Are you having a laugh?

As I'm sure you know, today was the Royal Wedding. A ROYAL WEDDING! Americans seem to be pretty gaga over it, so I can only imagine how crazy England is going. In honor of this most magnificent day, I thought I'd go ahead and post some pictures from my time in London. They have absolutely nothing to do with the wedding though. My best friend Carlie lives in London, actually just north of London, in Welwyn Garden City. But don't you go pronouncing it Wel-win, it's pronounced Wellan. London is awesome and those girls have MAD style. Lots and lots of awesome boots, lots of layering, lots of jewlery, and lots of pale skin! Enjoy!
And my favorite.........
........that's Carlie's car. It was originally lined up with the other cars and she forgot to put it in park!

Congratulations Will and Kate, suckeeeeeerrrss! Marriage is ROOOUUUGGHH!

You'll thank me!

Do you, like me, long for the perfect chocolate chip cookie? But more than just eating the perfect cookie, do you long to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie yourself? Me too sister, and I am here to help.

Italy doesn't really have chocolate chips or really any of the same desserts/treats we have here, so I am forced to take over my own vanilla, brown sugar, and chocolate chips. I had been saving my stuff for a good occasion because my supply was not plentiful. I also wanted to make sure I got the recipe perfect because there was no room for a do over. One of the other girls had tried to make oatmeal raisin cookies that she said tasted delicious, but were in liquid form. This led me to do a little research and I discovered that high altitude recipes really are needed and really do work! (We are in the mountains in Italy.) So when Christmas rolled around last year, I decided this was the moment I had been waiting for, but not without reading website after website about chocolate chip cookies.

I know that probably sounds beyond boring, but I honestly found some awesome and interesting info on this delicious little treat and I wanted to share them with you. I tend to just go ahead and use the Nestle's Tollhouse recipe found on the back of the bag because I've never found a recipe that actually tastes better, yet my cookies always end up flat. It seems that lots of people have this problem. Well, I found this rather ghetto looking website with tons of good tips that I took to heart and ended up making one of my best batches ever. I used the high altitude recipe along with the tip of keeping the dough cold and using several different trays for baking, so you're never using a hot tray. Brills!
I also found this article posted on the New York Times website and I honestly found it really interesting. Once again, it may bore you, but I love bakeries and am constantly wondering how they make their items so delish. This article interviews several bakeries asking what their trick is to such a good cookie and guess what, they all refrigerate the dough for a good amount of time before baking. TA-DAAAA!! Not only do these bakeries do this, the actual recipe for Toll House cookies, at Toll House, use to call for the dough to be refrigerated, but was then left out of the recipe on the back of the bag. I couldn't believe this revelation either!

"And by Ruth Wakefield, it turns out. “At Toll House, we chill this dough overnight,” she wrote in her “Toll House Cook Book” (Little, Brown, 1953). This crucial bit of information is left out of the version of her recipe that Nestlé printed on the back of its baking bars and, since in 1939, on bags of its chocolate morsels."

I ended up making my dough about 36 hours before I baked the cookies and they tasted great. Let me know how your cookies turn out if you should try out any of these tips! And because I tipped you off to such wonderful and useful information, I would really appreciate a box of the cookies. Just saying.......

Twinzies

Like so many Fridays before, I found myself at home watching television this past Friday. I stumbled across some concert type of thing, but only caught Carrie Underwood's performance. And booooy, did she light. it. up. The girl has an amazing voice and I couldn't help but daydream about all of our striking similarities. I haven't figured out if we're suppose to be friends or just know of each others existence, but there's definitely sparks flying between us.

• We're both married to hockey players.
• We're both vegetarians.
• We're both Christian.
  
• We both have luscious blond locks.
• Carrie won American Idol and I wan(ted) to try out for American Idol.
• Carrie is in the new movie, 'Soul Surfer,' and I was a 'back-up' in our high school production of 'Grease.'
• Carrie is from Oklahoma and I'm from Illinois..... We've both got some honkey tonk in us.

We would have such a laugh over this. Twinzies.

*For Carrie's eyes only: Carrie, if you want to get coffee or even ice cream or something, contact me through my blog and I'll be in touch. Thanks!
*For everyone's eyes: Remember that girl Tess I keep talking about? We got into an actual, legit argument many years ago over who was better and who would win American Idol, Carrie Underwood or Bo Bice. Bo who? I know, right?! I win.

