Eurovision is this week and it's got us all gagging! Like literally a cough drop is stuck in my throat right now. The first semi-final to pass in order to take the European crown starts TODAY, May 9th. For those in the United States, EuroVision is an annual competition, where all European nations send their strongest singer to the rings to represent their national pride. It's given us such moments as “Prima Donna” from Norwegian singer Lena Alexandra. Known primarily for her Nordic hit “My Boobs Are Okay!” And, even bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst hailing from Austria. |
There's been tensions this year between host country Ukraine and Russia. But, what is a little reality TV without some international drama. Ukraine roundly rejected Russia's representative citing the singer's travel violations that denied her access to their country. Americans can catch Eurovision on Logo starting may 13th at 3p Eastern / 12p Pacific Standard Time. Hosted by none other then Ross Matthews and Michelle Visage!
0 Comments
The great black and yellow bumble bee is dying. Global bee populations have been in decline since the 1990's and in great capitalist fashion we still haven't fixed it.
Pollination is how we get food. It's how food grows. I'm not sure of the logistics, but it's a very big, very important part of the food chain.
Industrial agriculture is specifically linked to to the global decline of the bee population. Something about the loss of biodiversity and monoculture have led to the massive decline in the health of the bees. Do I know what any of those words mean? No, but their killing the bees and that's not good.
Most importantly if we don't save the bees, we won't have honey, and if we don't have honey what will Pooh bear do when he's hungry? DIE. And, how are you going to explain that to your two year old.
SAVE THE BEES.
RECIPES:
Honey Raspberry Iced Tea 2 cups of freshly brewed Tea 2 cups of Cranberry-Raspberry Juice ¼ cup of Honey Combine tea, cranberry-raspberry juice, and honey in a large glass pitcher. Whisk to dissolve honey. Chill in refrigerator. Honey Spiced Chicken 2/3 cup of Honey 6 tablespoons of Mustard 4 tablespoons of Butter 4 teaspoons of Cajun Seasoning 4 teaspoons of Curry Powder 2 teaspoons of Lemon Juice 2 minced cloves of Garlic 6 Chicken Breasts Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Greased a 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Combine honey, water, mustard, melted butter, Cajun seasoning, curry powder, lemon juice, and garlic in baking dish. Stir until well blended. Add chicken breasts, turning to coat. Bake uncovered until chicken is tender and no longer pick for about 30 minutes.
However, we did make up for it in the snack department. We didn't make anything. Although, I had considered throwing together some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I didn't do it. I'm a lazy person had Friends episodes to rewatch.
My mother does not allow eating in her car. It's a used/new car to the family that my mother sprung on the family last year. It was wonderful I came home to see this tan luxury item in my driveway, blocking my parking spot. Not that I minded.
This time we splurged and stopped to get lunch. We did a little shopping. Not that we could afford any of it, but that's okay because we're on vacation.
It was a rocky, but wonderful and beautiful road. It was like the icecream. That Rascall Flatt's song and it just goes to prove that if you buy and bring the right food any trip can be fun. Below are some recipes to get you in the trip of your lifetime feelings.
RECIPES:
Pecan Almond Praline 2 cups of Brown Sugar ¾ cup of Heavy Cream 1 tablespoon of Butter ½ teaspoon of Salt 1 cup of Pecans 1 cup of Almonds 3 quarts of popped Popcorn Combine the pecans, almonds, and popcorn .Set aside. Combine the heavy cream, brown sugar, butter, and salt, cooking until the mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, then stir the mixture until it coats a spoon. Pour the syrup over the popcorn, stirring to coat popcorn evenly. Allow the popcorn to cool then break it into small pieces.
