School's back in, we know what that means.

Guys. You will never believe it. After an entire summer of a peaceful drive into work, the start of the school year brings new challenges, new traffic patterns, and one familiar troublemaker. Today, at exactly 7:44am on the southbound lane of Thomasville Road, we met again. After 3 glorious and stress free months, she's back.

White Oddessey.

She's BACK!

You know, White Oddessey.

She's back, she's in full force, and she's up to her old tricks again. The old "Speed past everyone in the merge lane then cut 'em all off" trick. How predictable, Oddessey. What, couldn't come up with anything better? I whipped out my camera in order to get a shot of her, but she was too speedy. What a snake. Anyways, back to this morning.

This morning, this time, my friends, I followed her.

That's right. Work can wait (and I believe my coworkers would understand and encourage this). I have GOT to see the final destination of White Oddessey. I made a sharp turn on Pine Street and tried to catch up, White Oddessey about 6 cars in front of me. It was a challenge keeping up with her because of Forest Green Chevy Silverado on raised wheels and two giant mufflers driven by what must have been a recently turned 16 year old Leon Lion. I crossed over 7th ave. I raced around traffic calmers and road debris. I had my eyes set on White Oddessey. As I crossed over Mitchell and took a left, I realized the fight was over.

I'd lost her.

But I will not relent.

I will find you White Oddessey.

My traffic patterns have changed, too. I will now get in the merge lane of southbound Thomasville Road and block her out. This is my resolution. I'm doing it for all the drivers out there. A sort of Robin Hood of the roads....fighting for the rights of the streets.

note: I was not late to work.

8.21.09

Documenting today.

Bobby B's new ride. He's showing us the way to paradise (FSU Kickoff Lunch)

"Here's what I say. The older the blackberry, the stronger the juice. You know it?"

Sweet Tommy, playing the fight song that he wrote 54 years ago.

College is the breeding ground for higher thinking.

Snack

8/19/2009, 3:00 pm

8/19/2009, 3:06 pm

Key Lime I dont know what to call it

I found this recipe at Ceramic Canvas. She called it a cuplet. Some call it a tarlet. I think both of those words sound discusting. So I don't know what to call this little treat. Suggestions welcome.

Anyways, this came about for a few reasons. A of all, it was a Saturday and I didn't have anything to do, and B of all, and my parents were coming home from being up north that night. I figured they would probably be hungry and would appreciate a little something to eat. Key Lime sounded like the perfect welcome back to the south, but I wasn't about to commit to making a whole pie and then waiting for it to sit in the fridge. I'm a millenial, I need immediate results.

So, I found this, and whever you want to call it, I totally dig this because it only has 6 ingredients and that makes me and my wallet happy.

This is everything you'll need: Graham cracker crumbs, key lime juice, a lime, butter, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy whipping cream. Honestly it took me longer to wander around Publix trying to find all these ingredients than it did to make this.

First step: Comine 3/4 c graham cracker crumbs, 3 tbsp of sugar and 3 tbls of melted unsalted butter. This will be your cookie crust. Mix well. Looks like dog food, do not be discouraged by this.

Next: I used the really tiny muffin pan. You could use cupake size pans as well but I wanted the mini muffin pan because it makes for easy one-bite consumption. I sprayed with Baker's Joy.

Put a little over 1 tbsp of the graham cracker mix into the muffin pan and press out with fingers. This was disgusting to me, having long fingernails and all. Graham cracker under the fingernails isn't quite the spa treament I was looking for. Bake for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees and cool completely.

Man down!!!!!!!

Here are my little darlings waiting to be filled with key lime goodness.

Next, mix together in a bowl 6 tbsp of key lime juice, 4 tbsp of sweetened condensed milk, zest from one lime (no picture for this. It looked like mucus).

In a mixer, whip 1 cup of cream until soft peaks form, then gently fold into the key lime mixture.

So you're supposed to put the mixure into a piper and pipe into the shells, but since I'm not fancy and don't own a piper, I just put the mixture in a ziplock bag and cut off a SMALL triangle corner of the bag. Ghetto, but it worked nicely. Resourceful.

