Fat and Happy, A Thanksgiving Story

It’s safe to say I gained, 5,6, 17lbs after shoveling bite after bite of Thanksgiving goodness into my mouth. As of this very moment, I’m not entirely convinced that I’m not still full.

Let’s be honest, Thanksgiving ranks up there with the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. Your job is to devour as much food in one setting as humanly possible regardless of the possible consequences. If you’re lucky though, the big consequence will be that you wind up taking a nap…a glorious tryptophan induced nap.

Big shocker, that’s exactly how my day unfolded.

Food -check.

Fat – check.

Nap – check.

All in all, Thanksgiving 2009 was quite the success. Everyone was on their best behavior and the dogs didn’t try to steal any food off of anyone’s plates. Instead, they just looked sad and pathetic in the hopes we’d toss some turkey their way.

And because I’m bloated from all the food (and wine) I enjoyed, I’m going to forgo boring you with more words and instead let the pictures do the talking.

Do not ask me what this is. All I know is that there must be some prerequisite stating that something congealed has to be served at all major holidays.

I hope all of you had a family filled, tummy stuffed Thanksgiving!

Let the countdown to the Christmas feasting begin!

Giving Thanks

Today, we gather with loved ones, hopefully incident free, to give thanks for all of the wonderful things we have in our lives.

My sister and I are currently avoiding work in the kitchen, or at least I am, and would love to share what we are most thankful for…

1.that you don’t judge me for using a dangling preposition.

2. for my dad saying, “shut up and drink your wine” on this glorious day.

3. For the most amazing pets I could ever hope to know.

4. For the fact that on Thanksgiving, it’s socially acceptable to start drinking at a completely inappropriate time of day.

5. For the best in-laws in the world.

6. For this guy, who no matter what, somehow manages to put up with me and all of the craziness I throw his way.

7. For friends like this girl who make me laugh….and laugh…and laugh.

8. For my sister, who hates having her photo taken, but will let me take photos of her amazing baking skills…

9. For my parents…because they are the kickest-ass parents on the planet…and because my dad’s hair is glorious.

10. For all of you, my old friends, as well as my new internet friends. You inspire me everyday.

Here’s to having a Happy Thanksgiving.
Love to you all.

White Trash Wednesday!

The Paula Deen edition.

My disclaimer for this recipe is that:

a) it probably contains no less than 5,000 calories per bite

b) it’s the holidays, so you were probably going to eat poorly anyway

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

1 1/2 dozen glazed doughnuts, cut into sixths
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
10 large egg yolks
2 large whole eggs
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Preheat the oven to 250°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the doughnut pieces on baking sheets and bake for about 30 minutes until dry on the outside and semi firm in the center. Increase the oven temperature to 350.

In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups of the cream with the milk, egg yolks, whole eggs and condensed milk. Add the doughnut pieces and let soak until softened, about 1 hour; stirring every 15 minutes.

Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spoon the doughnut mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil. Set the dish in a roasting pan and add enough water to the pan to reach halfway up the side of the baking dish.

Bake the bread pudding for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for approximately 20 minutes longer, or until the bread pudding is set.
Preheat the broiler. Broil the bread pudding for about 3 minutes, or until top is lightly browned. Let cool for 30 minutes.

Get in your car, drive to the nearest spin class.

help me, I’m in love…

I am. This little boy just might be the sweetest dog on the planet.
Just ignore the fangs.

He’s actually trying to hide that sweet puppy deep down inside.
Deep, deep down.

But it’s hard for him….

Very, very hard…

Because this happens…

And his little charade falls apart.

turkey and white bean chili

A few months ago my sweet friend Elaine ordered the Food Network Magazine for me. Since then I’ve become obsessed with gathering recipes. Basically, I get a new magazine, cozy up on the couch with my snuggie, and go on a mad search for good eats.
The other day my nightly search lead me to this great, yet incredibly easy recipe for turkey and white bean chili with cornbread dumplings.
And since the weather has taken a turn for the cold, seems like a night of chili just might hit the spot.

I made this meal the other night and honestly, the husband enjoyed this one more than any other chili I’ve ever made. I’m not entirely sure what that says about my cooking abilities… so…we’ll just leave it at that.

