Me + Dairy Queen = Pure Genius

I needed marshmallow in my life today. I wanted a s'more. No s'more materials.

We went to DQ. What I concocted should be on the menu. A peanut buster parfait with hot marshmallow cream. I did not share or even offer any to the fab hub. The hot chocolate, the hot marshmallow, the salty peanuts and the soft serve are meant to be together. Their union is a good one.

Because Everybody Loves Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

This is simply the best pomegranate-champagne punch. People have licked the bottom of the bowl.

From Bon Appétit December 2007.

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 750-ml bottles chilled brut Champagne
1 1/2 cups white rum
1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh mint leaves
1 ice block

Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely.Combine Champagne, rum, and pomegranate juice in punch bowl. Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste. Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. Add ice block to bowl.

I leave out the mint. I leave out the seeds...I use pomegranate juice in my ice ring that I make in a cool bundt style pan. I layer my ring with lemon slices and blueberries. You have to freeze a layer...add fruit...freeze a layer....

This is really great! I recommend making more than what you think you will need.

Enjoy!

Tapas Anyone?

I love food. I am a food junkie. I like to learn about it, make it, eat it and watch endless Food Network. I excited when new mom and pop places open up. I am not into chain restaurants, but I go when the company is right or it is PF Changs.
Friday all I wanted to do was go out. I had worked myself to death and it was time for a nice cold beverage. We had noticed this new place called The Cave when we were going to The Beverage Resort and decided we would check it out. We checked them out on Friday. The waiter Mike came over and was great. Went over every single thing on the menu and was able to tell you about everything. I ordered a pomegranate martini and the fab hub ordered an extra dirty martini. He brought our drinks back and took our orders. That was the last time we saw Mike until we were finished with our food. The only thing they had for me was a salad. Why there is not a cheese/olive/nut tray is beyond me. After giving my martini a taste I thought it was made with cranberry. He never brought my water. I tried to drink it. I wanted more vodka taste and less syrup-y sweet. I assumed they would make it with real pomegranate juice and not pomegranate inspired flavored alcohol. I really like my pomegranate martinis and the pomegranate champagne punch we served this year was so freaking good....I wanted to be in that happy pomegranate place. Eventually it got sent back and I got a cup of vodka with olive juice. Mike was still no place to be found so I just put the credit card on the table so eventually he would come back and we could leave. He come back and takes my card and ran it twice....I was really peved at this point. $70 for 2 tiny salads, a meat stuffed pepper and a few martinis. Yeah, we won't be going back. And to be charged $140....sheesh. I am done with them.
Long story short: If you want tapas in Atlanta or if you want a great place to hang out with friends please do not miss Loca Luna. It is one of my all time favorites. Killer food, great prices and endless drinks. The music is great too! I mean look at this menu. You could eat there everyday for a week and eat something yummy and different and not be broke.

Whatever, I've been super fly busy

It seems like it was just Thanksgiving......It really has been a blur for me.
The first weekend of December I got to jet set up to Raleigh for the Christmas party by the fab hub's new office. I was there for less than 24 hours. The flight up was the worst thing for me in travel history. I had never had a bad travel day before. I aways fly out of and into Atlanta so not much bad can happen. They are the Mussolini of airports: the planes will run on time!
I get on the plane. Sit by the window in the row of three seats. Then it happens: a screaming child is on the lap of the lady next to me. And guess who is beside her? Yeah, her stupid sister with another stupid crying baby. The babies crying activates a little yappy chihuahua that is seated under the seat beside me. It is my own personal Hell. Did I mention that we were stuck for an hour? We were. We took off after we should have already landed. The worst ever.
The second weekend of December we had our 4th annual Holiday Warm Up Christmas Party. I had champagne pomegranate punch that people were licking the bottom of the bowl for and Hypntq Glacier Drop Martinis that were super yummy. The food was so good that when I was cleaning up around midnight I could not find a bite to eat.
Last weekend we hit Lenox and Phipps for some fabulous Christmas shopping. I highly recommend "Would you Rather.....?" as a super good stocking stuffer. Get the small travel size one...no need for the board and hoopla because you will not use it. Would you rather shave your dad's ass or your mother's bikini??
This weekend we tie up the loose ends and Mom comes in on Sunday. It is a blur.
I have been working my ass off. I have a pending of 193. I pray to sweet baby 8 pound Jesus that it does not hit 200....alas, I am the only person there next week in litigation---Joy! The upside to all this work is that firms are very nice in sending offerings to us this time of year. We had a breakfast sent, pounds and pounds of chocolate (the gold Godiva basket has a special place in my heart) and then there is the non sense we will never use but it is a trinket that I hold as a prize. If anyone ever needs a tiny mag light give me a shout, your choice of colors.

