Also since my blood pressure has been all out of whack lately this little photo made me smile. It's actually true, they've done studies about how the sound of a cat purring effects your mood and health.
Monday, January 28, 2013
We love Trader Joe's!
As you can see everyone at our house loves trader joes, or at least the awesome paper bags that they pack their groceries in. Here is a photo of nuzzers chilling out and rascal head first inspecting his new hobo home.
Also since my blood pressure has been all out of whack lately this little photo made me smile. It's actually true, they've done studies about how the sound of a cat purring effects your mood and health.
Also since my blood pressure has been all out of whack lately this little photo made me smile. It's actually true, they've done studies about how the sound of a cat purring effects your mood and health.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Worlds best thank you
So a couple weeks ago I cat sat for some friends, a very nice couple with a pure white cat called miss kitty. Miss kitty is always well behaved and affectionate so I don't mind at all. When they got back from their trip to the Carolinas Diane had made this amazing penguin cake for me!
I agonized over cutting into it for a day or two, but it tasted delicious when I finally did. A video of me cutting into it exists, but I don't think I'll share it, I turned him facing away from me so he wasn't looking at me while I cut into his head though.
I can't believe Diane made him herself! She's an amazing cook and baker, but wow, this just blew me away, I would have babysat miss kitty for free!
I agonized over cutting into it for a day or two, but it tasted delicious when I finally did. A video of me cutting into it exists, but I don't think I'll share it, I turned him facing away from me so he wasn't looking at me while I cut into his head though.
I can't believe Diane made him herself! She's an amazing cook and baker, but wow, this just blew me away, I would have babysat miss kitty for free!
Who wants some squid and snails?
On the upside my lack of sleeping ability is great for my blogging. When I went to the Asian market I picked up some interesting things for dinner. I got bok choy and garlic to make my favorite recipe and this time I actually added in some of those amazing oyster mushrooms that I bought. (looking for my bok choy recipe? Click on the recipes tag at the end of this post and look back a few posts, it's super yummy) Essentially you slice up the bok choy, garlic, and mushrooms, then sauté them in olive oil and soy sauce.
Then I took the cleaned squid (yum!) and sliced the tops (not sure what they're called lol) into strips, then made sure to remove the eyeballs since they gave me the heebes and just chopped off the tentacles (can't skip out the on the tentacles).
Then I tossed the squid and snail meat (remember the snail meat I bought?) into a hot wok with some soy sauce and mix them around. If you cut thin strips like I did you only want to have them in the pan for about 3 minutes or they will get rubbery and chewy. Also snail meat is pretty rubbery to begin with so you don't want to over cook it, otherwise it will taste like you're munching on rubber.
Then I put the squid and snails over some nice jasmine rice and plated it with the mushrooms and bok choy. I separated them on my place for easier photos, but you can mix them together not he plate if you choose. The other reason I chose not to cook them together is because I made extra bok choy and mushrooms to use for dumpling filling a night or two later and wanted to use a different meat in them.
Then I took the cleaned squid (yum!) and sliced the tops (not sure what they're called lol) into strips, then made sure to remove the eyeballs since they gave me the heebes and just chopped off the tentacles (can't skip out the on the tentacles).
Then I tossed the squid and snail meat (remember the snail meat I bought?) into a hot wok with some soy sauce and mix them around. If you cut thin strips like I did you only want to have them in the pan for about 3 minutes or they will get rubbery and chewy. Also snail meat is pretty rubbery to begin with so you don't want to over cook it, otherwise it will taste like you're munching on rubber.
Then I put the squid and snails over some nice jasmine rice and plated it with the mushrooms and bok choy. I separated them on my place for easier photos, but you can mix them together not he plate if you choose. The other reason I chose not to cook them together is because I made extra bok choy and mushrooms to use for dumpling filling a night or two later and wanted to use a different meat in them.
Redneck wine glasses
Well since its 6:20 in the morning and I just dropped my father off at work and can't fall back to sleep, I figured I might as well do something more productive than just trolling the Internet for hilarious cat photos. It doesn't help that the cats are all snuggled up next to me and snoring.
But on a positive note, here is my tutorial for redneck wine glasses. I made these as a Christmas present and packaged it with a bottle of torrey ridge winery's redneck red wine. It's a great wine from the finger lakes and one of my favorites actually, they also have a redneck white. It is also only about $12 a bottle so the whole present came in at about $30 including the glue which I have extra of.
