Las Vegas

This Saturday we are leaving for Las Vegas. My husband had to go for work, and I decided to piggy-back on his trip since Sunday is our one year anniversary. Our schedule is full. I’m hoping to break away and blog about some of our adventures while we are there. Saturday night we are going to Mario Batali’s B&B Ristorante for dinner and then to see Ray Romano and Kevin James comedy act. I had to try another of Mario’s restaurants after our great experience in NYC.  On Sunday, which is our anniversary, we are going to Tom Colicchio’s Craft for dinner. I have been dying to go here because I love Top Chef. Afterwards, on to a Cirque du Soleil show. Monday, we are going to see Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil. I have nothing else scheduled right now, and I am set to come home on Wednesday. I’m sure I’ll be exhausted by then, with no sense of time, since I’m on the East coast. Viva Las Vegas!!

Carrot Cake

I have never been a huge carrot cake fan, and I am definitely not a carrot cake with nuts fan. I came across this recipe for carrot cake in a Cooking Light magazine I got a couple of years ago.  I always forget how good it is. It makes me think this carrot cake thing could grow on me. I need to make these more often. Now, is it actually light? I doubt it, but it is lighter than a regular carrot cake recipe. Everytime I make it,  I always get lots of great comments.  And cream cheese icing, how can you go wrong with cream cheese icing? So, in the spirit of Spring, and bunny rabbits, and fresh carrots, go try it! Find this recipe here!

RIP – Coffee Maker

It’s been two weeks now since she passed on. I think she just percolated herself on over to the other side. RIP, my beloved Cuisinart.

I’m actually kind of bitter about it. I returned the Cuisinart after 1 year of use. 6 months later I had to return the second one only to find out that the model had been discontinued. I decided it was time to try something new. I spent hours researching. I asked all of my colleagues, who are coffee veterans, for their opinions. There was a recurring theme. The Bunn. Now my initial google search for the Bunn brought up this image. Oh dear. Not as sleek as I had pictured.

I did end up finding non-commercial Bunn models, but attractive they were not. I continued to research. All the while, I was getting irritable because of all these caffeine headaches. . I finally came to a breaking point, when I was in the drive through at Starbucks on St. Patty’s Day, and the barista, with a GREEN Santa hat on, sticks his head out of the window, and says, “it’s a good thing your wearing green today because I was about to pinch you.” Must make my own coffee.. Two hours later, I was ready to commit. It’s a Delonghi, which has an Italian design, and I am pleased with everything I have read about it. It should be here by the first of next week, and I cannot wait.  Isn’t she beautiful?

Brownie Mix

Here lately, I have been spending entirely too much time in Earthfare, the supermarket. I love that place. The “Frank Sumatra” flavored coffee is to die for, and the cheese selection cannot be beaten. I hope everyone has a supermarket like this nearby.  I was cruising down the baking aisle, and this bright pink box of brownie mix seemed like it was just screaming at me. I snatched it up when I realized you only had to add yogurt to the brownie mix before baking. It’s called, “Fudge Brownie Mix,” and the brand is, “No Pudge. ” There were other flavors available too.  The lady who started this brand is really neat. She just loves brownies and wanted to create a no-fat brownie option for the rest of us brownie lovers. I came home and baked these right up. They were some of the chewiest brownies I have ever had. I prefer chewy over cake-like.  I got just the basic fudge, but the other flavors are cappuccino, raspberry, and mint. I can’t wait to try those too. Oh yeah – the batter is good too .

Footed Mugs

So, I have suddenly taken an interest in pottery. I want to take classes so bad I can’t stand it. At the same time, I keep hearing that it is really hard and takes a lot of practice. I’m willing to commit, but I feel like I already don’t have enough time to do the other crafts I have already invested my time, energy, and money into. Because of this, for the time being I am going to stick with sewing. This doesn’t quench my thirst for handmade pottery though. So, I found some really cool coffee mugs on Etsy that I just couldn’t pass up.  My favorite part about them is that they are footed. I cannot wait to get them. I’ve been diligently checking the mail everyday.  Now I have to decide where I will keep them.  I’ll keep you posted.