Monday, November 29, 2010

Gobble Gobble

You ever wonder who was the first person to think of making stuffing? How did they came up with a plan to shove some food up a birds ass?

I had previously said that it is on my Bucket List to make a complete turkey dinner. I've now changed my mind. I have no desire deal with a turkey, giblets or shoving anything up it's butt. (Don't get me wrong, I"ll eat it if someone else cooks it)

Seeing as it was American Thanksgiving last week, I also thought about how many people spend the day watching football.

Double whammy.

I can't think of two more terrible ways to spend a holiday.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

The 6th and Final One


I made my first pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.

In related news, I made my last pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.

That's right. Never again. It tasted pretty good, but cooking that chicken was disgusting and my kitchen was turned upside down. I'll take soup from a can any day, thanks.

Here I am getting ready to touch the chicken. Ya, that's right - I wore gloves.


I don't have the receipt for the cost break down. It may have been damaged by the punk kid who tore my car apart.

I am ending the 7 day challenge now. It has taken me 15 days and I made 6 new things. I'm content with that. Does it make me a quitter? Perhaps. But I invented the challenge and I'm the only participant - so I'm cool with it.



Favourite of the Day: Road tripping with the ladies tonight! I think were nuts to tackle the Yankee's on Black Friday but I'm excited.






Wednesday, November 24, 2010

At the rink today....

In the dressing room before hockey, I overheard this conversation take place between the girls I coach:

"What is all that noise?"
"That's the boys next door in the shower"
"Oh man. I've heard stories about hockey boys in the shower. *pause* It isn't good, guys. I'm serious."

............AND that's my cue to intervene and quickly change the subject. I had no idea what was about to come out of her mouth but I wasn't going to get into any part of that conversation.


Monday, November 22, 2010

Horseshoe in my Arse?


Someone broke into my car last night.

I discovered this today when it appeared a tornado made its way through the inside of it. There were papers and things strewn about. The console and glove compartment were open and everything had been rifled through. My heart sunk. I had a lot of good 'loot' in there.

I had gift cards from Tim Hortons, M&M's & Cineplex in there. I left my wallet in there, which contained $35.00 cash and my credit card. My passport was in there. I had a $20.00 bill in an envelope in there. To top it all off - my extra set of car keys were in there. Doh.

You know what was stolen? Nothing. Can you believe that? I don't know if someone was watching over me, if its karma or maybe I had a horseshoe in my arse. Either way, I am thankful. Thankful to whomever may have scared them off and thankful I don't have the headache of dealing with stolen cards, passports or you know - cars. Seriously, they could have just taken the keys and driven off with the damn thing.

If you would have asked me this morning if I had locked the doors last night, I would have answered with 100% confidence that I had. I always do. Or not, so it seems.

I am well aware of what a giant meathead I am for having all that stuff in my car in the first place. Consider it a lesson learned.

By the way - if anyone reading this happens to be around my dad, lets just keep this little incident to ourselves. While my dad is well aware of the bonehead moves I make, he would not be too pleased to hear this one. Thanks.



Favourite of the Day: Well, not getting robbed. Plus, Claudia and I went to Gran Festa for lunch and I had the most amazing sandwich on the planet. It was grilled chicken, spinach, figs and brie with a roasted apple spread. Mmmmmmm.








Saturday, November 20, 2010

Random Thought

Lately 'sippy cup' is the funniest, yet dumbest word in the world to me. I guess the name itself makes sense but I would bet a 4 year old invented it.

I've been hearing it quite a bit lately and it's becoming funnier and funnier.

SIPPY CUP.
HAHAHAHAH.



Thursday, November 18, 2010

Challenge #5


Big news: I COOKED CHICKEN.

Pad Thai
I made pad thai for my first time. Some may consider it cheating because I used the packaged sauce, but I said from the beginning I was a little bit ghetto. Plus - I COOKED CHICKEN. I have to say - it is one of the best things I've ever made. I love it.

Cost:
Chicken Breasts $5.02
Peanuts $2.49
Rice Noodles $3.49
Pad Thai Sauce $2.69
Bean Sprouts $1.49
Limes $0.50

Sub-total: $15.68
HST: $2.04
Total: $17.72


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cast Bio's

Today I was reading the Cast Bio's from 1 Girl 5 Gays (I know, I'm cool). Anyway, this was one of the guy's responses:

Whats the one thing someone might be surprised to know about you?
"I think My So-Called Life ended exactly when it was supposed too". -Dean

That's the funniest answer to a questionnaire I've ever read. In fact, many of the responses of the whole cast had me laughing out loud. If you're fan of the show you will enjoy the link.



Favourite of the Day: It doesn't take much to make me laugh. I like that about me.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Challenge #4


Marbled Chocolate Mint Bark

This was so easy it should not even be referred to as a challenge. It looks good and tastes even better. The chocolate is costly though, for the amount you get out of it. If you are needing to make something for a large number of people - I would not choose this. However, for something small - this is ideal.

Cost:
Semi-sweet chocolate squares $3.59
White chocolate squares $4.49
Mint Candies $1.29

Sub-total $9.37
HST $1.21
Total $10.58

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Challenge #3

Warm Spinach & Artichoke Cups

I have never made anything with artichokes before. I thought this was a very simple recipe and I think it tasted really good. I made a few of my own amendments though. The recipe called for garlic, but I hate garlic so I didn't put it in. It also called for 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. I put 1/2 cup of cheddar and 1/2 cup of feta. I think the feta goes better with the spinach anyway.

