Mark & Lauren's Mindless Musings

Breakfast Muffins

2011-10-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

Mark loves this recipe - and I'm always searching for it. I thought I had posted it here, but I can't find it.

This recipe is simple to throw together - it would be perfect for showers (you could even make mini-muffins). Enjoy!

1 lb sausage
6 eggs
2 c shredded cheddar
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. ground mustard
1 can Grands Flaky Layers biscuits
(Makes 24 muffins)

1. Brown and drain your sausage.

2. Mix eggs, sausage, and cheese together. Season with salt, pepper, and ground mustard.

3. Grease muffin pan with cooking spray. Peel each uncooked biscuit in to 3 layers and line each muffin cup with a layer.

4. Scoop a little egg mixture into each muffin cup. A little goes a long way since your biscuits will rise and your eggs will puff up.

5. Bake according to biscuit directions - 16min at 350.af

ter taking this road.

Looks a little like Fall

2011-10-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

LA! part 2

2011-10-21T16:41:00.000-05:00

We ended the day in LA with dinner at The Bazaar. I loved it - Mom, not so much!

The Bazaar is a modern tapas restaurant, famous for its foie gras cotton candy and caprese salad.

We also had oxtail steamed buns, carrot fritters, and chicken croquettes. The Bazaar uses molecular gastronomy, making for a unique dining experience.

After our early dinner, we headed back to the hotel - just in time to watch the red carpet!

Vogue and Guess were having an event (debut of the Guess 2011 Holiday line) at our hotel's pool. We didn't recognize many of the "talent", but Carmen Electra was there. Click here to see paparazzi pics from the event.

The next morning we woke up for brunch at the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

I had yummy Eggs Benedict, Mom had the famous French toast.

The beautiful lobby.

The pool at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

See the Escalade above? That's Queen Latifah's driver. As we walked up the drive, she came out and got in the car. I saw her - Mom was too busy trying to get the valet/bellhop to tell her what famous people were at the hotel.

We went from the Beverly Hills Hotel to Rodeo Drive.

I bought some nailpolish at Chanel on Rodeo Dr. I got a mani/pedi the day I got back to Waco, and I think I may be wearing this color all fall/winter. And, I can now claim I made a purchase on Rodeo Drive!

We ended our time in LA on Robertson at the Reiss store, a favorite of Kate Middleton.

It was a fun, quick trip to The City of Angels!!

LA! part 1

2011-10-17T20:55:00.000-05:00

Mom needed a couple of extra Delta miles - so she took me with her to LA for a quick trip!

We left DFW at 6:00 and got to LA around 10:00. We started out at our hotel, Mr. C Beverly Hills where we were greeted with a very attentive staff and a Bellini. (I wish I had a Bellini picture - but I don't so you'll have to imagine.)

The hotel was wonderful, very modern, with spectacular views.

We then headed to our 11:30 lunch reservations at The Ivy - yes, they were very early, but we had been up since 4:00!

We did not see any stars - but the food was good.

Mom especially enjoyed her $6.50 iced tea.

We did see some paparazzi the next day when we went back to shop on Robertson. Unfortunately, it was not anyone famous - just a D-lister, Gummi Bear.

We spent the rest of the day shopping along Robertson, walking for miles, and finally catching a cab to go to Hollywood.

We walked along the Hollywood walk of fame, were interviewed for an E! News segment - Who Wore it Best, and toured Grauman's Chinese Theater.

The famous "curtain dress" from Gone with the Wind

The inside of the theater was beautiful!

Harry Potter!

It was very interesting to see the different squares!

Stay tuned, more to come!

Mr C Beverly Hills

2011-10-15T22:15:00.001-05:00

Sneak peek of a fabulous trip...more to come tomorrow!

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Missoni Mania

2011-09-20T20:42:00.001-05:00

Look what I picked up at Target last week. There were only three pair left in the store and one happened to be in my size!

A little Waco perk.

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Birthday Pies

2011-07-26T17:15:00.001-05:00

Mark requested pie as his "birthday cake" this year. He really wanted a peach pie, but I knew I wouldn't have time on Sunday after we got home from Ft. Worth. So, I made a frozen peanut butter chocolate pie for Sunday and then made a brown sugar-cinnamon peach pie on Monday (complete with locally grown peaches). They both turned out great!

Peanut butter chocolate pie
Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 1 hour | Chill Time: 4 hours

For the Crust:
1¾ cups chocolate cookie crumbs (about 20 Oreos)
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Pinch of salt

For the Filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
¾ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1¼ cups creamy peanut butter (not chunky or natural)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups heavy cream

For the Topping Drizzle:
1 ounce semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons peanut butter

1. To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the cookie crumbs, brown sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and toss with a fork until all of the crumbs are moistened. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, then bake until set, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. To make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Wipe out the mixing bowl, switch to the whisk attachment and whip the heavy cream on medium-high until soft peaks form. Stir 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten it up. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Transfer the filling to the cooled crust and spread in an even layer. Freeze uncovered for at least 4 hours or up to 1 day covered with plastic wrap.

3. To garnish the pie: Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments at 50% power, stirring after each. Continue until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and snip a tiny bit off the corner. Hold the bag over the pie and drizzle the melted chocolate in a zig-zag pattern. Melt the peanut butter in the microwave using the same method used for the chocolate. Add the melted peanut butter to a resealable plastic bag, snip off a corner and drizzle over the pie. Let stand for about 10 minutes to set. Return to the freeze if not serving immediately.

4. Remove the pie from the freezer about 10-15 minutes before you are ready to serve. If you have trouble cutting it, running your knife under warm water will help. Cover leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and store in the freezer.
(originally from Martha Stewart)

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Peach Pie

1 1/3 cups cold butter
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup ice-cold water
8 large fresh, firm, ripe peaches (about 4 lb.)
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg, beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1. Cut 1 1/3 cups butter into small cubes, and chill 15 minutes. Stir together 4 cups flour and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small peas. Gradually stir in 1/2 cup ice water with a fork, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened and dough begins to form a ball and leaves sides of bowl, adding more ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, if necessary. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap; press and shape dough into 2 flat disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap, and chill 30 minutes to 24 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 425º. Place 1 dough disk on a lightly floured surface; sprinkle dough lightly with flour. Roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Starting at 1 edge of dough, wrap dough around a rolling pin. Place rolling pin over a 9-inch pie plate, and unroll dough over pie plate. Press dough into pie plate.

3. Roll remaining dough disk to about 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.

4. Peel peaches, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; cut slices in half. Stir together brown sugar, next 3 ingredients, and remaining 1/4 cup flour in a bowl; add peaches, stirring to coat. Immediately spoon peach mixture into piecrust in pie plate, and dot with 1 1/2 Tbsp. butter. (Do not make mixture ahead or it will become too juicy.)