Spice Cookies
2 ½ cups of Flour 2 teaspoons of Baking Soda ¼ teaspoon of Ginger ½ teaspoon of Allspice ½ teaspoon of Cinnamon ½ teaspoon of Cloves ¾ cup of Butter 1 Sugar 1 Egg ¼ cup of Molasses ¼ cup of Powdered Sugar Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine, the flour, baking soda, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Add the egg and molasses, mixing well. Add the flour mixture, beating until it is well blended. Refrigerate the dough until it is firm enough to roll into balls. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, then roll them in powdered sugar, and place them on a greased baking sheet. Flatten the cookies slightly with a glass that has been dipped in sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they are light brown. Remove from the baking sheet to a wire rack and dust them with powdered sugar.
As a child, Eggnog was the quintessential Christmas drink. I drank so much of it I would have been an alcoholic if my family put whiskey in it. I have met quite a few people who do not appreciate eggnog, but there is nothing that lives up to it. Thick. Creamy. Seasonal.
As of recent years, I have had to cutback on my intake. This blog is home of the “blonde, skinny, queen of the internet.” Sometimes, you've got to cut back to retain brand recognition.
If for some reason these drinks seem too complicated, store bought is fine.
RECIPES:
Chocolate Egg Nog 14 ounces of Sweetened Condensed Milk 3 Eggs 2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract 1 cup of Heavy Cream 2 tablespoons of Chocolate Syrup ¼ teaspoon of Almond Extract Using a blender, combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Egg Nog
2 cups of Milk 2 cups of Heavy Cream 1 cup of Sugar 1 Vanilla Bean 10 Egg Yolks 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract ½ teaspoon of Cinnamon ¼ teaspoon of Nutmeg Heat in milk, heavy cream, ½ cup of the sugar, vanilla bean seeds, and vanilla extract until the mixture is hot. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks with remaining ½ cup of sugar until it is frothy. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk mixture ½ cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour the mixture back into the pan and heat, while whisking until it has thickened slightly. Remove it from the heat and add the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Egg Nog Shake
1 cup of Vanilla Ice Cream 3/8 cup of Egg Nog 1 dash of Nutmeg Using a blender combine all ingredients and mix until blended well.
For this to work we would need a cultural shift that allows people to understand that vegetables can be a fulfilling meal by themselves. Starting at the top tier of restaurants is a good place to start. These chef's can experiment on customers who are willing to be experimented on. At some point the easily mass produced counterparts these restaurants make up will trickle down to us.
I could eat a plant based diet or at least one that heavily restricts meat. The only time I really eat meat is when I'm with parents or I go out. If I'm cooking for myself I rarely make meat. Essentially, I'm a vegetarian at heart.
I've included some recipes that do not have a single meat in them. I don't know if they'll convince you to give up that quarter pounder with cheese, but I think it's interesting change of pace. This concept of making vegetables the focus.
I'm surprised someone hasn't said that vegetables are ruining America.
RECIPES:
Asparagus Pie 1 Pie Shell ½ pound of Gruyere 2 tablespoons of Butter 10 ounces of Asparagus 3 Eggs 1 cup of Heavy Cream Salt Pepper Nutmeg Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the pie shell in a prepared pie plate. Spread the gruyere cheese on the crust and top with asparagus. Mix together the eggs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour it over the asparagus and bake it for 25-30 minutes or until the custard is set.
Carmelized Onion & Red Pepper Penne
3 tablespoons of Olive Oil 3 Onions ¾ teaspoons of Brown Sugar 2 Chicken Breasts 6 cloves of Garlic 2 tablespoons of Thyme 2 Red Bell Peppers 1/8 teaspoon of Red Pepper Flakes 2 teaspoons of Flour 2 cups of Vegetable Broth ½ of Parmesan Cheese 12 ounces of Penne ½ cup of Basil Brown the onion and brown sugar in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until the onion carmelizes, about 20-25 minutes. Stir in the red bell peppers, cooking until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl. Add a tablespoon of the olive oil to the skillet. Stir the garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken, cooking until it is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the vegetables. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Stir in the flour, mixing well. Whisk in the chicken broth, cooking until it has thickened. Return the chicken and the vegetables to the skillet. Add the Parmesan cheese, and mix well. Add the penne and basil, stirring to mix.