Here’s what you’ll need:
1 lb ground turkey…or if you’re feeling it, use your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers
1 16 oz jar chunky salsa
1 15oz can of cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp chili powder

Optional:
1 8.5 oz package of corn bread mix
1 egg
1/4 cup shredded cheese blend
onions
chili powder
sour cream

To make:
Brown ground turkey in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Drain.

Combine turkey, salsa, beans, chili powder, 2/3 cup water.

Bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, for the dumplings…again, this step is completely optional, mix corn bread mix, egg, and 1/4 cup water in a medium bowl.

Drop cornbread batter by large spoonfuls onto the boiling turkey chili.

Cover; reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until you insert a fork into the dumpling and it comes out clean.

Garnish with shredded cheese, onions, and more chili powder.

Go forth and make this dish, but please be sure to save me some.

it was a nice run.

About a week ago I posted a story about the Auburn-Georgia game. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the photos I took and eventually included in that post were more noteworthy than I thought.

This photo alone has been viewed over 680 times on flickr and according to friends has been doctored quite a bit too. {Disclaimer: do not click if you’re easily disgusted.}

I thought the whole story of college football players relieving themselves on the field in a tent specifically designed for that purpose was pretty funny. I didn’t realize that just about every other college football fan in the country did too.

My little post was linked up everywhere from Everyday Should Be Saturday to Yahoo Sports and a bunch of college message boards in between.

That spike in readership did wonders for my blog stats….and you know how I’m obsessed with blog stats. One day this site had over 8,000 page views…unheard of for the likes of my little blog.

But now…now it’s back to reality.
Now it’s back to recipes and doggies.
Now it’s back to hopefully averaging 100 page views a day.

Although…I’m wondering if I can make lightning strike twice.
I guess anything’s possible.

The end.

I was lucky enough to be selected for jury duty earlier this week.  But after 5 days of sitting in a dark courtroom, listening to hours and hours of testimony, and trying to understand words like myocardial infarction, lateral anterior descending, and ischemia, it’s safe to say that I’m happy to be home. 

Really, really happy to be home.

But what I’m even happier about (aside from my new found cardiovascular knowledge) is what was waiting for me at my front doorstep in a big box.

Hello?

Is this not the cutest thing ever?

And yes, this is generally what happens in my house. You get something new and the dogs want to roll around on it or in it.

This adorable owl pillow was no exception.

Oh and if you’re wondering where this came from…my mother in law made it.
See, now she’s creative.

Rhoob- thank you!!
I love it.

Too soon…

The news just keeps getting worse around here…
First, two molotov cocktails were left on the front step of a recording studio inches from my house.
Then I find out that UGA VII has passed away of an apparent heart attack.

One word – sad.

While UGA VII’s passing probably isn’t significant to most of you, it’s pretty serious to us Georgia fans.

UGA VII was cute.
Okay, he was cute as hell.
And there is no doubt he will be missed.
I, for one, will miss the little guy.

And that face.

And boy did he have a face.

ATL = ATF

As you may (or may not) be aware, I’ve been sitting in a courtroom all week long. To say I’m in a bubble is an understatement. While some people bring in laptops, I bring my sudoku book and my phone.
My old, non-web browsing phone.

My communication to the outside world has been limited to the occasional text message from the husband.

So far the major theme of the messages from Ash have been about how many people have been visiting my website (thanks to the on the field toilet shots of an Auburn player…sorry, #23). Today though…today was slightly different. Because today’s “text message of the day” was about this.

ARE.
YOU.
KIDDING.
ME???????

And when that article says the 1700 block, just to give you an idea of how close my home is to that molotov cocktail…
I can see the building from my back bedroom.

I think it’s safe to say that I can’t move out of here fast enough.
Suburbs…
here I come!

week13: water

Wouldn’t you think that after 12 weeks of taking photos of inanimate objects, I would start to get the hang of this weekly photo challenge thing?
Yeah, well, I haven’t. 

I mean, it’s water. 

I should be creative with it right?

Well, I wasn’t.  I just sort of lucked out and happened upon a fountain this past weekend after the big Georgia win against Auburn. And here’s what we’ve got…

Thoughts?
Comments?
Suggestions?
Incredibly harsh criticism?

Please leave your comments here.
Or not.

ps. It’s late and I’ve been on jury duty all week..with no end in sight.
I think I’ve run out of exciting things to talk about here.
Got a topic you’d like to discuss…
email me.
or leave a comment.
I’m thinking I need all the help I can get.