I've made the leap

You can find me at: http://convolutedconfusion.wordpress.com/

Update your bookmarks.

You can read old stuff both here and there, though I'll likely delete this blog eventually.

iPhone + wordpress = awesomeness. hopefully, you'll get a lot more from me and see more too (yay iPhone camera). I think I'm also going to stick with the food theme. I've found my niche.

Sometimes my brother really is just a dude.

This is one of 5 bananas (and this one looks the best) that were purchased LAST NIGHT. *shakes head* Men, I tell ya.

I never win anything.

But I DID win a cook book from my previous mentioned favorite food blog.

Go me.

So very tired after a long weekend, in which I didn't accomplish the one thing I was going to do (namely: pick up a bike from a friend), but it was a whirlwind of fun and fraternity. Pictures fortcoming. In the meantime, time to kill the last 30 minutes of my work day so I can go home and get in bed.

Interacting with the real world

I know I've missed the past few days, but I've been busy with the *real world.* Last night, I had an actual-to-goodness date. We met up at the Tap Room in Pacific Beach, and I was very good by only ordering one beer. (Hey man, it was a Tuesday night and already 8:30 or so by the time we met up. I've mostly got my priorities in order.) It was good as first dates go... awkward silences at all ... and I'm sure we'll go out again. Here's to getting out there. (PS - We shared a DELICIOUS pizza with fresh mozarella, roasted garlic, basil and tomoatoes. The Slice keeps putting photos of NY pizzas up and I had a SERIOUS craving.)

Tonight, I'm headed to see Eric Hutchinson at the Scripps Aquarium in La Jolla. If you don't know who he is (and many don't apparently, because I keep getting "who is that?" asked when I share my excitement) check him out. And if I'm being forced to compare, I would liken him with Jack Johnson + Jason Mraz.

That's all from the peanut gallery. We'll see what kind of food I experience tonight.

Babies, Babies, Everywhere.

Today was my friend's baby shower. (At a REEEEEDICULOUS house in Encinitas, literally ON the ocean -- see photo).

We ate:
Sun tried tomato tortellini with a cream sauce.
Angel hair pasta with pesto and LOTS of pine nuts.
Mozorella, basil and proscuitto pinwheels
Fizzy drinks (no booze, boo!)
Fresh pineapple and mango
Deliciously yummy chocolate chocolate cake.

I went home and napped afterward.

Happy Birthday Hannah

Today was a day about drinking. At my friend Hannah's birthday party. Yay!

This picture took place inside an ambulance. Don't ask.

Another day, another day of meals

Today was kind of a "cheat" day (women, you know what I'm talking about...) being that is was a pseudo-vacation day. We had a staff retreat at a nearby beach in Encinitas (thank god for Southern California) and I was one of the lucky people to secure our plot of sand early this morning (8am). Since staff wasn't actually going to be on-site until nearly noon, I had some time to kill. My co-worker guarded our stuff and recommended a neighborhood cafe up the street for some breakfast. It ended up being a very good recommendation (as recommendations should always be -- unless its a recommendation NOT to do something). I got a fresh yogurt parfait (as in they made it an hour earlier, not unpacked it from the refrigerated box) and a yummy "Baja" latte (coconut, almond and cinnamon). I consumed my wares while attempting to complete the NY crossword puzzle (I'm worthless past Tuesday) and watched the ocean. Not a bad way to start the morning.

Lunch was catered with your standard beach food fare. Pasta and fruit salad, all the fixings for sandwiches, potato chips and soda. I could have gone for a cold beer, but it's a work event, so what can one expect?

And to end the evening, I kept it simple. I grilled up some polenta, grated some fresh parmesan cheese over it and ate it right up. That I have pictures of. Though it's not really exciting since it's just a bunch of shiny circles with yellow cheese on top. Perhaps I should work on my presentation. BUt when you're cooking for yourself, does it really matter? :)

Back on track... but with zero energy

I think last weekend took it out of me more than I'm willing to give credit. Either that, or I have a case of the Incredibly Lazies. It really could be either. Tonight, I'm feeling worthless, I'm sick of doing dishes (read: washing my pots and pans and rice cooker), so I'm being lazy tonight for dinner and going to a great stand-by: Trader Joe's frozen foods. (Seriously, folks, TJs has some of the best frozen dinners, etc.) It's hard to believe that the frozen cube of soup (of which I cannot find a picture, and for which I am too lazy to take myself) will turn into this:

Well, maybe not EXACTLY like that, but it sure tastes like it. And of course, I have some yummy sourdough to toast to dip, dip, dip away, so all in all, it should still be a delicious meal. Though, I'm sure I'm going to regret eating hot soup on a warm summer's evening. Dumb dumb dumb.

Oh well. It has CHEESE. YUM.

Monday Monday

Breakfast is a meal I can eat any time of the day. Whether it be cereal, french toast, BACON, eggs, hash browns... I'll take any of it.

Tonight, I made a fried egg sandwhich that always makes me think of an ex-boyfriend from college (being that he was the one who first made it for me.) It's very simple and delicious.

2 slices of (good) sourdough bread. (Which kind do you think I used? Why, Boudin, of course!)
2 eggs, slightly scrambled. Just enough to break the yolks up. (I'm an over-medium gal myself.)
Mayo
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded for maximum melting capabilities

PS - yes, I am a post-dating bastard. These were all written in my mind, just hadn't had time to put them to the internet yet. Hope you don't mind. Back on track for the 9ths post. yay me.

My pantry is the devil

I don't keep sweets in my house for a reason: I have ZERO self-control and I'd like to stay skinny through my 30s. :)

Lo and behold! I discovered 6 ounces of 70% dark chocolate in the pantry. All I need now is butter, eggs, sugar and a bit of flour and voila! Molten Chocolate Cakes. UM. YUM.

Here's the recipe. It's retardedly easy to make.
adapted from Bon Appetit (1999)

INGREDIENTS
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon brandy (optional)
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

PREPARATION
Generously butter four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Arrange on baking sheet. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in brandy. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs, yolks, and sugar in medium bowl until very thick ribbon falls when beaters are lifted (it'll be light yellow and thick), about 8 minutes. Sift flour over batter; fold in flour. Fold in chocolate mixture 1/3 at a time. Divide batter among dishes, filling completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake cakes until tops are puffed and dry and tester inserted into center comes out with moist batter still attached, about 13 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes. (Or if you're impatient like me, dig in immediately after scooping vanilla ice cream on top.)

Enjoy some food porn: