Meat Jello

Sometimes I get a bit bored at work and since I work in a library I have the world at my fingertips, literally. So lately I have really been into reading cookbooks and finding unique recipes. Which is not too strange since I really enjoy cooking and eating delicious foods.

Recently I was paging through a Better Homes & Gardens Gourmet Recipes Made Easy from 1980. Many of the recipes found in this book are very gourmet and yet seem simple enough to make for a dinner for friends. However, I came across a recipe for Chicken Aspic. Now if you don't know what aspic is, it is basically a dish which ingredients are set into a gelatin made from meat stock. So let me put it this way it's like eating meat Jello! Now I am not the biggest Jello fan unless it is simple plain Jello. But growing up in Minnesota, no one ever made basic Jello. At every church potluck on any given Sunday you could find two things: Goulash and Jello with fruit chunks! And my mom always made Jello with cottage cheese & bananas! PUKE! (sorry mom! but true)... So you can imagine my complete disgust when I came across a recipe for chicken aspic. Now this is taking Jello to a whole new level!

Tina & Tina back together again!

Tonight I went out with my sweet friend Michelle (Tina)! We call each other Tina and I don't know where that came from??? Oh Yeah, I remember now, it comes from the llama "Tina" on Napoleon Dynamite! We were so crazy back in our CHOICE days, so many fun memories of working there!

So the "Tinas" met at our favorite restaurant Sawatdee in Uptown. We talked for hours over Pad Thai and a half price bottle of wine. It's amazing all the stuff that has happened in our lives in the past few years, and it was great to chat and reminisce about our crazy times together!

"Don't Panic, I'm not manic!!" Love ya Tina!

Yea for Liz!

A huge shout-out to my friend Liz who just got engaged!!! I can't wait for the wedding!!! I wonder where it is going to be? Palm Springs? San Antonio? Vegas? Italy? Congratulations Liz!!! Chonies Forever!!!!!

Father's Day

I spent Father's Day at my parent's house. It was so hot outside but we made the most of it. We ate yummy shrimp & steak kabobs and had fresh strawberries and ice cream for dessert. My dad got a new kitten and he named it "Precious", although, my mom forbids us to use the Lord of the Rings Gollum voice when we talk to it! We played Yard Golf and Buddy swam in the pool. It was nice to be outside in the country with all the pretty flowers and animals and fresh air.
On a side note, only 2 more weeks until I have the whole month of July off of work! Meow!

Oh and I saw the movie "Waitress" on Saturday with K & K... it is a really cute movie! I would definitely recommend it... though be forewarned that afterwards you will want to go eat some pie or cake or something rich and chocolaty. Which we did, we went to Cafe Latte and had Chocolate Amaretto torte and Lemon Poppy seed cake... However, Kyle was pouty because he couldn't have a tart with berries... poor baby! :) or as they sing in the movie, "Baby don’t be blue, Gonna make for you, Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle. Gonna be a pie from heaven above, Gonna be filled with strawberry love. Baby don’t you cry, Gonna make a pie, all my love for you in the middle of my heart." aaaaawwww!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473308/

Nye's Polonaise

Oh what a night! Well another stellar night in my life! My friend Sarah decided to throw together a night of fun and frivolity at Nye's Polonaise Polka Lounge http://www.nyespolonaise.com/. This place is like something out of a GoodFellas movie. Polish Gangster Style and I absolutely love it there! So Sarah and I went out to eat beforehand at Bon Xai and had delicious Pad Thai. We eventually made our way over to Nye's and had a martini and waited for more friends to show up. Eventually Kyle and Kelly came, then Ellen, Jeanelle & Steve. And then more of Sarah's friends showed up too. Even Bonnie made a late night appearance. Kyle and I ate pickled herring! MEOWRIFIC! And I had 2 delicious Oatmeal Cookie Martinis! MEOWTASTIC!

Nye's also has a polka lounge for dancing and a piano bar. Basically like Karaoke, but with a lady who plays the piano and you sing along. Sarah did some amazing Patsy Cline renditions, Kyle busted out King of the Road and Ring of Fire, and Bonnie and I did a very appropriate song for my life, I WILL SURVIVE!! All in all it was so much fun, great to be around good friends and laughs a plenty!

Ladies Night

On a typical Thursday night, I get together with 2 very awesome women. Tabitha, Bonnie & I hang out and talk about life and relationships and everything in between. Last night we went to Snuffy's Malt Shop because it was just too darn hot to cook in my AC deficient apartment! Great food and great conversation! I love you guys!

A Night at the Airport

Kelly and her Cheddah Weenah!

Last night I received a text message from Kelly... saying she was eating Jalepeno Cheddah Weeenahs from Big Steer.... The next thing I know, Kelly & Kyle show up at my house along with my very own Weeenah.... and we are off. We planned on going to McGoverns for a brewski and to catch the Twins Game. Unfortunetly, Nelly Furtado was playing at the Xcel, so St. Paul was insane. We then cruised on down to another bar in Highland Park... but alas, that place was packed. So against Kyle's wishes and Kelly's assurance she could get us to Champs in 10 minutes, Champs it was. The next thing I know Kyle is busting out his drum solo with his electric drumsticks.... Kelly must have been lost in Kyle's talent on the Snare that she went the wrong way. And low and behold where did we end up: The MSP Airport! We made a quick loop through check-in, a stop in Sacramento, then back on the road. Kelly's joke was... "The National Threat Level is at Orange. Orange ya glad I didn't say Red!" Brilliant!

We eventually did make it to Champs. The Twins swept the Braves. And Silva is a stud in my book!!!!!!