5. Carefully place remaining piecrust over filling; press edges of crusts together to seal. Cut off excess crust, and reserve. Crimp edges of pie. If desired, reroll excess crust to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 3-inch leaves using a knife. Brush top of pie with beaten egg; top with leaves. Brush leaves with egg; sprinkle with 1 1/2 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Cut 4 to 5 slits in top of pie for steam to escape.

6. Freeze pie 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a jelly-roll pan in oven 10 minutes. Place pie on hot jelly-roll pan.

7. Bake at 425° on lower oven rack 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°; bake 40 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning, and bake 25 more minutes or until juices are thick and bubbly (juices will bubble through top). Transfer to a wire rack; cool 2 hours before serving.

(originally from Southern Living 2011)

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World Series 2010

2011-07-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

The Rangers went to the 2010 World Series - and we were lucky enough to be able to use some of Dad's tickets!

Thank you, Dad for a once in a lifetime experience!!

Mark's appendectomy

2011-07-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Mark had an appendectomy October 14, 2010. Here's a picture of him drinking that yummy contrast solution (he managed to hold his down a little better than I did a few years prior!).

Baltimore & Washington D.C

2011-07-25T19:18:00.000-05:00

Mark's job training was in Baltimore...last August. The timing worked out where I could visit during my "summer break". We also took advantage of the proximity of Mark's Aunt Susan & Uncle Gary in D.C. for a weekend getaway (complete with Amtrak). We were so thankful for their hospitality!

Yes, I realize I'm a little bit late posting these. I was a little bit busy last year. And now I'll start the photo dumping

Mo's Crab Shack

Julia Child exhibit at the Smithsonian. I left early Friday morning for D.C with Mark joining me after work that day. Thus, I did a lot of "museuming" on my own - perfect for the museum lover that I am.

Friday night we had Ethiopian food (meh - not my favorite, but now I've tried it) and then we set out to find the Masonic Temple in the surrounding neighborhood.

It was dark, so the pictures aren't great - but Mark loved every minute of it! We finished off Friday night with Ben's Chili Bowl - and are still talking about those great chili dogs a year later!

Saturday started with a tour of the Capitol

Supreme Court

Saturday evening we had some yummy fondue with Susan, Gary, Phoebe, and Toby. Thanks guys!

FDR Memorial

Korean Memorial

View of Washington Monument from Lincoln Memorial

And the monuments tour would not be complete without Albert Einstein (at the National Academy of Sciences) - Mark and Uncle Gary deep in conversation.

We returned to Baltimore on Sunday afternoon (catching the Amtrak at Union Station!)

Baltimore Harbor

Annabelle Lee Tavern - complete with duck fat fries. Totally worth the crazy cab ride.

We also met up with Michael and Rebecca for dinner one night - but I don't have pictures of that :(

Guess Who...

2011-07-24T16:32:00.001-05:00

We went to Ft Worth yesterday to celebrate Mark's 27th birthday. Look who stopped by to wish him Happy Birthday and good luck for next week - Tim Love! Mark was thrilled!!!

More to come later...

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Trinity hall pub

2011-03-26T16:40:00.001-05:00

We stopped here today in Dallas. Mark is definitely in his element!

Watching soccer

Deciding what to order next

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Shutterfly

2010-12-19T18:50:00.000-06:00

Cards have been ordered!

I got a great deal (FREE!) on 50 cards - so my personalized cards only cost me $8 in shipping! Thanks Shutterfly!

I chose one of the designs below - leave your guess in the comments.

Also, if you're actually reading this you're more than likely on my list - please email me your address!

Coming up: our trip to San Antonio and a few catch-up posts from this summer.

Christmas Cards!

2010-12-15T22:47:00.000-06:00

Right now I'm surrounded by old pictures - some from the 70's and 80's, a lot from the 90's, and a bunch from the 2000's. It makes me think that it might be about time for me to start really thinking about the pictures I take and the memories we create!

Enough so that I might even be convinced to mail out a Christmas Card (yeah right...Happy New Year card) this year!

Of course that means that I'll have to find a picture that includes both me and Mark (no, Rocky will not be in it - he prefers solo portraits....and let's be honest, the amount of grief I would get for sending out a Christmas Card with only our cat on it would be even more than I can handle!) - I'm thinking the big tree in the lobby of the Contessa this weekend will be perfect (hence, the New Year's Cards).

But, the best part about the whole Christmas Card thing is the tons of options that are available - especially on Shutterfly. Their collection this year is incredible!

Some of my favorites include: (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards)

(Apparently I have a thing for different fonts)

Which one is your favorite? Go to www.shutterfly.com to see more!

I guess you'll just have to watch your mailboxes to see if those cards really do get sent out this year!

PS - Shutterfly also has make your own calendars (http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars) and personalized thank you cards (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards) that could really come in handy this time of the year as well.

Gingerbread cookies

2010-12-15T19:47:00.001-06:00

The first Christmas cookies are done!

Mark says they are good. I say Royal Icing is a pain.

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HOHOHO!

2010-11-28T22:00:00.001-06:00

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It's starting to look a little like Christmas...

2010-11-27T17:12:00.001-06:00

Hopefully by tomorrow the tree will be fully lit and trimmed, wreaths and garland hung, and Christmastree dishes on full display!

We're so excited to decorate this year - and very grateful for the wonderful tree!

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The Hunter & The Hunted

2010-11-14T19:44:00.005-06:00

This morning at approximately 7:58 a.m. I managed to notch the first buck of my admittedly novice deer-hunting career. After patiently waiting for an hour and a half (and watching a doe and her yearling treat the surrounding flora has their personal buffet) I sighted in a buck I had seen thirty minutes earlier and fired. I was confident I had executed a successful shot, but the deer bolted over the fence onto the neighboring property. I immediately exited my stand and found evidence that I had, in fact, made a successful shot. Dad heard my gunshot and came to assist my efforts to locate the deer. In no time at all we found a big 8 point buck approximately 30 to 40 yards away. We then proceeded to drag him through the barbwire fence and down to the Gator, which Dad had procured from the owner of the property. Dad skillfully and adroitly prepared the deer for the processor, although his clothing was overcome with what is sure to be a permanent crimson hue.

Do not think that I escaped the situation unscathed. I fired my rifle in a fairly awkward position, and, when the gun kicked with my shot, the scope hit the bridge of my nose. This resulted in a small gash across the left side of my nose, and possibly a slight fracture. From my perspective it was a small price to pay.

