This may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever posted, but it also might be the most entrancing.
If you stare at us long enough, we change directions! Well, at least one of us does.
Stoners, rejoice.
WHAT SHOULD I BUY? Cheap-o Edition
It’s that time again! CSN Stores will be furnishing me with an $80 gift certificate to use with its vendors in return for a review on this site. This is fantastic news because now my dream of having a slow cooker AND an ice cream maker could come true (assuming the ice cream maker doesn’t sell out, in which case I’ll be devastated).
The ice cream maker in question costs $69.95 (with free shipping), which leaves only about $10 to spend elsewhere on the site. Right now I’ve singled out a gratin dish to fill out the order, but I’m curious as to what other cheap items people recommend I choose. Take a look at csnstores.com and tell me if you spot anything for less than $10 that I should DEFINITELY have. Leave your suggestions in the comments. And no, they’re not paying me to send you all en masse to their website.
I’m curious to see what y’all come up with!
ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Slow Cooker Galbi Tacos
Not too long ago, I received a slow cooker from CSN Stores (who have a lovely variety of table lamps, I should note), and I was quite excited to put it to use. Sadly though, I totally messed up my debut dish after attempting to execute a dutch oven recipe in my new device. The whole thing was a mess. In the wake of this disaster, I received many tips from friends and commenters, all of whom said I should a) use a recipe dedicated for a slow cooker; or b) just throw in whatever looked good and let ‘er rip.
For my second effort, I decided to go the latter route. I was going to do something I’d always wanted to try: adapt my standby Korean galbi marinade into a braise. Results after the jump…
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Sushi Night In Los Angeles!
Last month, my friend Lindsey invited me to a Japanese-themed dinner party where she would be making sushi, miso soup, and various other delectable dishes, all in the spirit of fun times and soy sauce. I was immediately intrigued as Japanese cuisine has been something of a neglected area in my general attempts to learn Asian cooking (first time readers should know that I’m heartily obsessed with eating and cooking Korean food). Surely this dinner party would inspire me to explore new recipes and dishes.
Perhaps sensing my eagerness to expand my horizons, Lindsey also invited me to join her at the Mitsuwa Market, a local Japanese grocery store, where she’d be purchasing most of the ingredients for the night’s festivities. I jumped at the opportunity — both to see the store and to observe Lindsey’s process. Turns out Lindsey spends a good chunk of every year in Japan; so she’s quite well versed in the culture and food. My mission that day was to be a giant sponge. Or rather, a giant sponge in a hoodie. After all, who knows? Maybe this would be my first step in joining the ranks of Chef Masaharu Morimoto…
Kim G Continues To Talk Smack About Danielle
Not too long ago, I posted a video of Kim Granatell (aka Kim G) from The Real Housewives of New Jersey talking smack about her neighbor and alleged friend Danielle Staub. Little did I realize there was more footage to be had.
Enjoy this (too lengthy) clip, courtesy of Tom Murro at celebritymagnet.com.
DANCING COUGAR ALERT! Danielle Staub Edition
We’re used to seeing the tough, defensive side of Danielle Staub from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. However, even cougars who’ve been terrorized through country clubs need to have a little fun, and Danielle let loose on last night’s Watch What Happens Live! The mom / Public Manzo Enemy #1 emerged from the witness protection program long enough to do a little dance for Andy, but sadly, she refrained from actually getting up on a nearby coffee table, lest it break under her weight — clearly the result of a murderous Manzo-planted booby trap.
Fun, strange times nonetheless.
Thanks to reader LynnB for the heads up.
REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Danielle Fights Back
It took about seven episodes, but The Real Housewives of New Jersey is finally in that ridiculous, campy place it should have always been. This week’s show took place in the wake of last week’s epic brawl, and now that the dust had settled, it was time for Danielle to seek her revenge. Unsurprisingly, she took her case to the courts, amusingly gathering a small legion of neighborhood busybodies which was led by none other than the reigning busybody herself, Kim G. The women all stood with Danielle’s lawyers outside the courthouse, nodding their heads emphatically as she recounted details of the Posche fashion show; although, when Danielle asserted that someone screamed “I’m going to kill you!” the women all backed down politely, offering up the alternative that “there was name calling.” The scene was so wonderfully emblematic of bored suburban women that it felt like I was watching a strange sequel to Edward Scissorhands.
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MAGNOLIA BAKERY PREVIEW: Pudding & Scandal!
It’s not often that I get to preview a much-hyped bakery, and it’s also not often I get to complain about local busybody community residents, but I’m proud to announce that I’ll be doing both in this humble post. The setup is simple. My friend Jenny, a.k.a The Dessert Darling, emailed me full of excitement, perhaps stemming from a sugar high (she eats many cupcakes for her site), to alert me that the famed Magnolia Bakery was finally opening up a Los Angeles outpost this Friday. Did I want to join on opening day for a cupcake or two?
I’m not one to turn down cupcakes; so obviously, I said yes. We eventually agreed to meet this afternoon, and after braving through some intense midday traffic, no thanks to the ill-timed stoplights on Fairfax, I finally made my way to Magnolia. I was immediately shocked by the lack of customers. There always seems to be a secret Mommy newsletter that goes out every time a cupcake shop opens in Los Angeles, and as such, I just assumed there’d be lines (not to mention balloons) up the wazoo. There were none. All I found was an empty bakery with no one but Jenny.
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Revisiting The Best Donut In Los Angeles; Also, A Cookie Backfire
Not too long ago, I made a bold proclamation. I labeled the glazed buttermilk donut at Tasty Donuts the BEST DONUT IN LOS ANGELES. I was met with resistance from many, especially those who suggested that I may have upset the entire food blogging community by not kowtowing to what is widely accepted as the home of the best donuts in LA, Donut Man. Here’s the thing though: I’ve never been to Donut Man, and I’m not sure I want to drive 34.5 miles to try it (and by the way, the Glendora location is truly testing the geographic limits of claiming to be the best donuts in Los Angeles).
Nevertheless, all my raving about the glazed buttermilk donuts piqued the curiosity of my friend Jenny, whose tasty site Dessert Darling is devoted almost exclusively to — you guessed it — desserts. She immediately expressed interest in trying the much hyped donut, and soon we agreed on a joint tasting session. After a few false starts (it’s amazing how tricky it is to coordinate a simple donut date in LA), we finally met up. Jenny could test the donut for herself, and I could defend its honor, should I need to.
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ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: My First Slow Cooker Experience!
Recently CSN Stores gave me a $40 gift certificate to use at my discretion, as long as I reviewed whatever item I purchased from them. After taking an informal poll on the blog, I opted for a slow cooker (just barely edging out the ice cream machine, which has been out of stock anyway). I was actually quite excited for this new addition to my kitchen, and I knew there would be no better way to consecrate the device than by whipping up a dish for Big Brother premiere night. All I needed to do was settle on a recipe.
Well, there’s a restaurant nearby called LoterÃa Grill, which specializes in upmarket Mexican fare. One of my favorite items on the menu there is a carne deshebrada. Garlicky, juicy, flavorful — my mouth waters for it nearly around the clock, it seems. I knew I could somehow replicate this wonderful shredded beef; so off to the Internet I went, and lo and behold, Epicurious seemed to have just what I was looking for: Carne Deshebrada en Salsa Roja! Truth be told, this recipe was designed for a dutch oven, but one of the commenters left a review saying he or she had executed the dish in a slow cooker to excellent results. Could this have been more perfect?
I took a perfunctory glance at the recipe and decided this was what I’d be making. To be fair, I hardly even read the steps involved. I just jotted down the ingredients, went to the store, and got to work. The results of this endeavor after the jump…
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