Bread FAIL. Pizza WIN.

When Snowpocalypse 2010 and Snowpocalypse 2010 II: The Sequel hit, I got bored sitting around inside. Usually when this boredom hits, I head to the kitchen to cook or bake something. I have, in the past, tried to make some bread, so I decided to try it again. 

Wow. Major FAIL on the bread baking. I had to warm up the water to dissolve the sugar, and I knew the water was too hot. But, being the impatient idiot I am, I dumped in the hot water anyway, hoping for the best. Yeah. Not so much. I straight-up killed my yeast. Oh, and I over-kneaded it, too. I covered my ball o' dough with a towel and kept checking it. It rose not at all. Zilch. Nada.

So, with my proverbial lemons, I made pizza crusts. Instead of bread, we had pizza. Not too bad a trade, right?

Here's the lovely gourmet pizza we made with the bread fail:

I started with a layer of olive oil brushed over the dough, then added some fresh spinach that I had chopped finely in the food processor with a bit more oil. Then we added:

*Caramelized onions

*Bleu cheese

*Prosciutto

*Goat cheese

*Chopped dates

Baked until golden brown and delicious, it was awesome! Cookie Monster and I have pretty high pizza standards now, since we make all kinds of kick-ass pizzas at home. Sometimes restaurant pizza is hard to compete with what we make. And when we make it, it's always super healthier than take-out.

Om nom nom!

Snowpocalypse 2010 II: The Sequel

More snow. Lots of snow.

Check out the crazy icicles.

I swear, there's a car under there somewhere. . .

 

And here's a good thing to survive Snowpocalypse 2010 II: The Sequel:

Snowpocalypse 2010

So, we did get some snow. Just a little.

See?

 

  

  

  

 

The Best Snowcones, Ever

When Cookie Monster and I were living in Portland and it was snowy one day, I had a stroke of genius. 

That stroke of genius: alcoholic snow cones! Scoop snow, cover with booze, consume, enjoy. I think at that time we made Chambord and Kahlua snow cones. 

Since it recently snowed (and we're waiting for more!), we replicated adult beverages out of snow, but we had a pretty well-stocked liquor cabinet and wanted to sample a lot, so we just filled shot glasses instead of coffee mugs. Enter: the best snowcones ever!

We had Irish creme, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps, cherry heering, root beer schnapps, Frangelico  and a nip of Chambord.

Just like your snowcones of yore, but with an adult twist. My favorites were the Frangelico and root beer.

Try one today! (Or next time it snows, whichever comes first.)

Incidentally, this is also a good use for snow:

Snowy, Wintry Charm City

Cookie Monster and I went for a walk in our 'hood last weekend after our latest dusting of snow. We are, currently, as I'm typing right now, waiting for Snowpocalypse 2010, wherein 16-20 inches of snow are predicted within the next 48 hours. No signs of precipitation yet, but we're assured they're coming. I have to say that East Coast meteorologists have been pretty spot-on so far, so take note, Dave Salesky: These people seem to know their shit.

Anyhoo, Cookie Monster and I ventured out for a walk last weekend after we got about 3-4 inches of snow. By this time, most of it had been plowed away on city streets and sidewalks were completely navigable. It was a very pleasant walk; it wasn't even that cold. 

The good thing about the East Coast is that when it snows, people generally know what to do. Salt trucks and plows come by, making getting around so much easier. Again, Portland: Take notes. The bad thing about this is that your car gets completely fucked by the snow/ice/salt. Exhibit A:

Down by the water, the snow against the river was really beautiful, especially with the sun shining.

Snow-covered docks:

And in parts of the river, where water didn't have much movement, it was frozen. Not very far down, but it was still frozen.

There were several ducks on the water, just hanging out and quacking. They must know that I'm a big Duck fan! Cookie Monster threw a snowball into the water near them, and they came to investigate. Before you knew it, all the nearby ducks were congregating near the spot; they thought it was food! It was actually pretty funny.

So, we shall see if severely snowy conditions are to be repeated. Waiting...