This final pic is of a deer called Bruno. Bruno made himself known to us on Thursday when he followed me all the way across a water tank, up a hill, and to my truck. Upon reaching my truck, Bruno came close enough that I noticed he was wearing a makeshift white velcro collar with the words "Pet Bruno" scribbled on it. Bruno then proceeded to approach me and lick both my hands and stay until I petted him. He came and watched this morning while we were cleaning the deer.

NookColor

2010-11-05T09:15:00.000-05:00

I've been holding out on getting an e-reader - but I think I have finally found one that I might be able to commit to - the NOOKcolor.

Full color, touch screen with wifi and free 3G service. It also runs apps in the background so you can listen to Pandora while reading. I like Barnes and Noble's "lend-me" abilities and it supports other types of files - which means borrowing library books should be possible very soon as well.

So...anyone looking for Christmas ideas - click Here

One down

2010-10-03T13:01:00.001-05:00

I've finished my first place mat!

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My first project

2010-09-30T20:07:00.001-05:00

I finally have all my supplies together for my first sewing project. Tonight I am working on cutting out all the pieces - which I am convinced will be my least favorite part (notice the cutting mat with a lot of straight lines and the huge ruler. The ONLY way I would have a prayer of straight lines).

So far I have the 4 pieces of Peltec (heavy stabilizer for the middle) and one of the eight pieces of placemat.

I'm very pleased with the first piece- hopefully the rest will be straight.

My goal is to finish this weekend. I'll post pictures of the final product when I get there.

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Fall...ish

2010-09-25T16:20:00.001-05:00

In celebration of the "cold" front making its way from the north(not that it is actually cold outside), some fall touches have been added.

"Mark's dishes" - our Spode Woodland - have been placed on display.

[All of the serving pieces have me itching to host Thanksgiving!]

Happy Fall!

(yes, I realize most people don't change their dishes with the seasons. We do. It makes me happy!)

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A little at a time

2010-08-30T12:50:00.001-05:00

Here are a few updates on our slow decorating:

Last night we added this to the wall above the bed. I got it on etsy for half the price of the last R. I think it works well with our bedding.

We also hung this by the back door as a "landing zone" for keys, wallets, sunglasses, and bills. It's the perfect size and really helps keep the kitchen counter clear. It's from Pottery Barn and I've been eyeing it for years. They finally went on sale last week and I snatched it up.

I also made a Marshall's run to try and fill in some spaces- and i think these turned out well. I used some vases I already had and filled them with fairly cheap balls from Pier One.

Finally, I got new foam for the 2 couch cushions. Anyone who has ever sat on that couch knows that the cushions were terrible. They dumped you into the middle of the couch - which meant it was really hard to sit with 2 people...and to take a nap.

You can see how high the cushions sit on the couch. It really makes the couch look much better. The downside - $147 PER CUSHION!! Crazy!!

{Oh, and the wall behind the couch is where the big new (to us!) mirror will go.}

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Mark's dream

2010-08-28T23:14:00.000-05:00

Mark had a dream last night...that he was having an in-depth discussion with the Manchester United soccer team coach, Sir Alex. They discussed "Giggsy" and "Scholesy" and also why Carrick wasn't playing. Well, Giggs and Scholes both started and Carrick came on as a sub. So who knows, maybe Mark is an assistant Manchester United coach, subcontracted in his dreams.

In other news, I owe all of you Baltimore and updated house pictures. Also, I am know a proud owner of a Janome sewing machine. I've bought the fabric for place mats and am hoping to have those at least started by next weekend.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Mark!

2010-08-02T18:26:00.001-05:00

Today is our second anniversary. Sadly we are 100 miles apart. But, in the grand scheme of life this is the best thing...and I have a pretty great setup in Dallas.

This marks the second year that we've spent our anniversary somewhere other than home. Last year we were in Montana, where we started our "foodie" dinners.

I'm so glad we both enjoy restaurants that are just a little bit different (rattlesnake, elk...) and can share those experiences.

This year, we went to Tim Love's Lonesome Dove Bistro. Yes, the Tim Love of Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef (he beat Morimoto!). We drove over to the Ft. Worth Stockyards a little before our reservations, stopped in a few shops, read some historical markers, and wandered around.

We ducked in a local wine bar and tasted some local wines (surprisingly good).

After that we made our way to The Lonesome Dove bar where Mark had boring drinks and I had the most wonderful cocktail I've ever had - Hendrick's gin, lime, blueberries, and cucumber. Yum!

And then we had the best meal I can ever remember. The entire meal was spectacular. Mark thinks it was hands down the best meal of his entire life. Don't worry, I'll do a separate post about dinner but most of those pictures are on my camera.

Mark, here's to 2 years...and 50 more! Thanks for joining me on this great adventure! I love you!

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Tomorrow

2010-07-27T21:55:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow evening is the Manchester United v. MLS All-Stars. Mark is as excited as a 5 year-old on Christmas Eve (in my family, that would be Christmas Eve after tamales while the dishes are being washed).

He's got all his gear ready - his Manchester United jersey (it's long sleeve, but that won't stop him from wearing it) and Manchester United scarf. If you thought he was cheering for the United States team, you would be seriously mistaken.

Hopefully, this guy will be playing and the Red Devils will put on a show.

Happy Birthday, Mark!

Strawberry Mojitos

2010-07-27T21:47:00.000-05:00

I made this tonight - and they are really good! A little bit of work, but a good special occasion summer drink! I will definitely hang on to this recipe (oh, and the soda water makes all the difference.)

Strawberry Mojito Cocktail Recipe
adapted from The Berry Bible

   * 1.5 ounces of simple syrup
   * about 3 fresh strawberries
   * about 4-5 fresh spearmint sprigs (chopped if you prefer smaller mint pieces in your cocktail)
   * soda water
   * 1/2 lime
   * 2 ounces of light rum
1. In a chilled glass (about 10-12 ounces), muddle the simple syrup, strawberries and mint leaves together with the back of a spoon or muddler. Crush the strawberries and mint leaves well.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the glass, add the rum and stir well. Fill glass with ice and top off with soda water.
3. Garnish with mint sprigs or strawberry slices. Makes 1 drink.

2010-07-20T18:02:00.001-05:00

It was only a matter of time before Rocky realized that a dryer full of warm clothes is even better than the laundry basket.

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Location:Laundry

2010-07-18T20:58:00.000-05:00

I got a new iPhone app so I can post from my phone - including pictures. Hopefully this will mean more posts!

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Location:iPhone App

Cafe Madrid

2010-07-18T20:50:00.001-05:00

Mark came to Dallas this weekend and we made sure to take advantage of the big city restaurants!

Friday night was pizza from a little restaurant - Olivellas. Mark said it was very close to the pizza he had in Italy!

