surprised might have been a strange word to use. I was kind of appalled. If anyone consuming popcorn that has enough fake butter in it to make the bottom of the bowl pool with yellow grease, thinks that said popcorn is at all healthy they should probably just stop eating right now.
I am not going to lie I tried to eat a whole bag of the popcorn so I could say I had a whole serving of whole grains, that and I was hungry. I am a little bit surprised though that it takes 5 cups of popcorn. Corn is a grain. You're supposed to get 48 grams of whole grains a day, according to the USDA Dietary Guidelines. That's about 3 ounces. I have no idea how the makers of Blast-o-butter popcorn got 5 cups out of 3 ounces. I guess they just tried jump on the whole grain bandwagon in an awkward way. Eating a bowl of cereal for a complete serving of whole grains is totally doable. A whole bag of buttery popcorn is going to give you a heart attack by the time you're 30.
Looking back on this decade in food, there have definitely been many crazy fads. Now everyone wants whole grains. Bread went from wheat to whole grain to 7 grain to enough-grain-that-there-is-no-bread. It's hard to forget the no carb craze. I think my mom lasted a week, but everything around that time was low-carb or no-carb. Of course low fat is always a good old stand by. I love when those disgusting sparkling waters say no fat, no calories. They just sort of ignore the copious amounts of fake sugar that will make you hungry within a few minutes.
I think the best food craze of all was the organic craze. A lot of people fell for the idea that mass produced organic food is any better than mass produced regular food. Buying from a farm is good. If the farm smells like poo, then it is probably a good farm. Whole Foods doesn't smell like poo, but your wallet will be empty by the time you leave.
I am hoping that the next decades aims at real food. I would love to see "Real Food" labels everywhere I go. I would love even more if there was "fake food" labels on food as well. Honestly I don't trust labels, so food manufacturers should start making light of the fact that food labeling has become a sort of comical thing, and in the new decade use their labeling to inform me that what I am eating is real or fake.
Tonight at 12 and 1 second it will be 2010. I can't wait. As I get older, the year seems to fly by faster and faster. I can't wait to see what kind of year 2010 brings. It's bound to be tasty.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Goodbye 2009
I have begun to say goodbye to 2009. It was a fairly good year. Any year that involves a puppy, a wonderful boyfriend, sharing my food life with the world, and lots of chocolate can not be a bad year at all.
I think one of the most important lessons of 2009 was how smart my mom really was. The dinners that she made us every night were edible, normally tasty, and mostly wholesome. She knew what she was doing. One of my favorite of these meals is stuffed peppers. My mom made stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage on a fairly regular basis when we were little. It was an easy meal, tasty, and could be adjusted to each of her picky eaters.
Stuffed Peppers:
1lb of ground turkey (if you are anti-ground turkey (Matthew), you can use ground beef)
1 cup of rice, cooked
3 Green Bell Peppers, cut in half (If you aren't a pepper fan stuffed cabbage is the same basic concept only you stuff the mixture in a cabbage leaf.)
Salt
Pepper
Adobo
32 oz. can of tomato sauce
Mixed the ground turkey, rice; add some salt, pepper, and adobo. Cut the peppers in half the long way. Stuff the peppers with the meat mixture. Place the peppers in a 13x9 inch pan. Pour the tomato sauce over the peppers. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. If you are worried about doneness, cut it in half. You pour the extra tomato sauce over pepper so no one will know.
If you have a few brats on your hands, like my brother and I were as children, you can take the meat out of the pepper once it's all cooked. You can also not pour the extra sauce on top. Mom says the pepper flavor is still there, but I still don't eat the pepper. This meal is great because it is cooked exactly the same, but can presented a few different ways. Makes the pickiest eater think they are being treated special and in reality they aren't. My mom was not into actually making different meals, but she was all for tricking us into eating the food she made.
I hope you are enjoying your end of the year festivities. For all who care, I am still waiting on one of my grades because my professor is a nut job; but everyone else gave me an A. That would bring my GPA to a 3.972. GROSS!!! Oh well I'll get over it. If the nut job gives me a B I'll probably have a post full of tears; lets hope it just doesn't happen.
Enjoy the pictures and my continued look back on 2009 and this crazy decade that took me from PA to JWU to Oregon to Maine to Boston. Hope you are overindulging till the New Year!
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, December 28, 2009
National Chocolate Day
I was told that today was national chocolate day, so like any good chocolate lover I wished everyone a happy chocolate day and then I searched it out. It appears October 28th was National Chocolate Day too. I am a tad bit confused, but I am all for celebrating chocolate whenever I can.
I am in a desperate need of chocolate today, because I am anxiously awaiting final grades. I work myself to tears during the semester for that illusive A. Anyone who tells you that it's not about the grades is probably getting B's and C's. I am neurotic about my grades. Right now my GPA is at a 3.962; that grade actually frustrates me to no end. One A- and I'm not at a beautiful 4.0. All I have to say is if I get a B, I will be devastated and by devastated I mean I will cry myself to sleep for the rest of break. Yes chocolate day could not have come at a better time.
I know the picture has nothing to do with chocolate day or food, but a pit bull and a cat happily chilling on my sister's leopard sheets is a rather unusual occurrence. Luckily this is an every day event at our crazy house. And you wonder why I need chocolate?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Saturday, December 26, 2009
A Very Puerto Rican Christmas
Crispy pork skin is possibly the closest thing to heaven on earth. Next comes Titi Annie's red rice and beans, and pasteles rounds out the meal. Puerto Ricans know how to eat. I would argue that we have the best food known to man. You can disagree, but I am pretty sure I'm right.
Christmas this year was nearly a flop. My Titi was going to have everyone over on the 19th and no one knew who was going to have everyone over. Then the snow storm happened. No party. Titi decided that she'd do Christmas instead. I was all for this plan since on the 19th I was crying over my ethics final. I guess Titi wasn't up for a ton of cooking on Christmas, so she told my cousin that she was thinking of making a lasagna.
"We are not white people!"
My cousin convinced my Titi that the lasagna was not such a great idea. Instead she made a pork roast, a giant pot of rice, pasteles, and all kinds of yummy dips and foods. Ahhh heavenly! Before you get the wrong idea, my cousin has nothing against white people. We just feel bad for them. I mean can you imagine sitting at Christmas dinner over lasagna and reminiscing over that 3rd grade science project that didn't work out so well, then the awkward silence happens.
*Side Story* We went out to dinner in Philadelphia when my cousin graduated from med school. It was just us girls, and we were laughing and joking. Across from us was another family. Not a one of them were talking. Their food must have been terribly interesting is all I have to say. *End side story*
I grew up in a relatively average size family with a HUMONGOUS extended family. Two rather large extended families actually. With my dad's family there is always good food and I literally laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. Between stories about my cousin who's a surgeon and my Uncle Tony remembering my Abuela throwing a spoon at my Uncle Hector's head. It was metal and actually stuck into the wall; Uncle Hector obviously moved fairly quickly.
My mom's family may eat creamed hot dogs (think hot dogs in a white cream sauce and then throw up a little bit in your mouth), but they are also a rather good time. If creamed hot dogs are on the menu, I just eat before I go.
What constitutes a white person? Well I think vanilla people would be a better definition, because I know a lot of rather exciting white people. (I love you mom!) Food should be something you are in tears laughing over. It shouldn't bring the family together. It should bring the family running to the pile of plates to fill up on food before someone else gets the crispy burnt rice on the bottom of the caldera (rice pot).
Worried you're a vanilla person? Well never fear there is still hope. I think pork is a great way to liven things up. Just bite into the crispy skin and you will smile and remember a great story to send everyone into fits of painful laughter. There's actually a hunk of pork sitting in our fridge right now. I'll send out that recipe and pictures when we make it. Hope you are happily stuffed on holiday goodies. Diets don't start till January 1st so be sure to overindulge.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Christmas this year was nearly a flop. My Titi was going to have everyone over on the 19th and no one knew who was going to have everyone over. Then the snow storm happened. No party. Titi decided that she'd do Christmas instead. I was all for this plan since on the 19th I was crying over my ethics final. I guess Titi wasn't up for a ton of cooking on Christmas, so she told my cousin that she was thinking of making a lasagna.
"We are not white people!"
My cousin convinced my Titi that the lasagna was not such a great idea. Instead she made a pork roast, a giant pot of rice, pasteles, and all kinds of yummy dips and foods. Ahhh heavenly! Before you get the wrong idea, my cousin has nothing against white people. We just feel bad for them. I mean can you imagine sitting at Christmas dinner over lasagna and reminiscing over that 3rd grade science project that didn't work out so well, then the awkward silence happens.
*Side Story* We went out to dinner in Philadelphia when my cousin graduated from med school. It was just us girls, and we were laughing and joking. Across from us was another family. Not a one of them were talking. Their food must have been terribly interesting is all I have to say. *End side story*
I grew up in a relatively average size family with a HUMONGOUS extended family. Two rather large extended families actually. With my dad's family there is always good food and I literally laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. Between stories about my cousin who's a surgeon and my Uncle Tony remembering my Abuela throwing a spoon at my Uncle Hector's head. It was metal and actually stuck into the wall; Uncle Hector obviously moved fairly quickly.
My mom's family may eat creamed hot dogs (think hot dogs in a white cream sauce and then throw up a little bit in your mouth), but they are also a rather good time. If creamed hot dogs are on the menu, I just eat before I go.
What constitutes a white person? Well I think vanilla people would be a better definition, because I know a lot of rather exciting white people. (I love you mom!) Food should be something you are in tears laughing over. It shouldn't bring the family together. It should bring the family running to the pile of plates to fill up on food before someone else gets the crispy burnt rice on the bottom of the caldera (rice pot).
Worried you're a vanilla person? Well never fear there is still hope. I think pork is a great way to liven things up. Just bite into the crispy skin and you will smile and remember a great story to send everyone into fits of painful laughter. There's actually a hunk of pork sitting in our fridge right now. I'll send out that recipe and pictures when we make it. Hope you are happily stuffed on holiday goodies. Diets don't start till January 1st so be sure to overindulge.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Maybe it's time for some cooking classes
MSNBC reported yesterday that a woman in Texas called 911 because her husband would not eat dinner. Aside from making obvious claims on the woman's sanity, (please tell me that you have already made claims on this woman's sanity) I am thinking that maybe this woman just can't cook. Either that or she has a rather picky eater on her hands. Both of these situations could send someone over the edge, especially if sanity was already compromised (I said if. Don't judge!).
Now there have been many instances when my mom made something completely inedible for dinner. I love my mom dearly, but we ate wallpaper paste red rice and beans for months before she got it right. It was always a monstrous pot of rice too, so we all had to learn the swallow without chewing techniques. I also became an expert at "this is a lot closer than the last one" discussions. My poor Pennsylvania Dutch mother. She was meant to stick to potatoes and celery, and not to venture into the world of Latin cuisine.
In honor of this lovely and possible loony woman in Texas, I am of the firm opinion she was trying to poison her husband and he knew about it, I decided that we all needed to think up some truly 911 worthy food emergencies. Sometimes I wish there were a food version of 911. "Hello, operator, my oven coil just burned out and the turkey just started to cook AND it's Thanksgiving and 30 people will be arriving in 5 hours." It would save so many people from resorting to Chinese food during the holidays.
911 Moment #1: I have run out of butter. This is perhaps worse than death. Butter makes the most lovely of foods. The lack of butter is just so sad.
911 Moment #2: Beef Stroganoff. Really this has to be the worst meal known to man. Whoever thought of this dish needs to just crawl into a hole and apologize for the wrong they have done to the world. Any dinner with this concoction is a 911 worthy moment for everyone expected to partake.
911 Moment #3: Is that blood? You're cutting away at some vegetables, and you don't feel it but you slice right into your finger. All of the veggies need to be thrown out. Washing them off is not an option and if you think it is, you should probably just stop cooking for good.
911 Moment #4: It doesn't turn out. You have made your famous apple pie a million times for yourself. Every time you make it, it turns out perfectly. You have been telling your friends about it and finally decide to bring it to the holiday party. It is a flop. The crust burns the apples are hard. 911 moment if I have ever heard of one.
Of course not a one of these moments are truly worthy of calling 911. Emergencies are only emergencies because they happen infrequently and only when the situation is truly dire. In the food world, there is a real need for a 911 number. Maybe if we give Congress a Christmas deadline, they'll work something out for us. Until then instead of calling the poor operator about your husband's lack of appetite, you should probably just find a girlfriend to complain to or a cooking class to take.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Now there have been many instances when my mom made something completely inedible for dinner. I love my mom dearly, but we ate wallpaper paste red rice and beans for months before she got it right. It was always a monstrous pot of rice too, so we all had to learn the swallow without chewing techniques. I also became an expert at "this is a lot closer than the last one" discussions. My poor Pennsylvania Dutch mother. She was meant to stick to potatoes and celery, and not to venture into the world of Latin cuisine.
In honor of this lovely and possible loony woman in Texas, I am of the firm opinion she was trying to poison her husband and he knew about it, I decided that we all needed to think up some truly 911 worthy food emergencies. Sometimes I wish there were a food version of 911. "Hello, operator, my oven coil just burned out and the turkey just started to cook AND it's Thanksgiving and 30 people will be arriving in 5 hours." It would save so many people from resorting to Chinese food during the holidays.
911 Moment #1: I have run out of butter. This is perhaps worse than death. Butter makes the most lovely of foods. The lack of butter is just so sad.
911 Moment #2: Beef Stroganoff. Really this has to be the worst meal known to man. Whoever thought of this dish needs to just crawl into a hole and apologize for the wrong they have done to the world. Any dinner with this concoction is a 911 worthy moment for everyone expected to partake.
