My addiction

Hi, my name is Laura. ("Hi Laura") I'm addicted to fun kitchen utensils and gadgetry.
Ok, ok - there may not be a 12-step program for this kind of an addiction, but there should be.
When shopping, I always end up in the kitchen section of the store. Or even worse - I go to KITCHEN only stores, you know the kind. I know what you might be thinking, but weed - you don't cook. (But alas, I've started to.) And if you are a frequent reader of my blog you may recall a certain Chocolate Chip Cookies adventure which was a huge success.

But seriously, in said kitchen sections I always find something cute, something colorful that does something AMAZING! Or just looks cool. I don't know why I can't just buy the plain jane measuring scoops, spoons, spatulas - it's just not who I am. Not knocking it though those who can do that save money and still probably make good cookies.

Anyway, because I'm well, me - I have taken glamour photos of my collection.
All of this may be a tiny exaggeration. :) but enjoy the photos - maybe it will inspire you to have fun things in your kitchen.

(You have to click on the photo, I guess)



An explanation from the top:
1. T-Rex cookie cutter: bought at a kitchen store in Dinkytown, Mpls. (for the kids, when they visit)
2. Cranberry PC spatula
3. Fun glass-bead tray: found at an antique store in Des Moines
4. Stainless steel cannisters: my sister got them for me for Christmas per my request - and I labeled them with scrap booking stickers. (since this photo was taken, i've also found enough stickers for the little one to label it, brown sugar) I know, big LOSER.
5. Snowflake cookie cutter: it's just pretty. Bought at the same store in Mpls. They had probably over 200 different cookie cutters.
6. Wingman, red bottle opener: This thing is so tough, I think I got it as a gift. It could also be used for self defense - it's solid (and works well)
7. Spice shot: got this recently at a St. Patrick's Day sale downtown. (Received 30% discount on anything green) You fill it up with your favorite spice - and when you click the top, it pour 1/2 t. out, neat neat neat. I have dill in mine.
8. Magnetic nesting spoons: Bought at the same "green" sale. They have super powerful magnets in them so they stay together in the drawer, awesome. Also - the big one is a 2T one. Pretty handy. (because scooping out 2, 1T is just too much work... j/k)
9. Seed-scooper-outer: I'm sure this has an official name, but it works great for tomatoes, potatoes and it's Weed sized. yay.
10. Crinkle cutter: also from P.C. - it makes your chopped veggies look professionally-crinkle-cut. Hehe.
11. Scoop: PC scoop thing for cookies, melon balls, whatever you can dream up. Easy to clean too.
12. Grater: Haven't used it yet, but it has a red handle.
13. Mix&Mash: Also from PC - stirs, mashes potatoes, and other hot dish type things. Handy.
14. Hot-cocoa-pot: I got this at Gordman's. I couldn't leave it. I do not drink tea, but have used this as my hot-cocoa-pot. Adorable and microwaveable!

These are what could fit in the picture. Like I said, it's a sickness.

I've also gotten into painting my own pottery, here are a few photos from that. It's fun! There's a place in Sioux F. that lets you come in, and they fire it for you and glaze it. Neat-o.



Spice jars that stick to your fridge - I copied Lindsey :) brilliant!


And a glamour shot of my tea-pot.

Who has too much time on their hands?

Can I look this good in 60 years?

My grandma - isn't she a doll! She was wearing this red hat, to keep the sun off of her face of course - unaware of how cute she looked.

:)

I've always thought she looked like the grandma from Days of Our Lives - Mrs. Horton.

Do you have any relatives that look like famous people?

ps. I also have a 2nd cousin that looks like Jay Leno, and another that looks like Reese Witherspoon. I'll have to find pictures of them too.

Cooking & Driving: Variations on defrosting.

Tonight, I'm in Centerville with Teresa. Good times!
Because she always ends up feeding me, every time I come down - I decided to bring food with me for both of us.

**Sidenote** A couple weeks ago, I tried this "Quality Time Kitchen" in town. You go, prepare a bunch of meals, and then go home and freeze them. I decided to bring three-cheese ravioli and veggies. I prepared 6 meals (that serve 4 ppl) for $60.