On Saturday night we had tapas at Cafe Madrid. I don't remember the last time I've eaten there (probably around age 5 when I had cow's brains), but after having great tapas in Houston with Megan & Greg, we were excited to have tapas again. They were GREAT!

Diablo Pulpo (grilled octopus in spicy sauce. This isn't on the menu, but was Mark's favorite.

Breaded eggplant with manchego cheese

Roasted red pepper stuffed with goat cheese (Mark might have changed his opinion of goat cheese)

Grilled chorizo

Cheese & spinach croquettes

We will definitely be going back to Cafe Madrid!

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Our new home

2010-06-21T14:46:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures. Nothing is anywhere near being complete. Maybe when I'm back for more than 2 days at a time (usually studying for a test) in August some other things will be complete. Mainly bath mats and bookshelves!

View from the front door:

New (to us!) Baker's Rack. It is a great place to display my dishes. I plan on changing it for summer, fall, winter, and spring. Yes - I do have enough!

Pass through from den to kitchen:

Kitchen, complete with great space above the cabinets. It works as both display and extra storage!

Laundry Closet (with my new washer & dryer that I LOVE!)

Guest bedroom/Office:

We have a new (to us!) daybed & trundle which is perfect for this space! Rocky has claimed it as his own bed. Please note that the old polyester pink blanket is there. He LOVES to sleep there!

Our Bedroom:

Front:

And the corn field out back:

Guess what I found

2010-06-09T20:44:00.002-05:00

The camera battery charger. Yes, the day after I finally ordered a new one. Such is life.

My birthday!

2010-06-09T20:41:00.000-05:00

Today was a great birthday! Mark woke me up with breakfast in bed and later cupcakes. We had dinner tonight at Ninfa's with Megan and Greg and Mark spoiled me with way too many presents!

He got me a nursing school joke t-shirt:

(It says "What would Flo do?" and has a picture of Florence Nightengale)

A really neat Camelback insulated water bottle - which is perfect for class since I try to always have a lot of water. I put ice in it last night and when I woke up, the ice was still there! Talk about good insulation!

And finally, some Chaco flipflops. Mark loves his Chacos and always tells me I need some, so he took this opportunity to get me some. They are teal zebra!!

Thank you, Mark for a fabulous birthday!!!

Tomorrow I'm back to Dallas - complete with birthday cake from Panini. Yummm!!!

Homemade Frozen Yogurt

2010-06-08T21:19:00.000-05:00

I got this recipe from here. It is really good - we like it even more than ice cream because of the tartness. And...it makes me use a kitchen appliance that gets a little neglected!

Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
18 ounces Greek yogurt (I used plain)
1/2 cup of half and half
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

Combine the sugar and milk in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until the sugar dissolves in the milk and the mixture no longer feels gritty between your finger tips. Add the Greek yogurt, half and half, and vanilla bean paste. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. Pour into ice cream maker and churn for about 20 minutes. Then place in freezer to harden (or serve it immediately if you like soft serve).

iPhone4

2010-06-07T21:12:00.000-05:00

This is available for pre-order June 15th - to arrive on June 25th.

You better believe that I will be ordering mine early on that Tuesday morning! My original iPhone has lasted me for 2.5 years, but the battery life has been on borrowed time for at least 6 months.

I have been (not so) patiently waiting for this announcement for a long time. I can't wait!!!

Camera Battery Charger

2010-06-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

I ordered one of these today:

As much as I hated to spend money on something I shouldn't have lost. Progress is being made toward pictures!

Minimester almost done!

2010-06-02T00:18:00.000-05:00

Well, I still don't have a camera battery, so no pictures in this post. Sorry!

I'm 3 weeks in to my classes - and have already taken 1 final (and made an A on it!). Tomorrow morning is my lab practical final, and Friday is another final. By noon on Friday, I will have completed 6 hours of my nursing credits. (Foundations of Nursing and Health Assessment)

I think the hardest part is actually figuring out how to prioritize what to study/do and what to ignore. There is just no way that you could possible process all the knowledge. Maybe that is on purpose!

I really like school - there are some great people in my program (which is nice considering I spend more time with them than with Mark) and I reaffirmed the fact that if I could be a professional student for my whole life, I would do that! It's never boring, and I love learning. Is it weird that I have missed being in school for the past 3 years?!

On Monday, we will start The Maturing Family (gerontology), and Professional Practice (this class teaches basic nursing skills like shots, IVs, etc...I think.) Don't worry - in another 3 weeks I'll have 3 more hours completed!

Sorry this isn't that exciting - just a short update on nursing school.

I promise to try to take duplex pictures this weekend.

And it begins...

2010-05-15T22:28:00.000-05:00

We've finally finished unpacking all of our boxes - just in time for me to spend my weeks in Dallas with weekends and some mid-week non-class days in Waco.

I'm in the middle of my first Waco-Dallas-Waco-Dallas in 48 hours trip since I had a CPR certification class this morning at 8 but I was done by 1 so I figured I had enough time to come spend a while back in Waco. The drive isn't bad - especially if you are intentional about leaving in non-peak traffic times - and I am able to listen to class lectures in the car that I would just be sitting at a desk listening to anyway. I do think that that is the sole reason that I will be able to feel OK with that amount of time in the car - I can justify it by having a solid 3 hours that I can do nothing except schoolwork!

Mark has done a great job around here - hanging pictures, putting up some curtains, assembling and mounting new furniture, and making countless trips with things we have forgotten. We also had a ton of help from both sets of parents on Sunday. It was a huge help with unloading the POD, loading the U-Haul, measuring shelf paper, organizing the kitchen, and placing furniture. It would have taken us another week without their help!

It did take me the full week to get everything out of boxes and trash bags - and for the life of me I could not figure out why it was taking so long. I finally reached the conclusion that this move was the first time that EVERY SINGLE THING was taken out of its drawer - the dresser drawer contents were in trash bags, a combination of 2 desks was in a few boxes. Add to that the fact that I had not seen the contents of these boxes for 9 months, and I was not really involved in packing them (no purging before packing!), it was a big task, to say the least.

I apologize that this is a boring post (aka NO PICTURES!) but I still can't find my camera battery charger and the USB cord doesn't charge it. That is an item on Mark's to do list while I'm gone this week and then I promise we will post pictures (complete with a new display of my dishes...oh I missed them!) as soon as I am back in Waco next weekend.

I start nursing school bright and early at 8 on Monday morning. I have 2 classes this minimester (3 weeks, 6 credit hours) and in one class I am responsible for 7 chapters on the first day. Needless to say, I have a head start on that, but it is still hard for me to wrap my head around exactly what I should be doing for class. I am hopeful that I will get a good grasp on things quickly, as I was always the student that read the syllabus before the semester started. (It is nice to know that all 31 other people in my class are feeling the same way!)

