hello...april?!

My heck, time is flying by with ferocious velocity. Just indecent speed. 2014 is 1/4 done, and I can hardly wrap my head around that fact.

Aaaanyway...

My oven is broken. Not broken-broken, but the lower element is busted (see picture below), and that made me feel very frowny. I use my oven a couple of times a week, and being without one is ridiculous. Probably because it's broken, I've wanted to bake a great deal more than I would in a "normal" week. I've had a hankering for homemade bread, and also chocolate chip cookies. And muffins. (What can I say? Carbs is my favorite food.)

See what I mean when I say it's broken? New lower element is coming in today and will be fixed right after work.

I broken oven can't stop a girl from cooking altogether, though. I made some Double-the-French toast last week sometime. (French toast made with French bread.) 

It tasted even better than this picture looks.
Topped with a bit of blackberry syrup and fresh sliced strawberries.

ALSO, I've been craving homemade BBQ chicken pizza, and I bought all the ingredients necessary before I discovered the brokenness of my oven. So I got online and discovered you can cook pizza on the stove. You better believe I've had a couple of mini pizzas made just so. I've got enough dough to make a few more (but I'll probably make a regular one this evening, once my oven is fixed).

Mmmm...pizza!

Another something that is being fixed today is my car door handle, driver's side. Last Friday it broke off in my hand, and it was a very sad moment for me. (Why does car stress make me feel weepy every time?!) My new roommate Serena (shout-out!) followed me to my car guys' place then drove me to work. I called my guys to see when it might be done, and I was told that the wrong door handle was delivered; someone was (is?) driving the correct part to them from Pocatello, my car should be done around 1:00, and they'll drop my car off at my work. Isn't that great of them?! 

A broken car door handle is a pain in the bum.

Getting into my car over the weekend proved to be obnoxious; I had to get in the passenger's side, start my car, roll down the driver's side window, then get out, walk around the car, and open the door using the inside handle through the open window. (Glad I figured that out before I went to church on Sunday! Climbing over the center console in a dress--in the snow, no less--didn't sound very appealing unto me.)

And now...other things:

There was a bird flying around the gymnasium at my work last week,
flapping around and pooping on the climbing wall.
Kaity got close so many times to hitting the dang bird with well-aimed spit wads.

Dove Dark chocolate with sea salt and caramel might just be my love language.

A couple of weeks ago, the wind here in I.F. was a real jerk,
knocking over and decapitating some mailboxes in my neighborhood.

Last Friday, I took a creeper picture of this gentleman drilling said mailboxes into the cement.

This was March 26th. A cool, overcast day, but so lovely!

 And this was March 30. On my way to church.
There was at least 2 inches of wet, heavy snow on my car after church.

 

Also: I'm currently in 7th place (out of 14) in my work's NCAA playoff pool. I couldn't even tell you who I'm "rooting for" to win. Virginia, maybe? (I'm dead last in my family's pool.)

Happy April!

in the past fifteen days...

...not much has happened.  But I've got some pictures of the not-muchness. So...you're welcome for that.

I saw this in the parking lot at work:

It wasn't even my pie, and I was so sad about it.
#happybirthdaytotheground

Here's some food I've made:

Gnocchi covered in a homemade vegetable & chicken spaghetti sauce. YUM.

Cinnamon muffins with dark chocolate chips and raspberry tidbits.
Heaven in my hand right here.

 A couple of other things:

I'm playing the March Madness game with my brothers and aunt and uncle and cousins,
and also I'm playing at work. I'm coming in very nearly last, 'cause that's how I roll.

We had a gorgeous couple of days in I.F. a couple of weeks ago, so I washed my car.
Two days later, we got a nasty blizzard, and my car looks worse now than it did all winter long.
#icontroltheweather

Aaaand Utah happened:

Janel made these cute little googly-eyed cupcakes.

This one was Derek's.