Again, I had some of the ingredients already, so this is only the cost of things I had to buy:

Artichokes $2.49
Spinach $1.49
Won Tons $1.99
Red Pepper $1.27

Sub-total $9.73
HST $1.26
Total $10.99

I will be sure to make this again. It was good.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Challenge #2


Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

Initially, I thought this turned out to be a bomb. However, the only problem was that we tried to eat it too soon. It hadn't fully cooled or set yet. After a few hours in the fridge, it was pretty delicious.

This was a very simple recipe. The hitch in this was the cost of the cream cheese. A tip for others is to never buy cream cheese in Canada. Here, one brick of cream cheese costs between $3.69-$3.99. In Michigan they are only $1.69 (at Walmart anyway). I bought them yesterday on our side because I was in a rush. But for future reference - take the time and buy cream cheese across the river. With Christmas baking season on its way, I plan to buy a few to keep in my fridge just in case.

In preparation for this recipe, I already had quite a few things on hand (sugar, oreo crumbs, butter, chocolate chips). So the breakdown of cost is only for the ingredients I had to buy:

Cost:

1 brick of cream cheese $3.69
1 brick of cream cheese $3.69
strawberries $4.99
eggs $1.69

sub total $14.06
HST $ 1.83
TOTAL $15.89

I would not normally have paid $4.99 for strawberries. I usually only buy them when they are on sale for much cheaper. Like 2/$5.00 for example. But that's what happens when you give yourself a 7 day challenge - can't control the sales. The cost of making a cheesecake is pretty high. For the record - I will probably only make this again when I have an actual reason and have a large number of people to eat it.







Monday, November 8, 2010

Challenge #1

Most people who know me are aware that I am repulsed by raw meat. The thought of touching it makes me want to throw up. While I like to eat meat - I very rarely touch it. That means it doesn't enter my kitchen very often and I generally only cook meat I don't have to touch first.

My goal for my first challenge was to make roast beef. Brian told me he loved roast beef so I invited him over for dinner. When I went to the grocery store to buy everything, I went to the meat area and picked out what I thought looked the best. It was pre-seasoned (I wouldn't have to touch it) and it looked like a nice size for the two of us.

I didn't learn until much, much later that I actually picked out a pork roast. HA. Oh well....good thing Brian is flexible with his meat.

I also decided to use this as an opportunity to try parsnips for my first time. I cooked the roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and parsnips. They were good. I will definitely eat them again.

Here is a breakdown of cost for this project:

Pork Roast $8.00
Onion $0.56
Carrots $1.47
Parsnips $2.49
Potatoes $3.19

Sub-total $15.71
HST $2.04
TOTAL $17.75

Overall, this was a success. Everything tasted good and it was very easy.
Good food, good company and good wine.

(This project made me realize I don't own place mats. Note to self: buy place mats)






7 Day Kitchen Challenge

I decided to give myself a 7 day Kitchen Challenge. As someone who is prone to a regular routine of eating habits, I wanted to learn to do some different things. I decided I have to make 7 things I have never made before. I am sort of a ghetto version of that chick from Julie & Julia (because I'm certainly not fancy enough to tackle anything that Julia Child's did).

The challenge may not necessarily happen over 7 days because I do work shift work and I'm going out of town this weekend. That probably means I should have come up with a better name for this challenge but I didn't feel like it. I'll do my best though.

So far, I have planned the first five things I am going to make. The recipes were found in two magazines so far: "What's Cooking" from Kraft and "Best Holiday Recipes" from Taste of Home. (Those are both really good websites...you should check them out)


The following posts will outline what I have made. Here we go!!




Sunday, November 7, 2010

Halloween

I love Halloween. Love it. It is my favourite day of the year. I love how it's a blank slate to become anything you want to be. There are millions of possibilities. I love seeing the creativity and effort people put into their costumes. I prefer home made costumes vs. purchased - but I just like people to dress up, regardless.

One of my favourite Halloween memories is from back in 2004. My friend Mike and I drove down to Guelph to visit friends. I was an egg and he was a suitcase. A bunch of us went to this country bar and when it was time to go Mike refused to leave. He and I got in a big fight so I left him there. He didn't know where the house we were staying in was or how to get back. This was pre-cell phone days - so he was screwed. He ended up in a cab, driving aimlessly around town trying to find a house he recognized. Considering he was wearing a suitcase....he turned himself into lost luggage. Literally.

The one thing I do not like about Halloween is when people use it as an excuse to dress like wh*res. Guess what? 'Slut' isn't a costume. I have seen some pictures that are just plain ridiculous. Sometimes, the 'sexy nurse' or the 'police officer' type costumes are awesome. If you can pull it off - kudos. At least those are still costumes. But wearing a black bra and underwear doesn't make you 'tomb raider'.

I am a big fan of Twitter. @funnyordie tweeted this last week and I laughed pretty hard:

"A lot of girls are rocking the 'My Father Didn't Love Me Enough' costume this year for Halloween".

HA

2005 - Suitcase & Turkey
Mike & I

2006 - Fallopian Swim Team
Mike, Mel and I


2007 - Killer Bee & Ghostbuster
Mike and I


2008 - Taco, Cheese Whiz & Celery, Samba Dancer
Danie, Me, Jane, Travis

2010 - Deviled Egg

I am so happy and thankful to have friends who love dressing up too.