I promise a full report next week - and I do love school (that Mark loves to point out!) so I am definitely excited to start. As for the living in 2 places part - I just keep telling myself that in less than 1 year I will be graduating and able to work in a field that I truly love!

We're Moving!

2010-05-01T22:30:00.000-05:00

We are moving - this weekend!! Luckily most of our things have been in boxes for almost a year, so there is not much packing going on around here. We move in next Sunday.

(not our number)

Oh, and Mark got a job! He starts this summer. And I start nursing school with orientation this Thursday & Friday. We have a lot going on around here!

Yum!

2010-04-15T23:12:00.000-05:00

Tonight we made a recipe out of the recent Food & Wine and it did not disappoint! (and of course it was from Mark's idol, Bobby Flay!)

I also made the black bean puree sauce which turned out to be GREAT! We are already thinking of other ways to use this sauce. It had a great flavor, not too spicy...really the perfect accent to many things.

We also had Ina's sauteed spinach on the side - spectacular as always.

It was a very tasty, quick, and nutritious meal.

Here's the recipe for the salmon and black bean sauce:

1/4 cup honey
1 canned chipotle in adobo, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 red onion
One 19-ounce can black beans with their liquid
1 1/2 teaspoons pure ancho chile powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Four 8-ounce center-cut salmon fillets, with skin

In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the chipotle, cumin, chopped garlic and the remaining onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the beans with their liquid and 1/4 cup of water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Transfer the black bean mixture to the blender and puree until smooth. Season the sauce with salt.
Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of honey with the ancho chile powder and mustard and season with salt. Brush the salmon with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the fish skin side down over moderately high heat until very crisp, about 3 minutes. Cook the fish on the remaining 3 sides just until lightly charred, 3 minutes longer. Brush the salmon with the chile-honey glaze and grill skin side up until lightly caramelized, 2 minutes.

Sic 'em Sixteen!

2010-03-27T00:18:00.003-05:00

Mark and I are lucky enough to be at the Baylor basketball games this weekend in Houston. We left Waco around lunchtime, made it to Houston in plenty of time to check-in to our hotel room, and then we were off to the Baylor pre-game Pep Rally! It was great - complete with hot dogs and sausage (Mark was pleasantly surprised with the jalapeno cheddar sausage), cookies, and drinks. Much cheaper than getting it at the game.

We got in the gates and into our (GREAT) seats in plenty of time to watch the dueling bands (mainly St. Mary's at this point) and the teams warm up. {Let's not forget the St. Mary's woodblock band player. Yikes. A FEATURE of every single song they played.}

There were a TON of Baylor fans at the game - it really was truly a Baylor "home" game! I was so glad that all of the Baylor fans showed up in their green and gold.

Baylor dominated the game from the beginning -and it was a lot of fun to watch. It was nice to never really have to worry about the outcome and just enjoy how great Baylor's team is this year. The picture below shows just how lopsided the final score was 72-49 and even that is a little deceptive since we lead by as much as 35 points in the second half and played our entire bench for the last 3 minutes (Way to go, Dragan the Croat !)

A BIG thanks to our benefactors!

Oh, and an added bonus to the Baylor win - Mark got to watch his Duke Blue Devils win also. (He even brought his Duke basketball t-shirt in case he needed to wear it instead of green and gold on Sunday...luckily he doesn't have to!)

Brussel Sprouts

2010-03-22T20:13:00.004-05:00

I'd never had brussel sprouts or cabbage before Mark and I got married. Now I've had both. I don't really like cabbage, but I've found a way to make brussel sprouts that I think is pretty good - even if you don't love all things cabbage.

This recipe really doesn't have measurements - and you can experiment with toppings. Mark added roasted garlic pieces and they added a nice flavor.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

1. Cut brussel sprouts in half and remove any wilted looking outer leaves.
2. Toss in a bowl with olive oil.
3. Place all cut side down on a sheet pan lined with foil (or lightly oiled). Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sea salt, pepper, and roasted garlic crunchies.
4. Bake at 375 for 15 min then flip and add a bit more balsamic. Put back in the oven for about 10 more minutes until gently browned.

That's all there is to it. Enjoy!

PS - Is the proper term Brussel Sprouts or Brussels Sprouts? Google (the source of all knowledge) comes up with both.

picture from here.

In my dreams...

2010-03-03T19:35:00.002-06:00

... this fridge is in my kitchen.

Mouse Catcher

2010-03-01T23:36:00.003-06:00

We have a new Mouse Trap on our hands...Rocky!!!

This morning I woke up...and almost stepped on a mouse. Rocky killed the mouse and left it in the middle of the bedroom doorway - to ensure that we would see his prize. He was very proud of himself, and we made sure that he was adequately praised (including treats). This was the first mouse he has killed. He's gotten his fair share of crickets (He doesn't usually eat them unless they prove especially hard to catch. Usually you just find the body and the legs pulled off a few inches away. We like to think this is because the chirping drives him crazy and he knows the legs are the source of the chirping.), a few other bugs, but nothing else.

Mark is our mouse catcher in training - he got a baby tonight...caught in my shoe. After the second mouse appearance, we did a thorough search and think we have found the source of the problem.

Unfortunately for Rocky, we are on to his hunt, and have now zip tied those cabinets so he can't open them and let the mice free.

I think I will be just fine to keep his mice kill count to one.

Oh, and Mark considers "outside kitty" the first line of defense...the forward operating base.

Take 2: Honey Amber Ale

2010-03-01T21:55:00.012-06:00

On the heels of the relative success of my first brewing attempt, I decided that I wanted to try a slightly more complex recipe for my second beer. I decided to do what I call a Honey Amber Ale. Amber ale's are closely related to Pale Ales and are generally copper colored and relatively hoppy.

