WORLDS ARE FORMING

Too Much Snow + Banana Bread with Chocolate and Cinnamon Sugar.

Winter is getting old in Spokane, and there isn't an end in sight. See the picture above?  That's looking out of one of my windows.   It hasn't stopped snowing here in over 24 hours.  I needed a good snack, and found a recipe for this Banana Bread with Chocolate and Cinnamon Sugar here.  (Some great looking recipes there, for sure!)  Here's to comfort food.

Baking Bread.

Potato bread.  I am kind of addicted to baking it right now, playing with the recipe.  So easy. 

Many people talk about the baking of bread as a spiritual experience.  I have to agree.  There is something powerful and peaceful in the kneading of the dough, the patience it takes to wait for the dough to rise, the fragrant aroma of the baking loaf, and the savoring of the warm bread with friends.   I will continue to do this, for sanity's sake.

"I love fall foods." Appetizer edition.

If fall foods and summer foods were to get in a fight, it would be a close contest.  However, I believe fall foods would win by a hair.  So much goodness to be had.  Tonight I made the easiest caramel dip in the history of humankind.

Caramel Dip
1 block low-fat Philly cream cheese
1 cup brown sugar
vanilla to taste.

Beat with mixer until smooth.  Refrigerate.  Cut apples.  Eat (and eat and eat).

I ate like a king.

Yesterday was amazing. Hung out with my sister Stefanie and her friends Jamie and Jason in NYC.  Went to the Empire State Building, hung out in Central Park, ate here, here, here, here, here, and here.  In one day.  Dined like a king with great company.  Once in a lifetime celebration...why not, right?  The celebration continues...

An Evening in NYC.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening with my good friend Robin from Austin.  The weather was amazing!  We walked around Central Park and then stuffed ourselves with Gnocci, Lasagne, and Sangria at Max restaurant.  If you have not yet been to Max...go!  I've been about ten times in my three years at Princeton.  It is a tiny little out of the way place in the East Village and has quality Italian cuisine. (And you can see some real live hipsters, too.)

Thanks to Adam for the picture.

Free Rita's Water Ice!

My West Coast upbringing did not prepare me for Rita, and I must confess that I have neglected her during my sojourn in New Jersey.  (Did you click on that link?  The song is amazing.)   Sure, out of the nine months I am here each year, five of those months are stinking cold, by no means great for enjoying Rita's.  However, in my last two months here in Jersey, I vow to visit Rita's a few times to enjoy the deliciousness that is water (pronounced by Pennsylvanians as wooter) ice. 

This Wednesday, March 21st, one can get a *FREE* regular water ice at any Rita's location to usher in the new season!  YES PLEASE.   I will be there.  Check out Rita's amazing countdown clock here.  Rita means business.

FREE COFFEE at Starbucks! This Thursday!

Go. Get a free cup of coffee at your local Starbucks!  Thursday, March 15th, 10am-Noon only!  (And yes, I know...I use too many exclamation points and am far too easily sucked in by the marketing ploys of major corporations.)

Book It! Under Fire.

I was definitely a Book It! kid in elementary school.  Big fan.  Reading = Pizza?  OF COURSE I WAS EXCITED!   I remember going to Pizza Hut to get my personal pan pizza with my mom and dad every few weeks.

I had all but forgotten about Book It! until I saw it under fire recently in the news.  Dietitians and child development experts are finally renouncing the program as unhealthy, claiming (among other things) that rewarding kids with food for their academic performance is ultimately damaging. 

Teaching and encouraging kids to read is important.  No brainer.  With childhood obesity on the rise, I certainly understand the negative impact Book It! could have upon kids.  (Now that I think about it, I could also imagine if I was rewarded with pizza for all the hours I have spent reading pages of books in my college and seminary career...I imagine that I could weigh significantly more than I do now.  Yikes.)

Any of you Book It! alumni like I am?  Any of you teachers or parents have thoughts?

...And a Fat Tuesday it was...

You know it was glorious. As with last year's Fat Tuesday festivities, a hungry crew of men descended upon our local Wendy's to feast upon the gifts of the Honorable Dave Thomas.  Namely, Dave's offering of Ninetyninecentjuniorbaconcheeseburgers, also known as JBC's. 

Fat Tuesday by the numbers:
11 Men aged 6-35, 34 JBC's, Lots of fries and Frosty's, 11 Cases of gas, 2 Women watching in awe.

   

Resolutions Delayed.

One of my pseudo New Years Resolutions is to drink less coffee.  (Sigh.)  Right.

The problem?   You I can't  quit drinking it when you are I am inundated with papers and tests, now can you I?  No!  Who wants those dang headaches?  So, upon the recommendation of good friends, I bought a great pound and a half of the Pacific Rim Blend at Whole Foods, and am drinking it up.  When the contents of this purchase is up and the tests and papers are done ... then I'll slow down.  Until that day, I'll hold fast to the wise words of another good friend (and most of the Christian church today):  "Caffeine helps my relationship with Jesus."