I picked up the candle sticks (and could have gotten the mason jars if I didn't have a ton laying around already) at the dollar tree for $1 each. The glue I picked up at lowes and it was $6, I can't vouch for any other brand or type of glue, but I chose the lochite glass glue based in some research. It's rated for glueing glass to glass and is also dishwasher safe. I would still recommend to hand wash the glasses just in case, mostly because I'm paranoid, but the package said you can put them in the dishwasher.
Now on to the tutorial, sorry I don't have better photos, but since you only have a minute or so to get the glueing done I couldn't take many pictures. I will try to describe it as best I can though.
Step one: assemble your supplies, as noted above you don't need many items. Also make sure you have washed and dried the mason jars and candle sticks and removed the price tags because once you glue them they need to sit for 24-48 hours to set so you won't be able to wash them after for a while. Don't forget to make sure the glass is dry before you add the glue or it won't set right.
Step two: Before you put on the glue make sure you put the pieces together just to et the feel for how it will go together. Apply the glue to the top(the side where you insert the candle) of the candle holder. Just around the top rim and don't go crazy with the glue. Also make sure you only apply glue to one of the surfaces, too much glue is not your friend in this craft! Before you use it read the directions on the back of the package on how to apply the glue, trust me it's worth the two minutes of reading. Then attach the candlestick to the bottom of the mason jar keeping it centered on the bottom of the jar. It should be pretty easy to keep it centered. You also have to hold the pieces together for about 60 seconds (again read the package!)
Step three: after that you need to let the glasses set without moving them for 24-48 hours. I let mine sit for 48 hours without moving them again because of my paranoia, but it seemed to work very well. Also let them sit like that upside down so that the candlestick is on the top, that way you don't have to worry about an inquisitive cat wandering around knocking them over..... Or anyone else.
I hope this helps! If you've got questions feel free to ask away in the comments section and I'll do the best to answer with my experience. These were a fun craft to make and as I said including the wine and glue it cost me $30 or less to make the set of 2 glasses. I have seen these glasses sold in stores ranging in price from $15 each to $30 each depending on the store and quality. Yay for crafty Christmas!
But on a positive note, here is my tutorial for redneck wine glasses. I made these as a Christmas present and packaged it with a bottle of torrey ridge winery's redneck red wine. It's a great wine from the finger lakes and one of my favorites actually, they also have a redneck white. It is also only about $12 a bottle so the whole present came in at about $30 including the glue which I have extra of.
I picked up the candle sticks (and could have gotten the mason jars if I didn't have a ton laying around already) at the dollar tree for $1 each. The glue I picked up at lowes and it was $6, I can't vouch for any other brand or type of glue, but I chose the lochite glass glue based in some research. It's rated for glueing glass to glass and is also dishwasher safe. I would still recommend to hand wash the glasses just in case, mostly because I'm paranoid, but the package said you can put them in the dishwasher.
Now on to the tutorial, sorry I don't have better photos, but since you only have a minute or so to get the glueing done I couldn't take many pictures. I will try to describe it as best I can though.
Step one: assemble your supplies, as noted above you don't need many items. Also make sure you have washed and dried the mason jars and candle sticks and removed the price tags because once you glue them they need to sit for 24-48 hours to set so you won't be able to wash them after for a while. Don't forget to make sure the glass is dry before you add the glue or it won't set right.
Step two: Before you put on the glue make sure you put the pieces together just to et the feel for how it will go together. Apply the glue to the top(the side where you insert the candle) of the candle holder. Just around the top rim and don't go crazy with the glue. Also make sure you only apply glue to one of the surfaces, too much glue is not your friend in this craft! Before you use it read the directions on the back of the package on how to apply the glue, trust me it's worth the two minutes of reading. Then attach the candlestick to the bottom of the mason jar keeping it centered on the bottom of the jar. It should be pretty easy to keep it centered. You also have to hold the pieces together for about 60 seconds (again read the package!)
Step three: after that you need to let the glasses set without moving them for 24-48 hours. I let mine sit for 48 hours without moving them again because of my paranoia, but it seemed to work very well. Also let them sit like that upside down so that the candlestick is on the top, that way you don't have to worry about an inquisitive cat wandering around knocking them over..... Or anyone else.
I hope this helps! If you've got questions feel free to ask away in the comments section and I'll do the best to answer with my experience. These were a fun craft to make and as I said including the wine and glue it cost me $30 or less to make the set of 2 glasses. I have seen these glasses sold in stores ranging in price from $15 each to $30 each depending on the store and quality. Yay for crafty Christmas!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
I should be sleeping
But for some reason I can't seem to make myself pass out so enjoy some amusing photos from me.
