Hey kids! Long time, no write, I know (except for that weird post in August, but I will explain that in a minute). I've been a bit busy the last year and I know you've heard it before, but seriously this time, I was super busy. See, I had a kid! Yep, I made a baby hipster! She's pretty amazing and I am digging this mom thing. But don't worry, this isn't going to become a mommy blog (not that there's anything wrong with that. Some of my favorite people are amazing mommy bloggers!). I will occasionally be talking about the baby (Blueberry) or her dad, my awesome partner and love of my life. But I'm still the Small Town Hipster, so I will be amusing you with my adventures, and cool beer and booze talk, and food, and basically whatever else I want to write, as per usual. So don't fret, dearies! So, back to explaining that entry from August.
I'm a big fan of the show Supernatural. If you've never seen it, check it out. It's about two brothers that drive around in a cool ass Impala and slay supernatural creatures. But the best part of the show is the chemistry between the cast members. They obviously all enjoy what they do and who they get to work with. One of those actors is @MishaCollins. He plays an angel with all kinds of issues. It's pretty great. But Misha also has an active life outside of the show. He created GISHWHES (Greatist International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen). This is basically a big scavenger hunt where teams from around the world complete strange tasks to score points. The points really don't mean much, it's definitely all about the experience.
I have participated previously by myself, where I got placed with strangers from around the world (some of which I am still friends with!). But this year, I got to work with all people that I know. Our team was Unicorn_Rodeo, because what's more awesome than that? For one week, myself and 14 friends traded messages discussing the best way to pour wine from 3 stories up, or if anyone had a coffin we could borrow. It was an amazing, absurd, ridiculous week. And it was a great send off for my oldest friend's daughter, Marching Chief. She started her freshman year of college a couple weeks later. And she was the mastermind of a lot of the awesome moments of the hunt. We all had a wonderful time, got to be ridiculous, (which we are all pretty good at), and got to help out an amazing cause. What's better than that?
So, I'm super glad to be back to y'all. I missed you more than you probably missed me. ;). Keep an eye out for some awesome new stuff from me. I know have a website and I will be working on that to get it prettied up and running for your reading pleasure. I have lots of hipstery stuff to write about, plus I'm going to be adding a recipe section to the website, so you guys can recreate some of my inventions. Lots and lots of things happening over here!
So, as always, until next time, stay hip!
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
History of the World, Part 3
I recently got reintroduced to a very special person. The kind of person that makes you reevaluate your life and choices. The kind of person you can really look up to, maybe even worship. This lady has done so much for so many. So I felt the urge to honor her in some small way.
I first interacted with Miss Jean Louis in 2013. She was knowledgeable and efficient. To say I was impressed by her would be an understatement. But our time together would not last long, and I lost track of her for a few years. So this year I made a promise to myself that I would seek her out and aimed to learn more about the mystery that is Miss Jean Louis.
Miss Jean Louise was born in a cave in a remote area of New Zealand. Not that this was an ordinary cave. Nay, this was a well appointed "luxury cave". Gold plated fixtures, fine linens, strong leather furniture, and all the other accouterments that come with the word luxury. But all of this finery did not turn little Miss Jean Louis into a brat. Instead, she was proud of the mantle of being "born in a cave".
Her young life was fairly unremarkable. Tea parties with foreign ministers, and holidays with coal miners. She spent much time in a field near her home(cave) studying the migratory paths of the now-extinct slangaroos. Her heart was filled with jello and turtles. She was adored by small rodents and large rodents alike.
As she grew, Miss Jean Louis became more aware of the outside world. She began to question her place in the world. She learned that not everyone had a pet beaver or spent their summers wrapping pine trees in yarn sweaters. At this time, she made to decision to go out to the wide world and learn more. So she ventured on.
Those early years were extraordinary. Spending time with the Bedouin tribes learning the secrets of traditional flatbread, making gum wrapper necklaces with Maori elders, and being a scarf carrier for the Belgium ski team are just a few of the adventures she had. Life was full.
But she thought that life could be more full. Like fuller, or fullest. So she began the search for something that would fill that order. Something that would make her ordinary life (to her) a little more extraordinary. And that is when she met a real life angel. And her world was turned upside down.
Finding GISHWHES and Misha filled Miss Jean Louis with so much like and marshmallow fluff that she felt she couldn't contain it. She dove wholeheartedly into this absurd world that Misha had created. She started by punching holes in index cards, but over time she grew to become Misha's personal wrangler, a tall order indeed. She has grown from a naive New Zealand cave dweller to a less naive small loft apartment dweller with minuscule bureaucratic powers. She is truly a unique individual with a somewhat mediocre life history.
I hope you, the readers, now have a better understanding of this complex, interesting person that I have grown to appreciate. After all, everyone needs a hero.
(This article was written to complete an item in GISHWHES, the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen. Check the blog out next week to learn more about GISHWHES and all of our adventures this week. And as always, stay hip!)
Friday, April 24, 2015
Peep Show
I'm obsessed with sugar. Ever since I was a kid, I have had a special place in my heart for anything sweet. I'm not talking about a passing fancy, like standing in the grocery line and grabbing a candy bar. Not a once a month craving for chocolate. Not raiding the kids Easter basket for the black jelly beans (which is what my mom used to do). No, I'm not talking about a casual relationship with candy. I'm talking a long term, jealousy inducing, passionate love affair with anything that may constitute an area on the Candyland game board.
And of course, I have my favorites. Depending on the time of year and my mood. Fruity, sour, chocolate, peanut butter, pretty much anything goes. (Except for coconut. Ew.) But around this time of year, I have a craving for a special treat. A sugary gem that causes controversy and intense opinions. Unnaturally colored, overly sweet, and used in many inventive, (and strange) ways. Of course, I'm talking about Peeps.
I'm sure almost everyone on the planet has heard of Peeps. But how many peeps (hehe) realize the versatility of these little delights? Peeps can be used on cakes, to make awesome s'mores, and even used in pop art sculptures. (Yes, I did that.) But this time, I took an idea from Pinterest to try something different.
Now, if you don't know about Pinterest, go check it out. In fact, check it out right now! Go, I will wait.
Are you back? Good. Did you start following me at www.pinterest.com/sthipster? No? Go and do that, I can wait again.
Okay, now that we have all that finished, let's get back to the Peepsapalozza. Pinterest is an awesome, addictive, social media forum that spawns a million projects. Pretty much anything you can dream of is a pin on Pinterest. I have used it as inspiration for craft projects, gifts, recipes, DIY's, and home décor. Not to mention it sets my nerdy heart on fire. But this project is one of the more colorful pins I've seen. The original pin is from www.hoosierhomemade.com. In it, she takes the plain, old, ordinary Peep (haha) and makes it even more special.
Fondue is a 1970's throwback where food is cooked or dipped in oil, cheese, or chocolate. Remember earlier when I mentioned how Peeps make an excellent s'more? Well, they make a pretty awesome and fun fondue, as well. We used chocolate, of course. (Not that I wouldn't try it with cheese, like maybe a nice brie, because, why not?) Crazy, you say? Not in my vocabulary.
My family is used to my crazy ideas. They are pretty comfortable with all my flights of fancy and random acts. So when I told them the plan for dessert on Easter, no one batted an eye. I started it out with the chocolate for dipping. I used a combination of milk chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips to create the sauce. I just threw both packages in my crockpot and let them melt all through dinner. If your chocolate gets a little thick, you can always add a bit of heavy cream to thin it out. Melting chocolate in the crockpot is the easiest way to get a nice chocolate sauce.
Once the chocolate was ready, it was dipping time. I used Peeps chicks and Peeps bunnies for this experiment. The chicks are my preferred shape, because I'm a traditionalist, but the bunnies actually worked better at picking up the chocolate and other toppings. And boy, were there others.
When I do something, I go hard or go home. In this case, I decided to add to the diabetes risk and coat the chocolate covered Peeps with more candy. I used Nerds, M & M's, sprinkles, and colored sugar in spring colors. I also cut up strawberries, apples, and pound cake for those that didn't necessarily need their sugar with a side of sugar.
Then it was a free for all. We put the Peeps on bamboo skewers to make the dipping easier. And then we made a mess. Chocolate and candies everywhere, Peeps being exposed to all sorts of sugary degradation. It was fun, it was ridiculous, and it was awesome. We were laughing and joking and having a great time. And really, isn't that what holidays are for?
There's a reason I love sugar in all forms. Candy, cakes, and other sugary treats are happy food. I mean, who can look at a Peep, with it's bright glittery outside, and not smile? Candy has always associated with fun times in my book. And they are meant to be shared. All happy things. So, the next time you are looking at a display of Peeps, whether you like them, or not, think about silly, happy, laughing, smiling, and other feel good stuff. It will change your perspective, I promise.
Join the Peeps fan club at http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/. Check out their recipes and all the other cool things that peeps (hehe) are doing with these fantastic little candies.
And as always, stay hip, my friends!
And of course, I have my favorites. Depending on the time of year and my mood. Fruity, sour, chocolate, peanut butter, pretty much anything goes. (Except for coconut. Ew.) But around this time of year, I have a craving for a special treat. A sugary gem that causes controversy and intense opinions. Unnaturally colored, overly sweet, and used in many inventive, (and strange) ways. Of course, I'm talking about Peeps.
 |
| A passel of Peeps |
Now, if you don't know about Pinterest, go check it out. In fact, check it out right now! Go, I will wait.