Looky, looky

Heeyyy-yyyoooo! I am flabberghasted and honored to announce I have been given an award from my girl Erin over at Sometimes Blonde! This award has ruuuulllyyy made it's way around the blog world and I believe it has very simple rules: Pass it on and name ten random facts about yourself.

1. I'm legally blind in my left eye.

2. My favorite movie is Sister Act 2. (Inspiring!)

3. My favorite N'Syncer was the gay one, Lance.

4. I love condiments, specifically sour cream.

5. At 28 years of age, I just got diagnosed with my first cavity two weeks ago.

6. I married my high school sweetheart.

7. I went to (and graduated from!) beauty school.

8. A guy once told me in college, probably while I was 'flirting,' "You're not as cute as you think you are."

9. I once applied to The Real World. I did not make it. Thank God for unanswered prayers!

10. I have a (small) birthmark on my left knee. Every year when summer rolls around and I air out my legs, Derek says to me, "Hey, you have some chocolate on your knee."

Now I pass this sacred award on to my TT, Tess over at Tessaboo. She is absolutely LOVELY and HILARIOUS, but I can almost guarantee she will not keep this going. Who can blame her? I don't! She's planning a wedding for early June and she hates life.

Night, night.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

I've done the unthinkable. I've gone and gotten myself a job! I'll just be nannying, so it's not exactly brain surgery, but it still requires a lot of my time, so posts may be a bit sporadic in the coming months. Don't cry my loves, I'll still be around!

Now, in honor of one of the best meals I've ever had at an extremely cute restaurant in Chicago, Cafe Touche, I'd like to start a new topic that I'll bring back every once in awhile. Have you ever seen that show on the Food Network, 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate?' They do different episodes with appetizers, salads, desserts, etc. Well I thought that would be fun to do here! I've had the opportunity to live in an amazing food city for the past eight years, so I've tasted some mighty delicious things, plus I LOVE food so, so, so much.

Let's just start out with a bang and go with 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate......Ever!'

Carrot Cake
from

Hub 51This is absolutely the most amazing thing I've ever tasted in my life!

The carrot cake itself is moist and delish, but of course the cream cheese icing will be what makes you poo your pants! You see those two scoops? You think it's ice cream, right? It's not. One scoop is whipped cream and the other is a huge scoop of CREAM CHEESE ICING! I really don't have much else to say about it, other than it's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten.

*Not to completely change the subject, however, I have some really great news to share! Did anyone read my former post about adoption?! Specifically Brad and Tara?! After two court dates and about a month in Ethiopia, they finally passed and will be coming home soon with their new son, Jacob! He's about four months old I believe, so adorable, and I know everyone is just so happy for them!

Goodbye!

May I Just Have 3 Minutes Of Your Time?

Don't retire Regis! LIVE FOREVER!!!



Are you having a bad day? A bad week? A bad life?
Watch this entire video, you'll feel alive again!



Have a good weekend!

Rantin' & Ravin'

I've worked in the restaurant biz for a really long time and have met so many awesome people, but have also met a good number of douchebags. No names will be mentioned, but one of the biggest douchers came in the form of a chef several years ago. This guy was a nightmare and I'm really rooting for his new restaurant to FAIL! I only realized about two months ago just how much of a tool he was/is.

While we were still in Italy, I was sitting there, eating Nutella by the spoonful. I was deep in thought when my mind went back to this chef explaining one of his desserts. He had spent several years in a certain European country and began to tell us of a "snack" mothers and grandmothers served the children when they got home from school. Based on this snack, he came up with some magical chocolate creation that was served with some crisp type things and sprinkled with sea salt.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT NUTELLA! WHAT A LOSER!

Europeans eat Nutella on bread all the time. Unbelievable and not exactly creative dude!

Onto........
A different chef! I have no clue who this guy is, but he created a delicious recipe that use to be on the menu at Maggiano's. I don't eat here often because I live in Chicago and there are a million restaurants to choose from. However, they use to serve a dish, 'Shells with Roasted Vegetables,' that I loved. I did a little google search and voila, I found the recipe! It looks hard, but it's super easy. It just has several different steps. The recipe should be followed exactly or it won't taste the same, trust me! Hope you like it!