Garnish with remaining lime zest. Look at these little cuties!

I am obsessed with this

In the know

This is for Sophie, Buddy, Pete, Lola, Tess, Benjie, Sammy, Charlie B, Gracie Reader, Gracie Hartley, Molly, Petey, Roxy, Bearick, and Mr. Peepers.

I tried a dessert called "Death by Chocolate", but it only made me stronger.

Right, so I know I was gone for two weeks. I don't know if anyone truly cares what I was doing, but regardless, I'll get to that later. What I must write about immediately is a delightful treat called Better than Brownie cookies. I found this on Brown Eyed Baker and decided to try it out tonight. My friends, they are better than brownies. They are better than free itunes cards at starbucks. They are better than arm scratching, finding both socks in the dryer, a new haircut, or a pedicure with paraffin wax. Honestly I've never had something so remarkable. I have to share this with the world, it would be a tragedy not to. Warning: These cookies are not for the faint of heart or for the fair-weather chocolate fan.

Here's the recipe.

Better-than-Brownies Chocolate Cookies

Makes 24 large cookies

2 2/3 cups (about 16 ounces) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper of a silicone baking mat.

2. Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until completely melted and smooth.

3. In the meantime, stir together the eggs, vanilla and sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.

5. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine well. Slowly add the dry ingredients, folding them into the batter. Once all of the flour is incorporated, stir in the chocolate chips.

6. Scoop 1½ tablespoons of dough (a medium cookie scoop’s worth) onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are firm on the outside. Like brownies, do not overbake! Leave to cool completely on the baking sheets.

I do want to include a picture but to be honest, it's almost a crime to do so because these pictures give the cookies absolutely no justice for their glory. In any case, here they are:

Note the delicious glisten of melted chocolate bit.

Special thanks to Joe who provided the beautiful hand modeling and cookie breaking, and who is constantly my partner in crime in the search for the perfect treat.

Bakers note: I used all Ghirardelli chocolate. Not sure if that added to the majestic nature of the cookie, but I'm sure it didn't hurt. Get serious and get the good stuff folks.

Chocolate coma to commence...now.

Connecting back to the world

The worst part about vacation is when it ends.

I'm now sitting in the airport waiting to come back to Tallahassee.  Can't wait for Michelle and Brittany to pick me up and and head to our usual spot (TCBY).

I'm debating what to do about my blog entry.  I could write one long, huge post with pictures.  One long, huge post sans pictures.  A few posts over a few days.  Or just not write about anything from my week and a half tour of Ohio. 

What I will do is tell a story that changed my life.

I love the gamble of who you are going to end up sitting next to on a flight.  I've had quite a few winners - the trifecta from Phoenix to Oakland, the handsome batchelor from Ft Lauderdale to Houston, the nice legislator from Washington to Columbia - and definitely some losers (if you haven't heard the Great Plane Debacle of 2007 it's best that you haven't).

Today was flight 2258. The best flight of my life.  It was everything I've ever dreamed about.  It was like the movies. Except Paramount could not top what happened.

I was waiting in the gate area in TLH waiting for my flight to Charlotte and then on to Cleveland.  I noticed a very cute guy in the waiting area.  I forgot about him as I was boarding the plane and the woman in front of me didn't have shoes on.  I kept forgetting about him when an old lady was sitting in seat 8C (my seat) and yelled at me.  So I just sat in 7B and hoped for the best.

And that's when he came and sat next to me.

Like, make me weak in the knees handsome.  Like make a girl stumble handsome.  Like Kelly Clarkson I can't believe this is Happening to Me handsome.  

As I was trying to think of what to say to break the ice, he took out his ticket and I couldn't help but look to see where his final destination was.  When it said "London Gatwick", I knew I could not stay silent. London is my favorite city on earth.  I could tell him everything I knew from my summer there - where to eat, what to see, what to do - It was my personal goal to make sure this guy had the trip of his lifetime because of my suggestions.

"Going to London?" I said

"Yeah, I've been on holiday visiting a friend who lives in Tallahassee and am going back home."