Are you back? Good. Did you start following me at www.pinterest.com/sthipster? No? Go and do that, I can wait again.
 |
| Our fondue display |
Fondue is a 1970's throwback where food is cooked or dipped in oil, cheese, or chocolate. Remember earlier when I mentioned how Peeps make an excellent s'more? Well, they make a pretty awesome and fun fondue, as well. We used chocolate, of course. (Not that I wouldn't try it with cheese, like maybe a nice brie, because, why not?) Crazy, you say? Not in my vocabulary.
 |
| Chocolate-y death awaits. |
 |
| Oh, No! |
When I do something, I go hard or go home. In this case, I decided to add to the diabetes risk and coat the chocolate covered Peeps with more candy. I used Nerds, M & M's, sprinkles, and colored sugar in spring colors. I also cut up strawberries, apples, and pound cake for those that didn't necessarily need their sugar with a side of sugar.
 |
| Peeps and Nerds in love. |
 |
| The finished product. |
Join the Peeps fan club at http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/. Check out their recipes and all the other cool things that peeps (hehe) are doing with these fantastic little candies.
And as always, stay hip, my friends!
Friday, March 27, 2015
Punky Brewster
Give
me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world.
Kaiser
Wilhelm
 |
On March 8, people across the world celebrated
International Women’s Day. IWD was
started in the early 1900’s as part of the suffrage movement, and has turned
into a day of appreciation, camaraderie, and respect for woman everywhere. It’s also a great day of service, with
different charitable events, all supporting women-centric programs. One of these events is the International
Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, put on by the Pink Boots Society, a group
dedicated to promoting women in beer professions. The Pink Boots Society gives a guideline for
creating a craft beer, and breweries across the world use these guidelines to
create their own unique brew. And the
best part, all the brewing is done by women.
 |
| Alan, our lady for the day! |
Our event was held at Daytona Beach Brewing
Company. They are usually closed on
Sundays, so we had the place to ourselves.
After a fortifying breakfast of Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee,
(breakfast of champions), we headed back to the brewhouse. There we were introduced to Alan, the brewmaster
and honorary lady for the day.
Alan was a great instructor, explaining the different
steps of the brewing process as we completed them. Our brew, the Unite Red Ale, was required to
use Williamette hops, and needed to be a red, hoppy ale. Alan then created a recipe around these
guidelines. Each brewery could add their
own twist to this outline, so we got to add some Florida wildflower honey fresh
from a local apiary.
 |
| Making the Wort |
There are multiple steps when brewing a beer, but
basically you start with the malt, boil it up until it kind of looks like a big
bowl of oatmeal, add some more boiling water, strain off all that sugary water
goodness into another boiler, boil that up, add the hops and other tasty
goodies, (like honey), and then cool it down, add some yeast, and let it sit
for a while. Of course, that’s highly
simplified, and the process takes several hours, many of them spent watching
water boil. But it’s pretty amazing that
a little bit of chemistry can turn some basic ingredients into something so
delicious.
 |
| Sparging. What a great word. |
Of course, the truly best part of the day was meeting
the amazing group of ladies that I got to work with. (Even better than beer and that’s saying something.) As much as the craft beer movement has
ballooned in the last several years, I still find it to be a boy’s club. Beyond my close friends, I am
often the only female at the bar that appreciates and is knowledgeable about craft
beer. (Not that it doesn’t have its
perks. I’ve gotten quite a few tasty
free beers because I am the only girl drinking beer with the boys.) But to be surrounded by a group of funny,
kind, down to earth women who are not only knowledgeable, but downright
passionate, about beer was something I won’t easily forget.
I was honored to be included in this event, and I look
forward to more events with the Pink Boots Society and Girl Meets Beer. As for our beer, the Florida Wildflower Unite
Red Ale, it’s not quite ready. A couple
of transfers and a little bit of dry hopping are needed to finish its
adventure. But sometime in April we will
be tapping the kegs and I will get to enjoy the fruits of my (and everyone else’s)
labor, and raising money for some local women’s charities. Not too bad for a days work.
 |
| Thanks to everyone for a great day! |
Daytona Beach Brewing Company is located at 482 Fentress Blvd, Unit N, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Follow Girl Meets Beer on Facebook or Twitter @girlmeetsbeer1
As always, stay hip, kids!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Y Control
So, we all have those songs. You know, that song that brings you back to a particular time and place. That song that makes you remember, often through hazy, beer goggle vision, a moment that, whether it was epic or not, will always feel epic to you. This is about one of those songs.
My dear friend Painting Mama had moved from the Sunshine State to the Windy City. It was rough. I was going through a divorce and the inevitable fallout from that and was kind of needy. I was scared that I wasn't going to have her as part of my life once she moved away. I'm sure most people have felt this way at some point in a friendship. So, I let her go, albeit with a heavy heart.
A few months later, Painting Mama and I were steady using up our unlimited text messages and facebooking like fiends. It was great, but I missed seeing her face and getting drunk together and just talking, like you do with someone that doesn't judge you, even though they know all your dirty secrets. So, I started to plan a trip to visit. When I told her I was planning, she was just as excited as me. I think there might have been way too many exclamation points used at that time.
She was just as ready for a visit as I was. She and her family had moved to Chicago because of her husband's job, and she was feeling isolated and lonely without her friends and family around. We both needed this vacation. And since they hadn't lived in Chicago very long, we both thought of it as our first trip to the city.
Painting Mama had gotten us a great hotel in Streeterville, right by the river. (She has a gift when it comes to booking hotel rooms. Honest to God.) It was a Saturday night and we had plans. The evening started with a meal at The Publican, which I had chosen, and turned out to be my most favorite restaurant in the world. But that's for another blog post. Then we were in the mood to drink.
We asked our bartenders where we should head next and they directed us to a cool music venue in Ukraine village. Unfortunately, it was pretty full, but the bouncer directed us to a dive bar down the street. A true dive bar, it was pretty empty, (it was early still), but we made friends with the bartender, (a grandma type Ukrainian lady), who loved us and kept giving us Barenjager shots. After a bit there, we decided to head to a dance club.
Now, Painting Mama and I have a great history of dancing. There's a bar in Orlando, I Bar, that we have been dancing at for years. Our favorite night to dance was Sunday, which was 80's New Wave. Painting Mama is a huge Depeche Mode fan, and we are always on the hunt for a bar with the same feel as I Bar.
We had heard about a bar that might fill our requirements, i.e. dive bar, New Wave music, a bit sketchy, and lots of different people having fun. We ended up at Neo, a Chicago landmark. It was a dark building at the end of an unlit gravel alleyway. Definitely sketchy. We walked in and discovered a bar that you would not want to see during the day. Loud and dark and sticky. The perfect combination for a dive bar. We had gotten there early, for club standards, so we grabbed a beer and a shot and found a seat on the side of the dance floor.
We noticed something pretty quickly. The music seemed to be a bit more industrial than New Wave. And the crowd seemed to be a bit more industrial too. Hardcore punks and skinheads seemed to be the main demographic of the crowd. It was a little intimidating at first, just feeling like we stood out in the crowd. But we were quick to discover that just like us, nobody really cared what we looked like.
Even though the music was not what we were expecting, it was still danceable and we were ready to dance. The great thing about dancing at a club, especially an alternative club, is that nobody cares how you dance, as long as you are dancing. In that respect, Neo felt exactly like home. Dancing ensued, as well as copious drinking. Through the evening, we danced and laughed and talked to strangers and drank and smiled. We never felt unsafe, or unwelcome in the slightest.
By the end of the night, (which was 5 am), the crowd had thinned out and we were starting to slow down. I, being a bit tipsy, decided to request a song from the DJ. I had been listening to a lot of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the time and requested "Heads Will Roll", figuring the DJ probably had no Yeah Yeah Yeahs considering the soundtrack of the evening thus far. He didn't have it, but he told me he'd see what he could do. As he announced the last song of the night, I figured we were out of luck for a song and started getting ready to head out. Suddenly, "Y Control", an earlier release of the band came on and I jumped for joy. (Literally, I'm pretty sure I jumped up and down.)
We hit the dance floor, a second wind giving us ridiculous energy for two girls that had been at it for 12 hours. Hopping around and smiling, I looked around and realized that everyone in the club was dancing as well. A roomful of serious punk kids were just as animated as we were. Maybe it was the booze or the exhaustion, but it felt like a perfect moment. At the end of the song, I hugged Painting Mama, the girl next to us dancing, and the DJ. (Maybe it was the booze.)
It was one of those moments that seems surreal. A lovely mix of time, place, location, company, and experience. It, and the associated memories, have stayed with me for 5 years. And every time I hear "Y Control", I remember that trip and all it entailed. Not just that night, but the next day sitting next to the river, the cute bartender at the Publican, the view from the 33rd floor of the W Hotel, the millions of miles we probably walked because we could never decide where to stop and eat, the time spent just chilling on her couch with her husband and son, watching Netflix and drinking Jack Daniels. All of those memories hit me every time. And I also think about my gorgeous friend, and how much I love her and how blessed I am to have her in my life. We have had many adventures since then, but I will never forget that moment in time. Or that song.
Check out the video for "Y Control". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjPFAV1foU
Check out Painting Mama's artwork on the iPhone app Vango Artist Sherry Streeter.
Until next time, kids, stay hip and make some memories!
My dear friend Painting Mama had moved from the Sunshine State to the Windy City. It was rough. I was going through a divorce and the inevitable fallout from that and was kind of needy. I was scared that I wasn't going to have her as part of my life once she moved away. I'm sure most people have felt this way at some point in a friendship. So, I let her go, albeit with a heavy heart.