911 Moment #3: Is that blood? You're cutting away at some vegetables, and you don't feel it but you slice right into your finger. All of the veggies need to be thrown out. Washing them off is not an option and if you think it is, you should probably just stop cooking for good.
911 Moment #4: It doesn't turn out. You have made your famous apple pie a million times for yourself. Every time you make it, it turns out perfectly. You have been telling your friends about it and finally decide to bring it to the holiday party. It is a flop. The crust burns the apples are hard. 911 moment if I have ever heard of one.
Of course not a one of these moments are truly worthy of calling 911. Emergencies are only emergencies because they happen infrequently and only when the situation is truly dire. In the food world, there is a real need for a 911 number. Maybe if we give Congress a Christmas deadline, they'll work something out for us. Until then instead of calling the poor operator about your husband's lack of appetite, you should probably just find a girlfriend to complain to or a cooking class to take.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
I think I'll call her Julia
My sister's name is Mara Cruz. She was named after my dad's grandmother Cruz Della Cruz. My brother's name is Jeshua David. He was named after my dad. My name is Emily Elizabeth. I was named after Emily Elizabeth the owner of Clifford the Big Red Dog, you know the children's books. I find it fitting that my mom was the one who picked my name and I was named after a fictional children's book character. It's pretty much the same as being named after my mom, and my life has been just the adventure such a name should bring.
As I was reading Julia Child's book My Life in France, I decided that my first daughter would be named Julia. Go ahead and laugh, but it's Christmas so I can have my epitomes about whatever I like. Emily Elizabeth was so brave and wonderful and she had that big red dog named Clifford. Julia Childs was equally brave and wonderful. She was the Barbara Walters of food. She believed in the American housewife when everyone else was trying to sell them boxed cake mixes. While all of those things are great, I think the most important thing about Julia Childs (and the reason I would name my daughter after her) was that she believed in herself. That sounds so silly and Halmark-esque, but she didn't believe in herself in the self-help gimicky sort of way. She really knew that she could do something great, and she got stuff done.
I was hoping to find out the happily-ever-after in Julia Childs' book today, but instead I had wonderful conversations with people in the airport and with the two people next to me on my flight. I didn't put on my ipod once, and it was wonderful how much human contact I had. Technology is great, but there are definitely times when too much technology causes you to miss the woman bitching out her husband because he didn't get in the wrong line. It's not a secret I'm nosy, but when you can't actually hear anything but The Mamas and The Papas singing about Monday the nosy me gets sadly ignored. I think I really need to stop doing that; nosy me is way more fun.
I am so thankful to be home. My dad went out and bought me a new phone to replace the phone I had that dies every two seconds. I love my dad! My mom and I went grocery shopping. When I was little, this was one of those pretend-to-be-a-big-person tasks. I would remember our weekly list of meals and help make sure mom did not forget bread for my dad for work. I felt very important. Now that I live on my own, going grocery shopping with my mom is one more reminder that I can't pretend to be grown up anymore, because in many ways I am grown up. I check price tags and disclose my thriftiest secrets. Oddly this feels completely natural. Life is strange like that.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. My sister is planning a romantic breakfast of bacon and eggs for her boyfriend and her. Bacon is involved so I'll definitely be there. Hope you are just as actively embarrassing your family on this lovely holiday.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
As I was reading Julia Child's book My Life in France, I decided that my first daughter would be named Julia. Go ahead and laugh, but it's Christmas so I can have my epitomes about whatever I like. Emily Elizabeth was so brave and wonderful and she had that big red dog named Clifford. Julia Childs was equally brave and wonderful. She was the Barbara Walters of food. She believed in the American housewife when everyone else was trying to sell them boxed cake mixes. While all of those things are great, I think the most important thing about Julia Childs (and the reason I would name my daughter after her) was that she believed in herself. That sounds so silly and Halmark-esque, but she didn't believe in herself in the self-help gimicky sort of way. She really knew that she could do something great, and she got stuff done.
I was hoping to find out the happily-ever-after in Julia Childs' book today, but instead I had wonderful conversations with people in the airport and with the two people next to me on my flight. I didn't put on my ipod once, and it was wonderful how much human contact I had. Technology is great, but there are definitely times when too much technology causes you to miss the woman bitching out her husband because he didn't get in the wrong line. It's not a secret I'm nosy, but when you can't actually hear anything but The Mamas and The Papas singing about Monday the nosy me gets sadly ignored. I think I really need to stop doing that; nosy me is way more fun.
I am so thankful to be home. My dad went out and bought me a new phone to replace the phone I had that dies every two seconds. I love my dad! My mom and I went grocery shopping. When I was little, this was one of those pretend-to-be-a-big-person tasks. I would remember our weekly list of meals and help make sure mom did not forget bread for my dad for work. I felt very important. Now that I live on my own, going grocery shopping with my mom is one more reminder that I can't pretend to be grown up anymore, because in many ways I am grown up. I check price tags and disclose my thriftiest secrets. Oddly this feels completely natural. Life is strange like that.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. My sister is planning a romantic breakfast of bacon and eggs for her boyfriend and her. Bacon is involved so I'll definitely be there. Hope you are just as actively embarrassing your family on this lovely holiday.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Learn to cook
This time of year always separates the cooks from the oh-I-brought-drinks. My Uncle Tony was always the drink guy when I was little. He wasn't going to cook, and no one expected him too, so he brought drinks. He brought seltzer water a lot, which kind of grossed me out; I didn't judge though.
In case you don't know this yet, life is a little different for men than it is for women. Men can get away with "bringing drinks." Women on the other hand get labeled immediately. I know this, because my mom and I gossip about it every year.
Before you go and label my mom and I, I'll tell you that we can be harsh. My sister and I are way more harsh, but we always have good reason. Women who don't at least attempt to cook are looked on in contempt by the Gonzalez women. We are not unreasonable though about our contempt. All you need to impress us is one good dish. If you can contribute one good piece of the meal, you're golden. We are a part of a rather large family, so a side dish will suffices.
If you aren't a part of my family and assume that you are not being judged when you attend your Christmas party and bring that box of Pepridge Farm cookies, you are seriously living in denial. You don't want to be known as that person.
The good news, it is not very hard to impress. Start with a dip. Everyone loves a good dip. Pick something easy and tell everyone you are trying a new recipe. Saying you are trying something new is like female code for "oh yeah I cook and I have my favorite recipes, but I just decided it was time to branch out." It is brilliant.
Christmas can be stressful with parties and events and family and last minute "oh no she's getting me a present" presents. The last thing you want is to show up to a party with drinks and have the equivalent of my mother and I criticizing you till the end of time. Be adventurous and venture in your kitchen. You may be shocked at how much fun you have once you are there.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
In case you don't know this yet, life is a little different for men than it is for women. Men can get away with "bringing drinks." Women on the other hand get labeled immediately. I know this, because my mom and I gossip about it every year.
Before you go and label my mom and I, I'll tell you that we can be harsh. My sister and I are way more harsh, but we always have good reason. Women who don't at least attempt to cook are looked on in contempt by the Gonzalez women. We are not unreasonable though about our contempt. All you need to impress us is one good dish. If you can contribute one good piece of the meal, you're golden. We are a part of a rather large family, so a side dish will suffices.
If you aren't a part of my family and assume that you are not being judged when you attend your Christmas party and bring that box of Pepridge Farm cookies, you are seriously living in denial. You don't want to be known as that person.
The good news, it is not very hard to impress. Start with a dip. Everyone loves a good dip. Pick something easy and tell everyone you are trying a new recipe. Saying you are trying something new is like female code for "oh yeah I cook and I have my favorite recipes, but I just decided it was time to branch out." It is brilliant.
Christmas can be stressful with parties and events and family and last minute "oh no she's getting me a present" presents. The last thing you want is to show up to a party with drinks and have the equivalent of my mother and I criticizing you till the end of time. Be adventurous and venture in your kitchen. You may be shocked at how much fun you have once you are there.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Oh the weather outside is frightful...
Ok it's not quite frightful yet, but according to the maps it's coming. I was a little disappointed tonight. I walked to Trader Joes to catch a little bit of the bread and milk action and the bread aisle was full, and people were civilly walking around the store. Epic fail, Boston, epic fail.
Here's the problem with city life. You are never really "snowed in." The T keeps running and your feet still work. When the store is within walking distance, why stock up?
I must say this has to be the most disappointing thing I have ever experienced. I mean don't get me wrong it is lovely to walk to the store in the snow when you realize you just ate your last two pieces of bread. It is also lovely to know that if the electricity goes out, the toilets and water will still work. Oh the days of melting ice on a kerosene heater, so the toilet can be flushed. Everyone in the house has to pee the minute the water stops running and a tub full of water last about one flush, maybe two. The joys of living in the country!
I don't miss all of the bad things that come with living on the top of the mountain, but I do miss the feeling that there is nothing to do, nowhere to go, and 3 acres of snow to play in once things slow down. The hot cocoa tastes so much better in this situation.
There is of course one thing about snow in PA that just baffles me. I am told this happens in other places, but it doesn't happen in Boston so I'm just going to talk about PA for a moment and you can all deal.
Milk and bread. It disappears with the first mention of snow. The stores might as well just set up bread and milk by the check-out to save people the time of walking through the store to find it. The baffling part to me is why milk and bread. There are a lot of things I eat on a daily basis. In the scheme of things, milk and bread really aren't high on that list. I suppose, in a family, bread and milk disappear quickly, and maybe I just don't grasp how important milk and bread really are.
I'm trying to excuse this habit, when I really think that stocking up on funfetti cake mix and hot cocoa would be a much smarter idea. Who needs bread when cupcakes are involved.
As this storm hits the Northeast, I really hope your stores are out of bread and milk and you have to buy that sliced Italian bread that no one ever buys. It really makes good french toast, which of course you can make with that milk you are buying. Out of milk, use water. Don't risk life and limb for the milk; it's really not worth it.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Here's the problem with city life. You are never really "snowed in." The T keeps running and your feet still work. When the store is within walking distance, why stock up?
I must say this has to be the most disappointing thing I have ever experienced. I mean don't get me wrong it is lovely to walk to the store in the snow when you realize you just ate your last two pieces of bread. It is also lovely to know that if the electricity goes out, the toilets and water will still work. Oh the days of melting ice on a kerosene heater, so the toilet can be flushed. Everyone in the house has to pee the minute the water stops running and a tub full of water last about one flush, maybe two. The joys of living in the country!
I don't miss all of the bad things that come with living on the top of the mountain, but I do miss the feeling that there is nothing to do, nowhere to go, and 3 acres of snow to play in once things slow down. The hot cocoa tastes so much better in this situation.
There is of course one thing about snow in PA that just baffles me. I am told this happens in other places, but it doesn't happen in Boston so I'm just going to talk about PA for a moment and you can all deal.
Milk and bread. It disappears with the first mention of snow. The stores might as well just set up bread and milk by the check-out to save people the time of walking through the store to find it. The baffling part to me is why milk and bread. There are a lot of things I eat on a daily basis. In the scheme of things, milk and bread really aren't high on that list. I suppose, in a family, bread and milk disappear quickly, and maybe I just don't grasp how important milk and bread really are.
I'm trying to excuse this habit, when I really think that stocking up on funfetti cake mix and hot cocoa would be a much smarter idea. Who needs bread when cupcakes are involved.
As this storm hits the Northeast, I really hope your stores are out of bread and milk and you have to buy that sliced Italian bread that no one ever buys. It really makes good french toast, which of course you can make with that milk you are buying. Out of milk, use water. Don't risk life and limb for the milk; it's really not worth it.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Friday, December 18, 2009
First the Cookies Monster and now this!
I was reading the Metro this morning. It's a daily paper that gives me slightly more information than my NY Times and CNN headlines that I look at in my igoogle. It is ok though, because the Metro is my guilty little pleasure. I go to school with these elite newspaper people and I like the free sort-of-news I get every morning that I can read during my T ride. Stick it to the man, dude, stick it to the man!
So today I'm reading and happy and reading and happy and oh hey there Santa. Yes there amidst my guilty little pleasure was a paragraph about a study that said Santa's cookie habit was promoting obesity. I was devastated. I am so sick and tired of people pinning their fatness on cultural icons. Santa has been fat since Coca Cola created his image in 1931, and as I recall obesity wasn't that big of an issue in 1931.
Cookies and milk are fattening. I mean if Santa is supposed to eat a plate of them every house he goes to, that belly is not going to be hard to maintain. Treats are always around during this time of year. Like Santa we are greeted with a plate of cookies at every house. The key is to not try every kind of cookie (like I like to do), but instead to treat yourself to a cookie and then eat some of those cut up veggies that are always left untouched. You'll probably actually be more excited about the prospect of the cookies if you don't overdose every time you are greeted by them.
Now back to Santa. Guys the big man would be silly and slightly pedophilish as a skinny man. He is such a wonderful fat man, so putting him on a diet of veggies would be about as good of the idea of make the cookie monster the veggie monster. Yeah not so much.
I love cookies. I love chocolate. I love cake. Call me a bad example for the rest of the American population if you want, but I WILL NOT BE CHANGED. I am in love with sugar, but that does not mean that I have to overindulge. Santa only gets those cookies once a year. I think if you leave him some celery sticks you'll probably get coal, but I'm just bffs with the big guy. What do I know?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
So today I'm reading and happy and reading and happy and oh hey there Santa. Yes there amidst my guilty little pleasure was a paragraph about a study that said Santa's cookie habit was promoting obesity. I was devastated. I am so sick and tired of people pinning their fatness on cultural icons. Santa has been fat since Coca Cola created his image in 1931, and as I recall obesity wasn't that big of an issue in 1931.