Maggiano's Shells with Roasted Vegetables

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients for roasted vegetables

• 2 ½ oz olive oil
• 3 Tbsp basil pesto
• 20 oz mix of zucchini and yellow squash
• 12 oz peeled carrots
• 1 lb button mushrooms, washed and dried
• Kosher salt
• Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees. Combine pesto and oil together and reserve. Cut the squash and carrots into ¾ inch dice and toss with 2 oz of pesto/oil. Toss the mushrooms with remaining pesto oil. Place vegetables—don't crowd--on a sheet tray and season with salt and pepper. Roast at 500 degrees until nicely browned and cooked through. Reserve.

Ingredients for parmesan broth

• 1 qt chicken broth
• 4 oz Parmigiano Reggiano rinds

Instructions

1. Combine broth with cheese rinds. Simmer slowly to infuse broth---about one hour. Be careful to stir rinds so they don’t stick and burn on bottom of pot. After one hour, puree rinds and broth. Strain through a fine strainer. Reserve.

Ingredients for pasta

• 1 lb shell pasta
• 1 oz olive oil

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water for approx 6 to 7 minutes. Drain pasta (DO NOT RINSE.) Toss with olive oil and reserve.

Ingredients for sauce

• 1 Tbsp finely-minced garlic
• 2 oz butter
• Reserved parmesan broth
• Simple tomato sauce, ½ cup
• 2 Tbsp sundried tomatoes in olive oil, drained
• Reserved roasted vegetables
• 2 Tbsp basil pesto
• Reserved pasta
• Freshly ground pepper and salt
• grated Parmigiano reggiano

Instructions

1. In saute pan, sweat garlic with 1 Tbsp butter without browning. Add reserved parmesan broth, tomato sauce, dried tomatoes, and roasted vegetables. Heat to bubbling. Add pesto and remaining 1 oz. of butter. Bring back to a simmer. Add reserved pasta and cook together to blend all flavors. Taste and adjust seasonings by adding salt and pepper. Serve with grated cheese on top.

A Favorite Quote By A Favorite Friend

"Hey Bec - last Friday was the 16th anniversary of my Bar Mitzvah. Thanks for remembering! I knew I couldn't count on you!"
-Adam Wolgomat

Cawlie!

In honor of the upcoming royal wedding, I'd like to introduce you to someone. She's not a member of the royal family, nor is she even British. She does happen to live in London however, so without further ado, I present to you.....

M'lady, Carlie "She said I cannot use her last name"My best friend.
One of my favorite gals.
The worlds sickest woman....
OOOOOOR
The most major hypochondriac of all time.

I've known Carlie for a very long time and have even had the privilege of living with her at different times. We've had unbelievable amounts of fun together during this friendship, but then sometimes she turns into a real bummer and comes to me with MULTIPLE health concerns. And I am not talking strep throat. I'm talking Parkinson's, Diabetes, the beginnings of Alzheimer's, Hodgkin's, chronic fatigue syndrome, and of course cancer. She's not picky, any type of cancer will do!

Here she is suffering from an intense Raynaud's flare up. Not kidding.
This girl is literally crazy.

I'll tell you what doesn't help - she works with people with brain injuries, so she's always finding out about new possible medical problems and wanting to do 'assessments' on whoever she can get her hands on. My favorite thing though, is her addiction to water. Carlie and her boyfriend Jimmy came to visit us in Italy, and while on the train, Jimmy kept track of her water consumption. A nightmare come true, she ran out of water and hadn't had a drink in an alarming 11 to 12 minutes. She began complaining of dehydration and even made Jimmy take a look at her tongue to show him how dry it was! This story ends well though, she lived. Whew!

Carlie is obviously a little mental, yet so, so, so, so funny! I adore Carlie and am so grateful we're still friends after all these years. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, and she lets me talk for VERY long periods of time. Thanks m'lady, you're the best! xoxoxoxoxoBFF&E&E&E!

And one, and two, and three, and four

Like I mentioned before, summer is on it's way! I think we all know what that means.....

Bikini time! Yikes!

I'm trying something new this year, fingers crossed!

I'm going to look so HOT!

No, no, no, no, no, no.....

URGENT!!! I'm at my parents house and I opened up this blog on Internet Explorer and IT'S ALL WRONG!! Whyyyy?!?! I am pleading for you to not read this blog on Internet Exporer! It's much cuter in other browsers!