A few months later, Painting Mama and I were steady using up our unlimited text messages and facebooking like fiends. It was great, but I missed seeing her face and getting drunk together and just talking, like you do with someone that doesn't judge you, even though they know all your dirty secrets. So, I started to plan a trip to visit. When I told her I was planning, she was just as excited as me. I think there might have been way too many exclamation points used at that time.
She was just as ready for a visit as I was. She and her family had moved to Chicago because of her husband's job, and she was feeling isolated and lonely without her friends and family around. We both needed this vacation. And since they hadn't lived in Chicago very long, we both thought of it as our first trip to the city.
 |
| Chicago as seen from Whiskey Sky bar at the W Hotel |
We asked our bartenders where we should head next and they directed us to a cool music venue in Ukraine village. Unfortunately, it was pretty full, but the bouncer directed us to a dive bar down the street. A true dive bar, it was pretty empty, (it was early still), but we made friends with the bartender, (a grandma type Ukrainian lady), who loved us and kept giving us Barenjager shots. After a bit there, we decided to head to a dance club.
Now, Painting Mama and I have a great history of dancing. There's a bar in Orlando, I Bar, that we have been dancing at for years. Our favorite night to dance was Sunday, which was 80's New Wave. Painting Mama is a huge Depeche Mode fan, and we are always on the hunt for a bar with the same feel as I Bar.
We had heard about a bar that might fill our requirements, i.e. dive bar, New Wave music, a bit sketchy, and lots of different people having fun. We ended up at Neo, a Chicago landmark. It was a dark building at the end of an unlit gravel alleyway. Definitely sketchy. We walked in and discovered a bar that you would not want to see during the day. Loud and dark and sticky. The perfect combination for a dive bar. We had gotten there early, for club standards, so we grabbed a beer and a shot and found a seat on the side of the dance floor.
We noticed something pretty quickly. The music seemed to be a bit more industrial than New Wave. And the crowd seemed to be a bit more industrial too. Hardcore punks and skinheads seemed to be the main demographic of the crowd. It was a little intimidating at first, just feeling like we stood out in the crowd. But we were quick to discover that just like us, nobody really cared what we looked like.
 |
| Ready for a night out. |
Even though the music was not what we were expecting, it was still danceable and we were ready to dance. The great thing about dancing at a club, especially an alternative club, is that nobody cares how you dance, as long as you are dancing. In that respect, Neo felt exactly like home. Dancing ensued, as well as copious drinking. Through the evening, we danced and laughed and talked to strangers and drank and smiled. We never felt unsafe, or unwelcome in the slightest.
By the end of the night, (which was 5 am), the crowd had thinned out and we were starting to slow down. I, being a bit tipsy, decided to request a song from the DJ. I had been listening to a lot of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the time and requested "Heads Will Roll", figuring the DJ probably had no Yeah Yeah Yeahs considering the soundtrack of the evening thus far. He didn't have it, but he told me he'd see what he could do. As he announced the last song of the night, I figured we were out of luck for a song and started getting ready to head out. Suddenly, "Y Control", an earlier release of the band came on and I jumped for joy. (Literally, I'm pretty sure I jumped up and down.)
We hit the dance floor, a second wind giving us ridiculous energy for two girls that had been at it for 12 hours. Hopping around and smiling, I looked around and realized that everyone in the club was dancing as well. A roomful of serious punk kids were just as animated as we were. Maybe it was the booze or the exhaustion, but it felt like a perfect moment. At the end of the song, I hugged Painting Mama, the girl next to us dancing, and the DJ. (Maybe it was the booze.)
It was one of those moments that seems surreal. A lovely mix of time, place, location, company, and experience. It, and the associated memories, have stayed with me for 5 years. And every time I hear "Y Control", I remember that trip and all it entailed. Not just that night, but the next day sitting next to the river, the cute bartender at the Publican, the view from the 33rd floor of the W Hotel, the millions of miles we probably walked because we could never decide where to stop and eat, the time spent just chilling on her couch with her husband and son, watching Netflix and drinking Jack Daniels. All of those memories hit me every time. And I also think about my gorgeous friend, and how much I love her and how blessed I am to have her in my life. We have had many adventures since then, but I will never forget that moment in time. Or that song.
Check out the video for "Y Control". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjPFAV1foU
Check out Painting Mama's artwork on the iPhone app Vango Artist Sherry Streeter.
Until next time, kids, stay hip and make some memories!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Bourbon Legacy
Sometimes I forget how much I really love my profession. It can get overwhelming, dealing with people everyday. Long hours are hard on the body and unhappy people are hard on the soul. But then there are those experiences that make it all worth it. A sincere compliment, a profitable day, a moment of shared laughter. A few months ago, I had an experience that reminded me why I have chosen the bar life all these years.
I recently joined the United States Bartenders Guild, an organization of professional bartenders and those in the beverage world. It's a great group of really talented, really passionate people in our industry. As a member of USBG, I get invited to attend tastings, meet and greets, and other educational events. The most recent of these was a luncheon/bourbon tasting with a legend.
Jimmy Russell is a kindly Southern gentleman that reminds you of your grandfather. A day before his 80th birthday, I got to have lunch with him, drink his bourbon, and listen to him talk about his passion, mainly, Wild Turkey bourbon. Mr. Jimmy has been distilling Wild Turkey for 60 years, and, along with his son, is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Betcha didn't know that existed, did you?
We all settled in to a private dining room at the Capital Grille. As I looked around, I was disappointed that other than the distributor rep, I was the only female. That was my only disappointment, however. Introductions were made, lunch orders were taken, and then we got down to the tasting portion of our lunch.
Before we got to taste the bourbon, Mr. Jimmy explained the best way to taste the various samples. When tasting bourbon, you want to use your senses of sight, smell, and taste. Before the actual tasting, take a look at the color. Put it up against the light. The colors of bourbon can vary from a light straw gold, to a dark amber, and everything in between. The color of the bourbon indicates how long the bourbon was in the barrel. Taking a few seconds to appreciate those rich jewel tones makes the experience that much better. Next is the smell. Each bourbon smells a little different. Notes of pepper, fruits, vanilla, oak, all of these can be represented.
Finally, the best part, tasting. As with the smell, you can get so many flavors, depending on the age of the bourbon. But that isn't all you want to taste. The finish is just as important. Bourbons can finish harsh, smooth, oaky. It's an all over experience that really makes you think about what it is you're drinking.
Using these guidelines, we were able to try eight different bourbons from the Wild Turkey line. From Wild Turkey 101, the most common of the line, all the way up to the Diamond Anniversary, which was created to celebrate Mr. Jimmy's 60th anniversary with the company. Each of the tastings had a completely different character, but I have to say that my favorite was Rare Breed, which, despite its 108.2 proof, was easy to drink. It's also Mr. Jimmy's favorite.
All in all, it was a great afternoon. Mr. Russell was sweet and very educational. He discussed each of the different bourbons, told us the history of the distillery and his role in it, and answered all of our questions. (His favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Unsweet tea. You're welcome.) I was honored to be able to spend time with a legend, that being one of his final trips. And before I left, I even got a hug and a kiss from the legend. Not too bad for a Tuesday afternoon in December.
(I apologize for the lack of pictures, I blame it on being a bit starstruck.)
Thanks for reading, hip cats! I'll be posting again soon, but in the meantime, stay hip and drink some bourbon!
I recently joined the United States Bartenders Guild, an organization of professional bartenders and those in the beverage world. It's a great group of really talented, really passionate people in our industry. As a member of USBG, I get invited to attend tastings, meet and greets, and other educational events. The most recent of these was a luncheon/bourbon tasting with a legend.
We all settled in to a private dining room at the Capital Grille. As I looked around, I was disappointed that other than the distributor rep, I was the only female. That was my only disappointment, however. Introductions were made, lunch orders were taken, and then we got down to the tasting portion of our lunch.
Before we got to taste the bourbon, Mr. Jimmy explained the best way to taste the various samples. When tasting bourbon, you want to use your senses of sight, smell, and taste. Before the actual tasting, take a look at the color. Put it up against the light. The colors of bourbon can vary from a light straw gold, to a dark amber, and everything in between. The color of the bourbon indicates how long the bourbon was in the barrel. Taking a few seconds to appreciate those rich jewel tones makes the experience that much better. Next is the smell. Each bourbon smells a little different. Notes of pepper, fruits, vanilla, oak, all of these can be represented.
Finally, the best part, tasting. As with the smell, you can get so many flavors, depending on the age of the bourbon. But that isn't all you want to taste. The finish is just as important. Bourbons can finish harsh, smooth, oaky. It's an all over experience that really makes you think about what it is you're drinking.
Using these guidelines, we were able to try eight different bourbons from the Wild Turkey line. From Wild Turkey 101, the most common of the line, all the way up to the Diamond Anniversary, which was created to celebrate Mr. Jimmy's 60th anniversary with the company. Each of the tastings had a completely different character, but I have to say that my favorite was Rare Breed, which, despite its 108.2 proof, was easy to drink. It's also Mr. Jimmy's favorite.
All in all, it was a great afternoon. Mr. Russell was sweet and very educational. He discussed each of the different bourbons, told us the history of the distillery and his role in it, and answered all of our questions. (His favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Unsweet tea. You're welcome.) I was honored to be able to spend time with a legend, that being one of his final trips. And before I left, I even got a hug and a kiss from the legend. Not too bad for a Tuesday afternoon in December.