Cookies and milk are fattening. I mean if Santa is supposed to eat a plate of them every house he goes to, that belly is not going to be hard to maintain. Treats are always around during this time of year. Like Santa we are greeted with a plate of cookies at every house. The key is to not try every kind of cookie (like I like to do), but instead to treat yourself to a cookie and then eat some of those cut up veggies that are always left untouched. You'll probably actually be more excited about the prospect of the cookies if you don't overdose every time you are greeted by them.
Now back to Santa. Guys the big man would be silly and slightly pedophilish as a skinny man. He is such a wonderful fat man, so putting him on a diet of veggies would be about as good of the idea of make the cookie monster the veggie monster. Yeah not so much.
I love cookies. I love chocolate. I love cake. Call me a bad example for the rest of the American population if you want, but I WILL NOT BE CHANGED. I am in love with sugar, but that does not mean that I have to overindulge. Santa only gets those cookies once a year. I think if you leave him some celery sticks you'll probably get coal, but I'm just bffs with the big guy. What do I know?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Fudgcicles
Today's high was 17. With the windchill it felt like 0. Right now I am staring at my weather.com thingy on my computer and it says tonight's low is 8. Basically it might as well say IT IS FREAKING COLD OUTSIDE!!! I walked home breathing into my gloves and hoping that the warm air would keep my fingers from getting frostbite.
Thankfully I am inside for the rest of the night and tomorrow's high looks like it is close to 30. "HEAT WAVE! This is our island in the sun!" If you can't name that movie, I hope you are at home tonight and have access to The Muppet's Christmas Carol. It's obviously been too long since you last saw it. Anyway I hope you enjoy the fudge pictures. I packaged up a container for the registrar's office party, one for my study group, one for Matt to take up to New Hampshire for Christmas (if it makes it up there), and one for me to sneak pieces of till I leave. It's finals remember? If you consider fudge at $6 a pound, this recipe is a steal. I never actually weighed it, but you can package up at least 6 gifts depending on how generous you feel.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
A work-a-holic's dream
My life is booked. Yesterday I spent the majority of my day putzing around with all of the little pieces of homework. You know the things that should take like an hour, but when you have 4 of those little things for each class. A whole day later and I think the majority of the stuff is done. Now I can really focus on my ethics midterm. Yippee!
When life gets like this, I stress out about the littlest of things. Dinner is just a disaster. I was studying with a friend till 7 last night, got home around 8, and then had to find dinner. Thankfully I am a nut about saving leftovers.
I made my mom’s paprika potatoes on Monday night. They are just so tasty and I was roasting a chicken, so I decided that the oven was already going to be on for a while so I might as well go for it.
These potatoes are so good because they take some time. First I cubed up 3 large potatoes. I started a pot of water and when it came to a boil threw the potatoes in. I let them boil for maybe 10 minutes. The goal is not to cook the potatoes, but just to get them going. Then I drained the potatoes and threw them in a bowl where I tossed them with seasonings. I used paprika, Italian seasoning, basil, some garlic powder, adobo, and salt. Then I spread the potatoes out on a sheet pan and broke up a couple tablespoons of butter over them. I popped them into the oven while my chicken was roasting. The oven was set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, but I bumped it up to 400 at the end so everything got nice and crispy. Stir the potatoes every 15 minutes or so. Towards the end make sure both sides are done and one side doesn’t get burned.
The best part of these potatoes is that they make a great omelet. If you are a normal person and have time for an omelet at breakfast, then they make a great breakfast. If you are like me, not-so-normal most of the time, they make a wonderful dinner. Throw the potatoes in the frying pan first so they have a chance to heat up. Add 3 eggs. I like to be real lazy and break up the eggs in the pan, but if you want to waste a bowl for whisking go for it. Add cheese at the end, and you will be full and happy.
Tonight I’m going to cut up the fudge I made Monday. Yeah I know better late than never. There will definitely be pictures and I’ll probably repost the recipe just in case you missed it. Hope your life is a little less stressful than mine right now.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
When life gets like this, I stress out about the littlest of things. Dinner is just a disaster. I was studying with a friend till 7 last night, got home around 8, and then had to find dinner. Thankfully I am a nut about saving leftovers.
I made my mom’s paprika potatoes on Monday night. They are just so tasty and I was roasting a chicken, so I decided that the oven was already going to be on for a while so I might as well go for it.
These potatoes are so good because they take some time. First I cubed up 3 large potatoes. I started a pot of water and when it came to a boil threw the potatoes in. I let them boil for maybe 10 minutes. The goal is not to cook the potatoes, but just to get them going. Then I drained the potatoes and threw them in a bowl where I tossed them with seasonings. I used paprika, Italian seasoning, basil, some garlic powder, adobo, and salt. Then I spread the potatoes out on a sheet pan and broke up a couple tablespoons of butter over them. I popped them into the oven while my chicken was roasting. The oven was set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, but I bumped it up to 400 at the end so everything got nice and crispy. Stir the potatoes every 15 minutes or so. Towards the end make sure both sides are done and one side doesn’t get burned.
The best part of these potatoes is that they make a great omelet. If you are a normal person and have time for an omelet at breakfast, then they make a great breakfast. If you are like me, not-so-normal most of the time, they make a wonderful dinner. Throw the potatoes in the frying pan first so they have a chance to heat up. Add 3 eggs. I like to be real lazy and break up the eggs in the pan, but if you want to waste a bowl for whisking go for it. Add cheese at the end, and you will be full and happy.
Tonight I’m going to cut up the fudge I made Monday. Yeah I know better late than never. There will definitely be pictures and I’ll probably repost the recipe just in case you missed it. Hope your life is a little less stressful than mine right now.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, December 14, 2009
Klutz
I am a klutz. My dad always told me that my middle name should have been grace, so that I would have some grace in my life. Unfortunately for me, my dad did not have this revelation until the second time I cracked open my chin playing in the yard. Is it too late for a name change?
Matt loves to snowmobile. He grew up in New Hampshire, so it kind of makes sense. Unfortunately for him, I am a big fan of watching the snow FROM A WINDOW. When I was little I would go out, and come inside as soon as possible. I liked the snow. Ok let me rephrase I liked the idea of snow, but the actual cold wet stuff, eh not so much a fan.
Ever since I started dating Matt, he has talked about going snowmobiling with me. I gave it a try last winter with his sister, but for some reason Matt and I never went. Fast forward to this weekend. There is a foot of snow on the ground in NH and Matt was itching for some snowmobiling. Matt's sister, knowing of my iffy background with life, decided it was smarter to let me ride on the back while she drove. Matt put me on the front and decided that I needed to drive. BAD IDEA!!!!
Round and round we go and I'm doing ok. Then I hit the gas and the GINORMOUS machine starts to tip. I really wasn't terribly excited about the prospect of my right leg being crushed into a bazillion pieces so I bailed. Years of experience falling has given me a talent in bailing. Arms off and FALL. Yeah it's a talent. Maybe I should be a stunt woman. They make a lot of money doing what I do on a daily basis.
The end result, Matt's baby went into a rock. He will not be letting me drive again. I could have warned him, I tried to warn him, and now $70 later he has learned. It could have been much worse. I could have been hurt, or Matt. Neither of us are made of plastic and our parts don't cost $70 to fix. My finger was jammed a little. It hurts a little if I use it too much, but it's not terrible. My chin didn't crack open.
On a lighter note I made a perfect batch of fudge. Maybe gracefulness isn't needed in a kitchen. Or maybe things just make sense inside my kitchen. Outside there are icy sidewalks and bumps in the road. Potential hazards are all around me outside. In the kitchen I have a pot and a spoon, some knives yes, but I know how to use those, and things just makes sense.
Of course after I cleaned up my kitchen, made myself a cup of tea, and went to sit down on the couch I spilled boiling hot water all down my leg. Are you sure it's not too late for a name change?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Matt loves to snowmobile. He grew up in New Hampshire, so it kind of makes sense. Unfortunately for him, I am a big fan of watching the snow FROM A WINDOW. When I was little I would go out, and come inside as soon as possible. I liked the snow. Ok let me rephrase I liked the idea of snow, but the actual cold wet stuff, eh not so much a fan.
Ever since I started dating Matt, he has talked about going snowmobiling with me. I gave it a try last winter with his sister, but for some reason Matt and I never went. Fast forward to this weekend. There is a foot of snow on the ground in NH and Matt was itching for some snowmobiling. Matt's sister, knowing of my iffy background with life, decided it was smarter to let me ride on the back while she drove. Matt put me on the front and decided that I needed to drive. BAD IDEA!!!!
Round and round we go and I'm doing ok. Then I hit the gas and the GINORMOUS machine starts to tip. I really wasn't terribly excited about the prospect of my right leg being crushed into a bazillion pieces so I bailed. Years of experience falling has given me a talent in bailing. Arms off and FALL. Yeah it's a talent. Maybe I should be a stunt woman. They make a lot of money doing what I do on a daily basis.
The end result, Matt's baby went into a rock. He will not be letting me drive again. I could have warned him, I tried to warn him, and now $70 later he has learned. It could have been much worse. I could have been hurt, or Matt. Neither of us are made of plastic and our parts don't cost $70 to fix. My finger was jammed a little. It hurts a little if I use it too much, but it's not terrible. My chin didn't crack open.
On a lighter note I made a perfect batch of fudge. Maybe gracefulness isn't needed in a kitchen. Or maybe things just make sense inside my kitchen. Outside there are icy sidewalks and bumps in the road. Potential hazards are all around me outside. In the kitchen I have a pot and a spoon, some knives yes, but I know how to use those, and things just makes sense.
Of course after I cleaned up my kitchen, made myself a cup of tea, and went to sit down on the couch I spilled boiling hot water all down my leg. Are you sure it's not too late for a name change?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Friday, December 11, 2009
Paper Papers Papers
I see letters, words, paragraphs, and pages in my sleep. 5-7 pages to be exact. Everything has to be 5-7 pages. Some become 10. Some barely eek out 5. Some fall beautifully in the 6 category. Those don't normally get privileged enough to receive dreams. Dreams are for the bad papers. The papers that make no sense. The papers that are completely incoherent and already 5 pages too long. Scrap it, dream for a week about it, and then rewrite it. Writers block? Ha! You have to be kidding this is more a case of writers diarrhea. It just keeps coming and coming and nothing is coming out solid. Ok I'm going to end that analogy before this becomes more visually nauseating than I already have made it.
I have obviously been drowning in papers. There really is nothing I can do about it. Little by little things are starting to come out ok. My ethics professor told me that he has not returned my second draft of my paper to me, because he could only find 2 things to fix and he knows if he looks a little deeper he can find more. Thaaaanks! I mean just what I always wanted; someone trying their hardest to find my errors.
I'm sure you are all wondering the result of this writers diarrhea on my every day life. I didn't eat dinner till 9 p.m. last night. When I did eat, it was a three egg "omelet" with cheese. I use the word omelet lightly here because I don't know if you can call three eggs scrambled slightly in the pan with adobo and cheese an omelet. It's more or less scrambled eggs. I am literally at the stage in my stress where I don't enjoy food. You know when you get the stomach flu and you never want to see another piece of food again. Yup I'm there and I get it just from writing too many papers.
Thankfully I am making strides at reducing the stress, achieving my goals, and beginning to enjoy food again.
Today I had a doughnut for breakfast. For lunch I went with Matt to Wendys. For dinner we are hitting up Pizza Hut. Greasy food might be terrible for you after a stomach flu, but after writers flu it hits the spot. Thankfully greasy food hits the spot for Matt every time, so I am always in luck.
Christmas is a stressful time of year whether you are in college and dealing with finals or not. There are Christmas cards to send out and cookies to bake. And presents to buy for your favorite blogger. (That is probably stressing you out more than anything.) It is rather easy to let all of the "holiday fun" leave us feeling emptied out and sick. Breathe and say no to making a Christmas card with a picture of you on it. We all just make fun of those. Let's be honest with ourselves and end the narcissistic habit. Then eat lots of cookies, drink some hot cocoa, and pretend there is an awful snow storm and cancel all plans for at least a day.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
I have obviously been drowning in papers. There really is nothing I can do about it. Little by little things are starting to come out ok. My ethics professor told me that he has not returned my second draft of my paper to me, because he could only find 2 things to fix and he knows if he looks a little deeper he can find more. Thaaaanks! I mean just what I always wanted; someone trying their hardest to find my errors.
I'm sure you are all wondering the result of this writers diarrhea on my every day life. I didn't eat dinner till 9 p.m. last night. When I did eat, it was a three egg "omelet" with cheese. I use the word omelet lightly here because I don't know if you can call three eggs scrambled slightly in the pan with adobo and cheese an omelet. It's more or less scrambled eggs. I am literally at the stage in my stress where I don't enjoy food. You know when you get the stomach flu and you never want to see another piece of food again. Yup I'm there and I get it just from writing too many papers.
Thankfully I am making strides at reducing the stress, achieving my goals, and beginning to enjoy food again.
Today I had a doughnut for breakfast. For lunch I went with Matt to Wendys. For dinner we are hitting up Pizza Hut. Greasy food might be terrible for you after a stomach flu, but after writers flu it hits the spot. Thankfully greasy food hits the spot for Matt every time, so I am always in luck.
