Noms

I've been cooking a lot more than I usually do. I like cooking and I like eating, but when I'm "only" hungry, I usually don't make anything more complicated than pasta or dinosaur salad. Only one thing really gets me going in the kitchen: anxiety. Sometimes it's an anxious "I need to do something NOW" happiness; others times a desperate need to procrastinate or to forget that there's anything going on in my life.

Last night I was happy, but also didn't want to do homework. I donned my sexy kitchen gear:

(I promise, wearing big ol' glasses actually keeps you from crying when chopping onions)

And made burgers. 

I wish I was clever enough to think of putting the cheese in the patty, but I actually used this recipe. I used steak sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce, and it was wonderful. I made smaller patties and we still have some for lunches over the next few days.

Then since today was Mardi Gras, I felt like celebrating. Luckily for me, I have friends who live down south and know how to make beignets! Noelle and I made a bunch, then had our FHE sisters over to eat them whilst watching Princess and the Frog. 

Man-Catchin' Beignets 

(as taught by the fabulous Sister Sant)

 Buy the grands flaky rolls. They come in the tube that you peel and then bust open. Cut each roll into 4- half and then half again. In a deep pan bring oil to frying temp and drop those babies in. They cook fast so be prepared to flip and retrieve. Drain on a bunch ofpaper towels. Stick about 8 - 10 in a lunch sack with a cup of powder sugar, roll the top closed and shake. Enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate while listening to jazz on your ipod. For the full Louisiana experience eat while fully clothed in a hot steamy bathroom and it will be almost exactly like NOLA minus the smell of urine and booze.

We loved them! We're definitely going to make them again sometime soon. 

I'm giving up Catholicism for Lent this year, how about you?

Some People Aren't Cut Out for Vlogging. Like Me.

Noelle really is there, I promise. 

21

I made a post a few weeks ago about how I'd found a song I could listen to over and over again--"Someone Like You" by Adele. Last night,  the album it came from, 21,  was (finally) available in the United States! Okay, I waited until it was midnight on the east coast and immediately downloaded it. Beth and I are in love  in obsessed with it. In fact, we're listening to it now.

Adele has this rich and soulful voice and great control over it. Sometimes there are little squeaks or growls or she'll edge over her break less than gracefully, but Beth made the point that those imperfections in her voice make it even more beautiful. I'm (maybe) starting to get to the age and maturity where I can actually really understand a love song, and hers are complex and sweet and powerful. They get you thinking about what "having it all" means, what it is you want out of a relationship, waiting on a second chance, heartbreak, and (since we're just out of our teens here,) keeping up with rumors.

Overall, this album is my new favorite. I highly recommend it.

Broken Heart Bark

Last year I made broken heart bark around Valentine's Day. I decided to make it again this year. Part of the recipe (as written) is to break conversation hearts into pieces with a rolling pin. I didn't have a rolling pin last year.

(That's a hammer, in case you can't see it in this oh-so-wonderful cell phone picture)

I ran into a similar problem this year. Then Noelle had a BRILLIANT idea. "Why not throw them off the balcony?" We live on the third story. I my first attempt didn't make much of an impact. So Noelle tried. She  smacked it down, but it still wasn't as effective. So Beth tried. And then she tried again. Most of the little pieces were her handiwork. She also broke the bag in a couple of places. But now the bark is done, and it is delicious. 

Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings

I'm not a huge fan of techno music.  Or of opera. But Eric Whitacre, one of my favorite composers, mashed them together with the traditional musical theatre tradition to create Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings.

The story is not based on Milton's Paradise Lost, but is actually about a tribe of angels whose parents hid them away and took their wings as children. An odd concept, true, but so is the music. It's a really beautiful and unexpected fit--like bacon in ice cream, or Bollywood and Jane Austen.

You can hear excerpts of the music by clicking here. I strongly suggest that you do.  I'm slightly addicted to "What If," "Sleep My Child," "Forgotten" and "All Alone."

What's for Dinner? Occam's Razor

My mom's an awesome cook. I grew up never having quite the same meal twice. Really. She tries to cook meals differently every time to appease and expand our picky discriminating tastes. I can't really afford to do that. I have limited groceries/spices/room to experiment, but I do try different things. Sometimes.

During our initial "big shop," my mom got me some feta cheese that I had intended to use in a couscous salad modified from a Real Simple recipe for orzo salad. A month later, my desire for cold food has not returned and the feta was still unopened. Fearing that it would go bad soon, I spent forever trying to find a recipe that would involve feta, be hot and yummy, and not require more ingredients than I had. Desperate, I called my mom for ideas. She was about to leave for mutual when I called. (You're welcome, 5th Ward young women, by the way. My mom is the best and I used to be her only daughter.) I forgot what she said, but it inspired me. 

I took this to make

this.

I was almost upset how simple it was after all that time trying to come up with something, and it wasn't that different from what I would usually make. But of course, it's the simple things that are the best, right? 

My Favorite Things, Part I

As much as I hate (repeat: HATE) being cold, I love fall. For me, new beginnings happen in October, not January. We're finally into the swing of things at school, opportunities crop up to dress a little more warmly (i.e., nicer). Now is the time for General Conference and Halloween. I'm not sure how to explain it, but there's just something in the air that makes everything a little more special.

Of course, this all points to...

Candy corn. My favorite. They're finally selling it at the grocery store, and I plan to get a bag in my next grocery trip. Or I might just pick up a few baking/cooking things and try this recipe for homemade candy corn I found here. 

"It's made in Germany...whatever, it's French enough."

Sabrina invited me over the other night to have a classic French summertime dinner. We put Seraphine to bed, then spent a lovely evening eating, chatting, and watching America's Next Top Model and Plain Jane. 

"They wouldn't let us on a show like that. We're too nice."

"My gosh, those EYEBROWS!"

(Of course there was also bread. Didn't get a chance to take a picture.)

This Week's Accomplishments

• I invented a breakfast pasta. I'm not really a breakfast food person, so I made pasta in a way that's more breakfast-y and sweet. Not like that just-put-an-egg-on-top breakfast pasta. It's fantastically simple and I'll post the recipe another time.
• I drove all the way out to Los Angeles to go to the temple by myself in nasty traffic. Thursdays the Los Angeles Temple has time for baptisms without appointments. I've wanted to go all summer, and everything was finally right. I was able to borrow my parents' car, I got out of work on time, all that jazz. After two hours of driving, getting lost downtown, and awful traffic in the city, I made it--only to find it was closed. I made the most of it. I took a tour of the newly remodeled visitors center and hung out for a while. Overall, it was a good experience. I'm not going back by myself, though. That's the scary part of Westwood.

• I discovered I'm not the only Rachel fangirl in my ward. Hannah and Tiffany and I all want to be like her when we grow up.
• I've finally seen Firefly. I'm sad it was cancelled. And look!

Yep. That's prepubescent Zac Efron as a younger Simon Tam. I laughed so hard.

MMMMM Prepositions

I bought new t-shirts on-line the other day. They came this week, and I could not be more pleased with them. My parents think I'm nuts, though. 

What say you, people who have to look at my clothes when I wear them? 

(If you're looking at my clothes elsewhere,  you're kind of a creeper. Get out of my room.)

Times They Are A-Changin'

photo by me

Disclaimer: I drink herbal tea. It's delicious. I'm not talking about the normal stuff.


Then:

I put my $2 D.I. teapot on and go into the other room and watch Parks and Recreation. I lose track of time and melt my teapot to the burner. No tea for me.

Now:

I put the nice metal teapot on and go into the other room and watch Parks and Recreation. When the water's boiling, the teapot whistles. I have tea with soymilk and sugar.