My morning routine...

So I happened upon this video on the 'nets about listerine, and I really thought that it captivated the experience. For those of you brave enough to rinse, you know. Watch the video. Enjoy. (Its the only thing you can enjoy about using listerine...)




PS. Beware the two bleeped out swear words. (for those of a more sensitive nature) (they are bleeped though...)

We're Grandmas Baking... Time

One of the edgiest videos I've ever seen!


http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail197.html

In the spirit of supporting my sister's recent determination to blog every day, (and also because I have a competitive drive that most underestimate) I have decided I should have something to post as well, I mean hey! There had to have been something mildly cool or vaguely interesting happen to me in the last month, right?

This happened.
Hey, okay don't look at my poorly manicured nail, or my manninsh looking thumb. Those ore not the focus of the picture. Hello! Look at the size of that berry! B-I-G!
So I may have purchased twelve flats, and may or may not have made a mountain of jam. It may, by the way be delicious! If you ask real nice, I may also give you some. ;)

Recent Projects

So I have gotten quite a bit of complaints about the lack of pictures of my food creations on this blog. I do take pictures, some just haven't made it to my computer yet. I will try to update them a little more frequently.
Among the pictures is a chocoblok cake with caramel coconut and truffles, mini chocobloks & apple chausons & profiteroles with caramel caps, flourless choco cake, and a wedding cake. Enjoy! (I sure did!)

Whee!

I went skydiving when i was in Hawaii. 14,000 Ft drop! sweeeeeeeet!

Goodbye Texas

I didn't really think too much about it, the last time that I walked away from my parents house in Deer Park. It was mostly a moment of stupidity I guess. I had gone down with the sole purpose of helping my mother pack, before my dad got there to actually move her. For some delusional reason, i assumed I would still be back at some point. It dawned on me later that my parents would actually be selling the house as soon as they were fully moved out. I felt a little dumb when I finally realized that. I think I would have spent my time there a little differently.

We moved there when I was 7, the summer of 1988. I grew up spending as much time as possible outside with the neighbor boys playing football, street hockey, and trying to not get caught doing stupid kid stuff. I got the chance, (more so than any of my siblings) to actually grow up in one place.

Without getting too self indulgent, suffice it say that i had a good "growing up" experience, and I am a little sad to be closing the door on that part of my history. So thanks, texas, for what you've given me.

New Tunes!!!!

I have been looking for new music for my upcoming island getaway. I have found some really great new artists! I have to be honest and admit that I "found" them while catching up on this seasons grey's anatomy episodes. Regardless, I think they are great! They all have a mostly chill vibe, but can have great rhythm.

The first is a British girl. "Adele." She's kind of like a cleaner, drug free version of Amy Winehouse. You can listen to adele with out hating yourself for liking her. always a plus! here is a link to her myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=7032442

Second: Joshua Radin. He reminds me of a cross between William fitzsimmons, Adriano Schiavo and Damien Rice. Good acoustic singer/songwriter. Not bad looking either. ;)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=2871686

Third: Bryn Christopher. Haven't had as much time to explore/ listen to it. I was interested by the song "the Quest." Again, it's a little tune I gleaned off Grey's. Yeah, that's right!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78626737

The Barefoot-Whisperer

So it really all started with an episode of the Barefoot Contessa. She was having another group of fabulous friends over, and made a chocolate sorbet for dessert. That got me thinking: "Sorbet? Chocolate? Wouldn't that be DRY? Hmmm..." I just wasn't sure that chocolate without a measure of cream could be all that delicious. So I completely forgot about it, until yesterday. My current baking class has been a whole lot of fun for me. Yesterday my chef instructor, "the baking whisperer" had us make ice cream in class, and guess what was made? You guessed it, chocolate sorbet! I only had one bite, as it was going from the machine to the freezer, but what I had was INCREDIBLE! So I immediately set off to make my own!
The problem was that the recipe we used in class called for orange zest and orange extract, and while I very much enjoyed the flavor of it, I wanted to try a more classical approach. I found a recipe on chocolateandzucchini.com, which I think is a pretty good blog. My sorbet is currently in the fridge cooling- tonight I will toss it in my ice cream machine!

And just for the record, for those who have been waiting for me to post recipes, I have been waiting for a really good one to strike me as blog worthy. Take it as an HIGH recommendation. This recipe is for all those peeps who can't ever get enough of the good stuff. Chocolate, mostly.

Sorbet Chocolat Noir

275 mL (1 cup + 2 tablespoons) water
40g (1/3 cup, packed) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
100g (1/2 cup) sugar
85g (3 ounces) bittersweet chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped as finely as your patience allows
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

Makes about 1/2 liter (1/2 quart); the recipe can be doubled.

Pre-freeze the bowl of your ice cream maker as instructed by your friend the manufacturer.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, cocoa powder, and sugar. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking continually. Remove from heat, and add the chopped chocolate. Let rest for 30 seconds as the chocolate begins to melt, add the vanilla and salt, then stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Let cool on the counter, then refrigerate until chilled.

Whisk the mixture again just before using, and freeze using your ice cream maker.

Adapted from The Perfect Scoop, by David Lebovitz.

Go Freeze!

I am killing time today, waiting for my next hockey game: the championship game of the Ogden Womens Tournament. On Friday we beat the Golden Spike Girls/Ogden Wings team 4-0. Saturday Morning we beat the Durango Fury 5-1. And last night we beat the Vixens (those mouthy girls!) 3-1.
We will be playing the Prove SheRox at Noon!

Steak Salad!!!

Baby field greens, strawberries, pears, balsamic reduction, grilled ribeye and blue cheese. My favorite summertime meal. Also great during the long winter months when pretending it is summertime.

Chocolate Festival 2008

My entry for this year's chocolate festival: Raspberry infused flourless chocolate cake with a triple berry glaze. People's Choice Award!

Let them eat cake!

My Baking Midterm: Almond Genoise cake with pastry cream filling and Italian Meringue Buttercream. Delicious!

Sitting Midterms

I thought, post mid-term fun, that i would finally get an all access blog going. I gave up on MySpace, seeing as how 5 people ever look at it, and while i have tried Facebook, it still limits availability to those who use it. So... Blog! I say, Blog!

If anyone needs an explanation for my blog name, you obviously don't know me well enough to be reading this. Move along!

That said, to those of you left, I say WELCOME!

Let the tasting recommence!