Christmas is a stressful time of year whether you are in college and dealing with finals or not. There are Christmas cards to send out and cookies to bake. And presents to buy for your favorite blogger. (That is probably stressing you out more than anything.) It is rather easy to let all of the "holiday fun" leave us feeling emptied out and sick. Breathe and say no to making a Christmas card with a picture of you on it. We all just make fun of those. Let's be honest with ourselves and end the narcissistic habit. Then eat lots of cookies, drink some hot cocoa, and pretend there is an awful snow storm and cancel all plans for at least a day.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Bacon = flavor
Bacon makes my life happy. Any chance I get to eat bacon is really a chance at happiness. I bought some bacon the last time I went grocery shopping with Matt and brilliantly Matt suggested I freeze it. At first I was a little miffed the first time I took the bacon out of my freezer. It was all stuck together. What was I supposed to do with that? Well I just decided that I would make it last longer by cutting it into hunks and then dicing it. So much easier to do frozen.
All of that was complete nonsense brought about from me feeling the need to explain ever conclusion I come to BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO FILL 5 PAGES!!! I've been writing way too many papers people, give me a break. Back to the bacon.
I love bacon. It holds so much flavor. Yesterday I decided to try to make my own lentil soup. It called for ham, but I didn't have ham. I decided to risk the last of my bacon on a soup that could end very badly. See I've never tried to make a soup with beans from scratch before. When I say scratch, I mean hard beans. Anyone can open a can. One time my mom tried to make soup from hard real beans; it was awful. I love my mom to death, but this soup was just inedible. The beans were crunchy and it was just gross. She swore against ever trying to make a soup like that from scratch again. I swore with her, until I found these lentils for $1.42 at Walmart and thought "Yum lentil soup."
So here I was risking the last of my bacon on something that's success was iffy. This just had to work. I fried up the bacon and an onion and a clove of garlic. Yeah talk about a lot of goodness in one frying pan. I then washed the lentils. I wasn't quite sure how one was supposed to wash lentils, but I washed them the way I washed rice during my time in Panama. I put all of the lentils in a bowl. Filled the water so it was above the lentil and swooshed it all around. Repeat 3 times. Do you want to know why 3 times. I do too. The women in Panama didn't even know. They just said the rice was ruined unless they washed it 3 times.
After washing, I Poured the lentils into a pot. I added 4 cups of water and a beef bullion, some salt, and pepper, and let it boil. Once it came to a boil, I covered and let it simmer. And simmer. And simmer. And simmer.
Ok so here's the thing about homemade lentil soup. It takes time. I kept taking spoonfuls to see if it was done and I would find done lentils done lentils and then a hard one. Ugh not done! I did that for about 20 bites and then finally after adding more water and waiting another 15 minutes it was done. And it was good, shockingly so. The bacon was well worth it. Only I had eaten about half a bowl of soup in the process.
I put some cheese on the soup and packed it for lunch today. Woah so much better the second day! There is supposed to be snow tomorrow. While my mom swore to never make real bean soup again, I would suggest it is time for everyone to try some lentil soup. It's good for you. But remember season with bacon or ham. I got my recipe from Goya and we all know Goya knows what is going on with food. It's called flavor folks!
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
All of that was complete nonsense brought about from me feeling the need to explain ever conclusion I come to BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO FILL 5 PAGES!!! I've been writing way too many papers people, give me a break. Back to the bacon.
I love bacon. It holds so much flavor. Yesterday I decided to try to make my own lentil soup. It called for ham, but I didn't have ham. I decided to risk the last of my bacon on a soup that could end very badly. See I've never tried to make a soup with beans from scratch before. When I say scratch, I mean hard beans. Anyone can open a can. One time my mom tried to make soup from hard real beans; it was awful. I love my mom to death, but this soup was just inedible. The beans were crunchy and it was just gross. She swore against ever trying to make a soup like that from scratch again. I swore with her, until I found these lentils for $1.42 at Walmart and thought "Yum lentil soup."
So here I was risking the last of my bacon on something that's success was iffy. This just had to work. I fried up the bacon and an onion and a clove of garlic. Yeah talk about a lot of goodness in one frying pan. I then washed the lentils. I wasn't quite sure how one was supposed to wash lentils, but I washed them the way I washed rice during my time in Panama. I put all of the lentils in a bowl. Filled the water so it was above the lentil and swooshed it all around. Repeat 3 times. Do you want to know why 3 times. I do too. The women in Panama didn't even know. They just said the rice was ruined unless they washed it 3 times.
After washing, I Poured the lentils into a pot. I added 4 cups of water and a beef bullion, some salt, and pepper, and let it boil. Once it came to a boil, I covered and let it simmer. And simmer. And simmer. And simmer.
Ok so here's the thing about homemade lentil soup. It takes time. I kept taking spoonfuls to see if it was done and I would find done lentils done lentils and then a hard one. Ugh not done! I did that for about 20 bites and then finally after adding more water and waiting another 15 minutes it was done. And it was good, shockingly so. The bacon was well worth it. Only I had eaten about half a bowl of soup in the process.
I put some cheese on the soup and packed it for lunch today. Woah so much better the second day! There is supposed to be snow tomorrow. While my mom swore to never make real bean soup again, I would suggest it is time for everyone to try some lentil soup. It's good for you. But remember season with bacon or ham. I got my recipe from Goya and we all know Goya knows what is going on with food. It's called flavor folks!
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Gluten free?
I really feel for people with food allergies and such. I can not say that I have any food allergies as of right now, well except I find milk disgusting so I like to tell people I'm allergic when they give me those WHY DON'T YOU LIKE MILK eyes. It makes them feel better. And I'm always about people feeling better. Ok maybe not always, but perhaps I'll try from now on.
There really is no allergy I cry more about than gluten allergies. Have you ever tried gluten free bread? It's actually the most disgusting thing I could honestly think of eating right now. Give me a second and I may think of something that would be more disgusting, but right now I'm saying gluten free bread. Gluten is a protein that's in wheat, rye, and supposedly barley too. Gluten does all sorts of wonderful things like helping the bread rise, giving it its nice fluffy structure, and keeping the right shape of the bread.
Unfortunately if you consider all of the bread and cereal you probably consume on a daily basis, you can imagine how difficult it would be for someone to have a gluten allergy. And that's not even venturing into the scary world of gluten free bread. Imagine bread without a fluffy texture, wheaty flavor, and shape. The blob of a rock you are imagining is so close to the mark. Now just imagine the flavor of grass and you nailed it on the head.
General Mills decided something had to be done, so they started a website. In some ways this website scares me about as much as WebMD scares me. It is such a blatant marketing ploy that only tells of the wonderful things General Mills sells, but it does inform gluten allergic individuals of their over 200 items that are gluten free. I'm sure individuals put lists together on the web of items that are gluten free, but to have the manufacturer informing you of the safety of their products is pretty impressive.
I snooped around the site and dear WebMD these people have won me over. They have recipes, an impressive list of their gluten-free products, and even a guide of where to find the "Gluten Free" info on the food. Beautiful! Lovely! Ignore the General Mills stuff. They pretty much gave you tons of info FO FREE, and attached their labels on it. The labels of course aren't the important part; the info is.
I am still terribly sad for these gluten free people, but my heart is a little warmer knowing that they are allowed to eat fruit snacks. Who doesn't love fruit snacks? The lack of any real nutritional value makes them all the better. If I were allergic to gluten, I would replace all of the bread I eat with fruit snacks, because of course I would never touch the gluten free bread.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
There really is no allergy I cry more about than gluten allergies. Have you ever tried gluten free bread? It's actually the most disgusting thing I could honestly think of eating right now. Give me a second and I may think of something that would be more disgusting, but right now I'm saying gluten free bread. Gluten is a protein that's in wheat, rye, and supposedly barley too. Gluten does all sorts of wonderful things like helping the bread rise, giving it its nice fluffy structure, and keeping the right shape of the bread.
Unfortunately if you consider all of the bread and cereal you probably consume on a daily basis, you can imagine how difficult it would be for someone to have a gluten allergy. And that's not even venturing into the scary world of gluten free bread. Imagine bread without a fluffy texture, wheaty flavor, and shape. The blob of a rock you are imagining is so close to the mark. Now just imagine the flavor of grass and you nailed it on the head.
General Mills decided something had to be done, so they started a website. In some ways this website scares me about as much as WebMD scares me. It is such a blatant marketing ploy that only tells of the wonderful things General Mills sells, but it does inform gluten allergic individuals of their over 200 items that are gluten free. I'm sure individuals put lists together on the web of items that are gluten free, but to have the manufacturer informing you of the safety of their products is pretty impressive.
I snooped around the site and dear WebMD these people have won me over. They have recipes, an impressive list of their gluten-free products, and even a guide of where to find the "Gluten Free" info on the food. Beautiful! Lovely! Ignore the General Mills stuff. They pretty much gave you tons of info FO FREE, and attached their labels on it. The labels of course aren't the important part; the info is.
I am still terribly sad for these gluten free people, but my heart is a little warmer knowing that they are allowed to eat fruit snacks. Who doesn't love fruit snacks? The lack of any real nutritional value makes them all the better. If I were allergic to gluten, I would replace all of the bread I eat with fruit snacks, because of course I would never touch the gluten free bread.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Saturday, December 5, 2009
It is snowing
What says holidays to you more than the Rolling Stone Magazine. Ok yeah not so much my idea of holiday cheer, but the magazine has decided to take on some culinary-type ventures and they announced it just in time for the holidays. I doubt the ability of these music people to do food. Have you ever eaten at a Hard Rock Cafe? It's basically a TGI Fridays with a little bit of music paraphernalia. I guess people don't go to these types of establishments for a Michelin worthy meal.
My real question to all of this is, do we really need another one of these chains. I know journalism people and I know food people. I wouldn't trust my food choices to journalism people, so I'm really hoping they hired some good food people in this venture. Either way I think the whole thing is really funny and definitely something (if it actually takes off) Matt will say we should go see...you know just to see.
In other news, Matt's goal for me today was and I quote "you're not going to cry." What have I done to this poor guy! I had breakfast with a wonderful friend, got lost in Walmart and found out that Coke is selling these amazing round Christmas bottles (I know so cool), helped a good friend with some internet stuff, ate dinner and took a nap. It was actually the most amazing nap I had in a long time. Matt was wonderful enough to just let me sleep. I think he thought as long as I wasn't crying we were good.
Right now I am watching the Santa Clause movies and looking at the beautifully lit tree Matt and I are sitting under in the picture. I'm also thinking hot chocolate is probably going to be necessary in the near future. Finals? Yeah they are still looming. Life is a progression, and today I made progress. What progress? I didn't cry.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Friday, December 4, 2009
Finals
It's the dirtiest F word that exists in the dictionary of all college students everywhere. Finals in high school were just pretend. Of course no one informed us of this. They just said "Look how prepared you are." LIES!!! No one could have prepared me for the weeks of work and the stress, oh the stress. The stress is the worst part. It eats away at you. Slowly surely and then all of a sudden you are in tears because of makeup.
Make up? Yeah I know it sounds silly, but it could have been an elevator not moving quickly enough. That last straw might be epic or it might be totally every day. You just never know. For me it was makeup. I forgot it. Then I blew my hair dry and of course it was sticking out in the strangest of ways. "I'M UGLY!!!!" Boy was I whiney. I'm normally not like this. I'm a fun exciting person. I cook and clean and buy Christmas presents. That is me; but this, guys this, is finals.
I normally resort to Ramen every night during finals. This time I am not allowed. In defense of the lack of salty easiness, I have been far more healthy this semester. I have been taking vitamins daily, and my meals have been involving real meat, a starch, and a veggie. Healthier is fine. In fact it's kind of nice during a school year that saw the oink oink flu and other unique illnesses.
Blah blah blah it's all well and good, but finals are a beast of their own. They are a time when the world poos on you and you can't do anything about it. Right of passage, if they aren't hard you aren't learning anything, yeah yeah yeah LIES! Finals are just one last form of torture adults feel they have a right to place us through. You know like the brussel sprouts weren't bad enough.
A finals menu? I have been thinking nonstop what I am going to eat. I know it sounds silly, but when you are stressing about so many things that you can not control those few things you can control tend to float up to the top of the stress list. So I have made a few executive decisions. That sounds so official doesn't it?
It sounds official because it is, and because I am in the middle of finals. So here's the list. You all know how I love lists.
1. I will have dinner every night.
2. Dinner will include REAL food. This is opposed to the fake food that will make me sleepy. I'm talking veggies for dinner and oatmeal for breakfast.
3. Dessert is not optional. Chocolate intake must increase during finals. If it doesn't there will be one unhappy Emily and probably a few other unhappy people who I come in contact with.
4. Breathe between bites. Such an important factor in a finals meal.
In the beginning of this semester I was worried about this blog. I was worried that I would not have time, but I have made it. I have survived without Ramen. It's all very impressive, but now comes the real test. Can I survive finals? All I know is that I'm a week into the process and the straw has already broke the Emily's back.
So over finals and school you can't even remember the stress I am talking about? We all have stressful moments. I think the 4 steps that are entirely necessary for finals meals are also good tips to live by. Everyone goes through stress. The key is to make sure that our tummies aren't too affected. Happy tummies always settle at least some of the stress. Now do I write my history paper on "The Other" in Seasons of Immigration to the North or do I do it on the fact that it is a reverse of the typical colonial opinion of natives. Oh the dilemmas.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Make up? Yeah I know it sounds silly, but it could have been an elevator not moving quickly enough. That last straw might be epic or it might be totally every day. You just never know. For me it was makeup. I forgot it. Then I blew my hair dry and of course it was sticking out in the strangest of ways. "I'M UGLY!!!!" Boy was I whiney. I'm normally not like this. I'm a fun exciting person. I cook and clean and buy Christmas presents. That is me; but this, guys this, is finals.
