Monday, January 23, 2012

hello and happy monday.

So...is it 80 degrees where you are? In January?

No? Then you must not be in Houston, my friend. So much for ever getting to wear that new coat I got for Christmas...I could wear shorts and flip-flops if I wanted to. In January. Ohh Texas...

Anywho, despite the unseasonable warmth, today is a good day. Scratch that, a great day. Why? Because I finally got a day off! An end to to the seemingly endless 6-day work weeks (that doesn't involve tornado warnings, major flooding, and day-long power outages...don't ask). I'm not sure I've ever been so excited to do laundry...my only real must-do of the day.

I've got other plans too, though, like spending some serious time in the kitchen, hopefully having success making this and these (the first is a completely indulgent and unhealthy rendition of apple pie from the butter-and shortening-loving Pioneer Woman...the second is an attempt to make up for said butter and shortening--no-flour, no-egg, no-sugar cookies that still sound interesting and quite delicious).

I also might snack on some of these leftovers from last night...my first successful pot roast attempt. It was delicious. I credit its overnight bath in a bottle of pinot. :)


Hubs and I did some much-needed escaping from the apartment this past Saturday afternoon. I've had Pottery Barn gift cards burning a hole in my pocket since Christmas, and having finally recovered from the Highland Village December traffic catastrophe, it was time to do some shopping. We purchased a nice little 4-foot shelf to (hopefully) hang over our TV as a pseudo-mantle of sorts, something I've been wanting to do for awhile now. Really I just have an accessory-buying problem and need more places to display my mercury glass addiction. I think it will look nice...if we can find studs in the wall.


On that same Saturday evening outing, Ben and I finally made it to a Bryan Caswell restaurant: Little Bigs. Chef Caswell was once a competitor on Next Iron Chef, and since I tend to go a little Iron Chef crazy any season the show airs, you can imagine I was totally stoked to find myself in a city home to one of its stars. Granted, this particular restaurant was a pretty darn inexpensive hole-in-the-wall sliders and fries joint...but still, the Iron Chef finesse was definitely evident in the food. My vanilla shake did come out of a machine, but it was mighty tasty. Our "4-minute" fries were divine, and we were both more than satisfied with our slider selections. The hamburger version was delish, the chicken rivaled Chick-fil-a, and Ben's pulled-pork was totally Memphis-worthy. Maybe not the nicest building or decor, but a definite winner. Thank you, Bryan Caswell, for providing Iron Chef food even I can afford. :)




Time to fold my laundry! Happy weeks everyone!