something deep fried would be more appropriate

This is the billboard for this years California State Fair.

I get the bear because it's the California bear.  But the (wannabe rapper) carrot?  Really?  I doubt there are any carrots at the fair deep fried or otherwise.  This would be a more accurate representation of the fair if the carrot was replaced with a deep fried twinky. 

when you can tell your kid takes after you (or Michael Weston)

I love yogurt.  I eat tons of the stuff.  Partially because I'm a vegetarian who can't stand tofu, but mostly because I just love it.  Liam takes after me in my love of yogurt.  Oh, who am I kidding?  He acts just like me in almost every way.  Really, I think the only differences are that he likes chicken, he's photogenic, and he's always sweet.  He loves every flavor of yogurt. 

Today I was opening the fridge to grab some things for lunch when Liam saw some yogurt on the bottom shelf.  He ran (yes, he can run) to the fridge, grabbed a yogurt, and tried to run away with it.  This kid knows the drill though, so when I took it from him, he didn't freak out.  He waited for me to get a spoon, sat down on the kitchen floor, and opened his mouth. 

He ate the whole thing.  In about five seconds.  Without spilling a drop. 

And didn't save me any :(

things that taste super fatty but are (mostly) healthy are awesome

Foe instance, today I made a random smoothie consisting of things I had on hand.  Those can be awful.  Today was yummy!
keep in mind I tend to dump in random amounts and not measure:

1 scoop vanilla protein powder
skim milk
ice cubes
pineapple chunks
coconut flakes
a banana

add ingredients, blend, enjoy!

Confetti Corn recipe

This isn't my recipe.  It is the Barefoot Contessa's.  It is super easy and delicious.

Confetti Corn recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1 small orange bell pepper, 1/2-inch diced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Kernels cut from 5 ears yellow or white corn (4 cups)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil, minced fresh chives, and/or minced fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, until the onion is soft. Stir in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes.

Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Over medium heat, add the corn, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the corn just loses its starchiness. Season to taste, gently stir in the basil or other green herbs, and serve hot.

Most Delicious Homemade Caramels Ever

Not that I'm hyping this or anything.  I haven't yet told my mom the ingredients, because she's so happy stuffing her face with them and being oblivious.  Anyway, this recipe is pretty easy.  And sooo worth making!

Ingedients:
1 cup butter
1 16 oz. pacakage brown sugar (2 1/4 cups)
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup light colored corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Line an 8x8x2 inch baking pan with foil and butter.  Set aside.
In a 3 quart saucepan melt butter over low heat.  Add the brown sugar, half-and-half, and corn syrup; mix well.  Cook and stir over medium-high heat until it boils.  Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, and reduce the heat to medium.  Keep boiling the mixture for about 40 minutes (I know, it's long.  Try to get someone to switch with you after a while) until the thermometer reaches 248 degrees.
Take the pot off heat and stir in the vanilla.  Quickly pour the mix into the prepared pan and let cool.  Cut the caramel into pieces and wrap in wax paper.  Supposedly it lasts for two weeks, but we ate ours long before then!

If you want to make some caramel like this, but take some off the stove after about 20 minutes, the softer mixture will be perfect sauce.  Yummy with ice cream!

how to make a person feel guilty

watch them do sit-ups while you eat pizza.

subconscious thoughts

You know you must be hungry/ thinking about food when you realize you are simultaneously

A) watching Ratatouille
B) perusing  the Food Network website for new recipes
C) reading a non-fiction book about a woman who goes through the Le Cordon Bleu program in Paris.  It's called "The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry".  I highly recommend it.

The very unfortunate bit about all this is that our kitchen is pretty much bare, so I couldn't make anything fun and yummy.  Sad day.  I really wasn't about to go grocery shopping at nine at night.

i sincerely hope it's just my "pregnancy nose"

My whole kitchen smells like salty cheese.

cheese cheese and more cheese

Jeff is really on a roll with this whole cheese making thing.  The cheddar has now been painted in wax to seal it for at least 8 weeks, and this past weekend he started the process of making Gouda.  I'm pretty impressed, although somehow I always seem to be the one who cleans up the kitchen afterwards... how did that happen?

Pregnancy: the best diet ever

Yeah, I know you're supposed to gain weight when you're pregnant, but so far I've lost 16 pounds.  But my doctor gave me magic pills today that are supposed to let me want to eat food again.  She also told me I should eat more french fries because I need the extra calories.  As soon as she told me it was just me that needed more calories, and that the baby is totally fine, I got really excited.  Yay!  I can eat whatever the hell I want with my doctor's go ahead.  Mhaa-haha (happy evil laugh).

Cravings

I'm kinda hoping my mad craving for french fries goes away soon.  Otherwise I'm going to become massively obese.  On the other hand, THEY'RE SOOOOO GOOD!

yum

I think the baby likes Powered Sugar mini donuts.  Yum!

description of me

hungry hungry hippo.

cravings

Before I got pregnant Jeff promised me that whatever random cravings I had, he would get for me.  All I want right now is berry pie and donuts, and he just tells me I'm crazy and I should just eat real food.  So sad...Doesn't berry pie sound awesome right now?

need v. want

Jeff doesn't seem to understand that I NEED french fries.  Not boring protein.  And he needs to be nice to the grumpy pregnant lady.

silly questions

the two silliest questions I have been asked today were asked in the same conversation today.
1. Do you mind if I make brownies?
and
2. If I make brownies will you eat some of them?

the bump

So I was at thebump.com looking up random pregnancy stuff, because I'm crazy and have free time, and I came across a message board posting that I think gives new meaning to "food cravings".  The post title was (and I am not making this up!) "I would shank someone for an orange".  Yeah... So glad I haven't yet gone THAT crazy.  Although I do eat a lot of oranges lately...

of course I'm brave

So my version of being brave (food-wise at least) is dramatically different from, say the judges on Iron Chef, but I'm still proud.  I ate ice cream made from goat's milk.  If it was easier to find I would only eat it.  It's super yummy and healthier than traditional ice cream.   And the packaging was pretty, which made it even better!  I will ALWAYS go for the pretty packaging.

yum

There is nothing better than a vanilla-pineapple smoothie.  Unless you scrap the whole thing and go for chocolate.

Something that will keep me awake...

Yeah... Gotta love those days where you start work at 6am, but are forced to park like a mile away (I'm not kidding) so you have to get up that much earlier. Grr. So halfway through the day I start trying to eat stuff that will keep me awake (it's basically a game of "how much sugar/ caffeine can I consume?"). My personal favorite for the day is the graham cracker & chocolate frosting sandwich that my dad created (no shock there for anyone who has ever met him). Maybe I'll make some coffee to go with that...