In.a.british.accent. WHAT!

As I melted into a puddle in seat 7B, I tried to gather my thoughts  Here I am, lucked out with the old lady sitting in my seat forcing me to move, a super cute guy is sitting next to me, and not only is he going to London, but he is FROM LONDON.  Stars are aligning my friends.

We talked about Tottenham Court.  He knew about the FSU program there. We talked about Kew gardens. We talked about Scotland and kilts.  We talked about haggis.  We talked about spotted dick (food).  We talked about Wagamama.  We talked about Regents park.  We talked about the Crown. We talked about Oxford St.  Spice Girls. Picadilly. Thames.  He brought out the tube map.  I didn't want it to ever end.

We talk the entire flight, and as we pull into the gate at CLT he asked if I'd like to grab lunch.  (I believe he said something more like Fancy a bite to eat).  So here we are, two strangers, grabbing lunch while we wait for our connecting flights. Things kept going my way when my flight to Cleveland was delayed, so I got another beer and settled in.  It was magical.  We

 exchanged ticket stubs and I boarded my flight to Ohio.

How do you feel about a London wedding?

Sunshine state to Buckeye state

Sitting in TLT waiting to depart to CLT to then get to CLE.  My cousin is getting married!

How Tallahassee Regional Airport can give its patrons free WiFi and ATL or CLT use paid internet services I will never understand.  

By the looks of the gate area, this flight is full of kids.  Michael and I just talked about starting an airline that caters only to those 12 years of age and above.  I have a feeling it would be incredibly popular.

I can't wait to see my cousins.  We're all from big football schools (FSU, Texas A&M, Michigan, Ohio State), so I am sure there will be some smack talking going on.  Clearly FSU ranks highest above the rest.

Gate doors have been opened - boarding now!  Buckeye state here I come!

Death.

I came down with a fever on Sunday.

Went to the doctor on Monday. Got meds.

Still don't feel quite right today.  Stayed home from work.

My coworker oh so comfortingly sent me this message just a few moments ago:

"Don't be alarmed but one of the guys that works in CLCE has the H1N1"

CLCE shares the building with the career center.

Great.

If I had more money I would.....

I love to cook. I love looking at recipes. I love looking at menus. I love learning more about what certain ingredients are and different ways to prepare things. Mostly I just love to eat it.

So why. Why do I do this. At 3:34pm, sitting at my desk, hungry. Why do I look at Tastespotting.

I can't tear myself away. It's torture. I want to make/eat it all. The only issue is I don't have enough money to cook constantly and I don't have enough company to help me eat what I make. My life would be so awesome if I could live the movie Julie and Julia (which comes out oh-so-soon and I'll be the first in line....and you guys know how I usually don't see movies). Oh the sad life of a single gal.

In other news, my idea for my speciality store in Tallahassee is gone. Lucy and Leo's Cupcakery just opened up. Yes, I could link their name to their website. But no. I'm not even linking this post to their page I'm that jealous/mad/destroyed. I told my friend Adam that I have a new cupcake flavor for them: Julia's Dream Crusher Cupcake. He said crushed cookies. I said pop rocks.

Matthew and I are going to make an awesome cake on Saturday. I also am making Joe a birthday cake. This is going to be a great weekend.

Pictures to come.

Looks like the Keys aren't the only ones who use facebook to jump start a life of wedded bliss!

it's monday. i dont feel like capitalizing my words. mondays dont deserve capitlaizations. or spell check.

oh.my.gosh. great weekend with ashley and duncan. thanks guys for getting married and giving us an excuse to celebrate. dinner at aqua grill was amazing (truffeled potatos? heaven). duncan's buddies were awesome, ashley's ladies were great. how come we can't all live in the same place?

billy mays is on TV right now selling Jupiter Jack. awkward.

the beach is awesome. i was driving home last night on 9A, driving over the bay (or river) while the sun was setting. it's those moments that remind me that ordinary moments can be extrordinary if you pay attention.

i'm exhausted and this week is a busy one.

stace was supposed to hang out with Mo Obama this weekend @ radio city in VIP but said she didn't show. hopefully she had a good excuse like bo chewed up her jimmy choos or malia threw a temper tantrum.

i hung this up in my office today. it makes me very, very happy.

oh, and i renewed my contract with the gym. i am such a tool.

that's it.

