S'moreffles...

Last night my sister brought her roommate to my house and we attempted the much drooled-over recipe for S'moreffles (see earlier post below).

To sum up the experience I will simply say this: It didn't work out as I had expected.

...and then I shall show you these photos from the evening (I think my sister's face in the final picture summarizes it all).

I think we did something wrong (I probably messed up the graham-waffle recipe). However, the mixture of melted marshmallow, chocolate & graham-anything can't ever really be that bad, can it?

Easy Crepes

I know that many recent college grads don't know much about cooking meals beyond mac & cheese or lean cuisine (myself included). My newly-married friend Krista recently asked me for a recipe of something nummy I mentioned in a tweet. Unfortunately, I must admit that I bought that last nummy thing I mentioned and did not make it myself...





yeah. Sorry Krista.





That being said... I will claim the fact that I did make de-lic-cious crepes (or creeps, as Bryant likes to call them) last week, and they were surprisingly easy to make.



This is what I did:

I used an Æbleskiver Pancake Mix that I got for Christmas from my Danish mother. (Æbleskiver pancakes are a Christmasy Danish pancake that are round & made using a special pan... also given to me by my Mor).

Preheat skillet to med/low
Whisk together:
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp veg oil

I wipe the pan with a stick of butter instead of spray or oil because I like the taste better. The more, the yummier.

Then, pour 1/4 cup of batter on skillet and let cook on each side for less than a minute.

Crepe batter is thinner than normal pancakes, so a little goes a long way... plus, it burns quicker. So I would recommend you don't multi task while you make these. :)

While I made those, Bryant thawed some frozen berries and mixed them with some sugar.

.......

I hope I haven't lost your attention, Krista, because I found a link to an easy recipe with a mix you can get at the grocery store (and not Williams Sonoma). That link also has some good serving suggestions for breakfast and supper.

Let me know what you think and I'll put up some other ideas Bryant and I get as we play in the kitchen.

Did you say "s'moreffles?"

I am so torn. I am really looking forward to the crazy snow/ice storm that's supposed to come to Minnesota this weekend because I just love to be safe and dry and warm inside the cabin. I just cannot bring myself to get too excited about it because I am scared to death that I will get trapped up north with my fear of getting on the roads. I do not want to miss work, but I do have the option to telework... hmm... I think I should maybe just trust in the Lord and be patient. If I am going to be worried all weekend, then I will be miserable and a lame girlfriend.

So, to change the subject, I just have to talk about what gets me happy. One of those things is finding fun items that are crazy but just might be possible with my limited cooking and crafting abilities.

Exhibit A:

S'moreffles.

Go ahead. Click the link to find out how you, too, can make this gooey goodness. If Bryant and I weren't trying to be healthier, I would go home RIGHT NOW and make these. But, in the spirit of trying to live a let's-lower-our-LDL-levels-lifestyle, I'll brood over the recipe for at least a day or two (or until I think of a more clever alliteration for a way of life that overlooks eating seasonal sweets that are made using a waffle iron). Genius.

Exhibit B:

Polymer Gift Tags.

Oh, how adorable are you? I will tell you, because you are probably too modest to admit it. You, my little scupley friend, are super adorable. I am a big fan because, not only do I love Valentine's Day, but you're attainable. Oh, if only you had cheeks that I might pinch.

Check out the materials:

(okay, so it looks a little overwhelming) BUT I already have two of these things! the polymer clay and the rolling pin. For being a dunce at crafts, this is a great start. All this would take is a trip to Blick and a free Saturday.

Alright, there is a little inspiration for you. Enjoy the nasty weather--I recommend a blanket and a teddy bear boyfriend... along with a waffle iron for those s'moreffle cravings.

Let's just skip September...

...Why not?

I am not going to feel guilty for not blogging throughout the months on August or September because, gosh darn it, I've had better things to do. (Not that I think blogging is a waste of time... because it isn't.)

Aaanyway. It's fall. ...and up until recently I have not been looking forward to this change in season. As I drove up north to see my beau I saw how the trees are already changing. The further north you get, the sooner they want to be red and yellow and orange! Which means, the sooner they are getting ready to be dumped on with snow!!! (EEP!!!)

I normally love fall. I even love winter! and snow!! I think the reason for my bad attitude was because I haven't experienced the events that I am used to seeing accompany the seasons' changes. I have been done with school for more than a year, but last year when fall was starting up I had just finished a great summer at home and I was about to embark on a new journey at my job! When I was young, the Fall was when school started, Winter kicked off with Christmas Break, Spring sprung in with Easter Break, and Summer... well, school's out!! This is the first season since I have finished college that I have had to mentally decide that the season was changing whether I liked it or not, and to embrace it.

