Snow Day

Welp, another day off because of snow. Here's my happenings for the day:

Diet Coke & cookies for lunch

Pacino was a little confused about the snow.

I cleaned off my desk and made these to hang in my living room, but didn't get them hung. Too ambitious.

I also tried to finish some artwork I started forever ago. Pacino wasn't crazy about me doing anything but sitting down so he could sleep on me.

Soon enough, here he was on my lap, with the artwork left alone.

I also played some guitar, which I hadn't done for awhile.

I did finish the drawing, but I feel less than satisfied about it. I wish I had room to include Rabbit and Owl. I thought about it, but I didn't want to mess up what I had so far.

I also finished reading Charles Lightoller's account of Titanic (he was the First Officer on board.) And I started another book about Titanic. And ate at BWW. And we have a 2 hour delay for tomorrow. 

Joy!

Icy Day

Ice day happenings:

Monsters, Inc 3D
Orange leaf
Purchased friends trivia at Stuff
Overall, good day.

Kitchen Sunday

I could hardly get myself to do anything on Sunday--I'd had a long week of not sleeping well and then an overnight robotics trip which spent a lot of the energy I had left. Finally I ambled out of bed and the TV was talking about cinnamon rolls. How depressed I was that it was icy out and I wasn't able to get to the store for some cinnamon rolls. However, then I realized that I had a package of bagels. I only had one egg left, and one egg is not enough just to eat by itself, but one egg is perfect for french toast. So, that's just what I did. I used Perkins' super secret (but not really) recipe and fried up some french toast bagels. Not too shabby.

Then, for lunch, I couldn't help but make the baked olives again. They are just so delicious. I'm pretty sure I could eat them every day. And they are super easy to make!

For supper I whipped up some fajita chicken and veggies. I love marinating the chicken and then cooking it all in some of the marinade. This time, the marinade included: olive oil, citrus vodka, cayenne pepper, buffalo sauce, Dorothy Lynch salad dressing, and lemon and lime juice. So good. 

And after a long day of cooking (and cleaning and laundry) Pacino finally convinced me to sit down and he snuggled right up for a 2 hour cat nap. Isn't he the cutest cat you've ever seen? 

And, to end the night, a two hour delay was called for Monday. And this morning, we are canceled. Whoo!

A Post About Food

First of all, a post about the cat. Typical. He loves, loves to jump up on my back for a ride. He did so this morning while I was packing up my lunch. It does make it difficult to accomplish things, but he's so dang cute I can't make him get down. Sorry for the bad quality--front camera on the phone.

Now, on to the good stuff. I made two new recipes tonight--baked pickles and baked olives. If you haven't eaten fried pickles at a restaurant, you are missing out. The spears are the best, but the chips are good too. Now everyone knows that things taste better fried than baked, but that everything is also considerably more unhealthy fried. So, I decided to bake some pickles. While perusing the internet for baked pickle recipes, I had a wonderful thought--what about baking olives? So I looked up recipes for those too.

Here's what went down:

First, the pickles. I patted dry the spears with a paper towel to help get some of the salt out. Then, dipped in eggwash and finally rolled in italian breadcrumbs. I baked them at 400 for 15 minutes, turned them over, baked another 5 minutes and then broiled for 1 minute. They are good, but a few things I would change: they need broiled another minute or so, and they need some panko along with or instead of the breadcrumbs to help get crunchier; also, I only had zesty pickles--regular dill would be much better. Definitely making again!

Now the olives. Honestly, I didn't expect these to be so delicious. I think I got goosebumps after eating the first one. And they are super simple. The recipe I found online wasn't quite working, so I made some changes. First, it called for cheddar, but I used an Italian blend. I want to try it using just asiago, but the Hy-Vee drugstore didn't have that (yes, I buy groceries at the drugstore sometimes.) Anyways, about a cup of cheese, 3 tablespoons of very soft butter, and enough flour to make it doughy. You just mix that up, then roll about 1 tablespoon around the olives. Presto. That made 10 olives, but I'd recommend a bigger batch. You won't be sorry.

Lazy Sunday

Pacino's method of waking me up--choke hold!

He's so snuggly on Sundays.

Friday Night

Went to a Rough Rider's hockey game for the first time. I decided that hockey is too scary for me. I tended to shout out "oh no, oh no!" every time something happened. But I did cheer too. I wore my Eli's Army shirt, because Friday was the one year anniversary of his death. 

Sorry this picture is less than stellar.

Famous by Association

Check out this guy on American Idol....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95G4Ty9MZws


Check out Lindsay and I with him:

I have a new-found reason to watch Idol...which I haven't in years. This guy is seriously good--and I don't even like rock music. Go Gabe!

Breakfast

Breakfast is good anytime...especially for dinner.

Yum

Quesadillas!

Fortune

Expand your horizons by reading a new book...

Really? I read new books all the time!

Saturdays

Big breakfast, cartoons, old school video games and reading big books--a great Saturday :)

Mimosas!

Mimosas aren't only for morning, people. This isn't a classic mimosa though...its limeade, cherries and champagne. Perfect.

New Obsession...

Cherries are one of life's great things. A few cherries and some juice into a mountain dew=awesome.

Only problem is, I'm out of dew!

Used my new pans for the second time...first time was chicken fajitas, but apparently I didn't get a picture. Breakfast is good any day, any time.

Bowling

Went bowling with some friends the other night...hottest bowling shoes in town, I'm pretty sure. The Westdale bowling center doesn't accept debit/credit cards, either, just for future reference. I thought we were in 2013?

Becki & Emily got the white-ish ones...those were slightly more tolerable.

A Post for Kitty

This post is in honor of Pacino...he just got home from the vet this evening after having his front claws out. I wanted to badly to not do it, but the furniture, window screens and my back weren't agreeing with that.

He loves riding on my back...ignore my lack of makeup--it was a Saturday morning :)

This night he was chasing his tail in the sink...weirdo!

He loves laying like this when I'm sitting on the couch with the footrest up.

Zonked out!

Bubbles?!

Again, in the sink. Strange!

Memphis

Here are a few shots from Memphis:

Memphis BBQ at Pigs.

Tons of Cyclone fans!

Spent a day with Elvis.

Evlis' living room--gorgeous.

He had mirrored ceilings in the basement!

Strangest room at Elvis' house.

Beale Street

Memphis egg!

Where Dr Martin Luther King was shot.

The place where the man stood to shoot him.