or why I probably need bifocals.
About 2 weeks before Christmas I start asking the husband, "So what do you want for Christmas food?"
We aren't very traditional in the sense that we eat the same thing every year. The only tradition is that there is usually enough left over to feed us into the new year. Last year I did the rack of lamb thing, the year before that a really nice pork loin. In the past I have soaked whole turkeys in brine and cooked a prime rib in a 1 inch crust of salt. This year when asked the question the husband said, "Well, I have two ideas. The first is a lamb again, last year's was delicious...or...the second...a giant lasagna."
Normally, I don't make lasagna with a recipe, I just make it. Since it was Christmas I decided to follow the directions on the noodle box as closely as possible. Let me tell you, I read the instructions about 6 times. I read the ingredients about 6 times. I referred back to the box as I was assembling the thing.
Cover and cook in a 180°C (150°F) oven for 40 - 45 minutes
"Wow, according to the box I am supposed to cook this at 150 degrees. The oven only goes as low as 170! That's weird." I said to the husband.
After 30 minutes the cheese was still sitting on top of the lasagna - in tact and not at all melty.
The phone rang. It was my friend, Brian. We talked for about 15 minutes and I said, "Yeah, I'm trying to cook this lasagna. I never go by a recipe but this year I thought I would follow the directions to the letter...It's taking forever!"
I picked up the noodle box and said, "Yeah, it's the weirdest thing...the directions say to cook it at 150 for 45 minutes..." at that point I lowered the box about an inch and everything popped into focus, "OH SHIT BRIAN, this says 350 degrees! Not 150 at all!"
Anything to give Brian a laugh at Christmas.
The husband remarked, "I don't know what should have tipped you off first - the ONE EIGHTY CELSIUS or the fact that our oven only goes as low as 170!" Christmas dinner was a little late this year but once the cheese got melty and bubbly it was delicious.
In the past I have created a few signature drinks. Back in the early 90's I created Mona's Bubbling Fester and the Urine Sample...both taste waaay better than the names would imply. IRONYYYYY!
A few days ago I mentioned drinking a concoction of Bourbon and Green Tea - to which a friend remarked, "now that is Redneck Zen!" So, thank you Richard Reynolds for naming my latest creation. I give you...Redneck Zen.
Redneck Zen
1 shot Wild Turkey American Honey
1 cup Celestial Seasonings Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea
Show us your pet(s). If you don't have one, show us one you'd like to have.
Submitted by munchorz.
My Cat.
Cookie Makin' Time...
I am not a baker. I claim this throughout my blog. But every time I have a success, I have to document it. I am not sure how these would work for vegans (egg). Perhaps the suggestion of a good egg substitute can be commented on here.INGREDIENTS
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
-
1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
-
random mixture of sugars
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- In a large bowl mix oil and 1 cup of sugar. Add egg, beat well. Stir in molasses, vanilla, flour, baking soda and spice. If necessary, add more flour to make a firm dough.
- Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Roll in your random sugar mix. My random mix was equal parts of course ginger sugar, white sugar and powdered sugar. Place 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until tops crack. Remove from baking sheet and cool on rack.
*Pumpkin pie spice can be bought already assembled or you can throw your own together:
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Show us something made from snow.
Submitted by lazywong.
The Saddest Snowmans, ever...
All the cool kids wear afro puffs.
I'm not sending out Christmas Cards this year.
Merry Christmas.
I watched the last episode of SNL hosted by House. Amy is leaving the show. Fred almost made me pee my pants. I have a feeling that Fred is a weird cat. I wish he would deepen his voice when he does Obama. Right now my favorite guy on the show is Bill, simply because he does a ridiculous Vincent Price impersonation and he has sexy teeth. But I really want to talk about Kanye West. Kenye was the musical guest and oddly enough they didn't use him in any of the skits. I am not an expert on the phenominom that is Kenye. I've heard a few of his songs - the husband has a cd or maybe two (I have no idea how many Kanye has "dropped" to be honest). I like Gold Digger because I can dance around the living room to it and Touch The Sky is groovy because well, Curtis Mayfield...duh! It has always been my impression that Kanye may very well be tone deaf - he just always seems to be talking a little flat against his "beats". Well, any confusion I may have had about it in the past has been put to rest after hearing him on SNL. Dude can not sing. I sat through the first song with my jaw in my lap...like one of those rat fink hot rod cartoons. Comments ran from, "Good lord, he wouldn't make it through the first round of American Idol!" to a raucous shout of "HEYYYY, LADYYYYYYY!", when he cranked the Jerry Lewis inspired bust-a-move dial to an 11. What am I trying to say? If he had done that at the Apollo, not only would the new guy shuffle him off the stage, but the ghost of the dead Sandman Simms would come after him too. Seriously...it was amazingly bad. It was so bad that I didn't believe the guy on the stage was ACTUALLY Kanye West for about the first 30 seconds of the vocals. I said, outloud, "Who the hell is that guy?" The husband said, "That's Kanye West." I said, "Nuh uh, can not be, he is flat. This is a skit, Blizzard is coming out in a second." The husband said, "That is Kanye. Believe me, I am down."
