Gourmandery

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

I’m busy at work since it’s the end of the month. However, I have a few random things rolling around my head that I thought I’d share.

1. We’re having a pot luck tomorrow here at the office. I will post the recipes for my contributions if you’re interested: hash brown casserole, baked beans, corn pudding.

2. John Mark Karr vs DA Lacy: I was an early skeptic that this whacko’s assertion that he killed JonBenet Ramsey was true. However, it seems to me the Boulder DA’s office did the exact right thing regarding this sick nutjob. I was amazed last night that almost immediately she and her team were being villified for making the arrest in the first place. From the little I got from their presser today, it seems that they had no choice but to arrest him.

3. Baja Fresh rulz.

4. Paul at Wizbang! (a New Orleans native) puts forth a very plausible explanation of how the levees broke before Katrina’s fury hit in full force. Why isn’t this news getting more play?

5. I have the best husband a gal could ask for. I love you, Beau. :smooch:

That is all. Happy Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

I was perusing the hard candy at the store this morning since I’m about finished with the Creme Savers I bought last week. I decided upon Lifesavers this time - mint doesn’t bother me like it used to, praise be - come on Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream!

Anyhoo, I usually opt for Pep-o-Mint but I noticed the new Sweet Mint and thought I’d give it a try.

I love.

Not too minty. Not too sweet. The perfect blend of sweet and mint. Sweet Mint!

Monday, August 14, 2006

As has been the case, this weekend was a whole lot of lazing about with a couple outings.

First, Beau’s Sis arrived Friday evening to pick up Falcor. We convinced her to spend the night and then we ordered Chinese and just hung out. She left at about 10am on Saturday. I never did take a picture of Falcor - too lazy to get the camera. But he’s a sweet, snuggly little pooch and I enjoyed having him around.

Beau went left Saturday AM for the last day of the leadership conference. On Friday our pastor has issued an invitation to all and their spouses to meet at Maggiano’s for a late lunch after the conference was over on Saturday. I was very happy to be having a good day and made it out to Tysons Galleria (yes, we have a galleria). I arrived at the restaurant just as we were getting seated. From there we enjoyed a fun time, good conversation, and delicious food. I especially enjoyed the calamari fritte and mozzarella marinara. I ate really well and finished it all off with cheesecake and tiramisu.

Sunday we went to church and then lunch with Dad. Mom wasn’t feeling well and stayed home. Then we lazed at home before heading out for dinner with some of my college friends who came into town for the weekend. It was great to see them and they enjoyed meeting Beau.

And that’s about as exciting as the weekend was for us. I was happy to be able to eat well, keep most everything down, and actually enjoy food. Progress!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Following up on the post about the Hershey’s Kisses Coconut Cream, I need to tell you that I found them at the Target by my house.

I just now remembered that they were in my bag. After eating two, here’s my assessment:

1. They are all right - not awful, not great. I’d pick Hugs first, though.

2. The coconut center is creamy, but not smooth. There is a grainy texture to it, the coconut, that is a little odd. It’s not like the coconut center of a Mounds, which I think I prefer, even with the dark chocolate.

3. The chocolate coating seems too soft. If you press them too hard, the chocolate breaks a bit.

Overall, I think this product gets a 3 out of 5. Maybe. It’s more like a 2.75 out of 5.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

I have many thoughts about Monday’s episode of HK. First, go read Jay’s and Beth’s posts - both are heavy on the spoilers. Then come back and read mine, which you will find behind the link…

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

I think I will love these.

They will solve my issues with Mounds - well, it’s really only one issue - the dark chocolate. I’m a milk chocolate lover.

So now I’m looking forward to the chocolate cravings. Beau, prepare yourself, love. I will be wanting these.

[via dogette]

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Here’s today’s status, posted at WC.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Dinner last night was easy and delicious.

Chicken Tortolini with Pesto

3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite size chunks
1 1lb bag frozen cheese tortolini
1/2 to whole 8oz jar pesto, to taste

Cook the chicken, if you aren’t using leftovers. Cook the pasta. Toss the chicken, pasta, and pesto in a large bowl until the chicken and pasta are well covered with the pesto.

Serve with garlic bread and a salad, if you desire.

Can’t get any easier than that.

I had to make Beau’s with a different pasta since he tries to limit his dairy intake. But he liked it, so it will be repeated in the future.

Yum-may!

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Rainier cherries come into season in a couple of weeks.

I can hardly wait.

