Whatcha Eatin?

I'm posting this because it's hilarious, even though I'm one of the biggest offenders:

Why have we started doing this?  Is this like when someone posts on facebook 'omg, I love my bf soooo much' - like they're trying to prove a point?  What point are we trying to make?  That we're well-fed?  

Cooking Scallops

So, I have, for a long time, wanted to cook scallops.  I'm a huge seafood fan and I'm trying to get better at cooking.   I discovered quite a few great recipes that I was excited about.

However, I ran into one major roadblock.  Scallops, apparently, only stay good for ONE DAY, even in the freezer.  And, they are, well, expensive.  So it certainly wouldn't be good to buy said scallops and end up not using them.  That'd be a travesty.

I am usually grocery shopping either a) after work on the weeknights, when, if I haven't already eaten before going shopping, well, by the time I get home from grocery shopping, I'm not in the mood to cook.  Or, 2) if I'm going grocery shopping on a Saturday, I either a) have dinner plans or b) have hopes of making some kind of plans.  It's a pretty big commitment to buy scallops and then have to tell one's friends 'Sorry, I can't meet up, I gotta cook some scallops'.

Anyhow.  Finally, an opportunity to make some scallops arose.  It was Sunday, I was at the grocery store.  I wasn't planning on it, but all of a sudden, I saw an opportunity and decided to 'carpe diem' if you will.  I was at the seafood counter.  I didn't have dinner plans.  I most likely wouldn't make dinner plans. I took the plunge.

Scallops can be incredibly challenging to cook.  All of the cooking sites I checked out expressed that it was really important to not overcook scallops, yet, for many obvious reasons, one doesn't want to undercook seafood.  And, all of the sites also expressed that based on varying scallop size/pan size/heat-level of the oil, it was almost impossible to pin down an exact cooking time.   Ok.....

After all the to-do, I somehow was able to get it pretty close to perfectly.  It was one of my personal best cooking adventures to date.  Here's some 'after' pics.  (I forgot to take 'before'.  Your loss, I guess.)

Anyone else cook scallops?  Anyone have any great recipes to recommend?  I'm very open to suggestions.

Exciting News in My Life

I got a new stove!

Jaime's kitchen is back in business!!!

Continuing to Eat My Veggies....

Yes, that's a yam.

Does anyone know where I can find a marshmallow the size of my pillow?

Does anyone have a good recipe?

O Sole O Mio

Dinner.  Grilled sole.  Delish.

Dinner Party Recap

veggie pizza

buffalo chicken dip

spicy turkey meatballs

deviled eggs, cheese, veggies, taco dip

chips, guac, hummus

So my dinner party was a huge success, if I do say so myself.  Not to play monday morning quarterback, but in hindsight, I made WAY TOO MUCH food.  I have way too many perishable leftovers.   Don't get me wrong - I'm glad I had choices for my guests.  But I made enough to feed around 30, while I was expecting 8.  Oops.  If you're in the hood, please feel free to stop by for leftovers.

Tonight's Dinner

Tuna Steak & Rice.

Yes, I did pair seafood with red wine.

Yes, that's steam rising off the rice.

Yes, that's a caramel apple candle.  And nail polish.

New Hobbies

So, I, unlike some of my peers, am not:

a)  tending to a baby/chasing a toddler around
b)  planning a wedding
c)  working 14 hour days or
d)  a full-time student

It's not to say that I have some 'time on my hands', but in a way, I kind of do.  Some people might think I am at a point where I should be 'living it up', and I am, for the most part.  However, something is often forgotten - most of my friends might fall into one of the above categories.  A lot of teachers I know make the same comment - everyone envies their 'summers off', but none of their other friends have the same luxury so it sometimes leaves them bored.

Anyhow.

To combat this temporary 'boredom', I'm acquiring some new hobbies/interests/goals/etc.:

(in addition to my current dance class/blogging/facebooking/what have you):

--reading (read 16 books this year - halfway there!)
--doing push-ups
--jewelry making
--painting my coffeetable
--cooking/baking
--random arts & crafts
--buying a piece of art
--learning various google products better (step 1 - blogger)
--becoming certified in said products
--getting a butterfly tattoo on the small of my back
--running 3-5 miles at a time without stopping approximately once every couple weeks
--additional blog - www.friendsoftheprintedword.blogspot.com

I am quite open to further suggestions.  Your thoughts?  Any one else take on some new hobbies?  Looks like it's gonna be busy summer.