Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Domestic Me 3.0

Okay, so I haven't actually made this recipe yet. But it is high on my to-do list. Remember these?


Bread Pudding Pancakes from Southport Grocery & Cafe  in Chicago.

From their website:

Serves 6
Bread Pudding Pancakes
14 slices of firm white bread, crusts removed and cut into 1 inch squares
2 ½ cups milk
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 ¼  cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
Place bread in a large bowl.  Add milk.  Let bread soak for about 10 minutes until softened.  While bread is soaking, mix together in a small bowl the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add flour mixture to the bread and gently fold until just about half incorporated.  Add eggs and vegetable oil.  Mix gently.
Melt butter in skillet.  Drop batter in 1/3 cup fulls.  Cook 3-4 minutes on each side.  Pancakes will have a moist bread pudding-like inside.
Serve pancakes topped with cinnamon sugar butter with a ramekin of vanilla custard sauce on the side.
 
Cinnamon Sugar Butter
½ pound unsalted butter, cold
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Melt ¼ pound of butter in a small saucepan; add salt, cinnamon and sugar.  Cook until the sugar is dissolved.   Add remaining ¼ pound of cold butter.  Whisk with hand mixer until creamy and fluffy.

Vanilla Custard Sauce
1 pint heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise and seeds scraped out
4 egg yolks, whisked
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Put heavy cream in a sauce pan.  Add the vanilla bean pod and seeds.  Bring to a simmer.  Add sugar to egg yolks and whisk until all there is no clumps.  Add ¼ cup of warm heavy cream mixture to egg yolk mixture and whisk immediately; this is called ‘tempering’.  Add the egg yolk mixture to the warm heavy cream.  Simmer while mixing with wooden spoon until thickened and coats the back of the spoon.
Chill over an ice bath.   


These are AMAZING! You need to make them. OR simply buy the mix here! Nothing beats the real thing (and when someone else is making it for you :)- so go to Southport Grocery next time you're in the Windy City!


Monday, November 14, 2011

Twi-hard

Yes, it's true, I LOVE all things Twilight and am extremely excited for this week's premiere of Breaking Dawn, my favorite book of the series.

 

In this installment we finally get to see Bella and Edward tie the knot. And subsequently, Bella give birth to a vampire baby! So much drama I can hardly stand it.


Will you be seeing Breaking Dawn this weekend?

Monday, November 7, 2011

Chicago Recap!

What a fabulous weekend we had in the Windy City! It was a whirlwind and we packed a lot of living into just a few days. We did some fun tourist activities, shopped, hung out, and ate some amazing food!


Our hosts, Ash & Brandon

The BEST breakfast I've had in a looooong time: Bread Pudding Pancakes. Seriously, I can't stop thinking about these!



Our other host, posing coyly in the background, Myles

Mark & Ash at the top of the Sears Tower

You'd be correct in assuming I would not walk out on to the ledge. I could literally feel the building swaying and it was crazy.


Board of trade




Italian dinner Friday night

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Anniversary (Almost)

It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since our wedding. The time has truly flown by! To celebrate the occasion, we'll be visiting here:





And I absolutely cannot wait to see this lady!

Last visit to Chi-town

Ash's Charleston Visit

Enthusiastic tourists in Rome

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Moving On...



I am officially over the Kardashians. Kim's getting divorced, blah, blah, blah- is this truly surprising to anyone? To add insult to injury E! is playing the wedding special over and over!

On a fun note, we had LOTS of trick-or-treaters last night! They were very cute and enthusiastic- I loved it. Our candy is nearly all gone, which is for the best ;)

Now I'm looking forward to the next holiday, Thanksgiving. Even though I won't be able to make it home, we'll have our own celebration here in Charleston.


My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal?


Friday, October 28, 2011

A Taste Of Home


Last night, Mark and I indulged in some Skyline 3-ways. They tasted just as good as I remember! Luckily, Mark loves all Cincinnati classics: Graeter's, Montgomery Inn, goetta (did anyone see the Man vs. Food in Cinci?!), LaRosa's, and of course Skyline.

To Mark's disappointment, I will not be dressing up for Halloween. I will, however, be wearing an orange blouse that I purchased at F21 a few weeks ago. I consider that to be a decent effort.

Count on me overindulging in the sweets department though....


I've got a bone to pick with Kim & Kyle Richards, who are being kind of nasty this season on RHOBH. I always liked Kyle, but this side of her is not pretty. She's clearly in denial of Kim's problem(s).


I will say that Brandi Glanville is just as looney as I expected. No surprises there.

I like the looks of Charleston's upcoming forecast. 70's sound just fine to me!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Celeb Commentary & A Fall Indulgence




I am addicted to this show and I don't know why? There's something fascinating about the whole dynamic. Not that I agree with the lifestyle. I just think it's interesting (and a lil crazy).

STORK-ING UP photo | Jessica Simpson

Come out with it already, Jessica!


Snooki was on the Today Show this morning. UGH. And was interviewed by Matt Lauer. I can only imagine what he was thinking.

I'm welcoming the cooler weather with open arms! One of my favorite treats?


I've been enjoying a lovely Chai Tea Latte in the mornings rather than my regular coffee or green tea. It's so spicy and delicious!