I have to admit that reading other people's blogs have helped me overcome my attitude problem. The first time I smiled at the thought of Autumn approaching was when I bought a fall candle from target. Even the smell of the match when it was lit helped. Thanks, Summer, for the inspiration. And then I got the idea to get outside to enjoy the fall when I read Jenny's blog. On Saturday, weather permitting, I will be going to Sever's Corn Maze thanks to her entry about going to the pumpkin patch.

All this being said... I stayed home from work today because I had a fever. Maybe it hasn't been so bad because it's been pouring all day and now it's starting to thunderstorm. Those are the days I just want to be curled up on a couch with a blanket, anyway.

I am off to take some tylenol and wait for my roommate to come home. I miss her.

Happy Fall!

Fast Summer...!!!

Summer, what do you think you are doing?? It's August already?? Everyone at work today was talking about how we all couldn't believe it, how the summer has gone too fast, we haven't had enough hot weather yet, etc... Why do we always need to be complaining about something? I know that I work with a bunch of government employees and it's definitely in their nature to find something to complain about. I am positive that if every day of this summer was 10 degrees warmer, the summer would suddenly become: TOO HOT, a sticky & humid one, miserably expensive because of high electricity bills due to keeping the air conditioning on, etc...

BAH!!!

Enough! This summer has been FANTASTIC! I know it's flying by, but gosh! isn't that what happens when you're having fun? Who the crap wants to complain about having FUN? I know there are things I would still like to do before the end of the summer that I probably won't get around to, but I refuse to think about what I didn't do and to focus on all the great stuff I did.

1. flew out to California

2. saw the Twins play more than once

3. watched my BFF get married

4. helped prepare for BFFs wedding!!

5. got to go out on the lake at least once so far

6. finished physical therapy!

7. fell asleep during a thunderstorm

8. helped plant a garden (does pulling weeds count?)

9. going to see the Brewers play in a couple weeks

10. got a rad tan

11. almost done with my first year at DCMA!!!

12. received awards for being a good employee!

13. got a super sweet boyfriend!

I could totally keep going! What a great summer, right? And I am keeping a full-time job going, too! Definitely didn't think that could happen (glad I was wrong about that).

Long story short: Summer 2009 rules. :)

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Ps 111:2

Staying Cool...

Today it is sooo hot out. I couldn't sleep at all last night and I think I'll blame the heat. In spite of this, I still wore brown trousers + black short sleeved turtle neck + suspenders to work. The idea of wearing it came during my wide-awake middle-of-the-night-day-dreaming. It seemed like a good idea at the time. In my determination to go against the fashion faux pas of wearing black and brown, I found myself baking in the sun. I can't wait to take the train again so I can avoid that 100º car.

My birthday was this past Friday and even though it was the most "adult" birthday I have ever had, it was a lot of fun. (Adult=no party, no cake, work, spending hours in an airport...) Kate got me a Jeff Buckley CD/DVD (love love love) and my parents got me a pair of real Ray-Ban Tortoise Shell Wayfarers (see photo).

I don't know about anyone else, but there are some things in life that never fail to make me feel cool. When I wear my Wayfarers it's like this instant self-confidence boost. It MAY have to do with the fact that I feel like Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe when I wear them... or the fact that my aunt said I reminded her of Raquel Welch (I shouldn't have to remind her that Welch is a Foster Grant girl... not Ray-Ban. ugh).

Other ways I am "staying cool"...

My temperature: changed out of turtleneck into shorts + tee shirt and opened the window

My attitude: wearing my 'Bans indoors while listening to Daniel Lanois and getting ready to head to the couch for a nap.

Memorial Day

Today I was sold a bottle of perfume by a gay man in Macy's. Go ahead, all of you liberals. Scold me for being insensitive to cultural norms. The fact that I am bringing up this fact must therefore also mean I am not okay with all people and their sexual preferences. But seriously... Jean Paul with bright pink lips, matching nail polish and heels (and shirt and tie) sold me a bottle of Daisy by Marc Jacobs (his personal fave).

To be quite honest, I don't know how I feel about the whole situation, besides a little put out. Taking advice on a clearly feminine practice that I know little to nothing about seemed a little weird coming from a ... um... man. I listened to his advice, even though the men he attracts are swinging on the wrong side of the plate. The one I bought ended up being quite nice. I will probably not tell men that like my perfume that Jean Paul's boyfriends do too.

...Happy Memorial Day?