I normally resort to Ramen every night during finals. This time I am not allowed. In defense of the lack of salty easiness, I have been far more healthy this semester. I have been taking vitamins daily, and my meals have been involving real meat, a starch, and a veggie. Healthier is fine. In fact it's kind of nice during a school year that saw the oink oink flu and other unique illnesses.
Blah blah blah it's all well and good, but finals are a beast of their own. They are a time when the world poos on you and you can't do anything about it. Right of passage, if they aren't hard you aren't learning anything, yeah yeah yeah LIES! Finals are just one last form of torture adults feel they have a right to place us through. You know like the brussel sprouts weren't bad enough.
A finals menu? I have been thinking nonstop what I am going to eat. I know it sounds silly, but when you are stressing about so many things that you can not control those few things you can control tend to float up to the top of the stress list. So I have made a few executive decisions. That sounds so official doesn't it?
It sounds official because it is, and because I am in the middle of finals. So here's the list. You all know how I love lists.
1. I will have dinner every night.
2. Dinner will include REAL food. This is opposed to the fake food that will make me sleepy. I'm talking veggies for dinner and oatmeal for breakfast.
3. Dessert is not optional. Chocolate intake must increase during finals. If it doesn't there will be one unhappy Emily and probably a few other unhappy people who I come in contact with.
4. Breathe between bites. Such an important factor in a finals meal.
In the beginning of this semester I was worried about this blog. I was worried that I would not have time, but I have made it. I have survived without Ramen. It's all very impressive, but now comes the real test. Can I survive finals? All I know is that I'm a week into the process and the straw has already broke the Emily's back.
So over finals and school you can't even remember the stress I am talking about? We all have stressful moments. I think the 4 steps that are entirely necessary for finals meals are also good tips to live by. Everyone goes through stress. The key is to make sure that our tummies aren't too affected. Happy tummies always settle at least some of the stress. Now do I write my history paper on "The Other" in Seasons of Immigration to the North or do I do it on the fact that it is a reverse of the typical colonial opinion of natives. Oh the dilemmas.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I need some chocolate asap, but munchkins will do
Today I had to register for classes. There were only 6 seats on average in the classes I needed, so the race was going to be on at 8 am. I left for class like 15 million years early, hoping that I could get into class set up my computer and be all ready to register.
"We are sorry to inform you blah blah blah delays blah blah blah you will be waiting here for the rest of your life blah blah blah the T is delayed." They might as well have been announcing YOUR LIFE IS OVER multiple times over the loud speaker. I tried to see if I could get cell coverage so I could call Matt and cry about how he needed to help me. No such luck. At 7:40 the train pulls in. I was there at 7:20. Should have been sitting in class by 7:40, but who was keeping track.
I finally arrived at the stop that I got service at and pulled my phone out to call Matt. "ugh what hi what time is it" It doesn't deserve punctuation because it kind of sounded like a lack of anything more than a couple of wonderful mumbles by the man who was about to save my life. I am not overexaggerating.
"matt you need to get a piece of paper and a pencil NOW." He really is a saint. He wrote down everything I told him and got ready to register me for classes. Then my phone was about to die. I turned it off, because Matt had the info it would all be ok. NOT. Guys when you think everything is going to be ok slap yourself because nothing is ok at those moments NOTHING. I gave him the wrong tab to click on, had to figure out I was wrong, while running in and out of my class before class started. Finally I come back in. Matt said everything said I was web registered. Probably by the skin of my teeth, but I don't care I was registered.
Class is canceled. Class is canceled. Did you check? Class is canceled. Oh yeah as if this morning could not get any better. I did not need to wait 20 minutes for the T. I did not need to wake my saint of a boyfriend up. I did not need to barely get into all of my classes. Why didn't I check WebCT? I will be asking myself that question over and over for the end of time.
You know what I needed all day. Obviously CHOCOLATE. There was none in sight and all day I had this aching feeling in my stomach just begging for a sweet. I was of course too cheap to just go out and buy a candy bar. The feeling persisted and I just kept grinding my teeth, bearing with the headache, and reminding myself that I got into classes so today was a good day. I had to tell myself that. With chocolate in my system, I would have been thrilled. Oh chocolate how I underestimate your powers.
I walked into my last class and told my professor that I bought animal crackers for our class on Thursday. "That reminds me" She just disappeared, which is kind of typical of her, but when she came back I wanted to kiss her. She came back with a whole container of Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. It was such a beautiful thing. I ate like 4 of them and the stress started melting. It wasn't Hersheys, but it sure was delicious. My group started writing our children's book and I actually laughed. The girl, who was almost in tears pleading with Matt to please hurry and register me, was laughing. Sugar is such a powerful thing. Have you had your fill today?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
"We are sorry to inform you blah blah blah delays blah blah blah you will be waiting here for the rest of your life blah blah blah the T is delayed." They might as well have been announcing YOUR LIFE IS OVER multiple times over the loud speaker. I tried to see if I could get cell coverage so I could call Matt and cry about how he needed to help me. No such luck. At 7:40 the train pulls in. I was there at 7:20. Should have been sitting in class by 7:40, but who was keeping track.
I finally arrived at the stop that I got service at and pulled my phone out to call Matt. "ugh what hi what time is it" It doesn't deserve punctuation because it kind of sounded like a lack of anything more than a couple of wonderful mumbles by the man who was about to save my life. I am not overexaggerating.
"matt you need to get a piece of paper and a pencil NOW." He really is a saint. He wrote down everything I told him and got ready to register me for classes. Then my phone was about to die. I turned it off, because Matt had the info it would all be ok. NOT. Guys when you think everything is going to be ok slap yourself because nothing is ok at those moments NOTHING. I gave him the wrong tab to click on, had to figure out I was wrong, while running in and out of my class before class started. Finally I come back in. Matt said everything said I was web registered. Probably by the skin of my teeth, but I don't care I was registered.
Class is canceled. Class is canceled. Did you check? Class is canceled. Oh yeah as if this morning could not get any better. I did not need to wait 20 minutes for the T. I did not need to wake my saint of a boyfriend up. I did not need to barely get into all of my classes. Why didn't I check WebCT? I will be asking myself that question over and over for the end of time.
You know what I needed all day. Obviously CHOCOLATE. There was none in sight and all day I had this aching feeling in my stomach just begging for a sweet. I was of course too cheap to just go out and buy a candy bar. The feeling persisted and I just kept grinding my teeth, bearing with the headache, and reminding myself that I got into classes so today was a good day. I had to tell myself that. With chocolate in my system, I would have been thrilled. Oh chocolate how I underestimate your powers.
I walked into my last class and told my professor that I bought animal crackers for our class on Thursday. "That reminds me" She just disappeared, which is kind of typical of her, but when she came back I wanted to kiss her. She came back with a whole container of Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. It was such a beautiful thing. I ate like 4 of them and the stress started melting. It wasn't Hersheys, but it sure was delicious. My group started writing our children's book and I actually laughed. The girl, who was almost in tears pleading with Matt to please hurry and register me, was laughing. Sugar is such a powerful thing. Have you had your fill today?
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, November 30, 2009
Men don't know it's bad for them
Ok men listen up. Eating processed meats is bad for you. That's bacon, sandwich meat, sausage, and yes hotdogs. You are more likely to get bowel cancer if you eat too much of this food. If that doesn't sound like a pleasant way to die to you, I would have to agree. The cure is easy. Be sparing with your processed meats. The problem is that most men are not aware of this. No offense gentlemen, this is not shocking to me. You know how I know this. My mom made sure we ate turkey everything. I did not eat real bacon till I was maybe five and visiting my Titi Stella. I still remember that wonderful moment of bacon fat melting in my mouth. My dad probably would not have taken his high cholesterol so serious. Women doesn't it feel good to know we're needed for something?
In other more exciting news, CBS did a study and found raw chicken has bacteria on it. For all of you raw chicken fans out there, I am sorry but you will be sick if you eat if you eat raw chicken. Really CBS? Did ABC beat you out on all of the interesting investigative reporting?
If raw chicken had no bacteria on it, I would not eat it, because it would mean that there is probably no nutrients in the chicken. If you want my dad to talk to you for a while, just bring up milk and how it has no nutrients in it anymore. "All of the nutrients in the milk are killed when they pasteurize and homogenize. That's why it's safe for weeks." In some ways he's right. All of the stuff we do to food kills all of the bad stuff. It kills the good stuff too. Milk doesn't even have that much calcium left in it by the time you get to it. You'd be better off taking a calcium pill.
I didn't risk my life by handling raw chicken tonight. Although I would have loved living on the edge by considering, to wash or to not wash my hands. Don't worry, don't worry, I always wash my hands after handling raw chicken. As you might recall there was a moment when I ate cooked chicken off the floor, not my proudest moment. We all have our moments. I am positive if CBS tested that piece of chicken, they would have found some disease on it. Now that story I would have taken more seriously.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
In other more exciting news, CBS did a study and found raw chicken has bacteria on it. For all of you raw chicken fans out there, I am sorry but you will be sick if you eat if you eat raw chicken. Really CBS? Did ABC beat you out on all of the interesting investigative reporting?
If raw chicken had no bacteria on it, I would not eat it, because it would mean that there is probably no nutrients in the chicken. If you want my dad to talk to you for a while, just bring up milk and how it has no nutrients in it anymore. "All of the nutrients in the milk are killed when they pasteurize and homogenize. That's why it's safe for weeks." In some ways he's right. All of the stuff we do to food kills all of the bad stuff. It kills the good stuff too. Milk doesn't even have that much calcium left in it by the time you get to it. You'd be better off taking a calcium pill.
I didn't risk my life by handling raw chicken tonight. Although I would have loved living on the edge by considering, to wash or to not wash my hands. Don't worry, don't worry, I always wash my hands after handling raw chicken. As you might recall there was a moment when I ate cooked chicken off the floor, not my proudest moment. We all have our moments. I am positive if CBS tested that piece of chicken, they would have found some disease on it. Now that story I would have taken more seriously.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Sunday, November 29, 2009
And then I was back
There is a lovely blister on my left index finger. It’s totally sexy. Matt’s going to look at it and go “what did you do to yourself now?” I was the kid who found the only rock in my yard to fall on and crack open my chin. Thankfully my wonderful boyfriend has become use to me and my many casualties of war.
I worked at the country club this weekend while I was home. I accidently took the wrong chef knife with me to work, and the one I picked was DULL. I am normally used to dull knives in comparison to the hair splitting knives many of my comrades work with, but this was exceptionally dull. So dull in fact that I was pushing way to hard to cut and I worked up that lovely blister that I just deemed oh so sexy. It could have been worse. I could have cut off my whole finger. Dull knives are so dangerous. It’s commonly thought that sharp knives are dangerous; but when you’re using the tip of your knife to cut through the skin of an onion because your knife is too dull to cut it, you are pretty much asking for trouble.
Besides my knife issues, the country club was lovely. I was a little worried I’d forget everything and just look stupid, but I walked in and felt right at home. Not much had changed. Rob was still working on the newest dish that sounded amazing. There was a new prep cook that was wonderfully slow. I say wonderfully and mean I never saw someone cut up broccoli so slow. My mom could have done it faster with a paring knife. Ahh how I love the kitchen!
Between working and family stuff my weekend was packed. I honestly have not had a spare second to breathe. I did get a healthy dose of hot chocolate, and I have eaten turkey pretty much for every meal except breakfast since Thursday. I was hoping I could maybe grow some wings, so I wouldn’t have to sit in the airport at 6 a.m. No such luck.
It is officially the holiday season. The holidays are just not the holidays without some fudge. My mom makes the best fudge. Last year I tried my hand at it for the first time, and brought it into the office. I like to think it made all of their holidays a little happier. I’m not quite sure when I will be making my fudge, but here is the recipe so you can be sure to make it early. It makes a wonderful gift for those people you always forget to get gifts for. It’s also a wonderful alternative to a plate of cookies.
Fudge:
4 cups of sugar
1 large can of evaporated milk
1 stick butter
Combine in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook to soft ball stage. This means when you drip put it into a bowl of water you can form a soft ball. Most candy thermometers have the stages on them, but if you don’t have one just try the water test, or it will be about 8 minutes after mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and stir in until smooth.
12 oz. bag chocolate chips
7 oz. jar of marshmallow crème
20 oz. jar peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour mixture into a 13x9 greased pan. You can add walnuts or pecans. I personally like it without the nuts.
Happy Eating,
Emily
I worked at the country club this weekend while I was home. I accidently took the wrong chef knife with me to work, and the one I picked was DULL. I am normally used to dull knives in comparison to the hair splitting knives many of my comrades work with, but this was exceptionally dull. So dull in fact that I was pushing way to hard to cut and I worked up that lovely blister that I just deemed oh so sexy. It could have been worse. I could have cut off my whole finger. Dull knives are so dangerous. It’s commonly thought that sharp knives are dangerous; but when you’re using the tip of your knife to cut through the skin of an onion because your knife is too dull to cut it, you are pretty much asking for trouble.
Besides my knife issues, the country club was lovely. I was a little worried I’d forget everything and just look stupid, but I walked in and felt right at home. Not much had changed. Rob was still working on the newest dish that sounded amazing. There was a new prep cook that was wonderfully slow. I say wonderfully and mean I never saw someone cut up broccoli so slow. My mom could have done it faster with a paring knife. Ahh how I love the kitchen!
Between working and family stuff my weekend was packed. I honestly have not had a spare second to breathe. I did get a healthy dose of hot chocolate, and I have eaten turkey pretty much for every meal except breakfast since Thursday. I was hoping I could maybe grow some wings, so I wouldn’t have to sit in the airport at 6 a.m. No such luck.