(I apologize for the lack of pictures, I blame it on being a bit starstruck.)
Thanks for reading, hip cats! I'll be posting again soon, but in the meantime, stay hip and drink some bourbon!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
International House of Fun
Friends, food, and booze. These are a few of my favorite things. (See what I did there?) That being said, I have been attending a monthly dinner that combines all three of these things, along with new people, new foods, kitchen adventures, and lots of love. It doesn't really have a name, (although the facebook group is called "Yo Mama So...") but why do you need a name for something so organic and cool?
These dinners started out as an idea that was bounced around for a while. I had gotten the notion from a friend, whose group would have a themed dinner once a month. I mentioned this in a random convo with my doppelganger. And that was it. We brought the idea up occasionally, but never really went anywhere with it. Until we did. The new year finally saw us get motivated. DG offered her house for the first dinner, which was the first Monday of January. That first dinner was delicious. The cuisine we chose was Middle Eastern. So many yummy things. And the core group showed up. There were 9 or 10 of us that night. And it was wonderful.
Since that night, we have only grown. We have had group members come and go, although the core seven of us are still going strong. Each month, we vote on the following months theme. We have had Indian, German, Greek, Finger Foods, Southern/Soul, Bacon (yes, bacon), and most recently, French. Each month, we take on the theme as a personal challenge to our culinary skills. I have personally taken on such delights as whole pork belly, boiled peanut hummus, tart rustica, and spanakopita. Other amazing dishes made by my amazing friends include slow roasted goat, Cornish game hens, bbq pulled pork, baked brie, bacon pancakes, and bacon cupcakes with maple buttercream icing. And let's not forget the booze.
This group are big beer fans. But we also love a great craft cocktail. Metro Leprechaun took it upon herself to focus more on the alcohol side of things, (mostly because I don't think she wanted to cook!). Some of the countries we have sampled have a great beer tradition, (think Germany), while others not so much. This is where cocktails have come in. Peach Bourbon sweet tea for Southern night, Bourbon manhattans with a salt pork shrub on Bacon night, and Lavender French 75s on French night. And our classiest was good German beer, (Bitburger, Spaten), chased by shots of Jaegermeister.
But it's not just about the food or booze. It's about the friends. Hanging out once a month in someone's kitchen. Jokes, insults, hugs, commiserations, inappropriate behavior, and lots of love. I truly love spending time with these people. They are genuine, nonjudgmental, and funny as hell. We laugh, we cry, we nurse each other's wounds, literally. (I spent Bacon night with my foot propped up on a chair with an ice pack on it. I discovered two days later that I had severely sprained it and had to be on crutches for a week.)
In the end, the food could be cold Dinty Moore and tallboys of PBR and we would still have a blast. It doesn't always have to be four star, James Beard award winning, celebrity chef produced meals. Sometimes, it just takes some crazy awesome friends, some dedicated home cooks, a few gallons of booze, and lots of heart to make a mouthwatering, tasty meal.
"If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart." Cesar Chavez
These dinners started out as an idea that was bounced around for a while. I had gotten the notion from a friend, whose group would have a themed dinner once a month. I mentioned this in a random convo with my doppelganger. And that was it. We brought the idea up occasionally, but never really went anywhere with it. Until we did. The new year finally saw us get motivated. DG offered her house for the first dinner, which was the first Monday of January. That first dinner was delicious. The cuisine we chose was Middle Eastern. So many yummy things. And the core group showed up. There were 9 or 10 of us that night. And it was wonderful.
 |
| Good start, right? |
 |
| Tart Rustica with caramelized onions, heirloom tomatoes, and goat cheese. |
But it's not just about the food or booze. It's about the friends. Hanging out once a month in someone's kitchen. Jokes, insults, hugs, commiserations, inappropriate behavior, and lots of love. I truly love spending time with these people. They are genuine, nonjudgmental, and funny as hell. We laugh, we cry, we nurse each other's wounds, literally. (I spent Bacon night with my foot propped up on a chair with an ice pack on it. I discovered two days later that I had severely sprained it and had to be on crutches for a week.)
 |
| The infamous Bacon night. It felt so wrong, but so right. |
"If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart." Cesar Chavez
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Fear in a Small Town
Whew, Hipsters! It's been a crazy few months and they have sure flown by. So much has been going on, both good and bad. I've been super busy with work (currently working two jobs at three different bars for a total of 70+ hours a week) and life stuff. Made lots of new great friends and lost a dear family friend. Got to attend my first conference as a blogger and made some great new contacts. Eaten lots of late night meals and gotten very little sleep. But these are the everyday ups and downs of life. The day in, day out of living. They are all important to the grand scheme of our lives. But last night, something happened that was so insane, so unbelievable, as to stop time for a few hours.
It started out as an ordinary Monday night. I had gotten out of work at the bar that I work at down the street from my cottage. Had a few cocktails, then had dinner with my parents at the local Mexican restaurant. (Carnitas were delicious.) Headed home and decided to get to bed early. I had just laid down and was obsessively checking my Twitter feed (I now have almost 100 followers!) when the pup and I heard what I thought was thunder. But something in the sound made my stomach flip flop a little. Then I heard it again. And again. And again. It started to become a constant booming noise, louder than the fourth of July fireworks that were shot off just down the street from my house.
I immediately called my mom, since she lives 1 1/2 miles down the road, to find out if she was hearing the same booming. She answered the phone with a question. "What is that? Can you hear it too?" I could hear her yelling to my dad to run outside. "The sky is all lit up! What's going on?" I jumped out of bed and threw on the first clothes that I could find (which happened to be the shortest shorts I own and a jet ski tshirt) and ran outside, barefoot and headed towards the lake. As soon as I got to the edge of my driveway, I could see where all the explosions were coming from.
Across the lake from me, only about 2 miles as the crow flies, was a giant fire blazing, at least a hundred feet in the air. I think I had some panic in my voice and it had risen up a few octaves as I was describing the scene to my mom. I was trying to figure out exactly where it was, when my phone beeped with another call. My dear friend, and former roommate was calling because he could hear the booming and thought it was right at my house. Then the craziness began. We all started calling everyone we could, pushing our phones to their limit. And people started showing up in their cars, following the sounds towards the lake. Lots of people. Car after car driving down Main Street, trying to discover the source of the disturbing booms and the orange sky. Then I called my grandmother.
I don't think I will ever forget the panic in her voice. She told me that the propane plant a half mile from her house had exploded. She was desperately trying to catch her cats, who of course were hiding because of the ruckus. I told her to just get in her car and head towards my house, when, with great relief I heard my aunt's voice in the background. Good, she was not alone. But I could tell when she put the phone down in her rush to escape, so I hung up the phone and called my mother. She relayed the info to my dad, who immediately jumped into his truck and took off to try to help his mother. What followed was a nerve-racking hour of phone calls, rumors passed from one spectator to another, and pure, unadulterated terror.
It took my grandmother and aunt nearly an hour to get the 3 miles around the lake to safety at my aunt's house. Then the rumors of toxic fumes and possible evacuation, and the possibility of the three 70,000 lb propane tanks blowing led me back into the house, with a very nervous dog and two twitchy cats. So I got ready, in case I needed to head to mom's or even farther. Dressed, shoes on, cat carrier and leash ready, and bag and keys by the door. Watching the propane tanks explode into the air from the tv chopper, then hearing the explosion rattle my windows. The booms seemed to get louder, and lasted for two more hours. By 2 am, it seemed that the fire had settled down, and we could all finally get some sleep.
After an unsettled night of tossing and turning, it was time to get a new day started. Tired, but hopeful, I took care of all of my errands, and headed to work. Thinking I had my day planned out for me, I was returned to that moment of terror from the night before, when my mom called me as I was finishing my drive to work. News of a leak in one of the aforementioned giant storage tanks had led to talk of more evacuations on a wider scale. Trying to keep it together, when all I could worry about was my family, friends, and animals. I'm so thankful for understanding supervisors and teammates that got me out of work quickly.
So now I'm home, and the danger seems to be minimized, thanks to the great efforts of the local emergency personnel. Now I'm trying to decompress from one of the scariest evenings of my life. I've been through hurricanes, tornados and other disasters, but this one has affected more than any of those. And I think the biggest reason was because I was alone. My family was close, but they weren't close enough. There was that fear that I wouldn't be able to get to them, or them to me. Being alone, that was terrifying. And I could understand the panic that overcomes people in times of great upheaval. It took everything I had to keep myself together.
I'm writing this because I want everyone to know what happened without me having to tell the story over and over. But I'm also writing this as catharsis. An act of emotional purging, if you will. I was scared, and alone, and I didn't like it. I think maybe we all have these moments in our lives, but we all have the choice as to how we will react.
To the eight workers who were injured, I wish quick healing and positive vibes to you and your families. To all my local peeps, I wish peaceful thoughts and deep sleep. And to everyone, I wish for a life filled with great, fantastic moments with no moments of heartbreak and loneliness.
Next time, back to the fun stuff. Stay hip, kids.
It started out as an ordinary Monday night. I had gotten out of work at the bar that I work at down the street from my cottage. Had a few cocktails, then had dinner with my parents at the local Mexican restaurant. (Carnitas were delicious.) Headed home and decided to get to bed early. I had just laid down and was obsessively checking my Twitter feed (I now have almost 100 followers!) when the pup and I heard what I thought was thunder. But something in the sound made my stomach flip flop a little. Then I heard it again. And again. And again. It started to become a constant booming noise, louder than the fourth of July fireworks that were shot off just down the street from my house.
I immediately called my mom, since she lives 1 1/2 miles down the road, to find out if she was hearing the same booming. She answered the phone with a question. "What is that? Can you hear it too?" I could hear her yelling to my dad to run outside. "The sky is all lit up! What's going on?" I jumped out of bed and threw on the first clothes that I could find (which happened to be the shortest shorts I own and a jet ski tshirt) and ran outside, barefoot and headed towards the lake. As soon as I got to the edge of my driveway, I could see where all the explosions were coming from.
Across the lake from me, only about 2 miles as the crow flies, was a giant fire blazing, at least a hundred feet in the air. I think I had some panic in my voice and it had risen up a few octaves as I was describing the scene to my mom. I was trying to figure out exactly where it was, when my phone beeped with another call. My dear friend, and former roommate was calling because he could hear the booming and thought it was right at my house. Then the craziness began. We all started calling everyone we could, pushing our phones to their limit. And people started showing up in their cars, following the sounds towards the lake. Lots of people. Car after car driving down Main Street, trying to discover the source of the disturbing booms and the orange sky. Then I called my grandmother.
I don't think I will ever forget the panic in her voice. She told me that the propane plant a half mile from her house had exploded. She was desperately trying to catch her cats, who of course were hiding because of the ruckus. I told her to just get in her car and head towards my house, when, with great relief I heard my aunt's voice in the background. Good, she was not alone. But I could tell when she put the phone down in her rush to escape, so I hung up the phone and called my mother. She relayed the info to my dad, who immediately jumped into his truck and took off to try to help his mother. What followed was a nerve-racking hour of phone calls, rumors passed from one spectator to another, and pure, unadulterated terror.
It took my grandmother and aunt nearly an hour to get the 3 miles around the lake to safety at my aunt's house. Then the rumors of toxic fumes and possible evacuation, and the possibility of the three 70,000 lb propane tanks blowing led me back into the house, with a very nervous dog and two twitchy cats. So I got ready, in case I needed to head to mom's or even farther. Dressed, shoes on, cat carrier and leash ready, and bag and keys by the door. Watching the propane tanks explode into the air from the tv chopper, then hearing the explosion rattle my windows. The booms seemed to get louder, and lasted for two more hours. By 2 am, it seemed that the fire had settled down, and we could all finally get some sleep.
After an unsettled night of tossing and turning, it was time to get a new day started. Tired, but hopeful, I took care of all of my errands, and headed to work. Thinking I had my day planned out for me, I was returned to that moment of terror from the night before, when my mom called me as I was finishing my drive to work. News of a leak in one of the aforementioned giant storage tanks had led to talk of more evacuations on a wider scale. Trying to keep it together, when all I could worry about was my family, friends, and animals. I'm so thankful for understanding supervisors and teammates that got me out of work quickly.
So now I'm home, and the danger seems to be minimized, thanks to the great efforts of the local emergency personnel. Now I'm trying to decompress from one of the scariest evenings of my life. I've been through hurricanes, tornados and other disasters, but this one has affected more than any of those. And I think the biggest reason was because I was alone. My family was close, but they weren't close enough. There was that fear that I wouldn't be able to get to them, or them to me. Being alone, that was terrifying. And I could understand the panic that overcomes people in times of great upheaval. It took everything I had to keep myself together.
I'm writing this because I want everyone to know what happened without me having to tell the story over and over. But I'm also writing this as catharsis. An act of emotional purging, if you will. I was scared, and alone, and I didn't like it. I think maybe we all have these moments in our lives, but we all have the choice as to how we will react.
To the eight workers who were injured, I wish quick healing and positive vibes to you and your families. To all my local peeps, I wish peaceful thoughts and deep sleep. And to everyone, I wish for a life filled with great, fantastic moments with no moments of heartbreak and loneliness.
Next time, back to the fun stuff. Stay hip, kids.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Beer vs. Whiskey. Am I dreaming?
Hiya Hipsters!
Hope things have been going well for you. I've had some ups and downs the last few weeks, but that's life, right? And honestly, I should probably be a little more emo for a hipster. But alas, I have survived and am currently thriving. It's all about the small things that get us through. And I have had a great week of small, yet awesome things. One of my favorite things to happen this week happened on Monday night.
I got to attend an amazing dinner with some amazing peeps on Monday night at an amazing restaurant. Cask and Larder is a Central Florida gem. I have had the opportunity to eat there before, so when I heard they were doing a special Beer vs. Whiskey dinner, I knew I had to attend. But who to invite to this delicious evening? One of my favorite foodies. Metro Leprechaun (ML) immediately said yes. Then she suggested we invite my lookalike, Doppelganger and her man. Next thing I know, DG's brother, the Mad Irishman and his wife, the Hair Mistress, joined in and it was a party!
Cask and Larder is the sister restaurant of The Ravenous Pig. It is described as a "southern public house". To me, that means southern food (my favorite and birthrite) amped up to fantastic levels. I had previously attended brunch there and I was so excited about the food. Of course, the booze was pretty exciting, too.
The evening started with passed appetizers of frog legs, headcheese, and smoked oysters, which I am desperate to try at home. There was also a beer and a whiskey starter. The beer was a Berliner Roggen Weiss. All the beers were created by in-house brewmaster Ron Raike, a legend in the Central Florida craft beer scene. This particular beer was a sour, which is a great, lighter style of beer. It was a great, easy way to start out the dinner. We also got to try a Reverend Palmer, which was a refreshing mix of tea infused Gentlemen Jack, lemon juice, and a golden ale.
The courses that followed were just as awesome. A beautiful cucumber gazpacho with lobster, a grilled chicken liver spedini, which is a skewer of chicken livers with grilled plums, (honestly, that was my favorite, and I'm not a huge liver fan), pork cheeks with a beet ravioli, (another surprise, as I never would have thought of a beet ravioli, and it was super tasty, and really pretty!), and a peach-cornmeal upside down cake. Lots of yums and moans coming out of our group with every dish.
But the real stars of the night in my mind was the drinks (of course). Ron Raike's beers were actually paired after the food and cocktail menus were created, yet they complemented the courses as if they were brewed for each one. Old Southern Red Wit, (my fave), Trois Mois Saison, a beautiful stout that was aged in a Jack Daniels barrel for 5 months, and an imperial porter for dessert made my beer nerd heart happy. And the opportunity to talk with the master himself at the end of the evening was the icing on the cake. In the brewing room, no less!
And then there were the cocktails. I'm a girl that loves her whiskey. I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up for the dinner. Not sure if it was going to be straight shots of whiskey, or what. So I was pleasantly surprised when the whiskies were presented as beautifully prepared cocktails. Again, each cocktail was matched to the food for that course, starting with the lighter Reverend Palmer, and finishing with a Bourbon Peche, which was a mix of Woodford Double Oak (which I would take a bath in, if someone would let me), Carpano and a peach liqueur. It was so smooth and sweet that ML poured it over her dessert. I think she might have licked the plate, but I don't have pictures of that. Every cocktail was blended using quality ingredients and though provoking combinations. I was in heaven!
Of course, the best part of the dinner was the group I was with. They are such a fun, adventurous, often loud, but never boring clan. And that's truly how they think of you if you are their friend. It's a clan, a family, and I am so lucky that I'm included in that family. Jokes, insults, sexual innuendos, and plate-sharing were all a part of the enjoyment of the evening.
It was a great night and I'm so happy I insisted that it had to happen. After the last couple of weeks, I needed a night like this to remind me of the awesomeness that is my life and my friends and family. I couldn't be who I am, or do what I do without them. And thanks to Cask and Larder for making such a great night happen. I am definitely in for the next one!
Hope things have been going well for you. I've had some ups and downs the last few weeks, but that's life, right? And honestly, I should probably be a little more emo for a hipster. But alas, I have survived and am currently thriving. It's all about the small things that get us through. And I have had a great week of small, yet awesome things. One of my favorite things to happen this week happened on Monday night.
I got to attend an amazing dinner with some amazing peeps on Monday night at an amazing restaurant. Cask and Larder is a Central Florida gem. I have had the opportunity to eat there before, so when I heard they were doing a special Beer vs. Whiskey dinner, I knew I had to attend. But who to invite to this delicious evening? One of my favorite foodies. Metro Leprechaun (ML) immediately said yes. Then she suggested we invite my lookalike, Doppelganger and her man. Next thing I know, DG's brother, the Mad Irishman and his wife, the Hair Mistress, joined in and it was a party!
Cask and Larder is the sister restaurant of The Ravenous Pig. It is described as a "southern public house". To me, that means southern food (my favorite and birthrite) amped up to fantastic levels. I had previously attended brunch there and I was so excited about the food. Of course, the booze was pretty exciting, too.
The evening started with passed appetizers of frog legs, headcheese, and smoked oysters, which I am desperate to try at home. There was also a beer and a whiskey starter. The beer was a Berliner Roggen Weiss. All the beers were created by in-house brewmaster Ron Raike, a legend in the Central Florida craft beer scene. This particular beer was a sour, which is a great, lighter style of beer. It was a great, easy way to start out the dinner. We also got to try a Reverend Palmer, which was a refreshing mix of tea infused Gentlemen Jack, lemon juice, and a golden ale.
 |
| A smoked oyster, one of the starters for the evening. |
But the real stars of the night in my mind was the drinks (of course). Ron Raike's beers were actually paired after the food and cocktail menus were created, yet they complemented the courses as if they were brewed for each one. Old Southern Red Wit, (my fave), Trois Mois Saison, a beautiful stout that was aged in a Jack Daniels barrel for 5 months, and an imperial porter for dessert made my beer nerd heart happy. And the opportunity to talk with the master himself at the end of the evening was the icing on the cake. In the brewing room, no less!
 |
| Chicken Liver Spedini |
Of course, the best part of the dinner was the group I was with. They are such a fun, adventurous, often loud, but never boring clan. And that's truly how they think of you if you are their friend. It's a clan, a family, and I am so lucky that I'm included in that family. Jokes, insults, sexual innuendos, and plate-sharing were all a part of the enjoyment of the evening.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Be fairy, fairy quiet...