They are the most delicious, sweet cherries and I can eat pounds of them easily.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

The following is very mundane figuring-out-married-eating stuff. Mind-numbingly boring for most of you, I’m sure…

As a single person, dinner was usually scrambled eggs or a bowl of cereal. My husband expects something a little more substantial for dinner, which we like to eat together, and he prefers to eat earlier than would be possible if we waited for me to start cooking after I get home. For the past five months we’ve been hit or miss - partly because we never really talked about a strategy for meal prep given my full time work and Beau’s more flexible schedule. What’s great is that Beau is a very good cook - where he doesn’t know how to do something I give instructions, which he follows very well.

This past weekend, Beau and I scrounged for meals that were easy to prepare because we were too lazy to go to the trouble to make a nice meal that would take more time. And we don’t have enough snackable foods in the house to make do that way. What we wanted were handy leftovers that would be easy to heat up and also be a little more nutritious than hot dogs or pizza. So we discussed it, strategizing the regular weekly meal preparation so that we have plenty of leftovers for the weekend scrounges.

We’ll be out and about for most of the coming weekend with CH’s wedding festivities, which will include a few meals. So we implemented the plan for early in the week and we’ve done well.

Monday: I had purchased a pork loin vacuumed packed in a balsamic-basil marinade. Since Beau got home before I did, he put that in the oven with some potatoes to roast and two leftover roasted ears of corn from last week. We’re becoming big fans of roasted veggies - so much tastier than steamed and just as easy to prepare. Anyway, that was delicious and we had enough pork and potatoes leftover to hold for Wednesday’s (tonight’s) dinner.

Tuesday: I had also purchased a whole roaster chicken. Since Beau was home yesterday, he prepped the bird for roasting, with some chopped onions, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the roasting pan. He also started some potatoes for mashing. By the time I got home, the chicken was nearly done with delicious looking veggies, the potatoes were ready for mashing, and I started some peas on the stove to go along with it all. He started the cooking and I finished it - a great plan that works well for us. A quick cook off of the giblets in some water provided additional broth from which to start a nice gravy, which I finished off with some of the drippings from the pan. We feasted well last night and were still left with 2/3 of the chicken, half of the potatoes, and about half of the peas/roasted veggies for Thursday’s dinner (and other meals beyond as needed).

So tonight we’ll dine on the leftover pork meal, tomorrow we’ll dine on the leftover chicken meal. Friday we’ll be at the rehearsal dinner. Saturday will be a grab during the day whiel I’m working the wedding details with a nice dinner at the reception. Sunday lunch will most likely be out with my parents and dinner will probably be the rest of the chicken meal.

Next week, we’ll start the process over again.

Friday, May 26, 2006

I wasn’t able to avoid a spoiler on the Top Chef finale yesterday, but I watched it regardless of knowing who won the competition. I have many thoughts on the last segment of this cooking competition…

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Beau and I are going to meet Beth and Tim for dinner tonight in Alexandria. I sent Beth an email a couple of weeks ago, asking if they would be interested in meeting since we’re local, have a common faith, and common interests. She accepted.

It should be fun and we’re looking forward to it.

UPDATE (Sun 7:30am): Beth posted her thoughs on our meeting here. As she said, it was a fun evening that we look forward to repeating.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Top Chef will have a season two. I’m happy about this because I think it’s a good competition.

However, my favorite chef competition, Hell’s Kitchen is also returning. Yay! We loves Gordon Ramsay.

Speaking of HK, last season’s runner-up was on Iron Chef America this weekend and got demolished by Bobby Flay.

I love my Food TV.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

So I went upstairs to the Big Toe™ (also known as The Deli Upstairs) to get some chips to eat with my turkey sandwich. I managed not to beat the rush of folks on their lunch break from The Circus™. But that was OK, my trip in there was still short.

On my way out I was almost mowed down by this guy as he came down the escalator from a higher floor. Almost, but he sure was in a hurry ... to get in line to order his own lunch.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Our Cake Lady brought in a cake for the folks with March birthdays. I wasn’t going to eat any, but I passed the room, saw it, was feeling good, so I got a piece.

Where I was slightly concerned that there might be a problem with the baby because I was feeling so good (see Whiny Complaints for explanation), I no longer have that concern because my queasiness is back in full force.

Sugar + Jen’s baby = Bad

Fortuntately, I have a part of my hamburger lunch leftover, so I’m going to reheat that to counter the sugar.