It is officially the holiday season. The holidays are just not the holidays without some fudge. My mom makes the best fudge. Last year I tried my hand at it for the first time, and brought it into the office. I like to think it made all of their holidays a little happier. I’m not quite sure when I will be making my fudge, but here is the recipe so you can be sure to make it early. It makes a wonderful gift for those people you always forget to get gifts for. It’s also a wonderful alternative to a plate of cookies.
Fudge:
4 cups of sugar
1 large can of evaporated milk
1 stick butter
Combine in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook to soft ball stage. This means when you drip put it into a bowl of water you can form a soft ball. Most candy thermometers have the stages on them, but if you don’t have one just try the water test, or it will be about 8 minutes after mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and stir in until smooth.
12 oz. bag chocolate chips
7 oz. jar of marshmallow crème
20 oz. jar peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour mixture into a 13x9 greased pan. You can add walnuts or pecans. I personally like it without the nuts.
Happy Eating,
Emily
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Come in and know me better man
Today was very dramatic to say the least. Literally we started at 7 this morning and have been going till 2 hours ago when we all sat down to watch The Muppet's Christmas Carol. Anyone who actually enjoys hosting ginormous parties needs to have their head checked. Well ok let me step back for a second and say anyone who enjoys hosting ginormous parties probably has a bit of crazy in their system.
It is no secret that I have a lot of crazy in me and well I get it from my mom, so yeah that's a lot of crazy in one little family.
Back to this morning. My mom was going a little bit insane moving every piece of furniture and plant in our house, BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A TON OF PEOPLE OVER AND WE NEED SPACE. I put that in caps because she totally said it in caps. I yelled back in caps CALM DOWN YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. Yeah it was so much fun you're all just wishing you were there.
Then mom gets a call from my Titi Margie. "We're bringing desserts and more desserts." She might as well have said she was bringing dog poo, because mom might have been more pleased with her if she had. See we had a lot of desserts. Everyone seemed to be bringing desserts. The thing we were lacking was vegetables. "WHY DO PEOPLE CALL WHEN THEY WANT AND BRING WHAT THEY WANT? DO THEY REALLY THINK THAT THESE SORTS OF HOLIDAYS JUST HAPPEN AND THEY CAN JUST SHOW UP?" Of course none of those questions were to be answered and we heard them all morning long. Mom would get all excited and then she'd calm down. It was quite the progression.
I made up some cauliflower and corn and no one touched either of them, because there was so much food they were both really unnecessary. Everyone ate, was happily full, and then everyone left. It pretty much felt like it happened that fast.
If you still have a Thanksgiving feast to attend, here are some lessons by mom to live by. Please live by them, because I'm really sick of listening to people talk in caps.
1. Ask the hostess what she needs you to bring. She knows what's being brought, and broccoli is so much easier than 2 pumpkin pies and a cheesecake.
2. Come early to help with the setup. If you feel like you aren't going to be much help, sometimes just the company is nice.
3. Don't leave after the rush, before there is time for the hostess to sit down and relax. There is nothing worse than a rush of people who come and eat and leave.
Helping to clean up is a really nice plus. Honestly if you're mother hasn't taught you these things already, I feel bad for you.
There were a few lovely highlights of our Thanksgiving feast. One of them was my first attempt at homemade cranberry sauce. Everyone was in love.
My mom made a cranberry bread, so we had half a bag of cranberries left. I poured them into a saucepan with a rather juicy orange deseeded and cut into 6 sections. I left the peel and everything on since I was going to take them out before I was done. I put a cup and half of sugar and enough water to make it wet in the pot. I boiled this mixture till the cranberries popped and everything was looking very happy. I added a little bit of cinnamon, some ginger, and some nutmeg. I then took out the oranges. I made a slurry out of corn starch and water and added it to the sauce, bringing it to a boil to thicken it. Bowl it up and eat amazingness. If I do say so myself it was amazing, and it wasn't a pumpkin pie, so my mom was happy with me.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
p.s. Isn't Bella adorable? And, in case you thought I was joking about our overabundance of desserts, here are the desserts without the 24 cupcakes and cut walnut brownies.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Here we go
I went to the airport wonderfully prepared to do the little bit of homework that I needed to do over this Thanksgiving break. Then I bought Julia Child’s book My Life in France. So much for the stupid history book.
Anyway my roommates had a Thanksgiving Day feast with their friends on Sunday, and I did all of the clean up. I wasn’t so excited about Mickey Mouse coming around while we’re gone and chewing up and pooing all over my stuff. Call me selfish, but unwanted guests are just not my cup of tea. So back to the feast and I did the clean up and the apt looks lovely. One of the guys who came ran to Whole Foods and got his girlfriend flowers while he was at our place. Awww cute. I threw up a little actually; if you run into a store and have to buy your significant other flowers just for the heck of it, there is something wrong with you. Maybe your mom brainwashed you into thinking that flowers equal love. THEY DIE!!! But a cute bracelet, ring or earrings now those equal love. (Matt are you taking notes?)
Yeah he left them at our apt. It’s the thought that counts right? Anyway the flowers are traveling with me. They would have died alone if I didn’t bring them. I think it’s a pretty good payment for my cleaning and my mom will think I’m the best daughter ever for bringing her flowers. Plus do you have any idea how adorable my canvas bag looks with a bouquet poking out of it. I’m all for looking cute, contrary to popular belief.
Now I landed in the city of brotherly love around 10:15. My Bella-boo or the B-Machine as Matt has decided to call her is coming to get me. Yeah I think my dad’s coming too; Bella just can’t seem to pass the driving test. (It’s ok B it took me 4 times to get it; keep trying.) Then we are rushing home for a little holiday cooking. By a little I mean A LOT.
Do you have any idea how big my dad’s family is? My sister said and I quote “Everyone’s coming. Even Titi Margie.” So yeah this means that the house will be packed, the turkey is 22 pounds, and Emily’s not invited unless the peanut butter pie is made.
If you think I’m joking about not being invited, you just don’t know my family. When my Titi Stella decided to have Christmas, she called me and said she wanted me to make the peanut butter pie. She then hid it in her freezer for her kids and said I brought it just for them. Hello outraged cousins. I think it was actually Uncle Tony who noticed it first.
He’s a big fan of good food. He’s lived in a family with some of the best cooks in the world. Yes I said it, and no I’m not biased. This is hardcore raw talent the Gonzalez Huertas Hinkels have. Doesn’t it just bring you joy to hear Hinkel in that mix? If you doubt the PA Dutch talent, you can just take it out with Uncle Bud. His wings will set you straight.
Back to the peanut butter pie. It is just amazing. I am very biased about this, because quite honestly if I could have lunch with anyone in all of history it would be George Washington Carver. I’m in love. He invented peanut butter. How can you not think the guy’s amazing? My peanut butter pie recipe is so easy it practically makes itself. The only reason no one else in the family makes it is because it’s my job. I have to earn my invite.
Peanut Butter Pie:
6 oz. cream cheese
3/4 cups of confectioner sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1/2 cup of peanut butter
8 oz. container of Cool Whip
Blend the cream cheese and the confectioner sugar. Add in the milk. Mix in the PB. Fold in the Cool Whip, and do the cool whip dance while doing it. The last step is of the utmost importance. Be sure not to skip it. Scoop the mixture into a oreo or graham cracker crust. I like to freeze the pie if I'm taking it somewhere so it doesn't get too soft. Pretty much you're going to have to trouble not eating all of the filling before you actually eat the pie.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Anyway my roommates had a Thanksgiving Day feast with their friends on Sunday, and I did all of the clean up. I wasn’t so excited about Mickey Mouse coming around while we’re gone and chewing up and pooing all over my stuff. Call me selfish, but unwanted guests are just not my cup of tea. So back to the feast and I did the clean up and the apt looks lovely. One of the guys who came ran to Whole Foods and got his girlfriend flowers while he was at our place. Awww cute. I threw up a little actually; if you run into a store and have to buy your significant other flowers just for the heck of it, there is something wrong with you. Maybe your mom brainwashed you into thinking that flowers equal love. THEY DIE!!! But a cute bracelet, ring or earrings now those equal love. (Matt are you taking notes?)
Yeah he left them at our apt. It’s the thought that counts right? Anyway the flowers are traveling with me. They would have died alone if I didn’t bring them. I think it’s a pretty good payment for my cleaning and my mom will think I’m the best daughter ever for bringing her flowers. Plus do you have any idea how adorable my canvas bag looks with a bouquet poking out of it. I’m all for looking cute, contrary to popular belief.
Now I landed in the city of brotherly love around 10:15. My Bella-boo or the B-Machine as Matt has decided to call her is coming to get me. Yeah I think my dad’s coming too; Bella just can’t seem to pass the driving test. (It’s ok B it took me 4 times to get it; keep trying.) Then we are rushing home for a little holiday cooking. By a little I mean A LOT.
Do you have any idea how big my dad’s family is? My sister said and I quote “Everyone’s coming. Even Titi Margie.” So yeah this means that the house will be packed, the turkey is 22 pounds, and Emily’s not invited unless the peanut butter pie is made.
If you think I’m joking about not being invited, you just don’t know my family. When my Titi Stella decided to have Christmas, she called me and said she wanted me to make the peanut butter pie. She then hid it in her freezer for her kids and said I brought it just for them. Hello outraged cousins. I think it was actually Uncle Tony who noticed it first.
He’s a big fan of good food. He’s lived in a family with some of the best cooks in the world. Yes I said it, and no I’m not biased. This is hardcore raw talent the Gonzalez Huertas Hinkels have. Doesn’t it just bring you joy to hear Hinkel in that mix? If you doubt the PA Dutch talent, you can just take it out with Uncle Bud. His wings will set you straight.
Back to the peanut butter pie. It is just amazing. I am very biased about this, because quite honestly if I could have lunch with anyone in all of history it would be George Washington Carver. I’m in love. He invented peanut butter. How can you not think the guy’s amazing? My peanut butter pie recipe is so easy it practically makes itself. The only reason no one else in the family makes it is because it’s my job. I have to earn my invite.
Peanut Butter Pie:
6 oz. cream cheese
3/4 cups of confectioner sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1/2 cup of peanut butter
8 oz. container of Cool Whip
Blend the cream cheese and the confectioner sugar. Add in the milk. Mix in the PB. Fold in the Cool Whip, and do the cool whip dance while doing it. The last step is of the utmost importance. Be sure not to skip it. Scoop the mixture into a oreo or graham cracker crust. I like to freeze the pie if I'm taking it somewhere so it doesn't get too soft. Pretty much you're going to have to trouble not eating all of the filling before you actually eat the pie.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, November 23, 2009
Turkey
The pilgrims came to America and Pocahontas fell in love with John Smith and then they all gathered together for one giant Thanksgiving Day feast. The Indians (not to be mistaken for India, Indians...oh Columbus how you messed up) brought corn and the pilgrims killed a turkey and every was all sorts of happy.
Yeah ok Walt Disney died a long time ago, so I hope you don't pretend that the first Thanksgiving really happened like that at all. Matt believes in Disney and is going to read this and call me up immediately to tell me that he thought John Smith did fall in love with Pocahontas; the truth hurts folks. The pilgrims did have a harvest feast, you know they ate before they spent the winter starving. Boy I don't ever wish I lived during that period of American history.
President George Washington declared a National Day of Thanks. Good old Thomas Jefferson was not into the whole thanking for the bounty thing and nixed the idea. President Lincoln picked up the torch and named a national day of thanks; every other president after him declared the day of thanks, and hello 2009 Thanksgiving Day.
There is no Thanksgiving without a turkey. Lets be honest, it's probably the only time of year that you actually eat a turkey. I'm not sure why this is. Turkey's are such yummy yummy things.
We roast our turkeys. My mom makes the best turkey ever. She has had a lot of practice. We have a over 30 people for Thanksgiving every year. The number grows every year with the addition of boyfriends and girlfriends and wives and husbands. Everyone brings a side or dessert and my mom makes the turkey. This is one monstrous bird that feeds us all, and every year all of my Titis argue over who is going to carve the bird.
I love my mom for doing this every year. She taught me that there are never too many people at a holiday celebration. She also taught me how to be a wonderful hostess, cleaning up and minding all of the dishes. She also taught me that the hostess always eats last and probably will end up sitting on the floor. Do you realize how many people never get these lesson? Yeah my mom's the best.
There are a few things standing in the way of me and Thanksgiving. Classes tomorrow, heading to Providence with Matt, and then the flight to P-izzle. That turkey is calling my name.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Yeah ok Walt Disney died a long time ago, so I hope you don't pretend that the first Thanksgiving really happened like that at all. Matt believes in Disney and is going to read this and call me up immediately to tell me that he thought John Smith did fall in love with Pocahontas; the truth hurts folks. The pilgrims did have a harvest feast, you know they ate before they spent the winter starving. Boy I don't ever wish I lived during that period of American history.
President George Washington declared a National Day of Thanks. Good old Thomas Jefferson was not into the whole thanking for the bounty thing and nixed the idea. President Lincoln picked up the torch and named a national day of thanks; every other president after him declared the day of thanks, and hello 2009 Thanksgiving Day.
There is no Thanksgiving without a turkey. Lets be honest, it's probably the only time of year that you actually eat a turkey. I'm not sure why this is. Turkey's are such yummy yummy things.
We roast our turkeys. My mom makes the best turkey ever. She has had a lot of practice. We have a over 30 people for Thanksgiving every year. The number grows every year with the addition of boyfriends and girlfriends and wives and husbands. Everyone brings a side or dessert and my mom makes the turkey. This is one monstrous bird that feeds us all, and every year all of my Titis argue over who is going to carve the bird.