Hiya, kids! Happy new year! Hope the new year is treating you well. I was just so relieved to get through the holidays. In my little world, it gets pretty crazy. I think it gets that way for everybody, though. So take a big breath, let it out, and remind yourself that you have a few months before you have to see your extended family or do any heavy kitchen work.
And let's talk about those resolutions. We all make them, and that's okay, as long as they are fun and interesting. Of course, we all want to get in shape and save money, but honestly, wouldn't you rather make a promise to eat better chocolate?
So that's what I did. I made a resolution to eat at some great local restaurants that I haven't tried, work on my Cicerone certification (which means drinking great beer), and travel more. So far, I have kept two out of three.
This weekend I got a chance to go on a little trip. Where do people from Florida go on vacation, you ask? Why, Michigan, of course! One of my favorite people in the world, Painting Mama, lives in Ann Arbor, so I took advantage of the slow down at work, an overflow of vacation hours, and a stupid cheap flight, to visit a very cool family and a very hipster town.
So many great things I could say about Ann Arbor, such as great food, fabulous cocktails, and cool boutiques, but my favorite thing were the fairy doors.
Created by a local artist, and installed all over town, these adorable little bits of art appeal to the kid in all of us. I was able to see five of the original doors, and several "copycat" doors. It became a game to try to find doors hidden among the buildings of downtown.
The original doors were designed to mimic the doors of where they are installed. Some of the doors are very simple, while others are more elaborate. One door lead into an entire fairy store, with a set of stairs going down into what one would assume was a fairy basement!
These little bits of architecture serve a great purpose. All the people I saw while on my fairy door hunt were smiling. Happy people, dreaming of fairies. And how wonderful is that?
So, my weekend adventure was wonderful, and full of fairy dust. Hopefully, some hipster fairies hitched a ride home with me and will set up a home here! If that happens, I will certainly let you all know.
For more information on the Ann Arbor fairy doors, check out www.urbanfairies.com. Also, check out the artwork of Painting Mama on www.etsy.com/shop/SherryStreeter. Her paintings will also make you smile.
Also, I apologize for the less than stellar layout this week. My computer decided to die after a valiant, long term illness and I'm blogging on my iPhone. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade here soon. So, until next time kids, stay hip!
And let's talk about those resolutions. We all make them, and that's okay, as long as they are fun and interesting. Of course, we all want to get in shape and save money, but honestly, wouldn't you rather make a promise to eat better chocolate?
So that's what I did. I made a resolution to eat at some great local restaurants that I haven't tried, work on my Cicerone certification (which means drinking great beer), and travel more. So far, I have kept two out of three.
This weekend I got a chance to go on a little trip. Where do people from Florida go on vacation, you ask? Why, Michigan, of course! One of my favorite people in the world, Painting Mama, lives in Ann Arbor, so I took advantage of the slow down at work, an overflow of vacation hours, and a stupid cheap flight, to visit a very cool family and a very hipster town.
So many great things I could say about Ann Arbor, such as great food, fabulous cocktails, and cool boutiques, but my favorite thing were the fairy doors.
Created by a local artist, and installed all over town, these adorable little bits of art appeal to the kid in all of us. I was able to see five of the original doors, and several "copycat" doors. It became a game to try to find doors hidden among the buildings of downtown.
The original doors were designed to mimic the doors of where they are installed. Some of the doors are very simple, while others are more elaborate. One door lead into an entire fairy store, with a set of stairs going down into what one would assume was a fairy basement!
These little bits of architecture serve a great purpose. All the people I saw while on my fairy door hunt were smiling. Happy people, dreaming of fairies. And how wonderful is that?
So, my weekend adventure was wonderful, and full of fairy dust. Hopefully, some hipster fairies hitched a ride home with me and will set up a home here! If that happens, I will certainly let you all know.
For more information on the Ann Arbor fairy doors, check out www.urbanfairies.com. Also, check out the artwork of Painting Mama on www.etsy.com/shop/SherryStreeter. Her paintings will also make you smile.
Also, I apologize for the less than stellar layout this week. My computer decided to die after a valiant, long term illness and I'm blogging on my iPhone. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade here soon. So, until next time kids, stay hip!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanks!
Hey kids! Welcome to the Thanksgiving edition of Hipster in a Small Town, aka Small Town Pilgrim?
Anyways, I had to work today, on this lovely holiday. Don't feel bad for me, though, my darlings. In my biz, this is bound to happen on occasion. And I volunteered, so that others could enjoy some quality family time. And I didn't mind. But I did have that long drive to work to think about the question of the day. You know, the same question that every one of you went around the table and answered this afternoon.
What am I thankful for? Only I didn't get to announce it in dramatic fashion to my near and dears over a fowl carcass. Instead, I get to announce it to my near and dears over the Internet. Fun, right? So, in no particular order, the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.
-My ridiculous, amazing, incredibly strange, often annoying, never boring family. They are loud and overbearing and the reason I have to have unlimited everything on my phone, but they are also supportive and non-judgemental and my greatest attribute. I kind of like them.
-My furry children. I know I'm ridiculous and a giant goof, but I seriously have the most awesome animals ever! Pipster the Hipster and my badass boys, the Cool Cats. They make me happy just by being around.
-Booze, both for the joy it brings me and also for the great living it provides me.
-Creativity. I revel in my uniqueness and my ability to think way, way out of the box. I love that I have so many creative outlets to keep my brain buzzing constantly.
-Pumpkin. But seriously, I'm not even sick of it yet!
-Freedom, in all my choices.
-My most fancy, shiny, gorgeous, silly, funny, interesting, troublemaking, darling friends. They make me smile when I don't think I can, laugh while I'm still crying, and breathe when I think I have to hold my breath. Damn, I pick great people to surround myself with!
-And all my new online friends, all of you that follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and this blog. I get a little thrill every time I get a notification and that's all because of you guys!
There are probably a lot more things that I will think of later, but I'm tired and I need to get some rest before another long day tomorrow. But I needed to get this off my chest. That way, the next time I'm sad, or down, or stressed, I can remind myself of why I am such a lucky girl. And maybe, it will help remind you too.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller
Until, next time, kids, stay hip!
Anyways, I had to work today, on this lovely holiday. Don't feel bad for me, though, my darlings. In my biz, this is bound to happen on occasion. And I volunteered, so that others could enjoy some quality family time. And I didn't mind. But I did have that long drive to work to think about the question of the day. You know, the same question that every one of you went around the table and answered this afternoon.
What am I thankful for? Only I didn't get to announce it in dramatic fashion to my near and dears over a fowl carcass. Instead, I get to announce it to my near and dears over the Internet. Fun, right? So, in no particular order, the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.
-My ridiculous, amazing, incredibly strange, often annoying, never boring family. They are loud and overbearing and the reason I have to have unlimited everything on my phone, but they are also supportive and non-judgemental and my greatest attribute. I kind of like them.
-My furry children. I know I'm ridiculous and a giant goof, but I seriously have the most awesome animals ever! Pipster the Hipster and my badass boys, the Cool Cats. They make me happy just by being around.
-Booze, both for the joy it brings me and also for the great living it provides me.
-Creativity. I revel in my uniqueness and my ability to think way, way out of the box. I love that I have so many creative outlets to keep my brain buzzing constantly.
-Pumpkin. But seriously, I'm not even sick of it yet!
-Freedom, in all my choices.
-My most fancy, shiny, gorgeous, silly, funny, interesting, troublemaking, darling friends. They make me smile when I don't think I can, laugh while I'm still crying, and breathe when I think I have to hold my breath. Damn, I pick great people to surround myself with!
-And all my new online friends, all of you that follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and this blog. I get a little thrill every time I get a notification and that's all because of you guys!
There are probably a lot more things that I will think of later, but I'm tired and I need to get some rest before another long day tomorrow. But I needed to get this off my chest. That way, the next time I'm sad, or down, or stressed, I can remind myself of why I am such a lucky girl. And maybe, it will help remind you too.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller
Until, next time, kids, stay hip!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The theme park for foodies
Hiya, hipsters! The weather is almost cooling down here in Florida, the pumpkin mania is in full swing, and I am enjoying what you northerners call "Autumn". I think I mentioned in my last post about how busy I get in October. If I didn't, then I'm mentioning it now. With so many things going on, it's hard to decide what to do. But there are a few definites on the list. One of those definites got done a couple of weeks ago.
The Epcot Food and Wine festival is an annual event held at Epcot center, celebrating food and wines (and beer) from around the world. That's the brochure version. For locals, it's a time to eat lots of good food, get a nice buzz on, and see a band from the 80's or 90's that you forgot had so many songs you know. I have promised myself that I would go every year, but I never made it over until this year. And now I know what I was missing and it makes me a little sad.
