Scary movies!!

Sorry dear blog friends - I had to take down the post that I put up last week about creepy marzipan babies. I had to copy/paste them out of an email (because I couldn't get them to save) and then they didn't show up on my blog. By the time I realized this I had already deleted the email. But you should probably thank me for sparing you. They were freaky.

Speaking of freaky ... Scary and/or graphic movies do not bode well with me. I have never liked them. I get scared easily and I also have an over-active imagination, so I stay freaked out for extended periods of time. (Scream freaked me out soo bad that I've never watched more than the first one. I know, I know, Scream is lame - and apparently so am I).

Last night Randy & I decided to rent a movie and he drew the short stick and had to go (ok so we didn't draw sticks, but I was making homemade pizza & couldn't very well leave that in the oven unattended!). He asked what type of movie I want - I said, "Anything but a scary movie. I'm feeling like a comedy or drama - maybe I could do a suspense movie." I guess that "suspense" was not the best word to use. I should have said "action" movie. Randy came back with a movie called "Horsemen" (with Dennis Quaid)

Yes, this movie was suspenseful - but in a scary and/or gross way. (Randy thought it was funny that I was so freaked out, but he was a champ and let me cling onto him during the scary parts). While the story line was interesting and overall it was a good concept, it was very gory (in my opinion) I had to cover my eyes - a LOT during the movie. This movie made me very squeamish - and sometimes just not seeing what was on the screen wasn't enough for me - - I had to cover my ears too. It reminded me a lot of the Bone Collector. Suspenseful and chilling and graphic.

If any of you have seen this movie, or will see this movie, I am sure you will think I'm a big wuss. But that's ok. I admit it. I DON'T LIKE SCARY MOVIES.

I went to bed last night feeling like this!

The great Chocolate Chip Cookie debacle

Remember that Friends episode where Monica tries to recreate the chocolate chip cookies that her grandmother used to make for Phoebe? She swears that it was a secret family recipe that her grandmother took with her to the grave. So Monica bakes the whole day away - making little tweaks and variations to the batter - only to discover that Phoebe's grandma used the recipe on the Nestle Toll House cookie bag! That is how I have been for the past year or so.

Randy is what you could call a "Chocolate Chip Cookie Connoseur." They are BY FAR his favorite dessert - last night he called them his "Kryptonite." Since he has eaten so many chocolate chip cookies, he knows his stuff when it comes to the best cookie. His mom makes chocolate chip cookies every Christmas - and he has ranted and raved about them ever since last Christmas when he helped polish off the 5 dozen that she made. I had them at Christmas - and I agree that they are good. They are small, thick cookies chocolate chip cookies with finely chopped nuts and are almost crunchy. They don't really rise or flatten out when baking - they still look like the little dough balls she forms before putting them in the oven. She won't give out the recipe - but I know that Crisco is involved.

Since then, I have tried several variations of the Chocolate Chip Cookie to try and give her cookies a run for their money. I tried variations of the recipe on the bag, the recipe that a friend gave me a few years ago, even Dorie Greenspan's version - and they have not been up to par. A few months back, Elizabeth shared with me the recipe that she uses - and I agree that they are PHENOMINAL. Randy really likes the "chip to cookie ratio." I made them earlier this week - and tried a new variation that seemed to be successful. (If you look at Southern Living recipe it also gives you some great looking variations on the cookie) I thought I'd share the recipe. I'll try to take a picture of them tonight - if there are any left when I get home!

ALL TIME FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (adapted from Southern Living)

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 (12-oz.) packages semisweet chocolate morsels **
Parchment paper

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Add eggs and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla, beating until blended.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended. Beat in morsels just until combined. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

3. Bake at 350° for 10 to 14 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Remove to wire racks, and cool completely (about 15 minutes).

** My variation was 1 bag of regular semi sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of the mini semisweet chips.

I am a big fan of pecans in my chocolate chip cookies, but I didn't have any on hand when I made them. But I these were so great without them, I am wondering if it's best to leave them "as-is." These earned rave reviews from Randy! (But I have a feeling that I can never re-produce his mom's recipe). I guess I'll have to stick to my "World's Best Brownies" title. I'm fine with that.