I love my mom for doing this every year. She taught me that there are never too many people at a holiday celebration. She also taught me how to be a wonderful hostess, cleaning up and minding all of the dishes. She also taught me that the hostess always eats last and probably will end up sitting on the floor. Do you realize how many people never get these lesson? Yeah my mom's the best.
There are a few things standing in the way of me and Thanksgiving. Classes tomorrow, heading to Providence with Matt, and then the flight to P-izzle. That turkey is calling my name.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Can I have extra butter with that please
You might recall Matt and my baconator experience. It ended with me being full for weeks, and Matt being full for 24 hours (just as big of an accomplishment as me being full for weeks, trust me). It turns out something that will not leave you nearly that full has about double the calories.
A study came out this week saying that a medium movie popcorn and a soda has about the same amount of calories as three quarter pounders from McDonalds. That would make me way more full than the baconator. So why is it that while mindlessly eating popcorn during a movie do we not feel that same fullness that three quarter pounders would give? Well it's popcorn. Snacks tend to shove calories in with more ease than real food (if you can call McDs real food) does. According to the study the reason that movie theater popcorn is so terribly bad for you is because they cook it in coconut oil. I really must say that this cooking process makes it damn tasty. Unfortunately it also makes it scary for your arteries.
Lessons. We all know how learning lessons from useless information like this makes me happy. I call it useless, because I doubt the billions of teenage girls who went to see New Moon Thursday at midnight and are planning to go all this coming weekend, really care whether they are consuming 3 meals worth of calories in one medium popcorn. It tastes good, it's there, and it quiets your nerves when that vampire takes his shirt off. (disclaimer: I have never even seen Twilight so please don't get mad at me for misinformation.)
Lesson number 1: Why are people still paying ridiculous prices to buy movie theater popcorn? Buy a big purse and sneak in some pretzels. Really why aren't you already doing this? With the money you spend on a medium popcorn and a soda, you could feed a whole family of 5. That's not even factoring in the price of the ticket. Either eat before and go without food during the movie, or sneak it in. I promise I won't tell.
Lesson number 2: If you go to the movies every week and you get popcorn every time you go and you're overweight, stop complaining. Thanks to this study you now know exactly why you are overweight, so you have no excuse.
Lesson number 3: I don't think McDonalds is a good option, but if you fill up on a quarter pounder, then it would probably be wise to just enjoy that and call it a day. It's cheaper.
Lesson number 54: Yeah I skipped a few because I couldn't think of that many lessons. Pretty much don't eat movie theater popcorn, if you love your healthy life.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Leggo my eggo...no I'm serious LET IT GO
In case you missed the news, Eggo waffles might not be on the shelves when you go to look for them in the next couple of months. Two of the four plants that produce the tasty frozen waffles are not producing them for various reasons, so Eggo lovers are out of luck.
First of all how many of you are shocked that all of those yummy frozen waffles are made in only four plants. Oooh Me! Me! Pick me! I guess I imagine the waffle market to be a tad bit larger than it really is. See we didn't actually own a waffle maker, so Eggo got quite a bit of business from my family when we were growing up.
I would like to know where all of the store brand waffles are made. Honestly they taste the same as Eggo, so are they made in the Eggo plant? Are we looking at a lack of waffles across the board? Yeah that would be devastating. My days of waffle eating are over, but think of all of those other little children who want their Eggos before school.
Matt's friend Trevor, who informed me of this waffle shortage, said his mom would make waffles and then freeze them so he could toast them just like you would toast an Eggo waffle. Trevor's mom is pretty smart. I've never met the woman, but honestly she sounds like supermom to me. You know those moms that put homemade cookies in their children's lunches every day. It's so cute and nauseating all at the same time. I only say nauseating of course, because I know I will never be that mom. I'll be a "leave some things to the professionals" mom, just like my mom. We all know Campbells Chicken Noodle soup makes you feel warm and cozy. Why waste all of that time making homemade soup? That's prime book reading, cuddling, and hanging out time.
Yeah I just totally made my mom look like a better mom for opening a can of Campbells. I really should get paid for this kind of advertising.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
First of all how many of you are shocked that all of those yummy frozen waffles are made in only four plants. Oooh Me! Me! Pick me! I guess I imagine the waffle market to be a tad bit larger than it really is. See we didn't actually own a waffle maker, so Eggo got quite a bit of business from my family when we were growing up.
I would like to know where all of the store brand waffles are made. Honestly they taste the same as Eggo, so are they made in the Eggo plant? Are we looking at a lack of waffles across the board? Yeah that would be devastating. My days of waffle eating are over, but think of all of those other little children who want their Eggos before school.
Matt's friend Trevor, who informed me of this waffle shortage, said his mom would make waffles and then freeze them so he could toast them just like you would toast an Eggo waffle. Trevor's mom is pretty smart. I've never met the woman, but honestly she sounds like supermom to me. You know those moms that put homemade cookies in their children's lunches every day. It's so cute and nauseating all at the same time. I only say nauseating of course, because I know I will never be that mom. I'll be a "leave some things to the professionals" mom, just like my mom. We all know Campbells Chicken Noodle soup makes you feel warm and cozy. Why waste all of that time making homemade soup? That's prime book reading, cuddling, and hanging out time.
Yeah I just totally made my mom look like a better mom for opening a can of Campbells. I really should get paid for this kind of advertising.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
It's just paper right?
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization decided that we can erradicate world hunger at the price tag of $44 billion a year. That's one hefty price tag. The G8 summit pledged 20 billion over 3 years...pshhh pennies. And the best part no one really knows how that money will affect the problem. Well you know guys it's not $44 billion, so it's not going to save the world.
Where did the FAO come up with this number? I have no clue, but I am pretty sure that someone was being paid to come up with the number. This is the part I have a problem with. Why do we pay out millions of dollars to find out that the problem could be fixed with billions of dollars. Supposedly the Boston T was found to be dangerous and there is no money to fix it. How much did they pay the man to find out what they probably already knew? It's my section of the T too, so when you hear that the redline derailed and some crazy person was yelling from the wreckage, "HOW COME YOU COULD FIND THE MONEY TO DO THE STUDY AND NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM!" Yeah you'll know what's going on. Ugh ok stepping off of soapbox.
So I can't imagine a million dollars. I have never even had a hundred dollars physically in my hands. It just seems like a tremendous amount of cash. I'm sure billions could save the world; with billions I could probably save the world and shop at Whole Foods.
I don't know about you, but I was not shocked this week when I found out that Whole Foods stock went down. I mean I'm going to buy a whole roasting chicken for $3 at Price Rite instead of spending $12 at Whole Foods. It's kind of a no-brainer. Speaking of roast chickens and no-brainers, how amazing does my roast game hens look? I know you're salivating. I was too at 8 at night when the dinner still wasn't done.
They were super easy. I just cut up an onion, a potato, and carrots. I covered the hens with adobo and garlic and roasted them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. The wait was worth it. It was like biting into home, and for leftovers I can't wait to make pasta, chicken, and broccoli tomorrow night. Don't you just love a meal that can be transformed into a completely separate meal? It's like leftovers only way better. Maybe newovers, hmm now that is some food for thought.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ho Ho Holidays
Whether you like it or not the holiday season has been thrown at us. I say thrown at us, because it would be foolish to say that it's actually time for the holiday season. There were Christmas ornaments in Target at the end of September. Screaming WHAT HAPPENED TO FALL is entirely useless, because it's gone, disappeared, poof. Whining, crying, and updating your facebook status every two seconds to inform your friends that you are mad, that Thanksgiving has once again gone as a forgotten holiday, is useless. I tried. It really doesn't make you feel any better.
The only other option is to embrace it. They're already selling eggnog in the stores, embrace it, if you like eggnog; I'm not a fan. I am a fan of hot chocolate and the movie Eloise at Christmastime. I thought that it might be awful to enjoy these things before Thanksgiving. Shockingly I did not grow elf ears or a Santa hat, and the movie and hot chocolate were just as good as it would be on the night before Christmas.
Of course embracing Christmas is much more than embracing cheap Christmas movies and night time treats. Embracing Christmas is embracing winter. Winter means warm homey foods, an extra 10 lbs, and of course a warm yummy apple crisp. You might remember the apple crisp I spoke of back in October. I believe I called it the best apple crisp ever. Well I did it one better. I had bought 4 apples and 4 pears at the grocery store a long time ago. Well the apples were longer than the pears. Matt left them in his fridge and forgot about them when he was supposed to be bringing them up to me so I would have fruit to consume. Oh Matthew! I personally think he did it on purpose so that when I finally got the apples I would be over my fruit kick and I would turn them into a yummy baked good.
Since I'm not fond of yummy apple baked goods, I decided adding a few pears in the mix might make the whole thing a lot better. Boy was I right. I love how that sounds. Don't you? In all fairness the apple crisp topping is the best ever. You might be able to put it on dog poo and make it taste good. Ok maybe not dog poo, but definitely apples and pears.
I had every intention of making a homey meal of Cornish game hens and carrots and potatoes tonight. Unfortunately I forgot to take them out of the freezer in time, so now that is going to have to be tomorrow's meal.
That boyfriend who forgot my apples in his fridge conveniently had two burgers ready for dinner. I think I already mentioned that extra 10 lbs that always comes with winter. The cold weather just makes you hungry for the fattyness. I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling it goes back to the native Americans eating animal fat to stay warm. Not sure if that really happened, but I seem to remember something about it in American history class.
Tonight's low is 34 degrees Fahrenheit. It's time for winter folks. Gain the 10 lbs wisely. I'm thinking roast chickens, apple crisps, and maybe a little bit of bacon on the side.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
The only other option is to embrace it. They're already selling eggnog in the stores, embrace it, if you like eggnog; I'm not a fan. I am a fan of hot chocolate and the movie Eloise at Christmastime. I thought that it might be awful to enjoy these things before Thanksgiving. Shockingly I did not grow elf ears or a Santa hat, and the movie and hot chocolate were just as good as it would be on the night before Christmas.
Of course embracing Christmas is much more than embracing cheap Christmas movies and night time treats. Embracing Christmas is embracing winter. Winter means warm homey foods, an extra 10 lbs, and of course a warm yummy apple crisp. You might remember the apple crisp I spoke of back in October. I believe I called it the best apple crisp ever. Well I did it one better. I had bought 4 apples and 4 pears at the grocery store a long time ago. Well the apples were longer than the pears. Matt left them in his fridge and forgot about them when he was supposed to be bringing them up to me so I would have fruit to consume. Oh Matthew! I personally think he did it on purpose so that when I finally got the apples I would be over my fruit kick and I would turn them into a yummy baked good.
Since I'm not fond of yummy apple baked goods, I decided adding a few pears in the mix might make the whole thing a lot better. Boy was I right. I love how that sounds. Don't you? In all fairness the apple crisp topping is the best ever. You might be able to put it on dog poo and make it taste good. Ok maybe not dog poo, but definitely apples and pears.
I had every intention of making a homey meal of Cornish game hens and carrots and potatoes tonight. Unfortunately I forgot to take them out of the freezer in time, so now that is going to have to be tomorrow's meal.
That boyfriend who forgot my apples in his fridge conveniently had two burgers ready for dinner. I think I already mentioned that extra 10 lbs that always comes with winter. The cold weather just makes you hungry for the fattyness. I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling it goes back to the native Americans eating animal fat to stay warm. Not sure if that really happened, but I seem to remember something about it in American history class.
Tonight's low is 34 degrees Fahrenheit. It's time for winter folks. Gain the 10 lbs wisely. I'm thinking roast chickens, apple crisps, and maybe a little bit of bacon on the side.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Now that smells like fermented slime
Tonight I performed the dreaded task, cleaning out the fridge. I guess it wouldn't be such a dreaded task is everyone ate their leftovers or disposed of their leftovers in a timely fashion. Why would you save leftovers if you have no intention of eating them? anyone? anyone? Yeah no answer here either. Since I don't live in a perfect apartment where old food stands up and walks out of the refrigerator and into the trash, which then picks itself up and walks outside to the dumpster. Ugh lets not even discuss the trash.
So yeah the slimy things and the dehydrated things and the smelly things all had to be disposed of. While I was doing the whole tossing in the trash thing, I was doing some thinking. People in the world are starving. Food drives for the holidays have already started, and here I am throwing out half my fridge.
I can easily blame my roommates. There was definitely a container of slimy brown rice in there and we all know I'm not a brown rice type of person. Unfortunately it doesn't matter who wasted half of the fridge in our apartment. There are people wondering about their next meal, who would die do the food I had to just throw out. Well they probably would have wanted it before it was slimy, but you get my point.
So if blaming my roommates won't make the trash take itself out, er oops I mean cause us to waste less food. If my roommates are reading, PLEASE START TAKING THE TRASH OUT BEFORE IT SMELLS LIKE WE LIVE IN A DUMP!!! But yeah back to the food, what is it that will help the whole wasting food thing? Think. Oh yeah it sounds easy, but it really isn't.
Every time you make a meal stop and think. When am I going to eat the rest of this meal? Can I put it in a container and take it to work for lunch tomorrow? All of this thinking might help you waste less. If you can't eat lasagna for 2 weeks straight, maybe you should make a smaller version or freeze half of it so you can have it when you're hungry for it.
Of course buying an extra can of soup and dropping it off at a local canned food drive, would definitely help things out a little too. Do you really need those brownies or donuts? It's the little things people, and it's going to be a rather cold winter so giving the needy a little extra might be a good idea. Well it's a good idea all of the time.
