What's Been Cooking at Casa de Superfluous

I spent the better part of the weekend chillaxin', it was splendid. I did do some cooking however, where i made these too really delish meals:

Hong King Primavera with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Talapia with Chipotle Rub served with Tomato Lentil CousCous

Both were quick and easy to make. So quick and easy that I think I am going to re-make one of them as soon as I hit send.

I don't want to be the crazy cat lady but my dad's cat had kittens and they are Ah-dor-able!
This is Noir, he is my favorite and I want him for Halloween. Meow.

Birthday Girl Vlachs your Face Off!

Happy Birthday to my favorite cousin Kelly. Can I say that? Yes I can! Because...
a: None of our other cousins read this blog
b: She IS my favorite cousin.

I love that for 3 months we are the same age... it just makes it so much easier to face the day.


Love yaz!

The results are in!!!!!

Mystery Judge finally gave me the results to the Twins Stadium Name-Off Contest. MJ had some help from a bunch of 7th graders, who I believe were told that they were actually naming the new Twins Stadium, or something like that. Hope they are not too disappointed when they realize that the name will still be boring Target Field. Mystery Judge had the final say and came up with my personal favorite too. Here are the 3 runners up:

In 3rd place is Circle Me Bert Ballpark submitted by sensible of shoe

In 2nd place is Mosquito Heaven submitted by the three 22nds

and the runner up is: You Betcha Field again submitted by sensible of shoe

The grand prize winner of the Twins Stadium Name-Off is:

We-Should-Just-Puckett-and-Get-Some-Beers Park*

by ms. ellen d!

Congratulations Elle-Beau

*and no MJ did not let the 7th graders vote on this name. I can only imagine the fun they would have with that one. and then the parent phone calls. not fun.

Do you know that Tag is Gat spelled backwards?

I'm feeling pretty special, I have been tagged. Heather of the EO tagged me. Quite frankly as a kid I hated playing the game of tag. All that running around and continually yelling, "Tag You're It!" "Tag, No Backs!" UGH. As an adult I still don't like tag, but if i can sit and play then I'm game!

So here are 7 random quirks\oddities about me:

1. I have a row of baby teeth on the top row of my mouth behind my big teeth. There is no explanation. Some would say it's because I'm so shark like, I would say it must be my absorbed twin.

2. I have been to 8 different colleges. I know that must sound weird, but it just goes along with my habitual moving, job hopping and everyday quest for utopia.
The longest I was at a school was when I went to Northwestern, I was there 2.5 years and I only changed my major 5 times!

3. From the time I was born until the time I was 22 I had stick strait hair. My mom had to put curlers in it to give me any sort of bounce. I had my hair permed from the time i was 10 until I was 16. Really bad spiral perms too. When I was 22 I cut all my hair off. My hair length fell right between Demi Moore's hair in Ghost and G.I. Jane. Let's just say it was short. When it grew back, it was magically curly!!! I now have curly hair sans perm solution.

4. I say things backwards, i.e. Point-In-Case or Off-Standish. People think I'm such a clown, but really i am phrase dyslexic.

5. I'm really good at making up elaborate stories about really random things. I always fess up sooner than later, so then it's not bad. Some would calling it lying, I would say I'm bringing folktales back.

6. When I was 17 I had a goiter on my neck. It wasn't as big as the ones you see in National Geographic, but it was big enough that I was too embarrassed to leave my house.

7. When I visited Jim Morrison's Grave in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, I stole a letter someone wrote to him. Like he was ever going to read it.

Now I am going to tag 7 people I think have really awesome quirks:

Rachel of Picture Perfect
Kelly of Waiting for a Little Vlachster
Megan of Sensible of Shoe
Bonnie of Not all who wander are lost
Diana of Extra Grace Required
Jodi of Simple Perfect Life
Beth of Talk Without Speaking

Why I am getting fired....

yeah well Kelly introduced me to this hot tranny mess of a blogger named Heather, I think I will call her H2 as to not get confused with Heather of the EO (who is also a fab blogger!)
Anyway H2 has like 5 gabillion blogs that i can't stop reading. Who is this girl? We are like cyber twins. We like all the same things!!! Every time i think, no i cant read anymore, I have to get back to work, well then darn it! there is another great post! Thanks a lot Heather. Please I beg you to check out her blogs, but don't shun me if you get fired.

My Newest Adventure!

No I did not become a nun... I know you all think that is where my life is heading, but I have decided to put that on hold and do something that is oh so far more indulgent.

BAKING! ON TUESDAYS! WITH DORIE!!!!

I found Tuesdays With Dorie, a blog\website that gives me a chance along with 300 others to make lovely treats from my favorite cook book:

Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

That is my go to book, If I've ever made a Sabrina Special for you in the last 6 months you can bet it came from that book.
I love Dorie, I love her recipes, and now every week I will be baking a recipe from her cook book.
Now, who wants to be an Official TWD Taste Tester?

Are you my BFF?