My first step was to see if Date Nut Bread had a wikipedia page. It does not. That truly is a travesty to man kind. Next I googled “date nut bread history” and much to my surprise there were results. Shout out to all the food bloggers. You all are life savers and I don't mean the chewable mint kind.
The most scandalous thing I stumbled upon was that according to one blogger the national day of celebration for Date Nut Bread occurs on December 22nd. A far cry from September 8th. I just want you to know that this did not make me upset. I only started crying and I may have fallen off the edge of my bed. I promise you I'm not emotional.
RECIPES:
Date Nut Bread And Cream Cheese Sandwiches 1 cup of Pitted Chopped Dried Dates ¾ cup of boiling Water 1 ½ cup of Flour 1 ½ teaspoons of Baking Powder ½ teaspoon of Salt 1 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of Nutmeg 1 cup of chopped Walnuts 3 tablespoons of Butter 3/4 cup of Sugar 2 Eggs 1 teaspoon of Vanilla 8 ounces of Cream Cheese Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x5-inch metal loaf pan, set aside. Add the dates to medium-sized, heat-safe bowl. Pour boiling water over top, stir and let stand 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add the nuts and set aside. In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until combined (mixture might look crumbly). Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth and combined. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and the date mixture (including remaining water), 1/2 of each at a time, mixing until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 45-55 minutes, until bread is almost completely baked, but a few crumbs still stick to a toothpick inserted into the loaf. The bread will continue cooking after it is removed from the oven, so be careful not to overbake. Let bread cool for 10-15 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool fully on a rack. Once cooled, slice bread and serve as closed or open-faced sandwiches spread with a tablespoon or two of cream cheese.
Source: Capital New York
Date Nut Bread
1 cup of chopped Dates ½ cup of Raisins 3 tablespoons of Butter 1 cup of boiling Coffee ½ teaspoons of Baking Soda ½ teaspoons of Salt 2 Eggs 1 teaspoon of Vanilla ¾ cup of Sugar ½ cup of Flour ½ cup of chopped Walnuts Put dates, optional raisins and butter in a mixing bowl and cover with boiling water or coffee. Let stand for about 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan. To the dates add soda, salt, eggs, vanilla and sugar. Beat well, then add flour, mix thoroughly, then fold in nuts. Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean. Source: Bangor Daily News
My first problem is that she's dating her back up dancer. This is such an early 2000's trend. Dating your back up dancer is not a good idea. Britney and Kevin. Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smarts (although they're still together). Sure, Madonna dated her back up dancer a few years ago, but they were having sex. They weren't 'dating'.
Now honestly all these people are surprised and appalled. They also can't believe she doesn't love America. Sit down all of you. If you haven't said you hate America at some point in your life, your not even a true American. These people are also the casual fans who only knows the hits. I mean that's all I know, but I do my research. Ariana is a bit of a freak. She is going to sex it up in the future. And, I'm sure a doughnut is one of the most respectable places she's ever put her tongue.
RECIPES:
Yeast Donuts 2 ¾ cups of Flour 1 packet of Instant Yeast 3 tablespoons of Sugar ½ teaspoon of Salt 1 cup of Whole Milk (Warmed from 105-115 degrees) 1 ½ teaspoons of Pure Vanilla Extract 3 Egg Yolks 4 tablespoons of Butter Vegetable Oil In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together 2 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the warm milk, vanilla, and egg yolks. Mix until smooth. Add the remaining flour and the butter and mix until incorporated. Continue to mix on medium speed until the dough is soft and smooth (it will be slightly sticky). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a draft-free place to rise for 1 hour, or refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Lightly flour 2 baking sheets. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut with a floured donut cutter or a 3- to 3-1/2-inch biscuit cutter (for the latter, you’ll also need a 1-1/2-inch biscuit cutter to form the donut holes). Discard the dough scraps, or cut into pieces to fry separately after the donuts are done, as snacks. Place the donuts and donut holes at least 1 inch apart on the baking sheets and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Set in a warm place to rise a second time until they are puffy and nearly double in size, about 15 to 30 minutes. The donuts are ready when the dough springs back slowly after being touched with a fingertip (if it springs back at once, it needs more time; if it collapses, it has overproofed and you can reroll the dough and cut it once). While the donuts rise, fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with at least 2 inches of oil (the oil should not come more than halfway up the sides of the pan). Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 360°F. Using a spatula, carefully lower a few donuts into the oil; do not crowd the pot. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side, turning a few times, until the donuts are a light golden brown and cooked through. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon, drain on a wire rack over a paper towel, and let cool slightly before glazing or tossing in sugar. Serve the donuts as is (warm is best), tossed in powdered sugar when cool.
