Blah Blah Babycakes

Positive Thing About Minneapolis #1

Huge Bloody Marys that come with a beer chaser.

As seen at Town Talk Diner and Uptown Bar & Cafe

Relax. Have a cupcake.

I used to keep four sachets of lavender in my pillowcase to help me fall asleep.  It really worked.  Or maybe it was the Ambien that worked and the lavender just smelled good...one or the other. 

Anyway.   

With insomnia being just a lovely memory, my lavender needed a new job. 

I knew vanilla and lavender was a good combo and so I was really excited when I found this recipe for Lavender Cream Filled Cupcakes.  It was kind of an ambitious project for me--since I suck at making pretty much everything and my kitchen was a total disaster afterward, but the delicious end result was definitely worth the effort and mess.

(oh, and I totally substituted box mix for the actual cupcake part)

Hot Chocolate

The only thing better than dark chocolate is dark chocolate infused with peppers.  I would stuff Vosges Fire Bar in my mouth, by the handful, but at $6 a bar that habit gets to be expensive.

Last night I made these:

Cayenne Pepper Cupcakes

• 1 pkg dark chocolate cake mix, prepared according to box
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Muddle the cinnamon, ground red pepper, and balsamic vinegar and add to the cake batter.

3. Pour into foil baking cups and bake for however long the back of the box says.

4. Top with your favorite chocolate sauce or frosting.

5. Sprinkle with sprinkles.

Hairy Coats Virts

Dear Diary,

Today was a very good day.  Whole Foods had fresh peonies and I ventured into the kitchen again.  In honor of my father's birthday I made his favorite meal:  Hot dogs and beans. 

My husband and father were both born under the Taurus sign.  I wonder if that's significant in zodiac terms? (I do know that i'm a terrible match) Must ask astrologist cousin.

TGIF

Friday and Pizza go together like me and you.  Last Friday, Masami treated Henry and me to Punch pizza.  A delicious authentic Italian style pizza baked in a super hot oven for 90 seconds, which means it's done before you even have a chance to fill your cup at the free refill pop machine.  Fast and perfect for a toddler.  This place was packed on a Friday at 5:15 p.m with other parents forced to eat at the early bird special hour.  Plenty of high chairs.

This Friday we gathered at my apartment and ordered 3 pies from Twin Cities favorite Pizza Luce.  Normally I like only two ingredients on my pizza: Sauce and mozzarella.  The toppings at Pizza Luce are too tempting to resist.  BBQ sauce, mock duck and mashed potatoes... It begs to be had.

Mashed Potato Pizza and Mock Duck w/ BBQ sauce

Italian Butter

March is so crazy with the whole lamb/lion thing.  Friday was a gorgeous, sunny, no-jacket day and now this:

I took Henry to Cold Stone Creamery for banana ice cream.  When I walked in the teen behind the counter asked me, in a very curious tone, if i'd ever "been there before?".  Did she recognize me from somewhere?  Nope.  It's the standard greeting issued from corporate headquarters.  Unless you need someone to explain ice cream, toppings and the mixing of the two, you should definitely lie and say that you're a regular.

This loaded question is actually asked at quite a few local restaurants.  Just because I've not been to your particular restaurant doesn't mean you need to tell me that "Tapas are small plates of Spanish food".  Let the diner ask the questions.  Maybe it's helpful and nice and i'm just a snobby jerk who knows-it-all, but it's so irritating to me.  Also, don't write your name on my table.

 

Only boring people get bored

The cupboards are bare around here.  Nick is worried that i'll get scurvy because all I eat is chocolate and cheese.  Before you pick up the phone to call CPS please know that, unlike his mum, Henry is well fed.  Ahem... see spinach brownies below, duh.

It's friday night.  I'm going to open a bottle of Roederer and wait for Elizabeth's plane to land.  Tomorrow i'm bringing Henry to his Gma's for a sleepover and then i'm going to check out the nightlife in Mpls.  The evening will be documented.

Dirty Little Secret

I have to trick my son in order to get him to eat his veggies.