Part of my job entails lots of little jobs I do that don't have anything to do with my job. I know, it's hard for me to comprehend too. Yesterday I was in charge of putting all the LifeTouch Pictures in the teacher's mailboxes. I then sent out an email saying, Hey your pictures are here and BTW, I am collecting Teacher Pictures, and it would be great if somewhere on the back you could include the phrase "BFF".
It was a joke.
However, current BFFs and counting:

10!

If you are at all curious, my picture is foxy fierce hot tranny mess this year. If you want to see it, leave me a comment and i will mail you one. I may even write "BFF" on the back. maybe.
My next contest the lucky winner will get the 8x10.

Patiently awaiting....

I know you are all bursting with fruit flavors awaiting the results for the
Twin's Stadium Name-Off.
Please keep waiting, Mystery Judge has not given me the results yet. MJ is a very busy person and has better things to do then succumb to my randomisity. But MJ is kindly playing along.

But here is a little teaser, put your thinking caps on and think deep thoughts about my new contest:

Name the New "Dome" Dog

The Omnivore's Hundred

Here is a list detailing 100 foods every omnivore should try. I got the idea from my new favorite food blogger Someone's in the Kitchen with Brina.

The official rules are:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (I put them in red)
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I will try anything once, so nothing is crossed out for me)

The Omnivore's Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp (and i harpooned it myself!)
9. Borscht (love me some beets!)
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho (my favorite comfort food)
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (yum)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (loved every burning minute of it!)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (STELLA!)
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut (slather my Dome Dog)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (I've had both but not together)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk (this is all i drank until the age of 5)
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (my favorite chic drink)
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs (what didnt i eat in china?)
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (heaven)
73. Louche absinthe (Red Dragon's Wondrous Punch! CRAAAZZZZY!!)
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill (i know, i know)
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. (someday i will go to French Laundry and do this)
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare (that was the road kill)
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse ( i probably have and didnt even know it...)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (and puked every last bit of it up!)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Just the facts...

I said I would get back to "real" blogging so here you go. Last week was a good week. The things at work that were not so good have gotten better. Relief. I can't even remember all that I did last week, but i was fairly busy. The interesting part starts Friday when I was invited out by some cool teachers at my school. I guess they think I'm a swell girl so my presence at their happy hour was crucial. Special. I can't write about it because:

A) I work with these people

B) I work with these people

Let's just say it was all very interesting, fun, but very interesting. I like them.

Saturday I went with Kelly to visit Auntie Lori. We also went to an art fair where I bought this bowl, made by Kelly's BFF Sarah's sister Emily. Did that make sense?

And then Lori bought me this rad round red bracelet.

Then I got this henna art on my hand.

No wonder the cool teachers want me around.

I finally got to meet Coach, Lori's wonder dog, but I prefer to call him Craig T. Nelson. Get it?

If all that wasn't fun enough Lori took us out for Mexican and tequila and drank us under the table.

Lori, pain free and livin' large. PTL!

I also went to a girl's party of some of Kelly's high school\college friends and guess who surprised us, Heather of the EO!!! Now this is a little known fact I discovered about Heather and I. When little kids are naughty and say inappropriate things like "I drink poop", instead of keeping a strait face and being mature we bust up laughing. Well when its not your child, sorry... it's funny.

It was a fantabulous weekend. That is a real word, fantabulous. I was told recently by someone. But I can't say who.

Overheard:

Lori: I think I'm going to grow my hair out.

Kelly: But you told me to never let you do that.

Lori: Well I just want to grow out the back.

Kelly: And?

Lori: You know and have it flip out.

Kelly: Do you know what that is called?

Lori: No, what?

Kelly: It's called a Mullet.

Love. My. Family.

Time to go read some Sci-Fi, in my hammock, all the while pretending my yard doesn't need to be mowed and that those glares I'm getting from my neighbors are really love stares.

Some crazy for a Saturday....

I like Santogold. I like this song, L.E.S Artistes. This video blows my mind.

On the road again....

I will be taking a lil' road trip with my cuz cuz K this weekend. Off to the wild wild west, sans Will Smith. I will be back Monday with results from the Twin's Stadium Name-Off. According to the Mystery Judge as of right now he is kinda digging The Mary Kate and Ashley Olson Stadium (Go Ellen!)... but he has yet to see the final list of names. There could yet still be an upset.
See youz allz on Monday.

********Still time to guess********

Pick a new Twin's Stadium name (see previous post) and win a $5 Caribou Gift Card.
Contest closes Friday, September 19th at 11:57pm
*****There will be a mystery guest judge. Aren't you dying to know who!********

Don't Call it a Comeback...

I been here for years... Does anyone know that tune? So I'm back and ready to get my blog on.
K & K and I have been emailing back n' forth new names for the Twin's Stadium. I believe it will be called Target Field or something lame like that once it is finished...
These are a few that we came up with... So far Kelly is in the lead with the best name:
Paul Bunyan Ball Park!
These are a few other ones we came up with:
Spam Stadium
Dayton's Dome (ok that is what i would've named the current dome)
3M Field
General Mills Park
Ballpark of America
Nut Goody Park
Jenne-O Field (you lose we let Turkeys out in your dugout -KAV)
Getdney Pickle Park

If you can come up with a better name then Kelly's Paul Bunyan Ball Park you will win a prize...
Play Ball!