I visited the festival with my mom and dad, Aunt Di and Uncle Jeff, aka "the old folks". I love spending time with them, and they are all foodies in their own right. We went the opening weekend, so there were pretty large crowds, and it was still September, so it was hot. Really hot. Low 90's and lots of people. As a theme park veteran, it was the kind of time that I don't usually go to the parks. But I went anyways. And the food and booze helped. A lot.
We started out the eating and drinking portion of the day at the festival center. Held in the old wonders of the the body pavillion, it was a marketplace with a small snack bar, wine shop, stages for the seminars, and the chocolate room. Anytime there is a polite young lady handing out Ghiradelli chocolate as you go in, you know it's going to be good. And I knew what I wanted in this room. Drinking chocolate.
For those of you that have never had drinking chocolate, I am so, so sorry. It is like a chocolate dance party in your mouth. Think about a delicious chocolate bar melted down and poured in a cup. That's pretty much it. Apparently it's a big thing in Europe, and I got hooked on it a few years ago, but it is hard to find in the States. It's so decadent that it only comes in an espresso size cup. This made me very happy, right off the bat.
After wandering around the festival center for a while, we headed off to hit the marketplace. Made up of a bunch of booths, interspersed between the countries of the world showcase, the marketplace is exactly what it sounds like. The first country I hit was Argentina.
After a stop at Mexico to grab a margarita, we headed around. My next stop was South Africa for a spinach and paneer cheese pocket. Paneer is basically a soft, mild farmer's cheese. It is used a lot in Indian cooking and I expected a bit of those flavors in this dish. I was not disappointed. My dad and I loved it. The rest of the crew, not so much. A bit of curry spice to the spinach and a flaky pastry to compliment. The trick with a lot of the food at the festival is that you eat with your fingers. This one got a little messy after we started tearing into it. I also discovered another good trick to the festival. Go with a larger group. One or two people are going to spend a lot more money and get full faster than four or five. We were able to share a couple bites of a lot more dishes.
The Epcot Food and Wine festival is an annual event held at Epcot center, celebrating food and wines (and beer) from around the world. That's the brochure version. For locals, it's a time to eat lots of good food, get a nice buzz on, and see a band from the 80's or 90's that you forgot had so many songs you know. I have promised myself that I would go every year, but I never made it over until this year. And now I know what I was missing and it makes me a little sad.
We started out the eating and drinking portion of the day at the festival center. Held in the old wonders of the the body pavillion, it was a marketplace with a small snack bar, wine shop, stages for the seminars, and the chocolate room. Anytime there is a polite young lady handing out Ghiradelli chocolate as you go in, you know it's going to be good. And I knew what I wanted in this room. Drinking chocolate.
After wandering around the festival center for a while, we headed off to hit the marketplace. Made up of a bunch of booths, interspersed between the countries of the world showcase, the marketplace is exactly what it sounds like. The first country I hit was Argentina.
I admit, I did a little research before I went, and I had a good idea of the dishes that I wanted to try. In Argentina it was a beef skewer with chimichurri sauce and boniato puree. I love chimichurri, so I was excited to try this dish, but the real surprise was the boniato puree. Boniato is a tropical sweet potato, but I didn't think it was as sweet as a traditional sweet potato. It was creamy and mild and super tasty. So now I have a few boniato in my fridge, ready to be cooked up. Yay for new ingredients. I was so excited about this one that I forgot to take a picture. Sorry. My uncle had the beef empanada, which was tasty as well.
After a stop at Mexico to grab a margarita, we headed around. My next stop was South Africa for a spinach and paneer cheese pocket. Paneer is basically a soft, mild farmer's cheese. It is used a lot in Indian cooking and I expected a bit of those flavors in this dish. I was not disappointed. My dad and I loved it. The rest of the crew, not so much. A bit of curry spice to the spinach and a flaky pastry to compliment. The trick with a lot of the food at the festival is that you eat with your fingers. This one got a little messy after we started tearing into it. I also discovered another good trick to the festival. Go with a larger group. One or two people are going to spend a lot more money and get full faster than four or five. We were able to share a couple bites of a lot more dishes.
At this point, we found a shady high top table to stand at and take a break. While we were noshing on the cheese pocket, my dad disappeared and returned with cheese. The artisan cheese selection was yummy! I am a big fan of cheese. Like, soccer hoodlum big. And I come by it honestly. Mom and Dad are too. The most interesting thing in this selection was the Beecher's Flagship Reseve Cheddar. It was a mild cheddar that had the look of a parmesan. Pretty fancy. Of course, all these snacks can make one pretty thirsty. With the margaritas long gone, I was ready to imbibe a bit more. And just our luck, we were camped right across from the Brewer's Collection tent. Woot Woot.
While doing my research for this event, I, being a beer geek, had to check out the selections. Many of the beers offered were old hat to me, but a few got me going. One was a nice German Dunkel. I love dark beer with lots of flavor and this one made the cut. Lots of big, malty flavors and a nice touch of bitterness. I got to keep this one to myself (another good reason to drink dark beer). The other beer I was interested in was the Schofferhofer Grapefruit. I had heard that this was the only place in North America to get this beer, so I had to have it. Sweet and light, it was perfectly refreshing for a hot day like this day. My aunt, the non-beer-drinker, loved it, and I was happy I got an extra big glass to share.
A few more stops, at Poland for a lager style beer called Tyskie, and Italy for a tasty cheese (are you seeing a theme?) ravioli and then we had to call it quits. Too much heat, too many people, and too much food and beverage. But I got a great start to my trip around the world. I got a few stamps in my passport, and got to try a couple things that I knew I wanted. I plan to get back again, to hit the other half of the festival, but if I don't make it, I'm not too worried. I had a great time with people that I love doing something that I love, so it was a successful day no matter what.
Next time, a visit to the Florida Aquarium, and maybe more beer? Until then, stay hip!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Errand Thoughts
Ahhh, Fall. That magical time of year of changing leaves, see-your-breath weather, and bonfires. Okay, we really don't have a lot of that here in Florida, but we do have our own fall traditions. Cooler temps, (77 degrees is cool for us), pumpkin beer, and Halloween fun at the theme parks. Enjoying the windows being open and the fresh air naps. But I'm getting off topic.
I never feel more like a hipster than when I'm running errands. Weird, I know, but let me explain. I've become so careful about what I shop for these days. I am a practicing locavore, so I try to buy locally as much as possible. Also, I am not so flush right now, so I have to watch every penny. So no big box stores for me. (Target is a splurge trip. I mean, who can't find something fun to buy at Target?) So errand running is a hipster's scavenger hunt. I started the day at the coffee shop, but my local coffee shop wasn't open. :( So I sucked it up and headed to the produce market. I only buy my produce at locally owned produce stands or farmer's markets. It's local, cheap, and lasts longer than grocery store produce. Since I eat a mainly plant based diet (I try to eat meat, due to my gingerness giving me a B12 deficiency, but I lean towards vegetarianism), the produce stand is my weekly must shop.
After that, it was the no-frills grocery, the post office, and the kind-of box store, Big Lots, for cheap import goods, like noodles, italian soda, and veggie chips. Then the craft store for a few supplies for the Etsy shop, and finally home. All the while using my reusable fabric shopping bags and riding with my windows open, listening to Johnny Cash. Yep, I'm a hipster.
But all that running around makes one tired. Do you remember that fresh air nap I mentioned? Yep, nice long nap this afternoon. So when I woke up, I didn't want to cook anythnig that would take too much time. So I decided on Fancy Ramen. Fancy Ramen, you ask? (Of course you ask.) Fancy Ramen is my term for ramen noodles made yummier. How can you make ramen noodles yummier, you ask? Let me give you the recipe.
Fancy Ramen Noodles
I package chicken ramen noodles
4 cups water
3 tbls chicken boullion
2 chopped scallions
3 or 4 splashes soy sauce
1 tbls sriracha
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your spicy tolerance)
1/2 lb frozen peeled, deveined shrimp
2 eggs, scrambled
Throw your water, the spice packet from the ramen package, chicken boullion, soy sauce, sriracha, scallions, and red pepper flakes into a pot. Bring to a boil and toss in shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are pink, then slowly stir in the scrambled egg. Finally, break the noddle brick from the package in half and throw it in your soup. Give it a stir and let it simmer for a few minutes. Eat and enjoy.
Not only is this a fast dish, it's healthy, yummy, and cheap.
Until next time, enjoy the weather, stop and smell the pumpkins, and stay hip!
I never feel more like a hipster than when I'm running errands. Weird, I know, but let me explain. I've become so careful about what I shop for these days. I am a practicing locavore, so I try to buy locally as much as possible. Also, I am not so flush right now, so I have to watch every penny. So no big box stores for me. (Target is a splurge trip. I mean, who can't find something fun to buy at Target?) So errand running is a hipster's scavenger hunt. I started the day at the coffee shop, but my local coffee shop wasn't open. :( So I sucked it up and headed to the produce market. I only buy my produce at locally owned produce stands or farmer's markets. It's local, cheap, and lasts longer than grocery store produce. Since I eat a mainly plant based diet (I try to eat meat, due to my gingerness giving me a B12 deficiency, but I lean towards vegetarianism), the produce stand is my weekly must shop.
After that, it was the no-frills grocery, the post office, and the kind-of box store, Big Lots, for cheap import goods, like noodles, italian soda, and veggie chips. Then the craft store for a few supplies for the Etsy shop, and finally home. All the while using my reusable fabric shopping bags and riding with my windows open, listening to Johnny Cash. Yep, I'm a hipster.