Spinach Brownies

• 1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbs. water
• 1 box (12.9 oz.) brownie mix

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease bottom only of non-stick 9" x 9" pan. In a blender or food processor puree spinach, oil, egg, and water until smooth. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add brownie mix and stir until well blended. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes.

I don't know why everyone gets all grossed out when I tell them I made spinach brownies.  They were delish and I ate half the pan.  Henry loved them too.

I've spent most of my evening downloading shameful songs to add to my playlist.  After years of not listening to the radio, i'd forgotten about Aerosmith's greatest hits, Ace of Base and Bon Jovi's When you get drunk I'll be the wiiine.
A few that you might want to add to your collection:
Fiona Apple and Johnny Cash do a fab Bridge over Troubled Water and Morrissey does a rip your heart out version of Moon River.

Henry outgrew his fave pjs, so we cut off the feet.

Trophy Wife

I had my first day off today and while I accomplished many administrative tasks I didn't do anything glamorous as I had originally planned.  Boozy lunches, facials and shoe shopping will have to wait until Thursday.

Henry's first full day at daycare went very well. He screamed bloody murder when I left, but he calmed down within minutes and his report card mentioned that he likes to give hugs, sat with the group for story time, but didn't like what was served for lunch.  Sounds good to me.  We cruised through the McDonald's drive-thru for dinner to celebrate our accomplishments.  See how lazy I am well I fit in?

And just so I don't let a day go by without complaining about something...
The doors and walls in this apartment are way. too. thin.  Henry hears everything and wakes up if I open a can of pop -it's ridiculous.  How am I supposed to have all night parties?

Mike took us to Azia for sushi.  It was Sunday night and the chef had some time on his hands so he created us a fantastic garden of incredible fish.  Delicious.  Will definitely eat there again, but not until I finish tasting all the pizza in Minneapolis.

Iwenttothemallofamerica

I had to return some resort wear at JCrew and so I thought it might be fun to take Henry to Camp Snoopy The Park at MOA and MAYBE i'd meet some other moms who might be interested in a mall strollercize group or something....

Anyway.  In a moment of craziness I decided that it would be an awesome idea to go to the Rainforest Cafe.  It was a horrible idea.  The food was disgusting and the rain forest storm made Henry cry.  There are a gazillion restaurants in Mpls that I want to try and I'm mad at myself for wasting a meal.

To make up for my lunch indiscretion we cruised over to check out Cupcake for the International Cupcake Tour.

Check back for my official review.

Ba da ba ba ba, I'm lovin' it

As a general rule I do not drink and blog. If the urge strikes I'll usually have the good sense to post-date the entry and by morning I sober up and delete the drunken gibberish from the night before. Tonight i'm going to make an exception. I'm half-way through a bottle of some pretty bad champagne and I'm bored out of my mind with no one to talk to, because hey, it's friday night and i'm a huge loser. 

Henry and I had a fantastic day today.  We took not only our first trip to McDonald's, but a trip to a McDonald's Playland!! My goodness this place is fantastic.  For the price of a McFishwich and a happy meal you can stay for hours, spill french fries, puke, go down the twisty slide, climb the walls -anything goes.

Henry had so much fun he left you-know-who in the dust.

I know... breaks your heart.

Excuse the Michigan shirt below, but I needed something bright to concentrate on so he didn't get lost in the crowd.   It didn't work quite as well as the helium balloon I tied to his wrist at the car dealership, but I left with the right kid so we'll call it a success.

Tater Tot Hotdish

Just to get me in the Minnesota mood, Nick made some hotdish for Henry and me to eat this week while he's gone. Normally, I eat cookies for dinner when I'm home alone. (note to internet stalker freaks and murderers --i've set boobie traps)

1 onion chopped up
1.5 lbs of organic ground beef
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
Veggies of your choice (I prefer carrots and broccoli)
1 package tator tots
A bunch of shredded cheese                      

Cook up the beef and onions then add the soup and veggies.  Pour the mixture into a hotdish pan, throw the cheese on and top with tater tots.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.
Voila! 
Serve with ketchup and champagne.