Happy Valentine's Day!

MMMMargs!

I hate to share some of my best secrets, but per special request from Dre - here is the famous Margarita recipe.

Fill blender 3/4 way with ice
Pour in 1/2 a can of frozen limeade (get the Minute-Maid, it really is that much better)
8 ounces of Tequila
3 ounces of Triple Sec (you can skip this if you're feeling thrifty, it won't make much difference)
8 ounces water
1/2 of a fresh lime, without the peel

Then just hit blend, maybe a couple seconds of chop action at the end to really smash up the fresh lime. If you like salt with your margarita, just pour some out onto a flat plate, rub fresh lime on the edge of your cup and dip it in the salt before pouring in the margarita.

And don't be afraid to mix it up a little bit... throw some frozen strawberries in, or the other night we made do with some frozen Minute Made lemonade, instead of limeade - tasted like Electric Lemonade from TGI Fridays, except it didn't cost $14 per cup. Not bad, not bad.

Free Rice

I know we don't all have money to donate right now, but fortunately we do all have jobs! And most of us have jobs where we get bored half the time. Next time you're bored visit www.freerice.com. You can play some trivia (vocab, math, geography, etc.) and for every answer you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program.


Play for a few minutes at work, fight the boredom, and help fight world hunger! I'm not usually preachy about this kind of stuff, but this just seems so easy.

Back by Popular Demand

I haven't written in a while, and didn't really think anyone noticed until two people actually told me they have been checking my blog and I haven't written.... So I'm back!

I know it's a little past the season, but I gave my Grandma a homemade gift as part of her Christmas present this year, and I think it's something that people could give for any number of occasions (it's both thoughtful and useful). So, rather than wait for next Christmas... It's called a Memory Journal.

Basically, it asks the recipient to answer questions ranging from where were your born and who did you go to prom with, to what was your greatest life lesson, who do you consider your best friend, and what do you remember most about your parents. This is a great way not only to get to know parents, grandparents, and other family members better but to have these memories (in their own written hand) to pass on for years to come.


You can write each of the questions into a store-bought journal, or do what I did and type them out, print them, punch holes in them and string a ribbon through to make your own journal. This way, when the recipient has finished answering the questions, you can untie it and make photocopies for any family members who would like to keep these memories as well.

My grandma started writing her answers, and I know when she is done it will be a gift for our whole family.

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.

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!