Since I didn't have any participants last week, I'll post last week's questions again:

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It's already time for Week #2 of TV Tuesdays!

For full details on this meme, visit this page.

Week 2 Questions:

1. Do you watch any reality tv shows? If so, which ones?
2. What's one TV show/series have you been meaning to watch but haven't yet?
3. What's your favorite TV theme song?

Labels: tvtuesdays

I was recently asked by one of the editors of foodbuzz.com if I wanted to be a featured publisher for their website.  The first time I received an email from them, I didn't take it very seriously.  I mean, who just randomly happened upon my humble little recipe journal?  Well, last week the editor posted a comment on my blog saying that they were still interested.  So, after a few emails back and forth, I am officially a publisher for the site!  Stop by http://sarafinaskitchen.blogspot.com and see my badge and vote for the site if you'd like to.  Needless to say, for something that started out as an easy way for me to share recipes with my family and friends, it is turning in to a lot more. :)

Labels: sarafinas kitchen

Val...so sorry I'm late again this week. It's been one of *those* weeks...but I am making time now because I love your meme so much. :)



#1. When going out to dinner what items do your order? Appetizers, soup, salad, dinner, dessert.
Unless it's a special occasion, I normally only get a salad and dinner.
#2. How predictable are you when eating out? Do you usually order a meal that you’ve had before or do you like to try new things?
If it's somewhere we go a lot, I tend to order the same thing. I'm usually only adventurous at new restaurants.
#3. When eating at a restaurant, what beverage do you like to order with your meal?
Usually iced tea. If I want something "adult" in nature, it's usually a margarita or a cosmo.
#4. Name a meal that you ate at a restaurant that you liked so much you tried to recreate it, as well as the name of the restaurant and the recipe.
I honestly can't think of anything off the top of my head. I would like to recreate Red Lobster's Crab Alfredo, though. The consistency of the sauce is amazing.

Labels: 4foodsfriday

the coolest movie poster I've ever seen. I love you, NPH!

Labels: movies

The thermometer on my back porch (which is in the shade, btw) says it is 96.5°.

Refreshing cocktail, anyone?

Labels: general grumbling

It's already time for Week #2 of TV Tuesdays!

For full details on this meme, visit this page.

Week 2 Questions:

1. Do you watch any reality tv shows? If so, which ones?
2. What's one TV show/series have you been meaning to watch but haven't yet?
3. What's your favorite TV theme song?

Labels: tvtuesdays

DISCLAIMER: This post is most definitely Adult in nature. You've been warned.


From Buzzfeed today:

Full Frontals

I love how much attention male full-frontal nudity gets in this country. Americans are so squeamish about sex...especially the male member being displayed on the big screen. It's perfectly ok for women to do full-frontal work, but men...uh uh. Sorry, guys...no matter how comfortable you are with your bodies, America doesn't want to see your Naughty Bits.

As most of you know, my Scottish Fling, Ewan McGregor, has had no problem doing full nudity in his movies: Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine, The Pillow Book, and most notably in Young Adam. Of course, Young Adam also included some very steamy and boundary-pushing sex scenes that earned the movie and NC-17 rating in the States and an edited version of the movie being released to DVD here as well. (Side note: only *1* scene was cut from the DVD release. Evidently, we can see a woman completely naked, but we can't see her being pleasured by a man in certain ways. It does amuse me that the custard scene was not cut - just goes to demonstrate how little the people who make those kinds of decisions know about sex.)

Back to the point of this post:

America - get over yourself. Stop being so uptight about sex and nudity. As long as a TV show or movie has an appropriate rating on it so parents know not to let the kiddos watch it, then who cares what naughty bits are shown? I say equal opportunity nudity for all!

Labels: ewan, general grumbling

Mediterranean Orzo Salad & Sweet Relish Slaw Salad


I also have some new cookbooks (now 101 cookbooks in my collection):

The New Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes From Famous Restaurants

Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Pie: Three Generations of Recipes and Stories from Summers on the Coast of Maine

Salad Dressings

Labels: sarafinas kitchen

For Amy...I left my hair curly Saturday. :) Sorry to be a traitor to those with naturally curly hair. I'll try to be good and wear it like this more often.




Edit:
Padmé wanted to be a part of SPS this week, too. She's sitting in the office chair, helping me reply to email.

Labels: selfportraitsunday

Four Foods Friday - If you don't already participate, start now! :)


#1. Cottage cheese. Small curd, large curd, chunk or whipped?
Small Curd, no low-fat stuff, either.

#2. Burgers. Made fresh, preformed fresh or preformed frozen?
Made fresh at home.

