Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Candy is Dandy, Wine is Fine, Liquor is Quicker but a Sherry Enema=Death

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0203052sherry1.html



So last night I decide to run an errand to the liquor store. I needed to buy Godiva White Chocolate liquor, Vanilla Vodka, and some White Wine. Now mind you, my bar area at my home looks like a professional quarters player lives here (I think they still play that game, it is a classic). Funny thing is, none of it is really for drinking. All the alcohol on my bar is for cooking. Most of you know alcohol is not cheap. Usually when you move the van lines will not take open bottles of alcohol. Much to my delight, this move they told me if there was a lid on it they would pack it. I was soooo relieved. I probably have several hundred $$$ in bottles of booze that I have only used a couple tablespoons out of for different dishes. I tried to explain to the Van Line Rep that it was for cooking and he just looked at me and winked and said "sure it is". Our friends call me the "Liquor Lady" because they know if they need a tablespoon of Bourbon or some Rum for a recipe I am just the sucker to give it to them for free so they don't have to go out and buy a whole bottle.

Side Note: I am standing at the liquor counter checking out (of course waiting to be carded because when you are kissing 40 you look forward to being carded, it is a compliment). An older woman, mid 70's, comes gimping in store with a cane huffing and puffing. She looks totally panic stricken. She comes over to my side of counter and looks up at the gentleman checking me out and shouts "YOU MOVED, OH MY GOSH, DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT", she was shaking and out of breath. The guy behind the counter says "I will go and get your usual". He leaves the counter and comes back with a 5th of whiskey. LOL, apparently they had recently moved their store just a couple of doors down and this lady is a regular and went to the old store and panicked when she could not get "her usual". Make note to self: Drink whiskey when I turn 70. Just like I want to be like old guy as an honorary VP in my 80's, I will also add that I want to be a regular at the liquor store and everyone will know "my usual" when I am in my 70's. My list of what I want to be when I grow up is ever growing.

Sad side note: I did not get carded this time. Not even a shifty eye glance like they were mulling it over. DAMN!

Disbursement of alcohol as follows. Vanilla Vodka=Chocolate Peppermintini's, Godiva White Chocolate Liquor=White Chocolate Egg Nog Trifle, Calvaldo's (Apple Brandy)=nut topping used in Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie, Grand Marnier=Chocolate Grand Marnier Ice Cream w/almonds.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

JUMPING JEHOSAPHAT!!!!

Jumping Jehosaphat, I think I have got it!!!!!!!
The old expression was "Jumping Jehosephat." Just a polite expression of surprise. Like "Holy crap!" might be today.Historically: Jehosaphat was a wealthy king of Jerusalem. One day an army from the east march on Jerusalem to take his gold. Jehosaphat told the people not to worry that the battle would be his and Judas's on the following day. The people let out a joyous cry "Great Jumping Jehosaphat." That's the "story" anyhow. I wasn't there. :)

I love it when a light bulb goes off.......especially a food revelation. Like it was in front of your eyes all the time but you kept missing it. Thinking and thinking, going over ingredients in your pretty little empty head. Wondering how you can make it different or better or spectacular so your dinner guests are envious and feel quite inferior to your culinary capabilities (that's not nice, I know! But you would if you could too heheheheh).

Anyway, lately I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out a dessert item for an appetizer get together I am having on Sunday evening. Last year a friend gave me an Eggnog Pound Cake Mix from Williams Sonoma. On most occassions if someone gives me a food item I like to prepare it when I have them over so they can share in what they bought me. The mix was good until 2008 so I decided to save it for this Christmas. Of course, being the culinary superior being I think I am (keyword is THINK), I can't just bake off an eggnog pound cake and serve it. I have to make it into something no one has ever dreamed of. As I was exercising today it came to me like a pizza delivery guy during a football game (doesn't everyone think of food while exercising?). I am going to make a White Chocolate Tiramisu w/eggnog pound cake. Instead of Lady Fingers I am going to slice up my eggnog poundcake and use Godiva White Chocolate liquor to soak my slices and then make a white chocolate filling with marscapone, white chocolate, eggs and cream. Then I will use white chocolate shavings and perhaps put a side of balsamic strawberries for topping. Plus it will look like a Giant White Christmas Snowball sitting in my clear trifle bowl.....added bonus. Sometimes I amaze myself!!! I think I need a nap.

Date night update: Last night was date night with the hubby. http://www.capersrestaurant.com/
Goat Cheese Baguettes:
Buttered Sour Dough Baguettes topped with imported Goat Cheese and served on Baby Arugula with homemade Tomato Jam
Herb Crusted Tilapia:
A sweet Tilapia filet encrusted with a Melange of fresh herbs. Finish with your favorite sauce of a Wild Mushroom Ragout or Lemon Meuniere. Served with Cranberry and Apricot Wild Rice
White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Sunday, December 16, 2007

This Little Piggy Went To The Market.....I Mean Williams Sonoma

This little piggy went to market;This little piggy stayed home;This little piggy had roast beef;And this little piggy had none;And this little piggy cried, "Wee, wee, wee!"All the way home.


Okay, so sometimes I go a bit overboard. I like to cook but I also love to go out to eat and I also love to order food items in the mail. Whoever invented dry ice is a GENIUS. Okay I stand corrected see following information:


As a natural substance, Dry Ice is not an invention, Dry Ice was discovered, however, the name was trademarked. The Dry Ice Corporation of America first trademarked the name Dry Ice in 1925.


Who knew?? Anyway....I love Kansas City Steaks.....especially the bacon cheese steakburgers preferrably the 4 oz'ers. I always have them in my freezer. I love the chicken breasts from Schwans and also always have those on hand. Caribou Coffee Fireside Blend, which I now have to order because there is NO Caribou in LR. Baker's Cinnamon Filling from King Arthur Four in Vermont (makes the BEST cinnamon rolls hands down).
Williams Sonoma has had some of the yummiest treats in their catalog for the Holidays and so my list goes: Cheddar & Bacon Gougere's (Dr. Oz would not be happy), Arancini--creamy risotto balls breaded and fried to a golden brown (this is why I eat 2 Tblsp of flax meal seed a day), assorted empanadas (a shout out to all my Latin American friends cause everyone knows I have so many), and least but not last assorted Tamales (ooooooooh Santa, I have been a baaaaaad girrrrrrrrl). Of course I am going to bake a wheel of Brie over the Holidays, eat my homemade ice cream and do some other appetizers of my choosing, but I can't help but take some help from my friends at Williams Sonoma. So I think it is very important this Holiday Season to bow your head in a moment of silence and be thankful we have Fed Ex Next Day, UPS Overnight, and of course DRY ICE. Without these wonderful modern day inventions This Little Piggy Might Actually Have To Go To The Market!!!