Monday Blah-buster

I had a wonderful set of photos and stories about various topics, including:

• BHE's and mine questionable decision to celebrate our anniversary by completing a private bar crawl of every joint in our neighborhood. Good times! However, there's a reason we stopped doing these after grad school.
• The A-M-A-Z-I-N-G meal BHE and I had at the Woodberry Kitchen to celebrate aforementioned anniversary, which included the C.M.P. (Malt ice cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallow fluff, roasted peanuts). Duff of Ace of Cakes fame drooled about the dish on The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

Note: It's not even the best dessert on the friggin menu!

• Pics from my time in Chicago, where I got to watch my formerly little cousin kick bum as wing for his rugby 7s team and spent time making Baby Button giggle while hanging out with my BFF and her hubby. 

Instead, the ether-verse has once again erased most of my photos, leaving me with the following to entertain you this Monday morning.

In our first installment, BHE and I like to troll garage/yard sales, Salvation Army shops, and Goodwill stores from nifty home items (more on that in an upcoming post). Things like baskets, bar ware, a Julia Homer Wilson original, and a nifty pint glass with Ringo Starr painted on the side (SCORE.). Granted, they can't all be winners...

Is it too much?

Our final piece comes courtesy of the 2011 ArtScape festival here in Charm City. It's apparently America's largest free arts festival, though from what I saw it was mostly food booths and a LOT of people crammed into a small section of Mt. Vernon. Still, we saw some cool stuff. BROS performed on a small stage, BHE found a print that made him smile, and I managed to locate the art car exhibit:

Not too shabby for a week and a half. 

This week I plan to partake in the time-honored tradition that is the Birthday Week. Mine, to be specific. I've got plans to enjoy some drinks, to go out for dim sum, and - fingers crossed - to close on our first home.

Of course, work beckons in the meantime. Hope your Monday is treating you with kid gloves, hon! See you at my birthday happy hour Friday. :)

Until then - Enjoy!

Critters of All Sorts

I'm back from a quick visit to Chicago for Baby Button's shower and to hang out with my BFF/watch my sleep-deprived BFF pick fights with her equally sleep-deprived husband. I had a great time, but the trip left me very much aware of how ill-prepared I am for motherhood at the moment.

BB chilling on his Mia Grace blanket.

At present, I'm better off getting my mothering fix via taking care of animals.

SPEAKING OF WHICH! (*dramatic lead-in*)

BHE and I are teaming up with the good folks over at ex-boyfriend collection to help out the homeless (animals, that is) by taking part in the MDSPCA's March for the Animals!

The March is the MDSPCA's biggest fundraiser and a rather large event in the city. People come together with their adorable dogs/cats/iguanas/turtles/what have you and take part in various contests, agility courses, and general fun and entertainment.

Our "pack" is trying to raise some funds for the event and - seriously - every little penny helps! So if you like animals and have even $5 to spare, won't you give us a hand (or paw)? If you're really game, feel free to join our pack or simply stop by the event to see the cuteness and support a damn fine cause!

You can support your fellow animal lovers here.

Neco and Lina will be waiting to thank you in person...

When Things Aren't What Quite What They Seem

Happy post-Superbowl (with condolences to my fellow Steeler fans out there). BHE is still sulking after the loss, but I find I can't even muster up the anger. Green Bay just plain played better.

Which sucks as I am now responsible for a bet that I made with my BFF, who - in addition to being a very excited Green Bay fan - welcomed the birth of her first child this weekend. Loser has to buy Baby Button (as in "cute as a") the winning team's gear, to be worn next season. Assuming that takes place. Looks I've got some online shopping to take care of...

Funny story: Baby Button came out with a little something extra from the womb. Namely, a penis.

Yup! My goddaughter is actually my godson, which is totally cool by me. Even if this means that I have to take back a few pink items or that his baby blanket is currently embroidered with the name "Mia Grace." I've already promised to teach him about rugby and take him out for his first tattoo, which I'm sure thrilled his mother to no end.

Baby Button, in the (tiniest) flesh.

I can already tell he's a future heart breaker. The kid has dimples for DAYS.

And now, for your recipes..................

For this post I figured I'd throw in some items that, like Baby Button, are not quite what they seem. Little tweaks and such just to change things up a bit.

Except for the creme brulee. That's just a basic. The only thing that may seem different is my thumb, which went numb from trying to work the friggin brulee torch. It was a good hour before I could manage the fine motor skills required to write a text message. Note to readers: When the recipe calls for turbinado sugar, USE TURBINADO SUGAR. I used Cook's Illustrated's recipe for this bad boy, but Alton Brown's version is equally delightful.

The brulees were part of the menu at an annual post-holiday party thrown by a group of grad school friends in the DC area. Last year I was in charge of the entrées, but this year I was put in charge of dessert. In addition to the creme brulee, I also tweaked Paula Deen's recipe to come up with a White Velvet Cake.

(Sorry - I forgot to take a photo before the starving crowds attacked it.)

How do you make a White Velvet Cake you ask? Simply head to the grocery store and promptly forget to pick up red food coloring. Piece of cake! (pun intended)

I usually shy away from Paula's recipes. (I mean how many ways can/should a person incorporate Velveeta into their dish?) But this one was serious winner. The key (I think) is the baking soda and vinegar - the resulting fizz makes the cake extra-light and fluffy.

And finally, the surprise hit of the winter: my Quinoa and Black Bean Burritos!

Potential Vegan Yum!

Simply toast 1 cup quinoa in a mid-sized pot over medium high heat for a few minutes. Add 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, and then cover the pot with a lid. Turn down the head to med-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Meanwhile, go ahead and saute some onions/shallots and green peppers (1 each) with 1/2 tsp canola oil. Add one can of black beans (RINSED, please!) and stir to combine. Add the mixture to the finished quinoa.

Add one packet of your fav taco seasoning (or you can make some of your own) and mix to combine. You can add a bit of water, 1 tbsp at a time, if necessary.

Spoon a few tablespoons of the mixture on a flour or corn tortilla. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Attack taco-flavored goodness like a starved wolf or pleasure delay a bit by placing the burrito in a panini press or Foreman grill for 3-5 minutes for some added texture.

As always, Enjoy!