Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Connected by Hashbrowns

Jared and I want the same things out of life. We have the same goals, ambitions and even like the same movies. This is why we are best friends and amazing lovers. For instance, when we got married I owned the first two movies in the Borne series. I had never bought the third. Jared just happened to own only the third. Throughout our marriage little things like this continually happen.

Last night Jared had an hour for dinner break and was able to come home for dinner. It makes my lonely evenings almost bearable. As I was deciding what to cook I thought hashbrowns, pancakes and fried eggs sounded like heaven. So naturally that is what I made. When Jared walked in the door and smelled dinner he just started grinning. He then told me that he had been craving hashbrowns all day (and yes, he does get sympathy pregnancy cravings). He just hadn't been able to get away from work to call me and tell me. Lucky for him our telepathic phone line was open and he got his grandest wish. I am such a good little wife.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

We Love Black Grapes

Jared and I have an deep love for black seedless grapes. With a "tender skin and a fantastic blend of just the right amount of sweet-tart balance" they are the only grapes for us. If you have never sampled a black grape it is not too late to start. I did a little background research on the wonderfulness of these grapes and here are a few facts.
  • An exceptionally attractive variety, black seedless grapes offer a very juicy delicate flavor. Picked at their peak of sweetness measured by the Brix scale of sugar content, the average size is medium to large.
  • Sodium free, grapes contain 85 calories per one-and-one-half cup, 24 grams carbohydrates, and 9 per cent of the RDA for vitamin C
  • Delicious eaten out of hand, black seedless grapes make delicious jam, jelly and fine wine.
  • Requiring cold conditions for a dormant period, black seedless grapes flourish in the spring when the climate warms to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Loving California, the fertile San Joaquin Valley provides this grape's optimum growing conditions. Popular especially with chefs, black seedless grapes were introduced into the United States in the 1800s.
The last couple weeks these grapes have been on sale for $0.78 lb. Quite the steal. One of our favorite ways to eat these grapes is frozen. It is like eating a mini-Popsicle that our dentist will approve of. I was so excited about the grapes this season I bought about ten pounds worth of them. My only regret is that I didn't buy more.

Black grapes are truly black. The only real grape in this
picture is the one in the middle. The two on each side are
really black olives.

Black grapes come in a variety of shapes. These are a
samplingof the unusual ones found in this season's crop.

Our stash of black grapes, ready to be frozen into grape
popsicles. (The middle bag is already frozen.)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Janina's Bake Sale

The last couple days I have been redesigning my Bake Sale Blog. It is a lot easier to navigate and simply beautiful. For those of you who aren't aware of my little side business, let me tell you the story.

Once upon a time I realized that I had a gift for pie baking. I was discovered by a lady from church who arranged for me to show off my pies at a talent-show. Before the talent show even started I was approached by an acquaintance who insisted on buying both pies on the spot. I was shocked. I had never even considered selling pies before. This moment was the turning point in my life. On the drive home I figured out a name and once I got home I began a Bake Sale blog, ordered some business cards and started selling pies.

I am happy to note that my business is slowly growing. Last week I sent in an application to compete and showcase my pies in the Coconino County Fair, which takes place Labor Day weekend. In October I am making 14 pies for a wedding. With Fall decorations already being stocked in the stores, I am anticipating a busy Thanksgiving and the rest of the year. Janina's Bake Sale has come a long way since it first decided to open for business.

Below is just a sample of what you can see at Janina's Bake Sale Feel free to admire my artwork, but before you - grab a drool rag and enjoy.

Spiced Pear Pie courtesy of Janina's Bake Sale

Friday, June 4, 2010

National Donut Day!

Happy National Donut Day! Jared called me a few minutes ago from work telling me that we HAD to celebrate National Donut Day. If it wasn't for him I would have missed this phenomenal holiday. I did a little background research and found out that "National Donut Day is on the first Friday of June each year and follows on the Donut Day event created by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. The holiday celebrates the doughnut (a.k.a "donut") — an edible, torus-shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened" (Wikipedia, 2010). I have also always been curious on whether doughnut should be spelled donut or doughnut. According to Yahoo Answers "both spellings are acceptable here in the United States." To celebrate this holiday both Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are giving away free donuts. For a random piece of trivia, according to Google "national doughnut day" is the 54th most popular search in the last hour (5:00 pm). For dessert tonight we are going to go find somewhere to get a tasty donut. I hope you do the same.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Wonders of Chocolate Milk

When I first got married I received some amazing advice; if I ever want to make Jared happy buy him chocolate milk. This advice seemed trivial and almost comical. A couple months ago I found a good sale for chocolate milk. I decided to test out this advice. When I got home from grocery shopping I put the gallon of chocolate milk on the top shelf in the fridge so Jared could not miss it. When he got home I was in the office working on the computer. A few minutes later I heard Jared open the fridge, gasp and run in the office to give me the biggest kiss. He has never been so instantaneously happy. This happiness lasted until that gallon of chocolate milk was gone.