But I'm not postmenopausal...

Got this in the mail yesterday.  Ironically on the same day I got my period. 

 

Not pregnant. Definitely not postmenopausal.  Not suffering from osteoporosis. Sorry Actonel, you got the wrong gal.

Where the Wild Things Are

I.cannot.wait.to.see.this.movie. I am so incredibly pumped up about it right now.

Giving FGF a run for it's money

My favorite restaurant in Tallahassee is hands down Food Glorious Food.  From it's happy hour (1/2 martinis and free chips? Yes please), main dishes, and most especially desserts, it's almost always my restaurant of choice.  Their salmon and potato with chive sour cream has been a favorite of mine for a long time, so today I thought about trying to make it for myself.  It was no easy task because of all the different parts and ingredients, but the result was well worth the work.  If you have enough time on your hands, this is a great meal!

You'll need (for 6 servings):

6 oz cream cheese, room temp

2 tbsp fresh dill

1 tbsp of lemon juice

6 8'' flour tortillas

6 potatoes (boiled)

12 oz smoked salmon

salt and pepper

scallions 

sour cream w/ chives (simply mix in fresh chives with the sour cream)

salsa (for this, I diced 4 tomatoes, 1/4 c. onion, and added in the salsa mix you can get at the store in the produce section...cuttin corners)

shredded lettuce

You'll want to start out by making your salsa and sour cream.  You can do this while you boil the potatoes (should take about 20 minutes).  Put the salsa and sour cream in fridge to chill.

In electric mixing bowl, mix cream cheese, dill, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth and well blended.  Set aside.

In a 10'' non-stick skillet, warm each tortilla over low heat until each side is lightly browned.  Now is the fun part...putting to all together! Spread the creme cheese mixture over the entire tortilla.  Arrange the smoked salmon and potatoes over half the tortilla, and fold the other side over to make your quesadilla.  Split into 4 parts.

Arrange quesadillas on top of shredded lettuce with the salsa on top.  Add your chive sour cream on top (or on the side)

Conclusion: Super great but it would be difficult to make for a large group of people.  It just takes forever to dice tomatoes, onion, dill, chives, shred lettuce....you get it.  I loved using the dill and chives from my herb garden to make this...so organic.  I am sneakily happy that I was able to develop a recipe that so well imitates FGF's!  Now if only I could find the secret to making Mom's Marble cake from FGF...life would be perfect.

ps - so glad the Ely's enjoyed the Marshmallow milkshake! I wonder if you gave any to Caroline or Pete...

Let's play a game...

 

CALLED WHO DOES THIS NOSE BELONG TO!!!!!

The only thing I don't like about macs.

I've adored my mac since I got it while living in Myrtle Beach for my summer internship atCoastal Carolina University (Go Chanticleers! ...say that 5 times fast...).  It just works. It's like the Apple people read my mind when I was thinking about how a computer should work.  The command function, the hot spots, safari, it's all awesome.

Except.  iPhoto.

When I first started playing around in iphoto, I noticed my pictures would sometimes be very grainy.  I thought this was due to the massive brick I called my 'camera'.  But, I've stepped into the new world and have a fancy new camera now....yet....the same problem is happening.  When I upload the pictures online, when I go to print - it's horrible.  So as much as I hate denying my Apple roots, I just downloaded Picasa.  We'll see how it turns out... 

ps - I don't know how this picture happened.  It it not photoshopped at all (like I would know how to do that).  My living room is supposed to be the backdrop to this picture, but after I snapped the shutter, this is what came out.  I've tried to recreate with fail.  

A Good Invite

This is the best wedding invite I've ever seen! (You'll have to click on it to make it larger)

One second worth waiting for

Ok. So today, July 7th, 2009, at 12:34pm and 56 seconds, the time/date stamp will read:

12:34:56 7/8/9

That is awesome.