Sunday, October 21, 2007

The Classic


Chocolate chip cookies are my signature baked good. I basically follow the Nestle toll house recipe with a few tweaks, but they always turn out delicious if I do say so myself.
I won't tell you all my secrets, but the most important thing you have to do is make sure the chips aren't touching the cookie sheet. The entire bottom of the cookie should be dough, with the chips in the middle and on top. It's a simple thing that makes a huge difference.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Mascot, not the People

I don't like sports. I don't hate sports. I'm usually pretty indifferent to them, actually. I don't watch them on tv, but I'll watch them live if someone asks me to go. Or if the tickets are free. Hell, I'd see just about anything if the tickets are free. Even Cats. Again.

But, sports and me aren't getting along right now because the Cleveland Indians are ruining my life. Here's why:

A) The games are taking over other people's lives to the point mine is disrupted. For example, some of my relatives can't talk on the phone during the game unless it's about the game. Not that they are unique in this behavior. All small talk is now about baseball. Strangers, work associates and even people I know think it's ok to begin a conversation with, "did you watch the game last night?" And then they are shocked, SHOCKED, when I say no. Not that it matters because they continue on like I said yes. If I wanted to know what happened, I would have watched, thanks.

2) Parking lots around my work in the warehouse district raise their rates on home game days in the morning. Why should I have to pay $10 somewhere I paid $6.50 the day before when the game doesn't start for another 10 hours? I'm not going to the game. And even if I were, it's in 10 hours!

C) You later.

4) The phrase "Go Tribe" has become a salutation like aloha. People say it at the beginning of conversations or the end of conversations like it means something. What purpose does saying "Go Tribe" have? Other than to piss me off, I'm not sure. An incredible example of this "go tribe" mentality occurred when some Dink Loser reporter was interviewing one of the teachers who was injured at SuccessTech last week. He ended the interview with, "and good luck to your Indians." What the hell? How is that appropriate?

If you ask me, they can't lose fast enough. And just in case you're one of those superstitious types that thinks my saying that is going to somehow make it true, rest assured that I've been saying it since the postseason started. For all I know, it's bringing them luck.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Too Much Butter


I have a lot of butter in my fridge that I hope to use before it goes bad. As I was looking through my recipes, it struck me that I should start with Butter Cookies (der!). These are Martha Stewart's recipe for Butter Twists from a Christmas cookie magazine she put out a few years ago. I made most of them twists, but threw in a few pretzel shapes to be fancy. I also sprinkled them with sanding sugar before baking to give them some sparkle.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Coffee with a cause

October is Fair Trade month at Phoenix Coffee. They had a great coffee tasting this past Monday and they're holding smaller tastings every Friday throughout the month at their stores. As a special bonus, if you attend four tastings or the tasting the other day and two more tastings, you get a free pound of coffee. And the tastings are also free. Who gives away free stuff for attending free events? That's crazy!

At the tasting at the Roastery we met Sarah, the owner, who was very cool. She was wearing a shirt that said, "I *heart* Fair Trade," and I'm guessing she got the transfer here.