Well today, I forgot to start defrosting it - so - while I was driving to Teresa's, I put the defrost in my car on full power and put the container up on the dashboard. It slowly defrosted the ravioli and vegetables just about perfectly, and only took a few minutes. Voila! I wouldn't have been in such a hurry - but I was HUNGRY! I didn't have time for a lunch break friday.

Got to Teresa's and 10 minutes later, we were well on our way to eating a VERY delicious meal.
I win.

the ingredients were:
Cheese-filled Ravioli - 3 c or as much as you like, i'm sure.
Frozen Vegetables (same)
1/2 stick butter
And a parmesan/mrs. dash mixture

1. Thaw ---- However you like!!!
2. Put the veggies in water (just to top of veggies) and boil for 5 min.
3. Add the Ravioli and boil for 5 min
4. Drain
5. Melt butter and pour over top of mixture
6. Sprinkle with parmesan/mrs. dash

The cheese melts, the Mrs. Dash perks it up - and it's absolutely DELICIOUS.

Norah Jones and local wildlife

So a couple weekends ago, I was taking a late night drive in the fog, listening to Norah Jones. The ultimate relaxation after a long day at work. It must have been about midnight.

As I was driving by the golf course on the edge of town, I saw the silhouette of a huge deer, lit by one of the course property lights. It was standing on the side of the road.

I slowed way down, and rolled down my window to get a better look.

The deer looked back at me, but didn't move - it stood about 10 feet or so from my car as I listened to "Come Away With Me" by NJ.

So together, the deer and I - shared a song. After the song was over, he dissapeared into a tree line..... and I went along on my drive.

:) Apparently deer have good taste in music.

Tour de Eau Claire

My friend Leah and I went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin this past weekend. We had a great time!!! These are the photos that were internet appropriate :)

Leinenkugel's brewery

Leah & I

Fun buildings downtown

... and some of them had Mona Lisa's on them

The footbridge on UWEC's campus

Erbert & Gerbert's sub shop.

Fun red wall.

Bar that reminded me of carey's.

Bar in Chippewa Falls. Advertising Leinenkugel's.

Berryweiss beer

Shrek & Donkey :) I'm donkey.



Good day.

Cleverly hidden...

In recent years I've become much better at cooking and haven't screwed up anything since college (too terribly). I've fed friends, had dinner parties and even cooked my family a 2007 Thanksgiving Feast, yes Feast is capitalized.

All of this, but I have never made Chocolate Chip Cookies. Let's be realistic, I have two grandmas - I've gotten in on a little 'add the vanilla' and 'crack an egg here and there' action - and of course eating the batter - but alas, I've never made a whole batch by my lone.

I also figured that you had to sell your first born to get the inside scoop on a good recipe. You know the kind, the perfect bendable cookie. All this time, it was cleverly hidden on the back of the chocolate chip bag. Who knew? Those tollhouse people know their stuff.

So I whipped up a batch. See photo.

and they were good.......

I win.

Spiderweed to the rescue

A few days ago, I was bit by a spider, on my stomach. I'm not sure if it was a highly radioactive crazy mutant spider though, because my special powers have SO not kicked in yet.

Today, I tried to climb a wall, nope. Tried to lasso my pop can w/ my web - nothing.

I swear though, with the amount of bug bites that I have had in my life, it's a wonder that I'm not some super-powered-insect. I've been 'mauled' by mosquitos & attacked by arachnids... When I was younger, I even digested some ants. Yet, I am not one w/ the insect world.

However, if I had super powers, I would totally fly. I've always said this in all of those silly quizzes that you get emailed. I would FLY. I don't care to see through walls, it would be cool to have Transformer abilities, and maybe super sensitive hearing, or eyesight. But how cool would it be to just run, jump and fly.

At the end of the day though, it would be kind of a hassle, always being chased by adoring fans, put in the newspaper, always 'on call' - - a lot like my life right now, I kid, I kid.

What super powers would you want? Besides the ones you all already have :)