Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

Cake Balls!

This weekend was full of Christmas baking, cookies, cupcakes and... cake balls! Unfortunately, the dipping chocolate I got this year wasn't the best, so I had to improvise a little on the last step, but they still taste good. There really should be a different name for these though, because "cake balls" never sounds appetizing to anyone, but they really are good and easy to make, give 'em a try!

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix (any kind you like... I used chocolate for these)
1 16 oz. can frosting (again, I used chocolate - but use any combo you like)
1 package dipping chocolate (regular, white chocolate, colored)
wax paper

Directions:
1. Cook cake according to the directions on the box, cool completely (!!) and crumble into a bowl
2. Dump the frosting into the bowl
3. Mix together thoroughly, and refrigerate for an hour or so
4. Roll into balls, lay on cookie sheet
5. Refrigerate again (you can even leave them in overnight) so they get nice and cold
6. Melt chocolate in your microwave or in a double boiler, and dip each ball into chocolate using a toothpick or fork, add extra decoration if you want, and place on wax paper to cool.

Click to Enlarge

Step 6 was what gave me a little trouble this year, so I just dipped the bottom, and then put the melted chocolate in a ziploc bag, snipped the tip and drizzled extra chocolate on top.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

No More Rosy Cheeks

I've been a longtime Yankees fan, you know - you like who your parents like and whatnot. But last season I was introduced to being a "Met Fan" and I'll admit, it was pretty fun. I like baseball in general, and Met fans have a certain air about them, and Mr. Met is really friggin cute... but most of all there was Joe Smith.

Now (on my Birthday of all days) the Mets have traded my beloved Rosacea Boy... to Cleveland. Like...Really?? Can't they just be happy with their signature blonde man Drew Carey and leave mine alone?

I will miss you Joe... Cleveland SUCKS!



Monday, November 24, 2008

Oh No They Didn't

I know everyone is already writing about this, but I can't help jumping on the wagon...

It started with Apple, Coco, Pilot, Brooklyn (which I actually think is pretty cute), but we all got the point - celebrities like to give their kids out-of-the-box names... but really people, really?

Bronx Mowgli
Zuma Nesta
Blue Angel
Audio Science
Moon Unit
Moxie Crimefighter

These names look like they came from one of those sites where you type in some random facts about yourself, and it spits out your Porn Name and you're like... "Oh okay... So, my porn name is German Shepard Starburst? That makes complete and total sense, and is, obviously, very sexy."

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

An Apple A Day

Little delay since the last time I've posted, but I've been busy scowering the internet for the perfect Christmas gifts, its November 18th and I'm about 75% done. I love to shop early, which may be a problem in the future when I have kids and "Santa" can't find places to hide all the presents for 6 weeks... but for now, it works.

Anyway, I had an apple the other night from the grocery store and it was SO good! I wanted to post a few of my favorite apple recipes -'tis the season!

Apple Slaw
Serve this with pork tenderloin, crab cakes, or as a side salad at a party













Ingredients

  • 2 cups thin-sliced Granny Smith (or mix of Granny Smith and Gala) apple strips
  • 1 cup thin-sliced jicama strips
  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • salt
  • pepper
Recipe
  1. To make the dressing, whisk together brown sugar, vinegar, and oil.
  2. Mix apples, jicama, cabbage and carrots together, pour dressing over the top.
  3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Apple Caramel Oatmeal Bars
Serve chilled, or warm with vanilla bean ice cream













Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups butter, melted
  • 1 jar caramel ice cream topping
Recipe
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 8x8 pans
  2. Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Stir in the melted butter. Mix until crumbly. Press half of this mixture into the prepared baking pans. (Reserve the other half for later). Bake for 8 minutes in preheated oven.
  3. Peel and slice the apples and spread them evenly over the baked crust. Pour the caramel filling over the apples and crumble the remaining crust mixture on the top.
  4. Bake again for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Hot Apple Cider Toddy
Serve this as the first drink when people come in from to the cold!













Ingredients

  • whiskey or brandy
  • hot apple cider
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 tsps cinnamon
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • apple slices
  • cinnamon sticks
Recipe
  1. Soften butter, mix in cinnamon and sugar, place in the center of a square of wax paper, roll up and refrigerate until hard again (do this the night before serving).
  2. Place a small slice of the cinnamon/sugar butter in the bottom of a mug or glass.
  3. Pour in 2 ounces whiskey or brandy, and fill with warm cider (heat the cider in a large pot on the oven and keep warm)
  4. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick

Monday, November 3, 2008

Time to Vote

I'm not gonna get all political, but I hope everyone is going to go out and vote tomorrow. Even if you think your vote doesn't count, at least it will give you the leverage to be able to bitch about the outcome - because in my opinion, it's cool if you don't want to vote, but if you don't vote, don't bitch!


Speaking of voting, remember when women didn't have the write to vote, or wear watches? I've been watching Mad Men lately, and damn, those women were idiots back then! Not because they actually were idiots, but because they let men treat them like they were. The show is really interesting though... starts slow but gets much better as the episodes go on.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Ladies, I'm here to tell you that it is OK to like sports!

