Kelly B.com

I have a weakness for food on sale. As an example, bananas. I don't even really EAT bananas but I buy them. I also don't eat peanut butter but I buy it. I have every intention of giving those jars to food shelters. (So at least that's semi-forgivable) But with bananas I buy them with the intention of eating them and then I realize I don't really like eating them unless they are sliced and floating around in my cereal. Sweet not-as-healthy-for-you cereal at that. I'm fond of Golden Grahams. Honey Bunches of Oats. Something sorta sweet but no marshmallows. I can't get behind dried up marshmallows. Anyway...bananas turn an ugly shade of black and fruit flies invade my home. And only then do I think "hey, maybe I should do something about this." I made a banana cheesecake, 20something banana bread muffins and only after hours of the oven cranking away was I free of those putrid bananas. Mind you, I like banana desserts a lot but the sense of obl...

I'm suddenly full of this bubbling righteousness that makes me want to post. So I kind of noticed I haven't done a restaurant review in like, seven or eight months. I promise I've eaten out in that time, okay? I just keep forgetting to write about it because usually eating out is followed promptly with a lazy food-induced coma. And comatose people? Not very good bloggers. Plaza Azteca recently opened up in Manchester (CT, not UK) and it has inhabited what used to be a Macaroni Grill. It's a Mexican restaurant and although it does not in the slightest bit compare to my beloved Sarapes. But it's a heck of a lot more attractive looking since Sarapes is a prime example of hole-in-the-wall. You wouldn't be embarassed of bring a date to P.A. because it's big, spacious, and re-designed to look Southwestern-like with dark wood type decor and Santa Fe paint color. It's also pretty cheap. Even eating dinner there, most menu items are $10 or less. I do howe...

On a decidedly different note I'm really happy about my new coffee related toys. My old fashion-y italiano espresso maker is pretty cool. I'm most intrigued by how the heat and pressure forces the water upwards through the grinds whereas every other coffee maker works with the water dripping downward. My french press is pretty awesome too. I might forgo my "normal" coffee maker once I get the swing of things. The hot water to grind ratio is a bit off still and I'm not entirely sure about the ideal temperature of water to use. However...thanks to a method I stumbled upon when reading about my favorite (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) I found something of great interest to me. Cold brewed Iced Coffee . Now I've tried the double brew method of simply using twice as much coffee grind to the typical amount of liquid you'd use for normal hot coffee. The results are almost always disastrously bitter and need a ton of sugar and cream to balance it out. However, I...

Today is a scorcher here in Connecticut. Trevor and I saw Wall-E today at the movies and it was really sweet. I'm sure I'm not the first one to gush over Pixar movies being really good but...it was great and if you can manage to pull together some dough for really overpriced movie tickets it's well worth your time. Even though there is minimal dialogue the story is actually quite strong and heartwarming. Even though I have annoying moaned and groaned about the fact that I'm done with invitations I have only just finished doing my last wave of invitations since my mom's been bugging me about a few more. I hate it when a few more becomes a few more on top of that becomes...30 more. But I'm pretty much out of invitations anyway so even if some obscure family members make their way out of the woodwork, I'm sorry to say that the good invites have already been sent out. Liza's sent out the shower invites already. Since I very literally have like 4 fem...

Happy Almost Easter! We are spending tomorrow in Massachusetts with Trevor's family. I have been preemptively volunteered to bring dessert by Trevor. So yesterday I went to the store, picked up a few supplies and got to work because it's always good to be prepared. Usually I wait until the night before to start baking, but I had an unusual craving for Almond Cake and the best recipe I could dig up was for an Almond Pound Cake. Having never made this rich in flavor, yet light in texture cake before I read like 80 thousand reviews and almost all of them said that the cake tastes better 1-2 days after baking when all the flavors meld and develop. Who am I to argue with that? And the fact is I haven't posted a recipe in ages so here goes... Almond Pound Cake 2 Sticks of butter (at room temperature) 2 3/4 cups Sugar 1 cup Sour Cream 6 Eggs 2 tbs Almond Extract 1 tbs Vanilla Extract 3 cups All-Purpose Flour 1/2 tsp Baking Soda Preheat oven to 325 F. Cream together butter...

