Food Blog, Food Blog!

8:04 PM


I seemed to get a good response last time I posted yummy food pictures. I have some goodies for you guys today. I know you guys like these pics, but that means I have to go to these places and eat...not good when you are watching the LBS! But alas, I do.

First up we went to a place called Agave Azul in Kirkman and Conroy. This is WAY out of our comfort zone of places to go around our area, but we had heard so many good things, we took a chance. Thank goodness we did.

Fresh Guac! Look how chunky and delicious!

The hubby had tacos, and an enchilada. I forget what else, but I do see black beans. He said it was yummy, I did not get to sample it.

My plate. I went all vegetarian that night and it was great. A spinach quesadilla, chili releano, and enchilada. With fresh veggies. Of course I couldn't eat it all so I had a great lunch the next day as well.

I am not a big drinker, and I sure do not like Margaritas. I like sweet stuff, and I think a 'rita is too bitter for me. However, the hubby LOVES them. Look at the size of those things.

I could not believe how inexpensive this place was. Look at how much that HUGE margarita was. Only 2.99? WHAT!

Overall I highly suggest Agave Azul. It's in a strip mall which is weird, but it doesn't look anything like that inside. They even have outdoor seating.

Up next the hubby on Saturday night challenged me to make Key Lime Cupcakes. Like I said before I am good going off recipes, so Mrs. Betty Crocker helped me out and I made some FANTASTIC cupcakes, all from scratch...well almost.

They look really green, I didn't use food coloring, it is from the lime gelatin you put in with the batter.

You make your own frosting. Cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and butter. Hubby and I just wanted to eat it out of the bowl. It was so delicious. Frosting I HATE YOU! I did get to use my fun mixer that I got for the wedding.

So here are some done cupcakes and then some in process. Before you frost them you glaze them. That is what the ones in the foreground have going on. They were glazed with key lime juice and powdered sugar. TASTY. Hubby made me get them out of the house today, or the rapture would happen in the Dennis household.

Last in this food porn blog, is our beer pairing dinner at The Ravenous Pig. I had heard about this place a while back and everyone I talked to LOVED it. I was worried that when I tried it I'd feel it was over hyped. NO SIR, hype is correct. It's fantastic! The owners and head chefs (husband and wife) really know what they are doing. Hubby and I went on Friday night and learned about this beer pairing on Sunday, we were in. The brewery was Terrapin and as coincidence has it I had been planning on taking Daniel for his birthday to this brewery when we go to Georgia. Let me just tell you, if you get a chance to go to one of these pairings, it is so worth it. Everyone sits family dining style, you meet really great people and you taste some WONDERFUL food and drinks. I kept forgetting to take pics, so sorry for the lack of them. Just trust me and go.

Menu, enough said. If you are a vegetarian, you probably would have stayed away from this meal, because it was called the head to tail dinner, so every part of the pig was used. Except the lion cause everyone has tasted that.

This was the starter. Beer and a pork sandwich. I could have eaten the biscuit that this was on all night.

That's not wine in the background, that's beer. This was the tortellini and clams. The broth was fantastic, and hubby's favorite dish.

And for my favorite, dessert. This is a cherry pie, which has some pig fat, I think, in the crust. It was a long night and after that much beer and food you barely remember the last of it. But dessert, so good, and the ice cream, yes there is bacon in that. See the piece of bacon up top? That was in the ice cream. Sounds weird, but oh so good.

Okay, I have really rubbed this food in your face. Now it's your turn, tell us some place to go next. And make it a good one.


Gnarly is an 80's word?

9:06 PM

Been having some gnarly heartburn this afternoon and after about 4 hours it just now went away. UGH. I was doubled over while walking through Publix to get dinner for tonight. It's so uncomfortable but I didn't want to inconvenience hubby, so I just took it like a champ.


As soon as I left Publix I did down three Tums and one Pepcid. Then proceeded to lay on the floor at the house with my tush in the air. It just felt much better than lying all horizontally. Don't act like you have never done this. Or think I am weird for doing it. ;)

I never want to tell hubby when I don't feel good because if he's having a good day I don't want to ruin it, or if we are doing something I don't want to have to go home because I don't feel good. Most of the time I will grit my teeth and deal with it. I did smash my finger tonight on top of not feeling good and that was just the icing on the cupcake, I lost it. I started crying and acting like a baby because the culmination of everything just got to me.