I'm not saying you should go out and re-do your wardrobe with jerseys from all 30 MLB teams, paint your face (or your whole body like Pom-Pom down there) for Sunday or Monday Night football, or memorize the depth chart of every NBA team. I'm not even saying that you should know there are 30 MLB teams, that football is played on Sundays and Mondays (ok, no that you should know), or what a depth chart is.


What I am saying is, just because we are women, do we have to look up at a Mets game on TV at the bar, groan and say "Ugh, I hate sports" or even worse, "Ugh I hate sports - How may touchdowns do the Mets have anyway, they won the Stanley cup right?" That might be a slight exaggeration, but... not really.

There is nothing wrong with kicking back with a beer, even a cranberry vodka for the non-beer drinking girl, and watching a good game. And I know the typical excuses:

1) I don't understand the rules. - Ok, this is fine. Don't watch the game by yourself. Invite over friends who do know the rules and ask them questions. Make a few snacks (after all that's what women do, right?) and they'll have no problem sharing the wonderful world of sports with you.

2) I don't mind playing, but I hate to watch. - To this I say, ummm really? When is the last time you played a game of basketball? Football? If you're a girl, and you know how to even throw a football (and I'm not being critical here, because I don't know how), then chances are you probably watch at least some football. Because someone taught you to throw that ball - dad, brother, boyfriend - and I'm sure they would have gotten you to watch and appreciate some games.

3) It's so boring/It's just a bunch of guys sweating and running around. - Both of these have one simple answer - watch a game, one game, with someone who loves and understand it, and you'll realize they are both wrong.

4) It's not ladylike to watch sports. - No, it's not ladylike to eat wings till there is sauce all over your face (mmmm), let out a huge belch after you chug a 40 (aaah), and rip off your shirt and swing it around when Tom Brady (he's so dreamy) scores a touchdown. Watching sports is just fine.

Normally I wouldn't just go off on women, but I saw a site - Women Against Fantasy Sports - and I almost couldn't believe it. These women hate the men in their life playing fantasy sports so much that they go so far as to have articles about how to ruin his draft!

They blame their hate of fantasy sports on the typical: "He spends too much time analyzing a trade he just did, you did it already, get over it." or "He watched enough sports before, now he watches even more!" or any other typical "I'm feeling neglected" story.

Fine, I know what it feels like to wish you were getting more attention. But, do you really need to walk around wearing a "WAFS" t-shirt? That's right, they have shirts.

Did you ever think maybe you're just no fun to be around, or maybe you're dating the wrong guy? No? Ok... Here is a solution - take my advice and learn a little about sports, and *gasp* maybe even join a fantasy league! (I did it and now I'm in it for three sports - and loving it) Make yourself a part of something he loves, instead of trying to ruin it for him.

And yes, maybe he won't want you in his league, although he might if he thought you'd be serious about it. But you could join your own league. Start one with your fellow WAFS bitches! Then you can get together, over the candlelight dinners you crave oh-so-much, and have something to talk about.

But for those girls who aren't card-carrying members of WAFS, and just plain "don't like sports" - give it a try. And if you won't, please at least stop acting like it's cute that you don't like it.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Baby Girl, Yeah!

My cousin Christina had her 3rd baby (all girls!) this morning... She doesn't have a name yet, because they can't decide between three different ones, so - name to come. But she is 7lbs 14 oz, and looks like daddy! Update: Her name is Mae Laurette Conlin :)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Comfort Food

It's starting to get cold out, and nothing warms you up like a homemade Chicken Pot Pie. I like to make things from scratch if it's for a party, or a gift... but when I get home after work, the gym, running errands, etc., I don't want to spend hours cooking. This pot pie, made with some store-bought ingredients works for me. It takes 25-30 minutes, and saves you at least 300 calories from the frozen ones!


Ingredients:
  • 4 ounces chicken (cut into cubes)
  • 1 package frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 package refrigerated dinner rolls
  • 2 tsps flour
  • 2 tsps parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • pepper
  • garlic powder
Recipe:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (or cooking time on package of dinner rolls)
  2. Heat chicken stock in a skillet on the stove top to a light boil
  3. Place cubed chicken in stock, cook 4-5 minutes
  4. Add entire package of frozen vegetables to skillet, cook 4-5 mins
  5. Add entire can of soup, and 2 tsp flour (to thicken) and stir
  6. Add salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
  7. Divide mixture evenly into 4 ramekin cups and top each with 1 - 1 1/2 dinner rolls, sprinkle 1/2 tsp parmesan cheese on each
  8. Place in preheated oven until rolls are golden brown on the edges, 10-12 mins

This one got rave reviews from Bryan, my in-house taste tester... even after he had convinced himself he wouldn't like them! Let me know if you try them out.

Lloyd!

It's about time they did something with Entourage this season, but hopefully Ari's career move on-set isn't foreshadowing a career move for Jeremy...


Is it me, or does he kind of look sexy there?

In an interview with Page Six, he said "Whenever I come back to New York I think, ‘Why don’t I live here again?’ That was the reason for me to take this play–so I could come here and find a place to live, and establish a solid foundation for myself. That’s what I really need right now.”

I don't think Entourage would make it without Ari, and they just got signed for another season, so hopefully Piven just plans on "hugging it out" bi-coastal, bitch!