Four Foods Friday time again. This is really becoming a highlight to my week. :)

#1. Do you ever use scissors to cut any foods? Which? Raw or cooked?
I love my kitchen shears. I use them to cut up cooked spaghetti before putting it into casseroles, I use them to cut up raw chicken if I need bite-sized pieces, and I use them most often to snip chives from my garden.
#2. Popcorn. Homemade, microwave, bagged, hot, cold. How do you like it?
I used to only make microwave, but since I found out how easy it is to do on the stove, I do it that way now so I can flavor it anyway I want. This is my favorite way, even though I make it on the stove like in my second fave.
#3. Sushi. Love it or hate it?
The jury is still out. I love seafood, but I can't get past the texture of the seaweed and the cold rice. I think if I tried more sushi without some of the textures I can't get past, I would like it.
#4. Share a dessert recipe.
I love tarts. They are my favorite thing to make. They are a little bit fancy, and the serving sizes aren't huge.

Apple and Almond Custard Tart
from Everyday Food, December 2007

for the crust:
3/4 c all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 t baking powder
6 T (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2c sugar
1 large egg
1/2 t pure almond extract

for the filling:
4 T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 t finely grated lemon zest and 1 T fresh lemon juice (from one lemon)
3 T all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 c heavy cream
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 c sliced blanched almonds

1) Make the crust: In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder; set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract; beat until combined. With mixer on low, add flour mixture; mix just until combined.

2)Using an offset spatula or table knife, spread dough in a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, evenly covering bottom and sides. Freeze for 20 minutes.

3) Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350, and make filling: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1/4 c sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and lemon zest; mix until combined. With mixer on low, add flour and then cream; mix just until smooth (do not overmix). Set aside.

4) In a medium bowl, toss apple with lemon juice; arrange evenly in tart pan over chilled dough. Spread filling over apple; sprinkle with almonds and remaining 1/4 c sugar. Place tar pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until golden and set, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

After seeing your post about the Cupcake ring, I started looking at that site and found the Horseshoe Ring. I must have it. It's purdy. :)

Four Foods Friday time again. TGIF, baby!


#1. Steak. Plain, steak sauce, hot sauce, ketchup or something else?
If it's good steak, it doesn't need anything (except Bread Crumb Salsa); but if it's mediocre steak, I have to have some steak sauce.
#2. Water. Flavored, plain, carbonated. How do you like it?
Plain with lots of ice.
#3. What’s your favorite kind of waffle?
Just plain with butter and syrup...even though I'm more of a pancake gal.
#4. If you could have any one new small appliance for your kitchen what would it be and why?
I really want a new, larger food processor. I love my small one, but it's just not big enough for most things.

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

Labels: links, meme

Got your attention, didn't I? :)

Ok, not completely "R" rated, but it is sex-related. I mean, what's sexier than a U.S. Circuit Court's decision?

Court overturns Texas ban

I love the first story linked from the Austin American-Statesman.

"The Texas law dates back to the 1970s and is seldom enforced. Travis County prosecutors say that they haven't charged anyone ... in at least the past seven years, and probably much longer."

I love it. They do know that the word "seldom" means that it has been enforced at some point. And what does "probably much longer" mean? Eight years?

And Texans wonder why everyone still thinks this entire state is bass-ackwards. :\

PS - You have to watch the video in the second link. It's priceless.

Labels: links, texas

Four Foods Friday post...yay! :)


#1. What’s your favorite potato chip?
Lay's Ketchup Chips (only available in Canada)
2nd fave - Miss Vickie's Lime and Black Pepper

#2. Do you use butter, margarine, both or neither?
everyday use - Smart Balance Margarine
special recipes - real butter, baby!

#3. What’s your favorite mixed alcoholic (or virgin) drink?
pomegranate martini

#4. What’s your favorite vegetable and how do you prepare it?
yellow squash - just boiled or sautéed with a little chopped onion and butter

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

Ok...I should not have started looking at Cavender's at the Fatbaby boots. Dustin bought these for me for my bday:


and I am now in love with this style. I think my next purchase will have to be these:

This is my first Tackle it Tuesday entry (once again, thanks to Corrin for the linkie). :)

What did I tackled yesterday? I tackled thank you notes and birthday cards that were overdue. One thank you was for a Christmas gift from Dustin's step-grandmother and the birthday card was for my nephew. I also tackled piles of mail that were on the dining room table...it's still got a way to go, but it's getting there.

Labels: tackle_it_tuesday

Now that the writers' strike is almost over, what's going on with your fave shows? Will the new ones get another chance? Will they just be scrapped? Read on...

The new shows that I was watching in the fall and their fates are below. I am concerned that Journeyman isn't even mentioned. Of the ones mentioned, the only one I am really heartbroken about not coming back is Bionic Woman. Looks like Mom was right...very few of the brand new shows are going to get a fair chance. It does look like Moonlight will be around, though, Mama. :)

Dirty Sexy Money -ABC
- Three episodes remain; airdates are unknown
Fate: Mercury News: “Will be rebooted in the fall”

Pushing Daisies -ABC
- In repeats
Fate: Will likely return in the fall

Cane -CBS
- In repeats; off the schedule
Fate: Unlikely to return

Reaper -CW
- Two or three episodes remain
Fate: Fate is unclear

Bionic Woman -NBC
- In repeats; off the schedule
Fate: Unlikely to return

Labels: television

which one of these do you want? I have to order them for us. :)

I am going to try to backtrack and label as many of my blog entries as I can. I realize that going back through five years of post may be too much, but I am going to at least try to pick up all of 2007. I am really bad about including labels, but I really like the ability to go back and look at posts by subject. Stay tuned...

Labels: projects

This is my first time to participate in Four Foods Friday. Thanks to Corrin for the linkie. :)

#1. What is your favorite kind of juice to drink?
Pomegranate.

#2. Pizza. What’s your favorite?
Fast food - Pizza Hut thin crust beef & mushroom
Homemade - Rachael Ray's Mushroom and Garlic.

#3. Mustard. Yellow, brown, depends.
Brown and spicy!

#4. Share a side dish recipe that uses rice or pasta.

Macaroni & Cheese
from: Autumn from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch, pg. 76
Serves 4-6

10 oz elbow macaroni
2 eggs
1 tbsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups half & half
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 375. Cook & drain macaroni. In a lg. bowl, lightly beat eggs with mustard, salt & pepper. Stir in half & half, then cheese, then macaroni. Pour into buttered 2-qt. casserole, bake 25 min. Put under broiler 1 min. to make top brown and crisp.

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

Can someone *please* invent a yogurt container that won't spray yogurt all over you when you pull the top off? :-p

Labels: general grumbling

Grabbed from Autumn's journal...

Clickie

Labels: meme

If anyone is interested...Minnie and Padmé have both updated their diaries this evening.

Labels: general silliness