The poor little lamb was really tired and, I think, confused about the whole party...

...and when presented with his cute cupcake, he scooped the googly-eyes off
and threw them onto the floor.

I told Seth I wanted to take a picture of him, and this is what he gave me: cake face.

Naturally, Marshall thought this was hilarious and followed suit.

After cupcakes and ice cream, the "big kids" played outside.
Emmett nearly kills me dead in his almost-skinny jeans.

While the bigger kids were on the trampoline, Julie had full reign over the slide...

...which was thrilling unto her.

Whilst in Utah, I met up with Brooker...

...and we watched Muppets Most Wanted. And we laughed like children throughout.
I totally want to see it again. It may be the best Muppet movie, and that's saying something.

ALSO: Spring is happening, on occasion, here in Idaho!

It was somewhere in the 60s today, and I happily wore capris with my new TOMS. Booyah!

Another something worth note: I've gotten my folks hooked on Sherlock. Truthfully, I just lent them my copy of season 1, and they got themselves hooked. (I'm quite certain that to watch Sherlock is to love it.) I kind of love that they love it.

That's that for my life these past couple of weeks. Let the jealousy ensue!

Longest. Tuesday. Ever.

This day...?

I'm not lovin' it. Somehow it feels like Second Monday, and that hardly seems fair.

But...according to my Mama (who is really quite wise), "You find what you're looking for," so guess what? I've found a silver lining in this day. (It was actually hand delivered by Jami The Great!)

BEHOLD:




It's no secret that this ginabean loves cinnamon.

And cinnamon combined with chocolate?! EVEN BETTER!!!

These little puppies are so delicious! At first you bite into it, and you're like, "Hmm. This tastes exactly like the milk chocolate version of M&Ms...wait. Hold on just a minute...!" And then this excellent taste of cinnamon is suddenly there, and it's WONDERFUL!

Yeah. If Cinnamon M&Ms exist, I can handle this Second Monday.

I think...

EISF

East Idaho State Fair 2011

Brooker tried on a bright pink cowgirl hat with lights..

And I tried on a hat that was meant for baby girls to wear...

Enjoying dark chocolate-covered strawberries...

Brooke tried the Bulls-eye burger (a hamburger on a glazed donut)

Beth, Brookie, Keri and Brooker had a sword fight with their strawberry kabob skewers...

Going for a self portrait with a5 of us: Brooker, Gina, Brookie, Beth and Keri

We also played EISF Bingo...

...and I WON!!!

 It was a good time. I really like the fair (on an annual basis)...

NYC: the Food

It's 7:24pm on a Wednesday evening; I SHOULD be playing softball.

Yesterday was the first day of summer, and the weather has been grand! I think it's even hit the eighties the last couple of days. WELCOME SUMMER! I could get used to this!

But then?

BUT THEN...just before our game was to start, it started raining hard, interspersed with large and heavy hail. Also, there was lightning.

Wait, why am I talking past-tense? This little summer storm is swirling around us, not passing over us.

Long story short: the game was cancelled due to lightning. Total. Bummer.

MOVING ON...

...to New! York! City!

NYC was disgustingly hot whilst I was there (upper 90s, plus humidity: ICK); dodging inside a deli to cool off and eat was wonderful. (And necessary.)

The "Alice"
(turkey, granny smith apples, brie, lettuce & honey dijon on whole wheat bread)
(Toasties in Chelsea)


I don't remember what this is called,
but it was some sort of grilled sandwich.
and it was AMAZING!
Maybe one of the best things I've ever eaten.
(Amy's Bread at Chelsea Market)

My new friend (never got his name)
who suggested the amazing grilled sandwich above.