Honey Amber Ale Recipe:

1 Can of Mr Beer Englishman's Nut Brown Ale Hopped Malt Extract
1 Can of Mr Beer Mellow Amber Unhopped Malt Extract
1/2 Cup of Honey
.5 Oz. Northern Brewer Pellet Hops
11 grams of Safales US-05 American Ale Yeast

Process:

Step 1- Sanitized all equipment
Step 2- Boiled 4 cups of water to sanitized and removed from heat
Step 3- Slowly whisked in 1 can of Mr Beer Mellow Amber UME and added Northern Brewer pellet hops (in muslin sack)
Step 4- Boiled Mellow Amber UME and Northern Brewer pellet hops for 10 minutes then removed from heat
Step 5- Slowly whisked in 1 can of Englishman's Nut Brown Ale and 1/2 cup of honey to complete the wort
Step 6- Filled fermenter with 4 quarts of cold water and poured wort (with Northern Brewer hops) into fermenter
Step 7- Filled fermenter with more cold water until it reached the 8.5 quart mark
Step 8- Pitched Safales US-05 Dry American Ale Yeast and let rehydrate for 10 minutes
Step 9- Mixed rehydrated yeast and wort together very well and sealed fermenter, then moved fermenter into closet upstairs (Lauren's suggestion) for better fermentation temperature control than the laundry room

Total Fermentation Time: 15 days

Step 10- Filled 8 1-Liter bottles with 2 1/4 tsp. of corn sugar (finer than granulated sugar that makes smoother and cleaner beer)
Step 11- Filled the bottles with the beer from the fermenter and placed the bottles back in the closet for room temperature conditioning and carbonating

Total Room Temp/Carbonating Time: 14 days

Step 12- Transferred bottles from the closet to the refrigerator for cold conditioning

Here's a pic of the beer after 3 days of cold conditioning...

And here's one of me drinking it after 3 days of cold conditioning

The beer was nice and full-bodied at this point, but had a kind of lemony aftertaste that I hoped the remaining cold conditioning would smooth out.

Total Cold Conditioning Time: 13 days

The final result of my Honey Amber Ale was very good. It is nice and full-bodied with a nice copper color and just the right amount of carbonation. As far as flavor goes, it is somewhat hoppy and has some nice citrus notes with slight toasted caramel flavor and a hint of honey. I was worried about it being overly sweet, but that is definitely not the case. Overall, I think it is very drinkable and pretty damn good for my second attempt at homebrewing.

Here is a pic of me pouring the finished product

A side view of the copper color and the head

A view of the head from above

Me enjoying my Honey Amber Ale

A Homebrewer Is Born

2010-03-01T21:15:00.005-06:00

Lauren gave me a Mr Beer Homebrewing Kit for Christmas, and let's just say that I was quite excite to receive said gift...maybe too excited, but who are you to judge. The kit came with a 2 gallon fermenter, 8 Plastic 1-Liter bottles and caps, and the ingredients for a West Coast Pale Ale Style beer. Thus, for my inaugural brew I decided to go with the West Coast Pale Ale.

WCPA Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 Can of West Coast Pale Ale Hopped Malt Extract
1 Package of Booster (a brewing adjunct made from corn syrup solids that adds body and fermentable sugars)
1 Package of Standard Mr Beer Dry Brewing Yeast

Process:
Step 1- Sanitized all equipment using One-Step No Rinse Sanitizer
Step 2- Brought 4 cups of water to a boil and slowly whisked in 1 package of Booster
Step 3- Removed the pot from the heat and slowly whisked in the West Coast Pale Ale Hopped Malt Extract (this mixture is the wort)
Step 4- Filled the fermenter with 4 quarts of cold water
Step 5- Poured the wort into the fermenter
Step 6- Added more cool water to the fermenter until it reached 8.5 quarts and mixed very well
Step 7- Pitched the yeast and allowed it to rehydrate in the wort for 10 minutes
Step 8- Mixed the yeast into the wort and sealed the fermenter
Step 9- Moved fermenter into laundry room and let the yeast do their thing
Step 10- Filled 8 1-Liter bottles with 2 1/4 tsp. of granulated sugar each (this is how the beer becomes carbonated)
Step 11- Filled bottles with the beer from the fermenter and put the bottles in the laundry to condition at room temperature for 1 week
Step 12- Moved bottles to the refrigerator to cold condition for about 3 days

Results: Tasted a little sweet and flat without much body...but was drinkable and did not make anyone ill, so I consider it a successful first attempt.

Here's a pic

Mussels

2010-02-13T22:33:00.003-06:00

We started our homemade Valentine's Day weekend tonight with mussels. The past few years we've opted to stay in for Valentine's Day instead of going out into crowded and over priced restaurants.

Suprisingly, the HEB in Waco does sell mussels - and the seafood guy even picked out the already dead ones. We only had to throw away 4 of them before they were steamed - and all of the ones we steamed opened.

Another bonus - mussels are pretty cheap, only around $4 a pound. I got 1.5 pounds and it was plenty for us!

This time I did a very simple version, only butter, white wine, shallots and garlic. It was very good - especially when the broth was soaked up with toasted bread. Next time I am thinking about a spicy thai version. You can bet there will be a next time!

ps - Mark LOVED this dinner. I'm guessing it will be a recurring dinner in our house!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Valentine's Day dinner - cheese and chocolate fondue. A tradition!

Swoon...

2010-01-27T17:09:00.002-06:00

As soon as I have a permanent address (who am I kidding...my own address), I really want one of these stamps!

LOOOVE it!

Go here to see more styles.

Praise You in this Storm

2010-01-21T21:29:00.002-06:00

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Ben and Katie in Haiti

2010-01-19T21:40:00.006-06:00

My friend and fellow Pi Phi, Katie Kilpatrick, is in Haiti with her husband. The moved just a few weeks before the earthquake to teach at a school there. She has been updating her blog frequently (www.benandkatieinhaiti.com) and really presents a different perspective to everything that is happening in Haiti.

She posted the following lyrics from a Shane and Shane song today:

Come let us return He has torn us into pieces He has injured us come let us return to the Lord He will heal us He will bandage our wounds in just a short time He'll restore us in just a short time He'll restore His church so we might live we might live in His presence in His presence oh that we might know the Lord oh that we might know the Lord oh that we might know the Lord let us press on to know Him
let us press hard into Him
then as surely as the coming of the dawn
He will respond

Please go to her blog - www.benandkatieinhaiti.com - to read more and to donate if you wish.

Will it Waffle?

2010-01-14T16:28:00.003-06:00

My brother got a waffle iron for Christmas this year - after he asked if he could use his panini maker to make waffles.

Looks like he should have started out with the waffle maker in the first place.

http://www.waffleizer.com/

The S'moreffles look particularly intriguing.

Mighty Life List

2010-01-14T15:46:00.003-06:00

I saw this today - nothing too extreme - just small things. It's a good reminder that the small things sometimes mean the most.

http://mightygirl.com/2009/12/30/100-skills-everyone-should-master/

Exotic Chocolate

2009-12-09T17:42:00.002-06:00

I saw this on dooce today and was intrigued.

I can't even begin to imagine what most of these candy bars would taste like, but I would love to try them!