Foodie blog goodness

Try as I may, I am just not a good "Foodie Photographer." Yesterday I found some GREAT foodie blogs (hence the growing list of blogs that I follow!) and I realize that my skills are not up to par. Any time I try to take a picture of my creations to share, the picture doesn't come out great. I'm thinking that it's either A) I don't have a great camera or B) I am just not gifted in this area. I will continue to try and take pictures - but it is for this reason that there are no pictures to accompany my blog today.

Last night I wanted to try something "new" with chicken and found this great recipe on Cake Batter and Bowl for avocado/chicken cakes. I LOVE crab cakes - but making them myself is pricey! I also thought that this was a very creative way to eat leftover chicken. I have an aversion to mayo, so the fact that this recipe has no mayo really appealed to me. So I made them - and they were delish. HOWEVER ... I made this recipe knowing full well that avocados never, ever agree with my stomach. I used less than half an avocado that the recipe calls for - but I was still in pain last night. But they were so good that it was worth it! I guess I'll have to cave and put a bit of mayo in it next time I make them - and leave out the avocado. =*(

AVOCADO CHICKEN CAKES

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1/2 avocado, mashed (mine was a little less than 1/2 cup)
1 cup panko
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
5 tablespoons of your favorite salsa

Directions:

Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat and sauté onions for 5-7 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic and sauté one additional minute.

In medium bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, onion mixture, avocado, 1/3 cup panko, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and egg. Shape mixture into 5 cakes that are 1/2-inch thick; lightly coat all sides of each cake in the remaining 2/3 cup panko.

Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat in a nonstick skillet. Add 2 chicken cakes and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and 3 chicken cakes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of salsa over each chicken cake. Makes 2 servings.

A few notes: 1) I was out of salsa and didn't feel like venturing to the store to get some, so I served these plain. I would recommend the salsa just to give them "something extra." 2) I served these with sauteed veggie rice - but I'm thinking that next time I will do a green veggie - these would also be great over a salad. 3) I like that there are so many possible variations for this recipe - these have a bit of a Latin flair, but you could easily use other spices to change it up.

trichotillomania

trichotillomania - [trik-uh-til-uh-mey-nee-uh] noun: a compulsion to pull out one's hair.

I think I'm suffering from life-induced trichotillomania. At least today.

(But it must not be that bad of a case because I felt better when I started researching the semantics of the word - it's derived from the Greek word "tricho" meaning "to pull or pluck out." I'm still a nerd when I'm stressed out!)

Ut-oh!

I have 2 weaknesses:
- trying out new products that I see at Target or the grocery store (especially snacks!)
- CHOCOLATE.

So it was pretty much a given that I was going to be drawn to these. Not to mention they were on sale at Target for 86 cents! I was going to be "good" and eat only a handful. HOWEVER, I decided to pop them in the freezer here at work and found myself with an empty bag shortly thereafter. (I LOVE LOVE LOVE putting things in the freezer - everything from banana slices to oreos - they're just better frozen. I got the frozen marshmallow idea from my mom, who stored them in the freezer when I was younger.)

I guess it's about the equivalent of eating a candy bar, as there are 300 calories in an entire bag. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that I ate all that. But I guess this has less calories than the piece of cake I almost got ...

Professor Bethy

I am so excited about my newest endeavor - I got an adjunct Spanish instructor position at a college here in NC. Because I am working full time at the language consulting company where I have been employed for almost 2 years - I am only taking on one class this semester. The course is two nights a week and does involve a bit of a drive to get there, nevertheless I am SO excited! I love teaching and I especially enjoy working with college students.

Growing up I always had a mental aversion to teaching. In fact, I made it very clear on my application for grad school that I was interested in translating - not teaching. And, as luck would have it, my graduate assistantship required me to teach 2 courses! I look back at how freaked out I was the first day of Spanish 1401 - I was so worried that I would be horrible at teaching. But a funny thing happened - I discovered that I enjoy teaching and that my students responded well to my style.

Classes start in less than 2 weeks, so I have a lot of preparation ahead of me. Although I will surely be very busy until the semester ends in December, I am really looking forward to stepping foot back into a classroom!

I could really use one of these...