Donut Zeppole
1 pound of Pizza Dough (store bought) Canola Oil ¼ cup of Powdered Sugar Cut the dough into 10 pieces. With your hands, form balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Allow to rise about 45 minutes. Deep fry in canola oil until cooked through and brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve warm.
So, today I'm going to teach you about how to make French fries. Actually the three recipes I have are all baked, so it's like go on a diet and eat French fries. It's kind of amazing. I also keep typing fries as “fires” so if I don't catch it, I just wanted you to know what a mess my life is.
The French Fry needs to be worshipped. It's probably the best thing that the American culture has ever embraced besides the shopping cart. French fries are salty greasy heaven. I was out with Joyce recently and all I got was french fries. She judged me. I don't okay. French fries are life.
All my acne probably comes from my love for French fries. I think that's perfectly acceptable. French fries are amazing. Do you remember Freaky Friday. The remake, not the original when Lindsey Lohan is eating French fries in Jamie Lee Curtis's body and Jamie Lee Curtis gets really upset in Lindsey Lohan's body about how their going to go to her thighs. Good times.
Lindsay Lohan: You cannot eat fast food
Jamie Lee Curtis: Why not? Lindsay Lohan: Because, it will go down your throat and drop instantly to my thighs.
This is where the real war is going to start. Where do you like to go get your French fries. I'm basic as fuck and I like me some McDonald's. Good, salty, and hot. Just like my men.
There really isn't such a thing as bad French fries. Always get a large, because you know you want them. Just don't be the people who get their fries at Wendy's and is like these are the best ever, because you are fucking lying to yourself. If you've got a hometown place to get your fries. Live your life. Be original. Just don't be a French fry snob.
RECIPES:
Sweet Potato Oven Fries 2 Sweet Potatoes (peeled and cut into fries) 1/8 teaspoon of Salt 1/8 teaspoon of Paprika 1/8 teaspoon of Garlic Salt 1/8 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, then place the potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake them for 15 minutes, turn them over, and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the salt, paprika, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper. Set aside. Sprinkle the fires with the seasonings, tossing to combine. Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges 2 Sweet Potatoes (peeled and cut into wedges) 1 teaspoon of Olive Oil ½ teaspoon of Curry Powder ¼ teaspoon of Salt ¼ teaspoon of Cumin 1/8 teaspoon of Cloves 1/8 teaspoon of Pepper Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine the sweet potatoes, olive oil, curry powder, cumin, cloves, and pepper. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes, or until they are done.
Steamed Crisp Potatoes
4 Potatoes (thinly sliced) 1 cup of Chicken Broth 2 tablespoons of Butter 1 teaspoon of Salt ½ teaspoon of Pepper Place the potatoes in a single layer in a skillet, season with salt and pepper, then pour ¾ cup of chicken broth over the top. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the broth is absorbed. Remove the potatoes, deglaze the plan with the remaining ¼ cup of chicken broth, add the butter, and return the potatoes to the skillet, cooking them until they are crisp. |
AboutEverything's a competition when you're raised by the television. SOCIAL MEDIA
Archives
June 2017
Categories
All
|