Find these at www.vosgeschocolate.com

Mo's Milk Chocolate Bacon Bar

Applewood smoked bacon + Alder wood smoked salt + deep milk chocolate

Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon BarApplewood smoked bacon + Alder wood smoked salt + 62% dark chocolate

Barcelona Exotic Candy Bar
hickory smoked almonds + Fleur de Sel grey sea salt + deep milk chocolate

Black Pearl Exotic Candy Bar
ginger + wasabi + black sesame seeds + dark chocolate

Calindia Exotic Candy Bar
cardamom + organic walnuts + dried plums + Venezuelan dark chocolate

Creole Exotic Candy Bar
New Orleans chicory coffee + cocoa nibs + Sao Thome bittersweet chocolate

Gianduja Exotic Candy Bar
almonds + caramelized hazelnut paste + deep milk chocolate

Goji Exotic Candy Bar
Tibetan goji berries + pink Himalayan salt + deep milk chocolate

Matcha Exotic Candy Bar
Japanese matcha green tea + deep milk chocolate

Naga Exotic Candy Bar
sweet Indian curry + coconut + deep milk chocolate

Oaxaca Exotic Candy Bar
Oaxacan guajillo & pasilla chillies + Tanzanian bittersweet chocolate

Red Fire Exotic Candy Bar
Mexican ancho & chipotle chillies + Ceylon cinnamon + dark chocolate

Woolloomooloo Exotic Candy Bar
Roasted & salted macadamia nuts + Indonesian coconut

Organic Enchanted Mushroom Candy Bar
Organic dark chocolate + mushrooms

Organic Habana Candy Bar
Organic deep milk chocolate + crunchy plantains

Cheap Wine, Mac & Cheese? Yes, Please

2009-11-20T17:53:00.003-06:00

I saw this on a blog today.

"Unusually good wine paring:

Kraft Mac & Cheese and Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot .

Just FYI."

The wine is about $6 bucks. That, my friends, is a recession friendly meal.

You are welcome.

Martha's Thanksgiving

2009-11-19T16:44:00.003-06:00

I listen to satellite radio while I'm at work on my iphone - usually CNN or Martha Stewart.

This year, Martha is going to have a Thanksgiving hotline...and they've put a free Thanksgiving PDF cookbook on the website.

You can download it here http://www.sirius.com/marthastewartlivingradio. It looks like it has some interesting recipes. Go check it out!

Flaws in Beef Inspection

2009-11-09T21:09:00.004-06:00

I read this article in the NY Times a month ago and it made me think about all of the ground beef in my diet. Here are some excerpts from the article:

"Ground beef is usually not simply a chunk of meat run through a grinder. Instead, records and interviews show, a single portion of hamburger meat is often an amalgam of various grades of meat from different parts of cows and even from different slaughterhouses. These cuts of meat are particularly vulnerable to E. coli contamination, food experts and officials say. Despite this, there is no federal requirement for grinders to test their ingredients for the pathogen...

Confidential grinding logs and other Cargill records show that the hamburgers were made from a mix of slaughterhouse trimmings and a mash-like product derived from scraps that were ground together at a plant in Wisconsin. The ingredients came from slaughterhouses in Nebraska, Texas and Uruguay, and from a South Dakota company that processes fatty trimmings and treats them with ammonia to kill bacteria.

Using a combination of sources — a practice followed by most large producers of fresh and packaged hamburger — allowed Cargill to spend about 25 percent less than it would have for cuts of whole meat.

Those low-grade ingredients are cut from areas of the cow that are more likely to have had contact with feces, which carries E. coli, industry research shows. Yet Cargill, like most meat companies, relies on its suppliers to check for the bacteria and does its own testing only after the ingredients are ground together. The United States Department of Agriculture, which allows grinders to devise their own safety plans, has encouraged them to test ingredients first as a way of increasing the chance of finding contamination...

As with other slaughterhouses, the potential for contamination is present every step of the way, according to workers and federal inspectors. The cattle often arrive with smears of feedlot feces that harbor the E. coli pathogen, and the hide must be removed carefully to keep it off the meat. This is especially critical for trimmings sliced from the outer surface of the carcass. Federal inspectors based at the plant are supposed to monitor the hide removal, but much can go wrong. Workers slicing away the hide can inadvertently spread feces to the meat, and large clamps that hold the hide during processing sometimes slip and smear the meat with feces, the workers and inspectors say.

Ground beef sold by most grocers is made from a blend of ingredients, industry officials said. Agriculture Department regulations also allow hamburger meat labeled ground chuck or sirloin to contain trimmings from those parts of the cow. At a chain like Publix Super Markets, customers who want hamburger made from whole cuts of meat have to buy a steak and have it specially ground, said a Publix spokeswoman, Maria Brous, or buy a product like Bubba Burgers, which boasts on its labeling, “100% whole muscle means no trimmings...

The department moved to require some bacterial testing of ground beef, but the industry argued that the cost would unfairly burden small producers, industry officials said. The Agriculture Department opted to carry out its own tests for E. coli, but it acknowledges that its 15,000 spot checks a year at thousands of meat plants and groceries nationwide is not meant to be comprehensive. Many slaughterhouses and processors have voluntarily adopted testing regimes, yet they vary greatly in scope from plant to plant."

Articles like this make you really think about where your food comes from. And, it makes me want one of these...right now!

You can find this spiffy meat grinder attachment at Williams-Sonoma.

We're Still Here...and Whoopie Pies

2009-11-08T19:54:00.005-06:00

Sorry for the LOOONG absence - no good reason except that I can't blog from work.

We're still on the job hunt - anybody know of any good jobs...they can be anywhere, we aren't picky!

I've bookmarked a few things to blog about and I might include some Christmas wishes also. I'll try to get those up soon.

But for today, a delicious fall recipe - Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. These were VERY good, and didn't require me to go to the store for any ingredients. Martha says they make 12 - that is not true. This made about 30 for me - and Mark has eaten almost all of them. They are that good.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream-Cheese Filling
Adapted from Martha Stewart

Ingredients
For The Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cloves
2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Filling
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions
Make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.

Make the filling: Sift confectioner' sugar into a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla, beat just until smooth. (Filling can be made up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate; let stand at room temperature to soften before using.)
Assemble the whoopie pies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Transfer filling to a disposable pastry bag and snip the end. When cookies have cooled completely, pipe a large dollop of filling on the flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edge of the cookies. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate cookies at least 30 minutes before serving and up to 3 days.

I hope everyone is having a great November!

Wild Olive Tees

2009-05-22T23:13:00.003-05:00

I stumbled upon this shirt yesterday, and I think it would be perfect for some people, including me!

The front says "Such Things" and the back says "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."

Find this tee and many others like it here.

ps - Yes, of course I read MckMama

Just because...

2009-05-19T21:22:00.003-05:00

Mark called me at work yesterday and told me to come outside. Look what he brought me - "just because flowers!" Aren't they beautiful (they're from Rosetree...my favorite!)

Thanks Mark! I love them...and you!!!