I get frequent heartburn but I am not sure if it's something to see a doctor about.

All I ate was Pita Pit for lunch. Is there other reasons heartburn happens?

Since I am feeling better, I am making cupcakes. Will show you how they turned out tomorrow.

Going on a trip?

11:46 AM

Hubby and I want to travel. Two slight problems. Having the money to travel and hubby doesn't like to fly.

As I have said before, I am a hoarder of my money. I don't gamble, I barely shop (even though I'd love to buy all sorts of clothes and bags and purses), and basically I just hate to spend money. I think maybe that will change down the road if we finally pay off credit cards, but I just don't want to be in debt. I think being in debt is the biggest thing that scares me about spending money. If I don't have it to pay now for it, I shouldn't have it. Well unless I REALLY love it, but that is a rarity.

So anyway, back to traveling, hubby and I have yet to take a honeymoon. Someone mentioned to him "how long after your wedding is it still considered a honeymoon?" Really is there a time limit on what you can call a honeymoon? If I didn't want to take it or couldn't take it for 30 years, it's still where we wanted to go for our honeymoon. So, our honeymoon destination is London. Many people have tried to talk us out of going, or told us it isn't a good place to go, but this isn't about them. It's about us. Going to London means we can experience the culture, see a soccer match, and travel outside the US and the continent. We definitely want to do the tourist thing of going to Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, see a changing of the guard and many more things. But we also want to tour Arsenal's soccer stadium, Emirates Stadium and see a match. There has to be nothing like going to a real European soccer match. We are planning our trip around going to a match. We both have never been overseas so we are looking forward to it, and maybe we could even take a train and go to another European country, just to get it all in. Make the most of our time. We've saved for this trip, so I feel like we can take a good vacation and not worry about when we come back about how much we spent. Only catch is I'm worried about hubby. He does not like flying. He's had some really horrible flights and it has just freaked him out. I think it's more anticipation with him of the trip but when he is on the flight he calms down, well with the help of xanax and alcohol. We've looked into flying Virgin Airlines, they seem like a really great company and hoping they could take care of us and calm the fears of hubby. And they flight straight through, no connecting flights because I think that'd freak him out more.

Last time and only time I have flown with hubby, we went to California. He flew first class and I flew coach. It's not as bad as it sounds, my mom and brother were with me. I wanted him to be as comfortable as possible. He was! We also had a very nice lady allow us into the Delta Crown room before our flight and the hubby downed like 10 beers before our 6am flight. However with going to London the first class seats are significantly more expensive than going to California. Anyone know any tips or tricks into upgrading without the hefty cost? He told me this time he wants to go to London so bad, he will suck it up and go. I am really proud of him. We both want to travel and for him to face the thing he hates the most really means a lot. I love him.

The only other trip we are looking into taking this year is driving back to Atlanta. We went last year for hubby's birthday and had a blast. We had never really spent any time in Atlanta, but really came to enjoy it! We found a little community called Little Five Points that we LOVED hanging out in. I know there is so much to do there and we barely scratched the surface last time, so it looks like for his birthday again we'll be venturing north. He gets Atlanta for his birthday and I get London for my birthday, not a bad trade off.

Have any tips for us going to London or Atlanta? Or flying? I need insider info.

Working time.

7:04 PM



I work a lot. Probably a little bit more than the average person, but when you have an unset schedule and could work nights and weekends mixed in with some days, it sometimes feels like I am working like crazy. Many times I could work 10 days in a row before a day off. And that is so draining on me and the time I have with the hubby.

There are sometimes that I will not see the hubby for two days. Say I work the evening on a Wednesday, well he goes to work at 5am, and by the time I get home at night he is asleep, so I don't get to see him until that next morning when I am sleepy tired, but that's not quality time. So then if I work two nights in a row, and work Thursday night too. The process repeats and I won't get to spend quality time with him until some point on Friday. By that time we are both dead tired and fall asleep by 10pm. That happened this week.