I've been feeling like I'm just eeking through the work week but not quite getting anywhere. Sadly I haven't had a ton of energy for cooking...until NOW. This morning I started off my day trying to replicate the Onigiris that Trevor & I enjoyed during our time in Japan. They're literally considered rice balls , but the ones we liked were formed into a triangle shape, filled with something typically salty, and wrapped on the outside with nori . We got them at convenience stores, much like one would find donuts at your local 7-11 but significantly less unhealthy for you. Apparently they are a staple of typical Japanese Bento Box-lunches because they are portable and self contained, much like how we view sandwiches. The ones we got were typically wrapped all the way around with seaweed, but they aren't quite as pretty as a result. I was partial to the ones with teriyaki seaweed on the inside, and Trevor to the ones with tuna fish. We ate them in the morni...

7 months until the wedding! I'm partially excited and partially freaked out that I haven't done anywhere near enough. First and foremost though...we've got to get skinny. Not like I've been eating deep fried twinkies or anything, but after a decadent holiday period I'm ready to start going back to my usual routine of fruit as snacks and cereal for lunch. I got a new cell phone to replace my horrible Razr , which was my first Motorola phone ever and I have to say that I was totally let down by it and I'll probably never buy another one again. The battery just couldn't hold a charge and if your phone is dead 80% of the time you just won't be able to use it regardless of how many bells and whistles it comes with. This time I got the new Samsung Juke , mp3 phone. I have to say that I'm surprisingly happy with it so far. The overall shape is odd, with the switchblade like mechanism it takes a good amount of getting used to because you have to turn i...

Happy Almost Christmas. I spent my day baking, which is pretty normal for me anyway, but I typically don't bake more than one thing but having Christmas on the horizon I decided to go all out. I made a cheesecake, since I still have some remnants of cheesecake desire from my prior visit to The Cheesecake Factory. I just made a plain one because I couldn't decide on a flavored one and I'd hate to make an already rich dessert even richer. And I made biscotti for my mom because she loves it. I made butter shortcake cookies because I have a soft spot for that buttery richness. And in a final moment I decided I also wanted some peanut butter oatmeal cookies. I don't even like peanut butter, but when mixed with other things, as long as I don't have that mouth full of goo feeling I don't find it half bad. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies 1/2 cup butter softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup of flour 1/4 tsp salt 1...

Whew...it's stormy out there. I was let out of work early today because of the snow, only to spend an hour driving about 15 miles back home. I'd complain more, but clearly I got home safe and sound and no harm was done. lol I'm spending tomorrow with the folks because they also have the day off, plus they have an SUV so we can ever so slightly more easily get around town. Nothing against my Mazda, but it's not exactly made for snow. And since Trevor and mine mutual present is in stock at the store we bought it at I'll need my dad's help to pick it up. We talked about it and decided to share the expense of a "big ticket" present in lieu of buying one another small presents. I know it kind of goes against our whole saving-money-for-our-wedding thing, but I'll be excited to have a fancy present. I'm actually a little sad I have to take time off from work because I've been swamped, but if I don't use my time it'll go away forever. ...

So somewhat against my better instincts I went out yesterday evening with Kim and the girls. Not that I don't think all the girls are fun because I think they're a very nice and outgoing bunch; I just didn't have a terribly good feeling about going out...call it a gut feeling. I'll start by saying that I'll keep this as un-gossipy as possible because otherwise it would take forever to recount. Ryan got in a car accident that same evening and Kim was a bit miffed at him so she wasn't starting on a terrible positive note. Anya was mad at some guy about something (I forgot his name, but I do remember her screaming on her cell phone about how much she hated him). For a while everyone was lost. Martha and Kim had to fetch Martha's credit card from The Salty Dog because she forgot to close out her tab. They then were not re-let into Fat Cat's because it was so late and they weren't letting in any new patrons so they hung out outside for a while freez...