#3. If you could only buy one kind of salad dressing what would it be?
Ranch. You guys do know it sits on tables in Texas like ketchup and salt & pepper, right? ;)

#4. Share a crockpot or slow cooker recipe.

Slow Cooker Cheese Dip

from: Home-Tested Slow Cooker Collection

1 pound ground beef
1 pound italian sausage
1 pound velveeta, cubed
11 ounces jalapeño chile peppers, drained
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 pound cheddar cheese, cubed
8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
8 ounces cottage cheese
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt
black pepper

1. Cook and stir ground beef and sausage in medium skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain fat. Transfer beef and sausage mixture to slow cooker.

2. Add processed cheese, jalepeño peppers, onion, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, and garlic to slow cooker. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until cheeses are melted. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Labels: 4foodsfriday

Skeet's go-to channel when nothing else is on is Bravo, and even though she's not a huge fan of game shows, she's always enjoyed Jeopardy.

Flo's TV provider is Oceanic Time Warner Cable, and her go-to channel is the History Channel.

valmg2 has more control than the rest of us and turns off the TV is nothing is on. She also enjoys the classic game show Concentration.

I use DISH Network as my provider, my go-to channel is the Food Network or Turner Classic Movies, and Jeopardy and The Price is Right are my favorite game shows.

Thanks to everyone who played this week. New questions will be up late Monday or first thing Tuesday.

Inspired by Val's Four Foods on Friday meme, I thought I would try to get my own weekly meme started.

For full details on this meme, visit this page.

Week 1 Questions:

1. What TV provider do you use? (ex: Time Warner, Dish, Direct TV)
2. What's your go-to channel when nothing else is on?
3. What's your favorite game show (current or past)?

Labels: tvtuesdays

This is my first time participating in Self Portrait Sunday...be kind. It's from the webcam...and yes, I'm really that serious today. :P

Labels: selfportraitsunday

or maybe you do. I know I've done meme's like this before, or maybe I've just told everyone this stuff. Anyhoo...

Here are the rules:

* Each blogger must post these rules first.
* Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here’s eight things you may or may not know about me:

1. I've been wearing glasses since I was 6 years old.
2. I own 101 cookbooks.
3. I've never had braces, but I do have a permanent retainer behind my lower front teeth.
4. The show choir I was a member of in high school was the Grand Champion choir of the national competition we competed in my senior year.
5. My Chevy Silverado is named after Barney from the TV show How I Met Your Mother. (I love you, NPH!)
6. I want to be a contestant on Jeopardy. I even did the online test a couple of months ago.
7. I want to be a backup singer, preferably in country music. Yep, you read that right...not a lead singer or solo performer, a backup singer. :)
8. I think I lived in Florence, Italy in another life. I am completely fascinated with that city. Someday I'll get there...

I'm with Corrin...I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to play and comment with a link to your post. :)

Labels: meme

Four Foods Friday - If you don't already participate, start now! :)

#1. What’s your favorite food smell?
Vanilla or Cinnamon...so I guess that would be cookies. On the savory side, I love the smell of garlic and onions cooking together.
#2. What’s your favorite kind of apple?
Pink Lady
#3. What veggies do you like in your salad?
Butter lettuce, olives (black and/or green), mushrooms, carrots, red onions
#4. Share a recipe that uses beef.
It's a bit longer, and I have some good pics of Rachael Ray's Super Nachos, so follow the link to my recipe blog. :) I warn you...this makes a *massive* amount of food. That's a small serving platter I show the nachos on, not a normal dinner plate.

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

Four Foods Friday - If you don't already participate, start now! :)

#1. American cheese. Sliced fresh or prepackaged processed cheese product?
Sliced fresh.
#2. What is your favorite cracker?
Vegetable Thins or Water Crackers
#3. What hot breakfast cereal do you like? Think oatmeal, farina, grits, etc.
Maple brown sugar oatmeal
#4. Share a recipe that uses corn.

Creamy Corn
from: Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals

4 ears corn on the cob or 2 boxes frozen corn kernels, 10 ounces each
2 tablespoons butter
1 rib celery and greens, chopped
1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup half-and-half

Scrape corn from cobs.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add butter and chopped vegetables and lightly saute for 3 minutes, then add corn and season with thyme, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, then add half-and-half. Cover and cook over medium low heat 10 minutes. Uncover and stir, then adjust seasonings.

Labels: 4foodsfriday, meme

Labels: general grumbling

he keeps getting better with age. If you're a fan, go get the new album as soon as you can. :)

Labels: music