So my roommate made me enchiladas tonight. She's from New Mexico i.e. an expert on amazing enchiladas. Ok so here's how she makes them. She put layers of tortillas on the bottom of a 13x9 pan. Then she layers in some cooked chicken, which she cooks in chicken stock. Then she layers on black beans, green chili (This is definitely the secret and I'm skeptical as to whether you will find a green chili sauce that is amazing as the one her mom sends her from NM, but try it'll be worth it.), and cheese (LOTS OF CHEESE). Then she layers another tortilla layer and the process continues with much the same ingredients. She sticks this whole concoction in the oven at 350 for like 20 minutes. It's intense cheesy spicy and meaty all at once. It's amazing and comforting in a 13x9 inch pan. You won't have to think about whether you can eat this for a week straight. First of all it won't last that long and second of all it is the perfect meal on a cold night. Besides who doesn't love cheesy chicken beany goodness.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
So yeah the slimy things and the dehydrated things and the smelly things all had to be disposed of. While I was doing the whole tossing in the trash thing, I was doing some thinking. People in the world are starving. Food drives for the holidays have already started, and here I am throwing out half my fridge.
I can easily blame my roommates. There was definitely a container of slimy brown rice in there and we all know I'm not a brown rice type of person. Unfortunately it doesn't matter who wasted half of the fridge in our apartment. There are people wondering about their next meal, who would die do the food I had to just throw out. Well they probably would have wanted it before it was slimy, but you get my point.
So if blaming my roommates won't make the trash take itself out, er oops I mean cause us to waste less food. If my roommates are reading, PLEASE START TAKING THE TRASH OUT BEFORE IT SMELLS LIKE WE LIVE IN A DUMP!!! But yeah back to the food, what is it that will help the whole wasting food thing? Think. Oh yeah it sounds easy, but it really isn't.
Every time you make a meal stop and think. When am I going to eat the rest of this meal? Can I put it in a container and take it to work for lunch tomorrow? All of this thinking might help you waste less. If you can't eat lasagna for 2 weeks straight, maybe you should make a smaller version or freeze half of it so you can have it when you're hungry for it.
Of course buying an extra can of soup and dropping it off at a local canned food drive, would definitely help things out a little too. Do you really need those brownies or donuts? It's the little things people, and it's going to be a rather cold winter so giving the needy a little extra might be a good idea. Well it's a good idea all of the time.
So my roommate made me enchiladas tonight. She's from New Mexico i.e. an expert on amazing enchiladas. Ok so here's how she makes them. She put layers of tortillas on the bottom of a 13x9 pan. Then she layers in some cooked chicken, which she cooks in chicken stock. Then she layers on black beans, green chili (This is definitely the secret and I'm skeptical as to whether you will find a green chili sauce that is amazing as the one her mom sends her from NM, but try it'll be worth it.), and cheese (LOTS OF CHEESE). Then she layers another tortilla layer and the process continues with much the same ingredients. She sticks this whole concoction in the oven at 350 for like 20 minutes. It's intense cheesy spicy and meaty all at once. It's amazing and comforting in a 13x9 inch pan. You won't have to think about whether you can eat this for a week straight. First of all it won't last that long and second of all it is the perfect meal on a cold night. Besides who doesn't love cheesy chicken beany goodness.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Friday, November 13, 2009
Oysters anyone?
The Greek goddess of love came from an oyster shell. While I hate to put anything in the same sentence as chocolate (It's just sacrilegious!), oysters are, like chocolate, an aphrodisiac. Unfortunately every year some raw oyster eaters aren't thinking sexy thoughts after eating Gulf oysters. According the New York Times, 15 people die every year from a bacteria found in Gulf oysters during the warm months.
The FDA's answer to this dilemma was; oysters from the Gulf were banned during warm months. This seemed reasonable, considering there is no way to know if an oyster has the bacteria and according to true oyster lovers (I'm really not a fan, so I'm trusting them) processing the oysters change the flavor. It just makes more sense to put a kabosh on the warm month Gulf oysters. Well you say ban and people normally start to freak out. This freak out caused the FDA to delay the ban until the issue can be looked into more carefully.
First of all I think raw oysters are disgusting. They kind of look like the blobs you see in the pictures of what babies look like in the early stages of pregnancy. Yeah gross!!! I have no idea why anyone would want to slurp down these fetisesque objects, but I've watched many a country club member do it over the summer. They would fill the tops of the shell with enough cocktail sauce that I really don't think they tasted anything other than cocktail sauce with a little bit of slime on the side.
There is always a risk involved when eating raw anything. You should never do it unless you really trust the restaurant, buffet, hotel, ect. I may be extra hopeful in the restaurant industry, but I would hope that a chef would not want his diners to die from food he served. (Pardon the use of a male pronoun. I hate saying he/she. It wastes space much like this explanation just did.)
So maybe the answer is not an FDA ban. Maybe it is just going to take a refusal from restaurant owners and chefs from selling Gulf oysters raw during the warm months. There are other places where oysters come from, so oysters wouldn't have to be taken off of the menu altogether. If only I could run the world.
If only I could finish my paper on Ghandi's Hind Swaraj. I am not dying from a raw oyster bacteria, but my body is slowly shutting down on me. I have a slight fever and just feel icky. I am hoping that a little bit of rest and relaxation will fix me all better, but unfortunately my paper is at 2.75 pages and stuck there (it has to be 5-7 pages). My aphrodisiac of choice for the night, Hershey's chocolate. It isn't slimy, and it makes me feel happier.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
The FDA's answer to this dilemma was; oysters from the Gulf were banned during warm months. This seemed reasonable, considering there is no way to know if an oyster has the bacteria and according to true oyster lovers (I'm really not a fan, so I'm trusting them) processing the oysters change the flavor. It just makes more sense to put a kabosh on the warm month Gulf oysters. Well you say ban and people normally start to freak out. This freak out caused the FDA to delay the ban until the issue can be looked into more carefully.
First of all I think raw oysters are disgusting. They kind of look like the blobs you see in the pictures of what babies look like in the early stages of pregnancy. Yeah gross!!! I have no idea why anyone would want to slurp down these fetisesque objects, but I've watched many a country club member do it over the summer. They would fill the tops of the shell with enough cocktail sauce that I really don't think they tasted anything other than cocktail sauce with a little bit of slime on the side.
There is always a risk involved when eating raw anything. You should never do it unless you really trust the restaurant, buffet, hotel, ect. I may be extra hopeful in the restaurant industry, but I would hope that a chef would not want his diners to die from food he served. (Pardon the use of a male pronoun. I hate saying he/she. It wastes space much like this explanation just did.)
So maybe the answer is not an FDA ban. Maybe it is just going to take a refusal from restaurant owners and chefs from selling Gulf oysters raw during the warm months. There are other places where oysters come from, so oysters wouldn't have to be taken off of the menu altogether. If only I could run the world.
If only I could finish my paper on Ghandi's Hind Swaraj. I am not dying from a raw oyster bacteria, but my body is slowly shutting down on me. I have a slight fever and just feel icky. I am hoping that a little bit of rest and relaxation will fix me all better, but unfortunately my paper is at 2.75 pages and stuck there (it has to be 5-7 pages). My aphrodisiac of choice for the night, Hershey's chocolate. It isn't slimy, and it makes me feel happier.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Thursday, November 12, 2009
60% You Go America!
Have I ever mentioned that I have a huge crush on Charlie Gibson? I had some cold pizza, a glass of juice, and I was going to sit down for 15 minutes before I started the nonsense I should have done yesterday. All I could think was, "It's quarter to 7. I can still catch a little bit of Charlie." I never really was a nightly news fan, but honestly a lot goes on in the world and sometimes it's just nice to know that there is more out there than the radio clip (that was awful) that was due by 6 tonight (I'm totally getting a 6/10 on it. I just know it).
Charlie did not do me wrong tonight. He informed me that 60% of American families polled by ABC news ate dinner as a family. I can not tell you how much that warms my soul.
My mom was one busy woman, but every night we sat down and ate a dinner. I had no idea that this was unique until I left for college. After freshman year I learned my parents were probably the only couple in all of America who hadn't gotten a divorce (overexaggeration of course, but you get the point) and that my parents did things all wrong; they were supposed to throw money at their children and ignore them. Dinner was supposed to be optional.
That is one depressing thought isn't it. When I think of all of the happy times my family had around the kitchen table, I just can't help but laugh. My brother would moan and complain when dinner wasn't his favorite. We all moaned when it was beef stroganoff. I mean who invented that anyway. What a disgusting idea for a meal. Beef, creamy slop, and noodles. It just doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling listening to Charlie does.
Thankfully it looks like since my freshman year things have started to turn around. Maybe America is getting smart. I doubt it, but at least they're starting to eat dinner together.
The one downfall to this whole study. See this is why I love Charlie. He tells me the good news, but he never sugarcoats it. This world isn't always peaches and cream. Sometimes there are radio pieces due at 6 and sometimes there is nothing you can do to make your piece suck less. But yeah back to American families. While 60% of American families are eating dinner with their families, they are also letting electronics distract them during dinner. I hate to sound like an old fogey at 21, but THERE IS NOT TEXTING AT THE DINNER TABLE!!!
I know I was watching Charlie while savoring my cold pizza, but there was no TV near our kitchen table at home. I can honestly think of maybe one or two times when my family ate in front of the TV. It just really never happened. I would have it no other way. We're bombarded with emails, text messages, twitter updates, and TV shows all of the time. When I'm with my family, I love putting all of those things away and just enjoying real live people. It doesn't happen very often.
You know what makes me as happy as Charlie, and family meals? Well you probably could guess forever, or I could just tell you. It's tea. And I'm going to drink as many cups as I need to till I start to forget the radio clip. Mmmm warm comforting liquid.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Charlie did not do me wrong tonight. He informed me that 60% of American families polled by ABC news ate dinner as a family. I can not tell you how much that warms my soul.
My mom was one busy woman, but every night we sat down and ate a dinner. I had no idea that this was unique until I left for college. After freshman year I learned my parents were probably the only couple in all of America who hadn't gotten a divorce (overexaggeration of course, but you get the point) and that my parents did things all wrong; they were supposed to throw money at their children and ignore them. Dinner was supposed to be optional.
That is one depressing thought isn't it. When I think of all of the happy times my family had around the kitchen table, I just can't help but laugh. My brother would moan and complain when dinner wasn't his favorite. We all moaned when it was beef stroganoff. I mean who invented that anyway. What a disgusting idea for a meal. Beef, creamy slop, and noodles. It just doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling listening to Charlie does.
Thankfully it looks like since my freshman year things have started to turn around. Maybe America is getting smart. I doubt it, but at least they're starting to eat dinner together.
The one downfall to this whole study. See this is why I love Charlie. He tells me the good news, but he never sugarcoats it. This world isn't always peaches and cream. Sometimes there are radio pieces due at 6 and sometimes there is nothing you can do to make your piece suck less. But yeah back to American families. While 60% of American families are eating dinner with their families, they are also letting electronics distract them during dinner. I hate to sound like an old fogey at 21, but THERE IS NOT TEXTING AT THE DINNER TABLE!!!
I know I was watching Charlie while savoring my cold pizza, but there was no TV near our kitchen table at home. I can honestly think of maybe one or two times when my family ate in front of the TV. It just really never happened. I would have it no other way. We're bombarded with emails, text messages, twitter updates, and TV shows all of the time. When I'm with my family, I love putting all of those things away and just enjoying real live people. It doesn't happen very often.
You know what makes me as happy as Charlie, and family meals? Well you probably could guess forever, or I could just tell you. It's tea. And I'm going to drink as many cups as I need to till I start to forget the radio clip. Mmmm warm comforting liquid.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
Monday, November 9, 2009
WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN RUB!!!
Have I ever told you that Matt likes to save money. Save money might be an understatement, because in all reality Matt just hates spending money. If there is some way that he could get by never spending money, Matt would be in paradise. He'd probably get an offer to join Eve in the Garden of Eden and say, "No thanks, living over here is free."
Anyway Matt has been raving about the ribs his dad's friend made when we were up last time. He made them with a rub, and Matt was in love. I wasn't as big of a fan, because I like my ribs moist. I knew we had extra time today, so I suggested to Matt that we make ribs. I had a whole container of sauce and was all ready to just pop the ribs in the crockpot before I left for class. Matt was not so into it. He decided we needed a dry rub.
I suggested we buy a rub. I mean if we were going to eat dry rub ribs, we might as well eat good dry rub ribs. BUT Matt decided that we already had the ingredients that went into a dry rub. "It's cheaper. We'll just do it ourselves." I was skeptical.
Boy was I wrong. Matt just started adding random things in my cupboard into a bowl. A little bit of paprika. A dash of cayenne. Some salt and pepper. Adobo of course. Add in some sazon. And a little dried garlic. It looked like a happy shade of red and smelled pretty strong.
We put the ribs in aluminum foil like you can see from the picture. Matt started the rubbing. He massaged that meat like it was nobodies business. It was definitely his baby and he looked on worried. I knew that look well. Anytime I was trying a new dessert I have that look. It's like you are willing the meal to taste good. PLEASE TASTE GOOD! PLEASE TASTE GOOD! I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
We put the aluminum foil packet into the 13x9 pan. This made the clean up process so easy. There was a little juice in the pan, but it wasn't all baked on and gross. We baked the ribs at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours and then I turned the oven up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to speed up the process. I was getting impatient.
The ribs were juicy and tasty. The rub was so flavorful, but it wasn't at all overpowerful. Matt won me over. The ribs he made were amazing and we didn't buy a rub. Yeah we saved some money. I'm ok with it as long as all of our meals taste as amazing as this one tonight. Oh and did I mention the ribs were a packet that we froze from our $.99 a pound short ribs. Yeah Matt would totally turn down the Garden of Eden for this.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
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