But all that running around makes one tired. Do you remember that fresh air nap I mentioned? Yep, nice long nap this afternoon. So when I woke up, I didn't want to cook anythnig that would take too much time. So I decided on Fancy Ramen. Fancy Ramen, you ask? (Of course you ask.) Fancy Ramen is my term for ramen noodles made yummier. How can you make ramen noodles yummier, you ask? Let me give you the recipe.
Fancy Ramen Noodles
I package chicken ramen noodles
4 cups water
3 tbls chicken boullion
2 chopped scallions
3 or 4 splashes soy sauce
1 tbls sriracha
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your spicy tolerance)
1/2 lb frozen peeled, deveined shrimp
2 eggs, scrambled
Throw your water, the spice packet from the ramen package, chicken boullion, soy sauce, sriracha, scallions, and red pepper flakes into a pot. Bring to a boil and toss in shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are pink, then slowly stir in the scrambled egg. Finally, break the noddle brick from the package in half and throw it in your soup. Give it a stir and let it simmer for a few minutes. Eat and enjoy.
Not only is this a fast dish, it's healthy, yummy, and cheap.
Until next time, enjoy the weather, stop and smell the pumpkins, and stay hip!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Forward Momentum
So, its been a long, busy year for this Small Town Hipster. I've had a few years of just letting life happen. Mind you, it hasn't been bad (way too many great memories and experiences), but for this girl with an overactive brain and need to be doing something, it was definitely out of character.
So this year has been the year of getting my focus back. Taking care of some important things, such as a new car and a divorce, and realigning myself with my goals. For the first time in several years, I actually have some plans for the future. I am digging my way out of some holes that I created in the first place, and honestly, it feels pretty awesome.
One thing that I have been working on lately, and something that I have wanted to do for a long, long time, is to go pro with one of my passions. I have been working on starting my own Etsy store, selling my handmade jewelry and accessories.
In case you don't know what it is, Etsy is a website, similar to Ebay, where everyday folks can start a web store, selling either vintage or handmade items. It's a great place to find one of a kind gifts and household items. And I am jumping in the pool.
Making jewelry is something that I have been doing since I was 12 years old. Realizing my love of jewelry, but having an allergy to nickel, there weren't as many choices for me (because I'm old, lol). So, one of my very crafty grandmothers took me to a big box store that shall remain nameless and bought me some lobster clasps, some plastic pony beads, and some fishing line and told me to get creating.
I have definitely grown since those fishing line days. Nowadays it is more about this fancy new term, upcycling. I was using pieces of old junk jewelry way before "upcycling" was a hipster term. But it's appropriate. I love giving life to old pieces of Sarah Coventry or Avon. Those bits of broken junk that seem to collect in the bottoms of baskets at thrift stores can often make the most interesting statement necklace or cocktail ring. And my skills have grown as well.
But starting a "cottage" business is not easy. Etsy makes it as easy as possible, but there are so many things to think about. It's not just about making some jewelry and taking a picture. I want this business to last and grow. So it's about marketing, in my case using social media, taxes, inventory, pricing, and so much more. I don't want something that looks thrown together, and with my education, I should be way beyond that. But it's a lot of work.
Not that I'm complaining, because I am tough and this is a lifelong goal in process. And I have the most awesome cheering squad ever. So many of you have expressed your interest in buying, your support in setting up my home office, your volunteering of yourselves to be my models, and general "atta girl"'s on a regular basis. And I have taken all of that to heart.
So this year has been the year of getting my focus back. Taking care of some important things, such as a new car and a divorce, and realigning myself with my goals. For the first time in several years, I actually have some plans for the future. I am digging my way out of some holes that I created in the first place, and honestly, it feels pretty awesome.
One thing that I have been working on lately, and something that I have wanted to do for a long, long time, is to go pro with one of my passions. I have been working on starting my own Etsy store, selling my handmade jewelry and accessories.
In case you don't know what it is, Etsy is a website, similar to Ebay, where everyday folks can start a web store, selling either vintage or handmade items. It's a great place to find one of a kind gifts and household items. And I am jumping in the pool.
Making jewelry is something that I have been doing since I was 12 years old. Realizing my love of jewelry, but having an allergy to nickel, there weren't as many choices for me (because I'm old, lol). So, one of my very crafty grandmothers took me to a big box store that shall remain nameless and bought me some lobster clasps, some plastic pony beads, and some fishing line and told me to get creating.
I have definitely grown since those fishing line days. Nowadays it is more about this fancy new term, upcycling. I was using pieces of old junk jewelry way before "upcycling" was a hipster term. But it's appropriate. I love giving life to old pieces of Sarah Coventry or Avon. Those bits of broken junk that seem to collect in the bottoms of baskets at thrift stores can often make the most interesting statement necklace or cocktail ring. And my skills have grown as well.
But starting a "cottage" business is not easy. Etsy makes it as easy as possible, but there are so many things to think about. It's not just about making some jewelry and taking a picture. I want this business to last and grow. So it's about marketing, in my case using social media, taxes, inventory, pricing, and so much more. I don't want something that looks thrown together, and with my education, I should be way beyond that. But it's a lot of work.
Not that I'm complaining, because I am tough and this is a lifelong goal in process. And I have the most awesome cheering squad ever. So many of you have expressed your interest in buying, your support in setting up my home office, your volunteering of yourselves to be my models, and general "atta girl"'s on a regular basis. And I have taken all of that to heart.
So thank you all for your support and feedback. I promise that I will not let you down. I am in the final stages of launching the store, and hopefully I can make you all proud! And to wet your whistle, so to speak, here is a taste of what I will be selling.
For next time: SmallTownHipster on Etsy launches! And my favorite season of all begins, Halloween Horror Nights! So till then, stay hip!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Dough, Ray, Me...
(Hipsters, this blog was supposed to be published a while ago, before Forward Momentum, but something happened. And I can't find it. Weird. So you guys get a double dose of blogginess. You're welcome.)
Hi Hipsters! I'm so sorry I've been gone so long! But I never forgot about you. And I did leave some presents. Hope you are liking the new layout, I'm pretty pleased with it myself.
While I was gone, I was very busy, coming up with new ideas and experimenting with new and exciting things. (No, not that, you dirty minds!).
My newest adventure, you ask? (I'm pretending you asked.) Bread! Yes, this small town hipster is returning to the roots of her forefathers, (well, foremothers) and checking out the old school buzz. I have been trying to stay away from processed foods, as well as my budget hasn't been keeping up with my tastes, so I have been thinking outside the box. Thanks to Pinterest, I decided that bread making was the thing.
So, I embarked on some bread adventures. I've made many a loaf of banana bread in my day, so that was easy peasy. Next on the list, beer bread. A sweet, hearty bread, my loaf turned out beautifully, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. So I put the word out with the fam for a bread machine. I figured, as a novice breadmaker, a bread machine would be a good idea. Turns out, my Granny is the shiznik! (Yes, I just said that. But to be honest, she really is.)
One bread machine later, I chose a Carmelized Onion Focaccia bread as my debut. With a great recipe from Pinterest, I embarked down the road of doughy goodness.
Hi Hipsters! I'm so sorry I've been gone so long! But I never forgot about you. And I did leave some presents. Hope you are liking the new layout, I'm pretty pleased with it myself.
While I was gone, I was very busy, coming up with new ideas and experimenting with new and exciting things. (No, not that, you dirty minds!).
My newest adventure, you ask? (I'm pretending you asked.) Bread! Yes, this small town hipster is returning to the roots of her forefathers, (well, foremothers) and checking out the old school buzz. I have been trying to stay away from processed foods, as well as my budget hasn't been keeping up with my tastes, so I have been thinking outside the box. Thanks to Pinterest, I decided that bread making was the thing.
So, I embarked on some bread adventures. I've made many a loaf of banana bread in my day, so that was easy peasy. Next on the list, beer bread. A sweet, hearty bread, my loaf turned out beautifully, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. So I put the word out with the fam for a bread machine. I figured, as a novice breadmaker, a bread machine would be a good idea. Turns out, my Granny is the shiznik! (Yes, I just said that. But to be honest, she really is.)
One bread machine later, I chose a Carmelized Onion Focaccia bread as my debut. With a great recipe from Pinterest, I embarked down the road of doughy goodness.
To be honest, I was a little worried about using the yeast. Never having used a living creature in my food before, I wasn't sure how well I would do, but really, it was just a matter of following the recipe. This particular recipe only called for using the dough setting on the bread machine. Once I realized that breadmaking is part chemistry and part feel, I felt a little better about my lack of skill. And it was exciting watching the dough rise in the machine.
So, about an hour and a half later, I pulled out the nicely risen dough, and set it up to finish off in my very small, temperature spotty, vintage oven. 20 minutes of nervous worry later and voila! Yummy artisan style bread that I had created with my own two hands!
And the dough for this focaccia would make an excellent pizza dough, which will soon be replacing the local delivery service in my house, once I procur a pizza stone. So, another domestic venture tackled! Of course, one or two loaves does not a professional baker make. In fact, the next loaf I tried came out a solid gluten brick. (I realized I packed my flour without thinking, thus making my loaf inedible.) So I am continuing the journey to breadom, one or two loaves at a time. In fact, tonight I created two loaves of quite tasty, if not so pretty, French bread. It's a process, but the results are delicious!
Coming soon to STH, I am planning on more regular postings, fun with Pinterest, cheesemaking, (yep, cheese), and maybe even a little bit of social commentary. In the meantime, please let me know if there is anything you guys would like to see, or any fun adventures you think I should have.
Until then, stay hip!
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