I'm surprised that as I get older things I never thought I'd like I eventually change my mind about. For example I have recently decided that I like Perrier Mineral water. I haven't ever liked mineral water before because it's always had a weird aftertaste but I gave it a go and actually find it to be very refreshing. Growing up my dad used to make me lemonade or limeade (depending on what we had on hand) but instead of water he'd use seltzer water so it had great fizz. And I've spent literally most of my life avoiding apples because it's given me a bad itchy reaction but suddenly I've been very apt to slicing one open into 8 slices and snacking on it with Trevor after dinner. Now, as a continuation of my last post, fried rice is a perennial favorite. Even the pickiest of eaters will usually be more than happy to have some of my fried rice. Trevor in particular seems very fond of it when either I or my mother whip some up for him. Since I learn fro...

I got my cousin Suong her bridesmaid gown via mail and it's soooo adorable. I'm probably more excited about it than she is. It's so chic and simple, though I worry a little that in spite of the fact I got her a double zero petite (yes, they make such a size) that it's probably going to be a tad roomy for her. Emily and Nini are down with getting their dresses too. The lone standout right now is Kim. Not like I think she's intentionally holding out out of spite; she's having a bit of a tough stretch right now having maxed out her credit cards and having some car issues so bridesmaid dress isn't high on her priority list. I guess if she ends up paying full price for a bridesmaids gown in the same color as the other girls that's no big deal to me but I'd much rather her simply buy it now since I've gone through so much trolling around the internet for good prices. And I finally met up with Amanda this past week! We had dinner at TGIFridays...

It's been a sleepy rainy day for me. I don't like to complain about real life too much (mostly because I don't like hearing other people do it) but after working 4 1/2 hours of overtime in addition to my normal 40 hours I felt a little overextended and decided to sleep in. Today was very uneventful. I didn't bake a single thing! I did however throw together a nice dinner of Seafood Risotto. I'm a huge risotto fan. I think it reminds me of a mix between mashed potatoes and rice. It's creamy, but flavorful. Not just mushy overcooked rice. For 2 cups of arborio rice there were about 5-6 cups of chicken stock slowly mixed and cooked in with clams and shrimp and topped with fish. It turned out pretty well considering I'm a novice with this kind of rice. I'm much more acquainted with Jasmine rice and I could probably cook Jasmine rice in my sleep. The only thing I was missing was wine. Not being a big wine drinker I didn't have any white wine on ...

It's taken a few tries, but I have finally figured out how to make a pie crust that is tasty, tender, flakey and practically fool proof! Now, I don't consider myself a great pie-chef. In fact, I often leave pie crust on the plate because it's not my favorite part of the whole pie experience, but with a few tweaks it's actually quite yummy. 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup shortening, chilled 3 tablespoons ice water 1 tsp almond extract (or any complimentary extract to our filling Mix, or sift together the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl. I don't think it makes too much of a difference. Try your best to mix in the shortening until it's crumbly. I personally like to cut up the shortening first into tiny bits before mixing. Slowly add in water and almond extract until it all comes together into a ball. And this is the greatest trick for dough I never thought of. Tear a big piece of wax paper and place it on your counter and dis...

I also have this innate Asian mentality of showing my love with food. So I want to make food, and I want to feed my loved ones to show how much I care about them. I don't know a single Asian woman that doesn't want to make sure all of her loved ones are well fed. I guess it's just part of one's desire to nurture. I made some Chinese BBQ Pork on Wednesday (just the meat part of the recipe; I didn't have the patience to make the dumpling dough) and it was really good. I wouldn't say it's like the Char Siu you'd get at the Asian market with the pink-y sauce but still very savory and moist. Trevor insisted on having some duck this year so I brought home a duck and we baked it with some of his favorite teriyaki sauce on each side and then finished it with some time on the grill. I can't say duck is terribly healthy for you, but I think it's important to indulge yourself once and so often so you don't feel like you're just a robot. You sh...

