On My Days Off

I know, I know, I'm blogging a little too much this week. I admit it, I have no idea what to do with free time. Some people know how to relax, I know how to multi-task. You may look forward to a day off to sit back and read a book, watch a movie, (insert your relaxing activity here). I look forward to days off because I can run errands, and clean my house, and try a new recipe. It's a sickness, I am aware of it, maybe some day I will seek help-but not today. After my obligatory errands (side note- Target what is up with all the Christmas stuff AND Christmas music today? Let Thanksgiving have its glory please) I went home to try out a recipe I have been dying to try, biscotti. Strange for me because I am not a biscotti type girl. They are crunchy and hard, I usually under bake my cookies a bit so they are soft and chewy. That being said I am always up for something new and these looked good.


The recipe was for vanilla biscotti, but I give you vanilla cranberry biscotti with white chocolate cinnamon almond drizzle. I know what your thinking, too many flavors right? Sometimes, I can't control my ideas and in this case it paid off- YUMMY. I will admit they took what seemed like forever to make, so I doubt they will make it into the regular rotation in my kitchen. They may however find themselves on a future day off to-do list.

Let's Talk Turkey

I know, two posts in two days! Don't get used to it people, it will probably never happen again. I felt that should share the cute little guys below with you. I make these every year for my class, and the kids always seem to like them (honestly I think they are pretty awesome too).

Can you say sugar high and a room full of 7/8 year olds?

Oh the many uses for a Ritz cracker...

It's like a small, sugary (little creepy) army...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Too Much Of A Good Thing?

I think I may love pumpkin just a little too much. It is border line obsessive. I have pumpkin coffee mate in my morning coffee. There is pumpkin air freshener in my house. I have been baking with pumpkin for weeks now. I literally have stockpiled pumpkin (the rumored shortage sent me into a panic!). So, to be completely predictable, I give you my weekend of pumpkin. Of course I baked- seriously people, I can't help myself. One thing I love about this time of year is that the cheesy Christmas movies start playing. I love them. They are awful and cheesy and have horrible actors in them, but I love them. Is it strange that it is not yet Thanksgiving and they are already showing? Of course. Does it give me good background to bake to? Um, duh. I watched a particularly AWFUL set (yes I said set, part one AND part two) of movies last night starring Kathy Irelan (I now know why she has faded into the background). Wasted hours of my life. The only thing that saved my night was this cake:

Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. Oh my yummy. I had to eat one piece and put the rest in Tupperware to take this to work tomorrow because I could take. this. cake. down. Maybe not as spicy as I normally like my pumpkin to be, but I think it may find its way into my pumpkin recipe rotation. I topped off my bad TV movie weekend with a stellar flick starring the queen of bad Lifetime dramas, Ms. Tori Spelling. Again, I sought solace in my kitchen. (I am aware that I can turn these horrors off, but they are like train wreck, you can't turn away). I whipped up some pumpkin pasta that I found here. I also decided that I wanted this recipe to be for Curried Pumpkin Pasta, so I added some curry powder (curry may also be on my list of obsessions). Again, I could not get it spicy enough so I was adding curry, and pepper flakes like crazy, but it may be worth it if you like pumpkin.

I know pumpkin has been all over the blog for a while now, but have no fear I am all about Christmas as soon as December strikes. Ahhh, gingerbread...

I Heart N.Y.?!

