idiy “i do”-it-yourself giveaway!

I love idiy, and they’re giving away an “L Letterpress” Combo kit by Lifestyle Crafts. It’s a $149.99 value!

Here’s the giveaway link: http://www.i-do-it-yourself.com/2009/11/the-l-letterpress-tool-kit-giveaway/comment-page-12/#comment-3804

I would absolutely love to win, since it would be perfect for Operation Quiet Comfort! Though our card project isn’t on the main website, as it’s under construction, sending cards to wounded soldiers is a project I’ve been involved in for 5+ years.

Of course, I’d love the kit for myself, too…custom wedding invitations would be wonderful!

In the kit:
Epic Six Tool and Accessories (combo kit only)
L Letterpress Tool with Packing Mat
Ink
Ink Brayer with Base
Letterpress Paper
Printing Plates
Printing Plate Adhesive
Paper Placement Guides

How cool would it be to win?

Wannabe Food Blogger

 I love to cook. I love to eat. I’ll try anything once. But I don’t have the time or followthrough to churn out an interesting blog day after day. And for me, the selling point of a recipe is a lovely photo, and that’s something I can’t deliver. I’m living with two kids and two adults, a mismatch of dishes and utensils, and it’s all I can do to make sure the dishes get done.

And when I cook for the family, it’s usually almost gone by the time I remember I should have taken at least a picture of someone’s plate. I don’t cook for the boyfriend because he’s a picky one. He pretty much gets cupcakes from a box with canned frosting and couldn’t be happier. I wish I lived surrounded by adventurous palates. But even if I did, adventurous ingredients are hard to find here in Nowheresville, USA. We don’t even have a post office in my town, let alone a Trader Joe’s or a WholeFoods. What unique perspective could I offer?

I’m limited. But one day, I will fulfill my dream. My husband will build me a lovely house with a spacious kitchen and I will buy a decent camera and cook to my heart’s content.

I truly admire many food bloggers. I make my rounds daily, salivating over lovely recipes. Often, I make the recipe, and it turns out fabulously, but I have neither the camera nor the extra set of hands to photograph such endevours, and for that matter my kitchen is a mess with an outdated color scheme and not a ton of natural light.

I wish I could be a food blogger. They have a fellowship, Bakerella and Deb and Ree (PW) and all the rest of the greats. I feel like I know them. However, I don’t. Which is sad, because I’m sure we’d be great pals. I’m a wannabe food blogger.

the high end of low

new manson album. love blank and white.

Magic Mormon Underwear!

Religious people are sometimes nuts. Ebver seen Jesus Camp? How many nuts are on youtube?

Ohhh Mexico: a blast from the past

    

Food/Nostalgia

Looking for a good recipe for fideos. And absolutely craving a dish I had in Mexico…

In a town in Morelos, sequestered inside the barbed wire compound, was a lovely oasis with a lemon and lime orchard, poinsetta trees, mangoes, and lovely red buildings. There were green swathes of lawn, and bunkhouses filled with quietly sleeping girls. There was a dining hall, filled with eager appetites and humble Mexican cooks who introduced us to things we had never considered. Shredded carrot salad with vinegar and spices that I have yet to replicate. Cactus, greygreen like a cafeteria nightmare and yet like nothing I’ve had since. On a trip to Tepotzlán, we tried flower ice cream. I wish for rose ice cream that clear and perfect. But nothing can compare to my yen for the creamy arroz con pollo in that dining hall. I know; traditional dish. Something well known. Something eaten and ignored times before in the States. But I tell you, I yearn for that chicken. It was bone-in chicken, something we never have at home, and the creamy sauce made that meal. I can’t begin to guess what made it different, but I swear I will never have a more comforting, satisfying dinner. Maybe it could never taste the same without bright Mexican skies and the voices of my new friends from around the globe, the day of work and sweat and adventuring, climbing pyramids and bargaining in street markets.

So I Finally Caught Up

I got a Pandora. Nifty, eh?

 

I discovered after a few hours that you can only make 100 stations.

I ween! I ween! I’m a WEINER!

For those of you who don’t stalk modcloth, there was a perfect pairings contest. I CAME IN SECOND. HUZZAH.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-05-14-perfect-pairing-winners

Creamy Caesar Dressing: Brother-Approved!

My little brothers will not shut up about this dressing. I warn you, if you’re not into garlic, don’t go there. It’s anchovy free, and even the picky eaters* give it their stamp of approval.

It’s basically 1/3 cup of milk [I used protein-fortified skim], 1/3 cup of light mayo, 1/3 cup of shredded parm cheese, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tbsps of lemon juice. You whisk it all together, and you let it sit at least a half hour before serving.

 

 

 

I warn you, it will get more garlicy as it sits, so don’t be throwing in an extra clove. Your friends and relatives will thank you for restraining yourself.

My favorite way to have this dressing is in a tortellini caesar salad, with lots of lettuce, lots of dressing, and a few little four cheese tortellini. Maybe a few parmesan shavings if I feel glamorous. That’s it.

Enjoy.

An Aside about Lettuce Wraps.
Dear Julia,
You are one of the only people who reads this site. Anyway, lettuce wraps. With this dressing. And grilled chicken. Food-gasm.
Love,
Keelis

*[Disclaimer: This is not approved by all picky eaters. I do not speak for the picky eater community. There are some (cough BOYFRIEND cough) who would never, EVER eat something green. Or garlic. Or mayonnaise. Or milk. Or cheese. He likes lemon; but not lemon JUICE. You get the idea. So. Truth in advertising. Brian, the picky preteen, will eat it. The almost adult male? Yeah, no way.]

never again.

 the best day of my life. started out like any other, but at school there was a power outage and we were set free at 9:30.

budd lake diner with potato skins and mozzerella sticks and fries, chocolates shakes and pancakes and diet cokes…riding back to julie’s house music blaring, screaming songs, beautiful sunny day. the sky was bluer than i’ve ever seen it. the trees were greener; the world was brighter. in that moment i have never loved my life or my friends that much. next year they’re all going to college, and after that, we’ll become grownups. we’ll never pass this day again. watched the star wars trilogy together. made oreo truffles. “that’s what she said” was uttered often and loudly. i am typing this faster than fast while in the house by myself, dancing to new music, getting ready to bake some cookies for chem class. today is and may always be the best day of my life. i thought i should commemorate it.

julie, andrew, john, jackie, you guys mean the world to me. i love you all dearly for who you are and who you’ve made me. i’ll miss you next year, but you’ll do great things. best day of my life today, guys. love you forever and always.