Our First Apartment

2009-05-19T20:51:00.006-05:00

I promised a tour of our apartment...and I am about to deliver. I was motivated to do a "deep clean" this weekend, so I went ahead and took pictures while things are mostly put up. (and if you follow me on twitter, you know that there was a certain cleaning item that was a major incentive to clean!)

Here is our bedroom:

Down the hallway to the den:

The kitchen table & office/junk room:

And the rest:

I hope you enjoyed the little tour (and it was as much for me to remember also, we'll only be here for less than 3 more months...crazy!)

Vinegar?!

2009-05-17T14:30:00.002-05:00

I heard a tip this week and decided to try it out. I added a splash of vinegar to my white sheets and kitchen towels in the washing machine. I swear they came out whiter and brighter. Try it for yourself - a green tip that doesn't cost any money!

Goat Milk Soap

2009-05-16T19:52:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh - I LOVE my goat milk soap that I ordered. Megan and I joke that we're green when the stuff is cute...but this soap is AMAZING! It is so moisturizing and it smells good. I had a couple of dry spots that I couldn't get to go away - even with Cetaphil lotion - but this soap did it the very first time. If you have dry skin or sensative skin - or want a soap that doesn't have chemicals and drying agents - this is the soap for you!

Also - you can order it as a loofah - I highly recommend the Pink Grapefruit loofah!

Find goat milk soap at www.goatmilkstuff.com

Guyot Designs

2009-05-14T21:51:00.005-05:00

Ok, I admit...Mark and I are both suckers for fun outdoor gear - we probably contribute a lot to keeping Bear Mountain here in Waco in business.

I saw these the other day on Hostess with the Mostess and thought some of the products they have are really neat...

Need a lantern? How about your water bottle...

How about a built in water filter for your water bottle(especially necessary for Waco water...and Kanakuk water)...

and because I can't resist - bowls and cups that you can squish up in your pocket...

You can find all of these here.

If you're lucky, I'll remember to fill you in on more of my blog finds like this...maybe.

It's been a month...

2009-05-12T19:13:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been a month so I guess it's time for another blog post! Mark graduated from law school this month!

I've been working on getting him to do a post - but that hasn't worked out very well so far!! [I promise I would post more if I could from work...sorry to all of you who don't have Google Reader and actually check the blog!]

I don't have great pictures from graduation - I was counting on the professionals to take the really good pics - but it was a fun time! Mark was decked out in doctoral regalia - complete with purple velvet stripes (indicative of the school of law), a funny hat (not a mortar board - he's too advanced for that!), and he was hooded with a hood of purple, green, and gold. He looked very distinguished in the highest level of regalia! I promise I'll post pictures soon!

We also enjoyed a "mini-vacation," as I like to call it, last weekend at the Reitmeier's while they were visiting Lindsay in South Carolina. We took Rocky out to McGregor, I laid out by the pool all weekend and got a nice tan, Mark took full advantage of the media room, we grilled by the pool, and a good time was had by all. You can bet that we'll be back at our free vacation home (only 15 min away!) Memorial Day weekend while they are at Nick's sister's wedding.

In other new news - I LOVE the market tote that Lindsay got Edith for Mother's day. Apparently they are all the rage in the south (but you have to monogram yours, of course!)...and actually they are from the same company of the reusable bag I got in my stocking. Look how cute this is...I can already think of a million uses for it! Lindsay - what a cute idea! Find it here.

And you all know I love recipes - here is a great one for margaritas on the rocks:

1 can frozen limeade
2 cans of water
1 can tequila
1/2 triple sec

Mix and pour into glasses with ice. Enjoy!

Spring Activities

2009-04-12T21:28:00.005-05:00

It looks like I'm a good once-a-month blogger! I've had a few posts that I keep meaning to put up, but with blogger blocked at work, it's a little bit harder to get motivated to look at a computer after I've mindlessly stared at one for 8 hours (and we all know what Mark's posts are like!)

A couple of weeks ago Mark and I went to the Hillcrest Hospital Gala to mark the opening of the new hospital building. We ended up getting there a little earlier than most people and were able to tour the hospital on our own. The new building is amazing - with talking hospital beds, state of the art lights in the ORs that change colors, and tons of other neat new features. We had a great time getting dressed up and having run of the building. Not to mention that we got to hear the great speaches by the important people - like Mark's dad!

I've looked for pictures of the new hospital, but can't find any right now. I promise I'll post some when I find them - it really is very impressive (and I know most people could care less about what facilities a new hospital has...what can I say, I'm a dork).

In other news, I had part of my toenail removed last Friday. All in all it was uneventful, and the spot we were worried about turned out to be no big deal. I'm still clear on the melanoma front here! My toe looks a little funny, but it doesn't hurt anymore - and might be back to normal in a year...

We've also been to many of the Baylor Baseball games - we're in 2nd in conference right now and the team is fun to watch. Friday was military appreciation night, complete with camo hats and veterans throwing out the first pitch. Of course Edith did a great job organizing her veterans (she's in the perfect Baylor yellow pants and green sweater).

Finally, we had a great Easter in Dallas. Mark and I went to the King Tut exhibit at the DMA yesterday - which was a lot of fun. We really emjoyed our cultural outing. We also stopped by the Flying Saucer in Addison. Lindsay and Nick first introduced us to the bar in South Carolina and we thought it would be fun to return last night. I had my first Snakebite (apparently famous from Baylor in Great Britain) and Mark had some really dark beers (yuck!).

We enjoyed church at Park Cities this morning...and then Easter Brunch on the indoor tennis courts at Royal Oaks - yum!

I'm already planning my next post - a tour of our first apartment - so hopefully I'll be back before the middle of May!

Happy Spring to everyone!

Montana

2009-03-17T21:45:00.004-05:00

Mark's last Spring Break was last week - so we went to Montana!! We had a great time - mainly lounging on the couch and looking out at the snow on the mountains and the frozen river...

But we did spend 2 days skiing...here we are in our ski get-ups:

If you look closely in this picture you can see Mark snowboarding:

We also had great homemade meals almost every night thanks to Mom's great frozen meals waiting for us. Thanks for cooking, Mom!

One afternoon we made it over to the Great Northern Brewery - Mark tried a few of the beers on tap and I had a Huckleberry Beer. It was a fun afternoon, something we'll definitely have to do again in August.

And we tried a few local restaurants, Mackenzie River Pizza and Wasabi - the sushi restaurant. Both we wonderful...and we will be returning!

Best line of the week: "If we're not back in the morning, we're stuck in Canada" - Michael.

Fun Website

2009-03-16T23:58:00.003-05:00

I ran across this website today - I know it's basically an ad for fritos...but I played around on it for 30 minutes! Go take a look!

http://www.madeforeachother.com/