Operation Baking GALS Round 3

Welcome to Round 3 of Operation Baking GALS! I am going to be one of many hosts for this round. So welcome to Team Superfluous! I am so excited to be hosting this round. It was great to be a part of the last round and now here we are again.

I don't know a whole lot about this soldier, but does that really matter, let's send out some love anyway! What i have been told by Ms. Susan our fearless leader is, "SFC Israel Reichard is a good guy and he LOVES the Snickerdoodles you ladies mailed last time. If you can put something together (specifically Snickerdoodles) and mail to him, I know it would be a huge morale booster. He's an 'adopted' West Virginian from my cousin Jason's last deployment. He's a great guy with no real family back in the states. If you ladies could send him some love, I know he'd forever grateful."

So how about it? Let's team up and make this soldier's day! Email me at sabrinarobideau (at) hotmail (dot) com if you want to join the team or if you have any questions. I will send you the information you need, including the address of our soldier. Please add your name, your website (if you have one) and the URL so I can post it on my blog. You can send out your treats anytime between September 27 - October 6. You can get more info here to help you out.

Last round I made some swell Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from a Dorie Greenspan recipe, and I think I might be using more of her infamous recipes... This is going to be fun!!!!

A Breather...

I realize that my blog has been a little lack-lustre lately. Boring, snore, snooze, lame, blah, puke... what other descriptions have been popping up in your head lately. Yes, i can hear the snickering, the confusion, the yawns... "but usually she is so funny nori, i just don't get it..."
I know, I know. It's not like i have not had anything to say, oh i have. I wish I could write about the drama at my work, but in order to protect my hienie, i cant say anything. Tomorrow is a new day, this weekend I am going to put my job behind me and do fun little things that make me smile.
But don't give up on Superfluous just yet... she just needs a breather.

I did make kitchen curtains though, and chocolate angel pie for my mom. Being domestic makes me feel happy. Happiness is nice.

Megan I too miss PVM & Here is your Confession Tuesday

First of all here is my confession for Tuesday:

I watch the movie The Day After Tomorrow every time it is on tv. I really can't stand that movie, yet every time it's on, I drop everything, sit down and actually watch the whole thing. This movie is not to be confused with Armageddon or Deep Impact. That is Ben Affleck and Frodo Baggins, this is Jake GyllenSpoon. So when I watch The Day After Tomorrow there must be some sort of mind control subliminal message thing going on. Because about half way through I'm eating cat food out of the bag, thinking about Menudo.

Megan wants to know if there is a correlation between me not blogging me getting a new haircut and yes there is a correlation. I got the haircut to look fierce for work, and once i was back to work, I got so very busy that the last thing i want to do lately is sit and blog.
I've been doing a lot of reading and laying in the hammock when I'm not at work.
I wish i had more energy to write but I am in the process of making some cottage chic curtains and I must be getting to them. Domestication calls.


XOXO... will write more soon.

Also...Today is my mom's birthday and she still is smokin' hot! Happy Birthday Mom!
I'm not sure if she is pregnant with me in this picture, but either way i just think she looks really pretty.

What's the story Morning Glory?

The story is that I have lots to say, but I'm too tired to say it. So bare with me (do you know that by saying BARE with me, it is an invitation to take off your clothes?) So I guess I should say Bear with me, unless of course you are going to quickly read this and then jump in the shower so in that case Bare with Me and Bear With Me, except that i really dont want you to BARE with ME, I mean I am a prude, so I guess what I should just say before the FCC shuts me down is: BEAR with me as a I compartmentalize my thoughts into neat blog worthy posts. Superfluous will be back. When? It's really like questioning the Apocalypse. You know its going to happen, you fear its arrival, and yet like Christmas you patiently wait for it year after year.
Oh and BTW...... YOUR MOM IS A PALINDROME!

My BFF has a Blog!!!

Wow! Rachel has a blog!
Maybe to you this is not along the same order as the loaves and fishes, but to me it is!
A) because she's a busy mother to a newborn and a toddler! eeek!
B) because she's not one to broadcast her life.
C) because I think she would rather be watching Felicity than blogging.

My BFF extraordinaire Rachel has now joined the land of the living bloggers. (Is this opposed to deceased bloggers?) Please embrace her with open arms as she enters our world!
You can check her out over at Picture Perfect.
(Hey Charlsh... i hope you don't mind me giving you a shout out! You can reprimand me all you want. Kinda like the time i made a big fuss over you giving the morning announcement at the Mansion. I still like to sing your praises!)

Garden Finds....

Confession Tuesdays

This is my new thing. Everyone's doing it! Heather from the EO has Suck Up Sunday's, Joolee from A Spot on the Sopha has The Thing about Thursdays, even Sensible of Shoe was doing Pink Saturdays (what happened to that?) So now I'm jumping on the band wagon and doing my own day of the week themed blog. This one will be titled Confession Tuesdays. I am not a priest, although i did almost go to Seminary last year, so feel free to fess up too.

My confession this week is:

I LOVE Kraft Easy Mac!!!!

I know, the horror!

Gourmet girl goes ghetto. (and she's not afraid to tell!)