Because I had to

Thanksgiving this year was a bit small for my liking. Mom joined the fab hub and I. So why did I make 7 sides? It is no secret I do not like Thanksgiving food. I made roasted asparagus and a broccoli dish that is served cold for this reason, the fab hub demanded my macaroni and cheese, I wanted the best mashed potatoes in the world, mom needed sweet potatoes, mom desired fresh cranberry sauce, who can have thanksgiving without stuffing? So I was a bit busy with that.
I have gotten 3 Christmas tree up so far. We are just about decorated. The cats really like the disco ball garland on the flamingo tree.
I need to go make Chex mix, ya know--because I have not cooked enough.

I should have gotten this a year ago

We picked up a Tassimo yesterday. Instant love! Really, if you enjoy coffee or fancy coffee drinks go get one. The cappuccinos come out under a buck a piece and are heaven. The milk froths so nice. Yummy
Did I mention the best part? No clean up! It is a dream.
Bed Bath and Beyond will match any brick and mortar store. My plan was: Get 20% off coupon in the mail from BB&B, find a store that has it lower priced (Target in my case, I believe Wally World too), ask BB&B to match said price, use my coupon, get the $30 mail in rebate sent in, get the machine registered to get 2 packs of coffee disks free....yeah, my cheap ass got the $170 coffee maker for under $100. Makes me smile just thinking about it....

Devine Dessert

We had dinner with friends at Aqua Blue last night and it was dang good. The dessert was out of control. We got a creme brulee and a bread pudding. I recommend this pair anywhere. Simply take your fork full of bread pudding and give it a dip in the creme brulee. I am happy just thinking about it.

I Dance for Choxie

I picked up a big box of mixed truffles from Target during the 75% off Christmas blow out. I saved them for Valentine's day. I have had 6 so far. SWEET LAWD, they are pure Heaven. I savor each one. So far my favorite is the gingerbread dark chocolate. They are all so beautifully crafted. I dance when I eat each one. I just get so happy. Oh, so happy.
I highly recommend these little pieces of heaven. The lemon mint dark chocolate is amazing. The texture, the taste, the presentation.....how magical! I still have several flavors left to explore. Choxie knows what hey are doing with chocolate--don't be scared.

Pure Genius

I will share a damn good drink with you. So simple you should be ashamed if you do not make it.

Dark Chocolate Mocha Martini

.5 ounce Kahlua
1.25 ounces superior vodka (Chopan is my choice)
4 ounces Godiva Dark Chocolate Mocha beverage (use a Crapachino if you must)

Pour over ice, shake, strain into a sassy martini glass and enjoy.

You will not need a chocolate drizzle, as there is so much chocolate in the Godiva you will have to shake it to get a good mix. Garnish with a cocoa dusting if you must.

Thank me later

Trader Joe: I still heart you!

We went back for more. This time Chuck was there. 2 cases to start went home with us. The fab hub bought 1 beer that was $9. I pointed out that his 1 beer is worth 3 bottles of wine.
When we got to Joe's it was such a mess. I waited for 5 minutes to get a flippin' cart. Yeah, it is that good in there! I think the fire Marshall was tied up in the back. I saw a couple people shopping with Party City carts. Very funny. People doing what they have to do to get the wine.
Whatever. I got more sweet potato fries and snacks in general. Yummy.
Joe, I love you.