Be Still My Heart

Speaking of weddings.....

My wedding was a little over a year ago in Italy, in the small valley we've lived in for the past two years. While I'm perfectly happy with it, I didn't get to plan quite the way I had been looking forward to planning. As luck would have it, my brother is getting married this summer and I'm trying my hardest to get in on that as the 'wedding planner.' I wrote to tell him some of my very reasonable and economical ideas, but he seems to think I'm being "bossy" and "controlling." I don't think so bro, just BRILLIANT and CREATIVE.

As I did research on how I would like to decorate their wedding, my mind drifted to the ever important CAKE. This is possibly because I had an ice cream cake, randomly picked up the morning of the wedding and then left in the car longer than it should have been. Boooo......

There are a million cakes I love, but I prefer simple and elegant. This first cake is from my friend Debbie's wedding. It was made by their good friend Judith Clair and you can find her website here. Her work is amazing and if you are in the Ontario area, I would highly suggest using her for your cake/cupcake needs! Not only are her baked goods beautiful, so is she! Seriously, she's a babe.
This last cake sends my hear aflutter! (Although I would order a taller version.)
There may just be some vow renewing if I can get my hands on this cake!

I like when the music stops and you clap your hands in the air..

(I know there was a country music awards show on last night and I SWEAR I had this planned beforehand. I deserve some credit.)

I may be jumping ship a little early here, but summer is on its way people! I may not be getting out the 'ol extra long, non-revealing jean shorts yet, but I can feel it in my bones. And what better way to celebrate sunshine, warmth, and days that last from 6 am to 9 pm than with country music!

'Tis the season!

I'm not going to hide who I am so that you think I'm super cool in my musical tastes because I'm not. When summer rolls around, I LOVE country music! I love driving down the street with my windows down, radio up, one foot on the dashboard, and one foot hanging out the window. The country music writers know summer is their time to shine too. I don't know how it happened, but objects/scenarios/ideas associated with summer make incredible country songs.
Case in point:

• igloo coolers
• strawberries
  
• ice cold cherry coke
• fireflies
• toes in the sand
• corn on the cob
• 4th of July (note*nothing makes a greater country song than talk of freedom)
• sweet tea
• yacht clubs
• wa wa melons

Don't be afraid to buy tickets to an outdoor country concert this summer. It doesn't matter which one, there will be hundreds to choose from! Once there, appropriate behavior would be to hold up your lighter, wave your hands slowly back and forth during love songs, and (my personal favorite) make sure you have a guy standing behind you with his arms wrapped around your waist and his head resting on your shoulders. This way you can both sing along and be able to look at one another lovingly. You'll also want to dress appropriately, but you're in luck here. You can literally wear anything and people will think you look great! However, if you want to go the extra mile, you can do one of three things! 1.) Show a little nip 2.) Show a little booty 3.) Wear the cowboy hat you just bought that day.

TAAAAYLOOOR! AAHHHHHH! I LOVE YOUUUUUUU!

I can't stop listening to her latest album 'Speak Now.' It makes me feel young and alive again! Here's a treat for you for reading my blog - my favorite song, 'Never Grow Up.'


"I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone....." That's a little bit heartbreaking Taylor. ♥

Weekend Daydreaming

How amazing is this picture?!The bride. Her dress. Her hair. Her waist. Absolutely perfect!

I don't think you could find a more beautiful couple.
Have a nice weekend!

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks

Let's put aside 'happy' and talk about misery!

Yesterday was miserable! I know there a lot of bad things going on in the world, I'm very aware of that. But nothing breaks my heart more than putting my oversized maltipoo in his crate and watching him being wheeled off to ride in cargo for a 9 1/2 hour trip. He has no idea what's going on and it just makes me so sad! I know a couple who's dog didn't make it after this trip and that's all that runs through my head..... After many tears, a couple of uncomfortable German men, and a LONG flight, Diego is home and thriving!

Ohmygoshlookatthatface

I'm also thriving, thanks for asking!

Derek and I were on different flights, so my parents picked me up and we joined forces with his family. In very typical white, American, middle class fashion, we ate at The Cheesecake Factory! I got what I expected-really big glasses and really big portions, but I did not expect to see on the menu three salad options that are smart choices or something like that. They are all under 590 calories. What?! I hope so! It's a salad!

It's good to be back, but it sure is gray here.....