Also I would really like this kitty who seems to think he's a penguin....l
Also I would really like this kitty who seems to think he's a penguin....l
My Culinary Hero: Anthony Bourdain
So I'm camped out in bed watching no reservations with Anthony Bourdain. If you're looking to read a great book by a chef and I've read many, his is at the top of my list, followed closely by Gordon Ramsey's, but really read Bourdain's first, i promise you wont be disappointed if you like food and debauchery. He's one of my favorite chefs and hosts and it's the San Francisco episode. This is a city on my culinary bucket list so I may be taking some notes here via my blog so I don't forget. I think the best quite I just heard which pretty much sums up why I love him is when he arrived he said "I'm famously unenthusiastic shall we say about vegans, but I enjoy bacon" if you can't read that sentence and immediately understand why I love Bourdain than I can't help you. So his first stop is Pirate Cat Radio where they have a maple bacon latte. It takes 10 pounds of bacon to make four ounces of refined bacon that goes into this beverage. I'm in!!! Wen I visit San Fransico I insist on beginning my day with one of these and god help anyone who tries to stop me.
Also I was unaware they love bacon so much in SF...l but obviously this is my Mecca. So many hippies... But also so much bacon, who would have guessed!
Oh boy he's hitting up the food trucks on international blvd, I'm so in. The food truck scene is so much different on the west coast than here on the east coast. I grew up here on the east coast where you start out thinking of NYC street food, usually something you aren't sure if you want to eat, but you always have to try it anyway. I can't go to NYC with out getting a dirty water hotdog and a soft pretzel, it's just one of those rules. While the gourmet food truck scene is just taking off here in the last 2 years they've been killing us with amazing street food on the west coast for years.
Also adding http://www.sebosf.com/site/home.html to my bucket list because everything he ate there looked amazing!! He also heads to japantown looking for dungeoness crab, one of my favorite things on the planet so where ever he ends up I'm in. Omg it looks amazing... Salt and pepper crab just eating it straight up... Sadly their website is under construction, but I'm bookmarking this for later http://rnglounge.com/ .
Wen I finally make it there this is going to be an expensive food trip... On the upside not as bad as Vegas or Austin, Texas.
Also I was unaware they love bacon so much in SF...l but obviously this is my Mecca. So many hippies... But also so much bacon, who would have guessed!
Oh boy he's hitting up the food trucks on international blvd, I'm so in. The food truck scene is so much different on the west coast than here on the east coast. I grew up here on the east coast where you start out thinking of NYC street food, usually something you aren't sure if you want to eat, but you always have to try it anyway. I can't go to NYC with out getting a dirty water hotdog and a soft pretzel, it's just one of those rules. While the gourmet food truck scene is just taking off here in the last 2 years they've been killing us with amazing street food on the west coast for years.
Also adding http://www.sebosf.com/site/home.html to my bucket list because everything he ate there looked amazing!! He also heads to japantown looking for dungeoness crab, one of my favorite things on the planet so where ever he ends up I'm in. Omg it looks amazing... Salt and pepper crab just eating it straight up... Sadly their website is under construction, but I'm bookmarking this for later http://rnglounge.com/ .
Wen I finally make it there this is going to be an expensive food trip... On the upside not as bad as Vegas or Austin, Texas.
Plum Dandy!
More froyo have I mentioned that's one of my new weaknesses, it's so yummy and fun, plus since its low to no fat I don't feel so horrible. Also there are always so many toppings to try out. There is a great place in downtown Saratoga springs called Plum Dandy. The yogurt was kind of meh, basic flavors euro tart, chocolate, strawberry, cake batter, vanilla, the standards so nothing to write home about there. Feel free to check out their website http://www.plumdandyyogurt.com/index.html but it doesn't really list flavors. Where they did stand out was the atmosphere, as you can see I took a bunch of photos of the decor because it was really nice. They also offer a lot of discounts, open mic nights, etc so you can tell they're really working to get a good crowd in there. They also had waffle bowls! I love a good waffle bowl, they always make me smile.
I'm not going to rush back there right away , but when I'm in downtown Saratoga I would consider stopping in again, though I won't lie. There is a great gelato place across the street so it might be kind of a hard sell.
I'm not going to rush back there right away , but when I'm in downtown Saratoga I would consider stopping in again, though I won't lie. There is a great gelato place across the street so it might be kind of a hard sell.
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