And with working weekends, I have dubbed him my latch key kid, because I always leave him home alone to try and figure out something to do. It stinks because yes there are some weekends he is working and that keeps him busy but it's rare. Weekends should be when you get to play and have fun, but he is for the most part alone. Sad face.

I know it's good to have alone time from your partner every now and then, however I think our alone time is more than the average couple, well except for maybe a truck driver and his wife. And I think hubby's alone time is way more than the average husband. So when we do have time together we try and make the most of it. A lot of people comment that we go out to eat a lot or are gone out somewhere, but it's because we are trying to spend that time together and have a quality but fun time.


Like I mentioned before if I could get paid just to go to school it would solve the worlds problems. ;) Just kidding, but this is the life I chose, so we learn to deal with it, for now. Kids would be another story, and we'd surely have to figure out a set schedule, rather than this one that changes week to week.

Sorry if I am complaining, but having just gone through the scenario above for the third week in a row, you just get worn down and you miss your mate. Bare with me, we will be back to cupcakes and butterflies soon enough. :)

As for the blog, sometimes you will have a post everyday, and sometimes I will have to skip a few days just so I can have time with hubby, or time to do stuff I need to do around the house. Although I hope you do enjoy what I post when I have time.

Happy Saturday.

Sooo tired...

8:32 PM


I am so incredibly tired. I can barely keep my eyes open.


I did what we call a clopen. I closed my store last night and opened back at work early this morning. Plus I have been working a lot. One of these days when I am not so tired I'll tell you about how much I work and how much I don't see my hubby because if it.

Also I thought I should blog one day about how I became the wife of the hubby. Anyone wanna know that story? But right now I sleep.


Three things I like

5:03 PM


Makeup. Fun bright eye makeup. MAC Cosmetics is my weakness. Here is my overall makeup.


I am sort of embarrassed to show I have that much makeup. But what I tell people is I wear a uniform to work, so makeup is how I can express myself. It’s not for everyone, because I am sure most women aren’t going to wear the fushia color below.


And the MAC ads get me everytime. They are always so bright and fun, how could I not want to buy it ALL.



Cupcakes. Most of you know my obsession with cupcakes. So when I saw these two shirts, I want, I want, I want.




A friend of mine who is also cupcake crazy, gave me this ornament. It’s housed with all my toys, so it can be on display all year. Here is a blog I follow just about cupcakes.

Toys. I like blind box toys. These are the ones you buy and it’s a surprise on the inside what exact toy you’re getting. Some are rarer than others.



But now Disney is in on this whole blind box thing, and it kills me. I haven’t started because I know one, I don’t have the room and two I’d have to track down so many, and the cost. Oh the sadness. But I did buy a backpack, so I can feel like I’m apart of it.


Wow, I sound like I’m 7, makeup part included. Little girls love bright stuff, and so do I. What do you like?

PS. You know what, I didn't wreck my manicure today as bad as I thought I would.



Just one of them days

6:05 PM


Today is one of those coveted do nothing days. All the housework is done, and I have no errands to run. There is always laundry to do, but that’s one of those chores you can put off, for a little while longer. Anyway, these days are wonderful.

I started out and rode my bike in doors on the trainer today, even though I had time to ride outside. I was really trying to kill two birds, one stone and catch up on all my shows on the DVR.

My show of choice while riding, Oprah or Oprah behind the scenes. Maybe it’s the show of choice because it’s the one I have the most episodes of since it’s on everyday. Fact: I record Oprah everyday. Use to do the same with Rosie (and excited she is coming back.). I will watch the first 10 minutes and I can delete it or keep watching, but at least I have it. I know so many people hate Oprah, dude I am just watching to be entertained. She makes me laugh, her shows make me cry, and I too jump up and down on Favorite Things day, even if I am jealous. She can get really interesting people to talk on her show and brings up interesting things, why hate?

But anyway, speaking of gifts from Oprah. I got one!!!! This package arrived for me last week at work. So I know it says Oprah Magazine, but let’s pretend that Ms. O packed this gift bag especially for me.