I know, I know, the title threw you for a loop didn't it? Yes, this self proclaimed hater who for years has been trash talking all that is New York, is singing a different tune. Now, in my own defense I began to cast aside my hateful ways a few summers ago during a short visit, but let's be honest, I am not so easily wooed. So when my wonderful roommate suggested that a group of us take a trip to the Statue of Liberty to make the trek up to the crown, I was feeling a little wishy washy. I knew I had to make the trip, I mean it did sound like a pretty cool thing to do, but I usually find myself more stressed out when I go to NY for a break then I did before I left. Well people here it is in writing, I was wrong. Yes, I said it and now you have proof. I had fun, and lots of it. I actually took the day off work (gasp) and headed up early morning to spend some time with my homegirl Erin. Quite possibly one of the craziest people I know, and quite possibly one of the most fun people I know. I knew 2 things: 1. I was going to be up very late that night. 2. There would be a bar involved. Check to both. When I say late I mean LATE, as in I got home at 3:30. This evening was also made better by my friend Sheila coming into to town from Boston for this adventure and my homegirl Meghan trainin' it in from Astoria for the night. Good times that night, SOOOO tired the next morning when I met the rest of my group for the statue. I did get to see this...
Kinda cool huh? I highly recommend the trip to the crown-do it, just do it. They are going to close it down and then you will wish you had listened to me...just climb up these...

We tried to make it to Ellis Island, but alas it was closed due to a power outage-FAIL. So Sheila and I went and got these instead...
I love you Billy's Bakery. Check it out. These were yummy and the frosting was perfect. Love, love, love. Did I say love enough? Had one (eh hem, 2) of these, explored times square in all its glory, and took in a show. Nice.
I think I have always pushed back at New York, because as you may well know, I love DC. I think it is such a beautiful city. New York is like a piece by Crash, it's loud, colorful and intriguing. You can't help but find it interesting. D.C. on the other hand is all green grass and cherry blossoms, historical buildings and beautiful architecture. Sorry, I am probably putting DC on an unnecessary pedestal. Believe me I see its faults (metro I'm looking at you). I guess I had to learn to love the differences.
So New York, you have won me over. I can't wait til we meet again.

WIN!

Today, when I was leaving the gym, there was a woman of 'a certain age' wandering around up the block. She didn't quite seem in full control of her faculties. As I got closer to her, she turned and saw me, pulled out a blue sparkly recorder, and started playing. And then...she followed me up the block, Pied Piper style and piped me back to my house. It was awesome. And really weird at the same time.

I always wanted my own troubadour (troubairitz?). I figure this was the closest I am going to get. I wonder if tomorrow she will play me Three Blind Mice...or Hot Crossed Buns. I bet she takes requests.

Halloween=FAIL.

Fail, I say, FAIL. Sort of. Halloween and I can't quite figure out how we feel about each other. I love cute little kids dressed up in all sorts of cute little costumes. I like candy (because who doesn't?). I love scary movies (bring on the fright!). I am not a huge fan of the dressing up. In theory I like the idea, but I never have the time or the energy to really do it well. Plus, for what? I am not gonna get too creative to go to work. I can't remember the last time I went to a Halloween party. The last time I went out for Halloween (Georgetown is a BADDDD idea) I wanted to die. I kinda like seeing how creative adults can get with costumes, but I do not like how stupid they get when they are all drunk and yelling all over my neighborhood when I am trying to sleep. So, I was not to incredibly excited about Halloween this year. I did however persevere. So I put on a zebra costume and headed to school (and by costume I mean that put on a cute dress that had a zebra print top and some zebra ears). Kids=CRAZY. Also, whoever thought it was a good idea to take an entire school full of children through a nursing home should have thought for 2 seconds. Taking one high risk group (for swine flu) into another high risk group =Fail. On Saturday Becca and I did do something that I will keep off the fail list. We went to roller derby. Yes, think the movie Whip it. I have to admit that it was so strange it was awesome. DC Roller girls get a thumbs up. I secretly (I guess not so much of a secret if you put it on a blog) want to join a roller derby team. I dressed up as a witch, which Becca gave a fail. Apparently looked only "goth" and not like a witch. We followed up by trying a new place for Indian food. Which got a mini fail. It was so-so. All this was topped off with us trying to watch a scary movie. FAIL. Sarah Michelle Geller and Sarah Chalke do not provide good horror flick material.

So, Halloween this year I give you a FAIL. Maybe next year we'll see eye to eye.