Since I believe in sharing... 3 bras for $9.99 plus if you use promo code: 607913 shipping is only $1.99. There aren't many styles, but they're plain and simple. I hate it when I go to Victoria's Secret and the only sale bras in my size are day-glow colors I'd never be caught dead in. In any case, I haven't gotten too much done regarding the wedding. Since Cathy will be getting married a few weeks after me I ran the idea of sharing a few items by her and she thought it was great. The only items I could think of sharing were the flower girl basket and the ring bearer pillow. I'm hoping she goes for an ivory gown because that'll make everything so much easier if we're sharing. ;) But I think it's silly to buy things only to use them for like 15 minutes. We might as well get a little bit more wear out of them, and then one day we can save them for the next friend or family member's wedding. I'm more than happy to share if it'll...

Truly this started off as being a food blog. lol I feel really bad that it's somehow morphed into "All wedding all the time." Last night I did cook so I can actually share some tips! Light Curry Chicken 8-10 oz of cubed boneless skinless chicken breast pieces (small is good for stir-fry) 1 tsp of curry powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1 tbsp of olive oil Salt and Pepper to taste 1 clove of minced garlic 1/2 tsp of honey 1/2 of a chopped onion 1/2 seeded and minced jalapeno pepper Marinate chicken, honey, cumin, coriander, curry powder and olive oil together. The longer the better, but at least 1 hour. In a hot wok or frying pan drizzle a little oil and saute up your jalapeno pepper then add garlic. Add chicken and when it starts to look brown add the onions. stir fry until onions have started to soften. Serve over rice. I'm a big curry fan but I have no patience cooking something for hours so the meat is tender. So this is definitely lighter...

I'm a little sad that my best friend Kim has broken up with her boyfriend of three years. I secretly hope they get back together, but part of me has known that they just weren't on the same page about a lot of "big stuff" like moving in together, getting married, money...etc. And you can work by a lot of dissimilarities but those are pretty essential ones for a long term relationship to prosper. We just got back from having some Indian food with her at The Garden in Agawam , MA. They have great Indian food; some of the best I've had, plus it's a nice warm environment. I think it was nice for us (and Trevor) to relax and chat. We talked about her breakup a little bit, but honestly for a person who just broke up she seemed pretty together. The last time I had a breakup with someone I had been together with for over a year I was in a catatonic state for a week, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep...I cried all the time. I was basically a mess and though ...

I miss my ring. I haven't lost it mind you, but we did have it dropped off to be sized because while I was valiantly hanging on to it, it was sadly a little roomy and I was worried it might get lost. (It's a 7 and I'm a 6...well, the jeweler said I should get it in a 5.5 but I decided against it.) Since I've been working out with Trevor I feel like I'm a little thinner, but not necessarily in the places where I wanted to get thinner. An example of which being my fingers. Also my reflection shows my legs looking a little..."chicken-like" which isn't exactly what I'm going for but eventually my body will adjust. And since I'm in a period of body flux I don't want to get my ring sized too small in case I get a little plumper. I'm also finally getting some feedback from my parents who still think that I shouldn't be worrying about wedding planning, but nonetheless they're asking cousins and family about caterers and prices for me. ...

I didn't do much cooking today. Mostly I cleaned up after Chowder, Trevor's old dog. I say old because Trevor's mom gave him back to the people who bred him since she's been a nomad in recent years and hasn't been able to take care of Chowder quite the way she wanted to. Trevor missed him so he had him stay over with us for a few days. In any case, Chowder is a red lab and he's the sweetest dog. It's absolutely not a bother to have him, even in our small apartment because he's quite content to just lay on the floor and be pet all day long. And like any dog he sheds like it's his job so I spent my morning vacuuming since Trevor gave him back this morning. And after my morning of cleaning I went to the mall to try and make use of a coupon I had. (Yes, I'm that person with the coupons and I'm okay with it.) And I bought some of my favorite face cream, Vichy . I swear by the stuff. When I got back my favorite old roomie Emily emailed me...