Inside there was the picture frame, Oprah Magazine, a book and a very lovely O necklace. And if I wear the O necklace not everyone is going to know what or who it stands for. Looks just like a piece of expensive Tiffany’s jewelry right?


The back-story of why I received this bag of goodies is at work every co-worker had the ability to team up with others and propose a project that would improve the lives of those in their community. Each store could send off three proposals and then the whole country (just employees around the country) could vote on which 5 they wanted to win $10,000 for that proposal. Guess what, my group won!! We are in the midst of getting this awesome project finished, mid-May, and so Oprah’s life coach Martha Beck, talked to us and then sent us these bags. Fun right? It feels awesome to give back and help out. I’ll blog more about this project once complete, we don’t want to take away from it until complete.

So now here I am, hubby is sleeping, Ceasar is lying at my feet, and I just painted my nails.

I will post of picture of what they look like tomorrow. I can destroy a decent manicure (I am not good at painting my nails, I wish I had someone to always paint them, and the hubby already said NO) in a day or less at work. And tomorrow is a remodel, so I’m sure they will be wrecked. But at least they looked good now right?

FOOD!

5:19 PM


I love food! Good food. It showed back in high school that I like food a little too much. Sweets that is. I do like other food, but sweets are my downfall. Thanks Dzdzius (thats grandpa in Polish, he's the sweet-a-holic in the family).

But I do love food in general. I think though I have a socialist way of looking at food...don't hate me yet. I think the staples that keep us alive should be free. Bread, Milk and the like, however if you want to get fancy, then ya you pay for it. The hubby and I like good, well prepared and presented food. We like going out to nice restaurants and enjoying a great meal. A lot of those great meals we take pictures of. Here are a few.

Bento boxes in Japan at Epcot. Hi hubby.

Chicken Tostadas in Mexico at Epcot.

A burger on a soft pretzel with tots on the side in Atlanta at the Vortex.

Cheese, one of my favorites as an appetizer at the Flying Fish at Disney.

Chicago deep dish, where else but Chicago.

BBQ in Atlanta...

At our favorite spot, Mellow Mushroom. The Capri sandwich.

Mahi at Bluezoo in the Dolphin hotel at Disney. Yes Disney is the trend, they have really well prepared and yummy food.

I do like cooking at home. I am a follow the recipe to the T kind of girl, while hubby likes to improvise and add stuff. I am too afraid I'd mess it up. And I am not one of those people that can just throw stuff together and have it be a wonderful fullfilling meal. Nope, it's got to be a recipe. But I am pretty daring when it comes to recipes. I have done shepards pie from scratch, a good meatloaf was my first meal I cooked the hubby. But I bet you can't guess what I like cooking over just normal meals? Yup sweets. Love to bake, and make goodies. But again, I need a recipe, and most of the time I will bake eat a little of it, and take the rest to work. Yes my work people love me. Here are some of my creations.

Belgian Waffles, with Frosting. Okay so we improvised this one. The Belgian Waffles are made out of cookie dough.

Shepherds Pie!

Soup with Cheddar cracker. I can't even recall what soup it is now.

Pumpkin cupcakes, and my halloween touch, Hershey Kisses.

However, I think my favorite meal of the day is breakfast. Gasp, yes out of all those fancy and nice dinners, I would give them up, just for breakfast foods. Biscuits and Gravy, Omelets, Cereal, the list could go on and you can do it so many different ways. Yea, if I had to pick one meal to always eat, it would be breakfast. You can do sweet breakfast or normal, you can do fruit, eggs, meat or no meat. The possibilities are endless.

Oatmeal with blueberries and honey. If I am trying to have healthy breakfast.

Pumpkin loaves for breakfast.

Biscuits and Gravy at Brians in Orlando. Anyone know if they are going to reopen, ever?

Hungry yet?

So I am asking you, if you had to only eat one meal a day, which would it be?

BTW, I was going to blog on the Royal Wedding, but I am sure you are overloaded on that by now. You can thank me in cupcakes. :) *Note that I originally wrote this post on Friday, but had no time to post it, hence the Royal Wedding reference.





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