3.31.2010
Made my morning!
Do I finally have the "green thumb" that I have always longed for? I love flowers, veggies, herbs, etc but have never been successfull at keeping them alive. When we moved into our house I had visions of having a Tulip field in my backyard - sometimes dreams can come true (un-exagerrated dreams that is). As i was leaving for work this morning I noticed these cute little tulips popping up that I planted back in the fall. I'll post more as they continue to bloom:
Cheers!
3.30.2010
The Boy is Back in Town
Even though my brother Brandon moved to Mississippi in January, he keeps popping back up in the NW - I love it because it is always cause for a family dinner - my favorite!!! These dinners pretty much go as such: pre-dinner cocktails/wine, Alan's newest iTunes playlist, wine, Stella cooing for attention, wine, me spilling red wine (this time it got on the ceiling), wine, and this time we threw in a re-play of the UW/Cal Football game instead of the usual Bruce Springsteen concert DVD :-)
Cheers!
3.29.2010
Sping has Sprung!
Today my be pouring down rain, but my home is chock full of spring thanks to my Brother and Katie whom both brought me these lovely bouquets on Friday night!
I love my friends and family!
Party Bus Time Machine
Saturday night I found myself on a Party Bus time machine en route to a Keith Sweat concert at The Emerald Queen Casino. Keep in mind that I was in the 5th grade when he was at his prime, so this adventure was one brought on by my more mature fiance. It was interesting to say the least, and I was the only one in the crowd that didn't sing along, only because I didn't know the words. But, I was a good sport and danced and drank, and after the smell of cigs was washed out of my hair it was all in all another good story - and I'm not going to hide that my favorite part of the evening was the Party Bus:
Cheers!
3.25.2010
Reason #224 Why I'm not a kid anymore
The dental hygienist doesn't ask what flavor of tooth polish you want.
Happy Birthday Alan!
Yesterday was Alan's 52nd Birthday! We celebrated at my Mom's house with Italian Pot Roast, CHAMPAGNE, and of course presents! But by far, the most fabulous part of the evening was Alan's birthday cake - my Mom made a Coconut Cream Pie that was to DIE FOR! The night was great, family, good food, good wine, designer jeans, and lots of laughs!
Happy Birthday Alan, and Cheers to many more!
Triple Coconut Cream Pie(Makes one 9-inch pie)
Ingredients:For The Coconut Pastry Cream
2 cups milk
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
One 9-inch Coconut Pie Shell (find the recipe here),
prebaked and cooled
2 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractFor Garnish
2 ounces unsweetened "chip" or large-shred coconut (about 11/2 cups) or sweetened shredded coconut
Chunks of white chocolate (4 to 6 ounces, to make 2 ounces of curls)
Instructions1. To make the pastry cream, combine the milk and coconut in a medium saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add both the seeds and pod to the milk mixture. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and stir occasionally until the mixture almost comes to a boil.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour until well combined. Temper the eggs (to keep them from scrambling) by pouring a small amount (about 1/3 Cup) of the scalded milk into the egg mixture while whisking. Then add the warmed egg mixture to the saucepan of milk and coconut. Whisk over medium-high heat until the pastry cream thickens and begins to bubble. Keep whisking until the mixture is very thick, 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the butter and whisk until it melts. Remove and discard the vanilla pod. Transfer the pastry cream to a bowl and place it over a bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally until it is cool. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a crust from forming and refrigerate until completely cold. The pastry cream will thicken as it cools.
3. When the pastry cream is cold, fill the prebaked pie shell with it, smoothing the surface. In an electric mixer with the whisk, whip the heavy cream with the sugar and vanilla on medium speed. Gradually increase the speed to high and whip to peaks that are firm enough to hold their shape. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with the whipped cream and pipe it all over the surface of the pie, or spoon it over.
4. For the garnish, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the coconut chips on a baking sheet and toast in the oven, watching carefully and stirring once or twice, since coconut burns easily, until lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Use a vegetable peeler to scrape about 2 ounces of the white chocolate into curls.
Ingredients:For The Coconut Pastry Cream
2 cups milk
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
One 9-inch Coconut Pie Shell (find the recipe here),
prebaked and cooled
2 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractFor Garnish
2 ounces unsweetened "chip" or large-shred coconut (about 11/2 cups) or sweetened shredded coconut
Chunks of white chocolate (4 to 6 ounces, to make 2 ounces of curls)
Instructions1. To make the pastry cream, combine the milk and coconut in a medium saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add both the seeds and pod to the milk mixture. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and stir occasionally until the mixture almost comes to a boil.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour until well combined. Temper the eggs (to keep them from scrambling) by pouring a small amount (about 1/3 Cup) of the scalded milk into the egg mixture while whisking. Then add the warmed egg mixture to the saucepan of milk and coconut. Whisk over medium-high heat until the pastry cream thickens and begins to bubble. Keep whisking until the mixture is very thick, 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the butter and whisk until it melts. Remove and discard the vanilla pod. Transfer the pastry cream to a bowl and place it over a bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally until it is cool. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a crust from forming and refrigerate until completely cold. The pastry cream will thicken as it cools.
3. When the pastry cream is cold, fill the prebaked pie shell with it, smoothing the surface. In an electric mixer with the whisk, whip the heavy cream with the sugar and vanilla on medium speed. Gradually increase the speed to high and whip to peaks that are firm enough to hold their shape. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with the whipped cream and pipe it all over the surface of the pie, or spoon it over.
4. For the garnish, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the coconut chips on a baking sheet and toast in the oven, watching carefully and stirring once or twice, since coconut burns easily, until lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Use a vegetable peeler to scrape about 2 ounces of the white chocolate into curls.
3.24.2010
New beginnings
Because my life is ever changing and ever evolving I thought a blog would be a good way to save memories and share with friends and family. I'm probably not going to be witty, or very funny, but am excited to share my moments that I feel are worth making into memories.
My best friend from college was in town over the weekend, and we shopped our hearts out - however on this weekend my new shoes, jeans, and tops were not the highlight that we took away. Chelsea Handler stole the show! I've caught her talk show a couple of times (talk about witty), but Miss Kayla is borderline obsessed with her; so we bought last minute nose bleed, expensive tickets and made our way down to the Paramount on Saturday night/Sunday Morning. There is not much that I can stay awake for after midnight, but I laughed at every last joke untill the show wrapped up just after 1am. She is HILARIOUS! I am now obsessed as well and bought all 3 of her books, full retail after the show.
This is not much of a first post, but I plan on getting better as I go along. Live and learn? Blog and learn?
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