I Heart Trader Joe's

We went to Trader Joe's tonight for grocery getting. I freakin' love that place. I have not been in some time. I think the last time I was in one was when I was in Cleveland for business 2 years ago. The selection. The prices. Oh, there is so much goodness in there. Joe just came to Atlanta. The store we went to is in Sandy Springs. We asked about 2 buck Chuck....they had a 2 month supply that sold out in 3 days......way to go Atlanta! I am being so good right now by not eating the gelato (Italian Chocolate) out of the container. It is still sealed in the freezer. However, the freeze dried pineapple is wonderful. I went in to Whole Foods for a few things as well and noted muffin tops in nice containers. You know, the top really is the best part of the muffin......

Gobble Gobble

So I hosted the Thanksgiving dinner thing this year. I don't like Thanksgiving food all that much, but I would rather eat my own and know what is in it than go to someone elses home for mystery casseroles. I don't eat meat either which makes it all the more fun. I just don't get all the carby heavy food and carcass on the table. I made squash, mashed potatoes, ham, dressing, fresh cranberry relish and picked up a Cajun fried turkey. Bellini thinks Thanksgiving is the best ever.....lots of bread and bird. I hope you had a wonderful turkey day too!

Lunch 101

So I have been trying to find a yummy lunch alternative to my stand by Amy's Cheese Enchiladas. They really are tasty. But variety is the spice of life, right??
I have been trying to branch out. I do some of my grocery getting at Harry's Farmers Market and they have a wonderful variety of organic and vegetarian delights. I have been trying to not eat the same thing everyday for 2 weeks solid, thus burning myself out....
Here we have what looks like to be yummy veggie Lasagna.....
Amy's Garden Vegetable Lasagna

The picture on the box looks great....Into the cart. I took it to work last week and wanted to beat Amy for this. What I thought I learned: Read the Box!!!!
If I had I would have seen:
Gluten free tender rice noodles layered with creamy ricotta blended with a mixture of organic vegetables (spinach, zucchini, broccoli, carrots and peas) and covered with a fresh tasting tomato sauce.
1. I am of Italian heritage. I should have known better and this was a disgrace. And "Fresh tasting sauce"?
2. What, gluten free? Rice noodles? For the love, why?
3. Zucchini
4. Peas
Really, this was a mess. No way I could eat it. It really is wrong to not have an honest pasta noodle in what is alleged as an Italian dish.

After deciding Amy knew nothing about Italian dishes I picked up a spinach and broccoli manicotti. The picture looked great. I liked what was listed on the box, spinach and broccoli. There was no mention of gluten free so I thought I was in the clear....
Wrong! I have no clue what they did to this filling. Really, it is not right.
1. Filling is not suppose to be ground into unidentified bits
2. Said filling should not be neon green.
3. NO CHEESE?!? No, this is not American or Italian. It is just wrong.
4. Tofu is not cheese, nor should they try and mislead me to believe it is with such a pretty picture.
It was so bad I picked out the noodles and ate them for lunch. The filling smelled revolting. Like broccoli if it were treated as poorly as Veg*All if you know what I mean.

This really is on me for not reading and just going by the picture.
So then I got back to basics, after spending $4.99 on each of the above mentioned cartons of hippy nonscene I went to Publix: Where Shopping is a Pleasure.
I really like my Publix. Always clean and friendly, a good variety of stuff, wide aisles and good lighting.

I took a cue from a friend at work and picked up a Michelina's 5 Cheese Lasagna. Wow!
1. No tofu!
2. Real cheese and plenty of it!!
3. The picture was good, but the lunch was even better.
4. Real pasta.
5. Less than $1.50

And the blurb about it is true:
Cheese lovers rejoice! Here’s a lasagna you can really sink your teeth into — guilt free. Michelina’s version features thick pasta layered with a blend of five different dairy-fresh cheeses and Italian herbs, smothered her favorite, tomato-rich Marinara. All this and only 220 calories per serving and just 5 grams of fat. Smile and say “formaggio!”

Formaggio, indeed. Good job Michelina!



What I have learned here is simple:
1. Do not believe the picture under any circumstance.
2. Read the ingredients, all of them. Do not rely solely on the big words
3. I obviously like processed food....