Today I had a grueling day of training at work. (This summer I am teaching a public speaking lab for freshman students). I came home grumpy and tired. As I opened the cupboard looking for a snack I saw the can of Nesquick that we have had for a while. I decided to make myself a cup of chocolate milk. After my first sip I couldn't help but smile, halfway through the cup I felt motivated to take on the world and by the time I finished the cup of chocolate milk I was on cloud nine. I have now experienced a glimpse of the wonders of chocolate milk. I am a believer that chocolate milk has the power to heal a relationship, bring a instantaneous smile to a face and make the world a better place. Ladies: I am now passing this advice on to you - buy the men in your lives chocolate milk.



Wednesday, May 19, 2010

My Struggles With Rice

Many of you know that I am proficient in the kitchen. I can bake mouthwatering pies, throw together a tantalizing salad, create a layered lasagna that would made Garfield go crazy and put together many many more amazing meals with ease. Surprisingly I have always struggled with the simple things.

When Jared and I first got married I attempted to make a box of macaroni & cheese. He took his first bite and could hardly finish it. He then informed me from now on he was in charge of cooking the macaroni & cheese. He had perfected the art of macaroni and cheese in his years as a bachelor. I should have felt offended, but truthfully I knew that I always lacked these simple skills.

Well, rice has always been something else that I struggle with. My mom makes the best rice ever. She sautes it first with a little butter and garlic and then cooks the rice. It comes out perfect every time. I have attempted cooking rice many times in the year and five months we have been married. Every time it comes out disgusting. It would be either too hard, too soft, too garlicy or too salty. I blame the 7,000 feet of elevation for my horrible rice, but Jared has informed me that elevation does not effect taste.

Last night I decided that I really wanted to eat rice with the kabobs that we had been marinating. I took a deep breath and started the rice. I did every thing my mom would have done and then I crossed my fingers. Finally the timer went off and both the rice and the kabobs were ready. I put our dinner on our plates, prayed for the best and took my first bite. The rice was amazing. It actually had just the right proportions of salt and garlic. I was so excited. I inhaled the rest of the rice and went back for seconds. My life is completely changed. I can now cook rice!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hiccups, Breadbowls and Old Age

As I gracefully compose this blog entry I am cursed with painful hiccups. Jared has learned that whenever I drink Sprite I hiccup. He thinks this is quite entertaining. On the typical day I only have one or two hiccups immediately after I swallow the Sprite. On this evening this particular set of hiccups have lasted so long my chest hurts from the power of them. I have tried every natural remedy I can think of but nothing is working. Jared now feels bad that this set of hiccups is causing me such great pain. It is a good thing he is now feeling sympathetic or things might have gotten a little heated.

But I do have a confession to make. This is surprisingly painful to type. Jared has a tendency to carry an electrical charge with him where ever he goes. In our apartment instead of a couch, we have a giant love sac. Our amazing velvet cover conducts an electrical charge that only shocks Jared. No matter what he does, or what he touches after he gets up he gets shocked. I laugh every time. He can not touch anything in our apartment without the reminder that he is a walking electrical conductor. To me it is a constant source of entertainment.

This week was a mostly uneventful week. With school coming to a rapid end we are showered with mountains of last minute (or procrastinated) homework. It has consumed our lives. As usual we procrastinated our homework a little more and had some adventures throughout the week. Towards the end of last week Flagstaff had a couple days of rain. It never got cold enough in town for snow. The only real snow we saw was after the clouds lifted and the San Fransisco Peaks came into view. They were frosted over. Sunday we decided to make the drive out there and enjoy the beauty of the first snowfall. As we ventured in the already melting snow Jared attacked with the first snowball of the season. I warned him this means war, but for some odd reason I did not intimidate him. I need to work on my ferocious growl.

On a brighter note, after we got back from frolicking in the snow I experimented with a creamy potato soup recipe I found. I had never quite made a soup like this before but it turned out heavenly. The bread bowls (provided by Bashas) brought my soup to a level that tantalized our taste buds to an extreme. As you analyze the beauty of these pictures I bet you are amazed by my domestic skills. To be honest, occasionally I even surprise myself.

As I continue to try and record our life together I analyze many pictures. I cannot help but notice that we both are looking older. I look at pictures of Jared from his younger years compared to pictures now and I am amazed at the difference. I then analyze myself in the pictures and I am even more blown away. When did I grow up? The even more shocking thing is that next week I am even getting older. Time goes faster than I could have imagined. As time passes and I become proficient in potato soup making it is unbelievable that I am almost 27 years old. I used to think people, at this advanced age were ancient but I feel as young and spry as ever. I truly have a great life and a even better husband. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I am grateful for everything that I have now: old age, hiccups and the ability to eat bread bowls whenever they go on sale.