Friday Funny

I'm not sure why I find the tyrannosaurus rex so funny, but I do. Who's with me?

Have a great weekend everyone!

What I'm Watching

As a new mom, my evenings are significantly simpler than before I had children. Give me a glass of wine on the couch and a good show to watch and I'm set...for a few hours at least, until the kids wake up for a feeding.

So here's my current list of must-watch shows:

1. Boardwalk Empire. If you liked The Sopranos, you'll love this one. I can't get enough of the history in this show either. The Prohibition Era was certainly an interesting time in American history.

2. True Detective. Matthew McConaughey is on fire these days! Most times I see him on the screen, I'm 100% aware that I'm seeing the actor play a character. Not the case with this show. He becomes the character. It's an amazing sight to behold.

3. Downton Abbey. Between the talented cast of relatively unknown actors, the soap opera-like storylines, the beautiful English countryside, and the fabulous British accents, I'm hooked.

4. Game of Thrones. It has all the sword fights, dragons, and damsels in distress that one could hope for in a sci-fi show.

5. Modern Family. I don't necessarily agree with some of the content, but I have to give it props for the way it can make me laugh. It's the only show besides Arrested Development where I find myself literally laughing out loud at the TV. If you love the kind of humor that's derived from awkward situations and fast-paced, witty dialogue, don't miss this one.

6. Mad Men. The clothes, the clothes, THE CLOTHES! Hello, Joan Holloway! Curves and cocktails abound in this show which often leaves me feeling like I was born in the wrong decade.

7. House of Cards. Political discussions usually lead to heated debates in my family, which is why I'm not usually a fan of anything even remotely related to politics. However, there is something about Kevin Spacey playing a southern politician that is undeniably entertaining. I can't take my eyes off of him!

And that's it! If you have favorite shows that didn't make the list, please throw out your suggestions. I've got to keep this list going or else I'll be forced to do something productive at night instead, like *gasp*, read a book.

Best Brussels Sprouts

Did you ever have to eat Brussels sprouts when you were a kid? I did and boy did I hate them! Jump to 30+ years later and now they are one of my favorite vegetables. Funny how your tastes change over time, isn't it?

So the other night I was experimenting with new ways to cook Brussels sprouts and I came up with this tasty little recipe. If you like your vegetables cooked, but slightly crunchy (so not all the nutrients are zapped), you may enjoy this.

Photo courtesy of whiteonricecouple.com

Preheat oven to 350 degrees for roasting. Combine the following ingredients in a mixing bowl:

16 oz. Brussel sprouts, cut into halves
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme)
1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary (or 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

Add 4 tbsp. of olive oil to a roasting pan or baking dish for additional coating. Add Brussels sprouts and cook for 25-30 minutes. Serves 6 people.

Mixology Monday: Key Lime Delight

Here's a fun dessert-inspired cocktail that's sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth. It's called Key Lime Delight and it contains a whipped cream vodka that appears to be quickly gaining popularity among the lady folk. Cheers to Mondays!

Photo courtesy of Smirnoff.com

Key Lime Delight:

1.5 oz. Smirnoff Whipped Cream vodka
0.75 oz simple syrup
3 dashes of orange bitters
A squeeze or two from a fresh lime
Ginger ale

Mix the first four ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a glass and top with a float of ginger ale.

Friday Funny

If your job requires you to be on conference calls, you can probably relate to this one. I know I sure can.

Happy Friday, everyone. Have a laugh and enjoy the weekend!

When Fish Can Drive

This is so cool! The fish pictured in the video below is actually driving the car, which is operated via a webcam that tracks the position of the fish within the tank. Living proof that positive things can come from people who have too much time on their hands.

Mixology Monday: Kahlua Candy Bar

I've had a major sweet tooth lately so this edition of Mixology Monday sounds especially delicious. This tasty beverage is called a Kahlua Candy Bar and here's what's in it:

1 oz. Kahlua liqueur
1 oz. heavy cream
1/2 oz. creme de cacao
1/2 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur

Pinterest Pinwheel Sandwiches

I recently joined a twins club here in Seattle and once a week, there's a little get together with other members. We each take turns hosting each other at our houses. Last night was my turn so I had to whip up something for everyone to snack on. After several hours exploring Pinterest, I settled on pinwheel sandwiches. I didn't snap "real" photos so these iPhone photos will have to do, but you get the idea. Though I prefer meat on my sandwiches, the wrap with veggies was just as good as the one with turkey and bacon. Plus these were basically my own recipes, as I combined ideas that I saw online. I love it when a plan comes together.

Turkey, bacon and guacamole

Veggie 

Turkey Bacon Guacamole Pinwheel (approx. 6 servings):

1 container of turkey deli meat
3/4 cup guacamole
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
8 slices pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
8 strips of bacon (cut it up into 2"x2" squares before cooking it)
4 veggie tortillas

Veggie Pinwheel (approx. 6 servings):

1 cup pickled carrots*
1/2 cup pickled red cabbage*
1/2 Red onion, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 container of hummus
1 tbsp. capers
4 veggie tortillas

*Quick pickling: shred veggies and place in separate bowls with 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and half of a fresh squeezed lemon. Add pepper to taste and let sit for 15 minutes.

How to make a pinwheel: start with your spread first (guacamole or hummus in the examples above). Spread it across one side of your tortilla. Then sprinkle ingredients over the spread and roll up the tortilla. Slice the tortilla log into 3 to 4 pieces and place a toothpick in the middle of each. I've found the toothpick really helps the roll maintain it's shape.

Mixology Monday: The Truffle

With Seattle winning the Super Bowl (yay!),  it seems fitting to feature a coffee-flavored drink in this edition of Mixology Monday. This one comes from Cosmopolitan magazine from a few years back, and features Frangelico, vodka, and espresso. Smooth, but sweet, with just enough caffeine to wake you up. Cheers!

The Truffle:

1 oz. Frangelico
1. oz Vodka
3/4 oz. cold espresso