Cherries and cream scone (also from Amy's Bread,
also at the suggestion of my new friend)

PIZZA!
sausage, sun dried tomatoes and ricotta cheese with fresh basil;
this was Jami's suggestion, and it was a winning combo!
(Grimaldi's in Brooklyn)

Key Lime NY Cheesecake
(Magnolia Bakery)

Pumpkin Pecan NY Cheesecake
(Magnolia Bakery)

A real NY hot dog
(Gray's Papaya)

Homemade potato chips with melted bleu cheese;
I totally loved this more than I thought I would!
(Bubby's in Tribeca)

SO! DANG! GOOD!
(The Shake Shack)

Nice cold smoothie
(forty carrots at Bloomingdales)

There you have it: I love New York City for her sandwiches.

PS The storm that kept me from playing softball has passed...

YUM!

I've had a handful of requests for the recipe of the chocolate cinnamon cookies that I mentioned in my last post. I'm happy to oblige, of course. (It's my favorite cookie because it combines two most delicious ingredients: cinnamon & chocolate. Yummmmm!)

Behold:

Chewy Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

2 Beat butter until creamy. Add brown sugar and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar; beat until blended. Add egg, baking soda, corn syrup and vanilla; beat well.

3 Stir together flour and cocoa; beat into butter mixture. If batter becomes too stiff, use wooden spoon to stir in remaining flour. Cover; refrigerate about 30 minutes, if necessary, until batter is firm enough to shape. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon; roll balls in mixture. Place balls 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

4 Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set and tops are cracked. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack or slide parchment paper and cookies to wire rack. Cool completely; peel cookies from paper. 40 cookies.

I always double the recipe. ALWAYS.

I got this amazing recipe from my dear friend, Jamie G. She got it from Hershey's.

You're welcome.

thinking foody thoughts...

looky what i had for brunch this morning:

so. dang. delicious:
old-fashioned oatmeal
a bit of brown sugar
slivered almonds
FRESH BLACKBERRIES

it was awesome. now you know.

on a totally unrelated note, i'm headed to nyc in june with a few friends, and for some reason i've been put in charge of finding out the best places to eat whilst there. (curious, eh?) i've already discovered where to go for pizza and awesome hot dogs. (yes, i know what i said: hot dogs aren't awesome, right? i've heard they're much better in nyc, and i feel like the experience won't be complete without eating a new york hot dog.) i've also got some notes on a couple of other places to try.

my real question is this: where does one go for an awesome bagel in nyc? help a girl out, please...

Happy Balentime's Day

We all know how I feel about Mondays in general, right?

I've been known to be fairly flippant over the years about Valentine's Day, too, and it makes me wonder...

How often does Valentine's Day land itself smack-dab on a Monday?

I haven't been looking forward to this day, like some of my twitterpated friends have been. But. I haven't been dreading it, either. I decided (at approximately 7pm yesterday) that I would embrace this Valentine's Day. Embrace it, baby! I adjusted my attitude accordingly, and I must say, I'm proud of myself. (Because V-Day landed smack dab on a Monday, of all days! A Monday!)

During my down-time at work, I wrote little notes of appreciation to some of my peeps. You know, to share the love. It helped me to forget the lack of a significant other in my life (once again), and to focus on the LOVE all around me.

This is a good thing.

Also, there were Valentine-y treats at work, including (but not limited to) chocolate mint truffles. I only ate one, even though they were mouth-wateringly delicious, and they called out to me like a siren. That's right, I further shared my love by not hoarding them.

Then there was FHE. Honestly, I didn't exactly want to go there, but I went (to give out my love notes, as well as to get out and be social on this stupendous Monday of Love!).

And afterward?

Oooooh! Afterward!

A group of us went to Kiwi Loco (a stellar frozen yogurt place) and got ourselves a yocococa. That's right, I said yococoa. Isn't that a cute word? It's where you get hot chocolate and then add in your favorite flavor of frozen yogurt.

And if I thought I liked the word yococoa...the culinary experience is quite splendid! Yum!

Thank you, Kiwi Loco,
for providing such a wonderful treat!

My yococoa had vanilla yogurt inside...